Rise (32 page)

BOOK: Rise

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“And you’ll make a beautiful queen.”

“What?” I asked.

“Vidar is the heir. When we kill Morlet, Vidar will retake the throne. Since you’ll be married to him, that will make you the queen.”

There was no way I was queen material. A warrior—yes. Royalty—no. “I don’t want to be queen.” All I ever wanted was a simple life.

“And I don’t want to be an assassin.” He sighed. “Another time, another life perhaps.”

“Perhaps.”

“You look exhausted. Go to sleep.”

Leaning on Anders’s shoulder, my eyes grew heavy and I drifted off to sleep.

Morlet laughed—the menacing sound making my body turn cold. I stood in the middle of an empty cabin I’d never seen before.

“You didn’t think it’d be that easy, did you?” He sauntered closer to me, his black cape billowing around his legs. “Oh, my dear Kaia,” he purred, tilting his head to the side, so I could see his mouth. “I will kill the eleven Krigers, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

I took a step away from him, searching the cabin for my bo staff.

“Then, when I’m done with them, you will watch as I destroy Vidar and that pathetic assassin. Mark my words—they will burn.” He smiled as he curled his fingers, making a fist and placing it over his heart, sealing his promise.

“I think you overestimate your magic.”

He laughed. “While I do appreciate your bravado, I know you better than that. And Kaia, I’m coming for you.”

End of Book 1

Order of the Krigers Word Guide

Kriger
= warrior

Soldat
= soldier

Heks
= witch/warlock

Ulv
= wolf

Brubjorn
= bear

Fugl
= large bird

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I’m not even sure where to begin. As I sit here composing my seventh, yes SEVENTH, set of acknowledgments, I am truly stunned. Seven books. What an accomplishment. When I first started out, all I wanted to do was write a book I wanted to read. And here I am.

None of this would be possible without my best friend and husband. His endless support has allowed me to embark on this wild dream of mine. I am so thankful to have him by my side every step of the way.

To my three kids who inspire and challenge me every single day. They are my biggest fans and always want to know what’s going to happen next in my stories. I love talking about my books with them. Their enthusiasm is absolutely priceless.

To my one and only sister. She is simply amazing. She works so hard, is fiercely passionate, and is a fantastic mother. I’m lucky to have her as my sister and friend.

To my mom who is my rock. She is always helping me out whether it is running the kids to and from school, soccer, or MMA. I’d be a mess without her love and support.

To my first reader, Jessica. I wrote five chapters of a new story just to see what would happen. Then I gave Jessica those five chapters. The next thing I knew, she wanted five more. My characters came to life, and she became my biggest cheerleader. I don’t think this story would have been written if it wasn’t for her.

To Allyssa, Stacie, Debi, and Rebecca. These girls are my extraordinary beta readers. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them. From the incredibly disastrous first draft, they read and critiqued my manuscript countless times until I had something that exceeded my expectations.

To Neil. I am thankful we met all those years ago at a SCBWI meeting and became critique partners. He was instrumental in polishing this manuscript and is truly one of the most talented writers I know.

To Sarah. Where would I be without our Panera writing stints? She makes writing fun, engaging, and forces me out of my writing cave to be social. At least as social as I can be.

To Georgia McBride. I can’t thank her enough for taking a chance on me. Not only that, but she pushed me to be a better writer, and I am eternally grateful. I’ve never had someone take such interest in me, teach me so much, and do it with grace and professionalism. I am truly blessed to work with her.

To my fabulous editor, Cameron, and everyone at Month9Books. They worked endlessly to take my manuscript and turn it into the beautiful book it is today. I am lucky to work with these amazing people.

To Jaime my publicist extraordinaire. She has a love for books that rivals my own. I am honored she works so hard to put this book into the hands of readers.

To Damaris. She is always promoting my books and helping to spread the word about them.

To my Davis Divas. Best street team ever. I love working with each and every one of them. Writing is such a solitary thing. However, when I share a cover or a synopsis with them, it is a privilege to obtain their feedback. I don’t know where I’d be without their unending support and enthusiasm.

Lastly, to my readers. I certainly wouldn’t be a writer without you. It brings me such joy to hear how excited people are for my stories, to hear how they love or hate one of my characters, and that they can’t wait for more books! Sometimes I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. THANK YOU!

JENNIFER ANNE DAVIS

Jennifer Anne Davis
is the bestselling author of the True Reign Series. She graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband and three highly energetic children.

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