Well of Solitude (Fortunes of Fate, 7)

By Alexa Grave

Solitude. Ward or woe? The answer lies buried in the minds of the mad shades.

Solis embraces her task as Gardener of the Well. Who better to tend to the flora edged in perpetual sunlight – surrounding the tomb of spirits – than someone who is half-dead herself? But when a necromancer arrives on the island, demanding entrance to the Well, her solitude shatters.

Spirits are the only good company, in Resz’s opinion. So when he senses the glut of souls in the Well, compulsion drives him to find them. Unfortunately, a strange woman denies him access. And worse, he’s inexplicably drawn to her, as he’s never been to another living being.

Solis risks control of her own soul to keep Resz out of the Well. Can she convince the necromancer to abandon his quest, or will he pull her strings like a puppet master?

Note: It’s not necessary to read the previous titles in the series before this one!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alexa Grave
• Release date: Apr 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005944346

Alexa Grave

Alexa Grave loves to tell stories -- it just so happens her characters occasionally take her on an unexpected ride. Most of what she writes is dark fantasy, but she also likes to weave humor and romance into her fantasy as well.

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Well of Solitude

WELL OF SOLITUDE

Fortunes of Fate - 7

ALEXA GRAVE

Haunted Unicorn Publishing

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Solitude. Ward or woe? The answer lies buried in the minds of the mad shades.

Solis embraces her task as Gardener of the Well. Who better to tend to the flora edged in perpetual sunlight – surrounding the tomb of spirits – than someone who is half-dead herself? But when a necromancer arrives on the island, demanding entrance to the Well, her solitude shatters.

Spirits are the only good company, in Resz’s opinion. So when he senses the glut of souls in the Well, compulsion drives him to find them. Unfortunately, a strange woman denies him access. And worse, he’s inexplicably drawn to her, as he’s never been to another living being.

Solis risks control of her own soul to keep Resz out of the Well. Can she convince the necromancer to abandon his quest, or will he pull her strings like a puppet master?

WELL OF SOLITUDE

Copyright © 2021 by Alexa Grave

Cover Art The Hermit by Alexa Grave and Emily Bartle

Cover Design and Formatting by Haunted Unicorn Publishing

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact Haunted Unicorn Publishing at [e-mail].

This story is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Haunted Unicorn Publishing

P.O. Box 408

Watertown, WI 53094

CONTENTS

Well of Solitude

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Titles By Alexa Grave

About the Author

WELL OF SOLITUDE

Solis twined the purple blade of grass around her finger. No matter how many years she tended the garden surrounding the Well, the glow edging the flora amazed her. As if the unseeable, unsetting sun in this place had soaked into everything it touched.

The shades that passed through to the Well found it blinding. She assumed the same for living beings, though none had set foot on the island in all her time here. Yet for her, the glow enveloped her in radiance and comfort.

Fur for thought?

The phrase jostled its way into Solis’s mind, clearly not her own. She released the blade of grass and glanced over her shoulder to spot a cat with brilliant green eyes. Almost as beautiful as the glow surrounding the flowers. However, that was the least striking thing about this cat.

She was alive.

First time for everything.

No, that’s not right... Food for thought? That’s it. She swished her tail and formed a question mark.

Solis remained cross-legged, but spun to face the animal. What does food have to do with thought?

She cocked her head, ears twitching. Not quite sure, honestly. Just something I heard on another world. Name’s Mia, by the way.

What a silly saying. I’m Solis. More importantly, how are you here? Wait. Another world?

That’s the right of it. And the thing is, I need to get back to that world. I kind of lost someone. A girl named Tilly.

Mia seemed a congenial enough cat, but Solis already felt weary of talking. She preferred her quiet garden, only entering the Well when the need dictated – though dead people weren’t much company anyhow. All the spirits who passed her on their final journey never spoke a lot. Just the way she liked it.

I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. Now please leave me be. She waved her hand and wiggled herself into her original position, her back to the cat.

Oh, but you can. You’re the Guardian of the Well, aren’t you?

Solis sighed and stroked another blade of grass. Gardener, not Guardian.

Mia snorted, a strange sound in Solis’s head. All right, whatever you want to call it. The thing is, I need a portal to get from Fate to Earth, and the Well happens to be one of those.

Solis shifted to all fours and leaned toward the cat, her lace cape tickling her arms and the tips of her two braids brushing the ground. No. I won’t allow it. Only the dead wander the Well.

Not a Guardian, indeed.

What did you say? Demanding, impertinent cat.

Nothing. One of her ears twitched about. You’ve walked in the Well.

Solis sat back on her feet, more comfortable kneeling. Of course she’d done as the cat claimed. It was her duty to bring the glowing flowers into the Well. Plus she consulted with Neggie, the head spirit – the one who enforced the rules and knew more than he ought to.

But she wasn’t exactly alive, either. Not half of her at least.

Her body hovered in a kind of limbo, part of it still alive, the other half quite dead. This made her perfect to watch over the gardens surrounding the Well. And it also meant she was stuck between two different existences, not belonging to the living or the shades.

One of the main reasons she favored being alone – no necessity to fit in where she didn’t belong.

And she was ready to have