It's 1918, and Matty returns home to the family farm from the trenches only to find his brother Arthur dying of an unknown illness. The local doctor thinks cancer, but Matty becomes convinced it's connected to the mysterious books his brother left strewn around the house. Rob knows something other than just Arthur's death is bothering Matty. He's know him for years and been in love with him just as long. And when he finds something that looks like a gate, a glowing, terrifying doorway to the unknown, it all starts to fall in to place. Matty's looking sicker and sicker in the same way Arthur did. What is Rob prepared to sacrifice to cure him? The answer is in the esoteric books ... and with the mysterious Lin of the Frem, who lives beyond the gate to nowhere. It's taken Matty and Rob more than a decade to admit they have feelings for each other and they are determined that neither social expectations or magical illness will part them now.

Inheritance of Shadows

“Eventually his kias will drain through you into the shimmer and he will die. Then you will be free.”


Marchant looked at her. “He’ll die?”


“Yes. As his kias drains. Was I not clear?” She was annoyed with him.


“You were clear. I just don’t like it. I remember Webber’s brother. Matthew. He doesn’t deserve to die because Arthur and I were playing with things we didn’t understand.”


She looked at him. “If he doesn’t use kias the drain will be very small. He will live a long time.” She turned and swept out, her companion following her.


Lin lingered, shutting the heavy door behind them in the stone archway, and sat on the bed next to Marchant as Marchant sank down again. He put his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “I am sorry, Marchant. Peter.” He put his hand on Marchant’s back tentatively. “I did not know this was a thing that could happen. I am sorry.”


Chapter 28