By K.N Lee
143 pages | Captive Quill Press | June 14, 2016
*free for a limited time on Amazon
Yara Ortuso always knew she'd follow in her father's footsteps as a Spell Slinger. The Ortuso clan has kept order in the West District of Allarya since the beginning of time, but a greedy king wants all of the magic for himself.
After King Loric executes her father, Yara vows to end the reign of murder and tyranny. But when the skeleton key transports Yara and her companion—a crow shifter named Hero to the distant future, she must adapt to this new world.
The future is an alluring and mysterious place, where a handsome bar owner yearns to warm Yara's cold heart—and King Loric still lives.
What's a Spell Slinger to do when faced with a threat that could not only ruin her chance for love but send her to the Soul Haven for all eternity?
FEAR THREATENED TO CRIPPLE YARA as she passed the servants harvesting the grapes of Torrington Orchard.
It was a cool autumn morning, and yet Yara felt sweat bead on her forehead and in the crease between her bosom.
“Good morning, my lady,” one of the workers said, bowing her bonnet-covered head.
She feigned a smile, and yet her heart pounded inside her chest as she hid the blood that stained her bodice by letting her long white hair hang over her narrow shoulders.
Be brave, Yara thought as she wrung her shaking hands.
“Hero,” she spoke to the wind. “Please get me out of here. I’m serious this time.”
Yara broke into a run toward the stables, no longer caring who she vexed by her sudden action. She didn’t have much time. The body would surely be found at any moment.
The sun warmed her cold cheeks as she looked to the sky.
Come on, Hero. Hurry.
She grabbed her long navy skirts into her fists as her feet pounded the stone path that led to the front gate. Soldiers stood guard on either end of the locked gate, their swords secure at the waist.
A squawking sound came from the distance and Yara snatched off her wedding band, tossing it into the bushes that lined the road.
Her heart thumped in her chest as one of the soldiers glanced her way. He narrowed his eyes at her. “Where are you going?”
She ignored him, keeping her attention fixed on that gate. They’d hang her if she ever got caught, but she had to risk it.
A royal decree was announced.
Magic is abolished.
All Spell Slingers are to be executed.
Those with magic must go to the capital of Allarya for evaluation.
Those who resist will be executed.
There was no way she could stand by and let her father be executed. Life as a concubine was over for Yara. It was time to stop running from her destiny.
To be a Spell Slinger.
A grin came to her face, despite the tears that trailed down her cheeks as a tall young man dressed in all black appeared outside of the gate, his pale skin almost translucent as he held a hand out toward her.
Black hair covered his dark eyes. Clean shaven, and baby-faced, Hero was her greatest friend, one that would risk his life to save hers.
She chewed her lip, quickening her pace as she prayed that they would both survive this.“Ay,” the guard shouted, drawing his sword. “Stop right now, miss. We don’t want to have to hurt you.”
Yara ignored them. She needed every bit of concentration to do what she’d been planning for the past few days. She would have served her time in this horrid place for all eternity if they’d have left her family alone.
The king wanted to abolish magic, and no one could stop him.
Except Yara.
She gritted her teeth and with a burst of energy shot outside of her body, a blue aura encircling her as her soul unfused.
Hero cracked a grin, his eyes narrowing behind strands of black hair. “Good girl,” he whispered, a black mist shooting from his hand and reaching for her like a raging wind.
The soldiers stumbled backward, having never seen such a display of raw power.
As if encased in ice, Yara’s entire body went cold as her soul left it behind. Her body was indeed frozen in place as her consciousness rode her soul out of the magic-bonded gate.
No human, shifter, or sorcerer could exit that gate.
But, a Meta could.
Born half sorceress, and half Meta, Yara could do many things that the world had never even heard of.As Hero pulled her soul to his open palm, she felt safe and warm, having shed her human form.
Once through the gate, he tucked her soul into his body and shifted into a crow.
Soon, Torrington Estate would be far behind them, and Yara would need to create herself a brand new body.
hair covered
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K.N. Lee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not writing twisted tales, fantasy novels, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and promotes other authors. Wannabe rockstar, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys helping others reach their writing and publishing goals. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award for her success as a writer, business owner, and for community service.
She is signed with Captive Quill Press and Patchwork Press.
K.N. Lee loves hearing from fans and readers. Connect with her!
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