Jaime Rush Covers Reveal

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Archer watched the shadows around the yellow Jeep while the valet fetched his car, making sure none moved. Wraiths never attacked in the open, but the interior of Lyra’s car was fair game. When he pulled past her, she fell in behind him. He kept an eye on the rearview mirror as he drove. The streetlights illuminated her creamy skin and full mouth.

Keeping her around is a bad idea. In many ways.

Unfortunately, she had information he needed if he was going to find Jeremy. He’d do anything to find his brother. Archer glanced again at the headlights on his tail. Would he do anything to help the Dragon girl? The need to help tugged at him, like someone trying to pull out a feather. Her draw to him was normal, one of the curses of being a Caido. That he was drawn to her as well, a dangerous anomaly.

Caidos had to shut down their sexuality. How many times had it been their downfall? From the first fall of the angels from Heaven to the most recent at the island of Lucifera, Caidos had paid the price for their father’s sins, a torment that never ended.

Archer pulled up to the garage entrance at the Raphael and punched in the code to allow himself and another car inside. Her Jeep appeared out of place among the Mercedes, Ferraris, and other luxury vehicles. Caidos could enjoy the sensuality of a beautiful car, her lines and curves, the purr of her engine, and the thrill of going fast.

Lyra Slade is a thrill you cannot enjoy.

She parked next to him and stepped out of her vehicle, slinging a large purse over her shoulder. Her high heels snicked across the concrete as she stalked toward him, jabbing her finger in his direction.

"How dare you drop something like that and walk away? Wraiths! What do you mean, wraiths? Are they like ghosts?"

"Worse than ghosts. Quick, get to the elevators." He wanted her inside the building.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something dark slink behind the back of a Maserati. "They are the souls of dead Caidos who were not properly interred." He moved behind her. "They become shadows with fangs and teeth."

"Oh, nice." She followed his stare. "And they followed us here, didn’t they?"

"Two of them."

One slithered closer, hiding beneath the front tire of a blue Lamborghini. He ushered her toward the elevator, scanning their surroundings. The wraiths’ dark, slimy energy pressed closer.

"Why are they after us?" Lyra turned her back toward the elevator the moment they reached it, a sign of good fighting instinct.

His hands clamped over her shoulders, keeping her close to him. "My guess is that someone doesn’t want us poking around."

Her body vibrated hot beneath his hands. Her skin blurred, flesh tone to yellow and back again.

Wraiths moved like shadows, vaguely the shape of gargoyles. The two flowed around the front of the cars flanking the elevator. He searched their shapes and their gaping dark eyes, a nugget of fear forming in his chest. Are either of you Jeremy?

The forms inched closer. Archer flicked a glance to the indicator above the stainless-steel door. Still on the eleventh floor. The stairs were on the other side of the garage. They would have to fight. Transforming made him vulnerable, though he would have to take the chance.

She was staring at him. "You’re…glowing."

A powerful energy surged through his body, like an electrical charge and just as painful. He bellowed with it, feeling his wings push through his back like two hatchets. The wraiths shot forward. He readied for their talons to tear into him. Except he heard a roar and a whump. The pain and light diminished, clearing his vision. A gorgeous deep yellow Dragon fended off the wraiths as he Transformed. Her scales shimmered as she twisted around and swiped a wraith with her tail. It was whiplike, with spikes at the tip that lacerated the black form. It screamed, a sound like nails on a chalkboard, and rolled away.

The other wraith leaped, its long arms ready to grab him. He threw Light at it, burning a hole through its stomach. Light didn’t work on wraiths as it did on other beings. If he punched enough holes into its shadow form, though, he could weaken it.

"Get back-to-back with me," he said, moving closer to the Dragon.

Lyra backed up until he felt her cool scales brush his arm. They each had a wraith to deal with. She snatched at it, fast and smooth.

He reached over his shoulder to his wings, which weren’t feathery in texture but made of a dense, electric energy. Like brushing your fingers along the tentacles of a sea anemone. Wrenching a feather out felt like removing a fingernail, but he only grunted at the sharp pain. The feather solidified into a dhagger, a weapon the ancient angels used. The wraith eyed the dhagger, silver in the fluorescent lights. Archer distracted it with a shot of Light, then lunged at it with the dhagger.

The wraith zigzagged out of reach. Archer kept checking on Lyra. She was a capable fighter, but she wasn’t used to fighting wraiths.

"Keep whacking it with your tail. What is that thing loaded with?"

"It’s got a sting like a yellow jacket times a hundred."

She whipped it out again, and the wraith jumped it and flew to the base of her tail. It clamped on and bit into her scales. She shook, but it clung like a burr. He was so busy watching her that his adversary inched closer without him knowing. It swiped at him with claws, cutting into his shin. He swung at it with his dhagger, slicing its arm off. The arm disintegrated as the wraith uttered a guttural cry.

Lyra’s scream jerked his head around. The wraith had pulled out one of her scales and was slicing at her throat with it in wild arcs. Archer grabbed its hand, twisting it. With a screech, it kicked at Archer’s arm, pulling free to take a swipe at her throat again. The edge of the scale was sharp enough to slice into her shoulder. Blood spurted out in an arc of spray. Archer latched on to the wraith with one arm. It thrashed and scratched him, but he plunged the dhagger into its chest.

Its whole body lit up, and then it disintegrated like the other wraith’s arm. He turned to find that wraith snatching up the scale. Before Archer could grab it back, the thing cut his side. It met the same death with his dhagger. He did a quick scan of the garage to make sure there weren’t any others. Just the two. Whoever sent them hadn’t counted on Lyra being with him. Two on one was a lot harder.

Lyra.

He turned to find her lying on the concrete floor in human form, naked and curled in a fetal position. Her clothes were in tatters nearby, her purse lying next to them.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. He scooped her up, snagged her purse, and stepped into the car. Blood gushed out of her shoulder wound, a long, deep slice. Her eyes were hazy with pain.

"Let me get you upstairs. I can heal you."

She blinked at him, amber flames flickering unsteadily in her blue eyes. Her pain and fear overwhelmed him. He focused on the feel of her skin beneath his hands, then realized that skin was her ass, soft, round…

Hell.

He could see the reflection of that fine ass in the brass walls of the elevator, his hand splayed across it, his other arm around her back. She had to be naked. Because this wasn’t hard enough. He tried to force cool energy through his being to compensate for her heat where their skin touched.

"Hurts…," she uttered in a strained voice.

"I know, I know," he soothed, because I can feel it. "It’ll be gone soon."

The elevator opened, and he stepped into the apartment. He set her down on his bed.

"You’re b-beautiful," she whispered, her eyes glassy.

"Sleep." He waved his hand over her face, and her eyes drifted closed.

She was shivering, going into shock. He placed his palm over her shoulder, her warm blood slick on his skin. Pain seared his shoulder, hot and intense. He jammed the corner of the blanket between his teeth. She jerked, grimacing as the pain tore away from her. Then she relaxed as the last of it left her and now cut through him. He breathed through it, biting down hard on the blanket. How had she endured it? She was brave, fighting like a warrior. Finally, the pain left him, too, and he sagged with relief.

He went to the kitchen and returned with a bowl of warm water and a towel. He knelt on the bed beside her and ran the cloth over her skin, washing away the blood. There was no need for modesty because he had no sexual drive. Another side effect of the human–angel union was to suffer pain at feeling desire, others’ and their own. All Caidos had to shut down that part of themselves for self-preservation. So it meant nothing to run the cloth over her breasts, her flat stomach, and hip bones that jutted out slightly. To wash her yellow Dragon tattoo that slept as she did.

 

 

That he was taking his time had nothing to do with his drinking in her curves. Yet his fingers itched to touch her. His body stirred as it had not in many years. How long since blood had rushed into that particular organ?

He dropped the cloth into the bowl and set it on the nightstand, then pulled up a sheet to cover her. He had never been drawn to a woman. Desired one, yes, but never pulled like this, right from his soul. Archer ran the back of his fingers against her cheek, so soft and flawless. He would allow himself only this touch. Nowhere intimate that would violate her sanctity. It would be the last time he’d touch her.

You’re weak from the healing. Stop. Don’t give in.

He knew his conscience was right. Where angels feared to tread … that place was here with this woman.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Moncrief finally sent you to me then?" Cyntag glanced around. "He didn’t come with you?"

"He’s dead." Which you know, considering you killed him. The words burned up her throat and singed her tongue. The rage, she could hardly hold it back.
Cool and calm, calm and cool.
His eyebrows, shaped like sleek raven’s wings, settled into a furrow. "Moncrief is dead? How?"

"You sent an orb, some kind of lightning thing, to kill him. Don’t play dumb with me." The words boiled out. So much for cool and calm. "He said your name. I asked him who had done it, and on his dying breath, he said your name." Now she’d accused him. He would have to act, defend…or kill her. She pulled the gun from her back and leveled it at him, because the latter option was most likely.

An odd expression flickered across his face. "Ruby, what are you doing?"

Losing her mind, that’s what. She grabbed his phone and thumb-dialed her number. After her outgoing message, she shoved it toward him. "Say your name and admit you had him killed."

He was eerily cool, the way she should have been. "I didn’t kill Moncrief."

"He said you did."

"I don’t think he said that, Ruby." God, the way he said her name, slow and smooth, like thick honey. "You obviously saw an orb kill him. You were upset, scared. Like you are now."

She pushed the gun closer. "I’m not scared. I’m pissed. I know how to use this. I hit the center of the target nine times out of ten."

"Impressive. Are you shaking like this while you’re aiming?" In a flash, he turned her around, shoved her arm aside, and tightened his grip on her wrist. His arms encircled her, his bare skin brushing against her arms.

A sharp click, then another, and the magazine dropped to the floor. "I suggest you release the weapon, and we’ll continue this conversation in a more civilized fashion."

The gun fell from her hand, thudding on the floor. He took the phone from her other hand and disconnected, then set it on the desk. Finally, he released her. She moved as far from him as she could, rubbing her wrist.

He casually leaned back against his desk. "What exactly did Moncrief tell you about me?"

"I only know your name because Mon said it as he was dying."

That seemed to surprise him. "You know nothing about me?" He seemed to digest that. "Describe the orb." Still pretending he knew nothing about it, huh? "It set the house on fire?"

"Yes, and how might you know that?"

His nostrils flared. "I smell the smoke on you. Tell me what happened."

She intended to give him a cursory description and had to hand it to him, like an investigator, he extracted every detail from her. He even looked angry when she talked about how it blocked her escape.

"You must have been terrified." Was he gloating?

"I was too busy trying to save my ass to be terrified."

"Nobody saw it but you, right?"

"No, it hid when they arrived. Tell me why you killed him."

He walked to the window, placing his hands on the glass and letting out a long, frustrated breath. Instantly, fog steamed around the perimeter of his palms and long fingers. "Old bastard wouldn’t listen to me. Thought he was invincible."

She inched toward the door and reached for the handle. Suddenly Cyntag stood there, his hand tight over hers.

"You’re not going anywhere."

"How…how did you do that? I didn’t even see you move." She tried to kick him in the groin. Another dumb idea, considering he ran a dojo for a living.

He didn’t hurt her, not much anyway. He did, however, pin her against the door, his thigh pressing the offending leg tight. His hands gripped her wrists and held them at her hips. "That is not a wise thing to do."

Panic, and something she couldn’t name, fluttered through her at the feel of so much man and heat so close to her. She coaxed her bravado from where it had scurried and lifted her chin. "Afraid I’ll hurt you?"

"Once my instincts are triggered, it’s hard to stop. I’m sure I’ll hurt you. As of right now, I do not wish to do that. That may change as days go by."

"Days?" Fear coiled around her chest. "What are you going to do, keep me…hostage?"

He let her question hang for an agonizing moment, as though he were considering it. God, had she given him ideas? He said, "Not entirely." That did not sound good, but before she could get too freaked out about it, he continued. "Your uncle and I did not share a warm and loving opinion of each other, but I didn’t kill him. Do you know why I would not harm one hair on his head?"

She wanted to believe that the guy whose hard, muscular body pinned hers against the wall and who could no doubt break her neck with a flick of his fingers hadn’t killed her uncle. "I’ll play your silly game. Why didn’t you kill him?"

He gave her a chastising look. "Because his death puts you in danger, and I am your sworn protector. Moncrief had your best interest at heart, but I told him it was a bad idea to try thwarting nature. And fate. If he’s dead, I am now saddled with a neophyte who has no idea the danger that stalks her, the world into which she was born, or her own powers. So believe me when I say, I would not wish death on him."

He stepped back enough so she could escape from the heat of his body. Except her knees buckled, and she had to lean against the door for support.

She stared at him. "Do you know how friggin’ crazy that just sounded?"

He shook his head and looked up to the ceiling. "So much to learn. So little time to do it. Such a buffoon."

"You’re calling me a buffoon?" And who used that word, anyway?

"That remains to be seen. I meant your uncle. He left us in quite the mess."

This conversation wasn’t going in any direction she could follow. "It’s been lovely, but I need to scream now. I mean, go now." She reached for the door handle, and he closed his hand over her wrist in a firm grip.

Which again put him in close proximity. "The orb that killed Moncrief, you saw its power?" His voice was soft and deadly.

"You’re threatening me?"

"Enlightening you. You put a gun to my chest. If I could make an orb, wouldn’t I have used it against you then?"

Well…yeah.

He continued. "And, in fact, I’ve had you under my physical control twice. I could crack your neck like this." He snapped his fingers.

Hadn’t she thought the same thing?

"And I did not. We need to find out who did kill Moncrief though, because he or she may well be after you too."

Ruby tried to pull away but he maintained his hold over her hand. His black-and-blue dragon tattoo stared at her, almost as mesmerizing as the man himself. She dragged her gaze to his. "Why would someone want to hurt me? Obviously Mon was involved in something dangerous, but that has nothing to do with me."

"We don’t know why Moncrief was killed. At the least, you’re a witness. Reason enough to make sure you don’t blab your mouth about killer orbs."

She could swear the dragon blinked. That Cyntag had the tattoo, the dragon decorations, and that he looked like Mon’s Dragon Prince from the fairytales he'd created for her was a bizarre coincidence. But no less bizarre than the rest of this encounter.

Cyntag released her and leaned against the door so that it would be impossible to open it wide enough to slip out. Okay, let’s not freak about being trapped in here with the crazy dude.

He assessed her with his dark gaze and then skimmed his hands down her shoulders and arms like he would with, say, one of his students. The action held no sensuality, no sense of impropriety, and yet, his hands left a heated imprint on her skin.

"At least you’re in good shape. That will help." He nodded to the gun on the floor. "You came to take me down for killing your uncle. Because he uttered my name on his dying breath." Amusement glittered in his eyes. "You, a mere girl, would take me down."

"I’m not a girl, and don’t underestimate me."

"I admire your bravado. You’ll need that. Still, you must never walk into the enemy’s den without knowing anything about him."

"To be clear, I came here to snoop, because that was the only way I could find out more about you. The gun was for protection, just in case. You were supposed to be busy teaching your class." How had he known she was there?

"To be clear, if I was your enemy, you would be dead now. Moncrief wasn’t naming his murderer. He was trying to send you to me because, as his life ebbed, he knew I was your only chance of surviving." In a voice under his breath, he added, "I’m sure he loved that." He picked up the letter opener from his desk and ran his finger down the edge. "You want his murderer to face justice, do you not?"

"With every cell in my body."

"Good." He held the letter opener out to her handle first. "Take it."

She did, feeling the warmed metal against her palm and the curves of the dragon.

He raised his arms out to his sides. "If you’re sure I killed him, go ahead then. Take your revenge."

She squeezed the handle and stared at a chest that looked so hard she wasn’t sure the tip would penetrate. He was taunting her. Daring her. She pressed the tip to the molded pec over his heart, just below the Dragon’s mouth.

"Could you do it, Ruby? As tough as you like to appear, could you sink a sharp object into someone’s flesh? It’s harder than you think. Physically and psychologically, even when you feel justified. Could you handle the feel of warm blood gushing between your fingers and down your arm?"

Every bit of the rage she felt since seeing the bolt piercing her uncle’s chest rushed in around her. "Yes."

"Good." He paused, staring into her eyes in a way that twisted her stomach. But nothing like his next words did. "You’ve felt it, haven’t you, a rage so hot and fierce that you believe you could take someone’s life? Even though that sane and civilized part of you abhors that ferocity, a darker part craves it." Her denial withered on her tongue. He didn’t press her because he seemed to know she had. "Have you ever killed someone?"

She wanted to say one or two but somehow she knew he’d spot her lie. "I threatened someone. And I would have gone through with it too if he hadn’t paid for the merchandise." She could hardly push the words out of her dry throat.

Her business partner hadn’t bothered to check the slip of paper the hulk of a man waved in his face, and off the restored motorcycle went—without getting paid for. When she’d hunted the man down, he dismissed her as a mere girl. She threatened the creep with bodily harm—oddly, not with shooting him but tearing out his throat. He must have sensed her suppressed violence, because he paid on the spot.

"Killing is not easy to do," Cyntag said. "And should never be done out of rage."

"Are you speaking from experience?" It sure sounded like it.

His mouth twitched ever so slightly. "I don’t think we should go there just now."

Which meant they’d go there later. And that she was right.

Cyntag smelled of earth and fire and—where in the hell were these thoughts coming from? His energy and heat pulled at her. Were his eyes glowing? She swore something flickered in them, just for a second.

He nodded to the point of the letter opener. "Why are you hesitating?"

She took a step back. "Because I can’t be sure you did it." He was right. If he was Mon’s murderer, she’d be dead.

"Very good. You put logic over your anger. As opposed to when you pulled the gun on me or tried to crush my balls. Never let your emotions drive you."

"I’m not a rash and emotional person. Then again, I don’t usually watch someone I love die or get chased by a supernatural ball of fire."

He leaned against the door again, though she couldn’t be certain it was to block her escape. He looked so relaxed. Yeah, as relaxed as a lion. "What do you know about the Hidden?"

"It’s a fairy tale world my uncle made up for me. How do you know about it?" She couldn’t imagine Mon sharing that with this guy. Or anyone, really.

"Tell me about this world."

Fine, she’d humor him. "Centuries ago, there was this Atlantis-like island in the Bermuda Triangle called Lucifera that was governed by gods of Dragons and magick. Because of the weird energy that comes from crystals found deep within the Earth’s surface, along with a planetary alignment and a solar storm, some of the gods were able to take physical human form. They succumbed to human emotions and, as Mon put it, ‘fell in love’ with the people. What he meant was that the gods got with the humans, because they created children. They were called Crescents because they inherited a sliver of their sire’s godly nature."

He dipped his head in confirmation. "Legend has it that three gods realized procreating with humans wasn’t a good idea. An angel, a Dragon, and a Deuce formed the Tryah and incited a war in hopes that the Crescents would kill each other off. It escalated into a magick war."

"Alrighty then, glad you cleared that up for me."

"Happy to do so. Go on, let’s see if you’ve got the rest of it right."

Feeling like a schoolgirl being tested on history, she found herself striving to recall the details. Which was ridiculous, since it was a friggin’ fairy tale. "The war ended up destroying the island and forced the humans to the mainland. The naughty gods were trapped in a state of limbo between their plane of existence and the Bermuda Triangle."

"That's right. What else was part of Moncrief’s Hidden?" he asked.

"Monsters, demons, elves, that sort of thing, but only Crescents could see them. That’s why they were considered Hidden."

"Was there no Cyntag in the stories then?"

She wanted to laugh, of all the conceit. "No." Her gaze slid to the dragon figurines on his bookshelf. "There was a man who looked like you, but he was only known as the Dragon Prince. He kidnapped a young woman and seduced her to darkness. They fought a great evil together, but he was basically an arrogant butthead, and she ended up killing him."

His upper lip twitched, not quite a sneer but close. "Seduced her to darkness, hmm? And did this woman have a name?"

"Garnet." Mon’s sketches of her had reminded Ruby of Alice from Alice in Wonderland.

Cyntag slowly nodded. "I suppose he was trying to prepare you in his feeble way, giving you the truth without telling you that it was, in fact, true. Except the Dragon Prince would never kidnap anyone. How do I know? He based the prince on me, I’m sure, though I am no prince."

"That I can believe."

He very nearly smiled that time. "You never made the connection between Garnet and Ruby both being red gems?"

"Of course. I figured since he wrote the stories for me, he gave the girl a name similar to mine. Stories being the key word there, as in make-believe, fictional. Come on. Gods? Dragons?"

"You are the girl in the story. When you reached puberty, you should have been initiated into your full power. Moncrief could not do that because he’s not the same type of Crescent as you. You were supposed to move in with people like you to learn their ways. I swore to your grandfather that I would train you, prepare you, and be your protector. But Moncrief wouldn’t cooperate, stubborn old goat."

He looked up at the ceiling and rubbed the back of his neck where his black hair curled in damp spikes. "You would have been so much easier to deal with then. Malleable. Impressionable. I can see you will be every bit the pain in my ass that your uncle was."

"You mean I would have been brainwashed." People like her, he’d said, as though there were in some cult. "You just wanted some young girl under your spell. Ew, you wanted me under your spell."

He gave her a look that reeked of disdain. "I would only want a grown woman under my spell. I consider you far too young for me. And, beyond that, not my type."

"I’m twenty-four years old. And you’re what, thirty?"

His mouth turned up in a slow smile. "I’m two-hundred-and-sixty-something, but thank you for the compliment."

"Hah, funny. Look, I really must be going. I’ve got employees expecting me back at work. Strong, big, muscular employees. Let’s just forget this little misunderstanding." She grabbed the gun and magazine and tucked them separately into her waistband.

"Ruby, you don’t seem to get that everything changes now. First, I need you to understand what you’re dealing with. Your uncle kept you in the dark, one of those bad decisions based on emotions."

"Mon was the least emotional person I ever knew."

"As a master of illusion, he revealed only what he wanted you to see. He was a magician in the truest sense of the word. Did he ever reveal to you how he performed his illusions?"

"No. Well, he did say it was real magic. When I was a child, I believed him. As I got older, I knew there had to be tricks. I saw those shows where the guy betrays his fellow magicians and reveals how the popular tricks are done. I figured it was something like that. Wait a minute. You said danger was stalking me. Why would someone harm me?"

"Where do I start?"

"There’s a list?"

"First it was from the people who had your parents killed."

"Killed? Mon said it was an accident, that their boat hit something in the ocean and sank."

Cyntag shook his head. "Someone ordered their deaths."

"That’s as crazy as everything else you’ve said. More crazy."

"We decided to let everyone think you died too. Did you ever wonder why Moncrief adopted you so quickly, changed your last name to his, and took you out of the country? It was too risky for Brom to raise you since he was a blood relation and easily connected to you. Moncrief had lost his wife and daughter years earlier, and Brom knew he would do good by you. His most important illusion was hiding that you hold magick."

He slowly waved his hand in front of her face, his eyes staring straight into hers between his long fingers. "Crescents can identify one another by our eyes. Some are icy glitter, some swirling mist, and others burning embers."

Her heart hitched. Hadn’t she seen a glow in his eyes?

He lowered his hand. "Moncrief cast an illusion spell to hide the magick in your eyes. You looked like a Mundane, a regular human. Now that he’s gone, the spell is wearing off. Soon it will be obvious to every Crescent who sees you."

She walked over to a gilt-framed mirror on the side wall and stared at herself. No glow. He was full of it. "I don’t see anything like what you described."

"Because you cannot see." He came up behind her. "You have not been Awakened. Crescents are initiated in a ceremony at thirteen, when their powers begin to appear. It’s similar to those of many native tribes to celebrate a coming of age. But much more comes with being an Awakened Crescent."

Thirteen. She remembered a gnawing hunger deep in her belly and vivid dreams filled with colors and longing and…dragons.

Cyntag brushed her bangs from her forehead, his thumb grazing the skin near her burn. "The orb did this?" She nodded, and anger shimmered over his face. "Unacceptable."

"I thought so."

He’d said it as though the attack on her was a personal affront to him. Like he owns you.

"Right now you’re like a baby chick fallen prematurely from the nest, without feathers developed enough to fly from danger or any way to fight enemies. Unable to even see them. You might get a glimpse now and then, but that won’t be enough."

"You’re saying I have powers?" Could her disbelief be more clear? "Can I make one of those orb-lightning-bolt things?"

Another twitch of a smile. "Sorry, no. However, you are much more magnificent than mere magick."

"I’m magnificent. Yeah." She couldn’t help but glance down at herself. "Fine, how do I get…what’d you call it? Awakened?" Let’s play along.

"Considering the circumstances, only I can awaken your powers."

Did his arrogance know no bounds? Dumb question, Ruby. "What do I have to give you for that?"

"You assume there’s a price?"

"There’s always a price." She could see that he had one too.

He stepped closer, again breaching boundaries. She wouldn’t move away. If only she didn’t have to look up at him. Even being five-foot-eight, he was way taller. His heat reached out, beckoning her. She stiffened her stance. The dragon tattoo eyed her, but no, she did not see it move.

He waited until she drew her gaze back to his face. "The price is that once you see, you can never go back to being blind. Once you know, you can never forget. Once you experience your true nature, you can never ignore it."

"Ignore what?"

He released a breath. "We’d better start with the small stuff."

 

 

Jaime Rush Dragon Mine Blog Hop

TEASER!

Who in Dragon's fire was calling at six on a Sunday morning? Kirin Slade fumbled for his cell phone and squinted at the screen. His twin sister.

The word "Yeah?" scratched out of his throat.

"You have to come home," Lyra said without preamble. "Pop's gone."

"Oh, is there a celebration then?"

"Kirin! I don't mean he's run off to the Bahamas. He's been missing for 2 days, and it's not some mid-life crisis. He would never abandon me to run the bakery by myself, and his bedroom is a wreck, like there was a fight."

"Or the famous Stein temper."

"But his pattern is to lose it, clean it up, and pretend it never happened; not leave and disappear. And the rest of the house is okay, so it's not a robbery."

Kirin sat up and rubbed his face. "How was he acting before he went missing? Did he seem stressed, depressed?"

"Pop hasn't been the same since, well, you know..."

Oh no, he wasn't going to let her off that easily. "Since he had an affair with my girlfriend's mother, who then disappeared? Fury rushed through him. "Is that what you mean?"

"Pop had nothing to do with that and know it."

"I knew it when I lied to the Guard and the Mundane police. I remembered how Uncle Louis was executed over circumstantial evidence. But you know Pop was hiding something. After everything we did for him, everything I lost, we deserve to know what it was. He wouldn't even admit to the affair."

"I think it happened the way he said, that Tara came to tell him she was happy about you and Ellie being together even if her butthead of a Deuce husband wasn't. How they became friends because she liked having a connection with another Dragon. Men and women can be just friends."

"What, you read that on the Internet? Believe what you want. I'm not buying it." He fell back on the bed, His forearm over his eyes to block out the light streaming through the curtains. "He'll probably be back today."

"Come home for you, if not for me or Pop. Living away from the Field has to be taking a toll on you. You looked all blah when I came to see you last month."

Yeah, the downside to harboring the essence of the Dragon god in one's body was that the essence required the Deus Vis to survive, the god-force that emanated from the mysterious crystal core of the island of their ancestors. Lucifera had sunken hundreds of years ago in the Bermuda Triangle, but the Deus Vis still radiated strong enough to affect the electromagnetic energy. The Field of Deus Vis reached into the Miami area in a crescent shape.

"That's only because I was overdue for my biweekly trip to recharge," he said.

"Oh." A pause. "You come down but don't see me?"

Yeah, he had admitted that, hadn't he? "I go to the edge of the Field, let my Dragon out and head right back to Atlanta."

"I get--sort of-- why you wouldn't want to see Pop. But can't you forgive me for my part in it?"

Guilt nibbled at him. "I needed a break from my life, Lyra. Do you know how freakin' cool it is to walk into a store, a restaurant, everywhere, and only see Mundane humans? No having to pretend there’s not an Elemental sitting at the next table flicking peas at me. No whacked-out Dragons waiting around the corner to tear my throat out; no Deuce magic to prickle the hairs at the back of my neck. Getting this contract was a godsend. And the pay is insane." He wouldn’t admit to the lack of energy, the drain on his soul, or the hunger to Catalyze. Or how boring having sex with Mundane women was. "When my contract expires, I’ll move back."

"Your poor Dragon must be withering. Being the badass paintball champion isn’t the same as sparring Dragon to Dragon in the Obsidian room. Getting your pilot’s license will never give you the thrill of being who you really are."

"Maybe not, but flying is pretty damned cool. Since we can’t fly the real way." They’d been born after the flying ban in the seventies, which completely sucked. Since the age of satellite imagery and Miami’s population explosion, displays of magic were illegal. The Hidden, which encompassed Crescent magic and other magical creatures, had to stay just that--hidden. Never let the Mundanes see your magic. "The paintball arena gives me all the predatory thrills I need."

"I can’t fathom how shooting someone with a blob of paint could even begin to compare to the raw power of your Dragon coursing through you, or body-slamming an opponent and sinking your fangs into their hide."

Memories of letting his Dragon out in the private room at Cyntag’s dojo tingle through his veins. He rolled out of bed and looked out the window at the normal world outside. Fall was sniffing at the edge of summer, turning a few leaves dark red and yellow. The beast inside him was drying up like the leaves skittering across the sidewalk on the breeze. "It’s a rush." Except the statement fell flat.

"Kirin, please. I need you."

Lyra was rarely vulnerable or needy. No, she usually jumped headlong into everything, taking action without considering the consequences.

His resistance melted. " Alright. It takes about eleven hours to drive down there, so don’t look for me until later tonight."

"Love you, Kirin."

Words in response hung in his throat, tangled in his anger at her. "See you soon."

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Author’s Bio:
Things that go bump in the night have always fascinated Jaime Rush. Sometimes those things are human; other times, not so much. Her new Hidden series reveals humans with the essence of gods who walk the knife's edge between Miami and a magical world of passion and danger. Part dragon, angel, or sorcerer, they must fight their own kind, demons, and the lure of their darkest nature.

Jaime is the author of the award-winning Offspring series and is also Tina Wainscott, bestselling author of eighteen novels. Contests, sneak peeks and more at www.jaimerush.com.

Hot Dragons, cool angels, and seductive magic! So come feel the heat and experience the Rush. And if you think Miami’s a melting pot now, wait until you see Jaime Rush’s Miami! The Hidden is finally here!

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Hook’s Pan by Marie Hall

 

I LOVED this book. It brought to light a new side to fairy tales. In this case Hook and Peter Pan. What if Hook wasn’t such a villain and what if Peter Pan was really the bad guy? Well played Ms. Hall. This is a must read for fairy tale lovers.

 

In this book we have Trish who is to play Peter Pan in a play when she is transported to Neverland by a fairy godmother. She ends up at James Hook’s feet. Hook thinks that she is the real Peter Pan until he discovers she is a woman. Danika the fairy godmother tells Hook and Trish that they are soul mates. Trish must stay in Neverland for 3 days. Trish doesn’t believe in love and Hook must convince her that they are meant for each other.

 

 

The Marquess of Cake by Heather Hiestand

 

 

This was a wonderful book. It was a about a woman named Alys Redcake and a Marquess Hatbrook. It tells the ups and downs of Alys the cakie and the Marquess. It is a must read for lovers of historical romances.

 

Alys was raised to work in her fathers factories and later his bakery. Decorating cakes is what she loves to do. She meets the Marquess Michael Shields when she waits on him in her fathers bakery. Her father is knighted by the Queen and then Alys and Michael find themselves meeting in social situations. They pair always seem to be coming to each others rescue. Alys’s father kicks her out of the bakery determined that she should become a lady of leisure. Does Alys have what it takes to make it as a lady and does the Marquess have what it takes to see Alys as something other then common. Read it and find out!

 

Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti

I loved this book. It’s not even out yet and I can’t wait for the next one in the series. I want to know what happened to Jory! This is an action packed book that you have to read. Well done Ms. Zanetti.

 

Josie is called to the hospital to discover that her husband the love of her life has been injured. The problem is that the husband in question left her 2 years ago without a word. Shane was mugged and can‘t remember what happened. He can barely remember Josie and has no idea why he left her, or why he is in the town that she moved to a few months ago. As “accidents” start happening to Josie, Shane realizes he must remember to protect her or he will really lose her forever.

 

 

 

Taken By the Duke by Jess Michaels

I absolutely loved this book it had everything. Carriage chases, romance and broken hearts along with feuds. This is a must read for lovers of historical romance.

This book starts out with with Christian chasing after his sister Matilda and Liam. There is a horrible accident that scars both men and kills Matilda. In order to make Liam suffer, Christian kidnaps Ava; Liams sister.

As both family's have suffered because of this feud for generations, Ava offers herself to Christian. Christian soon realizes that there is more to Ava and that she is special.

Liam goes after his sister knowing her reputation is ruined. Christian makes Ava leave because he loves her so much. Liam arranges a marriage for Ava. Christian finds out that Matilda's maid wants her death avenged and goes after Ava. Christian comes to his senses and speeds to London even though he is still injured. Liam and Christian are forced to work together to save Ava before its to late.

Jaguar Fever by Terry Spear

Oohy Ooh! A sizzling action packed shifter romance that hits all the right spots. Even though the story is technically about Wade and Maya, I think my favorite character dynamic would be between Wade and his brother David. They are just so fun for each other, and the tight bond just comes through so well. Of course I love it that Maya is no pushover, and wasn’t afraid to take what she wanted even if she planned on making it be just a fling. Love shifters and especially love the big cats. Thanks Terry-a big 5 heart read.

 

Maya has lived in the wild with her brother isolated from the rest of the world her whole life. And when he finds a mate she decides that she has had enough of the isolation and goes into the city hoping to find more shifters and some fun. Fun being the main thing though, because she didn’t want to jump into a relationship only to be abandoned just like her mother.

 

Wade Patterson has just fallen head over heels, and the introductions have hardly even been made. From the first moment he saw Maya in the amazon he wanted her. Of course at the time he thought she was taken and was charged by the agency he is employed by to protect her. Now that he knows differently he is pulling out all the stops to reel her in and keep her safe from those hunting their species.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You & Free Read from Jessica Scott

 

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A Thank You on Memorial Day

Memorial Day has never been an easy holiday for me but since I deployed, it’s become more important to me as a veteran. Much of the support I’ve gotten in my writing career has been because of fellow author and reader support because of my being an army officer and an Iraq vet and I owe each and every one of you a debt of gratitude for your support.

I’m fortunate that this week, I’m able to spend this weekend holiday with my family. As many of you know, I’ve been separated from them for the last three months, attending an army school. I used some of the royalties from last year to fly home and for giving me that time with my family, dear readers, I say thank you.

To show my thanks, I’m putting THE LONG WAY HOME on sale this week for free. I’ve never done this outside of KDP Select, so I hope it appears free on all outlets. I hope you’ll read it and see just why spending time with my family is so important — because that first year home from war was so difficult.

THE LONG WAY HOME is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo and other retailers.

 

EXCITING NEWS

I’m also thrilled to finally be able to announce that Carponti, Trent & Laura and the gang will finally be coming to readers. This week, the sale of Carponti’s novella I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, along with Laura & Trent’s BACK TO YOU, Reza & Emily’s COME HOME TO ME and Ben & Olivia’s FINDING MY WAY HOME will be released later this year and early next year by Grand Central. I can’t tell you how happy I am that I’ve found a new home for these stories.

 

 

SQUEAK’S ESCAPADES

Squeak continues to escape on a bi-weekly basis. The last time she was out and about, she hid in the dryer for two days and didn’t come out. It took some finagling but I’ve finally managed to use my sociology book for a good purpose and she’s no longer able to work the latch to get out. At least until next time.

  — Jessica

 

A Most Devilish Rogue by Ashlyn Macnamara

This is definitely one love story that always pulls at the heart strings. You have Isabelle who was pushed out of society due to falling for a dishonorable man and having a son...Jack. She is strong enough to make it without any help until a stranger shows up on the beach to save her son from being pulled away to sea.

George is a scoundrel and is in some trouble in debts as well as now trying to figure out how to handle his mistress. But once he comes into contact with Jack and his very closed of mother, things become interesting and he does everything he can to see to it she trusts him. Of course what brings them together isn't the best of circumstances when Isabelle's son is kidnapped and George gives his word he'll bring the boy safely home.

This is an incredible story on how it takes a lot of trust for a relationship to even be possible. Ashlyn did an amazing job in capturing not only the emotions of the characters but also showed how some people of the ton  or the "popular crowd" don't look down their noses at those who are cast away because of something that wasn't even planned. This author really knows how to bring her words to life and bring her readers into the story. And I have to admit, the plot was slightly predictable but still had me think "Okay...I didn't see THAT coming."

Outcast Prince by Shona Husk

 



Full of fairy antics-loved it! After this book I know one thing for sure. Be ever mindful of your words when talking to a fairy. You just never know what you can get yourself into. I totally feel for Caspian-I really really don’t think I would like being able to “see “ the history of any item I touch.

 

All his life Caspian has tried to be normal. That is except for his psychometric ability and the fact that he has to actively ignore any fairy that may cross his path. He can see them only due to the fact that he is half fairy himself, and because of his fairy "godmother" Dylis he knows the rules of fairy interaction, or rather avoidance, because generally the only fairies in the mortal realm are Greys-or banished fairies who will do anything to get back into fairy. Caspian does well following these rules until a Grey called Shea catches his eye while Caspian is buying a fairy enchanted mirror and discovers who he is. Then the Grey is hellbent on forcing Caspian into finding the mirror containing the window to Fairy. Shea is able to force him into making a deal by threatening Lydia, the one person Caspian has found that he ever felt safe revealing his fairy roots to, and in making the deal he beaks Fairy law drawing the powers that be to him for penalty making the situation even more sure. Will Caspian be able to find the window in time to save his soul and keep Lydia safe?

 

 

 

 

Hearts in Darkness by Keri Arthur

                                                     
WOW WOW WOW! This book was a page turner for sure, I didn't want to put it down. Even though this is the 2nd book in the series I didn't feel completely lost about the relationship dynamic between Nikki and Michael. And it seems like their lives are linked forever no matter how much Michael wants to keep Nikki out of his. They share a life source so if he dies, she dies also...but if she dies, he doesn't. I don't think that is fair but it makes since due to him being a vampire.

After no communication for 6 months, it seems they are brought together to work on a case of missing people who just mysteriously disappear from this fancy resort. Plus Nikki feels the kid she was hired to protect might be there as well. So as they are trying to get to the bottom of the disappearances, someone from Michael's past shows up which kind of puts a small wrench into his relationship with Nikki. I do plan on reading book 1 of this series and I am anxious to see what happens next in the 3rd book. 

 

 

 

Matchpoint by Elise Sax

Looks like Gladie is still stuck in this interesting love triangle with Spencer,the playboy chief of police and Holden the secretive, gorgeously muscled neighbor...and on top of that the town is in an uproar with this invasion of an alien lovers cult. Gladie just got personally requested by her friend Belinda to make a match her up, but of course that is never easy. With everything going on there is another murder investigation and though she is trying to stay out of it, it seems everyone including Belinda who's the cops number one suspect is dragging her in.

I have to say this one really had a bunch of twists to it along with some laughs, plus some WTF moments. Definitely kept this reader on her toes cause I could never guess in my head which way the story was going to go. Nice to see some more character development when it comes to Gladie herself as well as you learn some interesting things about the secretive neighbor Holden. This series is on a good track, mixing romance with Gladie's personal love life, her trying to be the matchmaker her Grandma Zelda knows she can be, with a little mystery with her being able to figure out these murders using her gifts. If your just getting into this series I do suggest you read Elise Sax's first Matchmaker book "An Affair to Dismember" cause if you try to read this one alone you may be a little confused with the newest developments.

Spot Light Author Kate Hofman ~~Amadeo's Love Affair

Amadeo, Conte di Sant'Angelo, has met Heidelinde Müller, an advertising designer, on a ski trip. He wants to know this fascinating woman better. Their friendship grows, despite interference from their mothers and persistent old flames.

When a trip to his villa ends badly, he whisks her to the warm sands of Ocean Breeze, Florida.

Pushed to the limit, they enter a sham engagement.

Can he persuade her that he wants the engagement to be 'real'? Will they be able to overcome the obstacles that are being thrown in their path to happiness? 





AFFAIR – Excerpt #2


Amadeo smiled. "Jeff Harcourt and Tom Fredericks own the St.George Art Gallery downtown. They are a married gay couple, great fun. And they have exceptional artists working for their gallery." He decided to explain a bit more.
"I am friends with both Tom and Jeff. Let me warn you that Tom is at times a bit outré—he’s older than Jeff by some fifteen, twenty years, I would guess, but is fighting a valiant rearguard action to appear younger than he is—I guess he must be a bit over fifty, but you’d never know it. He’s a tawny redhead, who gets a light tan from Electric Beach, never risks the actual sun."



"Electric beach?"

Amadeo explained, "He goes to a tanning salon." He interrupted himself. "Well, you’ll soon see. When we’ve finished our walk we’ll drive over to the gallery. Tom will declare a coffee break and do his best to find out exactly what the situation is between us." He grinned. "I have no intention of telling him anything. It’s much more fun watching him ask clever questions trying to find out."

"You’ve piqued my curiosity."

"Glad I was able to pique something— The way you flew out of bed this morning I was beginning to wonder whether you thought you had exhausted my possibilities."

"As if."

Amadeo caught Heidelinde’s hand and pulled her a bit closer. "Had enough walking for the moment?" he breathed. When she nodded, he went on, "Then let’s get back, have a leisurely shower, and take our time getting dressed for an art gallery visit."

Dragon Mine by Jaime Rush

I really loved this story.  It made me believe that love could conquer all and that it could survive many years.  I look forward to reading many more great books y Jamie Rush.  This book is a must read for all those that like a little magic with their romance.

Kirin is a dragon, and he is called home to find out why his father is missing.  Kirin stops at Becker Aerospace.  The place he used to work and the place he fell in love with Ellie, who is a deuce..  He runs into Ellie there while she is looking for her father.  Kirin realizes that all the old feelings are there and that they must work together to find out what happened to their fathers.  They must also destroy the creature that is in their old work place.