Noctis

Noctis◆◆◆ Copyright 2023 Monica ClaytonPublished by M.E. ClaytonAll Rights ReservedThis ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.This book is a work of fiction. The entire content is a product of the author’s imagination, and all names, places, businesses, and incidences are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), places or occurrences, is entirely coincidental.No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner, whatsoever, without the express written consent from the author, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles or reviews.Formatting: SmashwordsCover: Adobe StockWarning: This book contains sexual situations and other adult themes. Recommended for 18 years of age and over. Table of Contents◆◆◆ Author's NoteContact MeDedicationPlaylistPrologue1. Kalon2. Mora3. Kalon4. Mora5. Kalon6. Mora7. Kalon8. Mora9. Kalon10. Mora11. Kalon12. Mora13. Kalon14. Mora15. Kalon16. Mora17. Kalon18. Mora19. Kalon20. Mora21. Kalon22. Mora23. Kalon24. Mora25. KalonEpilogueAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorOther Books Author’s Note◆◆◆ Just a couple of things before I let you go and get your read on. While I am doing my best to work with better editing and proofreading software, all my books are solo, independent works. I write my books, proofread my books, edit my books, create the covers, etc. I have one beta who gives me feedback on my stories, but other than that, all my books are independent projects.That being said, I apologize, in advance, for the typos, grammar inconsistencies, or any other mistakes I may make. Since writing is strictly a hobby for me, I haven’t looked into commitments in regard to publishers, editors, etc. My hope is that my stories are enjoyable enough that a few mistakes, here and there, can be overlooked. However, if you’re a stickler for grammar, my books are probably not for you.Also, I am an avid reader-I mean an AVID reader. I love to read above any other hobby. However, the only downside to my reading obsession is when I fall in love with a series, but I have to wait for the additional books to come out. So, because I feel that disappointment down to my soul, when I started publishing my works, I vowed to publish all books in my series all at once. No waiting here…LOL. Now, the exception to that will be if enough readers request additional stories based off the standalone, such as in Facing the Enemy. At that point, if I decide to move forward with a requested series, I will make sure all additional books are available all at once. As much as this is a hobby for me, I am writing these books for all of you, as well as myself.Thank you, for everything! Contact Me◆◆◆ I really appreciate you reading my book and I would love to hear from you! Now, unfortunately, because I do have a full-time job and one part-time job, plus a family that I love spending time with, I’m not very active on social media. However, for the sites I do participate in, here are my social media coordinates:WebsiteFacebookInstagramPinterestEmailNewsletter Dedication◆◆◆ For Kamala –This one really is for you…LOL! Playlist◆◆◆ Monster – Beth CrowleyBuilding a Mystery – Sarah McLachlanPower Over Me – Dermot KennedyIris – Goo Goo DollsDark Horse – Katy PerryUprising – MuseWatch Me Burn – Michele MorronePray For Me – The Weeknd ft. Kendrick LamarWaiting For A Star To Fall – Boy Meets GirlMagic – Olivia Newton-JohnDecode – Paramore PrologueI stood in front of the tribunal, eyeing each man, listening to them lay out my life’s plan. While I wouldn’t have chosen this path myself, I didn’t have any real objections to anything that they were saying, either. I’d always known that these people expected more out of me, though I still never knew why. I didn’t see anything rare when I looked in the mirror, and contrary to popular belief, I looked in the mirror quite often.Nevertheless, Brander claimed that there was something in my character that made me stronger than the rest, but I didn’t see it. Though I’d been called strong, arrogant, obnoxious, stubborn, and prideful many times in my life, those were traits that you could find in most of the world’s population.Ignoring everyone else in the room, I listened patiently as Brander kept explaining their expectations of me. I listened as they laid out all the reasons why this was in the best interest of everyone on this side of the region. While I didn’t doubt Brander’s sincerity, I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t suspicious of Phaeron’s reasons, and for that matter, Thorin’s as well. Though they were all saying the right things, money and power made people do crazy things, something that I’d seen a million times over the years. There was a delicate balance to what we did, and none of us could afford to tip the scales. However, they were doing just that by laying out their plans for me.“This will take place on her twenty-fifth birthday,” Brander stated. “When she is at her strongest.”“You’ll have exactly one month to make it happen,” Thorin added. “Though we’ll leave the how, when, and where up to you.”“Granted, we recommend that you do not take the entire month’s grace period to accomplish your task,” Phaeron advised. “The longer that you wait, the more opportunity for error.”“I don’t make errors,” I informed him, proving why the people that called me arrogant weren’t wrong. “If I did, I wouldn’t be standing here before you now.”“Nevertheless, this is nasty business, Kalon,” Phaeron said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”“We’re very aware of what you bring to the table, Kalon,”