Belega
by Dianne Hartsock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Erotic Fantasy Romance (M/M)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
The Karthagans have regained their ancient powers of manipulating nature but at the price of madness. In their lust for control, they've destroyed their island and most of their race. They come now to Belega, where one of them, Camron, seeks domination over the known world. The Mage has come from the northern continent of Sennia to bring peace but finding his strength no match for the coming struggle, he passes his abilities on to Natan, who only desires a simple life.
Now only Natan has the ability to stop Camron, but the personal cost is more than he imagines. It is only with the combined strength of his friends, his Karthagan lover, Kavi, and his deep desire to bring lasting peace to the earth, that he finds the courage to overcome Camron and restore balance to the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
He sharpened his knife on a whetstone to pass the time while the soldier remained unconscious. As the stars came out, an ache crept into his chest as he thought of Kavi and how they used to lie awake, watching for falling stars. Natan would make them tea in a little pot over the fire; then they’d wrap in warm blankets and talk quietly while the sky wheeled overhead. Sometimes they made love, Kavi’s warm sleek body pliant as Natan searched out new ways to draw those sweet breathy moans from his lips.
And then it had all ended. Natan closed his eyes at the jab of pain in his heart. The Nagal soldiers had come to their camp and dragged Kavi away, laughing when Natan struggled, and methodically beat him senseless. That had been two weeks ago, and every attempt he’d made to find his lover had failed. The last time he’d been in Amara he’d been threatened with imprisonment himself.
He would do Kavi no good behind iron bars, he reminded
himself.
Natan opened his eyes to find the captive staring at him from where he’d slumped against the tree. Natan went over and helped him to a sitting position.
“What’s your name?” he asked with ice in his voice. The man
continued to stare at him, insolent.
Natan looked him over carefully. “Let me guess. You’re dressed as a Nagal soldier, though you’re obviously not one. Maybe a deserter? Maybe a Barkuit spy?” He watched the soldier’s face as he named the rival country, then leaned closer to whisper, “What of Kavi?”
“That trash?” the man asked in surprise, then yelped when Natan lunged at him, knife slipping into his hand.
“Say that again and I’ll slit your throat. Now, what is your name?”
“Captain Syros Reed.”
Natan sat back on his heels, fury hot in his chest. “Speak.”
“I could tell you where they mean to bury him,” Syros drawled, holding Natan’s gaze, and smiled slightly at his sharply indrawn breath. “That is, once Landlan has drawn the secret to the Karthagans’ power over nature out of him. The power the Barkuit army would kill to use in our coming conflict. Kavi was alive the last time I saw him, but I heard they meant to bury him soon. If you hurry, he may still be breathing. I don’t know.”
“And you didn’t help him?” With a sudden enraged cry, Natan drove his knife into the sapling inches from Syros’s face. “He’d better be alive, for your sake.”
He left his water skin for Syros, should the man succeed in freeing himself, then gave the soldier no more thought as he snatched up his pack and settled into the long run ahead, determined to be at the Lake of Glass on time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.
Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Dianne Hartsock will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
9 Comments
Thank you for hosting my BELEGA!!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcomed.
Deletecool
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in!
DeleteThis looks like a fantastic novel. Thanks for hosting this tour.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you think so! Thanks for coming by.
DeleteI like the cover. Looks great.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt and giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the cover.
ReplyDelete