Nine Tails 6: Spirit Shift

by J. L. Weil

  Spirit Shift

  J. L. Weil

  Contents

  Also by J. L. Weil

  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

  Read more by J. L. Weil

  About the Author

  Also by J. L. Weil

  DRAGON DESCENDANTS SERIES

  (Upper Teen Reverse Harem Fantasy)

  Stealing Tranquility

  Absorbing Poison

  Taming Fire

  Thawing Frost

  THE DIVISA SERIES

  (Full series completed – Teen Paranormal Romance)

  Losing Emma: A Divisa novella

  Saving Angel

  Hunting Angel

  Breaking Emma: A Divisa novella

  Chasing Angel

  Loving Angel

  Redeeming Angel

  LUMINESCENCE TRILOGY

  (Full series completed – Teen Paranormal Romance)

  Luminescence

  Amethyst Tears

  Moondust

  Darkmist – A Luminescence novella

  RAVEN SERIES

  (Full series completed – Teen Paranormal Romance)

  White Raven

  Black Crow

  Soul Symmetry

  BEAUTY NEVER DIES CHRONICLES

  (Teen Dystopian Romance)

  Slumber

  Entangled

  Forsaken

  NINE TAILS SERIES

  (Teen Paranormal Romance)

  First Shift

  Storm Shift

  Flame Shift

  Time Shift

  Void Shift

  Spirit Shift

  HAVENWOOD FALLS HIGH

  (Teen Paranormal Romance)

  Falling Deep

  Ascending Darkness

  SINGLE NOVELS

  Starbound

  (Teen Paranormal Romance)

  Casting Dreams

  (New Adult Paranormal Romance)

  Ancient Tides

  (New Adult Paranormal Romance)

  For an updated list of my books, please visit my website: www.jlweil.com

  Join my VIP email list and I’ll personally send you an email reminder as soon as my next book is out! Click here to sign up: www.jlweil.com

  Chapter One

  KARINA

  A year ago, I had no idea faes existed or that powerful, royal magic flowed through my veins, the kind that allowed me to shift into a...how many was it now? A five-tailed fox? As a Kitsune and the heir to Katsura—a fae kingdom in the Second Moon—I was the only one with the power to save a dying world. Well, I would be as soon as I acquired the ability or tail (that was how a Kitsune received its power) that would grant me the gift to heal the land.

  Such a weird concept.

  Me? Saving a world? Saving my mom? Wielding unimaginable powers? And falling head over heels in love with a guy who was considered (by fae standards) beneath me?

  What bullshit.

  Not that it mattered now.

  Not after what I had done.

  I didn’t know if I’d ever see him again.

  I couldn’t think about that though or I would lose myself, spiraling into a dark void I would never recover from. Sometimes that darkness was the only relief I had from the sorrow and heartache that lived inside me.

  My life would never be the same. I had known it from the second I accidentally shifted into a fox, but even then, nothing had prepared me for the gaping hole that opened up inside me when I was separated from Devyn St. Cyr—my Shaman.

  Now I was in a mystical world, alone, with a daunting task set out in front of me—one I might not survive or ever come back from. I was a half-breed fae, my mother a royal Kitsune banished from her home. It was her blood that flowed through my veins, her magic that gave me the ability to shift—a power that still scared the ever-loving-crap out of me, but I was learning to control it. How ironic that the magic I inherited from her would be her saving grace.

  But if I wanted any chance of seeing Devyn again, my family, or my friends, then I had to keep my wits about me. Most of all, I needed to find a way to earn my next tail. Barreling forward was the only way any of us would ever be safe.

  I wished I could undo what I’d been forced into. A man who was my own flesh and blood, regardless that I’d never met this uncle before, had made my life hell. Ryker was no ally, and I could never trust a fae who had blackmailed me into leaving behind the one person I relied on and needed to survive this shit world I was thrown into. I hated him for trapping me into coming here.

  Orangeoland.

  The moment I had taken Ryker’s hand in my silent agreement to go along with his plan, we’d been whisked into an abyss of cool darkness that stretched silent and ageless. I couldn’t say how much time went by, whether it was only seconds, minutes, or hours. Time didn’t work the same way in the void as it did in the mortal world.

  The shadows and darkness that had swept me away from Ashland ebbed until I got my first look at Ryker’s kingdom. The Second Moon was made up of five kingdoms, which meant five royals: four lords and one queen. My land, Katsura, was the heart of the world. A Conclave of faes governed the laws of the Second Moon, and apparently, I had a seat on the Conclave as the heir of my grandfather’s throne.

  I’d never really gotten the chance to see all that Ashland had to offer, since I’d been in hiding, but from the glimpse I’d seen, it was beautiful. Orangeoland sat in stark contrast to the serene and lush landscape of Ashland. Sandy dunes formed a chain behind me, and the hot sun beat down on my neck. The cool breeze of the silver sea to my right did little to help cool me down. The humidity was thick and would do a number on my hair in a matter of minutes. Already, my skin beaded with sweat.

  The dunes rolled along the coastline, and several wooden docks jutted out into the water where a massive fleet of vessels was docked. All of the sails were tied down, except for one ship as if it had recently come into dock. Its dark blue sails waved high and proud, a leopard roaring in the wind. Was my uncle a goddamn pirate?

  My boots sunk into the sand as the water lapped against the shore in a song of the sea. A flock of birds squawked from where they were perched on the dock, scouring the waters for their next meal.

  I shuddered to think about what kind of sea life lived in a fae ocean.

  The air didn’t have the sweetness of Ashland. Here it was sprinkled with salt and foreign spices.

  I blinked, tearing my gaze away from the sparkling water to stare my uncle in the face. He had a remarkable face, if I was being honest. His amber eyes were more gold than brown under the bright sun, framed by long, light brown lashes. Tanned and weathered skin crinkled around his eyes, and his muddy blond hair blew with the wind coming off the ocean. His tall frame towered over me, shielding me from some of the sun’s warmth. His cruel lips were a thin line. I wished he was forgettable and insignificant.

  My magic perked up at Ryker’s touch like a startled doe. I instinctively wanted to lash out at him. I ripped my hand from his and curbed the desire to defend myself against the lord of Orangeoland, at least until he gave me a reason to. “Has your militia left Ashland?” I asked, keeping my voice stiff as I reminded him of the blood oath he’d sworn just before we hurtled through the darkness.

  Our bargain was clear: I’d go with him willingly as long as he promised that Devyn and his family wouldn’t be harmed. I included my own safety in the blood oath Ry
ker had agreed to as well.

  But now, alone with a man I knew nothing about other than his sudden penchant for trying to kill me, a fresh bout of unease swam in my blood.

  I wasn’t buying that his intentions could change so quickly. At least not until he proved himself worthy of my trust. But I didn’t see that happening after all that he’d put me through. Trying to forgive someone for attempting to repeatedly kill you was a big ask.

  Despite the fear rippling inside me, there was also curiosity. Who was this royal fae who was so threatened by a half mortal girl?

  Ryker’s eyes crinkled at the corners, hinting at a subdued smile. “They are on their way home now. I will uphold my end of the bargain as the oath demands.” His expression was difficult to read. Triumph definitely gleamed in his eyes, but there was something else—something I couldn’t decipher.

  The pressure in my chest released a fraction—not completely, but enough I could breathe a bit easier. The protection of the blood oath also extended to me. He couldn’t harm me, not until the oath was severed by me, and that was never going to happen. Ever.

  But that didn’t mean Ryker couldn’t find ways around the oath to hurt me or take advantage of having me at his mercy. I wasn’t delusional enough to think he meant to help me without gaining something in return or that he wouldn’t find creative ways to torture me. I saw the wolfish nature that simmered under his cool exterior.

  “Why exactly am I here?” I said, folding my arms over my chest.

  Ryker trudged through the sand, away from the beach, and unless I wanted to be stranded out here alone to bake in the hot sun, I had to follow, which I begrudgingly did. “To prep and groom you into being the queen that is expected of you. Believe it or not, Karina, I want to help you reach your full potential.” His eyes flicked to the stone around my neck.

  My hand reached up to protect the soul stone from his gaze. “Why? So you can steal my power from me?”

  “On the contrary, only you can rid us of the blight consuming our lands.” He offered me one of his false smiles. “I see that now.”

  Took you long enough.

  We walked up the beach and through a cluster of palm-like trees. Their leaves were wide and glossy, and their branches drooped under the weight of the bright red fruit hanging from it. The sand dunes were low but steep. My boots weren’t made for traversing through the sand, and I contemplated taking them off, but before I could make the decision, I tripped over my own feet.

  Ryker’s reflexes were fast, as was expected from a fae. I studied the tan, broad hand that had slipped under my elbow to steady me. “Don’t touch me,” I hissed through my teeth, shaking off his hand.

  “Next time I’ll make sure to let you fall on your face.”

  Prick.

  Was this how it was going to be between us? I wasn’t sure what to expect. “How long do you plan on keeping me here?” I said, feeling like a prisoner without shackles...or perhaps those would come later.

  These morbid thoughts weren’t helping.

  Along the coast, sentinels were stationed at various posts. In the distance, I made out a few figures on the docks going about their daily upkeep of my uncle’s fleet. “Until you’re ready to govern a kingdom. In the meantime, the Conclave will see to Katsura and monitor the blight.”

  “And who will decide when I’m ready? You?” My voice came out cold, despite the tremble of fear inside me.

  “The Conclave will.”

  “Do they know you’ve kidnapped me?”

  He raised a brow. “They have more important matters to concern themselves with. I was appointed to oversee your education and help you make the transition as a ruler.”

  Is that why he’d had a sudden change of heart? Because the Conclave had commanded it? This made more sense than him suddenly growing a conscience. If he had really wanted to help me transition, as he put it, he never would have taken me away from Devyn. I had a suspicion that overseeing in his mind meant controlling me and therefore controlling my kingdom. It would make him a powerful fae to rule two of the five kingdoms.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To my home,” he answered. I was on my way to the leopard’s den. “Don’t worry. It is quite safe and guarded,” he added, seeing the turmoil in my eyes.

  The mention of Ryker’s home made me realize how mentally and physically exhausted I was. I wondered how close he was to Talin and wished I’d had a chance to study a map of the Second Moon. How far was I from Ashland? Was I going to have to worry about Talin as well, or if the two of them were in cahoots?

  It had been a long, strenuous day, and I just wanted it to end.

  I assumed Ryker was a smart man, which didn’t explain why he would bring me to his home. He had to know Devyn would search for me, and his house seemed like the first place to look. Did Ryker want Devyn to find me?

  The thought sent both a chill and a snarl through me.

  I scoped out the area, contemplating if and when I could make a run for it. I’d agreed to go with him, but I hadn’t promised I would stay. I let him ramble on about grooming me—anything to keep him talking while I plotted how the hell I was going to escape.

  It might be today, tomorrow, or a month from now, but I would find my way back to Devyn if the Shaman didn’t find me first.

  We had reached the top of a sandy summit where a set of stone steps appeared surrounded by deep green moss. Beyond the steps, cliffs were carved out of the land, dropping into the ocean’s depths below, and nestled in one of those stone cliffs was a castle. Deeper inland, a bustling city stretched for miles and miles.

  “Come, I will show you to your rooms.”

  Rooms?

  Not dungeons or something equally as barbaric and degrading?

  We twisted around the stone pathway in an S formation, each switchback higher than the one before. I gawked at the massive size of the castle that seemed to jut up into the sky—an illusion created by the height of the cliffs around it. I’d never seen anything like it. At least three turrets were positioned at the corners. My fear was subdued for a brief time by the sheer beauty of this place.

  A pair of stone statues carved into the shape of leopards guarded either side of the main gate. As we passed through the entry, I became intimidated by his impressive home. Ryker struck me as someone who liked to flaunt his wealth, title, and power.

  “Welcome to the Salvotory Castle,” he said, noticing my inspection and the furrowing of my brows. “My summer home.”

  Following a gravel path through a small garden, we came to a pair of wide-open doors. It was an invitation: come right in the light breeze seemed to whisper. Faint traces of lavender and sweet alyssum mixed with the salty ocean air. “Faes have summer homes?” I hadn’t meant to voice the question out loud. The words tumbled out before I could stop myself.

  He chuckled, his boots clapping against the stone floor as he strolled through the double doors. “My wife prefers the open water to the bustle of the city.”

  Now that he mentioned it, there was a quietness that was masked by the roaring of the ocean, but the farther we walked from the water, that silence became more pronounced. “You’re married?” I couldn’t hide the astonishment and judgment from my voice. Who the hell would marry this asshole? She must be desperate and as ugly as a troll. Probably unhappy and depressed too, which was why I imagined she preferred to live here rather than in the capital of Orangeoland.

  His brow wrinkled. “Isleen has been eager to meet you. It took a little longer than I anticipated to retrieve you. She’ll be worried.”

  I glanced over my shoulder, judging how long it would take me to bolt back down the endless stairs, but instead, I followed him inside the castle. “Does she know you tried to kill me? More than once?” I added, my magic rising in my veins, but I didn’t attack … not yet. Other than his word, I didn’t know for sure that his militia had left Ashland, and until I knew that Devyn and his family were safe, I couldn’t take the chance. Blood oath or not.


  “She does. She was the one who convinced me that my methods were only damning us and that I should respect the Conclave’s decision to help you.”

  My mouth went dry. Okay, so she wasn’t stupid, but definitely a troll. I almost asked him if fae trolls were a thing, but I bit my tongue out of politeness. It was a difficult deed. He didn’t deserve kindness, not from me. And I didn’t want his wife to be pretty. The man didn’t deserve someone lovely and nice in his life.

  I took a long breath and prepared myself. The main hall was bright with natural light from the open doors and surrounding windows. Sheer white curtains billowed around the room, softening the flat stone under my feet, and if it weren’t for the breeze off the ocean, the warmth streaming in from the sun would have made the room humid instead of cool. Fresh flowers in crystal vases sat on two side tables beside an L-shaped couch.

  The spacious room was empty. I’d never considered how the faes lived until this week, and it was clear from the elegance in this room alone that Ryker was a wealthy man.

  Around the corner was a hallway that continued past three different sets of stairs. At the base of the first landing was a guard whom I hadn’t spotted at first glance, and when I did, I let out a little shrill of surprise. The castle had such an eerie silence about it that I hadn’t been prepared for the guard. The young man with silver hair didn’t so much as flinch at our approach, which I found disturbing. I kept my eyes on the sentinel, waiting to see if he was going to ignore me completely. “Hello,” I greeted him in an attempt to get the sentinel to look at me.