Title: Destiny Unveiled (Destiny Series, 2)
Author: Laura DeLuca
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
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Blurb
Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over
when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks
Gabriella's help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven,
Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be
catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets out on a
journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face
devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness
within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin
she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the
mortal world is in her hands.
Available on Amazon, Smashwords
and Barnes & Noble.
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Excerpt
Darron was on the roof of a large building, elevated dizzyingly high over the road below. Other skyscrapers bordered it, but it was by far the largest building in the general area, standing several stories higher than it's neighbors. The few cars that dotted the street below looked like insects. Above him, the moon shone full, round, and red in the night sky. It was an autumn moon, a blood moon. By the light of that moon, Darron was able to see the practiced movements of six black-cloaked figures, who swayed to the steady beat of an invisible drum. Their shapes were obscure in the pale light, and it was impossible to determine if they were men or women because the dark, hooded robes they wore hid their features from view.
There was an altar erected in the center of a circle that was outlined in black charcoal. On that altar sat the normal tools of ritual: a black tipped dagger, a silver chalice, an incense burner, and multiple black candles. Darron owned similar items. They weren't frightening in themselves. But the altar, like the people who lingered around it, was outlined by a shimmering black aura. The vibrations they relayed were no less than evil. Their presence made Darron shudder. He watched in horror, as a silent and
unwelcome spectator to the forbidden rights.
Four of the cloaked figures took up the elemental corners,
preparing to call the Guardians. The Guardians answered their call, unable to
ignore the summons because magick can't be divided into good and evil. It's
both because nature is both, harsh and devastating yet beautiful and gentle as
the need arises. It was just as easy for the dark witches to harness the
destructive forces of nature as it was for Darron and his coven to call upon
its life giving magick. Good or evil was in the heart of its master, not in the
magick that was wielded.
A fifth cloaked figure, the apparent leader of the group,
stood in the center of the circle with the dagger raised high above his head.
The sixth and final coven member groveled at the feet of the leader, his head
lowered in acquiescence. The hood of his cloak hid his face though he was no
more than a few feet away from Darron.
"Brother and sisters," the leader proclaimed, his
accented voice heavy with his foreboding presence. "Tonight in the wake of
the blood moon, we come together to bring a new brother into our fold. He has
completed the required tasks and proven himself worthy to join us in our
work."
"So mote it be!"
The four other cloaked figures cried out in perfect unison.
Their hands were raised to the sky in honor of the blood moon.
The leader picked up the chalice from the altar. He followed
the path of the circle to all of the elemental corners, stopping at each of the
robed coven members in turn. Each offered their willing hands to their leader,
palm outward. Each welcomed the point of the black edged dagger as it dug into
their open palms without so much as a gasp of pain. The high priest cut a clean
line down the centers of the palms of his disciples, and they all squeezed their
fingers against the open wound to allow the blood to drip into the waiting
chalice.
After collecting the offering from his followers, the leader
returned to the center of the circle and the waiting initiate. With one quick
motion, he sliced open his own palm. He held his hand over the cup, letting his
blood drip slowly into the chalice, until the wound miraculously healed before
Darron's startled eyes. When the chalice was full, he carried it to the eager
initiate who took the cup firmly into his hands and tilted it towards his lips.
"As this blood makes you one with our flesh, so your
soul follows to become one with the darkness," the English voice intoned.
As the initiate drained the last of the liquid in the
chalice, his hood fell away, revealing a blonde ponytail pulled back over a
pale white face, made even paler by the outline of bright red blood around his
lips. Darron watched in stunned, horrified silence as his own face turned to
meet his gaze. Eyes turned as black as coals stared back at Darron with a grim
smile of satisfaction.
"Rise Darron," the leader commanded. And as he
spoke, he lifted the hood from his head. Rise brother of the Dark Coven."
Book 1 (Destiny)
Blurb
Gabriella is a witch. The problem is, she doesn't remember.
She repressed the memories of her powers years ago when her mother was
murdered. Now, the warlock who was responsible for her mother's death has set
his sights on Gabriella. He is determined to use her fear to turn her to the
dark side of magick…even if it kills her. Her mother's spirit is reaching out
to warn her, but even that she pushes away. Desperate to save her daughter, the
spirit finds a male witch–one that just happens to be in love with Gabriella.
Darron is more than willing to help but the two young witches will have way
more to battle than just an evil warlock. There are overbearing jocks and petty
rich girls who get tempers flaring and often set Gabriella and Darron at odds.
There is more to the story than Gabriella and Darron could
even imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged,
and lives will be lost. Only after Gabriella and Darron both come to terms with
who they really are, and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can
they have any hope of fulfilling their destiny.
Destiny Buy Links
Available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.
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Excerpt
Her eyes scanned the room, from the pale blue sofa to the
bloody dent in the wall. But she didn’t need her eyes to know Darron was there.
Her heart sensed his presence before her eyes saw him lying in a heap on the
ground. His body shuttered with occasional spasms, and even though he wasn’t
fully conscious, his lips were twisted in a grimace of pain.
Uttering a gasp
of surprise, Gabriella flew to his side. She knelt beside him, and choked back
a sob as she took his hand in her own. She saw his chest rise and fall and was
glad to know was alive, but she felt helpless as she watched his face contort
in pain. She noticed something wet and sticky on her fingertips. She gently
titled his head and saw a large gash that looked like it needed medical attention. The skin around the gash was so deeply
bruised it looked almost black.
“Darron, what
happened to you?”
He didn’t move
or reply. Gabriella moved her hand from the cut on his forehead, and her
fingers dripped with blood. She bit her lower lip with fear. She knew enough
about head injuries to know that the wound could be serious. She grabbed a few
tissues from a box on the coffee table, and tried to apply pressure to the
wound, but it was useless. The tissues were soaked through in seconds.
“Darron?” She
squeezed his hand, and fought back tears of fear and frustration. “Darron, please open your eyes. Please be all
right!”
He squirmed and
groaned a little in response. Looking at his contorted features, Gabriella felt
incompetent and useless. She didn’t know what to do to help him. The cut must
need stitches. The blood was gushing through her fingertips, and she was sure
his life was slipping away just as quickly.
More than
anything, Gabriella wanted to help Darron, to end his suffering. Her thoughts,
her desperation, caused something deep inside of her to stir. Something that
had long been napping was awoken. The power she had fought so hard to deny was
forcing its way to the surface. This time she didn’t struggle against that power.
Her instinct to hide from it was finally overcome by the thought of losing
someone else she cared about.
Gabriella was
pulling strength and warmth from the earth, as though her legs were tree roots
taking nourishment from the element. A tingling sensation began in the tips of
her toes and spread slowly though her body as she breathed in the essence of
the element of air. Her blood flowed and
grew warm, the element of water, bringing the power to the surface. She was
overcome by a vigorous strength as she envisioned her spirit encircled by the
element of fire. She felt so powerful that she thought she could stop the world
from churning if that was what she wished. Gabriella focused the power,
remembering for a moment her mother’s lessons. She looked down at her battered
friend. She willed him to open his eyes and look at her. She demanded it of
him.
Gabriella would
have thought it was impossible, but she felt herself grow warmer. Her face
dripped with perspiration. The power within her reached a climax. Then finally,
when she thought she might burst, she felt the energy release. It seeped
through her fingers, and shined with an illumination that only she could see.
She heard herself chanting unfamiliar words, and scarcely recognized her own voice.
“By the
power of earth, water, fire and air,
Heal
this man who’s in my care.
Goddess,
hear your daughter’s plea.
As I
will it, so mote it be!”
Gabriella
repeated the words three times. Three was the number of power. Then she watched
as the wound on Darron’s forehead healed before her eyes, becoming smaller and
smaller, until finally it was gone. The blood was still warm and sticky, but
beneath the blood, the skin was smooth and unmarred. Even the horrible bruise
had vanished. Gabriella stared in open astonishment, marveling at the work she
had done.
Author Bio
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with
her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre
because it keeps her young at heart. In
addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog
called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and
has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. Her current works include Destiny, Destiny
Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.
Author Links
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