Crystal Crowned [ARC]

by Elise Kova

  Elecia shook her head with a small smile as the two shared a look, and she was forgotten for a moment. She wasn’t going to be the one to mention the Northern princess’s deal and cast a shadow over that look he was giving his wife.

  “That’s beautiful, but she has not been properly looked at yet. Let me see if you truly have cause to be happy,” Elecia cautioned, reaching forward and placing her hands upon the swollen abdomen of the other woman.

  “Is there a risk?” Aldrik leaned forward. “Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know yet.” Elecia shook her head. “If she’s progressed this far without problem, then you should be well on your way to a healthy child. But we can’t be certain until I’ve taken a look at her, and more until the babe is here.”

  “Right.” Aldrik sat back. Vhalla gave him a little grin. Apparently, the worried questioning was not new, and it wasn’t about to stop. “Her feet are swollen, and the small of her back aches.”

  “So rub them.” Elecia rolled her eyes.

  “Can it be made better?” Aldrik asked. “Perhaps some potion or—”

  “Aldrik,” Vhalla stopped him with a squeeze of her hand. “I’m fine.”

  Elecia saw the look her cousin was being given by his wife and returned her attention to the work at hand. She remembered how Aldrik had reacted to the miscarriage at the Crossroads. Clearly, women’s matters still troubled him deeply.

  Closing her eyes, Elecia shifted her focus, delicately sending waves of magic through the veins in Vhalla’s body. Elecia checked the responses echoing back to her. If the response was slow or did not come, something was likely broken. If it was cold, that could mean there was a problem of a different sort. If it was too warm, it normally indicated sickness or infection. But everything returned to her palms with ease.

  “You feel good, Vhalla,” Elecia encouraged, more for her cousin’s sake than anyone else’s. “Let me check the child also.”

  Elecia probed gently, connecting through mother to what was carried within the womb. She paused, furrowing her brow and shutting her eyes once more. Listening closely, she tried to make sense of the response that echoed in her ears.

  “Elecia, what is it? What’s wrong?” Aldrik asked hastily at her expression.

  “Quiet,” Elecia ordered without opening her eyes. Vhalla’s heartbeat was clear and strong. However, underneath that was not one but two additional heartbeats.

  Elecia pulled her hands away slowly, opening her eyes. Three total heartbeats. It was small wonder Vhalla was so large so early.

  “So!” Elecia stood quickly. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”

  “The baby is well? Do you know that already?” Aldrik looked with eager interest.

  “Who do you think I am?” Elecia laughed. Had they not called her out from the West just for the care she could give? Though, now that she knew the truth of the Empress’s pregnancy, Elecia was thankful for it. There was a hard road ahead before these babies could be brought screaming into the world.

  “It’s a boy,” Vhalla said definitively. “I’ve never had an appetite like this.” She rubbed a palm on her stomach, and Elecia withheld comment on why she thought that fact to be true. “Clearly it must be a boy to demand so much food of me.”

  “Not all women are like you and have trouble eating. You carry a girl, I can feel it.” Aldrik kissed her temple.

  “You can feel it?” Vhalla laughed, smiling brightly at her husband. “I carry him in me, I know what I feel.”

  Elecia smirked. Both of them looked back to her expectantly. She turned for the door and began shrugging her cloak back on.

  “I’m hungry. Maybe I’ll tell you what they are over lunch,” Elecia announced. The information was far too satisfying to give it all up at once.

  There was a long silence. Elecia looked over from the ties on her cloak to see them frozen in place. Aldrik’s hand was still on Vhalla’s back, the other wrapped around hers as he helped her up. The Empress blinked at Elecia, total shock in her eyes.

  “Elecia,” Aldrik finally forced on both of their behalves. “They?”

  Elecia shook her head with a laugh. He was truly going to be in for trouble. She began to wonder what kind of father Aldrik would be. She thought she had a far better idea already of the mother before her, but Aldrik was an amusing mystery yet. Far removed from the man he once was, Elecia had faith that he would surprise them all.

  “Good luck, both of you. You’ll need it for both of them.” Elecia glanced back to Vhalla’s swollen stomach.

  She did not say it aloud, but she already looked forward to meeting the children of fire and wind.

  A new fantasy epic from author Elise Kova

  Coming in January 2017

  Her vengeance. His vision.

  Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

  Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family's house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons' society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King's assassins.

  When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go. He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse:

  A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  My dear reader—without you, this would be nothing. Every word I write now and forevermore is my love letter to you. Every key stroke is done with thanks that you let me take you on these journeys into fantastical worlds. Thank you for following me, for reading this tale, and, hopefully, for letting me take you on many more adventures in the future. I may not know your name, but that makes you no less precious to me.

  Jeffkun—this book is for you. Thank you, my love, for letting me embark into the unknown. I can’t imagine anyone else by my side while I venture forward. I don’t tell you enough how I couldn’t have done this without you and your support. The most epic love story I could write is the one I pen every day spent at your side.

  Merilliza Chan—you will always have a place in my heart as the first cover designer I worked with. You’re as beautiful a person inside as your art is outside. I wish you all the success in the world and every dream you have to be a reality.

  Monica Wanat—thank you for dutifully looking over more than 500,000 of my words. I learned a lot in our time together and I’m very grateful you were willing to edit for a newbie author such as myself.

  Nick—I could write an entire book on what you mean to me as a friend and it wouldn’t be enough. So I’ll settle for a sentence and the faith that you know how desperately I need our hour long phone calls to talk me off mental ledges and talk out all my wild story ideas.

  Katie—every time we’re together, I just think, “How lucky we are to be alive right now.” (Yes, I just immortalized our Hamilton obsession and there’s nothing you can do about it) You remind me to have fun, to let go, to not be so obsessed on the future that I forget the present. Thank you for being the best friend a girl could ever ask for.

  Mer—I love you sister. But you knew that already. You never let me forget what I’m capable of, you never let me give up, and you’re never afraid to tell me what I need to hear. Beyond that, you’re my “octurnal twin” and there’s no one else I’d rather be up until three A.M., eating cookie dough ice cream, and having Taylor Swift dance parties with.

  Mo
m and Dad—you two are my biggest cheerleaders and largest supporters. Thank you for always being there to help me, for every bookmark you passed out, for every manuscript you’ve read. You both inspire me to be the best I can be both as an author and as a person. Every day, I consider myself lucky that you both are my parents.

  Aunt Susan—I look forward to both your comments on and edits of my manuscripts. Thank you for your time and your support. It took a huge weight off my shoulders and I am deeply appreciative.

  Betsy—thank you for not just supporting me in the literary world, but in life. You’re wonderful and I’m so lucky to have you as family now.

  Susan Dennard, author of Truthwitch—you, you beautiful person you, what am I supposed to say? You’re the awesomeist of awesomes? You’re as kind as your writing is superb? I’m so glad we met and bewildered—I mean overjoyed—that you’re not scared off by my crazy. Thank you for being an ear, offering advice, and just being a good friend.

  Danielle L. Jensen, author of the Malediction Trilogy—I’m surprised Twitter hasn’t kicked us off for the gigabits of space our message history must be taking up. Even though we’ve yet to meet (as of when I’m writing this) I already feel like you’re a girlfriend I’ve had for years, the type of friend who you sit on the couch with in your PJs and order pizza after a long week. Thank you for that.

  Michelle Madow, author of Elementals—look at how far I’ve come! You helped me right at the start and have been in my corner since. I deeply appreciate all the insights you’ve given me along the way.

  Rob and the Gatekeeper Press Team—I couldn’t have done this without you. I’m so glad I found you all right at the start of my publishing journey. I couldn’t imagine my stress levels if I hadn’t had you to help manage things. I appreciate your insights, professionalism, and dependability.

  Jamie—I feel like you are my book blog consultant. You know so much about the bookish world and I can’t tell you how valuable your thoughts have been to me. But, beyond that, you’re a great person and an even better friend. I appreciate everything you give to me more than you know. I don’t say it enough, but thank you.

  Dani—my “real Vhalla Yarl”, thank you for always being there when I need and ear. I feel like we’re truly kindred spirits and I can’t wait to give you a big hug in person! Your help on these manuscripts has been essential to getting them where they need to be.

  Iris—I’m so glad I met you at the start of my career. You’re a lovely person and have been a great friend to me through the ups and downs of all of this.

  Lauren & Sabrina—your enthusiasm and willingness to give advice has truly helped me throughout this process. I know whenever I’ve had a hard day I can talk to you two and I’ll be met with love and positivity. Thank you both.

  My Tower Guard—I’m struggling to write this, because nothing I write seems like enough for you. Every single one of you has been essential in helping me through this process. When I need something, you’ve risen to task. When I was down, you were there to pick me back up. When I questioned, you reminded me of why I’m doing this without even trying. Thank you to each and every one of you. I hope that we can go on many more adventures together.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Elise Kova has always had a profound love of fantastical worlds. Somehow, she managed to focus on the real world long enough to graduate with a Master's in Business Administration before crawling back under her favorite writing blanket to conceptualize her next magic system. She currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, and when she s not writing can be found playing video games, watching anime, or talking with readers on social media. She is the author of the Air Awakens Series as well as the upcoming Loom Saga (Keymaster, 2017).

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