by Aja James
One of Zhao Yun’s most famous exploits was in 208, when he distinguished himself at the Battle of Changban against another warlord, Cao Cao's, forces. Liu Bei left his family behind while fleeing the chaos. At the same time, Zhao Yun disappeared to the north, incurring suspicion that he had surrendered to Cao Cao.
When someone reported that to Liu Bei, Liu angrily threw a hand-axe and said, “Zi Long would never desert me!” As expected, Zhao Yun returned with Liu Bei's infant son, Liu Shan, and wife, Lady Gan, after defeating seemingly insurmountable odds, hundreds of enemy soldiers, single-handedly.
What I love about Zhao Yun’s character is that he is the most “balanced” of all of the famous warriors in the Three Kingdoms. He is considered and shrewd in his political dealings. He is loyal and brave. He never drinks or indulges in anything to excess. And you never hear of him dabbling with women inappropriately.
In fact, many women have coveted him, persuading their fathers to arrange marriage to Zhao Yun. But he always politely declined.
Perhaps, even in his human form, he was waiting for the right woman.
Only one can make him surrender.
Other Books in the Pure/ Dark Ones series:
Book 1, Pure Healing
Book 2, Dark Longing
Book 3, Dark Desires
Book 4, Dark Pleasures
Book 5, Pure Rapture
Book 6, Dark Redemption
Book 6.5, Pure Awakening
Book 7, Pure Ecstasy
Book 8, Dark Obsession
Book 8.5, Pure Providence
Book 9, Pure Magnetism
Book 10.5, Pure Darkness
Book 11, Dark Possession
Glossary of Characters
Alend Ramses: The reigning Dark King of the New England vampire hive, formerly one of the Chosen. Gift(s): unknown. Weapon of choice: scimitar.
The Chosen: The Dark King’s personal guards and advisors.
Maximus Justus Copernicus: The Commander. Leader of the Chosen. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant white tiger.
Ariel Kyles: Maximus’s Mate. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant black panther.
Rhys Evans: Call sign to be designated. Previously Goya’s right hand. Now a member of the Chosen. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant Golden Eagle.
Ryu Takamura: The Assassin. Executes special, often covert missions for the King. Known Gift(s): ability to turn to shadow. Weapon of choice: Ninja blade or ninjaken.
Devlin Sinclair: The Hunter. Hunts down and eliminates vampire rogues. Ensures security of the New England hive’s borders. Known Gift(s): photographic memory. Weapon of choice: varies, but usually a saber or gun.
Anastasia Zima: The Phoenix. The Dark King’s head of security, ensures safety of the King and assists Maximus with affairs of state. Known Gift(s): telekinesis. Weapon of choice: varies, as a lover and expert in all manner of weapons. Soft spot for daggers.
Enlil Naram-Anu/ Eli Scott: Formerly the Blooded Mate of Anunit Salamu and leader of the shadow warriors in Ancient Akkad. Known Gift(s): the ability to turn into air or wind, as well as shadows.
Ava Monroe Takamura: Ryu’s human wife and mate. Brilliant geneticist who developed and took a serum that makes her uniquely super-human, with the Pure Ones’ ability to heal, the source of their eternal youth and apparent immortality.
Kane (pronounced Kah-Nay) Takamura: Ryu and Ava’s son.
Grace Darling: Devlin’s Blooded Mate. Cyber genius who used to work unwittingly for Medusa’s empire.
Clara Scott: Eli’s human wife.
Annie (Annabelle) Scott: Eli and Clara’s adopted daughter.
Sophia Victoria St. James: Queen of the Pure Ones. Known Gift(s): the ability to see and influence Pure souls; the ability to see the true intentions of all beings.
The Circlet: The Pure Queen’s royal advisors. Part of the Dozen or Royal Zodiac.
Seth Tremaine: The Consul. Handles the Pure Ones’ diplomatic affairs. Talented negotiator. Known Gift(s): the ability to project a spiritual version of his physical self anytime, anywhere.
Ayelet Baltazar: The Guardian. Main responsibility is to guide and educate the Pure Queen, caretaker and mother figure. Known Gift(s): the ability to feel and experience what others feel using a physical artifact of the individual or direct touch; deep empathy.
Eveline Marceau: The Seer: Records and interprets Pure Ones’ potential future in the Zodiac Prophesies. Known Gift(s): spells, some telepathy.
Rain: The Healer: Ensures the health and vitality of Pure Ones, especially members of the Royal Zodiac. Known Gift(s): used to have the ability to absorb pain and poison from severe wounds using the needles of her hair, called zhen. Since she gave up her Gift for her Eternal Mate, Valerius, her zhen acts more as acupuncture needles, and occasionally used as weapons.
Jade Cicada: Former Queen of the New England vampire hive. Mated to Seth Tremaine. Now dwelling with the Pure Ones at the Shield. Known Gift(s): Ability to draw others’ life force through touch and sexual intercourse; ability to heal or take life through touch.
The Elite: The Pure Queen’s personal guards. Part of the Dozen or Royal Zodiac.
Valerius Marcus Ambrosius: The Protector. Hunts down rogue vampires who hurt humans. De facto Leader of the Elite given that the previous leader was killed. Known Gift(s): fast healing, beyond even the typical Pure Ones’ ability to heal. Weapon of choice: Chained scythe.
Tristan du Lac: The Champion. Historically, he is the first warrior to be dispatched against enemies in one-on-one combat. In modern times, he helps train human Chevaliers. Known Gift(s): none. Weapon of choice: Excalibur or long sword.
Aella Alexander: The Strategist. Plans all manner of defense and attack vs. enemies and threats. Known Gift(s): speed. Weapon of choice: three chakrams, which can link together and stiffen into a longer-range hand-to-hand weapon or be thrown individually.
Cloud Drako: The Valiant. Trains Pure Ones and humans in combat. Known Gift(s): ability to exert strong compulsion on anyone who stares into his eyes. Weapon of choice: long spear.
Inanna: The ex-Angel of Death or Angel of the New England vampire hive under Jade Cicada, used to be a member of the Chosen. After discovering her Pure Soul as the daughter of a Pure and Dark One and having her Awakening, she is known as the Light Bringer. Human alias: Nana Chastain. Now a member of the Elite. Known Gift(s): the ability to see through any material and zoom in and out like a telescope or microscope. Weapon of choice: chained whip.
Gabriel D’Angelo: Inanna’s Blooded Mate. Used to be known as Alad Da-an-nim, born a Pure One, died and reincarnated as a human. Turned into a vampire by Inanna but retains his Pure Soul. Gift(s): none, but is a skilled martial artist as a human and was one of the fiercest Pure warriors in ancient Akkad.
Benjamin Larkin D’Angelo: Inanna and Gabriel’s adopted son. Known Gift(s): the ability to see people’s true selves. (Not common knowledge, though a few suspect the truth).
Tal Telal: The General who led the Pure Ones to victory in the Great War. Inanna’s father. Known Gift(s): used to have the ability to see possible futures, unknown now.
Ishtar Anshar: Once a Dark Princess when Dark Ones ruled the earth. Tal’s Destined Mate, Eternal and Blooded. Inanna’s mother. Human alias: Estelle Martin or “Mama Bear,” owns all-things and pastry shop called Dark Dreams. Known Gift(s): the ability to transform into a giant snow leopard.
Medusa: Anunit Salamu (the Dark Star). The arch nemesis of the Pure and Dark Ones, as well as humans. Known Gift(s): used to have telepathy and telekinesis. Now, the ability to transform into the Hydra. (Shared form with Wan’er).
The Creature: an enemy of both the Pure and Dark Ones. Seems to be working with Medusa. Known Gift(s): the ability to transform into different humanoid shapes, some form of telepathy.
Dalair Al Amirah: Used to be the Paladin of the Pure Ones. Recruited humans and Pure Ones to their cause. Now a soldier in Medusa’s mind-controlled army. Known Gift(s)
: hyper-developed senses. Weapon of choice: Twin Dragon Blades or two half-moon crescent blades that can be combined into a disc.
Wan’er: Used to be the Pure Healer, Rain’s, handmaiden. Head researcher for Medusa. Known Gift(s): a fox spirit who has one life for each of its nine tails. Ability to extend life indefinitely by shifting into another “skin,” but limited to nine skins. Ability to transform into the Hydra. (Shared form with Medusa).
Ere: Sophia’s ex-teaching assistant and brief love interest.
Goya: the Tiger King. Maximus’s sire. Mostly animal. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into humanoid form. Natural form is a giant Siberian tiger.
Madison Jane Peterson (Maddie): Goya’s Eternal Mate. Human single mother of son, Logan, and marketing executive.
Animal spirits: Goya’s kinsmen. Pure, Dark Ones, and humans who can transform into animals, as well as animals who can take humanoid forms.
Dear reader:
Thank you for reading Pure Surrender. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Please be sure to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads and any other social book sharing site of your choice (a short one sentence of what you enjoyed about it will do, but feel free to expound!) I read every single one of my reader's reviews, and I endeavor to take your feedback to heart as I continue developing the series.
Would you like to join my trusted reader list? Read my next book before it publishes for Free! All you have to do is Mail to Aja James ([email protected]), and I’ll add you to the list of readers who are notified about upcoming books, excerpts, giveaways and promotions! And if you have burning questions about the Pure/ Dark Ones series, well, I just might answer them :)
Give me a shout! And happy reading!
Aja James
Table of Contents
Glossary
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Other Books in the Pure/ Dark Ones series:
Glossary of Characters