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.
Excerpt:
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
