Stolen
Moon by Kimber Leigh Wheaton
(Light Chronicles #2)
Publication date: August 19th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Katarina ~ a Royal
Knight bound by honor and duty who steals a powerful relic from a sorcerer in a
desperate attempt to save her kingdom from the clutches of a madman.
Ethan ~ a mercenary
leader trapped between his growing attraction to Katarina and his responsibility
to protect his friends from the evil pursuing her.
Zebulon ~ a malicious
sorcerer waging war as though it’s a game, caring nothing for the lives he
destroys in his quest for power.
Drawn together by a moonstone
medallion—an indestructible relic with immense magical power.
Katarina steals the medallion from
Zebulon and flees in the dead of night. Together with Ethan and his
mercenaries, she struggles to stay one step ahead of the sorcerer and his
minions in a race against time to save her homeland. Fierce battles, ravenous
monsters, and bloodthirsty brigands—those are no surprise. But Katarina never
dreamed her greatest obstacle could be falling in love.
The
pirates seem endless as they swarm over the schooner, taking out the less
experienced merchant sailors with ease. Any that challenge me fall to my blade
within moments. They may have vast numbers, but their sword skills are lacking.
Most try to avoid fighting me. Either they don't see me as a threat or they
don't wish to harm what they view as a valuable captive.
Several
pirates disregard me and storm past to surround Captain Harris, who is fighting
at my side. The fool tries to lead the group away in what appears to be a
last-ditch effort to protect me.
My heart
wrenches when he's hit on the back of his head with a saber. He collapses to
the deck unmoving. I race to his side, cutting down the three pirates
surrounding him. Ignoring the battle raging all around me, I fall to my knees
beside him. He stares up at me, sorrow marring his handsome features. I brush
the hair from his forehead with my fingertips, watching the blood gush from the
wound on his head. It's a fatal injury. He'll bleed out within moments.
"I'm
so sorry, Katarina," he murmurs as I gaze into his stricken brown eyes.
"I wish… I…"
"Shh,
don't speak," I say, grasping his hand while his body shakes.
"S-stay
strong," Harris whispers. "Don’t let… him catch you… save
Tellain."
Harris
knew? I gaze at him in silent question and he nods. He knew I was on the run
from Zebulon the whole time. This man I thought a scoundrel could have made a
fortune turning me in, and now he’s dying in an attempt to protect me instead.
"How?"
I ask around the lump in my throat.
"W-wanted
pos… ter."
Coughs
wrack his body. With a grunt of pain, he raises his hand and brushes a light
caress across my cheek with his fingers, leaving a warm smear of blood behind.
His eyes glaze over in death, and I close them with my fingertips, saying a
quick prayer to War God Ramil.
I rise
and return to the battle raging around me, shaking with an overwhelming
combination of fright and fury. Captain Harris was the only skilled swordsman
on this ship, with him gone… I steel my back along with my resolve. I’m the
only thing standing between the pirates and my family now—they need me, the
people of Tellain need me. This is no time for sorrow, regret, or dread.
When I
bury my fear, rage-fueled adrenaline consumes me. Several stunned brigands fall
under the wild, almost berserk swings of my sword. Intense anger gives me
strength. I cut a swath through the pirates, leaving injured and dead men lying
in my wake.
My sword
pierces through the stomach of a small pirate standing near the cabin door. His
muddy brown eyes meet mine, shock etched across his young face. My heart sinks.
He's a boy, not more than twelve years old. We stare at each other, my sword
still lodged in his torso. I watch the light in his eyes dim until they glaze
over and roll backward. The young pirate writhes a bit on my sword before
sliding off and collapsing to the ground, a tangle of lifeless limbs. I somehow
manage to continue on, though my fury has faded to grief. The only thing that
keeps me swinging my sword is years of intense training, duty so deeply
ingrained it's become a part of me.
AUTHOR BIO
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA/NA author with a soft spot
for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage
son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons.
No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh
is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains,
and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose,
she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San
Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life,
having resided in several different cities and states.
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