A Fae is Done

Danielle M. Orsino

Description

Prophecies, broken hearts, secrets, and scars. Bodies delivered on the wings of butterflies.

After Queen Aurora's execution, the Court of Light falls into political unrest. The riots continue as new Queen Sekhmet takes her place on the throne and puts her long-planned agenda into action. Meanwhile, King Jarvok attempts to remedy his heartache but ends up divulging suspicions he has held close for centuries instead.

Alliances shift as dark mysteries bubble to the surface, but a prophecy reading brings a ray of hope. Unfortunately for others, it foretells certain doom. The Oracles speak of a future child who will unite the Fae courts and bring karmic retribution. Unlikely heroes will be forced together by fate, while unexpected enemies are revealed.

There are Fae in both courts who have plenty to hide. Some would kill to keep their secrets. Some are willing to die for them.

Sujets

• Fantastique
• Romance fantastique
• Epic Fantasy
• Romance
• Romance Fantasy
• New Adult Romance
• Univers ado
• Imaginaire
• Fantasy
• Magic realism
• Young Adult Fiction
• Magical Realism

Informations

• Publié par: 4 Horsemen Publications, Inc.
• Date de parution: 23 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781644506608
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 8 Mo

Extrait

Table o f Contents
Dedication
Acknow ledgements
Prologue
Cha pter One:
Wings
Cha pter Two:
Hide and Seek—or Just Hide
Chapt er Three:
Observers
Chap ter Four:
The Butter fly Effect
Chap ter Five:
The Wa iting Game
Cha pter Six:
Diplomacy
Chapt er Seven:
Movi ng Forward
Chap ter Eight:
A Promise Fulfilled
Chap ter Nine:
Religulous
Cha pter Ten:
Th e Prophecy
Chapte r Eleven:
Pick a Card, Any Card…
Chapte r Twelve:
Chang e of Plans
Chapter Thirteen:
Cry stal Clear
Chapter Fourteen:
A Dead Body Tell s No Tales
Chapter Fifteen:
Ba d to Worse
Chapter Sixteen:
Run and Str ike A Pose
Chapter S eventeen:
I Need Lots and Lot s of Gifts
Chapter Eighteen:
Promises , Promises
Chapter Nineteen:
Act Like You Own the Palace
Chapte r Twenty:
Unlike ly Friends
Chapter Tw enty-One:
All Is Not What It Seems. It Never Is…
Chapter Tw enty-Two:
Little Big Mouth
Chapter Twen ty-Three:
Scar s Can Heal
Chapter Twe nty-Four:
Tr y to Blend
Chapter Twe nty-Five:
Did You Say Distraction or De struction?
Chapter Tw enty-Six:
Define D istraction
Chapter Twen ty-Seven:
S immer Down
Epilogue





A Fae Is Done
Birth of the Fae: Vol 1 Book 5
Copyright © 2022 Danielle M. Orsino. All rights re served.


4 Horsemen Publicatio ns, Inc.
1497 Main St. S uite 169
Dunedin, FL 34698
4horsemenpublicat ions.com
info@4horsemenpublicat ions.com
Cover by Horsemen Publicatio ns, Inc.
Typesetting by Michel le Cline
Editor S. L . Vargas
Lady Danaus Photographer- Robert Milazzo
Hair and Makeup- Timothy Ala n Beauty
Sunshine the carnivorous butterfly concept by: Danielle M . Orsino
Sunshine the carnivorous butterfly Illustration: P andiiVan
Crystal Catacomb: L avillion
Map is illustrated by Daniel Hasenbos–he goes by Dani els Maps
All rights to the work within are reserved to the author and publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 International Copyright Act, without prior written permission except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Please contact either the Publisher or Author to gain per mission.
This book is meant as a reference guide. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. All brands, quotes, and cited work respectfully belong to the original rights holders and bear no affiliation to the authors or pu blisher.
Library of Congress Control Number: 20 22941308
Print ISBN: 978-1-644 50-659-2
Hardback ISBN: 978-1-644 50-661-5
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-644 50-660-8
Audiobook ISBN 978-1-644 50-658-5


Dedication

Thank you to each Fae-natic who has written me to say they have gotten lost in the Veil. Your words are the stars that light up the night sky and guide me on my journey. Here’s to another adventure! Chaos be with us, and may we never stop dreaming, for the universe always has a way of answering. We just have to listen.





Acknow ledgements

PMD
Carlos & Penelope
Christina: Thank you.
4Horsemen: As always, it is a pleasure to ride along with you.
Pandiivan: Thank you for your art.


Prologue

O h, kiddos, it’s just getting good in the Veil. Betrayal, heartbreak, and death—who says entertainmen t is dead?
I am thoroughly enjoying myself. These Fae are full of surprises. Let’s recap, shall we? So far, Queen Aur—I am sorry, it’s just Aurora now. Aurora gave up the crown when she decided to play martyr and acted like she was going to murder her betrothed, the Dark Fae King Jarvok. This was all a ruse to keep him safe because her own bishops planned to kill her and frame him. Juicy! Oh, and she also gave up their child, but Jarvok doesn’t even know she was pregnant.
That’s not even the best part. Aurora had her “friend” Lady Sekhmet perform a walk-in spell to transfer the unborn infant’s essence into a dying human baby’s body and then swept the baby off to be raised by humans. Yeah, that won’t come back to bite anyone in the ass. Aurora wrote two notes to Jarvok, telling him where he could find their baby, and gave the notes to Sekhmet. I smell a devil in disguise, and they aren’t doing a very good impe rsonation.
The information Aurora received about the betrayal came from Awynn—the dead bishop— in her dreams. Suspicious. After Aurora staged the murder plot, it was revealed that (hold onto your hats, kiddos!) Awynn was a Shadow Kat, but no one knows who sent the creature after her. The Oracles and their Familiars exposed the Shadow Kat, but its information about the bishops’ plot against Aurora was accurate. I always say, add a little truth to your lies; it’s so much more c onvincing!
However, the damage was done. Aurora was tired of fighting and succumbed to her broken heart. Okay, it was by execution, but you get the picture. Poor Aurora would die never knowing which Fae had betrayed her—none other than her friend SEKHMET! The new Queen of the Court of Light. I may have the unwarranted reputation as the father of lies, but this was low even by my standards.
So, Aurora was executed, and now the Fae are on a new path.
Couldn’t you just die !? Well Aurora certainly did. What? Too soon?
With this execution, King Jarvok, in all his hurt, has done me a gigantic favor. Something I thought I had lost so very long ago has been found. Mother Luna was correct: with death there is always a new beginning.


Cha pter One:
Wings

A urora was dead.
The first Queen of the Court of Light, the only Sylph, Guardian of Wind, the Virtue Angel known once upon a time as Xi, had met her Oblivion through her friend, the captain of the Royal Guard and founder of the Illuminasqua, Desdemona.
Captain Desdemona had fulfilled her orders and executed the disgraced queen for plotting to kill her betrothed, King Jarvok of the Court of Dark. Desdemona had used the notorious Harbinger swords, thrusting the blades through Aurora’s heart, but Aurora, as though in one last act of defiance, had manifested her energy wings in a brilliant display of power. For a split-second, Desdemona had thought the fuchsia wings turned into golden feathers in recognition of their old angelic lineage, though this all seemed impossible, considering Aurora was wearing a black onyx choker to block any Magick. Desdemona couldn’t be sure about the feathers, but she wasn’t the only one to see the wings.
Bishop Geddes gasped at the sight and covered his mouth to hide his shock.
“She manifested wings ! While she had the onyx collar on!” Bishop Ward exclaimed.
Geddes swiftly punched Ward in the gut. “Shut up, you fool, let no one hear you! You saw nothing,” Geddes whispered as he pushed the shocked Fae toward Bishop Caer. “Get him together!”
Desdemona was not surprised by Aurora’s demonstration; it was just like the former queen to defy convention. The captain pivoted, her swords held limply by her left hip, and announced to Bishop Geddes: “It is done.” Some of the crowd wept; others cheered. The mix of reactions naus eated her.
Geddes looked down at the warrior Fae. “Captain, please demonstrate proof of your kill.” To kill with a Harbinger sword meant the victim’s essence would be transformed into a tattoo for the wielder of the sword to wear as a reminder of t heir kill.
Desdemona’s grey eyes never left Geddes as she unbuttoned her vest, ripping at the fasteners, her fingers trembling, but she hid it well. The sounds of her breathing and the rustling fabric helped her to concentrate and not to cry. She had felt the familiar tinge of Magick; she knew where the Harbinger swords’ trophy had made their home. She pulled the material of her vest aside, revealing the black tattoo she now bore over her heart. The marking read “Xi” in the old language of the Angels. It was Aurora’s original angelic name; only those closest to the former queen would have known it.
For a moment, Bishop Geddes could not hide his surprise, but that was soon covered by a look of smug justification. His nostrils flared and his goatee emphasized his smirk like a picture frame. “Thank you, Captain. Your job is done. Guards, take the remains for cremation.” Geddes’ white cape snapped as he pivoted to leave. Ward and Caer followed, their faces emotionless, not an ounce of remorse dripping from their auras. Only Caer glanced back, but when he caught Desdemona’s eyes, he looked down and fell in line with the royal entourage. The new queen had already been ushered inside, protected from this charged debate. The bishops knew once the order for her cremation had been given it would incite Aurora’s loyalists.
“Wait!” Desdemona yelled as the Royal Guards approached the stage. She fixed her eyes on the balcony, holding the guards at bay with an outstretched hand. “She was our queen. She is to be buried in the Crystal Catacombs per her last wishes, not burned like a common—”
Jarvok stepped forward to the balcony, his hands gripping the stone railing. “Like a common Power Angel, Captain? You would have once been relegated to the pyre.” He leered, taking great pleasure in reminding Desdemona where she had come from.
Desdemona was not ready to speak with him; she was trying to keep her fury under control. It bubbled under her skin. The swords were back in