Rebel Druid

By Gabriella Bradley

Ashina has inherited her grandparents’ farm, but that is not all she has inherited.

As she spirals into an adventure that turns out to be more of a nightmare, she discovers long-buried secrets. And that is not all she uncovers. She hardly expected to find her soulmate along the way.

Evanthos has waited for his princess for hundreds of years. When she finally arrives, he assists her in a mission given to her by the gods, a quest that has awaited her since birth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781487431488

Book preview

What Ashina finds in her grandmother’s wine cellar sends her into a spiraling adventure...

Ashina has inherited her grandparents’ farm, but that is not all she has inherited.

As she spirals into an adventure that turns out to be more of a nightmare, she discovers long-buried secrets. And that is not all she uncovers. She hardly expected to find her soulmate along the way.

Evanthos has waited for his princess for hundreds of years. When she finally arrives, he assists her in a mission given to her by the gods, a quest that has awaited her since birth.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either 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.

Rebel Druid

Copyright © 2021 Gabriella Bradley

ISBN: 978-1-4874-3148-8

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc or

Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc

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Smashwords Edition

Rebel Druid

By

Gabriella Bradley

Chapter One

Ashina opened the door to her grandmother’s home. It needed so much repair that Ashina had pretty much decided to sell it to the developers. They had been hounding her grandmother to let them purchase the large property it stood on. Gruma—what Ashina had called her grandmother since she could talk—had left everything to her only daughter. Except for the house and large parcel of land, which she had willed to Ashina along with a letter.

Her grandmother had moved on to the Sacred Hunting Realm while Ashina was away on a mission. The decision had surprised her. Gruma had lived for centuries, and Druids were ageless and could live almost forever. It pained her that Gruma had not waited until she came home. No chance to say goodbye, no closure. She swiped at her eyes and willed herself not to cry.

The curtains were closed. It was dark inside. Ashina snapped her fingers to light the oil lamps hanging on the walls. She only ever used her magic in private. It irked her mother, whose powers had been taken away because she had joined with a mortal mate. And none of her friends knew that she was special. She hid it well. Her friends had questioned her sometimes because she was a Druid, and they were known to have magic. But she always explained it away by telling them that she had no powers because her father was mortal.

Gruma’s cologne still drifted heavily on the air. It almost seemed like she could come out of the kitchen or the bedroom at any moment. Her being gone did not seem real yet, except for the layer of dust on the furniture.

By the gods, Mother, you could have made sure the place was at least kept clean, she muttered. Ack, what does it matter. It will get torn down anyway. At least Mother or Brandyo covered the furniture with dustcovers.

Ashina pulled a dustcover off a chair and sat, coughing at the cloud of dust it caused. Digging in her pocket, she pulled out the large cream envelope the solicitor had given her with the instruction that she had to read it in private. It had a red wax seal on the back. She grimaced. Who writes on paper anymore... or uses wax seals. Yeah, my gruma...

Ashina’s name was scrawled in beautiful ancient lettering on the front of the envelope. She broke the seal and opened it. There was a single sheet of paper inside, neatly folded. The writing on the sheet was just as ornate as her name on the envelope. She began to read it.

Dearest Ashina,

It is now time for me to sever the cord that binds us, and you need to know the truth. I am tired and wish to join your grandfather. He has been waiting for me until the day of your twenty-fifth year. On this day, you will come into almost all of your powers. Almost... but not quite. They will need to be activated.

Child of my child.

Blood of my blood.

Soul of my soul.

Heart of my heart.

Mind of my mind.

Ashina, my darling granddaughter, you are all of the above. The day your mother birthed you, and I breathed life into your lifeless little form by infusing you with my essence, that day, you became my child. Unbeknown to your parents, your blood was cleansed of all mortal impurities and became my blood. That day, we were bonded by the golden cord of the Druids, Dryads, and more. The cord will now be severed from me but remains with you until you bear a daughter of your own. Your mother broke her cord and connection to me when she mated with a mortal.

Ashina let the letter sink to her lap. What in the world was her grandmother talking about? Golden Druid and Dryad cords? Powers? Activating? She had celebrated her twenty-fifth birthday on the ship just a month ago, and she did not feel any different. And who else was her mother supposed to join with years ago? There were not then, and still were not, other Druids on Durbania or any other kind of immortals. Her grandparents had been the only ones. She sighed and lifted the letter to continue reading.

Do not let anyone read this, especially your mother. You must never sell the house. If it were ever destroyed by those big robotic machines, like the other homes on the property next to mine, it would create an irreparable tear in the space continuum. I have left you enough gold to pay for strengthening the weakening foundation and to repair the roof. With some love and a coat of paint, maybe new furniture, should you decide to remain on Durbania, it will be a nice home for you. But you will continue my legacy no matter where you settle. And as directed by the gods, it is you who must fulfill the prophecy. I will not go into a lengthy explanation. The gods will guide you in this.

I love you, child, so much more than you can imagine. Take care and look after my legacy. The journey you face will not be a simple one, but remember... I will always be with you in spirit. Until we meet again...

Your gruma.

At the bottom of the page was her grandmother’s signature, her full name, with another wax seal beneath it.

Gruma, what were you thinking? I cannot sell this place? What do you mean by a tear in the continuum? Gold? You left all that to Mother. I wish you would not talk in riddles. Ashina folded the letter and put it back into the envelope.

She had heard the story of when she was born so many times. Her mother had gone into labor too early, and the infant was much too small and would not breathe. And then her grandmother had placed her mouth on the infant’s and breathed her own lifeforce into her.

What gold? What prophecy? All the solicitor had given her was the letter. And her mother had not said anything to her about gold that was meant for her. And never a word about any kind of prophecy. It was mysterious, to say the least.

The front door opened and closed, and Jarelle, her mother, came into the living room. I thought I would find you here, Ash. The man from the development company called me. He wants to meet with you in an hour.

You can tell him I am not selling.

Jarelle sank down on the arm of the chair and stroked Ashina’s two-toned green and purple hair. Honey, you are not serious. She frowned. You could have let me know you were home and not let me find out via the lawyer.

And you could have said hello when you came in instead of bombarding me with stuff about those vampire developers. Gruma left the house and property to me for a reason. She knew I would follow her wishes. I have to honor her request and keep the farm.

Jarelle reached for the envelope, but before she had a chance to pick it up, Ashina snatched it, folded it, and put it into her pocket.

"It is private, Mother. Gruma gave strict instruction not to allow anyone to