Heart of the Kraken (Tales from Darjee) (22 page)

He raised his head and met her gaze and such pain simmered in the depths that she drew in a sharp gasp.

"I'm sorry it came to this, I only wanted to save you," he said.

She caressed his arm and up to his shoulder. Silly male. They really could be dense at times, she needed to try a different tact. "How did Nancy save you?"

"He has a gigantic metal wyrm, it deposited him on the deck and plucked me to safety. Then it held down Reis." One tentacle crept closer to her and bumped against her tail.

A shiver ran through her form at the contact and she closed her eyes and savoured the moment. "How did he free you from Reis' grip?"

"Have you ever seen an ore-mancer work?" he asked.

She shook her head and opened her eyes to drink him in. His new hybrid state was much smaller than the kraken, but he emanated power and strength. He could smash her in his arms or pull her into a tight embrace and keep her safe from the world.

"Solid metal becomes water under their touch. He reached out and his fingers melted into the gauntlet. He curled a fist around the switch and pulled it out. The device solidified again but Nancy dangled wires from his hand while Reis screamed in agony. The ore-mancers had fused it to the nerves in his arm," he said.

The tentacle stroked her scales and she wondered if he were aware of the motion. Despite the cool temperature, her body heated. His gentle touch a brand that left a trail of fire dancing over her tail. "You were the one who needed saving, Fenton, not me."

A frown drew his brows together. His tentacles swirled around and caged her close to him, but still only the one kept in contact with her. Each sucker left soft kisses as it moved up her body. "What do you mean?"

"Think about how Nancy saved you. He could have taken me off the ship whenever he wanted, but you needed to break free of the chains Reis wrapped around your mind, and you could only do that by seeking to free me." She swept her tail against two more tentacles and held a smile inside when they embraced her. She sought his touch and dared his form to continue to awaken her desire.

"You risked your life for me." He slid his hand around her waist.

Her lips parted in a smile. Arms and tentacles could do so much more than either could do alone. Her nerves flared everywhere he reached and a new ache settled low in her body. One that demanded
more
. "Merfolk mate for life I would have done anything to free you. You longed for escape as much as I did."

"You think I am your mate? But I am not a merman." The frown still lined his forehead.

She tapped his muscular arm. "I love you, I knew it the moment I saw you. And you really are being foolish, look at you. You are an aquatic creature, now we can be together, unless you do not love me?" She never considered that he might regret his words. She pulled back, had he changed his mind? Did he not want to be bound to her?

His grip tightened on her body and his gaze never left hers. "I love you, Ailin," he spoke the words slow and deliberate. "If you would accept the heart of a kraken."

"I will take you however I find you." Mischief quivered at the corners of her lips. "And I do hope you plan to take me?"

He growled and the sound shot through her body to the tip of her tail and she shivered. The pain in his eyes disappeared to be replaced by love and lust. He drew her into his arms and pressed her close to his chest. Her breasts flattened against the hard muscle. With gentle care, his tentacles wrapped around her tail and held her willing hostage. Another stroked the dorsal line that ran from her lower back to fin. A shudder ran through her at the erotic touch, one no landwalker would know to give. Why would she ever want a merman when Fenton had an extra eight limbs to lavish attention on her body?

Her mind flared with desire as her body opened for him and a sigh escaped her lips. His head lowered and he claimed her mouth. Their bodies entwined and drifted to the sway of the tide as they shared their passion.

About A. W. Exley

Books and writing have always been an enormous part of Anita's life. She survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.

Today, Anita writes historical novels with a steampunk twist. She lives in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

Web
http://www.awexley.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AWExley

Twitter @AWExley

Follow the link to sign up for an occasional newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/N5z5z

Artifact Hunters 1: Nefertiti's Heart

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father - sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumoured to hold the key to immortality.

Her Majesty's Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti's Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara's search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

The series in available now

Artifact Hunters book 1: NEFERTITI'S HEART

Artifact Hunters book 2: HATSHEPSUT'S COLLAR

Artifact Hunters book 2.5: THE UNICORN'S TAIL

Artifact Hunters book 3: NERO'S FIDDLE

Artifact Hunters book 4: MOSEH'S STAFF

Tales from Darjee 2: Alise

The Lady Alise has ruled the Darjee Empire for over a hundred years… until an assassin takes aim. And fails.

Damn it.

Ephraim is marked by a white feather tattoo, a permanent reminder of his cowardice. Ironic for a man who draws a soldier's pay, but he survives by keeping his head down and following orders. Until there's another failed attempt to end Lady Alise's reign and the petulant ruler delivers her latest retaliatory edict. One hundred healthy children are to be torn from their mothers and delivered to the ore-mancers. The wizards of metallurgy will turn young minds and bodies into monstrous automatons.

Ephraim has hit his tipping point and maybe a broken coward can end a cruel regime where trained warriors have failed. But if he falters the children will be lost and his head will adorn a spike over the city gate. And that's his best case scenario….

Coming 2016