The Years Between

Some houses are built by conquest. Others endure because someone stays. The Years Between is a collection of interconnected flash fiction set within the House of Held Doors—a great estate governed as much by service, loyalty, and memory as by blood or title. At its center stands Elias Rowe: a man without ambition, without a past he can remember, and without any desire for power. He begins as a footman. He becomes something far more dangerous. Across twenty intimate, sharply focused stories, Elias rises quietly through the household of the Palazzo di Fiorelli—earning trust, provoking resentment, and drawing ever closer to the family he serves. As the lord of the house weakens and succession looms, alliances shift. Old servants scheme. Love returns unexpectedly. And time itself begins to behave…strangely. This book bridges the worlds of The Doorway Year and Steel Before Fear, deepening Elias's story while standing fully on its own. Each piece is a complete moment—designed to be read in minutes, yet to linger long after. This is not a tale of destiny claimed by force. It is a story about what endures when no one is watching. For readers who enjoy: Quiet, character-driven fantasy Slow-burn romance with restrained tension Political intrigue without grandstanding Found family, loyalty, and earned power The works of Guy Gavriel Kay, Susanna Clarke, and Ursula K. Le Guin Welcome to the Palazzo di Fiorelli. Enjoy your stay.