a burning need to find out the truth - Half Breed Queen (Skatia Narratives, #1) by L.A. Hendricks

"She looked out the window and saw that they were in the middle of a forest, not a city or town in sight. Not even a house. She tried to open the door to the compartment and found it was stuck. No matter how hard she pulled, it just wouldn't budge. As her fear and frustration grew, she could feel the change coming on. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself down and keep from turning into that purple alien monster again." 

Description:

Published: March 2015

Devastating tragedy puts 14-year-old high school freshman Marla Owens, on a fast-paced journey of survival, revival and coming of age. Driven by a force she can't begin to understand and a burning need to find out the truth, she heads toward her mother's home in North Dakota. She soon learns more about herself and her family than she could have ever imagined — her mother was royal heir to the powerful Skatian throne! And now the Skatian people need her to protect their world from those who wish to conquer it.

In a classic tale of good versus evil, set on Earth and beyond, a young girl fights to survive to become a young woman—and the reluctant queen of Skatia. Who can she trust? Will she be able to control her own immense abilities and justified anger to do what's right? 

One thing's for sure: Marla's not in Texas anymore!

EXCERPT

“Don't struggle, little heir. I need to take you back alive.” His voice sounded like a snake's slither. He looked at Marla as though she were nothing more than money. His eyes, so pale a shade of blue they seemed white, made Marla shudder.

“Let me go!” Marla tried in vain to yank her arm away from her kidnapper, but he was a head or so taller and much stronger than she. He began to drag her down the street. “Who are you? How did you find me,” she asked through her teeth. People on the street were beginning to stare, but no one seemed inclined to intervene. She was trying hard to hold her temper, but could feel it begin to slip away from her.

“I am Dovidas, little princess. And as for how I was able to find you, your ability’s signature is very distinctive. All I had to do was follow your scent. Practicing all day, like a good little mark. It made my job much easier. I thought you'd have been smarter than that.”

“Please, stop. Let me go.” Marla was dragging her feet, refusing to walk. The man turned and slapped her. He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.

“Do not make me kill you, as Jurg had to kill your mother. I do not get paid if you are dead.” He took off down the street once again. There were still people around, but it now seemed they were not to notice them. It was as though the man had made them invisible or something.

Hearing this strange man talk about her mother so carelessly snapped the tenuous grasp Marla held on her temper. She could feel herself morphing, growing even – arms and legs growing longer and more muscular, hands and feet lengthening and becoming claw-like. The man felt the shift in Marla's weight and looked up at her – and dropped her in surprise. Marla hit the ground with a noticeable thump. Her breathing was heavy and labored as her body changed.

The process took only a minute or two, but Dovidas was so stunned that he couldn't move. The teenage girl he'd taken from outside the restaurant was changing before his eyes. He knew that the clan was from another world, but he did not realize that their human form was merely a disguise, and he certainly had never seen one in their natural form. The girl-beast on the ground before him was exceptionally terrifying, even to one such as Dovidas. He turned on his heel and ran away.



The motion drew Marla's attention. She held her hand, if it could still be called that, out in the direction had taken off Dovidas was running. He stopped in mid-stride, frozen like a statue. Marla stood, stretching out and testing her new body. She slowly and deliberately walked over to Dovidas, enjoying his obvious fear.

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About the author:

LA Hendricks is an IT project manager by day and science fiction/fantasy novelist by night.

A longtime lover of words, she reads science fiction, fantasy and paranormal romance novels regularly (when there is time). When not reading, writing or working, LA can most often be found watching football or basketball with her adorable cat, Mona.

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