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eBook Category: Fantasy
eBook Description: The world consists of layer after layer of reality. On one layer, Jacqualine Argaus is a struggling graduate student. In another, she is the heir to unthinkable power and responsibility. Determined to protect her kingdom, she must first discover who the real enemy is--before her time runs out. Ashcroft Bitar grew up in the shadow of the Argaus family. The oldest son of a renegade house, he can help Jacqualine defend her crown--if only he can decipher the meaning of the mysterious prophecy that links them, as revenge, magic and romance intertwine against a backdrop of court intrigue.

eBook Publisher: Zumaya Publications/Zumaya Publications, Published: USA, 2003
Fictionwise Release Date: June 2003

16 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: eReader (PDB) [270 KB] , ePub (EPUB) [288 KB] , Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [319 KB] , Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [1.7 MB] , Palm Doc (PDB) [260 KB] , Microsoft Reader (LIT) [537 KB] , Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [264 KB] , hiebook (KML) [929 KB] , Sony Reader (LRF) [297 KB] , iSilo (PDB) [211 KB] , Mobipocket (PRC) [264 KB] , Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [324 KB] , OEBFF Format (IMP) [325 KB]
Words: 78690
Reading time: 224-314 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Portable Document Format (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

Jacqualine opened her eyes and looked at the frail body in the bed, his eyes closed, his arms crossed as if he were already dead. She concentrated on her breaths--making them deep and even. She needed every bit of strength and muscle control she had just to walk the few steps to the edge of the bed. Even when she stood there watching him, fighting the lightheadedness that threatened to crumble her, Alfonse did not opened his eyes.

"Father?" the word caught in Jacqualine's throat and she wasn't even sure she said it aloud, but the King's eyes snapped open and for a minute they held more life, more energy than she had ever seen.

"Jacqualine," he breathed softly and held out one hand. "My child. My daughter. I love you so much." He was exhausted from talking and had to stop to rest. "There are so many things I wish to tell you, things I should have taught you from the beginning. I always knew that I would pass the Hold to you, but to talk about, to prepare for it? it seemed like we had so much time for that."

Jacqualine remained silent but squeezed the weak hand.

"You will learn, though. It will be hard at first, but I know you will learn. You are the only one I trust, and you must trust no one. There are plots afoot, I fear. I tried to handle them myself, to keep you out of the mess, to make sure there would still be a kingdom for you to rule." He shrugged and paused to rest again.

"You did wonderfully, Father. I love you. I need you to know that. I will do my best to be half the Maker you were."

Alfonse smiled grimly.

"That is nice to hear, but you will be much more than I ever was." A cough burst through his mouth and shook his entire body. "We must do it now."

He reached out his other hand and Jacqualine grabbed it. Immediately she felt her mind, her entire body, fill with a continuous pulse of intense burning. The beat grew faster and faster, and her heart struggled to keep up, until it was a near constant stream. It was agonizing and beautiful, powerful and draining.

She was every droplet of a waterfall, pounding painfully onto the rocky riverbed. Her mouth was filled with the nectar of a rose in full bloom as she buzzed over the plummeting water. She was the air, tossed aside as the bee flew through her and she drifted to the rich brown soil and welcomed herself into the dust.

She was pulled heavily toward the center of the earth yet transcended higher than the gauzy clouds. At once her awareness zeroed in on her father's hands and she realized how hard she was gripping them. Her fingers sprung open in response, but she was barely aware of the lifeless body in the bed. She was heady, spinning rapidly even though she knew her feet were completely grounded.

Jacqualine felt herself lowering slowly to the ground, but she wasn't sure if she was sitting or seeping into the earth.