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Entwined (Darkest London)

Page 12

by Callihan, Kristen


  With an unfortunately easy move, he shrugged free. She let him; bodily contact was not a situation she wanted to prolong, as it was far too unsettling. He loomed over her. “Toss out what insults you will, Mistress Merrily.” He poked her shoulder with a hard finger. “But do not for a moment try to undermine me. You think I’m a bastard now, try handling me in a temper.”

  He turned to storm off when she grabbed his lapel and hauled him back. Taking pleasure in the shock that parted his lips, she smiled. “I’ve seen your temper, Master Talent. You haven’t been privy to mine.” With lazy perusal, her gaze took in his heightened color and narrowed eyes. “While you’ll be shouting about like a tot who’s lost his lolly, I’ll be the lash you never saw coming.”

  It was quite satisfactory to leave him openmouthed and silent—for once.

  About the Author

  Kristen Callihan is a child of the eighties, which means she’s worn neon skirts, black lace gloves, and combat boots (although never all at once), and can quote John Hughes’s movies with the best of them. A lifelong daydreamer, she finally realized that the characters in her head needed a proper home and thus hit the keyboard. She believes that falling in love is one of the headiest experiences a person can have, so naturally she writes romance. Her love of superheroes, action movies, and history has led her to write historical paranormals. Kristen lives in the Washington, D.C., area. And when not writing, she looks after two children, one husband, and a dog—the fish can fend for themselves.

  You can learn more at:

  KristenCallihan.com

  Twitter @Kris10Callihan

  Facebook.com/KristenCallihan

  You Might Also Like…

  Don’t miss the other titles in Kristen Callihan’s critically acclaimed Darkest London series.

  After a fire consumes the Ellis family fortune, the beautiful and resourceful Miranda finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma: enter a life of petty crime or watch her family succumb to poverty. But once her fiancé learns of her descent into danger—and of the strange, new powers she’s discovered—saving her family may come at the high price of her heart.

  When Lord Benjamin Archer’s one chance for redemption is destroyed by corrupt London antiquarian Hector Ellis, he vows to take what Ellis values most—his daughter, Miranda. Forced to hide his face behind masks, Archer travels the world hoping to escape the curse that plagues him so that he can finally claim his prize.

  But once Archer returns home to London, will it be revenge he seeks? Or will the flame-haired beauty ignite new, undeniable desires?

  * * *

  Once the flames are ignited…

  Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family’s fortune decimated and forced her to wed London’s most nefarious nobleman.

  They will burn for eternity…

  Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it’s selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can’t help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn’t felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

  * * *

  Once the seeds of desire are sown…

  Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her newfound freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy’s door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors…

  Their growing passion knows no bounds…

  Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

  * * *

  Once blissfully in love…

  Poppy Lane is keeping secrets. Her powerful gift has earned her membership in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, but she must keep both her ability and her alliance with the Society from her husband, Winston. Yet when Winston is brutally attacked by a werewolf, Poppy’s secrets are revealed, leaving Winston’s trust in her as broken as his body. Now Poppy will do anything to win back his affections…

  Their relationship is now put to the ultimate test.

  Winston Lane soon regains his physical strength, but his face and heart still bear the scars of the vicious attack. Drawn into the darkest depths of London, Winston must fight an evil demon that wants to take away the last hope of reconciliation with his wife. As a former police inspector, Winston has intelligence and logic on his side. But it will take the strength of Poppy’s love for him to defeat the forces that threaten to tear them apart.

  * * *

  Available December 17, 2013

  Once a heart is lost in shadow…

  Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she’s been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.

  Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.

  Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years.

  He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for each other reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack’s dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past… or risk losing Mary forever.

  Looking for more great digital reads? We’ve got you covered!

  Now Available from Forever Yours

  Nova Reed used to have dreams—of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she’s getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next… until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.

  Quinton once got a second chance at life—but he doesn’t want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he’s done, what he’s lost. He’s sworn never to allow happiness into his life… but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he’s too damaged to get close to her, yet she’s the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: Does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

  * * *

  Reya Sinclair is the last person a man sees before he dies. As a Redeemer, she offers the soon-to-be-departed one last chance to atone for their sins. It’s a painful job, but it’s her only shot to secure her own salvation. She won’t let anyone stand in her way—not even a ruggedly sexy cop hot on her trail. Bound by her duty, Reya must shake him before he ruins her… but her heart can’t seem to let him go.

  Detective Thane Driscoll has watched too many criminals get away. The man who murdered his father was no exception. Now Thane carries out his own brand of justice, even if it means compromising his soul. When a string of deaths leads him to a beautiful woman in black, he discovers there’s more to his father’s murder than meets the eye.

  As fate brings them closer together, Thane discov
ers that only Reya’s touch can calm his rage. Racing to uncover an evil plot, they must fight together to stop the coming storm. But when the time comes, can Reya sacrifice her own redemption to save Thane?

  * * *

  One year ago, Ellie made the mistake of a lifetime: She fell in love with a man who is a bitter enemy of her people. A Red Dragon shifter, the handsome Kirin was at once forbidden—and irresistible. Now Ellie’s mother has disappeared and everyone believes that Kirin is responsible, including Ellie. His dangerous secret endangers her mother and makes Ellie lose faith in love forever…

  Summoned home when his own father goes missing, Kirin must track down the very man who cost him his chance at happiness. When he discovers that Ellie’s father has vanished as well, Kirin knows that he and Ellie must combine his Dragon power with her magick to find the ones they loved and lost.

  But as they feel their old desires flare up again, can their burning passion overcome their past—or the danger that the future holds?

  * * *

  Grace King fell in love with Jax Anderson, her big brother’s best friend, when she was six years old. Eleven-year-old Jax came to her rescue when some older boys were bullying her, becoming Grace’s knight in scuffed-up sneakers on the spot.

  Eighteen years later, Jax is the town sheriff and Grace is the head baker at her grandmother’s café. They are all grown up—and still pretending there’s nothing between them. But when a heated argument at the Sleepy Sheep Bar turns into a heated make-out session, the days of denying their attraction are over.

  Now the whole town is buzzing about Jax and Grace, and not all the buzz is good. Grace’s family is no stranger to scandal, and when a new secret about her parents is revealed, not even Jax can protect her. As the rumors and accusations fly, can they hold on to their new relationship?

  Also by Kristen Callihan

  Firelight

  Ember (short story)

  Moonglow

  Winterblaze

  Thank you for buying this ebook, published by Hachette Digital.

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  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Welcome

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  An Excerpt from Shadowdance

  About the Author

  You Might Also Like…

  Also by Kristen Callihan

  Newsletters

  Copyright

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2013 by Kristen Callihan

  Excerpt from Shadowdance copyright © 2013 by Kristen Callihan

  Cover design by Christine Foltzer

  Cover art by Gene Mollica

  Cover copyright © 2013 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Forever Yours

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  First ebook edition: November 2013

  Forever Yours is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

  The Forever Yours name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

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  ISBN 978-1-4555-7777-4

 

 

 


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