Seditious

By Emily Guido

“Seditious” is the perfect title for this novel! Ms. Guido captured jealously, deceit, and restoration of love flawlessly. This novel shows a side to Tabbruis and Charmeine's relationship which will throw any reader of “The Light-Bearer Series” off kilter. “Seditious” is the continuation of their romantic and turbulent love story and mission on Earth to battle Lucifer's minions!

Life at the ‘Castle Charmeine’ is blissful until reality of ruling the Elder Council of the Blood-Hunters causes decent. This fourth novel also adds unexpected depth to both Tabbruis and Dmitri's personalities, humanizing both men.
Lord Cromwell is a lethal Blood-Hunter who has escaped the Elder Council Prison. He sends his beautiful agent to cause destruction to those who live at the Castle Charmeine.

Bathsheba is a deadly, sexy, and vicious siren who threatens Charmeine and Baby Hunter. Not just with her present actions, but, with the past she shares with Tabbruis and Dmitri.

As Bathsheba lays injured, Tabbruis and Dmitri relive their agonizing and painful past with her. However, Charmeine is emotionally and physically threatened by Bathsheba and escapes to protect her unborn child.

This is the story of a family which works together to unravel Bathsheba's deadly secrets. Just when you think they are in the clear, a heinous and ominous villain, Lord Cromwell, waits in the wings to tear apart our ill-fated lovers, Charmeine and Tabbruis.

“Seditious” is a heart wrenching and exciting story of passion, betrayal, and redemption you will not want to miss!

By Polly Bennett, “The Light-Bearer Series” Reviewer

• Language: English
• Publisher: PDMI Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Jun 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301254255

Book preview

Chapter One: Homecoming

Charmeine came through the bathroom door, and looked like she had be kicked in the stomach.

Sick again? Tabbruis asked.

They call it morning sickness, but it sure comes and goes anytime, she replied while wiping her forehead with a washcloth.

Can I get you some crackers or ginger ale? He got out of bed.

Nope, I think I’m fine. The morning sickness has gotten better like Laura said it would, but it’s not… uh, totally gone yet, she sighed.

He got back into bed and pulled the covers down for her.

She walked to the patio doors and looked over the Black Sea through the frost on the window panes. She stood so near the glass, her breath made the window fog up.

He watched her with love in his eyes and thought, ‘She is so beautiful. Her hand is always on the baby in her belly like our child was already in her arms.’

I’m so glad to finally be home, Tabbruis, she said with a tired sigh. The weddings were picture-perfect, but nothing makes me happier than being back home at the castle again.

I am pleased you love living here as much as I do, Charmeine.

Why wouldn’t I love it, Tabbruis? she asked with a yawn. You spoil me too much.

I do not spoil you, Charmeine. I just want you to be as happy as I am.

She sat on the edge of the bed, and rubbed her belly. With a far-off look, she sighed with contentment, I have to admit Castle Charmeine is impeccable. It is perfect with all the room we need for our family to grow.

What do you mean? His eyebrows were raised as he was taken aback by her statement.

She absentmindedly stared into space, not listening. She asked, Wouldn’t it be great to see our grandchildren running around the castle one day?

I see… he laughed. You already are expecting grandchildren from Shane and Sandra?

Well, yeah. She wondered why he laughed and looked away. I don’t know, maybe from Shane and Sandra, Thomas and Laura, Neal and Hameal can adopt or even from our little Baby Hunter here. She rubbed the baby through her silk nightgown.

Tabbruis burst out with another round of laughter. Wait, wait… you want…? He could see she was in her little fantasy world. He did not want to spoil her moment of quiet revelry. Well my love, I shall ask Hameal to start on additions to castle immediately, just for our grandchildren. He rubbed his eyes with a yawn. But can we at least wait and see our little Baby Hunter born, before we ask him or her for grandchildren?

She didn’t hear him. She smiled lost in the thought of her grandchildren running from room to room.

Now Charmeine, I must insist you come to bed and rest.

Insist? she asked as she stood.

"Uh oh, I feel a ‘take or leave it’ argument brewing." He was grinned with a familiar flashback of the first night they spent together.

Yes, and this time, I’m winning. She seductively threw the covers up on the foot of the bed, crawled under them, and straddled him. She lowered her face an inch from his and whispered, I win.

I will always negotiate, he growled and pulled her up on his hips. He became heated just by her touch.

She sighed with her lips curled and began to nibble his ear. She heard him moan. My terms are this… she whispered and began to kiss him down his neck.

He closed his eyes and made a soft growl. He could not stop his hands and rubbed her back. He squeezed her bottom, and pulled her closer to him.

She hovered above his face again and looked in his eyes.

His pupils were green but the outside was black with desire.

She teased him and touched her tongue to his lips. Take or leave it, Husband?

"I sure hope ‘take it’ is what I think is, Wife."

Oh, it is, and pulled Tabbruis on top of her.

*****

Later in the night, after another bout of nausea, Charmeine came out of the bathroom.

Tabbruis reveled in the afterglow, with his hands behind his head.

I think we are going to have to buy a truckload of toothpaste, she joked.

Gel or paste? he inquired.

Paste, always paste, she chuckled, as she took off her robe and slid under the covers.

That might be a deal-breaker. His eyes followed her. You must be the most beautiful woman in the world.

I already won the argument, remember? Or do you need reminding again?

He laughed, Charmeine, rest is what I need, and you do too. He held out his arm and patted his chest.

Charmeine snuggled to Tabbruis, laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat.

He wrapped his arms securely around her.

What did the pregnant Light-Bearer say to the Blood-Hunter?

What? His eyes half closed ready to doze off.

Do you have storm insurance?

Tabbruis’ eyes flew open and busted out with laughter, I cannot believe it. That joke is really awful.

Ah, but you’re laughing? Aren’t you? She laid her head back down on his chest with a chuckle.

I laugh always with you, Charmeine, my lovable, crazy, and precious Wife.

What would you do without my bad jokes?

Sleep, he answered with a chuckle.

She rolled her eyes and snuggled onto his chest. His laugh was a great comfort to her.

Suddenly, Tabbruis felt Baby Hunter move against his side. Charmeine, did you feel that?

Yes, little Baby Hunter here is very active and likes to hear you laugh. Every time you do, the baby kicks.

I do not believe that, Charmeine. However, he smiled at the thought it was possible.

Why wouldn’t Baby Hunter flip when you laugh? I do. I always have since the first day we met.

He kissed her on the forehead. All right, my love, you can tell me bad jokes anytime. They seem the best for making me laugh.

Good because that’s all I know, she sighed with a smile.

He held her closer and put his hand on her belly to feel Baby Hunter move. He reached out with his Blood-Hunter senses and heard the heartbeat of her and the baby, and beamed.

Semper tuus ero, Charmeine.

She whispered, Semper tua ero, Tabbruis.

(I am forever yours.)

*****

Tabbruis looked down, and saw she was instantly asleep. He was in wonder of the complex and lovable creature at his side. In Heaven, God made and matched Charmeine for him. They were of one flesh, ‘two peas in a pod,’ as she would like to say.

He reflected how she rescued him from Hell, but they were separated in the portal to Earth. He thought, ‘It has to be a blessing, I had no memory when I awoke in the desert near Mr. Sinai. I would have been searching for my family for eight thousand years, but they were not on the Earth yet.’ Nevertheless, thousands of years of loneliness engulfed him.

Tabbruis was scared, because he had so much love in his life now. Charmeine was his lifeline, heartbeat, and everything he wanted. He needed her, his family and especially Baby Hunter, as she liked to call the baby.

When she told him about the baby, he was jubilant. He thought his heart would explode with pure joy. So many moments of happiness had happened to him since she came into his life. His heart began to beat when he saw her face above his in the Jones Beach parking lot. His passion burned and never had been extinguished since their wedding night. In all the lonely years he spent on Earth, she was the only woman he gave himself to. After they defeated the Elder Council, his faith in God was renewed when he saw her in Heaven come back to be with him and their family.

Now, his contentment thrived in her womb ready to be born in a few months. He thanked God for the comfort and love she gave him.

He wanted to be a good Husband and Father and read books about the stages of pregnancy. He took care of her as much as possible. However, she did not like to be coddled. Tabbruis knew she tolerated it just because of the baby.

At the last ultrasound, Doctor Laura said Baby Hunter started the third trimester. She was glad Charmeine’s travel and flight time was over, she was skeptical of any woman who flew in the third trimester.

He wanted to know the sex of the baby. But, Charmeine, either from superstition or just to be surprised when the baby was born, did not want to know. All she wanted was for Baby Hunter to be healthy.

The family was on twenty-four hour baby patrol. In between the weddings, all the men of the house, Tabbruis, Shane, Neal, Hameal, Dmitri, Thomas, and even young Percival, made the baby furniture.

Hameal designed the plans of the additions for the expanded family at the Castle Charmeine. He was an architect and builder. He saw to it the castle was transformed into a baby proof home, which was a huge job for an ancient castle. Under Hameal’s direction, all the men had managed to build and transform the room next to Tabbruis and Charmeine’s Master Suite into a perfect Nursery for Baby Hunter.

Dmitri and Tabbruis surprised Charmeine when she returned home from the weddings with an addition of an indoor swimming pool. She would have never asked for such an extravagance, but when Dmitri suggested it, Tabbruis knew immediately she would love it. Even though she loved the beach, she couldn’t swim year-round. She was tickled pink because now, she could swim any time she wanted. Tabbruis loved to see her happy. His wish was to give her everything her heart desired.

Doctor Laura and multi-talented, Nurse Sandra were busy with the hospital, and prepared it for every contingency, even with a sterile Operating Room.

The hospital came in handy when Percival hammered his thumb instead the head of the nail and crushed his bone.

Laura and Sandra treated and dressed the wound.

However, Dmitri gave Percival some blood, and he was fine in a few days.

From morning until night, the castle hummed with activity; never a dull moment for its inhabitants. The optimism the family felt was high because they were united with their loved ones.

Sandra, Laura, Hera and young Athena were in the ‘shop-til-you-drop’ mode. They made biweekly trips to Bucharest for everything the family and Baby Hunter would need.

Charmeine was not much of a shopper. She had no patience for it. Her idea of shopping was to go online to Amazon.com, order whatever she needed, and have it delivered. To be honest, she wanted to spend as much time as she could with Tabbruis.

He could tell she was troubled with thoughts of their mission on Earth to battle Lucifer’s minions. He knew dark times were to come. Nevertheless, Tabbruis was happy his wife and baby were in his arms safe. He bent to kiss her on the head. For now, he was more content than he ever thought he could be. He drifted off to sleep and thought the Castle Charmeine was the happiest place on Earth.

Chapter Two: The Visitors

It was about 3:00 am when the perimeter alarms went off.

Tabbruis and Charmeine awoke with a start.

He used his Blood-Hunter senses to make sure everyone in the house was okay.

She looked at him with fear and worry.

Tabbruis was out of bed, dressed and on his iPhone with Dmitri just as she rolled herself out bed. He handed her a sweater, pants and shoes while he finished his call. We need to get to Dmitri’s study, Charmeine. All the surveillance equipment is there.

Go ahead, she said while she put on her clothes.

He shook his head and replied, No, I will go with you. I do not want you to walk down the staircases by yourself.

She rolled her eyes, and slipped on her tennis shoes.

They half jogged as fast as she could go.

Everyone in the castle had stirred and went out to the Front Entry Door landing to go to Dmitri’s study.

Neal and Thomas ran past them at super speed.

When the family arrived at the study, the men in the castle security were in the middle of briefing Dmitri, Neal, and Thomas.

Shane and Sandra started to enter codes on the satellite computer and made calculations.

Dmitri looked at Tabbruis, but not at Charmeine.

Tabbruis got the message there was trouble, and it would soon arrive. His heart began to race about Charmeine, Baby Hunter and the family. He would do anything to protect them and silently vowed to do so. He glanced at Dmitri to minimize whatever threat there was, so they could investigate.

Everyone, it was a minor problem with an alarm. Please go back to bed, Dmitri said as he motioned for them to leave the study. We will look into it in the morning. I will have security check it out.

Dmitri, look me in the eye, and tell me what is going on, Charmeine said intently.

Casually, Dmitri yawned, Everything is fine. Please, you and your little one need rest. We all do. He looked down, anywhere, but in her eyes. I will check the malfunction and make sure it is fixed. Go back to sleep everyone, he stretched his arms and yawned again.

Well, you said the truth, ‘you will check out the malfunction.’ I can see fear in your eyes. I want to know what has happened. You know, I don’t like fishing expeditions.

He looked at Neal, Tabbruis, Thomas and Shane.

All the Blood-Hunters knew there was trouble. From what Dmitri’s eyes conveyed, it was a big threat.

Tabbruis closed his eyes, because he did not want her to know.

My Queen, Dmitri uttered as he looked into her eyes. I am afraid there are several Blood-Hunters coming toward the castle.