Paranormal

“The Topaz Desert” in Lace and Blade
by Catherine Asaro

Publisher: Leda-Norilana Books

ISBN-10: 1-934169-91-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-934169-91-9

Price of Book: $11.95

Release Date: Available now

Also Written by Author: The Fire Opal

Hometown: Columbia, MD

www.CatherineAsaro.net

“The Topaz Desert” is set in the same universe as The Fire Opal and The Night Bird, other books in Catherine Asaro’s Lost Continent Series.

Zebb awoke to the rattle of the merchant’s wagon. The merchant, Izad, pulled to a stop, then jumped down and strode to the shack. “So. What do you need?”

“Food and water.” Zebb scratched his stomach. “Sweets. A shovel.” He stopped, distracted by Izad’s wagon. Damned if it didn’t look like someone had tweaked open a flap in the back. “What’s in your wagon?”

“Nothing,” Izad said quickly. The flap rustled — and a girl jumped out. Dragon’s breath! He couldn’t absorb the sight at first, only that she wore a red robe that shimmered around her body.

He felt as if his pulse stopped. Such curves. A creature that pretty couldn’t be real. Then he realized the lighter color on her robe wasn’t cloth, it was her hair. The colors! It had the hue of polished copper streaked with gold, as shiny as a coin. It flowed to her waist a luster that put the richest lodes of ore to shame.

And her face. Soft cheeks. Lips full and red. Little nose. She watched him with huge eyes. Blue eyes. How could she have the sky in her eyes? It was impossible. She was a goddess.

Izad started toward her, and for some bizarre reason he looked furious. The girl stood like a shylock doe, frozen in place.

www.CatherineAsaro.net