by Lisa Kessler
“I’m trying. I know I won’t wake up one morning to find you gone. I know that. But inside…”
“Inside will take time to heal.”
She lost herself in his steady gaze and gradually realized other eyes were on them. Her cheeks flushed with heat as Lukas approached her. “Do we have another proposal?”
“What?” Muriah tried to pull her hands free, but Issa kept his hold on her as he got to his feet.
Issa glanced at Lukas. “Not the kind of proposal you mean.”
“Sorry about that.” Lukas embraced Muriah and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I guess I won’t need to look after you any longer with Issa hanging around.”
She looked up at the handsome, ageless face that had been in and out of her life as long as she could remember, one of the few constants. A smile crept up on her. “You may not need to, but if you don’t come by and see me with Gretchen and that little one, I’ll be pissed at you.”
“We can’t be having that.” Lukas laughed.
“Thank you for all you did in Egypt.” He sobered. “I wish it hadn’t come at such a high price.”
She shook her head. “It’s not like what happened to you. I had a choice, and I knew what I was getting into. I’m fine…really.”
He nodded and clapped Issa on the shoulder. “We both know I can’t kick your ass, but if you hurt her, I’ll try.”
Issa chuckled with a nod. “Fair enough.”
As the others made their way back toward the house to continue the celebration, Issa caught Muriah’s hand and pulled her back. “You have not heard my proposal yet.”
Her pulse quickened. She loved him. She had no doubt about that. But the thought of a wedding proposal made her want to run for the door. She was barely getting used to the idea of being in love and possibly gaining an extended family.
“I don’t think I’m ready.”
“I believe you will enjoy this proposal.”
She wasn’t so sure. “Okay…”
He slid his hand into the pocket of his tux and withdrew a yellowed MGM Studios business card with a phone number written on the back. “This is for you.”
She took the card and frowned. “This is the proposal?”
“Open yourself and use your power.”
“It doesn’t work on newer things like this.”
“You are a Night Walker now. Try.” He smiled, knocking down all her defenses. “For me.”
“Fine.” She gripped the card and closed her eyes. She pictured the card new, and as she started to open herself, she was transported to a movie studio costume area. The card was on a desk beside…a pair of ruby slippers!
She opened her eyes wide. “Where did you get this?”
“That does not matter.” He shook his head. “I read about your Wizard of Oz and discovered Dorothy had a few pairs of the red shoes…and one pair is missing.”
She wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him all over. How was it possible that she loved him more with each passing night?
Adrenaline laced her bloodstream. “This is a lead on the missing ruby slippers.”
“I believe so.” He took her free hand. “My proposal is that we find them. Together.”
She threw herself into his arms, laughing and kissing his lips before resting her forehead against his. “I am crazy in love with you.”
He kissed her lips with a smile. “I love you, too.” He lowered her to the ground. “You have not given me an answer yet.”
She answered him with a long, slow, lingering kiss. Opening her eyes, her gaze locked on his. “I accept your proposal.”
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Acknowledgments
First off, I want to thank all of the readers out there who have fallen in love with my Night Walkers and shared them with your friends. You all are the best! It was an emotional ride writing this final book in the series, and I need to give a big shout out to Panda Wilson and Denise Fluhr who were my second set of eyes as I wrote this one. You both helped to keep me on target.
I also need to thank Theresa Cole and Alison Blissard for all their editing work to help me make Issa’s story shine. Big thanks to Katie Clapsadl for helping to get the word out about the book, and to Liz Pelletier for the beautiful cover! In purple!
Thank you to Heather Howland for originally acquiring the series, and to all the team at Entangled for your support for the series.
And finally thanks to my husband, Ken, who hugged me all the times I cried while I wrote this book. It was difficult to say goodbye to the characters who earned me my very first book contract, and I really appreciate the support and understanding. You’re the best!
About the Author
Lisa Kessler is an award-winning author of dark paranormal fiction. Her debut novel, Night Walker, won a San Diego Book Award for best Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror, and many other awards. Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award. Lisa lives in southern California with her husband and two amazing kids. Visit her at http://Lisa-Kessler.com.
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Other books by Lisa Kessler/Discover The Night series…
The Night Demon
Lukas Smith has spent hundreds of years searching for answers to his immortal Night Walker nature. As a series of ancient glyphs become clear, he’s about to find out more than he’d ever hoped, but the more he learns, the more his fate intertwines with the Night Demon, and the harder it becomes to hide his immortal secret from the beautiful, intelligent Gretchen. Together, they must find a way to stop the inexplicable violence and mass destruction surging across the earth before the Night Demon destroys more than just mankind.
Night Thief
Kane, an immortal Night Walker, has taken refuge in France for over 800 years. The modern world holds little interest for him until the night he meets the Golden Thief and is robbed of much more than his pocket watch. Marguerite Rousseau is living a double life. By day she is the assistant to an eccentric French artist, Antoine Berjon, and by night she dons elegant evening gowns to woo French dignitaries before lifting their wallets. Sparks ignite when Kane captures the thief, but Marguerite harbors a dark secret that could ruin them both.
Night Walker
After catching her fiance with another woman, the last thing Kate Bradley needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she’s drawn to him in ways she doesn’t understand. Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies re-emerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he’s ever loved again.
Beg Me to Slay
Gabe is a private investigator by day and demon slayer by night. After losing loved ones, he vows to defend people from a threat they don’t realize exists. When Tegan Ashton is attacked, only Gave can help her. The relationship is supposed to be strictly business, but fighting demons together stirs up emotions they never expected. Turns out demon slaying is a breeze compared to facing their scarred pasts and even worse – hearts.
Hunter’s Moon
Sasha’s future was stolen from her the moment she was bitten. Now she’s on the run from the Nero Organization that transformed her from a human detective into a shape shifting jaguar assassin. Aren is a werewolf with a secret. While protecting his twin brother and Alpha of the Pack, he found his one mate for life. Sadly she’s also the ja
guar assassin who tried to kill them both. Now Aren is struggling between his animal nature to love and protect her, and his loyalty to the Pack.
Moonlight
Rancher Adam Sloan, the heir to his Pack, must keep his kin’s true nature under wraps. But a group of jaguar shifters threatens to reveal them, blasting into town killing humans in plain sight. When he smells one at the local diner, his standing orders are to take her out. It should be a simple mission, but when he touches the frustratingly beautiful Lana, his inner wolf howls…mate. Now, they must stop the people who hunt her…and Adam must keep his own family from killing the only woman he will ever love.
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The Demon Lord
by Paula Altenburg
The Demon Lord has conquered the mortal world and sampled its pleasures. Now all he needs is to conquer the goddess who is meant to complete him. The goddess Allia, however, has other plans. She is sent by her immortal sisters to win the heart of the Demon Lord and make him her slave but soon discovers that the Demon Lord’s heart is not easily given, and that in order to win it, she must sacrifice her own.
Angel Kin
by Tricia Skinner
When a beautiful woman comes to the Order, half-angel assassin Cain is immediately drawn to her. But when Katie fingers him as the killer, he can come to only one conclusion. His twin, who he thought was dead, is very much alive…and sending him a message. Unfortunately, that message is: “You’re next.” Now, with Katie’s life in his hands, Cain must fight to keep them both alive. But Abel has just one goal: destroy his brother, starting with the woman he’s falling in love with.
By Jove
by Marissa Doyle
Going back to graduate school to study ancient languages and mythology is a dream come true for Theodora Fairchild. Falling in love with Grant Proctor is an added bonus. But then Theo discovers that being chosen for the prestigious program has more to do with who she is than what she knows. When evil forces threaten Grant’s life in an effort to tear the two apart, Theo must rely on her wits and wisdom to save her true love and survive the semester.
Call of the Siren
by Rosalie Lario
Siren-demon hybrid bounty hunter Dagan Meyers swore he’d never settle down. Tying himself to one woman is so not his bag. Until he meets the gorgeous angel Lina, and can’t think of being with anybody BUT her. The last thing Lina wants is to develop feelings for the smooth-talking man she knows will eventually leave her. But as they battle a growing darkness—a powerful dark fae who’s harnessed untold power—Dagan and Lina find that love may be their greatest weapon against the evil that threatens to destroy them all.
Undying Desire
by Jessica Lee
Eve Devonshire is a woman hiding in plain sight. Not completely human, but not quite a vampire, she’s accepted by neither race but is more powerful than both. To stay alive, Eve can’t trust anyone, including the alpha vampire with midnight eyes and a thirst for pain and submission. With her enemies nipping at her heels, Eve has Guerin cornered, and both are determined to get the answers they’re looking for or die trying… if they can fight their desires long enough.