Bound by Duty
Bound Series, Book One
by Stormy Smith
Review
Genres:
Young Adult, Romance, and Paranormal
Amazon http://amzn.to/1lxz3Mg
Amelia
grew up in a world of half-truths. She knows she's an Elder, but has no idea
what that means. Her father reminds her daily that she must maintain control,
but he refuses to explain why. Even worse, she's betrothed to the prince of the
Immortals and doesn't even know his name.
Finally breaking free to live
a few normal years at a community college, the last thing Amelia expects is to
find her best friend in a cheeky southern girl, or fall for a self-assured
human who sees her for who she is, not what she will become.
As she learns more about
herself, Amelia realizes the line between love and duty is a thin one. As her
power continues to increase exponentially and her questions are slowly
answered, Amelia must make the ultimate choice. The question is, will her head
win the battle, or her heart?
Bound
by Duty - Prologue
Her stark white hair fell
down around her face. For the first time in one hundred years it wasn’t pulled
back in a waist-length braid. Her crimson robes were torn and stained. She bit
back a groan, her lips a tight line as the pain ripped through her once again.
The invisible knife raked its way up her back as wounds no one could see flayed
her skin and weakened her resolve. It had been days of this and she wasn’t sure
if she could continue. As she looked up and met the queen’s eyes, Lavignia
pushed the anger down and forced compassion to rise yet again.
“What is it you hope to
learn, Julia? What is it you think you have to gain from all of this?” she
asked weakly as she tugged on the restraints that kept her tethered to the
heavy wooden chair. Her power was already weak when the Hunters had found her,
and the enchanted chamber had dampened what remained to a tiny flame.
The room was dark, but the
sun was slowly rising. An orange and pink glow filtered through the small
window above Julia’s head. The colorful rays that should have resembled hope of
a new day only shed light on the reality that Lavignia would never leave this
room alive.
Julia stepped from the
shadows and walked slowly toward Lavignia. She stopped and crouched down,
putting herself at eye level.
“Oh, Livvy, dear. Don’t do
that,” she said, her tone patronizing as her ice crystal eyes narrowed. “Don’t
pretend you can still look down on me from your Elder tower. Don’t pretend you
can utter your polite words and suddenly I’ll remember who you are versus who I
am. I know exactly who I am. I am the one who rules them all. I am the one they
will bow down to and worship. I am the Queen. Not you. Or your sisters. Your
time is done.”
She looked back over her
shoulder to the Hunter who stood in the still dark corner of the room and
nodded. The Hunter’s eyes burned bright orange as Lavignia’s screams echoed off
the walls. Julia raised her hand and the screams dropped to whimpers. With that
same hand, she reached out and took Lavignia’s.
“Livvy, look at me,” she
commanded. Dazed, dim violet eyes struggled to focus and find hers. Julia
tightened her grip, digging her scarlet nails into Lavignia’s already tender
flesh, making her yelp and their eyes connect.
“Livvy, you need to tell me,”
she said. “I know you see it. You knew
this day would come and you know I won’t stop until you tell me. I scoured the
lands for you. I know there are others left, but they can be saved. You can
save them, old friend. You just have to tell me.” Her tone was persuasive and gentle,
but the frantic look that passed through her eyes told Lavignia the truth the
queen couldn’t hide — she was scared.
“You won’t harm the others?
You will let them live out their lives hidden and free? You will swear an
oath?” Her words trailed off and Lavignia’s eyes closed, the torture of the
last few days taking its toll. She could only hope the oath would keep her
people safe.
She didn’t see the triumph
that straightened Julia’s posture or the sneer that twisted her thin, painted
lips. “Of course, my dear. I swear to you that I will not seek out and harm the
remaining Elders. I swear that I will not take their freedom.”
“Your blood,” Lavignia said,
her words barely audible.
Julia removed a small dirk
from the folds of her skirts and repeated the words as she slid the blade down
her palm. As the deep red drop hit the floor, she sent a small wave of power
through to heal the wound, reveling in the knowledge that she had won.
“Now, Livvy, darling, you
must tell me.” When Lavignia didn’t respond, Julia whipped back around to the
still silent Hunter. “Help her. Give her what she needs. NOW!” she commanded,
panic finally breaking through her controlled facade.
The Hunter flicked a wrist at
Lavignia and she suddenly straightened, her eyes luminescent and shining at the
welcome invasion of power that flooded her system, giving her renewed life for
a few precious seconds.
With sudden clarity, she saw
the future that had eluded her. She looked down on Julia with authority and
pity as the words that would cement the queen’s fate fell from her lips.
“You will have your time, but
it will end. She will be born to the one who got away. Inside her, the five
families will merge and only a man who is both king and companion will tame the
wild and set her free. She will be your undoing. She will lead them all.”
Julia reared back, Lavignia’s
words not the ones she expected. Seconds later, her dirk was buried deep in
Lavignia’s chest. Lavignia collapsed back against the chair, a content smile
mocking the queen from her lifeless face.
Julia’s breath heaved in and
out in short bursts as she turned to the Hunter. “I made an oath. You did not.
Find them. Kill them all.”
If we had a chance to co exist with beings that look like us but posses special magical powers, story could be real. I enjoyed the plot line with the wicked queen, the mate you must find for life, and the choices you just make whether to put love or your people first.
I discovered this author by accident. I am so happy I did! I hope I will get to read more of her work.
Author Bio: Stormy Smith is the author of the Amazon best seller, Bound by
Duty. She calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the
Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom
that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly
that fantasy storylines were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates
toward paranormal stories in any form.
Writing a book
had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be
stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s
favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere
she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.
Website: http://www.stormysmith.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stormysmith
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