Authors: Katie Jennings
A Life Earthbound
Praise for “A Life Earthbound”
“Jennings did a great job of pulling me in to Rhia’s story and making me feel with her even as Rhia built walls to protect her heart from feeling too much.”
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A.D. Trosper, author
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“This story tugs at the heartstrings and I am glad to have read it...Katie Jennings is a very talented writer...”
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Natalie Gibson, author
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“
A Life Earthbound
is a coming of age story of a young girl and hard working young woman that must battle with her emotions and determine what she truly wants in life. A must read.”
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D. Martinez, reader
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“
A Life Earthbound
gives you so much more information on what is was like in the beginning and after Capri was taken. I would definitely recommend reading the books in order. It is so nice when the pieces fall in place from each book!”
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Jenny, reader
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“
A Life Earthbound
gives you a deeper understanding of what life was like for Rhia, and I was totally mesmerized by the true love that Liam felt for her. I have really enjoyed this series of books!”
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Angela, reader
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Also By Katie Jennings
The Dryad Quartet
Series
Breath of Air
Firefight in Darkness
Of Water and Madness
The Vasser Legacy
Series
When Empires Fall
Rise of the Notorious
Coming Spring 2013
Cover Design by Katie Jennings
Interior book and eBook design by Blue Harvest Creative
A Life Earthbound
Copyright © 2011, 2012 Katie Jennings
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Published by Sapphire Royale Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-0615720401
ISBN-10: 0615720404
Visit the author at:
For my husband, who taught me how to love.
She’s only a bird in a gilded cage,
A beautiful sight to see.
You may think she’s happy and free from care,
She’s not, though she seems to be.
Her name was
Rhiannon, and she was Earth.
To the casual observer, her life appeared to be as flawless as a Kinkade landscape: every minute detail portrayed with clarity and precision, and not a smudge or flyspeck in sight. Order was everything, and as such nothing was sloppy, excessive or done in haste.
But what they didn’t know and what they couldn’t see was her world had long ago turned into a gilded cage– enclosing her in a prison in which she remained trapped. It was her burden...and her gift.
But she didn’t concern herself with the gilded cage now. Rather, she thought of those who resided within it with her and what the events over the last twenty-four hours would ultimately bring. Murder, in its most brutal form, had landed right on their doorstep…
The wind tore through the valley and swept past the barley, bending the thin stalks so that the entire field shivered in golden waves. She walked through this yellowed sea, the barley grazing her fingertips as the setting sun glowed warm upon her face. Dark hills and trees graced the horizon in front of her, while for acres everywhere else, the field of gold reigned.
This was nature’s beauty; the glory of the Earth and what she could create. She was in tune with herself here and centered in her element. Her long, dark hair flew back from her face, and she spread her arms wide to embrace the wind and to feel the moving sea of barley against her legs.
The brief taste of freedom nearly sated her, but she knew it wasn’t enough. And at the rate things were rapidly crumbling, who knew if she would ever be free.
There was blood on someone’s hands and part of her couldn’t help but wonder…but no, he wouldn’t do something so drastic, not for her. When they had been children he’d sworn to protect her, to save her no matter what. Had all the years of promising finally come true in one cruel, brutal act of devotion?
She supposed at this point nothing could be ruled out. Including the notion that Liam had resorted to murder.
September 4th, 1990
Euphora
It was the
absence of crying that alarmed those who witnessed her birth.
She emerged into the world without so much as a peep, and as Thea held the tiny baby in her arms, she realized with curiosity that the child was in perfect health. Not that there had been a doubt, the entire pregnancy had been a breeze with no complications. The baby had hardly kicked, never turned or twisted, and had remained in relative harmony.
But to not even wail or gurgle as tiny lungs gulped in air for the first time…that was just odd. And yet, as Thea would come to understand through the years, this was just who Rhiannon was. She never spoke unless words were necessary and it would never occur to her to complain or disobey her elders. She was the ideal child–perfect in every way.
“Why isn’t she crying? Is something wrong?” Serendipity huffed, out of breath and miserable as she lay on the bed.
Thea turned and smiled. “She is just a quiet baby. You should be pleased.” She began to hand the bundled child to Serendipity, who batted her away with a frustrated groan. “You don’t wish to hold your daughter?”
“I’ve just been through six hours of labor, Thea, I’m exhausted. Take her to Rohan. Let him deal with her. I need to rest.” Serendipity rolled over on her side and Clarity proceeded to cover her face with a damp cloth fragranced with subtle lavender to urge her into sleep.
“Six hours is nothing,” Thea muttered under her breath as she swept from the room, tiny Rhiannon tucked in a soft, green blanket in her arms.
She’d been delivering babies on Euphora for centuries. It still amazed her to see mothers who cared so little for the miracle they had just borne once labor was over. It was rare, but not unheard of. But Serendipity had always been a selfish creature.
Life was precious, and a child was a gift, not a burden. If she had been able to have children herself, she was certain she would have had several. She smiled sadly at the thought, knowing Sebastian would have loved to have children as well. But it wasn’t her destiny to bear children, only to watch over those who could.
She paused outside the room where Rohan was anxiously waiting and glanced down at the baby. She looked so peaceful with her eyes still closed. Her breathing was calm and steady, and her head was already graced with dark wisps of hair. She would look just like her father, but only time would tell who she would become as a woman.
Pressing a soft kiss to the child’s forehead, Thea opened the door and stepped inside. Rohan was standing in front of the window and Lucian was sitting in the chair beside him reading a book. Upon hearing her, Rohan whirled around, his normally placid and serious face twisted with nerves and anticipation. His dark green eyes shot immediately to the bundle in Thea’s arms, and she was pleased to see them fill with joy.
“Is that her? Is that my Rhiannon?” he managed, stepping forward, his hands clenched behind his back as though afraid to reach out and touch her. Lucian stood up and grinned, patting Rohan on the back.
“She’s beautiful.” Lucian beamed, taking a peek around Thea’s arms.
Thea just smiled. “Take your daughter, Rohan,” she ordered, holding the child out for him.
He hesitated, shooting a nervous glance to Lucian, who nodded reassuringly. With all the care in the world, he accepted his daughter in his arms and walked over to the chair, sitting down carefully, his eyes never leaving her face. She was, as Lucian had declared, beautiful. And she had come from him. It took all he had to hold back astonished and disbelieving tears.