by Petra Landon
“This is it” he said quietly. “Many have forgotten the Guardian once known as Mathilda Redmayne, and even fewer know about her plans for our future. We know. It’s time the Chosen knew, too. Together, we’ve thwarted her, again and again. Duncan and Atsá are right. She knows it. If not for us, she’d be bolder with her ambitions, strutting out from the shadows to openly lay claim to the Wizards as a precursor to her grander plans. Instead, she’s frustrated and rattled, forced to still skulk in the shadows with a second-string Undead army as her entourage. I know that for many here, this cause is personal. In a way, foiling her is very personal to me, too. My second bite at the apple. I promise you this: together, we will make her rue the day she embarked on her murderous spree.”
No one said anything. In that moment, it hit Tasia that she had made the right decision, after all. To stick with the Shifters, work with the Pack, ally with them and to trust him. Despite everything, her doubts, her insecurities, and the threat to the secrets she protected, she’d ignored the warnings and gone against everything drummed into her, to emerge from the shadows and into the light, trusting in the word of one man. The timing of her realization was apt, Tasia mused grimly. Faced with yet another monumental decision that might well decide her fate, she was being asked again to choose whether to heed a lifetime of caution and protect a secret that went to the heart of the Chosen, or to ignore everything she believed in and follow her heart, on the word of the same man.
An evening away from the Lair had been cathartic. Even surrounded by Shifters, it had given her a glimpse of the life she might have one day. A fantasy of one, anyway, when Lady Bethesda was no longer a threat. When her own secrets were buried so deep in the ground that the chances of anyone stumbling across them was nigh impossible.
“You were meant to fly free, witchling, and one day, I’ll make sure you have the choice to do so.”
His words had awakened something buried deep in her, a dream guarded zealously by a woman who had been born shackled to a heritage that demanded a life in the shadows. Beyond her wildest dreams had come a man, confident, demanding, hard-nosed, strong-willed, self-assured, and driven, to lay claim to her heart, when she was not free to follow it, promising her everything she yearned for and could never have. In the cold light of day, without the seductive net of temptation and passion to ensnare her, the enormity of the pledge he had so casually made hit her even harder. For a reserved and brusque Shifter, the man certainly had a way with words.
Until last night, the attraction had been a mere yearning Tasia could easily dismiss as a fantasy, safe in the knowledge that it could never be reality. But he had shot that to smithereens, forcing her to stop lying to herself. His blunt admission last night had dumbfounded, nay, shocked her. She had not expected the self-controlled, reserved and distant Alpha to be this forthright.
He had seen through her denials and excuses, and had made it clear that he would not push for an explanation, but neither would he allow her to deny it. He would not play games, she knew. What he wanted he would always lay out clearly, without prevarication.
“Whatever you want, witchling. Just say the word. There’s only one caveat. Walking away is not an option. That’s non-negotiable.”
Tasia could admit it now. An intangible and nameless thread had always drawn them to each other, culminating in the admission by the bay. He had been honest about it, while she had buried her head in the sand. This thread had been palpable since the night in the cage, when a combination of grim determination and wild desperation had forced them both to succumb, to capitulate to the awareness simmering between them like a living entity. No, prompted the voice in her head. This had been present since the night she had met him, while imprisoned in a different kind of cage, one built of her worst fears. In a singular twist of fate, he had helped free her from her worst fears and she had returned the favor by helping him escape his worst nightmare. By turns, they had both freed each other by never giving up on the other, the cord binding them together making them turn back to each other, again and again, even when the past, instinct, doubt, and circumstances pulled them apart.
“A storm is gathering” the Alpha continued, drawing Tasia’s attention. “This is the last lull before it. We look for the third sister, and we build our army. When Sienna’s friend gives us the GCW records, we scour it, using any loophole or weakness we can find to defeat Lady Bethesda or buy us more time. Like Durovic said, let’s hope it doesn’t come to war. But I’m going to make sure we’re ready if it does. No sadistic tyrant will take over my world on my watch.”
Once was enough. The determined refrain ran through Raoul’s mind. Now, the stakes were even higher than holding onto his sanity and his life. Fate was giving him a second bite of the same poisoned apple. He was older and stronger now, not a trusting young cub mad with grief and too inexperienced to read the signs. This time, he had more to live for, and a hell of a lot more to fight for.
His voice hardened, stronger emotion coloring it. “This is not my first rodeo. I’ve experienced her ilk before, and survived to tell the tale. She won’t win. We will stop her, and she will regret the day she issued the challenge.”
Tasia watched him silently, drawn to him as always. He would stop Lady Bethesda, she knew, although their world might not fully escape the consequences of the Wizard’s ambitions. Meanwhile, she had a different dilemma to ponder. The Alpha was right. This had always been about trust.
This dance had begun on a moonlit room amidst a nestful of Vampires, with two Chosen fate had set on a collision course. One fated to walk in the shadows while longing for the light, and the other fated to be in the spotlight while hankering for the shadows; both a little broken in their own ways, but destined to make the other whole. She’d engaged in this careful dance with him, forced by circumstances but also beguiled, cajoled, and tempted by him, drawn in so subtly that she’d missed the signs until called on it. The careful circling of each other had come to its conclusion. His words last night heralded a new course for them. The decision to chart the future lay heavy upon her.
Across the room, the gold eyes flashed to her, ensnaring her.
“You took a chance on Hawk once, when everything in you must have screamed at you to walk away. Take a chance on me, witchling.”
Tasia wished fervently that she was free to take a chance on him, but it would endanger the deadliest of her secrets and bring her carefully constructed house of cards crashing down around her. The secret she guarded held the power to tear apart the First Ones — it would expose the devil’s bargain made centuries ago to preserve the peace, at the cost of a handful like her, condemned to bear the consequences of it. And the First Ones were the mainstay of the Chosen — the rightful heirs to the old magic of the Forebearers.
He had once told her that digging through her secrets was like wedging open Pandora’s Box. The remark had hit a little too close to home. Unleashing the truth of her heritage would wreak havoc on the Chosen and leave her with little hope of salvaging the future. The decision to follow her heart would open that Box, and Pandora’s Box, once opened, could not be shut again.
SAMAPT
THE END
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you for reading The Rainmaker. I hope you enjoyed it. Please consider writing a few lines about the book on Amazon. Reviews are the lifeblood of indie authors and are greatly appreciated. They help to bring our stories to the attention of other readers.
The story continues in The Siren.If you’d like to be informed about new releases, please follow me on Amazon or sign up for my Mailing List.
www.petralandon.com
The first episode ofThe Zenkoti Fables,my new adventure series, set in space, is available for a limited time.
Episode 1 - Call of the Stars
Acknowledgements
It has been a year since I published my debut novel – The Prophecy. I have to admit that even saying it out loud astonishes me. In one year, I have learned much, met some wonderful
people, and worked hard at attempting something approaching a writing schedule.
To my father, thank you for my love of books and the flights of imagination that allow me to escape into fantasy worlds. They’re both your gifts to me.
To my husband, thank you for your support and constant encouragement, and all the wonderful ideas you come up with to help me wade through this new adventure of mine.
To my friend, Sarah, the only one to read both The Prophecy and The Rainmaker before they were released, thank you for the encouragement and the amazing feedback on the story as well as the story-telling. You were a huge factor in my decision to unleash my stories on the unsuspecting world.
To my sister-of-the-heart, thank you for the lively discussions and for always being there for me.
To Biserka, thank you for the beautiful cover, and for your patience in getting Raoul just right.
To my early readers, Jennifer Tooker, Sheena Taylor and Julia Reed, I cannot thank you enough for your suggestions, comments and feedback. It is your encouragement and willingness to read the early drafts that help me tell the story so much better.
A heartfelt thank you to Donna, who was kind enough to read the story in bits and pieces, and still give me amazing feedback. Thank you also for the periodic pep-talks when I floundered at the massive task I had set for myself.
Books by Petra Landon
SAGA OF THE CHOSEN
A rollicking urban fantasy tale of adventure, intrigue, suspense & romance
BOOK 1 – THE PROPHECY
BOOK 2– THE RAINMAKER
BOOK 3 – THE SIREN
BOOK 4– THE PALADIN
THE WAR CHRONICLES
SciFi Romance & Space Opera tales with passionate love stories, swashbuckling adventure & thrilling action
THE MERCENARY
THE STARFARER
THE ZENKOTI FABLES
An episodic adventure series, set in space and on exotic worlds
STAR CHILD – AWAKENING
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www.petralandon.com
AMAZON | GOODREADS
A standalone SciFi Romance & Space Opera story.
A spirited and resilient girl, a fierce warrior with a mighty heart, a fiery passion amidst the embers of war & a love that will alter the fate of their corner of the galaxy.
AMAZON | GOODREADS
GLOSSARY
THE CHOSEN
Beings with magic in them have lived incognito amidst humans for time immemorial. Bestowed with special powers that set them apart, the Magicks call themselves the Chosen. The Chosen are organized into four factions, based on their brand of magic - the First Ones or Ancients, Wyrs known in the vernacular as Shape-shifters, Wizards and the Undead, also known as Vampires, Blutsaugers or collectively as the Clan. The four factions keep to themselves, are responsible for policing their own, object vociferously to outside interference, and follow their individual and contrasting traditions, customs and rules cobbled together over centuries of existence. However, every Chosen believes in and adheres to the Supreme Edict - thou shallst not reveal your brethren to the not Chosen.
THE COUNCIL OF CHOSEN - CoC
The CoC was created twenty-five years ago as a forum to foster communication, understanding and unity between the factions. Meant to usher in a new era of co-operation between Chosen, the Council comprises of four representatives, one from each faction. Faoladh represents the Wyrs, the First Wizard her brethren, ElThor his First Ones while the Vampires have a complicated system whereby the Masters of their illustrious Pure Blood Families rotate as representatives to represent the Clan.
GUARDIAN COUNCIL OF WIZARDS - GCW
The elites of the Wizard world, the Guardians are responsible for policing and protecting their kind. For centuries, this responsibility rested solely with the Guardians. However, since the advent of the CoC, the GCW has been forced to share the responsibility with the First Wizard. This has led to a faction of Guardians being locked in an escalating power struggle with the First Wizard.
WIZARDS
The Chosen with the most conventional form of magic. The inherent magic in a Wizard is represented on a Magic Level scale. At the local level, Wizard Registries in cities handle the day to day affairs of Wizards. At the global level, Wizard concerns are handled by the GCW and the First Wizard.
WYRS
The Chosen who possess a beast form, in addition to their human one. Organized into Packs with clearly demarcated territories, each Pack is led by an Alpha Protector. A Pack is usually a collection of smaller were-packs, each led by a Were-Alpha. A Wyr’s power is derived from his physical attributes. Possessed of phenomenal strength, jacked-up senses and the ability to heal from almost any injury, they are territorial, aggressive, unpredictable and paranoid, preferring to keep to their packs.
FIRST ONES
The Chosen with the oldest magic. Also known as the Ancients, they are the descendants of the very first Chosen to walk the earth. Most Ancients primarily consider themselves to be custodians of their illustrious heritage. They are also the most disparate Chosen faction, with vastly differing powers and abilities, though they self-classify into two loose groupings – Eru and Setik. As they have for centuries, the various groups of First Ones continue their ancient traditions and customs, to pass the old ways down to their descendants, reluctant to dilute their legacy, in any way or form. Enigmatic and driven to preserve the old magic of their ancestors, they tend to keep their distance from the cut-throat politicking of the Chosen world.
VAMPIRES
Organized in a hierarchical command structure, with a handful of Pure Blood Masters at the top of the food chain, they keep to themselves and away from other Chosen. Their lives are governed by social standing, elaborate customs and their nests. The Undead are hard to kill and live a long life, but otherwise possess little magic when compared to other Chosen. Most Chosen do not regard Vampires as their brethren and some look upon them as an abomination.
THE FOREBEARERS
The very first Chosen to walk the earth.
SI’FFA
The term for human or non-Chosen in the language of the First Ones.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Tasia Armstrong
A mysterious Wizard in an uneasy and unusual alliance with the Northern California Shifter Pack. Her bargain with the Alpha Protector safeguards her cover, secrets and abilities. In return, she helps with their investigation into the past and eschews the use of magic.
Raoul Merceau
The powerful, enigmatic and formidable Alpha Protector of the Northern California Shifter Pack. Cold, hard to ruffle, distant, and reserved, he makes for a very bad enemy and makes no bones about his dislike of Wizards.
Faoladh
The preeminent Wyr of his time, the Alpha of all Alphas. Of Irish ancestry, he believes that the continued existence of the Chosen rests on greater unity and co-operation. Also responsible for the advent of the CoC, after a decades-long effort.
Lady Bethesda
A powerful Guardian and contender for First Wizard, she was believed to have died in an explosion at the Wizard Registry in Chicago. Responsible for pulling the strings from behind the scenes in a power grab over the Chosen, based on The Prophecy.
THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SHIFTER PACK
Hawk Manotti
The Shifter responsible for befriending and bringing Tasia into his Pack. Second in the totem pole of his were-pack, with a complicated heritage.
Sara Manotti
Hawk’s twin and a reluctant Shifter.
Duncan Hawthorne
An influential English Were-Alpha with the Alpha’s ear.
Luis Beltran
A taciturn Were-Alpha trusted by his Alpha. Was once led by Hawk and Sara’s father, Stefano Manotti.
Atsá
A highly respected Were-Alpha, with Navajo heritage, he is Hawk and Sara’s est
ranged maternal grandfather.
Maartje
An influential Were-Alpha and Atsá’s ally. Her grandmotherly looks belie her political acumen.
Elisabetta De Luca
A beautiful Were-Alpha with a sharp tongue who has her eye on the Alpha.
Stefan Simeonov
A handsome Were-Alpha, with bright blue eyes, who makes Tasia wary.
Owen O’Brien
A Were-Alpha.
Justin Markham
A Shifter with a history with both Sara and Tasia.
Evgeny
One of Tasia’s Shifter bodyguards, the young Shifter is friendly with her.
Joaquim
Tasia’s second Shifter bodyguard, he is older and more taciturn.
WIZARDS
Caroline Hamilton
Tasia’s friend and a powerful Wizard in her own right.
David Hamilton
Caroline’s father and the ranking wizard in San Francisco.
Sienna McAlister
The daughter of Lady Bethesda and the Oracle, she walked away from her heritage to make a life away from the Wizards. Offered sanctuary in the Pack Lair by the Alpha, she works with the team investigating the past and her mother. Like her father, she is a seer who has had visions that involve Tasia. The visions have only been shared with Jason LaRue.
