Night Veil Read online

  Table of Contents

  Epigraph

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  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

  Character List

  Playlist for Night Veil

  Teaser chapter

  “Yasmine Galenorn is a sheer force of nature, a sorceress whose wand and cup are ink and paper. The magick she weaves with the written word is irresistible.”

  —Maggie Shayne, New York Times bestselling author

  Praise for the Indigo Court Novels

  NIGHT MYST

  “This is an amazing book. The story flows and rushes and the author makes constant, incredible mind pictures . . . Lyrical, luscious, and irresistible.”

  —Stella Cameron, New York Times bestselling author

  “Night Myst has the look and feel of a story written at the climax of an epic tale . . . An adventurous, fast read that had the right mix of tension, passion, and tenderness.”

  —FlamesRising.com

  “As a reader I sympathize and feel for her characters, and how the hits never seem to stop coming. But as a testament to Ms. Galenorn’s skill, I am never left with the sense that they do not have a chance to succeed . . . I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a dark, edgy, sensuous read that never lets up on the tension.”

  —The Book Pushers

  “This new Indigo Court series is exciting and puts a unique twist on the paranormal world, leaving the reader begging for more. Yasmine Galenorn’s imagination is a beautiful thing.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Night Myst is a great start to a new series.”

  —Smexy Books

  “This is the first in a new urban fantasy series and I am definitely looking forward to the next one . . . There is great worldbuilding here and that is one thing that I love about Ms. Galenorn’s books.”

  —Book Binge

  Praise for the Otherworld Series

  HARVEST HUNTING

  “Heartbreaking and enlightening with twists and turns that will surprise all of us who are fans of the series—and leave us eager for the next book. A five-star read!”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I can’t wait to read the next book in this exciting series. Ms. Galenorn delivers a fantastic adventure that leaves the reader satisfied and yet wanting more.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  BONE MAGIC

  “Bone Magic turns up the heat on the D’Artigo sisters. Galenorn writes another winner in the Otherworld series.”

  —Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author

  DEMON MISTRESS

  “This book pulls no punches; it’s a boot to the head one moment and a full-mouthed kiss on the lips the next that leaves you begging for more.”

  —Bitten by Books

  “Ms. Galenorn weaves a tale where the strong flow of magic and danger entice the reader deeper into the story . . . fast-moving, engrossing, and filled with chemistry and passion.”

  —Darque Reviews

  NIGHT HUNTRESS

  “Galenorn hits the stars with Night Huntress. Urban fantasy at its best!”

  —Stella Cameron, New York Times bestselling author

  “A thrilling ride from start to finish.”

  —The Romance Readers Connection

  “Fascinating and eminently enjoyable from the first page to the last, this skillfully written book is populated with unique characters who never bore. Night Huntress rocks! Don’t miss it!”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  DRAGON WYTCH

  “Action and sexy sensuality make this book hot to the touch.”

  —Romantic Times (★★★★)

  “Ms. Galenorn has a great gift for spinning a compelling story. The supernatural action is a great blend of both fresh and familiar, the characters are each charming in their own way, the heroine’s love life is scorching, and the worlds they all live in are well-defined.”

  —Darque Reviews

  “This is the kind of series that even those who do not care for the supernatural will find a very good read.”

  —Affaire de Coeur

  “If you’re looking for an out-of-this-world, enchanting tale of magic and passion, Dragon Wytch is the story for you. I will be recommending this wickedly bewitching tale to everyone I know!”

  —Dark Angel Reviews

  DARKLING

  “The most fulfilling journey of self-discovery to date in the Otherworld series . . . An eclectic blend that works well.”

  —Booklist

  “Galenorn does a remarkable job of delving into the psyches and fears of her characters. As this series matures, so do her heroines. The sex sizzles and the danger fascinates.”

  —Romantic Times

  “The story is nonstop action and has deep, dark plots that kept me up reading long past my bedtime. Here be Dark Fantasy with a unique twist. YES!”

  —Huntress Book Reviews

  “Pure fantasy enjoyment from start to finish. I adored the world that Yasmine Galenorn has crafted within the pages of this adventurous urban fantasy story. The characters come alive off the pages of the story with so many unique personalities . . . Yasmine Galenorn is a new author on my list of favorite authors.”

  —Night Owl Romance

  CHANGELING

  “The second in Galenorn’s D’Artigo Sisters series ratchets up the danger and romantic entanglements. Along with the quirky humor and characters readers have come to expect is a moving tale of a woman more comfortable in her cat skin than in her human form, looking to find her place in the world.”

  —Booklist

  “Galenorn’s thrilling supernatural series is gritty and dangerous, but it’s the tumultuous relationships between all the various characters that give it depth and heart. Vivid, sexy, and mesmerizing, Galenorn’s novel hits the paranormal sweet spot.”

  —Romantic Times

  “I absolutely loved it!”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Yasmine Galenorn has created another winner . . . Changeling is a can’t-miss read destined to hold a special place on your keeper shelf.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  WITCHLING

  “Reminiscent of Laurell K. Hamilton with a lighter touch . . . a delightful new series that simmers with fun and magic.”

  —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author

  “The first in an engrossing new series . . . a whimsical reminder of fantasy’s importance in everyday life.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Witchling is pure delight . . . a great heroine, designer gear, dead guys, and Seattle precipitation!”

  —MaryJanice Davidson, New York Times bestselling author

  “Galenorn’s kick-butt Fae ramp up the action in a wyrd world gone awry . . . I loved it!”

  —Patricia Rice, New York Times bestselling author

  “A fun read, filled with surprise and enchantment.”

  —Linda Winstead Jones

  “Witchling is one sexy, fantastic paranormal-mystery-romantic read.”

  —Terese Ramin

  Berkley titles by Y
asmine Galenorn

  The Otherworld Series

  WITCHLING

  CHANGELING

  DARKLING

  DRAGON WYTCH

  NIGHT HUNTRESS

  DEMON MISTRESS

  BONE MAGIC

  HARVEST HUNTING

  BLOOD WYNE

  The Indigo Court Series

  NIGHT MYST

  NIGHT VEIL

  Anthologies

  INKED

  (with Karen Chance, Marjorie M. Liu, and Eileen Wilks)

  NEVER AFTER

  (with Laurell K. Hamilton, Marjorie M. Liu, and Sharon Shinn)

  HEXED

  (with Ilona Andrews, Allyson James, and Jeanne C. Stein)

  Berkley Prime Crime titles by Yasmine Galenorn

  GHOST OF A CHANCE

  LEGEND OF THE JADE DRAGON

  MURDER UNDER A MYSTIC MOON

  A HARVEST OF BONES

  ONE HEX OF A WEDDING

  Yasmine Galenorn writing as India Ink

  SCENT TO HER GRAVE

  A BLUSH WITH DEATH

  GLOSSED AND FOUND

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)

  Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia

  (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)

  Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India

  Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand

  (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s 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.

  NIGHT VEIL

  A Berkley Book / published by arrangement with the author

  PRINTING HISTORY

  Berkley mass-market edition / July 2011

  Copyright © 2011 by Yasmine Galenorn.

  Excerpt from Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn copyright © by Yasmine Galenorn.

  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 author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN : 978-1-101-51660-7

  BERKLEY®

  Berkley Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  BERKLEY® is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  Dedicated to

  Molly the Owl

  for all she has taught me,

  even though she doesn’t know I exist.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thank you to my beloved Samwise. You make life a joy, always and forever. And to my agent, Meredith Bernstein, and to my editor, Kate Seaver: Thank you both for helping me stretch my wings and soar. To Tony Mauro, an incredible cover artist. To my assistant who helps me keep track of everything. To my “Galenorn Gurlz,” those still with me, those who have come into my life the past year, and those who crossed over the Bridge the past years—I will always love you, even through the veil.

  Most reverent devotion to Ukko, who rules over the wind and sky; Rauni, queen of the harvest; Tapio, lord of the woodlands; and Mielikki, goddess of the Woodlands and Fae Queen in her own right. All, my spiritual guardians. And to the Fae—both dark and light—who walk this world beside us.

  And the biggest thank-you of all: To my readers. Your support helps me continue to write the books you love to read! You can find me on the Net at Galenorn En/Visions: www.galenorn.com. If you write to me snail mail (see website for address or write via the publisher), please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you would like a reply. Promo goodies are available—see my site for info.

  The Painted Panther

  Yasmine Galenorn

  November 2010

  I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.

  Did not you speak?

  —WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, MACBETH

  You can only come to the morning through the shadows.

  —J.R.R. TOLKIEN

  The Beginning

  Myst led her people into the shadows and ice, and there they hid, sheltered in the depths of lore. The Vampiric Fae were pariah, kept a dirty secret, shamefully debasing the entire realm of Faerie. And so in furtive silence, the Host fed and drank deep and did rend the flesh of its victims and feast. But their thirst was unquenchable, and it was then that Myst discovered one of their newfound powers: Members of the Indigo Court could drink from the souls of the magic-born . . . With this discovery, a vision for the future began to evolve, and the foundation of terror began . . .

  —From The Rise of the Indigo Court

  Chapter 1

  The great horned owl sat in the oak.

  I could see the bird from my window as it huddled in the sparse branches, trying to protect itself from the snow. I longed to join it, to strip off my clothes and turn into my owl self, to fly free under the haunting winter moon, but the weather was harsh and cold. And Myst was out there, hiding in the forest with her people, waiting.

  And somewhere, hidden in her mists and shadows, Grieve is there, captive, caught in Myst’s web. Can he still possibly love me? Can he still be saved from the blood that flows through his veins? How can I let him go, now that we’ve found each other again?

  I opened the window and leaned out, glancing down at the yard below. The snow gleamed under the nearly full moon, a crystal blanket of white flooding the lawn. The Golden Wood—or Spider’s Wood, as I called it—was aglow as usual, with a sickly green light that I’d seen every night since returning home to New Forest. A thousand miles and years seemed to separate me from my former existence, although it had been only a couple of weeks since I arrived back in town. But in that short time, my life had turned upside down, in every possible way.

  The wind called to me to come and play and I closed my eyes, reveling in the feel of the breezes lashing against my skin. My owls shifted, urging me to fly. The tattoos—a pair of blackwork owls flying over a silver moon impaled on a dagger—banded both arms.

  Slipping on my leather jacket and gloves, I cautiously climbed out on the shingles, making sure that the snow that had built up didn’t slip, sending me sliding to the ground, but it had turned to ice. I scooted until my back rested against the window, then brought my knees up, circling them with my arms, and nestled as best as I could against the cold.

  As I stared up into the oak, the great horned owl let out a soft hoot, stirring my blood. Over the past month, he’d taught me to shake off the fear of falling, to soar through the unending night turning on a wing, catching mice in the yard, while always, always, keeping an eye on the forest.

  You are Uwilahsidhe. You are magic-born. You must keep watch for Myst
, he constantly reminded me. The Queen of the Indigo Court seeks to destroy you.

  I raised one hand in salute, the snowflakes softly kissing my skin, and he hooted again, a warning in his tone.

  “What is it?” I whispered. “What are you trying to tell me?”

  Ulean, my Wind Elemental, swept around me like a cloak, answering for him. He fears for you. There are ghosts riding the wind tonight, and the Shadow Hunters are out and about. There will be death before the morning.