The Dark Servant Series by A.C. Ellas

The best winter solstice ever.Rak, newly come to Okyro and the novitiate, isn’t finding life as a free man as easy as he’d thought it would be. On top of his struggles with his studies, he’s lonely. His dragon had abandoned the love of his life, the bard Tafflynn, during their escape from Zoth. When Rak discovers that his bard isn’t whom he thought, he feels betrayed. The bard had lied to him about who and what he was for years... moreThe best winter solstice ever.Rak, newly come to Okyro and the novitiate, isn’t finding life as a free man as easy as he’d thought it would be. On top of his struggles with his studies, he’s lonely. His dragon had abandoned the love of his life, the bard Tafflynn, during their escape from Zoth. When Rak discovers that his bard isn’t whom he thought, he feels betrayed. The bard had lied to him about who and what he was for years. Is their relationship over, or is their love strong enough to survive the honesty necessary to create a lasting partnership? less

For three thousand years, the dark servants of the Lord of Night have waged war against the monstrous armies of the Unmaker. An ancient prophecy gives them hope of eventual victory, but now the underpinnings of their salvation are threatened, for the Unmaker seeks to destroy a central player of the prophecy before he comes into his own. Cursed with the rare gift of foresight, high priest S’Rak suffers a series of visions showing the same man dying a hundred different deaths... moreFor three thousand years, the dark servants of the Lord of Night have waged war against the monstrous armies of the Unmaker. An ancient prophecy gives them hope of eventual victory, but now the underpinnings of their salvation are threatened, for the Unmaker seeks to destroy a central player of the prophecy before he comes into his own. Cursed with the rare gift of foresight, high priest S’Rak suffers a series of visions showing the same man dying a hundred different deaths. To save the ancient prophecy, S’Rak is duty bound to travel to a sun kingdom and, if necessary, give his life to defend this unknown prince. less

The only thing more entertaining than being accused of murder is seducing the innocent.S’Rak, a high priest of the Lord of Night, has been sent far from home to defend both a prophecy and a prince. His problems began the very day he arrived in a kingdom that views him and his kind as demons, and his half-brother Prince Jethain, the man he has sacrificed everything to save, isn’t helping matters... moreThe only thing more entertaining than being accused of murder is seducing the innocent.S’Rak, a high priest of the Lord of Night, has been sent far from home to defend both a prophecy and a prince. His problems began the very day he arrived in a kingdom that views him and his kind as demons, and his half-brother Prince Jethain, the man he has sacrificed everything to save, isn’t helping matters.Only Jisten, the captain of the palace guard, is willing to help S’Rak, but can the two learn to work together in time to save the prince?Warning: this book contains an m/f scene. less

After saving the prince from certain death and convincing the sun priests that he’s not dead but in magical stasis, a high priest of the Lord of Night should have time to relax and enjoy his tryst with the captain of the palace guard. Between the nobles blackmailing him over his past and the sun priests intent on staking and beheading the prince (to save his soul), Rak’s in deeper trouble than ever. And to make matters worse, the captain doesn’t even remember their tryst.

At last the stasis potion is set to wear off, and the prince will return to the land of the living. But Rak discovers that his brother’s resurrection is the least of his problems. His past is being used against him, and so is his tryst with the handsome captain of the palace guard. His options are few and his allies fewer, and the King has somehow declared him heir to the throne, an honor he absolutely does not want... moreAt last the stasis potion is set to wear off, and the prince will return to the land of the living. But Rak discovers that his brother’s resurrection is the least of his problems. His past is being used against him, and so is his tryst with the handsome captain of the palace guard. His options are few and his allies fewer, and the King has somehow declared him heir to the throne, an honor he absolutely does not want. Can Rak steer his way out of the political mess caused by his brother’s near death? less

Honor. Duty. Love. Blackmail. Intrigue. Lust. Flies. Yes, flies. Killer blood-seeking flies have been the bane of Koilatha since the founding. They’re rumored to live in the ruins of an ancient temple of evil, not that anyone has ever gotten close enough to find out for certain. As a high priest, Rak is duty-bound to investigate these flies... moreHonor. Duty. Love. Blackmail. Intrigue. Lust. Flies. Yes, flies. Killer blood-seeking flies have been the bane of Koilatha since the founding. They’re rumored to live in the ruins of an ancient temple of evil, not that anyone has ever gotten close enough to find out for certain. As a high priest, Rak is duty-bound to investigate these flies. The sun priest attempting to purify him and the palace functionary blackmailing him complicate matters, as does his brother’s near death at the hands of an ambitious woman and the king’s continued attempts to force him to accept the position as heir to the throne.The worst thing of all is that, while sober, Jisten won’t settle for lust—he wants it all. And never mind that Rak has seduced him twice already. Where does honor lie when intrigue, duty, and love conflict? less

High priest S’Rak is a man beset by many problems. The king wants to crown him, the sun priests want to purify him, and the palace slave trainer just wants him. Captain Jisten stands at the heart of an ethical dilemma that continues to plague Rak, for either Jisten is an oathbreaker or Rak is a rapist, and neither result bodes well for their future in the service of a God whose punishment for either crime is death. On top of all that, chaos-wielding assassins are trying to kill his brother... moreHigh priest S’Rak is a man beset by many problems. The king wants to crown him, the sun priests want to purify him, and the palace slave trainer just wants him. Captain Jisten stands at the heart of an ethical dilemma that continues to plague Rak, for either Jisten is an oathbreaker or Rak is a rapist, and neither result bodes well for their future in the service of a God whose punishment for either crime is death. On top of all that, chaos-wielding assassins are trying to kill his brother.What’s a high priest to do when the man of his dreams is under a vow of purity and assassins lurk around every corner? less

High priest S’Rak successfully prevented his brother’s assassination and discovered, to his delight, that Captain Jisten wasn’t under a vow of purity after all. But nothing is as simple as it should be, and the prince’s health continues to decline, and discovering the cause stirs up far worse trouble than anyone expected.While Jisten might not be under a vow of purity, it stands to reason that a sun priest should be, but that doesn’t seem to bother S’Rak’s enemies... moreHigh priest S’Rak successfully prevented his brother’s assassination and discovered, to his delight, that Captain Jisten wasn’t under a vow of purity after all. But nothing is as simple as it should be, and the prince’s health continues to decline, and discovering the cause stirs up far worse trouble than anyone expected.While Jisten might not be under a vow of purity, it stands to reason that a sun priest should be, but that doesn’t seem to bother S’Rak’s enemies. When the high priest appears powerless to stop the senior sun priest’s abuses, allowing himself to be victimized for the sake of the Victory Prophecy, the captain takes matters into his own hands.He has a good crossbow, the help of a Goddess, and a dragon. What could possibly go wrong? less

Captain Jisten is a man divided. Honor, on the one hand, and love, on the other. It’s difficult to balance the needs of his partner, S’Rak, and the needs of the prince he serves. It doesn’t help that the prince is acting oddly and growing increasingly jealous of the time his captain spends with the high priest. But then Jisten is drawn into the dark world of S’Rak’s past, where he is forced to confront his deepest fears. Racial pride and heritage war with his need for sanity and decency... moreCaptain Jisten is a man divided. Honor, on the one hand, and love, on the other. It’s difficult to balance the needs of his partner, S’Rak, and the needs of the prince he serves. It doesn’t help that the prince is acting oddly and growing increasingly jealous of the time his captain spends with the high priest. But then Jisten is drawn into the dark world of S’Rak’s past, where he is forced to confront his deepest fears. Racial pride and heritage war with his need for sanity and decency.Will Jisten learn to accept S’Rak for who he is and face his internal demons, or will he withdraw behind the shield of duty and abandon the man he loves? less

High priest S’Rak has more than earned the trust and friendship of Prince Jethain, and the love and acceptance of the reticent Captain Jisten. Mindful of the harsh price of the Koilathan decency laws, S’Rak and Jisten have taken care to keep their love private. But when the prince is attacked by chaos magic, the pair must reveal the depths of their relationship in order to save him... moreHigh priest S’Rak has more than earned the trust and friendship of Prince Jethain, and the love and acceptance of the reticent Captain Jisten. Mindful of the harsh price of the Koilathan decency laws, S’Rak and Jisten have taken care to keep their love private. But when the prince is attacked by chaos magic, the pair must reveal the depths of their relationship in order to save him. The jealous prince is certain that S’Rak seduced his only friend because of the nickname, and that nothing good will come of their affair. Will Jethain come to accept the pair’s love for each other, or will he try to steal the captain, his oldest, dearest, and only real friend, for himself?While Jethain wrestles with his dilemma, the Lord of Night has no such difficulties. He is infuriated by the very nature of the relationship S’Rak and Jisten share, for it violates His most sacred Law, that of free will. Can Jisten convince Zotien that his love for S’Rak is true, and that he freely accepted the bond joining them at a soul-deep level? Or will the Outlaw Hunt ride down and destroy S’Rak for his crimes, and thereby destroy the very prophecy S’Rak was sent to preserve? less

Captain Jisten and high priest S’Rak have accepted the bond the Gods meant for them to share, saving one another in the process. Now they must formalize their union and seek a blessing before Jisten’s people. But amidst the celebrations, trouble is brewing.The false sun priest, exposed for the chaos mage he is, turns on his watchers, striking at those who’d called him friend. His ultimate goal is to destroy the Victory Prophecy by murdering Prince Jethain... moreCaptain Jisten and high priest S’Rak have accepted the bond the Gods meant for them to share, saving one another in the process. Now they must formalize their union and seek a blessing before Jisten’s people. But amidst the celebrations, trouble is brewing.The false sun priest, exposed for the chaos mage he is, turns on his watchers, striking at those who’d called him friend. His ultimate goal is to destroy the Victory Prophecy by murdering Prince Jethain. Only a dragon, a captain, and a high priest stand in his way. What price will the trio pay to save the prince? less

With High Priest S’Rak recovering from an infected bite and Prince Jethain recovering from a poisoned dinner, everyone agrees that it’s high time for a vacation. They go north, to a pleasant lake nestled at the feet of the mountains, to relax and recuperate from the Unmaker’s unrelenting attacks.While this time may seem idyllic on the surface, trouble is gathering in the depths... moreWith High Priest S’Rak recovering from an infected bite and Prince Jethain recovering from a poisoned dinner, everyone agrees that it’s high time for a vacation. They go north, to a pleasant lake nestled at the feet of the mountains, to relax and recuperate from the Unmaker’s unrelenting attacks.While this time may seem idyllic on the surface, trouble is gathering in the depths. Will the Unmaker leave them in peace long enough for them to recover their strength, or will She strike them when their guard is down? less

He is what he is, not what you wish him to be.When Prince Jethain’s girl goes missing, the prince assumes she’s run, just like every other slave he’s ever freed. High Priest S’Rak thinks it’s strange that so many have run, so he goes to the City’s Hall of Records to perform some basic research. Little does he know that what he’ll find there is tied to the nightmare of his own past. Captain Jisten is once more confronted with his own fears... moreHe is what he is, not what you wish him to be.When Prince Jethain’s girl goes missing, the prince assumes she’s run, just like every other slave he’s ever freed. High Priest S’Rak thinks it’s strange that so many have run, so he goes to the City’s Hall of Records to perform some basic research. Little does he know that what he’ll find there is tied to the nightmare of his own past. Captain Jisten is once more confronted with his own fears.Nothing has been resolved when the king and his court ride to hunt, and S’Rak and Jisten have little choice but to join the party, for they both know this to be a prime opportunity for an attack on the prince. Will Jisten be able to overcome his fears? Will S’Rak successfully foil a plot to slay not only the prince, but also the king?Warning: this book contains a brief, non-graphic heterosexual scene. less

Slavers steal the Valer children, and it’s up to High Priest S’Rak and Captain Jisten to hunt them down and rescue the children. In a country where slavery is legal and slavers as common as fleas on a dog, the children’s hope of rescue before the auction block is slim to none. S’Rak’s guards, long on the road, arrive in the city at last and immediately spark a battle and a diplomatic incident... moreSlavers steal the Valer children, and it’s up to High Priest S’Rak and Captain Jisten to hunt them down and rescue the children. In a country where slavery is legal and slavers as common as fleas on a dog, the children’s hope of rescue before the auction block is slim to none. S’Rak’s guards, long on the road, arrive in the city at last and immediately spark a battle and a diplomatic incident. Will S’Rak’s sanity, dignity and diplomatic immunity survive? Bard Tafflynn, also known as S’Tyll, arrives with S’Rak’s personal guard. He is not pleased by the presumption of the Valer captain. S’Rak is, after all, his spouse. Will the bond Jisten shares with Rak prove sufficient to shield him from the irate wrath of the high priest’s husband? less

Heart’s blood on a white knife. The high priest’s husband is on a rampage. A skilled assassin, S’Tyll has made it his mission to take revenge on behalf of his spouse. Unfortunately, he’s starting with Jisten, S’Rak’s bonded Valer and captain of the guard. At the same time, S’Rak is in deep trouble, for his Zothian past hasn’t remained decently past but is dominating his present and trying to collar his future... moreHeart’s blood on a white knife. The high priest’s husband is on a rampage. A skilled assassin, S’Tyll has made it his mission to take revenge on behalf of his spouse. Unfortunately, he’s starting with Jisten, S’Rak’s bonded Valer and captain of the guard. At the same time, S’Rak is in deep trouble, for his Zothian past hasn’t remained decently past but is dominating his present and trying to collar his future. Can S’Rak manage to convince his outraged spouse to accept Jisten and attack his real enemies instead? To make matters worse, the attacks on the Valers continue, this time right through S’Rak’s carefully wrought wards. With the chapel not yet sanctified, it’s as vulnerable as the Valers, and S’Rak is duty bound to defend them all. With S’Tyll under arrest, time becomes a commodity even more precious than gold or water. S’Rak will stop at nothing to secure S’Tyll’s release before the horrors of gaol drive the empath insane, but will it be enough? Or will it be too late for S’Tyll? less

The difference between a slave and a servant is perception. Captain Jisten has won his battle and High Priest S’Rak is now legally his. His intention is to keep S’Rak a slave in name only. But it’s really easy to forget that it’s all a sham when S’Rak is so very sexy and scantily clad. Jisten treads a narrow path between Koilathan law and divine law, with disaster to either side should he falter... moreThe difference between a slave and a servant is perception. Captain Jisten has won his battle and High Priest S’Rak is now legally his. His intention is to keep S’Rak a slave in name only. But it’s really easy to forget that it’s all a sham when S’Rak is so very sexy and scantily clad. Jisten treads a narrow path between Koilathan law and divine law, with disaster to either side should he falter. Will the captain persevere or will he fall prey to the temptation of Rak’s sweet seduction and his own dominant desires? Warning: There are brief, non-graphic m/f scenes in this book. less

Two young boys fly south to rescue their father. A barbarian army rolls north like a plague of locusts. Babies are born and plots are hatched, and woe is he who stands still, for events seek to overwhelm them all. Will love prevail against impossible odds? Warning: There is a brief, nongraphic m/f scene

Captain Jisten is embroiled in conflict against an invading army of shapechangers who want nothing more than to reduce the kingdom to the wilderness it was carved from. Baby Rasten has been stolen from his cradle, but S’Tyll and Pikara are in close pursuit. High Priest S’Rak has been betrayed by a false friend and captured by one of the few people he can’t stand... moreCaptain Jisten is embroiled in conflict against an invading army of shapechangers who want nothing more than to reduce the kingdom to the wilderness it was carved from. Baby Rasten has been stolen from his cradle, but S’Tyll and Pikara are in close pursuit. High Priest S’Rak has been betrayed by a false friend and captured by one of the few people he can’t stand. Okyran diplomats have arrived in Summertown and are threatening death and destruction if the Koilathans don’t come to their senses immediately. The Kephi priest Pajel, meanwhile, is being seduced by the very temple he’s supposed to be spying on. In the darkness of the woods, is there any hope remaining? less

Chancellor Virien has what he wants now—both High Priest S’Rak and Captain Jisten are his, collared and chained. The captain’s training proceeds apace, but S’Rak is strangely growing more defiant rather than less.S’Rak now has what he lacked before—hope. Forces are gathering against the chancellor, intent on freeing him and the captain from bondage. Given Jisten’s love and secure in Scorth’s continued freedom, he dares to push back against his master... moreChancellor Virien has what he wants now—both High Priest S’Rak and Captain Jisten are his, collared and chained. The captain’s training proceeds apace, but S’Rak is strangely growing more defiant rather than less.S’Rak now has what he lacked before—hope. Forces are gathering against the chancellor, intent on freeing him and the captain from bondage. Given Jisten’s love and secure in Scorth’s continued freedom, he dares to push back against his master.As the Dark Army combines forces with Jethain’s Koilathan Army to combat the Lythadi threat, Virien hastens toward the privacy of his estate, fearing to lose it all. less

Still on the road to Chancellor Virien’s land, High Priest S’Rak and Captain Jisten continue to cling to one another in the face of their suffering, but both begin to fight back, each in their own manner. The Gods are also stirring, taking an interest in the plight of the pair and doing what they can, subtly, to help. When Rak sees an opportunity for some payback, will he take it or will he wait for the situation to become more secure first?

High Priest S’Rak has mostly recovered from the wing fungus, but he has to repair the damage done to the temple before he can return to Koilatha. Captain Jisten has very definite ideas about life and death, and S’Rak’s plans challenge those beliefs but not in a good way... moreHigh Priest S’Rak has mostly recovered from the wing fungus, but he has to repair the damage done to the temple before he can return to Koilatha. Captain Jisten has very definite ideas about life and death, and S’Rak’s plans challenge those beliefs but not in a good way. Will Jisten be able to come to terms with a service that not only permits, but also requires, human sacrifice? Or will this conflict be the one to tear the partners apart? In distant Zoth, S’Tyll is on the run with Siol and Rasten, stolen right out of the palace from under King Narvain’s nose. S’Pajel rides with the slave trackers, but he’s not sure that he’ll be able to delay them enough for S’Tyll to make good his escape. Sun mage Teson still loves Pikara, even as he’s collared for it. Will love win out? Will Rak’s sons make it to freedom? Or will Narvain’s cruel grip claim them all? less