The True Reign Series #1
Jennifer Anne Davis
YA Fantasy Romance
Clean Teen Publishing
Available at Amazon * Smashwords
Blurb
Within these pages lie kingdoms with castles and princes who fall in love with fair maidens, but make no mistake−this is no fairytale.
His father’s kingdom is on the brink of upheaval and at the center of it all is an ordinary girl who could be the key to its undoing. When faced with the ultimate choice, will he choose the girl he’s falling in love with or the kingdom he has sworn to protect?
An ordinary girl with an extraordinary past. All she wants is to be free. What she doesn’t realize is that freedom comes with a price she can’t afford to pay. She’s forced to accept the proposal of a prince she despises, even though her heart belongs to someone else . . . his brother.
Seventeen-year-old Rema lives in a brutal kingdom where travel between regions is forbidden, people are starving, and looking at someone the wrong way can mean death. Nineteen-year-old Darmik is the king’s son and Commander of the King’s Army. He spends his days roving the island, doing his father’s bidding and trying to maintain control over the people.
When a chance encounter throws Rema and Darmik together, they share an instantaneous connection, but any sort of relationship between them is strictly forbidden. Darmik’s brother, the Crown Prince, notices Darmik’s interest in Rema and, in a calculated, political move, blackmails her. Faced with an impossible choice, Rema is forced to sacrifice her heart in order to save her family.
As Rema is taken to the palace with the Crown Prince, Darmik confronts the growing rumor that a legitimate blood heir to the throne exists and is trying to overthrow Darmik’s family. In Darmik’s quest to hunt down and kill the threat, he discovers that nothing is as it seems. Locked in the king’s castle, Rema finds herself a key player in a massive power struggle. When Darmik shows up, she’s not sure if she can trust him. The line between friends, enemies, and loyalty becomes blurred. As truths are unlocked, Rema understands that she just might be the key to finding the rightful heir and restoring peace to the kingdom… if she can manage to stay alive long enough.
Excerpt
Darmik had to talk to
her again. He ran to the back of the stables, hoping to catch her alone. He
rounded the corner, slamming into her, knocking her to the ground. Big, round
sapphire eyes looked up at him.
“I’m
sorry,” Darmik stammered, reaching down to help her up. “I didn’t realize you
were there.”
“Prince Darmik,” she politely nodded, getting to her feet on her own. Her eyes
quickly scanned him from head to toe, lingering on his royal markings that
covered his neck and shoulders. The black stallion whinnied and ran away from
them. Tabitha sighed, exasperated. “What are you doing here?”
“Um,”
he wasn’t usually at a loss of words, but there was something about her
piercing gaze that made him forget what he was doing. She cleared her throat
and brushed the dirt from her dress.
“Sorry about that,” he pointed to her, indicating the collision. Her eyes
darted behind him. Darmik glanced back, but no one was there. “Are you looking
for someone?” he asked.
“My
uncle. He’s waiting for me. We just came to deliver this horse.” She waved her
hand toward the black stallion grazing nearby.
Tabitha certainly was
bold, and far more interesting than any of the nobles Darmik had ever met. But
then again, she wasn’t from the noble class—she was from the merchant class.
Still, she stood out like she didn’t belong to anyone or anything.
“Tabitha?” He took a step toward her, wanting to get closer.
“That’s not my name,” she stated.
“Excuse me?” He remembered her band: Tabitha, seventeen years old, niece of Kar
and Maya, not yet married or engaged.
“Aren’t you the commander of the King’s Army?” she asked. Darmik nodded. “Don’t
you have an army to run? Or do you only hunt and mosey about, pretending to be
of use to the kingdom? I thought King Barjon would manage to keep you busier.”
Was
she serious? Nobody had ever spoken to him in such a manner.
“Well,” he began to
answer, but she started laughing.
“I go by Rema.” She held
out her hand in greeting.
Darmik never shook hands
with anyone. Even though he was the commander of the army, he was also a
prince, and his men addressed him as such. Shaking hands was for commoners. Her
pale hand remained suspended in air, waiting for him.
His hand slid into hers.
“Prince Darmik,” he responded, shaking her warm hand, eager for the chance to
touch her again.
“I got that part,” Rema
smiled. Her breath smelled sweet like apples. She tried pulling her hand from
his, but he refused to release her.
“Let me escort you inside
the stables.” Darmik put her hand on his arm. She seemed reluctant at first,
but he pulled her along toward the front of the stables, not giving her a
chance to refuse. “Do you live nearby?” he asked.
“Yes.”
When she didn’t
elaborate, he forged on. “I haven’t seen blonde hair very often. Does your
mother have the same coloring?” As soon as he asked the question, he knew he’d
made an error. Her body tensed. He looked down at her, remembering her band
said she lived with her aunt and uncle. Rema shook her head, refusing to
answer.
Afraid he’d offended
her, he continued on. “I’ve traveled to Emperion. Almost everyone there has
blonde hair and blue eyes.”
“You’ve been to
Emperion?” she asked, squeezing his arm.
“Yes. For training.”
Rema’s eyes widened. “Tell
me about it,” she demanded. Darmik smiled in response to her excitement.
“Rema!” a stablehand
yelled.
“I forgot about my
uncle,” Rema said. “He’s waiting for me. I have to go.” She jerked her hand
away from Darmik’s arm and spun around, heading back the way they came. Rema
glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him. Then she rounded the corner and
disappeared.
Not
ready for her to go, Darmik jogged after her. Nearing the corner, he heard the
boy say, “We’ll miss seeing you Rema.” Darmik turned the corner and saw the
stablehand holding a pitchfork, his face bright red. “You have such a way with
the horses,” the boy stammered.
“I’m
getting married, not dying.” She smiled mischievously. “You’ll see me again.”
“Rema,” Darmik couldn’t help himself. “You’re engaged?”
The stablehand dropped
to one knee and bowed his head.
Rema’s smile vanished. Standing just behind her next to the stables was an
older man. The elderly man’s eyes moved from Darmik to Rema and back again. His
face lost all color as he knelt on the ground. Darmik assumed this was Rema’s
uncle.
Rema’s eyes bore into
Darmik’s. “Yes, Prince Darmik,” she answered, kneeling before him. “I am
engaged,” she replied softly. “The signed contract was delivered to Lord Filmar
today. My band is going to be marked tomorrow.”
Darmik was about to
reply when a flicker to his left caught his attention. His brother, Prince
Lennek, stood just inside the stables with a devious smile. Darmik prayed he
hadn’t drawn any attention to Rema. Lennek leaned against the wall, watching.
“You’re dismissed,” Darmik said, trying to sound nonchalant. He moved past
Rema, into the stables. Seconds later, Darmik heard the sound of a wagon pulled
by horses, and Rema was gone.
Lennek sauntered over to him. “She was beautiful, in a wild sort of way,” he
mused. “She looks like a bit of a challenge.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Might be
fun though. And you know how much I love a challenge.”
Darmik had the urge to
punch that smirk off his brother’s face. Lennek always knew which buttons to
push. Anytime Darmik was interested in something, Lennek had to have it,
whether he wanted it or not, just to prove he was better.
Darmik drew in a deep breath, smelling horse sweat and sweet hay. He couldn’t
dismiss Rema—Lennek was too smart and perceptive. “Blonde hair is so rare that
I found her appearance interesting. Not my type though. Not only is she a
commoner, but she’s engaged.”
Lennek’s eyes sparkled. “Definitely a challenge.”
“Laws
are laws, Lennek. Some not even you can break.”
“No,” he laughed, “but there are always ways
around them.” Lennek strolled out of the stables.
About the Author
Jennifer graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. Afterwards, she married her high school sweetheart, worked as a legal assistant, and taught high school English. Jennifer is currently a full-time writer and mother of three young children. Her days are spent living in imaginary worlds and fueling her own kids' creativity.
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