Hi all!
Please welcome Author Stephanie Amox to my blog today!
About the Author:
Stephanie Amox attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where she met her husband. Her life did an about-face in January 2009 and the future of her career looked bleak. Her husband encouraged her to follow her dream and finally write the story which had been buzzing around in her head for a number of years, thus The Lumina Saga was born.
These days she spends her time in Flower Mound, Texas with her husband, two children and a couple of crazy Jack Russell Terriers. When she's not writing she enjoys spending time watching her son play hockey or visiting her daughter at Oklahoma State University.
Here's my interview with her:
Here's my interview with her:
What is your name? Do you use a pen name
(if so, why?)? My
name is Stephanie Amox. I write all my YA books under that name. I also have a
pen name of S. C. Wise which I use when I write adult romance. I didn’t want my
younger readers to pick up one of the adult romances thinking they were part of
my YA series.
Tell me a bit about yourself: I married my college
sweetheart and we have two amazing kids. The happy insanity of our house is
made complete with our two Jack Russells. We spend a lot of time watching my
son play hockey and lacrosse and when we aren’t there, we are visiting my
daughter at Oklahoma State. My favorite places to travel are Walt Disney World
and Wailea, Maui.
What type of genre do you write? Not many people know, but I
do write in different genres. I have an adult romance that I wrote under a
pseudonym – S.C. Wise. I’ve also got a couple of other works in progress that
are pretty dark fiction, but right now YA is my favorite genre because I can do
so much with it and people can still relate to the characters and the
challenges they face every day.
What genre to you personally read? I read a variety of genres. I
like YA, but I also like the occasional romance or epic story like “A Song of
Fire and Ice”. I don’t really do non-fiction at all. I like to be able to lose
myself in a story.
Tell me about your latest? The latest book is the third
instalment in my YA series. The book is called New Beginnings and it follows
the continuing story of Caitlin, Leah, Talon and Jace. It starts with a huge
surprise and then builds to a epic battle.
What sparked your passion for books and the
art of a good story? Honestly, I’ve been an avid reader as long as I can remember.
According to my mom, I was reading simple books at age 3. I’ve always loved the
chance to completely lose myself and reality in a good book.
Is there a particular book that changed or
affected your life in a big way? The first couple of books I remember really making a big impact
on me were “Where a Red Fern Grows” and “Misery”. I read the first book in
grade school and never remembered having a book make me cry before. “Misery”
made me see writing in a whole new light. The details and the inner monologue
of the main character was something totally new for me.
Is there a message in your book that you
want readers to grasp? I wouldn’t say there is a message, but I would like the readers
to realize that while Caitlin and Leah are totally committed to Talon and Jace
they are happy to spend time on their own. The girls actually chafe when they
aren’t able to get time away from the boys. That’s the cornerstone of ANY
healthy relationship – the ability to spend time away from one another –
co-dependency is not a positive trait.
What challenges have you faced in your
writing career? I’m
like every other writer and the biggest challenge is writer’s block. The only
true solution to writer’s block is to step away and do something else for a
while. I will work on another work in progress or jump on Kinect with my kids
or watch a movie. Sometimes writer’s block can last for weeks. You can’t force
it – your writing will suffer if you do. It will sound disjointed from the rest
of your book. Usually inspiration will hit you at the strangest moments. Some of
my best story arcs have come while I was waiting for my son to get out of
hockey practice.
What has been your best moment as a writer?
I think the best
moment was when I completed the first book in my YA series and had one of my
daughter’s friends read it. She went on and on about how wonderful the story
was and couldn’t wait to read more.
Who is your author idol? I can’t say that I have an
idol. I would love to have the sort of success enjoyed by Stephen King. He has
the ability to write a riveting story and he does things his own way.
Do you see yourself in any of your
characters? I
frequently hear my voice coming out of Marne’s mouth. She is the mother to the
main character, Caitlin.
Do you feel like your dream has come true
or is there much more to do? I still feel like there is so much more I want to accomplish.
However, if I was ever to find myself sitting in the theatre watching the
premier of my books on the big screen, I would have to be pretty happy.
What does your workspace look like? Wow. It’s a mess. I like to
surround myself with things that inspire me. I have photos, DVDs, and all sorts
of Disney memorabilia all over my desk. If you are open to it, inspiration can
be found in the strangest places.
Have you ever had a day when you just wanted
to quit? Plenty
of them. Sometimes the characters refuse to “speak”. You can’t force the
storyline and if you try – it leads to epic failure. The dialog becomes
extremely stilted and awkward. You lose everything you worked so hard to
create.
What do you do when you’re not writing? I’m a huge hockey fan which
comes through my books from time to time. I really enjoy spending time w/the
family. If we aren’t watching Brady play hockey or lacrosse, then I’m probably
visiting Caitlin at college. I love to sit down with a good book, but I tend to
read them from cover to cover in one sitting so I don’t get to read as much as
I would like. I don’t watch a ton of TV, but I do have several shows that I
really like. I’m particularly attached to Psych, Grimm, Once Upon a Time, and
then Game of Thrones and True Blood on HBO.
What are the most important attributes to
remaining sane as a writer? You have to know when to put the story down and walk away. No
matter how badly you want to finish your story, you cannot force it. You have
to be happy with your own work. Do not worry what other people say or if you
see a bad review. Not everyone will like your story. There are also people out
there who make a job out of putting out bad reviews. YOU have to be happy with
your story. That’s all that matters, everything else is just gravy.
Did you have a moment when you realized you
were meant to be a writer? Being an author was never really on my radar. I liked coming up
with “wouldn’t it be cool if there was a book like this” ideas that I would
bounce of my mom or my husband, but I never actually put pen to paper. I studied Criminal Justice in college, but
married before finishing my degree. I got heavily involved in event planning
and then real estate. It wasn’t until I was faced with a forced job change that
my husband insisted that I take a shot at putting my ideas on paper. I had no
idea how to begin, but began typing away. A year later, Painfully Ordinary was
completed and I had signed with a publisher. I’m living proof that you don’t
have to major in journalism or English to write.
What advice would you give to aspiring
authors? The
biggest piece of advice I can give you is don’t give up. Writing can be
extremely rewarding and just as frustrating. You can’t “make” the characters do
something they don’t want to do. Don’t try to force your writing into a
particular style because you think that is what people will like. You will end
up with your writing sounding very awkward and stilted. Write what you know,
things you enjoy – and you’ll be surprised at what flows.
After this book, what is next?
Your website?
Where can your book be found? Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
Smashwords
Painfully Ordinary
The Lumina Saga Book One
The Lumina Saga Book One
Stephanie Amox
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: CENA
Date of
Publication: Jan 2013
ISBN: 148194780X
Number of pages:
225
Word Count: 86,175
Cover Artist:
Photography by Nikki Nichols Photography
Book Description:
Two
teenager's lives become not so ordinary...
Caitlin and Leah are content with the slow and steady pace in their small Texan town. They have the typical challenges of any American high school - evil girl cliques and oppressive ex-boyfriends. They see themselves as painfully ordinary...but that soon changes. The arrival of two newcomers at school sets Caitlin and Leah on an explosive path of magic, betrayal, secrets and forbidden love. The discovery of Caitlin's true identity causes tremendous upheaval in her painfully ordinary life. Caitlin must learn to embrace her birthright and trust in her friends or she risks endangering them all.
Caitlin and Leah are content with the slow and steady pace in their small Texan town. They have the typical challenges of any American high school - evil girl cliques and oppressive ex-boyfriends. They see themselves as painfully ordinary...but that soon changes. The arrival of two newcomers at school sets Caitlin and Leah on an explosive path of magic, betrayal, secrets and forbidden love. The discovery of Caitlin's true identity causes tremendous upheaval in her painfully ordinary life. Caitlin must learn to embrace her birthright and trust in her friends or she risks endangering them all.
Excerpt Book
1 Painfully Ordinary
1. Beginnings
The strange woman glided through the dark to the edge
of the bed and stared into my eyes. Her long, straight, chestnut-colored hair
flowed around her face, as she moved with the grace, beauty and strength of a
Native-American princess. Wearing a fluid, white dress, she made me conscious
of the oversized T-shirt and cheer shorts I had worn to bed. Truthfully, she
could have made Aphrodite feel frumpy. Her eyes were a breathtaking shade of
violet, and while gorgeous, they definitely were not soothing. I clutched the
covers to my chin with shaking hands and shuddered as she stood, openly
assessing me. This was not her first visit. Other times, she stood just outside
my open bedroom door looking in. As time passed, she became more aggressive.
Well, maybe aggressive isn’t the right word—perhaps she just got bolder. I
couldn’t figure out who she was or what she wanted from me. What terrified me
most is that she never said a word. I grew paranoid about doors being open
while I slept—as if closing the door to my room could shut the door on my
dreams. Suddenly, I noticed the shadowy silhouette of a man standing in the far
corner of my room. Had he come with the strange woman? Somehow, his presence
was far more malevolent. I pulled the covers tight over my head, and when I
finally emerged, he was gone. “Ciro”
whispered through the inky darkness of my room. Sleep eluded me for quite some
time after that experience.
“Caitlin…” Mom said in a singsong voice.
Ugh. Was it morning already? One thing for certain,
the nightmares were getting worse. If this kept up, I was going to be
completely sleep deprived. I had faced the same dream almost every night for
the last few months. They were getting creepier by the day—or night—whichever
the case might have been. I kept waiting for something even more ominous to
happen, and found myself peeking around corners everywhere I went.
I tried talking to Mom about the dreams a couple of
times, but each time I brought them up, she would bite her bottom lip and look
away. Then she’d turn back to me with a smile and say, “Oh, Caiti, it was just
a dream. You are being so dramatic,” and change the subject.
But I knew better.
She only chewed on her lip like that when she was
really stressed about something. I got the impression she wasn’t comfortable
talking about the woman in my dream. I didn’t know why, but it was so
frustrating.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I absolutely adored my crazy
mom. She can be my best friend and fiercest protector. I guess if I were honest
with myself, I’d have to say we do have a few things in common. People will
sometimes mistake her for my older sister instead of my mom. It is so
irritating, but of course, I know she
loves it.
“Caiti…get up! You are going to be late!” Mom yelled
from the foot of the stairs.
“Okay, Okay, I’m up, I’m up.” I grumbled.
I rolled over on my side and sat up, throwing my legs
over the side of my bed, and whimpering. Pushing my tangled hair back from my
face, I glanced up at the large tank that sat on top of my dresser and watched
my turtle happily jetting around his tank. At least Faffy was happy to be up
this morning.
Standing, I stretched, and dragged myself into the
bathroom, which, thanks to my mom’s willingness to reassign the guest bathroom,
I no longer had to share with my little brother. My phone vibrated on the
bathroom counter, and I grabbed it before it fell into the sink. The incoming
text was from my best friend, Leah—the one person outside my family who really
gets me.
r u
up yet???
ya,
what’s up?
Can u
get 2 school early?
Idk…
ill try. im not rdy yet
hurry
up i have BIG news
Ack!
I unplugged my straightening iron. My hair, thick and
curly, hung halfway down my back. It would take forever to straighten, and
there was no way I’d have enough time if I were going to get to school early. I
dug through the pile of clean clothes in my papasan chair. Mom was always
nagging me about how much easier it would be to find things if I just put them
away. Whatever—that’s way too much work.
Settling on a pair of jeans and a shirt from my
favorite hockey team, I snatched my bag and phone off my dresser and ran down
the stairs. I could put my makeup on during the drive to school.
“That was fast.” Mom said.
I shrugged. “Leah needs me.”
My mom laughed as my little brother’s head popped up
from his breakfast, his cheeks reddening slightly at the mention of Leah’s
name. He shoved the last bite of his sausage biscuit into his mouth and jumped
off the barstool.
“I’b rebbyy,” he said around a mouthful of sausage.
The majority of the ride to Brady’s school and then
to mine, was punctuated with the hum of incoming text messages. Mom watched me
out of the corner of her eye and smiled.
“Is Leah going to last until you can get to school?”
I had to snicker at her.
“What is she so wound up about?” she asked.
Rolling my eyes, I let my phone drop into my lap.
“I have no idea,” I said, shaking my head. “But after
all this, it better be something really good.”
We pulled up to the back door leading to the cafeteria,
and I could already see Leah hopping from one foot to the other. When she saw
our car, she waved frantically.
My mom chuckled. “You two try to stay out trouble
today, okay?”
Rolling my eyes and slinging my backpack over one
shoulder, I strolled toward Leah. As it turned out, she couldn’t even wait for
me to get inside, and ended up meeting me halfway to the doors.
“Oh my God! Oh my God! What took you so long to get
here? Did you hear the news?”
She threw her long, blonde hair over one shoulder, blue
eyes flashing with excitement. She was talking so fast, she grew breathless.
I held both palms up in front of me. “Easy, turbo,
slow down for a minute. You are making me dizzy.”
She grimaced and rolled her eyes.
“Okay, now. What is this earth-shattering news which
made you text me nonstop this morning? My mom probably thinks you are having
some sort of episode.”
Leah raised one eyebrow and grumbled, “Would you be
serious?”
Surprised at the outburst, I patted her on the
shoulder apologetically.
“I’m sorry. I was just messing with you. So what is
the big news?”
Slightly mollified, she took a deep breath before
continuing.
“Guuuurrl…”she fanned her face with one hand.
I noticed
several brightly colored butterflies flying around her head. Where in the world
had those come from?
“Have you heard about the two bits of hotness that
just transferred? I got a text from Morgan before I even got here this
morning.”
“Huh?” I was slightly dazed and blinked rapidly. I
was so distracted by her halo of butterflies that I hadn’t even paid attention
to what she was saying.
Leah’s hand shook and acted like she was going to
have the episode I accused her of earlier.
“Caiti? Are you even listening to me?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just really tired, and I need more
sleep. Okay, so we have two new hotties. What’s their story? I mean, who are
they, and where did they transfer from?” I asked before waving my hand
dismissively. “Not that it really matters, since Tami and her band of Alley
Cats will latch onto them soon enough.”
Leah’s eyes sparkled again as she patted my arm
excitedly.
“That’s just it! No one knows anything about them,
since they seem kind of keep to themselves. They walked right past that whole
group and didn’t even look twice. It was great! Tami and her entire crew
appeared so confused. Wait until you see them. Daaaaaayum. On top of looking
good, they have the most incredible accents. They sound Russian or something.
It’s totally exotic…,” she paused. ”…and hot.”
I bit my bottom lip. “Well, what do they look like?
How will I know when I see them?”
She shook her
head. “Oh, don’t worry, you’ll know. Whew, girl, will you know!”
I didn’t even have time to think about what that
meant before she grabbed me by the arm.
“Hurry up—we don’t want to be late!”
I stumbled into geometry in a fog, still thinking
about what she’d said. Why did they move here, of all places? I plopped down into my seat and grimaced at
the board. I was sure the Alley Cats would gather and start circling the
newcomers in record time.
I tapped my pencil on the edge of my desk,
impatiently waiting for Mr. Von to start class. Sometimes, I wondered how he
managed to get himself dressed in the morning. Suddenly, my pencil slipped out
of my hand, rolled off the edge of my desk and clattered to the floor.
Crap.
I bent down to pick it up and found myself staring
into the face of the most stunningly gorgeous guy I had ever seen. He had
rugged good looks, instead of being the pretty-boy, male model type. Vin Diesel
might have some competition for my attention with this guy.
Holy crap! This must be one of the newcomers Leah
described this morning. Whew—she wasn’t exaggerating. No wonder she was all
wound up.
I had no idea how long my internal monologue went on,
but I realized he was still holding my pencil out to me.
“Thanks.” I mumbled, blushing to the tips of my ears.
Oh, man! Why hadn’t I straightened my hair this
morning and worn something cute?
Tami twisted around in her chair, watching me through
narrowed eyes. I had never been able to stand her, so I just stared back and
raised an eyebrow in challenge. She glanced from me to where he was sitting
directly behind her, and it wasn’t until that point I realized he was still
studying me.
Tami turned all the way around in her chair and
placed her hand lightly on his arm, showing him a row of perfectly straight
teeth.
“Oh, you’ll have to excuse Caitlin,” she said in a
sickeningly sweet, baby voice and giggled. “She is just so uncoordinated.”
Oh, no she
didn’t! Who was she calling uncoordinated? Unfortunately, my emotions tend
to show all over my face. When I’m pissed, everyone knows it, and I was all kinds of pissed at her.
She refused to break eye contact, daring me to do
something. Normally, I would just blow her off. I really didn’t care what she thought,
and frankly, she was a waste of energy. However, this time, something inside me
snapped.
Perhaps it was the whole lack of sleep thing again.
I granted my total attention to the newcomer,
flashing him my brightest smile. He appeared startled and presented me with a
grin in return that took my breath away.
“Oh, ignore Tami. She’s just mad because someone
dropped a house on her sister.”
He stared down at the floor and, to his credit,
didn’t actually laugh, but I saw his shoulders shake.
Tami glared at me.
“Caitlin, you are such a freak.” Leaning closer to me
and lowering her voice, she continued. “You can just forget about him. He won’t
want some little nobody like you. He will
be mine. I’ll tell Ryan you were looking at him, and that will be the end of
that, won’t it?”
This was exactly the kind of thing that always set
Ryan off. Ex-boyfriends were the absolute worst. She fixed a fake smile on her
face and carried on watching the newcomer like he was a juicy steak and she was
starving.
Tami always used the exact same tactics, and he would
probably fall for it just like all the others before him–and believe me, there
were plenty before him. I pivoted in
my seat just in time to see him scowl and remove Tami’s hand from his arm.
I laughed aloud, couldn’t help myself. He bent his
head, giving me a conspiratorial wink. Mr. Von decided to start class at that
exact moment, so I never got to see her reaction, but I could only assume it
wasn’t good, since this was the second time he had blown her off.
Throughout class, the hair on the back of my neck
stood on end. Someone was watching me, but the only person sitting behind me
was the new guy. Was it him? I really needed to find out his name, so I could
stop referring to him as “the new guy”.
Why would he be watching me? I was painfully
ordinary. Someone like him could have anyone he wanted.
I couldn’t figure him out. Then I suffered a moment
of sheer panic, remembering how I had left the house in such a rush that
morning.
I seriously hoped I didn’t have some sort of
Alfalfa-thing going on with the back of my hair.
I rubbed my necklace between my fingers, as I always
do when I’m upset. It’s a dark-gray stone cut into a unique pattern, like a
flame, held on a long, black cord. My mom gave it to me when I turned sixteen,
and made me promise to wear it every day. I never take it off, except when I’m
at tumbling practice. The stone has been worn smooth by the constant rubbing,
and holding it always relaxed me.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. I must have
completely lost track of time, but what else was new?
Tami got up from her desk, placing her arm in
new-guy’s. She batted her eyelashes and said, “Talon, will you walk me to
second period?”
I rolled my eyes.
Sorry, I am meeting up with Jace.” His voice was deep
and smooth and he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. He fixed his gaze on my
necklace then grinned, pivoted on his heel, and left the room.
A trill of laugher escaped my lips. Strike three.
Tami’s face turned an ugly shade of purple. She threw
her purse over her shoulder and glared at me.
“I’ll say hi to Ryan for you.”
Crap. This is exactly why I don’t normally banter
with her. It’s just not worth the trouble in the end. She was going to make me
pay for this encounter.
I laid my head on my desk and waited for the ground
to open and swallow me whole.
Family Secrets
The Lumina Saga Book Two
The Lumina Saga Book Two
Stephanie Amox
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: CENA
Date of
Publication: Jan 2013
ISBN: 1481956841
Number of pages:
232
Word Count: 65,120
Book Description:
Wailea,
Maui would be a paradise by just about anyone’s standards. Caitlin and Leah are
no different. They are living like rock stars with Talon and Jace in one of the
poshest hotels on the island. Just when they think things can’t possibly get
any better—everything falls apart. Their short lived paradise is ripped out
from under them. Once again, they are on the run.
A mysterious man appears and attempts to drive a wedge between Caitlin and Talon. He whisks her away to an ancient world where she is treated like a princess yet held completely against her will. She is shown events, consequences and affairs she never dreamed possible. Will the secrets of her family destroy her happiness, or will she rely on her instincts to find a way back to the life she found with Talon?
A mysterious man appears and attempts to drive a wedge between Caitlin and Talon. He whisks her away to an ancient world where she is treated like a princess yet held completely against her will. She is shown events, consequences and affairs she never dreamed possible. Will the secrets of her family destroy her happiness, or will she rely on her instincts to find a way back to the life she found with Talon?
eXCERPT bOOK 2 Family Secrets
1 The day after
I sighed happily, as I
lay in Talon’s arms. The room had gradually returned to normal while the last
of the sparks slowly rained to the floor. I still couldn’t believe we were joined … I would get to spend the rest
of my life with Talon. He had guaranteed that last night when he got down on
one knee and recited the ancient text that bound us together. I couldn’t wait
to tell Leah everything, but for now, I was content simply to lie within the
confines of the luxurious pillow-top mattress. Talon tightened his powerful
arms around me and gently kissed the top of my head.
“Shall we order room
service and go out onto the lanai to watch the sunrise?” Talon murmured into my
ear.
I smiled at him shyly.
“How did I get so lucky? What did I ever do to deserve having you in my life?”
Talon surprised me by
laughing. He sounded so carefree and seeing him like this—he looked so young.
“I don’t know if lucky
is the way I would describe it. I’m not sure you know what you have gotten
yourself into, A Varyo joins for life. When you are away from me too
long—it will cause me physical pain, as well as make me extremely
agitated. Not to mention I will be
worried about you – well, more than usual.”
I
giggled. “And that would be different from normal because…?”
He growled and tickled
my ribs. “The joke is on you, my little pixie, because now you will experience
the same. I have to admit it works to my benefit—so can’t say I’m very sorry
about it.” He shot me a boyish grin.
“Oh great—that’s just
great --something else to make me uncomfortable in my own skin,” I said in mock
anger.
Talon winked at me as
he got up and headed to the door. “Well, that’s something you should have
thought about before you agreed—no, you demanded—to be mine.
I threw a pillow at him
and flopped back onto the bed. I wrapped my arms around myself, completely
content. So much had changed over the last few weeks. My best friend, Leah, and
I had gone from painfully ordinary juniors at Marcus High School to finding out
we were from an ancient mythical race, called the Feydall, who are best
described as fairies, and live in a kingdom of the same name.
We also found ourselves
with Talon and Jace as our protectors - members of an ancient group called the
Turvata. The Turvata were
legendary for protecting royalty, and Talon and Jace were highly respected -
even within that elite group. We still didn’t know whom to thank for
sending them to us.
Talon is Varyo,
a very ancient people known for their warriors. Driven by their duty to protect
the ones to which they are assigned. They can become so immersed that they can
lose the ability to see colors and often become emotionally numb – they just
don’t care about anything but the job at hand. In very rare cases, they will find
their true mate and their senses become extremely heightened. They become
extremely attuned to their mate’s wants, needs and feelings.
Another unique feature
of Talon's is his eyes. When he is calm
and at ease, his eyes are a soft chocolate brown, but when his emotions are
heightened – regardless of whether he’s angry or simply passionate about
something – his eyes turn a beautiful, deep blue.
Jace, on the other
hand, is Lykaios, able to shift into
animal forms and has an acute sense of smell. He absolutely worships Leah, and
I adore him for it.
Guess my mom and my
‘Uncle’ Johr were one of the biggest shocks in my life so far. Mom is a fairy
princess… an honest-to-God fairy princess! Isn’t that unbelievable? Anyways, I
very strongly suspect, due to some recent events, Johr is my true biological
father, not Jason, the man I had called Dad —who we lived with my entire life.
Jason was a Corpora, or human, who
died in a car accident several months before my baby brother, Brady, was born –
almost 10 years ago now.
Johr and my mom were
together before she left Feydall. When she came to Corpora, also known as the human world, she met Jason and stayed. I
know there’s more to that story, but I’d have to ask her at another time, since
we haven’t seen either of them since the night the Accendersi raided our house.
Leah and I were able to
create a portal that night—to Maui of all places—and escape safely with Talon
and Jace. Now I fear my mother and Johr are going to have a few choice words
about my newfound status as Mrs. Raikaa. As I said, Talon and I joined through an ancient rite, which we
performed the previous night. Kinda like being married, just a whole lot more
permanent.
I threw my legs over
the side of the bed and sat up. Feeling completely refreshed and full of
energy, this was surprising since we didn’t get a lot of sleep. I felt great…
actually better than great—like being surrounded by a glow that comes from deep
inside and explodes outward. Knowing me, with the right incentive, I could
probably power half the island of Maui.
I skipped across the
room, into the sprawling master bathroom and filled the tub with the soothing
smell of the honey-mango bubble bath. I twisted my hair into a loose bun on top
of my head and sank down into the water until the bubbles reached my neck and
laid there, completely content, until I heard a small knock at the door. Talon
popped his head in the doorway.
“My ves’tacha, your breakfast is ready…” He
gave me a mischievous smile. “Unless, of course, you would prefer me to come
join you in here?”
I cupped water in my
hands and tossed it in his general direction. He ducked, laughing
“Hurry up, love—before
everything gets cold. I have already laid out something for you to wear today.”
He said with a grin as he closed the door behind him.
I stretched for a
moment, grabbed the large fluffy towel with the Grand Wailea logo and wrapped
it around me. I padded into the bedroom. The first thing I noticed was my
emerald green bikini and a transparent black cover-up. Smiling to myself as I
also spotted the matching black and green Billabong flip-flops I had pointed
out in the store window the day before I shook my head in wonder.
I truly had no idea how
he did it. He amazed me at every turn.
Talon rattled around in
the living area. I didn’t want to make him wait, and if I was being honest with
myself—I was very anxious to be with him as quickly as possible too. He had
been away from me for perhaps thirty minutes, but the wings of ten thousand
butterflies were already beating in my stomach, intensifying the longer we were
apart. I put on the swimsuit and threw the cover-up over my shoulder, pushing
the door open silently. My heart thudded
in anticipation and must have beat louder than I thought, for Talon stopped
what he was doing and turned to me with a mind-blowing smile.
He wore only a pair of
black and green board shorts while his broad shoulders and muscular chest were
left bare. I wondered if he had intentionally worn the same colors he laid out
for me. I eyed him appreciatively but he held his hand, palm up signaling for
me to wait where I was, then he strode past me into the master bedroom.
He came back with my
brush and took me by the hand leading me back to the couch motioning for me to
sit on the floor in front of him. I complied immediately—happy to simply be
near him. He slid his feet forward, effectively cradling me while he pulled the
ponytail holder free and dragged the brush through my hair with long strokes
until we could practically hear it crackling. Talon put the brush down and
began running his fingers through my hair murmuring “exquisite”.
There was a timid knock
at the door separating our suite from Leah and Jace’s. Jumping up, I stepped
over Talon and quickly headed to the door, I dropped my cover-up in my haste.
Talon spun around on the couch and gasped audibly when he saw my swimsuit. I
whipped around.
“Talon! What’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer, but
instead jumped over the back of the couch. He grabbed me in his arms and
covered my lips with his. He finally pulled back and gave a deep laugh. “Go on.
Open the door before they think you were devoured for breakfast.”
I gave him a wry smile
and headed back to the door. His diet was the one point of contention we had
early in our relationship… since it consisted mostly of blood from anonymous
donors. The Varyo are strange in that way. Most people might see him as a vampire, but
nothing could be further from the truth.
Talon loves being outside in the sun, surfing, swimming – you name
it. He can eat normal foods; they just
have to be extremely rare. Their main source of nutrition would be human
blood. If they are still un-joined, they will seek out willing
donors, but never take from the same one more than once in a month. To do so
would run the risk of the donor going through the transformation and most Corpora
don’t survive the process.
Originally, Talon had refused to share this experience with me. He was
so worried I might start the transformation. However, that was before we found out I was a
true Ethereal and therefore immune to
the dangers of the transformation. I couldn’t stand the thought of him having
that kind of relationship with anyone else, so I had – in a way, forced his
hand and tricked him into feeding on me.
Unfortunately, Johr had walked in on that and it hadn’t gone very well.
I had hardly turned the
lock when Leah burst through the door and grabbed me around the neck.
“Caiti! Oh my gosh! We
saw the blue glow under the door last night and Jace told me what it meant. We
are so excited for you—well… for you both! We have to celebrate today! What
should we do?” She clapped her hands together in excitement.
Talon watched me avidly
- anxious to hear what would make me happy.
Jace stepped out of the
adjoining room, enveloping me in his strong arms. “Good morning, my little
pixie. You are absolutely ravishing. Life with our Talon is going to suit you
quite well.” He winked at Talon over the top of my head and continued. “So, you
ladies were going to tell us how you wanted to spend the day celebrating?”
Leah grinned at him
broadly before turning back to me with an expectant expression on her face.
“Yeah, Caiti. What are we going to do?” I gave Leah an impish grin before
reaching out to her mind.
Leah, just go along with me for a bit.
She grinned at me. Ok,
whatever you say.
“Hey Leah, did you see
the new flip-flops Talon got to go with my swimsuit? It’s a shame it’s been
such a long time since we had a pedicure.” I said, chagrined. Leah sputtered as
she tried to refrain from laughing out loud. Peeking at Talon out of the corner
of my eye revealed his own twin orbs, blazing blue, as he tried to hold back
the laughter.
“Okay, okay, my ’tacha. We will start your day of celebration with an afternoon at
the spa with Leah. What would you like to do after that?”
“Well, actually I was thinking about having
another smoothie, like the one I had yesterday, then simply lay about,
ocean-side, and take a nap with you. After that, maybe we could play in the
ocean and call room service for dinner on our lanai. Does that sound too boring
for everyone else?”
Talon’s eyes lit up in
blue flame. “That sounds absolutely perfect to me,” he said in a low voice. He
referred to Leah and Jace. “What about you two? Does that work for you?”
Leah studied Jace for a
minute and said, “Well, it sounds great except for one small thing.”
Jace’s brow furrowed.
“What’s wrong?”
She let a slow smile
spread across her face. “I don’t really want to take a nap with Talon. Maybe would it be okay if I
shared a lounge with you instead?”
We all laughed.
Jace set about serving
us pancakes from the huge stack on the table, while Talon spoke with the spa
making arrangements for our special day.
“This is Talon Raikaa
and I would like to make an appointment for my wife and Mrs. Leah Adair. Yes,
give them the works. Start them with a manicure and pedicure, and then follow
it up with a one hour massage.”
I was still in shock at
Talon’s generosity. He had paid for everything from the moment we set foot in
Maui, never complaining once about the cost.
I seemed to be the only one worried about his finances. He kept assuring me that when you lived as
long as he had you had a tendency to amass a great deal of money.
Leaning back in my
chair I called over my shoulder. “Talon, can you please ask them to set it up
as a couples massage? It always makes me a little uncomfortable being in the
room with them by myself—seeing as we are ‘commando’ under the sheet.”
Talon’s eyes smoldered
at me before he focused his attention back to the phone. “I’m sorry, but you
will need to set that up in one of the couples rooms so the ladies can stay
together. No, that is fine—the cost is not an issue. Make sure they can have
lunch brought in if they want. Perfect. Thank you very much.”
He returned to us with
a smile.
“Okay, ladies. You are
all set up. You have about one hour before your spa appointment. You will have
your manicure and pedicure first and then on to your massage. So, that leaves
one question—how do you ladies want to spend the next hour?”
“Wow, is that a loaded
question or what?” asked Jace.
We grinned at each
other and said in unison. “The beach!”
Jace doubled over
laughing. “Sometimes I think you two share the same brain. Okay, Leah—you
better go put on your swimsuit so we can head out.”
Leah jumped up from the
table and ran through the adjoining door with Jace right on her heels.
Rising from the table
as well, I headed toward the master suite to touch up my makeup and grab my
shoes. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, gazing at my reflection. My
eyes seemed brighter and my hair seemed glossier and a slightly more vibrant
shade of red. I dug through my makeup bag on the counter. Talon appeared behind
me, wrapping his strong arms around me and my heart immediately jumped into
overdrive. The fire in his eyes grew, and I knew the change in my pulse hadn’t
gone unnoticed. I met his intense gaze in the mirror and he quickly spun me
around and pulled me into his arms, carrying me back into our room.
I was infinitely happy.
As if he heard my
thoughts—his lips crashed down on mine and his pulse sped up to match my own.
His lips trailed across my jaw line and down my throat and I let my head fall
backwards as he buried his hands in my hair. He used his nose and slightly
nudged the top edge of my bikini away and sunk in his teeth just below my
collarbone.
As he fed, I whispered
“I love you”.
He raised his head and
stared at me as one red tear slipped down his cheek. “You have no idea how
happy you make me. I finally feel complete.”
I stared back at
him—speechless. How could anyone like
him want someone as ordinary as me?
I wish she understood how much she means to me. Without her, my life
would be nothing but darkness and shadow. The butterflies would be lost to me
forever.
“Do you really mean that?” I
asked him in a whisper.
His body twitched in
shock. “What do you mean?”
“Did you mean it when
you said without me your 'life would be nothing but darkness and shadow’?” I
asked timidly.
He suddenly crushed me
to him, squeezing so tightly I thought my ribs might crack.
“By all that is sacred!
Caitlin, you just read my mind!” he exclaimed.
Jumping back, startled.
“I did? I didn’t even realize.”
He cupped my chin in
his hand. “Have you ever been able to hear me before?” he asked anxiously.
Shaking my head slowly,
“No, I’ve never been able to hear anything from you or Jace.”
He smiled gently. “You shouldn’t be able to hear anything from
us. Our races have what you might call a built-in defense system against mind
readers. Wonder if it works the other way as well? Can you project your
thoughts to me?” he asked excitedly.
I felt my excitement
growing to match his. “I don’t know. I’ll try.”
Taking a deep breath, I
focused all my concentration and formed an image in my mind—the memory of
Talon, down on one knee, reciting the words which would bind me to him. He
needed to see himself from my viewpoint. Mentally pushing the image to Talon
with the words “I love you”, I watched intently for a reaction. I knew the
moment my thought reached him.
Talon’s head jerked up
and he slowly lowered himself to the edge of the bed. He sat there with his
hands shaking for several moments.
“Is that really the way
you see me?” he asked quietly.
I looked at him,
alarmed, afraid the thought hadn’t come across accurately. “Talon, what did you
see?”
He took my hands in
his, “No, please do not misunderstand. It was amazing—the greatest gift I have
ever received.”
My heart constricted as
the tears slowly rolled down my flushed cheeks. A knock on the door interrupted
us.
“Cay! Are you guys
ready to go? We have to hurry if we are going to relax on the beach before we
have to go to the spa,” Leah called through the door.
I walked to the door
and opened it, my cheeks still flushed.
Leah raised her
eyebrows and fought back a smile.
My face only reddened
further. I quickly tried to divert her
attention. “Let me see if I have this
right—we need to hurry up so we can relax…before we go to the spa to relax?”
“Exactly!” She grinned
at me brightly while Jace and Talon chuckled in the background. I jumped at the
sound. I hadn’t even heard Talon follow
me to the door.
“Well, let’s go then,”
gesturing pointedly at Talon and Jace, “Are you guys ready?”
“Just one second,”
Talon called over his shoulder while he ran back into our room. He came out
with my cover-up and shoes in his hands. “Now, we’re ready,” he said with a
smile.
Leah grabbed him around
the neck and gave him a quick hug. “Thank you for taking such good care of my
best friend.” Talon appeared genuinely surprised and then smiled back at her.
Jace wrapped an arm
around my waist and squeezed gently. I elbowed him in the ribs and he raised
his eyebrows as I said, “You turkey, you better take very good care of her.
Understand? She is extremely important to me. Leah has always been there for me
and I couldn’t bear to see her unhappy.”
“Me either,” Jace said
seriously.
Jace let go of me to
reach over and pull Leah into his arms. Talon wrapped his arms around me
leaning me back against his massive chest.
A few minutes later,
the four of us walked out of the suite hand in hand. Talon raised my left hand
and kissed my knuckle just below my ring. He spun me, and then lifted me under
my arms until we were at eye level. I wrapped my arms around him, kissing him
softly before he gently set me down on my feet and we started down the path to
the beach after Leah and Jace.
New Beginnings
The Lumina Saga Book ThreeStephanie Amox
The Lumina Saga Book ThreeStephanie Amox
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: CENA
Date of
Publication: Jan 2013
ISBN: B00AX0L2L8
Number of pages:
312
Word Count: 83,740
Book Description:
What happens when the extraordinary fades into
ordinary?
Caitlin awakens to find herself back in the normal life she shares with her best friend, Leah, in their small Texas town. Caitlin has no memory of the fantastic events of the last several months save a mystery man who haunts the shadows of her dreams. Constantly taken aback by strange occurrences: the sudden attention of the two most popular guys in school; Caitlin’s toe-to-toe showdown with Tami; and the constant coincidental run-ins with two mysterious strangers, keeps Caitlin’s nerves raw and on edge. Will she solve the mystery behind the strange events, or will the dreams be all that remains?
Caitlin awakens to find herself back in the normal life she shares with her best friend, Leah, in their small Texas town. Caitlin has no memory of the fantastic events of the last several months save a mystery man who haunts the shadows of her dreams. Constantly taken aback by strange occurrences: the sudden attention of the two most popular guys in school; Caitlin’s toe-to-toe showdown with Tami; and the constant coincidental run-ins with two mysterious strangers, keeps Caitlin’s nerves raw and on edge. Will she solve the mystery behind the strange events, or will the dreams be all that remains?
eXCERPT bOOK tHREE New Beginnings
1 BACK TO NORMAL?
I awoke with a
start to the sound of the alarm on my phone. Ugh. I was still so tired. I
remembered having some really bizarre dreams starring a serious hottie. The
only problem was I couldn’t remember any specific details about the dream or
even what the guy had looked like. I only knew he had been hot… seriously so. I
rolled over onto my back trying to recall even the slightest detail but it was
just out of reach. Each time I started to form a picture in my mind it simply
faded away. I finally gave up, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and caught
a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror over Faffy’s tank. Yikes! My hair was
a complete disaster. One glance at my phone told me I was already running late
so there went any hopes of straightening my hair before school. Strangely
enough, I was actually looking forward to school.
“Caiti, hurry up
or you’ll be late,” Mom called from the bottom of the stairs.
I reached for my
usual outfit consisting of a t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes then changed my
mind. I felt like wearing something
cute. Not that there was anyone to
impress. Ryan scared off anyone who showed even the slightest interest in
me. I guess everyone has a Ryan at some
point in her life. He’s the kind you go
on a couple of dates with and then he decides you are soul mates – completely
against your will.
I walked into my
closet and sorted through hanger after hanger until I found the perfect shirt.
It was almost like it called out to me.
It was a combination of sapphire silk and cream lace, and I paired it
with a pair of skinny jeans and cream wedges.
I was really in a weird mood – I
absolutely never wore heels to school.
Stairs and heels don’t mix well, and I had to walk a flight of stairs
several times a day. I pulled my bangs
into a clip and applied my makeup in various shades of blue. I took a step back from the mirror and
smiled. The effect was pretty good. I normally gravitate toward black since it
goes with just about everything, but today the blue appealed to me. Leah, my best friend, would be thrilled. She was always on my case about adding more
color to my wardrobe.
I grabbed my
phone and my favorite Vera Bradley backpack and headed down the stairs. I walked into the kitchen and thumped my
little brother on the back of the head while he sat at the island eating French
toast sticks.
“Hey Brady,
what’s up?” I asked as I passed.
“Ow! What was
that for?” He rubbed the back of his head with one hand.
I reached over
and gave him a squeeze. “Sorry Bud, I was just messing with you.”
He grinned at
me. “S’ok,” he said around a mouthful of his breakfast.
Mom came into
the kitchen and grabbed a travel mug off the counter before handing it over to
me.
I savored the
delicious aroma before taking a big swig. “Ahh. Thanks Mom.”
A good cup of
coffee and a hot bubble bath could solve just about any problem I might come
across.
Mom chuckled at
me and shook her head. She understood my
weaknesses and loved me anyway.
“All right you
two get your stuff together and let’s hit the road,” Mom said waving us toward
the back door.
A short time
later we were pulling up to the back door of the cafeteria. Leah was waiting for me like every other
day. Things at Marcus High School were
like any average American high school.
We had typical cliques, mediocre cafeteria food, and more than the
occasional laugh thrown into the mix.
I stepped out of
the car, hitched my backpack over my shoulder, and made my way to Leah’s side.
Her eyes widened
as I got closer, “You know you look a lot like my best friend, just more
colorful.”
“Har, Har… very
funny,” I grimaced.
She gestured to
my outfit. “So what gives
today? Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love the color. I didn’t even know you owned anything this shade.”
I shrugged my
shoulders, “I don’t know. I really felt
like wearing it. Quite frankly, I’m not
even sure how I found it since it was crammed in the back of the closet.” I pointed at her, “I could ask you the same
thing. I’ve never seen you wear this
color before.”
Leah was wearing
a silky fitted t-shirt in a stunning shade of violet. It really complemented
her coloring and looked good on her.
“I know right?
It was the strangest thing. I had the most bizarre dreams. I mean it wasn’t
just that I had weird dreams; it’s the fact that I can’t remember any specific
details. I know there was a super-hot guy, but as soon as I woke up, I couldn’t
even tell you the color of his hair.”
I grabbed her
hand, “Ohmigod. I had the same
thing. Every time I start to remember
something, it disappears just as fast.”
Leah’s eyebrows
drew together, “That is way too freaky.”
The bell rang
signaling our first class, and we rushed to first period to avoid being late. I was still thinking about the irony
of us both having mysterious dreams when I plopped into my chair in geometry.
“Well… well…
well. So nice of you to finally join the
ranks of the semi-decently dressed,” Tami said with narrowed eyes and her lips
curled up in a sneer.
I felt everyone
turn to face us to see what my reaction would be. The fuse on my temper burned
hot and fast. I was momentarily distracted when the classroom lights flickered
wildly. Narrowing my eyes at Tami, a wicked smile crept across my face. She had
finally pushed me to the brink.
“I really pity
you. You are so pathetic,” I said with a laugh.
A collective
gasp went up around the room while Tami stared at me in disbelief.
“What did you
just say?” she demanded.
I laid my pencil
down on my desk. “Here, let me say it again, and I’ll say it slowly this time
so even you can follow along.” Snickering came from somewhere behind me and
I fought back a smile before continuing, “It’s pathetic you make snide comments
and treat people like crap in order to make yourself feel good. It’s pretty
freaking sad, if you ask me.”
Her face turned
an unflattering blotchy red and then purple. “Exactly who do you think you are
talking to? You are a nobody, and I am surrounded by tons of people. Now who is
pathetic?” she waved her hand dismissively in my general direction.
I tilted my head
and looked at her with my eyebrows drawn together. “You just don’t get it, do
you? I surround myself with people I know I can trust and who love me for who I
am. You, on the other hand, surround yourself with anyone who will tell you how
good you look or agree with every word you say. My friends don’t talk about me
behind my back – can you say the same?”
She looked at me
with her mouth hanging open.
I smiled
knowingly. “That’s what I thought. Now who is the pathetic one?” I shrugged my
shoulders and turned around in my desk.
“Caiti,” a voice
came from my left.
I turned and
found myself face-to-face with Matt. I had known him since pre-school, and we
always managed to have one or two classes together over the years. He was fairly
quiet but had a great smile. Right now his smile was in danger of splitting his
face in half. He gave me a high five, “Thank you. Nicely handled, Caitlin.
It’s about time someone did that.”
I snickered,
“Sorry, I just snapped. Normally it’s just not worth the grief she doles out
later.”
He continued to
grin “All I can say is ‘well done.’”
Tami persisted
in grinding her teeth with her face remaining a mottled purple while Mr. Von
started class. I simply didn’t care enough about her opinion to give her
another thought. Frustration emanated from her for the duration of class and
that made me smile – right up until the bell rang.
Tami grabbed her
things and stormed out of class.
As usual Leah
was waiting for me outside class while people filed out of geometry – some of
them patting me on the back and congratulating me.
Leah’s eyebrows
rose in confusion. “Did I miss something?” she asked.
“Nah, not
really.”
“She’s being way
too modest,” Matt said shaking his head.
Now he
definitely had Leah’s full attention. Leah
stomped her foot. “Ok, out with it, what happened?”
Matt leaned
closer to Leah and proceeded to fill her in.
I searched up
and down the hallway. What the hell was I
doing? Who or what did I expect to see? It reminded me of one of those
memory tests from elementary school. You had a certain amount of time to look
at a photo and then it would be taken away, and you had to see what was missing
in the new photo. It was incredibly frustrating. It must have something to do
with the fact that I was unable to recall any details from that stupid dream.
“Caitlin,” Leah smacked me on the shoulder.
“What?”
“You freak.
Did you really say that to Tami?”
I looked at the ceiling and drew a line on
the linoleum with the toe of my shoe, “Maybe.”
She burst out laughing. What has gotten
into you today? First with the cute
outfit and then you tear Tami a new one – what’s the story?”
I toyed with my necklace. “Let’s just say,
I woke up this morning with a whole new perspective on life. Tami’s usual crap just seemed so juvenile and
incredibly stupid today.”
Leah snorted. “Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m
beyond proud of you. She’s had that coming for years. I just never thought you would be the one to do it.”
I bowed at the waist. “Thank you, thank
you. I’ll be here all week. Don’t forget to tip your waitress.”
Leah and Matt dissolved into laughter and
clung to each other for support.
I grabbed them both by the elbow. “Come on
you freaks, before we’re late to second period.”
Matt shot us a grin over his shoulder and
headed up the stairs to his next class.
Leah and I continued on to the commons. As
we passed by, we noticed several people whispering. Those who weren’t
whispering were boldly walking up and giving us a high-five.
“Who was that?”
Leah asked after the last in a string of strange guys walked by.
I don’t mean they were strange, just that I didn’t
know them.
“I have
absolutely no idea.” I was suddenly struck with a vision of Leah and me on a
beach somewhere tropical surrounded by hot guys. I shook my head to clear my
thoughts. That was totally bizarre. I
mean we had been to Maui the summer before, but I certainly know I would have
remembered a crowd like that. I looked at Leah’s stunned expression. Oh yeah. If
I hadn’t remembered, Leah definitely would have been all over that.
Leah’s eyebrows drew
together creating wrinkles in her forehead. “This may sound really stupid, but
I have the strangest sense of déjà vu, like this has all happened before,” she
tilted her head to one side. “Do you know what I mean?”
“Totally. I
never thought I’d hear myself say this, but all this attention is making me a
little nervous. I can’t say that I
really like it.”
Leah fidgeted
with her hair and shuffled her feet while she scanned the hall nervously, like
she expected someone to jump out at her. “I know what you mean. They are all behaving
like paparazzi. Since when did we become so fascinating?” She giggled. “Maybe
you should have done this years ago?”
I snorted, “Yeah
‘cause you know how much I love to be
the center of attention. Ugh!”
She smacked me
on one shoulder before heading off to chemistry. “Oh, Caiti, just go with it
for once.”
Somehow I thought I had heard that somewhere
before. I grunted and headed off to World
Geography.
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Jodie Pierce
