Love's Synergistic Ways

Octavia looked at the snow globe center of her dressing table.  Roses of varying shades filled the water and artificial snow interior.  The roses retained their beauty for her to enjoy again and again.  She remembered the time the bouquets arrived shortly after Tomas joined their household.  Tongson's jealousy and possessiveness almost broke the trio apart.  Tomas admitted to feeling similar pangs and quirks during a yelling match between the two of them.  

Octavia smiled as she reached for the globe admiring how the sunbeam shining through the frosted window pane illuminated the tricolored rose center of the display.  Three distinct colors each brilliantly standing out at the edges of the petal, muted as they flowed toward the center of the rose blended together in a mixed new shade.  The shade showed tinges and parts of the other colors creating a whole that brought out the discrete qualities of each part of the whole. One word came to mind, synergy.  The sum is greater than the individual parts.

“Admiring or remembering, love?” Tomas’s voice purred over her shoulder warming her ear.   He nipped the bare flesh between her neck and where the strap of her night gown lay. 
“Maybe both, you feline,” Tongson murmured, moving up on her other side.  His warm hand slid up her arm stopping at her shoulder.

Octavia smiled as she viewed the uniquely different men’s reflections in the mirror.   There was no mistaking the love their eyes glowed.  Glancing higher, she noted they stood shoulder to shoulder, touching without avarice or jealousy.  Each knew the value they brought to the triad.  When she remarked on either male’s similarities to the other in emotion or action, they teased or fussed sometimes.  Most of the time, they smiled and nodded agreeing that even though they were different in their animalistic natures, their human side embraced the difference and learned how similar they were in many ways.  Love did that to people who took the time to learn, embrace change, and see things from a perspective diverse from their own.

“I’m seeing the new and change amongst us while remembering.” Octavia picked up the snow globe, saluting Tongson and Tomas individually.  

“Good times and hard ones influence each of us,” Tongson offered kissing her cheek.  He glanced up catching Tomas’s nod.

“Yes, my friend and co-husband,” Tomas replied, kissing Octavia’s other cheek.  “I learned how to fit in and to share.  To embrace my uniqueness and let go of fear while finding out how to trust.”

Tongson smiled.  He winked at the three of them as he spoke.  “I had to overcome my own doubts and worries.  I needed to let love guide me instead of listening to my mind.  Letting my heart speak and address the issues that plagued me most took a lot of work and time.”

“How would you rate the effort?” Octavia asked rubbing her cheek against Tongson’s hand.

“Worth the journey and education,” Tongson replied, raising his hand to cup her face.  “And you my co-part?”  Tongson nodded to Tomas.

“Hard work is often worth the effort.  I took the path of resistance until I realized that letting love in was easier than I thought.  I stopped resisting and started loving.” Tomas raised his hand above Octavia’s head, palm up moving it toward Tongson.  “Loving showed me a way I didn’t know existed.”

Tongson raised his free hand up, grasping Tomas’s over Octavia’s head.  Each nodded as the trio quietly sat taking in the moment and the love surrounding them.  Octavia’s  smile grew as Tomas and Tongson brought their faces down next to hers so the three appeared surrounded by the halo the setting sun reflected into the mirror.

Love’s synergy brought them together.  Mixed, enhanced, and even changed them while bringing them closer and more fully in love.  That love multiplied and embraced Mickey and Nighthawk.  A trio became a quintet and a family strong and firmly bonded.  Love’s catalyst and addition brought them to a place they might not have gotten to without it.

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Happy Weekend Gang!

Be sure to catch our blog hop here next week.  Some of our Talbot's Peak's citizens share their best and worst Valentine's dates and moments!

I hope you're warm indoors reading a good book or two.  I know we have had our share of cold and weather here at the Spice Homestead.  Colds and doctor visits have headlined this past week.  We're on the mend and with the TLC flowing I'm sure we will be fine.

As the middle of winter battles with the fine edges of spring waiting and watching for the time grab hold, share a good book or two with your loves and spice.  I know I will!

Until next week,

Solara

HOME AGAIN

Tongson sat before the fire pit staring into the flames.  The brisk breeze blew down off the mountain peaks bringing with it the hint of chill and cold telling of the change of seasons.  Soon the first snow fall of the season would decorate the peaks behind him.  Fall foliage and many of the highland animals would vacate for lower areas closer to town.  Even Tavia mentioned packing up and returning to their city home.  Tongson inhaled filling his lungs with the scents he’d come to love over their spring, summer, and fall sojourn here on their peak in the mountains. 

Tomas left six months prior on one of his journeys that took him far away from the family.  The twins were barely crawling when he left.  Their older brothers and sister ran the quad with their spindly legs racing all over until they curled up in young children puppy pile style fall fast a sleep for a few hours.  Mickey and Night Hawk’s daughter ruled the rest of the children like the diva she loved to be.  Her new brother might temper those outbursts as he got older.    Yes, life was good here on their peak.    The book store and Tavia’s new arts and craft business needed attention.  And the tribe needed him.

Tongson stirred the fire watching the sparks fly into the dark midnight sky.  Deep within the house, most slept.  Ready for the journey they would undertake in the morning.  Maybe not until late afternoon if he didn’t sleep soon.  This time the truck and SUV would take them down the mountain and back to town.  Shape shifting with small babes and toddlers took more energy and time than any of them had leaving the mountains this late in the season.  Tomorrow would come no matter how much he longed for time to slow allowing him more time in the serenity and quiet he’d come to enjoy.

“Can’t sleep?” Tavia asked slipping her arms around him from behind.  She hugged him to her.  

Tongson nodded as she kissed his cheek.  “I wish sleep would claim me.  We elude each other.  Back to town tomorrow.”    He sighed and leaned against Tavia.

“The seasons have seen us grow and change.”  Tavia slipped her hand into Tongson’s.  She knew the call earlier in the week still haunted him.  His father at the age of one hundred had joined Tongson’s mother in the hereafter.  Watching two human parents age weighed heavily on their adopted son.  Neither of them permitted Tongson to deny his heritage or who he was.  Their unconditional 

love and support shaped the man next to her.  The man, the spirit bear, she loved and called husband.

“Tomas called,” she whispered leaning closer to Tongson.  

“How is he?  I miss that Tom Cat!”  Tongson sneezed as if on cue.  “Even miss his blasted dander tickling my nose.”

“He’s coming home.” Tavia squeezed her senior husband’s hand.  “Both my husbands will sleep with me between again.”

Tongson nodded.  Sometimes home was a place, a feeling, and even the people who made up the family.  He was blessed to have all three here and now.  Tomorrow he would have more again in another place that called him home again.

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Happy Weekend Gang!

A few readers have remarked on how harsh and hard Tyburn and Rachel's saga is.  Pris and I are thinking about where to take the story next with them.  Meanwhile, the other part of our Alaskan group is making their way back to town after some time in their mountain home.  

Be sure to keep warm as the chill of fall begins.  Keep a good book or two handy  to share as you cuddle with your Spice and loves under a blanket in front of the fireplace.  I know I will!

Until next week,

Solara

 

Thankfulness and Gratitude

Angel looked out the window.  Pristine white snow fell in large flakes.  Outside several landed on the windowsill, melted and as water trickled down the side of the pane until they disappeared from sight. 

Two months had come and gone, and still no word from Randall.  His family reached out to her covertly through short phone calls and anonymous emails.  All they wanted to know she couldn’t answer.  No one knew where he was.  His eldest brother demanded responses threatening to expose her whereabouts if she didn’t answer him.  

Angel sighed, wiped her eyes, and hunched closer to the window.  Her cell phone lay next to her, battery dead, and her minutes run out.  She knew what Tongson said was true.  Her safety and the lives of the kits she carried hinged on her remaining silent and hidden.  At least with the snow she could run and find tranquility for a moment in forgetfulness as she exercised. 

Out by the large grove of trees marking the border of the property a flash of black appeared.  Angel blinked and squinted.  Had her mind bent in half and began playing tricks on her?  The black splash appeared again. Appeared and weaved itself back into the dark trunks of the trees.  

A mournful howl split the air and three others followed.  Three dark inky dots appeared closer to the edge of the snowline separating the grove from the shoveled path leading to the house.  Angel gasped as the dots began racing toward the path.  One then another became clearer.  Three large black wolves came into view.

One leaped and spun in circles.  First, to the left.  Then to the right.  Another copied his moves and added his own as if trying to get the other to follow suite.  The third hung back, sitting on his haunches watching the others.  The first two laid their ears back and bared their teeth.  The third trotted up behind the others.  Crouched, and waited until the two raised their asses up, tails raised, as they lowered their fronts snapping and snarling between yips. 

Two loud barks echoed off the hills.  Howl after howl mixed with the echoes.  The largest of the three black wolves sat on his haunches, his tongue lolling out as if he laughed at the other two caught off guard by his cold nose goose their exposed asses more than once.   The other two circled him.  He snarled and trotted toward the house.

Laughter sounded behind Angel.  She turned.  Tongson and Octavia stood arms around each other smiling and pointing toward the trio approaching.  “Looks like Anthony’s relatives arrived.”

Angel blinked and scratched her head.  “This is the triad made up of a husky and two wolves.”

“Not them.  Relatives of theirs that are joining us for Thanksgiving and Solstice.  Anthony, Tory, and Josh are arriving later.  They’re bringing humans with them.  Also the baby.”  Tongson sat next to Angel.  “Why the puzzled look?”

“There are species mixing that shouldn’t.  At least that is what Sheer Khan says.”  Angel wrapped her arms tight around herself.

Octavia slipped her arm around Angel’s taunt shoulders.  “Khan wishes to rule a world where his orders and whims are supreme.  He seeks to let terror reign in his stead and allow control to be his to grab.”

Tongson nodded. “Here we live by our own rules.  We mix, pleasure and do as our agreements and experiences teach us.  There are good and bad in everything the world produces.  Knowing which is which is which is key to understanding what makes and keeps the peace and balance.”

Octavia smiled.  “There is much to be thankful for and gratitude to give as well as share.  Come let’s find out who joins us for the celebration.”

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Happy Weekend Gang!

I hope you like this week's post as we learn more about Angel and her love.  As well as more on the world outside of Talbot's Peak.  Poor Gil now as mayor.  That is going to be a new adventure in squirrelish antics.  

I'm off to work on edits for my new release due out in January.  I'll post more and a tidbit when I've got an excerpt or two to share.   Remember to take time out to enjoy the fall colors and share a good book with your spice and loves.  I know I will!

Smiles,

Solara

A Howlish Full Moon

Night Hawk leaned back against the side of the hot tub.  Tongson sat across from him, as did Tavia and Tomas.  Mickey sat on the bench close to Tomas.  Steam rose off the water bubbling up from the hot springs below.  Chilling breezes blew down off the still snow-covered peaks surrounding their secluded valley.  The children slept in their room not far from the patio where the quintet relaxed.

“You’re report says little of the antics Sherre Khan continues to support.”  Tongonson slid closer to Tavia.  She laid her head on his shoulder while continuing to hold hands with Tomas.  Mickey’s cheesy grin told Night Hawk her afternoon nap and cuddle with Tomas was worth the private welcome home she’d saved for him.

Tomas sighed and tipped his head back.  A howlish moon filled the sky.  Down in the lower forty-eight, somewhere near the high country in South Dakota, a wolf kept watch and waited.  Dante knew the war would eventually come.  They’d agreed most of Talbot’s Peak would fight against Khan.  Problem remained who would and who wouldn’t.  

“I learned from Serge, Khan wants power.  He craves it like the addict for the drug.  The dissensions within his household appear to go unnoticed by him.  Or better stated by Serge and Dante both as judiciously ignored.”  Tomas snorted as he cuddled Mickey to him.   “I prefer the peace of our quiet domain than adding more who seek to cause discord and resentment.”

Tavia cleared her throat drawing everyone’s attention.  “The powers-that-be want Khan found and gone.  Not as in out of the Peak.  His pelt carries a price.  A bounty that magicks or humans will seek.  I pity the ones who go up against his guard without studying him and his power along with his allies first.”

Night Hawk nodded.  Tavia bit her tongue to keep her words to herself.  The young mage grew by leaps and bounds, as Tongson tutored him in the older magical practices only elite shifters knew.  Serge was amongst the group.  She wondered if he would keep his oath when the time came.  She didn’t want to lose Tongson nor did she want him to be the death of his life long friend.  

Mickey groaned, rubbing her belly, she reached out to Night Hawk.  “Our son moves restlessly.  But a few more of these moons and he will make his way into the world.  I fear you will not be here for him.”

Night Hawk rose and made his way to where Mickey sat.  He dropped to one knee.  “My precious love, I cannot promise what tomorrow holds as it is still being conceptualized, awaiting its own birth as does our son.  My intent is to be here always for you and our family.  If my path takes me elsewhere, may it bring me home to you safe and sound.”

Mickey’s sorrowful smile cut at Tomas.  He wished he could reassure all of them that the balance of power would continue.  That none would perish or turn against family, friend and ally.   He wished a thousand more years of peace would reign. But one exceedingly power addicted shape shifter didn’t understand give and take.  He took what he wanted and the consequences be damned.

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Happy Weekend Gang!

My extreme apology for this very late post.  My day job announced mandatory over time starting in a few weeks.  My spice family celebrated two anniversaries so far this month with another to come before the month is out.  Spending time together celebrating and discussing logistics while I work 9-10 hour days has taken center stage.  

I hope you enjoy this snippet of the continuing discussions happening once Tomas arrived home.  I understand that the Ice Witch Hadley's ignore back in the Peak is getting ready for round two.  Louie's search for his daughter maybe closer to home than he realizes.  The muse is puttering with who is next up in the serials running from our shape shifter friends.

Solara