by Jenn Stark
“It will go as far as it must.” It was always this way with him—he was careful, calm, and sure, even as he took risks that would have terrified a man half his age. Risks to protect the youngest and most defenseless members of the psychic community, whose very innocence made them coveted commodities on the arcane black market.
Standing in the half-light of the nave, he weighed the package in his hands. “We must make choices, though. The boy in Chartres shows promise—and with promise comes danger. He and his family currently live outside the village in relative safety, but small pilgrimages have begun to bring them food and gifts.”
I grimaced. “What did he do?”
“The village’s crops had failed two years running. A month ago, he blessed the soil in which they grew.” Jerome chuckled. “Which ordinarily would have bought us more time, except the villagers have already gathered their first harvest, and it is barely spring.”
A proven ability to hurry along the growing season? That wasn’t good. “Then he’s the priority. Chartres draws too much attention anyway with its ley line configuration. Someone will notice what’s going on there. The family should be moved before there’s trouble.” I squinted at Jerome. “Only child?” He nodded. Single children were the norm in families like this. “Who else?”
“Two other families remain on the watch list,” he said. “In Turin and San Sebastian. Those are established cities, with friends close at hand, and the children are young. So far, whispers of their abilities have been kept to close relatives. The château in Bencançon has received five more families in the last week, however, and yet another orphan. So whatever is not needed for the boy in Chartres will go there. And the search continues for others. ” He sighed. “The young healer in Linz has not been recovered. The twin girls from Kavala, it has been nearly a month without word. The same with the child from Berlin. Fifteen remain at large, and those are merely the ones we know. ”
“Pierre-Charles?” I couldn’t keep the hope out of my voice, but I knew the answer before the old priest shook his head.
“He…was found in Nimes. His heart and eyes removed.”
I glanced away, knowing the image would haunt me anyway, along with too many others. Pierre-Charles had been a blond, blue-eyed boy of fourteen, his features angelically perfect. But he had not been taken for his fair skin or sweet face.
He had been taken for what he saw.
Visions of holy fire and retribution, of a scourge of wings that would sweep the earth clean of its filth and degradation. Visions he’d been stupid enough to share with his fellow students at some backward Toulouse boarding school. Word had gotten out too fast for us to intervene. By the time we’d reached Toulouse, Pierre-Charles was gone.
Magic was a bloody business these days. True members of the Connected community had value as tools, yes. But also as donors for rituals. Their eyes, their organs, their limbs could all give power to a dark practitioner, or so it was said. And children with such abilities were considered to be especially precious.
It was always the children who paid.
“Bounty hunters?” I turned back to Father Jerome. “Or scared locals?”
“Hunters, we believe. The body was dumped outside the city, the surgery precise.” He shifted in the half-light. “The dark practitioners grow bold.”
I nodded. “Something’s bothering them.”
I’d met Father Jerome on my second assignment, more than five years ago. He was an acknowledged expert in Roman antiquities. More importantly, he’d actually once seen the trinket I’d been commissioned to find on that particular job.
We’d worked well together, then Jerome had hired me to liberate some second-rate reliquary from a cesspool of dark magic. Back then, I didn’t know how deep the underworld had become. Back then, I’d just been on the run, willing to hire out to everyone and anyone with money to spend and artifacts to find.
But I’d been lucky. Father Jerome had proven to be an able instructor.
I’d found other such instructors along the way too. And with instruction had come awareness, then knowledge, then understanding. And, sure, the occasional betrayal. Eventually, I’d learned about the black market bounty hunters who were being paid top dollar to deliver not simply artifacts but real-live people as well, gifted psychics who could be used as arcane sacrifices—the younger and more untrained the better.
I tried to keep out of it, not get involved. I knew better than to make connections I couldn’t easily walk away from. After that crisp, sunny morning in Memphis ten years ago, when my whole world had gone up in a rush of fire and smoke and pain, I needed to stay as far off the grid as possible.
But I couldn’t help myself in the end. Not when children were going missing.
Some things never changed.
“I should have more for you soon.” A new thought struck me. Maybe Father Jerome would know what the big deal was about my current relic, why it’d suddenly been elevated to Rome’s Most Wanted list. The old priest was an expert on antiquities, and I had a vague recollection that Saint-Germaine-des-Prés had been erected on a Roman shrine of some kind. I reached into my jacket. “Actually,” I began—
“A moment, Miss Wilde.” The sensually familiar voice riffled through my mind, setting me on edge. “I would rather you not do that.”
“Yes?” Jerome frowned at me as I stiffened. “What is it, Sara?”
Dammit, Armaeus. “Just…Give me a minute.”
I turned and strode down the long central corridor of the church, the world falling silent around me.
Then, with a flash of shockingly white light through the soaring stained glass windows, the sky rained down with fire.
To read more of Sara’s adventures, purchase Getting Wilde today at one of these retail outlets:
Kindle ~ Nook ~ iBooks ~ Kobo
Author’s Note
The cards that appear at the opening of One Wilde Night were the ones pulled by Sara before her first meeting with the client who would commission her for the Rio de Janeiro job. She knew she’d have to be on her guard, but she had no way of knowing how much. Here are the three basic interpretations a Tarot reader might give to someone pulling these cards:
The Magician
Magical influences come into your life and you can create solutions to your most challenging problems. Synchronicity and creativity prevail, as well as quick thinking and resourcefulness. Opportunities abound, and your dreams and deepest wishes can come true with focus and positive intent. A new, magical relationship or life-changing energy is on the horizon.
Seven of Swords
Stealth, mistrust and secrecy rule the day. Be smart and hold your cards close to the vest. Take steps to protect yourself and your possessions—someone may try to steal something from you or take advantage of you. Actions during this time require daring and surprise. Keep your strategy secret and be careful of whom you trust.
The Tower
Established structures are on the verge of breaking apart, ushering in a period of dramatic change. These changes can crash into your life unexpectedly, bringing a much needed wake-up call. It’s time to sweep your life clean. Beliefs may crumble and routines may break down. An explosive transformation is at hand, giving the opportunity for a fresh start (whether you want one or not).
Thanks!
I’ve been so grateful for the opportunity to share the world of Immortal Vegas to readers like you, and I welcome your feedback and ideas! If you enjoyed this introduction into Sara’s adventures, I sincerely appreciate any review that you might wish to post online. Reviews help readers find books, so thank you in advance for helping to share the word.
You can reach me online at www.jennstark.com, follow me on Twitter @jennstark, or visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/authorjennstark. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive news, updates and special giveaways, sign up here: http://www.jennstark.com/contact/
Acknowledgments
So many people contributed to the Immortal Vegas series coming to
life, from its first incarnation as the Golden Heart-winning manuscript “Black Jack” to today, with the launch of One Wilde Night. Thank you to Elizabeth Bemis for your wonderful design work on the novella cover, graphics and my site (as well as your limitless patience and treasured friendship). Sincere thanks also go to Gene Mollica for the photography and cover design/illustration for the first three novels in the series, and to Linda Ingmanson for collaborative and above all thorough editorial skills. Any mistakes in the manuscript are, of course, my own. To Kristine, my sincere appreciation for your many (many, many…) reads and brainstorming sessions. To Kay, my ongoing gratitude for your encouragement and highly-valuable suggestions every step of the way. To Rachel, for your impromptu story doctoring and publishing mojo, thank heavens you never sleep! Thank you also to Jowanna and Dana for your time and talent (and enthusiasm!) to give One Wilde Night an early read. You truly can’t imagine how much your feedback means to me. Finally, to Geoffrey, my deepest thanks for your vision, insight, and guidance, since the very beginning of this story. It’s been a Wilde ride.
Also by Jenn Stark
Getting Wilde (August, 2015):
Kindle ~ Nook ~ iBooks ~ Kobo
Wilde Card (November, 2015):
Kindle ~ Nook ~ iBooks ~ Kobo
About Jenn Stark
Jenn Stark is a Golden Heart award-winning author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She lives and writes in Ohio. In addition to her work in urban fantasy, she is also author Jennifer McGowan, whose Maids of Honor series of Young Adult Elizabethan spy romances are published by Simon & Schuster, and author Jennifer Chance, whose Rule Breakers series of New Adult contemporary romances are published by Random House/LoveSwept, and whose upcoming Gowns & Crowns series will be Indie-released in Fall, 2015.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Coming Next: Getting Wilde
Author's Note
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also By Jenn Stark
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Up Next...
Chapter One
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
Also by Jenn Stark
About the Author
Table of Contents