SHADOWS OF THE FULL MOON
By
Rick Kenner
Copyright © 2025 Rick Kenner
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 9798304800778
Imprint: Independently published
Cover design and illustration by: Rick Kenner
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Prologue: The Rising Shadows 1
Shattered Unity 9
The Keeper’s Path 18
Malachar’s Offer 27
Shadows in the Forest 37
Bonds Tested 48
A Vampire’s Bargain 59
Witch’s Warning 69
Faction Alliance 80
The Crown’s Guardian 89
The Crown’s Cost 99
The Betrayer’s Hand 109
Threads of the Convergence 118
Shadows Awakened 128
The Lovers’ Resolve 137
March on the Fortress 146
The Final Stand 156
Keeper of Shadows 166
Shadows of Tomorrow 178
Epilogue: The Breaking Point 188
Prologue: The Rising Shadows
The sky above the Crescent Moon Society’s sanctuary was fractured, streaked with lines of shadow that seemed to twist and writhe like living things. The air carried an unnatural weight, thick with the hum of unstable energy. Jillanne Kee stood on the high balcony of the tower, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Beyond the sanctuary’s protective wards, the world was changing—breaking.
The Convergence was no longer a distant threat. Its ripples had become violent surges, tearing at the fabric of the realms. Entire landscapes shifted overnight, with mortal towns swallowed by shadow-infused forests, and supernatural strongholds fractured by sudden storms of energy. Alliances frayed as vampires blamed witches for destabilized wards, and werewolves turned territorial, accusing others of exploiting the chaos.
Creatures from the shadow realm slipped through the cracks, their forms alien and terrifying. Jillanne had seen their destruction firsthand—villages consumed by shadow, supernatural sanctuaries obliterated, and alliances fraying under the strain.
The shadows at her feet stirred, responding to her turmoil. She closed her eyes, letting out a slow, steadying breath. They were restless lately, harder to control. The tether that bound her to the shadow realm felt tighter with each passing day, a constant reminder of the power she wielded—and the cost it demanded.
“Do you ever rest?” Renick’s voice broke through the quiet.
Jillanne turned to find him standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. His sharp blue eyes softened as they met hers, but there was a hint of worry behind them. He stepped onto the balcony, the moonlight catching the edge of his blade, which was never far from his side.
“Not tonight,” Jillanne replied, her voice quieter than she intended.
Renick leaned against the railing beside her, his presence solid and grounding. “The Convergence?”
“And everything that comes with it,” she admitted. “Every day, it feels like the realms are slipping further away from us. The Society is fracturing, Markus and Aria are at each other’s throats, and the mortals... they don’t even know what’s coming.”
Renick nodded, his gaze shifting to the horizon. “It’s getting worse. The reports from the eastern territories—shadow creatures, villages disappearing. It’s spreading faster than anyone thought.”
“And Malachar?” Jillanne asked, though she already knew the answer.
Renick’s expression darkened. “He’s moving. Manipulating the fractures, building his forces. He’s not just feeding off the chaos; he’s guiding it.”
Jillanne let his words sink in, her shadows curling tighter at her feet. Malachar. The ancient vampire lord who had emerged from the shadows, seeking to turn the Convergence to his advantage. She had felt his presence before—cold, calculating, and overwhelming. He wasn’t just a predator; he was a force of nature, as inevitable as the Convergence itself.
“What if I can’t stop him?” Jillanne asked softly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the shadows. “What if the Crown isn’t enough?”
Renick turned to her, his gaze steady. “You’ve already done more than anyone thought possible. And you’re not alone in this.”
Jillanne looked away, her golden-brown eyes flickering with doubt. “Sometimes it feels like I am. The shadows, the tether... it’s like I’m fighting a battle on two fronts—Malachar on one side, and myself on the other.”
“You’re stronger than you think,” Renick said, his voice firm. “And whatever happens, I’m with you.”
For a moment, Jillanne let herself believe him. She straightened, turning her gaze back to the horizon. The fractured sky seemed to pulse faintly, as if the Convergence itself were alive, watching.
“We’ll need everyone,” Jillanne said, her tone shifting to something sharper, more resolute. “Markus, Aria, Evangeline—they need to see what’s coming. If we can’t unite the factions, we’ve already lost.”
Renick’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “You’re starting to sound like a leader.”
“I didn’t ask to be one,” Jillanne replied, though her voice carried no bitterness. Only exhaustion.
As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Jillanne felt the weight of the day ahead pressing down on her. The Convergence wouldn’t wait for them to find their footing. It was already here, pulling the realms apart thread by thread. And somewhere in the shadows, Malachar was watching, waiting for his moment to strike.
The shadows at her feet coiled one last time before settling, their whispers quieting as Jillanne turned to leave. “Let’s go,” she said to Renick. “We have work to do.”
He followed without hesitation, his presence a quiet reassurance. Together, they descended into the chaos of the sanctuary, where the first of many battles awaited.
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