by Everly Frost
I barely have time to think, can’t stop to care if I’m breaking rules. My power floods through my chest and arms, washing away the pain Cyrian’s dark magic is causing me.
“Wolf!” I scream, my hands flying out and my power streaking across the distance.
My starlight explodes behind Nathaniel, just missing the leaping animal as Nathaniel spins to defend himself, his sword raised. At the same time, he turns his back to Hagan.
I gasp another scream as Hagan leaps forward, his sword swinging.
My eyes shoot wide when Hagan plants one big fist on Nathaniel’s chest and shoves Nathaniel out of the wolf’s path. With a roar, Hagan drives his weapon into the leaping wolf’s neck.
The force of the animal’s jump throws Hagan back into the dirt. He lands with a heavy thud, the wolf’s body sprawled across his chest.
Relief and shock flood through me because the wolf is dead, but Hagan pushed Nathaniel out of harm’s way…
I seek Nathaniel where he stands very still beside the wall, his back to it. He’s still gripping his sword, but he seems stiff and frozen in a way that scares me. Even from this distance, I can see that something’s wrong, but I don’t know what it is.
Hagan shoves the wolf off himself, ripping his sword from her shoulder and throwing her body across the dirt as he rushes to get back to his feet, sword raised, preparing to defend himself.
Nathaniel takes a step forward, but it’s labored and uneven. When Hagan doesn’t immediately strike, Nathaniel’s focus shifts to me where I’m frozen with my hands still outstretched.
“Nathaniel.” His name is a whisper on my lips. “What is it?”
As if he hears me, Nathaniel’s lips press together in a soft line, his shoulders relaxing, but the sword clatters from his hand.
He drops to his knees, revealing a bloody spike behind him.
No. Please, no.
My body turns cold, my breath stops, the arena spins.
Cyrian tries to grab me, but my power floods the space around us, my hair flying around my face as I scramble to my feet and run.
Nathaniel slides to the ground and then I can’t see him because Hagan’s big body is blocking my line of sight.
Panic runs like a freezing river through me as I sprint, pushing my legs as fast as they can go, my boots racing through the sand, my white hair flying out behind me.
As I arc to the right, Nathaniel’s sword comes into view where it lies in the dirt. His blood on the spike glitters in the torchlight.
My heart thuds, a cruel beat.
Hagan has frozen where he stands and doesn’t try to get in my way as I slide through the bloody sand to reach Nathaniel’s side.
Nathaniel’s eyes are closed. He lies on his back now, but his chest still rises and falls. He’s breathing, but it’s shallow. Blood pools across his chest and beneath his back, spreading fast and gathering against my legs. The point of origin is above his heart and the small tear in his shirt tells me the spike’s tip extended through his front.
I press my hands against his face, his chest, needing to help him, trying to… trying… Oh, please.
He’s losing too much blood. I need to cauterize the wound, but I can’t use my magic to do that until the Three Chances releases him at dawn.
Dawn is still half an hour away. Maybe more. It’s too long. He won’t survive until then.
Whimpers form in my throat, releasing through my lips as I try to think. Nathaniel’s eyes remain closed and he doesn’t seem aware that I’m kneeling beside him. I would give anything for him to see me. He loved me for a fleeting moment and now I’m losing him.
My thoughts scatter, my logic unreachable, because all I feel is pain. Too much pain. More pain than the torture Cyrian inflicted on me. Nathaniel and I are bound in more ways than Law. More ways than battle and blood. We’re bonded to each other in truth and courage. In loyalty and betrayal, compassion, and even in grief.
We’re bound—terrifyingly and cruelly—in hope.
I can’t stop my power flooding in my chest and spearing down my arms, lighting up my hands where I press them over his heart. I prepare for the magic of the Three Chances to repel me, to hurt or even kill me, but all that happens is my magic glows, soft and comforting.
For a second, I’m sure Nathaniel’s heart responds, an answering light spreading beneath his shirt, the same as when he defended me against the hunters.
I tell myself the glow isn’t caused by the tears swimming in my eyes or the reflection off the backs of my hands.
It isn’t a trick of the light or a futile wish.
It has to be his heart—his bright heart coming back to me—even though his breathing slows so much that his chest barely moves.
Hagan suddenly looms over me, his weapon dangling from his fist. He’s dripping sweat and his breathing is heavy. His shoulders slump as he stares down at us.
“There’s nothing you can do.” He drives his sword into the ground at his own feet. “I have to end this.”
I try to evade Hagan as he grabs me, his big hands closing around my torso and dragging me up and away from Nathaniel.
Struggling and spinning, I smack his face. “No!”
He flinches, but if I bruised him, it simply mingles with the wounds he has already sustained.
My fists crash against his face and shoulders, but he lets them land, taking the blows. Until my final fist hits his heart so hard that he releases me, and I stumble back under the force of my own attack.
Landing in the dirt, I sprawl and inhale dust. Cruel dust.
Hagan steps around me to kneel at Nathaniel’s side. “You know I have to end this,” he says, his voice low and strained. I don’t know if he’s talking to me or Nathaniel, whether he’s asking for forgiveness or warning me about what he’s going to do.
I can’t stop him.
Can’t fight for Nathaniel.
As I kneel in the sand, I’ve never been so powerless, tears streaming down my cheeks, unable to stop Hagan or beat back the pain.
“Please,” I whisper. “Don’t.”
Hagan freezes, squeezing his eyes closed, his fists clenching and unclenching, before he opens his eyes again without looking at me.
He wraps his left hand around Nathaniel’s neck, raises his right fist and smashes it across Nathaniel’s cheek, knocking blood across the dirt.
Nathaniel stops breathing.
My scream echoes in my ears, a hollow sound as the world spins around me, faster and faster until my starlight wrenches out of me against my will, white light splitting the air, cascading around Hagan and Nathaniel without touching them. My power rises and grows in a wave that hits the arena walls and vanishes. Fading into nothing.
The shouting up in the stands is beyond me. People are screaming and crying Nathaniel’s name. The lords and ladies are clinking glasses and laughing.
Cyrian approaches from behind and I brace for his dark magic to take hold of me again.
Hagan straightens Nathaniel’s arms and legs before he exhales quietly and staggers to his feet. Blood trails across the sand between us—Nathaniel’s blood connecting Hagan and me. It drips from Hagan’s hands as he hunches his shoulders and towers over me, dropping me into the coldest shadow I’ve ever felt.
Behind him, the sky begins to lighten. The first hint of sunlight taints the hazy air.
Dawn will be here soon.
The final day is about to begin.
Today I will fight for my life.
I will fight without fear because I have no heart left to break.
Find out how far Aura will go to save Nathaniel in Infernal Dark (Bright Wicked 3), the final book in the Bright Wicked series.
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Infernal Dark (Bright Wicked Book 3)
One death.
Two broken hearts.
Three fates hang in the balance.
Infernal Dark (Bright Wicked Book 3)
When Nathaniel Shield chose to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect Aura Lucidia, neither of them could have predicted the truth and lies that their heartbreak would reveal.
Now, faced with the knowledge of her real power, Aura must fight for her life against her deceptive Queen, the vicious Fell King, the vengeful humans, and even her own people who want her dead.
But there’s far more at stake than her own life. No matter how much they fear her, the fate of the humans and the fae rests in Aura’s hands.
When the lure of darkness becomes too much, only Nathaniel can pull her from the shadows.
But how far will Aura go to save him?
There’s one day left to live. The final day has begun.
Infernal Dark is a full length fae fantasy romance, the third in the Bright Wicked series, a trilogy told over three consecutive days. A fast-paced tale of forbidden love, sworn enemies, and deadly secrets.
Recommended reading age is 17+ for sex scenes and language.
Complete the series with Infernal Dark (Bright Wicked Book 3).
Storm Princess Saga : The Complete Collection
If you loved Radiant Fierce, you’ll love the Storm Princess Saga.
The complete set includes all three books in The Storm Princess series plus over thirty exclusive bonus scenes and an exclusive life after story.
I am no ordinary princess. My crown is lightning, my tears are rain. I am robed in thunder and my voice is the howling wind. It's my duty to protect my people from the storm the gargoyles created to tear the elven world apart. I am a slave to the rules that dictate who I love – and when. Despite the power raging around me, the greatest storm is the one inside my heart. Do not touch me or you will die.
Taken from her family to be the chosen Storm Princess, Marbella Mercy spends her days subduing the storm that was sent to destroy her people. But the storm is growing stronger and soon it will be beyond her control. Each House sends their strongest champion to battle to the death for the right to stand by her side. Some fight for power, others seek glory. Only one fights for Marbella's heart.
Baelen Rath is the last warrior from the feared House of Rath. Determined to protect Marbella from the darkness creeping across their land, he will risk everything to reclaim her heart. But when forces turn against them and powerful enemies are revealed, Baelen and Marbella will face dangerous betrayal to break open the secrets that keep Marbella bound.
For fans of epic tales of forbidden love, heart-pumping battles, and thrilling suspense.
This complete series is over 330,000 words and contains:
The Princess Must Die
The Princess Must Strike
The Princess Must Reign
Plus exclusive bonus scenes and a life after story.
Get your copy of the Storm Princess Complete Series.
Assassin’s Magic Series
Read the first book in the complete seven book Assassin’s Magic world.
Is love worth the danger?
When Hunter Cassidy plans to infiltrate the Assassin's Legion, posing as an assassin-in-training, she is prepared to encounter danger every step of the way. What she doesn't expect is the ruggedly handsome and relentlessly fierce trainee, Slade Baines.
It's hard enough that Hunter is the first female to be accepted to train with the Master Assassin himself. Even when she beats the other candidates, the Master ranks her lowest of all. In the male-dominated Legion, the other trainees see her as a weak link to be driven out of their ranks.
When they try to force Hunter out, Slade gets in their way, becoming an unexpected ally. Despite her best intentions, Hunter finds herself lowering her guard around him, which only makes carrying out her secret mission more difficult and puts her in danger of falling for him.
But there's more at stake than Hunter's heart. The Master Assassin possesses the key to locate a weapon that Hunter must ensure remains hidden at all costs. In her quest to stop this deadly power from falling into the wrong hands, she must make a choice between following her heart... or fulfilling her destiny.
Start the series with Assassin's Magic.
This Dark Wolf (Soul Bitten Shifter #1)
This Dark Wolf (Soul Bitten Shifter)
I am a wolf shifter born with a human soul.
Packless. Mateless. Unable to bond.
Cast out of my pack, I live in a supernatural safe house filled with broken women. Other women come and go, but I remain.
I'm waiting.
For him.
Tristan Masters—the ruthless alpha of the most vicious pack in the city.
He fought for my life when my pack wanted to kill me. He saved me. I should be able to trust him.
But I know better.
Tristan Masters wants my wolf; my killer soul. When he’s ready, he will use me to destroy his enemies.
Tristan thinks he owns me. He thinks there are no consequences because I can't bond to him.
He's going to discover that I am nobody’s to command.
This dark wolf will bite back.
This is a dark urban fantasy romance. Full length. 17+ for sex scenes and language.
Get your copy of This Dark Wolf.
Also by Everly Frost
BRIGHT WICKED
(A Fae Fantasy Romance)
1. Bright Wicked
2. Radiant Fierce
3. Infernal Dark
STORM PRINCESS - COMPLETE
(Fantasy Romance)
Storm Princess Complete Set: Books 1 to 3 (with bonus scenes and a life after story)
1. The Princess Must Die
2. The Princess Must Strike
3. The Princess Must Reign
ASSASSIN’S MAGIC WORLD - COMPLETE
(Urban Fantasy Romance)
Recommended Reading Order:
Assassin’s Magic
1. Assassin’s Magic
2. Assassin’s Mask
3. Assassin’s Menace
4. Assassin’s Maze
Assassin’s Academy
5. Rebels
6. Revenge
The Monster Ball Year 2 Anthology
7. Assassin’s Match - Novella
SOUL BITTEN SHIFTER
(Dark Urban Fantasy Romance)
1. This Dark Wolf
2. This Broken Wolf
3. This Caged Wolf
MORTALITY - COMPLETE
(Science-Fantasy Romance)
Mortality Complete Set: Books 1 to 4
1. Beyond the Ever Reach
2. Beneath the Guarding Stars
3. By the Icy Wild
4. Before the Raging Lion
Stand-alone fiction
The Crystal Prince (short story)
About the Author
Everly Frost is the USA Today Bestselling author of YA and New Adult urban fantasy and science-fiction romance novels. She spent her childhood dreaming of other worlds and scribbling stories on the leftover blank pages at the back of school notebooks. She lives in Brisbane, Australia with her husband and two children.
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