Title: Beginning’s End by M. Dalto
The Empire Saga Book Three
Publisher: The Parliament House
Genre: New Adult, Fantasy
Length:
Summary:
Ever since her unexpected return to the Empire, all Alexstrayna wanted was to protect her family. Despite the life-altering events that occurred within the Borderlands, her family–those that remained–were all she had left. As Empress, it was her predestined duty to protect them while ensuring the safety of the Empire.
But when the ever-threatening forces from the Borderlands challenge the peace, she must search within herself to discover a new magic, one stronger than anything the Annals have foretold before.
Add to Goodreads.
Add series to Goodreads.
Purchase Link: Amazon
Excerpt
The lords from the outlying territories began arriving a week later.
Alex and Reylor had made the decision together that the lords would be called to the palace as soon as Alex was well enough to receive them. Rumors spread since the incident within the Borderlands, with some even questioning the health and well-being of the Queen Empress. That Alex had returned was one thing—it was as if the lords flocked to them only to see her in the flesh, living and breathing, to decide if she was truly capable of leading them.
War was coming.
There was nothing Alex could do to stop it. She knew she needed lords on her side, to believe her position, and to listen to her when the Empire needed them the most.
She had taken up residence in the rooms that once belonged to Reylor. They were a few of the only rooms that hadn’t been affected by the library’s explosion, and therefore were not disturbed by the ongoing efforts to stabilize the palace and return it to its former glory. She had initially insisted Reylor have his own rooms back, but he refused to have her reside anywhere else, and instead he took up residence in the Council’s chambers; the proper place for the Lord Steward, he told her.
One benefit of her title Alex did not reinstitute were her Mistresses.
With two of them dead, and the third dismissed for her own safety before she left the Empire, she didn’t have it in her to petition any more innocents to wait on her when there was too much at stake being a member of her inner circle. She looked after herself—dressing herself, doing her own hair. It was no different than when she was on her own in Boston, and she appreciated the time alone when she had it.
She had just finished donning her dress—simple yet elegant enough the lords wouldn’t question her level of formality when she greeted them. Her jewelry and crown and all other frivolous items were lost when the palace collapsed and she was in no state to replace them.
Wartime was not a time for embellishment.
She assessed her reflection in the mirror in passing as she grabbed her hairbrush. Alex had lost weight—she had been bedridden for a week and never regained any of it back. She ate, but nowhere near enough; nothing satisfied her. Yet, by some magic of the Empire, she looked…beautiful. As if her perfect hair, bright eyes, and flawless skin was enough of a mask to hide the destruction beneath.
Alex was a mess, but the power of the Empire refused to show the truth behind the mask.
She hated it.
She wasn’t sure she would ever be how she was supposed to be. She knew Reylor tried to keep her mind from drifting—the constant stares, taunts, dinner invitations. Perhaps he thought it would keep her preoccupied, but it wasn’t working. Or it hadn’t been working. More recently, she found herself thinking about his invitations…for no other reason than she was lonely.
A mess.
A desperate mess.
The light from the orb created an eerie green glow within Lexan’s study during the early hours of the morning. “The suspicions are confirmed, then?” he asked into the ethereal globe.
“Yes, my Prince. The princess arrived last evening.”
“She was not alone, I am assuming?”
“No, she did, in fact, bring back her Emperor.”
“Was she welcomed with open arms?”
“It is hard to decipher. There will be a Council meeting this morning where the princess and her emperor are debriefed. Your mother and father have been quite scarce as of late…”
“Have they killed each other yet?”
“On the contrary, my prince.”
“…we’ll discuss that later. The Borderlands will begin their advance today, remaining at the tree line until the first signs of dusk. Will the Empire’s sentinel guards be removed?”
“There has been an assignment on the outskirts of the Empire that will take most of their attention away from your entry point. The Mistress’ cabin sits empty and untouched.”
“Make sure it stays that way. The Empress and the Councillor will stay within the castle. I will ride alone while the troops wait at the line. Without knowledge of their approach, any additional guard post should not even notice their presence. How goes the situation at the palace?”
“Preparations from within have been slow as well, my prince. I have convinced one other member that we should take our time and better prepare our approach, but it is the Captain who insists we press on, even without the resources we need. There is a division within the Empire, and the lords are cautious to lend more support, I have heard.”
“What is the cause of this division?” Lexan felt he already knew the answer, but wanted it confirmed.
“Your father’s presence has many on edge, and the lords are hesitant to allow their soldiers into his control.”
“Is there nothing my mother can do to assuage their concerns?”
“Most see her as a mournful woman without her wits about her since the death of Prince Treyan.”
That anyone would think his mother so weak sent a surge of anger along his spine. “Keep the Council divided—I would prefer as little bloodshed as possible, but there is no denying this advance any longer, especially with Sarayna’s arrival. I want a full report this evening after their meeting, and I especially need to know more about this Emperor.”
“Of course, my prince.”
The green orb disappeared just as the suns’ light began to brighten the hazy gloom of the Borderlands.
When they first began rebuilding, the library was at the top of the list of that which needed immediate restoration. It was where the most damage had been done, for it was where Reylor and Treyan had fought over the Annals. The magic the two brothers threw at each other paired with the protective spells and wards surrounding the Annals reverberated throughout the palace, with nowhere else to go but out. Most of the ancient tomes within the library fell victim to the carnage, the windows shattering, the ceiling falling, and the stability of the palace itself in question from the ensuing explosions.
The first thing she noticed as she closed the large wooden doors behind her were the windows, the first part to be repaired to give the library security from the elements. Through the dim candlelight that glowed among the setting suns’ throughout the area, her heart sank as the panes of glass were just that now—plain, clear panes, with not a hint of color like the stained glass artwork that used to reflect their colors over the floor.
Sighing, she quietly walked over the remnants of the floor’s tile mosaic. Many of its parts and pieces had been shattered in the center of the room where the Annals laid, vulnerable and protecting itself. Where the circle of destruction once caved in, the floor had been repaired with plain marble. She wondered if anyone would ever repair the mosaic to what it once was, but she knew that the arts and creativity were the last of their concerns at the moment, especially when war was imminent.
Alex’s boots echoed as she crossed the open foyer, the lack of furniture and leather—bound books making the space feel more like a void than an area of learning and knowledge. Her heart sank at the thought of all that was lost, and which might never again be regained.
She didn’t mean just the knowledge that the library once housed…
She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling a chill in the large, open space as she kept a steady pace towards the repaired windows and what stood before them.
Whoever had worked on repairing the library knew the importance of their work, she gathered as she observed the empty wooden pedestal that stood in front of the windows overlooking the palace gardens.
The empty wooden bookstand looked exactly as Alex remembered it, as if all the destruction miraculously left it untouched. Its carvings were decorative and its top flat and free of dust, as if it needed to remain immaculate while it waited for its primary purpose to return. She brought a hand to it, carefully running her fingers over the cool, smooth surface, and she wondered if the Annals would ever return to their rightful place.
Author Bio
M. Dalto is a bestselling New Adult author of adventurous romantic fantasy stories, having won a Watty award for excellence in digital storytelling for her debut novel, Two Thousand Years, in 2016. She spends her days as a full-time residential real estate paralegal, using her evenings to pursue her literary agenda, and when she’s not writing, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing video games, and drinking coffee. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband, their daughter, and their corgi named Loki.
Author Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Instagram
Giveaway
Enter for your chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
congrats on the new release
Intriguing and captivating feature. Thanks.
What an intriguing book! Great excerpt. I’d love to read more.