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Author: Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Series: The Light Chronicles Book #1
Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance
Publication: February 24, 2014 by Astraea Press
Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.
Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.
Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.
Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal
As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?
Each installment of The Light Chronicles is a standalone story.
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We walk in
silence for what seems like several
hours. The sun is at midday,
yet we still haven't
stopped to rest. Zane
isn't holding my hand like he
was in the forest. Of course,
there's nothing
for me to trip over on this
wide clear road, with the exception
of the ruts from the wagon wheels. I miss feeling
his strong hand gripping
mine. Perhaps I should just be
bold like Celeste
and take his hand
if
I want to hold it. The thought
leads to a tiny giggle escaping
my mouth. I'm mortified when Zane glances
back at me, his right eyebrow
arched.
"Are you okay?" he
asks as he
stops walking. My face must
be crimson. When I don't answer, he places his hand on my forehead. "You're quite warm. Maybe we should
rest for a
little bit."
I nod my agreement
and sit down in the tall
grass on the side of
the road. Hopefully
the grass will conceal
my red face from view. Zane does one last survey of our surroundings before lowering
himself to
the ground next to me.
"Here," he says, handing his canteen to
me, "Have some water. It'll help you feel better.
Be sure to tell me in the future when you need to
rest."
Nodding, I take a slow drink while trying to calm my racing heart.
Then another unbidden
thought enters
my mind, and I picture
his lips on the same flask. I choke on the drink I'm taking.
Zane pats my back as I sputter
and cough. So embarrassing.
I wonder what other evils my mind has planned
for me.
"I'm okay," I say, handing the flask back,
"but I think I'll hold off on water for
a while."
Settling on my
back in the thick grass, I hide my red face beneath
my arm. Just a couple of minutes
and the flush will fade. If I don't stop blushing
around him, he'll start to
think red is my natural skin color. I feel movement in the grass
beside me. His fingertips trace a feather
light caress along the arm slung
over my face. Lowering my arm, I breathe
out a tiny gasp. Zane's face
is within inches of mine.
I watch his lips curl into a slight smile as his hand moves from my arm to
caress my cheek.
His garnet eyes are mesmerizing, trapping me
within the twin pools of fire.
He leans closer, his lips so
close yet still too
far away. My heart pounds
in my chest, my eyes still ensnared
by his gaze. His
lips meet mine, softly at first, then more demanding. A soft moan escapes my throat,
and my eyes flutter
closed.
"Is this okay?" he
asks in a breathless whisper, his lips
brushing mine when he speaks.
Instead of answering, I wind my arms around his neck,
pulling his body closer. My mouth opens under the soft pressure of his tongue,
granting him entrance. He explores my mouth with excruciating slowness. My body
feels like it's on fire as tiny shivers of pleasure race up and down my
extremities. I bury my fingers into his auburn hair trapping him against me. He
groans, pulling me against him, tightening his arms around my upper body, and I
feel a delicious warmth pool deep within my body.
When his lips leave mine I'm still lost to the sensations,
all so raw and new. Opening my eyes, I gaze up at him, my limbs not quite ready
to function yet. His eyes are darkened with passion, which sends another wave
of desire coursing through my body.
"As much as I'd like to stay like this all
day," he murmurs, nipping at my lower lip. Clearing his throat he
continues, "We need to get moving."
Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America.
She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety.
Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)
Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.
