Astral

By Viola Grace

Dina has been going from assignment to assignment, helping out with mediations in hostile environments. Since she leaves her body in safety, her mind walks worlds that would kill her physical form instantly. When an offer from a nearby star gets her attention, she has to choose between a life out of her body, or a passenger in her very soul.

Arci, the living star has been searching for a match for his avatar since Zakkar’s species disappeared. When the Terran seems to meet all of his avatar’s needs, Arci senses that she can fulfill some of the things missing is his own existence as well. It will take both of them to convince her to join them, but their threesome will eventually come together, mind, body, souls, and star.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Mar 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781771111089

Viola Grace

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

Book preview

Life out of her body was fun but when she tangles with a stellar avatar, life inside her own skin holds a lot of appeal.

Dina has been going from assignment to assignment, helping out with mediations in hostile environments. Since she leaves her body in safety, her mind walks worlds that would kill her physical form instantly. When an offer from a nearby star gets her attention, she has to choose between a life out of her body, or a passenger in her very soul.

Arci, the living star has been searching for a match for his avatar since Zakkar’s species disappeared. When the Terran seems to meet all of his avatar’s needs, Arci senses that she can fulfill some of the things missing is his own existence as well. It will take both of them to convince her to join them, but their threesome will eventually come together, mind, body, souls, and star.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Astral

Copyright © 2012 Viola Grace

ISBN: 978-1-77111-108-9

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Devine Destinies

An imprint of eXtasy Books

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Smashwords Edition

Astral

A Terran Times Tale

By

Viola Grace

Chapter One

Dina Markowitz sat at the com unit, her ears burning with her blush. Please repeat that last request, sir.

The silver-skinned Ontex looked distinctly uncomfortable. A star has requested you as a mate for its avatar.

That is impossible. The radiation alone would kill me. She tried to be practical while her blush still raged.

The star is offering you the opportunity to share its power. He blinked his huge black eyes and smiled hopefully at her.

Why are you responsible for telling me, Refoal? This is usually something that is handled by folks who can actually say sex without flinching.

I have been your assignment dispatcher for four years, Dina. It was my duty to inform you of the offer.

So, the offer has not yet been accepted? Dina really wanted to bite her nails, but it was impolite to do so in front of her dispatcher.

It has not. It is still pending and the decision is scheduled to be made later in this council session.

Dina paused for a moment. The council might not decide in the star’s favour. She may be able to live her life as a non-resident mediator quietly on her station with no one getting in the way. While the quiet life had been a little lonely at first, she had gotten used to keeping her body on her small unit on the adjunct of the unmanned station. Fish was a remarkable cure for loneliness.

Dina, Dina! I asked if you were all right with this arrangement. Refoal frowned.

No, I am not all right with being handed off to a star, to be irradiated and hopeful I will survive the transformation process. I like my job here. I know what happens next. She shrugged.

She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. No celestial body is getting near this body in this life.

He nodded. I accept that as a theory. In reality, it is a likelihood.

Dina sighed. I know, but I can set out my wishes and dreams like everyone else in the universe.

Fair enough. I will contact you again when I have more details. Do you have the records for your current assignment?

I do. I am heading to the negotiations in a few minutes.

Don’t forget to do a systems check.

She smiled. Yes, Refoal. I will. Good evening to you.

She disconnected her com connection and stretched. She tried a few moves that she had learning in Citadel training and when her limbs were loose and relaxed, she wandered toward her dispatch centre.

She locked the door behind herself and lit up the interior of the centre. As the lights cascaded over her support chair, she opened the vents in her suit to allow for the implants.

Humming to herself, she hooked up her life support. Dina was preparing for her mission to the surface and she needed all