The Chronicles of Kerrigan Box Set Books # 1 - 6: Paranormal Fantasy Young Adult/New Adult Romance

by W. J. May

  Carter pointed to the TV. “There’s going to be a royal wedding next year. You interested in going undercover? Maybe play bodyguard to the princess-to be?”

  “Pardon?” Rae looked at Jennifer and then Devon. “You still want me to work for you?”

  Carter laughed. “Of course! Now more than ever. Our Prince of Wales doesn’t know it, but he’s about to marry a commoner with a very special talent. She’s one of us.”

  Rae glanced at the television. She couldn’t help it. Her interest was definitely peaked. “What kind of tatù does she have?”

  Carter smiled. “If you’re interested in the job, I’ll fill you in on the details.”

  “Fine. I’ll do it. What’s her ability?”

  Carter rubbed his hands together. “Perfect. You and Devon can pick up the files regarding the contract in the morning. All the details will be in there.”

  “Devon?” Rae looked at her ex-boyfriend in surprise. Is that why he’s here?

  “The job requires a couple. I want you to work with someone you are comfortable around. Devon is perfect and he’s been your mentor.”

  “What about Riley?”

  “He refuses to work with you.” Jennifer snorted at Carter’s comment. Rae tucked that response away in her memory, promising to have a talk with Riley in the near future and figure out what that was all about.

  “Julian?”

  “Devon’s the perfect partner.”

  There was no getting out of this one. She tried one last grasp of a straw. “I’m seeing someone. What am I going to tell him?” She refused to look at Devon.

  Carter shrugged. “The same thing I told Devon last year when he mentioned he was seeing someone. Job first. The girls can wait. Your boyfriend will survive. You’re an undercover operative for British Intelligence. What’s more important?”

  Job and country first. She had sworn that when she took the oath and signed the contract to work with the Privy Council. “When do we start?”

  “Tomorrow morning.” Carter stood. “You’re dismissed.”

  Devon turned and headed for the door without a word or glance at Rae. She didn’t miss the tightness in his shoulders. Rae followed at a much slower pace behind him. Maybe it was just exhaustion buzzing through her veins. She hadn’t slept well in weeks. A lot had happened. Something was clicking in her head, slowly, methodically. It had started at the factory, and it had been working ever since, trying to make sense of something her brain wasn’t focusing on. In one blinding flash that nearly dropped her to the ground, it hit her.

  “Wait!” she exclaimed, a sudden realization shocking her. Even Devon paused in the hallway. “My mother’s tatù made me fireproof. If flames don’t burn or hurt me, they couldn’t have hurt her. If she killed my father with her tatù, there’s no way she…” Adrenalin coursed through her veins. Rae couldn’t stop the flood of excitement. “She could still be alive!”

  THE END!

  Book 4 – Royal Tea

  The Chronicles of Kerrigan

  Royal Tea

  Book IV

  By

  Copyright 2015 by W.J. May

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright 2014 by W.J. May

  Cover design by: Book Cover by Design

  Edited by: Chelsa Jillard

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews.

  The Chronicles of Kerrigan

  Book I - Rae of Hope is FREE!

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1NNFR0

  Book Trailer:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gILAwXxx8MU

  Book II - Dark Nebula

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B46UWNO

  Book Trailer:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca24STi_bFM

  Book III - House of Cards

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LPIAFL0

  Book IV - Royal Tea

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SGIN35W

  Book V - Under Fire

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YVNJECW

  Book VI - End in Sight

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015HGNL0C

  Book VII – Hidden Darkness

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018SSJEZC

  Book VIII – Twisted Together

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BPSQZFY

  Book IX – Mark of Fate

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C4TYUZU

  Book X – Strength & Power

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CK8MBRE

  Book XI – Last One Standing

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DYFPVAG

  Book XII – Rae of Light

  Coming June 2016

  PREQUEL – Christmas Before the Magic

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0195ZSB3I

  Chronicles of Kerrigan Prequel

  A Novella of the Chronicles of Kerrigan.

  A prequel on how Simon Kerrigan met Beth!!

  AVAILABLE:

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0195ZSB3I

  Find W.J. May

  Website:

  http://www.wanitamay.yolasite.com

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-WJ-May-FAN-PAGE/141170442608149

  Newsletter:

  SIGN UP FOR W.J. May's Newsletter to find out about new releases, updates, cover reveals and even freebies!

  http://eepurl.com/97aYf

  Amazon Page:

  http://www.amazon.com/W.J.-May/e/B005QEBFZ4

  ROYAL TEA

  The Queen of England has requested the help of the Privy Council. Someone is trying to kill her son's fiancé. HRH, the prince plans to marry a commoner, and his bride has a secret no one knows but the Privy Council. She has a tatù. When the Privy Council turns to Rae for help, she can't possibly say no; not even when they make Devon her partner for this assignment. They are to pose as a couple and work undercover, as bodyguards, to protect the soon-to-be Princess of Wales.

  Rae would rather be anywhere but with Devon, especially since she believes her mother to be alive, despite the Privy Council's assurances to the contrary. The question is, how can Rae find proof of life for her mother, come to terms with her feelings for Devon, and manage to save the princess, all while dressed for tea?

  When the enigma, the secrets and the skeletons in the closet begin to be exposed, can Rae handle the truth?

  What we try to hide about ourselves in life, is often revealed in death - our nobility, our fears, but most of all, our secrets.

  Chapter 1

  What we try to hide about ourselves in life, is often revealed in death - our nobility, our fears, but most of all, our secrets.

/>   “My mother's alive,” Rae whispered. “My mother's alive,” she repeated louder, trying to grasp the unbelievable. In the movies, this would be where the main character would say that they had always felt the truth; that they had believed it, deep down inside, all their lives. Rae had never had that feeling. She had never sensed her mother's presence, except when she thought of her in the quiet moments. That didn't mean it couldn't be true. She stared at Carter, Jennifer, and Devon's faces only to see disbelief, pity and sympathy. No shock? Why isn't anyone saying anything?

  “Impossible.” Carter shook his head. “You can't use your mother's tatù. It must have been something else. Someone else's tatù you mimicked.”

  Seriously? Are you still on that? Not the fact that her mom could still be alive? “What if they have her? What if they're torturing her? For twelve years!”

  “Who's they?” Jennifer, her Botcher, asked.

  “You don't have your mother's tatù,” Carter repeated. “You only have your father's.”

  An exasperated breath shot out of Rae's mouth. They weren't going to get anywhere until Carter had proof. She lifted her right hand and rubbed her fingers lightly together; a small blue light rose from her palm and turned to a yellow flame at the tips. She held it out so Carter could see it and then turned to show Jennifer and Devon. “It's fire. Not electricity, not a ball of ice… Fire.” She clenched her hand into a fist, and the flame disappeared.

  Carter stood, visibly shaken. “It can't be! Think carefully. Have you touched someone with something similar? Did you pick up a new tatù and not realize?”

  “That's impossible,” she said, using his favorite word of the day directed back at him. “I would know if I picked up a new tatù. They don't just slip in unannounced.”

  “Maybe you got it from Kraigan. Did you touch him?” Carter walked around his large desk toward her.

  “It's not from Kraigan.” She pointed at her ex-boyfriend. “Dev, you saw it. I've used it before tonight.”

  The sympathy on Devon's face disappeared, replaced by dawning realization as he came over beside Rae. “I've seen it. She's had it for a while, but we didn't realize what it was.”

  “It can't be.” Carter refused to accept it. “When were you with her? I thought I specifically asked -”

  He trailed off, perhaps realizing what he had inadvertently revealed. Rae chose to tuck her questions about the unspoken part of his statement for later. Making Carter face the truth was more important at the moment. Her mind spun, trying to think of something that he couldn't argue with. I've got it!

  Rae swung around and jerked up her shirt, exposing her tatù. It was larger than any of the other inks she had ever seen. It spread across her lower back, a sensual, delicate fairy with hues of pink, purple and green on her dress and the wings behind her. In the dimness of Carter's office, she stretched her arm behind her back and created a small flame so they could all see her tatù in detail.

  “It sparkles.” Jennifer tilted her head and squinted. “I've never seen that before.”

  Rae glanced at her from the corner of her eye. She had never shown Jennifer her tatù but had assumed she had seen photos from her file. Carter had taken about a zillion pictures that day in the infirmary. He wasn't saying a word now, or pulling out his camera. He seemed frozen to the spot. She focussed her attention on Jennifer as she lowered her hand. “Look at the bottom of the tatù.”

  Below the fairy-girl lay an ornate design with Celtic or Gaelic detail.

  Jennifer's breath caught.

  “You see them, don't you?” Rae asked. “They're miniature suns, part of my mom's tatù.”

  A warm finger traced the circles with the wiggly lines. Devon. Rae's heart sped from the realization that it was his touch.

  He jerked away from her as if he had been burned. “Ow!” He blew on his finger.

  She turned to see what had happened. “Oh, sorry!” She had burned him. She swore the flame snuffed when she spun around, but maybe, just maybe, it had grown when her heart had started racing.

  She looked at Carter and waited until she held his gaze. She needed to convince him. She recreated the flame once more. “I just burned Devon.” She brought the flame toward her face.

  Jennifer caught Rae's wrist. “Don't.”

  Rae glanced at her, trying to read the hidden expression on her face. Did she know something? About her mom? “It's not going to hurt.” She reached for Jennifer's hand with her free one. Jennifer would not let go. Rae let the flame disappear and only then did Jennifer drop her grip on her wrist.

  The minute Jennifer let go, Rae rekindled the flame and stepped back, out of her Botcher's reach. She ran the blaze over the skin of her left forearm.

  No smell of burning flesh, no pain; the flame just continued to flicker. Nothing happened.

  “Impossible,” Carter whispered, his eyes following Rae's hand.

  Jennifer released an impatient sigh. “It seems like her mother's ability.” She sat on the corner of Carter's massive desk and set her long boots on the other end.

  Rae shot Devon a look. He seemed just as surprised as she felt. That was a pretty bold move even for Jennifer; her leather-covered derriere on one end with her legs stretched out across the head of the Privy Council's desk. She so hoped she would have that crazy courage when she was Jennifer's age.

  Ironically, Carter didn't seem to notice. He began pacing. “Cromfield predicted it. There are notes in his journals and references. He mentioned the ability to carry two tatùs, but it was a theory. No one has ever carried two. Your father couldn't. His parents’ tatùs combined and became one. Like everyone else's.”

  Rae could not see what the big deal was. Her tatù allowed her to carry and mimic hundreds, maybe thousands of tatù abilities. Her mother’s was just one more she carried.

  Carter leaned over Jennifer and reached for something on the other side of his desk.

  Rae did not miss the look that crossed Jennifer's face. She blinked. She's in love with him. Rae glanced at Devon to see if he had noticed. She nearly rolled her eyes; he was as oblivious as Carter. The thought crossed her mind. “How do you know my dad couldn't use both of his tatùs?”

  Carter tapped the book he was flipping through. “Cromfield had a theory… he believed there had to be a matching of bloodlines or abilities.” He scrolled through more pages. “I read it a few days ago. He believed, even tested, mixing tatùs had a negative effect. Every pair he bred created a combined tatù. Never two abilities.”

  Rae shrugged. She wanted to talk about finding her mother, not this. “Who cares? I already can use other people's tatùs, what's one more ability?”

  Carter slammed the book closed. “Don't you see?” He glared at her, the old Carter coming through, the one Rae remembered from her first year at Guilder. The one she didn't like.

  She stiffened and then straightened. “Nobody sees!” Her hands went automatically to her hips. “My mother is alive and all you can talk about is a damn theory! You can't get past some idea that's already happening. I have more than one ability. It's not new for me.”

  Carter crossed his arms over his chest, both of them forgetting about the presence of others in the room. “You are so your father's daughter! Your mother would never have acted like this.”

  Rae fired back. “I am NOT my father. I'm not evil or scary. The sins of the father are not the sins of this daughter! I might not be able to undo the past, but I am NOT being punished for who my father was!”

  “Selfish child! This isn't just about you! Kraigan is going to have the same ability! He might already know it. He can use his father's and his mother's ability. Did you ever think of that? He might not need to steal other people's tatùs. That psychopath is out on the loose!”

  “And whose fault is that?” Rae hissed between clenched jaws.

  “You tell me.”

  “I didn't let him out of prison. Only an idiot couldn't have figured he would go straight for me.”

  “Watch it, Rae.” De
von had moved behind her and gently touched her shoulder.

  Rae saw Jennifer standing beside Carter now as well. She jerked her shoulder away from Devon's touch. “Kraigan always wanted me dead. He needed the journal so he couldn't kill me until he had it.”

  “You had the journal?” Carter looked ready to explode.

  “Yeah.” The cat was out of the bag, and she didn't care. “He gave it to me just before you captured him. I've had it ever since. Not that it matters. I never got to read it and then I burned it.” She inhaled a slow, long breath between her flaring nostrils. “Had I known there was a chance I could have my mother's ability, I might have been a bit more careful.” She shot Jennifer an angry look. “Or knowing her ability in more detail could have helped as well.”

  “We did not know,” Jennifer responded, each word perfectly enunciated. She had her emotions barely in check.

  “Really? I find that hard to believe. The high and mighty Privy Council appears to know everything.” She couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “Don't you think it might have been a good idea to tell me that my mother was still alive? Maybe when I got here? Or after I received my tatù? Or after Lanford tried to kill me?”

  Carter tossed the book onto his desk. “Your mother is dead! I'm sorry, Rae. No one is sorrier than I am. If I-If we could have saved her, we would have!” His eyes begged her to understand, but he revealed more than he realized.

  He loved my mom! Rae stepped back in surprise, bumping into Devon, who caught her before she stumbled and fell. It was all too much to take.

  Carter's voice softened. “Your mother died in the fire.”