An Exclusive Excerpt From Othrinia's Rain & Veodue's Fire by Author, A.J. Adwen!
Othrinia's Rain Blurb:
If truth gave a freedom that could destroy all you've ever
known, would it be better to live shackled to a lie?
When the kingdom of Othrinia was split down the middle at
the hands of feuding twin kings, leaving Othrinians scattered and the new land
of Veodue secluded in desolation, these two lands, worlds apart, became the
epitome of light and darkness.
Raenah Brookshire is not a typical Othrinian young woman.
She yearns for adventure and chases danger with a passionate drive that is
unmatched by the people of her village, Farreloch. It would seem as though her
life is rich with possibilities, but she has no idea just how far they’ll take
her.
A mystery of her birth is uncovered by sheer chance that
leaves her reeling in shock and betrayal. The key to who she is lies in the
hands of a dark Veoden stranger who begins to plague her dreams. He has the answers
to her undying questions, but refuses to offer them without a price.
Othrinia's Rain Excerpt:
ALMOST AS IF he willed it, the moons escape the clouds to
envelope him and his horse in a silver sheen. He is majestic; contained, yet
unpredictable. The breeze sweeps his glossy black hair into his eyes, almost
veiling them as he watches me like a hawk watches its prey. His shoulders are
squared proudly; one hand holds the reins and the other rests on his thigh. He
rides slowly across the meadow, the muscles of his steed shimmering and flexing
in the moonlight. He stops his horse when he reaches me, his lips tilting in a
pleased smirk. He dismounts in such an elegant fashion that I think that Fallon
must have been mistaken about these people, because the Veoden who stands
before me is anything but savage.
“Raenah Brookshire,” he bows prestigiously, then straightens
his body to examine me. His eyes are more piercing than in my dreams, and he
seems taller.
I somehow find my voice. “And what is your name?”
He grins widely, his eyes seeming to shimmer like polished
steel in the moonlight. “Forgive me. I am Lucian.”
Lucian. For some reason, I expected a title that would
define his prestige, like one of “Sir” or “Prince.”
“What do you want from me, Lucian?” My voice remains strong,
though small.
He touches his cleanly shaven face, stroking his chin. “I’d
have thought you would have figured it out by now,” he says while flashing his
crooked smile.
I look away from him, both flustered by his charm and weary
of it. “Perhaps I’m dense, or perhaps I’m not accustomed to being treated as a
plaything,” I say, forcing my eyes back up to meet his.
He stares at me, unfazed. “You aren’t accustomed to a lot of
things that you should be.”
I lock my knees to keep them from trembling. “I don’t know
what you mean.”
His eyes flicker with twisted amusement. “You remind me of
someone.” He tilts his head as if in deep thought. “Ah, yes. Your mother. A
stubborn, fiery woman, much like yourself.”
My heart quickens. “You know my mother?”
He smirks, his eyes giving away nothing. “Knew.”
A gasp escapes me. I stare at his too-perfect face,
struggling to make sense of any of this. “Did you know my family when I was
born?”
“I did.” He twists the gaudy ruby and silver ring on his
pointer finger. “Long before you were disposed of.”
My breath leaves me as I shake my head. “I don’t believe
you. I wasn’t disposed of. My parents wanted to give me a better life!”
“You’re so sure!” He raises his voice for the first time.
“So sure that they loved you.”
His words pierce my heart. He is implying that I was not
wanted. As I place my hand on my abdomen to ensure that I’m still breathing, I
decide this has to be another one of his tricks. I mustn’t fall for it. “You
sound as though you don’t know love.”
His lips curve in a sadistic smirk. “I know it well enough
to touch it only with a stick.” Like some stiff rodent carcass, his tone
suggests.
Despite his bitter retort, I pity him. “Why are you telling
me this? Why won’t you just leave me be?”
He laces his fingers behind his back and begins to walk
casually in a circle around me. “That would be far too easy.”
“What happened to my mother?” I ignore his game, following
him with my eyes. I need to get something useful out of him.
“Your mother? She died when you were born. A shame, really.
Your brother never knew you.”
My breath is coming in gasps. “I have a brother?” I stare at
him.
“Indeed,” his lips brush my ear.
Every hair on my body bristles, a shiver rolling through me.
I’m too afraid to move away, yet terrified of staying put. I remain like a
statue, staring ahead while he examines me from the corner of my eye. “You’re
not making sense. If my father didn’t want me, why didn’t he just dump me in
the river?”
Lucian tilts his chin up, assessing me down the perfect line
of his nose. “Well, it doesn’t matter now, does it?”
I know I need to keep my wits about me. I decide to be as
subtle as I can in extracting information. “My parents were from Erimarsh. Do
you travel there frequently? I thought Veodens were forbidden to enter the
villages,” I say, even though I know I may be wrong about where they were from.
“Yes well, I don’t often do what I’m told.” He crosses his
arms over his chest. “I come and go as I please.”
“Are you going to tell me what you want from me?”
He steps closer to me, a knowing smile on his lips.
“Someday, Raenah,” he whispers my name dramatically, and reaches out to touch
my necklace.
It happens so fast that I almost don’t see it. One second
there is a hissing sound, then Lucian lifts his hand. Fallon’s arrow
disintegrates into dust and floats away in the breeze. He stares in the
direction of my bodyguards and when he looks at me again, his eyes are blazing
with hues of orange and red that swirl in his irises like liquefied glass. Out
of the corner of my eye, I see Fallon and Gavin rushing to my aid. “If I were
you, I would think twice before attempting to ambush me again,” Lucian hisses.
I hear gasping next to me, and I turn my head to find Fallon
on his knees, clutching his head. Lucian unclenches his outstretched fist and
Fallon falls forward, released from whatever was causing him pain.
Lucian brings his face so close to mine that our noses
almost touch. “Come alone next time, or I won’t be so merciful.”
He mounts his horse and disappears into the night. I stare
after him, wondering when the next time will be. At the sound of pained
breathing, I look at the man on the ground. “Fallon,” I gasp, my legs finally
giving out as I come to my knees in front of him.
“I’m alright, Raenah.”
Gavin touches my back. “You did—”
“Take me home!” I snap, avoiding his eyes so that I don’t
have to see the rejection in them. Gafian is ambling toward me with a mouthful
of grass. He nickers when I pick up his bridle, ready to go to his stall for
the night. When he reaches me, I put his bridle on him and mount, not bothering
to put my feet in the stirrups before kicking him with my heels.
Veodue's Fire Blurb:
The blackness of night consumed her, but she always thought it would lift. Time does not heal all wounds. Freedom is not hers to claim. And as the months pass, she realizes she no longer wants the light at all.
The keys to her future have been seized from Lucian’s hands. The power is hers now, and it is clear that she might be the only person who can bring Veodue out of ruin. In a battle against her own flesh and blood, innocent lives weigh in the balance of her choices.
Was the Pool’s prophecy true? Will she be able to rise above the person she has become to accept what might be her only fate?
This story of betrayal, love and redemption continues in the next chapter of Raenah’s journey.
Veodue's Fire Excerpt:
Lucian pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go,” he says, steering me
toward one of the tunnels. When we are safely inside, he pushes me into a
shadowed corner.
“Where have you been?!” I snap, shoving him away so that I
can breathe. “Was this atrocity arranged beforehand?”
“I’ve been cloaked,” he says, angrily straightening his
tunic. “I knew after what happened that Alarik would have Silas disarm my
abilities.”
I shake my head, pressing my palm between my eyes. “Why
would he do that? I don’t understand.”
“He doesn’t trust me anymore than I trust him. And like a
coward, I know that is what he would do to render me defenseless.”
“So you’ve been hiding from him? I thought you couldn’t
cloak yourself.”
“I figured it out,” he says. “My power has increased lately.
I didn’t realize the spell had worn off until I was being dragged into the
arena. Silas shielded Alarik.”
“I saw,” I grumble. Lucian leans against the wall, holding
his side. “Let me look at you.”
“I’m fine,” he snaps.
I back away, crossing my arms. Noise begins to echo into the
tunnel again and I know another round of entertainment has begun. I’m not ready
to face Alarik again, and I also worry about what Silas may do when he wakes.
“He wasn’t lying,” Lucian says.
“What?”
“I said he wasn’t lying.”
“I know—I heard you. What do you mean?”
“I mean . . . he wasn’t going to hurt me. I could somehow
read his mind when he was standing over me.”
“That’s because I knocked Silas unconscious,” I say. “At
least, that must be why. He really was going to let you go?”
“Yes,” he says regrettably.
I feel something inside of me relax, a churning ball of
turmoil that I didn’t even realize was there. “Then why do you sound angry?”
“Because,” he growls, softening his eyes after a deep
breath. “Because it would be easier if he had meant to.”
I gape. “How can you say that? Do you really want to die?”
“That’s not what I mean, Raenah. I mean that for the first
time, I saw a glimpse of something noble.”
A smirk tugs at my lips. “That’s what I’ve been trying to
tell you. He’s changed.” I hold his arm in my hands. “And I know I can make him
even better than he is now.”
“That’s fine,” he says. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“Fair enough.” I let go of his arm. “I, uh—I wanted to
apologize to you for the way things happened the other day. I should have come
after you to make sure you were alright.”
“Don’t worry. You had obligations,” he says tritely. “I
didn’t need coddling.”
“You needed a friend, and I wasn’t there. I’m sorry.”
“Is that what I needed?” he stares at me expectantly, but
doesn’t allow me to answer. “I mean, possibly. But you were the last person I
wanted to see.”
The air leaves my lungs. “Lucian, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean
to hurt you.” I look away, stricken with grief. “Can’t you understand the
position I am in?”
“I understand it,” he says flatly. “And I hope you
understand mine.”
I look at him, my lips parting without words. The ones that
finally come out surprise even me. “You may have redeemed yourself but you are
every bit as much the selfish bastard that you were before.”
“I thought that’s what you fell for.”
I strike him across the face, feeling the burn of his skin all
the way up my arm. “Why don’t you hide yourself again? It must be convenient to
be able to disappear whenever you want.” I storm off, pausing only when his
final blow is delivered.
“Go on—go be a queen to this degenerate land. At least you
can’t ruin it beyond its already decrepit state.”
I whip around, furious. “At least I have a purpose greater
than whatever pathetic life you choose to live,” I shout, seething. “You have
an empire all your own and you know what I find ironic? As beautiful, and
perfect, and powerful as you are, your throne is hideous to behold. Does it
thrill you, Lucian? Are you satisfied that you are ruining any chance we might
have had together?”
He looks on, expressionless. Approaching me, he leans close
enough that our noses almost touch. “You already ruined us, Rain.”
He leaves me, the sound of my sobs rising above the swell of
ecstatic screams.
Download Book One & Two of the Rain Trilogy Today!
More About the Author, AJ Adwen
Allison was born and raised in the mountains of Oregon,
birthed of the crisp, clean air and rainy forests. She now resides in Oklahoma
City, though she is still thoroughly attached to her home and finds much
inspiration for her stories whenever she has a chance to return. As the spouse
of a police officer and a full-time photographer, she is on her toes 24/7. In
2013, she was a recipient of the Oklahoma Next Generation award: an award given
to thirty individuals under the age of thirty in the state who have proven to
be innovative and inspiring leaders in the arts, entertainment, business,
media, and other areas of impact.
Often told that she has her head in the clouds, she couldn’t
deny it even if she wanted to. Allison began dreaming up stories long before
she was old enough to write them. She enjoys a variety of genres, including YA,
romance, historical romance, fantasy, dystopian, and anything else that hooks
her interest. She prefers to write books that tell gripping love stories in
heart-wrenching, real, inspiring ways. Her stories are deep and raw, taking the
reader into a world that is richly intricate. Readers often say that they are
swept away and left reeling when they have finished the last page.
Allison loves to interact with her readers, and she does her
best to respond to every email she receives. To learn more about her, visit her
Facebook page and follow along on her writing journey!
Connect with her today!
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