Mira

It's Friday! And you know what Friday means!! It's time to talk about Dŵr! 

Today, I've picked out a short excerpt for you, a little teaser of the novel that comes out in less than a month. Oh yeah, and preorders are available now. (link below) 

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend! 

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Excerpt from Dŵr: People in the Water

by Rani Divine

Mira swam silently through the dark waters, searching for the man she called her master. In truth, she did not know how it had begun. Defnin had once been nothing but a friend to her, and suddenly she’d found herself calling him master and enacting everything he wished. A part of her felt ashamed of her actions, of all the times she’d gone to her sister in anger when she’d only needed to approach Arneia in peace to achieve the desired outcome. She knew well that her sister did not respond well to threats. She would not listen to them as long as they threatened her life or the lives of the humans. 

Arneia knew no Dewin had ever turned their backs on their witch before, and she counted on her sister not to break the trend.

But Mira had already spoken her hatred in the darkness of the night, in the ears of the man she called her master, and nothing had happened. They still lived, retaining the right to speak whatever words they wished. Perhaps it was that the Vartes sided with Mira—or perhaps it was that the Vartes had turned against all of them, now that the humans had entered their lands. They would not be needed much longer.

Her anger swelled as she swam farther and farther away from the ship, searching for Defnin. Her sister’s words rang in her mind, reminding her of the blasphemy Mira had spoken against the creator.

“Maddeuwch i mi, Vartes,” she said. “Forgive me, Vartes.”

Finally, she reached the cave which Defnin called his home. It was little more than a tiny opening in the coral, but it was more than enough room for the both of them to fit inside in a lover’s embrace—something else that should never have happened. Wanderers were to remain celibate unless called upon by a high witch. Defnin had broken more than the highest of rules: he’d also broken the lowest, and he’d dragged Mira along for the ride. She should never have been touched by a male, unless she’d been called upon as witch. Only then could she seek a mate. Otherwise, her seed was only given to the coral mothers.

“Beth fyddwn ni'n ei wneud?” Defnin asked as he swam from the cave, his eyes looking straight into hers. “What do we do?”

It wasn’t safe for them both to be out here in the dark of night. Sharks roamed these waters now, having come in from the depths of the ocean to prey on the smaller animals that lived in these parts. They would settle for a Dŵr, if no other option presented itself.

“Beth allwn ni ei wneud? Mae'r Vartes dal i ffafrio hi,” she asked, swimming closer to his home. “What can we do? The Vartes still favors her.”

“Pwy sy'n nesaf yn unol?” he questioned. “Who is next in line?”

“Fi fy hun, neu Eira.” She shrugged. “Myself, or Eira.” “Nid wyf yn gwybod.” “I do not know.”

“Mae llawer o gwrachod yn marw yn ystod eu blynyddoedd cyntaf. Ni fyddai'n cael ei siarad yn erbyn y Dŵr,” he replied, a wicked smile on his face as he swam between her and the opening to his home, preventing her from going inside where she would be safe. “Many witches die in their first years. It would not be spoken against for the Dŵr.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, his eyes looking straight into hers. “Arneia yn ifanc, ac nad yw'n gwybod beth mae'n ei wneud,” he said. “Arneia is young, and she does not know what she is doing.”

Mira shook her head and slipped out from his hold, again moving closer to the shelter. “Bydd y pwyllgor yn gwybod,” she replied. “The tribune will know.” All Dewin witches were sisters, and they spoke to each other often. There would be no way to hide it, if Mira ended Arneia’s life.

“Sut y gall y maent? Ni fydd neb yn gwybod beth a ddigwyddodd mewn gwirionedd.” Defnin laughed, swimming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. “How can they? No one will know what truly happened.”

“Sut?” she whispered, trying to ignore the feel of his skin against hers. “How?”

“Bydd y bobl lladd hi,” he answered before pressing his lips against her neck. “The humans will kill her.”

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