The Transformation of Anna
Cornerstone Deep, #1
For
centuries, Cole Shilo has harvested the homeless, wiped their memories, and
delivered them as servants to the nobles of Cornerstone Deep. When Cole is sent to harvest a second-class
woman who has broken curfew, he expects no different. But Anna Sinclair’s soul calls out to
him. Soul mates aren’t possible on
Cornerstone Deep…
Are they?
“My life is a mirage of endless time. But you
engulf me, rivet my mind, encompass my soul.”
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The Transformation of Anna - EXCERPT:
Cole unstopped the slender vial and gently lifted
Anna’s head to administer the potion. As he carefully tipped the container to
her lips, tremors traveled down his forearms. His hands quaked. The amber
liquid jumped to the brim and he quickly tilted it upright. Gods, Cole,
control yourself. She needs every drop.
A soft palm rested on his wrist and
Cole’s gaze shot to Elaina’s. When had she returned and how did he not pick up
on the strong compassion emitting from her when she had? Her blue eyes looked
deep into his, understanding with a touch of sadness. “Let me do that, Cole.
You’ve been through enough.”
He wasn’t sure if the tremors were
from anticipating a fortunate outcome or from sheer anxiety over the whole
ordeal, but he accepted her tender attention as a blessing. Vincent’s
intervention with her was evident. He watched as she patiently poured small
measures into Anna’s mouth.
Elaina turned to Cole and lifted the
emptied container. “Well, that’s it. She got it all.”
He sighed. “Thank you.”
“Anything, Cole.” She smiled and set
the vial on the bed stand. “What about you? Can I get you a drink? It might
calm you some.”
Nodding, he offered a small smile.
“Good, then. I’ll be right back.”
As she closed the door behind her,
Cole eased himself onto the bed. “Don’t give up, Anna.” His faint words were
swallowed by the silence of the room. “I’ll fix this and see to it nothing ever
happens to you again.” Brushing his fingertips over her hair, he solemnly
whispered a plea. “Don’t leave me.”
Her soft locks sent countless
memories rushing through his mind—her smile, cheeky comments, blue eyes dancing
as if life itself was a game. Her Arylinite spirit embraced every moment of
love, able to see beneath façades that others deemed as truth. He sighed,
knowing that side of her may have been unique to that lifetime—a result of her
specialized upbringing in the Arylin colony of the northern territory.
He tilted his head and gazed over her
still face. Her features were remarkably similar to Mianna’s. The gentle slope
of her nose, the way she chose to wear her dark hair long, and he couldn’t deny
her blue eyes when she’d looked at him. He cupped her cheek with his hand,
gently stroking her lips with his thumb. They curved from a bow-tie center into
a natural smile. So soft. Inviting. He leaned to her and lightly kissed them,
then leaned his cheek to hers.
“Talk to me, Anna.” His breath was a
plea. As much as he knew no answer would come, his heart called to her with his
deepest wish.
He brushed his fingers down her neck
to her chest, tenderly caressing her pale skin at the neckline of her gown. A
strained pause caught his throat as he lightly followed her breast to her
ribcage. “What’s in your heart?”
The tiny circles he drew on the thin
fabric fed his longing for her touch. Supple creases followed his motion. To
have her arms around him, the love they brought, had given him unmitigated
comfort in a past life. It could be so again.
“My life was yours.” He kissed the
circles he created. “Every moment, I found joy in you.”
He looked at her closed eyes.
“Please, don’t leave me. Please promise you’ll be mine again.”
No emotion showed upon the visage of
his love, but distant echoes of vows lighted his soul.
“Open to me.” He wondered if his whispered thought
could possibly reach her unconscious mind. “Speak to me with your soul.”
Her lips parted and a chill flew
through him. He waited, listened intently. Weak sensations touched his senses.
“Anna,” he said aloud, hope rising. He cupped his palm to her cheek again.
“Fight for it. Call to me.”
Anna remained silent.
Cole’s heart ached. Yet, that small
reaction spurred his resolve. He framed her face as he lowered to take her lips
with his. “I’ll help you.”
The scent of licorice and cream fell
from his lips as he called on his Breath of Zephyr. His soul’s voice owned his
words. “My life is a mirage of endless time. But you engulf me, rivet my mind,
encompass my soul.”
She inhaled his sensual gift and
gasped for deeper intake.
Yes. Hope impossibly filled him. His
muscles tightened with expectation. His heart pounded against his chest. “Call
to me!”
Echoes
Cornerstone Deep, #2
Nothing is sacred to Cole when it
comes to keeping his love – not even covenants made with gods, and when Lord
Dressen's obsession to have Anna soars, Cole pulls out all the stops. But, through all his efforts, lofty or
damned, the truth remains.
Will echoes of another life cause him
to fail?
“Every breath you take is a song to my soul.”
Buy link:
http://CharleneAWilson.com/order/
ECHOES Excerpt:
Sweet
lavender greeted Cole as he entered the solarium. Tiny bobbles glowed from
beneath the garden foliage, allowing the stars to wink through the wide
skylights in the ceiling. He scanned the dark sky and an all-to-familiar
longing for the five moons in his home realm returned. It was suddenly too dark
in Cornerstone Deep, too repressive—a reminder of the deceit this plane bred.
Dragging his
hand across his face, he released an uneasy breath. His father had been taken
by greed. Just as his own standards had diluted to the point of performing acts
that defiled ancient covenants. But if Sylis Shilo, a born Meridian and revered
Sentinel, had succumbed to Terran influence…
Cole lowered
his gaze as justification shadowed his acts. We were deceived. You had no
right. The facts seethed in his blood. His father longed for his wife. How
many times had he influenced her feelings? And how much of her desire was truly
for Cole and not a result of emotional tampering?
His stomach
knotted. The senior wizard had even suggested the charm created for Mianna. Unsigh.
One heart—the ultimate sharing of passion. He had aided in its creation and
in Cole’s desire to please his new bride, he had embraced the idea with his
whole heart. I was a fool. It would have only made it easier for the master
to read the emotions she shared.
Cole
smoothed back his hair and paced a circle to expel anxiety. Surely, he would
have felt betrayal in his love’s heart if there was desire for another man—especially
when the spell joined their hearts…surely.
Adoration
flowed from behind him, touched his senses. Slender hands smoothed his shirt to
his waist and a soft form leaned to his back. His heart melted and he closed
his eyes. Mianna. Despite his attempt to avoid an earlier meet, he
couldn’t resist. He lifted his arm and turned to hold her in his embrace. As
she met his gaze, Mianna’s soul once again spoke to his as none other had or
would. Unrest fled. Doubt disappeared.
Her brow
wrinkled with worry. “You’ve been distant.”
He brushed
her long hair with a gentle stroke. “I’m sorry, my love.”
She caressed
his forehead with her fingertips, erasing the tension there.
“Hush thy
worries. Still thy mind.
For within
mine arms,
love’s sweet
bliss will heal thy soul.
Cares of
life be gone.”
Cole rested
his cheek on her soft locks, allowing her poetic tongue to soothe him.
“Whispers,
wings of love’s caress,
light upon
thy heart.
Gazes, speak
of my soul’s want.
Body, sing
their praise.”
She gently
placed her hand to his cheek, guiding him to look into her eyes.
“I long. I
pray thee touch me.
Carry forth
my will.
Leave behind
the world, my love.
Be this
moment mine.”
Cole’s heart
wrapped around her plea and the reality of her return filled his being. She was
his. Now and forever. “This moment, my life, my existence is yours.” He cradled
her face with his hands. “Every breath you take is a song to my soul.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Charlene A. Wilson is an author of tales that take you
to other dimensions. She weaves magic, lasting love, and intrigue to immerse
you into the lives of her characters.
She began writing in her early teens
when her vivid dreams stayed with her long after she had them. The characters
and worlds were so amazing she brought them to life through her books.
Charlene resides in a small community
in Arkansas, USA, with her two beautiful daughters, husband, and a very chatty
cockatiel named Todder.
Author Links
Author
site: http://CharleneAWilson.com
Blog: http://bit.ly/CharBlogs
Facebook: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonFan
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuthorCAWilson
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonGR
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonLI
For media interviews, visit CharleneAWilson.com
TOUR GIVEAWAY:
Charlene is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:
GRAND PRIZE:
a necklace with matching earrings and signed book from the series (either book 1 or 2)
RUNNERS-UP:
Two runners-up will receive their choice of eBook from the series
Thank you for hosting the Cornerstone Deep Books on your lovely blog! :)
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