Reclaimed Wonderland: The Reclaimed Series

By B.A. Erickson

Penny Andrews is a restless monarch. Years have passed since she and Jonathan Zadock embarked on the sensuous marriage ceremony called The Almach. But time hasn't been friendly to their passion. After far too much time alone, Penny decides to travel home to Minnesota. But living in the "powder keg of the world" makes travel not only risky, it's downright dangerous.

Jonathan Zadock has his hands full managing the volatile Henri Zone land dispute. His failure to manage this situation would result in worldwide catastrophic consequences. After a horrific altercation, Jonathan fears he'll not only lose his empire but he discovers his entire family disappeared.

Forced to accept assistance from a covert terrorist organization, Jonathan and Penny's reunion hinges on the newbie skills of a middle aged operative with a Pepto Bismol infused tunic, loose weave terrorist operatives, and a man so dashing women swoon in his wake.

Will Jonathan and Penny bridge their past and reclaim the passion they once shared? How will they Reclaim their Wonderland?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Filbert Publishing
• Release date: Oct 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540150004

B.A. Erickson

B.A. Erickson writes romantic suspense with a twist. From the hot sands of the desert to the freezing plains of Minnesota, Beth is drawn to the sensual, the dangerous, the incredible promise of each new day... these are all themes in every romantic suspense she pens. Like Ashley in Reclaimed Haven, Beth is also a (hopefully) cancer survivor. That experience brought an interesting new dimension to the tales she weaves. (It also helps out with the nightmare portion of each novel...) She lives in Central Minnesota with her husband, son, and multiple rescue animals. Her work with strays taught her that no matter how dire the circumstance, tremendous hope, love, and joy can be reclaimed in any situation. Keep an eye on how she's doing, nab her latest projects, read journal entries, become a VIP reader, and more by surfing to her web presence.

Book preview

Reclaimed Wonderland

B.A. Erickson

This novella is part of the Winter Wonderland uncollected anthology put together by a group of romance writers who love a smart, sexy romance.

http://inkslingerswritingcollective.com/

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Copyright 2016 Beth Ann Erickson

Published by Filbert Publishing

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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Discover other novels by B.A. Erickson:

Reclaimed Trust: Screams Fall Silent in the Desert

Reclaimed Love: Evil Lurks in Friendly Places

Reclaimed Hope: Her Truth is a Lie. His Lie Holds the Truth

Reclaimed Wonderland

Reclaimed Haven: Murder on First

Reclaimed Haven: Murder on Second

Reclaimed Haven: Murder on Third

Ebook Edition License Notes

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 book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.  If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy.  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to every lover of romance, destiny, and dreams. My your world reflect the song in your heart.

Reclaimed Wonderland

B.A. Erickson

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Chapter One

Mysterious Message

His feet pounded the sand as he propelled himself forward. Exhaustion weighed his feet like anchors. He collapsed, knees striking the earth with a thud. He struggled to pull himself upright.

Crusty sand stuck to his limbs like paste. He would have attempted to brush it away, but he knew the activity would be fruitless. For now, he had to summon the strength to push himself forward.

He knew he shouldn’t have done this. A fucking volunteer job, he gasped, why I signed on is beyond my comprehension.

A faint, rhythmic, beating sound emerged, catching his attention. It was them. He had to reach his destination before they discovered his location.

Fatigue weakened his extremities.

He knew this mission would very likely cost him his life. But he had to do it. He had to do it for her, his beloved queen, his misunderstood monarch. She was worth every drop of blood, every bullet... every sacrifice.

He turned, gazing over his shoulder. The flappy sound behind him intensified. Helicopters. They were coming. He couldn’t stop.

He scrambled to his feet and forced his legs to pump forward. He prayed the wicked wind would erase the trail he left in the burning sand.

Fuck them all. Every single one. I will deliver my message...

He knew he would die but his resolve told him today was not that day.

He zig zagged across the desert darting between small shrubs. The sound behind him intensified.

If they get too close, maybe I can hide.

Wishful thinking. He was dealing with professionals. They would never allow someone like him to escape with such volatile information.

He concentrated every bit of energy towards running. His target lay too far ahead.

It would take a miracle. Yet, he continued his head long race against the impossible, knowing he couldn’t fail. Not today.

*****

She gazed out her window at the roiling hubbub just beyond the gates of the castle. But to her, those gates resembled a prison.

I miss freedom, she mused, I miss the ability to come and go. I want to run and feel the earth beneath my feet. She sighed. I want uninterrupted sky.

But she knew that would never happen. At least not for the foreseeable future. But her sadness ran deeper.

She missed him. The so-called love of her life. Her husband. Her partner in every way possible.

But, he has to tend to affairs of state, she said, repeating the phrase that was supposed to decrease her anxiety. It rarely worked these days.

As she pondered making the long trek to the roof of their humongous home, she knew even there, privacy would be limited.

Smack dab in the center of Halibar, the royal residence of Loran’s monarchy, the place she called home still felt foreign after all this time. Between rubbernecking tourists trying to capture a glimpse of the fair Minnesotan queen, the royal military surrounding the perimeter, and her personal bodyguards; trying to sneak a few moments alone on the roof was next to impossible.

She pondered her previous life, an existence comprised of researching, writing, and publishing.

I miss anonymity, she sighed. I miss Minnesota. Images of Lake Merit flooded her mind, memories erupting in a firestorm of memories. It was at that moment she realized she was homesick.

I’ve been gone too long.

Without her previous routine, she felt rudderless. Dealing with domestic disputes overwhelmed her. With the force of a tidal wave, her desire to feel Minnesota under her feet became unbearable.

I want to feel my lungs fill with winter air. She sighed. Just pondering the sensation sharpened her senses. She whispered, I used to take crisp morning air for granted. I want to experience it one more time...

She wondered what little Horatio would do if he were to feel Lake Merit’s frigid water kiss the tender skin of his legs. She smiled at the thought. Ten thousand lakes... most of them colder than words can describe... that’s a good definition of Minnesota.

Her smile erased when she realized she missed another summer. Winter was probably encroaching and evenings flirted with frigid temperatures.

Without warning, she became overwhelmed with memories. The desire to share them with her child flooded her soul.

She missed Midwestern celebrations. She longed to taste authentic lefse made in a real kitchen. She would have given anything to enjoy a cozy vespers service.

She wanted to shovel snow. She wanted to hear holiday music blare from department store speakers and complain about gaudy lights filling up materialistic malls. She sighed.

The most confusing aspect of this entire moment was that she loved Loran. She adored its people. She found them gracious, ever patient, with incredible hospitality.

More than anything, she loved Jonathan Zadok, her former captor and one true love. Their story was a tribute to fate, destiny, and all that is good in the world. Until her dying day, she would never forget how he helped her reclaim trust.

Aside from his frequent absences, he couldn't be a better husband. He treated her like gold. His face crinkled into a million shades of love whenever he spied Horatio.

She listened to her child... their child... toddling around his bedroom. Oh, how she adored him. That child, a result of their unusual union, somehow became the personification of their incredible bond.

Despite her profound homesickness, she wouldn’t risk his life for anything, including spiriting him to Minnesota during these turbulent times.

But, she still felt incredible sadness living in a world where the upcoming holiday season didn’t... and couldn’t... exist.

Horatio cooed in his crib. I’ll be there shortly, she whispered. She turned to gaze out the window again. The mass of humanity still churned. She wanted to join them. No, she corrected, I want to leave. I want to go home. I want Horatio to experience his roots.

All the lovely sand in the world wouldn’t take the place of one snowstorm. Snow’s special, she said, it comes, it goes, it nourishes soil... to the naked eye, a snowy field can appear desert-like. But, time isn’t its friend. Spring arrives, it exposes winter’s folly, and everything begins anew. Horatio needs to see that.

She wanted him to experience the joy, the lore, the story of the season. Those sentiments are as much a part of him as the Loran customs are.

She wanted him to feel the excitement of waking up on Christmas morning, digging under a tree, and finding the one perfect present that made the anticipation worth it.

Here, in this dusty, lonely, exciting country, she felt like the only person who practiced her faith.

Sure, as royalty she could impose her personal beliefs on her fellow country people, but she refused to do that. The thought of disrupting a balanced culture with unfamiliar customs seemed wrong. So, she celebrated alone, in private, each year loneliness seeping deeper into her bones.

But, after all this time, she missed her former community. She missed snow. She missed goose bumps and parkas. She wondered if her snowshoes still sat in the garage attic of her childhood home.

She sighed. I'm lonely, she whispered, and this year I need to do something about it.

*****

The flapping sound behind him rose to disheartening levels. He was positive he was about to get nabbed.

His knees pumped like pistons, forcing his feet forward. Despite his incredible fatigue, pure adrenaline propelled his forward momentum.

Just get over this dune, he breathed, you can do it. You can do it. Just one more dune...

He kept his body tight, knowing any unnecessary gyrations would consume precious energy. He also knew he already depleted every bit of his reserves. He coaxed his body forward.

This last hill is gonna do me in, he breathed, I’m not gonna make it.

He pushed himself forward. Just as he made the crest, he flopped forward, allowing himself to roll down the other side.

He tumbled, arms and legs flailing like a rag doll. By the time he reached the bottom, he knew he wouldn't arise again.

That's when he hit a solid object. With every remaining ounce of strength, he opened his eyes. To his surprise, a soft, fleshy nose greeted his gaze.

*****

Penny Andrews Zadokimri stared out the window, deep in thought, swimming in her grief. I want to go home, she mumbled.

Suddenly her door burst open. Benjamin stumbled into the room, gasping.

Benjamin worked as Jonathan's right hand man. Completely faithful to her husband, Benjamin often took it upon himself to tend to Penny’s needs.

At least, that was the story.

The truth was, Benjamin resented Penny’s role in the kingdom. Penny knew he didn't approve of their marriage. However, given the alternative, Penny was thankful for Jonathan’s generosity. Her memory replayed the moment:

She has to marry me or she will be auctioned off to other royals. She overheard the conversation with her own ears. Benjamin may resent her role in the unfamiliar government, but she was happy to reciprocate the emotion. But unlike Benjamin, she was smart enough to conceal that particularly vindictive character flaw.

Are you OK? she asked. She didn't take his behavior very seriously. He tended to lean towards the dramatic.

Henri Zone, he said, it’s a crisis.

Penny shrugged. When hasn't it been in some sort of meltdown?

No, he said, "this time it's