Eternal Duty and Desire

ETERNAL DUTY AND DESIRE ETERNAL SAGA: BOOK 3 EMORY GAYLE Copyright © Clan Whelan Publishing. Cover design by Joy Design Studio. Cover copyright © Clan Whelan Publishing. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book contains content that might be troubling for some readers, including, but not limited to, violence, sexual encounters, and adult language. Please be mindful of these and other possible triggers. For my school bullies who told me I wasn’t worth the dirt stuck to my shoes and, the guys who assaulted me over the years. You have made wonderful inspiration for all the characters I get to maim and kill. Thank you. CONTENTS Part One Chapter 1 Ren Chapter 2 Istadell Chapter 3 Istadell Chapter 4 Ren Chapter 5 Istadell Chapter 6 Ren Chapter 7 Istadell Chapter 8 Ren Chapter 9 Istadell Chapter 10 Ren Chapter 11 Istadell Chapter 12 Ren Chapter 13 Istadell Chapter 14 Ren Chapter 15 Istadell Chapter 16 Ren Chapter 17 Istadell Chapter 18 Ren Chapter 19 Istadell Chapter 20 Ren Chapter 21 Istadell Chapter 22 Ren Chapter 23 Istadell Chapter 24 Istadell Chapter 25 Ren Chapter 26 Istadell Chapter 27 Ren Chapter 28 Istadell Chapter 29 Ren Part Two Chapter 30 Shalli Chapter 31 Tim Chapter 32 Shalli Chapter 33 Tim Chapter 34 Shalli Chapter 35 Tim Chapter 36 Tim Chapter 37 Shalli Chapter 38 Tim Chapter 39 Shalli Chapter 40 Tim Part Three Chapter 41 Istadell Chapter 42 Tim Chapter 43 Shalli Chapter 44 Ren Chapter 45 Tim Chapter 46 Istadell Chapter 47 Shalli Chapter 48 Ren Chapter 49 Tim Chapter 50 Izz Epilogue Afterword Author Note Acknowledgements Review and Read More CWP Newsletter and Partners CWP Authors and Books PART ONE CHAPTER 1 REN The searing heat beat off the back of my neck as sweat ran down it. I had tossed my shirt ages ago, opting for the slight breeze to bring some kind of relief from the scorching sun. “How’s it going?” I straightened from the hay bale I was about to toss on the back of the truck and turned to the deep, rich voice I knew almost as well as my own. “Be done in about twenty, Pops—less if you can get your ancient behind over here and help,” I called. Pops’ laugh bellowed out, dark and resonant across the yard to the barn where I had been loading up the track. The rancher walked a straight and strong path to me; with his wide strides, it took seconds. My father was no less than eight feet tall and had the strength of a man my age, no contest. He had given the best years of his life to the ranch, and I was determined to live up to that tradition should he ever wish to actually retire, not just talk about it. “Young Elk doesn’t know how to do it right, huh?” Pops mocked as he took a stand beside me. As a kid, I had wanted to be taller and bigger than him since he was the strongest male in all Elkion—at least to his son. Even in his semi-retirement years, he had maintained his height and stubbornly held on to the one single inch he stood above me. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to match his musculature, but I had worked my tight ass off on the ranch trying. As Gigantes, we were made tall and strong; our people topped out at over eight feet tall at times, often having to turn sideways to get through a door. Pops was no exception, but rather in his youth the standard all others measured against. His easygoing nature and reserved charm had won my mother over. It seemed I had been short-changed in the huge physique and winning personality of my father; instead, I was graced with the agility and temper of a feral cat by some relative I didn’t know. I was no slouch in the strength department, but I had long given up on the dream of surpassing Pops. Bending over, Pops tossed five bales on top of each other in his outstretched arms and walked them easily over to the truck bed. “Twenty minutes to finish this load? Looks like my ancient ass is still faster than you,” Pops said as he wiped his hands off on his work pants with a satisfied smile. “Whatever.” I scoffed. He liked showing me up every once in a while, and I liked letting him. “You just had so much energy left after your day of relaxation. I spent all mine working,” I added. “Oh, really?” he asked, placing his hands on his hips. “Just so happens I spent the afternoon with a guest in the house.” That caught my attention. “Who was here? Why didn’t you call me?” “Your sister popped by for a visit with a certain gentleman in tow, and I didn’t call you because she asked me not to.” “Shalli was here? You should have called me to come in,” I stated, perturbed and annoyed that he hadn’t let me know my sister had come for a visit. It was rare that she got the time to leave the palace and come back home for a while. I grabbed the keys for the truck out of his hand with a snap and watched him. “She has asked that you go to the palace for supper. She will fill you in on her visit then,” he answered. “Tonight?” I asked, looking at the sun starting to tint the sky orange and pink. “Yup.” He nodded. “So you’d better get a move on and shower. You smell something terrible.” “Thanks,” I said with a shake of my head. “What’s this all about?” “That’s up to Shal to answer, not for me to tell,”