Fawn: Master

By Verna Clay

An unexpected promotion to the rank of Shapeling Master sends Fawn Woods on her first Mission of Mastery: nanny to an emotionally challenged child. Unknown to anyone but Fawn and the Thirteen co-Princes, Zoe is an Indigo child: the next stage in human evolution. To help Zoe, Fawn must first unravel the mystery surrounding her. Complicating matters, Fawn's heart is drawn to Zoe's widower father. Having a relationship with a human is something to be avoided at all costs.

A widower for two years, Wade Spencer goes through nannies like water. His daughter's new caregiver is certainly not the matronly type he'd expected. What had the employment agency been thinking to send such a breathtaking beauty to his cattle ranch? However, Wade's not too concerned about her sticking around. Zoe will probably drive her away before the day is over.

Seven year old Zoe doesn't want to cause trouble; she just wants the voices in her head to stop talking. When her daddy brings home the new nanny, she can't believe her eyes. Not only is the nanny beautiful, but the colors surrounding her are different from any she's ever seen. Who is this strange new lady?

The books in this series are NOT standalones. Each book solves mysteries, but introduces new mysteries to be resolved in the next story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Verna Clay
• Release date: Jan 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370623242

Verna Clay

"2020 Finalist - Readers' Favorite International Contest (Paranormal Romance) for SOMEWHERE by the Sea.""2014 Gold Medal Winner - Readers' Favorite International Contest (Historical Romance) for Abby: Mail Order Bride."My perfect day: coffee shop; laptop; latte; characters demanding their stories be told; a plot that comes together; and hours to live in an alternate reality.Seriously, I have always loved reading, and now I love writing. As a preteen, I devoured Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Mysteries. When I reached my teen years, the romance genre became my favorite and that has never changed. After years of procrastinating, I tried my hand at writing and I've been doing so with a passion ever since. I have written over thirty romance novels and novellas in the genres of contemporary, contemporary western, historical western, fantasy, and paranormal. Because I hate saying goodbye to characters who have lived with me for months, I usually create a series so they can be revisited from book to book. I have also written a Young Adult novella titled "Fragile Hearts" using the pen name of Colleen Clay.

Book preview

SHAPELING TRILOGY

FAWN: MASTER

SHAPELING TRILOGY

FAWN: MASTER

Book Two

Copyright © 2011 by Verna Clay

Second Edition Copyright © 2016 by Verna Clay

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information contact:

[e-mail]

Website: www.vernaclay.com

Published by Verna Clay

Cover Design: Verna Clay

Photo: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Subbotina

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. And any resemblance to actual person, living, dead (or in any other form), business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For lovers of mysteries!

Books in the SHAPLING TRILOGY

ROTH: PROTECTOR

Book One

FAWN: MASTER

Book Two

DAVIDE: PRINCE

Book Three

It was while watching a travel video about the Four Corners Region of the United States and the Anasazi ruins peppered across Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, that I realized this mystical land had to become the location for Fawn's story. As for Zoe, the Indigo child, I have embellished her capabilities. I read about Indigo children several years ago and became intrigued by them.

Enjoy the mystery,

Verna Clay

[e-mail]

www.vernaclay.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1: ROCKY BEGINNING

CHAPTER 2: NOT WHAT'S EXPECTED

CHAPTER 3: BANSHEE

CHAPTER 4: GIRL TALK

CHAPTER 5: TOUR GUIDE

CHAPTER 6: FERAL HORSES

CHAPTER 7: FIRST DAY

CHAPTER 8: GABRIEL

CHAPTER 9: SIPAPU

CHAPTER 10: FEAR

CHAPTER 11: BRANDING

CHAPTER 12: BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

CHAPTER 13: MANOR HOUSE

CHAPTER 14: INTRODUCTION TO THE PRINCE

CHAPTER 15: THE SECRET OF SOUND

CHAPTER 16: REVELATIONS

CHAPTER 17: MIDNIGHT CONVERSATION

CHAPTER 18: WILD RIDE

CHAPTER 19: CREEPY

CHAPTER 20: STUMBLE

CHAPTER 21: SWEETHEART SHINES

CHAPTER 22: FACING FEAR

CHAPTER 23: MUCKING THE BARN

CHAPTER 24: ACCUSATIONS

CHAPTER 25: HEALING CRISIS

CHAPTER 26: A CHILD'S WISDOM

DAVIDE: PRINCE (EXCERPT)

SHAPELING TRILOGY #3

NOVELS AND NOVELLAS BY VERNA CLAY

PROLOGUE

Roth turned from the bank of windows across from the laboratory and watched his pregnant wife speaking with Fawn. The events of the past several months still seemed surreal. His assignment to act as bodyguard to Rainey Childress, heiress and brilliant scientist, had been the decisive mission assigned by the Thirteen co-Princes that would either usher him into the ranks of Shapeling Master or keep him a Shapeling Protector until another determining mission was ordered.

He chuckled when he remembered his first encounter with Rainey. It had not gone well. Because of her heritage and the research breakthroughs she and her team had been achieving in the field of frequency manipulation, her father had hired him as her lead bodyguard. Rainey and her team, following protocols from previous researchers, had achieved phenomenal results in experiments—the ability to shape lycopodium, a sand-like substance, into rudimentary organ shapes of humans and animals using specific combined frequencies. The reasoning was that if frequencies for healthy organs could be determined, then those frequencies could be used to heal diseased ones.

Unwittingly, they had achieved an unprecedented breakthrough when Jim Mathewson, a lab assistant, had accidently bumped the frequencies control switch and a three dimensional likeness of Rainey had momentarily molded itself into the lycopodium on the Chladni plate, a special surface named after its inventor. Later, it was surmised that some of Rainey's DNA had remained on the plate after she'd cut herself while repairing a malfunction. Unfortunately, the frequencies during the accident had not been recorded and, so far, they had been unable to achieve the same results.

Rainey turned to look at him from the laboratory. She smiled and he felt his heart expand. Previous to falling in love with her, he had not been enamored with the human race. The death of his parents while in the form of wolves—by humans who had mistakenly believed the wolves meant harm to their child—had engrained distrust and resentment in his heart. As a Shapeling Protector he had guarded humans, but most of his assignments had been as animals; his favorite being a bald eagle. In fact, Rainey had often watched him from her bedroom window soaring late at night, not knowing it was him.

Roth turned back to the bank of windows and watched a flock of geese circumvent the building. Then he surveyed the manicured grounds of Childress International Headquarters situated just outside of Portland, Oregon. He loved the area and often shifted at night into Rainey's eagle to soar over the many forests.

For the time being, he and Rainey still lived at the Childress Estate, which wasn't far from her laboratory, but after their baby was born they'd decide whether to stay there or make a home for themselves elsewhere.

Roth turned from the windows when he heard his wife's approach. Using a term of endearment from the shapeling language, he asked, "Are you ready to bid Fawn goodbye, Soiuer?"

Yes. I'm so happy she stopped by. I'm already missing her.

I am too. This is her first mission as a Master and I know how important it is to her.

Roth, I know I've asked you this before, but are you sure you want to postpone your own Missions of Mastery?

Rainey, I have no desire to leave you, especially with the baby's birth so near.

Rainey smiled and lifted a hand to caress his cheek.

Hey, none of that stuff here, Fawn joked and joined them at the window. I've said goodbye to Steve and Jim. Now it's time to bid both of you farewell.

Roth grinned at his fellow shapeling. Rainey tells me you're arriving at your new assignment via airplane. Any reason you're not flying there yourself? You could join a flock of geese.

Fawn grimaced. I'd rather shift into a slug than fly in an airplane, but my new employer reserved the flight for me and he's picking me up at the airport.

Roth laughed. That makes two of us who'd rather shift into slugs than fly in planes. So when does your plane depart.

As soon as I leave I'm headed for the airport. I've been hanging out at Ember Canyon for the past week reviewing my assignment and reading up on the State of Colorado. I also had a great time visiting fellow shapelings awaiting assignment. Changing the subject, she motioned toward the lab. After speaking with Jim and Steve, I take it you haven't had any breakthroughs in your frequency testing? I know how hard you've all been working.

Rainey sighed. Sadly, no, we're still at the drawing board.

It'll happen, Rainey, Fawn encouraged.

Thanks, Fawn.

Well, my dear friends, it looks like I'm off on assignment. Hopefully, it'll run smooth and I'll have my first Mission of Mastery under my belt.

If you need anything, you know you can call us, said Roth.

Rainey hugged Fawn and Roth placed three fingers over his heart, the shapeling ensign. Fawn reciprocated.

After Fawn left, Roth touched his lips to Rainey's ear. "It's time to go, Soiuer."

She turned her head and met his gaze. I love it when you call me that.

The term is only for you.

I know that now, but the first time you said it, I went crazy not knowing the meaning. And you weren't any help. Every time I asked for the translation you got mad.

That's because I was calling you my lover when I had no intention of making it a reality. I was very frustrated. He bent and whispered in her ear again, "Soiuer, let's go home and make sure neither of us are frustrated."

Rainey giggled and playfully pushed at her husband's chest. With a twinkle in her eyes she said coyly, Only if you shift into your shapeling form.

Roth tilted his head back and laughed heartily. Anything for you, love. He captured her face in his palms and planted his mouth on hers. After the passionate kiss she pulled back and glanced self-consciously into the lab. Jim grinned and gave them a thumbs-up sign.

Late that night after returning from soaring over the forests surrounding the Childress Estate, Roth landed in front of the open French doors of their bedroom balcony and spoke the Prayer of Secrecy, shifting from a bald eagle into his human form. He approached his sleeping wife, gazing fondly at her round belly under the covers.

A moan from Rainey brought his attention back to her face. She grimaced and turned her head back and forth on her pillow. Roth knew she was having the dream again. The only thing marring their happiness over the past months were her recurring dreams about the hieroglyphs from the Sacred Cave in Egypt.

According to Tahnoon, leader of the Bedouin tribe who had led them to the cave, the ancient etchings contained the secret of sound.

Roth heard Rainey moan again and sat on the side of the bed, stroking her forehead. "Soiuer, it's okay. It's only a dream." Roth waited for her to awaken and thought about the translation of the hieroglyphs.

Amun, Lord of silence, without mother, without father, being everything, creates nothing. Mut, Lady of Heaven, without mother, without father, balances everything with a feather. Khonsu, great snake, son of Amun and Mut, fertilizes the cosmic egg with disharmony to create.

He trailed his fingers across her cheek. At first she had scoffed at the poetic words having relevance to anything, but after their return to the United States, the dreams had begun. She said there was always a similar theme; she was in a black void containing only thought forms. At first, the thoughts passed slowly through her mind, but then began speeding up until she waited for the inevitable explosion because there was no release for them. The explosion never came.

Roth continued stroking her forehead and she relaxed and opened her eyes. He bent and softly kissed her lips. It's only a dream. I'm here. When he saw the strange expression on her face he said, What is it?

With a quick intake of breath she said, I understand the dreams, Roth. I know the secret of sound.

CHAPTER 1:

ROCKY BEGINNING

Through the porthole of the jumper plane she'd boarded at Denver International Airport, Fawn Woods watched her flight over the Rocky Mountains and now her descent toward Cortez, Colorado.

The Thirteen co-Princes had summoned her seven risings of the sun previous to reveal her first mission as a Shapeling Master. She grinned thinking about her new rank. It had certainly been unexpected. When the co-Princes had summoned her for Roth's ceremony, they had asked her to step forward and then bestowed the same rank upon her.

Thinking about her friends, Roth and Rainey Beowolf, Fawn's grin widened. Roth's decisive mission before advancing to the rank of Master had been to protect Rainey Childress, heiress and scientist, and sparks had flown from their first encounter. However, after some manipulation by Fawn and Rainey's mother, Stella, along with Roth's childhood guide, Endesha, upon the command of the Thirteen co-Princes, Roth and Rainey had been thrust together in the hope that they would fall in love—and they had. They were now awaiting the birth of their first child, and the fact that prophecy proclaimed this child would become the Great Prince, had been revealed to Fawn during that mission. And although