Venators: Promises Forged. Devri Walls

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      Praise for Venators

      “A dynamic, intriguing, and magical world with interesting characters and a story that will engage teens. The world building is fascinating and well developed, and Walls has done everything right to create a solid series opener. Readers will be begging to see what happens to their heroes. The intense action sequences, hinted-at romance, and entertaining dialogue make this book a first purchase.”

      —School Library Journal

      “Fast-paced plotting will appeal to readers searching for a thrill . . . Recommend to older fans of fantasies like Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series.”

      —Booklist

      “A thrilling, beautifully written book about all things supernatural. This start of the series makes readers want more, and the powerful feeling of fantasy completely takes over while reading this book. Fans of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series or Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series will surely appreciate Venators.”

      —VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)

      “A deftly crafted, impressively original, and inherently fascinating read from first page to last.”

      —Midwest Book Review

      “Devri Walls brings to life a gritty world with twists on well-known monsters and a sense of bloody danger that’s often terrifying while also weaving in a calmness and wonder that finds the beauty of it all.”

      —Seattle Book Review

      “Venators: Promises Forged is a darkly spirited young adult novel that prompts eager anticipation for the next book in the series.”

      —Foreword Reviews

      “Devri Walls has stunned us again! Her first book set the bar sky high, and the second leaves us clamoring for more! The Venators books are must-reads.”

      —Genese Davis, author, The Holder’s Dominion; video game writer, Omensight

      “A worthy adventure—full of excitement, passion, and intrigue. Perfect escapism reading, with plenty of wit, drama, and derring-do. Walls creates an immersive world with fresh takes on classic themes, all without sacrificing pace and entertainment.”

      —Allen Johnson, screenwriter, The Freemason

      “Yes! The Venators series is back. Maneuver through a minefield of politics . . . Battle one of the darkest fae villains around . . . Dive through the arch with Rune and Grey . . . You won’t regret it!”

      —Dani Eide, PerspectiveOfAWriter.com

      “It’s so rare to find all my favorite things in one book, but Venators definitely delivers! Devri’s characters are the kind you root for and think about long after you’ve finished the story. This one gets shelved under ‘Favorite’!”

      —Heather Hildenbrand, best-selling author, the Dirty Blood series

      “Walls does it again. Promises Forged is a magical source from start to finish, and you won’t want to put it down until you’re done.”

      —Troy Lambert, best-selling thriller author

      © 2019 Devri Walls

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

      This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

       Venators: Promises Forged

      Brown Books Publishing Group

       16250 Knoll Trail Drive, Suite 205

       Dallas, Texas 75248

       www.BrownBooks.com

       [phone]

      A New Era in Publishing®

      Names: Walls, Devri, author.

      Title: Venators. Promises forged / Devri Walls.

      Other Titles: Promises forged

      Description: Dallas, Texas : Brown Books Publishing Group, [2019] | Series: The Venators series ; book 2 | Interest age level: 14-18. | Summary: “Rune, Ryker, and Grey are still trapped in the world of Eon, where danger continues to unfold at every turn. Grey has now fallen into the Fae queen’s clutches, his soul slowly being drained away. With Ryker still held captive by Dio and her goblins, it’s up to Rune to save Grey - but will she be able to harness her Venator powers to do so in time?”--Provided by publisher.

      Identifiers: ISBN 9781612543000

      Subjects: LCSH: Supernatural--Fiction. | Good and evil--Fiction. | Kidnapping--Fiction. | Imaginary places--Fiction. | Transgenic organisms--Fiction. | LCGFT: Fantasy fiction.

      Classification: LCC PS3623.A4452 V463 2019 | DDC 813/.6--dc23

      eISBN 978-1-61254-334-5

      LCCN 2018957401

      Printed in the United States

       10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      For more information or to contact the author, please go to www.DevriWalls.com.

      “Devri, are you asking me to give you a miracle?”

       “Yes, Tom, that is exactly what I’m doing.”

      Thank you, Tom, for moving mountains.

      CHANGE OF PLANS

      The spelled connection between Zio and her dragon was flawless. Every movement, every glance of his eye came through her amulet—she saw what he saw. From within the confines of her stronghold, Zio had scoured the forest with Maegon in search of the two Venators the council had so foolishly let out of their protected halls. The thrill of the hunt thrummed through her, and her fingers itched to feel the bodies of the Venators break beneath them. To warm her skin as hot blood flowed over it—to feel again.

      But the connection with Maegon was only amulet deep, visual and no more.

      As the evening progressed, however, things became more problematic than Zio could’ve anticipated. This hunt—that should’ve been a massacre—had rapidly become a battle. Though she’d expected Tate to be with the Venators, she’d not foreseen Beltran’s involvement. It was the shapeshifter who’d tipped the scales—the way he’d jumped off that cliff, his wings cocooned in protection, taking Maegon’s fire.

      She shuddered with desire.

      For years now, Zio had wanted Beltran—a desperate want that wasn’t bred of lust but of a need to own him. Beltran was even more skilled than the shifter she already possessed. His cunning rivaled her own. When such cunning mixed with the ability to shift . . . Beltran was a force to be reckoned with.

      But Beltran or no, the hunt was drawing to an end. Maegon had their prey cornered.

      The silver chain of the pendant glinted in the firelight that danced in the braziers on the balcony. Zio’s anticipation became a palpable thing that flexed about, spreading its wings and flicking its tail in excitement.

      The corner of Zio’s mouth twitched in a barely there smile as she stared into the pendant. She tightened her fingers around the blue stone, watching the final moments of this scene from Maegon’s eyes. Her own eyes searched back and forth across the bubbling river.

      They’d been under for too long.

      Beltran could easily avoid Maegon underwater, but the Venator could not.

      Where were they?