Welcome Erosa Knowles and Lawked Flame!
Lawked Flame
By Erosa Knowles
Blurb
Can a woman who has been betrayed in the worst way by an
ex-spouse learn to trust again? Will she open her heart to a man who seems to
be too good to be true, meeting every requirement she has ever wanted or needed
in a partner?
Alayna would. But it will take time. Time is the one thing
Khayden, Master Lawke, doesn’t have. His enemies are bent on destroying his
people and harming Earth in the process.
The only way to save both is for his Kee, Alayna, to unlock
him, freeing his powers and unbeknownst to her, her own. But first she has to
believe that there’s more to her current lover than she sees. It will take a
leap of faith to accept his pursuit and engage her battered heart again. The
attacks are speeding up, with an alarming amount of casualties. Despite the
fierce attraction, Alayna isn’t sure she’s strong enough to lay bare her heart
again, so soon. Khayden is betting his life that she is strong enough to do
that and to handle his flame.
Lawked Flame by Erosa Knowles a paranormal romance.
Get it for your Kindle
or in paperback Barnes
and Noble Are
Lawked Flame Excerpt:
Bat in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, Alayna
strode down the middle of the cobblestone road that led to what appeared to be
some sort of western town. Not western, she didn’t see any saloons, but
definitely not modern. There were two-storied clapboard buildings with
interesting architectural details flanking the street. Her other brother Tommy
was an architect. He would be able to explain all the scrolls and expansive
woodwork on the exteriors.
As she studied the buildings she wondered if people lived in
this place or if it was the remnants from a Hollywood movie set. Strange, none
of the buildings bore signs on the outside. Even though they appeared well
maintained—no peeling paint or even a loose board—like the plants and trees
they seemed dull.
The sounds she’d heard earlier had ceased the moment the buildings
had come into sight. A sense of foreboding rolled over her, and she considered
returning to the safety of the truck. She squeezed the handle of the bat
securely as she inched forward, her eyes roaming the street and buildings for
signs of people.
A bubble of laughter rose up on the wings of hysteria. She
was lost in the woods on a cobblestone road in the middle of what looked like a
ghost town. If she were looking to develop a fantasy theme park, this would be
a perfect spot. None of this made any sense. At twenty-nine years old with a
brutal divorce under her belt, she’d lost her whimsical glasses and saw things
with a pragmatic eye.
“Mmmay…I…I..h.h.help?” The deep voice stuttered as though
unsure he could speak.
“Ahhhh,” Alayna yelled as she spun around at his first word,
dropping her water bottle as the bat flew forward, striking him on the arm.
Totally unaffected by the blow, he glanced at the bat and then at her.
Oh shit. Her heart nearly jumped out her throat. Chest
heaving, palm forward, she backed away from the serious-looking man.
“Where’d…you…come…from?” she choked out the question. She hadn’t heard his
approach.
He frowned. “Come… from?” His eyes were cloudy.
Lord help her. He, like their surroundings, seemed dull.
“Yes,” she drawled. “You were not here a moment ago.” She stared at him, taking
in his light green long-sleeved canvas drawstring shirt and matching pants. His
hair was an odd mixture of blondish-brown.
He blinked repeatedly. “Moment ago?” he asked, his words
clearer.
Backing away, she glanced back the way she’d come, wondering
if she could make it to the Rover.
“I am sorry if I frightened you.”
Alayna jumped as her head whipped around to see the stranger
had closed the space between them.
“Damn it. Stop that. Stop sneaking up on me.
You’re going to give me a heart attack.” Damn, Speedy Gonzalez.
For a moment she thought back to when she was in her office
dealing with one of her staff, they'd enjoyed walking up on her like that.
Afterwards, they’d all laughed at her reaction, sometimes it’d been funny. This
was not one of those times. Her hand rested on her wildly beating chest as she
kept an eye on Speedy. He remained passive, staring at her as though she were
the anomaly. “My car broke down in the forest, is there someone here who can
get it started? Or what about a phone, do you have a phone?”
He frowned again.
“Car. Automobile, method of transportation, it failed you
and now you require assistance. Is that correct?” He offered what could've been
considered a smile, if he hadn’t appeared to be in pain.
Her estimation that she’d stumbled into some type of mental
garrison gained momentum. What if they didn’t allow her to leave since she
discovered their illegal secret? This young man shouldn’t be out on the street
without supervision. Mentally, she fast-forwarded every television program and
movie she’d ever seen with this type of set-up. It didn’t look good for her.
“Yes,” she said. Take me to your leader. “Is there anyone
here who can help me?” Images of the young man taking her into a castle-like
building tickled her imagination, her mind rolled images one after the other of
spoofs she’d seen and for a moment she forgot the harsh reality of the
situation. No one knew where she was, and a man she didn’t know, didn’t respond
to a hit from a baseball bat.
Moments later, the door opened on the cocoa-colored old
Victorian building in front of her, drawing her attention. The mental images
screeched to a halt as a large man wearing similar clothes, except they were
tan, as the smaller man in front of her, stepped out.
The dude had to be at least six-four and was wide like a
linebacker with an angular face and a short neck. He didn’t seem happy and
remained by the door, staring at her. Instinctively, she tightened her grip on
the bat, pushing back the mental replay of how ineffective it’d been against
the much smaller man. It’d probably feel like a gnat or fly to this one.
“Who’s he?” she asked. She was suddenly more comfortable
with the smaller man than the silent giant who simply stared at them.
“He will fix your vehicle as you requested.”
“I also asked for a phone.” Her eyes slid to him, hoping
he’d give in to that request as well.
“There are no telephones here.” Although he’d infused
sympathy into his voice, his eyes said he wasn’t.
Alayna stared at him a moment longer. Had she thought his
eyes cloudy? Once again she’d misjudged, they were a light green, like the
color of mint tea. In fact, his outfit matched his eyes perfectly. A shiver of
unease went through her. Had she stumbled into a testing facility where they
cloned people? Or ran experiments or something worse? She opened her mouth to
ask, but slammed it shut, dreading the answer. Looking up at the porch, she
noticed the big guy had left and was halfway down the road.
Pivoting, she charged after him. “Stop,” she yelled. He
continued forward. “Stop right now, damn it.” Her voice deepened as fear choked
her.
He froze, looked over his shoulder and waited.
Panting, she finally caught up with him. Digging into her
pocket, she pulled out the keys. They glinted in the weak sunlight.
He looked at them and then at her, a question in his eyes.
“You need the keys to start the Land Rover.” She waited
until he offered his palm, and dropped the keys into his cupped hand. “Want me
to come with you?” She walked next to him and stared back when she noticed he
hadn’t moved.
“No. You should go back and refresh yourself.” The
coarseness of his voice made her wonder if he’d used it in a while.
Her stomach growled, reminding her of some needs that
required her attention. She’d eaten all of her picnic foodstuff between last
night and this morning. Still, she didn’t want to leave a complete stranger
alone with her brother’s vehicle. “No, I’ll get something after we get the truck
started.” She waited for him to join her.
“It may not start. It may need a tow,” he said, his words
stilted.
“Do you have a tow truck? Or will you call someone from
town?”
He frowned. “Call?”
“Never mind. Let’s get started.” She turned in the direction
of the Rover, swinging the bat in tandem with her steps. The way seemed longer
and by the time she saw the outline of the truck, she was winded. She pointed
as though he’d miss the only vehicle sitting slumberous in the forest. “There
it is.”
She stopped at the clearing, head bowed, hands on her knees,
and breathed heavily. The air seemed heavier, less fragrant. Sniffing, she
turned in the direction of Mr. Silent and stopped, embarrassed that he’d caught
her smelling him. She’d always had this thing for scents, and many times she’d
make decisions based on the way someone or something smelled.
Her face warmed as she turned away. “Sorry.”
He grunted as he opened the door and popped the hood.
Alayna peeked around him at the intestines of the truck.
“What’s the matter with it?” she asked. She was impatient to get the thing
running so she could deposit it safely in her brother’s garage and think about
everything she’d seen.
He grunted again, walked over to the driver’s side, reached
in and turned the key. Fingers crossed, she prayed for a miracle. Nothing. She
heard the car door open and then close. He returned to the front, looked at her
and pulled the hood down. She jumped at the sound.
“Any clue why it won’t start? I don’t think that’s ever
happened before,” she said as he started back in the direction they’d just come
from. He didn’t respond and he didn’t slow down. Tired, deflated, and unable to
keep up, she slowed her pace to get her bearings.
Where the hell was she? Should she follow him and try for
more assistance? During the short time she'd talked to green eyes she couldn’t
put her finger on what it was, but something wasn’t right. She revised her
mentally challenged camp theory. Maybe a commune? Nature lovers compound?
That’d explain no phones, wouldn’t it? Hell, she had no idea, no one she knew
was into that type of thing. Her stomach growled again. Not only was she tired
and hungry, she needed a shower.
“Do you require additional assistance?”
Alayna jumped, dropping the bat this time. Her hand flew to her
throat. “I asked you not to do that,” she snarled, furious with herself for
being so skittish. “What are you doing here?” Her eyes widened when she saw the
clapboard buildings. Had she walked back that fast without realizing it?
“I was told you were hungry.” He waited for her to speak,
his light green eyes curious, but other than that she couldn’t pick up any
hidden agendas.
“I am.” She hated admitting she needed something from him or
Mr. Silent. She hadn’t finished cataloging them and this place. Her rounds of
what if’s had just begun. “Can you tell me something?” She looked him in the
eyes, picking up on a flash of alarm. Her stomach clenched. Something was
definitely wrong here.
“Yes.”
“What’s the name of your town?”
She wasn’t sure how she knew his tension eased but she did.
He relaxed.
“Lawkharven.”
“Lockhaven?”
“No, you say it as you say the word law. Lawkharven.” He
enunciated again.
“Oh, okay. Got it. What’s your name?” She stood in the
middle of the road, rambling. Which made her wonder which of them had the
problem?
“I am called Lorenzo. And you are?” He smiled at her and she
froze. The man was drop dead gorgeous in a boyish-man kind of way. His eyes
sparkled. His teeth gleamed, making her think he’d had some serious dental
work. He’d put most of the male models on the covers of magazines to shame.
Lorenzo would be a wet dream for a few of her friends, both male and female.
“Alayna. Call me Alayna.” She broke their connection by
glancing around, not wanting him to get the wrong impression. He was
good-looking, but she wasn’t interested. Having a cheating ex-husband
break
your heart did that to a woman. “Where can I grab a bite to eat?”
He touched her shoulder, and she whirled on him. “Don’t
touch me.”
He back up a few steps, his eyes wide. “I am most sorry.
Forgive me.” Between sounding pitiful and his face losing its glow from a
moment before, she felt like the biggest jerk.
Tempering her voice and hoping the smile on her face
appeared sincere, she backtracked. “No, it’s okay, you just surprised me.” And
I don’t like people I don’t know touching me; bad memories - don’t go there.
“Which way to eat?”
The moment the question left her mouth, the sweetest aromas
split the air. She inhaled and felt as though she would levitate following
after the smells. “I want some of that.” She glanced at him.
“Come on, Lorenzo.
Let’s eat.” At the back of her mind, a warning blared at the coincidence of the
smells and her comments, but she was so hungry, she pushed it aside to examine
later.
He waved her forward, remaining a cautious distance. They
turned a corner and Alayna stopped so abruptly, Lorenzo bumped into her.
“I am sorry. I did not realize you had stopped.” He tripped
over himself trying to apologize.
She waved him down and pointed at the large building in the
middle of the block. “Is that a Woolworth over there?” Her head whipped from
him to the building, back to him again. “I’ve seen pictures of my grandmother
working in that place. But I thought they were extinct.” She shook her head,
trying to get the words right. “I mean, they went out of business. How can one
be here? In the middle of the forest? I mean town. Oh, hell. Now I’m sounding
batty.”
He waved her forward. “It is where you shall eat.”
As she crossed the street, her eyes widened at the other
stores. There was an Eagle Army Navy, a Jordan Marsh department store, and one
with a weirder name, Zayre. “What are those?” she asked, pointing to the
buildings.
“They are places we replenish our supplies, a store.” He
looked at her with a glimmer of doubt in his eyes, as though she were the slow
one.
“I know they’re stores. I can see that. What I mean is…” She
paused, trying to figure exactly what she wanted to know. “Is this where stores
come after they die?” she whispered.
Inside into Lawked Flame
A Lesson in Submission
Khayden, Master Lawke didn’t need anyone. He ruled his
people with an iron fist. Standing over six feet, with wide shoulders, muscular
chest, and long legs he feared no man. Every desire was filled. His people ran to
do his bidding. Everything he wanted was within his grasp. Yet his people were
dying. Filled with a silent rage, he cursed his destiny. He hated the fact his
existence was the catalyst draining his people’s energy. After centuries of waiting, and fruitless
searching he’d lost all hope. Just as he decides there is no Kee to unlock his
powers and save his people, she walks down the cobblestoned streets of his
domain.
The answer is clothed in human flesh. Something as alien to
him as he is to her. The idea that his
salvation and that of his people, is encased in someone who lacks the gelatal
membrane beneath the skin, critical for the unlocking, slams him to the brink
of madness. After railing against his fate, he comes to one undeniable
conclusion.
Left without a choice, the Master must submit. It’s not easy, but it is necessary. For such
a Alpha male the idea of submission initially leaves an acrid taste on his
tongue.
He submits to the hand of his Kee, the only being alive who
can handle his fire, his blue flame. By
handling his flame she stokes his inner fire to a fevered pitch, he learns
submission has its own rewards.
He submits to her mindset, especially when it becomes
evident her strength complements his. Together they co-rule his people, making everyone
stronger, better. With her standing next to him, he learns the true strength of
submission; it takes a strong man to truly share his power.
He submits his heart to her as he realizes without her his
life lacks focus and joy. He is humbled further when she gives him not only her
heart but her very being. He learns the choice of submission offers the best of
all worlds, two hearts beating as one. Not because they have to, but because
they want to. No one can force a Kee into a Lawke.
Lawked Flame by:
Erosa Knowles
Erosa Knowles Bio:
Originally from Miami Florida, Ms. Knowles now resides in
North Carolina with her husband and teen-aged son. Two older children are
married and live in North Carolina as well. An avid reader since college, Ms.
Knowles is one of those people who keeps her books as old friends and has
re-read all of them at least once. Many have been read more often. Writing
stories, creating worlds and characters fuels my imagination is both physically
relaxing and mentally invigorating. Although life got in the way and she had to
postpone her writing, it is the one career she always craved. As a full time
writer, her days are just as full, except now she is doing what she loves.
Reading exciting stories from talented authors from various genres and writing
the stories that tickle her imagination
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Twitter: @erosaknowles
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1 comment:
Bring on the hotness Erosa! Thank you for being here!
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