Paranormal, Fantasy Romance
Date Published: November 8, 2017 (paperback); May 4, 2012 (kindle)
Enter the world of Pure Ones, a race of immortal, supernaturally powerful beings who protect humankind, where sexual intercourse with anyone other than one’s Eternal Mate leads to a slow, painful death within thirty days.
The Healer of the race, Rain, is the only exception to this rule. She must take a Consort once every ten years and draw strength from his blood and body. Valerius, Protector of the race, is the strongest candidate.
Despite their instant attraction, Valerius has staunchly avoided applying to be the Healer’s Consort. The brutality and violence he suffered as a Roman sex slave in his human life ate away at his soul, leaving a dark abyss of torment and self-doubt.
Now, as Rain’s strength drains with every healing act, Valerius cannot escape the fact that he may be the only one who can save her, and in so doing, afford his people greater hope for the future as battles intensify.
Excerpt:
Valerius’
eyes were immediately drawn to the feminine outline behind the curtains.
Contrary
to his training and protocol, he barely registered the surrounding area, the
ornate yet elegant furniture, the walls covered entirely with natural scenery
that looked just as real and alive as the scrolls in the outer passageway, the
whimsical splattering of multi-colored round paper lanterns across the ceiling,
giving the chamber a cheerful glow.
To
his utter confusion and dismay, his heart doubled its tempo, and every nerve in
his body became overwhelmingly sensitized.
He suddenly felt drugged by the faint, elusive fragrance of lilies and
jasmine, and in reaction, blood rushed to his groin, hardening him in an
instant. His neck and face got what was
left as he flushed deeply in mortification and anger at his total loss of
discipline.
In
his two thousand plus years of existence as a Pure One, he had never, never,
lost control. Why his self-restraint
deserted him now he couldn’t begin to fathom and didn’t have the luxury to even
try, for he suddenly found himself not two feet before the Healer, sitting
above him on the dais on a soft pedestal of pillows. He executed a bow by rote, as if his body had
developed a mind of its own.
Valerius
stopped short of raising his gaze to meet hers, however. He knew that keeping his eyes lowered was a
sign of submission which he’d never before allowed in himself, no matter the
odds he faced. But he swallowed his
pride and locked his jaw, because somehow, somewhere deep within, he knew that
meeting her gaze would change his world forever.
Instead,
he peered through the filter of his lashes at the shape of her chin, and the
enigmatic, fleeting smile that tilted the corners of her full, sensuous
mouth.
“Warrior,”
she greeted him softly, pausing a heavy beat after greeting Sophia and
Ayelet.
When
he continued to withhold his gaze, the corners of her lips tilted ever so
slightly more, as if she were amused by his reticence.
But
it wasn’t shyness that kept Valerius’ eyes lowered; it was self-preservation.
About the Author
Aja has been writing stories since the age of six, and novels since the age of thirteen. While she'd be the first to admit that those early efforts weren't particularly good, she sure loved putting them down on paper!
The best part of writing, according to Aja, is that it’s completely organic, the way the stories develop. When the inspiration hits, she writes just so she herself can learn where the characters are headed because oftentimes, they take her by surprise! It is her ultimate dream to share her stories with as many readers as she possibly can.
Her other loves include art, cooking, old movies (anything with Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Redford, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Clark Gable, and all the song and dance numbers because she can’t watch them and not be happy!)
She adores taking long walks with her husband and running after her two rambunctious kids. She has traveled extensively (all seven continents except Antarctica) and has a multi-cultural upbringing. She speaks two and a half languages and binge watch TV shows when the mood strikes.
Aja has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Comparative Literature and Economics and two Master’s degrees, one of which is in East Asian Studies.
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