LYSSA (Vampin Book Series #13)

By Jamie Ott

In this installment, Lyssa is forced to leave King Decebalus.

When the Romans come for him, he sends a message to Lyssa's mother.

She's, then, forced to join the Primordials. But when her mother leaves her, prematurely, she has a fit that nearly gets her killed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jamie Ott
• Release date: Aug 1, 2012

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LYSSA

VAMPIN Book Series #13

By Jamie Ott

Copyright 2011 Jamie Ott. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used without written permission.

Publication Date: 7/21/2012

For all inquiries, please contact [e-mail].

Warrior Princess

Chapter 1

The King walked down the line, saying his goodbyes to everyone. When he got to Lyssa, he reminded her, for the thousandth time, to stay out of the armory because it was no place for a young woman.

Everyone pretended not to know that she was his daughter. The King said it was for her protection, but she knew it was really because of Andrada.

She hated Lyssa.

Every chance she could, she’d hound the King about sending her away. But the King loved Lyssa’s mother more than he’d ever loved a mortal woman. That’s why he honored his promise by making Lyssa a Lady of the house.

Be good, Lyssa, the King said.

He embraced her, and then kissed her cheek. Leaning in just slightly, he whispered, I love you, my goddess. You’re more precious than gold.

He kissed her one more time.

Lyssa didn’t want to look at him. She was mad because he never listened to her. But she turned her eyes up from the gravel, anyway.

I love you, too, she said.

He heaved up onto his horse.

They watched as he and his officers made their way down the palace’s windy mountain road.

Lyssa turned to go inside, but not before catching the gaze of her stepmother and her half brother, Celius.

Murderous.

They had no reason to look so. Every king in history had his concubines. Since illegitimate children had no claim to the kingdom, neither Lyssa nor her other half-brother, Dracus, was a threat.

He leaned his arm around her shoulder, and they walked back inside the palace.

Did you talk to him? Dracus asked.

Yes, and he hardly believed me when I told him about the letter Andrada received from Imperator Trajan. He said he talked to her, but I’m sure she put on her sweet, fetching smile, she replied.

They walked over the threshold and down the hall to the library.

Father was always blind to women, thinking they’re unintelligent creatures. ‘But what about Cleopatra?’ I asked. ‘A harlot queen,’ he says. She never could’ve ruled Egypt without Julius or Mark.

Dracus, do not call him Father, she said, sitting in her cathedra.

Why not? We’re alone.

He walked across the room to the clay jug and poured himself some mead.

Because if you slip, like I did by calling him father in front of the senators, he’ll have you put in the carceral.

Ignoring her, he said, Come on, Lys, as he sometimes called her for short. Let’s practice making petards.

The King says if I’m caught in the armory once more, I’m to be barred in my room.

"You mustn’t listen. The Romans will be coming for us, sooner or later.

You have to understand that though Father is a fairly good man, he has an extremely large ego.

Since he was born, he’s been told that he’s next to godliness. Because he can’t let go of these silly ideologies, the Romans will take him.

Now, maybe we’ll be lucky because hardly anyone knows who we are, but we need to be prepared to fight our way out of the castle. Just in case something should happen to me, you need to be prepared to fight alone."

What makes you think the Romans will come again?

Rome wants there to be no more kings. Now the only reason they’ve allowed our father to remain is because of Andrada’s persuasion, and Father’s promised new allegiance to Rome. That’s soon to change, as pressure from Rome to take Dacia increases, and especially as Father won’t renounce his title. Taking this rich land, and Andrada for his concubine, will be another honor for him.

The King will fight them off. He’s done it before, and he’ll do it again.

"All lies, Lyssa. I was there when we fought. He tells the people we won the battles to keep up morale, the support of the people and the army, but Rome