New Release:  Ayanna by Cathlin Shahriary 

 

 

Trying to adjust to life in the small town where her aunt lives, Ayanna stumbles across a handsome young man by a pond in the nearby woods. Tall, with a winning smile, Corydon isn’t just any guy, he’s exactly the type her aunt had warned her to avoid at all costs…a Fae. Even knowing that he isn’t human, she can’t seem to resist him. Ayanna is about to learn becoming involved with a Fae always has its price, and this one may be more than she can afford to pay.

 

 

 

Ayanna noticed that her arms were starting to turn a light shade of pink. Damn, she must have forgotten to put on sunblock before she left. As much as she didn’t want to leave him, she probably should head home to avoid further sunburn, because a little pink now will definitely deepen by this evening without the help of anymore exposure. “Unfortunately, I should probably go before I turn extra crispy.”

He placed his hand on her pink forearm. “I had no idea you could burn so quickly.”

“Must be the curse of the pale,” she joked. He removed his hand, but the heat from his skin remained.

“It’s been entertaining getting to know you, Ayanna. Do you think we could meet up again? I’d love to spend some more time with you.”

“I’d like that too,” she met his eyes and stared into them seeing nothing but sincere interest and perhaps that start of a friendship.

“I don’t think I can get away tomorrow, what about three days from now? Same place, around noon?”

“It’s a date…I mean…I’ll see you then,” she stammered unsure if he would take her words the wrong way. She hopped off the rock and turned to face him straight on. She took a moment to study his sharp features until her eyes halted on his left ear where his silvery blond hair was tucked. Her breath caught in her throat. She had only seen ears like his on Star Trek, and while they were definitely pointy, on him they seemed to fit. Like a bullet, her aunt’s description of Fae hit her, and she staggered back a few steps.

“Are you okay?”

She was sure her eyes had widened. “I…um…just remembered something…I have to go,” she called leaving the pond at a sprint.

“Ayanna, wait!” His voice echoed off the trees around her, but she was afraid of what she would do if he caught up with her. She pushed herself to run as quickly as she could without tripping over rocks or tree roots. She glanced back, and much to her relief he wasn’t following her. Could Aunt Grace have been right after all? Could Corydon be Fae? And if he was, how would she ever face him again?

 

 

Cathlin Shahriary lives in North Texas with her husband, cats (two of which she calls her own) and an 80 pound pitbull puppy named Erwin. By day she is an elementary teacher, sculpting future book nerds and writers. By night (weekends and summer) she is an avid reader, cat foster, and writer. You can also find her fangirling over books, authors, and TV shows (Supernatural, Dr. Who, and the Walking Dead to name a few). She still believes in the existence of magic and the power of love.