Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel, #1)

by Linsey Hall

“Oh, honey, you are. I can feel it.” She frowned. “But you’ve been living your whole life in the human world?” “Uh…...

“There are bars everywhere,” I said. “It’s more than a bar, but I’ll ignore that grievous slight to my honor.” A million questions raced through my mind, almost all of them having to do with this place and the world and me. So many questions I felt like they could tear my mind apart. No. I focused on the one thing that needed to be done to keep me alive. It was a terrible thing to learn how to do when you were a kid, bu...

And I want to learn more about this…new world. But I have to solve this murder and clear my name. I have to focus on that first.” I felt like I’d break apart if I didn’t do that. “Can you help me?”

Something unidentifiable flickered in her eyes, then she nodded. “You’re a strange one…”

A vision flashed in my mind—the two of us drinking some violently green drink and laughing. We would be friends.

then, a strange buzzing fizzled through my head. I blinked, shaking it, and tried to tug my hand away. But Mac didn’t let go. Her eyes widened. “Holy fates, girl. You’ve seen the Devil himself.” “What?” “The Devil of Darkvale.” “Who the hell is that?” “Your killer? The man you saw in your vision? He’s the most dangerous—and powerful—man in Guild City. And if I were you, I’d be very careful.”

She stopped near the door, a courtesy I appreciated. I didn’t like it when people got too close.

Not because feeding incited blood lust. It was unlikely, given my strength and age. No… I had no desire to touch another person. And it reminded me of the horrors of my past—of all the terrible things I’d done, of what I’d been.

“Quinn will be on shift any minute. Then I’ll take you.” “Could you give me a few more details about Guild City before Quinn shows up?” I prodded.

“Got a new friend, Mac?” His voice had a pleasantly deep timbre.

“Hey.” Quinn’s lips tugged up at the corner in a sexy smile. “You’re something special, aren’t you?” What a flirt. I couldn’t acknowledge the special comment, so I just said, “Hi.”

another look. “Can’t help it. Never met a girl I didn’t like.”

Mac came around the bar and grabbed my arm, pulling me behind her. For the briefest moment, I felt a warm feeling, like being in a fluffy cloud of friendship. Like this was a place and a group of people where I could belong. Where I might not be alone and looked at as the weirdo. I shook my head, trying to drive the thought off. I wasn’t that lame. Seriously.

A frisson of nerves skated across my skin. I trusted her. I did. I could feel it.

Turn yourself in, Carrow Burton. If the city finds you through a manhunt, the judge will be less lenient. I swallowed hard, ice chilling my skin. The city was gearing up for a manhunt.

“Don’t worry, it’s cool. You’ll see.” She could sense my unease. Because she was a…seer?

“Press your hands against the wall.” She grabbed both my hands and moved them into place. “The ether will pull you in, but you’ll be okay.” “What’s the ether?”

Magic created this place hundreds of years ago within the city of London, a place for supernaturals to live where humans wouldn’t find them, and voila!” She gestured to the city wall. “Some say that the Devil of Darkvale himself created it, but I don’t know if that’s true.”

“Guild City is based on the medieval walled cities in Romania.” Her green eyes met mine, excitement flashing within. “Some say that the Devil of Darkvale is Vlad the Impaler himself. That he moved here hundreds of years ago when he could no longer stay in Romania, and he designed a city like the one he left behind.” “So he’s…immortal?” Mac shrugged. “That’s what they say. Now touch the door.”

This, though? This had potential.

Again, the briefest bit of wariness prickled my skin. I’d spent too much of my life afraid and at the bottom of the heap—first with my “family,” and then at police training and in the real world—to not be afraid. But damn it,

excitement thrumming through me as I stepped out into a small city square. It was surrounded on three sides by Tudor-style buildings, most of them white plaster and dark wood. A few were painted colorful shades that added some cheer through the fog, and brilliant flowers tumbled out of window boxes. Gas streetlamps flickered, giving it an old-fashioned feeling.

“Those are the guild towers, the backbone of Guild City. They form the government and provide protection, though that’s needed less in modern day.” “Who’s in the guilds?”

“Different magical species. There’s a Witches’ Guild, a Sorcerers’ Guild, the Shifters’ Guild, and so on. Each of the guilds has a motto and specializes in something. The witches sell potions, seers sell visions. That kind of thing. The most powerful members live in the towers, and the rest of us live in the city.”

“And everyone belongs to a guild. You have to.” “No misfits?” “Not in Guild City.” Shit. I’d always been one. Not that I was going to join a guild. I was just visiting. Mac’s eyes widened at something over my shoulder, and she twitched.

She grabbed my hand and pulled me with her. “I just saw one of the Devil’s men. He’s got spies everywhere.”

occasional three-story structure tossed in for variety. They all looked like something out of a medieval fantasy movie, but the wares inside the shop windows seemed almost pedestrian until I read the signs. One store seemed to specialize in enchanted clothing, advertising everything from trousers that would make you run faster to dresses that made you float. Another sold boring office supplies but stated that they were weapons. My fingers itched to explore.

“We’re safe.” “We weren’t safe before?” She shrugged. “Not safe to talk about the Devil. That guy wouldn’t have hurt us. Not in broad daylight without reason. But we can’t be gossiping about him in front of his men when you think he might be a murderer.”

Mac looked at me like I was crazy. “You’re hunting a murderer. One, that seems important. Two, it’s cool. And three, I like you.”

“I’m a seer. I see you. You’re cool.” “Well, that was easy.” She grinned and shrugged.

“You can control your gift better than I can.”

It’s possible yours is just the way it is—no more control necessary, no more learning required.” “Hmm.” I wasn’t sure I liked that response—I wanted to have more control—but it didn’t matter right now.

tiny but charming as a hedgehog wearing a...

It looked like she’d decorated using stuff from a thrift store, but that she had fantastic taste and luck.

“There’s one above that’s for rent if you need a place to live.”

I also had almost no money. Mac’s eyes softened, and I frowned.

“No. But you’re an open book, and I’ve been in your spot before.”

“Well, thanks?” Making a friend so quickly was weird, but she just felt right.

doesn’t know that I think he’s the killer.” But… “He can probably see me in the visions where I see him. So going undercover is unlikely to help.”

“He’s going to be suspicious.” She frowned. “Almost

Not that I was particularly brave, but I didn’t ha...

They’re loyal to him there, so it will be dangerous.

he’s highly unlikely to kill you there. Bad for business.”

we can get you some potions to protect yourself. He wouldn’t see that coming, and you’d be pretty safe.”

guilds provide protection,

protect us from ourselves,”

“Keep yours on the down-low if you can. Try to control them so others can’t sense what you are.” “I’m not doing that already?” “No, you let them all hang out.”

potion will help conceal your power from the Devil.”

“And, ah…he can compel people to do his bidding.”

It’s impossible to fight it, and there’s no potion that protects against