Shaded Vision: An Otherworld Novel Read online

  “Yasmine Galenorn’s imagination is a beautiful thing.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Chilling, thrilling, and deliciously dark—Galenorn’s

  magical fantasy is spectacularly hot and

  supernaturally breathtaking.”

  —Alyssa Day, New York Times bestselling author

  PRAISE FOR

  Blood Wyne

  “The Otherworld novels are a tapestry of excellent writing and interesting character development…always fun, sexy, and magical, and Blood Wyne is no different.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Blood Wyne has action, sizzling romance, and some majorly startling discoveries that will cost dearly…This series just gets better and better!”

  —The Bibliophilic Book Blog

  “I am excited to read what happens next in this series.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  Harvest Hunting

  “Readers are in for an action-packed ride that is sexy to the max!”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “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

  “It’s not too many authors who can write a series as long-lived as this one and make every book come out just as interesting and intriguing as the last, but Yasmine Galenorn is certainly one of them…Harvest Hunting is a must buy. Don’t miss it!”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  Bone Magic

  “Erotic and darkly bewitching, Bone Magic turns up the heat on the D’Artigo sisters. Galenorn writes another winner in the Otherworld series, a mix of magic and passion sure to captivate readers.”

  —Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author

  “Quite simply A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!”

  —Sidhe Vicious Reviews

  Demon Mistress

  “As always, [Galenorn] delivers intriguing characters, intricate plot layers, and kick-butt action.”

  —RT Book Reviews (four stars)

  “Just as exciting as the last episode in the Otherworld series.”

  —The Romance Readers Connection

  “The tense fights, frights, and demon-bashing take front and center in this book, and I love that…All in all, Demon Mistress certainly makes for enjoyable summertime reading!”

  —Errant Dreams Reviews

  Night Huntress

  “Yasmine Galenorn is a hot new star in the world of urban fantasy. The Otherworld series is wonderfully entertaining.”

  —Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author

  “Yasmine Galenorn is a powerhouse author; a master of the craft who is taking the industry by storm, and for good reason!”

  —Maggie Shayne, New York Times bestselling author

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

  —Stella Cameron, New York Times bestselling author

  “Love and betrayal play large roles in Night Huntress, and as the story unfolds, the action will sweep fans along for this fast-moving ride.”

  —Darque Reviews

  Dragon Wytch

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

  —RT Book Reviews (four stars)

  “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

  “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.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “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

  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.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “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

  “Pure delight…a great heroine, designer gear, dead guys, and Seattle precipitation!”

  —MaryJanice Davidson, New York Times bestselling author

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

  —Terese Ramin, author of Shotgun Honeymoon

  “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, author of Come to Me

  Titles by Yasmine Galenorn

  The Otherworld Series

  WITCHLING

  BONE MAGIC

  CHANGELING

  HARVEST HUNTING

  DARKLING

  BLOOD WYNE

  DRAGON WYTCH

  COURTING DARKNESS

  NIGHT HUNTRESS

  SHADED VISION

  DEMON MISTRESS

  The Indigo Court Series

  NIGHT MYST

  NIGHT VEIL

  Anthologies

  NEVER AFTER

  INKED

  HEXED

  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

  eSpecials

  “ETCHED IN SILVER” FROM INKED

  Shaded

  Vision

  An Otherworld Novel

  YASMINE GALENORN

  JOVE BOOKS, NEW YORK

  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

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

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  (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 control over and does not have any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  SHADED VISION

  A Jove Book / published by arrangement with the author

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Jove mass-market edition / February 2012

  Copyright © 2012 by Yasmine Galenorn.

  Excerpt from Night Seeker copyright © 2012 by Yasmine Galenorn.

  Cover art by Tony Mauro.

  Cover design by Rita Frangie.

  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.

  EISBN: 9781101560112

  JOVE®

  Jove Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  JOVE® is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  The “J” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  Dedicated to

  Meerclar, my own little black “panther”

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thank you to my beloved Samwise—my biggest, strongest, and most handsome fan. And my gratitude to my agent, Meredith Bernstein, and to my editor, Kate Seaver—thank you both for helping me stretch my wings and fly. A salute to Tony Mauro, cover artist extraordinaire. To my assistant, Andria, who helps me in so many ways. To my furry little “Galenorn Gurlz,” LOLcats in their own right. Most reverent devotion to Ukko, Rauni, Mielikki, and Tapio, my spiritual guardians.

  And the biggest thank-you of all—to my readers, both old and new. Your support helps keep the series going. You can find me on the net at Galenorn En/Visions: www.galenorn.com. For links to social networking sites where you can find me, see my website.

  If you write to me snail mail (see my website for the address or write via my publisher), please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with your letter if you would like a reply. Promo goodies are available—see my site for info.

  The Painted Panther

  Yasmine Galenorn

  July 2011

  A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him.

  —AESOP

  The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies’.

  —NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

  Table of Contents

  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

  Glossary

  Chapter 1

  “I’m going to be sick! Move!” Iris shoved past me and ran to the bathroom. I could hear her retching and then, after a moment, the toilet flushed and the sound of water ran in the sink.

  Grimacing, I decided she could manage on her own and busied myself by putting the finishing touches on my outfit. I wasn’t a fashion maven, and all I could think was, Please, oh please, let me be dressed up enough for tonight.

  My jeans were new, for a change, with no rips, and dark black, and I was wearing a bright fuchsia tank top with a rhinestone kitty on the front. I’d traded my utilitarian brown leather belt for a white leather one with a silver buckle, and I’d grudgingly changed my shit-kicker boots for a pair of suede ankle boots with three-inch heels, which put me at an even six four.

  My spiky hairdo was back to the golden shade it normally ran from the horrible calico mess that it had ended up, although I’d waffled and finally asked Iris to add in some chunky platinum highlights and a few thin black ones, and now I had tiger-striped spikes. The vining leaf tattoos on my arms had darkened some—with each passing week, they seemed to fill in a little more. Camille had helped me with my makeup, and I looked reasonably ready for clubbing, even though my typical evening was spent hanging around in front of the TV with Shade, curled up eating junk food and trading kisses. That is, when we weren’t out kicking demon ass.

  I slipped into my black leather jacket and patiently sat on the edge of the bed, playing with one of my kitty toys. The squeaky mouse had become a favorite of mine and—even in human form—it made me grin. I shook it until it let out a string of loud squeaks.

  Iris poked her head out of the bathroom.

  “Will you stop that damn noise? You’ve been obsessed with that toy night and day for the past two weeks. If you don’t put it down, I’m going to toss it in the garbage.”

  “Not my squeaky mouse!” I quickly dropped it on the floor. I loved my squeaky mouse, and nobody was going to take it away from me.

  Iris had fixed her makeup, and, with a look that told me she wasn’t at all sure about our plans for the evening, she edged out of the tiled room and shouldered a smile. “Do I look okay?”

  Grumpy notwithstanding, I could tell she was anxious. About six weeks’ pregnant, even though she wasn’t showing yet; her hormones were playing her fast and furious—like Jimi Hendrix played his guitar. Add to that, tomorrow she was getting married, and our Talon-haltija sprite was as jumpy as a cat in a thunderstorm.

  “You look beautiful,” I said.

  Iris was radiant, for all she was going through. Her ankle-length hair shone like spun gold, and her skin was smooth and flawless—pregnancy agreed with her in that regard, at least. Her eyes were luminous, round, and blue as the early morning. And she still had her figure—she was curvy and buxom and, standing at three ten, she put me to shame in the girly department. But the feminine demeanor was deceptive—Iris could pack one hell of a punch, both magically and physically.

  She stared at me for a moment. As she cautiously dashed at her tears, trying to keep from messing up her mascara, she gave me a blissful smile. “You’re so sweet. Ca
n you braid my hair for me? I sure wish I had Smoky’s ability to order it to fix itself.”

  “I think a lot of people want a taste of Smoky’s talents. Among other attributes of his.” I sat her down and divided her hair into three sections. “I know I’d love to come out looking peachy clean every time we fight a battle.”

  After I wove one section over the other and finished it off with an elastic-coated rubber band, Iris coiled it around her head in an intricate pattern, leaving the tail end of it hanging down to her midback like a tidy ponytail. We added a brilliant yellow bow. It reminded me a lot of Barbara Eden’s hairdo in I Dream of Jeannie.

  “I wish you could, too. Then I wouldn’t have so much laundry to do.”

  She laughed and smoothed her skirt—a gorgeous cobalt blue number she’d paired with a pale gray button-down shirt and a pair of pumps that matched the color of her hair bow. The Finnish house sprite looked like a pretty secretary rather than the high priestess she was. Talon-haltijas were good at blending in. Even when they could whip your butt in a battle.