Trapped Read online

  The Reflections universe now includes, Broken, Torn, Splintered, Intrusion, Scent of Tears, The Greater Darkness (me writing as Eldon Murphy) and Trapped. If you haven't read any of those please consider going back and filling in the bits of the story that you've missed so far. I'm leaving bits and pieces all throughout the story that will help frame some of the events that happen next with Alec and Adri in my forthcoming novel, Forsaken. The same goes for the Dark Reflections stories (Handoff and True Believer).

  Lastly, thanks again to all of you that are helping spread the word about my writing. I really appreciate your efforts and hope that all of my readers will continue to find ways to help grow the numbers of those of us that can't wait to see what happens next in Reflections.

  Acknowledgments:

  I'm very appreciative of the efforts of my editors, RJ Locksley and Amy Jirsa-Smith. They both do tremendous work and I'd endorse them to anyone trying to make a go of it as a writer.

  I have a group of beta readers who also help make sure that I haven't gone off of the rails too much when it comes to a given story and they deserve a helping of praise and thanks as well. My family has soldiered along despite the fact that I'm sure that more than one of them agreed to read my work more out of familial obligation than because they thought they might actually like anything I had to say. Mom, Dad, Mark, Shalese, Matthew, Mimi—thanks for sticking it out and helping make the books better than they would have been without you. Kim Allred is a friend from way back who also deserves mention for faithfully reading everything and helping with insightful finds and comments.

  Additional thanks need expressed to Obsidian Dawn, www.obsidiandawn.com, for brushes used in the creation of the cover for Trapped.

  Lastly, none of this would be possible without my wife, Katie. Not only has she done an incredible job on the covers for nearly every one of my books, she's also the one that believed enough in me to tell me it was time to quit the day job and pursue my crazy dream full time.

  About the Author:

  Dean started reading seriously in the second grade due to a competition, and has spent most of the subsequent three decades lost in other people's worlds. After reading several local libraries more or less dry of sci-fi and fantasy, he started spending more time wandering around worlds of his own creation to avoid the boredom of the 'real' world.

  Things worsened, or improved depending on your point of view, when he first started experimenting with writing while finishing up his accounting degree. These days Dean has a wonderful wife and two lovely daughters to keep him rather more grounded, but the idea of bringing others along with him as he meets interesting new people in universes nobody else has ever seen tends to drag him back to his computer on a fairly regular basis.

  Keep up to speed on Dean's latest projects at deanwrites.com.

  Other Books by Dean Murray

  Forsaken

  The power he needs to protect his friends and family is just outside of Alec Graves' reach. The dominant shape shifter pack in North America is circling like vultures and there are other, more savage opponents approaching in the distance.

  Given the danger he's in, Alec doesn't have time for a broken heart, but Adri's departure has left him barely able to function. The pressures inside his pack are building to lethal levels and for the first time in his life, he's not sure he can walk the path that honor demands of him.

  Walking out on Alec was the hardest thing Adri had ever done, but she didn't bargain for the long-term impacts that would be involved. She hasn't been able to get past her feelings for him yet and it's starting to impact nearly every aspect of her life.

  Even more concerning, she now knows what the darkness really hides. Dangers that she thought she'd left behind in Sanctuary are stalking her again, but this time Alec's pack isn't in a position to protect her.

  The Greater Darkness

  (Writing as Eldon Murphy)

  Something powerful is stirring in the darkness. Something so ancient that even creatures who've been alive for hundreds of years have long since discounted this new threat as nothing more than myth.

  Normal humans will be caught in the crossfire, but then that's always the way of things. Geoffrey has no memory of his past life or any idea how to survive in the violent, dangerous world in which he's trapped. Despite his best efforts, he's about to find himself in the middle of a conflict that threatens to sweep away everything, and everyone he's been fighting so hard to protect.

  Frozen Prospects

  The invitation to join the secretive Guadel should have been the fulfillment of dreams Va'del didn't even realize he had. When his sponsors are killed in an ambush a short time later, he instead finds his probationary status revoked, and becomes a pawn between various factions inside the Guadel ruling body.

  Jain's never known any life but that of a Guadel in training. She'd thought herself reconciled to the idea of a loveless marriage for the good of her people, but meeting Va'del changes everything. Their growing attraction flies against hundreds of years of precedent, but as wide-spread attacks threaten their world, the Guadel have no choice but to use even Jain and Va'del in their fight for survival.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Other Books by Dean Murray