Shadows in the Night: Paranormal Huntress Series, #6

By W.J. May

USA Today Bestselling author, W.J. May, brings you to a new level of fantasy. Fans of Underworld and paranormal worlds will love this story!

Under sun and moon, among endless worlds. We are not but grains of sand in an everchanging existence. Come, Mother, for I am yours to take.

My name is Atlanta Skolar, and I am the Coven Master.

A being of Fairy blood, the spawn of Druid and Witch. I am my world's last hope. A world that hides in the shadows, and has not seen peace for almost two years. We're tired, but we persevere in the face of all that comes our way. We pledge to stand together against all that wants to tear us apart.

But what comes for us now is nothing like we have ever seen.

The Darkness.

It's broken free. And i's angry. Its hunger knows no bounds. It travels across the lands, consuming all in its wake. Countries will fall, civilizations will vanish, and only ruin will remain.

We will make our last stand here. In Everlore. With Mother.

I pray we have the power to fight back.

SERIES:

Never Look Back

Coven Master

Alpha's Permission

Blood Bonding

Oracle of Nightmares

Shadows in the Night

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Shadow Publishing
• Release date: Sep 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386348436

W.J. May

About W.J. May Welcome to USA TODAY BESTSELLING author W.J. May's Page! SIGN UP for W.J. May's Newsletter to find out about new releases, updates, cover reveals and even freebies! http://eepurl.com/97aYf   Website: http://www.wjmaybooks.com Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-WJ-May-FAN-PAGE/141170442608149?ref=hl *Please feel free to connect with me and share your comments. I love connecting with my readers.* W.J. May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario. Crazy-happy childhood, she always has had a vivid imagination and loads of energy. After her father passed away in 2008, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again. A passion she'd loved for years, but realized life was too short to keep putting it off. She is a writer of Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction and where ever else her little muses take her.

Book preview

Paranormal Huntress Series

NEVER LOOK BACK

Coven Master

Alpha’s Permission

Blood Bonding

Oracle of Nightmares

Shadows in the Night

Find W.J. May

Website:

http://www.wanitamay.yolasite.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-WJ-May-FAN-PAGE/141170442608149

Newsletter:

SIGN UP FOR W.J. May's Newsletter to find out about new releases, updates, cover reveals and FREE READS!

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Shadows in the Night Blurb

USA TODAY BESTSELLING author, W.J. May, brings you to a new level of fantasy. Fans of Underworld and paranormal worlds will love this story!

Under sun and moon, among endless worlds. We are not but grains of sand in an everchanging existence. Come, Mother, for I am yours to take.

My name is Atlanta Skolar, and I am the Coven Master.

A being of Fairy blood, the spawn of Druid and Witch. I am my world’s last hope. A world that hides in the shadows, and has not seen peace for almost two years. We’re tired, but we persevere in the face of all that comes our way. We pledge to stand together against all that wants to tear us apart.

But what comes for us now is nothing like we have ever seen.

The Darkness.

It’s broken free. It’s angry. And its hunger knows no bounds. It travels across the lands, consuming all in its wake. Countries will fall, civilizations will vanish, and only ruin will remain.

We will make our last stand here. In Everlore. With Mother.

I pray we have the power to fight back.

Contents

Paranormal Huntress Series

Find W.J. May

Shadows in the Night Blurb

Prologue

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

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

Paranormal Huntress Series

More books by W.J. May

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Prologue

Kelian watched the Northern Lights with a smirk on his face.

After several months of great patience and perseverance, he’d finally made it. The edge of the veil, where the barriers between this world and the Darkness were weakest. He could almost feel the surge of power in the night sky, the bending and shifting of the veil as the lights danced across its surface, shimmering, glowing. Beckoning him to come closer, to release what it hid.

It was finally time. He had waited for this for so long. Centuries spent trapped in another dimension, incorporeal, haunted by the memories of his people’s defeat at the hands of lesser races. Unworthy subjects that had forgotten their place. Dogs that had bitten the hand that fed them. He had wanted to punish them then, and had failed.

Never again.

This time, there was nothing to stop him. No superior race that could oppose him. What was left of the Old World was nothing but a handful of scattered scum, too weak to withstand the horrors Kelian would unleash upon them. This time around he would have his vengeance, and when the world burned at his feet they would finally see. They would comprehend the mistake they had made, to rise up against a race that had kept the peace for centuries. They would know what it meant to end the reign of Fairies.

They would know Darkness once more.

Kelian turned to look out across the expanse of water between the island where he now stood and the distant Norwegian coast. He took in the lush greenery, the ice-capped mountains, the small villages that dotted the coastline. The human race would be the first to suffer, to fall under the might of the Darkness. They were weak, and they did not believe anymore. Destroying them would be far too easy.

It was the Witches and the Druids who would prove to be a problem.

In the distance he could barely make out the island where the Great Coven lay hidden. Since he’d taken over Damien’s body, convincing everyone that he was indeed the fallen Druid leader had been tricky. Months of confinement had given him enough excuse to feign confusion, disinterest, or even a lapse of memory. He’d been worried when Atlanta arrived, fearing she would sense something was amiss. Fortunately, she had been too relieved to see her brother alive to notice anything off.

Foolish child, Kelian thought. If only you had listened to me. You could have been the one bringing the wrath of the Darkness upon these peasants.

Now she would have to die with the rest of them. A shame, really. Kelian had grown somewhat fond toward the Coven Master, and her power greatly exceeded that of his current vessel. With Atlanta he could have done so much more, and in less time. He wouldn’t have needed the help of others. Alas, he would have to make due with her brother.

He’s still of Fairy blood. He will be more than enough.

His confidence wasn’t completely unshaken, though.

A rustle came from the trees behind him and he spun around quickly. His smile widened as an old fisherman stepped out from the foliage. The old man’s hair was disheveled, his skin gnarled from years of working at sea, but his eyes radiated a life more youthful than any.

The man lifted his head to Kelian, and smiled. The task is done, the end will come, for there is none to stand against us.

Frey. Kelian chuckled. I would not have recognized you, old friend, save for the eyes.

Frey stood tall, and within seconds shifted back to his original form. He slowly walked up to his master, dropped to one knee, and lowered his head as far as his neck would allow.

You come bearing gifts, I presume, Kelian said.

The Fairy nodded quickly, and reached into the satchel hanging over his shoulder. From within, he pulled out the Amulet of Fire and held it out like a peace offering.

Kelian felt his eyes widen as his excitement spiked. The light reflected off the amulet’s surface, and he trembled as shudders race through him. So much power in such a little thing. So much wonder. He reached out and took it from Frey’s hands, holding it high above his head as he began to laugh. Finally, my sweet, he whispered. Finally!

We must work fast; the night won’t last. Frey started to rise. Remember the past when we hesitated.

Stop it, Kelian said, waving at his subject with a lazy hand. You are no longer a court jester.

I apologize, Sire, Frey whispered and dropped to his knees.

No need, Kelian replied, moving a few feet away, his eyes searching the Northern Lights. And do not be afraid, my loyal servant. This time, I will not hesitate.

Flashes of the past came rushing to him—his last attempt at trying to open the veil—of being overwhelmed by the Elven army and forced to flee overseas to Forn. He remembered the doubt he’d tried to overcome, the fear that had overruled his logic and muddled his mind.

But no more. He was no longer afraid. Centuries spent locked away in another world had only strengthened his resolve. The races of the New World deserved to be punished. It did not matter if it had been the transgressions of races before them. What mattered was that the world once again knew what fear was, that Mother would once again create the Fairies in her image to fight back the Darkness, and return his people to their rightful place as rulers of this world.

This was their world, after all. His world. And he would see it kneel in front of him once again.

Stop! Don’t do this. Stop!

Kelian smiled. Damien’s voice reached out from the recesses of his mind, from the cage he’d been locked away in while Kelian was in control. The Fairy prince was impressed with the Druid’s strength and resolve. He had fought the man back several times to maintain control over him as a vessel, and each time Damien had proven a worthy adversary. But at the end of the day he was like Kelian, or even Atlanta, and Kelian had been able to subdue him every time.

This is madness! There will be nothing to rule if you do this.

Quiet, Druid, Kelian whispered, and slowly raised the Amulet to the sky. He closed his eyes and began to mutter words long forgotten, the spell that would awaken the Amulet and allow it to rip the veil open. He could feel its power burning in his hands, the cogs and wheels of the magic inside it turning as his voice rose and the words filled the night sky. From the corner of his eye he could see Frey take a few steps back, cowering away.

Kelian, stop!

Kelian ignored the Druid, and as he came to the end of his chant he willed the Fairy magic within to rise. It screamed inside him, racing through his veins like wildfire. Kelian controlled it, guided it, led it until it was racing up his arm and into the Amulet itself. The shock of his magic and that of the Amulet made him shudder, and he almost dropped to his knees from the force.

The Amulet burned a bright red. Brilliant against the Aurora Borealis behind it.

When Kelian reached the end of his chant, the magic burst out in a ray of blinding light. Kelian winced in pain and narrowed his eyes against the glare. The ray shot through the night and exploded against the Northern Lights, shattering the sky as it crisscrossed through the air like lightning. Kelian could hear the veil rip from where he stood.

A man would have been terrified. A beast even scared. But he, the strongest Fairy of all, felt nothing but power and excitement.

It’s time! he screamed into the night. Now the world will fear the wrath of the Fairies and come to know true terror!

Kelian laughed as the world around him erupted in a mind-shattering boom. The Northern Lights shifted, refracted, broke into spectra as the veil fell apart and darkness seeped out. Even against the night sky, the darkness seemed to blot out any remaining light. Like a living entity it seeped out of the rips in the veil, curling and turning upon itself as it rose into the sky.

From within the mass of ink-like clouds, twin eyes opened and gazed down at Kelian.

Fairy, a voice hissed menacingly. It was like a thousand little knives scraping against the inside of his skull, and it was all Kelian could do to stop himself from screaming out in agony. He held the Amulet up higher.

It is I who released you! he yelled against the deafening roar around him, the remnants of the veil falling apart as he spoke.

Fool! the Darkness hissed. You bring about your own doom.

I seek vengeance!

As do I! the Darkness bellowed, and the ground beneath Kelian’s feet shook.

Then use me as your vessel! Kelian called out. Let me be the instrument of your wrath. Let us bring this world to its knees!

There was a skin-crawling silence despite the madness around him, and Kelian had to look up to make sure he had the Darkness’ attention. The eyes gazed at him with anger and scorn, the ink-like tendrils of smoke sliding across the sky and expanding outwards.

This world will burn! the Darkness hissed. Mother will burn!

Kelian met the hardened gaze. So be it.

The tendrils of darkness shot out immediately and wrapped around Kelian like an anaconda throttling its prey. Kelian felt his bones being crushed. He gasped for air, and as soon as his mouth opened the tendrils slipped inside him and raced down his throat.

He could feel the Darkness rushing into his body, infusing him with its power, taking control over a vessel he himself had hijacked. But, unlike Damien, Kelian welcomed the Darkness into him, allowed it to take over completely, gave himself to it wholly. He felt his body rise into the air, floating as the tendrils lifted him higher and snaked into him through his gaping mouth.

In seconds, it was over.

Chapter 1

Two weeks later

Atlanta cradled her coffee mug in both hands and shuddered.

She sat alone in the small study Marcus had been occupying ever since his retreat to Everlore, and although the weather outside was pleasant according to the Vampire leader, she couldn’t shake the cold that had taken over her entire body. A heavy blanket lay draped over her shoulders, and after taking a sip of coffee she adjusted it so that it practically enveloped her completely.

Two weeks. I’ve been asleep for two weeks.

The last thing she remembered clearly was being wrapped up in the branches of the Mother Tree, fighting for breath, feeling like she would be crushed between the tree’s limbs. Then the rest was all flashes. Damp earth caked against her lips, movement of incredible speed that left her dizzy, falling hard and her head hitting something solid and, of course, Marcus. Eyes wide, mouth agape, looking like he had seen a ghost.

Then nothing.

She took another sip of her coffee, felt the warm liquid soothe her, and sat back in the chair with a sigh. The study had a homey feeling to it, a fire crackling in the fireplace, soft carpets lining the floor, a chandelier of candles emitting a warm glow around the room. From behind her she could barely feel the soft rays of sunlight on her back, the study’s shutters closed as much as possible, but a few rays managing to find their way through the cracks.

When she had woken the day before Marcus had been there, reading a book and sitting upright in the chair by her bed. She’d barely had enough of a voice to ask for water, which he readily supplied, and it had taken her a couple of hours to push away the light-headedness.

That was when he had told her about the Mother Tree appearing in Everlore, and of the guests who had come along with it.

She brought us all here, Atlanta thought. I have no idea how She did it, but She did.

Luckily, Marcus had been patient, and until now had given her the space she