Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Tuesday Teaser - the Bound by Destiny prequel

Okay, y'all, this is a deleted scene from the up-coming prequel about Dayo and Raiden. If you've read The Harvest series, you may recognize parts of the conversation Raiden and Szin can hear lol.



Destiny: A Prequel to Bound by Destiny
The Harvest Young

Nearing birth
SOUNDS WOKE Raiden. The rhythmic thump, thump, thump comforted him, and he stretched. Low murmurs caught his attention.
“So, have you decided on a name?” Gibor asked.
Oh, that’s Gibor. I hope Chad is here too.
“Well, we were thinking about Raiden,” Keyno said. “It means ‘thunder and lightning.’”
Hey, dabba! There was a slight pressure above him. It felt like dabba was rubbing his dad’s belly. Raiden, huh? I like it. A lot.
“Have you picked a name yet?” Keyno asked.
Who is dabba speaking to? Maybe Gibor again?
“Dayo. It means ‘joy’ and it fits, believe me.”
Raiden perked up. That was Chad. They were talking about his mate! Dayo was a good name too. Others spoke, discussing names, but they didn’t interest him. He concentrated on Chad instead, at hoping he sensed Dayo so he… wait, wait, something wasn’t right. Chad’s heart rate was up and… oh gods, so was Dayo’s. His mate was struggling to breathe.
Raiden shifted in the enclosed area holding him, but damn, there wasn’t a lot of room. Why is he struggling?
What are you…? Hey now, stop all that wiggling. There’s not enough space for you to moving so much. And jeez, why do you have to be so big?
Raiden grabbed the hand poking him and wrapped around the other body, and his twin snuggled close. Sorry. I’m just—
Worried? Yeah, I got that. Like the name too. Raiden is a strong name. But why are you worried?
Already his twin knew him well. Szin, something’s wrong with Chad.
What’s wrong—wait. My name is Szin? How do you know that, and I don’t?
From Dad. Raiden shrugged. I caught the thought from him.
Szin huffed. Again, why didn’t I know this?
Um, because you sleep so much? Raiden jumped when Szin kicked him. Ow, stop!
I sleep so much because your big body gets more nutrients—more everything!—than mine. Szin snarled. Never mind that, you said something’s wrong with Chad? What’s going on, and is it very bad?
I’m not sure, and yes, it’s bad.
You need to tell Dad when he goes to sleep. Szin insisted. We both will.
Raiden couldn’t settle. Why were the adults taking so long? How much time could they waste talking about nothing? Szin drifted next to him, once more asleep. Raiden sighed, upset about that too. Szin was smaller than him, and it concerned him. He didn’t know what he could do to help or make sure Szin was better fed. 
They tumbled together, Szin resting easier when they were close. But Raiden remained awake, chafing at the wait. After what seemed like forever, he heard his dabba suggest they call it a night.
Finally! Now Dad, hug Chad.
Hopefully his dad caught the gentle nudge he sent mentally. Dad needed to touch Chad, then maybe Raiden could figure out what the problem was he sensed with Dayo. Raiden almost shouted with joy when Dad followed through and hugged Chad.
Fear swamped Raiden as soon as the two men touched. Not only was something wrong, Chad’s life was in danger. As was Dayo’s. Frantically Raiden reached out to Dad, but he couldn’t get through this time. Dale’s mind was on too many other things.
But as soon as his dad went to sleep, Raiden tried to get his attention again, but all he accomplished was making his dad restless.
Need help? Szin asked, yawning as he woke up again.
Please! My mate’s life is in danger. We must get through to Dad. He has to get Chad to the doctor before he and Dayo die!
Dayo? Oh! You mate has a name now?
Gods, focus, will you?
Bite me, fuzzball, Szin snapped, then focused on Dad, whispering in his mind. There’s something wrong. Take him to see a doctor, please. Danger. There is danger. No time to waste. Please, please. It’s so important.
Raiden and Szin bumped into each other when Dale shifted in bed and then rolled onto his other side. I know Chad looks… well, tired doesn’t cover it. But how can you be so sure? Dale asked.
Oh gods, Dad wasn’t listening. And Szin was being too nice. Raiden took over the mental link, desperate to get Dad’s attention. Danger, danger, danger. He’ll listen to you. You must make him go to the doctor. Make him. Immediately. There’s a problem. Tomorrow—make him go tomorrow. Don’t wait! He could die—his young could die. You can’t let that happen. It’s important that Dayo lives. Very important. You have no idea how important—to me.
Dale shuddered. Okay. I’ll buzz him tomorrow and make him go see Doc. He won’t be happy, but I’ll drag him by the hair if I have to. If worst comes to worst, I’ll get Keyno involved. He’ll set Gibor after Chad. That should do the trick. I’ll have to tell Keyno now, you know that, right? I won’t have a choice.
Raiden wished they wouldn’t wait until tomorrow, but at least they were aware there was a problem. He wasn’t sure why Dad hid that he could speak to them from dabba, but it didn’t matter now.
Oh, could you tell him to purr louder, please?   
Raiden rolled his eyes as Szin’s request echoed in his head.
Anxiously, they listened to dabba and Dad’s conversation, and snickered when Dad snapped that he didn’t want to hear the word impossible—that he was mated to an alien and pregnant, so nothing was impossible.
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right. You can really hear him? Talk to him? Dale, no one has ever been able to communicate with a young like that!” Keyno exclaimed.
Huh. So this thing we do, it isn’t normal?
Not from what they say. Raiden shrugged, listening to dabba and Dad argue. They needed to finish arguing and get to the important stuff: Dayo.
Szin snorted. Just wait until he finds about Dad’s other surprise. Me!
“He asked you to purr louder too,” Dale said.
“Great… gods.
Okay, that was kinda funny. The next thing Raiden knew, his dabba was yelling about feelings, getting Chad looked at now, and buzzing Gibor.
Relieved they weren’t waiting until morning, Raiden drifted off for a short nap.

Friday, May 18, 2018

Finicky Friday: Lemon Chicken Breasts




Ingredients

1/4 cup good olive oil

3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)

1/3 cup dry white wine

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on (6 to 8 ounces each)

1 lemon



Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the garlic, and cook for just 1 minute but don't allow the garlic to turn brown. Off the heat, add the white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt and pour into a 9 by 12-inch baking dish.

Pat the chicken breasts dry and place them skin side up over the sauce. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon in 8 wedges and tuck it among the pieces of chicken.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts, until the chicken is done and the skin is lightly browned. If the chicken isn't browned enough, put it under the broiler for 2 minutes. 
Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with the pan juices.