“Oh Roke, you shouldn’t have!” she exclaimed, as she took the present. “I didn’t get anything for you.”
“Are you kidding, sweetheart? You gave me yourself last night.” Leaning down, he nuzzled her neck and nipped her lightly with his fangs, which had grown considerably since they’d become bonded. “I couldn’t ask for a better gift than that,” he murmured in Elli’s ear, making her blush.
“Thank you, Roke,” she said, blushing harder. “But what in the world did you get me?” she asked, looking down at the brightly wrapped gift box.
“Open it and find out!” Roke was grinning with anticipation. “I can’t wait for you to see it!”
With trembling fingers, Elli unwrapped the box and opened it. Inside was a long scroll made of the official parchment they used on her home world of Torl Prime for property deeds. So she already had half an idea of what it was before she unrolled it. But when she read the elaborate script on the scroll and finally understood what Roke had done, a little scream of excitement bubbled up and burst out of her lips.
“Oh, Roke!” she exclaimed, staring up at him. “You bought me the wild lands where we dropped Demon off?”
“And a herd of zorels to go with it,” he said proudly. “Well, we will buy a herd—I didn’t want to pick any without you. But as soon as we get a house and stables built, we’ll go wherever it is they sell the very best zorels and you’re going to pick as many as you want.”
“Oh my goodness, but that’s so expensive!” Elli looked at him with wide eyes. “Can you really afford all this, Roke?”
He grinned.
“Sure, sweetheart—I just had to move some assets around. I sold my ship and bought a smaller one—won’t be needing one with smuggling space anymore. And I have quite a lot saved back. So please don’t worry—it won’t be a problem.”
“Oh, I just can’t believe it!” Elli’s eyes were filling with tears of joy. “My very own zorel ranch! Close enough to see my brothers and my father but far enough away that my stepmother can’t come over very easily—not that she’d want to.” She made a face. “And I’ll get to see Demon again—we can use him as our first stud buck. His fawns will be beautiful if I can find the right does to breed him with!”
“You will, sweetheart, and you’ll train them perfectly too.” Roke gathered her into his arms and kissed her again. “You’re going to do what you love for a living,” he murmured in her ear. “And I’m going to help you do it.”
Elli looked at him seriously.
“But what about you, Roke? Will owning and running a zorel ranch be doing what you love for a living?”
He looked thoughtful.
“Well, I know I don’t have nearly as much experience as you do, but I’d like to think I was getting the hang of it when you were giving me and the grooms lessons there on Pok,” he told her. “Running a ranch will be a nice change from thievery and smuggling. And what I really want is just to be with you, my little ex-priestess—all the days of my life.”
“That’s what I want too,” Elli murmured, snuggling against him. “Thank you, Roke—the chance to do what I love and be with who I love forever is the best Christmas gift anyone could ever ask for.”
“Then Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” he sent through their link, since his lips were busy kissing her. “Now how about if we go back to our own suite and bond all over again?”
“Mmm, I think I’d like that,” Elli sent back as she returned his passionate kiss. “Let’s go!”
So they did. It was a somewhat belated but very, very Merry Christmas for both of them.
The End?
Of course not!
There are always more Kindred Tales and Brides of the Kindred books coming. If you have enjoyed reading The Priestess and the Thief, please take a moment to leave a review HERE. Good reviews are like gold for an author in this crazy-crowded e-book world. They let other readers know it's okay to take a chance on a new author or series. Plus, they give me the warm fuzzies. : ) Thanks for being such an awesome reader!
Hugs and Happy Reading!
Evangeline, Dec 2020
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Also by Evangeline Anderson
Below you'll find a list of available and upcoming titles. But depending on when you read this list, new books will have come out by then that are not listed here. Make sure to check my website for the latest releases and better yet, sign up for my newsletter to never miss a new book again.
Brides of the Kindred series
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
CLAIMED (Also Available in Audio)
HUNTED (Also Available in Audio)
SOUGHT (Also Available in Audio)
FOUND (Also Available in Audio)
REVEALED (Also Available in Audio)
PURSUED (Also Available in Audio)
EXILED (Also Available in Audio)
SHADOWED (Also Available in Audio)
CHAINED (Also Available in Audio)
DIVIDED (Also Available in Audio)
DEVOURED (Also Available in Audio)
ENHANCED (Also Available in Audio)
CURSED (Also Available in Audio)
ENSLAVED (Also Available in Audio)
TARGETED (Also Available in Audio)
FORGOTTEN (Also Available in Audio)
SWITCHED (Also Available in Audio)
UNCHARTED (Also Available in Audio)
UNBOUND (Also Available in Audio)
SURRENDERED
VANISHED
IMPRISONED
TWISTED
DECEIVED
STOLEN
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME ONE
Contains Claimed, Hunted, Sought and Found
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME TWO
Contains Revealed, Pursued and Exiled
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME THREE
Contains Shadowed, Chained and Divided
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FOUR
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FIVE
Contains Enslaved, Targeted and Forgotten
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SIX
Contains Switched, Uncharted and Unbound
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SEVEN
Contains Surrendered, Vanished, and Imprisoned
All Kindred novels are now available in PRINT.
* * *
Also, all Kindred novels are on their way to Audio, join my Audiobook Newsletter to be notified when they come out.
Kindred Tales
The Kindred Tales are side stories in th
e Brides of the Kindred series which stand alone outside the main story arc.
These can be read as STAND ALONE novels.
MASTERING THE MISTRESS (Also Available in Audio)
BONDING WITH THE BEAST (Also Available in Audio)
SEEING WITH THE HEART (Also Available in Audio)
FREEING THE PRISONER (Also Available in Audio)
HEALING THE BROKEN (a Kindred Christmas novel) (Also Available in Audio)
TAMING THE GIANT (Also Available in Audio)
BRIDGING THE DISTANCE (Also Available in Audio)
LOVING A STRANGER (Also Available in Audio)
FINDING THE JEWEL (Also Available in Audio)
BONDED BY ACCIDENT (Also Available in Audio)
RELEASING THE DRAGON (Also Available in Audio)
SHARING A MATE (Also Available in Audio)
INSTRUCTING THE NOVICE (Also Available in Audio)
AWAKENED BY THE GIANT (Also Available in Audio)
HITTING THE TARGET (Also Available in Audio)
HANDLING THE HYBRID (Also Available in Audio)
TRAPPED IN TIME (Also Available in Audio)
TIME TO HEAL (Also Available in Audio)
PAIRING WITH THE PROTECTOR (Also Available in Audio)
FALLING FOR KINDRED CLAUS (Also Available in Audio)
GUARDING THE GODDESS (Also Available in Audio)
STEALING HER HEART (Also Available in Audio)
TAMING TWO WARRIORS (Also Available in Audio)
THE KINDRED WARRIOR’S CAPTIVE BRIDE
DARK AND LIGHT
PROTECTING HIS MISTRESS
UNLEASHED BY THE DEFENDER
SUBMITTING TO THE SHADOW
SECRET SANTA SURPRISE
THE PRIESTESS AND THE THIEF
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 1
Contains Mastering the Mistress, Bonding with the Beast and Seeing with the Heart
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 2
Contains Freeing the Prisoner, Healing the Broken and Taming the Giant
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 3
Contains Bridging the Distance, Loving a Stranger and Finding the Jewel
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 4
Contains Bonded by Accident, Releasing the Dragon, and Sharing a Mate
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 5
Contains Instructing the Novice, Awakened by the Giant, and Hitting the Target
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 6
Contains Handling the Hybrid, Trapped in Time, and Time to Heal
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 7
Contains Pairing with the Protector, Falling for Kindred Claus, and Guarding the Goddess
Kindle Birthright series
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
The Children of the Kindred series
UNBONDABLE
Born to Darkness series
(Paranormal / Action-Adventure Romance)
CRIMSON DEBT (Also Available in Audio)
SCARLET HEAT (Also Available in Audio)
RUBY SHADOWS (Also Available in Audio)
CARDINAL SINS (coming soon)
DESSERT (short novella following Scarlet Heat)
(Also Available in Audio)
BORN TO DARKNESS BOX SET
Contains Crimson Debt, Scarlet Heat, and Ruby Shadows all in one volume
Alien Mate Index series
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
ABDUCTED (Also Available in Audio)
PROTECTED (Also Available in Audio)
DESCENDED (Also Available in Audio)
SEVERED (Also Available in Audio)
ALIEN MATE INDEX VOLUME ONE
Contains Abducted, Protected, Descended and Severed all in one volume
* * *
All Alien Mate novels are now available in PRINT.
The Cougarville series
(Paranormal / Action-Adventure Romance)
(Older Woman / Younger Man
BUCK NAKED (Also Available in Audio)
COUGAR BAIT (Also Available in Audio)
STONE COLD FOX (Also Available in Audio)
BIG BAD WOLF (coming soon)
The CyBRG Files with Mina Carter
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
UNIT 77: BROKEN (Also Available in Audio)
UNIT 78: RESCUED (Also Available in Audio)
The Institute series
(Daddy-Dom / Age Play Romance)
THE INSTITUTE: DADDY ISSUES
(Also Available in Audio)
THE INSTITUTE: MISHKA’S SPANKING
The Swann Sister Chronicles
(Contemporary Fairy / Funny / Fantasy Romance)
WISHFUL THINKING (Also Available in Audio)
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR (Also available in Audio)
Nocturne Academy
(Young Adult Paranormal/Action-Adventure/Romance)
LOCK AND KEY (Also Available in Audio)
FANG AND CLAW (Also Available in Audio)
STONE AND SECRET (coming coon)
Detectives Valenti and O’Brian
(1980s M/M Romance)
THE ASSIGNMENT
I’LL BE HOT FOR CHRISTMAS
FIREWORKS
THE ASSIGNMENT: HEART AND SOUL
Compendiums and Box Sets
ALIEN MATE INDEX VOLUME ONE
Contains Abducted, Protected, Descended and Severed all in one volume
BORN TO DARKNESS BOX SET
Contains Crimson Debt, Scarlet Heat, and Ruby Shadows all in one volume
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME ONE
Contains Claimed, Hunted, Sought and Found
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME TWO
Contains Revealed, Pursued and Exiled
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME THREE
Contains Shadowed, Chained and Divided
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FOUR
Contains Devoured, Enhanced and Cursed
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FIVE
Contains Enslaved, Targeted and Forgotten
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SIX
Contains Switched, Uncharted and Unbound
HAVE YOURSELF A SEXY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Contains Kidnapped for Christmas, Cougar Christmas and Season’s Spankings
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 1
Contains Mastering the Mistress, Bonding with the Beast and Seeing with the Heart
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 2
Contains Freeing the Prisoner, Healing the Broken and Taming the Giant
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 3
Contains Bridging the Distance, Loving a Stranger and Finding the Jewel
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 4
Contains Bonded by Accident, Releasing the Dragon, and Sharing a Mate
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 5
Contains Instructing the Novice, Awakened by the Giant, and Hitting the Target
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 6
Contains Handling the Hybrid, Trapped in Time, and Time to Heal
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 7
Contains Pairing with the Protector, Falling for Kindred Claus, and Guarding the Goddess
NAUGHTY TALES: THE COLLECTION— Volume One
Contains Putting on a Show, Willing Submission, The Institute: Daddy Issues, The Institute: Mishka's Spanking, Confessions of a Lingerie Model, Sin Eater, Speeding Ticket, Stress Relief and When Mr. Black Comes Home.
ONE HOT HALLOWEEN
Contains Red and the Wolf, Gypsy Moon and Taming the Beast
ONE HOT HALLOWEEN Vol.2
Contains The Covenant, Secret Thirst, and Kristen’s Addiction + BONUS: Madeline’s Mates
Stand Alone Titles
(Sci-Fi OR Paranormal Action-Adventure Romance)
ANYONE U WANT
BEST KEPT SECRETS (Step-Brother romance)
BLIND DATE WITH A VAMPIRE
BLOOD KISS
BROKEN BOUNDARIES (M/M romance)
CEREMONY OF THREE
COMPANION 3000 (coming soon)
DEAL WITH THE DEVIL (Also Available in Audio)
DEFILED
EYES LIKE A WOLF (Foster Brother romance)
FOREVER BROKEN (M/M romance)
GYPSY MOON
HUNGER MOON RISING
MADELINE’S MATES
MARKED
OUTCAST
PLANET X (Also Available in Audio)
PLEASURE PLANET
PLEDGE SLAVE (M/M romance)
PURITY (Also Available in Audio)
RED AND THE WOLF
SECRET THIRST
SEX WITH STRANGERS
SHADOW DREAMS
SLAVE BOY (M/M romance)
STRESS RELIEF
SWEET DREAMS
TAMING THE BEAST
TANDEM UNIT
THE BARGAIN
THE COVENANT
THE LAST BITE (M/M romance)
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH
THE LOST BOOKS (M/M romance)
THE PLEASURE PALACE
THE SACRIFICE (Also Available in Audio)
’TIL KINGDOM COME (M/M romance)
Stand Alone Titles
(Contemporay Romance)
A SPANKING FOR VALENTINE (BDSM)
BOUND AND DETERMINED, anthology with Lena Matthews, includes The Punishment of Nicollett
COUGAR CHRISTMAS (Older Woman / Younger Man)
DANGEROUS CRAVINGS (BDSM)
DIRTY GIRL
FULL EXPOSURE (with Lena Matthews)
KIDNAPPED FOR CHRISTMAS (BDSM)
MASKS, contains The Man in the Leather Mask and Masks (BDSM)
MORE THAN FRIENDS (BDSM)
PICTURE PERFECT (Step-Brother romance) (Also Available in Audio)
STR8TE BOYS (M/M romance)
Naughty Tales
(Short Reads to Get You Hot and Bothered)
CONFESSIONS OF A LINGERIE MODEL
PUTTING ON A SHOW (Step-Brother romance)
SIN EATER
SPEEDING TICKET
THE SWITCH (An erotic interlude with the characters of DANGEROUS CRAVINGS)