Dueling Time

By Sheri Lyn

The Nightshade Guild: Chapter Three - The year the Guild was lost in time.

When Cale, a Nightshade Guild Mage, and his two partners, Marek, an Angel, and Tarak, a Demon, are sent back to 1881 Arizona, they discover that their mission to find the shard of the Time Scythe is no easy task. As they navigate the dangerous and lawless Wild West, they must avoid altering the past at all costs, or risk irrevocably changing the future.

As they unravel the mystery surrounding the shard, Cale, Marek, and Tarak encounter a cast of characters, both friend and foe, who threaten to unravel their mission and force them to choose between their duty and their own desires. With the clock ticking and the stakes high, they must use all their wits and magical abilities to survive and ensure that history unfolds as it should.

Dueling Time is Book 4 of The Nightshade Guild Chapter Three. The reading order for this chapter is:

Rocking Time by Lia Davis and Kerry Adrienne
Defying Time by Mandy Rosko
Illuminating Time by Renee Hewett
Dueling Time by Sheri Lyn
Darkest Time by Cherron Riser
Losing Time by Jennifer Wedmore
Time After Time by Louisa Bacio
Swing Time by Cassidy K. O'Connor
Time Maverick by Gracen Miller
Crucible Time by Landra Graf
Restoring Time by Lia Davis and Kerry Adrienne

The Mages of the Guild encourage you to read Chapter One and Two which should be read in this order:

Chapter One
Mated to a Mage by Cassidy K. O'Connor
Mage you Blink by Gracen Miller
Mage you Look by Abigail Kade
Shadow Mage by Lia Davis
Mage Crafted by Cherron Riser
Mage of Misfortune by Lily Winter
Mage in Hell by Sheri Lyn
Sunny Mage by Jessica Ripley
Half-Blood Mage by Landra Graf
Sea Mage by Louisa Bacio
You Mage Me by Jennifer Wedmore
Midwinter Mage by Kerry Adrienne
Mage to Disobey by Mandy Rosko

Chapter Two

Magic Mishap by Lily Winter
Magic Confined by Mandy Rosko
Magic Clouded by Renee Hewett
Magic Mayhem by Louisa Bacio
Magic Mourning by Cherron Riser
Magic Flawed by Jennifer Wedmore
Magic Deadfall by Gracen Miller
Magic Exposed by Lia Davis
Magic Reflected by Sheri Lyn
Magic Masque by Kerry Adrienne
Magic Malfunction by Abigail Kade
Magic Burned by Cassidy K. O'Connor

• Language: English
• Publisher: Celtic Hearts Press
• Release date: May 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781949575347

Book preview

Chapter

One

Cale let out a pained groan as he sat up, Marek, Tarak? He called out as he looked around the alleyway, he found himself sitting in alone. What in the ever loving fuck is happening? He mumbled as he climbed to his feet unsteadily and leaned against the wall.

Fucking hell, Tarak grumbled as he stumbled into view from behind a pile of garbage stacked against the wall. What happened? Where are we? Are you okay?

Love you too, babe. Cale shook his head, Noticed you asked about me last.

Tarak shrugged, You're a powerful mage, plus you're standing on your own two feet.

My head is killing me. Cale let his head fall back against the wall and let out a sigh. Where is Marek? Do you see any sign of him?

Tarak shook his head as he moved farther down the alley. Shit, Marek. He dropped to his knees and shook the other man. Wake up, damn it. You can’t make us love you and then leave you, asshole.

Marek groaned as his eyes fluttered open and he looked up into Tarak’s frightened eyes. I’m okay.

Cale exhaled a relieved breath as he offered Marek his hand to pull him to his feet. As soon as he was standing, the three men hugged in relief. They’d survived… well most of them had and they’d destroyed Siddrith. Their cuts and bruises would heal and fade and they’d saved the world. 

Guys, Marek pulled away and stared at the entrance to the alley. I think we might have a problem.

Cale and Tarak spun around, looking for whatever it was causing the frightened tone in their boyfriend’s voice. What is it? Cale asked quietly as he prepared to fight. Thankful his powers were back in full.

Tarak relaxed as Marek shook his head silently. Do you know where we are?

Wrong question. It’s more like when we are?

Cale spun around to face him. When? As in… he trailed off and licked his lips as he took another look around him before walking over to the wall and touching the rough surface. This is wood… 

Marek nodded and pointed down the thin alley between the two buildings. And I’m pretty sure those are not actors in a western out there.

No, Tarak exclaimed as he edged his way closer, hugging the wall to keep out of sight.

Cale watched him and tried to remember back to the battle and what could have happened to send them hurtling through time and space. Marek, what's the last thing you remember?

Marek scratched his neck as he thought about it, We were embracing, celebrating the win, and then there was a big flash of light and then I woke up here with you guys.

Cale nodded, That's pretty much what I remember too. He hesitated as he waited for Tarak to make his way back to them. What did you see?

This is some fucked up shit. We’re either on a movie set or we’ve been dropped into the middle of the wild west. There’s a saloon with working girls up on the balcony, cowboys, and gunslingers walking down the street. And if that wasn’t enough, I’m pretty sure I just saw the Earp brothers going into the Sheriff's office.

As in Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp? Those Earp brothers? Cale exclaimed in shock. That is so cool.

Marek cocked one eyebrow and studied Cale, Didn’t you live through this time period once already?

Well, yeah. But I never came out here. I either stayed in my place in Hell or in the cities back east. It was a bit easier to blend in there. Cale cocked his head and studied the other two men. Did either of you spend any time here?

No, Marek frowned, I rarely visited this realm, choosing to watch and interact from a distance.

I wasn't allowed up here yet. I hadn’t earned the right until around the early nineteen hundreds or so.

Cale nodded, As much as I avoided this, He gestured to the entrance to the alleyway, I became fascinated with the Earps, Doc Holliday, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, The Dalton Brothers, and countless others.

Tarak smirked. Babe, are you going to ‘fangirl’ over them if you get to meet them?

Fuck off, Cale laughed as he fought not to blush at his teasing. You knew the Earps by sight. What does that say about you?

It was Tarak’s turn to blush. Asshole. He mumbled before turning his attention to Marek, Do you think we can manifest some clothes that fit in?

I think so, yeah. He paused and frowned. Um… remind me again what type of clothes it should be?

Tarak laughed, Do you want me to go appropriate an outfit?

No. Marek growled as he stepped closer to Tarak. You are on the straight and narrow path now.

Cale grinned, Babe, I don’t think there’s ever been anything ‘straight’ about him.

Marek hesitated as he contemplated his words and then shook his head. I don’t get it.

Tarak laughed, It’s a good thing you’re gorgeous. He meant I’m gay, therefore not straight.

Oh, Marek nodded his understanding. 

Cale shook his head in amusement. So, the clothes need to be basic wool or cotton pants, a shirt, and a vest. Nothing fancy or ornate just needs to get us out of this alley without drawing too much attention to ourselves.

Just to clarify, but none of us has power over time, right? We can’t just teleport back to our timeline? Tarak asked with a scowl as he turned to look at the noise coming from behind him on the street.

No, they said in unison.

Cale blew out a breath in resignation, Let’s get changed and get out of here. Once we find someplace safe to hide out, we can figure out how to get home again.

  They quickly made their way down the alley and onto the boardwalk. Cale found himself searching every face they passed for a glimpse of the men he’d read about over the years. Holy shit. Cale cried out as he stopped suddenly and stared across the street.

Marek groaned in pain. What is it with you people? You can’t just say the ‘S’ word, you have to add holy to it too? Does it somehow make the word better by doing it?

Tarak rolled his eyes. Cale?

Cale swallowed audibly. Do you know where we are?

Marek and Tarak shared a look of confusion. Pretty sure we already said no.

This is where the actual battle took place. Not at the O.K. Corral like the movies portray. But here by C.S. Fly’s photography studio. Cale grinned, The reports of what actually happened vary, but the gang known as ‘The Outlaws’ are reported to have been wearing their guns against the town ordinance and got into a fight with the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. The Outlaws claim it was self-defense, and that they were fired on first.

Tarak smirked. Wow, you really are into this shit. Just remember, you can't ask for their autographs or take pictures with your cell phone.

Give me some credit. And everyone knows the rules. Don’t change the future and don’t run into yourself.

Marek gestured down the walkway with a head tilt, In that case, you might want to stop talking about it until we even know if it’s happened yet or not. I think the less we interact with the townsfolk until we can get home, the better. 

They’d only made it a few steps before Cale froze in place and stared in front of them. "Holy shit on a shingle. That’s Doc Holliday, and he’s