Ultimate fireheart fanta.., p.1
Ultimate Fireheart Fantasy Collection, page 1
Ultimate Fireheart Fantasy Collection: 5 Urban Fantasy Novellas and 7 Fantasy Short Stories
The Fireheart Fantasy Series, Volume 7
Connor Whiteley
Published by CGD Publishing, 2021.
ULTIMATE FIREHEART FANTASY COLLECTION
CONNOR WHITELEY
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means. Including information storage, and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is NOT legal, professional, medical, financial or any type of official advice.
Any questions about the book, rights licensing, or to contact the author, please email connorwhiteley@connorwhiteley.net
Copyright © 2021 CONNOR WHITELEY
All rights reserved.
DEDICATION
Thank you to all my readers without you I couldn’t do what I love.
HEART
OF
FIRE
CONNOR WHITELEY
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
AUTHOR’S NOTE
HEART OF LIES | CONNOR WHITELEY
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
AUTHOR’S NOTE
FELINE OF THE LOST
HEART OF PROPHECY | CONNOR WHITELEY
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
chapter 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
Author’s Note
HEART OF THE STANDING
HEART OF THE FLESHEATER
HEART OF A KILLER
HEART OF BONES | CONNOR WHITELEY
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
AUTHOR’S NOTE
HEART OF ARMS
HEART OF THE REGENT
HEART OF THE STORY
HEART | OF | FATE | CONNOR WHITELEY
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
AUTHOR’S NOTE
CHAPTER 1
With the sun beaming down, Alessandria touched the back of her long neck. To feel the hot skin starting to turn red.
She rolled her eyes. She should have listened to her maid who wanted to force her to wear a cloak to cover up her skin on this hot day.
Now she was going to burn. Alessandria hated the servants being right, but that's why she loved them and wouldn't allow her mother to fire any of them.
To deal with the burning skin, she just flicked some of her long blonde hair over her neck.
Returning her attention to her task and purpose, she looked out over the market. To admire the rows upon rows of little wooden stalls with their owners and different goods. From the heavenly scents coming from the baker's stall to the hissing and banging of the blacksmith to the chatting of women and husbands at the jewellery stall. There was something here for everyone.
Alessandria continued to lean against the red brick wall to her right. The warmth of the bricks making it pleasant to lean against.
Stretching out her fingers, Alessandria felt the rough bricks that were starting to warm up as the afternoon started.
Looking at each of the stalls, Alessandria studied each and every person at the market. From the fit and healthy nobility of her fellow noble houses to the white tunic wearing lower class to the homeless people that used whatever money they could to buy food so they may live for one more day.
Alessandria felt anger flash across her face. She hated the way the other four noble houses treated their so-called 'lower class' so what if they didn't have Noble Blood, they were still great people given the chance. That reminded Alessandria she needed to walk through part of Ordericous that her family was responsible for. Best to remind the locals that she was there for them.
A wooden tapping sound came from behind Alessandria. Turning around, she was filled with great delight as she laid her eyes on a tall slim woman with long brown hair and fine features. Wearing a long sweeping black cloak of the Procurators with the symbol of her house over her breast.
The tapping sound continued as the woman tapped a strange brown wooden staff on the brick wall.
“So, you made it this morning, Hellen,” Alessandria said, smiling at her partner.
“Ya sound surprised. I always come when ya call me,”
Alessandria’s eyebrows rose.
“Hellen, I heard reports that you were having... relations with a man last night. I doubted you would be here,”
The tapping stopped.
“Alexis, the reports are wrong. I would never have relations with a man. The Procurator Code prevents it. I am married to justice,”
“Ha,” Alessandria laughed. “Thankfully, that rule only applies if you serve as part of the Queen’s Procurators. As Dominus Procurator for the House of Fireheart, my officers do not have such restrictions,”
“Well, I’ll have to transfer at some point,”
Alessandria returned to watching and inspecting the market. More people were coming and going with each second. Everyone was trying to buy their lunch or get whatever they needed before the later lunch crowds got all the good items.
“Why are we here?”
Alessandria ignored her friend. She was focusing on finding her target.
“Ya know there was a very pleasant man hanging about my chambers earlier. He still might be there if you’re interested,”
Alessandria rolled her eyes. She loved her friend, but her sex drive was extreme. Alessandria wondered why the Queen did such a rule preventing her servants from having sex. If anything it only breeds higher sex drives!
“Hellen, we’re here because there’s a criminal who’s been robbing homes on Fireheart land. I traced him to the market,”
“Where he sells his goods?”
“Yes, but not the goods you’re thinking of,”
Hellen gave a cheeky grin.
“Why do ya need me? Ya only need me normally when the Queen is in danger,”
“I bought you here because this isn’t Fireheart land. I don’t have jurisdiction here,”
Alessandria narrowed her eyes on a crowd of workers.
“But this is Earther land, didn’t your mother arrange for your brother to get married to their eldest son?”
“Correct but...” Alessandria started as the words dried in her mouth as she saw a slim man with dark skin wearing a dirty tunic. His face was narrow, but Alessandria focused on the massive blood red scratch on his left cheek.
“Th
Hellen nodded and walked away. Throwing up her grey hood as she went.
Starting to walk through the crowd, Alessandria carefully passed men and women all around her as these people chatted at the stalls.
The air was thick with sweat from the morning’s work and the sound of coins and chatting filled her ears.
Alessandria continued to advance until her target stopped on the edge of the market. He started talking to a baker.
She kept walking.
Two homeless women dressed in red rags with dirt covering their entire body sat in front of a stall next to the target.
Alessandria shook her head, not at the homeless people but at what they represented. She loved all the people on her family’s land. Alessandria and her mother personally knew each of them by name and the thought that another noble family would allow their people to become homeless was disgusting.
The Dominicus Procurator thought about it long and hard. She could go up to the homeless women and give them a few coins. But the target might see her and run. It had taken Alessandria three days to find him.
She went for it.
Alessandria quickly glided through the crowd and went to the women. She passed them a few coins.
The man saw her.
He ran.
He charged through the market.
“Stop in the name of the House of Fireheart. Stop!”
Alessandria ran after him.
Pushing her way through the crowd.
The man ran as fast as he could.
He bashed people to the ground.
He grabbed bread and jewels and threw them at Alessandria.
She dodged them.
He got to the end of the market.
Alessandria jumped over a stall.
The man screamed.
Alessandria gained on him.
He whipped out a pistol.
Alessandria tried to tackle him.
She missed.
The cobblestoned ground scarping her skin.
He was about to escape when Hellen whacked him with her stick.
Bones cracked and the man screamed in agony.
Alessandria wandered over to the man and grabbed his arms. Tying them behind his back. Before giving him to Hellen.
“It’s good ya called me Alexis,”
Alessandria gave Hellen a fatigued wave.
“What ya want me to do with him?”
“Take him to the Queen’s booking Chamber. Have him,”
Hellen cocked her head.
“This is a Fireheart case,”
“Go, Hellen. I’ll see you later. You have this one. Get your Dominus Procurator off your back,”
“Thank ya!”
With that Hellen pushed the man off towards the immense castle in the distance with its massive spires reaching into the sky.
Turning around to face the market and the rows of tall white huts around it, Alessandria stretched her back.
“That was exciting!” a familiar posh voice said.
Alessandria’s eyes narrowed to see a tall well-muscled man approaching her. Wearing a sterile white pressed suit with golden threads.
In addition, to the slim, highly attractive woman on his arm wearing her typical white flowery dress.
“If it isn’t my Praetorian Brother Justin and his forever lovingly finance Annalise,” Alessandria exclaimed as she straightened her back and attempted to make herself look presentable.
Justin and Annalise strolled up to Alessandria regally and gave her a quick hug, being careful not to get dust on themselves.
Alessandria looked around.
“Is mother with you? Or did you lost Mother again instead of protecting her, Praetorian,”
“No, my dearest sister. Mother is back at the castle. She gave me the afternoon off protecting her,”
“And we’re going wedding dress shopping!” Annalise squeaked in her charming but high pitch voice.
As much as Alessandria loved her brother and his fiancé. She had to admit she had to deal with Annalise in small doses.
“Oh Alessandria, you must come shopping with us! It’ll be a girls afternoon out!”
Alessandria would rather shoot herself!
Justin looked at her.
The Dominus Procurator gave Annalise a quick hug and said: “I’m afraid. I’m busy. I have a criminal to hunt down,”
“Oh that’s okay. Come and meet us later!”
“Of course,” Alessandria quickly started to walk away.
She didn’t even have time to get to the market before Annalise squeaked. “Oh Alexis. Daniel wanted to see you,”
Alessandria paused. Why would her brother talk to Annalise?
He was autistic and hated talking to her with a passion. Talking to Annalise would be mental torture to him.
Alessandria stormed off to find a horse to find out what was so important.
CHAPTER 2
Gently pushing the hard brown wooden seat in from under me, I raised my head to look at the desk in front of me. I loved my desk.
Its hard black wooden features felt cold and smooth as I ran my fingers under it. Most people hated it. Saying it looked depressing and death like but I didn't care.
I guess that's a great benefit if being autistic. You don't overly care what people say. Despite my best efforts, and I promise you I do try, I just want people to go away. I tend to find people a bit much. There's was one boy who I liked to be around but that was a lifetime ago.
Lifting my fingers off the desk, I looked at the immense clock on the wall a few metres from me. The immense grandfather clock was... I don't know. I have no feelings towards it. It's a clock!
The same goes for the well vanished brown walls with their golden rims around me. I don't have feelings towards them. I known Alessandria liked them, but I ignored her.
Returning my attention to my desk, I picked up my long white quiver and tipped it in my... Ink pot.
I rolled my eyes. Someone had moved it a millimetre out of place for crying out loud. They moved it. Why. Why did they have to move it?
I took a few deep breaths, like my father had taught me before he was killed in the wars.
Shaking my head, I turned my head to start looking through the half a metre high pile of folders to my left. I smiled.
I loved being busy and productive. Definitely something I loved about autism was how productive it made me. For a so-called 'normal' person, it would take them a day or two to look through all those military contracts. Me, I'll be done in three hours.
Hearing heavy footsteps by the door and the disgusting smell of sweet perfumed oil filling the air, I played with my little blunt blade in my right hand to calm myself about the loud noise. I hated noise.
Continuing to turn the dull blade in my hand, I looked at the large golden door frame with its weird symbols and I saw a servant walk past.
I shook my head. Partly at the servant and partly at myself, don't get me wrong I love being autistic, but why did I have to get so stressed by the little things?
About to pick up my first folder, I heard a very quiet set of footsteps coming towards my office, I allowed a small smile to pass my lips.
“Alessandria, you can walk properly now,”
Her steps got louder.
I turned my dull blade quicker in my hand.
Alessandria carefully walked into the office wearing her, I suppose, beautiful long black cloak with the selves rolled up to show her tanned smooth skin.
Looking at her face, she gave a false smile at me. Her features were narrow but beautiful and her long blond hair flowed down her back.
She wanted to come closer and hug me but...
“I am sorry, Alessandria,”
“It’s okay Daniel. I know hugging makes you uncomfortable,”
“I should thank you for trying. You seem to be the only one in his family who tries to respect me,”
“That’s not true,”
A normal person might have laughed but I wasn’t having any of it.
My dull blade turned quicker.
“Really?”
Yes, Daniel. Mother loves you and Justin loves you too,”
“Mother banishes me to this office, so she doesn’t have to deal with me. Justin always tries to bring me outside. With all those people and the noise. The noise. The noise!”
My mind flooded with images of people in the streets shouting and screaming.
I stopped to take a few deep breaths.
Looking up at Alessandria, I thought I saw a tear in her eye. I knew she loved me. and I loved her in my own way. She was the only one besides father who ever tried.
“I am sorry,” I said trying to relax. Banishing the thoughts of all those people and noise in the streets from my mind.
