The Teddy Defenders Trilogy: Books 1-3 Read online

  A soft warmth emanated from the stone when it touched her skin. She closed her eyes, overcome with a feeling of relaxation, but when she opened them again a flash of light burst forth from the necklace and suddenly she was younger, lying in her mom’s arms. Her mom’s hair tickled as it brushed Allie’s cheek. Those soft blue eyes stared down lovingly, the warm summer breeze tingled as it caressed her skin, carrying with it the scent of strawberries. The warmth of the stone engulfed her like a bath and, for a moment, she saw only the bright light as it flared again. She smelled fresh air, like a forest after the rain. Was she floating? The pleasant sensation drifted through her body and she was in the passenger seat of her mom’s car, her mom driving while calm music played in the distance.

  “Allie,” a soft voice said. “Allie….”

  Tap. Tap.

  The light flashed again and then gave way to darkness. A cave or a tunnel, rolling darkness as if it were alive, twisting and weaving through her limbs. She wasn’t herself. Her hands were too big and something felt different. She wore Army fatigues and was running. A menacing laughter echoed through the darkness from behind. Her boots thudded on moist stone. The scent of scorched metal, a sour taste in her mouth. Her mom’s voice sounded distant, but at the same time inside her head, said “Run, run!” She tore the necklace from around her neck and placed it on the ground before her, glowing. “Protect it, at all costs,” her mom’s voice said. Her large hands lifted a rock and then with an echoing smash the necklace was gone. Scorched blue marks were all that remained where the stone of the necklace had been moments before.

  Tap. Tap.

  Darkness and a lingering scent of honey. Again Allie was in her mom’s arms as a child, falling asleep.

  Tap. Tap.

  With a jolt, Allie was pulled from her mom’s arms, kicking and screaming. She wanted to stay in that comforting embrace forever, but when she opened her eyes she was back in her room, the necklace around her neck. She tried to clear her head. It was heavy. A light sweat dampened her temples. Somehow she had ended up lying on her bed. She sat up and saw someone in the window. Could it be?

  “Mom?” She stood and approached the glass to see that the morning sky was still dim. The image she saw was her reflection. Had it all been a dream? Perhaps it was something more, her mom calling to her in desperate need of help. But that was impossible. Allie wanted to scream in confusion.

  The tapping sounded again, from her door.

  “Allie?” Ian’s voiced called out from the other side of the door. “Dad wants to know if you’ll need a ride today.”

  She held her head, trying to figure out what had happened.

  “Allie?” he said again.

  “Leave me alone!” she yelled, then fell down to her bed. Her eyelids grew heavy. She thought she heard her mom whispering to her, or maybe calling from far away. But it didn’t make sense, she convinced herself as her eyes closed.

  “Allie,” Ian said. “You’re going to be late!”

  Her eyes flickered open and she saw the morning light streaming through her blinds. She must have drifted back to sleep. She jumped from bed to get ready for her first day of school. Whatever had happened, the strange dream or whatever it was would have to wait.

  And now you can buy the complete Bringer of Light Trilogy, starting with Allie Strom and the Ring of Solomon.