The Band of Shadows (The Djinn Kingdom Book 3) Read online

  The Djinn Kingdom

  The Band of Shadows

  LJ Andrews

  Other books by LJ Andrews

  The Lost Relics Series

  Rise of a Guardian (book one)

  Trinity Rises (book two)

  Rise of the Black Dawn (book three)

  Fire and Ice

  The Gateway

  Box Sets

  Rise of a Guardian/Gateway

  Fire and Ice/Trinity Rises

  The Lost Relics Trilogy

  Short Story Set

  The Djinn Kingdom Series

  Pirate’s Vengeance

  Island of Bones

  Pirate’s Atlas

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1: A New Life

  Chapter 2: House Guests

  Chapter 3: A Pirate’s Life

  Chapter 4: Return to the Skies

  Chapter 5: A New King

  Chapter 6: The Band of Shadows

  Chapter 7: Twisting Fate

  Chapter 8: The Ball

  Chapter 9: Missing

  Chapter 10: The Cave

  Chapter 11: Shadow Island

  Chapter 12: The Cave

  Chapter 13: The Ring

  Chapter 14: Unlikely Allies

  Chapter 15: Ghost of Phoenix

  Chapter 16: Rise of the Shadows

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Dedicated to Mom, you’re pretty much amazing.

  Copyright © 2017 LJ Andrews

  All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion cannot be used without express or written permission by the publisher/author except for brief quotations in a book review

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real life situations or individuals is coincidence.

  Chapter 1

  A New Life

  “Nova! Wake up!”

  Nova eyes flashed open like diamond stars shining through a black sky. Furiously, she flipped her head back and forth taking in the strange surroundings. Atlas peered over her, holding tight to her clammy shoulders. Her throat burned as if someone had poured grains of sand into her mouth and brushed them along the sides.

  “What’s wrong?” asked a gruff voice from the hall. “Ye’ve been screamin’!”

  Was that her Uncle Briggs? The older man flew into the doorway, his silhouette undeniable from the flickering lanterns coming from outside.

  “Uncle Briggs, you found the Vengeance?” she asked, as her heart swelled with relief. She would finally be free from the hallows of the deadly pirate ship.

  Briggs furrowed his brow curiously. “Ye were dreamin’ lass.”

  “We’re on Silva, Nova. We’re at the Tucker home,” Atlas said quietly.

  Nova held her breath as floods of horrible memories of the battle between the undead on the mysterious Island of Bones flashed through her mind. Her lip trembled. “My mother,” she said, slowly. “She was there, wasn’t she? The Djinn temple…it’s real.”

  Atlas leaned back, his face turned down in sympathy as Nova relived the truth in her mind. Shaking her head, she wiped her sticky gold curls off her sweaty forehead.

  “I’m sorry I woke you,” she said. “I lost my senses for a moment.”

  Briggs smiled kindly. “Lassy, it’s been nearly a week and yer still havin’ these terrors. Ye need to talk about it or they’ll keep hauntin’ ye.”

  Nova sighed, closing her eyes. “I will be fine, Uncle Briggs. You two can go back to sleep. I promise we’ll talk,” she insisted finally when Briggs gave her a look.

  Atlas stepped back, running a hand through his hair while watching her suspiciously. Since coming to the Tuckers’, he looked more like the Atlas she’d first met. His dark hair wasn’t as long, and he kept it tucked neatly behind his ears. Smiles and constant teasing were common, a side Nova hadn’t truly seen under the stress of piracy. But yet there was still something he kept inside himself. Atlas had secrets and she could sense they ate at him. He hadn’t shared the full story of his relationship with Captain Tucker, except that he’d joined his crew as a young boy and the captain had taught him how to sail. She’d tried to get more from Tucker and Kale, but neither one shed any light, saying it was Atlas’s story to tell.

  “You’re sure you’ll be fine?” Atlas asked.

  Nova nodded. “Please, go get some rest.”

  “You, too,” Atlas said. “Remember, several guests are coming in the morning.”

  Nova pursed her lips together and flopped back on her pillow as Atlas and Briggs slid out of her small room. Genevieve was coming. Kale’s long-awaited fiancée. She’d sent word from Regen that a party of friends would be joining her, so they too could meet Kale.

  Nova rolled over, chastising herself for disliking the woman before she’d even met her. The closer her arrival became, the more distant she found Kale; he would be walled up in the library or walking slowly up and down the lane. Nova had overheard Albert, Kale’s brother-in-law, and Captain Tucker talking about his nerves upon seeing his fiancée, but to Nova’s chagrin, they’d also spoke of the affection and endearing love they’d shared before he was captured by the Vengeance.

  Nova buried the tempest she carried inside regarding Kale after hearing such talk from his family. They’d shared a moment after arriving at his father’s home, which had unlocked a feeling of desire for the man she’d once disliked aboard the pirate vessel. Rolling onto her side, she stared distantly at the beautiful canvas boasting a beautiful landscaped of rolling hills with red, pink, and purple flowers waving in a breeze. She could never be a woman like his fiancée.

  Living a life in a beautiful brick house as a loving wife wasn’t in her future, even if she wished it could be. As his sister, Jenna, and the housekeeper, Miss Hegan, fussed over the meals and chores, Nova found herself trying harder to find other activities that didn’t involve preparing for Geni.

  The greatest distraction, while still being useful, was in Kale’s nephew, Theo. In the days since joining the Tuckers, the child’s plump cheeks and happy squeals had kept her distracted from the truths that haunted her: Her father was still missing, her mother was a prisoner because of her, and Captain Smythe was still unaccounted for. He’d found her family once before, and Nova was certain the dark captain could do it again. And what would happen if he did? Would he kill the Tuckers? Set fire to Silva to get her back?

  When morning finally came, Nova lay awake on the soft down pillow watching the humid water droplets slide methodically down her window, one after the other. Miss Hegan was tromping along the halls barking orders to the temporary help Tucker had allowed her to hire for Geni’s arrival. By the sound of the voices, there were a few young girls and a boy whose voice hadn’t grown in just yet.

  Nova rolled to her side as the damp bedsheets peeled off her skin. She watched the pink- and green-winged insects bounce along the bright flowers scattered along the Tuckers’ lawn. The sun burned in the morning sky just as restless sleep burned her eyes and the peachy clouds floated lazily on the horizon. What a relief it was watching the open skies and distant ships from the safe comfort of the small guest room. Though the Star’s Vengeance was out there somewhere, it was comforting to know, at least for now, she could breathe and simply be Nova Willock.

  “‘Scuse me, Miss,” pudgy Miss Hegan said, popping her head through her door. “Miss Jenna took the liberty of sending for some more clothes. To be frank, Miss, your old clothes needed a good wash.”

  Nova flushed as Miss Hegan pushed her wide hips all the way into the room. “She didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”

  “No trouble, Miss. Now, I filled your wash basin with warm water. Brea
kfast will be served shortly. Remember, the dining room needs to be clear this morning because I’m hoping to have a nice fruit tea spread for when Miss Geni arrives with the Regen party.”

  “I won’t be late,” Nova said smiling, wrapping the thin muslin robe tighter around her nightdress Jenna had also provided.

  Miss Hegan nodded briskly before scurrying away shouting more orders at the young helpers. Nova chuckled; the woman was relentless with her schedules.

  Glancing to the bed, her smile faded quickly. “I guess I’ll be back to Nova Willock sooner than I thought,” she said with a pout, holding up the purple floral dress, perfect for a lady to traipse along the sunny street with her parasol.

  Nova frowned as she fastened the final button at the base of her neck. Spinning in the full mirror, the calf-length day dress twirled beautifully. She could almost pass for a lady, were it not for her dirty fingernails from endless scrubbing of the grimy ship deck. Faint bruises and scrapes were all along her ankles and shins from daily scuffles aboard the Vengeance and the treacherous journey for the spyglass which was to lead them to the temple. Nova sighed. The spyglass, along with any other help, had disappeared with the Island of Bones. Her mother had made it impossible for Nova to follow her to Mount Dia, and it only made Nova more desperate to find her.

  She spun once more in the mirror, eyeing her reflection with distant eyes. The dress hugged her figure, which was more feminine than she remembered. The fact she was a woman had rarely been obvious beneath the heavy leather belts littered with weapons, always strung about her hips and shoulders. She glanced at one of the drawers in the small dresser where her dagger was safely tucked away.

  “Knock, knock,” a friendly voice said.

  “Oh, hello, Jenna. Thank you for the…dress,” Nova said, forcing a smile.

  “You look stunning. Much better than those old sailor’s clothes. Don’t you feel refreshed?” Jenna smiled, when she did, her relation to Kale was obvious. Her brown hair hung over her shoulders in fine waves. She was taller than most women Nova had met, but her kindness made her one of the more beautiful people she’d encountered.

  “I suppose. I have to admit even before I ended up a pirate, I wasn’t keen on dresses,” Nova admitted, wringing her fingers together as she remembered the endless battles between her and Kamali over her old wardrobe.

  Jenna smiled, placing a hand gently on Nova’s elbow. “You are not a pirate.”

  Surprised how fiercely the words trembled within her, Nova bit the inside of her cheek to fight the burn of emotion. “You don’t know all the things I’ve done,” she whispered.

  “What I know is you have led a dangerous life to survive for over a year. What I know are the stories your pleasant uncle has told us. What I know is the way you nurture little Theo day in and day out. Nova, I’ve hardly been a mother since you came.” Jenna laughed.

  “He’s such a darling,” Nova admitted.

  “Well, I don’t know many pirates who would spend their days bending to the will of a one-year-old child. I wonder, without sounding impertinent, would you allow me to brush your hair? I have a knack for styling, so naturally I would have a family full of men,” she said with sarcasm while stroking one of Nova’s curls. “I have never seen hair color like yours.”

  “Oh, I don’t know.”

  “Come now, you can’t tell me a good wash and brush wouldn’t feel wonderful,” Jenna said mischievously.

  “Okay, I suppose.”

  Jenna clapped her hands and opened the door wide. “Come in! She’s agreed.”

  Nova rolled her eyes when Raine skipped into the room, holding a square basket filled with hairbrushes, clips, and oils. Jenna urged Nova into a padded chair, while Raine set to work washing her hair. She watched the former queen of Launi smile and laugh as if she’d never lived the life of a royal. Her cheeks were pink and her youth was obvious the more she distanced herself from the terrible treatment of her late husband, King Insel.

  “Any word from your parents?” Nova had asked Raine once they’d been reunited.

  Her face had gotten somber as she shook her head. “There are still many loyalists to the king. It wouldn’t be safe for them if I returned. Better for them to believe I died on the ship with the king.”

  Nova’s heart had broken for Raine, but despite her struggles, she seemed to settle into life easily. After several tense moments of the two women tugging on her hair, Nova unraveled her fingers and relaxed, enjoying the lavender scented water wash the Star’s Vengeance away. Jenna jabbered on about Albert and his comical attempts to tend to Theo’s hygiene as she brushed out her long, damp curls while Raine manicured her nails.

  “There, all done. Now, doesn’t that feel better?” Jenna finally said as she patted a purple flower bud she’d clipped among the shiny, rose-gold waves.

  Her lips parted slightly as she leaned forward in her chair. She hardly recognized herself. If she passed someone on the street the truth of where she’d been would never be known. The paleness of her cheeks flushed pink from the damp cloth she’d scrubbed over her face. Staring back were the diamond eyes she’d always cherished, but the heavy burden of the inner battle was clear even in their brightness.

  The struggle had intensified since arriving at the Tuckers’; most nights she excused herself to retire early because of the tightness in her chest. It was as if the Djinn inside her had been so close to the temple that night on the Island of Bones, she could have joined with the temple. It had been a struggle for Nova; part of her had wanted to abandon her companions and rush to Mount Dia, but in the end, she’d turned away from that road and rushed away to Silva. The power had grown more restless with each passing day.

  “Okay, you both win,” Nova said. “I’m not sure why I haven’t done this until now. I must have looked a sight to you this whole week.”

  “Sometimes it’s hard to let go of what’s past,” Jenna said knowingly as she lay the wet towel over the wash basin.

  A heavy knock came to the door followed by furious footsteps pounding away down the hall.

  Raine laughed. “Miss Hagen will boil over if we don’t get a move on.”

  “I feel a little nervous,” Nova admitted, wrapping her arms around her waist. “No one in that dining room except Briggs has seen me other than a runaway in a world of men.”

  Jenna’s eyes flashed with excitement beneath her thick, dark eyelashes. “You know what I know, Nova,” she said sounding as she had when she’d first come to the room. “I know my brother won’t be able to keep his eyes off you.”

  Nova shifted uncomfortably, as her ears pounded from her raging pulse. “Kale has never, and would never, think of me that way. We helped one another survive a pirate crew. But his life is picking up where he left off, especially with Geni coming today.”

  She spoke quickly, though she thought back to the first night at Captain Tucker’s. Kale had been so close to her. For that moment, they’d both wanted something they couldn’t have. She’d seen the change in his eyes from when they’d first met. The trials they’d endured under Captain Smythe had changed them both, and life couldn’t be the same. More than a few times, Nova had wished she’d accepted his advances instead of reminding him they could never be. They’d been cordial since, but it had seemed through the week Kale had made it a point to never be alone with Nova.

  Raine laughed. “If you say so, Nova. I’ll see you both at breakfast.”

  Jenna rolled her eyes. “I’ll stop my subtle hints to Kale if you’re so sure. Now, come on let’s go.”

  Jenna burst through the dining room door and immediately fell into conversation with the rest of the house, but Nova stopped outside the door. For so long she’d fought for respect, to be considered a threat to anyone who crossed her. Now, she was supposed to carry on like a maiden with lavender perfumes and vibrant smiles. What would Kale and Atlas think? Would it change how they viewed her? Would she no longer be their equal?

  A nurse slipped out of the room next to her.
The woman nodded at Nova slightly before continuing down the hallway in a rush, but Nova stopped her.

  “Oh, how is he today?” she asked. Gold-tooth Taylor had developed a bad infection from the wound taken in the battle on the island.

  “He’s weak, but the fever seems to have broken. He needs a good rest,” the nurse said as if warning Nova against visiting.

  Without another thought, the nurse slipped through the kitchen door, splashing water on the floor from the basin in her hands. Nova held her breath, disappointed to find no more excuses before finally stepping into the dining room.

  Briggs and Captain Tucker laughed over something as they sipped tea from china cups. Albert meticulously wiped Theo’s chubby lips after the boy had spit a string of yellow fruit down his father’s white shirt. Atlas spoke lightly with Jenna and Raine, but it was Kale who met her eye as she slowly opened the dining room door. Nova felt dizzy as she studied the floral border of the dining room carpet, ignoring the twirl of her stomach when his chair slid along the floor as he stood in respect.

  The noise captured the attention of the rest of the room, and Nova felt as if her cheeks were on fire before silently sitting in the only empty chair.

  “Lass, ye look lovely. Reminds me of better days seein’ ye like this,” Briggs said sincerely. “Though ye never did like them dresses.”

  Nova peeked up and saw Jenna beam with excitement. Kale slowly returned to his seat and Atlas gawked with a half-eaten bite frozen halfway to his mouth.

  Finally, she frowned and took a thick piece of bread, slathering cinnamon butter over the surface. “What is it with you men? Did you forget I was female because I bested you so many times?”

  Captain Tucker howled and slapped Atlas and Kale on their shoulders. “I have no doubt of the truth of that statement. I’d wager you could take me on, dear girl. These blubbering boys are simply stunned by what a beauty you are. Though, if they haven’t seen it until now I think their heads may need to be examined.”

  The table chuckled, except Kale, who hid his red face behind his cup.