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  Winter’s Awakening

  Warlords of Empyrea

  Georgia Lyn Hunter

  GENRE: PARANORMAL ROMANCE

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, businesses, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Winter’s Awakening

  Copyright © 2019 by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  First Edition: September 2019

  Editor: Celia Breslin

  All cover art copyright © 2019 by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  Cover artist: Montana Jade

  Images: ©shutterstock.com, fotolia.com

  All Rights Reserved

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Dear reader,

  While this novel can be read as a standalone as far as the romance is concerned, it is highly recommended that you read book one first. It contains an underlying plot that will continue throughout the series.

  With that in mind, I hope you enjoy the book.

  ~Georgia

  GLOSSARY

  Ancients: The mystical forces that watches over all realms.

  Archangel: Michael: Leader of the Fallen Guardians (also referred to as “Arc.” A term coined by the Guardian, Týr, and used by the others)

  Ater: The Empyrean version of Hell

  Blood Demons: A species of demons who live on blood, but like the high of human blood.

  Celestial Realm: Home to the divine angels.

  Darkreans: Name given to a domain of Empyreans, since their powers weaken when they leave Empyrea, and need to equate to recharge their abilities.

  Dark Realm: Where the species with dark souls dwell, along with other amorphous entities:

  1. Blood Demons: A genus of demons that live on blood, but like the high of human blood.

  2. Demonii: Demons who have consumed human souls, and in turn lose their natural dark souls. However, human souls fade within them, and they need to constantly replenish it with another. Human blood temporarily extends the life of the soul.

  3. Demons: A species of supernatural beings with dark souls who resides in the Dark Realm.

  4. Otiums: A species of demons, more docile in nature. Many of who escaped the tyranny of their realm to dwell on the human world. They usually live below the radar not keen to draw attention to themselves.

  5. Wyverns: Seven-foot or taller lizard-like creatures.

  Elyon: Supreme ruler over all seven dominions of Empyrea.

  Empyreans: They were created in the image of the divine angels but enjoy a more carnal life. Two level denizens:

  1. Higher-level: The High Lords (With vast powers)

  2. Lower-level: The working class (limited or lesser powers)

  Elysium: Like the mortal Heaven, but where the dead Empyrean go to for eternity.

  Fallen: Angels who fall, and give up their wings and stronger abilities when they leave the Celestial Realm.

  Fallen Guardians: A formidable group of fallen immortal warriors, banished from their realm, who swore fealty to Gaia to protect humans from supernatural evil. And resides on Earth. Some of whom are referred to by their pantheon’s name.

  Gaia: A powerful mystical Being who watches over Earth and mankind.

  High Lords: Rulers of the seven dominions of Empyrea. Some of whom are Warlords.

  Others: A collective term for other supernatural beings, eg: gods, faes, vampires, etc.

  Ortueri: The council who runs Dregarus.

  Pantheons: Where the gods of various religions dwells.

  Realm of the Gods: Subterranean worlds were the pantheon of the gods resides.

  Rebels: Lower level Empyreans/Darkreans who cause strife wanting power.

  Tartarus: Where immortals’ are incarcerated.

  Urias: Spawned off Chaos, Creator of the Empyreans.

  Whitefire: An immortal flame that can cause untold destruction. Used to destroy the wings and abilities of angels who fall.

  Empyrean Wordlist:

  Me’morae: my love

  Me’et’ah: my life

  Me’seya: sweetheart

  Fiyae: baby

  Mea: mine

  Amata: beloved

  Fossers: idiots

  Lupa: slut

  Name pronunciation:

  Sebris: Seb-ris (Sebrasius: Seb-ras-sius)

  Xever: X-zev-her (Xev: Zev)

  Taegér: Tay-jer

  Paxyn: Pax-in

  Hauck: Hawk

  Kaede: Kay-d

  Aethan: A-thin

  Reynner: Rainer

  Aerén: Air- rey-in

  For my very own little angel, A.G.A.

  BLURB

  Dark warlord Sebris will sacrifice anything to save his angelic dominion of Dregarus, even shed his own blood. Snatching the foretold mortal from her world is nothing—as long as she can find the missing artifact their realm desperately needs to survive. He expects a mere pawn, not a fragile human woman who confuses and tempts him, stirring in him a desire that is as dangerous as it’s deadly.

  After a freak accident lands florist Brenna Graham in a coma, she awakens to find herself in another world and in the care of a cold, ruthless immortal. The Darkrean leader both draws and terrifies her. Still, she’s furious over the abduction she unwittingly agreed to. But the longer she’s with him, the more she discovers an unexpected, tender side to the icy warlord. As barriers shatter and rigid laws are broken, an unabiding passion consumes them.

  Except, time is not on their side in the dying, war-ridden world. But for a chance at a future and an ever-lasting love, they must fight for survival. When unseen enemies target Brenna, their bond is brutally tested. Sebris vows to bring down dominions to save the woman who became his heart…

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  “Seb, it’s time.”

  Cursed stars! Sebris bit back a snarl at the rough shake of his shoulder, pain shrieking through his skull. Impossible agony bled not only through his head but into his bones, too. “Xev, I swear on our useless creator, you do that again, and you’ll be dust coating this damn realm—”

  Teeth clenched, he sat up, feet hitting the cold floor. “What in Urias’ hell did I do?”

  “You went straight through two bottles of vodka last night—or what was left of the dark hours,” Xever, his ever-helpful second-in-command expounded as if he needed a damn answer. But using liquor as a crutch certainly didn’t help him.

  Sebris dragged his naked self from the bed and stumbled to the bathroom, wishing it were a hangover giving him the bone-eating anguish.

  “Seb?”

  “For hell’s sake, later—” He winced, more pain dripping through his skull like acid at his burst of irritation. Emotions, not good—not good at all…

  Breathing deeply through his nose, he tried to shut out everything, lock down his mental shields, but nothing worked. Of all the senseless things he’d done, and there’d been plenty in his impossibly long life, boozing to numb the pain was topping the list.

  He, the leader and commander of Dregarus’ vast militia, sought succor in alcohol.

  A snort sounded. Sebris knew what was coming, didn’t want to hear it. “Cork it, Xev.”

  His second plowed on regardless. “You know you could go find a female here and fuck that pain back into submission?” Like he needed the reminder. “It would hold you until we get back home and can equate. You’ll get rid of all the er…” Xev sought for a word, humor animating his eyes. “Crabbiness. Sure, liquor dulls the pain some, but the backlash bites ass. Aftermath’s hell. Mortal females are a far better indulgence.”

  “I don’t need your lecture. I have the damn council members for that. And I don’t do humans.” Sebris shut the bathroom door on Xev’s grinning face.

  Crabby, he wasn’t. Pissed definitely. He’d slept—passed out, whatever—in this dratted hot human world. As a Darkrean, his kind preferred the cold and lesser sunlight.

  He hadn’t been back to Dregarus in weeks to equate. His powers had flatlined days ago. They always did when his kind stepped foot ou
t of their world. The wound on his abs from the fight several days ago with the Empyrean in The Village hurt like a bitch. Even his healing abilities had slowed. Now he walked around tight-lipped, black-eyed, and ghost pale, the downside of not equating.

  Releasing a shuddering breath, he staggered into the shower and turned on the faucet. Fists planted on the tiled wall, he squeezed his eyelids shut. Cold water pelted him like needles, but was still too tepid, accustomed as he was to the sub-zero temperatures of Dregarus.

  Soon enough, the alcoholic fumes cleared from his mind, but another spike of pain impaled his head. Stars! He wanted to gouge out his eyeballs. Mowing down on his teeth made it worse. He had to calm down, or he would be crawling back to Dregarus on his hands and knees, dragging the foretold one behind him.

  Not even finally finding the female—the only one possessing the blood magic to track the missing mystical Stone of Light his world desperately needed to stop from fading into oblivion—made a dent in his ire.

  Several minutes later, the pain-induced sweat showered off, he stepped out of the cubicle and dragged a towel from the rail, rubbing his wet hair before hitching the terrycloth around his hips. Raking his fingers through the damp, tangled strands, he lumbered toward the kitchen.

  Xever set a mug of steaming black java on the counter, looking as energetic as a damn grasshopper. His eyes no longer bore the black strains that seeped into their irises when their powers drained, but they still appeared a murky gray. A thin black hairband held back his blond hair, revealing the multiple small hoops he wore in his left ear, the fine gold metal glinting in the kitchen light.

  Sebris picked up his coffee, took a drink of the bitter brew. Fuck! He bit back a curse, the liquid nearly caused second-degree burns in his throat. He aimed a flat stare at Xever. “We should have left when we had the chance. She could have healed on our world.”

  “What do you suggest then?” Xever leaned against the kitchen counter, arms folded over his chest. Jagged tattoos peered out from the collar of his t-shirt and covered most of his biceps. “There’s an ice storm currently happening. We can’t risk her in it when she’s weak and injured. She is mortal. She dies, then we might as well lay down and call it quits, too.”

  Sebris understood Xev’s fears. Their world of Empyrea resonated with arcane magic, tapped from the seven mystical Stones of Light. Two thousand years ago, one of the Stones suddenly vanished, and the link broke, causing their magic to diminish. The missing artifact had to be found and brought back before their realm faded into one of desolateness, and their demise followed.

  But for Sebris, it was so much more than merely saving his world.

  Pulling in a deep breath through his nose, he exhaled slowly. “I don’t need you to be my damn conscience as well,” he muttered without heat, managing to get his mental shields back up. The pain locked deep inside his bones from using a shitload of emotions eased a little. “I know what’s at stake.”

  Xever picked up his mug from the counter. “You could have gone to Dregarus and equated. I would have kept watch over her here.”

  Why he hadn’t asked any of his deadly warriors to do so, males who’d spent millennia with him searching for the Stone, he had no idea. He only understood one thing; he trusted no one near her. “I’m not taking any chances.”

  Xever frowned, then shrugged and let it go, sipping his coffee.

  Three days ago, they’d taken the mortal, Brenna Tiwari-Graham according to the label on her hospital chart, age twenty-four, straight from the hospital in New York where she’d been admitted for a head injury, then found they couldn’t actually leave the human realm with her. Their own world’s problem, a cursed blizzard, had stopped them.

  If they didn’t need to equate, he would have been tracking for the missing artifact as soon as she’d recovered. But he was patient. He’d waited millennia. A few more days mattered little.

  Sebris set his mug down. “Let’s get going before something else gets in our way.”

  Refastening the towel sliding low on his hips, he left the kitchen and navigated the long stretch of corridor, stopping at the first door. He opened it and entered.

  Unlike the first time, her floral scent didn’t hit him with a brutal punch in his gut, but seeped into him like a gentle caress. Shutting off his disconcerting reaction to the little human, in the same way he had his pain, he frowned at the purple bruise marring her left brow and cheek.

  It still hadn’t healed. She must have slammed into the wall or the concrete ground damn hard. Her ebony, shoulder-length hair lay like lifeless seaweed against the white pillow, and despite her pale caramel coloring, her skin bore the ashy undertone of her ailment.

  Except for the local doctor whom Xever had willed to attend to her, they’d remained isolated in this cottage Xever had rented for a week. Sebris refused to linger in the mansion situated further down the Hudson River with the Empyreans watching it like hawks. More, he wanted to be close to the soft spot in the woods surrounding the cottage to open the portal back into their world.

  He sat on the bed and reached out to heal the bruise on her temple, but instead found himself tracing the delicate curve of her cheekbone with a fingertip then trailing across her lush top lip. Her feminine nose tapered in a slight tilt. He did not understand what it was about her that had him reacting in this odd way of wanting to touch her every time he came to this room. She was human, tiny, and nothing like the tall, strong females of his race.

  Perhaps it was the fact he’d finally found her, the one who would help his world, and give hope back to his people. Or, perhaps he could at long last keep his centuries-old promise to the one who’d set him on this path—the one person he’d given up everything for.

  Sebris withdrew his hand and willed the chosen awake, needing to see she was well enough to travel.

  A low moan escaped her lush mouth, her brow creasing. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she blinked those long dark lashes as if struggling to see clearly, revealing startling, crystal-blue eyes.

  “Angel?” her sleep-roughened voice whispered.

  Sebris had no idea what it was she saw. He was the farthest thing from those celestial beings his fickle creator had shaped them after. Eons of blood and death stained his soul. He’d done whatever he had to, to get what he wanted. But if she thought him so, who was he to dissuade her of the halo she’d given him? “How do you feel?”

  “Like an elephant sat on me.”

  She’d joke despite her rough condition? He would never understand humans.

  “We’re leaving in a few minutes…” Then he added, “Will you come with me, Brenna of Earth?”

  “Why?”

  Why indeed. Because telling her he didn’t want his enemies getting ahold of her while he recharged his waning powers wouldn’t work. He, who never explained his actions to anyone, said, “My world is dying. We need you.”

  “I don’t understand—” a whimper escaped her, pain etching deep furrows on her brow. Healing others wasn’t one of his strengths, but still… With his thumb, he eased the lines, absorbing her pain. She sighed in relief, and his own bone-eating agony leaked out, spiking in response to his breach. He ground back a curse. “I’ll explain it all later. Will you?”

  “Okay, I’ll go with you.” Stunning him into silence, she lifted her hand and gently ran her fingertips over his stubbly jaw. “You’re…hurting.”

  “I’m fine.” Frowning, he willed her back to sleep. Her eyes closed, her hand falling to the covers. The fragrance of wild roses, a lot like the ones clambering up the walls of their mansion, teased his senses.