Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set Read online

  The Mortal Enchantment Box Set Collection

  Stacey O’Neale

  Table of Contents

  Dear Reader

  Mortal Enchantment Series

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Storm Born

  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

  Fragile Reign

  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

  Eternal Sacrifice

  Prologue

  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

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Dear Reader,

  I wanted to take the time to thank you for choosing my series. There are millions of books out there, and it means a lot to me that you picked the Mortal Enchantment series.

  Kalin, Rowan, Ariel, and Marcus have been in my head for ten years. It’s been a pleasure to write their story, and I hope you love them as much as I do.

  Sincerely,

  Stacey

  Mortal Enchantment Series

  Reading Order:

  1. The Shadow Prince Prequel Novella

  (Free eBook)

  2. Storm Born

  3. Fragile Reign

  4. Eternal Sacrifice

  I dedicate this collection to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.

  Never stop being you.

  Chapter One

  Headlights flashed, illuminating the darkness. I shifted around as a line of cars approached. This place wasn’t a popular spot. Most mortals didn’t know this forest hid a secluded beach, which was why I liked coming here to sleep under the stars. Branches snapped as they rode over the dirt road. Somehow they managed to squeeze their vehicles into a narrow clearing. One by one, they poured out wearing football jerseys and t-shirts with the same school logo.

  Judging by the excitement level of the group, they’d just come from a winning game. They headed for the shore with their coolers and a beer keg. A few of the guys dropped their stuff in the sand, found a decent spot, and started digging a pit. A beach bonfire? Cool. Maybe I don’t mind sharing my beach, after all. Minutes later, some girls showed up with baseball-sized rocks, handfuls of leaves and twigs, and arranged the sticks into a pyramid.

  There was only one ingredient left that they needed: fire.

  A smaller, non-jock-looking mortal tried several times to spark the flame with a lighter, but the wind coming off the ocean blew it out. The poor guy looked embarrassed, peering over his shoulder at a couple of cute girls in a cluster. He was going to need some help. Hidden behind a glamour, I knelt beside him. He made another attempt. Touching the twigs with the tip of my finger, I set the pyramid ablaze. The crowd cheered as the fire rose into the sky. The scrawny kid walked away, holding the hand of one of the girls.

  Mission accomplished.

  The sound of a familiar chuckle rang out above the crashing waves. I turned around. As soon as I saw my best friend Marcus leaning against a distant tree, I made my way through the crowd to join him. The salty breeze rustled his curly brown hair, but he didn’t seem bothered. He tucked the wild strands behind his ear. In his red cashmere sweater and khaki pants, he could easily pass for a mortal. Even now, it was hard to conceive what slept dormant within him.

  He stood at my side. "Working hard, I see.”

  I hadn’t seen him in months. Not since his father ordered him back to Avalon. "What can I say? I’m a workaholic.”

  "Yeah,” he snorted. "I’m surprised to see you haven’t joined their celebration.” He bent down in a mock bow, "Your Majesty.”

  I smirked. "You know me better than that. I’m a total professional.”

  "Ah, yes,” he agreed sarcastically. "You’re completely above partying with the mortals. It’s not like you’d ever break the rules.”

  "Never.”

  We were both full of shit.

  "It’s for the best, you know. These poor mortal boys can’t compete. You’ve got that whole sad-boy-with-a-tortured-soul thing going for you.” He reached out as if he wanted to touch my face. "And those radiant blue eyes—”

  Laughing, I swatted his hand away. "You’re a dick. You know that, right?”

  He let out a hearty laugh.

  The mortal girls did seem to enjoy my company. And, yes, I occasionally removed my glamour and pretended I was one of them. Why not? It sucked spending all my time in their world without ever being part of it.

  Marcus pointed to the silver barbell in my right eyebrow. "Nice piercing, by the way. Has your mother seen it?”

  "Why would she?” I shrugged. "Where I go and what I do has never been of any importance to her.”

  He raised an eyebrow. "Do I need to remind you that you’re the sole heir to the fire court throne? I’d say that makes you important.”

  I may be her only biological child, but she has no interest in passing her
crown onto me. Prisma has ruled the fire court for centuries. "Not to her.”

  "With everything going on,” his tone turned serious, "how could you possibly feel this way?”

  Prisma exiled me to the mortal world. There was no love between us. "What are you saying? What’s going on?”

  "Come on, Rowan. Be serious.”

  There had been no word from Avalon. No messages from her. I crossed my arms. "I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  "The queen sent me.” His eyebrows furrowed as if he were genuinely surprised by my ignorance. "She’s abdicating her throne to you.”

  Total astonishment didn’t begin to explain how I felt hearing those words. Part of me was too shocked to do anything but stand here. On the rare occasions I’d been invited to visit her in Avalon, she’d never once expressed any interest in abdicating her throne. "What about Valac and Selene?”

  "We both know they have no real claim to the crown.”

  My older, adopted siblings have always been her favorite. They had been together for centuries, and if she passed the crown to anyone, I fully expected she’d fight to give it to one of them. "None of this makes any sense.”

  Marcus shrugged. "Who cares why she’s doing it? I say go with it.”

  I wasn’t naïve. There was a purpose in Prisma’s decision. She wouldn’t hand the court over to me unless she got something in return. Something she couldn’t get without my help, but what could it be? "You don’t find any of this the least bit strange?”

  "I see where you’re coming from, but I’m looking at the broader picture.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Once you’re king, you’ll be able to run the court as you please. You can make all the changes we’ve been talking about since we were kids.”

  This was personal for Marcus.

  Prisma ruled with a ruthlessness, unlike any of the other courts. They were in constant fear for their lives. Severe punishments were handed out for the smallest of crimes, along with plenty of violent executions. But it was the gabriel hounds who received the worst treatment. Hounds weren’t considered equal members of our court because they couldn’t control the fire element.

  Centuries ago, before the decrees were in place, Prisma created the shape-shifters as a means of protection. The other courts weren’t pleased, but there was nothing they could do. To this day, the hounds continue to be the most dangerous members of our court, controlled by her alone. The strongest hounds were trained to be guardians for high-ranking elementals, while the rest worked in homes as cooks, cleaners, and in other domestic positions.

  If I were king, I would put an end to all of it. "Are you sure she’s serious?”

  "There’s only one way to find out.”

  Marcus was right. If she wanted something, I had to go back to Avalon to find out what. "Why did she send you to deliver the news? I assumed you’d be busy training to be a guardian.”

  "I completed my training,” he said, lowering his head. "I am now yours to command.”

  An ache burned in the center of my chest. Prisma had assigned my best friend to be my protector. She had made it clear she didn’t approve of our friendship years ago, but this was going too far. This move was made solely to hurt me. "I refuse.” I shook my head. “I never wanted a guardian. You are like a brother to me.”

  "All the more reason for you to return home.” His hazel eyes bore into mine with a fierceness I rarely saw in him. "Accept her terms, whatever they might be, and become our king.”

  Our king? The words sent a shudder through me. I never thought I would rule. I used to dream about it as a child. I even prayed for it. But I had long since given up on the idea. Hearing about it as an actual possibility was a shock to my system. Instantly, all my buried fears rose to the surface. "How do you know I won’t end up just like her?”

  "Because I know you, Rowan. Underneath all the snark and silliness is someone who cares. Someone who will fight for justice, and who will rule with fairness. If anyone can unite our court, it’s you.”

  He made it sound like the fate of our court rested entirely on my shoulders. No pressure. My chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. I needed a break from the seriousness and pretended to wipe away a tear. "Should we hug it out?”

  Marcus rolled his eyes. “You’re impossible.”

  “Oh, come on.” I nudged his arm with my elbow. “It was funny.”

  He sighed. "You know, it would’ve been so much easier if I had just sunk my teeth into your neck and dragged you back to Avalon.”

  If he were any other gabriel hound I would be concerned, but Marcus wouldn’t hurt me. He inherited more than his mortal mother’s caramel-colored skin. His time with her had given him a moral compass, unlike his sadistic father. I patted my leather jacket. "And mess up this thing of beauty? What a tragedy that would be.”

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Marcus motioned behind us. "There’s a pathway about two miles from here. Let’s get going.”

  I nodded.

  Leaves rustled beneath our leather boots as I followed him through the woodland. Beams of moonlight broke through the thick pines, illuminating our way. "How are things at the castle?”

  "In a state of constant turmoil.”

  Nothing had changed. Prisma ran the castle like an unruly circus. Instead of animals, she surrounded herself with council members—elder elementals acting as advisers, knights, high-ranking elementals, and various spies who reported only to her. Each of them fought to gain favor with her. No one trusted anyone, and everyone had an agenda. I had zero interest in any of it.

  Once I was king, I’d get rid of them all.

  Ten minutes later, we reached the location of the portal. They didn’t appear until an elemental approached. Portals were hidden all over the world. The one we were about to use resembled a ring of fire with a swirling blackness inside.

  I motioned for Marcus to go first. "I’ll be right behind you, sweetness.”

  Marcus shook his head as he stepped into the abyss.

  I took one last glance at the mortal world. For the first time today, I realized it was my birthday. I was sixteen and returning to Avalon—and, unexpectedly, ascending to the throne. I felt a bit of hesitation, knowing my life was about to change in every possible way. Marcus had faith in me, but I worried nonetheless. Would I become cold-blooded like Prisma? There was no way to predict.

  "Time to man up,” I told myself.

  I took a deep breath and stepped inside the pathway.

  As the portal opened on the edge of the woodland territory, the scent of cedar filled my nostrils. It has been many years since I last stood in Avalon. I marveled at the twisted tree trunks that seemed to reach into the skies. I could see for miles, all the way to the mountain ranges of the air court. Their crystal castle rested atop of the highest mountain, but even during a cloudless day, remained hidden.

  We headed in the opposite direction. The further we traveled, the scenery drastically changed. The plush, thick greenery shifted to only a few sparse patches. After another mile or two, there was no green in sight. The temperatures rose to sweltering heat as we stomped across the desert, patches of burnt grass, and dead trees. The scent of ash wafted in the air. It was hard to imagine that anyone would want to live here. But it was my home.

  Beneath the dry land, the castle rested inside the core of a dormant volcano. I took off my leather coat. My black-feathered wings released themselves from beneath my skin, stretching until they were at full length. They immediately caught the hot wind blowing all around us, and I had the urge to fly. The power of our element was strongest here. Its energy recharged me with each passing second. Closing my eyes, I focused on the vibration humming beneath my skin.

  "How do you feel?” Marcus asked, reminding me he was here.

  "Intense.” The royal family had a deep connection to the eternal flame, the birthplace of our kin. House Djin, my family, has always ruled the fire court. Throughout the centuries, we’ve had abilities that exceeded all other fire elementals
. Beyond our control over the element, no other fire elemental could surpass our physical strength—except for the hounds. I opened my eyes. "I’d forgotten how good it feels to be here.”

  "We should get going,” Marcus insisted. "The queen will be waiting.”

  He stared into the distance, his fingers tapping against the side of his leg. Wild energy radiated off of him. Was he nervous about returning to Avalon? "Is there anything you want to tell me before we get to the castle?”

  "Nothing you need to worry about.”

  I sensed his hesitation. I could always tell when something was bothering him. "I’m not moving another inch until you tell me.”