Prodigy: The Giver of Life Trilogy, #3

By Kristy Centeno

Leah Parker's fate had always been controlled by others—who she loved and who she lost. Five years after the tragic murder of her daughter's father, she's done everything in her power to protect her little girl from the outside world. But she's rebelled against fate in the past and no act of defiance goes unpunished in the Enchanter community.

The ultimate power wants to correct the damage done by Jae and the only way they can do that is by getting rid of her special child—a child destined to replace all branches of Enchanter magic one day.

But, Leah isn't willing to go down without a fight. She will do anything to save what Jae died to protect, even if she must turn against the Circle of Elders. But when her first love, Brandon Morris walks back into her life, Leah knows nothing will ever be the same again.

Leah must confront her past, before she and her daughter are erased from her family line. She must get over her guilt and rely on Brandon to ensure her daughter's survival. But will the pain from their past destroy their friendship forever? Or will their old bond hold them together and carry them through what's ahead?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
• Release date: Nov 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781945910920

Kristy Centeno

Kristy Centeno loves to spin tales of creatures that go bump in the night, with a sprinkle of romance to top them off. Her passion for writing stems from a lifelong enjoyment of reading and the pleasure derived from the magical worlds created by authors like her. She prefers her female leads strong, independent, and stubborn who will stop at nothing to save their loved ones and protect those they care for.Kristy currently resides in Pennsylvania with her five kids, a quartet of noisy parakeets, and a spoiled puppy. When she's not working or writing, she juggles her free time between raising a handful of minions and pursuing other career goals.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

I held my breath and bore down as instructed, choking back the scream fighting to be let loose as quick waves of agony rippled through me. The pain was unbearable, but the burning sensation indicated progress. It wouldn’t be long now.

Breathe, Leah, Mrs. Hwang told me as she knelt between my legs. We will wait for the next contraction. Now breathe normally. Rest. Relax.

Emmaline wiped the sweat from my brow with a white washcloth. You’re doing great. She’s almost here. My sister hadn’t left my side at all for the past eighteen hours, providing comfort and support as I struggled to bring my child into this world. The labor grew in intensity once the contractions started coming in closer together. The only thing that helped me through was the occasional doses of healing magic the Hwang women used to get me past the worst of it.

Drink. The youngest member of the Hwang family offered me a sip of icy cold water. Married to Jae’s older brother, she’d already birthed three children and was present to lend a hand. And for moral support while I made my debut. I’d met these women on a few occasions throughout my pregnancy—the first being during Jae’s Enchanter ceremony and subsequent burial. They’d always welcomed me with open arms, making me feel as if I was part of their family even though Jae and I never married.

With the newest member moments away from making her grand entrance, I was among a group of people I wholeheartedly trusted. They had swept me out of my world, and into the Hwangs’ hidden paradise. A magical realm out of reach from every enchanted creature, good or bad. The place was especially equipped to handle magical births, particularly one that could defy the laws of nature as mine was expected to.

I took a long swig of water, hydrating myself as I counted the seconds until the next contraction hit. It was coming. I could feel it building up, like a rattlesnake coiling as it got ready to strike.

The Hwang matriarch, who was Jae’s grandfather’s youngest sister, placed her hand on my swollen belly and proclaimed, Remember, push hard. It’s almost over.

Mentally preparing myself, I counted to three and pushed as the contraction started. I gave it my all in hopes of getting the baby past the crowning phase. It worked. Once the head was out, the rest of her body plopped out into the elder Hwang’s gloved hands with an audible slop.

The women around me exclaimed in a joyful burst of barely unintelligible words as my newborn began to shriek loudly. She broadcasted her arrival with loud wails that reverberated across the small room. I glanced down my body, momentarily forgetting my pain and exhaustion. She was engulfed in blue flames, thrashing wildly while the Hwang women worked on clearing out her nasal passages and mouth.

My little one flailed her tiny arms up and down and side to side, her mouth wide open as she screamed. She kicked her legs with vigor. I marveled at the sight of her. So frail looking, yet full of life. It was a moment to be cherished. Remembered.

It would have been perfect, had it not been for what happened next.

A tremor. Then another. Followed by a third. The floors, walls, and ceilings began to vibrate. We all grew silent as the windows shook. Incense sticks and medicinal herbs fell to the wooden floor as the seismic activity picked up. I tried to sit up, but Emmaline held me down. She shook her head, telling me without words that I was in no condition to rise yet.

My baby, I called out, trying to be heard over the roar of the rattle of pots and pans clanking together.

Frightened, I averted my gaze back to my newborn. A blue light emerged outward from my daughter’s chest and shot out and up. It extended to the ceiling like a translucent blanket that covered every square inch of the tiny room, corner to corner. It remained suspended in the air for as long as it took me to blink, then fired up into the roof with the speed of a lightning bolt.

The vibrations stopped. I sensed the power shooting across Mr. Hwang’s hidden paradise as if looking for a source to connect to. This was what the Hwangs were afraid of. That my child would manifest an exorbitant amount of power that would not only expose her identity but give away her location. Their insistence in bringing me to their utopia for the delivery was to avoid discovery.

The Circle of Elders will be aware that she has been born, Mrs. Hwang announced with a hint of concern. I brushed the comment aside. It didn’t matter if they found out. She wasn’t within reach of their greedy clutches. She was safe for the time being. And I wasn’t going to allow the feeling of paranoia to take over such a blissful occasion.

Tears of rapture filled my eyes and fell down my cheeks. She was here. After thirty-nine long weeks of waiting, my little one was finally born. My heart was overcome with happiness. Suddenly, those months of morning sickness, tiredness, sore back, and aches and pains were entirely worth it. Nothing else mattered.

Not even the threat of the Circle of Elders.

I laid my head down on the pillow and exhaled, fresh tears rolling down my face. I gazed at the skylight above my head. I’d just given birth in the very place where I experienced love for the first and last time. Was it fate?

She’s beautiful, Emmaline cried, her face a mixture of happiness and sadness. I wish Mom and Dad were here to meet her. I could see the fear in Emmaline’s eyes. She was worried about what had just transpired. It would be a challenge to keep my newborn hidden. If she had this much power not fifteen minutes after taking her first breath, what could I come to expect in the future?

I rewarded her with a smile, hoping it looked unpreoccupied and stress-free. Maybe they are. In spirit, if nothing else.

Emmaline shuffled slightly to her right. There, behind her. A shadow loomed not far from the door. There had been a person standing in the corner, I was sure of it. I squinted, looking for whoever had been there, thinking it odd when I found the space empty. The Hwang men were still outside, awaiting news. With the manifestation of power and her wails, they already knew my baby girl had made her entrance. But the door to the cabin was shut, as it had been for hours. No one had come in.

Still, I swore there had been someone observing the scene quietly from the other side of the small room. He resembled... No. It couldn’t have been. Jae had passed away nine months ago. There was no way that could have been him.

In my fatigue, I was just seeing things. Imagining things that weren’t really there. That was all.

Here she is, the Hwang matriarch stated with excitement as she placed my daughter on my chest. She wants her mother.

I hugged my howling little one to me, not quite yet believing I’d just given birth. It all seemed so surreal. So painfully beautiful yet sad. I’d delivered Jae’s daughter after a trying labor and he wasn’t around to see the tiny being he helped create.

No. He wasn’t here, but I was. That was the way he wanted it.

Pushing aside the gloomy thoughts, I glanced at my daughter’s face, admiring her cuteness. She was perfect in every way possible. Not only was I proud, but completely enamored with her.

What shall I call you? The ball of flames engulfing her tiny form began to recede as soon as I spoke, until they finally disappeared. She instantly responded to my voice, opening her almond eyes as if to look at me. She’d recognized me. I smiled. Already I was overcome with love for this child. Maybe...? I studied her eyes, full head of black hair, oval face, and pale complexion. Something Jae had said before he died came back to me. Lily. That’ll be your name. Because she was as beautiful and delicate as a flower. Special. Unique. All mine.

Emmaline broke out in sobs as she touched the side of Lily’s face. I can’t believe you’re a mom.

Neither could I. When Mr. Hwang first declared I was pregnant, I’d been shocked. During the weeks that followed, I began to doubt him. It wasn’t until I began to show symptoms that I became convinced he hadn’t misinterpreted what he had sensed that fateful day months ago.

Jae would have loved that name, the Hwang matriarch stated with a sincere smile. It was his mother’s favorite flower.

Looking back, I was positive that was what Jae had been trying to tell me. He knew this moment would come and wanted me to give her a name that meant something to him. After what he gave up for me, this was the least I could do. I’d honor his wishes and his memory by raising our daughter the way he wanted me to—a happy life where she could choose who to love and how to live.

Things would get bumpy somewhere along the road. I wasn’t one to believe there was a happily-ever-after for everyone. Lily’s birth signified the start of what could turn into a pull of power from those in the hierarchy. But the second I found out I was going to be a mother, I vowed to fight with the same intensity Jae had to protect my baby. And whether the threat started tomorrow or days, months, or even years from now, I’d be ready to face whatever came our way.

Chapter One

Five years later...

If there was something I learned during the years since my life took such a drastic turn, it was that life was unpredictable and nothing ever went as planned. That no matter how much you think you have your entire future figured out, things changed in a heartbeat.

Not always for the better.

Mommy. Mommy! Look at what I can do!

Case in point, sleeping in on a Saturday morning with a five-year-old running loose was close to impossible. I couldn’t even remember when the last time I slept past seven was.

Mommy, look at me!

I opened my eyes to peek at the hallway beyond my bedroom door. Bounding toward me from the direction of the living room was my petite, chubby-cheeked, cute, little Lily. Her long black hair sailed behind her as she ran, a huge smile spread across her pale face. I knew that look all too well. She was up to something. Mischief, most likely.

She was halfway across the hall when she vanished into a translucent, blue, puffy cloud that traveled about a foot forward before disappearing completely. Startled, as I had never seen her do this before, I sat up in bed, eyes wide.

Lily? Frantic, due to her lack of response, I threw the covers aside. I stopped short of bolting out of bed when the mattress dipped behind me as it often did when my playful daughter jumped onto it. I whipped my head around to see her on her knees, grinning at me. Her dark eyes were filled with a jubilant glint I only ever saw when she was content or proud of herself.

Did you see, Mommy? Did you?

I wanted to scold her for scaring the bejesus out of me, but her enthusiasm stifled my concern-slash-anger. I couldn’t bring myself to kill her good mood. She didn’t quite understand what she’d done; only that she had accomplished something she’d been unable to do yesterday.

In her mind, she’d done nothing wrong. It was all in good fun. She was putting into practice what she learned. No harm done. But she didn’t comprehend what it took to raise an Enchanter-slash-Giver of Life, much less one as powerful as she was. In a world where magic wasn’t supposed to exist, caring for a child with her talents was a challenge in itself.

I nodded. Who taught you how to do that?

No one. Lily dropped rather dramatically onto the mattress, burying her tiny face in the bedspread. Cue the theatrics. I did it by myself. Her response was muffled by the comforter. I could barely make out what she said, but caught the gist of it.

Sighing, I lay back down on the bed and drew the covers up to my chest. It was going to be a long day. I needed another couple of hours of sleep, but that wasn’t going to happen now.

I practiced, she added, her words tinted with disappointment.

Though it worried me that she’d learned a new trick, I had to admit I was taken aback by her new achievement. It was very impressive. As far as I knew, there was no Enchanter on Earth that could do what she did. Lily was gifted in many ways, but magic came naturally to her, which concerned me a great deal.

Lily? I shifted my head to my left to look at her. She hadn’t changed positions, a clear indicator she was sad, angry, or disillusioned. Cuddles?

She lifted her head, her almond-shaped eyes peering at me through a veil of long tresses that had fallen over her oval face. I still couldn’t get over how much she took after Jae. Lily looked nothing like me. I often got asked if she was my biological daughter as her Asian features were prominent and mine were entirely absent.

Cuddles, she said.

I patted the mattress to my left, silently inviting her to join me under the covers. She squealed in delight and crawled over to me, slipping under the bedspread beside me. I shifted my position so that we lay face-to-face, drawing her tiny form to my chest. I tucked her head under my chin. She wrapped her left arm around me and buried her face in my neck.

What’ll you call your new trick? I asked. She’d waited for a compliment from me, but my lack of praise had dampened her spirit. Lily was constantly warned not to use magic outside the house. At home, she exploited every opportunity she had to practice what she learned during her training sessions with the Hwangs. And when I failed to communicate my approval, she expected to be reprimanded.

She knew how magic made me uneasy. It hadn’t been a part of my life until after I turned twenty-one. It concerned me that I was raising my daughter around it. I’d considered binding her powers like my parents had done with me. But I was more scared about the prospects of some evil enemy hunting her down and leaving Lily defenseless and exposed, than of dealing with her abilities on a daily basis.

She handled herself a lot better than I ever did. Though it was a hassle having to keep an eye on her to make sure she didn’t use her powers to pull a prank or something along those lines. She was just a kid, after all, not quite at a level of maturity to understand that every life-changing decision she made could have consequences that weren’t always good.

Poof, she mumbled.

Poof? I asked incredulously, enjoying her childish innocence.

She giggled. Yep.

I laughed. Sounds kind of funny. I ran my fingers through her thick, dark tresses. What do you want for breakfast today?

She drew back to look up at me. Banana and chocolate chips pancakes.

Well, that was certainly a speedy response.

Your favorite, I said with a smile.

Always, she replied with a chuckle.

I snuck my hands under the covers to tickle the sides of her belly. This got her rolling in laughter. She squealed loudly as she tried to wiggle away from me to no avail. I wriggled along with her, trapping her feet between my legs to pin her in place and prevent her escape. I kept at it until she shouted her defeat in midst of a fit of giggles.

Ready for breakfast? I asked, releasing her.

She nodded with a smile.

Let’s go wash our teeth then. I kicked the covers aside and sat up.

She popped to her feet and turned her back to me. Before I could warn against it, she jumped off the bed, disappearing into the same shapeless, semitransparent, puffy cloud as before. It hovered above the ground for less than a minute before it vanished. I inhaled, trying my best to calm the uneasiness creeping up on me, and shot out of bed.

Lily? I called out, hoping my panic was undetectable. She was a perceptive little thing.

Let’s go, Mommy, she shouted from the hallway.

I whirled around to see her tiny form running down the hall and into the bathroom.

Massaging my temples, I padded out of the bedroom and headed for the single bathroom across the hall from Lily’s room. I should’ve told her not to vaporize in front of me. I needed time to adjust to her new feat. Just one more thing I’d probably never get used to. How was I going to be sure she wasn’t going to pull a fast one on me while I was momentarily distracted, and disappear?

God, I could feel a tension headache building up.

Lily had already gotten ahead of me when I entered the bathroom. Toothbrushes all set up, she waited for me in the same spot she always did, standing on the stepping stool directly in front of the granite sink. We went about our routine together, as we did every morning year-round. It was one of many activities we relished in sharing, as mundane as they were. With no father in the picture, it was mostly us.

I’d made it my life mission to be involved in every aspect of my daughter’s life, spending as much time with her as I could. Creating wonderful memories she could remember for years to come. Raising her to be the happy, loved, cherished child she deserved to be. I hadn’t had an easy life so I didn’t want her to lack attention, discipline, but most importantly, love.

I’m hungry, Lily said as she exited the bathroom. I followed her out, smiling as she skipped across the hall to her bedroom.

I made up the beds then stopped at my room to change out of my nightgown and into lounging pants and a t-shirt. I braided Lily’s hair and set out to the kitchen with my little one in tow. Lily sat at the small mahogany table, coloring on her favorite Hello Kitty book as I went about preparing breakfast. She kicked her tiny legs, humming the Sophia the First theme song while she worked, a look of pure concentration on her face.

I smiled as I watched her for a second before turning back to the stove. Raising a child alone wasn’t an easy task, but I got lucky. I had my sister.

When Emmaline decided to step in, she’d helped me in more ways than I could ever repay her for. I’d been so lost when Jae died. Devastated. Confused. Confirming my pregnancy a month after his passing, I was way in over my head. Scared. Unsure of what I wanted to do or what path to take in life. But she was there for me, supporting my decision to leave Direct City and hide my daughter where other Enchanters couldn’t find her without difficulty.

My twin had turned into my partner in crime, my confidante, my best friend. It was thanks to Lily’s impending birth that we finally had a chance to work on our relationship and build it from the foundation up. We kept no secrets from each other. The only thing that had put some tension between us in the beginning was her Pairing with Brandon.

Mommy, look! Lily lifted the coloring book up for me to see her newest masterpiece.

It’s beautiful, baby girl, I commended with enthusiasm, admiring the fact that she’d actually attempted to stay within the lines this time.

She beamed with pride and turned back to her work, choosing a new set of crayons for the next picture.

I stacked a few pancakes on a plate and walked it over to the table, lowering the dishware in front of Lily. Put that away. It’s time to eat.

Lily did as told, pushing the coloring book along with the box of crayons to the side while simultaneously reaching for the plate and pulling it to her.

I strolled off only to return with a fork and syrup. Don’t pour too much.

She dug into her meal as I finished preparing mine. I joined her a minute later with two glasses of orange juice. I sat to her right and watched as she ate with gusto, her tiny hands struggling to cut the pancakes into reasonable portions that would fit insider her small mouth. Shaking my head, I helped her out then set out to enjoy my breakfast.

Lily hummed while she chewed, a cute habit she picked up six months ago and hadn’t quite gotten rid of yet. I observed her in silence, wondering if her distinctive personality was something she inherited from her father. Because so far, the only thing she got from me was her stubbornness.

A flash of silver caught my eye as she lifted her chin to stare at the ceiling as she often did when she was in deep thought. The silver chain and butterfly pendant Jae had left for her a little over five years ago hung from her neck. She never took it off. Not even to sleep. She’d started wearing it a year ago and kept it with her at all times.

Any concerned parent would balk at the idea of their child wearing anything around the neck to bed. But I learned early on that the necklace had been infused with a magical spell that prevented it from breaking, getting lost, or posing a danger for Lily. Jae must have thought deeply about all these issues before casting the enchantment. He wanted his daughter to have a piece of him wherever she went. So the necklace couldn’t be taken off by anyone but her or me. And it was basically indestructible.

It also served as a protection charm. I could never get enough of those. The more, the better. They were all over our home and property, keeping evil out and throwing other magical beings off our trail.

Because Lily had never met her father, she carried the pendant around with pride, telling anyone who would listen that it had been a gift from her daddy. It broke my heart to see her lose her enthusiasm whenever the kids at school had asked where her father was and why he never came to pick her up.

Yummy. Lily patted her belly as she leaned back on her chair.

Smiling, I pointed to her empty plate and asked, Want more?

She shook her head. I’m full.

Drink your juice. I continued eating, finishing half my portion when a sudden rapping at the front door stopped me with my fork midway to my mouth. Who could that be?

Lily glanced up to look at me with a bewildered look on her face. Who’s that?

I shrugged. I wasn’t expecting company.

Aunt Emma? Lily offered.

I don’t think so. Abandoning the fork on the plate, I pushed the chair back as I rose. Finish your juice. I’ll go check who that is.

That’s not Aunt Emma, Lily stated after a moment.

Emmaline would have called or texted if she planned to join us for breakfast. It was the only day out of the week the shop was closed. I doubted she was up that early in the morning. Knowing my sister, she was likely catching up on sleep—something I wished I was doing too.

I ambled out of the kitchen and across the living room to the front of our small log cabin. I reached the door and unlocked it, swinging it open in one quick motion without pausing to think who had paid us a visit so early on a Saturday morning. Words failed me when I locked my gaze on a set of green eyes and long, pointy fangs I hadn’t seen in years.

Chapter Two

Leah Parker. It has been quite some time since I last had the pleasure of seeing you.

I fought the urge to pinch my arm just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Dmitri Salvatore? What the hell was the Vampire doing standing on my porch? How had he bypassed all my charms and spells?

I peered behind him, hoping he hadn’t brought his entourage with him. All I saw was a large black SUV parked in my driveway. It appeared to be empty. No sign of his bitch of a sister or his personal assistant. What a relief. It was bad enough that he was there. I certainly didn’t want to deal with his sibling.

May I come in? he asked.

My inhospitableness didn’t seem to daunt him one bit. He calmly waited for me to respond...as if he had all the time in the world. He probably did. He was immortal, after all.

I—

A million reasons for his visit crossed my mind. But nothing added up. Nothing that I could put together that was.

Mommy! Lily called out as she sprinted from the kitchen to the living room.

Dmitri peeked over my right shoulder at my daughter, his brow shooting up in apparent surprise. My, she has gotten so big.

Lily ventured forward, letting me know with her actions that she sensed no malice from him. She stood to my right and slipped her pale hand in mine. Her dark eyes stared at the handsome Vamp in wonderment. She hadn’t seen nor met a Vampire before today and she was taken aback by him.

Dmitri’s lips split into a grin. She has learned to identify danger at such a young age. She’s quite a talented child indeed.

I relied on her overdeveloped supernatural senses to recognize trouble. I’d dedicated the past years to cultivating my own magic, practicing, training, and honing in my skills. Lily had no issues distinguishing good from evil. She could classify the bad and the good faster and better than me.

He...was...a Light Bearer, Lily stated matter-of-factly as she gaped at Dmitri.

He smirked as he brought his gaze up to meet mine. Wait, what?

Is that true? Hadn’t he been born from a witch mother and a warlock father?

I’ve come a long way to speak to you, personally. Our chat might take some time. Could I come inside instead of standing out here? It’s a bit chilly.

What did it matter? He was a Vampire. As far as I knew, weather didn’t have much of an impact on bloodsuckers.

The sudden lift of his right eyebrow made me aware that he could’ve possibly read my thoughts. I had to be more careful of what went through my mind now that he was here. Especially because I still didn’t know what he was at my house for.

Come in, I said, stepping to the side so he could stroll right into my cozy living room.

Thank you, he stated as he ambled in. Dmitri stood in the middle of the room and whirled around to look at me. His expression alone told me what he came here to discuss wasn’t something I wanted Lily to hear.

Understanding his hesitation, I shut the door and sauntered to the sofa where I took a seat. Pulling Lily to me, I touched the side of her face and said, "Go up to the loft and play for a bit. Mommy has to