Blood of the Fae

It should have been a simple task-help a friend search the Avons Antiquary Society for records pertaining to an ancient curse. Thea Darrington doesn't expect any trouble, except perhaps from the rigid, staid president of the society. That young upstart she can manage. After all, she handled his predecessor back when she became the first woman admitted to the society.Yet when she encounters a peculiar stranger lurking in the quiet chambers, one whose actions demand investigation, it upends all her plans. Regardless of the danger, Thea can't ignore a possible threat to her beloved society. After all, no proper antiquarian shrinks back from a quest for answers.When the powers that be dismiss her concerns, she takes matters into her own hands. Never mind her advanced years and failing frame, she has determination enough to stand against whatever nefarious plans this individual may have. Or so she hopes…This novelette takes place concurrently with Ruins of Bone, book two in the Blood of the Fae series. While a self-contained story, it assumes prior knowledge of the Blood of the Fae world.

The stars travel in fixed courses. They're reliable, predictable, unchanging-and gentleman astronomer Alden Caldwell appreciates this fact. They've never failed him, at least not until the night his wife died. That day, the constancy of the heavens abandoned him, and strange alterations marred the familiar firmament.Though no one believes him, he's confident the aberrations he witnessed connect to her death. And he's sought proof ever since, holding steady to his purpose throughout the long years.When Alden learns that a farmer in Shepherd's Bush has witnessed mysterious signs in the stars, after which his livestock begin to succumb to inexplicable, brutal ends, the astronomer leaps on the chance to gain the evidence he requires. But far from being able to conduct his research in peace, he finds that he must deal with people and all their vagaries-not to mention local unrest following the string of deaths.Animals continue to die, and he must choose if he'll remain an observer or risk action to stop the brutality before it escalates. Even if he ventures far beyond comfort, will he be able to stop worse from befalling not only the inhabitants of Shepherd's Bush, but also those he loves?This novelette takes place concurrently with Ruins of Bone, book two in the Blood of the Fae series. While a self-contained story, it assumes prior knowledge of the Blood of the Fae world.

Long tormented by the murder of his family, Lord Blackburn has spent years seeking answers about the uncanny nature of their deaths. Despite the claims of the authorities and lack of clear evidence, he holds Other responsible for their brutal end-and he's resolved no others will suffer such a fate.With that purpose foremost, he buries his grief in his mission for legal reform. Yet he meets obstacles at every turn, and his endeavors to change the laws of Byren appear as doomed to failure as his quest to find the truth. Hope wears thin until a mysterious message arrives, promising answers about the past.To uncover the truth, he'll take any risk necessary, even return to the edgetown where his wife and son were killed. To survive what awaits him there-and gain justice for his loved ones-he'll have to enlist unlikely allies and face what lurks in the dark of night.This novelette takes place concurrently with Ruins of Bone, book two in the Blood of the Fae series. While a self-contained story, it assumes prior knowledge of the Blood of the Fae world.

Masquerades, monarchs, and . . . misalliances?All her life, Jessa Caldwell has feared the Vigil-and now they've claimed her. Worse yet, they're not acting alone. Someone directs their every move, someone all too interested in Jessa-and her sisters. Even if she breaks free of her unnatural prison, the Vigil will not so readily relinquish their claim, nor will the unknown fae who hunts her across realms.As she struggles to clear her name, protect her family, and uncover the truth about her past, she soon finds herself in the center of a conflict that threatens both worlds, an age-old menace capable of harming mortal and fae alike. In partnership with fae arbiter Riven and her bonded kit-isne Jade, Jessa strives for a path that will keep endangered innocents safe-no easy task when someone is making her out to be the threat.To have any chance of saving that which she loves, she must forfeit it all for a world of court rivalries, power games, and treacherous bargains, where no one is what they seem. If she can't discern truth from illusion in time, she'll lose not only her family, but also her very self.

Lies, labyrinths . . . and lost souls? Never bargain with the fae. The society of Byren lives by this rule, but it's one herbalist Jessa Caldwell has broken time and again. So far, she's escaped unscathed, but her sister Ainslie-snared in a bargain she can't recall making-doesn't share her good fortune. After Ainslie vanishes into the night, Jessa fears the horrors her sister might suffer. She's witnessed what fae do to mortals-using them as playthings to torment, even transforming them into monsters. No matter the cost, she's resolved to find her. But she soon learns that Ainslie isn't the only one missing. All across the kingdom, mortals are disappearing without a trace. With the aid of fae arbiter Riven and kit-isne Jade, Jessa seeks those responsible, but as she does, her actions draw unwelcome attention from all quarters-fae and mortal alike. Even those within her own home mistrust her purposes, and she risks shattering the relationships that mean the most to her. Yet she cannot abandon mortals to the mercies of Other. Her quest for answers takes her through the heart of a labyrinth and into the dangerous midsummer hunt of the fae, where the creature they seek could claim her life as swiftly as the fae will if they ever discover her true purpose. She'll need everything she's learned about fae-and her own nature-if she's to have any chance of surviving the maze of hidden truths and shifting loyalties around her.