Blood Magic: Vol 2 PRINT

Excerpt From: Rogue's Rage

Raven lay in the cage praying for death. How long had she been here? What more did he have planned for her? Surely he could not hurt her more than he already had. She had never known a man so hungry for power. It was easy to see now that he craved the crown and would do his best to remove anyone that stood in his way.

She had overheard Wilhelm speaking of how his brother, the Queen’s husband, had been killed. The Queen’s brother, who ruled as king at her side, had left to search but already Wilhelm plotted the man’s demise. It was apparent that he did not plan for Raven to ever leave this room alive or he would not speak thus in front of her.

She had come to speak with the Queen, to tell Ona of the whispers the wind carried of a great evil that threatened all. Instead she had met the evil head on and alone. There were six of them who approached while she was bathing in the stream. But she had not shown any fear. She was native and her weapons were always available to her.

Rising from the water, she had broadened her stance and held her hands to the side.

“You are trespassing,” one of them stated but she could scent the lust on them in the air.

“I thought that the land belonged to any and all,” was her soft reply. In all honesty the land belonged more to her and her people than to any other. They were the natives, the ones who had been here since the beginning and would remain here always.

“Trespassing is a very serious and punishable offence,” one of the others said and licked his lips. Goddess spare her from men who thought themselves gods among men.

“Then I will just dress and be on my way,” she said softly and sighed as snickers filled the air. This would not be pleasant, at least not for them.

“Out of the water now,” was the only reply she received.

Slowly she moved forward her mind already planning what course she would take once aground. She could feel the shift of the dragon under her skin, the protector of those of native royalty. Did these men have no idea of the power she could wield?

For a native, weapons were always within reach lying just under their skin. If you glanced at her back you would see her sword. The hilt descended from the back of her neck and squared off so that it spread out to her shoulder blades before stopping just beneath them. The long blade trailed down her spine ending in a sharp point at the small of her back where a small dragon curled around the tip. Both dragon and sword could be pulled from her skin and used in defence unless she was rendered unconscious. Then both would return to the skin until called forth once more.

She stepped from the water and slipped her hand high then lowered it behind her neck. One more chance was all they would get before she drew it from her skin and prepared for battle. One of the group stepped forward and his leer was like a psychic caress over her flesh.

One meaty paw reached out and his filthy fingers pinched her nipple and tugged at it. “Perhaps we should punish you ourselves,” he breathed, stepping closer to her.

And Raven kicked into fight mode. Her knee lifted into the hardened flesh of his cock while one palm flashed out and connected with his nose sending his body in two different directions. The knee made him want to curl forward while the palm sent his head snapping back. The result was him at her feet, fingers hugging his knees to his chest while his nose gushed blood.

She stood at the ready, one hand returning to hover behind her neck though she had yet to call forth the blade or the dragon. A tingle under the skin, like a premonition cautioned her to wait, to be careful in revealing all she held.

The men paused around her as if her actions had given them pause in their plans. Then there was a tremble in the air and everything seemed to still. Her hand hovered and fell as a scream was ripped from her lips and she landed in a heap on the ground. Her hands slapped at her flesh that suddenly felt as if it were afire with flames. She tried in vain to use her hands to put the flames out and rolled about fighting what she could not see. Then the pain overtook her and mercifully she passed out.

When she awoke, she was tied down and unable to move or access her weapons. A man stood before her and she knew beyond a shadow of doubt that this was the Wilhelm that had been spoken of and that he was the great evil. He stood over her taking in the shape of her body, the curves and dips, but she could not feel lust on him. A shadow moved and her glance was pulled towards another.

A woman. Danuja and obviously the source of the flames she had felt before. She stood behind Wilhelm and said nothing.

“So you are finally awake,” he said, grabbing her attention back. “I was wondering how long you would deny me.”

Excerpt From: Mage Magic

Serena was in love. She had been from the moment she knew her child existed. Now, with the slight rise in her belly making her condition more noticeable, she was grateful for the long robes her station required. And yet she had never felt less worthy of being a priestess. She had fallen for the smooth words of a man and given him the life-changing gift of her virginity. He had used that gift to somehow pull a small portion of her power that had been bestowed from the goddess. Serena still didn’t know how he’d achieved that.

She did know that once she had fancied herself in love with him, and she had believed he was in love with her as well. But then she’d come across him with her friend, Lydia, and the steamy scene her gaze had taken in proved that he felt nothing for her. A few months later she’d discovered she was pregnant with Wilhelm’s child and knew that she must make plans to leave the castle and her friend, Queen Ona, before anyone else became aware. It was acceptable for a priestess to bring new life into the world, but not as an unmated woman.

She brushed her hands softly over the slight bulge of her growing child as she stood on the terrace of the Queen’s Temple and planned her journey to the Temple of the Goddess. Only by leaving could she ensure that her child would be safe. Serena could already feel the immense strength her nurturing babe held. This child would have more power than any priestess had ever known. The goddess had appeared to Serena in a vision and told her that she must journey by the next full moon, leaving her friends and the only home she’d ever known behind. And the moon would be full this night.

“Priestess.” Queen Ona’s voice pulled her from her thoughts as her friend joined her on the terrace. Ona was like a sister to her. They had been close since they were mere children and it broke Serena’s heart to realise she would never glance upon Ona’s face again.

“My Queen,” she said and gave a bow of her head in deference to the title her friend held. When she looked up and met Ona’s eyes, she saw the glisten of unshed tears there. “What is it? What has happened?”

“Everything changes this night,” Ona said as Serena grasped her hands and held tight. Rarely did they use the designations they were entitled to when alone. Here they were friends, sisters, and the Priestess and Queen just didn’t exist.

“What changes?” Serena asked and gasped when Ona slipped one of her hands down to cradle the bulge of Serena’s belly. “How did you know?”

“There is much I have been shown,” Ona answered. “And there is little time to see it all done.”

“What have you seen? What is it that comes our way?” Serena asked.

“The goddess has bestowed the gift of foresight on me for this event,” Ona said. “I know that with the dawn of tonight’s full moon you will begin your journey to her temple.”

Serena nodded, lost for words. Why would the goddess share this wisdom with another? Then she shook her head at the touch of jealousy and focused on speaking with Ona. Her friend was good and pure, and the queen they all loved and respected. Why not share it with her?

“Yes, I will travel at the first touch of the moon in the sky,” Serena told her.

“Yet, there is one more task I must ask of you before you leave,” Ona beseeched her. “One thing that you must do to ensure all is set for the future.”

“What is it?” Serena asked. “I will do whatever the goddess has bid you to ask of me.”

“I know you will, sister,” Ona said and hugged Serena close.

They stood that way for a long moment, just holding onto each other, both seeking and giving comfort to one another. Finally Ona pulled back and led Serena back into the heart of the Queen’s Temple. She stopped in front of the golden chest and, taking a chain from her neck, she bent to open it, revealing the Staff of Light.

It glowed, a mixture of the gold and pure white that formed it.

“What are you doing, Ona?” Serena gasped.

Never was the Staff to be removed from the protective case. If it fell into the wrong hands there was no limit to the destruction that could be caused.

“You must take this with you to the Temple of the Goddess,” Ona said. “It is the only thing you will carry on your journey. It will hide you so that no one will see you as you travel. It will protect you from the elements and see you safely to your destination. Once you reach the Temple you will be met by the keepers. One will show you another container much like this one that will be the new home for the Staff.”

“I don’t understand,” Serena said. “Is it no longer safe within these walls?”

“No,” Ona answered. “There is one that hunts for it even now. It must not fall into his hands.”