Chosen (The Last Guardians Book 1)

by C. V. Gregorchuk

  Heart thundering beneath her breastbone Mia tightened her grip on the branch overhead and lifted herself onto her toes for a better look. A golden head weaved in and out of sight. Mia got a glimpse of a strong nose- the edge of a jaw shrouded in shadow. He wore a maroon shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows exposing broad tan forearms. Dark pants. Boots. Mia tracked him and the horse following at a distance, its back densely packed with bundles and packages.

  They were nearly under her. Mia peered through the spruce needles, leaning at an awkward angle. Too far. Her hand slipped off the branch, and Mia pitched face first out of the tree with a shrill squawk. Branches of spruce needles gave way beneath her, ripping at clothes and skin, doing nothing to slow her fall. Mia closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, the last thing she saw was the ground rising up too fast to meet her.

  She hit something solid and unforgiving with a sudden, brutal force that drove the air clean out of her lungs. Her legs, still caught in the pull of gravity swung and knocked against something equally hard. Mia couldn’t breathe past the spasmed muscles of her throat. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound as she tried desperately to pull even a stitch of air into her lungs.

  One hard smack between the shoulder blades had her gasping and choking, her chest heaving against a wall of stone as she filled her aching lungs with mouthful after sweet mouthful. Dazed as she was and confused by what had happened, it took far too long for Mia to register the arm banded around the back of her thighs below the curve of her butt. The warm, broad hand splayed between her shoulder blades. The smell of sweat, leather, and mint.

  Mia tapped her open palm against his maroon-clad back, and the crushing grip around her legs loosened. She couldn’t stop the undignified groan that slipped out as she slid down his front, her shirt riding up with the friction. When her feet touched the ground, Mia found herself at eye level with the collar of his shirt. His arms were still around her when Mia tilted her head back at what seemed a crazy angle to look into the face of her savior.

  Clean, sharp lines and broad features cut from stone were her first impression. His eyes were what caught and held her immobile. Like chips of jade beneath lowered brows. They robbed her of the ability to talk. “I uh-” Emerald at the center, dark forest green around the edges. Shimmering flecks of gold. The forest darkened around them as the sun disappeared behind a cloud. Mia cleared her throat, “You must be Vander.”

  Glossary

  Things about Nethea

  Eldhor-Pronounced El-dor- The Creator of Nethea, Earth and Yekem.

  Creation- The three planes of Eldhor’s universe.

  Cycle- Refers to the cycle of the moon. One cycle is roughly equal to one month.

  Grower’s Season- Summer

  Important Events

  The Great Sacrifice- A cataclysmic event caused when Dragons sacrificed themselves to end the Oluan War.

  The Oluan War- A long and bloody war fought between the Oluan, Dragons and humans.

  Races

  Oluanvi- Pronounced O-loo-un-vee- The first seven sentient beings to be introduced to Nethea. Beings who possess Power and two forms.

  Valeuir the Seeker of Emerald Scale- Pronounced Val-ure- One of the Oluanvi and a seeker of knowledge and truth.

  Annamere the Shepherd of Obsidian Scale- One of the Oluanvi and the Shepherd of all Nethea’s creatures.

  Kirstiel the Healer of Ruby Scale- Pronounced Kir steel- One of the Oluanvi and the healer of wounds and sickness.

  Thoraine the Grower of Sapphire Scale- One of the Oluanvi and the caretaker of all growing things.

  Galtrid the Hunter of Amethyst Scale-pronounced Gull-trid- One of the Oluanvi and the great and powerful hunter.

  Prethea the Wise of Adamant Scale- Pronounced Pret-euh- One of the Oluanvi and the wisest of all Eldhor’s Creation.

  Ithrielle the Pure of Gold Scale- One of the Oluanvi and the purest of body and mind.

  Oluan- Offspring of the Oluanvi. Beings who possess Power and two forms.

  Kairos of Sapphire Scale- Leader of the Oluan army in the Oluan war. The scourge of Nethea.

  Olu- May refer to an Oluan who has renounced their immortality or the offspring of Oluan and humans. Beings who possess Power and a single form.

  Orden Metrosson (Yaridasson)- An acolyte of the Pure. Appointed by the Oluanvi as Keeper of the Guardians.

  Dragon- Oluan who supported the human cause in the Oluan War.

  Vander of Emerald Scale- An acolyte of the Hunter. Chosen by the Oluanvi to be a Guardian of Nethea.

  Nymal of Obsidian Scale- Pronounced Nim-aal- An acolyte of the Hunter. Chosen by the Oluanvi to be a Guardian of Nethea.

  Aida of Adamant Scale- Pronounced I-da- An acolyte of the Grower. Chosen by the Oluanvi to be a Guardian of Nethea.

  Guardians- Three partnerships comprising of one Dragon and one Chosen.

  Chosen- The human counterparts of the Guardian pairs. Possess Power.

  Mia Astor- Daughter of Tom and Sarah Astor. Chosen from the second plane of Creation, Earth, to be a Guardian of Nethea.

  Euan- Son of none. Chosen from the first plane of Creation, Yekem, to be a Guardian of Nethea.

  Reiner Abiansson- Chosen from the third plane of Creation, Nethea, to be a Guardian of Nethea.

  Human- The mortal descendants of Oluan. May possess Power.

  Breahn Kenesdaughter- Daughter of Hanna and stepdaughter of Orden Metrosson.

  Hanna Jardinsdaughter- Pronounced Haa-naa- Mother of Breahn and wife of Orden Metrosson.

  Selk- Evil creatures that feast on the flesh of any living creature. Their origins are unknown.

  Pelt-shifters/Shifters- Mortal beings that possess the ability to take the forms of both animals and human.

  Places

  Nethea- The third plane of Eldhor’s Creation. The world in which this story primarily takes place.

  Middlelands Kingdom- The largest region of Nethea. The region in which this story primarily takes place.

  Keswick- Pronounced Kes-ick- A small town on the eastern plain of the Middlelands Kingdom.

  Perilea- An Oluan city on the Eastern coast of the Middlelands Kingdom.

  The Divide- A large mountain range that divides the eastern and western plains of the Middlelands Kingdom.

  Torben-A mountain fortress situated in The Divide. The seat of power in the Middlelands Kingdom.

  Northern Reaches- The northernmost region of Nethea.

  Longford- A town located on the border of the Northern Reaches.

  Carmett- A fortress in the Northern Reaches. The current seat of Kairos.

  Southern Region- The southernmost region of Nethea.

  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost I want to begin by thanking my husband, Ben for putting up with me during this crazy time in my journey as a writer. You’ve been there through

  every editing and formatting session, through every single rewrite. Thank you for listening to me spitball and for being my test subject for new ideas. I would not be at this stage in my writing or in my life without your unconditional love and support. Love you and thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

  Mom... I can’t tell you how grateful I am for you. Thank you for brainstorming with me, thank you for helping me dig deeper into my characters and story. And thank you for listening to me go on and on and on... and on and on with story ideas and fulfilling my need for affirmation. The Last Guardians and I thank you!

  And finally, thank you to everyone who took the time out of their busy lives to read my book. Your feedback and critique has been vital in this entire process. Without you, Chosen would not be what it is now. Thank you so much!

 

 

 
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