Challenge of the Court: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Other Realm Book 5)

Challenge of the Court The Other Realm Series, Book 5 Heather G Harris Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Heather G Harris All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Cover Design by Christian Bentulan Dedication For my awesome supporters on Patreon, with special mention to Melissa and Kassandra. I am so grateful and humbled by your belief in me. Contents Foreword 1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3 4. Chapter 4 5. Chapter 5 6. Chapter 6 7. Chapter 7 8. Chapter 8 9. Chapter 9 10. Chapter 10 11. Chapter 11 12. Chapter 12 13. Chapter 13 14. Chapter 14 15. Chapter 15 16. Chapter 16 17. Chapter 17 18. Chapter 18 19. Chapter 19 20. Chapter 20 21. Chapter 21 22. Chapter 22 23. Chapter 23 24. Chapter 24 25. Chapter 25 26. Chapter 26 27. Chapter 27 28. Chapter 28 29. Chapter 29 30. Chapter 30 31. Chapter 31 32. Chapter 32 33. Chapter 33 34. Chapter 34 35. Chapter 35 36. Chapter 36 37. Chapter 37 38. Chapter 38 39. Chapter 39 40. Chapter 40 What's Next? Follow me Glossary - The Jinx Files Foreword If you'd like to hear the latest gossip, bargains and new releases from me, then please join my newsletter. You can sign up here, and as a welcome gift you get two free novellas from me; namely Glimmer of Dragons and Defender of the Pack! The novellas are available for free in both e-book and audiobook form. Amazon will also give you a new "new release alert" if you'd like to follow me there. Click here to follow me on Amazon. If you're a Bookbubber, than follow me on Bookbub here! If you prefer the personal touch, then join me on my Facebook Page or Facebook Group where I hang out daily. If it's been a while since you've delved into the Other Realm, there is a handy dandy glossary at the back of the book to remind you of who is who. Though I'm sure it'll come screaming back you. Without further ado, onwards to the story. Hold onto your hats … Chapter 1 Someone screamed as the man leapt. It was like all of the air had been sucked out of the room as we held our breaths. Tension radiated through us, our eyes wide as we watched, helpless to do anything but pray. A moment later, cheers erupted as he caught the trapeze safely. He hung suspended eighteen feet high in the air, making it look easy. At some point in the performance he’d ripped off his shirt, and his muscles rippled as he swung his body effortlessly and hooked a leg over the wooden swing. Then he flung himself backwards, sending the ropes into a spiral. It was breathtaking to watch a true acrobat at work. The man whirled downwards and was met mid-air by a young woman in a costume covered in peacock feathers. She careened towards him, their arms entwined and together they spun to the ground. The crowd roared their appreciation as the two artistes unhooked their limbs and extricated themselves from each other and their equipment. They took a bow. I cheered as loudly as everyone else, despite this being the fifth time I’d seen the performance this week. Sometimes surveillance didn’t totally suck. I loved the next bit of the show. Salsa music started and the circus performers started to dance. The peacock lady’s costume looked almost bland now against the riot of colour around her. She moved her hips to the beat, her feather headdress flashing as she danced. The laser light show began in earnest, flashing colours and beams in a dizzying display as the troupe danced on. The show had been wonderful but, despite the accusations, there hadn’t been a hint of magic. None of the performers bore the triangles of the Other realm. The strong man appeared to be exactly that; the trapeze artist didn’t seem to be a griffin or a dragon, and he didn’t use wings. The whole display had been the result of nothing more than hard work and human skill. The circus had come to the Connection’s attention simply because of its name, The Other Circus. Whether it was an in-joke or inferred something else, nothing I had seen indicated anything magical – anything Other – about it. And that is exactly what my report to the Connection would say. It was a lie, of course; the fortune teller was a real seer, despite her lack of purple skin, and the strong man was an ogre. I could tell simply because of what I am, a truth seeker, but I was going to keep their secrets like I was keeping my own. The Connection was getting too heavy handed. So what if a bunch of their citizens chose to stay permanently in the Common realm? I’d been there for nearly a week and not a single member of the circus had gone to a portal to recharge. They seemed determined to stay in the Common realm, which is the opposite of what most of us strive to do. We cling to the magical realm with all our might, grudgingly recharging when the itching gets too bad. But you can stay as long as you want in the Common realm like my parents did. It’s the only way to stay hidden from the Connection. The circus had been careful and I’d seen zero evidence of any magical powers. If I’d been an ordinary PI, that’s all that I would have known and all I’d have said in my report. Inspector Elvira Garcia could kiss my ass. As I filed out with the rest of the audience, I handed my empty popcorn carton to the young guy on the door. He touched my elbow. ‘I’m sorry, miss, can you wait a moment? The