by A. D. Duling
Exhausted and a bit over heated, Anna had to plead for a break. Cheeks flushed as well, Hayden guided her over to a nearby chair to sit in while he fetched them both something to drink. She sat down and watched the other dancers on the floor. She tried to stifle a laugh when Val twirled by. She was dancing with a gentleman much taller than she and they made quite a sight! But regardless of their incompatibility, it was apparent that both were having a wonderful time!
A torso stepped directly in her line of sight and she looked up, expecting to see Hayden. It wasn’t; instead stood a very handsome man with dark ebony hair. Surprising against his fair skin, yet it suited him at the same time.
His deep green eyes stared down at her. “May I have this dance?” he asked her, extending his hand to her.
Mesmerized and forgetting her thirst, Anna found herself taking it and allowing the man to escort her back onto the dance floor.
“You are a very interesting young woman, Anna Kippling.” He commented.
“Thank you, I think?” she responded.
He laughed. “Perhaps I should restate that; what I had meant was, I just find it very amazing that a young and delicate woman such as you… could defeat such a powerful man as the Chancellor.”
“Well, looks can be deceiving, Mr.-?” she asked, feeling slightly offended.
He smiled and pulled her a little closer, making her feel uncomfortable. “You poor stupid girl… to really think you could destroy such a man as easily as you did!” he hissed into her ear. She tried to pull away at his comment, but he held her tight.
“Who are you?” she asked him.
He sneered. “Oh, I think you know who I am!” He growled into her ear.
She scanned around the room looking for Hayden.
“Don’t bother to look; your partner has been detained.” He gripped her hand in his and gracefully twirled her. When he pulled her back, he held her tighter than before. He smiled as another couple danced past them.
He then pressed his cheek against hers. “Did you really think I would reveal myself so soon and so easily without first sizing up my competition?” he sneered.
She shuddered.
“I must say however, I was very impressed with your sacrifice! What women do for the love of a man! You also did me a great favor; I never did like the General much!” He snickered, sending hot breath into her ear.
She tried to push him away, but his hold was strong. “So what is it that you want then, or are you here just to gloat?” she hissed back.
His laughter caused both their bodies to shake. “Very good Anna; I do have a reason!” He reached his hand inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a sealed envelope.
“Inside are your instructions and you must follow them exactly Anna, no cheating!” He teased and turned his face so his lips softly brushed across her cheek. “I will know if you do.” He finished and kissed it.
She tried to jerk her face away from his, but his hand reached up and clasped her chin.
“Ah, why fight it Anna!” He whispered. “Deep down inside regardless how you might want to deny it, you are attracted to me.” He harassed.
“You wish!” she spat out.
“Keep a close eye on the ones you love Anna, keep a real close eye.” He spoke back.
He leaned his face close into hers bringing their lips inches apart, his hot breath hit against hers. He stared hard at her for a moment before he kissed her. And as quickly as it started, it also ended with him leaving her standing there in the middle of the dance floor, watching his back as he quickly exited.
After a moment of temporary confoundedness; Anna quickly returned to her senses and tried to chase after him. But trying to dart through the dancing couples in a ball gown was easier said than done and she quickly lost sight of him! She quickly changed her direction and headed towards the cloak room; just as Hayden came walking up, with their drinks in his hands.
“What’s wrong Anna?” he asked, noticing her distress.
She grabbed the drinks from his hands and quickly sat them down on a nearby table. “Never mind that, follow me!” She told him and continued towards the cloak room.
She went inside and started searching through the racks filled with coats and capes.
“Quickly help me find my coat!” she yelled to him.
Without hesitation he quickly helped her look. Thankfully she found her coat on the third rack she searched and grabbed it out of the pocket.
“Anna, please tell me what is going on!” he implored her.
She turned around. “He’s not dead!”
“Do you mean the Chancellor? He asked.
She nodded and opened her book. “Where is the Chancellor?” she asked it.
He walked over to her and grabbed her arm. “Anna, how do you know? Did you see him?”
She looked up at him. “I didn’t just see him Hayden! I danced with him!”
To be continued….
Anna Kippling Series
Book Two- The Tokens
Prologue
Something at the bottom of the page caught Anna’s attention and she leaned in for a closer look. It was a picture of four symbols; a leaf... a swirl... a flame and a rain drop.
“What is this?” She pointed to it.
The Empress looked down at it, “Those are the Tokens; the one who possess the powers of the Tokens will have the symbols burned onto their wrist.”
“What does each of the symbols mean?” Anna asked.
The Empress pointed to the symbol of the leaf, “This token represents the power of the trees; the next one represents the power of wind, the third of fire and the fourth of water. The beholder of these powers can manipulate each element.”
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
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
Book Two- The Tokens
Prologue