by Aja James
If this was all he could give her—the strength of his blood and seed, the vengeance she would wreck upon his flesh and bones—if this was what it took to obliterate her hatred, pull her back into the light, erase the stains he’d spilled upon her soul, then so be it.
He’d endured millennia of anguish and torment, ever hovering on the edge of death. If this was to be his end, at least he chose it.
Just as he’d chosen her so very long ago.
“Then come and take me, ana Ishtar,” he invited, his voice deep with regret and sorrow, his heart open and bleeding.
She would hurt him, he knew. More than all the punishment he’d endured at the hands of the vampire who’d held him prisoner for thousands of years.
She would rip him apart.
Physically. Emotionally.
He would not survive it.
This would be his ultimate price for loving a Dark One. For daring to embrace the heavens’ brightest star.
She curled her lips back from her fangs and growled deep and low, the savagery of the sound resounding through the room.
And then she was upon him.
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Other Books in the Pure/ Dark Ones series:
Book 1, Pure Healing
Book 2, Dark Longing
Book 3, Dark Desires
Pure Rapture Book 5
Dark Redemption Book 6
Pure Awakening Book 6.5
Dear reader:
Thank you for reading Dark Pleasures. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
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Aja James
Glossary of Characters
Jade Cicada: Reigning Queen of the New England vampire hive. Known Gift(s): unclear.
The Chosen: Jade Cicada’s personal guards and advisors.
Maximus Justus Copernicus: The Commander. Leader of the Chosen. Known Gift(s): anticipating opponents’ moves two or three steps in advance, the ability to see through the eyes of his familiar. Weapon of choice: varies, but often fights with familiar Simca.
Simca: Maximus’ familiar. A black panther that is an extension of Maxiums, who can see through her eyes wherever she goes, and feel what she feels.
Ryu Takamura: The Assassin. Executes special, often covert missions for the Queen. Known Gift(s): to be seen. Weapon of choice: Ninja blade or ninjaken.
Devlin Sinclair: The Hunter. Hunts down and eliminates vampire rogues. Ensure security of the New England hive’s borders. Known Gift(s): photographic memory. Weapon of choice: varies, but usually a saber or gun.
Anastasia Zima: The Phoenix. Jade’s head of security, ensures safety of the Queen and assists Maximus with affairs of state. Known Gift(s): telekinesis. Weapon of choice: varies, as a lover and expert in all manner of weapons. Soft spot for daggers.
Inanna: The ex-Angel of Death or Angel of the New England vampire hive under Jade Cicada, used to be member of the Chosen. After discovering her Pure Soul as the daughter of a Pure and Dark One and having her Awakening, she is known as the Light Bringer. Human alias: Nana Chastain. Known Gift(s): the ability to see through any material and zoom in and out like a telescope or microscope. Weapon of choice: chained whip.
Gabriel D’Angelo: Inanna’s Blooded Mate. Used to be known as Alad Da-an-nim, born a Pure One, died and reincarnated as a human. Turned into a vampire by Inanna but retains his Pure Soul. Gift(s): unknown, but is a skilled martial artist as a human and was one of the fiercest Pure warriors in ancient Akkad.
Benjamin Larkin D’Angelo: Inanna and Gabriel’s adopted son.
Ava Monroe Takamura: Ryu’s human wife and mate. Brilliant geneticist who developed and took a serum that makes her uniquely super-human, with the Pure Ones’ ability to heal, the source of their eternal youth and apparent immortality.
Kane Takamura: Ryu and Ava’s son.
Medusa: An unknown entity, presumably female, that appears to be the arch nemesis of the Pure and Dark Ones, as well as humans.
The Creature: an enemy of both the Pure and Dark Ones. Seems to be working with Medusa. Known Gift(s): the ability to transform into different humanoid shapes, some form of telepathy.
Sophia Victoria St. James: Queen of the Pure Ones. Known Gift(s): the ability to see Pure souls and the true intentions of all beings.
The Circlet: The Pure Queen’s royal advisors. Part of the Dozen or Royal Zodiac.
Seth Tremaine: The Consul. Handles the Pure Ones’ diplomatic affairs. Talented negotiator. Known Gift(s): the ability to project a spiritual version of his physical self anytime, anywhere.
Ayelet Baltazar: The Guardian. Main responsibility is to guide and educate the Pure Queen, caretaker and mother figure. Known Gift(s): the ability to feel and experience what others feel using a physical artifact of the individual; deep empathy.
Eveline Marceau: The Seer: Records and interprets Pure Ones’ potential future in the Zodiac Prophesies. Known Gift(s): spells.
Rain: The Healer: Ensures the health and vitality of Pure Ones, especially members of the Royal Zodiac. Known Gift(s): ability to absorb pain and poison from severe wounds using the needles of her hair, called zhen.
The Elite: The Pure Queen’s personal guards. Part of the Dozen or Royal Zodiac.
Valerius Marcus Ambrosius: The Protector. Hunt down rogue vampires who hurt humans. De facto Leader of the Elite given that the previous leader was killed. Known Gift(s): fast healing, beyond even the typical Pure Ones’ ability to heal. Weapon of choice: Chained scythe.
Dalair Abd Amirah: The Paladin. Recruit humans and Pure Ones to their cause. Known Gift(s): hyper-developed senses. Weapon of choice: Twin Dragon Blades or two half-moon crescent blades that can be combined into a disc.
Tristan du Lac: The Champion. Historically, he is the first warrior to be dispatched against enemies in one-on-one combat. In modern times, he helps train human Chevaliers. Known Gift(s): none. Weapon of choice: Excalibur or long sword.
Aella: The Strategist. Plan all manner of defense and attack vs. enemies and threats. Known Gift(s): speed. Weapon of choice: three chakrams, which can link together and stiffen into a longer-range hand-to-hand weapon or be thrown individually.
Cloud Drako: The Valiant. Train Pure Ones and humans in combat. Known Gift(s): ability to exert strong compulsion on anyone who stares into his eyes. Weapon of choice: long spear.
Ere: Sophia’s ex-teaching assistant.