The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrelyn Sparks

 

 

Och-totally Dougal fan-girling here! The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo is the 14^th book in the Love At Stake series, and my first Kerrelyn book. I can say without a doubt that I will be reading the other 13.  Kerrelyn does a fabulous job of reminding us of Dougal’s Scottish heritage by peppering in the doona, dinna, and of course Och. She does it in a way that isn’t overwhelming and she doesn’t make the mistake of converting all of his words to phonetic pronunciation of that wonderful brogue. She just tickles us with it once in a while. Also, I love love love the teasing between Dougal and his heroin, Leah. I found myself laughing out loud so many times during the reading and completely unable to stifle it-so be forewarned, ‘cause it does tend to garner a few odd looks. Five HUGE hearts Kerrelyn.

 

Dougal is a Scottish, kilt wearing, pipe playing Vampire. *I know, drooling already* About 4 years ago he lost one of his hands in a battle and the loss has really been hitting home lately. After losing the hand he had been taken off the mission roster, and given a cushy position guarding one of the vamp families. His last mission was over a year ago, and he only got that one because he had been the only one available. He couldn’t even console himself with his music, because his prosthetic hand just wasn’t nimble enough to allow him to play anything other than slow tunes that depressed him even more. And to make it worse, it seems that everyone that crosses paths with him has to comment on his missing appendage in one way or another. Something has got to give or he may just blow.

Leah is a geneticist prodigy, having completed her doctorate at the tender age of twenty-one. She entered college at the age of fourteen. Due to that, and the fact that she is so completely brilliant she has been the target of many pranks by her peers. When she arrives at the Romatech facility where she has just taken a position , she finds a party, with the all of her new patients, in full swing. She is immediately uncomfortable-having always been a sidelines kind of girl, and when her new employer, Abby, notices her agitation she offers to show her the lab, and Leah jumps at the lifeline. Only to wish she hadn’t been so quick; when it appears that the Romatech employees have decided to prank her already. The blood samples that Abby has given her to view are completely abnormal, tampered with obviously, because Abby then tries to convince her that the blood is from her husband…a vampire. The Romatech head honchos can only wait and hope that Leah can accept the surreal world she has been dropped into, because they desperately need her expertise to save thousands of human lives.

 

 

Soul Stripper by Katana Collins

When I started reading this book I wasn’t sure I would like it. It turned out that I loved it and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. This book had everything, Angels and Succubi and Demons and Humans and Elementals.

 

Monica is a fallen Angel who is now a Succubus. She must take peoples souls in order to survive. She is not an ordinary succubus as she only feeds off corrupted souls. No someone is killing off the succubi and the murderer has targeted Monica. Monica and her friends must figure out who is after her and protect her before it is to late.

 

 

Ethan by Grace Burrowes

I loved this book! It is a must read for fans of historical romances. My heart was breaking when I read about the past of the main characters. It pulls you in right from the start and keeps you hooked as the main characters try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Ethan who is a father to two little boys, had a horrible experience when he was a teenager. His father sent him to a school and separated him from the only family he knew. As an adult he is trying to put his life back together and put his past behind him. He hires Alice as a governess for his young boys. She upsets his life, she basically forces him to take notice of his sons and to be a father to them. They both realize that they have been broken but are stronger for it.

They come together and realize that their past demons is the same person. It is only by working together that they can over come their past and make a life with each other and make a home and a future with the boys and each other.

 

 

Twisted by Rebecca Zanetti

I adored this book. It is a must read for fans of Vampires and shifters and demons. In this new book we get to learn more of the Shifters and a different pack that has the ability to mask their scent.

 

This is the story of Maggie and Terrent. Maggie is a shifter who has lost her memory after she was kidnapped and experimented on by the Kurjans. She was rescued by the Vampires. Terrent let Maggie go to regain her memory and find herself. Terrent figured 10 years was enough and now he is back to claim his mate. Terrent and Maggie must work together to find out who is after her. They also must find out who is tampering with the inoculations before they do any more harm to the pack.

 

 

 

My Notorious Gentleman by Gaelen Foley

I loved this book.  It was a romantic tale of love conquering all.  I need to go read other books by Ms. Foley because I want to read more of her work.  This is a must read book for everyone.

We have Grace who is a preachers daughter and a self proclaimed wall flower.  She attends a ball where she meets the jaded Trevor Montgomery.  Trevor mistakes her for a trollop and kisses her.  After she stabs him with her hat pin, Trevor wants to find out who she is.  He ends up buying the Grange in their little village to be closer to her.  Trevor soon realizes that some woman can be trusted, namely Grace.  When trouble arrives on the doorstep of their little town Trevor must use his past as a spy to protect them all.  Trevor realizes that Grace is what he has been missing in his life and he will do anything to protect her.

 

 

 

 

Obsession by Florenica Bonelli

Eliah Al-Saud is the rich and powerful son of a Saudi Prince, and the owner of a French security company, which is a front for mercenary and espionage services. He is also a very skilled pilot and loves nothing more than flying and facing danger.

Matilde is from Argentina and is a pediatric surgeon who is on a mission to work in Africa, in the Congo. While on the plane taking her to France to being her mission she meets Eliah and everything in her life is about to be turned upside down.

With many differences between them, an undeniable attraction swallows them hole...even though their current personal relationships. This causes the intertwining of their devastating secrets, powerful friends and nefarious enemies. Now not only are their lives at risk so is the powerful love they share together at risk also.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have to say, you can never judge a book by its cover. The book in its self was very well written, but there were just a few things that made reading a tad bit difficult. First, there was a lot of jumping around between the main characters Eliah and Matilde and the rest of those involved with the story. Second, with the bouncing around came a lot of parts where I skipped because it was very drawn out and uninteresting (this is my personal thought). Lastly, the book was nearly 700 pages and with it only being book 1 it left me wanting to know what is going to happen (not going to say how it ends cause that'll give some of the story away), which is good but it also left me a little confused as well as hoping book 2 isn't nearly as long.

                                                   

 

The Trouble with Being a Duke by Sophie Barnes

This book was Awesome. It is the type of romantic read that you want to be sitting in your garden with a glass of Sweet Tea while reading. You have the dashing Duke Neville who throws  a fancy ball and falls in love with a mysterious young lady and is determined to make her wife regardless of what Society thinks. This is a simple and beautiful story about two people falling in love.
This is a must read for the Summer.

 

Review by Chielo

The Scoundrel Takes a Bride by Stefanie Sloane

http://www.stefaniesloane.com/books/


Shortened Review: [From Book]
A notorious scoundrel, the right Honorable Nicholas Bourne has spent years in the East Indies amassing a fortune through questionable means. Still, his loyalty to his older brother Langdon remains true and trusted. But when Lady Sophia Southwell, the woman promised to his brother, seeks his help on a dangerous mission, he is troubled—and torn.


For years, Sophia has planned her daring act of revenge against her mother’s killer. She has painstakingly prepared herself by studying the criminal mind. Now she knows the moment is right and that Nicholas is the man to help her.


Actual Review:

As someone who somehow missed the rest of the books in this series, (shame on me I know!) I admit to having a bit of an issue at first picking it up. Its like trying to read the Harry Potter series out of order, all the characters know each other and are familiar and you’re the outsider who stumbled in asking around because you have no clue what a muggle is.

However let this not dissuade you first timers from reading this series out of order. All in all I found the book a wonderful display of regency era romance. And the author somehow being psychic and knowing that sometimes a reader just can’t get to all the good books fast enough, gives you a wonderful taste of each of the previous characters as well as future characters.

On the character themselves, I was utterly charmed. This was a book (and I’m assuming the series to) where a lot of thought went into who the characters were. Nicholas (our bad boy ;) ) is not the typical handsome regency hero who does right all his life. In fact he is someone we can relate to in modern days (for those 5 guys who read regency romances..ok 6 ). And Sophia is a character who reminds you of the little sister you shake your head at for not realizing that the boy she’s been friends with forever is …[Spoiler alert] actually the love of her life.

Two thumbs up to Stephanie and I’ve already added this series to the rest of my twenty billion must reads!

 

Review by Cass

Jaime Rush Covers Reveal

Except:
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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