Feyland: The Complete Trilogy Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  THE COMPLETE TRILOGY

  THE COMPLETE FEYLAND TRILOGY:

  FEYLAND: THE DARK REALM – Book 1 in the Feyland Trilogy ~

  DEDICATION:

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  THE BALLAD OF TAM LIN

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for THE DARK REALM:

  FEYLAND: THE BRIGHT COURT - Book 2 in the Feyland Trilogy ~

  DEDICATION:

  FEYLAND: THE BRIGHT COURT – PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWO - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THREE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER FOUR - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER FIVE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER SIX- THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER SEVEN- THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER EIGHT- THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER NINE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER ELEVEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWELVE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN- THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER NINETEEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO- THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THIRTY - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX - THE BRIGHT COURT

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS for THE BRIGHT COURT:

  FEYLAND: THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM – Book 3 in the Feyland Trilogy ~

  DEDICATION:

  FEYLAND: THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM – PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWO - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER THREE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER FOUR - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER FIVE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER SIX - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER SEVEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER EIGHT - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER NINE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER ELEVEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWELVE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER NINETEEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER THIRTY - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  EPILOGUE

  Watch for novels of the Feyguard, coming in 2013!

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS for THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM:

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  ~ Award-winning YA Urban Fantasy Trilogy ~ All three books in one epic digital bundle ~

  Faeries. Computer games. A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and the girl he's afraid to love...

  What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the treacherous Realm of Faerie?

  "Ms. Sharp is a master storyteller... The Feyland books have found a prized place on my all-time favorite books list." -- Rebecca McKinnon, The Crooked Word

  "This is a great series that deserves more attention. The books are quick and exciting reads, and if you like stories based on fairy tales, or if you enjoyed both the portrayal of the fae in Mercy Thompson and October Daye and the virtual world of Ready Player One, you will love this series." -- Kate, Epic Chocolate Fantasy

  "The series has come full circle with the great cast of characters and events that take place. Would recommend for everyone!" -- Jen, What's on the Bookshelf

  THE COMPLETE TRILOGY

  The Dark Realm, The Bright Court, The Twilight Kingdom

  ANTHEA SHARP

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real events or persons is purely coincidental.

  Copyright 2011, 2012 Anthea Sharp. All rights reserved. This e-book bundle is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away. Support independent authors - read legally! To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, other than for review purposes, contact [email protected]. Print copies of individual available at most vendors. Visit the author at www.antheasharp.com and subscribe to her newsletter http://www.tinyletter.com/AntheaSharp

  COVER: Designs - Kimberly Killion, www.hotdamndesigns.com

  Model for The Dark Realm, Jessica Truscott – faestock.deviantart.com

  THE COMPLETE FEYLAND TRILOGY:

  The Dark Realm The Bright Court The Twilight Kingdom

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  THE DARK REALM

  THE BRIGHT COURT

/>   THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  FEYLAND: THE DARK REALM – Book 1 in the Feyland Trilogy ~

  WHEN A GAME…

  Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn't suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch -- or that she'll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries.

  TURNS REAL…

  Tam Linn is the perfect hero -- in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he's the only one who can help her.

  WINNING IS EVERYTHING…

  Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen... before it's too late.

  DEDICATION:

  For all the readers in my family – but most especially, for Brynn.

  PROLOGUE

  Jennet faced the Dark Queen, her mage staff at the ready. Excitement fizzed through her blood like it was carbonated. This was it. She’d completed the quests, mastered each level of the game, and made it here. The final boss fight.

  “Fair Jennet.” The queen’s voice was laced with stars and shadow. “You think to best me in battle?” A faint smile crossed her pitiless, beautiful face. Her dress swirled around her like tatters of midnight mist.

  “I plan on it,” Jennet said. She tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear, then shook off the sudden anxiety that settled on her shoulders, cold as snow.

  She had no idea what this particular fight held. Feyland was the hardest sim she’d ever played, full of weird twists and turns. She thought about it all the time. The game filtered into her dreams, shaded the edge of her days. Sometimes the computer-generated world felt more real than her ordinary life.

  “Very well,” the queen said. “I accept your challenge.”

  Jennet couldn’t see any weapons on her opponent, and that dress was no substitute for armor. Safe bet that this was going to be a magical duel, spell-caster against spell-caster. Jennet flexed her fingers around the smooth wood of her staff. Anticipation spiked through her, tightening her breath.

  Fantastical creatures watched from the edges of the clearing: feral-faced women with gossamer wings, dark riders with red-eyed hounds at their heels. The sound of drums and pipes wove through the shadows. Overhead, a sliver of moon tangled in the black branches of the trees. Then, between one heartbeat and the next, silence fell.

  A dark figure stepped forward, forbidding in midnight armor and a wicked helm, and Jennet’s stomach clenched. The Black Knight. She’d barely beaten him in an earlier quest. If he got involved in this fight, she was in severe trouble.

  He held his gauntleted fist high and grated out a single word. “Begin.”

  It echoed eerily through the glade, and the fey-folk let out a rough cheer. There was no one to cheer for Jennet.

  Without hesitation, she tipped her staff and shot a bolt of fiery white light at the queen. A sphere of shadow appeared, blocking her attack and swallowing the fire into its dark depths. More spheres materialized and began floating toward her, called by the Dark Queen. Jennet ducked and wove, avoiding their deadly touch.

  Lightning crackled from her staff, illuminating the clearing with shocking white light, but the queen evaded her bolts. Still, Jennet kept pressing the attack. The dark spheres were multiplying now, bobbing in the air on all sides. A low, menacing hum surrounded her as she tried to find a clear shot.

  She couldn’t afford any mistakes - but the fight was pushing her to her limits. Worry started to nibble at the edges of her concentration. She just had to watch for an opening… there. She took aim and sent another bolt crackling through the air.

  White fire sizzled and Jennet heard the queen gasp. Yes! She could do it. She could beat this game. The first player ever to claim victory over Feyland.

  A dark sphere brushed against her shoulder. Ice stabbed into her skin, sent numbness down her arm until she could barely hold onto her staff. She stumbled back, trying to regain the rhythm of the battle. Keep breathing. Keep fighting. But where was the queen? The place where her opponent had stood was now filled with twisting shadows.

  Everything rippled, as though the clearing was made of cloth billowing in a sudden gust. Jennet heard high, chiming laughter as she fell backward…

  And landed in an ornate chair set before a feasting table. What? She jumped up, heart racing, and knocked the edge of the table. A goblet sitting in front of her shook, sending a drop of deep red liquid to stain the white tablecloth.

  “Sit down, Fair Jennet,” the queen said from her place across the table. “This is the next stage of our battle.”

  Pale candles in thorny candelabra illuminated the feast. Their silver flames reflected in the queen’s fathomless eyes.

  “You changed the rules! You can’t do that.” Jennet’s legs felt shaky as she edged back into her chair. She was so not prepared for this.

  The queen laughed. It was the sound of ice shattering on a black lake. “Of course I can. This is my court. My realm. You are but a visitor. Please - drink.” She waved one delicate hand at the goblet.

  “No thanks.”

  Jennet’s mouth said the words, but her hand reached out anyway and lifted the heavy silver goblet. A sweet, thick smell drifted from the cup. Roses and burnt sugar. The edge of metal touched her lips.

  No. She was not going to do this. The queen might try to control their battle, but she could still fight back. Fingers trembling from effort, Jennet forced the goblet away. The air around her was sticky and nearly solid, like dough. She pushed against it, her breath coming in gasps, until at last the cup touched the table.

  “Very well.” The queen’s voice was edged with frost. “If you disdain my hospitality, then you must answer a riddle.”

  That seemed safer than drinking whatever was in the goblet. And the game wasn’t giving her a lot of other options. “A riddle? All right.”

  The candles flared and the queen’s eyes glowed. “Listen then, and listen well, the answer to this riddle tell, or forfeit of thyself will be, and never more wilt thou be free.”

  Jennet shivered. The queen’s voice was ominous, her words intoned with deep meaning. Whatever happened, it was clear that failing to answer the riddle carried a price. Jennet curled her fingers tightly into her palms and tried not to show the fear flickering through her.

  “Ask me your riddle,” she said.

  “As soon as it begins, it is ending. Without form, still it moves. When it is gone, it yet remains.” The queen smiled, sharp as a blade. “You have three guesses.”

  “Ah…” Jennet’s mouth was dry. Her mind beat against the riddle like a bird trapped behind glass. Without taste or form. Something powerful, but insubstantial. “Is it the wind?”

  A low sighing went through the branches of the dark trees. The candle nearest her snuffed out, as though some invisible hand had abruptly doused the flame.

  The queen shook her head. “One chance gone.”

  A circle of watchers had formed around the table. Lithe women with gossamer wings gathered beside the queen. Gnarled brown creatures with sharp teeth and fingers that were too long for their hands swayed next to them. Red-capped goblins and capering sprites - they all watched her with avid, gleaming eyes.

  Freaky. This whole battle had turned beyond strange. Jennet pulled in a deep breath, though her chest felt tight, and gave another answer. “Music?”

  The second she said the word, she knew it was wrong. She shivered as a second candle flame went out. The watchers surrounding her tittered, and the low breeze rustled the branches.

  Jennet squeezed her eyes closed, blocking out the shadowy glade, the fantastical figures, the wicked curve of the Dark Queen’s smile. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, and she tasted the metal edge of fear on her tongue. Think. She had to figure
this out.

  “Your time has run, Fair Jennet. Speak your final answer.”

  She opened her eyes, to see that the Dark Queen had risen to her feet. A single candle burned between them.

  “I…”