He walked away, deep in earnest conversation with Loraleen, who at least swiveled her ears politely so that she appeared to care. Perhaps she did.
“Sometimes it seems like we already have children,” Zara muttered.
“It’s only going to get worse,” Alexei warned her, “once the voices demanding a coronation become more organized.”
“Then we’ll run away,” she announced dramatically. “Maybe to Vidor. I hear I have relatives there.”
“Yes,” Alexei pointed out, tugging gently on the end of her braid, “but I don’t think the coronation problem would go away in that case.”
“Drat. So you’re saying we might as well stay.”
“I’m saying that this is a happy ending, epic poems, clamoring subjects and all.”
“You’re right,” Zara admitted. She sighed and pulled him even closer, resting her head on his shoulder. “I am happy. Even if they decide to make you a king. Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything, love.”
“Promise me you won’t let Malichai sing at your coronation.”
“Done. In fact, I might lock him in the dungeon for the duration.”
“We don’t have a dungeon.”
“Every king has a dungeon.”
“You can’t lock him up for singing.”
“I can lock him up for threatening his sovereign’s modesty.”
“He’s not Erathi, so he doesn’t have to do what you say.”
“He’s on diplomatic loan. I can threaten him with exile. Sort of.”
“Loraleen might eat you.”
“Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
“Why don’t you tell me again in case I’ve forgotten?”
Hand in hand, they stepped through the door of their home and closed it firmly behind them.
Thank You
Thank you for reading! I have loved writing this series and getting to know its characters and I hope you have enjoyed going on this journey with them. For more of their adventures, check out the rest of the series, or sign up for my newsletter to be the first to find out about new releases.
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Not only do I love getting to hear how my stories are impacting readers, but reviews are one of the best ways for you to help other book lovers discover the stories you enjoy. Taking even a moment to share a few words about your favorite books makes a huge difference to indie authors like me!
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The Countess & the Frog
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The Series
The Andari Chronicles is a series of interconnected fairy tale retellings that evoke the glittering romance of the originals, while infusing them with grit, humor, and a cast of captivating new characters. If you enjoyed the world of Andar, be sure to check out the other books in the series:
Recommended Reading Order:
Traitor’s Masque
Goldheart
Pirouette
Shadow and Thorn
Traitor’s Masque
A breathtaking fantasy romance inspired by Cinderella…
Trystan spends her days in bleak isolation, with little hope that she will ever be free from her stepmother’s cruel whims. When a wealthy and influential neighbor offers her both a fortune and her freedom, Trystan must decide whether to pay the price. Who is she willing to betray in order to gain her independence? What is she willing to sacrifice in order to pursue her forbidden relationship with the compelling young man whose face haunts her dreams?
Trapped between the desire for love and the fate of her kingdom, Trystan attends the glittering Royal Masque, where she learns that her actions may have betrayed her prince, and thrust them both into a nightmare of conspiracy and deception.
If she is to have any hope of redemption, Trystan must escape a dangerous web of duplicity, espionage and intrigue, though she may be forced to sacrifice her own happy ending to prevent her kingdom from falling into the hands of a ruthless adversary.
Buy Traitor’s Masque Here
Goldheart
An enchanting fantasy romance inspired by Rumplestiltskin…
All Elaine Westover ever wanted was to be left alone. A shy but brilliant artist, her only desire is to paint in peace, but when she is forced to accept a commission in order to save her family home, she must confront a client as villainous as he is rich. After a chilling encounter reveals his twisted ambitions, he imprisons her and threatens to destroy everything she loves unless she meets his demands.
Held captive in a house haunted by tragedy and despair, Elaine fears that neither her courage nor her skill can save her from a dark and terrifying fate. To defeat her captor and win back her freedom, Elaine must accept the aid of an enigmatic stranger, who may be hiding his own reasons for wanting her to stay.
Buy Goldheart Here
Pirouette
A stunning romantic fantasy inspired by The Twelve Dancing Princesses…
Princess Ilani is an outcast, shunned since her seventh birthday for possessing forbidden magic. But when her twelve sisters are trapped by a deception that threatens to tear their father’s empire apart, Ilani must come out of hiding and join forces with a devilishly charming foreigner whose motives remain shrouded by secrecy and mistrust.
Lord Kyril Seagrave is on a covert mission into the heart of the Caelani Empire, where he finds himself adrift in a realm of impenetrable mystery and dangerous magic. Armed with nothing but determination and a set of ill-matched companions, Kyril soon realizes there is far more at stake than he could have imagined, and one misstep could prove disastrous not only to Andar, but to the beautiful and indomitable princess he would give his life to protect.
Kyril and Ilani must decide whether to trust one another as they fight for their lives, their future, and the future of Caelan itself. As darkness gathers and deadly plans come to light, the princess once forgotten by her people may be the only one who can save them from the ambitions of a treacherous adversary.
Buy Pirouette Here
Also by Kenley Davidson
The Daragh Deception
A Romantic Science Fiction Adventure
(Book 1 of Conclave Worlds)
Daragh is a corporate colony world—an unspoiled planet filled with opportunity. For shy colonist Emma Forester, it represents her last hope. On the run from a terrifying past, she’s determined to keep her head down and her secrets buried, until she encounters brusque corporate soldier Devan Rybeck. He’s clearly suspicious of her motives, but she can’t afford to be distracted—by his questions or his stormy gray eyes.
When Devan first meets Emma, he's convinced she’s too fragile to thrive on a barely settled planet. But then a vicious attack opens a window to her mysterious past, and it becomes clear that neither Emma nor Daragh are all that they pretend to be. Emma’s flight into the dangerous and unpredictable wilds of Daragh prove just how much steel she's hiding beneath her quiet exterior, and just how far she's willing to go to protect her secrets.
Devan must race against time to bring her back, before those secrets come to the attention of a merciless enemy bent on protecting a corporate investment. If he fails, there will be no escape from the coming darkness—either for himself or the woman he would die to protect.
Buy now on Amazon!
About the Author
Kenley Davidson is a story-lover, word-nerd and incurable introvert wh
o is most likely to be found either writing or hiding somewhere with a book. A native Oregonian, Kenley now resides in Oklahoma, where she persists in remaining a devoted pluviophile. Addictions include coffee, roller coasters, more coffee, researching random facts, and reading the dictionary (which is way more fun than it sounds). A majority of her time is spent being mom to two kids and two dogs while inventing reasons not to do laundry (most of which seem to involve books).
kenleydavidson.com
[email protected]
Acknowledgments
I set out on this journey with Alexei without actually knowing where he was going or how the journey might end. As I wrote the first few words, I wasn’t sure I was all that excited about the book, but then I met Malichai, and Silvay, and Wilder and the rest of the cast and loved them all so much that I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen.
I definitely didn’t know when I started Shadow and Thorn that it was going to be the last of the Andari Chronicles for a while. But somehow, as the story wrapped up, I realized that I was happy with where things ended and felt ready to move on and write in some of the other story worlds I’ve been dreaming about.
As I close this chapter of my journey as a writer, I can’t possibly overemphasize how much I owe to the people who have been with me since the beginning.
Janie, you started as my beta reader and editor and somehow became that friend who reads my mind and knows the right answers to even my absurdest questions. I’m not sure how I survived the first thirty-odd years of my life without being able to text you about everything from writerly angst to plumbing disasters.
Chandra, you have helped my stories find their voice and helped me grow as a storyteller through your deep and thoughtful editing process and I am grateful for the dimension you have added to each book that has passed through your hands.
Tiffany, you are one of the biggest reasons I ever wrote more than one book. Even if you were the only reader I ever had, I would have written them for you.
Jeff, I could never, ever, have done any of this without you. These books are more yours than mine, from the chaos you endured while I was writing, to the incredible amounts of time and energy you put into publishing and marketing. Your talent and creativity are only slightly less amazing than your patience.
And to my readers, I would like to express my deepest gratitude. You have made it possible for me to pursue my dream of being a writer, and every day I am amazed that my stories are being read and enjoyed by so many people that I have never met. Your time and your encouragement are a gift, and I am continuously thankful that out of the all the books out there, you have chosen to read mine. Thank you so much for going on this journey with me!
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