There is a giddiness that comes from having a great working plan in place for a project. Last night I had the pleasure of doing some preliminary plotting with another author friend for a story that may be a part of a project for next year. It was awesome to bounce around ideas with someone. I can’t wait to get started on this story. I’ll let you know what it is once it’s official.
Meanwhile, The Veiled Path to Destiny is closer to being done. I thought about sharing another snippet with you from it, but decided to share one from Beyond the Veil of Whispered Dreams~The Veil Book 1…for those who have not read book 1 yet.
Excerpt from Chapter 4
The mist cleared and Daria found herself in a forest glade lit by tiny globes of light that seemed to hover in the air. She could hear the gentle gurgling of a nearby stream. Glancing down at herself, Daria held her arms out in front of her body, astonished at the gown of gold silk that she wore. Never had she owned anything like it. Never had she seen or worn anything like it. Tiny, barely there straps clung to the edges of her shoulders, keeping the deep v fitted bodice from falling down. The skirt of the gown clung to her form without being tight and fell to the ground in a cloud of golden silk with a train that seemed impossible to walk with. The grass beneath her bare feet was a thick, soft blanket of green.
Iauron stood in the shadows, drinking her in. It had been so long since his ancient eyes had seen her. He could feel Verisiel’s essence flowing through the form of this human female that looked so much like her. He knew he must tread slowly as not to frighten her. Though she held the spirit of Verisiel within her, she was still very human in her thinking, and a very young human in comparison to his many centuries of existence.
“Tá tú go hálainn,” he said softly from his place in the shadows, wanting to give her a chance to acclimate to the idea that she was not here alone. He watched as she spun towards his voice, her delicate features showing a trace of shock and wariness.
Startled at the sound of a masculine voice, Daria spun around and noted that a fast escape would be next to impossible with the gown twisting around her ankles. She cleared her throat, swallowing her fear. “Excuse me?”
“Tá tú go hálainn,” Iauron repeated, stepping out into the open.
Daria looked up at the man stepping through the curtain of trees. He was taller than any man she had ever seen. The black leather jerkin framed the bare skin of his broad chest. The leather pants that clung to his muscular legs like a second skin disappeared into the boots that rode up over his knees, making her aware of her own bare feet. Her eyes travelled back up his body to his chiseled face with piercing sapphire blue eyes that stared at her with a knowing gleam. A smile curved one side of his mouth. She felt her knees knocking and the core of her body heating in response. Blushing, she hoped he hadn’t noticed the uncharacteristic reaction to him. The teasing glint in his eyes told her that he hadn’t missed a thing. She nearly groaned in embarrassment.
She raised a hand to her chest and took a deep breath, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you said.” She frowned, “I don’t even know if you know what I’m saying. I apologize if I disturbed you, I didn’t realize anyone was here.” Bending slightly, she reached down to untangle the gown from her legs and turned to leave, “If you’ll excuse me.”
Iauron was amused by her babbling, a trait she had always had when he managed to fluster her. “You are beautiful.” His words managed to stay her intended flight. “Tá tú go hálainn means, you are beautiful,” he spoke softly and slowly approached her as one would approach a skittish doe.
She looked down at the gown, “It’s a very beautiful gown.”
Though he ached to touch her, he sensed that she was ready to bolt. He walked around her tense form to face her. “The gown is lovely, but ‘tis you who are beautiful.”
Daria looked down at her toes peeking beneath the hem of the gown and shook her head.
Iauron gently placed his fingertips beneath her chin and raised her face, smiling as she lifted her silver iridescent eyes to his, “Yes, mo chroí. Never doubt it. You are the truest beauty to be found in any realm.”
Beyond the Veil of Whispered Dreams~The Veil Book 1 © Jolanthe Aleksander
Until next week….Happy Reading!
~Jolanthe~
Eclectic Bard Books 