Champion: A Prophecy Series Novella
Page 7
Coral covered her face with shaking hands, and Armes snapped his fingers, letting his Centaur form slip away. He walked toward her on two legs that felt like lead, and wrapped his arms around her body.
She leaned into him, shoulders shaking with the weight of her pain. He felt it too, his daughter was all he’d dreamt of while he’d slumbered. The thought of never getting to know her broke his already damaged heart.
“Coral,” he whispered. She refused to look at him, so he tipped her head up. “Look at me, please.”
She opened her eyes and fresh tears slipped free. It amazed him, that after all these years, he still felt exactly the same.
The love in his heart had only grown, hardening into something that could never be chipped away.
“How can you not hate me?”
“My sea queen, there is not a force in any world that could break my love for you.”
She choked up, and the tears flowed freely now. As she leaned against him, Armes held on, determined.
He’d lost her once. He wouldn’t lose her again, even if it meant relinquishing his title and leaving his world behind.
Chapter Twelve
Coral
Coral stood staring at Terrenia from the cliff Armes had shown her all those years ago. She breathed deeply, the scent of pine filling her lungs just as it had back then.
“Let me come with you.” He still loved her. After all this time, her Centaur still loved her.
The thought made her heart soar just before it crashed to the ground. There was no way. Atlantis never allowed males to roam, let alone other immortal beings. It had been strictly forbidden from the beginning of time.
Could she truly change that? Would her people accept him as their king? As her lover?
Fiona stepped out onto the ledge behind her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. All these years, the woman who delivered Rosabel and saved Atlantis had stuck by Coral’s side.
She’d become her best friend, a sister she’d never had, and a confidant she’d divulged her deepest secrets to.
Fiona was the only being in any world who knew just how much Coral loved Armes.
“How are you?” she asked softly.
Coral shrugged, afraid her words would betray her and send the tears flowing once more.
“It’s okay to be upset, Coral. You can tell me.”
“I still love him. Even after all this time, I still feel everything I did even back then.”
“That’s no surprise. From what I’ve read in books, true love never leaves.”
“He wants to come back with me,” she whispered.
“Truly? He would leave his world behind?”
Coral nodded. “It’s crazy though, completely against the rules.”
Fiona was silent a moment, and Coral sighed. She knew her friend would agree with her, and that would be the final sign that it truly wasn’t a possibility.
Birds chirped as they flew high above them, as the sun began its descent. Moments passed in silence before Fiona finally spoke.
“You’re the queen.”
“I know, and I must uphold our rules.”
“That’s not what I mean,” Fiona said, looking up at her with bright blue eyes full of hope.
“Then what do you mean?”
“Perhaps it’s time the rules changed.”
Coral gaped at her, unsure what she should say.
“I, for one, would like the opportunity to learn what love is for myself. I’ve seen it all over your face for long enough.”
To her complete surprise, Coral laughed. “Are you sure you would wish for such a thing?”
Fiona smiled. “I am, and I’m sure the others would love to choose their own paths as well.”
Both women turned as a figure appeared in the doorway.
Armes stood, hands fisted at his sides. He was still in his human form, but had put on trousers to cover himself. Coral wished he hadn’t.
“I’ll leave you two be.” After squeezing Coral’s hand lightly, Fiona stepped around Armes and back into the cavern.
Coral stood, staring at the man she loved above all else. A man she’d been willing to give everything up for once before.
Could she risk it all again? Risk the future of Atlantis on him?
The answer was an easy one.
“Are you sure you would be okay leaving Terrenia?” She gestured to the world beyond the mountain. “Leaving your people behind? You are their king.”
Armes crossed the distance and cupped her face. “I’m no king, Coral. It was a role I took up when we had no one else. But you, my love,” he said, brushing the pad of his thumb over her cheek. “You’ve always been a queen, and if being with you means leaving this world behind, I will absolutely do that. Because without you, there is no beauty in it.”
Her heart skipped as Armes leaned down to brush his lips to hers. The connection was instant, just as it had been all those years ago, and she wrapped her arms up over his shoulders, pulling him toward her.
The grief over losing their daughter was still fresh in her heart, losing a child was not something she imagined she’d ever move on from, but having Armes back in her life repaired a part of her heart shattered by their separation.
Groaning, she surrendered to him, surrendered to their love, and to the possibility of a future not plagued by grief.
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THE END
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Want to connect with me? Come hang out in my reader’s group, Jessica’s Wayne-O’s!
Want more of this world and these incredible characters? Grab your copy of Phoenix and binge the completed Prophecy Series today!
Captured for what she could become, Anastasia has spent her entire life at the mercy of her enemy.
Unfortunately for her, she didn't realize it until it was far too late to run. When he comes for her, Anastasia finds herself ripped from all she's ever known, and tossed into a parallel world where monsters roam and darkness reigns.
The biggest issue? They are counting on her to stop it.
A legacy, a warrior. It's been foretold that she is the only one who can wield the power necessary to put an end to the reign of terror.
But how does one learn to manage their power, when she didn't realize she had it to begin with?
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For more information, visit www.jessicawayne.com
About the Author
Photo Credit Mandi Rose Photography
Jessica Wayne is the author of over twenty fantasy and contemporary romance novels. The latter of which she writes as J.W. Ashley. During the day, she slays laundry and dishes as a homeschooling stay at home mom of three, and at night her worlds come to life on pa
per.
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She runs on coffee and wine (as well as the occasional whiskey!) and if you ever catch her wearing matching socks, it’s probably because she grabbed them in the dark.
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She is a believer of dragons, unicorns, and the power of love, so each of her stories contain one of those elements (and in some cases all three).
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Jessica lives in Texas with her husband, kids, their two German Shepherds who think they’re both cats, and a fluffy orange cat named Leo who thinks he’s a dog.
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You can usually find her in her Facebook group, The Wayne-O’s, or keep in touch by subscribing to her newsletter where she shares updates as well as shenanigans she finds herself in.
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