Reluctant Prince
Kingdom of Cymmera
Book One
by Dani-Lyn Alexander
Betrayal lies cloaked in shadow.
Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is
certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job
interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on
a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the
hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give,
Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger.
Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as
a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass
one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen,
he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the
girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey
to save his dying kingdom.
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Excerpt:
Jackson clutched the stone wall of his
chamber and gasped for air. What had just happened? He had returned to Cymmera,
of that he was certain, but how? He hadn’t accessed the gateway. At least he
didn’t remember opening it. A vision of her assailed him, beat at him, reminded
him that he’d failed.
Oh, man. He was in trouble. He pushed away
from the wall.
Images of his target taunted him.
He shoved a chair aside and tore through
the pictures scattered across the table in a desperate search for salvation.
There. He pulled the shot from the mess but found only condemnation. The long
blond hair flowing behind her in the snapshot had not been visible to him, but
there was no mistaking the deep blue of her eyes.
The pounding of a fist against the heavy
wood door released him from whatever spell she’d cast.
“Jackson.” Another loud thud punctuated his
name.
He struggled to get his bearings, tried to
slow the racing of his heart. “Yeah, one minute.”
“Now. Your father wants to see you,
immediately.”
Kai, his father’s most trusted warrior. He
was in more trouble than he’d originally thought. Was it possible the king
would sentence him to death for ignoring a direct order? Surely not without
offering him a fair trial, or at least granting him the opportunity to explain.
But what could he say? What explanation could there be for failing to deliver
the girl? None.
“I won’t knock again.” The warrior would
soon break down the door and drag him before the throne.
He crumpled the offending photo, the
evidence of his disgrace, into a ball. Instead of tossing it in the trash as
he’d intended, he shoved it into the small leather satchel he wore at his
waist. With a deep breath, he released the latch and pulled open the door.
“Come.” Kai turned his back on him and
strode purposefully down the corridor, their footfalls echoing through the
silence of accusation.
The thought of escape taunted him, but he
would never make it out of the castle. He had only recently completed his
warrior training under Kai’s watch and would be no match for the seasoned
soldier. Besides, Kai was a stickler for the rules. If he tried to run, the
warrior would surely take him down, protégé or not.
Bio:
Dani-Lyn Alexander lives on Long Island
with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her
family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare
time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores.
Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble
baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac and has an addiction to
chocolate.
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Thank you so much for hosting me for the release of Reluctant Prince!
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