Red Lords and the Darkest Hunter

By Meyari McFarland

The steppes were cold, stunningly cold, not that Xun felt it. The blood of Dorji Kita shielded her from the worst of it.

Unfortunately, it also prevented her from seeing and hearing the dark threat lurking under the steppes, waiting to flood out and consume all of the Red Hunters.

The Red Hunters asked Xun for help.

But how could one woman face down something this powerful and not be drowned?

• Language: English
• Publisher: MDR Publishing
• Release date: Jun 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370660148

Meyari McFarland

Meyari McFarland has been telling stories since she was a small child. Her stories range from SF and Fantasy adventures to Romances but they always feature strong characters who do what they think is right no matter what gets in their way. Her series range from Space Opera Romance in the Drath series to Epic Fantasy in the Mages of Tindiere world. Other series include Matriarchies of Muirin, the Clockwork Rift Steampunk mysteries, and the Tales of Unification urban fantasy stories, plus many more. You can find all of her work on MDR Publishing's website at www.MDR-Publishing.com.

Book preview

Red Lords and the Darkest Hunter

By Meyari McFarland

Other Gods Above and Below Stories:

In Reading Order:

The Heat of the Thorn

Door in the Wind

Rising Sword of the Blue Flames

Silent Voyages of the Last Winter

Thief of the Moon

The Ice's Voyagers

First Snake of the Dwindling Ships

Kiss of the High King's Illusion

Living Beginning of the Storm

The Roses of the Salves

Other Books by Meyari McFarland:

Transplant of War

Running From The Immortals

Hearts of Magic

Triumph of the Artificer Mages

Artifacts of Awareness

City of the Dead

Repair and Rebuild

Storm Over Archaelaos

Coming Together

Facing the Storm

Following the Beacon

The Solace of Her Clan

Running Before The Storm

You can find these and many other books at www.MDR_Publishing.com.

Copyright ©2017 by Mary Raichle

Cover image

© Orson | Dreamstime.com - Tear Paper - Abstract Back Photo

© Fotokostic | Dreamstime.com - Knight Fighting Dragon Photo

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be emailed to [e-mail].

This book is also available in TPB format from all major retailers.

Dedication:

This story is dedicated to my father, gone but never forgotten.

Table of Contents

Red Lords and the Darkest Hunter

Excerpt: Following the Beacon

Afterword

Red Lords and the Darkest Hunter

Xun hummed as they emerged from the edges of the forest, birch swaying overhead and shrubbery crunching under their horses' hooves, onto the plains. Steppes, really. They were far enough north that Prince Cyrille had wrapped himself up in scarves, sweaters and a thick green felt coat several days ago. It really wasn't that far north, not like the glaciers, but it felt like it.

It felt good to her. The nip in the air. The bright crispness of the sun, the light breeze that cut right through her gloves to make her notice the temperature in ways she normally didn't anymore. Of course, she had her scarf up over her mouth and nose so she wasn't getting the full effect of the cold.

Strange to really understand why that was.

She didn't want to be a god someday. Certainly not the God of Death. But it looked like that's what her destiny was. Xun wondered if Mother had known when she sent Xun out to save Prince Cyrille and his soulbond Akuchi from the Valley of Thorns.

Probably not.

Xun was the best gardener in the family and who better to send against a valley full of sentient, godly thorn bushes?

No one, of course.

And who better to send to the steppes to deal with the Red Lords of the North than Xun Rosario, God-Killer, and her team?

She snorted. God-Killer. Such a pompous title. She'd sawn through a tree trunk, nothing more. It was Keanu, Demigod of Sacrifice and Change, who'd held Dorji Kita still long enough for Xun to work. Not likely that anyone else would understand or believe her when she said that she hadn't done anything remarkable.

Not that it mattered here and now.

Now there were rolling hills, waves of grass and the cool wind. The steppes felt empty and full at the same time. Xun almost