The Arrows of the Heart
A STRANGER’S FAITH
As the Twelve Kingdoms and their allies are drawn toward war, a princess cast aside must discover a purpose she never dreamed of…
Karyn af Hardie behaved like a proper Dasnarian wife. She acquiesced, she accepted, she submitted. Until her husband gave her a choice: their loveless, unconsummated royal marriage—or her freedom. Karyn chose freedom. But with nowhere to run except into the arms of Dasnaria’s enemies, she wonders if she’s made a mistake. She wants love, security, a family. She can’t imagine finding any of it among the mercurial Tala.
Worst of all is Zyr. The uninhibited shapeshifter is everywhere she looks. He’s magnetic, relentless, teasing and tempting as if she’s free to take her pleasure where she wishes. As if there isn’t a war rising before them, against a vile and demanding force far stronger than they. But with Karyn’s loyalty far from certain, Zyr offers her only chance to aid the defense—a dangerous gambit to seek out a land not seen in centuries, using clues no one can decipher. Together, they’ll have every opportunity to fail—and one chance to steal something truly precious…
About the book:
Release Date: October 7, 2018
Series: The Uncharted Realms #4 /
The Twelve Kingdoms #7
Formats: ebook
Publisher: Brightlynx Publishing
Excerpt:
He brushed a wayward spiraling lock of hair from my forehead, tucking it behind my ear, then traced his fingers down my cheek. “I think you have to know yourself to trust yourself.”
I frowned. “What does that even mean?”
“Trusting yourself is about knowing what you want, what you need, and staying true to that. You’ve been following what other people say you want and need.”
Oh.
He smiled at my bemusement. “When you decide you want more from me, be sure to let me know as soon as possible.”
When. “You’re so sure I will.”
“Gréine…” He stopped and shook his head. “No, any words I could put to this wouldn’t sound right. I can be patient.”
“Are you sure?” I asked archly. “Patient is not word I’d use to describe you.”
“No? Tell me—what words would you use to describe me?”
“I have no intention of telling you that. You’re proud of yourself enough as it is.” Too late, I caught myself.
“Aha! Then they’re all good words.” He grinned at how neatly he’d trapped and flustered me. “Maybe you could toss one or two my way, now and then, like crusts of bread tossed to a starving man.”
I rolled my eyes at him, tying off my braid. “Impatient. There’s one.”
He laughed. “I shall prove myself to you, fair maiden. You’ll see how patient I can be. Now tell me, what did you discover?”
“I can’t believe I forgot!” I scowled at him.
“You distracted me.” “You distracted me,” he countered. “I was lying there, resting my poor exhausted body, and you had to come over, looking like another sun in the sky, and fondle me.”
I gasped, sputtering, and he managed to look wounded and put upon. Deciding he’d only best me if I tried to deny it, I instead smoothed out the ground, laying the mapsticks in a row. “Look at this.”