Katalea and her new mate set out to find the missing hidden prophecies. They soon discover four other supernatural strangers tasked with the same quest. All seek the prophecies for their own reasons, but they must come together as a team in order to succeed. From five absolutely different walks of life, these six must learn to trust each other. Will they reveal secrets about their past in order to protect their future? Will they be able to keep the prophecies from falling into the hands of the one who would like to see them all fail, and become extinct? This story has it all, wealth and romance, travel and extravagance, and deep and dirty little secrets that could destroy them all.
"The journey is the treasure." Lloyd Alexander
~
~
~
"The true secret in being a hero lies in knowing the order of things. Things must happen when it is time for them to happen. Quests may not simply be abandoned; prophecies may not be left to rot like unpicked fruit. The happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story." The Last Unicorn
~
~
~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~
~
~
Just before dawn, before the light beat back the dark, before anything or anyone stirred, Katalea found herself in the place that she considered her sanctuary. Her terrace, all fixed and new, boasted new deck furniture in shades of sea green. She lounged alone for a few moments, enjoying the solitude. As she watched, the sky turned pink and pale over the horizon. The first gulls stirred and began their relentless search for food. Her stomach rumbled in unison to signal it was time for her to eat as well. Rather than messaging someone to bring up food, she set out for the kitchen to see what she could rustle up.
What she found was a beautifully set table, complete with candles. A smiling Dakari, apron still tied around his day clothes, offered her a champagne flute filled with freshly squeezed orange juice. She smiled at him shyly, her stomach now experiencing raw nerves rather than hunger. She smelled her favorite breakfast foods, tuna and eggs, but she suddenly had no taste for them. Kaya, her panther, was fighting for control.
Fighting to control the situation Katalea spoke before Kaya could jump into Dakari's arms. "I am honored you would rise this early to share breakfast with me."
He blushed as he answered, "I am hoping to spend every breakfast with you from now on."
He went to her, arms outstretched, and she walked into his embrace. She felt her body purr as he rubbed his hand down her arm. He pulled back, gesturing towards the table.
"Shall we eat?" He said, his voice sounding somewhat like a low growl.
"When had Dakari gotten so sexy?" was the only thing she was thinking as he filled her plate. She looked up at him to thank him, but he only grinned. He sat, lowered his head as if in prayer, then dug into his own plate.
"Are you packed and ready for our adventure?" He asked between mouthfuls.
"Yes, Grandmother helped me last night." She looked down, clearly troubled.
"What is it Katalea? Are you worried about being away?" He questioned.
"No, not at all. It's just..." she paused. Kaya was inside her head screaming for control.
"Would it be ok.." again she faltered. Kaya begged her to stop talking.
Dakari just looked at her. She tried again, "Maybe we could get separate rooms until, well, just until...." She finally stammered out. Kaya wailed in disgust.
Dakari chuckled, "Is that what you were worried about, little flower?" He said using the childhood nickname that he used to tease her with. Now the name rolled off his tongue and made her feel beautiful.
"I have already taken the liberty to book us into their "best friends" suite. Two master bedrooms that share a common living space. I booked the whole floor so the security team could have a place to rest close by."
"Of course you did." She sighed gratefully, smiling all the way to her eyes. How had she forgotten how thoughtful he was? She relaxed and enjoyed her breakfast.
After the breakfast feast, Katalea went up to check on Dalya. Dalya's room was being set up like a hospital room, with her body growing at an alarming rate. The doctor was on call to deliver the baby early, and the incubator would be ready. At the rate she was going, she would be lucky to make four months.
Dalya was still sleeping, and Katalea didn't want to wake her. Using a trick she had learned from Dakari she conjured a cattleya flower. This beautiful orchid is where her mother had picked her name. It looked so pretty lying by her new sister, Katalea conjured a dozen more and put them in a vase next to the bed. She made a mental note to call her mother and catch up, and left the room. She didn't notice the tear slide down Dalya's face.
By mid-morning, they had loaded up their gear and were ready to set out for the ferry. Grandfather had requested a private ferry crossing for them, well, as private as you could get with half a security team on board. The other half had gone ahead to the hotel to scout the area. Katalea was embarrassed by all the attention.
When the ferry moved into open water Katalea jumped out from Grandfather's secure sedan. Reminiscent about her first ferry ride and all the energy she had tried to suppress that day, she giggled and walked over to the railing. As the ferry soared over the water Katalea caught glimpses of something in the water. Every time she leaned over to get a closer look, it was gone. Dakari noticed her behavior and tilted his head in a questioning manner.
"I feel like I'm playing hide and seek with a toddler." She tried to explain to him the bright blue blur she kept seeing but he just laughed.
"It's probably a dolphin that has some of the fisherman's net stuck to him." He reasoned.
His rationale was solid, but Katalea felt like something was out there. Something had been trying to get her attention, she was sure of it. She kept a watch out but did not see it again. Her thoughts returned to the present as the ferry bumped its way into the dock.
People on the mainland stared at them as they tried to drive off the ferry. Katalea looked down as security people swarmed around their car and pushed onlookers away. "There wouldn't be a fuss if they didn't attract so much attention," she thought. Remembering her time in Utah, she shuddered and let the security detail do their job. No one seemed to notice the woman with the shock of bright blue hair bundled under a hat.
In a surprising move, Dakari asked the driver to head straight to the university. It was now Katalea's turn to look befuddled.
"That book is calling to me," he explained. "I feel like the closer I get the more intense the calling."
Katalea knew they were here for research. In her romantic heart she had put that all away. Pulling up to the breathtaking tree lined campus brought her back to reality. This was a working vacation. From what she remembered of Dakari, she might not see much of him once he got his teeth in this project.
"Better to join him than to be ignored." She thought sadly, and tried to refresh her memory on what they knew of the tattered book they had found.
Dakari turned to the security detail. "I want to be addressed as Professor Toma," he started. He filled them in on his cover story.
Katalea pulled her long hair into a chignon at the base of her neck to give her a more professional look. "I will be Professor Kundam." She winked at Dakari. Everyone chuckled as they heard his low growl of approval.
Before they could get to the proper department, a man dressed in ragged jeans and a black sweatshirt approached. "Professor Toma, could I get a word?"
Glances were shared all around. How did this man know their cover names? Curiosity got the better of Dakari and before the security detail could move him along Dakari reached out his hand.
"Sure, and you are?" He said, shaking hands.
"My name is Beecher, and I have information about the book you are here to open."
Dakari got a whiff of the man's scent. He had tried to conceal it with cologne but the distinct aroma of a canine came through. Could this man be a werewolf? Intrigued, but wary, Dakari released the man's hand and stepped back.
"How do you know of me, or what my business here today is?" Dakari said, sounding quite scholarly.
"I, too, seek the same prophecies as you. If we could discuss this in a more private setting?" The man gestured to a bench under a tall palm tree.
Dakari's mind was spinning. He didn't know that the leather bound book even contained anything close to a prophecy. How could this werewolf know so much? Dakari felt like an elementary school child trying to navigate high school math. He looked to Katalea for help. She was staring off in the distance at a woman with bright blue hair.
Katalea sent him a mental message. "Please don't think I'm crazy but that woman is a mermaid! I saw her while we were on the ferry. She says she has information for us. Dakari, she can talk to me inside my head!"
"I think it's time to find a more private place to talk, " Dakari said, loud enough for all to hear.
The smallest woman Katalea had ever seen approached the group. "My name is Zinnia, I have been sent by the University to offer you a private office. If you would follow me." She turned on one very high heel, and started toward the Literature Building.
This was way too coincidental. The hackles on her panther's neck rose as the woman strode away. She felt like they were being led into a trap. The woman wasn't a dragon for sure, she had caught no sulphuric odor. She smelled much like her name, open-faced flowers in a cheery garden. Katalea opened herself to the woman and read no evil intent.
She nodded to Dakari. Together they began to follow the little woman. The werewolf and the mermaid followed. By the look on their faces, it was obvious they knew each other. It was time to see what the hell was going on.
Katalea was born a werecat. There wasn’t a time when she could remember being just ‘human’. Now, as she grows and powers develop she discovers that all freedom isn’t free. There are those who would like to see her Pride extinguished. Will she be able to rise to the challenge and lead her people to freedom? Will she be able to accept the responsibilities of being the only royal alpha?
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."