Ascension: Royals of Aeterna, #1

By J. Haney and S.I. Hayes

The King is dead. All Hail the Queen.

After the assassination of her father and the suicide of her mother leaves Princess Maya Meleke spinning, it is up to those around her to get her to the throne. It was the King's wish that Maya one day unite the Normal and Paranormal realms, yet being held to court and under the thumb of a straightlaced Royal Guard is the last thing on the young Princesses' agenda.

Officer Zane Coreleali knows that he is going to have his hands full with Princess Maya, but he still wants them full of something else. HER. He is, however, not the only one after young Maya's affections. Valaria Cosumos, daughter to Lesser King Usar, is her Lady in Attending, and attend she shall.

Fantasy Violence
Strong Adult Situations this is NOT a Young Adult Novel
Poly-Amorous Elements in a Why Choose Setting

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deviant Darlings Publications
• Release date: Jun 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227815705

Book preview

1

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"G

et down!" I growl as the sound booms in my sensitive ears again. Shots have been fired, and pandemonium has ensued. I cover my King with my six-foot five frame.

Officer Coreleali! My King quickly recovers from the disorientation of the sounds of panic around us. I’m fine, go get Maya. He orders.

"But my King..."

Now! He snarls at me as he covers his wife, the Duchess Dasia. My head spins as I look to the stage. Maya Wasi or Princess Maya Meleke, as I know her, is on the ground. Her cap has fallen off, and she’s wide-eyed. I move through the crowd of nearly fifteen thousand, pushing and slamming people from my path. There it is again, gunshots. Long-range from a rifle somewhere above and behind me. Where the fuck is Oren? He was supposed to be her shadow, her guard no one sees. He should be here. I reach her after tossing another idiot Normal.

Princess? I whisper-shout over the screams, my hands reaching to help her stand. We must hurry, your father-

You should be with him! She shouts just before another shot rings out, and her hand covers her mouth. I scoop her up, and she screams, beating at me. It’s then, I see why. My King, my liege, has the Duchess, but she seems to be carrying him instead.

Zane- She struggles, and I see the blood as it pours from between her fingers against my King’s chest. I lead them through the miasma straight for the Suburban just past the church.

Hurry! He’s fading. As I get us behind the bulletproof glass and locking the doors, the Duchess cries as I put myself between the women and my King.

Off-icer- He tries, his eyes rolling around. He took a hit to the side and the chest. The blood from the side is already turning black. Someone has used rhodium. A metal known to be toxic to Paranormals. We’ve never broadcasted Maya or her father’s presence, so how?

I got her, she’s here, I assure him as he reaches out, and Maya grabs her father’s hand.

Daddy. Maya cries, pushing past me.

Cubby, you need to- Ah. He groans as I start to dig inside the wounds. My nails hooking searching for the deadly bullet pieces. Princess, I have to do this, we need paramedics.

My King grabs my wrist. She is the last- you keep her always. He insists.

You’re going to be-

He digs his massive claws into my arm, and I wince from the burn. Blood for blood. He hisses. It is owed. I call your marker to the oath.

I swear. I swallow the pain and words. A blood oath, life for life. A debt that cannot be passed on.

I watch as he looks at Maya. I love you. The light fades from his eyes, and I feel his breath expel. Maya cries as I try to revive him. My breath is not enough. I need stronger magick. I look to The Duchess, only to find her slumped over. What the fuck? My eyes adjust to the horror before me. In the screaming, she’d slashed her own throat...

Seconds become minutes and minutes hours. It took four paramedics and me to subdue Maya. Finally, I had to sit on her chest while they sedated her with enough ketamine to level a buffalo.

I’ve spoken to the campus police, the Providence police department detective, and a representative from foreign affairs. Based on the evidence they have so far gathered, the attack was orchestrated by NoN, also known as The Nation of Normalcy. A radical hate group that targets Paranormals and those who align with them. They are boasting on the internet that they have made a blow to the nation and hope others will rise up too. It’s been on a loop for the past half an hour. Maya is lain out on a stretcher as her parents are bagged and tagged. My chest hurts, and my skin is on fire, with both rage and despair. I am beholden to this little girl that would be Queen.

I watch her as she stares glassy-eyed at the closing coroner truck doors. Walking to her, I’m not sure what to say. I mean, today was supposed to be a happy day. She was Valedictorian for fucks sake, graduating with all kinds of honors from Brown University. What’s more, is it’s what these American Normals refer to as Labor Day weekend.

We’ve been in their country on and off for the last seventeen years. Maya’s education demanded it. If she were to one day be Queen, she would need to understand the powerhouse countries' customs and traditions. Since we spoke English, America was the land she fell in love with first. Now though, what were we to do? Do we go to the consulate and await orders? Do we demand the body back and portal home, or do we bury them here in a foreign land?

Princess? I say softly as I look down at her. She seems so tiny, so helpless.

Leave me alone, Zane. She crosses her arms looking away from me. I have nothing to s-say to you. She slurs slightly, but if the attitude is any indicator, the ketamine is already wearing off.

Leave her alone? Ha! I couldn’t if I wanted to. I hold up my shredded arm. This mark binds me to you. I am to be your protector, your guide, and the council. Blood to blood. I say with resolve. I will not dishonor myself or my King.

She starts to get up. Then how about you do it at a distance. She wobbles, and I hear the breath as she sighs, and I catch her before she drops. Her little body falls against me, and I tuck her into my arm to hail a taxi. Our Suburban was confiscated as evidence seeing as, apparently, the shooter followed us with a spray I never even heard.

2

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M

y home. My sanctuary. Well, at least in this world. The drugs that I was given have mostly worn off at this point good thing I’m a Vēsṭigara, or I’d still be asleep. My parents are both dead. Daddy was murdered, and mom killed herself. I’ve never known a love like they had. She couldn’t stand to live without him even if that meant leaving me alone.

I’m attempting to slam my door in Zane’s face. He catches it. You need to leave. Watch me sure but at a distance!

His blue eyes glow with the power of his tiger, and I can’t help but wonder if mine will ever do that. I’m twenty-two, but my powers have not been triggered... Yet. There are only three ways to naturally trigger a paranormal event. Great love, great pain, and death. We all get one freebie. Sadly, my parents had theirs many suns ago. Now they are gone, and I am all alone. Well, except for this fleabag that won’t let me be. I’ll be right outside. He lets his hand slip from the door face.

Feel free to run along home. I’m not going to need you. I walk away from the door, leaving him to shut it.

I need to call my family. Looking down at myself, I see all the blood. My parents. Once I shred my clothes, I step into the scalding water just as a sob bubbles up out of me. I have to lean against the wall as I slide down in my tub to keep from falling out. I have a sliding table that holds candles and usually a glass of wine or bottle whichever I’m killing for the night that I knock into. I toss the candle, and it breaks against the wall glass going everywhere. Next, I throw the table.

Why did they both have to leave me? I don’t know enough. Fuck, I don’t know anything! I’m not ready to take over. Hell, I’m not ready to be alone. A growl erupts out of me before I settle into the water and let the tears fall.

I wake sometime later to a knock at my door. Shutting the water off, I climb from the tub. I wrap a towel around me and miss the glass as I pad through my house. Opening the door, I see Zane’s back.

What the hell, Zane? Go away. I shove his back, and he snarls at me. It’s then I see his claws. Past the brick wall that he is, I see Oren Assante, a classmate. He’s dirty and looks distraught. Zane, you stop right now. Oren is a friend. I push my way through him and into Oren’s arms. What happened to you?

I- shots were fired, I hit the deck, I didn’t know what to do. He stutters through, pulling me into him. I’m so happy you’re okay.

Get off it. Zane hisses. You went fucking AWOL. You should have been here. This is your fucking fault. He lunges for Oren but halts when I step in the way.

Zane, you need to go home! I shout before pushing him to the side and letting Oren in. Turning back, I start shutting the door only to have it halted by the monster again.

Ask him why he’s your friend? Ask him why my appearance doesn’t startle him. I see that his face has begun to contort, his pupils waning crescents, and his teeth have elongated in his fury.

Fucking really? Stop it, Zane! Stop this, please. I can’t take anymore today. I beg of him, and I don’t beg of anyone.

Oren’s firm grip lessens on my arm. No. Maya, he’s right. I’ve been less than truthful.

I turn facing Oren and jerk out of his grip, falling into Zane. What are you talking about? What’s going on?

I feel Zane’s hand grip my hip, the other steadies me against him. The King, your father hired him to shadow you. To be your friend and keep an unassuming eye on you. Zane says plainly.

I pull away from Zane too. "You were watching me? How could you? What gives you the right to pretend to be my friend? I shove Oren before turning on Zane and push him. You could have said something. I’ve seen you lurking about. I shake my head. Get out, both of you-just go."

Maya, please. Oren pleads. I care about you. I don’t pretend with my feelings.

I hear Zane scoff, just as his massive hand grabs Oren by the seat of his pants. Alley Oop. He chuckles, tossing Oren outside and slamming the door. He, on the other hand, is still very much inside my house.

You need to go too. The last thing I want to see is the reason daddy is dead. I spit.

I watch as the severity of his impending turn ebbs. His claws recede, his twisted scowl settles back into a slack-jawed frown. Princess, I am sorry. I was ordered to see to you because Oren was missing. It’s no excuse, merely an explanation. I am so very sorry. I have no choice, however, but to stay at your side. Wanted or no. He grasps the claw marks my daddy left him with. Typically we heal what the hell? He watches me as I do him. A blood to blood oath cannot be broken.

"So, I’m just stuck seeing you day in and day out? How is that fair? There has to be someone else you can protect for it not to be broken. My Grandpa or Auntie. Something, anything?"

It is you. He bade me promise for you. I will try and stay out of your way unless I must step in the way. He bows his head and reaches for the doorknob. I’ll be just outside if you need anything." With that, he opens the door and steps back outside.

I’m stuck seeing the reason why I have no parents now, for the rest of my life unless he dies... No, I’d never forgive myself for doing that. He’s also always been around and has never aged. What’s that about? It doesn’t matter now. I need to dress and call Grandpa.

3

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D

on’t forget to put the cat out for the night. I swear that’s just what this feels like. I’ve been put outside, so I don’t claw the furniture while she sleeps in a nice soft bed. That is the life, though. The life of an Aeternan Royal Guard. I have been in the Meleke family's service since my father died, leaving my mother penniless. With three other mouths to feed, it was to see her wind up in service or me. I fetched a better price. By passing me off