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Synopsis

In the Sundered world, there are two options: Ride the dawn, or face what rises in the night.

Twenty years ago, Lirien’s magic fractured the world and unleashed nocturnal creatures that brought civilization to its knees. Amidst the carnage came salvation: The most powerful survivors were invited to board Dawnrider, a high-speed rig that would deliver those aboard into a new era.

The rest of humanity was left to die.

Instead, a king rose from the darkness to lead them.

In the years since, Lirien has dedicated her magic to Dawnrider while secretly plotting to overthrow the tyrant who rules the rig with an iron fist. But just as Lirien is ready to strike against him, she is violently abducted by Vox—the king of the feralists.

The mercurial Vox gives her two choices: Fight the creatures that hunt the night or be fed to them. Lirien agrees to join his ranks, but embarks on a strategy of seduction that will return her to Dawnrider.

Yet as Vox pushes the limits of her magic, Lirien begins to question whether defying the dusk is the true path to salvation. Intoxicated by both Vox and his war against the night, Lirien must decide where her loyalties truly lie—and how far she’s willing to go for redemption.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Flintspire

Lirien stepped into the vestibule, the small space between boxes illuminated by the soft glow of pyrolamps, and smiled as she discovered Davis standing guard outside the opposite door. A smile that immediately fell away as her friend said, “The archconductor is monitoring a session. From the sound of it, Edwin is having a hard time finishing. They’ve been at it for”—­he glanced at his watch—­“half an hour. You might want to wait until the old bastard manages to get off.”

Lirien grimaced, her already lackluster enthusiasm for this meeting turning to dread. “The rigrat who delivered the message said the archconductor wanted to see me quicklike, so I’m not sure waiting is an option.”

Davis winced, then gave her a sly grin. “Maybe Edwin asked the archconductor to sub you in. I can only imagine that f***ing Veronica is no treat. I’d rather stick my cock in a bucket of ice—­I’d get less frostbite.”

Lirien crossed her arms and glared at her friend. “Do not even joke about that. You know I can’t stand Edwin.”

“Frontclass tax, Lir.” Davis’s voice deepened to the archconductor’s gravelly tone as he quoted words they’d heard countless times over the last twenty years: “ ‘Every union you make, every child you bear, is a stone laid in the foundation of humanity’s return to greatness.’ ” Davis gave her a lopsided smile. “And you, my dearest friend, have not signed up to produce a single baby.”

And Lirien never would. “I feel compelled to point out that neither have you.”

“About that.” Davis shifted his weight as Dawnrider rolled into a curve in the road, the great rig swaying slightly. “We were going to tell you today, but Reesha and I have applied for a license. Two aero­man­cers have sixteenth birthdays coming up, and once they are cleared to run their own windrigs and can cover for her, Reesha will be able to take time out of service.”

Her friends had been hoping for a chance at a child for years, and despite her own misgivings about the matter, Lirien said, “Congratulations! Truly, Davis, I’m happy for you both!”

“I’ll remember that when we need a childminder.”

“You know I’ll help you both however I can.” She gave him a smirk. “Just get me one of those fancy harnesses and I’ll take the little one uptop with me for fresh air. Smallest member of the crew.”

Davis rolled his eyes, but his voice was serious as he said, “With luck, we’ll have entered the new era before our child ever has to serve.”

Lirien didn’t believe a new era was coming in the way that most believed, but this was not the moment to dash those hopes. Wasn’t the moment to bring up the dark fate that would face their child if they didn’t manifest magic by the time they were fourteen, because they’d be condemned to rearclass under the archconductor’s regime.

I won’t let that happen.

Davis’s eyes searched hers as silence stretched between them. “I wish things were different for you, Lir. It’s not fair how he controls you.”

Lirien shrugged, just as happy that her friend misconstrued the source of her tension, because it was better than him suspecting she was keeping secrets. “The archconductor hasn’t forced the issue, thankfully. Taking me out of service is high risk, and given that I live in the mids, I think people forget that I’m technically a frontie.”

“Yeah,” Davis said, but he looked away as he did, toying with the glowing pyrolance fixed to his belt.

Lirien was the Worldbreaker. Her magic had sundered the continent, which had unleashed the straxi. No one ever forgot that she was the most powerful elemar aboard.

“I should go in.” She rolled her shoulders, then reached out to touch the flexible alloy encasing the vestibule. She didn’t need to do so, because the stone set into the soles of her boots served as a conduit from her magic into the metal of the rig, but being more obvious ended the awkward conversation. Her magic flowed through Dawnrider’s wheels and into the road beneath them. She delved down the highway, preemptively searching for any damage that would impede the rig, because this meeting was likely going to require her undivided attention. “You and Reesha on scout duty after this?”

Davis nodded. “I’ll head up once the session is over. Not even sure why the archconductor wanted me on guard duty.”

It was odd for him to have been given such a mundane task, as Davis was the most powerful pyromancer in the mids, but Lirien didn’t put much thought to it as she hung her greatcoat on a hook and stared at the two doors facing her.

One led to a narrow corridor that ran down the left side of the box. The other led into the box itself. Taking a deep breath, Lirien took hold of the handle of the latter and stepped inside.

She was immediately greeted with heated voices, along with the rhythmic slap slap slap of individuals engaged in coitus.

“I understand why you want it to be Edwin, Archconductor,” Veronica snapped. “But his seed just isn’t taking.”

Lirien made a face, for she hated that word, but then pushed aside the thick velvet curtains. Dense pipe smoke immediately filled her lungs as her boots sank into the sumptuous carpet. The box was dimly lit with lamps, and empty but for three people. “You requested my presence, sir?”

Archconductor Taimen frowned at her, then motioned for her to approach before turning his attention back to Veronica.

The frontclass aeromancer lay naked on a velvet chaise, her heels in stirrups while Edwin pumped furiously between her legs. Sweat ran in rivulets down the sides of the pyromancer’s face, which suggested that Davis hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said that this session had been going on for some time.

Lirien reluctantly approached, her eyes jumping from the large bar with its endless selection of liquors to the various beds with silken sheets, to the carts full of tools designed to stimulate pleasure, and then back to Taimen and the session he was monitoring.

Veronica had the Program’s ledger in her hands, the bottom of the large book resting on her breasts, which jiggled with Edwin’s every thrust. “I can read the charts, Archconductor. I can see the desirability of a child born from our union, but I’ve been f***ing Edwin for six months and nothing. Perhaps his seed is too weak.”

I hate that word.

“Or perhaps the vessel is too sour,” Edwin gasped from between her legs. “It took just fine in Sabrina.”

“I have had twelve children since Dawnrider began her roll!” Veronica snapped the ledger shut and glared at Edwin. “My eldest daughter is the first elemar of frontclass power born since the Sundering. The best you’ve bred is magic for the mids.”

“At least none of them were nullborn!”

“I can come back later,” Lirien muttered, desperate to be uptop in the open air where it didn’t stink like pipe smoke, unsuccessful sex, and bigotry.

Everyone ignored her.

Taimen raised placating hands at the two fronties, his gray eyes filled with irritation. “I understand the frustration, but a loss of temper will not aid us in our quest.”

“What would aid us is new studs,” Veronica snapped. “If you want a union between my aeromancy and a pyromancer, why not bring in that young one standing guard outside? What’s his name? Davis?”

Lirien couldn’t help but tense. Davis and Reesha had been inseparable since they were children, but if he was ordered to do this, there would be no choice.

“Elemar Emberwick is a midclasser,” Taimen replied, and Lirien struggled not to exhale in relief. “He’s not powerful enough to match with you, Veronica.”

“He’s the strongest pyromancer in the mids,” Veronica spat, then turned her gaze on the thrusting Edwin, whose pace had increased. “Emberwick is young and virile. What good is a frontclasser stud if he can’t f***ing come!” She screamed the last few words, then pulled a foot from the chaise’s stirrup and kicked Edwin square in the face.

He snarled and batted her foot aside, but rather than pulling out, Edwin seemed to be spurred on by the pain.

Lirien stared at the floor, listening to the slap of skin against skin, understanding full well why Taimen had her present despite none of this having anything to do with the roads she built and maintained for Dawnrider. He wanted her to see her own future.

Copyright © 2026 by Danielle L. Jensen

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