And while we wait ...

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It’s almost here! Revelations: Book Three of the Azellian Affairs is scheduled to release at the end of the month!

In the meantime, I’ve gotten lots of questions from readers about why relationships played out the way they did in the first two books: Alawahea and Triangle. Here’s a sneak peek (and Spoiler Alert if you have never read either Alawahea or Triangle). If you have never read either book, please be sure to read those two books first! If spoilers don’t bother you, or if you have already read the books, then feel free to read on:

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Why was Alarin and Tamara's relationship so uneasy? They had a bond, right? Didn’t that mitigate the tension between them?

Among Azellians, and particularly those from the High Council families, Awakening is an overwhelming, intense and sometimes even traumatic experience. It can sometimes lead to very intense relationships, but by their very nature, the intensity burns out and often goes cold fairly quickly unless constantly re-ignited. Based almost entirely on hormones and very little on actual compatibility, once that intensity flares and fades, there is little left to raise if one does not have a genuine connection to the other such as shared interests or common ground on which to build something long term. To Azellians, bonds such as those between Alarin and Tamara—and even Merran and Tamara—are constricting, frustrating and to be avoided at all cost. Once a bond is formed, both partners will often chip away at it until it disappears. The deeper the bond, the more the instinctive response is to get away from it, or damage it until it is destroyed. Azellians will take on sexual partners, sometimes as life mates, but they do not believe that one’s self should ever be subsumed into another.

Why did Tamara and Merran’s relationship fall apart? They seemed so good together!

Tamara and Merran’s relationship is deeply unbalanced. To Tamara, Merran is a mentor more than a lover. Her Awakening freed so many suppressed and confused emotions about love, sex and being out of control, that many of her feelings for Merran are more like gratitude and a crush. What was between them was never meant to last. Their personalities do not truly mesh and they are in very different places in their lives. Tamara knows this and though she doesn’t consciously break it off, she draws closer to Alarin as Merran withdraws from her, and the relationship between herself and Merran falls apart. To Merran, Tamara is not a lover, partner or confidante. For a time, he does entertain the idea of being her lover, and he does care deeply about her—more deeply than he knows—but their relationship is not meant to last in that form. Instead, the birth of Rashella allowed the child to be their bridge so they can forge a friendship built over shared responsibilities for their daughter.

Why did Alarin, Tamara and Merran never function well as a unit?

While polyamory and open relationships are common on Azelle, with many people living in multiple combinations of many types, for Tamara it is so far outside her comfort zone that she subconsciously sabotages it. Alarin comes from a family who does not accept same sex pairings, and Merran is not particularly drawn to men, so the relationship between the three of them functions less as a partnership and more as a competition. That combination does not make for a long lasting relationship.

Will Merran ever find a lover?

I ask the same question over and over myself. I don’t know yet. I think so—I would like to think so—but we’ll have to find out together.

Will there ever be justice for Justern?

Justern’s experience leads to some very powerful growth for him. Does he heal? Yes. And he finds a new, deeper and very loving relationship that perfectly fits him. If that is what you mean by justice, then yes, he does find justice. If you mean does he get revenge? If the best revenge is to live well, far beyond any hurt the other can do to him, then, yes, he gets revenge. His story may even one day end up in a book or books of his very own.

Why did Tamara end up with Alarin instead of Merran?

Their relationship was much more equal and they each have something to learn from each other. There is a very deep soul contract that is going to play out between them. Book 3, Revelations, explores that in more depth.

Do you have a burning question? Either jump in on the comments below and ask, or submit a question through the site! Enjoy!