Iocasta's Reprieve

By Lissette E. Manning

Iocasta has a secret. One, she’s loath to reveal.

It’s no secret that Iocasta Meldren is the apple of her father’s eye. As the Goddess of Life and Love, she’s lived a very privileged life. For as long as she can remember, she’s basked in the adoration of those who follow her, an adoration she makes the most of.

A chance encounter one fateful night robs her of that which she holds the most dear. She’d give anything to hold tight to the remnants of her broken innocence. She’s lived with the repercussions of that night since then, praying that no one learns of her precious secret. Deep inside, she wishes she could keep the life she’s now entrusted with.

Iocasta knows her time is running short. The wolf hovers at her door, ready to release her from the burden she now bears. If she’s to succeed in holding fast to the one thing she loves the most, she’ll need to devise a plan to keep her enemy at bay. Her precious bundle must be protected, at all cost. The question is, how can she do just that when there’s no one trustworthy around to give her the helping hand she so clearly needs?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lissette E. Manning
• Release date: Dec 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310879616

Lissette E. Manning

Lissette E. Manning is an author from Connecticut. She has been writing since she was six-years-old, and spends most of her time trying to place her thoughts into order and giving life to the stories that are always brewing inside her head.She enjoys reading books, listening to music, playing the occasional video game, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family. She’s also a bit of a computer geek.Her writing genres of choice are Science-Fiction/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Short Stories, as well as Poetry. She’s currently working on several projects such as The Secret Keeper, Tales of Velosia: The Prophecy, The Corsicanth Princess, and many more.

Book preview

Iocasta’s Reprieve

Lissette E. Manning

"Io? her father inquired as he appeared, and came to stand beside her. His blond hair fluttered gently in the breeze. What, in Gaea’s name, is that?"

She looked up at him, her face flushed with color. A baby, Father.

He glared down at her. Whose is it?

The baby stirred as she held him protectively against her. Mine.

A muscle twitched along his jaw. How? he asked. Tell me, girl, or I swear I’ll . . .

"Hektos . . ."

Dandeloune’s face paled as he feared the coming answer. Hektos, what?

"He . . . She took a deep breath to steady herself. Hektos has claimed what does not belong to him."

He roared with fury, stamping his feet on the ground with more force than he’d intended. The earth shook and splintered, a deep chasm opening nearby. Iocasta watched as her father waved his fists at the heavens, lightning bursting forth at every interval. Thunder roiled as the clouds rolled in, dousing them and the ground with their beloved tears.

A sharp cry rent the air as the baby woke. Iocasta leaned over him to keep the brunt of the water off of him, though she knew her body was but a thin protection against her father’s wrath. She held the child against her, and whispered words of encouragement, bidding him to cease his crying. Until her father regained his senses, there was nothing she could do to keep her son free of harm.

Iocasta’s Reprieve

A Warriors of Galantha Short Story

Copyright © December 2013 Lissette E. Manning

Published © December 2013 L.D.B. Press

All rights reserved.

The author retains sole copyright to her contributions to this book.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

For information and inquiries, please address: Nancy Medina, via the following email address: [e-mail].

This book is a work of fiction and any similarities to any persons, living or dead, or places, events, or locales, is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

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