corazon-kokoro

Just outside the Hotel's entrance there was a taxi dropping off a couple of elderly people and Emil caught it before anyone beat him to it. "Hotel Axeline," he told the driver. Just saying the name made memories explode inside of his overheated brain. The entire ride to Ameline's hotel, Emil told himself he was being a fool. Ameline had made it very clear that she didn't want anything to do with him. For good reason. Just because he still loved her didn't mean she had to do what he said, what he wanted. He had been so afraid to lose her. So he'd gone ahead and done what? Pushed her away? "I'm an idiot," he mumbled while gazing out the side window. "Say what?" the driver asked, a man from some Middle Eastern country with a large, grey-sprinkled moustache. "Nothing." "Thought so," the man said and turned the final corner. Emil paid and stepped off, watched the Taxi disappear in the night down a sleepy side street. He sat down on a bench for five minutes contemplating all the ways

The door swung open so hard it bounced off the wall, making Ameline jump in surprise. "Dinner is due in 15 minutes," Meredith's mother announced in a too-bright voice. "We're going to need the kitchen. You two can finish your conversation by the bar. Nice and cozy. Quiet." "I've nothing else to say." Ameline said, keeping her head held high as she strode past Emil without hardly acknowledging him. How dared he apologize? Say that he loved her? Her heart, hardened with anger and accusations, challenged her head to turn over each word he'd said. Had she turned into a bridal terror? He had wanted a small wedding, but once you invited one person, things snowballed. That person contacted another person, and the next thing she knew, she had to rent a larger hall. But it was for love. She only planned on getting married once, so if things were lavish, why not? So what if she'd maxed her credit card on that dress? She would have looked like a princess in it. Not that Emil ever got to see it

"I couldn't be happier for you than knowing that you're marrying an amazing guy," Ameline told Meredith with all sincerity. "However I refuse to speak to his jackass of a brother." "You have to be polite, that's all," Meredith said with a shudder. "A few people have noticed that you've been avoiding Emil." "For good reason! We haven't spoken since he left me at the altar." "He called you," Meredith reminded gently. "Texted." "Rude, lame, awful and unforgivable behavior." Meredith curved her arm around Ameline's waist and squeezed. "But Emil is Toby's step brother as well as best friend and Toby isn't getting married without him as his best man. And I can't blame him. And I selfishly need you, my best friend and sister of the heart. There is nobody else." She bit one of those full red lips, dark eyes pensive beneath long lashes. "You can count on me," Ameline promise. "At least being there and being polite. However the temperature level might well hover around zero when it comes

There was music pounding through the air and lights flashing wildly. Jostling bodies surrounded Fiona and her head was a woozy mess. Eyelids down, she moved with the crowd. She couldn't place the song, but the vibrations from the huge speakers at the head of the dance floor penetrated her very bones. With every pound of the bass, her heart shuddered and her breath caught in her chest. Nearly an hour ago had she lost count of how many drinks she’d downed. Shot after shot she'd put back, beckoning the bartender back for more, over and over again. Strange men had surrounded her, whooping and cheering her on in their own drunken stupors. Eventually the bartender had cut her off and she'd stumbled away from the counter and into the mass of people. A body brushed up against her, closer than normal. Fiona turned her face to see a man smiling down at her, his features a haze before her eyes. He was holding out something to her, nodding and smirking. Gazing closer, Fiona saw the small, red

"Myhlo?" Dawn broke over the grounds. He rubbed his eyes, finding Sirla was sitting next to him, her legs crossed as if she'd been there awhile. "Found them?" he wiped the dust out of his eyes and stretched. "No, but I found Carmoran. Four guards watch him. I followed one of the night guards back to his own tent." "Good. We'll go question him." "Let's get going then," she stood. "You should sleep," he said. "I don't need to." "Fine." They had to get quickly to Carmoran. If Lynx found out why they were really in his camp, they would be in the very definition of hot water. As Myhlo spotted a guard headed toward their tent, he shoved Sirla around back. Then, she led them past tent after tent before stopping. Then he listened against the hide of the tent. Silence. Myhlo lifted the flap and they stepped inside. The guard watching the tent had his back to them, washing his face in a bowl. Otherwise. the tent was empty except a small cot and a bag. Myhlo swung his sword and

Myhlo and Sirla didn't see any more Drow men or human corpses lying about. Wherever her people were, in this labyrinth of seemingly endless tunnels, they weren't anywhere near them at least. The obsidian walls changed back to ordinary rock. They passed through an open cavern. Large holes were punched through the walls at various angles. A sticky white slime was melting out of some of those holes. Sirla pulled a black whip off her belt and put a finger to her lips. Myhlo drew his sword and they moved silently across the cavern. White shapes slithered past some of the higher openings, giving him only a slight glimpse at their massive size. She made it to the opposite side and waved for him to follow. With quick, careful steps, he inched forward, making sure not to step in the white slime. Tiny glowworms dotted the ceiling, pink and green lights that broke the darkness, allowing him to see his way through the tunnel. "That went better than expected... Behind you!" Sirla cracked her

As talk of war reached Amboria, order for weapons rolled in when the soldiers made camp just outside the borders of the kingdom. There hadn't been a battle of this size in centuries. The still hot broadsword hissed when Myhlo dumped it into the basin, white smoke curling up. Having slaved away over the scorching forge since the sun rose the previous day, his mind and body now moved on instinct. His father had left soon after sundown, but not Myhlo. Work kept him busy, and staying busy kept his mind off Drina. Sweat dripped off his forehead, splashing the sword. With this last sword cooling, Myhlo could finally close shop. He stretched, flexing out the tired muscles in his arms. His body was tall and muscular. Not ripped, but well defined; V-shaped from the shoulders to his lean core. Everything earned by hard work. When his friend Kurin returned home, Myhlo was going to put him in a chokehold he'd never be able to break free from. Myhlo left through the backdoor and locked it. As

"I can't believe he was cheating on you. I always knew he was an ass, but I never dreamed-" Mary said as she poured a big mug full of hot cider spiked with rum. She handed it to Charmaine. "Here, you need this." "All men suck," Ellie said and unwrapped another piece of chocolate. "You got that right," Mary nodded. Charmaine was as up for a male bashing session as they were, but it somehow didn't seem very satisfying tonight. She was really on edge waiting for her cell phone to ring. It was only a matter of time before Dennis came home and found not only all his belongings in the hall, but also that his key no longer worked. She hoped he didn't go totally crazy, kick down the door and hurt the cat or something. Then she remembered, this was Dennis she was talking about. He would never risk scuffing his shoes and she doubted he could kick down a door even if he wanted to. She looked up to find both her friends watching her. "You okay?" Mary asked. She forced a smile. "Yeah