by Claudy Conn
Contents
Free Falling—Legend
He was a prince, and he was at my front door? Why?
Also by Claudy Conn
What reviewers are saying about Claudy’s books
Copyright Page
Dedication
~ Prologue ~
~ One ~
~ Two ~
~ Three ~
~ Four ~
~ Five ~
~ Six ~
~ Seven ~
~ Eight ~
~ Nine ~
~ Ten ~
~ Eleven ~
~ Twelve ~
~ Thirteen ~
~ Fourteen ~
~ Fifteen ~
~ Sixteen ~
~ Seventeen ~
~ Eighteen ~
Catch & Hold—Legend
~ One ~
~ Two ~
Prince Prelude—Legend
~ Prologue ~
~ One ~
~ Two ~
ShadowLove—Stalkers
~ Prologue ~
~ One ~
Taffeta & Hotspur
~ One ~
~ Two ~
Hungry Moon—Quicksilver (unedited)
~ Prelude ~
About Claudy Conn
Read more about Claudy Conn’s books
Free Falling—Legend
He was a prince, and he was at my front door? Why?
Beneath his lightweight black leather jacket, he wore a black Polo shirt tucked into his Lauren blue jeans; his black leather belt held a gold buckle engraved with etchings. He wore gold-tipped Gucci boots. This Fae knew how to outfit himself.
And then I looked into his eyes.
I was struck by the depth of those golden eyes. I was taken by the sparkle of green flecks in the deep gold of their color, but I also noticed a certain aloofness therein. I knew, without being told, this Fae was not happy to be here. Fine—I wasn’t happy about his being here, either. We were in agreement.
His chin went up. “I am Danté, Prince of Lugh.”
“Good for you, fella—now, what do you want?” I didn’t like his arrogant and cold demeanor, and I didn’t think I liked him, not one bit.
“It is not what I want that brings me here, Daoine,” he snapped. “It is my queen’s wish.”
Well, that got my interest. “Now why would Queen Aaibhe send you to me?”
“Manners dictate that you should invite me in,” he answered grandly.
I felt like laughing at him. Not nice, I know. “Maybe I don’t feel like being mannerly,” I countered. For some reason he hadn’t brought out the best in me. “Okay, the quicker I listen to what you have to say, the quicker I get rid of you.”
“I wish that could be the case. I wish it more than you do, but apparently we are stuck with one another for a time,” he said on a heavy sigh. “You, Daoine child, are my assignment,” he snapped. “And as much as I wish it otherwise, there you are.”
“That is your problem, not mine.” I wagged a finger at him. What the hell was this? Since when was I anyone’s assignment?
“Well, I am making it your problem.” His smile was wicked, as though he were getting pleasure at my shock and discomfort. It was beyond tolerable.
“Oh! Get out of my home … now!”
“Can’t—Queen Aaibhe has ordered me to take you on as an assignment. I am honor-bound to do so.” He inclined his regal head. “I am saying that willing or not … you have a houseguest—me.”
Also by Claudy Conn
Legend Series
Prince Prelude—Legend
Spellbound—Legend
Aaibhe—Shee Queen (Novelette)
Shee Willow—Legend
Prince in the Mist (Novella)
Trapped—Legend
Catch & Hold—Legend
~
Time Series
Through Time-Pursuit
~
Shadow Series
ShadowLove—Stalkers
ShadowHeart—Slayer
ShadowLife—Hybrid
~
Risqué Regencies
Myriah Fire
Oh, Cherry Ripe
Rogues, Rakes & Jewels
Taffeta & Hotspur
Wildfire Kiss
Runaway Heart
~
DarkLove (published by Wild Rose Press)
What reviewers are saying
about Claudy’s books
ShadowLove—Stalkers is hot, Hot, HOT
Avid vampire and paranormal romance enthusiasts are in for a darkly delicious thrill when they sink their teeth into Claudy Conn’s newest series, ShadowLove—Stalkers. Conn has a gift for character and plot development that sets her work apart from other romance novelists.
ShadowLove—Stalkers is filled with steaming action and dramatic tension … Claudy delicately plants the seeds for future development and characters without distracting from the excitement and romance of Stalkers. The result is that she has a paranormal, vampire series, of romance novels, which carries her own unique and spicy aroma.
Claudy fills her stories with enough passion to make the pages spark, sizzle, and steam. She doesn’t skimp when it comes to building sexy into her characters. The women are luscious and the men … well, the action doesn’t stop with the plot. She really knows how to make us tingle with anticipation for her next book.
ShadowLove—Stalkers is hot, Hot, HOT … and yes, I am blushing.
~ Vonnie Faroqui, Ink Slinger’s Whimsey
Five Cups and a CTTR (Coffee Time Reviewer’s Recommend) Award
ShadowLove—Stalkers is a story that immediately hooks the reader. It reminds me of a roller coaster just beginning, only to plunge into speed, drawing the reader into non-stop action. Intense and spellbinding, this paranormal romance kept this reader engrossed until the conclusion. I loved the passion and chemistry between the main characters. With tremendous action and well thought out characters, this fantastic read sizzles and sparks like a firecracker.
~ Coffee Time Romance & More
Five Stars for ShadowHeart—Slayer
This second in Conn’s Shadow series is filled with vampires, a vampire slayer, demons, wizards, a Fae prince and an unlikely romance. Claudy Conn does an excellent job of making this a standalone story while incorporating some of the characters from the first book and introducing us to several new characters. The war is still brewing and now the fae are becoming involved. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
This is another one I couldn’t put down and read in a single sitting. I got so caught up in the action I was sad to see it end. Fans of the paranormal romance, urban fantasy and vampire genres should enjoy this as well.
~ Wild About Bones
Acclaim for Spellbound—Legend
One hot and thrilling book
I fell for all three of the main characters, fun loving Maxie, dark and brooding Julian, and one hot Fae, Breslyn. However, it wasn’t just the characters that kept me on the edge of my seat, it was the entire involved plot that included jealously, betrayal, magic, murder, and, of course, hot passion … Like all good thrillers, it seemed as one problem was solved another would spring up. The last few pages had me hoping that this is the first of a new series that will be worth each torturous wait for the next book. The well-written out mixture of myth and legend, not to mention the characters, all in today’s world has me Joyfully Recommending Spellbound—Legend as one book you won’t want to miss.
~ Jo, Joyfully Reviewed
This is one book I’ll never forget
The author has done a magnificent job of creating the world of the Tuatha De Danaan, the Druids and the humans who interact with them. She succeeds in making them so realistic, I found m
yself believing they really exist—and who knows, perhaps they do … Their dangerous situations had me on the edge of my seat, while the loves scenes had me enthralled. I am excited about this book, which, apparently, is the first of a series, and will definitely begin collecting them as they become available. This author will become one of my favorites.
~ Jaye Leyel, The Romance Studio
Praise for Shee Willow—Legend
Five Stars! A Joyfully Recommended Read, June 2011
Once again Conn ignites the page with hunk madness
Shee Willow carries us deep into the world of Fae intrigue and danger … exciting and fast paced, this is a novel with plenty of plot twists and surprises to support the romance … Conn brings back the cast of Faery characters we fell in love with from Spellbound—Legend, deepening the Seelie intrigues, romance, and dangers in part two of the series. Conn is in high form and never shorts her heroine or her reader. Once again Conn ignites the page with hunk madness, as every which way Willow turns brings hot potential for love and misdirection. It is pure torture deciding which of the men or Fae to fantasize over, and I do so love the bad ones!
~ Vonnie Faroqui, Ink Slinger’s Whimsey
A great combination of paranormal, scorching romance, and suspense!
Ms. Conn again brings readers a different side of lore and allure surrounding the Fae. Willow and Shayne’s storyline was magical, in the sense that you knew something greater, deeper was in store for them. Then add Breslyn, the Dagda Prince, childhood crush of Willow, into the mix … just get comfy, because you are in for a heck of a rollercoaster … Thankfully, another title will be released soon. I cannot wait until the simmering conflict between the Seelie Fae and Unseelie Fae reaches its boiling point!
~ Monica Solomon, The Romance Readers Connection
Free Falling
Legend
By
Claudy Conn
Copyright Page
Free Falling—Legend
By Claudy Conn
http://www.claudyconn.com
Copyright © 2011, 2012 by Claudy Conn
Edited by: Karen Babcock
Cover Artist: Kendra Egert
All rights reserved
Published in the United States of America
First edition, October 2011
Second edition, October 2012
Names, characters, and events depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.
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 author.
Excerpt of Catch & Hold—Legend
Copyright © 2012 by Claudy Conn
Excerpt of Prince Prelude—Legend
Copyright © 2012 by Claudy Conn
Excerpt of ShadowLove—Stalkers
Copyright © 2012 by Claudy Conn
Excerpt of Taffeta & Hotspur
Copyright © 2012 by Claudy Conn
Excerpt of Hungry Moon—Quicksilver (unedited)
Copyright © 2012 by Claudy Conn
Dedication
To all my readers with my heartfelt thanks for your amazing support!
They cannot scare me with their empty spaces
Between stars—on stars, where no human race is.
—Robert Frost
~ Prologue ~
MY NAME IS Radzia MacDaun, and before I start telling you about what I am going through, and what I am about to face, I thought you might need to know something about where I came from—about what I am …
You will need to know what danger is out there, and what that danger means to you.
The problem is—most of you don’t stand much of a chance.
How can you fight what you can’t even see? I can’t think of anything more terrifying than something coming at you full speed with death written all over it—and you can’t even detect it until it is too late.
And it is coming.
What danger—what threat, you ask?
The answer to that question is simply, the Dark Fae—more particularly, the Unseelie, led by the traitor Gaiscioch.
* * *
UNSEELIE FAE: Monsters! Let me be clear: every crawly, ugly, fatally dangerous thing you have ever had a nightmare about … UNSEELIE!
There is no other way to describe these creatures of the dark. They enjoy killing, maiming, and slaughtering. It relieves the agony of their pain.
Legend has it that the Dark King (a Seelie Fae), banished by his own pride to the Dark Realm, was lonely. Without the benefit of the Wheel of Being he created these life forms. So many mistakes begot more mistakes, and the Dark Realm filled to capacity. These creatures devoured everything alive in their Realm, in his world, until there was nothing, not a honeybee, not a plant, not one leaf on one tree.
They say (no one knows for sure) that the Dark King nearly went mad with frustration until he successfully created his own Four Royal Princes, perfect Unseelies. Like the Seelie Fae, they are stunningly beautiful, but unlike the Seelie Fae, these beings could feel no compassion, no pity, no friendship, no love, and no empathy for other beings. In essence one could call them each a sociopath with magical powers. Trouble there …
Devoid of sensibilities, the four princes were like their deformed brethren Unseelie creatures—cold, bitter, and hungry.
Unseelies are venomous, bitter with unsatisfied needs. They want things they cannot have … us!
Luckily the original Seelie Tuatha Dé queen imprisoned them long ago. It is a prison of magic. Now and then, a lower-caste creature escapes into our world. Lately, the Unseelie Drones have been escaping with specific instructions from their new leader.
A new leader, you ask? Where is the Dark King? Good question. No one knows.
Their new leader is a Seelie Fae traitor, and he is planning to invade the human world. He is not a Royal Fae, but he has accumulated enough power to accomplish his goals. You will learn more about Gaiscioch soon …
* * *
DAOINE Tuatha Dé: They are Seelie Fae. In this war, they are the good guys. Okay, everyone knows (or thinks they do) about the little Faery with wings. Irish tales are full of them. The truth is—they are so not winged little beings.
Daoine are the most potent of the Fae, and it is important you understand the difference between the Daoine and the Tuatha Dé. Although it isn’t physically discernable, there is a major difference. The Daoine caste of Fae is the highest caste of the Tuatha Dé.
The Fae came to Ireland thousands of years ago, well before the “official” date of the first of May, 1000 BC. Like their Tuatha Dé brethren, these beings are generally tall, golden-haired, and beyond anyone’s imagination of what is described as classical beauty. They are a race of immortals. They have a tremendous knowledge of science, the arts, and music, a love of nature, and wondrous magic. These magical powers are an integral part of their being.
The Daoine did not have any interest in Man—they still don’t.
Daoine were considered the Keepers of Nature. Very soon after their arrival on Earth (Ireland), with the Tuatha Dé, they created their own Realm. They left Man and their own more volatile relatives (the Tuatha Dé) to their antics and went to live their intellectual and peaceful existence on isles hidden from Man’s curious eyes.
* * *
Tuatha Dé: Now these immortals are the mischief-makers!
They are the Fae of which myths have been forever told and retold. They are as stunningly lovely as their higher caste, the Daoine. However, their existence does not revolve around the forces of Nature, as does the Daoine. They enjoy (although are forbidden from) meddling with humans. They are immortal, and therefore boredom often sends them to watch humans and play their pranks on humans, thereby allevia
ting the ennui of having everything and all the time in the world. More often than not, a Fae finds and romances a particular human that catches the eye …
They (the Daoine and the Tuatha Dé—Seelie Fae all), came from their beloved Danu, which had been destroyed by bickering and war. They came and conquered Ireland and Scotland and swept these beloved countries up as their own.
Humans, however, eventually must be free and will fight to the death for that freedom, and so they did, led by the Milesians.
Humans went to war with the Tuatha Dé, and in that last and final battle, so many were killed that Aaibhe, the new queen of the Tuatha Dé, put a stop to it. She and her Council drew up a treaty; when the humans were reluctant to sign it, she froze their crops, thus displaying the might she held in hands. The Treaty was signed and has been maintained ever since. Sort of.
The Treaty promised non-interference in the human world.
The Tuatha Dé withdrew their rule as well as their protection from the human world. They reside on the Isles of Tir (a world of their own creation), which cannot be seen by the human eye, unless a Seelie Fae extends an invitation.
Their laws, their rules, and their standard of ethics are way different than humans because they live forever—humans don’t. For them, that changes the board!
One fatal remembrance—one sorrow that throws
Its bleak shade alike o’er our joys and our woes—
To which Life nothing darker nor brighter can bring,
For which joy hath no balm—and affliction no sting.
—Thomas Moore