Dracian Legacy
Table of Contents
Copyright © 2013 by Priya Kanaparti
Sale of the paperback edition of this book without its cover is unauthorized.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
Please visit my website at
http://priyakanaparti.com
First Edition: February 2013.
Dracian Legacy : a novel / by Priya Kanaparti – 1st ed. p. cm.
Summary: Ren and Axel are caught between two powerful magical races: one destined to end the bloodshed, the other out for vengeance. This is the beginning of their story.
The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the wordmarks mentioned in this fiction.
Cover design by Regina Wamba at
Mae I Design
Professional editorial services by: Cassie McCowan at
The Eyes for Editing
Interior design by Amy Eye at
The Eyes for Editing
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Epigraph
“Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature, because in her inventions nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous.”
— Leonardo da Vinci
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to my amazing boys,
Rajesh, Jay, & Koda
who supported me day in and day out allowing me to immerse myself in my fantasies when creativity ventured.
Big thank you to
Cassie McCowan
, who put up with
far too many
of my crazy and pestering emails and ‘ONE final edit’ requests.
A super thank you to
Regina Wamba
, who produced unbelievable design and branding for this book.
A heartfelt thank you to my Critique Partners
Jackie Hauver, Juliana Haygert, Jessica Renfro,
and
Cecilia Robert
for their honest feedback and support for the past seven months of this project. Without them, this story would have never made it out of my laptop.
Humungous thank you to my two beta’s
Tonja Decker
and
Loni Townsend
who provided feedback that took this story from ordinary to extraordinary! Thank you girls for braving to become my first victims.
A huge thank you with a cherry on top to all the
bloggers
that supported me to get exposure I needed for my debut novel. Your support and constant encouraging words have been a true blessing.
An enormous thank you to the
readers
! You bless me far beyond any words can describe.
Finally, to the
person that holds the universe together
. Thank you for your consecrations in keeping everything together in my life. I owe you everything.
DEDICATION:
To my husband, Rajesh, who stood by my side as I started on this adventure! Who supported and cleaned the house and our super active son!
To my lovely Jay, who has been nothing but Joy! It was because of you I started this new journey. You inspire me to break the bounds and live life to the fullest.
To my wonderful Koda, who has been right beside me every night, snuggling his furry-self next to me. Thank you for your company and all the love during those long nights of writing.
PROLOGUE
A single color filled my vision.
Black.
In the midst of all the sorrow, the joyful chirping of a hummingbird touched my ears, shedding light on my heavy, darkened heart. Even though my hair was neatly styled in a tight bun held by at least twenty hairpins, one stubborn strand flew loose as the wind blew around us without mercy.
The weather was the exact opposite of my mood. I felt nothing, as if a black hole sucked the life out of me. My eyes were swollen, my body refused to respond, and I was cold.
Deathly cold.
I shivered and turned my attention to Father Jacob.
“…as we commit Jim and Irene Pernell to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection. We enter this world with nothing and we leave wi…”
His voice droned and I found my thoughts drifting away from the sermon. Three days had passed. Three days since this emptiness entered my soul and refused to leave. An arm wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me closer. I inhaled the smell of home and the only family I had left in this entire world—my brother. Joshua. I leaned into his comfort, wrapped my arms around his waist, and looked blankly ahead as my parents were lowered into the earth.
Never to be seen again.
Lost forever.
“Temperance…” The warm hand on my shoulder gently nudged me back from my morbid thoughts.
“Temperance… It’s time.” No one had called me that in a long time. Father Jacob gestured for Joshua and me to pay our respects.
My body stiffened, rebelling.
No. I can’t. Throwing the handful of earth is finalizing; no, it’s admitting they’re really gone. I won’t do it.
“Ren.”
I looked into Joshua’s blue-amber eyes, so much like mine, strained with worry. His face was cautious and composed. On any given day, he was a concentrated ball of energy. After all, he was a Marine, a world-class black-belt karate champion—a warrior-built, six-foot three-inch, broad-shouldered killing machine. Today, my brother was anything but strong—he was vulnerable. Today, he would easily be overpowered by a two-year-old.
“Ren, we can do this. I need you, killer.”
“Okay,” I said, my voice raspy.
Another first. I hadn’t spoken in three days. Since my parents were killed three nights ago, I had no appetite, no motivation to speak—only to cry. And cry I did. Today was the first time I left my room since the sheriff knocked on our door to escort us to the morgue. Even the officers had a hard time looking at us. Not many murder cases came along in our quiet town of Rocky Hills, Idaho.
My hand rested in Joshua’s as I dared a step forward. Then another and then another. I picked up a fistful of brittle dirt and stood over my parents’ burial ground. I scanned my surroundings, gazing at each individual gathered to mourn our mutual loss.
“I’ll protect her with my life; I promise.” Joshua’s voice cracked, his eyes locked on the coffins. Being older by ten years, he always sheltered me from anything and everything he could. I wouldn’t expect him to do anything different, especially now.
Joshua gave me a reassuring squeeze, reminding me where I was. With a wavering breath, I knelt, tears escaping onto the patch of soft green grass.
“I don’t know…”
My throat hurt and I didn’t recognize my own broken voice. My surroundings blurred and every sensation came rushing forward—uncontrolled, incoherent—like I was finally free from the constant emotional burden of the past three days.
“Momma. Daddy.” There was so much I wanted to say. But nothing seemed to make it past my lips. I missed them too much; it hurt to even think.
I let tears roll down my cheeks, washing away my sorrow and anguish. I kissed the knuckles of my hand holding the fistful of dirt. Sobs escaped me. Joshua knelt beside me, his hand over my shoulder, comforting me.
“It’s okay. Let go,” he whispered into my ear with a kiss on my temple. “It will get easier. I promise.”
I believed him. I slowly let go.
CHAPTER ONE