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    The Protector's Kiss: Brotherhood of Redemption
    The Protector's Kiss: Brotherhood of Redemption
    The Protector's Kiss: Brotherhood of Redemption
    Ebook145 pages1 hour

    The Protector's Kiss: Brotherhood of Redemption

    By Diana Marie DuBois

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    About this ebook

    Calliope is a prestigious white tiger, rare and sought after. Kidnapped at a very young age, she is sold into slavery and trained by a god with a secret agenda. Calliope finds herself amongst others of her kind and forced to fight against the gladiators. Unbeknownst to her, she holds a secret, one that will only be shown to her when she finds her true love.

    Andros, a gryphon by day and a human by night, protector of mankind, comes from one of the oldest protectors in history.  He is sent to Rome by the sun god Apollo, who also gifts him with the ability to protect someone special. From atop his perch, he witnesses Calliope in battle and is drawn to her raw fighting skills. Though, as the inevitable happens, he realizes he must save her from a death sentence.

    These two are destined to be together. Will a kiss, one kiss, bring them closer and reveal Calliope’s secret?  Two fated to fight for the innocence of the world create the driving forces to uphold and punish evildoers. 

    So the Deity of Judgment and the Beasts of Atonement are created.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDiana Marie DuBois
    Release dateApr 25, 2017
    ISBN9781386125693
    The Protector's Kiss: Brotherhood of Redemption

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      Book preview

      The Protector's Kiss - Diana Marie DuBois

      My Acknowledgments and Thanks

      Thanks to Cynthia Lucas for a beautiful cover.

      Sarah, for your help on certain gods and creatures I used in the book.

      Lisa Angel Miller for helping me with this story idea.

      Anita, hell for everything.

      Roux, girl I am so glad I have you in my corner on this crazy ride.

      For all my fans, I hope you enjoy this next adventure.

      Dedication

      For Colin and your love of everything mythological.

      Note to Readers

      I hope you enjoy the start of my fantasy series. This book was a challenge for me. I researched until my little fingers bled. Instead of seeing the life of a gladiator, you will see inside the life of a shifter battling against them.

      On the following pages, I have created a whole new world, one of shifters, gods, and goddesses. As you read you will see a certain god who, if you know, did not appear until the seventeenth century. But being the author, I couldn’t leave Baron Samedi out of my stories. Everyone knows he’s my favorite character.

      Glossary of terms

      ––––––––

      Apollo — sun god

      Chiron — a centaur who is Apollo’s son

      Chiton — a form of clothing for the Greek female

      Artemis — Apollo’s twin sister

      Deity of Judgment — a panel of judges to judge the guilty of crimes

      ~Themis — Greek goddess of judgment

      ~Baron — voodoo loa of the dead

      ~Pyrial — angel of judgment

      ~Yama — Hindu god of judgment

      ~Rashnu — Middle Eastern god of judgment of souls.

      ~Gao-yao — Chinese god of justice and judgment

      ~Syn — Norse goddess of denial and defender of the accused

      ~Ma'at — the Egyptian goddess of truth

      ~Mihos — Egyptian god wearing a black lion head. The god of war and protection.

      ~Khosi — means king, lion from South Africa

      ~Lore — means story

      Nandandi — the elephant

      Ankia — means grace

      Stryker — a lion

      Mahabali — a Bengal tiger

      Skyphos — a two-handled deep wine cup on a low base.

      Kopis — a Greek sword

      Brotherhood of Redemption — the first club of shifters created to protect the innocent.

      ––––––––

      Quote

      If you have overcome your inclination and not been overcome by it, you have reason to rejoice.

      Plautus

      Prologue

      Laleh

      Ancient times were different, ones of gods and goddesses who ruled the earth. I hailed from Persia and my husband from Greece, when both countries were at constant war with each other. Our families bled noble blood, but we found a way to fall in love living in a small village. We kept our nobility a secret to save our lives. We desperately wanted a child, but for years and years we tried. Under the starry night, I prayed to the gods and waited with bated breath. Months later, one heard my prayer and answered.

      The night he came to me was a cool breezy night, the sky above me sprinkled with a dozen or so stars. My sheer dressing gown blew around me as I stood on my balcony gazing into the night sky. The drapes fluttered as he came to me. Laleh. I turned to the voice. The naked man appeared on the veranda before me. He stood there; the wind caused the curtains to cover him. A halo of golden hair shone under the moonlight.

      I gasped. Apollo.

      He walked toward me. With deep breaths, I remained still as he circled me. I breathed in his scent as he stood behind me and brushed my hair back. He kissed my earlobe, and I shivered as the god’s lips caressed my body.

      It was you who heard my prayer?

      He chuckled. Do you really care who heard and answered?

      I thought perhaps it would be Zeus.

      He looked abashed, but quickly changed his expression. His gentle touch on my lips made me shudder. I shall help you. He placed his hands on my shoulders and brushed them down my arms. I quivered under his touch.

      What about my husband?

      He turned me to face him and touched my lips with his. Why do you ask such questions after you’ve prayed to the gods for help?

      I knew what I wanted more than anything, so I asked the next question. What will he say if he ever finds out?

      As he pulled back, he smiled. This will be our secret; he may never know. You may never tell anyone of this, not even the child that will soon grow inside you. He touched my abdomen and the warmth from his hand radiated over my skin. He grinned at my tremors from his touch. Laleh, she will have your looks as well as your raven colored hair. He cocked an eyebrow at me. Though if anyone, especially my sister, finds out, I do not know what she might do. You humans know we are a jealous type.

      I will say nothing to anyone. I smiled and let him lead me to the bed.

      The next morning I woke with my husband beside me. I hoped my deceit would never be discovered, but the baby that grew inside me was worth my deception. I placed a hand on my belly and smiled, rolled over, and held my husband. He woke to my touch and rolled me over. Hello my love, how are you this morning?

      My lips turned upwards as I felt his erection against me. I, my love, will be fine soon. I pulled him closer to me, my lips connected with his, and I wanted him more and more each second.

      ––––––––

      Nine months later

      Come on, darling, we must present the baby. Our guests are waiting.

      I finished dressing our little bundle of joy, kissed her on her pink nose, and lifted her gently into my arms. Oh, please, let me have one more minute alone with her.

      He kissed me. One more minute.

      I rocked her for a while and looked at my beautiful daughter, the answer to my prayers. Here we go, my little princess. My husband wrapped an arm around my waist and ushered me into the room where our guests waited to see her. The moment we entered, the people stood and craned their necks to see the baby.

      We placed our daughter in a bassinet for the people of the village to see her. We stepped back a little, and my husband placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. I touched his hand and looked over and smiled at him. Thanks for giving me the best gift ever.

      My pleasure. I’m sorry it took so long. He leaned down and kissed me.

      It was a matter of time, darling.

      When he had pulled back from me, the doors flew open and a whirlwind of dust blew around us. When it dissipated, I saw a woman with auburn hair, who at first glance I didn’t recognize. She walked over to us, and fear suddenly ripped through me. She was the goddess Artemis, Apollo’s sister. How had she found out? I felt sick and leaned into my husband.

      Are you okay? What’s wrong? my husband asked.

      I barely nodded and spoke quickly. Nothing. It seems our baby’s birth has garnered the attention of a goddess.

      The goddess leaned in close to my baby. I stilled my breathing as she touched my beautiful daughter, her mouth inches from her face. Afterward, she walked up and whispered to me, Laleh, your daughter will never know who she truly is unless she is kissed by her true love.

      I gasped at the realization that she knew my secret. I turned to my husband. I’ll be right back.

      He nodded and let go of me. The goddess smiled at me as we stepped away from him. How do you know? My voice shook, as I feared for my child’s safety.

      I know things. I am a goddess. She smiled maliciously at me. My brother is quite the charmer, as are many of the gods. She eyed my husband as he stood gazing at the daughter he thought he had helped create. The goddess’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. He doesn’t know you slept with my brother, does he?

      No! I gasped. Apollo made me swear I would never tell him.

      She leaned back and smiled. My brother is one of a kind, isn’t he? Nothing like our father.

      I meekly smiled at her. Please don’t tell my husband, I tried to reason with her.

      I won’t, but I made sure she’ll never find out her identity. As the words echoed quietly she disappeared.

      ***

      Later that night I called to Apollo, asking for another favor. He appeared before me. Laleh, why do you call on me at such a late hour?

      I held back tears. Your sister knows about the baby. We need to protect her.

      He nodded. I feared this would happen.

      What are we going to do? I sniffed, letting a tear slide down my cheek.

      He wiped it away. Do not worry. I will contact Athena, who will cloak her existence to other gods and goddesses until she turns eighteen.

      What happens after that.

      Hopefully my sister will lose interest before anything happens to her.

      I sighed in relief as he disappeared.

      Chapter One

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