A Follow Your Heart Novel
Love Scattered in the Wind
Some friendships are forged in trust—others in betrayal.
When Ember Pines wakes up in Seward, Alaska, with no memory and a strange affinity for the wild creatures around her, she has no idea who she is or what she's running from. Taken in by the kind and rugged Tyrus McKendry, Ember begins a quiet, healing life on his remote ranch. But even in the stillness of the Alaskan wilderness, danger stirs.
There’s something extraordinary about Ember...something not entirely human. Tyrus sees it. So do the animals that seem drawn to her. And so does the dark force that’s been hunting her across miles and memories.
As mysterious threats close in, Ember is haunted by flashes of another life, and of a man with storm-gray eyes who once held her heart. Ari, her fiancé, is desperate to find her. But someone will do anything to keep them apart—and to keep Ember from discovering the truth about her role in a magical war that could decide the fate of both mankind and the animal kingdom.
Love, memory, and magic are scattered in the wind, but destiny has a way of finding its way home.
Preorder Coming Soon
Release Date: Steptember 2025
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
~ A White Satin Romance ~
Excerpt
Chapter One
“Follow your heart, even if love takes you to the stars in the heavens or down into the depths of the sea. Enter new realms.”
“So, sweet girl, fairy tales do come true.”
“Are they real, Mommy?”
“Yes, dear. Didn’t we just read about one?” She winked at her daughter.
The mother closed her child’s favorite book, Ember Pines, and laid it on the nightstand. She handed a fluffy horse named Skyfire to her daughter. The little girl cuddled it and lay down on the pillow. Mom kissed the top of her head, tucked her in and turned the nite light on before leaving the room, stopping to listen to the creak of the door stop and not click close before heading down the stairs.
Outside the girl’s window, an enormous pair of neon green eyes watched from the sky. Serpents slithered and hissed inside the iris, glaring inside the room. The little girl had fallen asleep already. A scorching ray blasted out of the ungodly eyes and burnt holes through the book. Then the eyes vanished.
* * *
Stench, darkness and fear. Impossible. The inhabitants of the province were in denial. They just couldn’t shake the presence of an eerie blanket of evil covering the land that replaced their always sunny and cheerful dispositions. Dreary overcast skies replaced their always fragrant and blue skies. Concerned eyes searched the sky. Some dwellers rubbed their arms up and down as though they felt a cold chill, except in their dominion, the temperature is never cold or never hot.
Ember Pines was too happy to notice evil lurking. She was oblivious to all of the fear and dismal miens of every person far and wide. She twirled with hands over her heart, eyes closed lightly and a smile of pure joy. Nothing could alter her mood. Her valiant swain surprised her with a very romantic proposal. She was one hundred percent shocked by the engagement ring that held a diamazitieen rock found only in their region. It was a natural stone that looked like a diamond swirling with different colors and glitter. Handsome and dazzling Ari took her breath away and the rare gem was a representation of the passion she felt for him and he for her.
The proposal took the whole commonwealth by surprise. Her very dear friend, Addley, ran out of the house in tears at the news. Even though the lurking presence of something very wicked struck fear in the inhabitants’ hearts, they were still abounding with joy at the news and nobody noticed Addley run out of the house.
Later that day, Ember finally floated back to the ground from her in-the-clouds state of mind noticing her dear friend was missing. “Sharley, where is Addley?”
“Gosh! I have no idea. Never saw her leave.”
“Mmmm,” Ember thought patting her lips with the index finger. “I know. She was so excited that she ran home to share the news with her family. That’s it.”
“If you say so,” Sharley replied in a snarky tone.
“Why do you say it like that? As if she wouldn’t be happy for me.”
Sharley scratched her cheek. “Maybe I should have brought this to your attention before. I didn’t want to start something if perhaps I misinterpreted her actions.”
Ember leaned towards her. “Just what are you deliberately not saying?”
Sharley held her hands out. “Okay. I’ll tell you but don’t get mad at me. I always felt Addley was jealous of your relationship with Ari. Before you came here, she hung around him like they were super glued together. Numerous—and I do mean numerous—times I caught her staring at him. You know, puppy dog eyes. Haven’t you ever noticed?”
“No! Never! She’s one of my best friends. I don’t believe for a minute she would betray our friendship. Not a minute.”
“Or she pretended to be your friend in order to stay close to Ari.”
“No! Sharley! How could you say such things?” Ember’s tone changed as she eyed Sharley. “I can tell that you believe what you’re saying.”
Sharley sighed. “Just consider this a warning. I guess you haven’t noticed Addley’s been leaving a lot and nobody knows where she goes. Not even her parents. I believe she’s getting involved with something wicked. When she returns, her eyes are extremely dark, and she talks like she’s in some kind of trance. Come on. Tell me you haven’t noticed. If that’s not enough, everyone is commenting about an evil presence lingering. Everyone.”
Ember crossed her arms and squared her shoulders. With a defiant tone she expressed, “I refuse to believe that. She’s one of my best friends. Surely, I would have noticed the changes you’re talking about.”
“EMBER, you’ve been with Ari day and night learning about your future roles, I just realized that, so you probably haven’t been around her very much to notice. You haven’t been around any of us very much, come to think of it. One day when you first arrived here, Sharley confided in me that she wished you never came, that you were taking away her time with Ari. You ruined her plans to marry Ari one day.”
“None of this makes sense. She can’t be in love with Ari because at birth our mate is preordained. Ari and I can’t help how we feel about each other, because when we were old enough to feel these love emotions, it was going to happen, and it did happen. She cannot be in love with him, I tell you. She is ordained by the bonds of heaven to her betrothed. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“Of course I do. But, in her situation she allowed bad juju to influence her instead of the bonds gifted to her from God. Maybe she’s too far gone for the preordained relationship.”
Ember stared straight ahead not speaking. Then a thought hit her. “Has something like this ever happened before?"
“Not that I’m aware of...but wait! That must be how it starts.”
Ember’s eyebrows sunk with questions.
“What I mean is, once one of our people chooses evil, such as those who have become Eryndomnites, they lose the preordained bond with their mate. You’ve witnessed this with your own eyes.”
Her head dropped. Softly she replied, “You’re absolutely right. Once they accept King Eryn’s mark, they no longer belong to themselves. Their minds begin to change and then their body contorts to something horrible and evil. Even the stench they give off is nauseating.”
“Sharley, this is too heartbreaking. I need to think. What to do. What to do,” she kept repeating while pacing back and forth, slapping her hands together nervously.
“Em, please forgive me. I didn’t mean to ruin your happy mood. I just want you to be aware. Truthfully, I have noticed an evilness floating in the air.” Her body shimmied after saying that and she squeezed her arms tightly around herself.
“You truly are my best friend. I can see how hard this was for you. As though you are the one betraying friendship,” Ember admitted.
“Yeah, it was pretty painful to say, especially since Addley has always been one of my best friends,” she replied choking on her words. Ember looked warmly at her and gently patted her hand.
“Maybe I could have stopped Addley from choosing evil if I would have spoken up. I stopped hanging around her because she was acting so different, so freaky, actually.” She choked up. “I’m so ashamed of myself. I need to get home. Please, keep your eyes and ears open. Pay attention and be safe. Promise me,” Sharley begged. That overwhelming feeling was strong.
“I promise.” They hugged and Sharley walked out. But she kept thinking about their conversation. Ember was more worried about Addley than believing her. She had always been a faithful friend. Anger rose in her cheeks. With a slightly puckered mouth, she turned back around, stopped and stared at Ember with glaring eyes. Being friends is a two-way street. Sharley strolled out and let the door slam on the way out.
Shocked by the sudden change in her mannerisms, Ember stared at the door.