Shadow Web

by Yasmine Galenorn

  Rowan glanced at me. “She’s having doubts?”

  “She remembers everything that happened, and she doesn’t know if she can live with the guilt. Do you think we can help her?”

  “I’m positive that we can help her cope with the aftermath,” Rowan said. “Tell her to give it a try. I don’t like losing people to the shadow world. Also, can she hear me?”

  I looked up at Sheryl. My grandmother wants to know if you can hear her speaking.

  Yes, I can hear all of you still. Though it’s becoming fainter as the cord frays.

  “She can hear us. But speak quickly.”

  Rowan glanced up in the direction that I had been looking. “Sheryl, if you let yourself fade away, if you let go of life, you’re going to end up sucked into the shadow world. While we sent that thing away, you are still connected in spirit. We need to do an exorcism on you to fully detach you from the walk-in. So if you die, we can’t do that and you’ll eventually end up turning into a shadow person.”

  I was watching Sheryl as Rowan spoke. She gasped, and turned frantically to me.

  Please, save me. I don’t want to become what that thing was. I don’t want anything to do with them.

  Then focus on staying connected to your body. We’re trying to resuscitate you.

  I turned back to Rowan. “Let’s get her back into her body.” I started compressions again, and Ari started mouth-to-mouth again. Rowan and her Court Magika friends focused on pumping as much healing energy into Sheryl as they could.

  Another minute past, and another, and then—when I was starting to lose hope—Sheryl jerked beneath my hands and coughed. As she opened her eyes, her spirit vanished, sucked back into her body. We had saved her from a fate that was literally worse than death.

  Rowan called for a specialized ambulance—one from a local clinic that focused on witchblood. As she explained the circumstances to the paramedics, Ari and I dropped onto the sofa, exhausted.

  I turned to my best buddy. “What the hell?”

  “I didn’t expect this when I got up this morning. I’m not sure what I expected to play out, but I had no clue we were going to be fighting a shadow man.” Ari glanced around the room. “So how long was she been attached to that thing?”

  “Well, the article I read about her said she first vanished on September 4. So…two and a half months? And somehow, in that time, she’s built Majikoil to the size it is now. What’s going to happen to the company?”

  Rowan sat down beside us. “I’m headed to the hospital in a few minutes to help them sort out what is going on with her, but I would say that if she wants to turn it into a legitimate business, we’ll help her do that. I had no idea she was possessed.”

  “Why do you think that the shadow person didn’t start siphoning energy off of people right and left? Why did he go this roundabout way?”

  “Because he was smart. If he had started leeching energy randomly, like some rogue vampire might choose victims off the street, Sheryl would have been noticed right away and the situation would have been taken care of then and there.”

  Ari stood up and started looking through Sheryl’s desk. “From what I see here—according to the dates—Sheryl has been planning on opening a magical oil business for some time now. The shadow person figured how to parlay that into the biggest feast ever.”

  “True,” Rowan said. “It gained a lot by not pushing her fully against her nature. If she wanted to do something like this anyway, it made it easier for the thing to take over her entire life.”

  I thought for a moment. “Well, that would explain matters. That’s one thing I know about shadow people—if they try to force a person to do something they normally wouldn’t, it takes far more energy than if you play into the person’s strengths and goals. Path of least resistance sort of thing. She would have protested if the shadow creature had started killing her recruits, so creating a cult was much easier.”

  It made perfect sense. “And this way, she would be making enough money to support herself in style so she could keep on going, and the shadow person was guaranteed a comfortable host for a long, long time. Damned creature could see a return down the road, as long as it didn’t try to gratify its needs all at once. What will happen to the recruits who have already been preyed upon?”

  “The Court Magika will help her make restitution, at least on the onboarding fees, since this wasn’t her fault,” one of the men said. He held out his hand to me. He was handsome, tall and dark with rich brown skin and box braids that came down to his waist. “How’d you do, by the way. We haven’t had a chance to be introduced. I’m Justice Tarrington.”

  “January Jaxson, I’m Rowan’s granddaughter. And this is my best friend, Ari Wheeler.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” Justice said with a smooth smile. “This is Parker Conway. We’re both part of the paramilitary branch of the Court Magika.”

  Suitably impressed, Ari and I grabbed our coats and filed out of the house, and headed back home while Rowan, Justice, and Parker headed for the hospital with Sheryl.

  Thanksgiving dawned with icy cold temperatures and the fall of snowflakes. I padded over to the window to stare out at the ever-whitening world, wrapped in my bathrobe. I was still tired, but it was six-thirty, time to get up and start the day.

  All over the country, women—and more than a few men—were getting up to prepare dinner for their families. Outside, the flakes continued to fall, big and fat, splattering with soft wet hisses against the window. There was a skiff of snow on the ground, and while the weather predicted that it would only stay for a couple days, I was grateful to see it.

  “Awake so soon?” Killian asked. He slid out of bed, pulling on his own robe as he joined me at the window, encircling my waist with his arms. He leaned down, kissing my neck.

  “Today’s Thanksgiving,” I said. “It’s our first Thanksgiving together,” I added, placing my hands over his as he held me against him. I leaned my head back and he kissed me. Sure, we had morning breath, but we had it together and it didn’t deter us from showing our love. “Are you going to get up and help me?”

  “It’s six-thirty in the morning. I tell you what. I’ll get up and do whatever you need me to do if you give me another half hour in the bed.”

  I caught my breath, pressing back against his warm chest. I could feel him harden as he pressed against my thigh.

  “Morning sex is always so comfortable,” I said, turning around and letting my robe slide off onto the floor. I was naked beneath it, and I reached up and pushed his robe off his shoulders.

  He wrapped his arms around me, squeezing my butt as he walked me back toward the bed. I leaned back against the pillows, still sleepy and tired, but sometimes that made for the best sex—that drowsy, half-awake tumble into bed sex.

  The passion was quiet, but the warm embrace more than made up for it, and as Killian slid beneath the covers and hooked his arms underneath my thighs, I reached up and clutched the pillow beneath my head, biting my lip as he went down on me. The morning was starting off with a bang, in the very best of ways.

  By one, everyone had gathered. Even Alicia, from down the street. The house was full and bustling, with people mingling. The air was rich with the smell of roasting turkey and stuffing. My mouth watered. Usually, when I cooked up a storm I wasn’t hungry by the time dinner came, but I had a feeling that I’d have plenty of room today.

  Teran had brought cheesecake and a nut platter for us to snack on until dinner was ready. Tally had brought sparkling cider, and Alicia, wine and ham.

  In the corner, the tree glowed, filled with ornaments from both my parents’ lives and from my own. Tally had curled up in the rocking chair, and now was dozing lightly as people mingled around her. Killian told me that pregnancy made shifters extremely sleepy. I thought that was true for humans and witchblood as well, but he assured me that shifters had it worse.

  I tapped him on the shoulder. “Maybe you should take her up to the guest room. We’ve got plenty of
time before dinner.”

  Killian nodded, heading toward his sister.

  I turned to find Rowan and Tarvish standing near me. “Tarvish, how are you doing?”

  “Actually quite well, thank you. I just wanted to apologize for startling you when I first appeared in your house, but I’m grateful. This past week has been an experience, one I don’t think I’d want to give up. It’s nice not having to run around cold dungeons and be covered with blood and gore all the time.” Tarvish beamed at me, and then handed me a bouquet of flowers. “Rowan says we need to bring hostess gifts when we go to a party.”

  As I stared at my grandmother, who was beaming up at the Funtime demon, I had a sudden glimpse that I quickly wiped away. I really didn’t want that image in my mind.

  “Thank you, Tarvish. Rowan, have you talked to Sheryl?”

  “Yes, I have,” my grandmother said. “Justice is taking her under his wing and he’s helping her figure out some way to make restitution of both the energy drain and the buy-in fees. They’re working on revamping the company into an actual business instead of a pyramid scheme. The Court Magika thinks there’s a portal in that section of the Mystic Wood that shadow people can come through, so we’re going to need to find it and shut it down. It’s not going to be easy.”

  “I’m surprised Sheryl managed to stumble into it. When I think of how close she came to being swallowed up…”

  “I’m not. She’s earth-focused in her magic, and I think the town drew her here for a reason. I think—once she heals up—she’s going to end up working with the Court Magika on occasion. Meanwhile, since she remembers what part of the forest she was in when she disappeared, they’re cordoning off that area for now. It’s difficult, given the Mystic Wood has a life of its own, but we’re doing the best we can.”

  “You know, those oils are actually pretty good,” I said. “I didn’t feel any magic off of them when I was first examining them, but turns out they pack a belated punch. But are they safe, given a shadow person made them?”

  Rowan shook her head. “Toss them. We don’t know if there are any dangers associated with them, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure. We’re putting out a recall notice to anyone who bought them and refunding their money for return of the oils.”

  As Tarvish and Rowan moved off to talk to others, I joined my aunt Teran out on the back porch. She was bundled up in a warm cardigan and I draped a shawl over my shoulders. The snow was still falling, and it was absolutely lovely, drifting down to cover the backyard.

  Teran glanced over at me. “I know it won’t stay, but I kind of wish it could. There’s something gentle about the snow, about the starkness of winter. It’s soft on the eyes and ears. Snow muffles the wounds of the world.”

  I nodded. “I know what you mean. I wish it could stay, too.”

  “If you come over next Saturday, I’ll teach you how to make apple butter. And we can work on some herbal magic—medicinal stuff. I think it would be a good idea if you learn some healing magic, and since you are earth magic–based, herbs would be the best way to go about it.”

  I nodded. “I’d like that.” I stared out across the backyard, shaking my head. “Life has changed so much since my parents died last year. That started everything. If they hadn’t died, I don’t know if I would have come back when I left Ellison. I might have stayed in Seattle. I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head.

  “And you probably never will. Life doesn’t work like that. So, do you enjoy your job?” My aunt looked at me, and I could tell she was truly waiting for an answer.

  “Yes, I do. I’m looking forward to getting back to work next week. This so-called vacation has been harder than most weeks I put in at Conjure Ink.”

  At that moment, Killian popped his head out the door. “Here, I got the ribs from my house.” He handed me two slabs of barbecued ribs, his specialty, on a tray. I thanked him and took the tray, cautiously descending the steps. The stairs were covered with snow, and they were slick. I was wearing a pair of ballet flats, and my feet instantly froze as I sank into the scant half-inch of snow that blanketed the yard. But I pushed onward, hurrying to the edge of the wood.

  The Mystic Wood rose high around me, looming dark and ominous under the snow, and yet it was beautiful and bewitching. I paused at the trailhead, then whistled twice.

  “Rebecca? Are you around?”

  A few moments later, the imp darted out from the forest, her golden hair shimmering under the falling snow. “Yes?”

  “I brought you a gift.” I sat down the tray, and then backed away. She eyed the ribs suspiciously, then glanced up at me.

  “Why?”

  “Because in our society, today’s called Thanksgiving. It’s a yearly tradition to break bread with friends and share food. It’s a day of giving back to others.” I paused, unsure as to my motives. But then, I found myself saying, “You’re the closest thing I have to a neighbor other than Killian. And you watch over this part of the forest. I thought I would just share some of my bounty with you.”

  She stared at me for what felt like an eternity, then slowly bent and picked up the tray. She glanced up at me and for the first time, her gaze was devoid of the sly glint she always had. “Thank you. I don’t have a gift for you.”

  “Just keep watch and let me know if anything goes awry. Enjoy your dinner,” I said.

  As I hurried back to the house, which was filled with love and care and friends and family, I realized just how lucky I was.

  If I vanished, there would be search parties out there hunting for me. If a shadow person latched onto me, my grandmother and friends would immediately notice and do what they could to save me. Maybe I wasn’t as rich as some people were, but I had a home and friends and family that I loved. I had a boyfriend who adored me, and he was becoming more important to me every single day. I loved my job and I was good at it. And while I had my share of troubles, I could navigate most of them, and those I couldn’t, I could ask for help and usually find it.

  Killian escorted Teran and me back into the house, where Tarvish was playing with the kittens, and the game was blaring on the television. I took a deep breath, looking around. It was Thanksgiving, the tree was lit and beautiful, and the holidays were coming up.

  I had everything I could ask for.

  If you liked this book and haven’t read the first few books of my Moonshadow Bay Series, check out Starlight Web, Midnight Web, Conjure Web, and Harvest Web. January Jaxson returns to the quirky town of Moonshadow Bay after her husband dumps her and steals their business, and within days she’s working for Conjure Ink, a paranormal investigations agency, and exploring the potential of her hot new neighbor. There will be more adventures to come, but while you’re waiting, you might want to try out my urban fantasy series. If you like kick-ass heroines, with a strong hint of romance, read my Wild Hunt Series. Start with The Silver Stag, Oak & Thorns, and Iron Bones. Book 18, the last story in the series, is available for preorder now: Antlered Crown.

  If you love dragons, keep an eye out for my upcoming Hedge Dragon Series, set in a connected world to the Wild Hunt. The Poisoned Forest is now available for preorder, as is The Tangled Sky. You can also preorder the first book in another new Wild Hunt Series spinoff: Tattered Thorns!

  If you like paranormal mysteries/paranormal women’s fiction, try my Chintz ‘n China paranormal mysteries. The series is complete. Begin with Ghost of a Chance.

  Return with me to Whisper Hollow Series, where spirits walk among the living, and the lake never gives up her dead. Autumn Thorns, Shadow Silence, and The Phantom Queen are now available. Join the darkly seductive world of Kerris Fellwater, spirit shaman for the small lakeside community of Whisper Hollow.

  If you prefer a lighter-hearted paranormal romance with some steamy vampire-witch action, meet the wild and magical residents of Bedlam in my Bewitching Bedlam Series. Fun-loving witch Maddy Gallowglass, her smoking-hot vampire lover Aegis, and their crazed cjinn Bubba (part djinn, all cat) rock it out in Bedlam,
a magical town on a magical island. Start with book one of the series: Bewitching Bedlam. There are six books and several novellas in the series.

  I invite you to visit Fury’s world. Bound to Hecate, Fury is a minor goddess, taking care of the Abominations who come off the World Tree. Start with Fury Rising. The Fury Unbound Series is complete.

  For a dark, gritty, steamy series, try my world of The Indigo Court, where the long winter has come, and the Vampiric Fae are on the rise. Begin with Night Myst. This series is complete.

  For all of my work, both published and upcoming releases, see the Bibliography at the end of this book, or check out my website at Galenorn.com and be sure and sign up for my newsletter to receive news about all my new releases.

  QUALITY CONTROL: This work has been professionally edited and proofread. If you encounter any typos or formatting issues ONLY, please contact me through my website so they may be corrected. We’ll add these to our to-fix list and when it’s time to put out a new edition, we will make changes. Otherwise, know that this book is in my style and voice and editorial suggestions will not be entertained. Thank you.

  Playlist

  I often write to music, and SHADOW WEB was no exception. Here’s the playlist I used for this book.

  A.J. Roach: Devil May Dance

  Air: Napalm Love

  Android Lust: Here & Now

  Arch Leaves: Nowhere To Go

  The Black Angels: Currency; You On The Run; Vikings; Holland; Don’t Play With Guns; Always Maybe

  Black Mountain: Queens Will Play

  Black Pumas: Sweet Conversations

  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Fault Line; Shuffle Your Feet

  Bobbie Gentry: Ode To Billie Joe

  Boney M.: Rasputin

  Broken Bells: The Ghost Inside

  Chris Isaak: Wicket Game

  Commodores: Brick House