Beloved (45 page)
Lydia jumped to her feet. “You’re not supposed to tell her yet.”
Kira waved her away. “Hush. He can do whatever he wants. Besides, it fits the little prince perfectly, doesn’t it Blaze.” She leaned in and let the baby wrap his tiny fingers around one of hers.
Octavion kissed his son on his chubby cheek, then opened his arm, inviting Kira to come closer. “I suppose I should inform the king that he won’t be performing tomorrow’s ceremony.”
Kira slid her arm around his waist. “I think he’ll be okay with that.”
Writing this book has been both rewarding and painstaking. While I relish in creating something I’m proud of and long to share it with all of you, I also know it means saying goodbye to the characters that have been a huge part of my life over the past few years. I will miss them terribly, but know they will live forever in my dreams. That being said, there are a few people in my life whom without them, this book never would have been written.
To my wonderful husband. He’s been by my side without complaint through this whole journey. When I was sick, he took care of me. When I cried, he comforted me. When I didn’t think I could go on, he held me and encouraged me. He is my one and only. My rock.
My beloved.
To Ali Cross. There are no words to describe how I feel about our friendship. Without your support and encouragement, I would have given up on my writing and life a long time ago. Thank you for being there for me. Big hugs, my friend.
To everyone who sent words of encouragement and prayed for me when I was sick. Thank you for your undying faith in the power of prayer and in your love for me and my family.
And as always, I’d like to acknowledge my Heavenly Father for his love and guidance, and for inspiring my words. Most days it took more than a still small voice to get through my thick skull, but He never gave up on me.
And to my Savior, who never left my side.
Without Him I would be nothing.
Christine has always been a writer. Even before she could compose a single word with pen, she scribbled her version of cursive along the open page just to see what it looked like. As a teen, she swiped her dad's old Royal typewriter so her muse could breathe life into what her vivid imagination had created.
She's spent the last twenty-five years married to the man of her dreams and raising their two sons. After helping run the family restaurant for most of their marriage, Christine has finally broken away to pursue her dream of being an author.
When she's not with her family or tickling the computer keys, she loves camping, reading, scrapbooking, listening to all kinds of music, and making new friends.
Christine is currently living in the middle of sage brush and lava rock with a spectacular view of the Snake River Canyon in South Central Idaho.
Table of Contents
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Chapter Twenty-One
- Chapter Twenty-Two
- Chapter Twenty-Three
- Chapter Twenty-Four
- Chapter Twenty-Five
- Chapter Twenty-Six
- Chapter Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Twenty-Eight
- Chapter Twenty-Nine
- Chapter Thirty
- Chapter Thirty-One
- Chapter Thirty-Two
- Chapter Thirty-Three
- Chapter Thirty-Four
- Chapter Thirty-Five
- Chapter Thirty-Six
- Chapter Thirty-Seven
- Chapter Thirty-Eight
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author