Read Online Daughter of the Red Dawn (The Lost Kingdom of Fallada) by Alicia Michaels - Free Book Online Page A

chair and backed away from Wil and his crazy ideas. Zoe’s eyes were as round as saucers.
    “Sorry , man, but Selena isn’t exactly a general,” Zoe said. “What is she supposed to know about leading an army?”
    Wil squared his shoulders and cast Zoe an exasperated glance. “ Princess Eladria is the descendant of royalty, many of whom were great warriors. She is the daughter of King Eldalwen of Damu, one of the greatest of his time. It is already in her, young Zoe , and she will learn.”
    Selena felt as if a fist had closed around her lungs, it was so hard to breathe. She pressed a hand to her throat and inhaled deep gulps of air, hoping to calm her racing pulse and frazzled nerves. It was entirely to o much for one set of teenaged shoulders to bear.
    “No,” she said softly, her eyes lowered to the cluttered table between her and the eldest Grimm brother. “I can’t.”
    “You must.”
    Jacob Grimm spoke for the first time since bringing them into the room. He was standing as well, his hands resting on his desk’s scratched surface.
    “Don’t you see, Selena? This is your destiny. Your entire life, you have felt as if you didn’t belong. I understand that feeling and so does Wil. It’s why we left Earth for Fallada. Something in us just knew it was where we belonged. You will see, Selena. Once we arrive in Damu, you will understand. It is your home and those who dwell there are your people and you are responsible for them.”
    “I don’t want to be responsible for them,” Selena countered, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “Do I look like the kind of girl who’s ready to throw on a cape and go around saving the universe? I’m seventeen years old! The biggest things that are supposed to be happening in my life right now are prom and gradu ation, not wars and evil plots!”
    She turned for the door, pulling Zoe along with her.
    “I will go with you to Goldun so that the Fae ries can heal my grandmother, but then you are going to take me home.”
    Jacob sighed and lowered his head. Wil remained silent as he crossed his arms over his chest and stared through a porthole out into the dark night.
    “Very well,” Jake said, his shoulders sagging. “It will be as you wish, Selena.”
     
    ~*~
     
    “Are you ready to talk about it now?”
    “No.”
    Zoe frowned and went back to staring out through the porthole over her cot. After leaving Jake and Wil’s cluttered room, the girls had retreated to their cabin for the night. They’d been there for hours and soon the sun would be rising, but Selena hadn’t been able to sleep a wink. She had thought that Zoe was asleep, but her friend’s question shattered the silence in the room and reminded Selena that she wasn’t the only one who’d had a bombshell dropped on her today.
    Fae ries, shape-shifting Werewolves , evil queens…it was a lot to take in all at once. Selena glanced over to where her grandmother lay sleeping on her cot on the opposite side of the room and envied her. She wished someone had given her a sleeping potion; maybe then she could escape the frenzied thoughts taking up space in her head.
    “I think you owe me at least that much,” Zoe said, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. She stared at Selena pointedly. “I’m along for the ride here and it sounds like this is going to get dangerous. Plus, I’m your best friend.”
    “You only get to play the best friend card once a year,” Selena said with a smile.
    “When was the last time I used the friend card?”
    “Two words: prom dress.”
    “It’s not my fault we have similar taste in gowns. Besides, that dress looked like crap on you. Redheads can’t wear red, Selena.”
    “Says who?”
    “Says your reflection when you put that gown on. Trust me girl, I did you a favor.”
    “So what you’re saying is , I owe you for doing me that favor.”
    “Exactly. I mean, you could at least tell me more about wolf boy.”
    Selena felt her