In this chapter Drustina resumes Queenship and diplomatic activities as well as taking Dalcimon's only son Andrar under her martial wing. The first glimmers of a defence pact amongst the countries of the North European plains start to ignite.

She looked out to glimpse Howard Bay; soft clouds obscured most of her view. The song, fitting it seemed for the moment, bounced around her head; her resolve sharp and focused, as if to push her along. She stepped forward and expelled a frustrated breath. She looked at the gun in her hand and shook her head; not to deny, but to lament what she was about to do. She raised the weapon to her head and pulled the trigger....

Encrypted-18

Chapter 18

We’re kissing right up until the car service pulls up and we break it blushing when the driver got out and was patiently waiting for us to stop. I’m glad that we were enough in control of ourselves that we weren’t all heavy kissing like we do when we’re alone. But it was these soft sweet brandy melting me kisses that make me feel all odd and fluttery in a good way.

I love being softly and slowly kissed. It’s more like I feel wanted and care for and treasured than consumed by passion.

Though I am starting to learn to appreciate where that takes me as well.

April morning Part 2

This is a first attempt at a chronology of canon Bikini Beach stories. There have been many requests to know what's the proper order; hopefully, this will answer some questions. There are few that are out of order; for example, Ellie Dauber's "Swim Date" and "Teaching Sally" overlap in time, even though Teaching Sally was published much later. My "Cousin Trouble" and "Dear Jenny" were published out of order, as well. Note that not all of these stories are on Big Closet; I'll get to them eventually.

It was the end of the summer, which was one of the best times on the mountain. The air was still warm enough that no one needed to wear a coat and there were still a few weeks of life left in the world before the chill set in and all the trees that weren’t evergreens started to lose their leaves. To Christina, it felt as though she were walking through an insubstantial world of dust. While everyone else in town was holding on to the last vibrant breath of summer, Christina felt the onset of fall on every inch of her skin.