Only In Her Dreams (The Oneiroi #1)
When Lucessa Sarcona awakes from a recurring dream, she has no idea her life is about to be turned upside down. A stranger, familiar to her dreams, shows up in the flesh, and Lucessa knows she’s either crazy or experiencing something not of this world.
A war ensues between three demigod brothers. One, trained to rule Erebos, is violently replaced. One forced to return to his homeland and lead the dream-gods of the Oneiroi. And one is charged with the impossible task of protecting Lucessa. How is she linked to the Oneiroi? Why do two brothers seek to keep her hidden and protected? And how does another plan to use her against the two demigods who love her?
Will Lucessa’s dream man have the courage to claim her as his own or will he bow to the command of another, forsaking the one he loves?
Only in Her Dreams is a modern spin on a Greek legend--the new direction of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, moving from angels, demons, vampires, and witches and toward the realm of demigods.
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EXCERPT
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Chapter 24
Lucessa traversed the hallways that’d become so familiar to her over the last several years. Nurses waved to her in greeting.
“Hello, Marie,” Lucessa said, entering her mother’s sterile room.
“Well aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
“I’m Lucessa.”
“What a familiar name, I think I once knew someone named Lucessa.”
She held back the tears as her mother spoke her name. Ironically, this was the place she could find normalcy as she sat with the woman who cared for her for so many years and was so familiar. Most days immense sadness filled her. A sadness so complete her heart felt ripped in two, but today she experienced only comfort--and stability.
“How’s your day going?” she asked her mother.
“Just lots of resting.” Her mother’s eyes never left the window. “The weather is dreadfully hot outside. I’ve changed my clothes three times.” Her eyebrows rose and fell, her hands did the same. Her mother always did exaggerate her feelings.
Lucessa wasn’t surprised Marie didn’t know the season. In fact, she refused to leave the main rooms of the home. Lucessa had originally selected this facility because of the extensive gardens around the building, but her mother didn’t venture out to enjoy what she once held dear.
Finally her mother turned from the window and focused her eyes on her daughter’s. How can she not see our resemblance? A spark of recognition passed across her face, but was quickly replaced with a welcoming smile. “Well aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
Lucessa was prepared for this, but it still caused her gut to turn and a heaviness to settle on her heart. “Lucessa.”
“What a familiar name, I think I once knew someone named Lucessa.”
Greg hadn’t understood why she put herself through this hurt every time she visited. He never understood the love she had for her mother and the responsibility she felt to take care of her.
“I need to talk to you.” It was unlikely Marie would remember once Lucessa left, but her mother was a good listener and sometimes gave excellent advice.
“I do hope I can help, dear,” Marie reached for Lucessa’s hand. “Please sit.” Lucessa took her usual seat next to her mother’s rocking chair.
“My problem has to do with two men.” It was awkward at first, always having to bring her mother up to speed. “I have two men in my life. I’ve known both for a very long time.”
“Men are a hassle. You can’t live with them and you can’t bury them in the back yard. That is just not good for the flowers.” Her mother’s eyes sparkled with mischief. Most people mistook Marie for a nurse at the home when she was responsive. Her hair was still a rich brown and her skin was wrinkle free. “Do you love both of these men?”
“It isn’t like that, M--” Lucessa caught herself before she called her mom. The doctor said that when she visits it’s important she didn’t upset or confuse Marie.
This could cause harm to both her mother and the staff. “One is my husband and the other is a man I’ve known for over twenty years. They’re both staying with me, but there’s a lot of tension. Almost like they feel threatened by each other.” Lucessa studied her mom knowing she’d have no reaction. She wouldn’t have remembered Greg’s death.
“Tell me about them, dear.” Marie shifted her position on the chair to face Lucessa. “Well, Greg, my husband left for Uganda over a year ago and he died of malaria two months after he got there. He was shipped back to me in a box and it was too painful for me to verify that it was indeed him in the casket.” She sighed. “Then he shows up on my doorstep last night, beaten and bruised with no explanation of where he’s been for the last year.”
“You’re not happy to see him?” Her mother was a very perceptive person.
“That’s the problem. I should be overjoyed to have him back.” A part of her hated using her mother as a sounding board—a way to get her own thoughts straight.
“But you don’t feel that way, and that troubles you.”
“Exactly, I think it has something to do with the arrival of Maxim.” She paused, looking to see if she’d confused her mother yet. “That is the man I’ve known for over twenty years.”
“I figured this,” Marie huffed. “He must be a very handsome man.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you blush every time you mention him.”
Wow, a mother will always know her child’s heart of hearts.
Lucessa pushed ahead, choosing to ignore her mother’s last comment. “Maxim thinks Greg will hurt me again. He’s very protective of me.” This was an understatement. His only responsibility was to protect her.
“He sounds like a very special man. These types of men don’t come along very often. I once had a man, Guy, he was the same as your Maxim, very protective of me and our daughter, Lucessa.”
Lucessa saw the wheels turning in her mother’s head, connecting her name and her daughter’s name. Lucessa prayed for these moments every time she walked into the nursing home. But the light of recognition faded as quickly as it appeared. “Well aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
“Hello, Marie,” Lucessa said, entering her mother’s sterile room.
“Well aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
“I’m Lucessa.”
“What a familiar name, I think I once knew someone named Lucessa.”
She held back the tears as her mother spoke her name. Ironically, this was the place she could find normalcy as she sat with the woman who cared for her for so many years and was so familiar. Most days immense sadness filled her. A sadness so complete her heart felt ripped in two, but today she experienced only comfort--and stability.
“How’s your day going?” she asked her mother.
“Just lots of resting.” Her mother’s eyes never left the window. “The weather is dreadfully hot outside. I’ve changed my clothes three times.” Her eyebrows rose and fell, her hands did the same. Her mother always did exaggerate her feelings.
Lucessa wasn’t surprised Marie didn’t know the season. In fact, she refused to leave the main rooms of the home. Lucessa had originally selected this facility because of the extensive gardens around the building, but her mother didn’t venture out to enjoy what she once held dear.
Finally her mother turned from the window and focused her eyes on her daughter’s. How can she not see our resemblance? A spark of recognition passed across her face, but was quickly replaced with a welcoming smile. “Well aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
Lucessa was prepared for this, but it still caused her gut to turn and a heaviness to settle on her heart. “Lucessa.”
“What a familiar name, I think I once knew someone named Lucessa.”
Greg hadn’t understood why she put herself through this hurt every time she visited. He never understood the love she had for her mother and the responsibility she felt to take care of her.
“I need to talk to you.” It was unlikely Marie would remember once Lucessa left, but her mother was a good listener and sometimes gave excellent advice.
“I do hope I can help, dear,” Marie reached for Lucessa’s hand. “Please sit.” Lucessa took her usual seat next to her mother’s rocking chair.
“My problem has to do with two men.” It was awkward at first, always having to bring her mother up to speed. “I have two men in my life. I’ve known both for a very long time.”
“Men are a hassle. You can’t live with them and you can’t bury them in the back yard. That is just not good for the flowers.” Her mother’s eyes sparkled with mischief. Most people mistook Marie for a nurse at the home when she was responsive. Her hair was still a rich brown and her skin was wrinkle free. “Do you love both of these men?”
“It isn’t like that, M--” Lucessa caught herself before she called her mom. The doctor said that when she visits it’s important she didn’t upset or confuse Marie.
This could cause harm to both her mother and the staff. “One is my husband and the other is a man I’ve known for over twenty years. They’re both staying with me, but there’s a lot of tension. Almost like they feel threatened by each other.” Lucessa studied her mom knowing she’d have no reaction. She wouldn’t have remembered Greg’s death.
“Tell me about them, dear.” Marie shifted her position on the chair to face Lucessa. “Well, Greg, my husband left for Uganda over a year ago and he died of malaria two months after he got there. He was shipped back to me in a box and it was too painful for me to verify that it was indeed him in the casket.” She sighed. “Then he shows up on my doorstep last night, beaten and bruised with no explanation of where he’s been for the last year.”
“You’re not happy to see him?” Her mother was a very perceptive person.
“That’s the problem. I should be overjoyed to have him back.” A part of her hated using her mother as a sounding board—a way to get her own thoughts straight.
“But you don’t feel that way, and that troubles you.”
“Exactly, I think it has something to do with the arrival of Maxim.” She paused, looking to see if she’d confused her mother yet. “That is the man I’ve known for over twenty years.”
“I figured this,” Marie huffed. “He must be a very handsome man.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you blush every time you mention him.”
Wow, a mother will always know her child’s heart of hearts.
Lucessa pushed ahead, choosing to ignore her mother’s last comment. “Maxim thinks Greg will hurt me again. He’s very protective of me.” This was an understatement. His only responsibility was to protect her.
“He sounds like a very special man. These types of men don’t come along very often. I once had a man, Guy, he was the same as your Maxim, very protective of me and our daughter, Lucessa.”
Lucessa saw the wheels turning in her mother’s head, connecting her name and her daughter’s name. Lucessa prayed for these moments every time she walked into the nursing home. But the light of recognition faded as quickly as it appeared. “Well aren’t you a pretty little thing. What’s your name?”
Author Bio:Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since.
In college, Christina took many courses to help develop and enhance her writing skills. She completed a seventy-page dissertation on the need for community policing in American society. Now, she focuses on Historical Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance. Her debut Urban Fantasy novel, Only in Her Dreams, will be released on September 1, 2012.
Christina lives in Northern California with her husband, daughter, two boxers, two cats, and a Beta fish named Marmaduke. If she’s not behind a computer screen or book, she’s busy leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. She is very active in several writing groups and a local book group.
Giveaway: Open Internationally to people 18+, Giveaway ends 10-3-12. Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen.
