This week’s Snippet Saturday theme is hot spots. One of the places I would love to go on vacation is the island of Ibiza in the Mediterranean. It’s one of the ports of call for the cruise ship carrying our hero and heroine as they attempt to catch a killer. After a night of passion with her lover, undercover agent, Chrysalyn Geyer, heads into Ibiza to blow off some steam with her two spirit guides, Adonei and Mahpiya. Can we say, bad ass African lions, boys and girls?
Enjoy this excerpt from Egyptian Voyage then visit all the Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of the post.
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“Ibiza and Formentera have been a popular destination for visitors from overseas for thousands of years, but unfortunately it is only during the last few decades that these frequent visitors have brought money with them on their visits to the islands.”
Hardy har har. Chrys winced at the dry humor.
‘I am bored out of my head. I think I’ll go off on my own,’ Chrys whispered along her link with her lions. Strange how Mahpiya occupied the same space now, yet the feline was separate and apart from her awareness of Adonei. Almost like they had their own special connection without excluding “the guys”.
*Chrysalyn, it is not wise to venture off alone,* the lioness said firmly.
Apprehension snaked through the link and Chrys felt compelled to listen to the big cat and do exactly as she suggested. She pushed the strange feelings away.
‘I’ve got two bad-assed African lions with me. What do I possibly have to be afraid of?’
The uneasiness of the previous moment surged into full-blown protective instinct. Mahpiya was concerned for her. But why?
‘May I call you Mah, like Rahn does?’ she asked respectfully.
*Of course.*
‘Thank you. Now, Mah, what’s going on? I can feel you’re on full hunter alert. And shouldn’t one of you be with Rahn?’
Neither lion said a word for what felt like eons. Their postures seemed easy enough, but tension wrapped around the bond like a tangible thing. They were hiding something. But if Mahpiya was anything like Adonei, no amount of harping in the world would get her to spill.
Sigh. Well, perhaps she’d try anyway. Even picking away at the patience of a spirit guide had to be less boring than this stupid tour she’d signed up for.
‘Well, since neither of you are telling, I guess I’ll drop it.’ For now. ‘Meanwhile, let’s go into the heart of town and explore. Maybe get some lunch.’ Chrys didn’t wait for them to answer or give permission. With a farewell wave to an older couple she’d met while debarking off the ship, she turned and left the droning tour guide and the group of tourists behind her.
Down the road was a row of modern restaurants and shops, all top-notch according to her research. There was one that specialized in rare gifts. Oooh, and they carried Dominican Republic hand-rolled cigars. Wow. Would Rahn enjoy something like this? He’d never smoked in her presence, but a man of such impeccable taste might appreciate a seasoned mild cigar. For her, there was nothing better than a Tatiana groovy-flavored smoke with an after-dinner dessert. Or the coffee-flavored smoke of a Kahlua cigar mixed with the cool smoothness of a cream-laced beverage. Yum.
With her purchases tucked into her day bag, Chrys walked up a hill, turned down a quiet street and settled for a small mom-and-pop cafe for lunch. Suppressing laughter at Mah and Adonei’s antics, she stepped through the door and was immediately shown to a table out back with a clear view of the sea’s crystal blue waters off in the distance.
The food was fabulous. She’d never been a big fan of Mediterranean food, but this stuff was wonderful. With every kind of cuisine under the sun to choose from, perhaps the French five-star restaurant down the street would get a visit before she headed back to the ship later. After all, Ibiza was no backwater island, but a place where the young and chic came to vacation.
Her companions were quite a pair. The faint image of the two lions grooming each other lovingly as she sipped a cup of espresso produced an inward smile. Then the next instant, Mah swatted at Adonei’s head after he’d said something so totally male even Chrys grimaced. The lioness was quick-witted and even quicker with her claws. And, of course, Chrys had to throw in her two cents, usually on Mah’s side. Soon Adonei was mumbling about catty women who were too smart for their own good, and perhaps he would go and keep Rahn company after all. Chrys bit the inside of her cheek and tried to keep her mirth under wraps—not smart to have the locals thinking she’d gone bonkers by laughing at someone they couldn’t see.
After lunch, she stepped out into the bright afternoon sunshine. The sun was dazzling, shining off the many white stone churches common in every town on the island.
Then the hairs on the back of her neck hit orbit, standing on end as the bottom fell out of her stomach. Someone was watching her.
Snippet Saturday Authors:
Emma Petersen
Leah Braemel
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Delilah Devlin
Eliza Gayle
Jody Wallace
