A million emotions swirled through Kayla's mind as she glanced back and forth between the unblemished ring on her finger and Ezra's statue body lying on the floor. Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she shook her head in disbelief. "Why, Salus?" she asked. "Why did you come back for me?" The ring on her … Continue reading The Door Opens (The Jewel of Laridal Part 19)

Ezra brushed the spiderwebs off his shoulder and peered into the darkness. He struggled to control his breathing. To regain a sense of composure. Six challenges of tortuous pain had passed. Only one remained, the hardest of all. Okay, Ezra thought. What next, Father? I have the unblemished ring and the battle-tested sword. Reveal to … Continue reading The Sacrificial Heart (The Jewel of Laridal Part 18)

Kayla's heart plummeted at her ex-lover's words. She forced a swallow past the icy metal tip pressed against her throat. "You wouldn't dare kill me. Not the prince's fiancée." She voiced an empty threat. "Imagine the wrath of the king you'll bring down on yourself." Lucius chuckled, his dark, sinister eyes gleaming with amusement. "You … Continue reading The Shards of Agony (The Jewel of Laridal Part 17)

The raucous cries for bloodshed reached Ezra's ears. He exhaled slowly, trying to shake off his nerves. He wrestled with the thoughts of rebellion against the king. You are alone. The king left you to die here in the Skull Arena. These reptiles will tear your flesh from your bones, and your dispersed team of … Continue reading The Cup of Fire (The Jewel of Laridal Part 16)

Despite her vigilance, the sixth challenge caught Kayla off guard. She had escaped the snares of a giant spider, solved the puzzle of the lava geysers, clung to the stalactites across the wide river of blood, and disarmed the booby-trapped hall of death in the nick of time. Kayla had expected another beast to fight, … Continue reading Voices in the Dark (The Jewel of Laridal Part 15)

Ezra gazed intently at the edge of the Dark Woods. His team behind him murmured in wonder and disapproval. Maybe some of them didn't actually believe he would actually venture into the most dangerous portion of Rarogan, willingly heading towards the Swamp of Sudura. Now they had reached the treeline, he figured the mere sight … Continue reading Revenge of the Lawmakers (The Jewel of Laridal Part 14)

Kayla screamed as she toppled to the ground, arrows flying. The raptors were on her in an instant, their talons sinking deep into her flesh. Their jagged little teeth sinking into her arms. Dagger in hand, she jabbed blindly at whatever reptilian flesh she could find. One raptor lost an eye, another his hand, another … Continue reading Scars (The Jewel of Laridal Part 13)

I will not always be with you, but I will leave the Jewel with each and every one of you. It's better this way. Dalia turned Ezra's perplexing words over and over in her head, but she couldn't make heads or tails of them. How can the Jewel be split among twelve? And why won't … Continue reading Murmurs in the Crowd (The Jewel of Laridal Part 12)

Kayla cursed. The chirping increased excitedly as the raptors latched onto the scent of her blood. It would only be a matter of time until they located her in this darkness. Frantically, she felt around for her sword. Where was it? She wasn't hopeless without it, but she would need it sooner or later. The … Continue reading Raptor Nest (The Jewel of Laridal Part 11)

Ezra held up his hand, motioning for silence. The eleven people behind him fell quiet. Collin stepped closer, brandishing his sword. "More Onkrons, sir?" Collin asked, ready to viciously slaughter the horrifying creatures. Ezra shook his head and placed a finger to his lips. Together, they listened. Night had fallen on the Wanderer village long … Continue reading Dalia (The Jewel of Laridal Part 10)