Reality Ruptured

By Sharon Stevenson

With a Fey princess to protect, and a soul-mate to bond with, an imminent threat from the Darklands steers Shaun Gallows towards his destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sharon Stevenson
• Release date: Nov 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370168262

Sharon Stevenson

USA Today bestselling author Sharon Stevenson lives in Scotland with her husband. She probably spends too much time indoors, binge-watching Netflix shows and finding new and irrefutable reasons to order takeaway food instead of cooking. Her urban fantasy novels include the bestselling Gallows demon tracker series, and Edinburgh set magically animated zombie series, Raised, which readers often recommend to fans of Jim Butcher.Sign up to her newsletter to keep up to date with new releases: http://www.sharonstevensonauthor.com/newsletter

Book preview

Chapter One

Teri let her attention drift as Suze casually muttered insulting comments about the girls on the edge of the dance floor. She sank her fourth mudslide and gazed across the room. The pounding beat of the music drowned out her friend’s voice. Haven was packed, and she couldn’t help wishing she was there with someone else. A guy, maybe, or at least someone she could dance with. She sighed, resting her chin on her fist as her gaze drifted across the dance floor. This night off had been a long time coming, but she knew the Court and the Council were taking the opportunity to check over her work. She was risking being fired taking the night off like this. Somehow she couldn’t seem to make herself care.

It was warm and dark in this corner of the club, the pulsing music and the chocolate cocktails a heady mix that both relaxed and energised her. She’d needed this. She got up, making a drinking motion with her hand as Suze glanced at her. The blonde witch raised an eyebrow and shook her head.

Teri shrugged and headed to the bar. She was warmed by the bodies she carved a path through to get to her destination. Sighing blissfully, she ordered up another two mudslides and rested her elbows on the bar as she waited. Her wandering gaze fell on a guy with brown hair at the other end of the bar. His dark eyes drank her in and a slow smile spread over his face. He was definitely attractive, if not exactly her usual type.

She felt her skin flush as her drinks were placed in front of her. The bartender blocked her admirer from sight. She glanced his way as the girl moved onto another customer. He was gone. It was probably just as well. After everything that had happened with Roman, she was hardly in any state to start seeing anyone. A one night stand would even be pushing it.

She brought her drinks back to the table.

Suze drew her a disapproving look, but thankfully kept her mouth shut.

Teri took a drink and shivered.

Too much ice, she complained, folding her arms.

So... Suze had a sly smile on her face. How’s Liam?

Teri blinked. She had to remind herself that Suze didn’t know Roman’s little brother had gone through a mental breakdown after linking with another fairy. He’d been in the Darklands atoning ever since, but it wasn’t as if Suze knew that. As far as Suze was concerned, Liam was just a friend she lived with and someone she didn’t really buy as ‘just a friend’. She knew nothing about Roman.

He’s gone, Teri said, with a shrug. Visiting family for a while.

Too bad, Suze said. He seemed... cute.

Teri tried and failed to smother a snort of laughter. Sorry.

Suze pursed her lips as she swirled the wine in her glass. She took a sip, the first Teri had seen her take in an hour. Then she put the glass down and leaned back in her seat. It’s happening this time.

Ominous, Teri thought. What’s happening?

She glanced back towards the bar, but the guy who’d eyed her up was gone. Relief and disappointment filled her in equal measure. She looked back at Suze.

You seem distracted, Suze told her.

There’s a draft getting in from somewhere, Teri said, glad she wasn’t drunk enough to admit her real reason for distraction and wondering why it was suddenly so cold in the packed club. A window has to be open somewhere, she thought.

There’s no draft, Suze said.

Teri shook her head. Like you’d notice if there was.

The girl never stepped foot outside without neck to toe coverage. Her lavender velvet dress was insanely old fashioned, yet she somehow got away with the look. Teri suspected it was a combination of her perfect figure and her fuck-you attitude. No-one messed with Suze. She took another gulp of her drink.

What were we talking about?

The prophecy, Suze reminded her.

Oh, right, Teri said. That.

It was the last thing she wanted to think about. Day in, day out, she logged prophecies and tried not to worry that they might all come true at once.

That. Suze nodded, her sky blue eyes intense as she stared at her friend. It’s happening this time. I heard Wolf-bait is being sent to look after the Seelie Princess.

Teri blinked and tried to keep her surprise to herself. Shaun’s involvement doesn’t mean the prophecy is coming true.

Suze’s stare was steady as she pulled on another sly smile. The Unseelie Prince might have something to say about that. You know the tracker wouldn’t be getting sent to her unless that guy had made a move, right?

How the hell does she know so much? Teri shrugged and took another drink. I’m sure when it happens you’ll be the first to know, or at least the third.

Suze narrowed her eyes. You know I’m the black witch now?

Oh, that, Teri said, glancing her over. How’s that going?

She knew Suze had abstained from practicing magic to avoid ruining her position as a white magic witch. As far as magic was concerned, she may as well be human.

It’s not, Suze said, with a sigh. I can’t do it. I know Pen isn’t obeying her orders. We can’t have two black witches in the triangle.

Teri wasn’t surprised. Does that really even matter?

It matters to me, Suze snapped.

Of course it did. Teri sighed. Suze was far too tightly wound for her own good. So, since the prophecy looks like it’s actually coming true, wouldn’t now be a good time to...

I’m not talking about that, Suze snapped, as if she knew where Teri was going with her line of enquiry.

Fair enough, Teri said, with a shrug. She glanced over at the bar. The half-fey bar tender with short pink hair was talking with a guy, flirting, it would seem. Sawyer was popular at Haven. She was also really into Suze, but her repressed white witch friend was still in a state of denial. It was too bad. Sawyer was about the only person she could think of who could actually make Suze loosen up.

Teri finished up her fifth drink. She took out her lipstick and reapplied it while Suze turned her gaze on her barely touched wine. The guy who’d been checking her out at the bar was standing at their table when Teri glanced up to see what was blocking the light from the dance floor. He was tall and built. She smiled in spite of herself when he gazed down at her.

Hey.

Hey, he said, clearing his throat. Want to dance?

His shifty glances betrayed his nerves and endeared him to her, but she still wasn’t sure about doing anything tonight with a new guy. And this one was as fresh as they came. He definitely wasn’t someone she’d seen around.

Okay, she was surprised to hear herself say.

He offered his hand and she took it, standing up and letting him lead her to the dance floor without a glance at Suze. She knew her friend would only complain at being left to her own devices while Teri got off with some random guy.

He stopped in the middle of the dance floor and pulled her in close, smiling as he slowly moved her around. She tried to smile back but her face froze. His warm body pressed close to hers felt too intense. All she could think about was Roman. She knew their relationship was impossible, but she wasn’t ready to let it go. She broke away from the mystery man, shaking her head.

Sorry, I can’t...

She walked back to Suze and sank her last mudslide in one deft movement. She put the glass down and shrugged at her friend.

I have to go. She grabbed her jacket and headed out, checking her phone and wondering if Shaun would still be up this late. After a second’s hesitation, she decided not to bother him, stuffing the phone back into her pocket and zipping it closed.

The slush on the ground made walking slightly hazardous, but she didn’t have anyone to hang on to so she adopted her patented quick, short pace and got moving. It was freezing out, but the walk warmed her up within a few minutes. The sounds of shuffling behind her made her tense up as she walked. She rushed as fast as she dared across the icy entrance to her street, not risking slowing down to look behind.

Teri, a man’s voice cut through the night.

She broke into a run, skidding and sliding but not stopping.

Shit, she hissed as she fumbled to get out her key.

You can’t run, her pursuer told her.

She turned at the sound of keys rattling. The keys she couldn’t find were in the hand of the random guy she’d danced with. She swallowed. Who the hell are you?

He smiled. I’m guessing you won’t buy that I’m the man of your dreams.

Get real, creeper. Who sent you? As if she couldn’t work it out. She frowned at him, backing away.

Let’s just say I was sent to collect you, he said, coming closer slowly. I tried to make it easy on you, but you just had to play hard to get.

She could see what he was now; his eyes weren’t a deep, dark brown at all, they were emerald green. His thoughts weren’t broadcasting openly, but she could hear them if she tried. She concentrated as he moved closer. He was Darklands. But he’d come through a mirror. Obviously, she thought, rolling her eyes at herself. If he’d been a spirit she wouldn’t have been able to see him and neither would anyone else; he had to have come through a mirror. He smirked as she backed into her own front door. He was going to take her to the Darklands. Adrian had sent him.

Fear froze her in place. What it meant that he’d sent for her chilled her to the bone. Adrian still wanted to use her to open the gates.

Shit... She fumbled to get her phone.

He reached out and grabbed hold of her wrist. A flush of desire rushed through her body, making her shake and shudder. When he pressed against her she didn’t push him away. She knew where he wanted to take her and a thrill ran through her at the thought of it. He pressed his lips to hers and she let the feeling take her over. She’d finally be where everyone she loved already was. It didn’t matter why he was going to take her there. She’d figure out an escape once they arrived.

When he moved back with a self-satisfied smirk on his face, she knew he’d brought her to the Darklands. He took her hand, muttering something about humans being easy. She ignored the comment as he led her towards Adrian’s castle. Determination set in as she yanked her hand out of his grasp. He glanced at her and she stared at him through narrowed eyes.

I have ways to force you to come with me. You know that. He sounded bored.

Teri held back the impulse to hit him. Even if she hurt him, he could do far worse to her with a much lighter touch. She didn’t want to provoke him.

Do I look like I’m running away? She shook her head and moved on towards the castle, forcing him to catch her up.

Chances were good that she could get out of Adrian’s clutches even if she walked right into them. She had friends here, and they’d know when she crossed the barrier into the Darklands. Roman had set something up after the last time Adrian had tried to capture her.

It terrified her to think about what Adrian planned to do, but she had to trust that she would find a way out of this. The gates were supposed to open, but she didn’t think she was the key. She folded her arms. God, she hoped she wasn’t the key. She gazed at the smoggy green sky and she knew one thing for sure. Suze was right, the prophecy was coming true.

Chapter Two

It was light in the room when Shaun’s alarm began to beep. He switched it off before it could start to irritate the pants off him, pulling his covers up over his head once silence was achieved. Then he remembered. He was leaving today. He threw the covers off and headed to the shower, barely remembering to bring clothes as he left the room. He could hear Sarah clattering around down stairs, singing intermittently. He smiled as he locked the bathroom door behind him. No more morning people at his new place... Wait. Was Andi a morning person? He had no idea. He shook his head as he ran the shower. No soul-mate of his could be a morning person. That was, if he was buying into the whole soul-mate thing. He liked the way Andi had put it a whole lot better. It wasn’t destiny. Their attraction was based on things he could understand. And her being the Seelie Princess’s guardian, while he was the Seelie Knight? He shrugged that off as a coincidence. Those were way more tangible than destiny.

He took his time in the shower until he could smell breakfast cooking and his stomach started growling at him to hurry up. He was out and dressed quickly, rushing down the stairs to get in on the cooked breakfast before Sarah’s stoner boyfriend could beat him to the best stuff.

He smiled when he realised Dev wasn’t in the kitchen. He snatched up toast and got to work filling up his empty stomach. When Sarah went upstairs and Dev appeared, rubbing at his eyes as he walked in, Shaun smiled tightly.

Hey, Dev said, picking his breakfast and taking up the chair across from Shaun at the table.

You’d better look after her properly while I’m away, he said, wishing Ray hadn’t fucked off. There was no way he’d have to have this kind of conversation with that guy. I don’t know what this is, but I’m not a fan. If I find out you’ve been messing her about I’m coming back to smash your face inside out.

Dev winced. Look, man, I thought we talked about this already? I love her. I’m not just after... whatever you think I am.

Shaun frowned. Well, we’ll see about that.

He started eating, mostly to shut himself up. There was nothing Dev could really say to settle his doubts. He didn’t think banging on about it would make much difference. When he fucked things up with Sarah, he was sure his sister could handle it. He just felt pissed off knowing it was an inevitability. Dev had proven himself to be single-minded about women. He just wished Sarah could see that.

So how long are you gone for? Dev asked as if he hadn’t just been told Shaun didn’t trust him.

I don’t know, Shaun said, shrugging.

The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Shaun left his plate when he couldn’t stomach any more. He went back upstairs to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. He took his time checking drawers and looking under his bed. There was a plate under there, gathering some kind of mold. He shrugged and let the valance fall back into place. Sarah would no doubt find it on her next cleaning spree.

He heard the door when his parents arrived. This was it. He picked up his bag. His room looked weird all tidy with the bed made. It didn’t look like his room anymore. He headed out. It was time to leave.

Chapter Three

Andi paced the downstairs hallway as she waited for Jess to get up for school. She’d already tapped her door, and called on her a couple of times. Her nerves were getting pretty well rattled. It was the same thing every morning. Jess hated getting up. Usually though, Andi could blame the sleeping pills she crushed into the girl’s hot chocolate, but last night she hadn’t wanted anything before bed. It should have meant it would be easier to wake her, but there was one thing that would make it harder. Earth-bound fey were drawn to the Darklands when they dreamed. They used dreams to visit family they’d lost or explore the land they knew they would go to when they died.

For Jess, visiting the Darklands would be dangerous. She’d already been given a magical alternative to the sleeping pills so that Jess would be kept safe from dreaming, but there was an element of uncertainty