“Who wants a taste of the best chocolate in the galaxy?” Slydar asked, sultry enough to set any woman on fire.
“I’ve already had two brownies,” I told him, primly.
“Well, then those were the second best,” and his smile promised me everything I needed.
The brownies he was talking about were chocolate peanut butter, and I’d made them just before coming to the hospital waiting room. Oh, wait, you need me to back up and explain that it was a good medical situtation this time, right?
Because Susette was in labor and delivery with Rhianne at her side, their first baby girl on the way. When my best friend had called me at 6:30 this morning telling me that Susette was in labor and they were headed to the hospital, I’d lost all ability to focus and gave up on working. Instead, I’d made sandwiches and brownies, then packed it all with a bunch of apples and bannanas in a cooler.
Rhianne'd told me it would be a long time and not to waste my whole day at the hospital, but I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to just sit at home wondering, so once Slydar had finished his half-day shift at the skate park, he’d joined me. We’d laid a picnic blanket on the floor, and he’d polished off a sandwich and three brownies in a flash before offering me a taste of him.
I leaned over, my lips brushing his, and suddenly it struck me. I wanted everyone in that waiting room to know that he was always gonna be mine, and that we had every right to kiss like fools in public. What was I even waiting for?
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Lips inches from his, I whispered, “Slydar Joon, you’re gonna marry me.”
Eyebrows raised. “You agreed to that a while ago, Rory.” Pause. “Wait. Now, baby?” Giant smile as molasses wrapped around me, mind and soul.
“Wanna go do it now?” He glanced around the waiting room like it would offer a solution. “Do we have time? You really mean it, Rory?”
I laughed, “Yeah, let’s go! The courthouse is only 3 blocks away.” I turned and with a louder voice asked Jessamie, Rhianne’s mom, to watch the picnic stuff while we ran an errand.
Slydar chuckled under his breath, “An ‘errand,’ she says.”
It turned out getting married was even easier than making brownies from scratch, largely because Slydar had already filled out the paperwork ages ago, so all we had to do was show up in person to give a thumbprint, and BAM! We got a digital and printed copy of our certificate, which Sly said he’d have framed for the whole world to see, and he delivered on that. It’s still on our living room wall if you wanna look at it.
We got back to the hospital, grinning like fools and partly wanting to just ditch our friends and go home and celebrate. But I was getting telepathic whiffs from the nurses attending Susette, and it looked like the baby was coming any second. So we stayed and were rewarded. An hour later, we got to hold little Helena, and she was perfect.
Pale blonde hair, blue eyes, and of course, pink skin, with the softest, sweetest telepathic presence I’d ever felt. Pure love was all I could sense from her, and my heart swelled just holding her tiny body. I looked at Slydar, eyes full to the brim, and he smiled, kissing my forehead.
Welcome to the world, little Lena. We love you so much. You’re ours now, and forever.
It was a day to remember and a day of decisions. The rest of our lives were just beginning, and this sweet baby girl had a role to play.
Dark steampunk fantasy webnovel
The world of Rohana exists beneath a barrier of luminous crosses. Here, the Rohana Federation bends to Rohai, whose staff bears seven crystals of immense power. His Church of Harmony has divided civilization: city dwellers harness crystal technology while villagers cling to simpler traditions beyond the Church's reach.
In Haugstad, a forgotten village, Haran Baratti and his son Heron knew fragile peace. Then, unknown assailants burn it to ash. Haran draws the attackers away, giving Heron a chance to survive. His final words: We will meet again in Tiwaz.
Star-cycles later, Heron must earn an adventurer's passport to cross borders closed to villagers. To reach his father, he'll navigate crystalline cities and brutal hierarchies where allies carry secrets as dangerous as the enemies.
What to expect:
- Dark steampunk-inspired power fantasy with extensive world-building
- Magic systems where power comes at a psychological cost
- Visceral, well-choreographed combat sequences
- Mysteries that unfold across multiple volumes
- Steampunk aesthetics merged with elemental magic
- Stories where the actors are often found in morally grey areas
This work will appeal to readers who enjoyed:Works of Dan Simmons (Hyperion, Drood, The Terror), The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, A Song of Ice and Fire, Fullmetal Alchemist, HunterxHunter.
More influences and details can be found on the novel's page.
Chapters (1200 - 1500 words) are released daily at 20:00 (8 PM) GMT+1