The Shattered Dark sr-2
Page 31
He toys with a frayed hole in his jeans. “Kelia said it was easier to ignore Lorn when they were in separate worlds.”
Kelia said. Past tense. And there was a certain acceptance in the way he said her name. He’s still hurting, but he’s healing.
“I’m sorry we can’t bring her back,” I say.
“We knew there was a chance…” He stops, clears his throat. “I thought I’d be the one to die. She’s fae. She could fissure out if she got into trouble.”
I wrap my arms around my bent knees. “Do you ever wish you’d never come to this world?”
He gives a short, humorless laugh. “If I hadn’t come to the Realm, I’d still be one of my father’s pawns.”
He doesn’t regret killing Nakano. Good.
“What will the rest of the vigilantes do now?” I ask.
“The same thing a cult would do if their leader died. Some of them will find new lives. Some of them will continue to hate and hunt the fae. And, apparently, in a few months, some of them will die.”
“Paige has the tablet I took from the compound. She’s going to give it to a friend of hers. Maybe they’ll find a way to live.”
“I hope so,” he says. “My brother…We never got along. My father all but ignored him because he couldn’t see the fae. Lee went off to school a few years ago. I don’t know why he went back home. He shouldn’t have.”
There are a lot of shouldn’t haves when it comes to the fae, and to life in general.
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything from Paige,” I tell him as I stand.
“You’re going to leave, then?” he asks, looking up.
“Yeah. For a while,” I tell him. I wish I knew how long that while will be.
TWENTY-NINE
LENA FISSURES ME to my Vegas suite. She’s been meeting with nobles and merchants and normal citizens with complaints every hour since she was voted the interim ruler of the Realm. I think she’s here because she needs a break, just a few minutes without someone beating on her door to remind her of issues and obligations.
She sets the anchor-stone we used to fissure here on the center of the coffee table. She’s never been here before. She takes in the balconied window, the elegant pictures of the city—black and white except for touches of reds and yellows here and there—hanging on the wall, and the tech scattered about the room. Her gaze rests on the flat-screen TV a few steps in front of her. It’s not on, but her edarratae register the power running through the cord. I keep unplugging it; the maids keep plugging it back in.
“What will you do?” she asks, turning her back on the tech.
I set a satchel down on the couch. It contains my photo album and a few other trinkets. I cleaned out my room at the palace.
“Sleep,” I answer. “Enroll in a local college. Maybe look for a job. An apartment.” Shane was looking for a place for us to live. He said he found a house for rent, but I don’t know where. None of the fae Lena sent to London has seen him. “I’ll try to find out what happened to Shane.”
And I’ll try to find a way to save Paige. I don’t voice that out loud, though. If Paige and Lee survive more than six months, the remnants will know they worked out the problem with the serum. Caelar might decide to re-create it and use it. That could cause a problem for Lena’s new Court. That’s something I have to risk, though, because for me, Paige’s life comes first.
Lena walks to a desk that’s set against the back wall. A phone is there, a spiral-bound book with things to do, and a pad of paper and pen with the hotel’s name on it.
“You’ll help us if I need you?” she asks.
“Naito is your shadow-reader,” I tell her. “You shouldn’t need me.”
A small lamp is mounted to the wall beside the desk. She taps it with her finger, watches the blue lightning spread across her hand, then taps it again.
She drops her hand to her side. “Aren is doing the right thing. The pull of a life-bond is intimate. It would be wrong for him to be with you now, before you understand how deeply it will affect you. You might not want Aren a month from now.”
My jaw aches. I realize I’m clenching it, force it to relax. Lena and Aren both talk like they know how it feels. Neither of them has been bonded to another fae. They’re repeating rumors and making speculations. They have no idea what it’s like to have two sets of emotions twisting inside them. Kyol’s feelings aren’t as potent now that we’re in separate worlds, but they’re there. I know when he’s alone and hurting, when he’s numbing his thoughts by sparring with another fae. I know when he’s thinking about me.
He’s thinking about me now.
Warmth spreads through my chest. It’s some kind of desire.
“What about the garistyn?” I ask Lena. I try to make the question sound casual, like an afterthought. The truth is, if I know there’s a chance something will happen to Kyol, I’ll return to the Realm without question.
“The high nobles should be appeased until a false-blood is found and killed.”
“You think Lorn is innocent?” I ask.
“We’ve been…acquaintances for a long time,” she says, her gaze turning inward. “I don’t want it to be him.”
I understand that all too well. Maybe I’m wrong about a third-party manipulator. If so, the war should be over soon. Caelar is already losing supporters. One of them will betray him to the rebels soon.
Lena returns to the present, shaking off whatever thoughts she let herself get lost in, then asks, “If you leave here, will you leave a message for Naito? I’d like to know you’re okay.”
She’d like to know where I am in case she needs me.
“Yeah,” I say. “I can do that.”
She gives me a small smile. “Thank you, McKenzie, for helping us. I know it wasn’t easy to turn against the fae you worked with for so long.”
She doesn’t wait for my response to that. She leaves this world in a flash of white light. The shadows dance in my vision when she’s gone, making my fingers itch to draw them. But I’ve officially retired. I’m beginning a new life now, the life I should have had all along. Without the fae calling on me, I might actually be able to get a job and finish my degree.
My gaze goes to the pad and pen on the desk. A few quick lines, a curve of shadow here and there, and I could relieve the need I feel to map her location.
I draw in a breath, let it out, resisting the temptation. I’m going to try my best to forget the Realm.
The suite has a minifridge in its small kitchenette. Inside are an assortment of cold snacks and drinks. I’m sure it costs an arm and a leg to touch anything in it, but I grab a Diet Coke and pop the top. Can’t remember the last time I had one of these.
The fridge squeaks when I kick it shut. Sipping the Coke, I head back to the living area. My gaze sweeps the hotel, not knowing what’s next. What would a normal person do now?
Shower. Order room service. Maybe go down to one of the casinos…
A squeak interrupts my thoughts. The same squeak I heard before, but it’s not from the fridge; it’s from the couch.
I’m behind it, so I walk around to the front, knowing what I’m going to find curled up on one of its cushions.
Sosch. Obviously, he’s not going to let me forget the Realm completely.
“You’re going to get me banned from this hotel,” I tell him.
His big blue eyes blink up at me innocently.
I scoop him into my lap after I plop down beside him. His fur flushes silver. I scratch behind his ears until he purrs. And then, for the first time in ages, I pick up the remote and click on the TV.
PRAISE FOR
THE SHADOW READER
“A fresh take on the fae, packed with suspense, surprises, and real moral dilemmas. Sexy and fun, this is a must for anyone who likes their fae modern, their stakes high, and their property damage extensive.”
—Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of the October Daye novels
“Combines top-notch writing and w
orld-building with characters you’ll adore…and the star-crossed lovers may just break your heart…If you enjoy fae urban fantasy, then don’t miss this splendid debut. Loved it. Can’t wait for the next book.”
—Ann Aguirre, national bestselling author of Endgame
“When facing this stubborn, smart escape artist of a heroine, watch where you walk, as every footstep leaves a shadow and every shadow tells a longtime reader like McKenzie Lewis the truth…whether she wants to know it or not.”
—Rob Thurman, New York Times bestselling author of Doubletake
“Fantastically fun urban fantasy! One of the best debuts of the year…[It] checked off all my urban fantasy wish-list boxes, and I can’t wait to read the sequel.”
—All Things Urban Fantasy
“A gutsy heroine and plenty of fae lore.”
—Library Journal
“Fun and fast-paced.”
—Fantasy Cafe
“Fantastic…filled with action and suspense. I was constantly on the edge of my seat.”
—Urban Fantasy Investigations
“Sandy Williams packs a powerful punch with her debut urban fantasy…An energetic, explosive story…fantastically complex…The ending felt like a roller-coaster ride…This book will keep your emotions on overload till the very last sentence…I encourage all readers with a love of urban fantasy to run, not walk, to your nearest bookstore and get your very own copy… The Shadow Reader is a must-read.”
—Smexy Books
“This is a book that kept me reading well into the night. It is without a doubt a page-turner…I loved the main character, the world…I am more than excited to see what comes out next.”
—Paranormal Haven
“Inventive fantasy…a series worth following.”
—Fantasy & SciFi Lovin’ News & Reviews
“I really love this book.”
—Urban Fantasy Reviews
“Kept me turning pages frantically.”
—Fantasy Literature
“An exciting, turbulent adventure…a home run of a debut novel. I encourage all fans of urban fantasy to rush out and pick up a copy…You will not regret it.”
—Fresh Fiction
“A gripping alternate-reality fantasy.”
—The Romance Reader
“A solid block of entertainment…quite compelling.”
—A Book Obsession
“Williams will have readers devouring the pages until the very end. The Shadow Reader has it all: suspense, romance, action, and laughs.”
—Nocturne Romance Reads
FB2 document info
Document ID: dd0ce3d7-786d-43bf-b678-c9e1a0ed6ad8
Document version: 1
Document creation date: 31.10.2013
Created using: calibre 1.7.0, FictionBook Editor Release 2.6 software
Document authors :
MiLinda
About
This file was generated by Lord KiRon's FB2EPUB converter version 1.1.5.0.
(This book might contain copyrighted material, author of the converter bears no responsibility for it's usage)
Этот файл создан при помощи конвертера FB2EPUB версии 1.1.5.0 написанного Lord KiRon.
(Эта книга может содержать материал который защищен авторским правом, автор конвертера не несет ответственности за его использование)
http://www.fb2epub.net
https://code.google.com/p/fb2epub/