~About the author~
~About the book~
Ren and Axel are caught between two powerful magical races: one destined to end the bloodshed, the other out for vengeance.
Seventeen-year-old Ren Pernell is prophesied to end the war between the Dracians and the Telalians. So when a Dracian, Axel Knight, is sent to find and bring back the prophesied one before she turns eighteen and Telalians discover of her existence, unexpected sparks start to fly between the two. Once Ren finds the truth behind Axel’s arrival, she wants everything to do with him and nothing to do with his mission.
Things prove to become difficult as Ren’s life is constantly threatened by the Goarders, humans who sold their souls, a Proxy Succubi, and the leader of the Telalians, who has been searching for her as well.
With the clock ticking and Ren’s life in jeopardy, it is no longer just a mission for Axel. It becomes a personal endeavor to save the only one he’s ever loved. In a heart racing ending, they must find a way to evade the preordained war that won’t also end Ren’s life.
Seventeen-year-old Ren Pernell is prophesied to end the war between the Dracians and the Telalians. So when a Dracian, Axel Knight, is sent to find and bring back the prophesied one before she turns eighteen and Telalians discover of her existence, unexpected sparks start to fly between the two. Once Ren finds the truth behind Axel’s arrival, she wants everything to do with him and nothing to do with his mission.
Things prove to become difficult as Ren’s life is constantly threatened by the Goarders, humans who sold their souls, a Proxy Succubi, and the leader of the Telalians, who has been searching for her as well.
With the clock ticking and Ren’s life in jeopardy, it is no longer just a mission for Axel. It becomes a personal endeavor to save the only one he’s ever loved. In a heart racing ending, they must find a way to evade the preordained war that won’t also end Ren’s life.
~Prologue~
A single color filled my vision.
Black.
In the midst of all the sorrow, the joyful
chirping of a hummingbird touched my ears, shedding light on my heavy, darkened
heart. Even though my hair was neatly styled in a tight bun held by at least
twenty hairpins, one stubborn strand flew loose as the wind blew around us
without mercy.
The weather was the exact opposite of my
mood. I felt nothing, as if a black hole sucked the life out of me. My eyes
were swollen, my body refused to respond, and I was cold.
Deathly cold.
I shivered and turned my attention to
Father Jacob.
“…as we commit Jim and Irene Pernell to
the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain
hope of the Resurrection. We enter this world with nothing and we leave wi…”
His voice droned and I found my thoughts
drifting away from the sermon. Three days had passed. Three days since this
emptiness entered my soul and refused to leave. An arm wrapped around my
shoulder, pulling me closer. I inhaled the smell of home and the only family I
had left in this entire world—my brother. Joshua. I leaned into his comfort,
wrapped my arms around his waist, and looked blankly ahead as my parents were
lowered into the earth.
Never to be seen again.
Lost forever.
“Temperance…” The warm hand on my shoulder
gently nudged me back from my morbid thoughts.
“Temperance… It’s time.” No one had called
me that in a long time. Father Jacob gestured for Joshua and me to pay our
respects.
My body stiffened, rebelling. No. I can’t. Throwing the handful of earth
is finalizing; no, it’s admitting they’re really gone. I won’t do it.
“Ren.”
I looked into Joshua’s blue-amber eyes, so
much like mine, strained with worry. His face was cautious and composed. On any
given day, he was a concentrated ball of energy. After all, he was a Marine, a
world-class black-belt karate champion—a warrior-built, six-foot three-inch,
broad-shouldered killing machine. Today, my brother was anything but strong—he
was vulnerable. Today, he would easily be overpowered by a two-year-old.
“Ren, we can do this. I need you, killer.”
“Okay,” I said, my voice raspy.
Another first. I hadn’t spoken in three
days. Since my parents were killed three nights ago, I had no appetite, no
motivation to speak—only to cry. And cry I did. Today was the first time I left
my room since the sheriff knocked on our door to escort us to the morgue. Even
the officers had a hard time looking at us. Not many murder cases came along in
our quiet town of Rocky Hills, Idaho.
My hand rested in Joshua’s as I dared a
step forward. Then another and then another. I picked up a fistful of brittle
dirt and stood over my parents’ burial ground. I scanned my surroundings,
gazing at each individual gathered to mourn our mutual loss.
“I’ll protect her with my life; I
promise.” Joshua’s voice cracked, his eyes locked on the coffins. Being older
by ten years, he always sheltered me from anything and everything he could. I
wouldn’t expect him to do anything different, especially now.
Joshua gave me a reassuring squeeze,
reminding me where I was. With a wavering breath, I knelt, tears escaping onto
the patch of soft green grass.
“I don’t know…”
My throat hurt and I didn’t recognize my
own broken voice. My surroundings blurred and every sensation came rushing
forward—uncontrolled, incoherent—like I was finally free from the constant
emotional burden of the past three days.
“Momma. Daddy.” There was so much I wanted
to say. But nothing seemed to make it past my lips. I missed them too much; it
hurt to even think.
I let tears roll down my cheeks, washing
away my sorrow and anguish. I kissed the knuckles of my hand holding the
fistful of dirt. Sobs escaped me. Joshua knelt beside me, his hand over my
shoulder, comforting me.
“It’s okay. Let go,” he whispered into my
ear with a kiss on my temple. “It will get easier. I promise.”
I believed him. I slowly let go.
2/18/2013
Writefully So… @ http://adventures-in-word.blogspot.com/ - Author Interview
Books Forget me Knot
@ http://emzsnow.wordpress.com - Book
Review
2/19/2013
Kidbits @ http://www.tonjadrecker.blogspot.com
– Songs that inspired the story- Playlist
Fantasy Books @ www.justfantasybooksadis.blogspot.com
- Prologue
2/20/2013
I read Indie @ http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/
- Author Interview - Top 10
The Library Haunt
@ http://thelibraryhaunt.blogspot.in/
- Book Review
Thank you so much for having me on your blog!
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