Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two)

by Wylie, Morgan

  Contents

  title ebook

  Copyright ebook

  Dedication

  Thank You

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  About the Author

  Glossary

  A Special Treat

  Lichgates

  Lichgates Excerpt

  Elfin

  Elfin Excerpt

  Veiled Shadows

  The Age of Alandria Book Two

  By

  Morgan Wylie

  Veiled Shadows

  Published by Red Cabin Publishing

  Nashville, TN

  Copyright © 2013 Morgan Wylie

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events; to real people, living or dead; or to real locales are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and their resemblance, if any, to real-life counterparts is entirely coincidental.

  Kindle Edition 2013

  Veiled Shadows edited by Christine LePorte

  Cover Art and Typography by Phatpuppy Art and The Bookish Brunette

  To my husband, Steven.

  To my daughter, who inspires me to dream daily. You make Mama’s heart happy.

  To the readers, with you my story has wings.

  Thank You...

  Thank You, to YOU, the reader!!

  My husband, Steven, once again this story wouldn’t be all that it has become without your creative insight and genius. You inspire me, challenge me, and encourage me to be the best version of me I can be even when I struggle to remember who that is. You are my hero and my partner. You are your own badass and you are mine. Thank you. And to my daughter, you are too young to understand all this now, but know that I continue pursuing my dreams so that you know you can pursue yours.

  My family, you have been an incredible support and encouragement. And my forever friends "back home", thank you for your excitement. I love you all.

  To my critique partners and friends, Gaby and Kallie, your critiques, insights, and encouragements have been invaluable. #LoveWriteCreate

  And my mom, for believing in me and actually enjoying my books, lol. It means more to me than you know. I also appreciate the text comments as you read and the typo updates ;)

  Also, my writing friends: your are my inspirations and my heroes. Thank you for your encouragement and support: Chelsea Fine, Quinn Loftis, Lizzy Ford, Julia Crane, Samantha Young, S.M. Boyce, Teal Haviland, and many others!

  Stacey K Black... You are a ROCKSTAR! You inspire me with your life and I thank you for your support and encouragement to me and my family.

  To my beta readers: Tina and Barb, thank you for your thoughts, opinions, excitement, and all the spreading the love that you do! You are my rock stars!

  To my team at InkSlinger PR, Kelly and Shanyn, thank you for believing in my story enough to help the people find it.

  Once again, the creative geniuses behind the face of this book: Claudia at PhatpuppyArt for her cover art, and Ashley at The Bookish Brunette for her beautiful fonts and layout. Thank you both! You are AMAZING!

  Also, to Eden Crane Design for all her work creating symbols to define each race (coming to my website: morganwylie.net), and Donna Dull with Sharp Covers who brought Alandria to life visually with an original map.

  And to my editor, Christine LePorte, thank you once again for catching all my mistakes and making my words flow.

  Writing can be a solitary and lonely endeavor at times, but it doesn’t have to be. I am extremely grateful to have a team and community of people that can inspire me to be the best version of me as I continue on my journey, and that can help me make my book and my story the best it can be. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

  Prologue

  Exhile

  The Realm of the Unforgiven Dead

  Sitting with her legs crossed on the hard dirt ground, Cley-una concentrated once more on getting through the veil that concealed them within the cliffside cave of a mountain. Since the activation of the prophecy, it was easier for those with the gift of viewing to see, but it was still a challenge for Cley-una to sustain communication for any length of time. They had all felt a sigh from the heart of Alandria after Daegan had brought Kaeleighnna across the border. Their hope—the hope of The Orchids—was lifting. This was the time of the prophecy.

  A hand gently touched her shoulder as she felt a presence lower down next to her. “What do you see, Cley-una?”

  Cley-una opened her eyes briefly to look into the kind eyes of the Faerie woman next to her—blue eyes that sparkled with a touch of gold, unlike Cley-una’s warm brown eyes. “Sit with me, Eva. I have been checking in with Daegan periodically. It seems they are about to cross the Bridge of Revealment.”

  “Let me show the others.”

  At Cley-una’s nodding, Eva spoke quietly yet loud enough for all to hear her. “Come closer, I will attempt to show you what she sees.”

  As the others gathered close with expectation written on their faces, Eva sat and held the hand Cley-una offered, lending her own magical energy to Cley-una’s. Eva’s waist-long mahogany-colored hair fell in loose waves as it hung down her back and partial side. She sat very still, taking slow, deep breaths, not wanting to disrupt Cley-una’s concentration.

  Cley-una was quite the contrast to Eva. She had shoulder-length curly black hair and her skin was a warmer light tan than Eva’s fair porcelain skin. Eva exuded grace and femininity while Cley-una was compact and warrior-like. It was rare to find a woman Ferrishyn, though there were some, and Cley-una was one of the best. Cley-una and Eva were the best of friends; it gave them comfort having each other in this forsaken place.

  Cley-una’s strong empathic energies allowed her to receive feelings and impressions from others. Eva’s gift was quite the opposite in that she was able to project images and impressions to others. She had taught Cley-una how to invert her gift just enough that Eva could experience what Cley-una was receiving. At times, she could even project an image outward for the others who joined in their isolation, as she did this time.

  Focused on Cley-una, Eva blocked out everything surrounding her except what she was picking up from h
er friend beside her. Slowing her breathing, she turned her energies outward, projecting a holographic-type image before them all. There before them was the small group that held the key to their hope, making their way through parts of Alandria. Weary and worn were Daegan, Kaeleigh, Finn, and Chel as they began their individual paths crossing the bridge. Both women smiled warmly as they watched the transformations unfold.

  Chel crossed the bridge and Eva gasped as she saw the young woman show signs of her shifter heritage. “She looks so much like her mother.” Eva smiled but spoke sadly missing her friend.

  They watched enraptured as Kaeleigh stood at the center of the bridge. Both Eva and Cley-una looked on with intense anticipation, their hands held as tightly together as they could be. A golden tear escaped from Eva’s eye and slid down her face. Not bothering to catch it before it fell to the ground, she watched on as the magic began to reveal.

  “We are here, dear child,” Eva whispered as she pushed her energies through Cley-una like never before, hoping to somehow touch and unite with the magic swirling around Kaeleigh to encourage her journey.

  Kaeleigh looked up through sparkling rays of light... and orchids began falling all around her. They caressed her skin as they fell to the ground and she smiled. It was beautiful. She reached up, letting the light and the orchids dance along her arms on their way to the river below her. She twirled around very slowly, watching the light all around her. A mist began encircling her; it moved faster and faster, becoming a tornado of fog. The magic was alive. Small electric sparks jumped all over her body.

  The breeze began to swirl around her face, catching her off guard. Her eyes grew wide and wild with panic as she watched the magical mist consume her. Kaeleigh closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She opened her mouth and inhaled, taking the mist deep inside her when she did. She struggled and choked, but then something caused her to still, and peace came over her face.

  She relaxed, the magic weaving within her and around her on the outside. As the pressure of the magic built it lifted her off the ground. She hung limp in the air a couple feet off the bridge. Her body jerked back and forth as the magic tugged at what was her human glamour. The tugging became more insistent. Sparks flying around her mixed in with the fog. A blue fire ignited at the soles of her feet and slowly moved up her legs. Her body stiffened then arched back, still suspended above the bridge. Her head hung back, mouth open wide releasing silent screams. The fire spread up through her torso and into her head. Her face was tortured with a look of unfathomable pain, her mouth expelling a final silent scream, before her body gave out.

  “NO!” Eyes wide with fear and tortured pain, Eva and Cley-una screamed out. Gasping, Eva turned to Cley-una. “What was that?” she whispered. “That was not supposed to happen... is she...?” She looked around at the faces before her, searching for any kind of answer, but all she saw was confusion and despair.

  “I have never heard of that happening before,” Cley-una offered out of her own shock, shaking her head. Sitting up straight, suddenly focused elsewhere, she spoke again with relief. “Daegan has her, she is alive, and they are headed toward the cottage in the grove.”

  One of the older Elves, a woman, spoke from off to the side. “I believe her wards were too strong for the magic of the bridge. Remember who placed them upon her in the first place.” The woman looked softly at Eva. “They will find him. We knew this would have to happen for the prophecy to be fulfilled.”

  Nodding her head to the woman, Eva replied, “Thank you, Kae’e láh. I believe you are right.” Standing abruptly, Eva didn’t even bother to wipe the dirt from her beautiful blue dress. “I must find Kanessa!”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Sitting in Hunter’s cottage nestled quietly in a grove of trees just below the Shadow Ridge Mountains and beyond the River of Rancier, Kaeleigh had tears streaming down her face. There was nothing but stunned silence for several moments, and then suddenly she threw herself into her grandfather’s arms. She had a grandfather. Kaeleigh had been searching for some piece of her own history, some indication that she still had family out there somewhere... and she did. She just hadn’t expected him to be from another realm and of a race other than human. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but they could wait. For now, she just wanted to feel this moment, to feel acceptance, to feel family.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Daegan’s eye as he looked on with what appeared to be compassion from the back of the cramped cabin. He held her gaze for a brief moment then rose from where he leaned against the wall and awkwardly slipped outside, probably not wanting to intrude on this moment. As he passed in front of the window outside—surely she had to be mistaken—it appeared that his eyes were rimmed with wetness.

  She turned back to Hunter. “I just knew I had family out there... somewhere. I’m just so confused. Did you ever wonder where I was or how I was doing?” Kaeleigh continued on in between sobs. “Did you not want me? Or... Or... love me?” She ended on a hiccup.

  After a minute of pure emotions she looked up at Finn with betrayal in her eyes. “You knew all along that I had family? How could you not tell me? You knew how much I wanted... needed to know if I had family.”

  Finn simply hung his head.

  Hunter interrupted her rant. “Yes, of course we loved you. I loved you, still do... We had to protect you.” He continued with a stern tone, “I know you can’t understand yet and I don’t expect you to ever forgive me, but Finnlan was given very strict, direct orders to keep you away from this place, from us.”

  “I’m sorry, Kaeleigh,” was all Finn, her friend and guardian, could barely get out before he too walked out of the house, emotion dripping down his cheeks. He swiped his hand down his face as he attempted to collect himself. But before he got out the door, Hunter stopped him.

  “Do not go far. I’ve heard rumors floating from Adettlyn that there are those searching for an intruder that broke the breach. I can only imagine that search is for you.”

  “What does it matter now? They can have me. In fact, I’ll turn myself in so they do not think to look further and find Kaeleigh,” Finn replied dejectedly, then went out the door and possibly out of Kaeleigh’s life forever.

  Kaeleigh began to panic. Her throat was tight with emotion that threatened to cut off her air supply as she tried to cry out to him. She didn’t know what to do, what to think. Kaeleigh was still so weak and feeling that she might collapse again, she tried to sit back down in the chair. She felt Chel’s hand guiding her arm so that she didn’t fall.

  Chel interrupted everything that was happening, reminding them of the pressing concern at hand. “Please, sir, Kaeleigh needs help. Is there anything you can do?”

  “Am I dying?” Kaeleigh interrupted weakly.

  Taking a deep breath, Hunter looked her in the eyes and replied somberly, “Yes and no, child.” He walked thoughtfully to the fireplace, gazing deep into the embers and remembering a time long ago. “When you were two years old, your mother and father made provisions for you to be sent away to protect you from the war that was unfolding in our land should the worst happen.” He sighed with great emotion. “It did.” He turned back to face her. “Before you left you were heavily warded with a magic to not only glamour your outward appearance but also internally to dampen your magical energy so that you would not be discovered. The wards were some of the strongest magic ever used in our realm.

  “I believe what has happened is this: when you crossed the Bridge of Revealment, the magic worked extremely hard to break down the wards... partially succeeding. However, the strength of the wards to hide seems to have upheld against the magic to reveal.” Both girls looked confused so he tried to break it down even further. “What I am saying is, you are still part of who you were and part who you are.”

  “So I’m half and half?” Kaeleigh asked, sounding defeated.

  “Well, yes, in fact, but not in the way that you are thinking. Let me explain.” The older man chuckled. “Your body is
experiencing internal turmoil, essentially fighting within itself.” Hunter sighed and stared into the fireplace obviously deep in thought as he continued, “That is why you feel weak and drained one moment then gaining strength the next. The answer seems to be simple: we need to either remove the remainder of the wards, allowing your full glamour to be stripped down. Or replace the wards that have already been stripped to make you a whole as you were once more.” He spoke matter-of-factly, but then turned to look at her. Searching Kaeleigh’s eyes, he spoke softly, “Kaeleighnna, the choice belongs to you.”

  “So, what I hear you saying is, I can choose which form I want to be?” Kaeleigh asked.

  “Yes, in a manner of speaking. But understand this: if you choose your true form, you choose all that identity entails, even not knowing who you are becoming; there is great responsibility and a heavy burden with this choice. You will not be able to go back to your former self once the wards are stripped. They were created with your innocence of mind when you were a small child. Only because they are still somewhat intact will I be able to recreate them.” He looked her directly in her eyes. “I am sorry, but you must make your choice quickly. I fear that if your body remains in its current state for much longer, part of you will lose and the whole of you will suffer the consequences.” His eyes looked pained, and yet there was a spark of hope.

  Chel reached out and gripped Kaeleigh’s hand and squeezed. “I’m going to give you and Hunter here a little time. I won’t go far, perhaps I can stop Finn from doing anything stupid.” Then suddenly getting serious, she got right in front of Kaeleigh’s face. “Kae, no matter your choice, you’re stuck with me.”

  Kaeleigh nodded at her friend as Chel stepped backwards then slipped out the door, leaving them in a wordless silence. The only noise for several moments was the crackling of the wood that was burning incredibly slow, if it was burning at all. She wished she knew what the “responsibility” and “burden” he was talking about would be before she made her choice that would change everything. But wasn’t that why she had come in the first place: to find out who she was and to see if there were any answers beyond her knowledge of the mortal realm? None of this was what she had expected when she agreed to come, but it felt like pieces of a puzzle finally beginning to fit together in her soul. She had to know more, even if that meant regretting it later. She would deal with that when the time came.