by Amy Miles
Countless glances were shared among the crowd. None seemed sure if they should clap or not. Finally, one clap started. Then another. Soon the entire crowd was hooting and cheering.
I smiled and waved as I held Taryn against my side. “Try to pretend like you are happy,” I muttered to her.
She smiled through her teeth as she whispered her thanks. “Aye. I’m happy that I’ll have my head for a wee bit longer, but don’t think for a moment that this is over.”
“How did I know you would say that?” I whispered, placing a deliberate kiss on the top of her head for the crowd.
A hand fell on my shoulder and yanked us apart. “I forbid that you marry this girl. She is a traitor.”
“On what grounds, Father? You’ve heard my testimony.” I leaned in closer to him. “Do you want to call your only son and heir a liar in front of your people?”
His face flitted from colourless to boiling red. “How dare you—”
“Oh, I dare.” I stepped closer to him, letting my grip on Taryn slide just enough to reach my father. “You can’t touch her now. She’s mine.”
“Not yet, she isn’t!” the queen spoke for the first time.
I turned in shock to see my mother rising from her seat. All colour had fled from her face and she looked weak in the knee, but the determination I saw in her stature shocked me.
“Mother?”
“Your father is right, Aed. She is not a suitable queen.”
“At least on that one we agree,” Taryn muttered.
“I have already made my decision, Mother.” I took Taryn’s hand in mine and raised it for all to see. Without Taryn realizing it, I had slipped a diamond band onto her finger. She gasped right along with the crowd. “The engagement is official and you are all witness to my future happiness.”
The anger radiating off my father could have melted the deepest frost as he glared at me. Then he looked beyond me at the confused but exuberant celebration of his people. My father’s jaw clamped down. I could see the gears in his mind working hard to find a way around this, but it was my mother who found it.
She stepped forward and commanded the attention of the crowd. “Though my son’s heart might be leading this decision, the fate of our entire realm cannot be placed on a single common girl. She is not of noble birth or from a family with good standing with the crown. Despite your…affections for the girl, my son, I must insist that others be considered.”
Taryn watched my face as I tried to hide the hurt of her betrayal. She was the last person I’d expected to fight me on this.
“What do you propose?” I asked. I tightened my hold on Taryn’s hand, sure that she would run if I gave her the chance. She would never make it past my father’s guards.
“You will travel our lands to meet the finest ladies from among the Nether realm. From those, you will select your bride based on the council that your father and I give you.”
“And what of Taryn?”
She trembled as she stood beside me, but I couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or anger. I guessed the latter.
“She will remain with us at the castle until the matter is decided,” my father huffed.
“I will not agree to that,” I refused. “If she is engaged to me then she will be at my side at all times.”
“That is hardly appropriate,” my mother protested.
“Then we will appoint ladies in waiting to see to her needs and to keep things between us…professional.” I smiled at that. When I looked down at Taryn I knew she’d like nothing more than to kick me in the groin for that remark. “That will ensure that her virtue remains intact while I preview your selections.”
When my mother worried on her lower lip, I was shocked to see this weakness. She was always so perfect, so regal. When she looked at my father, I knew I was winning.
“Those are my terms, Mother. Agree with them or I will wed Taryn in secret and return to my post at the Wall.”
My father glanced at the crowd, no doubt all too aware of how our private display had turned public. He forced a smile and turned to the crowd. “The Crown agrees. A royal selection will commence in three days’ time. And your betrothed, Taryn Brennan, will remain at your side as my guest.”
EPILOGUE
ALANA
W HILE I KNEW IT hadn’t been all that long, it felt as though we’d been riding on this boat to the Isle of Glass for an eternity. The women at the Transition Centre assured us it would only take two days should the wind stay in our favor. Not that I was complaining. The boat was lovely. Everyone so far had been so accommodating. The quarters I was stationed in, while small, suited my modest needs. Not that I had many, being dead and all. It was odd not to need food or use the facilities anymore but that didn’t mean there weren’t other things about my human life that still lingered here.
Fashion, for instance, appeared to be just as relevant here as it had been when I was alive. In fact, when Taryn left me at the Transition Centre on Eimear, she told me that it was to get properly dressed for my journey.
I had assumed that meant items to protect me against the elements for the boat ride. Nothing could have prepared me for the gowns they packed for those of us travelling to the Isle of Glass. And the baths! The recently deceased were treated to these natural springs that were divine. They reminded me of a time back on Earth...there was this natural pool. Who did I use to go there with? It was on the tip of my tongue.
“Blast it,” I cursed to no one in particular. That was the hardest part about being here. I couldn’t seem to remember much of anything about my time alive. Taryn had told me that was for the best. It was better to have our minds be free of memories before we could move on. Despite that, I had tried in vain to cling to them. I remembered that I had a family. Of that, I was certain...I just couldn’t recall any of their names. One of them had red hair like me. I think.
We were told once we got to the Isle of Glass our memories of our human lives would be long forgotten. I was starting to wonder if that might be better than this distorted life I couldn’t piece together.
A gust of wind stirred a stray strand from my plaited hair across my face. I tucked the rogue hairs behind my ear and stared out at the vast ocean in front of me. For days we had seen nothing but water all around us but today there was some land in the distance. I had been hopeful it was our destination, but I was quickly assured we had several days yet to travel.
Sighing, I ran my hand along the ship’s railing and looked down at the gown I chose this morning. The fabric was unlike anything I had ever felt. Well, at least, I think that was true. I couldn’t remember. The closest comparison I had was silk, but somehow, this was even more luxurious. The shade of green was soft like moss. It was the sort of dress you just wanted to keep touching.
The wind kicked up again and knocked one of the numerous flowers out of my hair. Why they had to weave in so many flowers as they braided was beyond me. Pulling one of the yellow flowers free, I held it to my nose. It was odd, but I felt like I should be sneezing this close to the flower, and yet, they didn’t seem to bother me. Did I have allergies in my past life? So many questions, and no one with any information on my time on Earth. I supposed it didn’t matter now.
As I looked ahead into the mist covered water, I cocked my head to the side, curious about something approaching a few metres ahead of our ship. It was not a boat. It was much too small for that, but there did seem to be several things breach up from the water. I couldn’t make out what they were based on their shape. They almost looked like overturned hulls or decomposed sharks, which made no sense. Then again, I was in a world I knew little about.
Curious, I peered harder, trying to discern what the creatures were. Something about their silent, slithering, and rather ominous approach didn’t sit well with me.
“Excuse me,” I asked one of the men guiding us across the water. “Do you know what those are?”
The sailor seemed annoyed that I interrupted his rope pulling job, but he obliged
my request and took a step over to where I had seen the shapes. The rope he was holding suddenly slipped out of his hand and his face turned a sickly shade of white.
“Sir, are you alright?” I asked, wondering if he might faint.
“Lorcan!” he shouted, turning on his heel and running towards the captain of the vessel.
“What’s a Lorcan?” Curious, I tried to gain another peek when I was interrupted by shouting.
In a flash, the boat was alive with activity as the crew began arming themselves with long swords and whips. They began shouting at us to get below deck.
While the other passengers followed, screaming as they went at the sudden danger, I remained frozen to the rail, unable to pull my eyes off the approaching shapes. There seemed to be about a dozen or so of them. Perhaps more. Spears from the deck began to harpoon the approaching figures, but they had little effect. The blades simply bounced off of their flesh and into the water.
One of the men rushed close to where I was standing, what looked like a butcher knife clutched in his hand. He peered down to assess the situation and came back a moment later, screaming in agony. One glance at where he had been looking told me why. Falling down into the water with a butcher knife sticking out of its eye was the vilest and most terrifying thing I had ever seen. My head whipped back to ask what that thing was when I noticed the man’s face bore a diagonal span of gashes from forehead to chin. A black substance mixed in with the blood and exposed bone, seemingly burning what little remained of his face.
If I had been able to throw up, I surely would have.
“Get her down to the lower deck,” the captain shouted seeing me standing on deck.
Just then the shapes disappeared from view. My eyes widened to try and figure out where they went to. That was when noises from below echoed upwards. It was the unmistakable sound of splintering wood. Then came the screams. Blood piercing and fear laced screams. There was little doubt where the beasts had gone. They had attacked the ship from below.
As though on cue, the boat began to take on water at an alarming rate.
“Abandon ship! Abandon ship!” came the captain’s cries.
I looked around as sailors jumped off the ship and into the very same waters as the creatures had just been. At first, they seemed to be making headway but then were plucked downwards with a scream so terrifying I knew I’d never forget it.
My breath came fast and quick. There was no escape. It was either stay here and wait for the water, or worse, those things to claim me, or try my luck out-swimming the beasts.
“What do they want?” I shrieked.
“Your soul.”
“But we’re already dead!” I said.
“Aye, your body may no longer be of Earth, but your soul is eternal. And it is that which they seek. If they take that, ya cease to exist. Not even in the afterlife. Now swim, lass. Swim like you’ve never swum before,” he shouted, lifting me off my feet and hurling me into the water.
My body landed with a hard slap as the icy water hit me. Instinctively, I kicked my feet as hard as I could to get to the surface but after a few seconds I found I wasn’t struggling for air as I imagined I would. Then it struck me. I was dead. I had no need to breathe. Opening my eyes against the dark water, I made out some rocks up ahead. I swam towards them as fast as I could, never once looking back at the dangers I knew lurked behind me. I knew if I did, I’d never make it to shore.
As I swam, I heard the muffled screams from those still fighting the things that were dragging the ship to the bottom of the ocean. I had to keep swimming. I had to put as much distance as my legs would carry me.
When my fingers reached the slippery rocks I wasted little time pulling myself up onto the shore. I ran for several paces before I had the courage to stop. Collapsing onto the ground, I expected myself to be winded from the exertion of such a swim, but I wasn’t. Save for being terrified, my energy level was the same as before I had been tossed into the water. Being dead had its advantages.
I peered through the safety of the shadows of the surrounding trees to take stock of the damage of what the captain had called ‘Lorcan’ had done. I was shocked to find there was nothing to see. The waters were empty, with no ship to be found. It was as though the sea had swallowed it and all those aboard whole.
“Bloody hell,” I whispered.
Looking around me at what appeared to be a foreign land. I was stranded in a world I didn’t understand with no one to help me and danger lurking off the shore.
Taryn had not prepared me for this. She had told me I’d be safe once I got to the Isle of Glass. That was when I realised...I wasn’t there yet. And I was far from safe.
End of Book 1
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Author Bios
Amy Miles is the author of over 25 published novels in varying genres, including her bestselling YA books, The Arotas Series. She is the co-Founder of Red Coat PR and also the co-Founder of Penned Con St. Louis. Amy is an urban homesteader, weekend golfer, and Netflix binge addict who lives with her husband and son in sunny South Carolina.
Danielle Bannister lives with my two children in Midcoast Maine where I try my best to avoid the sun and all the nature trying to devour me. I’ve written several novels that explore love and loss in unique ways. When I’m not writing I can be found in front of my kindle or binge watching Netflix while sipping my coffee with copious amounts of peppermint mocha creamer.
Other Works by Amy Miles
THE AROTAS SERIES
Forbidden, Reckoning, Redemption, Evermore
THE IMMORTAL ROSE TRILOGY
Desolate, Savage
Refuge Coming 2018
THE RISING TRILOGY
Defiance Rising, Relinquish, Vengeance
THE WITHERED SERIES
Wither, Resurrect, Affliction
HIDDEN CHAPTERS
One Hard Ride, Preying on You, Four the Night
THE TRICKSTER TRILOGY
The Trickster, The Ruby Eye
The Last Trick Coming 2018
THE HALLOWED REALM TRILOGY
Netherworld
Hollow Earth (Coming 2018), Isle of Glass (Coming 2019)
Zombie High Chronicles #1
Waiting on Us
A Love Restored
In Your Embrace
Obsidian Flames
Nailed It
Blogged That
Other Works by Danielle Bannister
Available Now
The Twin Flames Trilogy:
Pulled, Pulled Back, and Pulled Back Again
Enigma
Netherworld
The ABC’s of Dee
Short Shorts
Doppelganger
Coming Soon
Must Love Coffee
The Lurker Within: A Havenwood Falls Novella
Hollow Earth: The Hallowed Realms Book 2
For More Information
Amy Miles
You can visit her website at:
https://amymilesbooks.com/
or
You can also join her newsletter at:
http://bit.ly/AmyMilesNewsletterSignup
Danielle Bannister
You can visit her website at:
http://daniellebannister.wordpress.com/
or
You can also join her newsletter at:
http://eepurl.com/bNvK7D
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