A Karthan's Kiss: Harmonia, #1

By C.E. Higgins

A man running from his past. A woman desperately trying to save her sister. A plot to turn their world upside down. 

Blake Tomasin is a karthan, a contracted collector of rare items from the islands' six elemental regions. To the world, he is a dark bonded and a reclusive mystery and that's just how he likes it. He has no idea his life is about to be turned upside down by the smart, beautiful scholar, Elle Drayfield, who has but one single-minded purpose; save her sister from an incurable disease.

Blake finds himself drawn to this enchanting woman even as his mind shouts at him to run. The more time he spends with her, the more the walls guarding his heart break down. When he learns she's in the middle of a conspiracy to overthrow Harmonia, he is faced with a terrible decision. Dogged by his own demons, Blake must face his painful past and confront his fears if he wants to ensure he has a future worth living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sweet Lemon Press
• Release date: Nov 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781732452619

C.E. Higgins

An avid daydreamer, Carly spends each day with her husband and children. She spent much of her childhood creating worlds from nothing and imagining people doing incredible things. Now that she's older she creates worlds from nothing and imagines people doing incredible things. Only she writes it all down so others can enjoy the stories as well. Carly began writing early in college. She started several fantasy books but felt like something was missing. And that something was Romance. She set out to write a Romantasy novel and has written two of the seven novels in her Harmonia series in just over a year with the third in the works. Her main goal is to provide exciting, lovable fantasy romance novels that are clean and can be enjoyed by all ages. Carly graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors's in English. She works in a public library where her love of writing and reading is kept burning strong. She and her husband enjoy reading books out loud together and she looks forward to the day when she can share that love of reading with her children. Visit her website at cehiggins.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive updates on when the next books in the series will release.

Book preview

Chapter 2

Elle shut the cab door and finally felt like she could breathe again. Who had that man been? Why had he affected her so? She’d made a complete fool of herself. She hadn’t even been able to look him in the eye after meeting him.

She groaned. He’d been so funny and she’d been so awkward. Normally, she wasn’t so pathetic when around handsome men, after all, she worked right alongside one. But Keeper Shein didn’t affect her like that dark bonded karthan had. Shein didn’t have a shiny onyx earring or bright blue eyes. And he definitely didn’t have a small scar next to his left eyebrow or silky black hair she wanted to run her hands through or…

We’re here, keeper. A gruff voice interrupted her thoughts.

Elle started. What?

We’re here.

Elle glanced out the window before grabbing her stuff. They were in front of the healing center. Oh, thanks. I’ll be a while so don’t wait.

I won’t.

Elle smiled at her obvious mistake and hopped out, jumping back to avoid having her toes run over. She saw her dad’s eccentric car in the parking square and dashed inside. They wouldn’t have started without her, would they?

Over here, sis. Elle turned as Alek, her brother, waved her over, dressed in his usual t-shirt and jeans splattered with clay and mud.

You should keep a change of clean clothes in your car. Elle tried wiping the mud off them and picked off pieces of lint.

Alek swatted her hands away. These are my change of clothes. I didn’t realize I’d dripped mud on them when I transported my newest pots for my exhibit.

An exhibit? You didn’t tell me you had an exhibit coming up.

That’s because he knew you’d attend. A strained voice whispered behind Elle. Elle turned around, smiled at her sister Lenalee, and gave the girl’s thin body a hug. Lenalee’s creamy hair had been lovingly braided by their younger sister, but Elle observed the strain on her present sister’s face. The dark circles under her eyes threatened to swallow her face, and it appeared she’d lost weight.

Again.

Hi, sweeting. How are you feeling today?

Dandy.

Elle raised an eyebrow. I’ve missed your sarcasm. She turned to Alek. What’s wrong with me attending? I thought you liked it when I come to your shows?

Alek coughed. Elle. Sister. You know I love you, but…you have a tendency to, well, hover.

Hover?

He means you get a little too excited and it’s embarrassing, Lena said.

Elle opened her mouth but was interrupted by nurse Katy calling Lena’s name. Lenalee Drayfield. Oh no. Do we need the fire extinguisher?

No. Our mother’s not with us, Elle said.

Absorbent towels?

Father stayed home as well, Alek said.

Katy sighed and took her hand off the pager. Thank heavens.

We’re sorry about that. Elle and Alek linked arms with Lena and followed Katy back.

We know they didn’t mean too, Elle. Parents have no control over their emotions when it comes to their children. Follow me.

Katy ushered them into a sterile examination room. Elle scrunched her nose at the smell of bleach and the lack of any color. She understood white was easier to clean but she’d come to hate the lack of color in the last few years.

Several moments later, Doctor Brinebark entered the room.

His bright smile greeted them, his black hair cut short. Elle, Alek, glad to see you. How’s my favorite patient? No parents? Well, probably for the best. We barely finished fixing up the last room they, uh-

Burned? Elle said.

Flooded? Alek said.

Lena whacked them though they barely felt it.

Doctor Brinebark gave them a weak smile. Yes. Powerful bonds, your parents have. Should have learned from our mistakes. Anyway. Let’s talk about the present, shall we? Lena, how have you been feeling?

Fatigue’s worse than usual, a few headaches, some chills, but otherwise fine.

Elle heaved a sigh. That wasn’t better, but it wasn’t worse.

Elle, Alek. Would you mind if I had a word with Lena alone? Doctor Brinebark’s voice was pleasant, but when Elle looked closer, the lines around his eyes were tight.

Her grip tightened on her purse. She’s lying, isn’t she? The results came back. Things are getting worse.

Please, you two? Doctor Brinebark opened the door for them, his face falling back into neutral territory.

Elle and Alek sat on the chairs across from the room. Tell me how bad it is.

Alek tapped his leg. I’m not home as often like you, but when I am home, she can’t leave her bed, she can barely eat, she sleeps most of the day and cries at night. She trembles holding a cup of water. I think the disease is fighting the sleeping drought.

Elle swallowed her sob, her throat tightening. What was she going to do? How was she supposed to fix her mistake if she didn’t have time? She needed to work harder. She had some money saved up. Would it be enough to request a karthan contract? Elle would need to research what level contract her request would fall under, though she suspected it would be at least a level six. The sand dunes weren’t terribly difficult if one had a decent relationship with the Parched Ones. Except the border patrols had confirmed an outbreak of flesh-eating worms in the snake clans. That would bump her contract up at least two levels. But what choice did she have? Lena needed that crisavis bulb.

The door opened and Lena emerged. Alek and Elle rushed to her side and helped her out.

Come see me next week, Lena, and we’ll discuss options. Katy, set her up for the earliest appointment next week.

We have a Monday morning available at eleven.

Lena nodded. I believe my schedule is free that day.

I’ll take another day off work to help you, Lena.

No.

N-no?

You’ve already missed enough work because of me. Alek doesn’t work Mondays. He can bring me.

Elle opened her mouth but remembered what Lena and Alek had said about her ‘hovering.’ But how was she supposed to not care? It wasn’t like she could flip a switch and turn it off. She’d come anyway and wait outside for them to come out.

The three of them walked to the car in silence, listening to the birds chirping and families visiting loved ones. Lena collapsed in the front seat of the car and laid her head back, eyes closed. Alek closed the door.

Go home. I’ll let you know what we find out from her. Don’t worry. He gave Elle a quick hug, ruffled her short hair, and drove away.

Elle stood there for a few moments, watching the world pass by without caring that her own world was crumbling. Walking down the street to her apartment sounded better than driving, so she didn’t call another cab. She didn’t have the energy to smile at passing strangers nor did she care to. The bright sunshine and vivid flowers mocked her sorrow.

Ellie. Are you okay?

Elle snapped out of her dark thoughts. Only one person called her Ellie. Christy. I’m…fine.

Christy pulled her onto the swinging chair she’d installed in front of her apartment; Elle lived above her. Is it your sister?

Elle held back her tears. The doctor talked to her alone.

Christy flinched, her silver eyes filling with sympathy. She was training to be a nurse. She knew what Elle meant. That bad?

Elle shrugged. She wouldn’t tell us, but it’s not a leap to assume the sleeping drought isn’t working on the disease anymore. What am I going to do? I’ve hit a dead end in my research without new material. I need more time. Why couldn’t I have bonded with an element? Any element. Then I could go out into the elegions and get ingredients myself and… Tears leaked out of Elle’s eyes. She wiped them away.

I know, lovey. I know. Christy pulled her into a side hug and together they simply rocked.

A shiny, silver car parked in front of their apartment and a man exited. He was dressed in a sharp, tailored suit. Elle and Christy tensed but didn’t move.

Can we help you, sir? Christy said, her voice sharp.

He eyed her and her multiple ear and lip piercings. Are you, Miss Drayfield?

No. I am.

The man’s persona changed when he turned to Elle. Ah. I wonder if I might have a moment of your time.

Depends on what you’re selling.

I’m not selling anything. I work for—I’m sorry. He glanced at Christy. Might we have this conversation in private?

No.

The women continued to rock, saying nothing.

The man wilted slightly but persevered. Okay. My name is Gaize Ravin. I represent Forward Progression, a company diligently striving to understand the bonding process. Why do some people bond and others don’t? Can one tell at birth if a child will grow up to bond with an element? Can we determine which element they’ll bond with? That sort of thing. We believe it has to do with our ancestors.

Elle waited for him to finish. Why are you telling me this? Keeper Royan Shein deals with that field.

He does, but is it true that you let him sample your blood for a school project of his?

Yes.

He nodded, as if confirming what he had already known. As a result, your DNA became public knowledge and our systems flagged you as a possible match for one the ancestors we’ve been studying.

Elle had not known that her DNA was public. She did not appreciate hearing about it from Gaize. Stone-faced, she waited for him to get to the point.

He realized she wasn’t going to comment. We, uh, would like to study your DNA.

Didn’t you just say it was public knowledge? Elle said, her voice clipped.

Ah, yes. I see how that is confusing. Keeper Royan only needed a small portion of your DNA for his students to use, that of physical characteristics. While that is enough to flag you in our system, we need a sample of your blood or full access to your medical records to know for certain. He opened his briefcase and pulled out a vial and a piece of paper.

That won’t be necessary. The answer is no.

Gaize’s smile tightened. I…understand.

I am a private person, Mr. Ravin. I don’t like the idea of scientists like you having access to my DNA and medical history.

We would, of course, keep everything confidential.

I’m sure you cannot, however, vouch for others, present and in the future. I cannot help you.

His gaze flickered from Christy back to her. You didn’t accept the age serum, did you? When Elle didn’t respond, he packed up the vial and paper. We understand, but urge you to reconsider. Please take this and call us if you change your mind.

Elle took the white card with silver writing. Ugh, white.

Gaize drove off in his car leaving them alone once more. The nerve of that guy. Did you see how he looked at you? Good thing I was here to scare him off.

I told you my uncle taught me to defend myself, remember?

I do, but personally, I think it’s better to look like you shouldn’t be messed with.

Elle laughed as Christy gave her most intimidating scowl. All right. Calm down. You’re terrifying.

Christy grinned. Don’t you forget it. What are you going to do about your sister?

Elle sighed and rubbed her eyes. Research more, I guess, till I can save enough to hire a karthan. I wish I’d brought home some of my books to look through for ideas. I have all this time and nothing to do.

I’ll be heading to the keep to study tonight. Would you like me to check them out for you?

Would you?

Of course. I expect you to relax, eat the ice cream I have stashed in my freezer because I know you have nothing but spices in your apartment, then tomorrow you can get back down to business. Deal?

Elle smiled at her friend. Deal.

Christy’s deep purple hair disappeared into her apartment and returned a moment later with her bags and the carton of ice cream. Here. Sorry it isn’t your favorite but it beats going to the store, right? Anyway, what books do you want?

Their names are long. It would be better if I wrote them down.

Good idea. Write them on that business card. It won’t matter when you throw it away.

Chapter 3

The bell jingled a soft tune as Blake walked through the door. He stepped over boxes of canned food till he reached the counter.

I’ll be with you in just a—oh, Nightshade, it’s you. How long are you going to be gone? Angelica’s voice drifted through the stacks of packaged goods. She sounded like a disapproving grandmother, despite being the same age as Blake.

He couldn’t see her, but knew she’d set up mirrors throughout the store so she could see who walked in from anywhere in the stacks. Hello to you too. Haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been?

She came around the corner, her silver hair pulled up in a messy bun, her purple eyes giving him a flat look. Blake grinned at her. I’ve been great, thanks for asking.

She put her hands on her hips and laughed. I’d forgotten how much of a charmer you are. Exactly like your friends Glacius and Whirlwind. Out with it now. How long will you be gone?

A few days. Got any meals from the dark elegion? Blake asked as he plopped his used meal packets on the counter.

She threw them on her pile to sanitize and fill again. You ask me every time you step foot in my store.

And every time the answer is no, Blake sighed.

Ask me again. Angelica said, leaning on the counter. A wisp of hair curled around her face as she smiled at him. Her youthful face took many by surprise, especially when they heard her stern voice before seeing her.

Blake raised an eyebrow. Angelica, do you have any meals from the dark elegion?

She reached under the counter, and plopped a heavy box on the table, her eyes twinkling. Yes, Blake, I do.

His grin threatened to split his face. Just for me? I knew you were sweet on me!

Very funny. You’re not my type and you know it. I was tired of you asking me. Angelica opened the box and rang them up. These should last you awhile. Want anything else?

Nope. Blake touched the packets lovingly. I really appreciate it, Angie. Your meals always make a bad situation better.

I’m glad. You’re not getting a discount.

He laughed. I’ll happily pay full price for these. Anything to ensure that you keep stocking them.

I’ll be sure to store a box just for you.

Blake plopped a few large credits on the counter and picked up the box with one arm. Angie rolled her eyes at him as she counted the credits and handed him a single small credit as change. Show off. Get out of here. Go find yourself a different girl to charm.

Blake laughed. See you later, Angie. May your dreams guide you. I’ll be sure to let Holin know you said hello.

Angie’s cheeks turned pink and her eyes widened. You’ll do no such thing! Nightshade! Come back here!

What’s next on the list?

Blake parked the car, rubbing his arm absently where Angie had hit him with a freeze-dried meal she’d thrown when he’d laughed at her embarrassed pleas on his way out of the store. We need a star chart to deal with the Parched Ones messing with the gravitational pull and more freeze-dry pouches for the bellabud flower.

Where’d you learn the Parched Ones mess with the gravitational pull?

Blake held up the chip he’d received from Keeper Drayfield.

Ka’rin’s eyes narrowed. Where did you get that?

The knowledge keep.

Did Keeper Carinus decide to stop printing everything out?

Blake shifted in his seat, parking the car. No. He retired a few months ago.

Who was he replaced by?

Keeper Drayfield. Blake avoided looking at her, fighting to keep his body from betraying him.

Really? Ka’rin dragged the word out. Do tell me more.

There’s not much to tell. She spared a moment to give me this chip before she rushed to an appointment.

Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing a woman with short hair rush into a cab.

That was her. Well, I’d better buy that star chart before they close.

They don’t close for another six hours.

You know the drill. Guard my car while I’m gone.

Sure thing, master. She smirked and waved.

Blake groaned as soon as he’d entered the shop. That had not gone well. He’d been hoping to avoid answering questions about the new keeper. His usual self-control evaporated like a fine mist when it came to Elle Drayfield, and he didn’t like it.

He browsed for as long as he could. When the owner gave him a strange look after he circled the store for the third time, Blake bought the star chart and headed back to the car, hoping Ka’rin wouldn’t bring Elle up again.

She was waiting for him in the car, watching his every movement. You certainly took your time in there.

Blake shrugged. There were some cool things to look at. I’ve never been in there before.

I see. Maybe you should stop by the food square and grab some lunch before you crash in your hotel.

Blake relaxed. That’s a good idea. I don’t want to wake up after a few hours because I’m hungry. Plus, I can drop off my laundry and pick it up before they close tonight.

Blake loved trying out different restaurants but today he felt like comfort food. He’d had a long few weeks. Polishing off his classic elderpig bacon cheeseburger and creamy sauerkraut, Blake gathered his laundry and walked the short distance to the laundromat. Unfortunately, that meant he had to walk by the Dance and Date Corner. The live band was beating out the latest music (which he didn’t know) while couples and friends danced.

Oh, look, there’s Whirlwind and Glacius. Don’t those two ever stop? Ka’rin nodded at the center of the dance floor where Blake could see Whirlwind’s bald head and Glacius’s bouncing curls. Blake had the impression she’d encouraged him to get food here for this very reason, but before he could scold her the two masters finished their meals and got up.

Blake shook his head, but couldn’t stop a small smile from tugging his lips at the two of them laughing and dancing, surrounded by people, showing off their skills. Whirlwind had changed into his casual clothes, losing the embroidered robes. He created mini whirlwinds for his adoring fans. Glacius still didn’t have a shirt on and froze water into intricate shapes. Blake felt a pang of longing in his chest.

For a moment he imagined himself down there with them. What little tricks would he do to impress the crowd? He could manipulate the shadows and tell a story. Would they like that? Whirlwind sent a gust at Glacius, who spilled water on himself. The crowd laughed and cheered for their favorites as Glacius tried to strike a return blow. After a moment, Blake turned away and kept walking.

Did you want to join them after you drop off your laundry? I’m sure the offer still stands. You could do your shadow trick for them. I bet they’d like it.

People were too close for him to answer her so he shook his head. He didn’t belong in that world. He was dark bonded—an oddity that people liked to look at but didn’t want to touch. He would feel like an impostor. Plus, if they didn’t like his shadow trick, it would be awkward. No. It was better that he simply return to his hotel, get some sleep, and focus on this contract.

Chapter 4

Elle threw off her covers and sat up in bed, sliding her feet into her slippers and pulling on a sweatshirt and fitted pants. Four hours. She’d been lying in bed trying to sleep for four hours.

She’d done what Christy told her to and eaten her ice cream, relaxing and reading a book on her back patio. She’d worked out, stretched, and taken a relaxing bubble bath. But she’d still been unable to sleep, waiting for Alek to message her and tell her what the doctor had told Lena.

Maybe a cup of tea would soothe her worries enough to fall asleep? At this point, Elle would try anything.

Elle turned on the light and put the teapot on the stove. The window was open and a slight breeze blew the curtains. She frowned. Hadn’t she closed that window? Oh well. Her brain wasn’t functioning correctly. She closed it and picked up her favorite issue of Karthan Weekly until the teapot whistled.

Sighing, Elle breathed deeply the aromatic steam wafting up from her mug. No, wait. For a second, she swore it smelled like fresh rain. That wasn’t right.

A sound behind Elle startled her. The tea flew over her shoulder as she let out a squeak. Oh bother, she’d done it again. Now she’d need to clean up her fridge and floor.

Except, she heard a scream of pain. A human scream.

Elle’s heart skipped a beat and time seemed to slow.

Why are you still awake? His gruff voice restarted her heart at double speed.

Incapacitate him and get away, her uncle’s voice said in her head. She grabbed the still-hot teapot and swung it around. It connected with the unknown man’s head with a sickening crunch and sent him sprawling onto his back, another growl of pain sending shivers down her spine.

She jumped over him, dropping the tea pot on his chest with a thunk and ran to the door, grabbing the walls to keep herself from falling. She flung the door open. Elle shot the man a glance. Dressed all in black with an embroidered band around his head Elle didn’t recognize, he held a tube to his mouth, poised. Eyes shut, he inhaled sharply. Elle instinctively froze, but he didn’t shoot.

He can’t hear you, move quietly. She took a step, then another. He continued to point the tube in her general direction but didn’t fire. Almost outside. Just a few more steps. Almost there. The floor squeaked. Elle sucked in a breath. She pushed against the door frame and leaped down the stairs.

But not before she felt a sting on her neck.

She pulled the barb from her skin but knew it was too late. What was happening? Why was that man in her house? She reached the bottom of the stairs and slowly circled.

She screamed for help, her voice cracking with fear. No one came. No one opened their doors. Did that mean…? Christy.

Elle ran toward her friend’s apartment and burst in, stumbling in the dark and hitting several things on her way to the bedroom. Christy lay there, unmoving. Elle sobbed and reached for her, turning her body over.

No, Daddy, I said I wanted a filaferret not a pony, Christy mumbled and settled back down.

Elle’s hands shook. Christy wasn’t dead. But why didn’t she hear Elle scream? Christy. Christy, wake up. Why won’t you wake up?

But Christy remained asleep no matter how hard Elle shook her. Elle stopped and tried to think. She rubbed her eyes. Why was she so sleepy? The dart. Was it a tranquilizer? Which animal was it derived from? If it was from the earth elegion sockapora frog, she had less than a minute before she collapsed. If it was from the light elegion chivala fish, she had maybe ten more minutes. If it—Elle stopped and looked closer at Christy.

The moon peeked out from behind a cloud, illuminating Christy’s form on the bed. A faint dark circle enclosed her head. Elle’s stomach sunk. This was no ordinary sleep. A bonded did this. Without finding the bonded responsible for this magic, Elle had no chance of waking her. Were all her neighbors under a similar spell? But what spell was it? She’d never heard of something like this.

The venom from the dart fought against the adrenaline in her blood.

Elle needed to get somewhere safe. How far out had they enacted the sleeping spell? There was a hotel on the other side of the park behind her apartment circle. Surely the spell didn’t extend that far. Elle moved back to the front door but stopped. There was a car on the street that hadn’t been there before.

From the open window, Elle could hear voices. Rossa. Rossa! How hard is it to pick up a sleeping woman and carry her outside? Evaline can’t keep up this sleep spell much longer.

Brother. Elle recognized the gruff, pained voice above her.

Rossa. What happened?

She wasn’t asleep. Threw scalding water at me and hit me with a teapot. She’ll pay for that. Elle tensed and backed away, her movements slow. Her mind hazed and the edges of her vision fuzzed. I’m not sure if I hit her with a tranquilizer but I heard her screaming for help a few minutes ago. I can’t see— Elle retreated and closed the bedroom door. She opened Christy’s window and slid out, her body growing sluggish. She tripped and fell in the dirt but struggled up again.

The wet grass soaked her slippers. She stumbled over the transition between the grass and stone pavement. Elle blinked her eyes. She wasn’t going to make it to the cars. Her tongue felt like it was coated in sand and she only had a few minutes before the tranquilizer immobilized her. Elle noticed three fuzzy shapes, two dark and one bright white. Cars. Hide.

Nothing good came from white. She took a step toward the dark cars. Except…something tickled the back of her mind. There was one white car she did like and seen recently. She collapsed onto her hands and knees, crawling to the white car. The odds of it being the car she hoped it was were slim, but it was too late to turn back now. She could feel herself fading fast. She reached up and grabbed the handle. The trunk sprang open. She sobbed with relief then sucked in a breath as she hit the hard ground and couldn’t move anymore. No. Please, she whispered as tears streamed down her face. They were going to find her.

Something lifted her limp body up and set her in the trunk. A gentle hand stroked her hair. Elle relaxed. The trunk door clicked shut. She heard muffled voices but her brain couldn’t make sense of what