by Allie Burton
“No comment.” Turning away, I strolled to the portable arsenal and perused my choices of weapons. He had a point about learning to fight without magic. Not that I’d admit it.
This war would be magic versus technology. Why study the ancient arts when we had power deep inside us? Still, I picked up a sabre and ran my gloved hand over the blade. Perry wanted a fair fight with no magic, so I’d give him one.
I slashed the weapon and a zing traveled through my arm. Turning, I faced my opponent. “En guard.”
“Allez.” He lunged, his blade glinting with sunlight.
I feinted to the right.
He lunged again, and our swords clashed.
The impact shattered up my arm and shook my spine. The weakness and fear brought me to a different place when I’d been feeble and unsure. I wasn’t that person anymore.
I charged forward.
He attacked with intent as if relishing the need to hurt or embarrass me. To make me lose this fight. “Not so confident without your magic.”
A guffaw shot out of my mouth. If he had seen my use of magic a week ago, he never would’ve made that statement. “Fairies have magic. You have magic. We should use it.”
A new attitude for me.
“You should learn the hard way.” Perry jabbed at my chest and I took a jump back into the shadows formed by the academy’s balcony. “Then, when you use magic its easy.”
He arced his sword down in a smooth move showing how simple it was for him.
I blocked it with my sabre. The clanging of metal rang in my head. Sweat formed on my upper lip.
He swung at me again and I ducked.
This wasn’t a friendly bout or practice. This guy was going for me. I was okay with that. The hard training would exhaust me, and I’d forget…
Don’t think about the prince.
I hadn’t heard if he’d survived our one night together. My eyes burned at the memory of a huge chunk of metal flying toward Prince Zacharye, one of his guards diving on top of him, and all the blood. Then, the heavy panel had crashed, crushing everything beneath. Including the prince.
And I hadn’t had time to check to see if he was alive or dead.
Perry’s blade crashed against mine, bringing me back to the present. Blow after blow, the assault continued.
I found it difficult to breathe and I kept moving further and further back. He had me pinned against the balustrade. My opponent conjured a second sword from mid-air.
My heart raced and the sweat on my upper lip formed a thin layer of ice. “You said no magic.”
“I said you should learn the hard way. I’ve learned. Now it’s your turn.” His wings spread, adding to his strength.
My head spun, and my gaze tried to follow the swirls of his weapons. I pressed against the concrete of the balustrade and my weapons hand fell to my side. Defeat set in. No wings, terrible magic, average fighting skills. Would I ever be good enough to become a soldier in the queen’s army?
He pressed against me and in a barely audible whisper he said, “Why did you have to be found?”
Learn more about Cinderella Soldier on Allie’s website.
——————
Next in the series:
Cinderella Spy
A Note from Allie Burton
I hope you enjoyed CINDERELLA ASSASSIN and are looking forward to the second book in the series coming out later this year.
Please consider giving this book a rating or review at your place of purchase. In this brave new book world, the only way for a good story to find its way into the hands of other readers is if the people who loved it let others know. We authors appreciate any little bit of help you can give, and reviews encourage me to write faster.
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If you’re interested in my other young adult series, below is additional information. Thanks for reading CINDERELLA ASSASSIN!
Allie
Atlantis Riptide
Lost Daughters of Atlantis Book 1
When a girl runs away from the circus…
For all her sixteen years, Pearl Poseidon has been a fish out of water. A freak on display for her adoptive parents’ profit. Running away from her horrible life, she craves one thing—anonymity. But when she saves a small boy from drowning, she exposes herself and her mutant abilities to Chase, a budding investigative reporter.
Now, he has questions. And so do the police.
Once Pearl discovers her secret identity, she learns she’s part of a larger war between battling Atlanteans. A battle that will decide who rules the oceans. A battle raging between evil and her true family. Will she find a way to use her powers in time to save a kingdom she never knew existed?
This is the start of a young adult fantasy action adventure novel series. “Free sweet summer young adult paranormal with death-defying underwater rescues.” Reviewer
Other books in the Atlantis series: Atlantis Red Tide, Atlantis Rising Tide, Atlantis Tide Breaker, Atlantis Dark Tides, Atlantis Twisting Tides, Atlantis Glacial Tides
Atlantis Riptide is available now on Amazon!
Warrior’s Destiny
Warrior Academy Book One
An ancient amulet.
A powerful soul demanding she obey.
A double cross that ends with a curse.
During a heist to steal an ancient amulet, sixteen-year-old Olivia unwittingly receives the soul of King Tut…and the deadly curse that comes with it.
A member of a secret society, Xander believes he is destined to inherit the soul and wield its powers. He is determined to confront the devious thief and claim what is rightfully his.
When he discovers the horrible truth behind the Society’s plans, he must join forces with Olivia to find a way to end the curse before it destroys the world. Facing untold dangers, Olivia and Xander must learn to trust each other and, eventually their hearts.
As the mystery surrounding the amulet unfolds, is their love enough to save them and the world from destruction?
“If you are a fan of Rick Riordan books about a quest with love and history thrown in…this is for you!” – Hooked in A Book Review (Originally published as Soul Slam)
Other books in series: Warrior’s Chaos, Warrior’s Prophecy, Warrior’s Curse, Warrior’s Rising
Warrior’s Destiny is available now on Amazon!
Also by Allie Burton
A Glass Slipper Adventure – Young Adult
Cinderella Assassin
Cinderella Soldier
Cinderella Spy
Lost Daughters of Atlantis Series – Young Adult
Atlantis Riptide
Atlantis Red Tide
Atlantis Rising Tide
Atlantis Tide Breaker
Atlantis Dark Tides
Atlantis Twisting Tides
Atlantis Glacial Tides
Warrior Academy Series – Young Adult
Warrior’s Destiny
Warrior’s Chaos
Warrior’s Prophecy
Warrior’s Curse
Warrior’s Rising
Castle Ridge Series – Contemporary Romance
The Romance Dance
The Christmas Match
The Flirtation Game
The Playboy Switch
The Billionaire’s Ploy
The Heartbreak Contract
Find all of Allie’s books on Amazon or her website.
About the Author
Allie Burton has always been a reader and writer. She wrote her first novel at the age of twelve when she was stranded at a hospital by a snowstorm. Receiving her first romance from her grandmother, s
he fell in love with the genre. As an adult, she read young adult books with her own teens and was excited to find something fresh and new. Now, she writes both.
Having so many jobs as a teen and adult became great research material for the stories she writes. She has been everything from a bike police officer to a mascot escort to an advertising executive. She has lived on three continents and in four states and has studied art, fashion design, and marine biology.
Allie is a member of several writing organizations. She loves to ski, golf, and run. Currently, she lives in Colorado with her husband and two children.
