I want to kiss her bright pink lips, run my mouth over her flushed chest. But I remember what happened today, and I won’t take advantage of her vulnerability. I gently run my hand over her wrist, then squeeze her hand tightly before releasing it and standing. She looks at me with a small smile, biting her lip as she gazes up at me through thick lashes. Her amber eyes bore into me, conveying her longing and need. But today was a hard day for her, so I return to my seat. I ask her to tell me more about Eastern Velmara, and even though she continues to look at me with heat in her expression, she excitedly returns to telling me about the mystical and lush part of Velmara that runs the entire length of the eastern coast of the kingdom.

Laurel

The Kalmeera family name has been respected throughout Velmara for thousands of years. Known for their practice of wedding the females of their line much earlier than tradition dictates, Kalmeeras are highly sought after for the Sons of Velmara. Some say their proclivity for producing multiple children comes from this practice, as well as the way they raise their females. Kalmeera males, on the other hand, are praised for their wit and intelligence. Many of the notable royal advisors throughout history have been from this noble family.

The Secrets and Stories of Velmara

When I wake the next morning, my body aches. Thorne’s revelations about what happened to me in those caves confuse me. Why had the aether been draining from my body?

I wonder if that’s why my muscles are so sore and why my joints screech when I lift my body into a sitting position. Lunaria is curled up at my feet, and I think I remember her sleeping there through the entire night. That’s rare, and yet another sign I’m still healing from yesterday. Any time I’ve ever truly been injured, Lunaria hasn’t left my side. I try to delicately shift my body so as not to disturb her, but it doesn’t work. At my tiniest movement, her ears perk up and her eyes open. She stands and pads over to me on the bed. Her massive frame bends over me, sniffing every part of my body before satisfying herself and leaping from the bed to curl up in her nest in the corner.