McShayne's Fae: McShayne Bloodline, #2

By Nicole Dennis

A darkness encroaches the lands. Otherkin are disappearing. Towns attacked.

The Golden Forest Fae Prince of the Solas High Court, Caderyn O' Ceithearnaigh-Ard, finds himself in the middle of the battle. Where he learns a McShayne witch is a prisoner of these dangerous creatures, but escapes into a tangled land of broken magic. The mysterious witch who enters the Court's gardens, no matter the magical barriers, and draws Caderyn's attention.

Needing help to help Larkin McShayne, he contacts another McShayne witch and his dragon. With their assistance, they try to draw Larkin out of the tangled lands and back to reality.

Only there is more to the witch, to the prince, and what faces the Court.

 

McShayne Bloodline

Magic passed through ancient bloodlines for generations. A powerful family gifted with Elf and Fae magic and natural human magic, the McShaynes watched over the balance of nature. When humans turned against witches in a dangerous night, the ancient bloodline remained alive with four surviving sons now spread across the lands. Otherkin and humans learned to interact and live together, accepting magic. Until a darkness begins to spread across the lands. While facing this impeding darkness, each McShayne son fears he is the last, unknown to the other. They fight to survive the encroaching darkness, understand their bloodline gifts, and discover love and family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicole Dennis
• Release date: Nov 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223175162

Book preview

McShayne’s Fae

Nicole Dennis

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Acknowledgement

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

About the Author

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2021 by Nicole Dennis

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Published by FatCat Books Ink

Cover Art/Formatting by Kris Jacen www.krisjacen.com/three-hearts

Issued 2021

This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher

CHAPTER ONE

Releasing the arrow straight into the red-eye of a dark-breed, the Prince of the Golden Forest Fae pushed forward with an entire legion supporting him. Now known as a cadger, the dark-breeds were a dangerous foe to all the races. A horrendous combination of night drakul with either Dark Ælf, troll, goblin, or gnome forced and manipulated in multiple combinations by a powerful mix of dark blood and even nastier magic of a crazed sorcerer. No one knew what dark creation type they would face the next time they met.

This time, after following a verified lead, Caderyn Ó Ceithearnaigh-Ard raced into the unexpectedly massive cave located within the eastern edge of the Bonavern Peaks. A dozen of the Prime Guard, the protectors of the Court and royals, along with a full company of skilled archers, scouts, and legionnaires accompanied him. He motioned for them to stop. Something caught his eye. He didn’t want anything to disturb it. He crouched to study an unusual pattern against the rock.

My Prince? his Prime Guard captain, Galvyn, asked.

Watch where you step.

With those words, Galvyn was careful of his feet placement when he returned to the prince’s side.

Blood drops. Passive blood drops. Someone bled while they left this cavern. You can tell from the shape. Might have dropped from a fingertip or their side onto the ground, Caderyn said.

How can you tell the direction?

By the way the blood falls and the point at the end. It indicates the direction the victim is traveling. Thought the instructors would have taught you all of this in tracker and guardian school.

Perhaps I was asleep that particular day.

Wouldn’t put it past you. You never could stand being at a desk.

Nope.

How did you get to be the captain of my Prime Guard?

Good looks. Wit. Charm—

Being so annoying I can’t say no.

That works too. Galvyn smiled despite the craziness of the situation they stood within the cavern. He glanced at a couple of the specialized Prime Guard, all of them rolled their eyes and shook their heads at their captain. So. What direction?

Out of the cavern. They stood here for some time because there are multiple drops gathered. Caderyn called upon his internal magic while he stood. A soft golden glow lit his hands. He created a small ball of light from his palm. Here. And here. Smears of bloody fingerprints. Someone steadying themselves against the wall. It coordinates with the larger pools of droplets.

Could they still be alive? Galvyn asked.

Perhaps. It isn’t cadger blood since it retains a red tint. Cadgers have thick black sludge. Caderyn called two of the scouts. Follow these blood droplets out of the cavern. There should be a trail. Follow it until it ends, make notes of what you find. If there is a living victim, I want them found and taken to the Court. Go beyond certain points in case they changed direction or hid their trail.

Yes, my Prince, the lead scout said.

The scouts studied the droplets, got a hint of the scent, and reversed their steps to follow the trail.

Could someone even escape from this place? Galvyn asked.

It doesn’t seem possible from all we learned, Caderyn said.

Another guard walked over and inquired, What about any dead?

Preserve and provide them the respect they deserve. Wrap them in linens and take them to the Court. We shall try and figure out their species to provide the proper death rituals. If we can discover a familial link, we’ll send them home.

With a respectful nod, the guard returned to his squad and passed on their orders.

Reports spoke of these dangerous cadgers nesting within the cavern system of the southern Bonavern Peaks, attacking neighboring settlements within the Stoughcroft Wilds, the Emlams Fields, and the southern Golden Forest. It didn’t matter if the towns and villages were Otherkin or mortal. All were targeted. They even dared to capture travelers off the road and river systems. The reports became more terrifying as these creatures altered from their natural states with dark magic into a hideous combination that lived on the magical energy and blood of their prisoners. They were called ‘cadgers’ due to this leeching of magical energy from a living body.

The Solas High Court agreed to track, hunt, and destroy all cadger nests deemed dangerous. If possible, they would take prisoners for interrogation and information. They needed to discover the source of these unnatural Otherkin before they caused a greater altercation and destruction to their world. There were rumors of a crazed sorcerer who created this deadly magic, but no one knew his name or location. Either they didn’t know, couldn’t remember, were too scared to say anything, or were dead. Most times, they were dead.

Moving further into the cavern, but keeping an eye on the faint blood trail, Caderyn flicked off the light ball. He adjusted his grip on the bow and motioned for everyone to move forward. Keep one or two alive. Transport them to the high-risk level with maximum containment to prevent magical use. Remember to not touch them without a protective shield so they can’t steal your magic. Two dedicated guards from every shift will watch their cages around the clock. Hearing something, he twisted, notched an arrow, his hands glowed to inject light magic into the arrowhead, and let it fly straight through the eye of another cadger, who snarled and advanced at them from out of the darkness.

The cadger screamed when the arrow hit him. He writhed and flailed. Like the others that rushed toward their entrance into the cave, this one had a short stocky frame that resembled a gnome, but his fangs were pure night drakul. Within seconds of the hit, the cadger twitched in the last throes and dropped dead.

Too late for that one, my Prince, Galvyn said in a dry tone.

Caderyn lifted an eyebrow at Galvyn. Since he was aiming for you, I could have let him dig his nasty fingers into your back and drain you dry.

That would be unfortunate.

Then the reason for the arrow.

Appreciate the help, my Prince.

A couple of the legionnaires snorted back laughter.

Figure out who their leaders are and capture them. These are the lower drones sent to die and halt our progress. I think they create those cadgers based on gnomes because of their ability to see in low-level conditions. They must be protecting something vital to send this many attackers. I want to know what they’re protecting. I want answers.

As you wish, my Prince, Galvyn said.

My Prince, the advance guard entered one of the main caverns. There is something you must see. They held multiple prisoners. Most are dead within the crude prison cells, a warrior said.

Why would they defend dead victims?

There is something else. While his face drained of color, the guard glanced over his shoulder.

Take a deep breath. Tell me what you found.

We found one that is still alive. I kept a ring of protectors around the victim and sent for our medical team. There is evidence there was a second prisoner, the warrior said. The scene is… disturbing, my Prince.

Show me, Caderyn said.

While other warriors completed the mission of either killing or subduing the scattered cadgers, Caderyn followed Galvyn and the soldier deeper into the cavern. He held up a glowing hand and created multiple light balls to float ahead. The orbs provided a brilliant white light to destroy the darkness.

They revealed a devastating sight.

Desiccated, drained bodies hung by wrist shackles in a long row along the length of the wall. Each body covered in multiple bites and knife wounds. It was a gruesome sight. The odor of decaying flesh overwhelming.

Caderyn coughed into his shoulder while he stared at the horrific evidence. He motioned to the guard leader, the one who queried about the dead earlier.

This is more than anyone expected, the guard whispered.

Treat them with respect. Take them to one of the empty ballrooms and create a morgue until the threat of these cadgers is finished. Have one of our healers inspect each one to discover their cause of death, species, and additional information.

Honor and respect, my Prince, the guard said. He bowed and went to his squad to perform their duty to the dead.

Over here, my Prince, there is more, Galvyn called out.

Walking toward the far end of the massive cavern, Caderyn coughed at the scent of death. It was far worse than any battle scene. He sent more globes to light the entire area.

Dear sweet light.

CHAPTER TWO

Two globes illuminated a limp nude figure draped over a raised stone. Ropes knotted around his wrists and ankles kept him bound to the stone and unable to move. The skin pale underneath the variety of wounds, bruises, blood, and unknown layers of dirt and grime.

Another set of tattered ropes rested upon another stone. Pool of blood and grime gathered around the edges.

The Elf remains mine! Trapped and broken by me. You’ll not have the elfling!

Caderyn notched an arrow and released it at the cadger, who appeared from a darkened side tunnel. He didn’t aim to kill this one, only knock him down and unconscious. This was a higher ranked cadger, one with a strong night drakul component based on the massive fangs that were useless. The cadger couldn’t draw blood through the fangs like a regular drakul. Unfortunately, this caused them to use various blades and instruments to cut and torture their victims to leech the blood, life, and magic.

Secure him! Transfer him to the prison. High priority, Caderyn ordered a group of warriors who reacted to the commotion.

Aye, my Prince, one warrior said.

Search this cave. I want to know what they kept here, Caderyn said to another group.

What about the Elf? Galvyn asked.

Caderyn slung the bow across his shoulders while he stepped closer to the limp body. He circled around, cautious for any possible reaction or attack. Matted lanky hair covered half of his face. Sharp pointy ears poke through the scruff announced his Elf heritage. There was no other facial or body hair. Then he placed his fingers against the carotid artery in the neck.

A faint thump pulsed against his touch. Sluggish, but there.

Alive. He’s alive! Contact the healers. We have a survivor. Caderyn conjured the softest blanket he could and draped it over the Elf’s body.

I contacted them earlier and waiting for a response, the warrior said.

Curse the dark! Galvyn, get on the healers. Now!

With stronger magic than the warrior possessed, Galvyn sent an urgent message through the light.

Caderyn touched the blood-streaked, grime-covered, lank hair and pushed a few pieces from the pale face. Underneath all the grime and damage, he could barely make out the face. It wasn’t familiar to him.

Hello? Are you with us? he asked