Shadowed Magic (The Enlightened Species Novella) (14 page)

Symbiosis
of
Species
Council
(SOSC):
A relatively new movement globally resembling the United Nations, the council represents the interests of Humanity (the pre-enlighten species), Aquatie, Tellus, and Volaticus. The council’s goal is to utilize the strengths and abilities of the three species for the betterment of all species and the planet.

Tellus:
An enlightened species whose primary habitat in below the earth’s surface. The Tellus have the ability to liquefy solid rock using ultrasound, enabling them to travel deep into the earth. Specialized oxygen storing cells allow them to survive in low-oxygen environments. They have the ability to shift into other forms and generate electromagnetic fields for the creation of chortals, and their bodies are able to withstand extreme temperatures and pressures. Tellus rarely exceed six foot in height, and their skin color ranges from light tan to pitch dark. They have millions of highly sensitive pressure sensors. Tellus have average eyesight with usually darker shades of eye colors, though their eyesight is better than a human’s. They lack the overdeveloped hearing of the other two enlightened species.

Universe:
The source of all energy.

Volaticus:
An enlightened species thousands of years old, they have the ability to fly, speak telepathically, and bridge to other species telepathically. Volaticus use kinetic energy and manipulate electromagnetic fields for teleportation (porting and chortals). Physical attributes include thin, membranous wings that tuck into the heavily developed musculature of the back, dentes (fangs) for feeding to maintain iron levels, movable ears for directional long-distance hearing, and exceptional eyesight. Volaticus are potentially immortal. Races of Volaticus include Elven and Hulven.

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Read on for an excerpt from

The Enlightened Species Book One

Immortal Becoming

By

Wendy S. Hales

Available Now

And

The Enlightened Species Book Two

Shadow Revealed

By

Wendy S. Hales

Available Now

The
Enlightened
Species
Book
One

By Wendy S. Hales

Jess visually took in the rear view of Shane, and what a rear. His ass should be molded and placed on display at the Smithsonian. She could picture it with a golden plaque declaring it “the greatest work of art in the history of the world.” Topping his well-formed thighs, it was accentuated by his narrow hips. She wanted to cup his ass cheeks with a compulsion that nearly had her doing just that. Instead she forced her eyes to rise up to where his wings attached into either side of his spine muscles.

He was holding himself so still for her that it made her smile. She wondered what it would take to knock him out of his statue routine and ran her fingers along one of the lower limbs holding the wing membrane. Shane groaned, warming her blood. She’d already realized that he meant what he’d said. He had left her in the tub out of honor, not a lack of desire, making him even more perfect.

“Can’t you make your fangs disappear now?” They made him sexier and harder to resist. Nothing he had shown her had detracted from her attraction to him. In fact it intensified it. Shane grabbed her using the small thumb and fingers at the end of the winged limbs. “Hey!”

“Sorry.” Shane spoke aloud, letting her hear the full extent of his lisp “The dentes, fingers and … other parts of me seem to have a mind of their own right now.”

Was that an invitation? Jess’s felt her chest tighten at the potential sexual innuendo. Unsure of how to respond, she instead asked, “So you can fly?”

“Yes.” His dentes caused the “s” to have a slight “th” sound.

“Could you fly if you were carrying me?” Running her fingers across the thin membrane, she realized just how delicate but strong the wings were. The membrane was paper-thin, the limbs less than an inch in diameter

“Perhaps. How much do you weigh?” He was teasing her, and she playfully slapped at his limb fingers. “Ouch,” he said, pretending she had wounded him. “Yeah, I can.” He let the wing drop as if broken. “What did you hit me for? I was being nice and sweet, holding still for you and everything.” He was pouting. Well, as much as you can pout with fangs in the way. She really liked this playful side of him. He made her laugh.

“Can you put them away?” she requested, wondering if his wings were going to have the same determination to remain as his fangs his erection apparently did. Shane retracted them so fast that they seemed to have vanished to her.

“Wow.” Jess was unable to conceive of what he’d just done. His back looked normal … No, normal wasn’t the right term. Human. She had to look closely to see the back flaps. Then she was sure she only spotted them because she already knew they where there.

Unable to resist, she slid her finger under one of the flaps. Shane jerked, the first movement he had made since she began checking him out. She jumped back, startled.

“That tickles,” he snapped, a concerned look halting his smile, followed swiftly by what she could only describe as defeated acceptance. Damn, he must have thought he’d scared her. Not in what he’d done, in what he was. How had their roles reversed? Now that she was pretty sure he was attracted to her, he was behaving like he thought she no longer was.

“Really?” Using her favorite tool, she went after the flaps again. For the first time she didn’t regulate her speed to appear normal. They zoomed from one side of the room to the other with her trying to tickle him and him lunging away to avoid her fingers. He launched himself into the La-Z-Boy, effectively denying her access to his ticklish flaps. Her momentum put her squarely into his lap, both of them laughing.

Shane’s arms enfolded her. Her laughter faded off she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head down on his shoulder. She felt feminine in his arms. Nestling against his chest, she was amazed at how natural it felt with him holding her. Then her brain registered his erection against her bottom.

“So let me guess. We are not allowed to be attracted to each other.” Her voice caught, trying not to cry. That would be her luck, to finally meet a guy she was attracted to. One that didn’t make her head hurt, literally. He would be forbidden fruit.

Shane rubbed her cheek and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch warm and gentle against her skin. She lifted her face to meet his eyes.

“Jess, I needed you to see me in true form before allowing myself to even fathom the idea that you might offer me such a gift as loving you would be,” he assured her. “That was the only reason I resisted you in the bath.” His eyes darkened to a near black again. “We live very long lives, and walking away from you in the bath was the most difficult thing I have ever done.” He let the full depth of his desire for her show in his eyes. “Wait. That’s not true. Standing here, refraining from throwing you over my shoulder and cave-manning you into the bedroom: That was the most difficult thing I have ever done. The bath is the close second. ”

The
Enlightened
Species
Book
Two

By Wendy S. Hales

Umbrae couldn’t help taking the defensive pose she’d donned during her time with Zakel, fists held against her heart. She worked hard to break the habit, but this time she didn’t even try, though she noticed Enlil glanced at her fists, then back to her face. He leaned against the table in the center of the room, his arms crossed over his chest, his ankles crossed casually. She wasn’t deceived; he was anything but relaxed, and tension permeated the air.

“Why you?” he finally asked. His blank, unreadable expression was unrecognizable from Etana's memories.

“I was his victim.” Her voice caught and she had to swallow to continue. Enlil looked her length, meeting her gaze again. “Irsu’s unit rescued me, but Master Zakel escaped. I had been held by him for more than seventy-five years ... I'm not sure of the exact number of years.” Not that the number of years mattered, yet her mind started reconciling time rather than go to the place it was heading.
“
Be
strong,
Umbrae-girl.
This
moment
will
be
difficult
for
Enlil
too.
”
The released subliminal/compulsion-initiated voice of Etana spoke to Umbrae. How many helpful prompts had her friend placed to aid her in meeting Enlil?

Enlil gave a swift intake of breath, though his face remained an unreadable mask. The gold of his eyes thinned around his pupil. “You were his blood slave?” Umbrae couldn’t help it, she had to look away as she nodded. “Did he also use you in other ways?”

She felt her shoulders slump as the false pride she’d erected crumbled and the memories she worked so hard to bury flooded her mind, taking her back in time. Enlil watched her silently, awaiting her response. When the tears fell, she shadowed, not wanting him to see her cry, but incredibly he never looked away. She stepped closer to the door, and Enlil's gaze tracked her movements like she was visible. How was he still seeing her?

He stood, stepping unerringly to her, and pulled her shadowed form into a hug. Shadowed and shielded, she clung to him, tears racking her body in a release she’d never allowed before. Every one of the horrors she’d been subjected to broke free and her tears ran unchecked down Enlil’s solid chest. With one hand to her middle back and the other cradling her head, he held her to his chest. The beat of his heart centered her throughout the rush of pain. Enlil rested his cheek against her hair in silent understanding. Their pain may have originated from different sources, but the depth of agony they both felt was the same.

The memories released their hold on Umbrae, leaving her with the feeling of strong arms holding her. Her shadow retreated and she could see her arms wrapped around him too. In the calm after the emotional storm, she relaxed her fist against his back, the aching digits open to feel his heat beneath her hands. It should have been awkward being in the arms of a male willingly for the first time in her life, yet it felt so right. Her belly fluttered, and her nipples hardened against the thin halter that separated them. He was aroused; she could feel his erection against her stomach. Was he attracted to her? Or were their bodies simply responding to the shared emotional release? His silence had not hidden his commiseration of her pain.

Reluctantly she pulled away, keeping her eyes averted. What if she saw pity? That was one thing she never wanted from this particular male. He caught her chin in his hands forcing her to meet his eyes. “We will kill the beast together.” She didn’t see pity; she saw ruthless determination. “I will hold him, you’ll chop the fucker’s head off, and then I’ll piss in his skull.”

At first Umbrae thought he was being completely serious till he half-grinned, and she realized he was only semi-serious. He probably wouldn’t piss in Zakel's skull. She mirrored his grin and nodded. “Can I pee on it too?” Her voice stammered—she still had a hard time utilizing sarcasm in conversation.

Enlil barked out a laugh, startling her. “Hell, Umbrae, I’ll help you aim.” His whole face changed when he smiled. A real smile that reached his eyes, infused once more with the gold. She wished she could hold this moment forever.

The
Enlightened
Species
Book
Three

By Wendy S. Hales

Coming Summer 2012