Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria: Book One)

by Morgan Wylie

  Thank you for reading Silent Orchids!

  Morgan Wylie, originally from the Pacific Northwest, now resides near Nashville, TN with her husband and daughter. She and her husband work everyday at their individual and combined creative pursuits while she learns to balance being “Mama”, wife, and mediator to the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head.

  You can find her and news on her books at the following:

  MorganWylie.net

  Morgan Wylie Books on Facebook

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  Thank You!

  Please check out some books I am excited to share with you AND read a special excerpt of

  Slumber,

  a NA fantasy romance by Samantha Young

  Don’t miss these fantastic Young Adult reads:

  Dark Summer (The Witchling Series) by Lizzy Ford

  YA

  A school for Witchlings...

  The ultimate choice between Light and Dark...

  Where the price of a mistake...is your soul.

  Sixteen-year-old Summer doesn’t expect her new boarding school to be any different than the rest: a temporary stay, until her uncontrollable magic gets her thrown out again. In her mind, there’s no point in getting too friendly with anyone. That is, until she notices Decker, the boy who will become the Master of Night and Fire on his eighteenth birthday.

  When she learns that this special school has attracted others with magic in their blood, she is hopeful that this time around, things may be different. Besides, she can’t deny her interest in Decker, and when he rescues her one night from the dark forests of the Rocky Mountains, their connection is instant.

  Yet a relationship with Decker may prove to be Summer’s downfall, forcing her to choose between Light and Dark, life and death, love – and their souls.

  One choice. One soul. One price.

  Coexist by Julia Crane

  YA

  Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.

  In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

  Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.

  An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

  Elfin by Quinn Loftis

  YA

  Before tonight Cassie Tate’s biggest concerns were whether she could pass Algebra and how she was going to keep Elora, her best friend, from dressing her in a skimpy fairy costume for Halloween. Her feet were firmly planted in suburban reality and she had no reason to believe her life would be anything but that of a typical teenager. That is until tonight, when Cassie saw something that no human was ever supposed to see; in the blink of an eye she was thrown into the world of the Light and Dark Elves.

  He comes from a realm where light and dark have fought for millennia. He is of a race known to humans only in myths and legends. The darkness that lives inside him is a part of both who and what he is and it makes him the most gifted spy and assassin in the history of his time. His life is not his own; he lives in the service of the Dark Elf King. He slays who he must, has mercy on no one, is relentless in his hunt, and never tires of seeing his prey fall. He is Triktapic, assassin, spy, most feared of the Dark Elves.

  Now, in the midst of his King’s complicated plans to expand the Dark Elves’ holdings into the mortal realm, for the first time, Trik finds his loyalties divided. For no Elf, Dark or Light, can turn away from their Chosen.

  Unbeknownst to the mortal realm, the battle between Light and Dark is being brought to their doorstep. The only one who can keep it at bay holds darkness in his heart like a lover, and the one who can sway that heart must decide if she can look beyond his black past, beyond his evil nature and see the man he is destined to be.

  The questions must be asked, does love really cover a multitude of sins? Can true love actually conquer all or will his darkness consume those around him until all that stands is an assassin with the blood of the mortal realm on his hands?

  Inception (The Reaping Chronicles) by

  Teal Haviland

  YA

  The world is in danger. Mankind is sinking deeper into darkness it cannot understand.

  Demons are easily capturing souls as they lead men and women down dangerous paths from which there is no return, while Javan, one of the Fallen, seeks an ancient book and the power it promises. If he succeeds, humans — and the world as they know it — will be destroyed.

  There is someone who is capable of stopping Javan . . .

  If she discovers him in time.

  Gabrielle is one of the most powerful angels ever created, her job one of the most important. She has come to Earth to learn more about humans and what influences them, and to fight evil she sees growing at an alarming rate. She soon finds herself carelessly distracted with one human in particular, however. Lucas Watkins holds a promise of peace and love for Gabrielle that she never believed she could have again.

  As feelings between her and Lucas become more than she can deny, so do the dangers mounting against him. After discovering who Lucas is, and the choice he faces, she realizes Darkness will come for him through demons and fantastical beings he thought only existed in his imaginings — forcing fairytales to become his reality.

  Caught between her new mortal ties and ancient immortal responsibilities, Gabrielle must race against what seems to be an ever-quickening clock to learn what she needs to know, protect Lucas, uncover Javan’s plan, and find a way to stop him and all who live in Shadows.

  Things become more complex than she ever anticipated, her decisions more critical, and what begins as a quest for information rapidly places her in an even more crucial position within the longest and most important war ever waged.

  Ageless Sea by M.R. Polish

  NA (New Adult)

  Life. Love. Death.

  Banished for a crime she didn’t commit, Karis must learn to live her life alone – and in a world that’s not her own. Cursed on an island of loneliness, forced to endure nearly a century without a friend, the woman once destined to be Queen must find a way to return to her world and save her people from an evil influence.

  After many years, one man is strong enough to survive the cursed barrier that keeps her from leaving the island. She needs him so she can return to her world; he needs her to put together the pieces of his broken memory. Side by side, Brady and Karis feel their loneliness slip away.

  Every day their love grows stronger, but will their bond survive the battle between worlds? In Book One of The Ageless Series, M.R. Polish takes readers into a world where myths are real, deception lurks in the shadows, and destiny brings two lost souls together to fight as one.

  An Excerpt from Chapter Three of

  Slumber

  (A Fade Novel)

  A New Adult Fantasy Romance from Samantha Young

  Molded by a tragic childhood, nineteen-year-old Rogan finds it extremely difficult to trust people. Now Haydyn, her best friend and the one person she does trust, is dying and only Rogan can save her.

  Setting off on a journey to retrieve the plant that will cure Haydyn and subsequently the ills that will befall them all if she dies, R
ogan is stuck in close quarters with a protector she distrusts above all others.

  Wolfe Stovia.

  The son of the man who destroyed Rogan’s family.

  At a constant battle of wills with the handsome Captain of the Guard, Rogan just knows this adventure together will be fraught with tension. She never imagined, however, that the quest would be so dangerous… not least of all when she finds herself falling for a man she could have sworn was her no.1 enemy…

  The city of Silvera grew quiet, parting as we moved through the crowds on the cobbled streets, the noise level hushing and then rising as the people gathered back together behind our entourage, like a wave crashing to shore behind us.

  I rode beside Haydyn on Midnight while she rode Sundown. Matai rode on Haydyn’s other side and three of the Royal Guard rode at our backs. Wolfe was atop his magnificent stallion in front of us, his eagle eyes watching the crowds as we made our way past taverns, apothecaries, inns, bakers and butchers and candlestick makers. The marketplace was in the massive Silvera Square, where people from the neighboring provinces came to sell their wares. Haydyn always had a particular interest in the artists and craftsmen of Raphizya and the beautiful glass works of Vasterya.

  “I’ve decided to hold a ball.” Haydyn smiled at me after waving once more to Silverians who bowed and curtsied as we trotted past.

  I raised an eyebrow at the unexpected idea. “A ball?”

  “Hmm.” Haydyn grinned excitedly, seeming all her young seventeen years. “A ball. I’ll invite all the Rada and all the noblemen and women of every province. A way of showing our solidarity in an unsettling time.”

  “A ball?” I still wasn’t convinced.

  “I think it’s a fine idea, Princezna.” Matai smiled at her.

  I sighed. “No one asked you, Lord Matai.”

  “Rogan, be nice,” Haydyn tutted. “Anyway, Lord Matai is correct. It is a fine idea.”

  My heart jumped a little at the determination in her voice and I felt hope blooming in my chest. Perhaps Haydyn was finally taking charge. And I might not like fancy balls but… it was a good idea. If only because it was her idea.

  Her face fell when I didn’t respond. “Don’t you think it’s a good idea, Rogan?” She looked so worried.

  I cursed inwardly. Why did everyone’s opinion matter so much to her? She was as smart and capable as any of us fools whose advice she solicited. I sighed inwardly, wishing she’d remember she was fair and just and royal— she should not concern herself with my opinion, or anyone else’s for that matter.

  Instead I gave her a soft smile. “Lord Matai’s right. It’s a fine idea.”

  Moment of anxiety over, Haydyn grinned cheerfully as we entered the marketplace. Again all went quiet at the sight of us. Gradually, however, as we trotted over to the stables the noise level rose again.

  “I want you to seek out the finest fabric for me, for my new ball gown, as well as the finest for yourself,” Haydyn commanded gently as Matai helped her dismount. I was so shocked by the request I dismounted without help, forgetting I wasn’t supposed to do that in public. But Haydyn very rarely used my magic and never for something as frivolous as fabric shopping.

  Already my body was crackling inside, drawing me towards a fabric stall deep in the crowds of the square. “Fabric?” I queried softly.

  “Hmm.” Haydyn nodded, smiling prettily at me. “We want to look our best for such an important event.”

  “Not the key to world peace? Not the answer to shutting down a rookery or controlling rogue gypsies? Fabric?”

  Haydyn sighed wearily. “Must I repeat it, Rogan, when we both know you’re being facetious?”

  I shrugged. “Well, I just had no idea that the form of our fashion was so incredibly important to settling Phaedrian disputes.”

  “More facetiousness. Lovely.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Away I go to seek and order the fabric.” I glanced between Matai and her. “What are you going to do?”

  Haydyn gazed a little too adoringly at Matai. “Lord Matai’s going to escort me around the market while I choose some gifts to present to our guests at the ball.”

  I threw Matai a look of mock horror. “Lord Matai, may I say now how much I have enjoyed knowing you, for I fear it will be the last time I look upon you. Death by boredom.” I winced.

  He grinned at me. “I’m sure I’ll survive.”

  “Well you don’t have to sound so put upon,” Haydyn sniffed.

  I laughed, thinking about her well known generosity. “And just where are all these gifts going? We didn’t bring a cart?”

  “I’ll borrow one. Or buy one. I am the Princezna.”

  I almost rolled my eyes. She asserts her authority when shopping. Wonderful.

  “Well, don’t let me keep you. Off I go. Shan’t be long.” I moved as fast as I could away from them and into the crowds before Haydyn demanded I take an escort.

  I breathed deeply of the thick smells of the market. It was a strange mixture of pungent sheep’s wool, beats, chocolate, oil, sweet meats, bread, perfume, paint… oh it was a fragrance of all the variety of the market. Usually, I hated the crowds, preferring my escape to be down at the cliffs some miles from the palace. I loved the peace and quiet of watching the surf of the Silver Sea crash against the cliff walls. For some reason it reminded me I was alive. But never alone. No. There was always a guard with me some way in the distance. Today, as I swept past people—some who recognized me, some who didn’t—calling out to me to buy their wares, desperate for what they assumed was a noblewoman to purchase something expensive from them, I loved the market.

  Because I was alone. All alone.

  Free.

  I was quick on my feet, dodging persistent sellers, and hopefully any of the Guard who may have followed me. In no time at all I found the stall with the fabric that called to my magic. I saw it instantly. Velvet, the color of lapis lazuli, made from the finest silk in the textile factories in Ryl. Haydyn would look wonderful in it. I reached out to stroke the beautiful fabric when a hand clamped around my wrist.

  “No, no, miss.” I looked up into the ruddy face of the market seller. “Not the right color for you, miss. Come see some of my silks.” He tried to pull me towards the more expensive material. I tugged at his grip but he was determined.

  I grew irritated by his persistence. “Sir—”

  “With a face and figure like yours, you shouldn’t hide behind the heavy textures. Fine silks, miss, fine silks for you.”

  I tugged again. Oh yes, this was why I hated the marketplace.

  A large hand came down on top of the sellers, ripping it from my own and holding it tight. Both the seller and I looked up into the intimidating and angry face of Wolfe Stovia.

  “You dare to lay your hands on the Princezna’s Handmaiden?” Wolfe growled at the man.

  The seller blanched as he looked at me, recognition finally dawning. “Oh, My Lady, I meant no disrespect.”

  Wolfe grunted and shoved the man away. “Lady or servant, I see you trying to forcefully coerce a woman again and you and I will have words.”

  I’d never seen anyone look so ill, so green. “Apologies, My Lord. I was over excited. It won’t happen again. Apologies, My Lady.” His head bobbed up and down at me.

  Oh for havens sake. “I’m not a lady,” I huffed, angry at Wolfe for drawing attention to the situation and blowing it out of proportion. The overbearing lout. I glared at him. “You, sir, are a bully.”

  Wolfe merely frowned at me. “And you, girl, are the Handmaiden of Phaedra and as such a lady. You are not to allow strange men to touch you.”

  I curled my lip disdainfully. “I’ll allow a mountain man of Alvernia to touch me before I take advice from you, Stovia.” Dismissing him, agitated by his presence, his ruination of my pretense at freedom, I turned back to the seller. “I want three bolts of the lapis lazuli velvet and one bolt of the emerald silk chiffon.” I relaxed a little at having completed my task for Haydyn, but then
my body hummed with energy again and I turned without thinking toward a stall some quarter of the way back into the middle of the market. The fabric that would suit me most was in there somewhere. Damn Haydyn. Damn being an Azyl.

  I spun back on the seller. “Have the fabric delivered to the palace and ask for Seamstress Rowan. You’ll be paid well for your troubles.”

  He nodded, doing this obscene half bow/curtsey thing that made me throw a growl in Wolfe’s direction. Turning sharply from them both to make my way to the fabric stall my magic called me to, I drew in a breath at the pleasant sandalwood scent of Wolfe as he fell into step beside me.

  I stopped abruptly. “What are you doing?” I snapped.

  Wolfe shrugged, refusing to look at me, refusing to leave. “Just one of the more unpleasant jobs of being Captain of the Guard. Protecting you.”

  Pulling a face, I began walking again. “We are droll, aren’t we?”

  “Some people think I’m charming.” He grinned flirtatiously and executed a graceful half bow to a passing tavern girl, who eyed him seductively over her bare shoulder.

  “Some people don’t know any better.”

  “Ooh is that judgment I hear in the voice of the lady who was flirting with a mere stable boy this morning.”

  I gritted my teeth. “Stable Master.”

  Wolfe raised one annoying eyebrow. “As if that makes it any more palatable? You know he’s bedded every girl in the palace? You’re not special.”

  I could feel my blood boiling under my skin, as it did whenever I was forced to be in the same presence as this man. I tried to take deep, calming breaths. I did. I really, really did. It didn’t work. “Who I choose to converse with is of no consequence to you, Captain Stovia. And may I remind you to whom you are speaking?” My answer was thick with condescension but he deserved it.