Fractured Glory

Fractured Glory RISE OF THE DREADS LOREN HART YD LA MAR This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Copyright © 2023 by Loren Hart & YD La Mar All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or used in any manner without the written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. Contents Also by Loren Hart Newsletter Untitled About the author front newsletter Join our reader group! Do Not Bypass Volume 1 1. Ridley Axton Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Epilogue Volume 2 Courtesy Warning 1. John Warwick Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Epilogue Volume 3 Courtesy Warning 1. Bhif The Liontalon Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Epilogue Volume 4 Courtesy Warning 1. Torrin Tattersall 2. Torrin 3. Torrin 4. Torrin 5. Torrin 6. Amira Jax 7. Amira 8. Torrin 9. Torrin 10. Torrin 11. Torrin 12. Torrin 13. Torrin 14. Amira 15. Amira 16. Amira 17. Amira Epilogue Volume 5 Courtesy Warning The Dreaded Hunter Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Epilogue Volume 6 Courtesy Warning 1. Ulani Rensburg Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Epilogue Word From The Authors Untitled Also by Loren Hart Newsletter Follow Loren Hart and become a DearHeart Super Fan! About the Author About the Author Want updates and sneak peeks? Also by YD La Mar Grounded For Love Prologue Chapter One Untitled Also by Loren Hart LAST OF THE FIVE Thrones of Prey Court of Fire Crown of Ruin Keep up to date with Loren Hart’s books, news and events by subscribing to Hart and Soul, Loren Hart’s monthly newsletter! Subscribe here! FOLLOW LOREN HART AND BECOME A DEARHEART SUPER FAN! Website Amazon Facebook TikTok Instagram Follow Me! www.ydlamar.carrd.co www.ydlamar.com Facebook Instagram Goodreads BookBub TikTok Twitter Want updates and sneak peeks on YD La Mar? Sign up for my newsletter! Join our online reader group! www.facebook.com/groups/riseofthedreads To my good friend YD La Mar, the hardest working woman in romancelandia. Thanks for coming on this journey with me. To all the authors in Rise of the Dreads, you are amazing creators and I can’t thank you enough for all the hard work you’ve put in to make this something special. -Loren What she said. -YD Blurb There’s a war coming. Six kingdoms struggle for control of the world while wrestling with their demons within. Alliances are formed and lovers betrayed, while leaders plot and scheme. It is a world in which fear germinates like a seed in the ground. But seeds bear fruit. And when the fruit of fear bursts from the ground, everything will change. Six kingdoms. When it’s done, only one will survive to tell the tale. **These authors have teamed up to bring you, Fractured Glory, six dark fantasy standalone novellas contained in one remarkable volume. Featuring stories from heroes to villains, each tells their version of the lost history of the Rise of the Dreads. Dangerous and exciting, experience one thrill ride after the next, as you find all kinds of morally gray characters living between these pages. Readers are invited to go deep into this fantastic world and experience the heart-pounding account of the Midsummer Festival, the event which will forever change the world!** Do Not Bypass There are some scenes in Fractured Glory that may be triggering for some readers. This is a dark fantasy. If you are sensitive, please do not continue. Or at the very least, proceed with caution. Again, this is a dark fantasy with multiple points of view, and things happen within these pages that may be off-putting to some. You’ve been warned. Chapter 1 Ridley Axton THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO… “Again,” I declared. Deochaju was a defensive martial art focused on exhausting my opponent by dodging attacks and thus both exhausting them and causing an exploitable opening. The primary focus relied on quick movements and the speed and stamina of the defender, and I’d become a master. The biggest strength of Deochaju was the speed with which an opponent could be overpowered. By causing my opponent to be in a constant mode of chase, they’d become infuriated or just frustrated, which helped defend my weaknesses more. On the other hand the biggest weakness of Deochaju was opposite styles. Martial arts focused solely on attack tended to gain the upper hand more easily since those fighters would have a tremendous amount of stamina. Even though I’d achieved master status, I would not rest on my laurels. A master trained harder, faster, and better every time. “If I face an opponent in the festival which rivals my own ability, I cannot allow them to gain leverage over me,” I explained and extended my hand. Petre used the back of his hand to dab at the corner of his bottom lip. “You drew blood,” he observed. “Again,” I repeated. “I will be perfect. I have no other choice.” Petre nodded and clasped my hand. Out the corner of my eye, I caught movement and shifted my gaze toward it. Gianna had entered the courtyard with a pitcher in her hands. Her wide eyes settled on mine and as we locked, I was reminded of how the color of her eyes always made me think of summer leaves. Her curly, auburn colored hair fell to her neck like an unstoppable storm, and her rich black skin, slender build, prominent cheekbones and full