Free Grizzly by Bonnie Bliss Page B

enough to be able to deal with any enemy. Your three sisters are Niamh, Dervla and Aibheann. Only your parents know their whereabouts. The mirror we passed through was a gate to this realm. Your other sisters have a similar mirror. Darkness is coming. Your mother’s sister, Dubheasa, is a Queen of darkness and evil. She wants you dead or wants your powers. She will come for you.”
    “So she sent those orcs and the sorcerer?”
    “Yes, and he will return, with more. There are a thousand orcs close by, looking for us.”
    “So you are immortal?”
    “I am in my own world. Crossing the wall changes us. Here each king was cursed; death can catch us here. And each king is cursed in this land with the shift. Each king is different.”
    “Cassandra mentioned a dragon.”
    “Yes, one of us becomes a dragon. We have a panther, a merman and others.”
    “God. I don’t want you to die. So... you said you were my chosen one.”
    “I am. Your father chose me for you and one day, God willing, we will rule together.”
    “Interesting.”
    He winked and was rewarded with a cheeky smile.
    “Are my sisters back then?”
    “You are the first to return. However, if they found you they will find the others. They are expected to return soon. If not, then we will have to go find them and escort them. No doubt your father has already sent an escort for us. Our people are in great danger.”
    “You said thirteen of you. There are more, right, to up the numbers?”
    “There are kin who serve us from the old world, but they aren’t like us.”
    “Meaning?” She leaned on her hand to look at him.
    “We are men of legend in our own land, raised from sleep because of who we are.”
    “Hot hunky warriors with big cocks?”
    Tethur raised a brow. “You are mine; I would kill my own to prove that point, Sorscha. But yes, we are warriors of repute. We possess great strength and fighting skills no others possess. Even the elves fear our reputations and they are respected by us for their magical and fighting prowess. We are feared in this land; there are only thirteen of us. We may be stretched when it comes to guarding the wall, but put us to battle and the enemy will be crushed under our swords and feet.”
    Even though she listened with intent, her eyes started to flicker, eyelids closed and eventually he simply soft-spoke her to sleep. He held her gently. A pride filled his entire body as he looked at her and he smiled, once again happy. It had been a long time. Yet it might not last, for war was coming, the likes of which had not been seen in the grey lands for millennia.
    Turning his head to peer out the window, he saw the raven gliding high in the sky, watching, waiting. It was a reassuring sign. Help was near.

Chapter Eight
    ––––––––
    G rizzelda swayed with the movement of the donkey below her. Travelling the miles through the elaborate landscape of Malandria and the realm always had its reward. The changing of seasons sent a ripple effect through her. Nerves settled in the edges of her consciousness as she came to the realization the daughters were awakening. Spring froze the melted tundra she had travelled from until only tiny wisps of what was peeked through the green landscape.
    Sorscha has come home.
    Which could only mean one thing.
    Her men had failed.
    Failed with the snow Queen, and now failed with the ruler of the Earth beneath their feet.
    A low, rumbling growl ebbed as she passed through the invisible barrier that led to her realm. As the puddles of reality shifted, so did she.
    Much like a nightmare in a fairy tale story, Grizzelda created a brilliant distraction for the ones that hunted her true person. Sizzling heat radiated from her core, out to the fingertips. The grizzled old woman who appeared aboard the donkey shifted and morphed as she passed through into the dark forest beyond. Her limbs became smooth and ethereal, like a porcelain doll about to shatter. She became beautiful, painfully so. Her