Ever My Merlin (Book 3, My Merlin Series)
Read Ever My Merlin (Book 3, My Merlin Series) Online
Authors: Priya Ardis
Tags: #Young Adult Fantasy
Ever My Merlin,
Book 3, My Merlin Series
by Priya Ardis
EVER MY MERLIN
He was the right one, the fated one, but was he right for her?
The end of the world. The day of reckoning. The final battle.
In this modern-day Arthurian, it is a time of great strife for Arriane (aka Ryan) and Merlin (aka Matt) as they struggle to stem the flood of destruction unleashed upon the world. Their only hope rests in the one object that can restore their greatest ally: the Healing Cup.
With every scrap of life hanging in the balance, Ryan must convince both friends and enemies that the key to survival rests in the plans of a sword-toting girl of only eighteen. She must reconcile a fifteen-hundred-year rivalry between two brothers, and be ruthless enough to break a heart—and a life—in the process. And at some point, she really needs to get herself to Prom.
Complete the circle in the last chapter of the My Merlin Series.
A blend of Arthurian legend and Greek mythology, My Merlin weaves the mysteries of the past with modern-day adventure, supernatural creatures, high school, and romance.
Copyright
2012 by Priyanka Ardis
Ever My Merlin
.
Cover art by Claudia McKinney, Phatpuppy Art.
Cover model is Jess Truscott.
Cover design by Kathleen Baldwin
All Rights Returned to the Author
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the author's express written permission. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without permission is prohibited.
This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to real people or real locations are used fictitiously. Any references to historical events are used fictitiously. Characters, names, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual incidents or persons is coincidental.
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Published by: Ink Lion Books 2012
ISBN-13: 9780984833948
Version 2012.11.01
Table Of Contents
CHAPTER 5 – LAST OF THE ROMANS-BATTLE OF AD DECIMUM
CHAPTER 7 – IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ALEXANDER, SON OF ZEUS
CHAPTER 8 – LOVE ME, LOVE ME NOT
CHAPTER 12 – ACTON-CONCORD HIGH
CHAPTER 17 – TELL ME YOU LOVE ME
CHAPTER 18 – THE LION AND THE TIGER
CHAPTER 19 – FAITH IN WESTMINSTER
It’s the last book in the series, so there are a lot of people to thank. First, I’m thrilled to have been supported by my wonderful readers, bloggers, friends, and family! Those of you who have contacted me through the various social sites, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been picked up by your enthusiastic words and quick note! Those of you who’ve spread the word about the series via your websites, reviews, and by simply telling friends—I’m floored and very grateful!
A big thank you to my family for putting up with my schedule when I should have been watching movies/at the beach/generally not in front of a computer (I blame the muse!).
A huge thank you to CM at Phatpuppy for her wonderful art and for going out of her way to ensure I was happy with everything—I am! KB, who’s been so wonderfully supportive, for her awesome, awesome, layout design—thank you!
A shout out to my wonderful editors – Teri “the Editing Fairy” G. and Cassie MC—without whom this manuscript would be a mess. Thank you for working your schedules around mine! WM, thanks for pitching in, though you didn’t have a choice. Another big shout out to MM, the lone voice of reason, couldn’t do this without you!
PROLOGUE
I
helped my brother up the stairs of our small cottage. We were playing in the woods. He followed me everywhere, but I didn’t mind. He had small hands; mine were big. I was the big brother. I would always take care of him.
I turned the handle that latched the back door. Behind me, my brother stumbled on the stairs. I turned back around and caught him before he could fall. The door opened a crack. I helped my brother up the stairs leading into a small storeroom. Across the dirt-floored room, another three steps led up to the cottage.
The Lady sat at a round table and chopped, chopping a potato. I don’t know how she managed to hold on to the precious bit of food. Crops liked to grow for her. I’d overheard more than one desperate villager whisper about our bounty, yet no one ever tried to steal or wrest it from us.
Maybe I did know why. One time I took a few leftover bits of food and tried to trade it for a sword. I never saw her so angry. Her glowing green eyes took the breath from my body. It wasn’t until I saw dark spots in my vision that her eyes snapped back to normal and my breath swooped back into my lungs. I knew I almost met my death that day, but in the end, I was simply admonished for possibly exposing us to outsiders.
I was about to fling the back door open when the voice of a man stopped me. We never had a man in our cottage before. We never had any visitors in our cottage before. The Lady was our guardian—I didn’t dare call her mother—for as long as I could remember. I had little recollection of anyone before her. Only the three of us—the Lady, my little brother, and me.
“Are they here?” the man asked.
“No, son. They’re out in the woods.” The Lady cut another slice of the potato.
I took a few steps into the cool darkness of the storeroom. I could see her above me. My brother started to make a gurgling sound. I put a finger to my lips to tell him to shush. He nodded and repeated the gesture, delighting at the game.
“The elder takes care of his brother well,” she said.
The giant of a man sat down in a chair across the table from her. He wore the uniform of a Roman soldier—a breastplate of unusually shiny metal, a leather skirt, and leg armor. His cloak was an imperial purple. On a bare-muscled arm he wore a gold armband in the shape of a fish. Sandals covered his feet. A gold crown sat atop dark-blond hair with a winking green gemstone. “Do I hear censure in your tone, Mother?”
“An observation, Poseidon,” she said.
“No one calls me by that name anymore, Mother.” The man paused. “Our time is near. You cannot delay much more. We have already lingered too long. Our father has demanded our departure and he is right. We have other places to be.”
The Lady continued to cut the potato placidly. “Yet, I am not done. The boys need me.”