Guardian
Trilogy
Book
1
Laury
Falter
Genre: Young
Adult Fantasy Romance
Publisher:
Audeamus LLC
Date of
Publication: April 1, 2009
ISBN:
978-0-9855110-3-6
ASIN: B00280MFEY
Number of pages:
274 pages
Book
Description:
Fallen - the first
book in the Guardian Trilogy...
Maggie is
unaware of the terrifying fate that awaits her. It isn’t until she lands in New
Orleans for a full year at a private high school and her unknown enemies find
her does she realize that her life is in danger.
As a mystifying
stranger repeatedly intervenes and blocks the attempts on her life, she begins
to learn that there is more to him than his need to protect her and that he may
be the key to understanding why her enemies have just now arrived.
Available at Amazon Audible
EXCERPT 1
“You
appear and then vanish like a ghost. You aren’t injured from venomous snake
bites. You aren’t killed by wayward, incredibly sharp arrows.” Then, I
reiterated, “I am the only one who can see you…how is any of this possible?”
“You
do pay attention,” he said, sounding almost regretful, though I didn’t
understand why.
“Yes,
now will you tell me how you are capable of all that?”
He
paused, still looking at me, as he collected his thoughts. The muscles
throughout his body visibly flexed, tensing as he prepared his answer. “I have
certain…gifts…that not many others can claim…gifts of speed, healing, and
regeneration, to name a few.”
He
paused, waiting for my reaction.
“Don’t
worry so much,” I said, teasingly. “I’m not going to run screaming for the
door.”
We
quietly laughed together for a brief moment.
When I felt like he was comfortable again, I asked my next question.
“So,
where did you get these gifts? Did your parents take some sort of special
drug?”
“Not
exactly. I can’t answer that, as much as I know you’d like me to. Just suffice,
Magdalene, to know that without these gifts, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
EXCERPT
2
“So
you’re warning me away from you?” I was appalled. “Then why are you doing
this…guarding me at all? Why the torment? Why watch over me when you know
that…that we should be more?” I felt on the verge of tears, which amazed me.
How could pain be so sharp in the afterlife? “Answer me, Eran. Why?”
He
sighed. “Because it is my job.”
I
gasped, more offended than I’d ever been. “I’m a job to you?” I stared at him
and waited for his head to rise but he refused to look at me.
“Yes,”
he said weakly, defeated. His beautiful, rugged voice released as a whimper and
the pain inside me grew. “You are just a job.”
I
didn’t think it was possible but the emptiness I’d felt with Eran being gone
those many weeks held no comparison to the magnitude of what I was experiencing
right now.
I
felt as if I had been gutted.
“No…”
I shook my head. “I don’t believe you because you see, Eran, I can feel your
emotions run through me. Whether you want to admit them or not, I know how you
feel about me.”
Stunned,
his head jerked up, his brilliant blue-green eyes drilling into mine. “You feel
me too? How can that be?”
“I
don’t know. But I do know that I feel in you the same emotions I have.”
He
groaned and turned away. “That’s not possible…” he muttered, pausing. When he
spoke again his voice was strained, determined. I drew in a breath as the
intensity of these emotions ran through me. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t let
this happen. This will not happen…I will not let us be together.”
“Because
you are my guardian? Then let me make it easy on us…You’re fired.”
“It
doesn’t work that way, Magdalene,” he said, quieter but still resolute.
“I didn’t want you to watch over me, Eran. I never asked for it.”
As if
he’d become an entirely new person, his reply was flat and detached. “You’re a
messenger. You require a guardian. It’s as simple as that.”
“Then
we’ve just solved the issue, didn’t we?” I said causing him to finally look up.
“This will be my last message. It’s from me to you…goodbye Eran.”
Turning swiftly, I walked away just before the tears came.
Turning swiftly, I walked away just before the tears came.
EXCERPT
3
Abaddon’s
eyes met mine, and I turned to head down the dark street toward a quieter spot,
a less public place. I wasn’t sure what Abaddon had in mind, but I knew it
wasn’t going to be pleasant. I didn’t want anyone to accidentally find us or to
valiantly step in, trying to be a hero.
As I
headed farther away from the commotion of Bourbon Street, into the darkness, I
didn’t need to turn to make sure they were following me.
I
could feel them.
As we
got farther from safety, my radar grew more and more intense, as if it was
sensing their anticipation of what was to come.
I
approached a dark alleyway and figured this would be as good a place as any to
do it. Only the hazy illumination of a streetlight reached here, and no doors
or windows could be seen, just the back sides of two buildings.
An efficient
place to die.
It
was here and now. I turned to face Abaddon, startled to find him leaning down,
merely an inch away.
EXCERPT
4
“I
apologize for the delay, Abaddon.”
I
turned my head to find Eran standing beside me, no more than a few inches away.
Excitement
swelled inside me, so powerful I couldn’t have contained it if I’d wanted to.
The nervousness now displayed on Abaddon’s face gave me even stronger
encouragement.
I
wanted so desperately to reach out and wrap my arms around Eran, wanted it more
than anything in the world. My desperate yearning was only being held back
because I still couldn’t move.
I’m
not sure Eran would have allowed it anyways. He was a warrior, and he was now
engaged in battle. Besides, I was nothing more to him than someone to save.
Eran
didn’t look my way but kept his focus on Abaddon, who stepped back a few paces,
his confidence faltering.
It
was Sarai who strolled forward, self-assured, placing herself in the
middle.
As
she strolled by Abaddon, she mused, “Don’t worry, I believe I can handle this
one.” Her face curled up into a hideous grin as she continued her approach.
I
knew then what she planned…but it was too late.
“Eran,
so good to see you again…” she whispered in a low drawl.
“No!” I screamed enraged, waiting for Eran to
fall to the ground, whimpering with desperation as Rufus had done.
Eran
remained standing.
A
moment passed and Sarai’s face contorted, confusion setting in. Her state of
shock became more defined, deepening further when he finally replied.
“You
don’t work on me, Sarai…” I watched in disbelief as his gorgeous smirk, the one
I missed so deeply, rose up. Eran turned and his stunning eyes settled on me,
concentrating so intently I could not have mistaken his message. “I’m already
in love.”
The
world changed for me at that moment. As Eran’s confession hung in the air, I
felt the passion and the power in me swell. Nothing was impossible now.
Sarai’s
mouth fell open, a shaken sigh escaping. She then looked at me, her eyes
narrowing in fury as Eran’s words sunk in.
Eran
flippantly disregarded her, turning to address Abaddon. “You are outnumbered.
You are overpowered. You have allowed yourself to be cornered. Shoddy work,
Abaddon.”
As I
watched their interaction, it dawned on me that Eran was enjoying this moment
and that it appeared to have been long overdue. I felt a smile on my lips,
nearly causing me to giggle.
It
was then Abaddon released me. I fell to the ground, hitting it hard but
overwhelmed with relief. I glanced up, wondering what power Eran had over
Abaddon to give up his hold on me.
In an
instant, I realized what had happened.
Abaddon
had let me go willingly. He needed his energy – all of it – for another reason…
Leaning
forward, Abaddon’s arms extended, his feet sweeping up from the ground, as he
lunged for Eran.
Reviews
"Fast-paced,
the story starts off strong and retains a tight rein on the momentum
throughout. This book mixes humor, mystery, and the supernatural into a
satisfying blend that should appeal to both young and more mature
readers." ~Coffee Time Romance Review
"Great
flow of interest and most unusual characters (that you will love as I have). I
have laughed out loud at some of them. Good, simple, fast read that has a great
hook, line and sinker." ~Great Minds Think Aloud Review
"A
very good read with interesting characters and a quick pace." ~Life Is
Better With Books Review
"While
I was given the first book I just bought the 2nd one, Eternity, and plan to
start it tonight." ~The Book Hookup
About
the Author:
Laury Falter is
a bestselling author of young adult romantic suspense and urban fantasy. She
has three series out: the Guardian Trilogy, the Residue Series, and the
Apocalypse Chronicles.
Website: http://www.lauryfalter.com
Twitter page: http://www.twitter.com/LauryFalter
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laury-Falter/196033543803745
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/lauryfalter
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