Swallowing down a hard lump in my throat, I gathered Tufty and my book and fled, stopping only long enough to set my little buddy down at the water’s edge. When he dove under the clear surface, I ran for the stairs.
And I didn’t stop.
Tears spilled freely down my cheeks as I bolted through the forest. They still flowed unchecked when I stumbled into Marcus’s cave.
He startled, a spell illuminating the tips of his fingers as he jerked upright in his pallet by the wall. Wide eyes gave way to concern, and then his expression transformed into one of sympathetic knowing. He didn’t ask, and for that I was grateful.
Instead, he rose to his feet and gestured at the bed. “It’s not much, but it’s still warm. We’ll leave before dawn breaks.”
I sniffled down another sob. “Could we go now?”
His brows furrowed as he studied my face. Then, with a slow nod, he bent and gathered the blankets.
I moved to the entrance and stared out at the dark silhouettes of trees. In my hand, Rafini’s book pulsed with subtle energy that filled my palm. The words I had read within echoed in my head.
It happened when the stars shone bright on a warm spring night, when all around me was all that it should be and all that I wanted. My child grew, safe and warm, in Ashryn’s belly. The lullaby she sang to him danced through my ears. Its melody was bittersweet, beautiful in lyric and note, but where it should have filled my heart with joy, the tune drowned me in sorrow. For I realized, as I gazed into the silvery moonlight, I would never hold that tiny fragile life. My life was not of theirs. Theirs, not of mine.
What was required of me, demanded I confront it alone.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Before the Storm! This book has been in the works for the better part of a year—an exceedingly long time for me—and I’m so excited to have it on the shelves now. If you enjoyed the story, one of the best ways you can help get the word out about it and support the forthcoming series is to leave an honest review. It only takes a few seconds, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
If you’d like to be part of my Street Team and receive all the news first, please connect with me on Facebook. We have a lot of fun, you get first peeks at all the new stuff, and occasionally there’s a prize or two.
Thanks again, and I hope to hear from you!
~Claire
About the Author
Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars, marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. For romance fans, she also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance as Sophia Garrett.
In her non-writing time, she owns and operates Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.
To learn more, visit her at: claireashgrove.com or toristclaire.com. For all the latest updates look for the Untamed Spirit blog, via any of her websites.
Other Claire
Ashgrove Books
The Curse of the Templars Series
Immortal Hope
Immortal Surrender
Immortal Protector
Immortal Trust
Immortal Sacrifice
Inherited Damnation Series
Cursed to Kill
Tormented by Darkness
Destined to Die
Ensnared by Blood
Fated for Sacrifice
Doomed to Torment
Enslaved by Fear
Marked for Death
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