Magic Denied is up for pre-sale! It’ll be released on August 1st. So if you’re looking for:
- a sweet-clean romance
- high fantasy
- coming of age
- Rapunzel inspired
go and check it out on Amazon. It’s available in Kindle Unlimited, ebook, and paperback.
A few weeks ago, I shared part of the first chapter with you. If you missed it, here’s a direct link to the content. Sneak Peek
Below is the second part of the first chapter, which is really a prologue. I hope you enjoy it.
“Dragons?” The king’s cheeks went a few shades whiter.
Good, thought Calliope. Perhaps he will finally understand the threat.
Emboldened, Calliope continued, “Dragons were once dedicated service animals, much like horses are today. A young prince born of magic loved his dragon and shared his magic with the animal. This magic gave the dragon human-like intelligence that turned to arrogance.”
The king scoffed. “Fairy tales.”
Calliope raised an eyebrow at the monarch’s attitude but continued her story. “In their arrogance, the dragons no longer desired to serve humans. Instead, they sought out more magic so they could take on the form of humans. Because their magic was originally from a human child born of magic, they sought out these children and took their magic, killing many of them in the process. It has been more than a hundred years since the last human child of magic was born. During that time, the dragons lost interest in non-magical humans and stopped terrorizing our kingdoms.
“If you go through with your plan to birth a child of magic, the dragons will return. They will search for your kingdom. When they find you, they will destroy you.”
The fire crackled and snapped in the pause that followed. The ache in her bones drained from her at having passed on the whole truth to the monarchs. She’d delivered the warning.
“But why aren’t the dragons drawn by you or the other witches in the kingdom?” The queen’s question hung in the air.
Calliope’s eyes held the queen’s in an unspoken response. She couldn’t tell the queen she wasn’t fully human. It was a closely guarded secret for the elves and Fae. Calliope cleared her throat. “Witches have ancestral magic passed down from one generation to the next. This does not attract dragons. Your child will be fully human and will have new magic.” It wasn’t a complete answer and merely skirted around the truth.
“And dragons are drawn to new magic?” the queen asked.
Calliope nodded.
The king leaned forward. His attitude seemed to have sobered some. “You saw that dragons would be drawn to the kingdom because of our child?”
Calliope took a quick sip of her tea. It had cooled to a comfortable warmth. “I did.”
“The child?” The queen gripped her husband’s arm.
Calliope closed her eyes, hesitating to tell the last piece of her vision. “There is a possibility the child will save you.”
“A possibility? Tell us.” The queen’s knuckles whitened. The king peeled his wife’s hand off his arm.
“After the child is born, you will leave the child with me to raise.”
The king’s face turned red. “Impossible. Our child will be the next monarch who must learn the ways of the court.”
“And the child shall.”
“How?” The king’s voice was sharp. His eyes narrowed.
“Will we be able to visit our child?” the queen asked.
Calliope nodded to the queen. “Whenever you wish. The child will be protected. I will see to it myself. As to training, you can provide tutors or educate the child yourself. But the child must also learn to control their magic. Only this will spare your kingdom.”
The king grunted. “And what do you ask in exchange for this service? Surely, this is how you will make your riches while bleeding our coffers.”
The monarch’s words bit into Calliope, but she shrugged them off. She was surprised she’d gotten this far with them. She thought for sure they’d give up when she asked to raise the child.
“I ask for nothing other than food and clothing. I will devote myself to your child and no other service,” Calliope said.
“Why?” the queen asked.
Calliope rested a hand on her chest. “Because I, too, care about this kingdom and do not wish to see it destroyed. However, before I give you the potion, there is one thing further you must know. It may sway your decision.”
“Tell us.” The queen placed her empty cup on the table between them.
“There is a young son born to a farmer in the pasture lands. He’d make a perfect king if given the chance.” Calliope paused and shifted her eyes between the monarchs to study their reactions. “This option will spare your kingdom trouble.”
The king clamped his lips shut and looked at his wife. They shared another long stare as if silently communicating. Calliope lowered her head. She knew the king and queen were not interested in the farm boy. They wanted an heir of their blood.
“We will take the potion and accept the cost. What is a kingdom without a ruler?” the king asked, his voice resigned.
Calliope set her untouched tea down on the table. “And you accept my terms?”
The queen nodded. “You will raise our child.”
Calliope went to the kitchen. Her movements were smooth, and pain didn’t accompany each step. She pulled out the small concoction she’d prepared yesterday with a small cloth package. She handed both items to the queen.
“You will drink this before going to bed.”
The queen held up the small vial of murky liquid and then the package. “And this?”
“It is cress, picked from my garden. It is filled with nutrients that will help you in your pregnancy.”
“Cress,” the queen whispered.
The king shifted his stance. His boots scraped against the wooden floors. He was probably eager to leave. “Witch, we thank you for your service to the crown.”
Calliope held the door open and leaned against it. “Just remember our deal. I expect you to return in nine months with your daughter.”
The king snapped his jaw shut. His cheek twitched as he ground his teeth. His lips formed a stern line.
“We will.” The queen nudged her husband. “This is for the future of our kingdom and our family. We will.”
Calliope closed the door after them, not bothering to watch their carriage leave. She leaned her back against the door. The king and queen had made their choice, and the kingdom would pay a costly price. She’d seen the future, and offering to raise the child was the most she could do.
Thanks for reading! If you’re interested to learn more about this mysterious child born of magic, you can get your copy on Amazon.
K. M. Wray 