The Darkline Protocol

By John R. Phythyon, Jr

When Wolf Dasher is assigned to find out who is leaking sensitive information to Urland's mortal enemy, Phrygia, he doesn't count on the spy being an innocent victim . . . or that he is the prize in an elaborate double-cross. What begins as a simple reconnaissance mission ends in a harrowing chase across the sky of Mensch's perpetual night, with Wolf pursued by a Phrygian Shadow determined to bring him back to her superiors for torture. Now the hunter becomes the hunted!

"The Darkline Protocol" is a free short story that introduces Wolf Dasher, hero of John R. Phythyon, Jr.'s debut novel, State of Grace. Combining magic, espionage, and politics, "The Darkline Protocol" is a fantasy-thriller mashup offering an electifying brew of action and adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John R. Phythyon, Jr
• Release date: Jan 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465710147

John R. Phythyon, Jr

John R. Phythyon, Jr is the author of the Wolf Dasher series of fantasy-thriller mash-up novels. The first book, STATE OF GRACE, is available now through Smashwords. His is also an award-winning game designer, a playwright, and an irrepressible Cincinnati Bengals fan. He wishes he had been bitten by a radioactive spider, so he could leap from and cling to tall buildings and have lots of exciting adventures. But he'll have to content himself with writing about such people. You can follow John on Twitter at @JohnRPhythyonJr and read his blog at http://johnphythyon.wordpress.com.

Book preview

The Darkline Protocol

A Short Story by:

John R. Phythyon, Jr.

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 John R. Phythyon, Jr.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Also by John R. Phythyon, Jr.

Short Stories:

Sleeping Beauty

The Coronation of King Charles III

Novels:

Red Dragon Five

State of Grace

Table of Contents

The Darkline Protocol

Free Sample of State of Grace

More Wolf Dasher!

About the Author

Connect with John R. Phythyon, Jr.

The Darkline Protocol

Mensch, East Bretelstein – 10:13pm

Wolf Dasher looked left and right to make sure no one was watching. He stood with his back to the wall of the Urlish consulate, encased in the darkness of the shadow the building threw across the former capital’s perpetual night. So long as he stayed put, his Shadow powers would keep him invisible. But he was not about to stay where he was. His mission demanded he enter the consulate, and that meant he would chance being seen, especially with what he was about to do.

Certain no one was looking in his direction, Wolf removed the scarab from his black tunic, tapped it twice, and tossed it into the air. As soon as it left his hand, it transformed into a giant beetle. A moment later, it snatched him