Fervor (The Fervor Chronicles Book 1) (26 page)

“What?”

Caprice centered herself and imagined that the swirling lake next to her was clay in her hands. Sweeping her palms to the side, she opened and closed her digits, mimicking claws. Water flew from the lake, geysered and then reformed in mid air. It acted as a clamp, surrounding the Pre-Dom from the waist down.

It was the signal Arun had been waiting for.

He let out a roar, his hands raised as he levitated above ground. His two palms met, and pulled apart, creating a line of electricity. He used the energy like a long lasso and slammed the guards away from Caprice, electrocuting them as he sent them flying through the air. As usual, his energy had no effect on her.

A gasp rushed over the crowd as more water floated toward the Bicullis. A second, smaller wave crested and caught Caprice up high, gently cradling her in a seat of water. It deposited her and the screaming Pre-Dom right next to the stunned group of brothers.

Her aunt stood to her right and said, “I will take over this piece of trash for you.”

The Pre-Dom looked crazed. “No! No, not again. I’ll be good. I promise. I didn’t mean to hurt him…” Anona’s voice was suddenly higher, sounding more like a teenager than a grown woman.

The First stopped and looked at the crazed woman with a question in her eyes.

The Pre-Dom focused on Caprice. “Eyes like your mother. I saw her, the day
he
decided to throw her away. It was my chance, when things finally turned in my favor.”

The words made Caprice catch her breath. “What?”

“She banged on the castle door for hours, called to you, wanted you, but he wouldn’t let her in. Banished her to the cold, no longer needing her to keep you alive. She cried. Wailed and wailed. The winds howled. Greedy winds. Then gone. Poof. Gone!” Her eyes rolled back in her head. “Don’t hurt me. Not again, not
again.”

“What do you mean she was gone?” Cameo and Caprice shouted simultaneously.

The Pre-Dom started to laugh, her body shaking uncontrollable, “Dead, dead,
dead.”

A lone, piercing, nerve-shredding note cut through the air. The power of it knocked everyone to their knees. But the note was not meant for them. It had a specific target.

The Predominant’s nose and ears started to bleed, and she went limp.

Glancing over, Caprice saw Cameo standing with her hands clenched, tears streaming down her face. Before she could console her sister, Cameo sprinted away, so fast Caprice couldn’t track her.

Cameo hadn’t lied. Her voice was as deadly as she claimed.

“She has always hoped her mother was still alive,” RyAhn said to Caprice. “I will find her.”

“No need. It’s being taken care of.” Arun walked over to Caprice, pulling her up by the hand.

Fisk raced after Cameo, the crowd of spectators jumping out of his way. Half of them remained on the ground from the power of Cameo’s song.

The First sighed and for once looked tired. She cupped Caprice’s cheek and then silently walked away. The Predominant floated behind her, dozens of Hamazakaran coming up behind them, disappearing into the green of the jungle.

“Goodbye,” Caprice whispered. The tears wouldn’t stop flowing. She rubbed her eyes, hesitant to face Arun, convinced he would be furious.

Instead, he pulled her close, crushing her mouth with his own.
“Princess,”
he murmured over and over again, raining kisses down her cheeks.

Caprice held on to the fact that he wasn’t upset. She could hardly process everything that had just happened. Her heart broke for her mother. As for the Predominant, she only wished it had been she who had delivered the deathblow. “I can’t talk about my mother right now. It’s too much.”

“I know,” he whispered into her neck. “I thought you were really going to leave me.”

“Would you have let me go?” She ran a hand through his hair.

“Yes.”

She pulled out of his arms. “Really?”

“But I would have been on the other side of the Bicullis about five seconds after you.” He swooped in for a hard kiss.

“You know I have to go back. Even with the Pre-Dom taken care of, I have to find Addy. And I will have to find a way to help the loyal servants that kept Addy safe.”

“We…
We
have to go back. You are never to go through the gods-forsaken portal again without a full army with you. We will prepare to enter as soon as my people are safe.”

“I love you.” Her voice was strong and true.

His body ignited, coated with white fire. He pulled her forward, sliding his hands up her back, encompassing her in his strength. “Say it again. And this time, say my name.”

She recognized that heavy-lidded stare. His chest felt deliciously warm when she lay her cheek against him. “I love you, Giant.” At his growl, she smiled and tried again. “I love you, Arun of the Fiera, fierce king of my heart and guardian of my soul.”

Strong arms tightened and she was consumed by the familiar white light filled with electric heat, Arun’s very essence wrapped around her, making her feel protected and cherished. His gruff, ‘I love you, too,’ settled in her heart, warming her from the inside out.

I am loved.

Fervor
was my first foray into the sci-fi/fantasy realm. This is my second edition of a story that is close to my heart. I hope you enjoy it! I was inspired by the planet Mercury. I remember learning that one side of the planet always faced the sun, so it was white hot. The other side faced the deep cold of space. Theoretically, one of my teachers said there might be a thin strip down the middle that would be the perfect temperature to support life. And
Fervor
was born, at least in my imagination. This is only the first of many books to come. Arun is the eldest of four amazingly hot Fieran brothers, and I plan on writing about every single one of them. The second book is Fisk and Cameo’s story. Yay! The story continues as we learn more about the journal, the Bicullis, and the combustible relationship between the two.

My All,

Lynn

If you have any questions about this book or any of the others—or maybe you just want to drop a line and say hello, please contact me at:

[email protected]
or pay a visit to my website:

Lynncarmer.com
or come find me on:

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I have so many people to thank. I want to especially acknowledge my family. They have been supportive, patient and understanding. I will always love them, forever-and-a-day. Thanks guys.

Special thanks to Mae South, Ilyana Knight, Judy Bullard and BB ebooks. They are an indie writer’s Dream Team.

Lynn Carmer is a talker, a writer, a reader, a teacher, a procrastinator, an avid fan of all things “reality,” and a devourer of all things “sweet.” She has lived on both coasts and everywhere in between. All the crazy characters that live inside her head have now broken free and are running amok. The result? A lot of steamy, funny romance novels. She has dabbled in a few different genres. Think sexy, stone gargoyles; star-crossed lovers living on the planet of fire and ice; and hilarious contemporaries that reference pop culture and quite a few ’80s and ’90s movies and music.

Here’s to hunky heroes and hot-blooded heroines!