Jaeger looked down at his hands. They were shaking. Hell, his whole body was shaking. His gaze moved to the unconscious young boy sprawled on the ground. This was insane; totally mad. Jaeger raked one hand through his dark hair and took several steps away.
His gaze swept over the surrounding fields. Grazing land, mostly, but a thick copse of maple trees stood on either side of the lane, plunging it into cool, blue-black darkness. The trees had hidden Jaeger, and he had spooked the child’s horse when he stepped into the open without warning. Now, guilt raged through him as he once more approached the unconscious youth.
How could I have done this? He’s a child, just a child. Still…
NITESH:
"Bind and brand them."
The words sent a chill racing through Thalassa, and a murmur of despair through the long line of war captives. Thalassa's gaze traveled over those around her. A sorry lot they were, though not all were her countrymen. The dark-haired Diraenians and Asurians stood out amongst her people, the pale-skinned, blond-haired Zals. Most of the captives were under-nourished, many were injured. All showed signs of their long weeks on the road. Resignation lay heavy on their battered and bruised faces, deep within pitiful eyes that held no hope. Their existence had come to a shattering conclusion. To the victor go the spoils, Thalassa thought bitterly. We have all become nothing more. Nothing more than slaves, indentured to those who had maimed and scarred the countryside, claiming it as their own. At twenty years of age, that wasn't much of a future. If she had a future at all. She shuddered and returned her gaze to the heavily muscled man at the front of the line.
Michael has a grand adventure in all parts of the world...and does it all before lunchtime!
THE TRISKELION (Guardians of Glede Book One):
When the balance of power is threatened in the land of Glede, the powerful Triskelion calls for its master. The only problem is - the master is a 14 year old elf, who knows nothing of either the Triskelion or the power that he will ultimately command. He is joined in a dangerous quest to secure the Triskelion by the young, newly orphaned King of Odora Dava, the other half of the magic needed to free the magic that will restore peace in Glede.
Both boys' journeys are laced with danger and death, both will endure more than they ever thought possible, and both will begin to mature into the leaders they will become. Through it all fast friendships are forged, and love takes on a whole new meaning.
The evil Rugan has returned, determined to recapture what he sees as his magic. He pairs with a sorcerer and attempts to once more drain Glede of the elfin magic. Treyas and Jansson band together to stop this new threat before Rugan can destroy what they hold dear. Both yet boys, each must undertake a perilous journey to restore the elfin magic as it once was. Each boy will face what seem to be insurmountable
odds, and both will discover that friends are there to depend on in times of travail.
THE SORCERER'S POOL (Guardians of Glede Book Three):
Rugan is back, but this time with power not his own. He spells both Treyas and Jansson to Karsaba, the land that strips one's memory. Unfortunately for him, Kyel comes along for the ride. With Kyel's help, and the unexpected help of two new friends, Treyas and Jansson must once more battle Rugan, but this time the stakes are not only the land, but everything that make them who they are.
Jordy is a fisherman who faces his responsibilities to his village, despite the dangers involved. But with the help of a lucky red feather, Jordy becomes the hero of the day.
THE DRAGONS OF MERE ODAIN (Guardians of Glede Book Four):
Far away in the land of Mere Odain, a dragon calls out for help to her master - Pepin Merripen, now living as the son of Crown Prince Treyas Merripen and his wife, Cynthe. Pepin must answer, or die. Shocked and terrified, Treyas gathers his closest friends, and goes to Mere Odain. But the country is in turmoil. An ethnic cleansing is going on - any black or brown skinned person must die. Treyas is determined to save his young son's life even it means taking on the whole of the Keltin Empire and ending a war 40 years in the making.
Diesa de Tyronmen escapes from a brutal master only to be sold to an elf. Though mesmerized by his beauty, Diesa struggles for both her freedom and her growing love for the elf. Unwittingly, Diesa learns that she was bought only to win a wager, and she realizes her mother's words were right: An elf will claim your heart with his words, your soul with his touch.
Vala Kalei has always been different from the other villagers, saved from death by the fae, and condemned by her own neighbors. But when she makes the decision to go to the faery realm and retrieve the babies that have been dying, she opens up another whole world of mystery, pain, heartache and love.
Pepin Merripen has become withdrawn and surly. Treyas blames the young queen, El'Leigh, of Mere Odain for Pepin's moodiness. Every time the two young people are together, sparks fly.
But when Pepin learns that King Darosenim of Karsaba, and King Jansson of Odora Dava, have withdrawn their troops from Mere Odain, he becomes frantic. Who will now protect his dragon, Fayemera, and her hatchlings?
Queen El'leigh summons Pepin to her side, demanding that he take on his proper role of DragonMaster. However, Pepin is now a young man of 14 and in love for the first time. He reminds El'leigh that he is now in allegiance with the elves, not the Merians.
Furious, El'leigh sends Nila, Pepin's love, to the wilds of South Kelta. Panicked, Pepin follows, hoping to save Nila before any harm can befall her. But both youth are captured by Keltin warriors, who quickly realize just who they have in their grasp. If they can force Pepin to make the dragons do their bidding, they will regain their lost advantage in Mere Odain. And to make him do their bidding, they use Nila as incentive.
From the Heart: Book Two of the Blood Bred Series:
Baris had everything.. . a wife he worshipped, a child he adored, a life of comfort and security. But it changes suddenly and dramatically, with no explanation. Anika, his wife, shuns him and orders him to leave her side. His child claims that his mama is not really his mama. And Dierdre, a devastatingly beautiful young woman slides into Baris' life, seduction on her mind.
When Baris attempts to take his wife to the Lair to be healed, she flees, leaving him alone with his child and Dierdre. To add to his agony, the child is bitten by a poisonous snake and Baris takes him to the Lair to save his life. Once reunited with Dierdre, the pair set off in search of Anika. But as the days turn to weeks with no sign of his wife, Baris must accept that possibility that she does not wish to be found.
As his life grows increasingly entangled with Dierdre, he makes the mistake of feeding on a young man who is addicted to a powerful drug called Hack. Baris is soon addicted as well, and now must struggle to reclaim everything that he once held dear. Or die.
New Beginnings: Book Three of the Blood Bred Series:
A powerful Vector roams the dark alleys and streets searching for his next victim. But he is not interested in those with normal blood, only those in whose veins runs blood thick with hack. And if Adan can't find someone who has just ingested the potent drug, he will use his powers to coerce them to do so before he feeds.
For Darius, the Vector Sovereign, Adan has become a problem. A problem he needs to fix.
Their heads filled with stories of adventures spun by their father and uncles, Vantann and Thomlin Merripen decide to have an adventure of their own. Through an old book they learn of The Caves of Challenge. If they can survive the challenges inside, they will
emerge as not only men, but "Victoriers".
The brothers, and young Shuri decide they are willing to brave the risks and prove themselves, but before they have a chance to really get prepared, they are sent to the caves by haphazard magic.
Once there, it doesn't take long before Shuri and Vantann are captured by war gnomes and Thomlin is lost in a dark swamp. His only consolation is that, somehow, he has snagged Jansson van Tannen along for the bumpy ride. And, where Jansson goes, so go his friends.
Treyas, Darosenim, Kyel, and Druce enter the caves in search of the wayward children. But once there, they find much more than they bargained for, and the question becomes who will be forced to stayin the Caves of Challenge forever?
Tormented by guilt over the happenings in Winze, Vantann watches his siblings with a critical, judgmental, and sometimes violent, scrutiny. Thomlin finally rebels against his brother and sets the course for an adventure even greater, and much more dangerous, than the one they both endured in The Caves of Challenge.
Swept into a land that demonizes the second born of twins, that forbids magic, and that is being terrorized by a coven of Nydiri, the twins very survival is threatened.
Any use of magic without a permit means death. And any contact with the Nydiri means the same, for they are actively searching for twins to complete a powerful spell set at the height of a mysterious orange moon.
Pepin has reclaimed his title as DragonMaster and his allegiance is in question - are his loyalties to Mere Odain or the elves? The timing of this political crisis could not have been worse, as the Crown Prince is to leave the next day on a diplomatic visit to Dalziel.
Once in Dalziel, things rapidly begIn to fall apart. Politically, Kyel and Jansson are at each other's throats, Vantann and Thomlin make friends in the wrong places, and Treyas finds out that his SoulMate and squire, Druce Sinclair, is suffering from a horribly painful and incurable disease.
To top it off, Treyas discovers that Dalziel has been overrun with Nydiri, who have the power of Illusion. He is no longer sure who is talking to – a trusted friend or an imposter.
When Vantann, Thomlin, Elecka Sylvain and a kitchen girl disappear, it becomes a cat and mouse game to find them without alerting the Nydiri that their deception has been uncovered. At least until Treyas can find a way to free the captives and destroy the Nydiri threat once and for all...
