The Escape (The Secret Princess - Vol. 3): The Secret Princess, #3

By Sophia Gray

Volume 3 of The Secret Princess series

Nadia use to live the most boring life imaginable in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She was stuck in the rut of every day feeling exactly like the last. Nothing was out of the ordinary; that is, until she met Foster.

The third story of Nadia and Foster's perilous adventure, finds them caught between two worlds, where things are never as they seem; not even for the world of the humans.

Can there ever be too many lies and deceit for a family to overcome?

Foster and Nadia, with the help of those around them, must run for their lives from an evil Queen that has called for blood. Whose blood will she claim?

Join Nadia and Foster as they fight for the survival of their whirlwind romance and as they decide if true love is worth risking everything they've ever known...

Note: Parts of The Secret Princess were previously published as Blue Ridge.

Also includes a Sneak Peek at an upcoming novel!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roja Publishing
• Release date: Oct 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533736987

Book preview

Volume 3 of The Secret Princess series

Nadia use to live the most boring life imaginable in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She was stuck in the rut of every day feeling exactly like the last. Nothing was out of the ordinary; that is, until she met Foster.

The third story of Nadia and Foster's perilous adventure, finds them caught between two worlds, where things are never as they seem; not even for the world of the humans.

Can there ever be too many lies and deceit for a family to overcome?

Foster and Nadia, with the help of those around them, must run for their lives from an evil Queen that has called for blood. Whose blood will she claim?

Join Nadia and Foster as they fight for the survival of their whirlwind romance and as they decide if true love is worth risking everything they've ever known...

Note: Parts of The Secret Princess were previously published as Blue Ridge.

Also includes a Sneak Peek at an upcoming novel!

~Volume Three: The Escape~

Nadia could barely make out Foster’s pale face from across the vast chamber, but she knew without a doubt it was him. She shot a quick glance down to the Queen’s throne, and saw that she and all the attendees were focused on each other. Garth was watching the Queen too with murder in his eyes. Nadia yanked at his shirtsleeve and pulled him down out of sight.

Across the room is a place like this one! Foster and two others are in there! she whispered excitedly.

Garth eased his head up and scanned the opposite wall. When he brought his head back down to her, he smiled. Aye, and Stefan Anak is one of them.

Is he related to Foster?

He’s an uncle and a strong Nephilim. There is hope, young Nadia. He said quietly and patted her head. We will need to figure a way to get to them, but first I will hear what the Queen has to say.

Nadia thought that was the worst idea ever, but said nothing. Deep down she wanted to know what was happening as well. Garth had told her she had used something called Glamour, but refused to elaborate on it beyond telling her that only ancient races could use it. He had said a human certainly wouldn’t know how. It all seemed ridiculous, but for now she had no one else to ask.

Welcome to the autumn meeting of my court. The Queen said sharply. I assume we can all behave like the regal races that we are and I assume the Nephilim can at least pretend regality for one evening.

Nadia felt Garth bristle beside her. She dared a look across to Foster and offered him a weak smile. She could see the look of anger, even from the long distance.

Now, there are nasty rumors of a possible coup. There are even nastier rumors of my not being on the throne in a legitimate manner. Her eyes scanned the room and she didn’t attempt to disguise the malice practically dripping from them. Who shall speak first?

All eyes remained on her but no one spoke. Tension was thick in the room.

Very well. She said casually. I shall move on to the more important matter at hand. Tonight I shall present to you my son, and heir to the throne.

The room erupted in violent whispers that sounded like too many snakes having a discussion. From the snatches of conversation that could be heard, apparently a few didn’t even know she had a son. One member of the Fae stood and shouted, "Lily, we have never handed the throne over based on blood! All members of the Realm are allowed a vote when the throne becomes vacant!

Sit down, Thomas. She replied, standing. We will have none of your idiotic banter tonight.

The Queen snapped her fingers and the same one to announce her arrival announced her son’s in a loud voice. A young man of about Fosters age stepped onto the platform. The same golden hair of his mother hung to his shoulders. His skin was so pale that it looked translucent and his manner was as cold as hers, as he waited for his own throne to be set beside his mother’s. He looked on the people with contempt. An equally elegant chair with embroidered designs and a high back was set beside the Queen’s throne, and he sat down with a casual air, as if he had always been before the people as their leader.

Queen Lily took her seat again, and focused her attention on Foster’s family. Anaks, why are you here? You are no longer members of the court. Kheelan, you and your wife were not invited either, so please indulge me with the reasons why you are here.

Foster and Warren sucked in breath at the same time as they watched their mother and father walk towards the throne. Julia gave the Queen a barely discernible curtsey and Derrick simply nodded his head. The Queen twisted her mouth, but said nothing to Derrick for the insult.

Queen, Lily, Julia began, we have come because we believe our younger sons, Foster and Warren, are within the Realm.

She gave them a faint smile. My goodness, your household is run like that of the heathens. Are there no rules? Isn’t Foster recently involved with a human?

Yes, and that human was taken from the human world.

Kidnapped?

Yes. Foster may have thought she was brought here.

The Queen and her son stared at them with amused eyes. They exchanged a look and suffocated laughter with the backs of their hands. To Foster they looked like puppets imitating each other. "Well, she isn’t here."

Derrick spoke with a calm voice. Do you mean she isn’t within the Realm, or she isn’t here in the castle?

Lily rolled her eyes. Derrick, how would I be able to know every inch of the Realm?

Perhaps, one of your spies would know.

She laughed out loud. Really, Derrick, you act like I run this place like a dictator. There are rules, and as you both know, sometimes those rules are broken, but I can’t be responsible for every mixed breed that wanders into the Realm before their twenty-one. She paused and eyed them steadily. "So, once again, why are you here?"

Julia exchanged a look with her husband before responding. We seek your assistance in looking for our sons, and the human girl.

Nonsense. If your sons do turn up I will send them home, but the girl, well that is a different matter. Humans cannot be allowed to return to their world with knowledge of ours.

"You would kill the girl?"

Lily shrugged. Why not? What is a human to me? She laughed again at their incredulous stares. Oh fine, Julia, if it would make you sleep better, I will send Nadia home too. Now be dismissed, and I do mean completely dismissed, and take your aged parents with you.

Julia and Derrick looked at one another for several seconds. Foster couldn’t see their faces but he could sense a change in the tensions of their bodies.

I said you’re dismissed! the Queen said sharply.

Tell me, Lily, how did you know the girl’s name?

She looked confused, but only for a split second. The rumors, of course.

How odd. Julia said. She turned her face back to Derrick. "Derrick, did you know her name?"

No. he growled.

Julia turned to face the crowd. How many of you knew of the rumor about my son being involved with a human?" Only a few raised their hands, and as far as Foster could see, they all wore blue collars on their tunics