Core Read online

The stone glowed, the staff glowed and in distant orbit, the satellites sprang to life. She spread them out in a web, a grid work of power and defence. When the first Vahsh ship came into range, she carefully and deliberately took out their guns.

  She repeated it, over and over. One by one, the Vahsh armada was disarmed, and one by one, they turned to flee for home.

  Well done, Cora.

  She didn’t whirl, but she felt Relak behind her. Thank you, Relak. They have gone home for now.

  His tone was sombre and he stepped close until he wrapped his arms around her. You were missed in Ix.

  She smiled and leaned back against him. I can go now if you like.

  The sun has set. It is time for your dinner. It was so prosaic, she tried not to laugh.

  I thought you didn’t like schedules.

  Relak pressed a kiss to her ear. I never said I didn’t like them just that I wasn’t used to them.

  He rocked her gently from side to side, and she suddenly realized how tired she was. I think dinner and then some sleep would be a good idea.

  Why not a nap and a moonlight meal?

  Lero has no moons.

  I know, but it sounds nice from your memories, and I am sure that we can arrange a ball of core stone to hover in the air.

  She laughed and turned in his arms. “I imagine that we could arrange that, but I am done with core stone for the night. I want rest, food and comfort, not necessarily in that order.”

  “Can I start with comfort?” He slid his hands down her spine and cupped her ass, pulling her tight against him.

  She grinned and kissed his chin, cheek and neck. “I think that is an excellent place to start. You look like you need comforting.”

  He gave her a wary look. “I thought you needed comfort.”

  She touched his mind with her own and smiled when Lero joined the mix. “I thought we could share.”

  Relak laughed and caught her by surprise as he leapt into the air and they landed in the centre of the garden.

  “I didn’t know you could do that?”

  “Lero has an urge to keep us fit, with that comes the ability to manipulate his gravity, his atmosphere and his living creatures.”

  “Oh. Goody. I can hardly wait.” She smiled as he put her down and they decorously walked to their quarters before rushing inside with her clothing flying every which way as she tried to be the first to get to the skin.

  She turned and faced him wearing nothing but the cascade of her hair and the glow of Lero in her eyes.

  “Cora, you have the manipulation of Lero’s creatures down already.”

  She swayed toward him. “Perhaps you should give me lessons on gravity.”

  “Apparently, Lero has left that out of your education. I think it is an unforgivable lapse.” He touched her waist and lifted her so that they were at eye level.

  Cora smiled and wrapped her arms and legs around him. Kissing him was easy, stopping was the awkward part.

  Lero joined them together until the three blurred into one. Cora laughed inwardly as she realized that she didn’t need to stop. She had centuries with Relak and Lero looming before her and things were only going to improve. It may be awkward, embarrassing, and a teeny bit exhibitionistic, but she was going to make sure that Relak and Lero had the best companion that they could.

  They had chosen her after all. It was her duty to make sure that they didn’t regret it.

  Author’s Note

  A little sleeping beauty, a little snow white and add a whacky Terran and you have Core.

  Core began with a costume, and then, I had to write the story for the cover art. Some might think this is whacky, but it is my process. Martine Jardin makes me the cover art and I make the story to match. Sometimes, the tales are pretty but not inspiring, and I have to plough through.

  Other times, the artwork blows me away and I have to struggle to catch up. I am not sure what happened in Core, but I enjoyed writing it.

  Thanks for reading,

  Viola Grace

  [email protected]

  About the Author

  Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.

  Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.