Ta’naihapi Teaser
This is a short story introduction to The Warrior Series, giving a little peek into the world of Ta'nai and letting you meet the main characters from Given to the Warrior. Set in the period of time between Tears of the Warrior and Given to the Warrior.
Download your free copy of Ta’naihapi Teaser on BookFunnel here
Extra Scenes
These are additional extra scenes that either didn't make it into the books or are bonus content to allow us to have a little more fun with the characters. Scenes here are drafts and have not undergone final editing, so typos or grammatical errors might be present.
Scene from: Million Dollar Change
Timeline: End of chapter 10
Note: I was toying with the idea of finishing the chapter off with this scene, but I felt the chapter was probably long enough, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted them to go straight to bed and not do anything more, or to let them have this little moment… So I left it out of the book, but I still liked it as a scene, so here it is.
Sophie rolled over and looked over to the clock on the nightstand - 2am. Sleep was as elusive now as it had been when she'd climbed into bed, alone, almost two hours ago.
The sleeplessness was her own doing. She'd been replaying their date in her mind - the way he looked, the scent of his cologne, the witty banter at the table of the expensive restaurant he'd taken them to... the superhero underpants and what they might look like on his strong lean body... and the all-too-brief shenanigans they had started to engage in before he'd put a firm stop to it. While she appreciated his old-fashioned gallantry, she was frustrated.
Her thoughts kept wandering to the other side of the grand apartment where Sebastian lay tucked away in his own bed. Where she very much longed to be.
Even if it was to cuddle without sex, it just felt odd for them to sleep apart.
But he had been adamant.
He was trying to avoid temptation, she knew that, and he was right to do so. There would be no way she could keep her hands to herself sleeping next to him. She respect his convictions, but It didn't change the fact that it was taking every ounce of willpower she had not to march over to his room and slide in beside him - naked.
Sighing, Sophie got up and walked to the kitchen, there was no point continuing to lay there getting herself more worked up. She needed a distraction. Pouring herself a glass of water, she took it out onto the balcony, hoping that a little fresh air and the lights of the city might calm her enough to sleep.
Dim light spilled from the full-length glass windows at the end of the balcony where the indoor pool was. Curious, Sophie went over to investigate, unsure whether the lights always stayed on, or if someone was using the pool.
As she approached the glass she could hear the faint sound of splashing and saw that Sebastian was indeed using the pool. The underwater lights were on, illuminating him from below, but the room itself was dark, giving the pool an eerie glowing effect that looked surreal but very inviting.
Sophie knew that she should go back to bed. Leave Sebastian to his swim and try to get some sleep, but she couldn't help herself. The thought of a swim, and another opportunity to get teasingly close to his near-naked body, was too tempting.
Deciding to join him, she went to open the door but found it locked. Knocking loudly, she heard Sebastian curse as her sudden appearance at the door startled him. Giving her a brief nod of acknowledgement, he swam to the edge, hoisted himself out and came to unlock the door.
“Something wrong?” he asked, looking worried as he held the door open. His wet hair was dripping into his eyes and rivulets of water ran from his body making a puddle on the tiles under his feet.
Sophie was somewhat disappointed to see that he was wearing swimwear and not skinny dipping as she’d hoped. But the black swimming trunks he wore were form-fitting and the sight of him was making her feel flushed again.
“I can’t sleep,” Sophie pouted. “Seems you can’t either.”
“A certain someone was on my mind…”
Sophie stepped forward to put her arms around his neck. He was still dripping wet, his skin cool beneath hers. “Me too, so let's do something about that.”
He chuckled, but pulled her arms away and let them drop by her sides, taking a step backwards to put space between them. “No.” He spoke softly but firmly, making it clear that he wasn't going to take advantage of the situation.
“Okay, it was worth a shot. Can I join you for a swim then?”
“I’m not sure that’s going to help either of us get to sleep.” He sounded more amused than annoyed.
Sophie gave a coy smile. “Your ‘not on the first date’ rule covers sex and apparently getting too handsy, but surely it doesn't cover swimming. That's a perfectly non-sexy activity that two people can enjoy at the same time without breaking any rules, right?”
He nodded, suppressing a laugh. “Correct.”
“Okay then, your choice - am I wearing the nightgown in, or just the thong?”
Running his hand through his wet hair he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if calming himself. “I’d rather you just go to bed.”
Sophie turned serious, not wanting to push him into something he didn't want to do. “I don't want to make you uncomfortable, so if you really want me to go, I will. But if you’re only sending me away because your sense of honor says you should, and you're trying to ensure we don't get up to any funny business, then I’m coming in…. For a swim, nothing more...”
Looking relieved, Sebastian gave her a smile then turned and walked toward the steps. “You're not wearing a nightgown into my pool, but the thong stays on!”
Scene from: Million Dollar Change
Timeline: Epilogue
Note: This was an idea I had for a cute way a couple of the previously mentioned kindly old country men could step up and become pseudo grandparents for Sebastian's children.
Sophie stood in the darkened hallway, leaning against the wall beside the open door, secretly watching Sebastian as he got Diana ready for bed.
She loved to watch him when he didn't know she was there, she found it adorable to take a peak into their special father and daughter time.
They had only been parents for a few weeks now, but he was already proving himself to be a wonderfully loving and attentive father. He had been worried at first about being a parent, his own upbringing being as it was. Yet it seemed like the hardships he'd had growing up only ensured he was extra soft, gentle and loving with his own child.
The difference in their upbringing was especially evident tonight, when her parents had been over for dinner. While Sophie had never had to endure one of the Torrington get-togethers, Sebastian had made it clear that they were vastly different to the jovial and very casual dinners the Tanners enjoyed.
Sebastian tucked Diana into her crib, kissed her goodnight, then stood watching her for a moment as she quickly fell asleep.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly. “I wish I’d been able to give you grandparents too. But I hope you grow up knowing that even though you only have one lot, they are two of the best grandparents anyone could ask for…”
It broke Sophie’s heart to hear him talk like that, knowing how much it pained him that his parents could not accept her, and had turned their back on him.
She hurried down the hallway to her study as she felt the tears well in her eyes, hiding away to have a little cry on his behalf.
A few days later, Sophie and Emma met up at the Oakwood Springs diner for a coffee and chat indulgence away from the kids. Over a slice of Renee's pumpkin pie, Sophie told Emma about Sebastian’s heart wrenching apology.
"That's awful!" Emma exclaimed.
"I know. I can tell he feels bad, but it's not his fault."
Emma shook her head in agreement. "No, it's not, and plenty of kids grow up without 2 sets of grandparents. I was missing a grandfather on one side - he died before I was even born."
"He just wants Diana to grow up having everything he missed out on." Sophie sighed, her heart breaking for him again.
"I can understand that."
Unbeknownst to the two of them, someone else was listening intently. Bill, Sophie's old farmhand was sitting two tables away reading the local paper and had overheard the conversation. A frown darkened his weathered face and he looked thoughtful. While they were not family, he still had a soft spot for Sophie, and by extension, any child of hers too.
When Diana’s first Christmas came a few months later, Sophie was shocked when a card and a small gift arrived addressed to Diana from “Grandpa Bill & Grandma Alice”. The following day, one arrived from “Granddad Hank & Nanna Bea”. A few days later more started to arrive from some of the other old farmers in the area.
While Diana’s biological grandparents might not be in the picture, it was clear that the kindly townsfolk were going to make sure she wasn’t left wanting.
Timeline: End of chapter 9 / Before Epilogue
This is a little scene I had a rough draft of, to show the art exhibition where Travis' art is displayed, to set up that aspect of his life starting. It didn't really fit being placed at the end of chapter 9, so I decided not to use it. This will only make sense if you've read the book to know who Travis is and what's going on with the art exhibition stuff, it's not terribly exciting otherwise 😀
Sophie walked around the gallery floor smiling. Travis' art Exhibition was so far was shaping up to be a huge success. He had been too stressed and shy to even come along, and had opted to stay at home, asking to be updated only if the news was good.
Rachel was there to show support, or just to satiate her own curiosity, and was currently talking to a well-dressed man who seemed to be more interested in her than looking at Travis’ paintings. She was positively glowing under the attention, clearly very interested in him as well.
The gallery owner was flitting about, chatting to people and gushing about the different paintings and the inspiration behind them. Even he didn’t know the true identity of the artist, that was something only known to the Torringtons, who had demanded that the true artist remain anonymous. The secretive artist just made it all the more intriguing for both the gallery owner and the guests.
One hurdle had been that Travis was insistent that the art be displayed without the possibility of sale. This of course meant no commission for the art gallery. It was the sizeable donation from the Torrington family to cover the expenses, plus the added exposure their attendance would bring that had eventually persuaded the gallery to let it go ahead. The gallery owner used the opportunity to promote the upcoming exhibitions he would be holding in the same space.
Sophie had overheard several people inquire about the pricing of the paintings, and was pleased to hear that they had been disappointed to find out that none were for sale. She was sure that if Travis was able to summon the courage to offer them for sale, he’d find that he had no cause to be worried. Hopefully after tonight he would view this experiment as a success and agree to hold another one.
Sebastian walked over to join Sophie, a glass of champagne in each hand. He of course looked dapper as usual, in his three piece suit and an emerald green pocket square coloured to match the satin evening dress she wore. He handed her one of the glasses then wrapped his arm around her.
“Looks like everything is going well…” he commented looking around the room.
She nodded. “I think the artist would be very pleased at both the turnout and how impressed everyone is.”
"Possibly," Sebastian agreed, taking a sip. "But it's still going to take a lot to convince him to continue on this path."
A photographer from the local paper walked over and asked to take a photo, Sophie and Sebastian dutifully posed beside the painting they were closest to, putting on their brightest smiles. Thanking them, the photographer continued on, taking shots of the gallery and other guests as they viewed the paintings.
Sophie squeezed Sebastian's hand, pleased that the space was becoming quite crowded as more people filed in - it would look good for the photos and help bolster Travis’ confidence to see that these people were all here to appreciate his paintings.
The two of them stood together watching the people milling about. Sophie could hear the conversations of those standing nearby, discussing the paintings and offering theories about the true meanings behind them. Since she didn’t even know herself, she found their theories interesting. Some took a more literal interpretation to what they saw, others were wild and fantastical. Given Travis' background, she couldn't begin to interpret what meanings he might have hidden in the brushstrokes, and secretly she preferred not to know - let it be left to each person to determine their own.
At the end of the evening the gallery owner came to talk to Sebastian about how the exhibition had gone.
“It’s a shame your brother wasn’t able to make it tonight," he spoke pointedly with a slight smile, making it clear that he had suspected who the artist truly was. "He missed a truly superb exhibition. And you can tell the artist... whoever he might be...” he gave Sebastian a wink, “...that his work was very well received. Many of his paintings would have sold tonight had they been up for sale, and I’d absolutely love to host another show any time he wants.”
Sebastian smiled, relieved that the gallery owner had praised Travis so highly. “Thank you. I’ll let the artist know, and hopefully get back to you.”
Scene from: Given to the Warrior
Timeline: Around chapter 23
Note: I had originally included this scene because I'd thought that perhaps Zü should have had another reason to be so against taking on a new partner (given that he knows it was his duty to do so), and I wanted to let Zü and his mother have a nice little talk about their lost loves, and show that losing his father had affected Zü too. However it didn't really fit (pacing wise) in the spot I had put it, and the book was already getting longer than I'd planned, so I decided to take it out. I also wasn't sure if it diluted the impact of Mel'ica's death, if his refusal to take another was also due to the feelings of betrayal he'd felt at his mother finding another partner.
I still like the scene, so I've included it here.
A few days later Zü sat down by the communal fire with his midday meal when his mother walked up to greet him. He had not seen her since the morning he had introduced her to Qiiraa, and it seemed like so much had happened since then.
“You look very happy and well, my son,” Chüxenx put her hand on Zü’s shoulder and kissed the top of his head.
He laid his hand atop hers and smiled warmly with a small nod. “I am.”
She looked at him for a moment with tears welling in her eyes. “It has been a long time since I have seen you so unburdened by grief, and you seem to grow happier by the day.”
“Through Qiiraa the sun’s light has found me.” He patted the empty seat beside him. “You may join me if you have time.”
“She is not here?” Chüxenx looked around to make sure she wasn’t intruding before sitting down.
“No, she has gone with Yan’chüme and Tökt to collect plants to make a garden,” he explained.
While the Yil’parù did not believe it was right to farm the land, some did plant flowers in their front yards and the villages always had a supply of medicinal plants and herbs to harvest from.
As part of making the hut more homely, Qiiraa had wanted to restore the flowers that had once grown in Zü’s yard, before he ripped them out in a rage when Meli’ca died.
He had no objections to restoring the garden, however he did not know the best way to take plants from the forest that would ensure they would regrow, so his half-brother Tökt had offered to take Qiiraa out instead.
Being one of the xörcu, the potion brewers, Tökt helped tend to the village garden and was the best in the family at such things. Yan’chüme had gone with them, at Zü’s request. She was the one person in the village he trusted most to keep Qiiraa safe.
“This pleases me to hear,” Chüxenx’s face brightened, it was a good sign that Qiiraa was getting closer to the family and that Zü was happy for her to go without him. “It will be nice for us all to spend a few days together with Xöya. I know that Galsüxu is looking forward to it,” Chüxenx smiled.
“While I am talking of him…” She started carefully, not wanting to spoil the mood, but feeling that now could be the right time for a talk she had long tried to have with her son. “I know you have always disliked my decision to accept Galsüxu as my life partner after your father passed…”
Zü’s face darkened slightly, his previously good mood fading a little. “I would never fault you for doing what is part of our customs and expected of you. Galsüxu is a good and honourable man… he has always treated me as if I was his blood, and I accept him as if he were mine.” He spoke carefully, unsure where she was going by bringing up this topic they had tried to discuss many times, without resolution.
It was true, he had been deeply saddened by his father’s loss, more than he had imagined in a warrior’s life like theirs where death was always present. He’d felt further pain and a sense of betrayal to see his mother with a new partner very soon after. In his head he knew it to be the right way to do things for the benefit of the tribe and those grieving, but his heart felt differently about replacing someone you loved.
What was good in theory was not always the same once it was applied to you personally.
That was the struggle he’d had when it came time for him to do his duty and take on a new partner. His head knew that he should, and he had seen how much of a difference it had made in his mother’s life. Yet his heart could not do it.
She gave a wry smile. “Outwardly you did not, but I know you well, my son… You accepted him, as was your duty, always speaking the right words even though your heart did not mean them. Yet I know you have struggled with it, for the same reason you refused to take a new partner. You could not see how it was possible to find love for another… to open yourself to someone again.” Her voice wavered. “And you felt I was wrong to try, that doing so would diminish the love I had for your father.”
Taking his hand in hers, she looked into his eyes, seeing the hidden pain within them that she also felt in her heart. “You must know that I never stopped loving Tuu’gün, just as you never stopped loving Meli’ca. We were together for many winters, I bore him two wonderful children and together we watched you grow. When I accepted Galsüxu, it was to avoid being so empty and alone. A feeling that unfortunately you also know well.”
She watched sadly as her son’s face hardened as he fought back a wave of grief.
“I too did not think I could love again,” she said softly, “and it did take some time for it to grow with Galsüxu. Yet, as you have discovered, hearts can heal enough to love again, and I do love him now, just as I see you love Qiiraa.” She looked down to his chest, at the freshly healing tattoo over his heart. It was the word ‘Qiiraa’ in the writing of the offworlders, next to Meli’ca’s bird and under Tuu’gün’s wolf. “It does not mean we have forgotten our past, or love those we have lost any less. They mark us forever.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, to hide the shame and remorse he felt, before he pulled his mother into a hug. “I am so very sorry.” The word didn’t seem strong enough for the extra pain he must have caused her. “I thought only as a selfish boy whose father was gone. I did not understand until Qiiraa…”
Chüxenx clung to him, trying to speak around the tears of mixed emotions. “You misunderstand Zü, I am not asking for an apology; none is needed. I love you and Xöya more than anything else in this world, and I want to see you happy. I tried to talk of this in the past only to ease your mind, but I know you were not able to see your way out of the darkness. That is why the Gods needed to send their light to you. It brings me joy that you have let her in, and I hope that through her you can find peace again after losing so much - as I have with Galsüxu.”