Star of Ishtar Read online

  The pen rose as Isabelle looked toward the open window. It wasn’t easy to pour out the myriad of fears that filled her mind.

  When I was younger, I’d listen to the housemaids’ chatter. It didn’t seem to be pleasurable then with the talk of heat and fury, but now I hear Elspeth, and I wonder at the glow I see on her face. The joy that radiates from her daily.

  I am genuinely pleased for my sister, but for myself, there is nothing but despair.

  Perhaps it is the knowledge that Louisa is married and expecting her first child and Elspeth is happy with her choice.

  Truly, Aeddan is a perfect foil for Elspeth, and the jealousy I feel sickens me. He is good. Attentive and kind. Resourceful and loving. Everything she deserves.

  In my future, I see nothing similar.

  No possibility of the pleasure I cannot sometimes escape the echoes of. What if that is all that exists? A spinsterhood that stretches into the future? It’s not enough.

  I should learn to be content.

  I will strive tomorrow to be more. To find an inner well of self- containment, but I fear this is not a skill I possess.

  I

  Scrubbing at her eyes, Isabelle sighed, blew softly on the page then sanded it so the ink wouldn’t bleed, before closing the leather cover of her diary. Jacinthe snored lightly in the bunk on the other side of the cabin as the vessel swayed gently.

  Isabelle reached over and placed the diary on the trunk beside her bed and turned the knob, extinguishing the lamp. She lay down, gaze settled on the horizon, the blanket pulled closer against the cold breeze. Moonlight filtered in through the open window, and she lay there a long time contemplating it before finally giving in to slumber.

  Available in Ebook

  https://books2read.com/MissIsabelle

  * * *

  Direct Autographed Copy

  https://bit.ly/IsabelleCraving

  The Blood Bride by Imogene Nix

  Hope just wants to be an ordinary nestling. She went to college and escaped, but now she’s back and there’s a secret everyone is keeping from her.

  * * *

  Xavier is the new master of the nest, ready to welcome home the daughter of the house who he has never met. He’s unprepared for the woman who steals his breath and enchants him.

  * * *

  Now Hope and Xavier must fight for lives and those of the innocents. After all, it is only by overcoming the rogues that they will have a chance of a timeless future together. But will it be in time?

  PROLOGUE

  * * *

  As silence descended on the house, the shadows grew—dark grays and blacks that bled into each other. First one figure then another broke away, making a run toward the house. Silent as the grave, they moved swiftly over dew-slicked grass. Then they stopped still. Waiting. Not a movement betrayed them until a signal propelled them back into action and they started crawling upwards. The walls damp coating no barrier to the intruders that ascended in the darkness.

  The sound of each window breaking shattered the quiet—the figures were inside. Screams echoed through the night. Yet, in this area of large estates, heavy with noise-absorbing shrubbery, no one could hear those within. The blood-curdling screams went on and on before finally dying away.

  Just one sound echoed through the night: The sobbing of a child.

  The front door opened and figures trooped out—ghostly specters against an inky night sky, broken by a single outline. A child in white, carried at the center of the pack.

  No sound broke the silence as they moved toward the trees surrounded the house.

  Flames now licked at the manor: A deathly glow of oily smoke rising.

  All that remained was a single person—wrapped in a cape of midnight blue beyond the house—watching them melt away.

  Jemima moved toward the burning structure, breaking into a run as she breached the threshold. Vainly she attempted to enter, but the heat drove her back.

  Now dashing tears from her face, she raced across the graveled driveway toward the gates, where the guardhouse was located. No sign of life existed within the building and some instinct of survival slowed her pace to a careful creep. Out of breath and heaving from exertion, she nervously checked within.

  Small puffs of white vapor colored the glass. She darted from one window to another. Her cloak drawn tightly around her body, hoping it would camouflage her from sight.

  Satisfied, Jemima entered through the heavy, wooden front door and moved toward the phone she spied on the floor. Her eyes darting here and there she dialed, listening to the rotary motor as it returned to the proper position. Time was short and if they came back, she needed to have shared the message.

  The phone rang once. Twice. With a brrping sound it connected.

  “Hello?” A male answered and she felt a warm flush of relief at the voice. A voice she knew well.

  “The manor has been breached. The girl child taken.” The words erupted and her hand trembled.

  “On our way.” The click of the receiver being replaced echoed loudly in the stillness of the room.

  Copper. She smelled copper.

  Her stomach soured, knowing it meant more deaths. Jemima looked around for the gun—a gun with deadly, holy water-infused copper bullets—she knew was hidden somewhere in the room. A gun she couldn’t find. No divine intervention exists here, she thought.

  Hopefully they didn’t remain. Feeding. If they were still here, that’s what they would be doing. She found a corner and scrunched down, hiding from sight.

  Crouched low, she tried to stay as still as possible, listening for sounds of the vehicles she knew would be coming. She dug her fingers into the flesh of her arms; remaining aware enough to stop before drawing blood. That would surely bring them out. Jemima dragged the cloak around her to capture the warmth, yet there was little to be found.

  The sounds of engines roused her from the corner of the room. Jemima inched toward the window, the lead of the old glass distorting her view, hearing raised voices she knew Mistress Cressida had arrived.

  Jemima retreated. Remained hidden from the woman because if she knew, all may well be lost. From the shadowed room she listened to the conversation...

  “It smells like Estersham.” The Mistress’ eyes closed. “If it is, we have a problem.” She turned once more, her face set and eyes now glacial in intensity. “James?”

  The man nodded as if he knew what was to come.

  “If I take those steps, I cannot return. Another must stand in my place.” Her voice hardened while her eyes glittered in the dim light, piercing in their intensity.

  Then the Mistress’ voice called out in the near silence. “You and yours have been my loyal servants for so many years. I took an oath to protect you long ago. I renewed it with marriage and births, over and over. Now, my home and yours have been breached and this child taken from us. The girl child, who will be the hope and salvation of our kind, was ripped from the bosom of our nest. I will repay your loyalty and I will get her back.” The words of power rippled in the night and licked at Jemima’s skin.

  Available in Ebook

  books2read.com/BloodBride-Nix

  * * *

  Direct Autographed Copy

  https://bit.ly/TBB-Nix

  Also by Imogene Nix

  Warriors of the Elector

  Star of Ishtar

  Starline

  Starfire

  Star of the Fleet

  Starburst

  The Star of Eternity

  The Star of Ishtar & Starline - Print

  Starfire & Star of the Fleet - Print

  Starburst & The Star of Eternity - Print

  Blood Secrets

  The Blood Bride

  The Illuminated Witch

  The Sorcerer’s Touch

  House Secrets (The Blood Secrets Continuation)

  As Dawn Breaks

  Immortal Consequences

  The Automaton Series

  Haven House

  Nobel Cre
st

  The Search Duology

  Miss Elspeth’s Desire

  Miss Isabelle’s Craving

  Reunion Trilogy

  War’s End

  The Assassin

  Executing Justice

  The Reunion Trilogy in Paperback

  Sex Love & Aliens

  Tangled Webs

  False Webs (Sex Love & Aliens Vol 1)

  Covert Webs (Sex Love & Aliens Vol 2)

  21st Testing Protocol

  Cyborg: Redux

  Children Of A Greater Evil

  When Evil Came To Stay (Not Yet Released)

  Finis: The War To End All Wars (Not Yet Released)

  Celtic Cupid Trilogy

  Blame The Wine

  A Stranger’s Embrace

  Revenge On Cupid

  The Celtic Cupid Trilogy in Paperback

  Zombieology

  The Reset (2018 - Love At The End of The World)

  I Dream of Zombies

  The Six Million Dollar Zombie

  Knights of Pleasure

  Silken Knights (Not Yet Released)

  Single Titles

  The Chocolate Affair (also in Print)

  Falling In Love Again (Previously A Sapphire For Karina)

  BioCybe (also in Print)

  Hesparia’s Tears (also in Print)

  Tomorrow’s Promise

  A Bar In Paris (also in Print)

  Inheritance Of The Blood (also in Print)

  The Plan

  Loving Memories (also in Print)

  Hero of Heartbreak Hill (also in Print)

  My One & Only

  Curse Bound (coming 2021)

  Raspberry Dreams (Not Yet Released)

  * * *

  Non Fiction

  Self Publishing: Absolute Beginners Guide (With Suzi Love)

  Written as Ciara Cave

  25 Curated Ways To Get Rid Of Telemarketers

  Book Signings for Absolute Beginners

  About the Author

  Imogene is published in a range of romance genres including Paranormal, Science Fiction and Contemporary. She is mainly published in the UK and USA.

  In 2010, Imogene Nix (the pen name not Imogene herself) was born. Imogene sat down and worked tirelessly for 3 months culminating in the book Starline, which became the first in a trilogy titled, "Warriors of the Elector." Since then she’s had over 30 titles published and is now focusing on hybridising herself - with a mixture of traditionally published and self-published works.

  In fact, she’s taking control of many of her back catalogue books, which are slowly re-releasing as self-published titles.

  Imogene is a member of a range of professional organisations world wide, and believes in the mantra of mentoring and paying it forward and is actively involved in mentorship (through NaNoWrimo and her vlog: In The Chair With Imogene Nix) and tutoring of new and upcoming authors.

  In her spare time she loves to drink coffee, wine & eat chocolate and is parenting her spoiled dog and a ferocious cat along with her husband and 2 human daughters and looks forward to weekends away with her husband in their caravan “The Seven Year Hitch!” Do look forward to her caravan romance at some point!

  To Contact Imogene

  www.imogenenix.net

  [email protected]