The Story of Odette

It began as a short story, "Wing of the Swan" in the story collection Sexy Beast VI, and it continues here in The Story of Odette.

As the swanmaiden’s daughter, Odette was orphaned at a young age when the forces of Charles Martel laid siege to her village and tribe. She was left helpless to the whims of a vengeful half-sister, Vanda. Some years later, however, Odette’s fortune changed when Vanda’s sympathetic husband escorted her into the refuge of fabled Athla. It is a realm sacred to the gods, where only a few mortals are allowed entrance -- and the power-hungry Vanda is not among them.

Odette now finds the acceptance and love she’s always craved, and upon entering adulthood she is also educated in Athla’s sacred disciplines of passion and surrender. Unknown to Odette, however, Vanda has pledged her aid to the vampire priests of Loki, who want the swanmaiden’s daughter to sacrifice to their deity. To this dark end Vanda recruits a handsome soldier named Cu’lugh to enter Athla’s borders and bring Odette back. Cu’lugh sets off to Athla, ignorant of Vanda’s true motives and the dire fate intended for his quarry.

But what neither the vampires nor Vanda know is that Loki seeks more than a mere sacrifice. This father of lies and chaos awaits release from his ancient prison and to exact revenge on the gods who confined him there. Killing Odette is only the first step in Loki’s malevolent agenda -- to destroy hope, happiness and love forever in the world of mankind.

Reader information: Portions of this book were previously published under the title Ravished Wings by the author writing as Maria O. Perry.