The Reluctant Savior

Book 4: Etherya's Earth

by Rebecca Hefner

Genres: Romantic Fantasy; Romance; Vampires; Fantasy Romance; Paranormal Romance; Witches; paranormal romance; fantasy romance; steamy romance; witches; antiheroine; Etheryas Earth; Badass women; women warriors

Synopsis

From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner

Etherya's Earth #4

A complex heroine who doesn't believe in love must choose to save the realm...

Evie, daughter of virtuous Princess Rina and malicious Deamon King Crimeous, is a woman torn in half. The first centuries of her life taught her fervent lessons about pain and suffering. For ages, she suppressed her mother's noble blood, crafting a reality where she was alone and drifting…until an ancient prophecy calls to her, possibly creating a purpose for her squalid existence.

Kenden has commanded the Slayer army for a thousand years. Strong, cunning and loyal, he longs for the day Crimeous is defeated and he can settle down to build a family. Focused on conquering the Dark Lord, he’s stunned when Evie makes a brazen demand that must be fulfilled before she chooses to fight with them.

Although incensed by Evie's ultimatum, Kenden has never desired a woman more than the flame-haired vixen. Though she stirs his ire, he also has a deep well of compassion for the beauty who suffered so much trauma centuries ago. Together they train, and by night their connection grows, building toward the moment when they will battle her father. But, in the end, Evie has a choice and struggles to espouse righteousness over malevolence. For, when one's worst fears are exposed, the evil is so much easier to embrace...

**The Etherya's Earth fantasy romance series is best listened to in order although each book does have its own featured hero/heroine and HEA. Content information can be found on the author's website.

Release date: May 23, 2019

Publisher: Reading Goddess Press, LLC

Print pages: 306

Sample

“Did you scare Draylok away?” a baritone voice asked behind her.

Hating the shiver that ran down her spine, Evie turned to gaze upon the man she’d previously been searching for.  “Was that his name?  I couldn’t remember.  I was too busy admiring his other…attributes.”

Coming to stand beside her, Kenden arched a russet-colored eyebrow.  “He’s known to be quite a catch.  Not only is he one of our best soldiers but he’s single and looking to settle down.”

Evie scrunched her features.  “Thanks for the warning.  I’ll make sure to avoid him at all costs.”

His velvet laugh surrounded her.  “Yes, we wouldn’t want you to get emotionally involved with anyone you seduce.”

“Oh, Kenden,” she said, turning to face him fully.  “You think you have me pegged.  It’s so ridiculously unbecoming.  Perhaps that’s why you never get laid.  I think you need a nice woman to fuck this serious streak out of you.  It’s quite unattractive.”

She was lying through her teeth, of course, as she found the Slayer commander insanely gorgeous.  There was something about his mop of chestnut-brown hair, angular features and blazing white teeth between his full lips.  And those eyes.  They seemed to melt like milk chocolate left on a hot stove.  More often than not, she found herself drowning in them.

Determined to keep the upper hand, she licked her lips, slowly and seductively.

“If you want a fuck-buddy, just ask me.  I’ll come looking for you once I’m done with the Vampyre soldier.”

Those striking eyes narrowed.  “That’s the difference between you and me, Evie.  I don’t do fuck-buddies.  I believe in monogamy and relationships and feelings.  You use seduction as a weapon.  It’s off-putting and extremely unattractive to me.  So, I guess we’re both repulsed by each other.”

“I guess so,” she snapped, breaking her gaze from his to stare at the dance floor.  Sipping her drink, she contemplated his lie.  He was fiercely attracted to her—this, she knew to be true.  As the daughter of the Dark Lord, she could read images in others’ minds.  Kenden had so many images of fucking her that he could probably start his own porn site.

She had no idea why he fought his desire to sleep with her, knowing that he wanted it so badly.  It seemed futile to her.  They obviously would do the deed one day.  Two people who possessed so much pulsing energy between them were bound to.  She’d learned this over her many centuries of seducing men.

Never had she had to work so hard to get a man in her bed.  It infuriated the hell out of her.  What a cruel joke the Universe played on her, instilling such intense yearning for a man who was determined to fight his attraction to her so vehemently.

But Evie was nothing if not resilient and she loved a challenge.  She would have him in her bed and inside her deepest place one day soon.  Getting the upper hand on men had become an obsession of hers.  It somehow allowed her to process and move on from all the grief and pain from the rapes and violations in her youth.

The arrogant and handsome Slayer commander had another thing coming if he continued to delude himself.  Determination and will were her greatest strengths.

Gathering her wits and giving him her most glorious smile, she said, “Well, now that we’ve established our revulsion of each other, do you want to dance?”

White teeth gleamed as his full lips curved.  Chuckling, he took the drink from her hand and set it on the nearby table.  Clutching her hand in his firm grip, he said, “Why not?”

With his muscular frame, he led her to the dance floor.