Book One of the Eximius Series: The Animal Inside * * * * * Suddenly a strong arm grabbed me. I screamed. A hand covered my mouth. "Now, now, now. What's with all the fighting?" said a voice from behind me. The shadows stopped in their tracks. Everyone else froze, looking at me and the person that held me. I realized it was the Shadow Master. "Stop the fighting or I kill her." He held out his hand. A shadowy haze floated around his hand. It was there for a moment, then it disappeared, leaving a dagger in his hand. The dagger had a clean, sharp blade. The handle was as black as the shadows he commanded. He held the dagger to my neck. I could feel the cold blade against my skin. It seemed so close that it would cut me if I even swallowed. "Try to free her and she's dead in an instant. I don't think you want an innocent person's blood on your hands." * * * * * Kefira thought she was just a normal teenager. Little did she know. Kefira is part of a few select members of society born with Powers. People with Powers are trained and go onto become Super Heroes, or Super Villains. Kefira must learn to master her abilities, and to get along with the strange voice that talks to her in her mind. Along the way, she meets many interesting people, some nice and some...well, less so. But when a Super Villain comes along, and shows her not all is as it seems, and her new-found friends are keeping something from her, Kefira starts to wonder if everything has been led to believe is true. What can she do? Who can she trust? Can she master the animal inside?

Lyra knew that one day she would be set into an arranged marriage like a chess piece. She had been preparing for it her whole life, and she was almost alright with her fate. But she never thought that her father would choose the man that he did. That decision changed everything. The King of Whales is ruthless, more than twice her age and surrounded by tainted gold and loads of unsavory rumors. There have been many wives of his before Lyra, with no explanations to the untimely deaths of the previous five. With each dead Queen came more money from their kingdoms, straight into the King's portly lap. Disguised as a young man, Lyra runs from her duty as the only Princess of Nordic. She cuts her hair, takes her steed and disappears into the night with her father's men hot on her heels. Enter Kaladin's team. Occupation: Mercenaries. Lyra uses skills taught to her by a close, childhood friend and plays herself into the trust of the dangerous strangers until they accept her, or rather, "Navani", into their group. What will happen to her once they see through her web of lies and tricks? Will Lyra give herself up as Princess when she is reunited with her long-lost friend, or will she carry on as a boy with the mercenaries? Follow Lyra to see what she will do when she comes to realize that things have gotten far too big for her to handle on her own. There are assassin's out for her head, king's thirsting for her blood, and an underground network of people who live for her ruin. But there is also an unlikely Prince to defend her, who has some tricks of his own to rely on. The Princess soon sees that she is not nearly as alone as she may have once thought. What will Lyra do when she comes to terms with her destiny? Will she face it this time with her new friends, or will she chose to run away again? Cover made by @-rebellixus-