Rising Sun (The Awakened Trilogy Book 3) Read online

  Contents

  Playlist

  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

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Epilogue

  Bonus Scene - The Gift: Awakened Proposal - Ciera

  Also by Amanda Carol

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Rising Sun

  Copyright © 2020 by Amanda Carol

  Cover Designer: Ashani Graphics

  Editor: CPR Editing

  Proofreader: KD Darling

  Interior Book Formatting: authorTree

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

  Independently published.

  To my beautiful Mother;

  “’It makes such a difference,’ said Pooh. ‘To have someone who believes in you.’”

  -Winnie the Pooh

  There is a lot of action in this book, and a bit of romance! I wanted to share with you the playlist, but also provide you with the chapter that was inspired by the song!

  Chapter Two

  Noble Blood- Tommee Profitt ft Fleurie

  Chapter Three

  Heaven- Julia Michaels

  Chapter Four

  Hey Jude- The Beatles

  Chapter Five

  Heroes & Legends- 3 One Oh

  Chapter Seven

  Salute- Little Mix

  Chapter Nine

  Sail- AWOLNATION

  Hurricane- Band of Heathens

  House of the Rising Sun- the Animals (fun fact, this is my favorite song, it inspired the title!)

  Chapter Ten

  The Quality of Mercy- Max Richter

  Chapter Fifteen

  O Holy Night- Cary Brothers

  Chapter Sixteen

  Like I’m Gonna Lose You- Jasmine Thompson (I still tear up listening to this while reading this chapter- I deserve it, I knew what I was doing)

  Chapter Seventeen

  Dead in the Water- Ellie Goulding

  Chapter Nineteen

  To Build a Home- The Cinematic Orchestra

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Dark Conscience (Instrumental)- Tommee Profitt (This creeped ME out, and I wrote it!)

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Mating Season- Aaron Kaplan & Jamison Hollister

  Chapter Twenty-Four & Five

  No Light, No Light- Florence + the Machine

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Hunger- Ross Copperman

  Chapter Thirty

  Ritual Spirit- Massive Attack & Azekel

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Revival (Orchestral Instruments)- Fearless Motivation Instrumentals (this was played for Hunter & Aria’s speech- I even wanted to follow them into battle. In my mind, it was like a montage lol)

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Gender- Really Slow Motion

  Drowning- Radio Company

  Full of Grace- Sarah McLachlan

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Saturn- Sleeping at Last

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Bullet (Vampire Redux)- Ryan Star (This was the first half)

  Go in Peace- Sam Baker

  Brother- NEEDTOBREATHE ft Gavin DeGraw (The ending-my favorite)

  Epilogue

  Bow and Arrow- Reuben And The Dark (Basically, this is Aria and Hunter’s couple song lol)

  Bonus Scene

  Always- Gavin James

  Soft lips press into my shoulder and travel up my neck. I turn my head slightly, giving Hunter access to my mouth. He brushes his lips gently against mine as his hand travels lightly over my breast, down my stomach, and finally rests on my hip. He emits a low growl when I push back into his erection, then turn my body to face him, deepening our kiss. I wince when he presses his hand into my side to pull me closer.

  “You all right, baby?” he whispers, pulling back.

  I nod, curling my fingers in his hair and bringing him to me again. The pain is worth it. In the last three weeks, it’s been nonstop training with the gods. Plus, we’ve had to make room for all the wolves that are slowly making their way into town from across the world, although not all of them will be coming. A lot of them will be staying behind, but they are all on standby for when the final battle comes, whenever that is. We still have no idea when Isabella plans to release the Titans or where they are even located. The gods have given us nothing to go on.

  All the witches and wolves here are opening their cabins up for them to stay, and in just three weeks’ time, we’ve also managed to build a few smaller cabins. It isn’t much, but it will suffice.

  Hunter tries to lift up my shirt to look, but I stop him.

  He sits up on his knees. “Aria, let me see.”

  I let out a sigh, then let him lift my shirt. He hisses under his breath when he notices the bruises along my rib cage. They match the ones that are also scattered all over my body.

  “I’d love it if you’d take a day off from training, but I know you won’t.” Hunter brushes a soft kiss over every bruise and then, like he always does, he kisses the tattoo on my ribs.

  I shake my head. “I won’t rest until Isabella is dead. I can take it. Nothing is worse than what she did to me in that warehouse.” I cup Hunter’s cheek as he hovers over me. “I promise I’ll rest if it gets to be too much.”

  I rise up and kiss him again.

  “Thank you,” he whispers against my lips. Then he swirls his tongue with mine, kissing me like he’s starved for affection.

  All we’ve had together are stolen moments, and my body aches for him.

  I hike my leg around his waist as he grinds his erection into me. Moaning into his mouth, I reach down in between us and grip him tightly through his boxers, then slowly start to run my hand up and down his shaft. He growls into my mouth; one arm supports his weight while his hand goes up my shirt to cup my breast. I’m wet and ready for him…

  And then the front door bursts open.

  “Are you guys awake?” Bennett shouts from downstairs.

  “No!” I shout back, annoyed. A girl has needs!

  Hunter groans as he rolls off me, covering his lower half with a sheet, and we both sit up in bed, just as Bennett walks up the steps to our bedroom.

  “Blondie, you're a little liar!” He comes over and plops down on the bed dramatically. “I can’t do it anymore.”

  Hunter and I exchange a look.

  “Do what?” I ask, lifting a brow.

  Bennett turns his head to us. “Clyde. I can’t live with him. He’s terrify
ing.”

  “Aww. Are you afraid of the big bad wolf, little pig?” I stick my bottom lip out as Hunter chuckles next to me.

  Bennett sits up and shoots us a look. “You two are made for each other. But no, I am not scared of him. He’s just scary. The dude pours bourbon in his milk. His milk!”

  I scrunch my nose. That sounds absolutely revolting.

  “And I’m also pretty sure the rumors of the Russian mafia exist because of him.” He flops back down on the bed. “Can you please make him bunk with someone else?”

  “No,” Hunter and I say in unison.

  “You guys suck.” Bennett gets up from the bed and heads back over to the steps. “And you better hurry up and get ready. It’s almost time for training with Ares, the God of War.”

  With that dramatic ending, he turns to leave.

  “Are we ever going to have a few moments alone?” Hunter asks as we hear the front door close. “I swear every single time we’re alone we are interrupted by someone or something. I just want to be with my girl. Preferably naked.”

  He reaches over and rests his hand on my leg. The touch sends delicious shockwaves through my body, settling right between the apex of my thighs, where I so desperately want Hunter to be right now.

  I chuckle. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I miss you, even though I see you every day.” I quickly sit up and straddle him. “I have something I want to show you later. I’ve been working on something with Kat down by the stream in the woods.”

  “Is that where you’ve been sneaking off to after practice?” Hunter asks, running his hands up my thighs and gripping my hips.

  “Mm-hmm,” I murmur as I roll my hips against his erection.

  His eyes flash right before he sits up and cups my cheeks. “Consider it a date.”

  Hunter flips me over on my back again, kissing me passionately. His hand travels up my bare leg and is just about to get to the spot where I really need him when there’s a loud knock at the door. He growls, dropping his head into my neck, and I can’t help but giggle.

  “I’m going to be inside you before this day is over, baby. Mark my words.”

  “So it is spoken, so it shall be!” I joke.

  “I love you,” Hunter laughs, giving my lips a quick peck before getting up out of bed.

  He walks over to the closet and throws on a t-shirt, carefully tucking the moonstone under the hem, then he tosses my workout clothes over to me on the bed and I reluctantly get up and get dressed.

  Not only has he been training as hard, if not harder, than everyone here, he still has his Alpha duties on top of it. I’ve been trying to help him out as best as I can. I’m not a wolf, but I do have a connection to the pack. Some have come to me when they need something and Hunter has had meetings with the other six Alphas. Mostly, they just have questions about the training schedule. Which, by the way, has been every single morning since the attack on the Compound three weeks ago.

  Once we are dressed and ready, we head down to the clearing for training.

  “Well, look who decided to show up to practice today!” Caleb shouts as Hunter and I make our way over to where all the wolves and witches are.

  I spot my brother with his arms around Ciera’s waist. Since Alexander’s death, Ciera and Hunter had a conversation about school and decided to suspend all classes until Isabella is taken down. Declan didn’t like the fact that she would be exposed to Ares’s intense training, but he also saw the logic behind it, as did Ciera. He took it pretty hard when she was bitten, so he knows how important training is to her. I also think she just wants to feel strong. A person’s first vampire bite is always traumatic and can even make the strongest of fighters feel weak. So, to make Declan feel better, I’ve been sparring with her and giving her tips and tricks on how to break free out of any hold.

  Ares is a hard-ass trainer. Don’t get me wrong; I understand why he’s so hard on us. If we can’t beat him, then we won’t be able to beat Isabella, who’s always been one step ahead of us. We just need something, anything, to get us ahead of the game.

  Apollo has seen her succeed in her plan, but his visions are subjective, meaning that the future can be changed by the choices that we make. The problem is, it seems like no matter what we choose, Isabella still wins.

  In the center of the clearing, three bodies shimmer into view. Apollo, Artemis, and Ares are all standing there, beautiful as ever. Artemis is wearing a dress, with slits all the way up to her hip, making all the men stare. She’s gorgeous, poised, and elegant, a true fantasy to all the men on the Compound, except Hunter. Apollo and Ares have opted for a more casual look, with shorts and t-shirts. Who knew gods could look so normal, yet so godlike at the same time?

  “Today, the wolves will be training with me, while Declan and the witches train with Apollo,” Ares starts. When his gaze lands on me, he smiles. “And you, love, will be with Artemis today.”

  I feel the tug and open the link.

  I really hate when he calls you "love." If I knew I could take him, I’d have already kicked his ass by now, Hunter tells me.

  A smile starts to form on my lips, and I have to hold in my laugh. Yeah, I don’t think you’re going to win that one. But I love you for saying it.

  In an instant, Ares is in my face. “Ah, having a little moment with lover boy? Care to share with the rest of the class?”

  I lift my chin. “No.”

  He smirks. “Defiance gets you one-on-one training with me.”

  Hunter growls, and his eyes start glowing my favorite shade of Caribbean blue.

  Ares looks at him. “You are more than welcome to join if you survive what I’ve got planned for today.”

  “Oh, I’ll be there,” Hunter snarls.

  “Leave the young couple alone, brother,” Apollo says as he walks over.

  His hair is tied back in a low ponytail, and a sadness washes over me because it reminds me of Axton and everything we’ve lost since we found out that we’re demigods who are the keys to releasing the Titans.

  “They will be no good for a fight if you keep wearing them out,” he points out.

  “If they wish to beat your beloved, they need all the training they can get. I sensed the corruptness in her the moment you brought her to Father to ask for his permission to give her the elixir of immortal life. I may be full of rage, but at least I know how to steer clear of the crazy ones,” Ares spits out at him.

  “All right, boys, that's enough. Take your quarrel elsewhere if you wish to fight like baboons.” Artemis finally comes over to us and hands me her silver bow with a quiver of arrows. “Come, Aria. We have work to do.”

  I give her a small smile and turn to Hunter, wrapping my arms around his neck as he pulls me close. Then I give him a quick peck on the lips, tell him good luck using our link, and follow Artemis to the woods.

  “Today, we will be working on sharpening your archery skills,” Artemis says, handing me a bandana. “A good hunter cannot always rely on their sight to catch their prey. You have to listen to the world around you.” She helps me tie the bandana around my eyes. “You have to feel the earth, listen to the wind move between the trees, and let the sounds guide you.”

  “I don’t know if I can do this,” I admit, suddenly feeling nervous.

  “You can, little one.” Artemis grabs my hands and places the bow and the quiver of arrows in my palms.

  I wrap the quiver around me, grabbing an arrow and nocking it in the bow.

  “You have to trust in your hunter instincts,” she continues. “You cannot rely on your sight alone to defeat Isabella. She is faster than any vampire, and stronger. She’s ruthless and will do whatever it takes to win. If you wish to defeat her, you have to learn how to hunt.”

  I take a deep, calming breath and swallow hard. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  “There are three animals running around in these woods: a doe, an owl, and a cougar. Each one is from Mount Olympus in my own personal refuge. Don’t worry about the arrows harming them. They w
ill do no damage, so do not hold back. Good luck.”

  “Artemis?” I call out, but am greeted with only the sound of my own heavy breathing. “Right, so I’m on my own then. No pressure or anything.”

  I hear a twig snap from next to me and whip my head to the right. I’ve come face-to-face with the devil herself, and now, here I am, standing here blindfolded and scared of a cougar eating me for breakfast. The thought almost makes me laugh, but a low growl from somewhere in the woods brings me back to reality.

  “Trust your instincts,” I whisper out loud.

  I take a step forward, then another, and then another. I have no idea how far into the woods I am, but it’s quiet. I'm not sure how far or even how long I’ve been walking—or should I say fumbling—through the woods. I trip and fall over a tree root, or what I assume to be a tree root, since I can’t see a damn thing. I lie on the ground for a moment, trying to catch my breath, then get back up. Artemis is right; if I have any chance of defeating Isabella, I have to use all my other senses too.