Caressed by Starlight: Meeting Croe

By Danica Avet

Imperial Princess En'Daria Hanu has the entire galaxy at her feet. Heir to the Endiki throne, she spent her entire life preparing to rule, but her future is forever altered when she's kidnapped. Sold to an auction house, she escapes on her own but soon realizes she'll need help to return home. Daria's only hope is the Skarskordian fighter Croe'ix Shael, who makes her feel more like a female and less like a royal.

Banished from his home world and denied the heritage of his blood, Croe has fought all his life but never really had anything worth fighting for. Then Daria walks into his life and a shift occurs inside him. She awakens the Skarskordian warrior he's long forgotten and, in exchange for the pleasure of her body, he will protect her with his life. When danger stalks their every step and he discovers who Daria really is, Croe knows he's found someone to fight for and he'll do everything in his power to keep her safe. Everything--even if it means bringing another male into the equation.

Note: This is the first part in a four-part serial sci-fi erotic romance. Strong sexual content including, but not limited to, public display, spanking, domination, oral sex, biting, rimming and voyeurism.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Danica Avet
• Release date: Jan 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311727794

Danica Avet

Danica was born and raised in the wilds of South Louisiana where mosquitoes are big enough to carry off small children and there are only two seasons: hot and hotter. With a BA in History, she figured there were enough fry cooks in the world and decided to try her hand at writing. When she isn't writing, working, or contemplating the complexities of the universe, she spends time gathering inspiration from her insane family, reads far more than any sane person would want to, and watches hot burly men chase an oblong ball all over a field.

Book preview

Caressed by Starlight:

Meeting Croe

Caressed by Starlight: Meeting Croe

Danica Avet

Published by Danica Avet at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Danica Avet

Cover Photography by Heather Lynn Portraits

https://www.facebook.com/heatherlynnportraits

Cover created by Syneca Featherstone

http://www.syneca-originalsyn.com/

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Blurb:

Imperial Princess En'Daria Hanu has the entire galaxy at her feet. Heir to the Endiki throne, she spent her entire life preparing to rule, but her future is forever altered when she's kidnapped. Sold to an auction house, she escapes on her own but soon realizes she'll need help to return home. Daria's only hope is the Skarskordian fighter Croe'ix Shael, who makes her feel more like a female and less like a royal.

Banished from his home world and denied the heritage of his blood, Croe has fought all his life but never really had anything worth fighting for. Then Daria walks into his life and a shift occurs inside him. She awakens the Skarskordian warrior he's long forgotten and, in exchange for the pleasure of her body, he will protect her with his life. When danger stalks their every step and he discovers who Daria really is, Croe knows he's found someone to fight for and he'll do everything in his power to keep her safe. Everything—even if it means bringing another male into the equation.

Dedication

Sometimes my dedications read like acceptance speeches at the Grammy’s, but I suppose this is the one time we authors are allowed to gush about all the amazing people we get to work with in the birth of a book.

Caressed by Starlight began as a wild dream that somehow progressed into a four-part serial. It isn’t often you meet a group of people who support you so overwhelmingly, or don’t think you’re crazy when you start rambling about your crazy dreams. First thanks go to my girls, Lea Barrymire, A.M. Griffin, Amy Ruttan and Anya Richard. I love y’all!

Lea, my readers will be forever thankful for your adamant rejection of my whacked out idea. (Readers: We’ll discuss that much later.)

Then I have to thank Grace Bradley for being an amazing editor. It’s always a pleasure to work with you, cher, and I look forward to finishing out this series with you.

Thanks to Heather Lynn of Heather Lynn Portraits for the amazing picture. Shane is the perfect embodiment of Croe’ix, all dark and dangerous.

And huge thanks to Syneca Featherstone, the cover artist who brought Croe to life, it’s such an honor working with you.

I have to thank my family for being there for me and putting up with me locking myself away for days on end to finish this story.

For my readers: I hope you enjoy this first installment in the Caressed by Starlight serial as much as I loved writing it. Daria is about to take us all on a galactic adventure that will hopefully blow your minds.

Danica Avet

Chapter One

Planet Endiku, 0257 UFT (United Federation Time)

By the wizard, you have grown, my niece.

Princess En’Daria Hanu hid her cringe behind a fake smile at the subtle insult. Executing a respectful curtsey, Daria said, Aunt, it has been quite some time since you’ve visited us. She kissed the air next to her aunt’s cheek, swearing she could feel how cold her mother’s sister was without even touching her.

She pulled away, hoping her face was just as expressionless as her aunt’s. Gods, she hated formal balls. Daria felt stifled in her court dress, complete with the imperial crown of Endiku biting into her scalp. The ballroom was packed with dignitaries from every minor kingdom in the Ara-Andromeda Galaxy. They’d come to celebrate Daria’s twenty-fifth birthday. She had finally reached her majority, which meant if—gods forbid—something should befall her father, Daria would step into his place as ruler of Endiku.

She would have preferred a quiet evening in her father’s solarium playing a game of Watchtower to this galactic circus. At least when she wasn’t put on display as the heir to the Endiku Empire, she could be herself. With those who were with her every day, Daria could swear like the guards who were her friends, practice her sword, pikestaff and meson phaser. She could also dress comfortably. She wouldn’t have to bob up and down, smiling and simpering like an idiot maid to annoying, self-important politicians—like Queen Regent An’Vari, her deceased mother’s younger sister.

Daria probably could have stomached the rest of the attendees, as many of them were merely toadying social climbers, but her aunt was different. There was something about her that had always set Daria’s instincts twitching. She watched Daria now with cold, jaded eyes even as she smiled. Her beauty was well-known, a beauty that had earned her three marriages to different rulers, the last of whom left her as temporary Queen of Vorti, a smaller planet on the western edge of the galaxy.

You look like your mother, En’Daria, she announced. Happy birthday.

Thank you, Daria said with an incline of her head. You look well.

An’Vari laughed, the sound as sharp as glass, and waved her hand. The vagrants do try to stress me, but I’ve found that none of their antics are serious enough to warrant it.

Father says the attempts to breach the federation barriers grow each day, she said softly, worry coloring her tone. Her father, the emperor, spent countless hours working with his generals and top advisors as well as Federation representatives to keep the threat away from the less militant planets in the solar system.

Endiku was a warrior class planet, producing some of the best fighters in the galaxy. Lush forests, arid deserts and massive seas made Endiku a paradise of marvels, but these natural wonders also made their world a prime target for those wishing to exploit their resources. Before the United Federation became the supreme government of the galaxy, the Endiki protected themselves with militant skills that became the very reason they were so integral to the protection of the innermost kingdoms. When the Federation came into being, Endiku’s prime position on the edge of the solar system meant they were the last line of defense for Ara-Andromeda. Any threats coming into the galaxy had to pass through Endiku’s powerful defenses.

Daria had grown up learning everything she possibly could about how to fight, train and plan skirmishes, battles and wars. She spent all her time training for the unhappy day when she’d be needed to take her father’s place on the throne. And as such, she did her utmost to keep abreast of the happenings in the Federation and Endiku’s neighboring planets, like Skarska.

But that’s a political discussion, which I simply abhor, An’Vari continued with another laugh. Word has reached us on Vorti that a certain royal has plans to ask your father for permission to court you. Her eyes gleamed. Is this true?

Heat washed up Daria’s neck to settle in her cheeks. I’m afraid I do not know, she evaded, because the last thing she wanted to do was talk about some unknown prince of some godsforsaken part of the galaxy courting her. There are always rumors about alliances, Aunt.

And the last thing she wanted was a marriage to some faceless political ally. She didn’t want to get mated period. Not for politics and especially not for love. She’d seen the dull horror in the eyes of the ladies of the Endiku court who were married off to lords they loathed. On the other hand, she’d seen how her father’s world crumbled when he lost the love of his life, Daria’s mother. Both routes led to the same outcome as far as she was concerned: disappointment and heartbreak. And she wanted nothing to do with either.

Please, enjoy the celebration, Daria told her aunt with a polite smile before she glanced to the next dignitary in line. Hopefully I will see you later in the evening.

Queen An’Vari’s smile grew to show off her brilliant white teeth. I’m most certain you will, my dear.

A shiver worked its way down Daria’s spine at the words. There was something in them that almost felt like a threat, but An’Vari would have no reason to threaten the heir of the House of Hanu. She couldn’t inherit the throne of Endiku, couldn’t marry into it, or anything else to gain the power.

I must be paranoid, Daria told herself with a small shake of her head as she pasted on her smile. All the lessons on counterattacks and planetary defense were taking their toll on her imagination.

* * * * *

Hours later, Daria sat on the dais with her father and his closest advisors with the rest of the party attendees at lower tables. There was a general buzz of merriment in the air combined with the more somber political conversations taking place around the dining hall.

Daria nodded politely as Federation Senator Chivan spoke at great length about the Emedál royal family. It was information Daria already knew, that the king was also the High Wizard of Azra, that it was rumored he was seeking to find a mate, that no sane female would agree to it. Legend had it that the Wizards of Azra were all-powerful and had even been the driving force behind the Great Seeding, the drive to populate as many worlds in several universes since the dawn of time. It was the reason so very many of the Federation races were bipedal, albeit they’d all evolved differently as they adapted to their home environs. She’d always been interested in visiting Emedál out of simple curiosity, but never found the time.

Because as you know, those wizards can do things, Chivan said with a superiority that grated her nerves. He also sounded slightly jealous of the wizards he disparaged. No one ever really goes to Emedál, even though they’re the leading exporters of fuels and minerals. He leaned closer, probably trying to see down the front of her dress. I’ve heard the new king is a libertine. The tales of his debauchery would—

Luckily, before Daria could find out what those tales were, her father stood to address the crowd. My friends, please humor me for a few moments, Emperor Ki’Su called out in a jovial tone.

Slowly, the sounds of laughter and merriment faded as the guests quieted. Daria swept her gaze across the sea of faces before her, the many tables holding only the most esteemed politicians and military leaders across the galaxy. It was a familiar scene, one played out several times a year as her father worked to improve relations across the Federation. This was just the first time she’d been the guest of honor.

She looked back at her father, love filling her near to bursting. His thick black hair, which he’d genetically gifted to her, swept back from his broad forehead. At fifty-nine cycles, he still carried the bearing of a much younger male, despite the weight of responsibilities that rested on his shoulders. A brilliant politician and military strategist, her father was the only shining light in Daria’s life. She didn’t remember much of her mother, but he was her entire world. When he looked at her from his greater height, the height all members of the Hanu bloodline shared, the warmth in his amber gaze made her feel warm, like the triple suns of Ara-Andromeda shone on her and her alone.

Daria sat a little straighter, a little prouder, and was rewarded by her father’s doting smile. Today we gather to celebrate the birthday of my only daughter and heir, En’Daria, he said in a booming voice that easily carried across the hall. She is my pride and joy, but even more than that, En’Daria is the jewel of Endiku and today on her twenty-fifth birthing day, I give her the most priceless possession in our kingdom.

Heart pounding with anticipation and excitement, Daria watched as her father turned to her, reaching for something in his jacket. Murmured conversations swept the massive ballroom as the crowd tried to see what was in the flat box the emperor pulled from his pocket. The emotion on his face pulled Daria out of her seat to stand before him, her gaze darting from the box to his face and back again.

What could it be?

Happy Birthing Day, my daughter. He opened the box to reveal a set of armlets, the likes of which Daria had never seen before.

Flashing with red fire, they twinkled with the brilliance of all the stars in the galaxy. Deceptively delicate in size, the armlets were stylized to resemble two coohali roaring at each other. The scarlet felines, made of nacnodite jewels, were fierce predators and stood as a symbol of the House of Hanu, their images engraved on every Imperial emblem. The double-headed felids were vicious protectors of their cubs and clans, were faster than any other land predator on Endiku and had an innate nobility about them. Everything the House of Hanu stood for. The eyes of the coohali glowed brilliant gold, like the suns at the center of the solar system, their fangs and claws bared in readiness. This was more than ornamentation. The armlets hummed with power, with lethal beauty that resonated in every cell of Daria’s body.

She tore her awed gaze from the armlets to her father’s face, which glowed with love and pride. Papa? she whispered uncertainly.

The Cuffs of Divine Glory will only respond to an empress of blood and only those who are destined to lead Endiku to a new age. Once bonded to an empress of the blood, they will remain with her as a symbol of her power and the acceptance of Kubaris, goddess of victory, until her last breath. His voice carried to the entire room. His gold eyes twinkled with love and pride. "The last female to wear these was Empress