Prophecy: Masters of Valor

By Delta James

We've assembled the other swords. Are you with us?

That message changed everything. Reminding me of an oath I made years prior. An oath I am honor-bound to fulfill.

Many years before, my team and I were pinned down by the enemy, hunkered down in a cave trying to make it through the night. An apparition appeared with an unbelievable prophecy about four swords.

"It must not fall into the wrong hands. Those who would turn to evil would have little trouble defeating the weapons of your world. You are Warriors of the Light. The other three swords, Caliburn, Clarent, and Arondight, will find you. The swords are charged with the powers of light and darkness. Take care that they do not fall into the hands of the Lady of the Lake."

He gave me one of four remaining swords from the Knights of the Round table, Courechouse. It has hung dormant on the wall over the fireplace in my Soho loft until recently.

We made an oath to honor the prophecy when and if it came true. The unbelievable has happened and it is time for us to take up our swords and meet our destiny.

Prophecy by USA Today Best Selling author Delta James is the thrilling prequel to the Masters of Valor series.

Download now to enter a world where mystery, romance, and the supernatural converge.

Author note: Prophecy is a supernatural romance with steamy heat in and out of the bedroom for mature readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Delta James
• Release date: Mar 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201822927

Delta James

If you're looking for paranormal, dark and contemporary western erotic romance, you've found your new favorite author!Alpha heroes find real love with feisty heroines in Delta James' sinfully sultry romances. Welcome to a world where true love conquers all and good triumphs over evil! Delta's stories are filled with erotic encounters of romance and discipline.Delta is always happy to hear from her readers and responds personally. Reach out today!EMAIL - [e-mail] page - https://www.facebook.com/DeltaJamesAuthorFB reader group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/348982795738444BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/profile/delta-james

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Once known as the Knights of the Round Table, fate had forced their hand and they’d watched their chance to be the defenders of the Light slip away. Thirteen original swords had been forged for those who sat at King Arthur’s table. Now, only four remain; four new heroes would rise to find and wield them in the cause of the Light.

CHAPTER 1

Paris, France

Several Months Ago

Gabriel Watson thanked the powers that guided his life for the woman who lay asleep in his arms. He didn’t understand how she got here, or how some of his best friends from the Savoy had come into being, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Anne Hastings, who’d once been known as Anne Boleyn, lay asleep and replete in his arms. A feeling of absolute joy and satisfaction washed over him.

Earlier that day he’d stood at the end of the aisle as the harp had struck the first notes of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March and watched the woman he loved with all his heart and soul walk forward and agree to be his wife. It had occurred to him as he took his vows that he’d never planned to marry, much less to an older woman, especially one almost five centuries his senior, but so much of his life seemed to have been ruled by happenstance.

Ten years ago, he’d been pinned down by the enemy with his Marine Raider unit. There were four of them: Tristan Crawford, Bennett Greyson, Ford Montgomery, and himself. They’d pledged their lives and their fortunes to one another as they’d struggled to survive. And they’d held to that vow.

But Gabe was a man caught between three secrets, all of which were about to collide. He’d preached to Anne over and over again about the importance of honesty and transparency in a D/s relationship. But he wasn’t walking the walk…

Gabe, what is it? she whispered as she lay next to him.

He’d wanted to find the right time, but the text two days ago had changed his need to tell her from the right time to right now. In the archives of texts sent, on the surface this particular text would appear not that momentous, but Gabe knew different.

We’ve assembled the other swords. Are you with us?

The answer to those two sentences had always been yes, but he’d thought he’d have more time. Time to tell her—to prepare her—that he was about to disrupt their lives completely.

You need to know that I always meant to tell you, but there wasn’t enough time. We swore never to hide things from one another. I need to be honest about something I probably should have explained before we got married…

Gabe, whatever it is, it’ll be fine. Wait, maybe not. If you’re about to tell me that in another life you were Henry VIII, I swear I will cut your balls off, shove them down your throat, and watch you choke on them.

Watson looked down at her incredulously. Even in the dark, he could see her eyes dancing with merriment and her lips curl into the wicked grin he’d come to know so well. Leave it to Anne to make him chuckle when he was feeling as though his back was against the wall. It might well be, but Anne was with him. When he’d faced down two supernatural beings, one of them being the Angel of Death, she’d had to be torn from his side and carried away to safety kicking and screaming.

If that’s the only thing that’s going to be an issue for you, we’re good.

"It’s the sword, isn’t it? Courechouse."

He knew better than to underestimate Anne’s keen intelligence and ability to puzzle it out, if not the complete story, then at least the source.

In answer to his unasked question, she continued, Your family wasn’t there at the wedding, just the men from your old unit. They need something from you, don’t they?

"Courechouse and the guys are connected."

So, you knew about the sword before you had to use it. The story you tell about just finding the sword in Cornwall… it isn’t the truth, is it?

No, it’s not.

Tell me, she urged gently.

How had anyone ever thought her to be a scheming seductress? She might well be the most seductive woman he’d ever known, but scheming she wasn’t. He routinely, and multiple times a day, fell victim to her innate sensuality and raging libido, but she was also one of the kindest, most loving people he’d ever known. She could be cool and arrogant, as only true royalty could be, but if she cared about you, she did so with her whole heart.

We were on a reconnaissance mission. We’d been sent somewhere we weren’t supposed to be and quasi attached to an Agency mission. If we’d missed our ride out or got caught, we would have been disowned by our government. We were near a place called Sarras in the Middle East.

The Agency, they’re some kind of spy network, right? How could those you’d sworn to serve send you then distance themselves if you were caught? she asked.

Kings and other heads of state have been doing it as far back as conflicts over territory, religion, and politics have existed. We knew the risks when we signed on but were convinced that we were doing what was needed.

He shook himself and sat up. Anne rested her head on his thigh and her hand on his calf. She’d quickly discovered one of the best ways to soothe him was by adopting a more submissive role. There was something about the way she laid her head on his thigh that he found alleviated worry and provided him with a peace he’d only known with her.

Stroking her hair, he continued, "We were pinned down and weren’t sure we were going to make it out alive. Our ride out of there had been shot down by a stinger missile, a kind of hand-held, guided explosive device. We saw the chopper explode as he was coming for us. When night fell, the enemy pulled back as we made our way into a cavern. Only, in our arrogance and ignorance, we didn’t know it was holy ground.

"We began creeping further from our position, trying to find a way out or someplace we could take shelter until the next day. Maybe even find water. We stumbled, literally, on an old cavern system. It seemed like no one had been there for centuries, which was surprising. There was a pool of clear, cold water. The test kits we kept in our packs said it was