Solstice Dance

By L.J. Hamlin

Years ago, Daniel fell in love with his best friend, only to be left devastated when that friend abruptly left, never to be seen again. Since then, Daniel has built up a quiet life he dearly loves, working as a veterinarian and spending free time with his coven.

When he arrives to celebrate Solstice, however, he learns Michael is moving back home. Though he can't deny his broken heart still belongs to Michael, Daniel isn't eager to see what he'll do if offered it a second time.

But is it even up to him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Aug 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781646560523

L.J. Hamlin

L.J.Hamlin is a chronically ill writer who likes to write to escape from the pain. She loves animals and the supernatural.

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Solstice Dance

By L.J. Hamlin

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2019 L.J. Hamlin

ISBN 9781646560523

Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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Solstice Dance

By L.J. Hamlin

Bright evening sun is still shining as Daniel parks his car in the parking lot on his friend’s private land, where he will be celebrating the summer solstice with the rest of his coven. There are already several cars in the lot. He’s far from the first to get here, but then work has kept him too busy to help set up this year. Being summer, it’s a busy time to be a veterinary nurse. It’s still kitten season, for one, and then there are all the animals that have been let out of the house to roam or go for runs. Summer brings a lot of accidents.

Daniel shakes that off, though. He loves his job, but the stress of it has no place here tonight: it’s a time to celebrate growth, new starts, life. He gets his bag out of the trunk, locks up his car, and follows the signs already taped and tied to trees along one of the paths off the lot.

The signs lead to a clearing where groups of people are all performing different tasks. Some are tending to a large fire pit; others are stringing lights all around the breaks in the trees. People are preparing food and decorations. The first person to spot his arrival is his friend Maria, who runs over to him to hug him in their usual greeting.

Daniel, blessed be. How are you? Maria asks, stepping back but taking his hand. They’ve been friends for a long time. Now in their thirties, they’d been teens at first meeting, and Maria married one of their original coven members from back then, a beautiful Greek woman named Grace.

Blessed be. I’m well. Tired, but ready to celebrate with you all. You look amazing, Daniel says honestly, and Maria does a little spin, holding his hand and twirling her long skirt.

Maria clicks her tongue and inspects his face with sisterly concern. Daniel knows she catches the dark circles under his eyes from missed sleep. You do look a little tired. Working too hard?

My back’s been bad. Kept me up a few nights, Daniel admits. He has scoliosis, not as bad as many cases he’s seen, but bad enough he’s had two surgeries to correct the unnatural curve and to help with pain. His back is mostly straight now, but he still deals with a lot of pain, especially with his work: long hours on his feet, heavy lifting, lots of bending.

Maria squeezes his hand. I can brew something to help with sleep. You know that’s my specialty.

Thank you. I can take you up on that at the moment. I’m not fostering any animals right now, so don’t have to be up every two hours for feeds. Daniel smiles, letting the energy of all the coven present wash over him, so many people he can hardly feel individuals. It’s just a nice energy, all happy people, welcoming and joyful.

I don’t know how you do that. I need my sleep. I’ll work on something this week and get it to you soon, Maria promises.

Daniel hugs her. Thank you.

"Here, take your shoes off, feel the earth, get grounded, let the outside