Shadow's Soul Read online

  Shadow’s Soul

  Kyn Kronicles Book 2

  Jami Gray

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Masked In Shadows

  Shadow’s Moon

  Glossary

  Cast of Kyn

  Also by Jami Gray

  About the Author

  Also by Jami Gray

  So many to thank, so little space—

  This one goes to Donna Jo, because you understand how hard it is to believe in the light after a long dark journey!

  As always, much love and gratitude to my knight in slightly muddy armor and the Prankster Duo—thanks for keeping that lantern lit and making sure there wasn’t a train attached!

  And because none of this would be possible without them—huge thanks to the 7 Evil Dwarves—I wouldn’t have made it through this one without you guys!

  For my readers—huge hugs and thanks for all your encouragement and comments! It verifies that someone out there is really reading this!

  Finally—for all those survivors who fight to make it past the nightmares—your strength paves the way for those who follow you—thank you for never giving up!

  Chapter One

  Blood dripped into her eyes. Raine McCord raised a hand to brush it away, smearing the warm wetness across her face. Around her the world shimmered feverishly, sunlight glinting off the snow draped forest. She stumbled over a fallen log. Pain screamed through tattered nerve endings and down her right leg before the overload caused it to go limp. Collapsing to her side, she tried to protect her injured right shoulder. With a groan, she used her left hand to push up to her knees.

  She knelt there, head down, eyes closed, trying to breathe through the never-ending dizziness. Instincts screaming, she struggled to lift her heavy head and forced her eyes open. Get up! Move!

  A strange silence filled the winter forest. Under the white barked tress, patches of snow clung to the forest floor as faint whimpers and ragged breathing filled her ears. Dead leaves and fallen twigs scraped against her tender palms as she ignored the chill and dug her bloodied hands into the wet, cold dirt.

  Inadvertent sounds whispered on the icy air as she dragged her battered body along the ground. Somewhere behind her a branch cracked. Jerking to look back she found only drag marks smeared with crimson marking her path. Turning forward, she blinked, trying to clear her vision as it wavered between gray and bright white.

  Aiming for the large, dark shape looming just out of reach she began to move, inch by agonizing inch. The indistinct shape slowly became the remains of a fallen tree, large enough to hide behind. She managed to crawl behind its dubious shelter before her arms and knees gave out, sending her face first into the cold, wet earth.

  The rattling shivers from earlier were now a bone deep weariness. Still, she pulled her knees to her chest, curling into a ball, each slow movement torture. Soft pain-filled noises broke the silence. Quiet. She had to be quiet. She stuffed her fist against her bruised lips, hoping to mute the piteous sounds as the swirling darkness and cold drag her relentlessly under.

  Her dreams included strangely soothing chants and curiously subdued drumming. It was a new experience. Generally, her nightmares involved cages, mad scientists, and monsters. At least the forest motif remained familiar. Rough edges dug into her spine. Trying not to be obvious, Raine reached behind her and found—tree bark?

  Slitting her eyes open, she was met with a curtain of dark, matted hair. Hazy light filtered through the strands. She rolled over and stared into a latticework of branches complete with leaves dancing in soft green light.

  This wasn’t right. Well, more not right than the fact she was lying at the foot of a freaking huge tree.

  The towering branches continued their hypnotic sway in the still air. How did leaves dance without wind?

  Gingerly she sat up, brushing her hair out of her face, her hand snagging on a twig. Pulling the tangled mass forward, she studied the crushed sticks and leaves snared in the inky strands. Flowing white sleeves fell back from her arms as she pushed the mess back.

  White? Flowing? What the hell? She didn’t own a white, flowing anything. Jeans, leather, and steel, that’s what she was comfortable in.

  The crackle of dried leaves heralded the arrival of a new player. All her thoughts on weird clothing disappeared under a rush of adrenaline. She instinctively moved into a crouch, reaching for her weapons. A streak of panic hit when she found nothing.

  Unarmed, all she could do was wait.

  A wolf emerged from the shifting shadows, its fur blending from white to gray to black. Its amber gaze strangely calm as it padded forward then sat, like a dog. Not once did its attention waver.

  She carefully eased back until the great oak pressed against her spine, not once breaking eye contact with the waiting animal.

  Unsure of where she was, she dropped the protective mental barrier that lay between her magic and the everyday world and her senses flared to life. The natural magic in the surrounding fauna became a visible palette of shifting colors. A recently discovered talent that had nothing to do with her Fey bloodlines and everything to do with her time spent as a lab rat.

  She reached for her magic, only to have it slip through her psychic fingers like mist. Startled, she tried again even as the strange wolf continued to watch her. Frustrated when her magic escaped again, she muttered, “What the hell?”

  She eyed the wolf, possible options cascading through her mind. She reached back and dug physical fingers into the rough edges of the tree bark. That was definitely real. She stared at the watching wolf—escape or confront?

  As if reading her mind, he gave her a canine grin full of very pointed teeth.

  She grimaced. “Yeah right, Mr. Big Bad Wolf. Do I look like I’m wearing a little red hood?” She was surprised at how hoarse her voice was. Only one thing left her throat this raw. Small problem—she couldn’t remember anything requiring that much screaming.

  “Red is not your color, Raine.”

  At the mocking female voice, Raine jerked her head up so fast everything did a slow, stomach-churning spin. Once the world resettled, she dared to look around. Other than the wolf and the tree behind her, everything remained shrouded in shadows and mists.

  A woman stepped out of the shadows. “You need to come back.” She moved to the wolf and scratched behind one gray ear. She was tall, taller than Raine’s own five-foot-five frame by a good couple of inches. Various shades of blonde were drawn into a simple braid. Deep brown eyes sparkled with some inner amusement. “You can’t stay here.”

  “I don’t know where here is.”

  The blonde tilted her head in a strange bird-like manner. “Here is where you go to heal, to get away from the rest of the world. Think of it as your own personal garden of Eden.”

  Raine couldn’t stop the snort of disbelief or the bitter twist of her mouth. “This is the first tim
e my Eden doesn’t look like hell, so I’m not so sure this is all my doing.”

  Impatience passed over the strong-boned face. “Regardless, you need to go back now.”

  The snappy tone didn’t sit well with Raine. Rising from her crouch, she hid the shakiness of her legs with a sneer. “How am I supposed to get back?”

  This place set her teeth on edge and getting out of here was quickly becoming priority number one.

  Frustration tightened the woman’s lips. “Don’t you know how to do this? It’s your spirit you’ve trapped here.” Her voice carried sharp impatience. “Make the decision to come back to yourself. If you don’t, you’ll die.” She crossed her arms as a flash of understanding washed through her face. “Ah. Perhaps that’s what you want then?”

  Raine curled her hands into useless fists, the hair along her arms rising as danger circled. “If this is my Eden, who the hell are you?”

  “Tala Whiteriver, and you, Raine McCord, are dying.” Tala’s voice stayed unmoved and melodic, yet something in the undertones sent shivers racing down Raine’s spine.

  “Follow.” Tala turned away, her voice floating back, the challenge unmistakable. “If you have the courage.”

  The wolf rose to its feet, his tongue lolling out in obvious canine laughter. Tala’s figure disappeared into the thick surrounding shadows. The wolf turned and followed his mistress into the haze.

  Not one to ever back down, Raine left the sheltering tree, each step steadier than the last. Gray shifting shadows curled around her as the drums and chanting made a comeback. When she came to the glade’s edge, the sounds turned insistent, driving. A few more steps took her into the mist of dark shadows.

  They wrapped around her like ghosts, pulling her forward. A strange fear spiked deep in her bones. She tried to brush the phantom mists away, but they clung tight. Obviously whatever this was, it didn’t want her to leave. She stopped struggling and noticed the ghostly bindings began to fade as she pressed forward. The only way to tell she was on the same path as Tala and the wolf was the flash of a tail up ahead.

  “Try to keep up.” Tala’s voice drifted back. “There’s no woodcutter coming to save you.”

  Raine’s teeth snapped together. She really disliked this woman.

  The dense gray soup compromised her sense of direction. Flashes of fur became her guide. Time passed—she wasn’t sure how much. The fog grew lighter and the disturbing shadows dissipated. When the wolf disappeared between one blink and the next, she stepped up her pace and abruptly broke free of the shadows. Light blinded her, while the chanting and drumbeats took up a resonant pulse in her bones.

  “Show me how strong you are, warrior girl.” Tala’s whispered taunt cut through the chaos of noise and blinding glare of light.

  A strong shove from invisible hands sent Raine stumbling forward. She fell into endless darkness. Panic left a metallic taste in her mouth. Blood rushed through her veins, following the beat of the unseen drums. Colors became a dizzying kaleidoscope, while sonorous chanting infiltrated her mind like a thousand voices.

  Wrenching agony choked off her frustrated scream as every bone in her body shattered at once. Acid replaced the blood in her veins as the chanting swelled until it swallowed her agonized consciousness, sucking her into the terrifying abyss.

  Chapter Two

  Something held Raine down. No matter how much she fought, she couldn’t get free. She couldn’t be tied down, not again. Raking out, she felt her nails score someone’s skin, but her movements were weak and uncoordinated. Every muscle felt insubstantial. And she hurt. Oh gods. The last time she had hurt like this, she woke to find herself strapped to a lab table, changed in ways she still didn’t understand. The scientists couldn’t have gotten her again. They were dead.

  She heard a whimper from somewhere.

  “Raine, you have to stop.”

  She knew that voice. The low-pitched tone arrowed to her soul, lodging deep. She stilled. It couldn’t be him. She was too far from home and he wanted nothing to do with her. A hallucination maybe?

  She dragged air into her lungs, feeling her body quiver like a trapped animal. The scent of cool wind cutting through leaves and green things deep in the forest curled its way inside her. That scent belonged to one man. “Gavin?” His name came out on a mere whisper of sound.

  She pried her heavy lids open, wondering if her mind had finally broken.

  “Hey.” Jade green eyes dark with concern stared back. Not cold, not angry, but worried.

  That wasn’t right. Maybe she was still dreaming?

  Her hallucination kept talking, “You need to lie still, okay?”

  She tried to nod, only to stop when a spike of pain slammed through her skull. She couldn’t hold back her harsh groan.

  No moving her head. Instead, she let her gaze travel around—slowly, so she wouldn’t pass out from the reeling images. The drums and chanting were gone, replaced by the snap, crackle of a nearby fire. Which would explain the dancing light in the darkened room.

  The touch of a cool cloth drew her attention back to the man next to her. She studied him, some unacknowledged part of her starving for the sight of him. His auburn hair was pulled back, leaving his high cheekbones and strong jaw line exposed.

  She hadn’t seen him in three months, a deliberate move on her part. Her guilt over what had happened to him was a handy tool in avoiding contact. So, why was he here now? And where exactly was here?

  Gently trailing the cloth over her brows, along her burning cheeks, he only stopped when he reached her chin.

  Little rivulets of water trickled down her neck, but not wanting to break this strange spell, she remained mute. With her luck, anything she said would turn his concern to anger. She wanted to enjoy what she could for now. Dark circles hung under his eyes and his face seemed a bit thinner. Sure signs he hadn’t been taking care of himself.

  He moved the cloth down her neck, gently running it over the collar-like scar on her neck. “You remember anything?” His question was soft.

  She closed her eyes, shutting his distracting presence out while she pulled her memories together. She recalled being summoned into her boss’s office at Taliesin Security in Portland, Oregon, and being given her a new assignment by Mulcahy. He wanted her to play bodyguard. Not to some high profile human. Nope, she was to protect an even higher profile Kyn—Cheveyo.

  Head of the Magi House, Cheveyo was responsible for all the witches, shamans, and wizards residing in the Northwest. He had been asked by the head of the Southwest Magi House to come to Arizona and assist her on an existing problem.

  Four hours later, Raine had boarded a private plane with the most powerful witch in the Northwest, who just also happened to be her current mentor and pain in the ass. With no security to run through, she was able to keep her weapons. A definite perk of private air travel. They left Portland’s slushy snow and freezing temperatures to land under clear skies in Phoenix’s balmy, sixty-seven degrees.

  She followed Cheveyo to the waiting rental car, then proceeded to check the vehicle for any hidden threats, magical or practical. Only then did she let him put their bags in the trunk.

  She began navigating her way through Phoenix despite taking exception to the GPS’s assurance that taking a right wouldn’t send them careening off the overpass. After her rather loud disagreement with the stupid computer, Cheveyo took over the navigation and directed her out of Phoenix and toward Flagstaff.

  At one point, they stopped for gas while he rechecked his directions. Walking into the busy convenience store, she noted the bevy of feminine attention he garnered. His Native American heritage was apparent in his straight black collar length hair, which framed a strong face. Being taller than most men only added to his quiet, compelling presence.

  When those same glances landed on her, they quickly shied away. Unlike Cheveyo, she could never be mistaken for anything other than what she was—lethal. She looked young, most Kyn did, but her eyes held too much darkness. Hell, s
he hadn’t even flashed any of her scars thanks to the long sleeves of her jacket and her turtleneck tucked into faded jeans. Even her jacket served to hide the various blades lying at her wrists and back.

  As Cheveyo had chatted with the clerk, Raine kept her face professionally blank scanning their surroundings without being obvious about it. A crucial skill when guarding someone.

  Directions in hand, they continued into the mountains. Turning off the highway, they drove along the winding roads that seemed to lead to nowhere. Winter was in full display, with snow dusting the tall trees and covering the ground in a thin, white blanket.

  They bumped along a dirt road, long enough for dusk to fall. As sunlight faded, she caught movement from her left and stomped on the brakes. A deer turned panicked eyes her way before bounding away. A shiver of unease worked its way down Raine’s spine, but nothing else came out of the woods.

  She turned to warn Cheveyo, when her blood iced. The air grew heavy, thick. Malice riding through the deepening shadows like an insidious mist. She scrambled out of the car, trying to pinpoint what was heading their way.

  Unreasoning fear blossomed, but there was nothing to fight. The fear expanded, deepened, until it choked her. Standing back to back with Cheveyo’s, they pulled on their combined magic to set a protection circle in place. Before the last piece fell, darkness slammed into them.

  That was when her memories twisted into nightmares.