Anka's Orb: The Shadow Guardians, #2.5

By CB Samet

When a man introduces a mysterious Norse relic to Anka before his untimely death, she realizes the power within the orb must not fall into the hands of darkness. With the help of Denny Smith, a human with ties to the shadow world, she sets out to retrieve the magical device before it can be delivered into the hands of Helen.

 

Can they track down the orb before the goddess of darkness secures it, or will the forces of evil have it within their power to end the world?

 

**Anka's Orb is a novella in The Shadow Guardians urban fantasy romantic suspense series. This is best read between books 2 and 3. If you like engaging characters, sizzling tension, and magic, then you'll love this series.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: CB Samet
• Release date: Jul 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215224649

Book preview

Chapter

One

When the bell to Anka’s store chimed, signaling the opening of her front door, the scent wafting in struck her, overpowering the Moksh Agarbatti incense burning on the counter. She wished she’d closed early rather than deal with the next customer. Sweaty biker looking for his next tattoo? Or maybe a homeless person had wandered in off the street, looking for a handout. Hank had been lingering in the alley ever since she’d bought him a muffuletta from the sandwich shop on the strip.

Pushing out of her seat in the back room, she scratched her small diamond nose ring and walked toward the front.

A haggard-looking man she didn’t recognize stood just inside her shop. His brown skin had a waxy appearance, and his sunken brown eyes stared into nothingness. Dreadlocks hung down to his shoulders to meet a tattered Star Wars T-shirt of the earlier cast posing for action. Baggy pants draped over what she suspected were thin legs and tapered down to sandaled feet. In his left hand, he held a gold ball.

He stared directly at her with those hollow eyes, not gazing around her tattoo parlor the way a prospective customer might. Maybe he was a homeless man, but Anka would be surprised if Hank let another person in his territory.

Before she could ask what he was doing in her store, the man collapsed.

Shock and worry replacing her annoyance and angst, she hoisted herself on her cash register counter, pivoted on the smooth leggings over her butt, and dropped to the floor.

Rushing over, she crouched beside him. Are you hurt?

In lieu of an answer, he thrust the orb in her direction.

She batted his hand away. Let me see where you're hurt. I’m going to lift your shirt. She didn’t notice any blood on his clothing. Perhaps he had some type of medical condition. Hypoglycemia?

She raised up his shirt and gasped at the sight of bruises over his chest and abdomen. Internal bleeding then. She thrust her right hand into the air, palm facing the opening to the back office, where her mobile phone lay on her desk. The device flew across the room, into her hand, and she faced the screen toward her, unlocking it with facial recognition.

Before she could dial 911, the man's hand shot out and gripped her forearm. Startled, she let out a soft cry.

Keep it safe, the man said through gritted teeth as he thrust the orb in her direction once more.

Okay, okay. I'll take it, but you have to release me so I can call an ambulance for you.

No time. I’m Dune.

Because the gold ball was now in her face, she had no choice but to take it. She grasped it with her left hand as she turned back to the phone in her right, and as soon as her fingers closed over the cool metal, power from the orb pulsed through her. Whispered magic called to her, tugging gently at her telekinetic abilities, coaxing them to be used. She’d never felt anything like it.

In awe, she stared down at the powerful relic. The smooth, polished gold glinted under the fluorescent lights of her shop. Carved into the metal were Norse runes.

What is this? she asked the man.

Odin’s Orb, he croaked out before his eyes rolled back in his head.

Dropping her phone, she felt for a pulse. His waxy skin was moist with sweat, and nothing bounded against her fingertips on his neck. Glancing at his chest, she saw no rise and fall. Turning again to her phone, she started to dial for emergency services. She needed to call them and then start CPR.

The door chime sounded again, and she jerked her head up, hoping for help, but instead, slinking into her shop were three gray-skinned abominations dressed in black tattered clothing. She went absolutely still as her blood turned to ice.

The power of the orb called to her once more. Tugging, pulling again at her powers. The way a puppy might tug the end of a rope, wanting its master to play.

The intruders’ sunken