Shadow Guardian: Shadow Walker Trilogy, #3

By Tiffany Shand

With insurmountable odds to beat, Charlie must choose between her safety and the man she loves.

Charlie is plagued by more trouble than she can handle at once. For her own safety, she's taken refuge at a secret compound away from Drake. As if that wasn't enough, she is determined to guard the Srimtar and keep it out of enemy hands.

What looks like a reprieve from her current situation soon turns into yet another battle. A brief reunion with her beloved Drake only adds more pressure.

With her continued struggle to control her demonic powers, she seeks guidance from her long-lost mother. But soon new problems arise. This time, she sits at the precipice of what could be the best outcome possible or the worst thing that ever happens to her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tiffany Shand
• Release date: Mar 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386003892

Tiffany Shand

Tiffany Shand was born in Essex, UK and started writing short stories when she was a child. She has always done writing in one form or another and started writing novels in her early teens. She writes both non-fiction and fiction, but mostly fantasy and paranormal romance. After doing a creative writing course in her early 20s she is now a freelance writer and professional proofreader. Tiffany lives in Essex with her two spoiled cats and one very nutty hamster.

Book preview

SHADOW GUARDIAN

SHADOW WALKER TRILOGY BOOK 3

BY TIFFANY SHAND

Copyright © 2018 Tiffany Shand

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the author, except for brief quotes in reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. People, places, events and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or historical events, is purely coincidental.

Cover Design by Ravenborn Designs

Editor: Dark Raven Edits

Table of Contents

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

Afterword

Also by Tiffany Shand

About the author

Chapter 1

F ocus, Charlotte, Irina snapped.

Charlie McCray scowled at her mother as they sat together on the floor of the ancient temple. But hell. at least they’d left the Illuminari’s compound for once. I am bloody focusing. If I focus any more I’ll pass out. She kept her mental shields in place. The last thing she needed was for Irina to hear her true thoughts. After spending the past few weeks in the mist walker’s hidden compound, she grew weary of being there. She’d made it her mission to find out everything she could about them and her mysterious mother who’d been thought dead for the past twenty-four years.

The mist walkers, or Illuminari as they called themselves, were a secretive bunch who spied on the rest of Magickind after being hunted almost to extinction by the other races. They called themselves resistance fighters, but Charlie thought of them more as rebels. If they really wanted to become a known race and be accepted, why the hell didn’t they stop hiding in the shadows?

All Illuminari inherit the knowledge about our people from birth, Irina said. You just have to unlock it.

The only good thing about being out of the Illuminari compound was Irina had done something to the bracelet which had been blocking Charlie’s powers for the past month. Irina had somehow configured it so Charlie could use her powers again. About bloody time too!

Vines covered the temple’s grey stone walls and patches of coloured light covered the floor as the sun shone through the broken stained-glass window. Charlie didn’t know why Irina had chosen this location of all places to practise learning to use her full demon powers. It made little sense because the Illuminaris had a whole fortress to use back in their hidden compound.

Charlie rose, brushing her long brown hair off her face and turned to her mother. I’ve been trying to unlock it for over a month and I’ve not remembered anything. Maybe I’m not like you. She crossed her arms, scowling down at the blue dress she wore. Goddess, she missed real clothes!

Irina sighed. Still so resistant. I keep telling you your place is here. All Illuminari are sworn to help our people.

Guess I’m not as shadow sworn as you lot. My place is with Drake, the love of my life. Instead of being with him, I’m stuck with you, my ex and a bunch of—

The walls trembled, sending dust flying through the air.

What was that? Charlie frowned, casting her senses out.

Irina’s azure eyes widened in shock. We’re under attack. Hurry, we must...

Light blurred as Myles Goodridge shimmered in beside them.

Oh shit! Charlie raised her hand, blasting him with a bolt of blue lightning. Hell, at least that’s one demon power I can kind of control.

He raised his hand and it fizzled out.

Well, mummy dearest. You did a lousy job teaching me that. She gritted her teeth.

Myles raised his hand, sending Irina staggering backwards, her body flicking in and out of existence. You’re the one I came for, he said to Charlie.

Charlie grinned. Good, I need some fun after being stuck in this place so long. She flew at him.

He phased, her hand passing right through his body when she tried to hit him, his own hand solidified as he punched her in the stomach. Don’t think any realm is free from me. I can walk between worlds as easily as breathing.

Charlie grunted from the blow, then phased out as he fired a bolt at her.

He wanted one thing—the Srimtar. An ancient orb with immense power that had unknown abilities. As the orb’s guardian, she knew she could never let him get his hands on it.

She blocked his next blow. Goddess, this guy was stronger and much more well-versed in his powers than her. Where was the so-called knowledge Irina kept harping on about? How could she stop him?

Charlie hurled another lightning bolt. Think, she told herself. Stay alive.

She couldn’t outmatch him in strength but there was one place she could be stronger. One place only she could enter, her space between worlds. Light blurred around her as she started to shimmer and the room around her faded, replaced by glowing purple walls that shimmered like mist as she reappeared in her secret place.

The small opaque orb sat on the table made from the same misty substance. It burned bright red as it did when it sensed a threat.

Charlie grabbed it, clutching it in her palm. She let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. She hated running away but the orb was her number one priority. In the wrong hands, it could kill hundreds, even thousands, of people since it only seemed to let her touch her. Anyone else who tried using it ended up dead. As its guardian, only she could withstand its power. Phew! You’re more trouble than you’re worth sometimes.

The walls around her trembled. Now what?

Another blast made the walls flash. Goodridge had tried to follow her and now tried to take down her walls. The walls around her shook even more, vibrating from the onslaught of energy. Charlie backed away, unsure of what to do. Just because she’d found this space, didn’t mean she knew how to control it. She glanced down at the Srimtar. She’d used strange magic to protect it before—or maybe it had been shadow magic—could she again?

She raised her hand, sending out a bolt blue of light that rippled over the flashing walls. The orb flared between her fingers, pulsing with energy. Charlie’s eyes snapped shut as a vision dragged her in. A woman lay on the floor, her long blonde hair plastered against her face, holding a screaming baby wrapped in blankets as she stood, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Charlie froze, seeing the woman was Irina.

Forgive me, daughter, Irina said. I’d keep you if I could. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She glanced around, eyes wide. He’ll kill you if he ever found out. Please forgive me. One day you’ll remember where you came from. Remember you are loved.

Gold light flashed as Niara appeared, frowning. Helena, where have you been? she asked. Stephen said—

Whoa, what’s my great-grandma doing here? Charlie wondered. That baby must be me. Weird, I thought she never even got to hold me. She’d always wondered what it would’ve been like growing up with a mother, but the reality of having Irina around now paled in comparison to her dreams.

Serenity, you must take my child. Irina shoved the baby into Niara’s arms. Please take her back to Steve. I know he’ll look after her. He’s so excited about becoming a father.

Niara clutched the baby. What are you talking about? she demanded as Irina backed away.

Irina shook her head. Tell Steve—tell everyone—I died in childbirth. No one must know the truth.

Niara’s eyes narrowed. I knew you were never a witch, but you can’t just abandon your child like this.

If I don’t, she’ll die. There are worse things in this world than even Raven or the Covenant. Please, if you care for her, do the right thing and let me go. No questions asked.

I don’t know what you’re running from, but I promise she’ll be loved and cherished by our family. Niara looked down at the baby and clutched her to her chest.

Irina nodded, sniffed. I know.

Steve will be devastated.

"It’s safer for everyone this way. He has a daughter; she’ll bring him