Page 47 of To Dwell in Shadows (Shadows of Aurelia #2)

S elene thought it would be a challenge to round up all of Sam’s victims, but on their way to Spirit Veil Valley, she spotted one floating near the Chapel of Mourning.

“Hey, excuse me!” Selene called. The spirit turned, his pale face lighting with recognition. “If you’re ready to pass into the Afterworld, we’re going right now. Tell the others. And anyone else who wants to come.”

The spirit stared at her, then nodded before floating off. From the corner of her eye, she saw Mammon skulking in a dark corner near the chapel, so she hurried after Vanthee.

Word must have traveled fast because as they made their way into the valley, a small procession of spirits gathered behind them. Unlike yesterday in the maze, the spirits weren’t looking at her with accusatory eyes or bitter glares. Selene could tell they were excited— euphoric, even.

Soon there were nearly twenty-five lost souls ready to transition, drifting behind her like a shimmering patch of fog.

A few tried to engage with Zetta playfully, brushing her fur with their translucent hands or attempting to scratch her ears.

To Selene’s surprise, Zetta responded to their simple commands like “sit” and “shake,” confirming that, like her, Zetta could hear the voices of the dead, too.

As Selene descended the rocky stairs in the heart of the valley, the strange lights of the three domes looked different, now that she understood their purpose.

The red one still seemed ominous, but the white and blue domes felt hallowed, more sacred to her now.

She was grateful to be able to give Sam’s victims peace before they returned home.

“I’m late!” Vanthee said, rushing past her when they reached the bottom. From the entrance of the white dome that connected the living world to the Underworld, she called, “I’ll take your spirits after I cross over the others. Be right back!”

Selene waved her off and stood with Zetta to wait. The lost souls drifted through the valley—circling each dome and hovering outside the entrances. As time stretched on, their anticipation grew increasingly restless.

When is it our turn? one spirit asked. His question caused others to chime in impatiently.

We’ve waited long enough.

Lead us through!

“Vanthee will be back soon,” Selene replied in a raised voice. “Don’t go too far.”

The spirits continued to grumble until, moments later, Vanthee returned with the usual horde of the recently dead.

She began sorting them as normal, but the action made the once-joyous energy of the lost souls that Selene brought to turn frantic.

They began to swarm Selene, just as they had in the maze.

It’s our turn! We were here first!

Unlock the gates!

I want peace!

“No, wait! Vanthee will help you through in just a moment,” Selene cried. Zetta began herding some of the insistent souls away from her, but not all obeyed the hellhound .

Vanthee’s face twisted with panic. “No! I’m going to lose them all! Get yours to wait by the Afterworld!”

Selene waved her arms and pleaded, “If you came with me, wait over here!”

Zetta backed her up, steering some of the drifting souls in the same direction, but it wasn’t enough. Her fierce barking startled some of the newly dead, making them scatter like birds, colliding and mixing with the lost souls into a great swirling mist.

Selene found herself in the middle, shouting directions and gesturing wildly to the two groups, but no one was listening. Then they began to flock to Vanthee.

“I can’t take you all at once,” Vanthee cried, even though they couldn’t hear her. “I have to unlock the gates one by one!”

The horde that had surrounded her was beginning to break apart and Selene watched helplessly as some of the newly dead drifted toward the palace, about to join the multitudes of spirits who hadn’t crossed over.

She continued to shout and gesticulate to any spirit who would listen, but it was all turning to chaos.

Then, without warning, Zetta darted protectively in front of her, a blur of black fur and canine muscle. Her lips peeled back to reveal glistening fangs, snarling more viciously than Selene had ever heard. The growl rumbling from her throat made the hairs on the back of Selene’s neck stand on end.

Startled by the hellhound’s reaction, Selene leaned down to whisper, “Hey. Zetta, it’s okay. We’ll bring them back?—”

Her words were cut off as something slammed into her chest like a battering ram.

Hard and brutal. The impact stole the breath from her lungs and sent her reeling backward.

Instinctively, her fingers latched onto Zetta’s thick coat, grasping for balance.

Her eyes scanned the valley, but it was difficult to see anything through the murk of spirits.

Then she saw him.

Mammon.

His face loomed in front of her, bathed in the blue glow of the Afterworld gate. His features were contorted with triumph and spite.

She heard Vanthee scream, “NO!” just as her body was jerked back, and the world around her began to dissolve.

Sound dropped away.

The ground vanished beneath her feet.

Light bent and folded inward.

And before she could stop it, the blue haze of the Afterworld enveloped her—swallowing her and Zetta whole.

And everything went still.

TO BE CONTINUED…

The Shadows of Aurelia series continues in Awakened by Shadows , coming in 2026.

Cass, Selene’s sister, never believed in otherworldly realms—until she meets Hal, a mysterious demon living in Nashville, Tennessee.

When Hal reveals that Selene now lives in the Underworld, Cass fears her sister has been taken there against her will.

So when Hal is summoned home for the coronation of a new king, Cass convinces him to take her with him, posing as his wife.

But upon arrival, Cass discovers that Selene’s fate is far more dire than she ever imagined.

At the request of her sister’s grieving mate, Cass and Hal embark on a journey across three dimensions to find Selene—unraveling not only the truth about their worlds, but the secrets they’ve kept from each other.