So I've done humor and romance, and now it's time for an actual plot fic!
I'm not Libba Bray!

"Sanjiv, I'm frightened," I say in a frantic whisper. My husband says nothing. I study his face, desperate to see any sign of comfort. His dark eyes reveal nothing. His handsome features are set in a grim expression, which upsets me further. "What is wrong with you? Don't you care? Our son -,"

"It is an honor," he says firmly.

"But Sanjiv, Amar was an honor! Why do they want Kartik as well?" Hot tears splash down my cheeks.

"They read the prophecy wrong. Kartik is the one they want, not Amar."

"But why must they take both of my sons?"

"It is an honor, Kashvi." He turns to me and for a moment I see a flicker of sadness. "They come for him tomorrow."

"He's just a child. My sweet baby boy," I whimper.

"You've woken him up," Sanjiv says, pointing behind me. Kartik stands near the stairs, rubbing at his eyes.

"Mama," he says softly, reaching for me. I sweep him into my arms and hold him close to me.

"You're getting so big, Kartik!" I say, trying to sound cheerful for his behalf. "Soon I won't be able to lift you up…" I trail off; the painful reality that this is the last time I may ever hold him hits me hard. My throat swells with tears and I bury my face into my son's soft curls.

He says nothing, because he doesn't understand. He rests his head on my shoulder sleepily. I take him back to his bedroom and tuck him back into bed. "Mama, I don't want to sleep." He yawns.

I smile sadly. "You're tired, my darling. You need rest; you're going on an adventure tomorrow and you need to be strong."

"Where am I going?"

"You're going to be with Amar again, darling," I say, smoothing the front of his shirt. Kartik smiles.

"I miss Amar," he says.

"So do I." I gaze at my son for a few moments. I take in his soft features, sweet and angelic. I know he'll grow up to be handsome, and I'm devastated I won't get to witness it. When Amar was taken by the Rakshana, I vowed that things would be different for Kartik. But now his future has been stolen too.

There will be no weddings, no grandchildren, and no broken hearts to mend. Kartik will grow up to be cold and strong like the rest of the Rakshana. My baby, the chosen one. He was specially picked to be trained for the most important role of all. He will stand as protector of the high priestess, the first born in decades. That is what one of my sisters saw in a vision – my son among the highest ranks of the Rakshana joined with the leader of the Order.

"What kind of adventure?" Kartik asks, yawning again.

"Oh, a big one! There's even a princess!"

"Really?" His eyes grow wide. My heart aches. I hope he will find love, even though it is forbidden by the Rakshana. "Is she pretty?"

I smile. My son, the romantic. "She's beautiful, and she's just one year younger than you." I met with her mother, one of my fellow sisters, to inform her that her daughter was prophesized as the high priestess. She was shocked. We may be members of the Order, but we know of the dangers the realms bring for all involved. We both cried for our children that day.

"What does she look like, Mama?" Kartik is wide awake now.

"She has golden red hair and skin the color of ivory. And her eyes are like emeralds."

Kartik makes a face. "What's emeralds?"

"This." I hold up my necklace, where a large emerald is set. Kartik stares at the stone in awe.

"When will I meet her, Mama?"

"I don't know, darling." I brush the hair from his forehead and kiss him. "But you will be her prince."

"Will I have a sword?"

I laugh sadly. "Perhaps."

"Will we live happy ever after?" He asks, unable to pronounce happily.

"I hope so."

"Am I going to marry her?"

His question strikes at a nerve. I lower my voice. "If you want to, marry her," I whisper. Without thinking, I pull the wedding band from my finger and put it in his hand. "If you love her, give her this. But don't tell anybody about it, understand?"

"Yes Mama," he says softly, flipping the ring over and over in his small palms.

"Kartik, listen to me carefully," I say, placing my hands on his shoulders. "If you are ever in doubt about anything, follow your heart, darling. Always follow your heart."

"Okay Mama," he says.

"I mean it, darling," my voice rises, carrying with it more tears. "You are destined for great things. But don't let anyone make you think you're trapped. There is nothing you can do that will disappoint me."

"Okay Mama," he says firmly. He scowls as he always does when I lecture him. I place another kiss on his forehead.

"Well, sweet dreams my love," I whisper. I sit next to him until his breathing grows deep and steady. My heart breaks again as I leave him sleeping, completely unaware that his life will change forever in the blink of an eye.

I am met with my husband in the hallway outside Kartik's bedroom.

"You shouldn't have told him such things, Kashvi," he says quietly.

"You were listening?" I ask, wondering why he wouldn't come in to kiss his son good night for the last time. "Why didn't you come in?"

Sanjiv turns away. "Fathers are supposed to be strong for their children. I didn't want him to see me upset."

"You are strong," I say, placing a hand on his shoulder. He doesn't respond. Instead, he changes the subject.

"You know he is forbidden to marry. Why would you tell him otherwise?"

"Because I want him to be happy!" I say defensively, taken aback by the austerity in his voice. "He is going to be faced with all sorts of danger and tough decisions to make and I want to know that whatever he does, he'll do the right thing."

"He is six years old, Kashvi. What makes you think he will remember any of this?"

"Because I want to think that I had some part in raising my children correctly!" I grip the banister of the staircase tightly. "I know the Rakshana is an honor. I know he will be well taught and taken care of. But he won't have a childhood. Come tomorrow, he will be forced to grow up too fast. He may have power some day, but what good can come of it if he doesn't have a heart?"

My husband is quiet. "I am sorry, Kashvi. I'm sorry it had to turn out this way for you."

"So am I," I say, thoroughly choked up. My head feels heavy from crying. "I feel as if it's my fault, because of who I am."

"Because you're a member of the Order? Don't be ridiculous. It's not your fault that Amar and Kartik were chosen."

I nod miserably. "It is. They have magic in their blood. The realms are a part of them both. That is why Kartik was chosen for his role, that, and because he is close in age to the high priestess. It's my fault."

"So you're saying you'd have rather never had children at all?" Sanjiv asks. When I don't reply, he walks to our bedroom. "It could've been worse, Kashvi. It could have been a lot worse for them. Consider this a blessing." With that, he disappears through the door, leaving me in silence, with nothing but my misery to keep me up through the night.

If you couldn't tell, Kartik's mother is one of the Order. Shocking! This is just a prologue. Expect drastic changes. It makes sense though, because Gemma's mother was told about Gemma's "specialness" when Gem was 5. Which meant Kartik was 6, the same age he was taken by the Rakshana.

Little Kartik is oh so squeezable! Just picture little Gemma as a hyperactive girl with dirt on her face and curls sticking up in every direction. I know that's what I was like when I was 5!

My pen name is,
LunaEquus

Ooh! And my birthday is on Friday!

(PS I got the teaser book! The prologue and first 4 chapters of Sweet Far Thing! AMAZING!!!)