Henry Saint shouldn’t exist. Every year on his birthday, he kills someone and takes their soul so that he may live another year. He is a darkling, not fairy… but not human either. Yet he is bound by the laws of both worlds. With a new King on the throne of Annwyn and the mortal world trying to rebuild after plagues killed so many, Henry seizes the opportunity to carve out a place of his own. He wants Detroit.
A spy without a soul…
Darah was Felan’s spy before he became King of Annwyn. Now he has one last mission for her. He wants her to join the darkling’s Court and discover what Henry’s endgame is. No one trusts the Banished when they gather in great numbers. As Darah gets drawn into Henry’s world she realizes he can give her the one thing she could never find in Annwyn—love. But is love worth betraying her King?
This time, though, he’d have fairy magic on his side. Or at least in his possession, if not exactly on his side. He glanced at Darah.
“So, Darah, what did you do to end up here?” The cup warmed his hands. Summer was fast becoming a memory as autumn took hold.
She paused, the cup almost to her lips. After being surrounded by humans and the ugly and awkward Greys for so long, her beauty was like a rose growing among the weeds in sidewalk. Something rare that made him pause.
Her tongue darted over her lip. He shivered, unprepared for the spark of lust the thought ignited. He’d spent a long time keeping those kinds of thoughts deeply buried, and he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to release them. Certainly not with a woman he barely knew and didn’t quite trust.
Although to be fair, most of his encounters had involved women for whom kissing wasn’t part of the job. It was safer for everyone, even if it didn’t satisfy the ache. Darklings didn’t get to love. Any human he did love would eventually die. And Greys, he’d tried once. It was easier to go without.
“I stole from the old Queen.”
“If you were exiled before the power shift and the change of Kings, you’d be dead.” All fairies caught on the wrong side of the veil had died, only the Greys had survived because they were already cut off from the magic. “Don’t lie to me.” He wasn’t a mortal fool who knew nothing of Annwyn.
“That wasn’t a lie.” And she sounded offended that he would accuse of stooping so low. That revealed a little more about her; at least she wouldn’t lie to him…merely mislead. “I was a shadow servant for a year and day as punishment. However, the taint of being one of the mad Queen’s ladies has stained my reputation.”
Henry narrowed his eyes. Her words were too careful. She had never once actually said that she was exiled, merely agreed with the assumption. “You aren’t exiled, are you?”
She sipped her soup but didn’t answer. No confirmation or denial. He was taking that as an affirmative.
He leaned back. This one had teeth and cunning; he was going to have to watch her closely. It had been a long time since anyone had roused the thrill of a hunt and the chance of a good game.
Damn his fairy blood for that one too.
“Why Detroit?” He smiled, and plucked some of the bread. It was always made fresh, but it really needed butter.
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Very well, a truthful answer for a truthful answer.” All fairies loved a deal. Was she enjoying the idea of a game as much as he was? How far was he willing to take it? It was a delicate dance and he couldn’t afford to gamble too much, nor get too distracted.
“That’s an acceptable deal.” She smiled and her gaze sharpened.
He exhaled as lust traced a razor edge over his skin. If he mis-stepped, dancing with Darah was going to hurt.
“So, Darah, what did you do to end up here?” The cup warmed his hands. Summer was fast becoming a memory as autumn took hold.
She paused, the cup almost to her lips. After being surrounded by humans and the ugly and awkward Greys for so long, her beauty was like a rose growing among the weeds in sidewalk. Something rare that made him pause.
Her tongue darted over her lip. He shivered, unprepared for the spark of lust the thought ignited. He’d spent a long time keeping those kinds of thoughts deeply buried, and he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to release them. Certainly not with a woman he barely knew and didn’t quite trust.
Although to be fair, most of his encounters had involved women for whom kissing wasn’t part of the job. It was safer for everyone, even if it didn’t satisfy the ache. Darklings didn’t get to love. Any human he did love would eventually die. And Greys, he’d tried once. It was easier to go without.
“I stole from the old Queen.”
“If you were exiled before the power shift and the change of Kings, you’d be dead.” All fairies caught on the wrong side of the veil had died, only the Greys had survived because they were already cut off from the magic. “Don’t lie to me.” He wasn’t a mortal fool who knew nothing of Annwyn.
“That wasn’t a lie.” And she sounded offended that he would accuse of stooping so low. That revealed a little more about her; at least she wouldn’t lie to him…merely mislead. “I was a shadow servant for a year and day as punishment. However, the taint of being one of the mad Queen’s ladies has stained my reputation.”
Henry narrowed his eyes. Her words were too careful. She had never once actually said that she was exiled, merely agreed with the assumption. “You aren’t exiled, are you?”
She sipped her soup but didn’t answer. No confirmation or denial. He was taking that as an affirmative.
He leaned back. This one had teeth and cunning; he was going to have to watch her closely. It had been a long time since anyone had roused the thrill of a hunt and the chance of a good game.
Damn his fairy blood for that one too.
“Why Detroit?” He smiled, and plucked some of the bread. It was always made fresh, but it really needed butter.
“I could ask you the same question.”
“Very well, a truthful answer for a truthful answer.” All fairies loved a deal. Was she enjoying the idea of a game as much as he was? How far was he willing to take it? It was a delicate dance and he couldn’t afford to gamble too much, nor get too distracted.
“That’s an acceptable deal.” She smiled and her gaze sharpened.
He exhaled as lust traced a razor edge over his skin. If he mis-stepped, dancing with Darah was going to hurt.
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Three time ARRA finalist Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn't looked back. Drawing on history and myth, she weaves new worlds and writes heroes who aren't afraid to get hurt while falling in love.
With stories ranging from sensual to scorching, she write paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy and contemporary romance. She is represented by the Ruben Agency.
Why do you write?
Writing fiction is a really fun process, from the inception of an idea to the fleshing out of a character! I love immersing myself in creating alternate worlds and making the impossible plausible.
What do you like to write?
I enjoy the creative process and challenges involved in writing fantasy romance and paranormal romance. While some stories are hotter than others, I always like to end with a happily ever after.
Where do your ideas come from?
I draw my inspiration from all kinds of situations and people. Sometimes a dream may spark a workable idea, other times it might be a news story or a historical concept or a myth that I think would be fun to explore through story telling.
How did you begin your career as a writer?
I was always been a big reader but my writing career really got started while I was on maternity leave with my first child and found myself with lots of spare time. I've always had a talent for creative writing wrote bits and pieces of fiction throughout high school. As an adult I discovered romance novels, from there I discovered how to combine the best elements of fantasy and romance into my stories, and the rest - as they say - is history.
What advice could you give to aspiring authors?
I would advise aspiring authors just to write; to write a lot and often and never be afraid to try different things.
With stories ranging from sensual to scorching, she write paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy and contemporary romance. She is represented by the Ruben Agency.
Why do you write?
Writing fiction is a really fun process, from the inception of an idea to the fleshing out of a character! I love immersing myself in creating alternate worlds and making the impossible plausible.
What do you like to write?
I enjoy the creative process and challenges involved in writing fantasy romance and paranormal romance. While some stories are hotter than others, I always like to end with a happily ever after.
Where do your ideas come from?
I draw my inspiration from all kinds of situations and people. Sometimes a dream may spark a workable idea, other times it might be a news story or a historical concept or a myth that I think would be fun to explore through story telling.
How did you begin your career as a writer?
I was always been a big reader but my writing career really got started while I was on maternity leave with my first child and found myself with lots of spare time. I've always had a talent for creative writing wrote bits and pieces of fiction throughout high school. As an adult I discovered romance novels, from there I discovered how to combine the best elements of fantasy and romance into my stories, and the rest - as they say - is history.
What advice could you give to aspiring authors?
I would advise aspiring authors just to write; to write a lot and often and never be afraid to try different things.
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