Blood Sin by Toni V. Sweeney

A native Georgian of French extraction, Toni V. Sweeney's writing career began during an extended convalescence following an automobile accident. Since her recovery, she has survived tornados and snow-covered winters in the Midwestern United States and currently lives amid the sunshine, earthquakes, and forest fires of Orange County, California. Somehow, she can't seem to stay away from threatening natural occurrences! She is a member of the South Coast Writer's Association, the Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers website, has her own website, myspace, Facebook, and YouTube pages. She presently has eight novels in publication, as well as several short stories featured in magazines, online, and on amazon.com's Amazon Shorts. More about Toni may be found at www.tonivsweeney.com

BLURB:
Blood Sin, Book I of The Kan Ingan Archives
Link: http://leucrotapress.com/bloodsin.html
Available, summer, 2009

Synopsis:
Deroes kan Ingan, Margrave of Arcanis never intends to fall in love, but when he meets Earthwoman Elizabeth Sheffield...and that is exactly what happens.

Spoiled, beautiful Elizabeth is calculating enough to see the status in marrying the ruler of an entire galaxy. Yet there is an unexpected obstacle to her perfect plan to power—Deroes' nephew, Aric.

Raised as heir to the Arcanian throne but now disinherited, Aric intends to make her life on Arcanis as miserable as possible, only to have events take an unexpected turn when he falls in love with his uncle's wife—and she returns his passion.

As the two young people begin their furtive affair, other forces in the kingdom conspire rebellion and murder in an attempt to rid Arcanis of the Margrave's alien bride and his half-Terran child--and the Margrave turns on the one person he believes behind it all: The not-so-innocent pawn, Aric.

EXCERPT:
She heard the outer door open, didn't turn around as soft footsteps came onto the balcony.

"What are you thinking?" Deroes' voice whispered in her ear. A bouquet of brilliant flowers appeared before her.

Pulling them from his hand, she turned in his arms, to be kissed enthusiastically. "Deroes, these are beautiful."

"Flowers from the Royal Garden for my Royal lady, picking by her loving husband."

"And you took time out from your meeting to do that?"

"The meeting is over for the day. I dismissed the Elders. Until sundown, I'm all yours, my Lady."

"All mine?" She gave him an arch look. "To do with as I please?"

Placing one hand over his heart, he bowed. "Whatever you wish, just command me."

"Very well." She held out the bouquet. "Tell me the names of these flowers."

He looked a little disappointed but took it from her, separating the blossoms, holding up one of each. "This is Love Lasts Forever, it comes from Ghermia, in the mountains...."

She sat there watching his face as he recited something about every one and when he finished, said, "Thank you, my Lord," and gathered the flowers. "Would you excuse me a moment?"

Getting up, she went into the bedchamber.

"Elizabeth, what are you--"

"Patience, Sire."

So he sat there, fingers tapping a rhythm on the arm of the divan. When she called him, he stood up and walked hesitantly into the bedroom.

The lights had been dimmed. He could see her lying in the bed, a pale figure in the dark.

"Elizabeth, what is this?"

"Lights, twenty percent!"

The illumination wasn't bright but it was enough to see that she was naked, her only covering the flowers he had given her.

"Since you like to pick flowers so, I thought you might want to do it again."