Vol. 4: Defense of the Realm It was a sad day when the messenger arrived to announce that my uncle, the king, had passed away. It was also exciting; I had come to know my cousin very well when I first began my knight's training, and now he would become King Edelbert III. I packed up with my entourage—my sister Elizabeth, my consorts Eve and Arianna, plus si...
Chapter 15 Aldwyn stood before the ornately engraved doors of the King's study. The court maiden announced his presence, which was followed by the resonate voice of the king granting permission to enter. Aldwyn had hoped to properly bath before presenting himself, but that was now out of the question. He signed as the maiden opened the doors. The maiden ste...
8. Lux gritted her teeth slightly against the persistent burning sensation radiating through her arm. The metallic whine of the tattoo gun was setting her on edge; she stared out of the window of her room and tried to focus on anything else; the foliage, the clouds in the distance. She had no doubt she would be sitting still in the same chair for most of th...
It was a setting where he really should have known better, but nonetheless the prince insisted in generally referring to peasant women as baggage when he was out on his carriage rides. It was only a matter of time before one turned out to be a witch. After she'd cast her spell, with the usual 'return to original form upon a kiss by a princess' proviso, she...
Artemis woke up Early. Quite a shock if his adoptive father had been able to do more than moan and then roll back over. Artemis hated waking up early especially during a gig tour with his band Amadeus Midnight, but Artemis hated lines and roots showing worse. He had the entire weekend planned. Today before he went to get his roots blackened to cover his natu...
He did not mind the swamp, not at all. The smells did not bother him and its outrageous residents amused him. He was welcomed as a dear friend by all even though he was a lawyer. In fact it was a business concern that brought him to the swamp that day. He had come to tell Princess Ella her divorce and settlement had become final. He also hoped to get up the...
"This life isn't a fairytale, there is no happily ever after, and I wouldn't expect to find prince charming nestled somewhere waiting to rescue you. No one is going to save you, that is something you might as well accept now, go ahead prepare yourself for the inevitable end. It's not going to be pleasant or kind, no one is going to care if you're crying or i...
I loved Rachel for months before I met her in person. It began as a cautious, deliberate acceptance of intrigue and lust, and developed into admiration and appreciation of her as a person. This was my first love for her, and it was tempered with fear and mistrust on both of our parts. Later, as we knew each other better, shared more of ourselves and risked m...
The Royal Valentine's Day Ball was tomorrow and though I was expected to attend, the doctor had visited the night before and advised my husband it might not be wise for me to go. I ran my hands over my full, swollen breasts and rounded tummy. My second baby was due any day, and a night of dancing might be too strenuous, the doctor felt. Frankly, I didn't eve...
Shadow eyed the vampire that prowled restlessly around her room warily. Ignoring his panther like grace and the way the firelight caressed his beautiful face and shone in the midnight waves of his hair, she frantically racked her brains for ways to escape. The door was blocked by his tall figure, and the only window was too narrow for even her skinny frame t...