__________________________________________________________________________________
Crave the Night by Natascha (formerly known as: Ashleagh )

This is a story based upon the Dark Hunter series written by Sherrilyn Kenyon with Acheron Parthenopaeus as main hero. The other Dark Hunters as well as affiliated characters might show up as the story writes out.
Because this story is a Fanfiction which came from my own imagination whilst reading on in this series, note that it is in no way affiliated to Sherrilyn Kenyon. Please be warned again, that this might show spoilers to the actual series but it can also follow a different path to the storylines.

This FanFic as it's written is copyright protected to Natascha apart from the pieces taken from the series as well as the characters and series idea, those are registered adn copyright protected by Sherrilyn Kenyon!!!

HAPPY READINGS,
Natascha
__________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER FOUR

"Why the hell did you not tell me this before?!" Acheron felt his rage growing. "Stryker did what to Nick? And this has been going on how long?"

"Ehm a year..."
"A whole freakin' year?!" Acheron still felt like he got slapped in the face. "And you didn't bother telling me because..?"
"Time wasn't right." Savitar said deadly calm.
"Bull, bloody bull. I trusted you Savitar, and I don't trust a lot of people."
"I'm no friggin' people Acheron, don't tart me. I do what I do and don't have to explain myself to no-one. You know how it works. One thing leads to another, it sets strings in motion. Change one course of action and the whole future changes for a lot of people."

Savitar saw the raging storm that had been building up within Acheron calm down again. Savitar knew how much Nick meant to Ash eventhough the last time they met things ended badly. Ever since that moment changes were set in motion. Acheron went through changes noticeably only to those very close to him, and on a very subtle level. Savitar knew that the time was right for Ash, the moment was here, and this thing with Nick was the key.
He knew as well that the best thing he could do right now was leave Ash be for a while so with a "See you later dude, gotta catch me some waves." Savitar left again. Ash looked at his clothes and willed a change of outfit on himself. Instead of his black leather outfit he had a lose silk white blouse and baggy white pants on. He sat himself down on his chair to watch some cartoons on TV. Finally he had time to himself to think things through, clear his mind and rest. He checked on Simi before he went to bed but couldn't sleep. He picked up the Sphora, a crystal boll used to see what was going on, on planet earth. Instead of seeing his dark-hunters as he normally saw, he saw a woman asleep in her bed, reading glasses on her nose and a book in her hands. The dragonfly Tiffany bedside lamp was still on. Watching her sleep gave him a peaceful feeling. He remembered her from earlier that day and before he knew it, he flashed into her bedroom using his powers to keep her asleep. He took off her glasses, put her book on the bedside table and switched of the light. He sat down on the antique rocking chair and decided to embrace this peaceful feeling for a while. The cat who had laid asleep on the bed, jumped of the bed onto his lap. He stroke the soft fur and made her purr. This was nice, he could get used to embracing the warm loving finely tuned energy that radiated here. Eventhough he knew it was wrong for him to be here uninvited - well maybe even wrong for him to be here - he didn't care at all.

After a while he laid the cat back on the bed and flashed back with a turmoil in himself that made him happy and sad & strong and weak at the same time, realizing that over 11,000 years of solitude in his own home, it was getting to him now. Instead of resting up, he went out for some Daimon-hunting. Simi was happy to go out with him and sat herself onto Acherons back as a tattoo on his left shoulder. He was called on by the Seattle dark-hunters. Ravyn needed his help on something but he didn't really want to leave New Orleans. It was the only place apart from Katoteros where he felt he belonged. Deep in his thoughts and majorly distracted by them he stumbled into a group of Daimons who knew who he was and were very surprised that the almighty dark-hunter leader Acheron didn't realize they were there. The element of surprise was theirs and they took it, or at least try to take it. When they had encircled him and were ready to move in, Tabitha and Valerius came to the rescue and kicked some Daimon-butts. The last one standing got away and said "Stryker will love this!!!"

Tabitha shot out at Acheron "Ash since when are you willingly walking into an ambush of Daimons, you should know better!"
"I know thanks for being there."
Before Tabby could go on in her rambling , Valerius picked up that Ash was struggling with something and didn't need an angry rambling conversation mostly spoken by Tabitha "Are you alright Ash?"
"I have to go out of town. Talk to you later, thanks again."
Ash was gone before they could blink their eyes. "See I told you, something major is going on, even Ash is worried about it, why else would we catch him off guard like that?"
"I'm sure he's on top of things. Last years have been rough on him since Nick turned dark-hunter after kiling himself, and turning his back on Ash in Seattle last year. Give him some time to cope."
"You're probably right, allthough..."
"Tabby..."
They walked into the Sactuary to meet up with Kyrian, Julian, Amanda and Grace.

When Ash arrived at Susan and Ravyns home, he got the update about Nick hanging out with Spathi Daimons, Strykers first hand daimons and stronger than the normal daimons they dealt with on a daily base. Word was out that, Nick as a dark-hunter, went rogue against Ash.
Ash noticed that Ravyn had other concerns as well and used his powers to find out "What's going on with Cael and Amiranthe?"
"I don't know, but somethings up there as well. No one has really been in touch with them, I think it maybe has to do something with Amiranthe, being an appolyte turning 27, I guess Cael needs some time..."

Ash was determined to find out, something was not right here in Seattle. He should have paid more attention after last years disaster. Stryker was not one demi-god to mess with or to take lightly. Once his mind was set on something he didn't lett go off it. With things being quiet Stryker-wise for a year, something was bound to go down somewhere. He decided to stay focussed on Seattle for a while. The next few weeks he however every night dropped into this woman's room and found himself peaceful. He actually managed at those moments to outclose all voices in his head - even, yes even (!!!) Artemisses voice. He had always kept his distance though. However, today he needed some warmth, something real to keep with him. When he flashed in at 3.46am, she looked so peaceful, so adorable. He sat down on the bed next to her and stroke a strand of hair our of her face and tugged it behind her ear. He leaned over and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, then gave her an eskimo-kiss. Suddenly, a feeling boiled to the surface, a simmering longing he could no longer hold in, he longed for so much more. To hold her, for her to touch him.

Her eyes opened and he felt like time stood still. That lazy-just-awake-look in her lavender blue eyes, he had forgotten to keep her asleep with his powers, probably because sub-consciously he wanted her to wake up so that he could have a memory from something he thought would be devine. She just stared at him 'was she dreaming? Was this man - thé gorgeous man of Bourban Street who she couldn't get out of her head- really here or was she still sleeping?'
"Who are you?" she asked with a hoarse voice from sleeping, making his groin tighten uncomfatably in his leather pants.
"I'm just a figment of your imagination." Acheron said gently. Celeste pulled her hand up, stroke his cheek and let her hand go through his silken hair "You feel real to me..."

His lips touched hers as he pulled his weight on his left arm and slipped his right arm behind her to support her back. The softness of her lips made him want more, so he tried slipping his tongue in between her lips for a soul-seering kiss and she obliged. Welcomed his tenderly searching tongue to find hers for a nice play of cat and mouse. She let out a soft moan when his hand moved from her back to her left breast, feeling her heartbeat go up as he felt how her nipple hardened underneath his touch, he felt contend!

No demanding him to do this or that, just him touching her the way he wanted to. He stroke her face with the back of his hand, within his stroke he turned his hand around to cup her cheek. She kissed his palm and looked him in his eyes, swirling silvery - she must be dreaming! But then a change, a warm glow of hazelgreen with golden sparks. Beautiful eyes with a somewhat confused look in it 'What was going on?' he felt different. He kissed her again, stroke the path between her eyebrows and made her fall asleep again before he flashed back home. Or so he thought, instead of standing nicely in his white bedroom in Katoteros, he found himself disturbingly in his bedroom in Kyrian's home.
Suddenly too tired to worry about it he went to bed here in the bordeaux-red warm colored bedroom, his big-sized 4 poster-bed handcarved from the 16th century with all modern day comforts looked like heaven at this moment... yes looked like, he felt he was in heaven the moment his lips touched hers...
Celeste woke up the next morning with this very live-like memory of this stranger kissing her - very passionately at that - was it really a dream? It was all a bit hazy. She needed coffee, a large caffeine boost... a tripple cappuchino would do... She had a long working day ahead of her, so she wanted to head in early to have a start up on things. Eventhough she was working 8 hours less for her course, she was still keeping up her work. When at 8 am she sat at her desk with the self- promised large tripple cuppuchino to go from Café du Monde she couldn't focus on her work and then Bill passed by her office hearing her snap "Damn, it wasn't that good'a kiss..." he entered her office after a knock "Is everything ok?"
"No... yes... it's nothing. Just still a bit tired."
"Ok then. Well just in case... my office is open 24-7 if you want to chat." Bill said gently "Oh before I forget. Selena is having a nice girls gathering Friday and told me to mention it to you. Get back to her to let her know if you want to join ok?"
"I don't know, I'm not sure..."
"Come on Celeste, it will do you good. Grace is coming, Bride and Amanda. It wil be good for you. At least think about it will you?"
"Sure, I'll think about it."

At 4 o'clock she called it a day, had let Selena know she was attending the girls-night-out and decided she was putting her "dream-lover" to rest, not thinking about that hunky, gorgeous, Alpha Male who radiated a raw sex-appeal. Her fantasy was having a run with her and affecting her stable way of life. She felt contend with her decision and received a phonecall from overseas. A friend from her teenage years she had lived in Ireland, wanted to know how she was doing and asking when she'd be back in Ireland so they could hook up.

Tristan O'Malley had lately been thinking about his old-best friend. Ever since he married 4 years ago, with Breege McFeelan his high-school sweetheart, had 2 kids with her and things with his band 'Celestial' had slowed down he thought more and more about past friends and what they'd been up to. Celeste moved away from Sligo, Ireland 6 years ago when her parents had died in a horrible car-crash on the N4 towards Dublin. Tristan and his parents Kelly and Daniel helped her through it. After a few months she dreamed about New Orleans, went there on holiday for a while and felt so much at home that she arranged to finish up her university-degree at Tullane.

When she had moved up there and got her degree Bill had sought someone as a starting Office Manager. His mother wanted to retire and they both thought she was the best candidate out of the 22 applicants. Their intuition had proven them right.

Ofcourse throughout the years she kept in touch with some people from Sligo, but distance made it difficult to stay in touch on a week-to-week base, so it became less frequent every year.
Meanwhile in another dimension Stryker pased through his living room. He had given his Spathi Daimons instructions to reek havoc and check on Acheron. Nick Gautier was anxious to get his revenge on his used-to-be-best friend but now enemy-to-the-core Acheron. He made planns in his head on how and where to do it, and now was biding his time, just waiting for the perfect moment. He however didn't want to just kill him, he wanted to hurt him the way Acheron Parthenopaeus had hurt him.... by killing that person as close to Acheron's heart as Nick's mother was to Nick... Simi!!!

In his time as a squire he had studied Mythical animals and as a Charonte Demon, Simi was one! He knew her weaknesses. Blinded by his hatred he no longer saw Simi as the girl he made love to, no longer recognized the purity in her that he fell-in-likes with, with a potential to more...

When the Spathi Daimon 'Boar' returned as the only one still standing after their battle with Tabitha and Valerius, Stryker had been informed about the pre-occupied minded Acheron. It could go 2 ways, either Acheron was onto their planns, or something else was going on inside his mind. Stryker wanted to find out as his last encounter between him, Acheron and his dark-hunters, left him with half the Daimons and more cautious. To his knowledge word wasn't out yet that Nick was his ally now, it would definitely be something that would shake Acheron up.

Thursday after classes Celeste lingered about till everyone was gone. Julian looked at her "What can I do for you?"
"I... it's just..."she sighed "I don't want to sound silly, but with you being cursed and all you maybe understand."
"Have a seat and tell me what's on your mind?"

She explained about how she more and more felt that things he told in classes were part of her memory. Remembering things as like being a part of the story instead of just listening to them. About the very lifely dreams she had, she all blurted it out, relieved that he took her serious and more so glad she had the courage to open up to him.
"Do you wake up still tired after your dreams?"
"No... not really. Confused more likely, but not tired and..."she stopped. Would he find her childish when she would mention this man she briefly met while passing by and seemed to appear in her dreams more and more.
"Don't hold back now. Celeste you came to me, I think because you trust me. I had my share of weirdness, nothing you're about to say will seem odd to me."

She took a deep breath and let it out slow, she started this and she had to get it of her chest... "Ok, well her goes... at the risk you'll think I'm a teenage girl with a crush..."
"I'm over 2000 years old age-wise, to me you still are a teenage girl..."
She smiled widely "I wouldn't give you a year over 1500..."
He let out a deep laughter "I knew I liked you from the start, you remind me of my wife."
" Ok, well, a few weeks ago I passed by this man on Bourban Street, 6 near to 7 feet tall, broad shouldered and well... easy-on-the-eyes, mildly said... He keeps playing in my mind and has an active part in most my dreams."
"Ohhh, I see..." Julian said thinkingly.
"I know... it seems like a crush... but there was this one time, it seemed he was a real-life-person in my bedroom, touching me..."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but was it sexual?"
"Not really... only that one time, but just a kiss, nothing more."
"I heard this story once about some sort of guardians for the dream world, they live in an alternate realm to ours. I don't know much about them but it sounds a bit like that. I'll give Ash a call, he's a friend of mine, and let you know when I know more about this. He's formilliar with all sorts of paranormal phenomenon. Let it be for now, don't be too worried about it. We'll find out!.
"Thanks mr. Alexander."
"Please outside the classroom it's Julian."
She winked "Well technically we're still in the classroom... Thanks Julian."

She left him behind wondering more about what's going on. He phoned Ash and left a message on his voicemail for him to phone back asap.
On her way back home she dropped in Selena's shop, browsed a bit in the tarot-deck section, deep in thoughts. Selena sensed Celeste maybe needed some alone-time, and wanted to leave her be. Or not ofcourse.... as soon as Celeste noticed her "Hey Selena, hows things?"
They got talking, Selena told her all about tomorrows planns. From them meeting up at Kyrian & Amanda's place to the restaurant, movie and to having drinks at the Sanctuary. To Celeste it sounded great. Eventhough she had lived in New Orleans for 6 years, the first 3 years at college she had some friends who now, were spread around the USA - Jillian being one of them, things got a bit more to the level that she had people she knew. And apart from Selena and Bride there weren't a lot of people she was friendlier with... she had her cat...

__________________________________________________________________________________
Crave the Night by Natascha (formerly known as: Ashleagh )

This is a story based upon the Dark Hunter series written by Sherrilyn Kenyon with Acheron Parthenopaeus as main hero. The other Dark Hunters as well as affiliated characters might show up as the story writes out.
Because this story is a Fanfiction which came from my own imagination whilst reading on in this series, note that it is in no way affiliated to Sherrilyn Kenyon. Please be warned again, that this might show spoilers to the actual series but it can also follow a different path to the storylines.

This FanFic as it's written is copyright protected to Natascha apart from the pieces taken from the series as well as the characters and series idea, those are registered adn copyright protected by Sherrilyn Kenyon!!!

HAPPY READINGS,
Natascha
__________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER THREE

Ever since she walked home from Bride Kattalakis-McTierny's shop on Bourban Street she felt strange. Formilliar with the term psychic awareness, she often stopped by Selena's shop and had met Grace and Julian Alexander there. She had learned their amazing story of how they met. She truly believed in soulmates, the whole destined to be together kinda thing and knew it's a love so strong and so very rare that it was only meant for a rare few people, she didn't consider herself that lucky. Recently she decided to take a mythological course at Tulane University with Grace's husband, as she found her life being a bit boring with her 9-5 job at Laurens Law Firm. As an Office Manager she worked most of her hours inside her own office by herself. The trust they had given her she held dear as she truly enjoyed working for Bill and his father. They had been the only few people in her life who had faith in her, who appreciated her for who she was.


The core of her being was a creative person, a few of her embroidery pieces were up for sell in Selena's shop and the jewellery she made was up for sell in Bride's shop. She didn't make a lot of money on it but the money she did make she saw as pocketmoney, to splash out on things she didn't need but wanted anyway. The standard working hours and steady job balanced her life out, but lately for some reason she often found herself daydreaming about a time long gone, and she had her paths crossed with documentaries about Greek Gods and Goddesses and more from that time period. When she told Selena that the other day, she suggested Julian Alexanders classic course at Tulane University. And she didn't sit still after that, she had signed up on the course and her first class was in the morning. Bill, her direct boss, had given her the opportunity to do so on advice of his wife Lanie and he had learned throughout their years together to follow those advises. He also noticed that in the 6 years Celeste Brionagh had never taken a sick day, and whenever necessary she worked in late without complaining so he thought it only fair to give her something in return for her loyalty to the company.

Celeste had been out shopping for a nice fountain-pen (and ofcourse ended up with a silly cartoon figurine on it), pencils, notepads and to pick up the required books which Julian conveniently had left at Selena's shop. After going back home she walked through Bourban Street and got a vibe, not a scary vibe but a warm sense of completeness. A sudden feeling of being whole. The only thing she could think of was that it was the universe agreeing with her that she was taking the right path in life. Suddenly a scent of, dare she say 'Nikos' eau de toilette, entered her nostrills and made her glance up from underneath her cap to see who this godly scent belonged to. All she saw was this large Alpha-male and her reflection in his RayBan-sunglasses. Long ago she had learned that those kind of men weren't interested in the likes of her. Just as Bride she was a size 18 and eventhough she always dressed nice and according to fashion she accepted the way she looked looked (well ok not today, she still wore her trainingstrousers on with the word gorgeous printed on her butt, and a momoo-saurus sweatshirt, but she didn’t anticipathe seeing such a gorgeous thing walk around in New Orleans…), not to say she was happy about it but it no longer bothered her, people should take her as she was, but she new a guy like that was not for her 'Wow look at those legs,' legs that were tightly wrapped in leather pants ~ not those cheap nock-offs, no; the custom made one's ~ he didn't seem to notice her. 'owh baby,' could somebody turn the thermostat down?! Where was Winter when you needed it? Would his butt be as nice as she thought it would be? With leather pants like that, could a girl all do but not look back and see for herself?

She looked.
'Hell yeah, even better!'
Stop it Celeste, before you'll drewl all over Bourban Street and follow him like a stalking 'George Clooney-wife wannabe'. All her senses had fired up, but she quickly sobered again and focussed on the road ahead... She had a nice evening in planned that night. Dinner, a bath and reading up on tomorrows classes. It had been a while since she last had taken a course of any kind at the university, but she liked being prepaired.

She had only set one foot inside her large 4-room apartment when she was greeted by Luna, her 2 year old cat who always came to greet her at the door. And as always she babbled on about her day. It had become a habit of her to do so and Luna seemed to love it. Ever since one of her favorite series on TV; Charmed had mentioned that pets were formilliars in other words animal-guides there to protect their owners, she could all but wonder if it was true. And she'd swear that, in fact when she was talking to her cat, she listened and had a look in her eyes as if she understood everything she said. Maybe that was the reason why she chose a female-cat as well.... You never know who you undress for in the bathroom right?!

After dinner Celeste took her long longed for bath, made herself a cup of tea, got distracted by Jillian Cormack, her friend from Ireland and who lived in Seattle. They swopped local gossips for an hour or so and with an "I'll see you soon...'they hung up. The whole time Luna slept in her lap. Suddenly she remembered her tea-bag still in her tea-mug in the kitchen 'Bogger' when she checked it, it was darker than coffee and cold as ice-tea. As she was walking around the kitchen she felt restless, looking around the living room and hearing the wind outside, she figured that her restlessness was brought on by the weather change from summer to fall. Instead fo reading up on her new course she decided to snuggle up in bed with Kinley MacGregor 'Master of Desire'. With her reading glasses on the tip of her nose, and just the bedlight on she leaned into her pillow and motioned to Luna to come lay on the bed too.
After not even 20 minutes reading, she fell asleep and dreamt of things that weren't real in this world, things that made the legend of Dracula seem like a fairytale. It was all very real and made her wake up feeling a bit scared, full of emotions.

Still very early in the morning she got up and decided to have breakfast at Café du Monde. After checking her bookbag and making sure she had all she needed for classes, she went on her way. Down the street she bought the 'New Orleans-daily' at a newsstand, had her breakfast and at precisely 9 o'clock she sat herself down in the lecture-room. She heard the chitchats of her fellowclassmates and realized most of them were woman and started wondering why. Maybe it was something spiritual going on, women all over New Orleans were haveing dreams about Mythological Times.... All up in her thoughts she didn't notice the classmates were going silent and a door closing until she heard a warm deep voice say "Goodmorning, welcome to your first class in the Classic course 101. I'm professor Julian Alexander, your guide through the past.

"Celeste looked up and saw this 6'4" attractive male dressed in a tailor-made suit, with a voice that send chills down her spine. That, combined with the fact she knew he was a sex-slave for 2000 years and rescued from the book 7 years ago by Grace made her face blush. 'Get yourself together girl!'
A few of her classmates pointed at her and giggled. A chubby girl with a crush on her teachor...
Class was great, Julian made it seem so simple. Had vivid stories with such detail that it made her feel she relived everything he said. After the 3 hours class Julian said "Celeste Brionagh? Could you stay for a minute?"
Celeste looked surprised, but complied to his wishes. She noticed the look on the other girls faces and was wondering why the jealousy. Julian is married, and happily at that! When the classroom was empty Julian sat down next to her, taking her in for a moment and finally said "Selene told me about why you wanted to take this course."
Celeste looked puzzled "Ehm, I'm not sure..."
"Selene was kind enough to elaborate me about the dreams you've been having..."Julian said "She told me about it because I know a bit more about these 'magical' things than the average human being, and thought you might need a hand with figuring things out..."
"Oh I see, it just seemed so real to me, it got me interested in the "Myths" that's all."

"I got a feeling there's more to it than just that, but we'll leave it at this. Just know, if there's something you want to now, I'm here for you."
"Selena made you say so right?"
"No..." he said giving her a wink "Grace said I'll sleep on the sofa if I didn't treat you as a special student..."
Celeste smiled "Thanks but I don't need special treatment." She picked up her books and turned around "That whole longing, pining looks from female students... is that part of a remainder of your curse?"
Julian was caught off guard by that question "How did you know about that?"
"Selena and Grace told me when I met your wife at Selena's shop a few weeks ago. She's lovely."Celeste said thinking before she spoke the next words hoping he would pick them up the right way "And eventhough you're a gorgeous man... Forgive my directness... I don't fully understand why I'm not affected by it."
"What do you mean?"
"Like I said, you are good looking but other than that... nothing..." she said feeling awkward about it "Anyway, I have to go. Bill's expecting me in the office in an hour."
"Ok well, I'll see what I can find out and see you next week."
"Same time, same place..." Celeste walked out off the lecture room and left Julian behind wondering on what was going on. He called for his mother Aphrodite, who appeared in a whirl of sparkling light "My darling son, you called for me?"
He had to give his mother credit for knowing how to make an appearance, he knew it was worthless explaining that while being in a public place she shouldn't do all that but she would propably be arrogant in saying that she is a goddess and wouldn't appear in the human realm any other way, she should be acknowledged as such. That it wasn't her fault the human race forgot about the gods and goddesses. He quickly explained what happened and what Celeste had said about the curse.
"By the Fates, no 'hello mother nice to see you, how are you - kiss...' " Aphrodite said dramatically with a small pouting bottom-lip.
Julian obliged to the familliar customary and eventhough he himself was a half-God and his mother the Aphrodite, Goddess of love, they both couldn't figure it out. Aphrodite left with the promise to check and see if she could find out what the Three Fates had in mind for this.

Julian went home to Grace, being relieved that the area where they lived in New Orleans was fully restorated after the storm Katrina floaded the lower parts of the city over 2 years ago. With help of friends and governments all over the world the city finally looked like it's original self more and more each day. Eventhough he had only lived in this lifetime for 7 years, to him it already felt more his home than what he was used to before he got cursed inside a scroll by his brother Priapus.
When he sat down with Grace and coffee in the livingroom he asked what she thought and knew about Celeste.
Grace said "All I know is that there's something otherwordly about her. When you look in her eyes you can see a wisdom that's long forgotten and a strength that's unmeasureable. She gives Selena a run for her money with her profound replies. "I trust her."
He looked at his wife who never seem to amaze him, but yet amazes him everytime "I felt the same thing. Mum is looking into it as well."
"You spoke with Aphrodite?"
"Yeah. Her special "curse" on me, didn't seem to work on Celeste. I quote: 'eventhough I was a gorgeous man, she was not affected by it'."
Julian said with a smirk on his face "And that makes her the first one I know."
"I'm liking her even more now!!" Grace said.
Julian knew how at first Grace had problems with the fact every female who noticed Julian would instantly drewl all over his feet in awe. A little curse Aphrodite putt on her son to keep him near her but drew them apart instead. Grace always had to be careful with whom she grew close to and give her friendship to.
Maybe times started changing, or maybe it had to do with what Selena laid out in her cards when Tabitha was in the shop yesterday. What if the Gods are slipping under pressure of these stars alligning, end of the world-thing? Maybe rumors weren't rumours after all? Nostradamus did see sort of a third World War coming, which would affect the whole world. If they translated it wrong and this was the thing he foresaw, shouldn't the world be in upheaval about it?
Grace explained her concerning thoughts to Julian who smiled and kissed her passionately. "I love you, you know that?!" He said "Let's waith and see what my mum can find out on the other side and not pull a Tabby-tantrum just yet."

Mass Market Paperback; 385 pages
Publisher: Medallion Press (June 4, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1605420964
ISBN-13: 9781605420967
Genre: Historical Romance
Book: Book four in the Knight’s series
Main Characters: Edouard de Lanceau & Juliana de Greyne
On sale at: The Book Depository Store

SUMMARY
A Knight’s Persuasion tells the story of Edouard, firstborn and heir of the great lord Geoffrey de Lanceau. Due to certain circumstances he finds himself betrothed to the sister of Lady Juliana de Greyne, whom, upon first meeting, he falls in love with. Events leave Juliana unconscious on a riverside bank, while Edouard passes by on mere coincidence. When seeking shelter and a healer at his father’s friends keep they find themselves locked in a tower by his father’s enemies. From there on things unfold rapidly, as his father’s enemy is on a quest for revenge.

REVIEW
Edouard, as a hero, is not the typical Alpha Male nor Beta man, but is somewhere in between. He feels a strong attraction towards Juliana but honor-bound as he is, a series of events betroth him to her sister. He, however, never forgets Juliana, and in this his strong sense of honor gnaws at him, making him a star-crossed lover. At the same time he holds everything I need my knight in shining armor to be!

I sense that Juliana is a soft sweet person, going out of her way to help others without putting her own needs ahead. Creative and sensitive, but strong minded as well (and not only towards the positive side of things).

The characters on their own do not stand out to me, but when forced together they make a strong team and have a connection that came across as real and loving. And because this occurs, it makes their story compelling and satisfying to read.

When I first started reading this novel, I felt a bit confused as to where the story took place and in which time-frame. A time-span of a year is spread over the pages of a few chapters. It gave me a feeling of being rushed through various built ups in plotlines and it gave me a lose-threaded base on which this story had to be built upon. In some ways certain things had to be explained, but I’m not sure if it really added to the story for me. I think it might have come across better when in due time these storylines were explained as the story progressed – starting from Edouard and Juliana meeting again at the riverbank - in the setting of flashbacks.

The suspense factor acted as an ambrosia for me, hooked me onto the story and I was not able to put it down till the last page was turned, leaving me satisfied and hungering for more at the same time. Veronique, the villain in this story is really villainess. When I first stumbled upon her in this story I felt an instant dislike towards her, and the way she turned events around, brainwashed her son, twisting events for her own personal gain and vendetta made me hate her. All my praises for this, I love villains who are bad to the core, it gives the story a great suspense and definitely spices things up!

Up until the very end plotlines evolve and reveal themselves in total surprise and up until the very end I kept wondering will they, or won’t they get their happily ever after. I was glad it ended up in a way that Edouard kept his honor bound character as to me that was one of his best qualities.

However, having said that, when the story took more root in a slower pace, I really enjoyed it and Catherine Kean’s writing style appeals to me very much. Her characters all have their own uniqueness and add to the story. And the way the historical back-drop was described and blended in made me linger in the thirteenth century.

A few side-characters got my attention and I hope these will get their own story in this series as well. I for one would love to see what will happen to Tye, and Kaine totally got my attention with his wickedly rogueish ways! All in all, Catherine Kean made her way to my keepers-shelves!

4 Stars

Ok now last Saturday I went to update my files and got the fright of my life - my reviewer-life that is. By God, I knew I had read two books, I know I reviewed the two books as well but.... I couldn't find them back anywhere!

An absolute reviewer shock... I checked everywhere. I knew I had emailed all files I had at work to my home address so I searched through my emails to check and see if I had it there... no it wasn't there... I checked my pc-review files, and all other docs I had everywhere, in between the docs of my ebooks, websites, blogs, own written books, even in my world of warcraft addons DANG it was nowhere to be found...

My mind had another brilliant idea, let's check the forum. I had written them so they must be there... nothing nada zipp niente!!


I thought the world was pulling out all conspiracy against this one small little reviewer from that darn province in that It's a small world after all - Netherlands. A spec on the worldglobe, barely visible but strong in views and values, lets face it in the scale of it all we can scream all you want but still it's a whispering voice amidst concertfans during a popconcert.

Anyway back to the topic at hand...

They were just nowhere to be found. I slightly panicked because the books I read and reviewed were King of Sword and Sky and Angels and Demons, both five star reviews and both amongst my favorite books. Now Angels and Demons was not the problem, I could whip a review up right here and now as that book is just tattooed in my mind, due the umpteenth time I read it, but King of Sword and Sky, there is something about reading CL Wilson's books for the first time, it's that initial impact of lingering longing and fulfillment that can only be caught in that first time read (making it a 6 star rating instead of the max. 5 stars I'm giving out) that I wanted it remembered by. But as it was too long ago for me to fully grasp that back emotionally, writing a new review wouldn't do my feelings justice.
I thought my mind was blanking out on my again, maybe confusing the thought of wanting to write the review to actually write it... But for some reason I couldn't let the notion go that I wrote those reviews. By this time it was already 00:30 at night and so...so!!! tired, but I couldn't sleep either, so I pulled out every piece of paper I could find, every note-pad I used for writing reviews - note to self: Just use one till it's full and then start another - I found 9 pads back which I used for reviewing...


Sigh what we reviewers have to go through I tell ya! It ain't no picnic!!!!