Queens of Wings & Storms
Page 1
Queens of Wings and Storms
A Limited Edition Collection of Fantasy and Urban Fantasy
Angela Sanders
Tina Glasneck
Claire Davon
Adrienne Blake
Kyndra Hatch
D.C. Gomez
Jenn D. Young
Kat Parrish
AJ Gala
Susannah Shannon
Angela Kulig
Contents
Of Dragons and Sorcery
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Freeing the Hamadryad
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
FIND CLAIRE ONLINE
Magic and Mayhem Academy
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Portal Wielder
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
About the Author
Rise of the Reapers
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
About the Author
Of Love and Dragons
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
THE GATES BETWEEN
1. You’ll be sorry when I’m gone
2. Why am I still here?
3. Pretty is as pretty does
4. The darkness at bay
5. A debt must be paid
6. The truth revealed
Epilogue
Bone Priestess
Death
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Find AJ Gala Online
Dragon Bound
Untitled
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
The Crooked Crown
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
About the Author
Of Dragons and Sorcery © 2019 Angela Sanders
and Tina Glasneck
Freeing the Hamadryad © 2019 Claire Davon
Magic and Mayhem Academy © 2019 Adrienne Blake
Portal Wielder © 2018 Kyndra Hatch
Rise of the Reapers © 2019 D. C. Gomez
Of Love and Dragons © 2019 Jenn D. Young
Copyright © 2019 by Kat Parrish
The Bone Priestess © 2019 AJ Gala
Dragon Bound © 2019 Susannah Shannon
Crooked Crown © 2019 Angela Kulig
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Created with Vellum
Of Dragons and Sorcery
By: Angela Sanders
and Tina Glasneck
Of Dragons and Sorcery
There are few rules to live by in the Kingdom of Adrastea, but consorting with dragons is treasonous, punishable by death.
In the magical and hallowed Silver Moon Grove, something dangerous is afoot. Dragons are shot down, a witch is taken, and political intrigue abounds.
Against the orders of the witch’s Council, Nova, the fledgling high priestess of the Silver Moon Coven, leaves her safe position to search for her kidnapped witch-sister, when she encounters the injured dragon-shifter, Edrick.
Pursued by the king’s men, and tossed together by magic and fate, Nova and Edrick must work together or face the deadly consequences.
Terrible secrets are revealed, friendship and lifelong bonds are tested, and a budding romance begins in this action-packed, epic fantasy installment.
Chapter 1
There were few rules to live by in the coven, but only one would get you killed: treason.
Dressed in royal purple robes of the high priestess, beneath the enchanted light of the second sun, the gold-trimmed cording shone under its rays. I meandered through Silver Moon Grove to gather mugwort for tonight’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony. One ceremony I was not looking forward to.
My best friend Sadie spoke giddily about her visit to Goldcrest Village on the other side of the coven’s boundary, her long blonde hair swaying in the gentle breeze. Her elderberry-colored robe fluttered behind her. “They use these candles to light their fires and have nothing automatic, or even running water within their dwellings as we do. Nova,” she tugged on my robe, “there wasn’t the slightest bit of magic about. I assumed our magic powered the entire Kingdom of Adrastea, not just that of the king’s castle and the n
earby Highland Village."
“All magic comes with a cost, dearest Sadie. Look here.” I pointed at the towering saw oak, its bark gnarled by time. “Its spirit is strong. The entire grove is enchanted, but when magic is misused, or in some cases, used too often for frivolous desires, the consequences could be severe.”
She nodded. “I understand. I only thought the goddess”—She paused for a moment to pluck a bit of mugwort—“that she provided for the entire kingdom. It was certainly a shock to behold.” She shook her head as we continued through the grove.
The moon’s beams provided us with much more than our magical essence, as we listened to the voices of nature. Our moonstones were charged with such energy, allowing us to create magical orbs to light our homes, along with the coven’s keep. There were those within the realm who didn’t have what the goddess Selenaia had blessed us with.
This went hand in hand with keeping disease and illness away with the poultices we’d learned from our craft, and even the aqueducts that provided sanitation and running water.
The matriarchal society had thought of everything, as to how to maintain the community’s safety from both visible and invisible threats.
All would have been near perfect if it weren’t for the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that something was terribly wrong. I glanced down at my basket, the very same one that used to belong to her, my mother, Celeste, and pulled my shoulders back from their slouch. She’d always hated when I slouched. I missed her with each passing day. I recalled what it had been like to have her here with me, singing of the great white fox and all of its glory.
At twenty years of age, it was expected of me to have made my way, but when she died six months ago, a part of me had, too. I could see her face in my own each time I gazed at my reflection: long curly dark-brown hair, eyes the color of burnt autumn leaves, resting beneath thick black lashes. I could hardly glance at what stared back at me without feeling her loss.
Deep in the grove that received nightly blessings of the moon, it provided for the coven, as well as keeping those inside safe, and the humans from entering. The morning’s thick mist moved in from the nearby lake, and lovely heather dotted the emerald-green landscape.
This was home.
Suddenly, in the distance, I heard two distinctive, ear-piercing screams—they could only be the sound of dragons.
A shiver of unease coursed through me, and I jumped, startled. It was a mountain-shaking roar. In all my years, I’d never heard such. Even outside the nestled ancient forest, where tall trees jutted upward providing bounty for the coven—from the ingredients we used for our potions, as well as the nuts collected—this was new. The trees shook and swayed. Nuts crashed to the ground. It almost felt as though the earth quaked in response to the dragons’ cries.
Sadie’s giggle cut through my worry. “What was that?”
I turned to Sadie who trailed behind me, carrying her own basket she was filling with mugwort for tonight’s ceremony. “It is nothing for us to concern ourselves with. It’s much too far away.” Although, I wasn’t certain that was true.
Fervently onward, I moved quickly toward the cliff overlooking the valley, and as if on command, the mist and clouds parted, allowing me to see the king’s men. My eyes began to burn. Was that mistletoe? It stung my nose as if pepper had been released into the wind.
Squinting, I stared into the distance and could see a jade-colored dragon floundering on the ground, as the king's men moved forward and surrounded him.
Sadie gasped, her cobalt eyes widening, seeing the same scene before her. “The dragons do not deserve such ill-treatment.”
I could hear the tears in her voice. Her soft heart wanted to save all land creatures, as well as those who soared the skies. That was the goodness within her. She was a pure- and kind-hearted soul.
“Yes, but he’s barely alive.” Perhaps I’d been wrong, for only one dragon was below.
“Can we not help him? You are the high priestess.”
“I am the high priestess, however, bound by rules and regulations, and interfering with the king’s right to subdue a criminal is not one of them.” Those words punched me in the gut. My mother had always taught me to fight for all living creatures, not just for our coven.
“But, perhaps there’s a way you can at least make it so he won’t perish by their poison?” Sadie’s voice was a pleading echo in my ears.
“Command death to not take its due?” Befuddled, I rose a brow in question.
She clutched my hand. “Being High Priestess requires kindness, Nova.”
We had no idea what the beast had done, yet I could not stand by and allow a creature to endure such torture. I nodded, reminded again of my mother’s words, and knew Sadie was right. I thrust my arms toward the heavens above and chanted:
“Catch my words, wind and might, allow this dragon to live tonight.
Tend to his wounds and let them heal, release the blessings of Selenaia and conceal.
No trace shall be witnessed as magic abounds.
No cost, no courage, no estranged vows.
Light the path to blessed bliss, accept this offering and be not remiss.”
Removing my sacred blade, I sliced my palm and watched as the wind stirred.
Sadie observed the dragon keenly. “I pray Selenaia helps.”
“I pray we don’t get caught.” With that, I sent a silent prayer of thanks to our moon goddess, and then asked for her blessing this very day. Along with the strength I so desperately needed for the upcoming ceremony.
I didn’t need to watch to see what may transpire. I’d done enough there on those rocks, grounded, and inside the grove of magic, but as I’d come to know all too well, everything came with a cost. I could only hope that my blood offering had been enough to pay the price.
I waved Sadie along. “Come, we must fill these baskets. The mugwort isn’t going to gather itself, and we’ve squandered enough time.”
As the words left my lips, I realized I sounded like my mother again. I reached up and touched the moonstone necklace she’d worn all the years of my life, said to have been passed down from the goddess herself, and given to the first High Priestess of the Silver Moon Coven. Of course, Mother’s had a white moonstone in the shape of a fox dangling from the very center, as it was her totem.
The fox made me feel closer to her, and although she’d passed over from this plane, the goddess had assured me her light continued on in the next reality.
“I last saw a bit of mugwort near the lake.” Sadie’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “We should search there.”
We’d been looking for the better part of an hour and hadn’t found enough to make even a quarter of what we needed to create the bundles for the night’s ceremony.
We headed toward Puck Lake, yet the forest surrounding Silver Moon Grove had stilled. Far too still and calm for my liking. It gave me pause. Not a creature could be heard, nor a song on the wind from the trees.
This certainly couldn’t be good. Bloody hell, what now? I’d have to wait and see.
Chapter 2
We rounded through the woods in search of mugwort leaves that held a whitish cast and yellow disc.
Not another word was spoken. Sadie hummed silently as she trailed behind, and the burden of my decision weighed heavily upon me. Would my mother have acted so rashly? Would she have risked everything to save a creature she knew was forbidden? An act of treason no less? Great Moon Dragons were considered to be the enemy of our coven, and to be caught consorting… Goddess. What had I done? Although Mother taught me to be merciful toward all creatures, what I’d done could endanger both my and Sadie’s lives.
Sadie reached out and clasped my hand, stopping me in my tracks. “You did the right thing and honor your mother by doing as she’d have wanted you to.” It was as though she were reading my thoughts. We’d grown up together (she was three years my junior), much like sisters, however, her words held a barb I was certain she hadn’t intended.