No Stakes Allowed
Page 10
"It's fine. I can take the high road," I promise him.
He reaches out and squeezes my hand.
"You're the proof we need," Emma says from behind me.
I frown, searching Bryce's face for recognition about what she's on about, but he seems as clueless as me.
Seeing nothing else for it, I twist around and face her again. "What do you mean?"
I shouldn't be doing this. I should be keeping quiet and not engaging her in any kind of conversation. And yet, she's intrigued me.
"You're a turned vampire. No one is doubting that Bryce did the right thing by turning you," she points out.
"Actually, I think everyone doubts it's the right thing to do," I counter. "Especially after you told them all who I am."
"But you know it was the right thing to do."
"No."
She laughs, briefly drawing the attention of her bodyguard. He seems to decide that nothing she's doing or saying is of any interest to him. I've lucked out with Bryce and how interested he is in me.
"You must think it's the right thing, or you wouldn't be here now," she says.
"Or perhaps I'm simply making the most of the second chance I've been offered." The words ring truer than I intended them to. I believe them. Much to my surprise.
"But don't you think other people deserve that second chance too?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
I chew on my lip, considering what she's saying. I'm sure there are people who deserve the second chance vampirism can give them, but is it really our right to decide that? I don't think so.
"There's a group of us who want to change things..."
The same ones who want to take down Dimitri, no doubt.
"All you have to do is say the word, and I'll introduce you to the others," Emma says.
I narrow my eyes at her. "Don't you hate me?" That seems a better thing to say than continuing down her line of conversation.
"I don't have to like you for you to join our cause. Only recognise the worth you could have to our plans."
"Hmm."
I don't have to respond to her this time thanks to the professor walking into the room and calling attention to him.
I sigh and settle back in my chair. But her words are at the forefront of my mind. Would a change in the system be best?
No. Not if it means taking down the people who have made my life, and that of the other ex-hunters possible. But maybe that is the reason I should take Emma up on her offer...
...then play the double agent.
Thank you for reading No Stakes Allowed! I hope you enjoyed the first part of Lily's story! If you want to find out what happens next (and how playing the double agent goes for Lily!) then her story continues in Stakes Are Raised: http://books2read.com/stakesareraised. You can also find out more about Bryce's past in a free short story, Punishment Fit For The Crime: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cmoadk2xef
Author’s Note
Lily is an interesting character. I've known since the end of the Ashryn Barker trilogy that I wanted to tell the story of what came next for her, but I've never been able to pinpoint exactly what that next was for her. Until it all clicked into place with the revelation that Grimalkin Academy was a place for both witches & warlocks, and vampires. After that, her story started to unfold, especially her interactions with Ashryn, some of which were written well before there was a title, story, or even names for the other characters.
I know people have asked me about what happened to Lily, and others have asked me what happened to Ravi, and if he got what was coming to him after the events of Tarnished Illusions. Obviously, I don't want to give away spoilers, but I can reveal that the answer to that question will come up in this series.
As with all my books in the Obscure World, there are links to the other series, but you don't have to have read any of the others to understand. But, in case you want to know, here's the rundown:
Ashryn is the main character in the Ashryn Barker trilogy (Lily herself first appears at the end of book one)
Bryce's past is a link to the upcoming City Of Blood series (you can read a bit about that in his prequel short story)
Emma is the same Emma who faced off against Heath and Daphne in Grimalkin Academy: Catacombs (another character people wanted to know what happened to after!)
The coffee shop Emma mentioned for their business study is actually an Easter Egg for a future series!
I hope you enjoyed the first part of Lily and Bryce's story. I've had so much fun writing it and am looking forward to spending more time with them! (Even if I didn't originally plan on it!)
Also by Laura Greenwood
Books in the Paranormal Council Universe
* * *
The Paranormal Council Series (shifter romance, completed series)
The Dryad’s Pawprint (Audiobook Available)
The Vixen’s Bark (Audiobook Available)
The Necromancer’s Prey (Audiobook Available)
The Vampire’s Bite (Audiobook Available)
The Witch’s Stripes
The Paranormal Council Boxed Set
* * *
The Fae Queen Of Winter (paranormal/fantasy)
Saving Eira (Audiobook Available)
Reigning Eira
Calling Eira
* * *
Fated Seasons: Spring (paranormal/fantasy)
Chasing Aledwen (Audiobook Available)
* * *
Thornheart Coven (witch romance)
Witch’s Potion (Audiobook Available)
Witch’s Spark (Audiobook Available)
* * *
Return Of The Fae (paranormal post-apocalyptic)
Fall Of Hope (Audiobook Available)
Rise Of Night (Audiobook Available)
Dawn Of Pain (Audiobook Available)
Sight Of Change
* * *
Paranormal Criminal Investigations (urban fantasy mystery)
Spell Caster (Audiobook Available)
Spell Tamer
* * *
MatchMater Paranormal Dating App (paranormal romance)
Reluctant Dragon Mate (Audiobook Available)
Bewitched Incubus Mate
Forbidden Vampire Mate
* * *
Stories From the Paranormal Council Universe (each story stands alone)
Frost’s Forfeit (Audiobook Available)
Death’s Choice
Stories From the Paranormal Council Universe Collection
Blood & Deceit (Audiobook Available)
A Touch of Necromancy: Six Tales of Necromancers
* * *
Books in the Obscure World
Ashryn Barker Trilogy (urban fantasy, completed series)
Shattered Illusions (Audiobook Available)
Broken Illusions (Audiobook Available)
Tarnished Illusions (Audiobook Available)
The Ashryn Barker Trilogy Boxed Set (Audiobook Available)
* * *
Grimalkin Academy: Kittens (paranormal academy, completed series)
First Time’s A Charm
Second Time’s A Curse
Third Time’s A Crime
Fourth Time’s A Cure
Fifth Time’s A Crisis
Curses Start Somewhere
Witch Friends Are Forever (Short Story)
* * *
Grimalkin Academy: Catacombs (paranormal academy, completed series)
Catching A Vampire (Audiobook Available)
Catching A Wizard
Catching A Warlock
Witch Friends Are Forever (Short Story)
* * *
City Of Blood (urban fantasy)
Drop Of Blood
Blood Payment (Prequel)
* * *
Grimalkin Academy: Stakes (paranormal academy)
No Stakes Allowed
Stakes Are Raised
Highest Of Stakes
Books in the Forgotten Gods World
Consorts of the Goddess Trilogy (paranor
mal/mythology romance)
Quest of the Goddess
* * *
Forgotten Gods Series (paranormal/mythology romance, completed series)
Protectors of Poison (Audiobook Available)
Daughter of the Sun (Audiobook Available)
Servant of Chaos (Audiobook Available)
Priestess of Truth (Short Story)
Forgotten Gods Boxed Set
The Grimm World
Grimm Academy (fairy tale academy)
Spindles And Spells
Pumpkins And Proms
Huntsmen And Hoods
Mirrors And Magic
Lamps And Lies
Frosts And Fears
* * *
Fate Of The Crown (Arthurian Academy)
The Almost Queen
* * *
Once Upon An Academy (Fairy Tale Academy)
Tower Of Thorns
Other Books
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Untold Tales (urban fantasy fairy tales)
Balanced Scales (Audiobook Available)
Golden Wings
Poisoned Fate
Tainted Ashes
Braids Of Silver
Fractured Core
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ME Contemporary Standalones (contemporary romance)
Sweet About Me (Audiobook Available)
Kneel For Me (Audiobook Available)
Heard From Me (Audiobook Available)
Laid By Me
If The Shoe Fits (Audiobook Available)
Con With Me
ME Collection Volume One
* * *
Rats: Tori (steampunk one shot stories, completed series)
Rats: Tori Collection(Audiobook Available)
* * *
Standalones
Permission to Breathe Denied (dystopian, Audiobook Available)
Glass Heart (urban fantasy, Audiobook Available)
Reaper (fantasy romance, Audiobook Available)
Co-written Books
Twin Souls Trilogy, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal romance, completed series)
Soulswap (Audiobook Available)
Soulshift (Audiobook Available)
Soultrade (Audiobook Available)
Twin Souls Trilogy Boxed Set (Audiobook Available)
* * *
Dragon Soul Series, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal romance, completed series)
Bound Soul
Half Soul
Torn Soul (Audiobook Available)
* * *
The Renegade Dragons Series, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal romance, completed series)
Fifth Soul (Audiobook Available)
Fifth Round (Audiobook Available)
Fifth Flame (Audiobook Available)
Renegade Dragons Boxed Set (Audiobook Available)
* * *
The Vampire Detective, co-written with Arizona Tape (urban fantasy mystery, completed series)
Fangs For Nothing
What The Fangs
Fangs For All
* * *
The Witch and The Detective, co-written with Arizona Tape (urban fantasy)
Hexes and Vexes
* * *
Seven Wardens, co-written with Skye MacKinnon (paranormal/fantasy romance, completed series)
From the Deeps (Audiobook Available)
Into the Mists (Audiobook Available)
Beneath the Earth
Within the Flames
Above the Waves
Under the Ice
Rule the Dark
Beyond the Loch (series prequel)
Through the Storms (to be read between From the Deeps & Into the Mists)
Below the Baubles (to be read between Above the Waves & Under the Ice)
Seven Wardens Boxed Set: Books 1-4
Seven Wardens Boxed Set: Books 5-7
* * *
Valentine Pride, co-written with L.A. Boruff (paranormal shifter romance, completed series)
Unicorn Mates
Unicorn Luck
Unicorn Truth
Unicorn Surprise
* * *
Magic and Metaphysics Academy, co-written with L.A. Boruff (paranormal academy, completed series)
Magical Mischief
Magical Mistake
Magical Misfit
* * *
Mountain Shifters Standalones, co-written with L.A. Boruff (paranormal romance)
The Platypus And Her Wolves
Wolf Tears
* * *
The Firehouse Feline, co-written with Lacey Carter Andersen & L.A. Boruff (paranormal/urban fantasy romance)
Feline The Heat
Feline The Flames
Feline The Burn
* * *
Kingdom Of Fairytales Season 11, co-written with J.A. Armitage (fantasy fairy tale)
Queen Of Reflections
Heiress Of Mirrors
Throne Of Wands
Goddess Of Magic
Kingdom Of Fairytales Prequels
* * *
Standalones
Ocean’s Serenade (co-written with J&L Wells. Paranormal Romance)
Goddess of Virtue (co-written with L.A. Boruff, Paranormal Romance)
* * *
Audiobooks: www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/audio.html
About the Author
Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal and fantasy romance. When she's not writing, she can be found drinking ridiculous amounts of tea, trying to resist French Macaroons, and watching the Pitch Perfect trilogy for the hundredth time (at least!)
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