Table of Contents
The Shadow Reader is a fresh take on the fae, packed with suspense, surprises, and real moral dilemmas. Sexy and fun, this is a must for anyone who likes their fae modern, their stakes high, and their property damage extensive.
Seanan McGuire, national bestselling author of the October Daye novels
Choosing Sides
Ive bought you an extension on life, Aren says, leaning against the porch column. His casualness and the intensity in his silver eyes make an odd combination. I dont like the way hes observing me. I like even less the way the moonlight glows behind him, making him seem mysterious, almost debonair.
Do you want me to thank you?
Youll help us eventually. He sounds so certain.
I shake my head. No. My allegiance is to KyKing Atroth.
He smiles a little. Ill earn your trust.
Ill doubt everything you say.
He chuckles, pushes away from the column, and crosses the porch to stand in front of me. He takes my right hand in his. As he pulls me to my feet, I make the mistake of looking into his eyes. This close, I can become lost in them, especially with the heat of his edarratae traveling up my arm. He dips his head, staring down at me with mirth on his lips.
You will be an interesting challenge...
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
THE SHADOW READER
An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Ace mass-market edition / November 2011
Copyright 2011 by Sandy Williams.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
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375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ISBN : 978-1-101-54528-7
ACE
Ace Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
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For Trey. Thank you for putting up with me...
even when Im too much.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My writing would have forever remained buried on my computer if it werent for the support of some amazing people. First and foremost, my husband, Trey, who believed in me before I believed in myself. I couldnt have done this without you. And to my friends and family: thank you for not thinking Im crazy when I spontaneously drop everything to run and grab my notebook.
A special thank-you goes out to my beta readers, David Bridger, Tina Everitt, Katee Robert, Shelli Richard, and especially Rene Sweet, who has been this books number one fan from the very beginning. Id also like to thank two people who made this story the best it could be: my agent, Joanna Volpe, for being awesome from the very beginning, and my editor, Kat Sherbo, whose wisdom and editing prowess have truly amazed me.
ONE
M Y SKIN TINGLES a moment before a slash of white light flashes at the front of the lecture hall. I grit my teeth and keep my eyes locked on my scantron, refusing to acknowledge the fae entering my world through that fissure. I dont give a damn if its the king himself; I will pass this test tonight.
I darken in C on my answer sheet and then read the next question.
McKenzie.
Its Kyol. Of course the Court would send him .
McKenzie, he says. We must go. No one else can hear or see him even though he towers over my professor, who stands less than two feet to his left. All the other students remain bowed over their desks, completely focused on their final exams. I grip my pencil and bubble in another circle.
The fae climbs the steps to my fifth-row seat. Still not meeting his eyes, I shake my head. I told himI told all of themnot to call on me this week, but none of the fae understand why I need this degree, not when the Court takes care of all my needs. I tried to explain Im human. I have human dreams and need a human life, and it shouldnt take anyone eight years to earn a bachelor of arts in English. They hadnt listened. At least, Kyol hadnt.
Not now! I want to scream, but even the softest whisper will disturb the quiet in the lecture hall. I stare down at my exam, letting my long hair brush the top of my desk. It forms a brown curtain, cutting off my view of Kyol as I reread question ten. The Courts war can wait until I finish.
Kyol lays a hand on my shoulder, and a pleasant warmth expands beneath the thin strap of my purple cami. If we were alone, Id lean into his touch, soak in his heat, his scentsoak in him but not here, not now, in the middle of a test I have to pass. I shift, trying to get away. When his hand remains, I slam my fist down on my desk.
My classmates turn their heads to stare and Dr. Embry frowns. Fantastic.
Number ten, I say with a nervous laugh. Its a doozy. It isnt. Its on the works of C. S. Lewis. Easy. I bubble in A .
Kyol pulls on my shoulder and I squirm again. Theres no way in hell Im flunking this course a third time. I need it to graduate, and I dont care if Kyol drops his invisibility in front of all my classmates; my ass isnt budging until I finish my test and triple-check my answers.
Weve no time to waste, Kyol says. The rebels have found you.
I suck in a frigid breath, hold it as I close my eyes for one brief, fragile moment, then I exhale, stuff my pencil into my backpack, and stand.
Im sorry, I say to my surprised professor. I have to go.
By the time I turn to hurry up the steps, Kyols already waiting by the exit. I brace for the surge of emotion I know is coming and finally meet his silver eyes. Most people dont see past his hard, unyielding scowl, but I do. Ive seen his eyes soften and sparkle in the moonlight. Ive seen a smile crack those lips, heard a laugh ring from that broad chest. And yet, even in those few, untroubled moments, theres always a certain gravitas to him, like he could stand in the middle of a battle and part the enemys line with one cool glare.
