Lexan's Pledge (Starbright Novellas) (10 page)
Read Lexan's Pledge (Starbright Novellas) Online
Authors: Hilary Thompson
Tags: #A Starbright Secrets Novella
“I agree,” Madna says, a thoughtful pull to her wrinkled brow. “Maybe it’s not about a certain emotion, but the humanity involved in feeling anything very strongly. Your human side calling to your goddess side.” She pauses and brushes a hand over my hair. “What other emotions have you felt that are as strong as your anger?”
I shake my head. “Anger has always been the strongest.”
“What about grief?” Lexan asks softly, and my heart stops beating. Of course.
Nobody speaks for a minute, then two.
I know what I have to do, and I don’t want to do it.
I have to finally read Mother’s letter.
To my surprise, it is Zarea who pulls me from the mental cliff I’ve been imagining. “Come on,” she says, tugging me to my feet. “I’ll take you upstairs and get you settled. You boys have done quite enough for the day. Go hunt some animals or something.” She dismisses Lexan and Stian with a wave and pulls me towards the house, her arm firmly around my shoulder as I walk on unsteady legs.
She helps me to my bed and surveys me with her hands on her hips. “Grief is something many people have a hard time understanding. Stian is one of those people.”
“I’m sorry he went after Lexan,” I say.
She waves her hand at my words. “He’s an idiot. He ended our relationship because he was scared he couldn’t keep me. Then he terrorized any boy who came near me because he was scared I would let someone else have me.”
“He’s a little possessive,” I say, thinking of his word earlier:
mine.
She snorts. “Anyways. Idiot. Can I do anything to help you? Make this easier?”
“Why are you here?” I ask. I’m not sure if I mean here in my room, or something else.
“I protect warriors,” she says, and turns away quickly, keeping her eyes on the floor. I’m not sure if she means me or someone else.
“Just do me a favor?” I ask before she is gone. “Keep both of them away for a while?” She nods and I sink into my pillows as the door clicks shut.
My hand shakes a little as I slip a finger under the seal of Mother’s letter and unfold the thin paper.
Balance Broken
, book two of the
Starbright
series
Trea and Lexan join forces with Stian and Zarea to convince Lord Hadeon of Tartarus to help them serve Justice to the remains of the world. But Hadeon is the master of destruction - and he wants Trea’s power for himself.
This novella seemed to pour out of my heart with the star-struck connection of a Libra author to a Libra character. But once Lexan’s story was rough words on a page, I called in the dream team to help make it what it is now.
Thanks go always to David, for continuing to help me find snatches of time to write, even though our lives are already too tightly scheduled. Somehow, I’m a better person when I let these stories out, and I love that you see that. Maybe one day I’ll make a movie version for you.
To Mom and Dad, for encouraging me to continue this journey. And to my extended family and friends, for spreading the word about
Justice Buried
.
To my babies, for watching one more show while I made use of one more snow day. And then for pulling me from the computer so we could all remember how much fun real life is too.
To Cecily, beta reader, editor extraordinaire, and now advertising executive. You know too many of my secrets for us to ever part ways! One day I will buy us a vacation home on Lake Erie.
To Kayla and Corrina, my first and forever best young fans, and the pioneers of my fledging street team! See their Instagram page “starbight_trilogy” for some sweet fan art!
To my OCHS family, including the LitWits, my fellow teachers, and of course, my students. I gain so much inspiration from working with each of you.
To my cover designer, Najla Qambar, for another enchanting piece of artwork. I can’t wait to see your plans for the next book!
And of course, to my readers, who let me turn you right round - I promise to keep jumbling up Trea’s life, because it’s so much fun to unravel again. Keep your sights in the stars!
Hilary Thompson was born to parents who made a habit of taking roads less traveled. But she was also a Libra, a first child, and an independent, willful child, so she has made a habit of taking a few roads on her own.
After trying on hats made for artists, architects, restaurant and retail workers, landscape designers, legal secretaries, and professional students, she retreated back to her first loves of education and writing.
Hilary now teaches high school full time, writes whenever and wherever she can, and reads as much as her eyes can handle. She also tries not to spoil her own independent, willful children or neglect her wonderful soul-mate of a husband too much. She tends to ignore laundry baskets and dirty dishes.