Book One of The Legends of Mynos, my fantasy romance series, entitled THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSE, is now in print! If you’ve been following my publishing journey for the past few years, you’ll know what a saga it has been to get this book available to the masses. You have NO idea how excited I am to see this book go to bookstores nationwide!
This book and this series as a whole has a long history. The idea for the Crystal of Mynos came to me when I was a 13 year old child. When I was in Jr. High, I wrote a few cheesy stories about this Crystal and the elves who protect it.
Later in life, when I finally decided to write a full-length novel, I dusted off those old stories to see what I could steal from them. I changed a few things, kept a few names, and off I went. After eight long years, this book was finally finished, ready to be submitted—or so I thought.
Rejected by New York time and again, I was discouraged until a small electronic press accepted it for publication. I was ecstatic—until that press went out of business. Cast adrift after only the first book in the series was released, I almost had fans pounding down my door to get the dang series published again.
Then I found Samhain Publishing. I cannot tell you how happy I am to be published here, and how priviledged I feel to be rubbing shoulders with some big names in the e-publishing industry. Knowing THIS book, one of my very favorites, was going to print was like a dream come true. I felt like Cinderella. Was this really happening? Just a few years ago, writing this book and actually having it published was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Now, here I am, excited as hell this book is in bookstores NATIONWIDE. There is no other feeling quite like it, knowing I’ve accomplished my childhood dream—not only by becoming an author, but by bringing the story of the Crystal of Mynos, the Wolverines, and the dragons to the masses.
Never in my wildest dreams did I envision going this far with this story. But I’ll tell you what—I’m enjoying the ride with a HUGE grin on my face! 
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She’s in danger from mysterious dark knights, she’s discovering magic she never knew existed, and she’s falling head over heels in love.
Book I of the Legends of Mynos series
One night destroys Arianna’s home, wipes out her family and flings her into a world turned upside down.
He’s only kissed her once, but Arianna feels as if she’s always known Sir Geoffrey, the Wolverine knight who saves her life. She can hear his thoughts, feel his memories. One kiss, and they’re trapped in a bond they didn’t choose and cannot break.
Their world’s in terrible danger, their one hope the fabled crystal of the dragon, Mynos. But only a woman can touch the crystal and survive…
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EXCERPT:
Arianna awoke with a start. The moon had risen and it shone its pale light into her room. Was it her imagination or had she heard a faint tapping on her window? She didn’t dare move, not even to breathe. Whatever was outside might hear her. She’d almost convinced herself she was hearing things when the sound came again, this time, even louder.
Glancing around the room, Arianna was looking for some sort of a weapon when a voice called to her.
“Rose? Rose, are you in there?” a voice whispered.
Her heart stilled. It was the man from the marketplace. He’d come for the scroll! Without another thought, Arianna bolted out of bed. She stopped herself before she reached the window, picking up a brush to run it a few times through her hair. When she opened the window, a cool night breeze caressed her shoulders. Unprepared for the chill, she shivered.
Bathed in moonlight, he stood before her window. He no longer wore the robe she’d seen him in at the marketplace. Instead, a long billowing cloak and dark, loose fitting clothes covered his muscular body. She sucked in her breath at the sight of him and stared, awestruck by his beauty. The current of the breeze played with his blond hair and the edges of his cloak. Neither of them spoke for what seemed an eternity as he stared right back at her with his amazing blue eyes. Finally he cleared his throat.
“Do you still have the scroll?”
“Yes,” she answered. At that moment, she looked down and realized she wore nothing but her nightgown. He smiled as he must have realized it too. She blushed, the heat of it making her cheeks burn. “Please excuse me, sir,” she said, dashing from the window and yanking the blanket from her bed.
“Oh that’s quite all right,” he said through his smile as he watched her.
Arianna couldn’t stop gazing at him. He was so beautiful. She fought the urge to tell him so. She wanted to touch his face to make sure that he was real. She also wanted to kiss him again. The thought of it sent shivers up her spine.
“Please, milady, I haven’t much time. Give me the scroll and I’ll be gone.”
With a sigh and a nod, Arianna walked to the loose floorboard and pulled it up, all the while trying to think of a way to keep this man here with her. She could think of no such reason. There lay the rose he had given her. Without water or sunlight, the flower that had once been so beautiful was now dead and wilted. She lifted it out of its hiding place and gazed at it for a few moments with a silent sadness. She laid it back underneath the floor, intending to leave it there for a keepsake.
Arianna pulled the scroll out of the niche, perhaps slower than she needed to. Defeated, sighing to herself, she rose from the floor, trying to hold the scroll and keep the blanket closed around her at the same time. Reaching out through the window, she handed it to him.
“I kept it safe for you,” she told him.
“Thank you, Rose. You have done your king a great service.” As he took the scroll from her, he also grasped her hand. “I regret that we have met each other under these circumstances. I am forever in your debt. If ever our paths cross again, I promise you it will be on different terms. Until then, sweet Rose…” He kissed her hand, pressing his lips to her skin and making Arianna tremble at the contact. He lingered for a moment, his warm breath caressing her wrist while his thumb stroked her beating pulse. He looked into her eyes and gave her a tender smile.
Without warning, a sharp scream shattered the still of the night. It came from somewhere within the farmhouse, only to stop short. In one fluid movement, the stranger leapt through Arianna’s open window and drew his sword, pushing her out of the way. The hiss of his blade from his scabbard made every hair on her body stand on end.
“Stay behind me, milady,” he said, pushing her back.
Arianna widened her eyes. The man’s sword glowed a pale white, illuminating her room with a soft light. “What is happening?”
The man placed his fingers to his lips as he made his way to the door. The door flew open and Arianna’s father stood in the hall holding his own rusty sword aloft. It glowed white—like the stranger’s weapon.
Isaac stopped in amazement before entering, apparently shocked a man was in Arianna’s room. But a look of recognition passed over his face as he stared at the stranger.
“It’s you!” her father cried in frantic disbelief.
Arianna only had a moment to be confused before a Dark Knight came out of nowhere, raising his sword behind Isaac.
“Father!” she yelled, watching the black blade pierce her father’s side. “No!”
“Take her and run. Run!” Isaac bellowed, as he turned to face his attacker.
The stranger wasted no time, seizing Arianna and pushing her through her open window. Like a shot, he was right behind her, sprinting across the yard toward the hill. Arianna stumbled, gasping in pain from her bare feet. The smell of smoke permeated the air before they even reached the top of the hill. By the time they reached the old oak, exhaustion weakened her limbs. She didn’t remember the hill being so steep. Collapsing on the ground, she lay there for a few moments trying to catch her breath. Her heart pounded hard and she struggled for breath in the tall grass.
At that moment, Arianna noticed an eerie light fill the sky. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the reason for it. “Oh God.” Massive flames were consuming the farmouse.
“No!” she screamed as cold reality hit her. Meiri, her parents, everyone was in the burning house. “No!” she yelled again, starting to run back down the hill. The stranger pushed her down, landing on top of her.
“Rose, there is nothing you can do.” his familiar voice yelled in her ear. “They are gone!”
She tossed her head from side to side in denial. He sat up and held her to him, attempting to comfort her in her grief. Arianna hugged him back fiercely, not knowing what else to do.
“They are gone,” he said
“No! They can’t be. No. I don’t believe you! Mother! Father!”
Arianna sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder. “Meiri!”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” the man repeated as he cried with her. “I brought this on you, Rose. I will not rest until I have made it right.” Arianna barely heard him over her own wailing. The pain of reality was almost too much for her to bear. She cried so hard she couldn’t breathe.
The stranger hooked his arms under her knees and carried her to his horse, whose reins were tied to the oak tree. Arianna was only vaguely aware that he’d lifted her into the saddle. As soon as she was astride, he jumped up to sit behind her.
“We must put miles between us and this place,” he said in her ear. “Take one last look at your home, sweet lady. The only place you’re safe now is with me.”
Arianna stared at the gargantuan flames that licked the sky. She shuddered with grief and turned away, tears coursing down her cheeks.
“Please…” She couldn’t bear to see anymore. With a squeeze, he took the reins and turned his horse to leave.
“Do you know how to ride?” he asked. She did not answer him. His grip around her waist tightened. “You just hold on.”
Without another word, he kicked his horse into a gallop.
~~Becka
http://www.RebeccaGoings.com
