The Shadow's Heir Read online

  THE SHADOW’S HEIR

  E. E. HORNBURG

  THE SHADOW’S HEIR

  By

  E. E. Hornburg

  Copyright © 2022 E. E. Hornburg

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  Edited by Tee Tate

  Cover Design by MiblArt.

  All stock photos licensed appropriately.

  Map Design by Cartographybird.

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  Published in the United States by City Owl Press.

  www.cityowlpress.com

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  For information on subsidiary rights, please contact the publisher at [email protected]

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior consent and permission of the publisher.

  Contents

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  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  Sneak Peek of Second Star to the Left

  A Guide to the Deities

  Find Your Next Read

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  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  About the Publisher

  Additional Titles

  Praise for E. E. Hornburg

  “The Night’s Chosen is a fairytale-like fantasy romance about the burden of duty and following your heart. From the characters to the prose, the fairytale vibes are strong in this book. The world building pulls you in immediately. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!” – Gabrielle Ash, author of The Family Cross and For the Murder

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  “This stunning fantasy debut swept me away. The Night's Chosen offers up a delectable blend of intrigue, magic, and romance all wrapped up in fresh takes on fantasy tropes and themes. The author's vivid, lyrical writing is perfect for the story and brings to life a world of wonder in the most divine of ways to create an immersive experience sure to completely transport the reader. Hornburg's story is a total page turner that will keep you guessing through twists and surprises.” – Kat Turner, author of Hex, Love, and Rock and Roll

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  “E. E. Hornburg has invented a world with several charming aspects. Her vision of a free-thinking society with fewer sexual hang ups is refreshing. Her pantheon of deities offers cultural variation, and her main character’s devout nature is an admirable trait… The value in Ms. Hornburg’s story-telling lies in the smaller touches which are sprinkled like stardust throughout the pages.” – InD’tale

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  Don’t miss more of the The Cursed Queens series coming soon, and find more from E. E. Hornburg at www.emilyhornburg.com

  * * *

  Until then, discover SECOND STAR TO THE LEFT, by City Owl Author, Megan Van Dyke!

  Tinker Bell, banished from her homeland for doing the unthinkable, selling the hottest drug in Neverland—pixie dust—wants absolution.

  Determined to find a way home, Tink doesn’t hesitate to follow the one lead she has, even if that means seducing a filthy pirate to steal precious gems out from under his…hook.

  Captain Hook believes he’s found a real treasure in Tink. That is, until he recovers from her pixie dust laced kiss with a curse that turns the seas against him. With his ship and reputation at the mercy of raging storms, he tracks down the little minx and demands she remove the curse. Too bad she can’t.

  However, the mermaid queen has a solution to both of their problems, if Tink and Hook will work together to retrieve a magical item for her.

  As they venture to the mysterious Shrouded Isles to find the priceless treasure, their shared nemesis closes in. However, his wrath is nothing compared to the realization that achieving their goal may mean losing something they never expected to find—each other.

  READ NOW

  For my mom and dad, who have always been there and embraced all the twists and turns of my life with grace and understanding and stood by me no matter what.

  Chapter One

  MYRA

  Myra wasn’t sure if she was nauseated from excitement or dread. The shore of Cyre had grown larger and more distinct each day during their trip down the Lotus River. At her side, Alvis, the crowned prince of Oxare, stood tall and proud as he surveyed his home city. He rested his hands on the rail of the riverboat, tapping his fingers against the wood as though they were keys on a musical instrument.

  It was a habit Myra noticed he employed when excitement swam over him. When in such close proximity to people for a week, it was easy to pick up on little things like that. Alvis had been more than generous and hospitable when Myra invited herself along with his entourage to return to her home kingdom. She assumed the boat would be large enough for her to squeeze in.

  It was large, and Myra only had to share a room with one other woman, who was friendly enough. But she was surprised at how often she still ran into the prince. He liked to spend as much time on the deck under the sun as possible, and the farther south they came, the more often he was there lounging on his cushions, a small bowl of nuts at his side, and tunic loosened at the collar. Usually reading a book. He finished at least two during the trip.

  Myra rocked when the boat docked at the shore, and it was only a matter of minutes before the workers tied the riverboat so it wouldn’t float away, and they unloaded all the travelers’ luggage.

  Everyone called the beautiful structure in the distance the Golden Palace, though its proper name was Cyre Palace, after the capital city.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Alvis gazed in the direction of the Golden Palace.

  The roof was white with gold engravings of the sun, moon, and stars etched in. The palace reflected the light from the god Ray’s sunbeams, making the whole building appear to be made of gold. It had been years since Myra had been to the capital city of Oxare, but she remembered clearly the way it looked like a miniature sun when night turned into day, and how if one looked directly at it, ’they’d think ’they’d gone blind.

  Now, as the sun set, there was merely a warm pink glow around the rounded tops of the palace, and if she focused enough, she could almost see the intricate engravings and paintings around the pillars. The Golden Palace was a grand mountain among the small hills of bui
ldings surrounding it. Some of them mansions, others shacks, and everything in between.

  “It is impressive,” Myra admitted. She’d worked in Farren Castle in the northern kingdoms of Cresin for years, and it was stunning with its tall towers and spires. Maybe it was the Oxarian blood and pride in her, but there was something about the Golden Palace that stirred awe. The shining metals and luxurious engravings surpassed most—if not all—other buildings Myra had seen or worked in.

  “They built it several centuries ago to honor Ray and his love for Luana. The roof was designed to show his majesty and glory during the day, but also so Luana could see it during the night and remember their love was still there, even if they were apart.” Alvis inhaled deeply, and the remaining sunbeams of the day shone on his brown hair and dark skin. It was good he was dedicated to the sun god, as he looked as though he was born to lie out in the sand for days on end and never grow tired of its warmth.

  Only a couple of months ago, he’d been painted in gold and performed the ceremony to welcome the changing of the seasons with his then betrothed, Princess Eira. Myra had sneaked into the ballroom to watch and could have sworn he was the god himself. Alvis’s left wrist twitched where his betrothal band used to be.

  Myra’s heart sank. Princess Eira had chosen instead to be with someone else and broken off their betrothal. With his brother no less. Myra had been betrayed by family in her past as well and could imagine the hurt he must have felt. He never mentioned it or acted as though he was angry or brokenhearted. But Myra knew about hiding feelings and locking them deep inside to put on a brave face. She knew about keeping secrets and needing to get away.

  It was how she’d survived her whole life. Now she needed to be away more than ever after the events of this past autumn season in Cresin.

  “That’s a lovely story,” Myra told him with a smile. Even if she’d heard it before, he was so proud of his god and kingdom, she couldn’t help but indulge him. Over the past week, she’d often sat with him on the deck of the riverboat and listened to him read passages of books or tell his favorite tales of the deities. In those moments, he didn’t seem like the next king of Oxare, but a normal man who was passionate about knowledge and heritage. Sometimes, she would think of a tale and tell him one, which he always listened to with interest.

  Alvis nodded, and his gaze darted toward her and then to the shore. “The Golden Palace is large, and we’re always in need of extra help. We have more space than we know what to do with. I don’t know what your plans are now that we have returned to Oxare, but if you need employment or a place to stay while you decide what to do next, you’d be more than welcome to stay. And I know Nell will miss you.”

  Myra’s breath caught, and she blinked. She hadn’t expected Alvis to make such an offer. Least of all, minutes before they were to depart the boat and go their separate ways. It would be easy to go with him. She’d been a servant in Farren Castle, and she was sure working in the Golden Palace wasn’t much different. She could do well there, and it was an opportunity many people would jump for, and it was being handed to her on a silver platter. Besides, Myra had grown close to Nell, Amelia’s daughter, who she’d helped free from the enchanted mirror. Alvis was taking the young girl in as his ward.

  Myra’s shoulders sank. But what happened when the generosity ran out? What if he found out the truth of how those events came to be and her involvement in it? Too many times she’d had to rely on the whims of others for her future, and in the end, either she or someone else paid the price. No. She needed to leave everything of Farren Castle behind her.

  She faced the kind prince and leaned against the boat rail. “I’m going to miss Nell, and your offer is generous, but one I must decline. I have other business to attend to upon my return. Thank you though.”

  Something that reminded Myra of disappointment and regret flashed in Alvis’s desert-gold eyes, but it was gone in a moment after it appeared. “Of course. I understand. But please remember, the invitation is always open. If you are ever in need of something, do not hesitate to come to me.”

  The flush of her cheeks had Myra looking away from the prince. “You are far too generous. I’m only a servant.”

  Alvis held her chin between soft fingers and raised her gaze to meet his. A chill ran through Myra, and she knew it wasn’t from the breeze. “You are a wonderful and strong woman, and it is the least I can do after all your help in Cresin. I, and the kingdoms, am indebted to you.”

  The heat warming Myra’s cheeks surely turned them deep red by then, and she tried to find words. She’d hardly done anything in comparison to the rest of them. If it weren’t for her, none of it would have happened in the first place. He was being far too kind. And if he knew who she was, who she really was, he wouldn’t be saying these things. She took a step back out of his reach, and his arm fell to his side. There were too many people around, and as innocent as his gesture was, to spying eyes, it could be taken the wrong way. Myra wouldn’t let her be attached to his name, especially now when he needed to be home after being gone for so long. And without the princess of Cresin at his side.

  “My small effort was for the sake of the kingdoms.”

  Alvis clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. “Myra, please, let me give you a compliment.”

  She chuckled. “Very well. Thank you, your highness.”

  On land, a herd of white horses with red-and-gold caparisons along with richly ornamented carts with all the luggage arrived, ready for the prince and his entourage to return to the palace. A servant attempted to assist Nell onto one of the horses, but the girl seemed like she was afraid to go on. She shook her head, her brown-and-blond curls bouncing around her shoulders. Her chin quivered, and Myra knew tears were to come next. The poor girl had lived inside a mirror her whole life and was still adjusting to the outside world.

  Alvis’s jaw stiffened as he watched the scene. “I should go help Nell. Maybe if she sees I’m on a horse too, she’ll get on, or I can get them to let her ride on a cart instead. A palanquin could do well…”

  “Good idea.”

  They stood facing each other for a moment, and Myra knew it was time to say good-bye. It would be best to get it done and move on. She had other places to be, and before long, Alvis would only remember in faint memories the servant girl who helped him a bit. Taking care of Nell certainly would keep him busy.

  She grasped the edges of her plain skirt and knelt in a small curtsy. “Thank you for everything, your highness.”

  Alvis bowed to her. “It was my pleasure, Myra.” The sound of Nell yelling at the servants echoed up to the deck of the boat, and his focus shifted to his ward and the scene on land. The servants struggled to get Nell onto the horse still, and tears ran down her cheeks in earnest now. Alvis placed a hand on Myra’s shoulder. “I must go. Take care of yourself, and please remember my offer.”

  Myra could only nod as he rushed past her and raced down the plank to land. She would remember his offer, but it didn’t change anything. He was a prince with a job to do, and Myra was a servant girl who needed to make her way in the world. Against her chest, the necklace kept hidden beneath her tunic, and the memories and history it held hovered on her like a dense fog. An ever-present reminder of who she was and who she never could be.

  A warm breeze embraced Myra and blew a strand of hair across her face. After living in Cresin for so long, it was hard to believe it was almost the winter solstice and she didn’t need to wear any furs or wool scarfs. The kingdom of Oxare did turn cool in the winter, but it wasn’t anything close to the harsh and snowy winters Myra had grown used to.

  Some new clothes, Myra decided, was the first thing she would need to purchase. She had money saved, and tucked away in her bag were a few pieces of clothes and jewelry she’d made and intended to sell. The other servants in Farren Castle loved her wares, and she hoped she would have the same luck in Oxare. She only had enough to fill the couple bags she carried, and it might not be enough to pay for a cart or
donkey, so she would need to make her travels on foot, but she didn’t mind.

  On land, Alvis was at Nell’s side. He knelt to her and held her hands. Myra couldn’t hear what he was saying, but whatever it was had Nell wiping her tears away. He stood again and showed the young girl how to get on top of the horse. When she saw he was safe, the servants helped her climb on too, so she was sitting in front of Alvis. Her brown eyes grew big as she looked around beneath them as though the ground was a few hundred and not a few feet below them. Myra smiled. They would be just fine. Both Alvis and Nell needed a fresh start, and Myra had a feeling they’d be good for one another.

  “Hey!”

  Myra’s attention was pulled from the scene toward the sailor who’d called to her. He pointed to the plank, and his brows were pinched together in anger. “’Get a move on, girl! We can’t have you on this boat forever!”

  Myra waved him off and picked up the two bags she’d brought with her few belongings. She needed to have a fresh start too. When she got to the dock, Alvis and his entourage were already on their way to the palace. Alvis’s white horse faced away like a cloud blowing across the sky.