Since you’ve been patiently waiting for the release of Fated, Part Four, I thought I’d give you a little Timeless Christmas treat. I also thought I’d give you an ebook release date for Fated, Part Four…December 19th!
I’m hoping to have the print copy available by Jan 1st, but will keep you posted on that date.
So a Merry Christmas from me to you. Enjoy!
A Timeless Christmas
I watched Cheyenne stare out the back patio doors, as she
often did at our Selavon home. She was watching the snow trickle from the sky. I
smiled as she traced her fingers down the window, following the course of the
flakes. At last she could enjoy real peace, and I’d do whatever it took to keep
things that way.
often did at our Selavon home. She was watching the snow trickle from the sky. I
smiled as she traced her fingers down the window, following the course of the
flakes. At last she could enjoy real peace, and I’d do whatever it took to keep
things that way.
Even I’d noticed a change in myself, too. There was no more
restless wandering, searching for that missing piece. I’d found it, but nearly
lost it in the process. Life, death, turmoil and war had come between us;
fights that tore my family apart and divided the clans. But I’d owned up to my
mistakes, done my best to set things right, and managed to salvage happiness. I
hadn’t done it alone, though. Callon had been instrumental in guiding Cheyenne,
and he’d saved her life as well. It had come at the cost of his powers, but
he’d sacrificed them willingly, wanting to atone for his own mistakes. We both
finally understood that the future we’d tried to create wasn’t for us to decide.
It was up to Cheyenne, and with her freedom she’d chosen me.
restless wandering, searching for that missing piece. I’d found it, but nearly
lost it in the process. Life, death, turmoil and war had come between us;
fights that tore my family apart and divided the clans. But I’d owned up to my
mistakes, done my best to set things right, and managed to salvage happiness. I
hadn’t done it alone, though. Callon had been instrumental in guiding Cheyenne,
and he’d saved her life as well. It had come at the cost of his powers, but
he’d sacrificed them willingly, wanting to atone for his own mistakes. We both
finally understood that the future we’d tried to create wasn’t for us to decide.
It was up to Cheyenne, and with her freedom she’d chosen me.
It was still like a dream to me. We’d only been married three
months, but we’d come so far already. All past heartache forgiven, ready to
move on together. I couldn’t wait to see where our lives would lead next.
months, but we’d come so far already. All past heartache forgiven, ready to
move on together. I couldn’t wait to see where our lives would lead next.
Cheyenne glanced over her shoulder, and I inched back into the
hall. I didn’t want her to see me yet. She was staring at a package under the Christmas
tree, and I smiled. She wanted our first Christmas together to be special. And
it would be, because she was right here with me.
hall. I didn’t want her to see me yet. She was staring at a package under the Christmas
tree, and I smiled. She wanted our first Christmas together to be special. And
it would be, because she was right here with me.
The package jiggled, but then stilled. She walked towards it,
placing her hand on the top. I quietly tiptoed to the front door, picking up my
package from outside. I made more noise than necessary so she’d hear me.
placing her hand on the top. I quietly tiptoed to the front door, picking up my
package from outside. I made more noise than necessary so she’d hear me.
I walked into the room, my smile spreading. I eyed the box she
was sitting next too, then placed mine beside it. I gave a quick wink before
kissing her cheek.
was sitting next too, then placed mine beside it. I gave a quick wink before
kissing her cheek.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” I said. I took off my jacket
and tossed it to the chair. “By the way, how come Daniel showed up this
morning?”
and tossed it to the chair. “By the way, how come Daniel showed up this
morning?”
Cheyenne looked away.
“Oh, no reason, just to wish us Merry Christmas.” She focused
on the tree and straightened a decoration.
on the tree and straightened a decoration.
“Really? When he’ll be coming over later with everyone else?”
My brow rose.
My brow rose.
Before Cheyenne could answer, my box moved sideways, and a
low growling came inside. Cheyenne stared.
low growling came inside. Cheyenne stared.
“What kind of gift is this?” she asked.
“Why don’t you open it and see?” I answered, unable to hide
my grin.
my grin.
Cheyenne tilted her head at me, curious. She grasped the box,
which had started to tremble. A whimper escaped, and she quickly unfastened the
blue bow and pulled off the lid.
which had started to tremble. A whimper escaped, and she quickly unfastened the
blue bow and pulled off the lid.
A yellow bundle of fur jumped out, pressing its paws on her
chest, tail wagging. Cheyenne gasped.
chest, tail wagging. Cheyenne gasped.
“Colt!” she gushed, lifting the yellow lab out of the box.
“She’s the cutest thing ever!!”
“She’s the cutest thing ever!!”
She hugged the puppy to her chest, giggling as it licked her
face. Her pink collar jingled and she pulled her back, looking at the tag.
face. Her pink collar jingled and she pulled her back, looking at the tag.
“‘Ember’.” Her eyes shone. “She’s perfect.” She pointed to
the other box with the red ribbon. “I had no idea what to get you, so…I hope
you like it.”
the other box with the red ribbon. “I had no idea what to get you, so…I hope
you like it.”
“I’m sure I will,” I said. I lifted the box into my lap, carefully
removing the ribbon, then slipped the lid open. My eyes widened, and I burst
out laughing. A very sleepy, and very large chocolate lab was sitting inside. I
picked him out, and he let out a tiny whine. I glanced at the dangling tag.
removing the ribbon, then slipped the lid open. My eyes widened, and I burst
out laughing. A very sleepy, and very large chocolate lab was sitting inside. I
picked him out, and he let out a tiny whine. I glanced at the dangling tag.
“Moab,” I said. “That’s an unusual name, for sure.”
“It’s short for Most Obedient and Adorable Bundle,” Cheyenne
supplied.
supplied.
“That fits, I guess,” I chuckled, stroking Moab’s back. Cheyenne
leaned over and kissed me.
leaned over and kissed me.
“Merry Christmas, Colt.”
Ember barked, and we both jumped. I put Moab on the floor,
and she went and butted his side. Moab’s ear twitched, but he didn’t otherwise
move.
and she went and butted his side. Moab’s ear twitched, but he didn’t otherwise
move.
“They’re going to be so perfect together,” I said, curling my
arm around Cheyenne.
arm around Cheyenne.
“Yeah,” Cheyenne said. “Just like us.” She linked her hand
with mine. “I’m so happy here, Colt. After everything that happened, I never
thought this would be possible.” She rested her head on my chest. “I love you.”
with mine. “I’m so happy here, Colt. After everything that happened, I never
thought this would be possible.” She rested her head on my chest. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Cheyenne,” I said, holding her close. “And I promise I’ll always keep you happy, no matter what.”