1st Draft of Lukoran's Faithful Done!

The first draft of Lukoran's Faithful, the follow up to the short story 'Chosen' and my first novel, is done. I feel elated! However, I must admit, it's a mess! First drafts usually are and mine certainly are, but this mess seems so much bigger as its a novel. I alternatively feel overwhelmed enough to seriously consider shelving it, and excited about the challenge of sorting it all out. I'm going to push through. I think I have some very intriguing events in this novel and am eager to see how it turns out! Here's a taste of one of my favorite scenes, though I can't promise it will remain in the final draft. Strange things happen in revisionland!


Lukoran’s silky voice filled the room without him seeming to have raised it. “Shihan ni rei.” My eyes drank in his broad back as he bowed. The line of his spine was elegant between the delicately carved muscles running along either side. I imagined licking that path up to his pale neck. Lukoran, and everyone else, rose from their bow to Felix. Everyone except me that is because I’d completely missed the second bow. Damn Lukoran! So distracting. Maybe Felix hadn’t noticed?

“Tachi!” Felix commanded. This one I remembered. It meant stand. I managed to jump to my feet with the advanced students. So did Kia. Ruben lingered a second then followed us. Then something bad happened. Felix stalked right to me and fixed me with a jovial, but wicked grin. “I see you can’t seem to keep yer eyes off yer master, colleen. So you will be fightin him the first match.” He waved his hand and the advanced students moved towards the edges of the mats. Kia gave me horrified look as she and Ruben moved off with them.

It took me a moment to realize how bad things had just gotten. I’d expected that I’d have to partner with Lukoran in a match, since I knew he’d take advantage of every opportunity to put his seductive hands on me. But as everyone moved to sit on the sides leaving a smiling Lukoran, a grinning Felix, and a confused me alone on the mats I understood. There wasn’t going to be multiple matches going on at the same time. Our match would take place under the rapt attention of ten pairs of eager eyes. My humiliation scrutinized by everyone. Perfect.