Fire in the Darkness (43 page)

Oh shit! Kind of figured that one was coming.
Is there a list I’m not on?

I turned to look down on the city, which once had turned into rubble by my hand. This time I knew it had simply been a warm-up to the real battle that was coming. This time it would be more than a mere city in the path of the destruction.

Between the Light and Dark there was me—the Fire. Either I would light the way or burn it to ash.

No pressure
. . . .

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Darkness of Light

Darkness Series Book #3

Coming in Spring 2014

Some days feel like years, but in Ember Brycin’s case just the opposite is true. She had only been in the Otherworld for a day or two when she escaped with her mom, Kennedy, and Jared to the Earth realm. But it is three years later on Earth. Em would be 22 now. If she was a human, but she’s not. She is a Dae, part Demon and part Fay, with a little Dark Dweller thrown in to make her even more of a freak.

Seeing Seattle rebuilt only confirms she has been gone three years. For her it was not long ago that the Seattle area was just rubble of concrete and death. All done by her hand.

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is her undeniable connection to Eli Dragen, who is sexy, gorgeous, and even more frustrating. But her problems go way past him. The Seelie Queen of the Otherworld still holds Mark, Em’s father, and her friends, Ryan, and Josh as hostages. Em needs to rescue them without, once again, getting caught and being used as a pawn to help the Queen regain possession of Earth. At the same time Lars, the Unseelie King, reminds Em she is bound to him and has to locate the Sword of Light to fulfill the prophesy and kill the Queen.

Now that Ember knows her mother is alive, so many things begin to make sense; but so many other things are even more confusing. To make things worse, everyone is harboring secrets. Lily continues to keep the truth from Em which puts a strain on both of them. As Eli’s past is revealed, Em understands more clearly why he acts like he does and how much their lives are intertwined. But she also knows Eli is holding something back, something that could change their relationship forever. Em herself continues to wrestle with her feelings toward Torin and her own secret she’s withholding from Kennedy.

As the tension for war mounts between the Seelie and Unseelie (Light and Dark), the tension at the Dark Dweller’s compound mounts even more as they prepare to obtain the sword no matter what the price. But is Ember the answer to the location of the sword? Is she the one to fulfill the prophecy? As usual nothing is ever what it seems.

Acknowledgments

First I would like to thank all the fans that have loved
Darkness Of Light
and supported me so heartily. You have made my dreams come true. I hope you will continue to love these books and characters as much as I do.

Again, to my Mom. This book would not be where it is without you. My spelling may not have improved, but your eye has gotten sharper. There are still not enough thank yous in the world to repay you. I love you more than words could ever say.

To S.M. Boyce; Linne, “L”; and Colleen for being my beta readers. You girls are amazing! Your input and advice has helped make my story even better! I am so thankful to have you in my life.

To Jordan Rosenfeld. I bow down to you. Thank you for all the hours you put in to help shape my book. You rock lady! I knew as soon as I met you that we would work well together.

To Clare and Dave, at Woulds & Shoulds, for your development help and design. You two are wonderful! Dave, another gorgeous cover. Thank you! Your talent and patience is astounding.

To S.M. Boyce, Jen McConnel, Jessie Peacock, Christie Rich, Nancy Straight, Amanda DeWees. My tribe! Meeting you girls at UtopYACon has changed my life. Love you all so much!

A special thank you to Amy and Celeste at The Book Hookup. Your support and love (of at least Eli) makes me tear up. I am so happy to have met you. #WeLoveEliForever! Also Rachel and Jamie at the Rockstar Book Tours you two are Awesome!

As always a big thank you to my family. You are my rock. For all my friends around the world, don’t think you’re in the clear! Your story will be told someday. I love and miss you all so much.

Glossary

A ghra
: Gaelic for “my love."

Bitseach
: Gaelic for "bitch."

Brownies
: Small, hardworking Faeries who inhabit houses and barns. They are rarely seen and would do cleaning and housework at night.

Ciach ort
: Irish for “dammit" or "damn you.”

Cinaed/
meaning “born of fire.”

Dae
: Beings having both pure Fairy and Demon blood. Their powers and physical features represent both parentages. The offspring of Fairies and Demons are extremely powerful. They are feared and considered abominations, being killed at birth for centuries by the Seelie Queen.

Damnú ort
: Irish for “damn you.”

Dark Dweller
: Free-lance mercenaries of the Otherworld. The only group in the Otherworld that is neither under the Seelie Queen nor the Unseelie King command. They were exiled to Earth by the Queen.

Demon
: A broad term for a group of powerful and usually malevolent beings. They live off human life forces, gained by sex, debauchery, corruption, greed, dreams, energy, and death. They live on earth taking on animal or human form, their shell being the best weapon to seduce or gain their prey.

Draoidh
: Another term for "Druid."

Drochrath air
: Gaelic for "Damn it" or "Damn you."

Druid
: Important figures in ancient Celtic Ireland. They held positions of advisors, judges, and teachers. They can be both male and female and are magicians and seers who have the power to manipulate time, space, and matter. They are the only humans able to live in the Otherworld and can live for centuries.

Fae
: A broad group of magical beings who originated in the Earth Realm and migrated to the Otherworld when human wars started to take their land. They can be both sweet and playful or scary and dangerous. All Fae possess the gifts of glamour (power of illusion), and some have the ability to shape shift.

Fairy (Fay)
: A selective and elite group of Fae. The noble pureblooded Fairies who stand as the ruling court known as the Seelie of Tuatha de Danann. They are of human stature and can be confused for human if it wasn’t for their unnatural beauty. One weakness is iron as it is poisonous to the Fay/Fae and may kill them if there is too much in their system. Also see “Fae” above.

Gabh suas ort fhéin
: Gaelic slang for "Go f*ck yourself."

Glamour
: Illusion cast by the Fae to camouflage, divert, or change appearance.

Gnome
: Small humanlike creatures that live underground. Gnomes consist of a number of different types: Forest Gnomes, Garden Gnomes, and House Gnomes. They are territorial and mischievous and don’t particularly like humans.

Goblins
: Short, ugly creatures. They can be very ill-tempered and grumpy. They are greedy and are attracted to coins and shiny objects. Will take whatever you set down.

Incubus
: Male. Seduces humans, absorbing their life force through sex.

Incantation
: An incantation or enchantment is a charm or
spell
created using words.

Kelpie
: A water spirit of Scottish folklore, typically taking the form of a horse, reputed to delight in the drowning of travelers.

Mac an donais
: Gaelic, for "damn it," literally meaning "son of the downturn"

Mo chroi
: Gaelic for "my love."

Mo chuisle
: Gaelic for "my pulse."

Mo chuisle mo chroi
: Irish phrase of endearment meaning “pulse of my heart.” Can also mean “my love” or “my darling."

Mo shiorghra
: Gaelic for my "eternal love."

Ni ceart go cur le cheile
: Gaelic for "There is no strength without unity."

Ninjuitsu, pankration, or bataireacht:
Forms of martial arts. Bataireacht is Irish stick fighting.

Otherworld
: Another realm outside of the Earth realm where the Fae inhabit.

Páiste gréine
: Gaelic for "child born out of wedlock."

Pixies
: These six-inched Fairies are mischievous creatures that enjoy playing practical jokes. They are fierce and loyal and have a high “allergy” to juniper juice.

Pooka/Phooka/Phouka
: Irish for goblin. They are shape changers that usually take on the appearance of a goat.

Pyrokinesis
: The ability to
set
objects or people on fire through the concentration of psychic power.

Seelie
: The “Light” court of the Tuatha De Danaan meaning "blessed." This court consists of all the noble (pure) Fairies and Fae. They have powers that can be used for good or bad, but are thought of as more principled as the Unseelie. However, “light” does not necessarily mean “good.”

Shefro
: A type of male Fairy.

Shuriken
: Traditional Japanese, concealed, hand-held weapons that are generally used for throwing.

Sidhe
: Another name for the Fae folk of Tuatha De Danann.

Striapach
: Gaelic for "whore."

Strighoul
: “Cannibal” of the Fae world. Consumes the flesh of other Fae to gain their powers. Will sometimes eat humans, but prefer Fae.

Technokinesis
: The ability to move an object with the power of one's thoughts.

Téigh trasna ort féin
: Gaelic swear word with the approximate meaning of “Go screw yourself.”

Telekinetic
: The power to move something by thinking about it without the application of physical force.

(or Danaan): A race of people in Irish mythology. They are the earliest Fae/Fairies.

Unseelie
: The “Dark” Fae of the Tuatha De Danaan. These are considered the un-pure or rebels of the Otherworld and do not follow the Seelie ways. They are nocturnal and have powers thought to be more immoral. They can also use their shell to seduce or gain their prey; however, “dark” does not necessarily mean “bad.”

Wards
: A powerful, magical spell primarily used to defend an area and is supposed to stop enemies from passing through.

About The Author

Stacey Marie Brown works by day as an Interior/Set Designer and by night a writer of paranormal fantasy, adventure, and literary fiction. She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family’s farm raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts.