Paladin's Hope Novels & Stories

Hope sits among the roses until dawn, gathering strength for whatever comes next. Because the fight isn't over. The Architect remains. Raven remains. Fifteen covert Iron Circle members remain. And somewhere in the darkness, extremism continues spreading. But Hope has allies. Has evidence. Has Council backing—even from Elders who initially opposed her. She has scars and trauma and grief. But she also has determination. And sometimes, determination is enough. Hope Silverclaw is fifteen years old. She's survived genocide attempts, demon summoning, fascist networks, assassination plots, and combat operations.

"Can't they? Purum Sanguinem has been active seventy years according to your prisoner Derek. That's seventy years of accumulating wealth. Recruiting members. Building networks. How do you fight that?" "One battle at a time." "Naive. But admirable." I stood to leave. "Luna Hailey," he called. "One more thing. Shadow said something strange during our last communication. Said you'd give Hope to them voluntarily. That they wouldn't need to take her. That you'd hand her over yourself." "That's insane. I'd die before giving them Hope." "That's what I thought. But Shadow seemed very confident. Said they knew your weakness. That when the time came, you'd have no choice."

You have heard Storm’s prophecy about the wrongs to be righted and it is time we tell her. Rayanne stays silent but gives a tightlipped nod to Storm. Storms eyes glaze over, much like a werewolf’s does when they mindlink and when she opens her mouth her voice sounds like hers, but doubled with a second voice joining, a voice the oozes ancient wisdom and unspoken truths ,”When wolf and witch produce the true heir of moonlight the child of Hecate and Selene alike chaos will take hold and old fears reawaken .Not till the new Witchqueen takes her wolf can these wrongs be turned right and a new era will begin. Should she fail to turn his cold heart warm destruction will begin with a raging storm.

I had armed him with a bow and many arrows, and as twilight fell, I suited him up in the armor myself. Blood stained the cracked earth as a line of infant spirits stood in formation behind him, each clutching a wooden sword. I had stepped into a world of Haunts and held within me a formidable power. I warned Nelson well in advance, telling him to lead the villagers to safety in the mountain caves. They left with wooden swords planted at the entrance as a ward. Maybe, just maybe, they could dodge the calamity. Now, my ambitions have grown. The hospital that sheltered my brother became my new goal. In my previous life, it had survived the onslaught of the Haunts, and my brother had lived.

I couldn’t help but let my eyes linger on her for longer than necessary. My gaze started out appreciatively, running the length of her body and settling on her soft features and blue eyes. Even the scowl that sat on her face was angelic-like. “I don’t believe we have met?” Leyland turns from me, giving Hope his full attention. I don’t miss the way he eyes her, just like I was. “Leyland Werburgh” Hope smiles, a genuine one. One I wish was directed at me. Her eyes light up and she takes his hand, “Hope Jordan, daughter to Alpha James of the Raven Knights pack.” Her courteous introduction comes with warmth and true affection.

The darkness grabbed at me, pushing me back, but I pressed on, motivated by the one thing the Rift couldn't take away: hope. And just when I felt I couldn't go anymore, I spotted him. Eric stood on the brink of the emptiness, his light flickering but still present. I stretched for him, but before I could touch him, the Rift's words echoed around us. "You have made your decision, Kyara. Now, let us test if you can deal with it."

Halva Renn’s voice dropped into that calm, unwavering rhythm, when the thing growing inside me for nine months finally pressed into the world I looked at him. Through the pain. Through the strain. And I saw something on his face I had never seen before. Not fear. Not that helpless dread from the days he couldn’t enter the Moon Court to protect me. Something else. Hope. Raw. Fragile. Terrifying in its openness. The hope of a man who had lived believing his purpose was only to be the last to carry a dying line to its quiet end and who now stood in a drawing room in the Free Cities, watching the impossible unfold.

He had failed every promise he'd ever made. "I couldn't save them." Rowan shook his head gently. "You gave us something more important." Grey frowned. "Hope,” Rowan answered. The word struck harder than any blade. Hope. Maya. The tiny bud upon the Everlasting Tree. Lyon returning home. Hope had finally arrived. Only to be swallowed by flames. Grey closed his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry." The elder squeezed his shoulder. "No." His voice remained remarkably calm. "Don't apologize. Lead us."