Anna and Eastwei have overcome much to be with one another. Now their bond will be tested as they face their final adventure.
Defying a Creator (The Dragon God's Wife Book 5)
Life is full of life-changing events. Obviously. Millie, however, never expected the change to come at the tip of a stick.
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Anna Roberts is a newly created goddess from our world dropped into a new one filled with magic and intrigue. Lord Eastwei is the handsome dragon god, known as much for his icy composure as his incredible magic. He fascinates her. She intrigues him. Together they learn what it means to know immortal life, and immortal love.
Gods and monsters, and everything in between. And in the middle of that mess stood a handsome immortal. He opened his arms to me and his smile warmed my heart. A whispered word floated from his elegant lips.
“Anna.” I blushed. He was calling my name. “Anna? Anna!” My head snapped backward and my imagination-clouded eyes cleared. The dingy room came back into focus and I found myself seated in my office chair. My desk and I were stuffed into a small dreary cubicle of grays and off-whites. The only benefit was the location. I was too far from the boss’ prying eyes to catch his attention. However, I did have the attention of one very irritated coworker. She sported a long brown ponytail and a very deep frown on her face. “Snap out of it, Anna!” she hissed at me. “Even the boss makes the rounds now and then, and you know how the squealer is.” READ MORE I sighed. I knew only too well as I partially turned my chair to look at the generic company calendar that was pinned to the gray wall. “I know. That seminar on worker responsibilities is tomorrow.” My coworker put her elbows on my desk and lay her hands in her cupped palms. She studied the calendar and wrinkled her nose. “That’s just not fair. They shouldn’t be able to make you work on a Saturday.” “It’s either that or I have to take it after work and that won’t fit into my schedule,” I pointed out. “Besides, they are paying me for it.” “Well, how about you have fun tonight to make up for tomorrow?” she suggested as she tugged on my sleeve. “We could go to that new club and meet some cute guys.” “I’m busy.” She rolled her eyes. “Come on, just skip it this once, okay? I mean, you go there every Friday. Couldn’t they give you one night off?” I smiled at her and shook my head. “I couldn’t do that to them, especially after I promised I’d be there today.” She sighed and dropped her hand. “It’s really that important that you cook and clean for them?” I shrugged. “It makes me feel like I’m giving back. I was raised there, after all.” My friend set a hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. “One day you’re going to make some guy very happy.” I laughed and shook my head. “Probably not anytime soon unless an unmarried man comes to adopt someone.” “Fat chance of that,” my coworker mused as she straightened. She still gripped my shoulder and some of her humor faded. “Alright, I give you permission to abandon me to the wilds of stag dating, but you have to promise me you won’t go through that creepy place.” I cocked my head to one side to look at her. “It’s not creepy. It’s just an empty lot.” “Yeah, but there’s something creepy about a lot that’s never had anything on it,” she countered. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “The rest of that area has buildings except that. It’s just not right.” “What are you doing over there?” a voice shouted. My friend’s face turned white. “Gotta go. And remember your promise!” She scooted away to the wilds of the cubicle jungle. “It’s just a lot. . .” I murmured as I returned to my work. A long strand of hair tickled my nose and I brushed it out of my face. “Gotta get it cut. . .” I muttered as I studied my reflection on the screen of my computer. A young woman with neck-length mousy brown hair stared back at me with equally mousy brown eyes. My face with thin but not narrow and the rest of me was built pretty much the same. And I was short. Frustratingly short. I was five foot three at best, and those were on my good days. I slouched on my bad days. “Not exactly marriage material. . .” I murmured. “Why are you talking, Miss Roberts?” The sharp voice startled me and I whipped my head up. The sharp face of my supervisor glared at me from the opening of my cubicle. “Do you have that report done that I asked you for yesterday?” I managed a tense smile. “Not yet. I’m just working on it.” She scoffed. “That isn’t what I saw. If you know what’s good for you you’ll focus on your work and leave the fraternizing for the weekends.” I had to bite my tongue to keep myself from spitting out what I truly wanted to say. “I’ll keep that in mind.” “See that you do,” she snapped as she lifted her nose and looked down her beak at me. “And I expect it on my desk before you leave.” I didn’t look up from my computer screen. “Of course. I’ll definitely have it done before I leave.” She strolled off to harass one of my coworkers. I settled my fingers atop the keys and sighed. “Where’s that Prince Charming when I need him?” I shook off those thoughts. No sense in wishing for a dream to come true. I had to make things happen. That’s how the world worked. I got back to work but my daydreaming meant I was late getting in the report. By the time I stepped out night had begun to fall. The shadows stretched long and deep over everything as I wrapped my scarf tightly around my neck and began my journey through the concrete wilderness. The streets were busy with traffic and pedestrians as everyone tried their best to beat everyone home or to the bars. I turned off the well-worn paths and into the back residential areas. These had seen better days, what with their crumbling facades of brick and mortar. Only the imperiousness of their four floors gave a hint of their lost grandeur. Many of the windows were broken and replaced by the ever-economical plywood while others were completely neglected, allowing vagrants the opportunity for a nice free rest. My steps took me past a rusted chainlink fence, and through the diamond designs, I glimpsed the empty lot of my friend’s warning. I slowed to a stop and stared at the abandoned property, forgotten by everyone, even the litterbugs. There were no cots or blankets strewn about the place, and what trash tried to get inside was blocked by the tall fence. A loose spot in the far corner of the fence ahead of where I stood tempted me. That was my usual entrance inside when I dared take the shortcut. It saved me two whole blocks of walking. My friend’s pleading words echoed in my head. I sighed and continued onward past the loose links. In my distraction, I didn’t see the faint white light that emanated from beneath the ground. My footsteps took me down that long block and to my destination. The journey’s end was a square building some three floors high and a hundred feet wide. A tall stoop denoted its origins as coming from the late nineteenth century when the fog of industry blanketed much of the city. The windows were old but clean and the bricks chipped but washed. Even the stoop had been swept of leaves and picked clean of trash. A single word had been built into the bricks above the door: Orphanage. Many of the lights were on as I walked up those worn steps. I paused at the top and half-turned to look at the street. All was quiet and empty. Nobody would be coming today. The front door burst open and a half dozen small bodies threw themselves at me. I didn’t stand a chance as they latched onto me, tugging my person in every direction. They were children and ranged in age from three to six. Their faces were clean but their hand-me-down clothes were patched in several places. “You’re here! You’re here!” several of them crowed. “What took you so long, Anna?” another scolded me. I laughed and grasped two of the hands that so lovingly held me. “I’m not that late.” “Miss Wynn has been looking out the window for you to come for a really, really, really long time!” another chimed in. “Not too long,” a kindly voice spoke up and a woman just shy of fifty stepped out onto the stoop. She wore a plain blouse and faded jeans, and her graying hair was tucked into a tight bun behind her head. “Now all of you inside and don’t drag poor Anna with you.” “We were only trying to help her inside,” one of the children moped as she shuffled past Miss Wynn. Miss Wynn laughed and patted her on the head. “I’m sure she can handle the door herself but she’d be glad to have you greet her any time.” The girl’s face brightened and she nodded before disappearing inside. Miss Wynn turned her attention to me and clasped her hands in front of her. “Thank you for coming. They do really appreciate it.” I grinned as she led me inside. “It’s no problem and I’m sure they’ll show their appreciation when they eat all my brownies before bedtime.” “Brownies!” The cry came from every nook and cranny of the small foyer. Children rushed out of the woodwork, sprinting out of the wings and down the stairs. “Easy! No running or you won’t get any brownies!” Miss Wynn warned them. “You know what to do, troops!” I shouted. The kids scuttled into a line in front of me and gave me crooked but sincere salutes. I walked up and down the line inspecting them. “Dirty hands, dirty face, clean, clean-” I stopped in front of a short boy of five who bowed his head and crossed my arms over my chest. “Jasper, what are you hiding?” Jasper lifted his face and revealed a large cut on his cheek. “The cat got me.” I knelt on one knee so we were at eye level. “Did you pull the cat’s tail again?” He bobbed his head. “You know he doesn’t like that.” “But I was just trying to catch him to brush him,” he whimpered. I set a hand on his head and ruffled his hair. “The cat doesn’t understand that. That’s why you have to be gentle. Now how about some brownies?” “Yeah!” the kids shouted. “After you all clean up,” I added as I stood. Those with dirty digits and faces scurried off to obey. Miss Wynn smiled at me. “I’ll leave you to it then. Good luck.” I laughed. “I’ll need as much as I can get.” COLLAPSE Elina is a fae of the Western Woods, a region filled with tall forests and green fields. She lives a life of peaceful bliss until the day her father, the king of the fae, dies. Then everything goes wrong.
Her uncle assumes the throne, and his heart is as cruel as the biting north wind. He gives her only two choices: to be sold as a bride to the dragon king of the southern region or be ‘removed’ from the line of succession. Elina chooses to cling to life and arrives at the southern capital city of the ancient dragon king, a creature tens of thousands of years old. She discovers a vibrant city with many sights and many secrets.
The worst-kept secret is the size of the king’s harem. He hosts dozens of women from all the surrounding kingdoms, and she finds herself awash in a sea of unfamiliar, and sometimes hostile, faces. Competition for the king’s affection is fierce among those seeking favors, and her pretty face is a magnet for jealousy and cruel tricks.
Now, Elina must face a new life and new dangers as she navigates a world of dark lies and even darker plots. All the while, a pair of golden dragon eyes watches her very closely.
The future was dark, but it would be lit by a flame of passion I could never have imagined.
But that was yet to come. For now, I sat in my bedroom near one of the open windows, enjoying the fresh breeze from the pleasant green fields of my people. They worked the land with their green magic, bringing forth a bounty most kingdoms could never dream of. A smile worked its way across my lips. There came a knock on the door. I turned my attention to my bedroom. Large, thick carpets covered the stone floors, and tapestries hung from the walls, some created by my hands. The four-post bed stood not far from where I sat, and a vanity of some age stood beyond that against the wall. It was simple luxury at its best. A portrait hung above the mantel featuring the striking bearing of the regal man. He smiled down at me, and his eyes twinkled with that familiar look of mischief. “Come in,” I replied. READ MORE The door opened and one of the maidservants stepped inside. She clasped her hands in front of her and bowed her head to me. “Good morning, Princess Elina. Your father has summoned you to dine with him for dinner.” My eyes lit up and I jumped to my feet. “Is it that hour already?” She stepped aside as I swished past, my dress flapping about my running legs. The halls of my father’s castle were long and wide, and crafted to make a simple square keep that surrounded a courtyard. Two flights of stairs on either end of the square allowed people to move up and down the five levels. I hurried toward one of them, as my bedroom lay on the third level and the dining hall was on the ground floor. I turned the corner to the stairs and crashed into a heavy-framed elf man. Their hands shot out and grabbed my arms, preventing me from falling. “I am so sorry!” I apologized as I whipped my head up. The swarthy man smiled down at me. “Where are you going in such a hurry, my swift-footed niece?” I looked past him at the stairs. “To dine with Father, Uncle Manala. Are you not coming?” The corners of his lips twitched down and he opened his hands, releasing me. “Your father has not given me that pleasure today. I hope you enjoy your meal. If you will excuse me.” He bowed his head and hurried off. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself before hurrying off. My steps took me downstairs and into the personal dining room adjoining the grand reception hall. The large hall was empty. There would be no entertaining until the harvest had been brought in for the season. I stopped at the door leading to the dining room and smoothed out the creases in my dress. “I could hear your feet pounding down the stairs,” a deep voice called from inside. I sighed, but a smile played on my lips as I stepped inside. The quaint room was only twenty feet square with windows looking out into the courtyard. The yard had long ago been transformed into a garden where flowers bloomed and trees provided shade. Stone paths wound their way through the beauty, enhanced by the singing of many birds. A short table could seat ten people, but only one man sat at it. His regal bearing and gold-hemmed clothes showed his royal status, but it was his kind eyes that made him the beloved ruler he was. “I was that loud, huh?” I asked him as I strolled up to the table. “As loud as a stampede of horses,” he replied as he gestured to the empty plate set on his right. “You had better sit and eat before your food grows cold.” I took a seat and sampled all the delicious foods from the covered platters. “I met Uncle Manala on my way here.” My father paused in capturing his food on his fork, and a dark cloud settled on his brow. “Did you?” “He mentioned he hadn’t been invited to dine with us,” I commented. My father sighed and resumed eating. “Your uncle and I have had a disagreement about the taxes, that is all.” “Would he not come to discuss the matter with you?” I wondered. “He refused my offer to dine with us,” my father revealed. I blinked at him. “But he told me he had not been invited. “That is his way of saving face,” my father mused as he took a bite of his food. “I fear my brother believes he is in the right and will not suffer the presence of anyone who thinks otherwise.” A suggestion struck me and I perked up. “Would you like me to speak with him?” “I would like for you to eat your meal,” he scolded me as he used his fork to point at my hardly touched plate. “The cooks do a wonderful job, and it should not be wasted.” I bowed my head and dug into my food. My father watched me for a while before he sighed and dropped his gaze to his plate. “Why do we not go for a carriage ride through the fields? I have some inspections to make and would appreciate the company.” My head shot up and a smile spread across my face. “Really?” He chuckled. “Truly, but only if you are a good girl and eat your food, especially your vegetables.” I dropped my gaze to the green stuff on my plate and wrinkled my nose. “But they are so tasteless.” He plucked a singular spice dispenser from the table and held it out to me. “Why do you not try my special seasoning?” I grinned. “You know you are the only one who appreciates food in such a spicy manner.” “Right you are,” he agreed as he sprinkled the spice over his food. He set the dispenser down and took in a great mouthful of food. “The cooks are excellent, but few can compete with the natural world with its delicate-” “Delicate flavors?” I suggested as I gathered up some food on my fork. A strangled sound made me look up. My father’s face was a ghastly red and his eyes were bulging out of his head. He grabbed his throat and violent choking came out of him. My eyes widened and I leaped to my feet. “Father? Father! Someone, please! Help!” Servants rushed out of the adjoining kitchen and hurried over to one. My father’s body sank into spasms and froth filled his mouth. The servants laid him on the floor and pressed him to the floor to prevent him from hurting himself. I rushed over and stood over them, fear gripping my heart. “What has he eaten?” one of them asked me. I shook my head. “Just his usual spice. It is over-” I pointed at the table, but the dispenser had disappeared. “We must move His Highness to his bedroom!” someone shouted. The men organized themselves on either side of my father and picked him up. I hurried along behind them, but one of the maidservants stopped me. She grasped my arms and met my eyes. “You should stay here.” “But-” “There is nothing you can do for him but pray to the gods that he will be granted a speedy recovery.” Tears welled up in my eyes, but I nodded. She drew me into a hug, and a sob escaped me. “There, there, little one. Whatever happens, you will be alright.” How I wish she had been right. COLLAPSE
