Midnight Trials

Midnight Trails Bloodlines Book Two By Erin O’Kane Copyright © 2023 Erin O’Kane Midnight Trials First publication: 2023 Editing by Elemental Editing & Proofreading Cover art by Logan Keys at Cover of Darkness Formatting by Kaila Duff All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to places, events or real people are entirely coincidental. Written by L Guyatt as Erin O’Kane 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 About the Author Also by Erin O’Kane Dedicated to LouLou, Gone but never forgotten. Chapter One With a fear unlike any I have ever known, I stare at the abomination pulling its way out of the boggy ground. “Scott?” I call out, desperately hoping that I’m wrong and my trial partner isn’t dead, all while backing away from the inky, squid-human hybrid that’s crawling towards me. It’s something from my nightmares. Just over a week ago, my greatest fear was never shifting into my werewolf form. Since that night, however, I’ve learned that I’m only part werewolf and my pack has been keeping things from me ever since I was abandoned on the edge of their land as a baby. They raised me as their own but never told me how werewolf culture works outside of our pack—mainly that there’s a council of werewolves who govern us all. On the night of my twenty-first birthday and then during the ceremony when I would become fully bonded with my wolf, I learned that I possess magic after I failed to shift and instead created a wolf of starlight who runs at my side. It turns out that the council hates magic users and discovered my secret, so they dragged me from my pack and forced me to take part in the Fang and Claw Trials to prove that I’m truly a werewolf. The trials are every twenty-two years, except, luckily for me, it was brought forward a year. Which is how I find myself in a woodland arena facing off against a monster that may or may not have just killed my partner for this trial. I have no weapons other than my fists, and I doubt I’ll get anywhere near it before its tentacles incapacitate me. Star, my wolf of glittering starlight, has positioned herself between me and the creature, snarling loudly. Her fur stands on end as she makes herself as large as possible, her ears back and jaw snapping. I know she’ll protect me as best as she can. Something twists in my gut, the darkness that I bury deep within me lurching at the thought of Scott being hurt, but I lock it down tightly. Heart pounding in my ears, I have to force myself to slow my breathing so I can try to focus. Getting overwhelmed and eaten by a walking squid creature is not how I want to die, especially not when I get a glimpse of its razor-sharp teeth. Nope, uh-uh, not happening. Think, Laelia, think, I chant to myself as I continue to back away. There has to be a way to defeat this thing. My chest tightens as my bond wraps around me, tugging me in the direction of Joel, my mate. That’s not the only tug I feel, however, and I can’t help but glance to my left, looking for whomever the mystery feeling belongs to. No, they are too far away, and neither of them will get here in time. I guess I’m just going to have to save myself. I’m still contemplating how I’m going to do that when something golden glistens and catches my eye. My gaze is instantly drawn to it. There, wrapped in one of the creature’s inky tentacles, is exactly what we need—the ring. This trial is a scavenger hunt. All contestants have been paired up, and we have to find an artifact containing the council’s symbol, then get to the beacon in the middle of the arena. However, there aren’t enough for every team, and the last ten teams will be eliminated. For most, that would mean returning to their pack with their tails between their legs, but for me, if I don’t get to the semi-finals, then the council will declare me a witch and have me executed, so I can’t afford to fail, and I need the ring that creature is clinging to. Although, without Scott, it’s pointless. The council made it pretty clear that both teammates in the pairing had to survive, and if he really is dead… No, I won’t allow myself to jump that far ahead. One step at a time. Scott is a strong werewolf, he can’t be dead. Even if he was, I still have to survive to the end of the trial. Having one of the artifacts might aid me, since I could use it as a bargaining tool, or it will paint me as a target. Shit. I could really use you right about now, I tell the goddess sarcastically. A little zip goes through me, much like a static shock, followed by the feeling of otherworldly amusement as the goddess’s presence settles over me. She’s supported and helped me through all of this so far, and I know that zap was more playful than a warning, but there is a quiet sense of urgency about it too. “What do I do? I have no way to defend myself!” Panic makes my voice tight as I gesture with my empty hands. The creature uses my distraction to its advantage, lunging forward and reaching out with its tentacles to grab me.