Minor Moon of Leviathan
Arosa was lying in Tamblin’s arms with her head on his shoulder when a familiar presence drew her attention to the entrance of the cave. She brushed her fingers tenderly along Tamblin’s relaxed face. He was sleeping deeply—a combination of their lovemaking and his exhaustion from the last few months of conflict.
She faded, reforming next to the bed. A gown appeared around her, and she glided across the cave to the entrance. A smile brightened her face when she saw Arilla waving her arms like a conductor in front of an orchestra. Beyond, the burnt ground transformed as a light rain fell. Colorful mushrooms pushed up through the ground to carpet the once scorched landscape.
Thank you, sister, Arosa said as she floated over to her.
“You’re welcome,” Arilla replied with a grin.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
Arilla shrugged. “Exploring, checking in on old friends, giving my sister time to find out where her heart truly belongs,” she stated.
“I didn’t realize we could have a heart—until now,” she replied.
Arilla smiled in response. They stood side-by-side, gazing out at the world. Arosa watched as dozens of transports arrived on the planet. A swift search of the vessels reassured her it was only the Valdier returning the confiscated Tasiers to the moon.
“What will happen next, Arilla? I love him. I can’t imagine existing without him,” she said.
“You’ll be happy,” Arilla responded, threading her arm through Arosa’s.
“Aikaterina—” she began in a hushed tone.
Arilla laughed and squeezed her arm. “I don’t think you need to worry about Aikaterina. She has her own challenges to deal with, thanks to us,” she retorted in a reassuring tone.
Arosa looked at her sister. “What will you do?” she asked.
Arilla wiggled her nose. “I’ll explore more worlds, visit my sister occasionally, help the Dragonlings get into mischief, and try to stay one step ahead of the Elders,” she said.
“It sounds like you are on a mission,” she reflected.
Arilla laughed. “Yes, I guess I am. What do you think?” she asked, waving a hand at her handiwork.
Arosa gazed out at the healed landscape and smiled. “Beautiful, just like you,” she teased.
“I’ll miss you, Arosa,” Arilla confessed.
“I’ll miss you, too, sister,” she said.
She trailed her fingers along Arilla’s arm as she slowly vanished. A smile of contentment curved her lips. She wondered if the universe was ready for a renegade Goddess on a mission. The thought caused her to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Tamblin asked, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her back against him.
“I thought you would still be asleep,” she teased.
He kissed her neck. “I missed you. You’ve been busy,” he said.
“A gift from my sister Arilla,” she confessed.
“Will you stay with me?” he quietly inquired.
She heard the note of uncertainty in his voice. She turned in his arms and caressed his cheek. He gazed at her with a look that laid bare his soul. The love shining in his eyes took her breath away and made her want to cry—in a good way.
“I love you, Tamblin. My heart belongs to you,” she said, grasping his hand and pressing it against her chest.
“You will always be my Arosa. The beautiful Queen of the Wood Fairies who captured my heart,” he murmured before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.
Valdier:
Several months later
“So tells me what’s the matter,” Morah Reykill said, adjusting her golden glasses.
“I’ve met a man—a human—and I’m not sure what to do. One minute I want to feel his touch, and the next, I’m seriously considering burying him up to his neck in the ground,” Arilla confessed, lying back against the pillows on Morah’s bed.
Morah tapped on the tablet she was holding and looked over the rim of her glasses. “You’s comes to the right person for advice,” she calmly said.
Note from the Author:
I hope you enjoyed Tamblin and Arosa’s story. The characters from the Kingdom of Glitter and Sandora captured my imagination when I first wrote about them in Ambushing Ariel. After writing For the Love of Tia and The Dragonlings and the Magic Four-Leaf Clover, I knew I would have to write Tamblin and Arosa’s story. Yet, as you can imagine, I’ve also fallen in love with the mysterious, powerful, and charming ‘Goddesses’. Arosa and Arilla captured my heart the moment they first appeared in my series. So, as much as this will probably get me in a lot of trouble, there will be more stories from the Dragon Lords, the Dragonlings, and yes—there will even be one for a Renegade Goddess. PS: Don’t forget to look for Easter Eggs to some of my other series hidden inside!!
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my husband Steve for believing in me and being proud enough of me to give me the courage to follow my dream. I would also like to give a special thank you to my sister and best friend, Linda, who not only encouraged me to write, but who also read the manuscript. Also, to my other friends who believe in me: Julie, Jackie, Christel, Sally, Jolanda, Lisa, Laurelle, Debbie, and Narelle. The girls that keep me going!
And a special thanks to Paul Heitsch, David Brenin, Samantha Cook, Suzanne Elise Freeman, PJ Ochlan, Vincent Fallow, L. Sophie Helbig, and Hope Newhouse—the outstanding voices behind my audiobooks!
– S. E. Smith
About S.E. Smith
S.E. Smith is a New York Times, USA TODAY, International, and Award-Winning Bestselling author of science fiction, romance, fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary works for adults, young adults, and children. She enjoys writing a wide variety of genres that pull her readers into worlds that take them away.
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A Dragonling’s Haunted Halloween
A Dragonling’s Magical Christmas
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Dark Ambitions
A Class Five Novella
1
“I want you to stay with Sazo.” Dav threaded his fingers through Rose's hair and massaged her scalp with clever fingers.
She gave a hum of contentment. “No.”
“No?” His fingers stilled and he bent his head to look down at her.
“No. There's a beautiful planet below. A large group of your crew is going down to it, and I want to go with them.”