by Raye Wagner
But sometimes solutions required feelings, intuition, caring. Nurturing was necessary for growth, to cultivate relationships and alliances. Nurturing was fostering growth, developing bonds and strengthening them. And that power was just as important as physical might and prowess. And in the instances when violence was the only way, I literally strengthened him. I gave him the power to do what needed to be done. We weren’t the same, but we were equals. And that’s why we were stronger together.
I smiled at him, and he kissed my hands again.
You are exactly right, he said.
Maybe I should’ve sent you a top up sooner, I joked.
His gaze darkened, and his features grew troubled. “I hope you won’t have cause to do that frequently.”
I glanced back over my shoulder.
Druman remains littered the valley. Black ash and smoke floated high in the sky from the Druman unlucky enough to meet Tyrrik’s fire. Some of the rock across the valley had melted under the heat of his flame and was reforming in warped patches. A few scraggly trees still burned, but the fire was waning as it ran out of fuel.
Every single one of them was dead. And it so easily should’ve been us instead.
With a start, I remembered the Phaetyn.
Sitting on a rock to your left, Tyrrik supplied.
You knew she was there watching us?
I scowled at his mental shrug. Bloody Drae. I untangled myself from him enough to glance that way. The Phaetyn girl sat cross-legged on a flattened stone a small distance from where we’d been kissing. No, we’d been making out like it was going to be outlawed tomorrow. Nice first impression.
One glance was enough to tell me the trees hadn’t been lying. The Phaetyn girl looked a lot like Kamini, only older and fiercer. If the trees hadn’t told me this Phaetyn existed, I still would’ve known her to be the princess’s sister.
“I guess we need to go say hello,” I whispered to Tyrrik.
“If we want to win this war, then yes, we best go and greet her,” Tyrrik said, a smile in his voice.
I sighed, shouldering the responsibility I needed to take.
Tyrrik gently held my jaw and turned me back to face him. “You’re sure you want this, Ryn? To join this fight? We could go anywhere. Leave Draedyn’s Realm, go to another land.”
Another land but not one that contained people I cared about. Because even if it was just Tyrrik and Dyter, I’d stay and fight. But there were so many more. “I’m sure,” I said, glancing at the Phaetyn and then back at Tyrrik, who looked unaccountably sad. I brushed my hands through his liquid-black hair. “This is my fight, too, now. Which means we’ll see it through to the end.”
Together.
Black Crown
The Darkest Drae: Book Three
Coming May, 2018
Kelly’s Acknowledgements
The last few months while writing this book were an amazing blur of potatoes, soap, shiny gems, onyx scales, and pointy ears.
Thank you to the following people:
Our betas, Jennifer and Kate, for providing amazing feedback.
Our manuscript team for their hard work; Krystal Wade, Dawn Yacovetta and Michelle Lynn.
Our cover designer, Daqri at Covers by Combs, for another incredible cover.
Our ARC team – I love watching your excitement in the lead up to each release day.
Thank you to my readers—yet again—for coming along for the ride.
To my husband, who never fails to ask what I’m laughing at, and who never fails to accept my explanation of, ‘Just talking to Raye’ or ‘Just talking to the people in my head’, without batting an eyelid.
To my family and friends, spending time with you over Christmas and New Years in New Zealand was the highlight of my year. If we don’t do it again soon, I’ll get saltier than those fries we had in Whitianga.
Last but not least, thank you to Raye Wagner for her dedication to this series and for being so much fun to work with.
Here is a glimpse of our average conversation:
Raye: Want to talk about business stuff?
Kelly: Sure, just let me change out of my blanket pajamas.
Raye: *rings fifteen minutes later* So. I did a chapter of Black Crown… When are you coming over to visit again? Did you get the pretzels?
Kelly and Raye: *Proceed to talk for three hours about everything except the series they are writing*
I’m not sure how we manage to get work done, Drae-bae (magic mojo, probably), but I enjoy our really important business chats.
Lurv you, Pretzel Dealer,
Kelly
Raye’s Acknowledgements
Most of the time, real life is not as fun as fantasy. However, I’m not fighting for my life, slaying wicked kings, or responsible for learning how to do magic under duress, either. At least not usually. But if I was, it’s awesome to know I have an amazing team of support to help me slay the bad guys, give me the tools I need, and cheer me on . . . in both the real world as well as my imaginary ones.
Thank you to my family and my besties. Words are inadequate to express how much I love each one of you. You get my crazy and still hang out with me. I love every moment we get to spend together and appreciate your friendship (even if our relationship started because of our genetics).
Thank you to the Drae-team: Jennifer and Kate for the early feedback, Dawn and Krystal for all the polish, Daqri for a gorgeous cover (gah! so pretty!) and Michelle for putting it all together so we can load it up! To my PA and admins: Lela, Courtney, and Joy, if I had to go to Phaetynville, I would totes want you guys to come with me! Also, we have the best launch team – I love your enthusiasm for Ryn and Tyrrik!
To my readers: Journeys are always better with friends. Thanks for taking this one with me! I appreciate your continued support of my imagination.
And to Kelly, my #draebae… I’ve gained better skills, increased perspective, a love of preztels, and about five pounds writing Shadow Wings (bags of pretzels, I tell you!!). I can’t wait to see what comes with Black Crown. Mostly, I love how much fun you make “work”. Btw, I’m still waiting for that call about our neighboring islands…
XOXO,
Raye
Kelly St. Clare
When Kelly is not reading or writing, she is lost in her latest reverie.
Books have always been magical and mysterious to her. One day she decided to start unravelling this mystery and began writing.
The Tainted Accords was her debut series. The After Trilogy and The Darkest Drae are her latest series.
A New Zealander in origin and in heart, Kelly currently resides in Australia with her ginger-haired husband, a great group of friends, and some huntsman spiders who love to come inside when it rains. Their love is not returned.
Visit her online and subscribe at:
www.kellystclare.com
Or find her on
Instagram|Twitter|Facebook|BookBub
Also by Kelly St. Clare:
The Tainted Accords:
Fantasy of Frost
Fantasy of Flight
Fantasy of Fire
Fantasy of Freedom
The Tainted Accords Novellas:
Sin
Olandon (March, 2018)
Rhone (2018)
Shard (2019)
The After Trilogy:
The Retreat
The Return
The Reprisal
The Darkest Drae (Trilogy) Co-written with Raye Wagner
Blood Oath
Shadow Wings
Black Crown May 2018
Raye Wagner
Raye Wagner grew up in Seattle, the second of eight children, and learned to escape chaos through the pages of fiction. As a youth, she read the likes of David Eddings, Leon Uris, and Jane Austen. As an adult she fell in love with Percy Jackson Olympian series (shocker!) and Twilight (really!) and was inspired to pursue her dream of writing young adult fiction. Raye enjoys baking, puzzles, Tae Kwon Do, and the sound of waves lapping at th
e sand. She lives with her husband and three children in Middle Tennessee.
You can sign up for Raye’s newsletter, HERE to be notified of new releases and to get exclusive sneak peeks.
Visit her online and subscribe at:
www.rayewagner.com
Or find her online.
Instagram|Twitter|Facebook |BookBub
Also by Raye Wagner:
The Sphinx Series
Origin of the Sphinx: A Sphinx Prequel Story
Cursed by the Gods
Demigods and Monsters
Son of War: A Sphinx Companion Story
Myths of Immortality
Daughter of Darkness: A Sphinx Companion Story
Fates and Furies
Sphinx Coloring Book, Vol. 1
Forthcoming:
Phaidra’s Story
Birth of Legends and The Lost Curse (2018)
The Darkest Drae (Trilogy) co-written with Kelly St. Clare
Blood Oath
Shadow Wings
Black Crown May 2018
Curse of the Cytri co-written with Rita Stradling
Magic of Fire and Shadow (Spring 2018)
Magic of Talisman and Blood (Spring 2018)
Fantasy of Frost
(The Tainted Accords, #1)
I know many things. What I am capable of, what I will change, what I will become. But there is one thing I will never know.
The veil I’ve worn from birth carries with it a terrible loneliness; a suppression I cannot imagine ever being free of.
Some things never change…
My mother will always hate me. Her court will always shun me.
…Until they do.
When the peace delegation arrives from the savage world of Glacium, my life is shoved wildly out of control by the handsome Prince Kedrick, who for unfathomable reasons shows me kindness.
And the harshest lessons are learned.
Sometimes it takes the world bringing you to your knees to find that spark you thought forever lost.
Sometimes it takes death to show you how to live.
COMPLETE SERIES NOW AVAILABLE
Cursed by the Gods
(The Sphinx, #1)
Hope has a deadly secret…
Hope has spent her entire life on the run, but no one is chasing her. In fact, no one even knows she exists. And she’ll have to keep it that way.
Even though mortals think the gods have disappeared, Olympus still rules. Demigods are elite hunters, who track and kill monsters. And shadow-demons from the Underworld prey on immortals, stealing their souls for Hades.
When tragedy destroys the only security she’s ever known, Hope’s life shatters. Forced to hide, alone this time, Hope pretends to be mortal. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her secret safe— and her heart protected. But when Athan arrives, her world is turned upside down.
With gods, demigods, and demons closing in, how long can a monster stay hidden in plain sight?
Join Hope on her unforgettable journey to discover what it means to live and her daring fight to break Apollo’s curse.
COMPLETE SERIES NOW AVAILABLE