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PROLOGUE

Sunday, 9:00 am

On this extraordinary June day, only a week away from the sumathered in their privatechambers here at Beauport He and he alone knew just how momentous this day would be for the Ansara and the future of their people Two hundred years ago, his clan had lost The Battle with their sworn enemy and been all but annihilated The feho survived had found solace here on the island of Terrebonne and, generation by generation, had grown in strength and numbers Like the proverbial Phoenix, the Ansara had risen froer and more powerful than ever

One by one, theas they did once anotes on the family’s various widespread enterprises as they waited for the Dranir to arrive Judah Ansara, the all-powerful ruler as respected and feared in equal measure, had inherited his title from his father From their father

What would the noble council say, ould they think, hoould they react, when they learned that the Dranir of the Ansara was dead? As soon as word came in that Judah had been killed, Cael kneould have to act fast in order to take control and secure as rightfully his Naturally, he would pretend to be as shocked as everyone else, and would er half brother’s brutal murder

I will even swear vengeance on Judah’s behalf, pro to hunt down and kill the person responsible for his death

Cael shtly Even if severalbehind Judah’s murder, no one would ever be able to prove that he had sent a skilled warrior to eliminate the only obstacle in his path to ultimate power Nor would they be able to prove that he had been the one to bestow a spell of ulti on that warrior so that he would be equal, if not superior, to his opponent All would soon learn that Judah the Invincible had been defeated

At long last, after a lifeti and planning, he would soon take his place as the Dranir Was he not the elder son of Dranir Hadar? Was he not as powerful as his younger brother, Judah, perhaps even reat Ansara clan? Was it not his destiny to destroy their enele Raintree from the face of the earth?

Judah claiht for an attack, for all-out war, that the Ansara clan was not ready At the last council , Cael had confronted his brother

“We are aWhy do ait? Are you afraid to face the Raintree, my brother?” Cael had asked “If so, step aside and I will lead our people to victory”

At the very moment he had confronted his brother, Cael had already nuidance He had endowed each young warrior with protective spells First, the most fearsome of his followers—Stein—would kill Judah Then Greynell would strike a deadly blow to the very heart of the Raintree, in their hoenerations After that, Tabby would eli” what devastating tragedies awaited her clan

Unfortunately, only one reed with Cael One of twelve Alexandria, the most beautiful and powerful female member of the royal family and third in line for the throne, was his first cousin She had once been Judah’s faithful supporter, but when Cael promised her a place at his side if he were to becoiances What did ithis poith anyone, not even Alexandria? Once he ruled the Ansara, no one would dare defy him

“It is unlike Judah to be late,” Alexandria said to the others now