Excerpt!
"By who?" I asked, my voice rising and my fists clenching. I wasn't a child. No one was going to tell me who I could or couldn't have a relationship with.
"Do not interrupt again, Auren," Dosien warned. "I know you understand little about our people or where we come from. We expect you to make mistakes, but you must learn our ways and respect them. The shadow people created the shadow stalkers for a specific purpose, known only to the Foramar. He is sworn to keep the shadow stalkers on the right path. Since he is not with us at the moment, that responsibility falls to the elders."
He paused and looked at me, as if to make sure I was paying attention. "As part of ensuring things go as they need to, the shadow people choose our mates when our training has been completed. They do everything for a reason, even if we don't understand it or agree with it. Some shadow stalkers are not given mates, Auren, and if that happens to you, you will be expected to accept it and not try to mate. You must also refrain from being with someone before a mate has been chosen for you. Do you understand this?"
"No, I don't."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. For years, I'd believed Kado stifled my social life because he was overprotective. Now I wondered how much of it was due to rules set by the shadow people. What if I struggled to make friends because of his interference, rather than my differences?
My foster father scowled, but he eased up when my uncle patted him on the shoulder.
"What is it you don't understand?" Dosien asked.
Everything, I thought. "Why does it matter? All we did was kiss, and we didn't even manage that much, really."
My uncle nodded. "Kissing itself isn't a problem, but it can lead to deeper feelings. It's clear you and Etan have a connection."
"So? Kado and I have a connection. Why is that such a bad thing?" My voice rose in pitch.
My foster father shot me a warning look but still said nothing.
"Your bond with Kado is different. What you share with Etan will stir strong romantic feelings. It's best not to see each other again."
I took a deep breath and bit my lip to keep from screeching. "What? We can't even be friends?"
"No, it will be too difficult for you two to maintain a friendship," Dosien said softly.
My mind spun, and my legs went weak. I had to focus all my energy to stay upright. I had only just met Etan, but the thought of never seeing him again was more than I could bear. Something warm slid down my cheek. I opened my mouth to beg my uncle to reconsider, then remembered his warning and closed it.
"I'm sorry, Auren," he said.
I nodded and turned away. My uncle seemed remorseful, but I didn't care. My heart was breaking, and all they cared about were stupid rules. Suddenly, I hated being a shadow stalker. I hated everything about it. It had brought nothing but misery into my life. Dosien kept speaking, but he wasn't talking to me, so I only half-listened.
"Etan, you understood the rules, but you chose to ignore them. Why?"
He said nothing. I sensed he was just as distraught as I was.
"Etan, respond to the elder," Obeir said gently.
"I—I wasn't thinking. I knew I was doing the wrong thing, but in that moment, it didn't seem to matter. I..."
"I understand," my uncle said. "But you know you have to be punished for this."
"Yes, elder," he said.
"No!" I faced the podium. "That isn't fair. We didn't do anything."
"Auren, I warned you not to interrupt again."
Suddenly, Dosien was in my mind. A disorienting pressure made the room spin, and I closed my eyes. My legs turned to rubber, and I dropped to my knees. Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back to my feet. I leaned on them not for comfort, but because I didn't think my legs could hold me up. When I opened my eyes, waves of nausea overwhelmed me, so I squeezed them shut again.
"Etan, you will leave the village indefinitely. For a time, you'll travel the Dark Isle alone, and I hope the journey will help you gain perspective. Obeir will tell you when you may return, and when you do, I want to hear what you've learned about yourself."
Author bio:
Renee Scattergood lives in Australia with her husband, Nathan, and adult spawn (yes, that’s what they like to be called). She has always loved fantasy and was inspired to become a storyteller by George Lucas, but she didn't start writing her stories until her late twenties. Now she enjoys writing dark fantasy. She is currently working on a novel series, Shadow Guardians of the Serpent Isles, based on her serial, Shadow Stalker, and a new series called The Emperor’s Blades. Aside from writing, she loves reading (fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and watching YouTube Videos with her spawn. Visit her site for more information and a free copy of Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6): https://reneescattergood.au
The shadows are calling—and they know her name.
For eighteen years, Auren Trask has lived under the watchful eye of her foster father, Kado. He’s trained her in combat, wilderness survival, and strategy, but never explained why. His strict rules and secrecy have left her feeling trapped, desperate for freedom and a normal life with her friends.
That all changes the night she sneaks away for a simple camping trip. When the Galvadi Empire invades, burning villages and capturing innocents, Auren’s world shatters. She and her friends barely escape with their lives—thanks to Kado’s sudden appearance and skills that suggest he’s far more than a reclusive courier.
As the Galvadi tighten their grip on the Serpent Isles, Auren discovers she is at the center of a prophecy that has haunted the empire for generations. She is the delohi-saqu, a shadow stalker destined—according to Galvadi belief—to plunge the world into darkness. To stop that future, they will hunt her without mercy.
But the truth is far more dangerous than the Galvadi know. Auren’s powers are awakening, shadows whisper secrets in her dreams, and even Kado can no longer shield her from the path ahead. To survive, she must confront the terrifying legacy of the shadow stalkers and decide whether destiny is a prison…or a weapon.
Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1–6) launches Renee Scattergood’s dark fantasy serial, a journey through treachery, prophecy, and the struggle between fear and hope. Perfect for fans of epic adventure, morally complex heroes, and worlds where light and darkness are never simple.
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Renee Scattergood lives in Australia with her husband, Nathan, and adult spawn (yes, that’s what they like to be called). She has always loved fantasy and was inspired to become a storyteller by George Lucas, but she didn't start writing her stories until her late twenties. Now she enjoys writing dark fantasy. She is currently working on a novel series, Shadow Guardians of the Serpent Isles, based on her serial, Shadow Stalker, and a new series called The Emperor’s Blades. Aside from writing, she loves reading (fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and watching YouTube Videos with her spawn. Visit her site for more information and a free copy of Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6): https://reneescattergood.au
