Ashlynn Monroe Author Videos

Episode One Briar I dodged the blast Porthos sent in my direction, by rolling left. Returning the attack, I chose to use the weakest of my magical gifts. I let the magic course through me as I called upon fire. Flinging my arm in his direction, I scored a direct hit. Porthos shrieked as the blast connected with his shoulder, melting his armor. “Hold!” Riker shouted from his perch on the viewing platform. “Excellent, Briar!” He jumped down into the training arena and made his way to our fallen friend. Porthos groaned as Riker repaired his damaged body and clothing. Riker was older and had taken his vows to the Charmed Circle last summer solstice. Porthos turned to me. “You’re getting faster,” he muttered. “Too fast.” I grinned. “Thanks, I mean it, coming from you that’s a compliment. I might even let it go to my head.” Both Riker and Porthos laughed as they stood. I winked at Porthos. “At this rate, we’ll take our vows on winter solstice.” “With your affinity for ice magic, that would be fitting,” Riker agreed. A sudden pain laced through my shoulder intense enough to drop me to my knees. I cried out, which was rare. I’d gone an entire training session with a dagger in my leg before anyone noticed the injury. My vision was blurry, but I saw the stark panic on Riker’s face. He was the first beside me, but it didn’t take long for Porthos to join him. I blinked away the moisture in my eyes as I blindly ripped at my armor. The agony burned just above my heart. My flesh was searing. I tore off my breast plate and left shoulder guard without a thought of modesty. “What sorcery is this?” Riker uttered. “Who would dare to send an accolade of the circle a magical brand!” I was fighting to remain conscious, but I gazed down in horror at the red puckered flesh that now carried a dragon encircling a rose burned into me just above my breast. It was the size of my fist. Porthos inhaled sharply. “The king’s brand. That f**king

Twenty-four hours before my eighteenth birthday... My pack was ruthless, and as an orphan, I lived on the packhouse scraps. I'd been planning to leave on my 18th birthday, at moonrise, when I could renounce the pack and break the mystic bond our Alpha held. But when my tormentor turned out to be my fated mate, it was not the birthday I'd expected. The odds of finding a mate are so slim, I never thought it would happen the moment I tried to escape. I was sick of my life, but there wasn't much I could do until I turned eighteen. As a member of the Briar Lake Pack since birth, I suffered the telepathic connection to everyone in the pack. Sure, I could have packed a bag and run away to some human town, but I'd have had them in my head. You have no idea what it's like, a constant buzz in your mind reminding you that you're part of a collective group. It's not like you're hearing everyone's thoughts all at once or invading private moments, nothing like that, but you're never really alone. If there's danger or someone needs something, they can find you. It takes a lot of energy and effort to block it out. I'd gotten pretty good at blocking. That's probably why I'm so damn skinny and tired all the time. But likely it's the constant physical work. I had to earn my way, since I was old enough to push a broom. My dad went rogue when my mother was pregnant, and the disgrace of it all made her kill herself when I was little. At least that's what I've been told. Who knows? I didn't have any family willing to take me in, even though I have some cousins and uncles in the pack. I ended up the Alpha's ward living in the packhouse. He's not cruel, but I wasn't some kind of beloved adoptive daughter. I was just a girl without any financial resources. He has a dozen kids of his own. He never found a mate, but he has three wives. It's uncommon for our kind, but he's not into convention. A good Alpha would have found me some parents, even if he had to do it at the big annual gathering of

Episode One Briar I dodged the blast Porthos sent in my direction, by rolling left. Returning the attack, I chose to use the weakest of my magical gifts. I let the magic course through me as I called upon fire. Flinging my arm in his direction, I scored a direct hit. Porthos shrieked as the blast connected with his shoulder, melting his armor. “Hold!” Riker shouted from his perch on the viewing platform. “Excellent, Briar!” He jumped down into the training arena and made his way to our fallen friend. Porthos groaned as Riker repaired his damaged body and clothing. Riker was older and had taken his vows to the Charmed Circle last summer solstice. Porthos turned to me. “You’re getting faster,” he muttered. “Too fast.” I grinned. “Thanks, I mean it, coming from you that’s a compliment. I might even let it go to my head.” Both Riker and Porthos laughed as they stood. I winked at Porthos. “At this rate, we’ll take our vows on winter solstice.” “With your affinity for ice magic, that would be fitting,” Riker agreed. A sudden pain laced through my shoulder intense enough to drop me to my knees. I cried out, which was rare. I’d gone an entire training session with a dagger in my leg before anyone noticed the injury. My vision was blurry, but I saw the stark panic on Riker’s face. He was the first beside me, but it didn’t take long for Porthos to join him. I blinked away the moisture in my eyes as I blindly ripped at my armor. The agony burned just above my heart. My flesh was searing. I tore off my breast plate and left shoulder guard without a thought of modesty. “What sorcery is this?” Riker uttered. “Who would dare to send an accolade of the circle a magical brand!” I was fighting to remain conscious, but I gazed down in horror at the red puckered flesh that now carried a dragon encircling a rose burned into me just above my breast. It was the size of my fist. Porthos inhaled sharply. “The king’s brand. That f**king

"I, Skylar Rook, reject you, Jaxson Forest, as my mate." With those words, my life changed forever. My pack was ruthless, and as an orphan, I lived on scraps. I'd been planning to leave on my 18th birthday when I could renounce the pack. When my tormentor turned out to be my fated mate, it wasn't the birthday I'd expected. Secrets have come to light, and every betrayal only strengthens my resolve to be free. https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B099R5RQ9N

I'm a druid, a battle mage, at least I was. The king is looking for a wife. Now I'm marked. The longer I'm at court, the more secrets I learn. The greatest mystery is my odd connection to our king and his latent magic. My mentor calls it The Duality, an ancient, powerful magical bond. I want to die in glorious battle, like my parents, not compete in a contest to become the next queen. Danger is coming. I want freedom until I realize I want to save my king more than I want to save myself. Start the journey for free https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0CBL77WH1

"I, Skylar Rook, reject you, Jaxson Forest, as my mate." With those words, my life changed forever. My pack was ruthless, and as an orphan, I lived on scraps. I'd been planning to leave on my 18th birthday when I could renounce the pack. When my tormentor turned out to be my fated mate, it wasn't the birthday I'd expected. Secrets have come to light, and every betrayal only strengthens my resolve to be free. Start the journey for free! https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B099R5RQ9N