Exile by Anne Osterlund

Exile by Anne Osterlund
295 pages

Price: Paperback-$8.99 U.S./$10.50 CAN

    Aurelia has survived tons of assassination attempts and is now on an expedition with her best friend, Robert, to see her country and meet her people. But Aurelia is still not safe. One night, her royal guard tries to kill her by burning her tent. She and Robert escape and flees across the country to the frontier.

    But Aurelia is not the only one in danger. Will Aurelia and Robert be safe at Roberts home? Will the king be safe in the castle with an assassin?

How could he think of leaving without telling me? Aurelia tried to say the words aloud to Daria, and they came out, "How could he leave without me?"

    "Do you want to go?"

    "Yes." Well, there it was. The truth.

    "Then go." Daria crossed the room and opened the wardrobe. "Just"-she paused-"don't hurt him, Aurelia."

    Hurt him? Aurelia felt numb. "What do you mean?"

    Her friend returned from the wardrobe with wool stockings and Aurelia's battered riding boots. She did not release them. "You must know."

    Know what? "Daria." Aurelia's tone was threatening.

    "He's in love with you."

    The world stopped. For one long, outrageous moment, Aurelia let herself consider the statement. He had kissed her. Once. And saved her life. More than once.

    But the idea that he could be in love with her did not-could not be true. "That's nonsense." She had tried to let Robert know she wanted to spend time alone with him on the way to Sterling. And he had rejected her. He was still rejecting her.

    Daria habded her the stockings. "Honestly, Aurelia. There's nothing wrong with being in love."

    Aurelia was not at all certain of that.

                                                                                               ~Exile by Anne Osterlund

*Book 2*
Previous book: Aurelia

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

Aurelia by Anne Osterlund
246 pages

Price: Paperback-$8.99 U.S.

    Crown Princess Aurelia of Tyralt is tired of people telling her what to do; she wants to make her own decisions. When assassination plots are attempted on Aurelia's life, Robert comes to help. Robert is the son of the king's former spy and Aurelia's friend. After a close call at the carnival, in which he and Aurelia are almost killed, Robert quickly takes takes action to save his friend's life. But Aurelia is convinced that she does not need to be saved.

    As the mystery thickens, Robert realizes that the assassin may not be who they expect it to be. He sets the trap, but will things go as planned?

Aurelia beamed with anticipation and graced Robert with a smile.

    At that moment he knew he was in trouble.

    "Yes, tomorrow night is Carnival, the Night of the Masks. We're old enough to go out in disguise now," Aurelia said. "You must wait for me before you go." She frowned. "It's no fun alone."

    A trace of sadness in her voice made Robert promise despite misgivings. "All right, it's not like I can refuse the order of the princess."

    Her voice fried him to ash. "It's not an order, Robert, but even if it was, I expect my friends to have enough courage to refuse an invitation."

    Nothing had lengthened her temper over the last four years. He resorted to humor, the only defence available, and swept her a mocking bow. "I'll be your lifelong friend then, since I won't put up with being pushed around.

    "Really?" Her eyes danced. She splayed  her hands against his chest and pushed, hard.

    Robert held his footing without giving ground. "Yes, and thank you for the invitation." He encircled her waist with his hands and twirled  her toward her anxiously waiting friends. His mind spun as he looked down at her laughing face. He could not imagine why someone was trying to kill her.

                                                                                   ~Aurelia by Anne Osterlund

**Book 1**

Next book: Exile

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