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Praise

“Kenyon’s writing is brisk, ironic, and relentlessly imaginative.”

—Boston Globe,

praise for the author

“Arguably one of the most in-demand and prolific authors in America.”

—Publishers Weekly,

praise for the author

“Tales by Sherrilyn Kenyon are major awesomeness!”

—Huntress Reviews, praise for the author

“Thrilling…In the affecting adventure novel The Secret War, an abandoned boy comes of age in the midst of war, reshaping himself into a capable warrior to face the shadow lord and define his own destiny.”

—Foreword Reviews

Dedication

For the real Ryuichi and Kotaro. The two of you are the lights in our lives. Thank you for inspiring a whole new set of adventures.

And for you, the reader, who is always willing to explore new worlds.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Haruka: Ryuichi’s mother; a goddess who was once entrusted with the gates.

Haruki: Haruka’s sister; a loyal servant of the evil Ryukage.

Hattori Hanzō: Father of Takara and Mikito, leader of the Hattori clan, and a fierce samurai.

Hattori Mikito: Ryuichi’s first companion; an earnest and diligent samurai in training.

Hattori Takara: Mikito’s sister; the second of Ryuichi’s oldest and strongest companions.

Kato, Jiro, and Pim: Fellow students and friends of Ryuichi, on the same path to become samurai.

Keiko: Ryuichi’s protector and guardian; the woman tasked by Haruka to watch over him.

Koichi: Ryuichi’s teacher at the Mahō-jō; a fierce samurai who once battled demons.

Masaru: A clever spirit who attaches himself to Ryuichi and gives him access to his powers.

Oda Nobunaga: A powerful Japanese warlord who seeks to unite all of Japan under his rule.

Ryuichi: The one who can open the gates that separate our world from the spirit world.

Ryukage: Ryuichi’s estranged father, bent on harnessing his son’s power to take over the world.

PROLOGUE

Lightning split the sky, creating a rift between the worlds just large enough for the good fox to slip through. Red and white, the little fox raced with her bundle, doing her best to outrun those who were out to kill them both.

“High and low, searching they will go. The dark ones will seek, and they will kill. This poor little infant’s blood they will spill.”

Keiko looked down at the baby she carried in her mouth. Poor little thing. So wanted and so hated.

So loved and so feared.

“I am all that stands between you and death.”

And she was just a tiny little fox. A trifle compared to the other, more powerful creatures who wanted this baby dead. Those who could hunt without tiring.

Why her goddess had chosen her for its keeper, she had no idea. She wasn’t much older than a kit herself.

But she was fast. And she must be faster still.