Shield in Shadows: Of the Blood, #5

By J.R. Pearse Nelson

Her power shields. His lies in shadows. It will take both to win this war.

Descendants of the blood have gathered. Hell will be unleashed in the human world in just days, as the Sidhe battle their ancient enemy, the Fomorii. 

But Eva has no way to know that when she's kidnapped by creatures her rational mind has trouble accepting. They steal her dinner and stow her in a dank cell for good measure. 

In the Fomorii cells she meets Joel, a haunted man with a strange ability to rival her own. 

Joel has already lost too much to this Otherworld struggle. He doesn't know what kind of life he has to go back to.

None of that will matter if they waste away in these cells. Somehow he can't handle the idea of Eva going out that way. But their survival will depend on all of their skills, even the secret abilities they each inherited from Otherworld.

And escape isn't their last challenge. They're so deep in an Otherworld war that there's no way out – until it's over.

When it ends, what will that mean for the two of them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.R. Pearse Nelson
• Release date: Sep 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393411673

J.R. Pearse Nelson

J.R. Pearse Nelson is a fantasy and romance writer who has authored more than 20 novels. She hails from Oregon, USA, where she lives with her husband, two teens, and two dogs among the plentiful trees and clouds of the Pacific Northwest. J.R. weaves tales rooted in mythology, bringing legend to life in modern-day settings and fantasy realms. When not writing, you can find her making magic in the kitchen and enjoying long walks or "rambles" outdoors. J.R.'s books include the Moon Garden Mysteries paranormal cozy series, the Aeon Society fantasy romance series, and the Water Rites fantasy trilogy. You can connect with J.R. and learn more about her fiction at her website. Visit jrpearsenelson.com.

Book preview

Chapter One

The cave was cool and damp, branching deeper into the darkness where water could be heard trickling down unseen walls and across the stone floor. An unlikely place to find a one-time Queen of the Tuatha de Danann. Brigit, goddess of home and hearth, drew a deep, steadying breath. She had resisted this foolhardy trip into the wildwood, but she couldn’t put it off any longer. This was no time for retreat. If the Morrigan would have them fight, she too must prepare for this battle she’d cast them into.

Not enough time, not enough time…

Brigit ignored the thought, resolved to see this errand through. Her urgency was well founded, but they had a couple of days yet. Mere hours, too easily counted and spent. She must find the Morrigan and set a certain matter straight between the two of them.

A path marked out by the soft light of glowworms led the way deeper into the cave. As the walls grew close, Brigit frowned. But after another branching, where the wind keened eerily, she reached a doorway etched in symbols near old as time. It opened to a temple, encased in earth at the mother’s heart.

The Morrigan sat on a high-backed stone bench more similar to a burial slab than a throne. Mayhap the familiarity comforted her after the long, long years she had spent enshrouded.

Morrigan. Just what are you doing out here? Brigit launched into the matter at hand without preamble, impatience eating at her. You’ve caused chaos among the people of the blood. The least you can do is be there to see it through.

Thin and reedy after her long rest, with shining dark hair and an arrogant glare, the Morrigan sat unmoving and considered her. Her furious eyes never left Brigit’s face. I see enough where I sit. I see beyond this temple of stone… But this you know.

Yet the people do not see you. Brigit stepped closer. How are they supposed to place their confidence in this fool’s errand you’ve set us on?

You call it foolish? You dare? I have seen how it will go for them, for the humans, if we are not there to stop the incursion.

They need to see you⁠—

The Morrigan leaned forward, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Do you believe I invented this conflict? Do you believe I want this? It woke me, this time of fear and the chaos you mention as if you can lay it at my feet. I did but wake to find a people in desperate need of my skills."

The people of the blood need the steady glow of the hearth fire more than your killing crows, sister.

And so it goes, unto eternity, the Morrigan said with a quick grin, her anger forgotten in the age-old argument. "Needs change in an endless cycle. You know its rhythm as well as I. It is my turn."

You always have a way of knowing when our world requires a cleansing of the sort only you can provoke.

I did not provoke the Fomorii. Their provocation woke me from my long sleep. A fact that pleases me, I assure you. There’s so much more excitement now than when I went to my rest.

You call it excitement. I call it dangerous.

The Morrigan shrugged. It is what it is, and it will be what it will be.

Do not call for quorum. It is foolish to risk every single descendant of the blood. You must know I’m right. But Brigit wasn’t sure the Morrigan understood how wrong she was with this foolhardy plan. That’s why she was here. And she could see by the Morrigan’s face that she was failing to convince her.

She shouldn’t have to convince her. The Morrigan hadn’t the slightest shred of formal authority here. Yet everyone had acquiesced to her leadership as the battle with the Fomorii approached. Even Ian, who would soon take up the mantle of Governor, looked to her for advice on tactics and deployment of their supposed army. He knew nothing of war. None of them did. And that’s how the Morrigan was able to saunter in and take control.

Well, Brigit wouldn’t beg. It wouldn’t be effective if she were to sink that low. She, of all people, understood how the Morrigan thought.

Brigit caught herself about to fidget. She stood. I’ve said my piece. I’m not going to sit here while you just stare at me sullenly. If you’ve no justification for calling quorum, I will pass that along to Ian and let him decide.

The Morrigan roused herself. I have no need to spell out the justification. I have seen it. All living descendants of the blood must be present on Tory Island at the time of the eclipse. Together, we will crush the enemy and feast surrounded by the ashes of their dead.

Brigit shuddered. She could not deny the Morrigan’s vision; this power had ever been part of her arsenal. Yet relying on vision was dangerous in itself. Too often its true shape was indiscernible until the thing came to pass. Forces are at play here that you can’t control – for instance, what of the half-human taken by the Fomorii? How is he to appear on Tory Island at the correct time and place?

It is more than likely he’s already dead. Her impassive expression showed this loss didn’t bother her.

And you would risk us all on that bet? Brigit already knew that she would.

You speak as if my plan is our only hope. You know that it isn’t. There are powers among us that lie dormant in anticipation of just such a challenge as this.

Brigit couldn’t contain the question that still demanded to be asked. If we do not protect the young, what will become of us should we fail?

With a quorum, we will not fail. The Morrigan stood and faced Brigit. Sister, I promise you, Hazel and her unborn child will live. I have seen it.

Brigit trembled and blinked just once, clearing the tears that threatened. She would not cry in the Morrigan’s presence. Thank you for telling me. It was, in truth, the information she’d come for. But I still think⁠—

The Morrigan waved her away and Brigit felt the motion as a gust of wind hit her in the torso. She narrowed her eyes and the Morrigan smiled, no doubt trying to provoke a physical confrontation or a battle of powers. She probably itched for it, as they sat around doing all this useless waiting and planning.

If the Morrigan was wrong, and Hazel came to any harm, Brigit would have it out of the Morrigan’s hide. In perfect contrast to her arrogant and rushed counterpart, Brigit studied deeply, she felt deeply, and she understood more of what the Sidhe needed than the Morrigan ever would. Shaking her head, Brigit stepped out of the Morrigan’s path and went to the door. The Morrigan didn’t stop her, didn’t speak, as Brigit left.

She’d done what she could. If she stayed any longer, the Morrigan may put her growing family at risk just to spite her. And Brigit had enough on her long-lived conscience already.

There’s nothing like the underwater world if you’re craving solitude. Time seems to stop. The sun lights up the surface and splinters into the murky depths, revealing the secret landscapes few human eyes have seen. It is so peaceful and silent under water. And that’s why Eva Parker loved to dive. She’d find any excuse. Today, it was spearfishing.

A yellow fish flashed by Eva’s mask and she jerked, the movement slow and oddly stilted underwater. She rolled her eyes at the overreaction and her fingers clutched the spear tighter as she approached a small cave formation. She knew this area well, and the fish loved hiding in the low crevices that dotted the rock. Dinner wasn’t far off now.

She shouldn’t be out here diving alone. Of course Eva knew that. She just didn’t care. The solitude added to the thrill. The truth was, Eva wasn’t like anyone else. So why pretend?

A lingcod darted from between the rocks. It was huge! More than thirty pounds, anyway. Its jaws gaped wide open. Eva took aim and slashed with her spear, impaling the big fish through the side of the face.

Oh, shit. As soon as the thirty-plus pound fish was dead it started to drag. Determined not to lose the catch of the month, Eva repositioned her grip on the spear and the fish, so she was behind its bulk, and gave it her all with her legs. She was almost out of air.

Adrenaline helped. Her muscles appreciated the boost as they burned through the best workout in weeks. Eva knew she’d feel this tomorrow. She should do this more often. It was a welcome distraction from her now-mundane civilian existence.

Eva burst through the surface into the full light of day, her eyes dazzled by the brightness of the late afternoon sun over the water, even through her mask. Her lungs heaved in a giant breath before she sank under again, getting her grip on the fish as she moved toward the shore, a short swim away. Her legs ached from the exertion, and she longed to shove her mask back, but it wasn’t to be at the moment.

She gripped the rocks at the water’s edge. Now that she was steady she shoved one end of her stringer through the lingcod’s gills and out the other side with a triumphant grin. She heaved the fish onto the shore, watching where it landed carefully. Mom and Uncle Dan were going to flip when they saw this fish.

Eva hopped out of the water and hovered over the fish, finally shoving off her mask as she considered how best to retrieve her favorite spear without ruining too much of the prized catch. She wasn’t paying close attention to her surroundings, which she regretted a moment later, when a foreign hand wrapped around her wrist.

What the hell? Eva yelped, tugging her wrist to no avail. She glared at the man holding her – assuming he was male due to his bulk. She was probably correct, but once she saw his ugly face, gender wasn’t much of a concern. Eva was looking straight into the visage of a monster. And three more stood behind him. There was no rhyme or reason to their looks, but they were obviously together. One had only a single eye that was way too large to pretend at humanity. Another had ape-like, swinging arms that reached almost to his ankles, and a grotesque overhanging brow. The one holding her was more humanoid than the others, but it was too large to be a normal man, and its face reminded Eva of a snake – too round and smooth, his nose two slits nearly flat against his face.

What was she doing considering their looks? These guys were obviously up to no good.

Her internal battle waged and won, Eva triggered her power in the next heartbeat, a silvery boundary forming at her skin and shoving outward mightily. But she couldn’t avoid shielding the creature that held her as well.

Damn. It. All.

Eva glared at him, and he glowered back, eyes narrowing as he let out a strange, gurgling hiss.

Do not struggle. The words were barely understandable; his voice was low and his syllables strangely abrupt.

Yes. Do not struggle, Eva. Another voice, from outside her shield, spoke up.

Eva sought the source, and found a tall, thin man with an eye patch staring her down. He was incredibly good-looking, and completely untrustworthy. Call it the eye patch, or the mother effing monsters, or just the random attack on the beach – she wasn’t going to give this guy’s commands the time of day.

Good luck with that. Mad now, Eva shoved the creep who was holding her and gave a sudden lurch to her left, bringing her right leg around to sweep his legs out from under him. He crashed hard on the rocky beach and hissed at her from his prone position. She stepped on his throat, pressing down until he squirmed.

Then, somehow, he got the better of her. Her leg was suddenly in his grip, and then she was sailing through the air to bounce against her own shield, which felt something like the wall of an inflated balloon.

Oh, no! Eva growled. As she bounced off the wall of the shield, it didn’t bounce back. Instead it expanded, capturing two more of the beasts inside with her. The tall eye-patch man and the other monster were still outside.

The original bad guy was no longer prone, and the three of them stood shoulder to shoulder, inside Eva’s shield.

She dropped the shield, and turned to eye-patch man. What the hell do you people want? she demanded.

One of the monsters stooped and retrieved her lingcod.

Not my fish! Eva shouted.

The thing gave a gurgling reply that might have been a laugh, and ate the fish’s tail end in a single bite.

"God damn it! That