Warning: Unedited writing commences below.
Aren’s POV #3
Falling into a fissure without a plan is never a good idea. It’s even worse when the deadliest shadow-reader in the Realm is nearby. The shock of the In-Between makes it impossible to arrange a strategic exit. Fae instinctively open gateways to personal places, places that feel like home.
In my case, that’s my latest encampment.
Sethan, the fae I’m supposed to be protecting so he can take the throne, stares down at me.
“She didn’t see me,” I grind out, climbing to my feet.
“You’re sure?” he asks. His tone points out that mistakes like mine are why so many of our friends and swordsmen have been killed.
“She was scared and running, no pen or paper in hand.” I’m trying to convince myself, not him, that my words are true. This location should be safe, but the reason we’re going pursuing the shadow-witch is because she’s skilled enough to map old shadows.
I let out a sigh. Better to be cautious than to visit the Ether early. “Leave. I’ll meet you at the inn.”
Tightening my grip on my sword, I open a fissure. The In-Between holds me for a fraction of a moment then I’m back in the humans’ world.
In the twenty seconds I was away from the fight, our fortune changed. We’re losing. The king is sending every fae he has to save his precious shadow-witch, and my swordsmen are bleeding and fleeing.
Clenching my teeth, I look for my target. She’s there, running toward a fence with the sword-master at her side. While I watch, an arrow plunges into Taltrayn’s side.
He yanks it free. A smart fae would fissure to a healer, but he stays with the shadow-witch. They move together. She presses forward despite the arrows flying through the air. She has complete faith in his ability to protect her, and they’re in sync. More in sync than I’ve ever seen a shadow-reader and a fae. They know each other well. She trusts him with her life.
What might he trust her with?
The question wedges itself in my mind, but I signal to my nearest swordsmen as the shadow reader climbs the fence that surrounds the construction site. She crashes down on the other side. Gets up. Runs.
My fae occupy Taltrayn and the other Court fae. I catch Trev’s attention then, when the human disappears into the building, we fissure to its entrance.
Three more fae join us. We need line of sight to appear in unfamiliar places, so I take a step forward and peer inside.
As soon as I spot the shadow-witch sprinting across the cement floor, I enter the In-Between and exit in front of her, cutting off her escape.
She slides to a stop.
“McKenzie,” I say. Finally, we have the shadow-witch.
Her eyes go wide as she stares at me and my swordsmen, who’ve appeared on either side of me.
“McKenzie Lewis.” When I say her name this time, the panic in her posture disappears. She presses her lips into a thin, determined line then glances over her shoulder.
A slant of moonlight illuminates her face.
My first thought is that it would be a waste to kill her. She’s human and different, pretty in a foreign, innocent way, but she has fight in her eyes. Fear and hatred, too. She must believe every rumor about me that’s ever been spread. Some of them are true. The important ones are not.
Then my earlier question weaves its way through my mind again. She’s Taltrayn’s pet. She’s spoken with the king. She knows almost every high-level fae in the palace. If we could turn her…
She takes a step back, and the light that was shining on her face moves to her stomach. Her shirt is dark with blood.
“Are you hurt?” I battle down a surprisingly strong desire to step forward and heal her wounds. This human is the shadow-witch, I remind myself. She deserves to die for the fae deaths she’s called. I shouldn’t be concerned if she bleeds out.
She stares down at her shirt as if she’s never seen blood before.
Impossible. She’s seen violence – she’s responsible for most of it – but her expression hits me hard enough to fray my mental armor.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I say. “I’d like to talk to you.”
Trev’s gaze jerks toward me. I ignore him, and my plan solidifies in my mind. Yes. Much better to use her than to end her. If even half of the innocence in her eyes is real, I can make this work.
“Look.” I sheath my sword and hold my hands out. I’m not going to kill her. I’m going to convert her.
Read the other Aren POVs
Love! Makes me miss this world so much!! Love reading Aren’s POV. Now going to re-read the series, again. 😉
Aw, thanks! I’m missing this world, too, but writing these sporadic alternative POVs helps. 🙂 Just gotta write more of them. Thanks for stopping by, and glad you love the series!
Squee! Love reading Aren’s point of view.
Glad you like it!
Love these povs… Will you write a fourth or is this world done?
No concrete plans to write a fourth, though if I did write the next book, I know what would happen. 🙂
Do you write a third book?
If yes can you say the Name of the book?
I love your books, when i read it must smile because its so fantastic
but I dont know how to proceed with aren and mckenzie. Thats tired
Do you write a third book? Can you say the name please
i love your books they are fantastic but I dont know how to proceed with aren and mckenzie thats tired
Hi, Sandra,
Yes, there are three books in The Shadow Reader trilogy. The third and last book is called The Sharpest Blade. If you have trouble finding it, let me know.
The most recent book I’ve published is Shades of Treason, but that’s a different series and has nothing to do with McKenzie and Aren. 🙂
Hope this answers your question! And thanks for reading!
Sandy
Did you know when it will be published in Germany?
Oh, I understand the question now. My German publisher, Bastei, hasn’t bought the rights to publish the third book from my US publisher yet. The last I heard, the were waiting to see how book 2 did. I’m not sure if they have plans to publish it, but I will see if I can get an answer. It’s been a few months since I last asked about it. I hope they publish it! It kills me that German readers are left hanging at the end of book two. I really want yall to be able to read the last book. If you want, you can contact my German publisher here https://www.luebbe.de/bastei-luebbe/kontakt/id_3415534 and let them know you’d love for them to publish The Sharpest Blade.
When I learn more from my publisher, I’ll let you know. Sorry I don’t have a better answer for you.
No problem, but thanks for the answer 🙂
This makes me so happy! I’m dying to read more from Aren’s POV!!
When will you write pov #4?
Waiting is too hard, this is amazing. I missed Aren.
Also, please write a book 4. Missing the characters too much.
Me too! lol! 🙂
I love reading Aren’s pov. You get to see and know things we didn’t get to see with McKenzie. It feels very fresh and energizing to read. I’ve always wanted to know what Aren thought of McKenzie. Love this! Reading this makes me want to read the series all over again because I enjoyed it so much! XD
Also, we get to see more of the other character’s interactions and pov of the situations in the book.
I wish you finish all chapters from Aren’s POV. I’m looking forward to it. I miss Aren so much.
Just finished a new one this week. Will send it out soon. So glad you enjoy reading his POV!
Hi Sandy! I suddenly had an urge to re-read Aren’s POVs, and I can’t find them anymore! There were at least 10 chapters last time Did you remove them from your blog? What happened to them?
Hi, Kim! I started sending them out with my newsletter a while ago, but haven’t written a new POV in a while. I’ve written 13 snippets, close to 60 pages, and you can find all of them compiled here: https://BookHip.com/HHDTBG
So glad you enjoy this world!