Carnival of the Lost: The Cambion Rider Chronicles, #2.1

By Fannie Price

Can Veronica survive a carnival which changes Lachlan into something she barely recognizes?

 

Participating in a rite of passage for mated riders and their dragons, Veronica and Lachlan step out of their reality and into a world of kittens and lost sheep, where guilty pleasures have dangerous consequences. Carnival of the Lost is an interlude short story in the Cambion Rider Chronicles universe, with events that take place after book #2 Burn, and before book #3, Came Back Haunted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Platinum Dragon Publishing
• Release date: Nov 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215151808

Fannie Price

In her childhood, Fannie developed a love of writing and creature features. By the mid-90s, she discovered urban fantasy, and it quickly became her favorite genre to read. After noticing the lack of diversity in the female heroines of the genre she’d grown to adore, Fannie decided to use her writing skills to amplify the voices of Black female protagonists and other underrepresented people in the genre she loves.  She enjoys mixing elements of magic and mystery, with health doses of darkness, and a touch of romance into familiar cities, transforming them into a part of the supernatural realm. Her attention to detail and talent for crafting complex and flawed individuals adds depth and authenticity to her stories.  An avid Witcher and Assassin’s Creed fan girl, when she’s not writing, she spends her free time with family, going to the movies, watching football, and Investigation Discovery. Way too much Investigation Discovery.

Book preview

I

Why are you so giddy?

Why are you not? Lachlan counters my question with his own. How are you not excited?

Three in the afternoon finds us on sleepy Route 1 in Delaware, heading towards Nowhere, Delaware. Also known as Port Mahon. I’m sure it’s paradise to someone. Judging from the energy seeping from my passenger, he is that someone. I take my eyes off the road long enough to give the dragon in the seat a fleeting look. It’s all I can spare before the road veers into another drastic curve.

It requires both hands on the wheel, but I’m able to take the turn twenty miles faster than the posted safe speed of forty-five. A combination of Lachlan’s Tesla’s handling and my reflexes. Already decent, becoming Lachlan’s mate a couple months back dialed them up to eleven.

It’s my turn to control the travel tunes, and Leikeli47 singing about not going out her circle pours through the speakers. The volume is set at a level to complement my fast driving, not promote conversation. I must raise my voice to be heard clearly.

The overwhelming sense of dread in the pit of my stomach doesn’t leave any room for anything else.

I can’t see him, but I hear the smile in his voice when he says, You are too young to be this cynical. To the unwitting observer, I would appear thirty-eight, and you two hundred and fourteen.

I exhale a puff of air. If I’m too young to be so cynical, does that make you too old to be this naïve?

Cheeky rider, he replies with an amused grunt.

Lachlan adjusts the volume so we can converse without shouting. The leather moans when he shifts his body to face me.

"The iudicium—"

—the what? I interrupt.

"Iudicium. It is Latin for trial."

Why don’t you just say trial? I know what it is, but teasing him brings me joy.

Are you going to let me finish?

With a glance and grin, I shrug. Let’s find out together.

He reaches