Conceived in Darkness

By Laura Shinn

Prince Orekon is out of time and out of solutions. He must mate and he only has until sunrise in three days or he will lose his throne. The alternative would be disastrous for his people. The females from his world of Astovia are lovely and willing, but his heart remains cold. There is no one among them who wants to discover the heart within the beast. And Orekon refuses to mate with any available female. He wants one who will join with his heart as well as his body.

Music is Kathryn Schaffer’s life and passion. It’s the only thing in her life that keeps her going, waiting for each performance. When a strange man in a corridor holds her captive from behind, Kathryn is momentarily terrified. Until his touch softens and he whispers words of passion and love in her ear. Knowing she will never experience those emotions in her entire life, Kathryn takes a chance and opens her heart to a stranger.

However, falling in love is never easy and trials and challenges await back on Astovia for the mated couple. Orekon is confident in his ability to maintain the throne, but Kathryn is in a world unlike her own.

Will she find a way to win over the hearts of the Astovian people as she did with Orekon?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Shinn
• Release date: Sep 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465850010

Laura Shinn

My writing didn't truly begin until I became a junior in high school. A friend encouraged me to write a short story, like the one he was writing, and I gave it a shot. It was a spin-off between Mork and Mindy and Star Wars. What it lacked in plot direction was replaced with adventure and fun dialogue. This first attempt accomplished its purposed and I was forever overtaken by the writing bug.Over the next few years I read like crazy, mostly historical novels. I didn't begin reading contemporaries until I got married several years later. I decided I wanted to write a time travel like the one my favorite author had written. Constance O'Day Flannery became my first inspiration to become a published author. {Since then I have had the honor of meeting and learning from many different authors: Suzanne Brockmann, Madeline Baker, Christine Feehan, Michele Bardsley, Jo Beverley and many more.}I love to read. New ideas for novels pop into my head at the most inconvenient times. The idea that you can create a magical or mysterious world with only the touch of your fingers to a keyboard encourages me to write more.While in college, at Howard Payne University in Brownwood Texas, I majored in English {minored in Art} and wanted desperately to become a published author. I've continued to work on my writing and designing skills and hope to one day achieve the same level of talent as many of my favorite authors.I have a wonderful husband, two boys, two dogs and two cats. We currently live in central Texas.I offer my clients design work for ebook and print, formatting and uploading only to Smashwords and Amazon.View my website for more details: http://laurashinn.yolasite.com.

Book preview

Conceived in Darkness

Laura Shinn

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2011 by Laura Shinn

Cover Design by: Laura Shinn Designs

http://laurashinn.yolasite.com

[Revised/2019]

This 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 ebook with other people, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this ebook without purchasing it and it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Conceived in Darkness is a work of fiction. Though actual locations may be mentioned, they are used in a fictitious manner and the events and occurrences were invented in the mind and imagination of the author. Similarities of names used within to any person, past, present, or future, are coincidental.

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Other books available by this author:

FICTION

Someone To Watch Over Me – Angels of the Realm series/Book 1

A Matter of Trust – The Men of Wellington, Texas series/Book One

Nightlife Anthology

Night Hunter

Conceived in Darkness

Chances Are

A Christmas Vow

Underneath the Mistletoe

The Hands of Time

NON-FICTION

Too Late: A Dramatic Play

SIN: Origins, Consequences & Deliverance

To view more of Laura Shinn’s stories or cover designs,

visit: http://laurashinn.yolasite.com

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Dedicated to:

My one and only mate for life—Jay.

Your passion of life is often contagious and keeps me going no matter what I’m doing. Your love for me boggles my mind and makes me daily grateful you chose me forever. I love you, babe…

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Special Thanks to:

The endless creative energies of my two boys, Josh & Nathan, who offer helpful advice, even when it’s painful. I love you guys…

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Conceived in Darkness

Prince Orekon is out of time and out of solutions. He must mate and he only has until sunrise in three days or he will lose his throne. The alternative would be disastrous for his people. The females from his world of Astovia are lovely and willing, but his heart remains cold. There is no one among them who wants to discover the heart within the beast. And Orekon refuses to mate with any available female. He wants one who will join with his heart as well as his body.

Music is Kathryn Schaffer’s life and passion. It’s the only thing in her life that keeps her going, waiting for each performance. When a strange man in a corridor holds her captive from behind, Kathryn is momentarily terrified. Until his touch softens and he whispers words of passion and love in her ear. Knowing she will never experience those emotions in her entire life, Kathryn takes a chance and opens her heart to a stranger.

However, falling in love is never easy and trials and challenges wait for the mated couple on Astovia. Orekon is confident in his ability to maintain the throne, but Kathryn is in a world unlike her own. Will she find a way to win over the hearts of the Astovian people as she did with Orekon?

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Reviews

{Below are reviews given when Conceived in Darkness was originally published. I now publish under my own name, but have retained the original reviews.}

Review by: William Wayne Dicksion on Feb. 24, 2013 : 5 Stars!

I just now bought it and read it. Thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a captivating story -- I didn't know what to expect -- but found it delightful, easy reading. A wonderful five-star story!

(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Lovetiggi's Book Reviews on Sep. 19, 2011 : 5 Hearts!

This is an awesome story, very well written, drew me in from the start! 5 out of 5 Hearts ~ Lovetiggi's Book Reviews

(reviewed 12 days after purchase)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Darkness

By Kindle Customer on February 20, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Never read anything like this but it made a hell of an impression. I loved it...I finished it in like a half an hour.

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining

By Snakewoman on October 24, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Enjoyed the story. Very entertaining. Would recommend to others. Have read other stories she has written and enjoyed them as well.

(Previously appeared in A Halloween Collection: Stimulating)

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"Love cannot survive in the heart if

it allows the idiocy of prejudice inside."

—Siena Kathryn, Princess of Astovia

Chapter One

Astovia – The Royal Palace

Prince Orekon stood straight as a board before his uncle, his face showing no emotion, though he seethed on the inside. Why again must he stand here and listen to the endless reasons why his uncle found it necessary that he find a mate. Orekon knew this already and still remained unmated, for good reason. All of the unattached females in his world wanted him for a mate, though only for his position and looks. Orekon wanted a mate who insisted on