Midnight's Son (Darkling Mage Book 5)

by Nazri Noor

  And really, it all came down to power. If anything tried to wrest control away from me, then I simply had to be stronger. I’d come a long way from merely using the Dark Room for transportation, to actually using it as a weapon – and now, to bonding its power with my blood. Like a muscle, really. And like a muscle, the only way to get better was to keep using the Dark Room, over and over.

  So I did. I threw my arm over Asher’s shoulder, checking his face for hesitation. All I saw was bright-eyed excitement, maybe mingled with the slightest, most distant hints of nervousness, like a thrill seeker about to go on a rollercoaster.

  “Are you ready?”

  Asher nodded, his head going so fast I thought it would snap right off his neck.

  I knocked on the Dark Room’s door, and Asher’s body went tense as we sank into the shadows. Ironic, considering it was his little speech that got me all confident about using my power again.

  There was no doubt in my mind that we were going to be fine. I already knew that. So maybe I wasn’t meant to wear the Crown of Stars. Fine. I had something better. I was, after all, the Dark Room’s lover, its lessor, its lord and master.

  As Asher and I faded from reality, my intention crystallized. It was time to dig deeper into the Dark Room, to navigate its nameless, nightmarish corridors, to truly learn to call it home.

  I never needed a crown, you see. I had a kingdom all along.

  END

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  About the Author

  Hi, I’m Nazri, a Filipino-Malaysian author based in California. I’m trilingual, but I really only write in English. I can also speak just enough Sindarin and Valyrian to impress absolutely no one. My urban fantasy novels focus on heroes who use wits, style, and their wildly unpredictable magic to save the day. Think sass and class, while kicking ass.

  My influences come from horror and fantasy: HP Lovecraft, Anne Rice, George R.R. Martin, Chuck Palahniuk, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman. Growing up I was shaped by the Blood Sword, Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf, and Grey Star game book universes. I’m also inspired by video games, specifically the Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Persona series.

  Long story short, I’m a huge nerd, and the thrill of imagining wizards and monsters and worlds into existence is what makes me feel most alive. Writing, to me, is magic. If you enjoyed my work, please do consider leaving a review on Amazon. Even just a sentence can do so much. Reviews help readers like you decide whether they’d like my books, and they help indie authors like me with better visibility and credibility.

  And do consider joining us over in the Arcane Underground, my own reader group on Facebook. You can talk about my books with other readers, or even directly ask me questions about my stories if you like. I frequently share free and discounted books from myself and other authors, but most importantly, the group is always the first to learn about my latest releases and see new covers as I reveal them.

  I hope to see you there. Thank you for reading, and thank you for supporting independent authors everywhere.