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Strike a match, light the candle…and fall into the spell.
Shadow of the Wolf
© 2012 Dana Marie Bell
Heart’s Desire, Book 1
Christopher Beckett is from an ancient line of wizards, but with one aspect that sets him apart. His wolf. Right now that wolf is howling for a mate. Knowing it’s only a matter of time before the wolf’s needs override everything else in his life, Chris casts the spell all the Becketts have used to call their mates to them.
His wish list is short: She must be of a lineage at least as old as his own. And she must accept his wolf. When his mate appears, he realizes his list should have been one item longer.
Alannah Evans, a powerful witch of the Evans Coven, has no problem with Chris’s wolf. It’s the wizard part that sticks in her magical craw. Witches and wizards have always been at odds, so by rights, she and Chris shouldn’t be striking sparks of attraction this bright. But Chris will not be denied, and gradually she finds herself trusting him—then falling into the fire of desire.
When it becomes clear an old enemy has targeted them both for death, Chris charges into a duel that could cost him his life. Or worse: Lana.
Warning: Product contains explicit sex, graphic language, magic, mayhem, and a wet, naked wolf shifter bearing hot chocolate. Mmm…chocolate.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Shadow of the Wolf:
Lana stopped, a strange sense of both safety and vulnerability flashing through her. That way. She started to turn to her left and shrieked.
Lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and the dark shape of a man stood before her. His eyes gleamed in the flash of lightning, his grin triumphant. He reached out toward her and tried to grab her arm.
Her entire being shuddered away from him. Lana stepped away from the man. “Why have you been following me?”
The man tilted his head. “Isn’t your car broken down on the road? I thought you could use some help.”
His voice was a pleasant blend of concern and attraction. Lana’s eyes narrowed, bringing up her second sight. Usually she could conjure up a person’s aura fairly easily, but this man’s was somehow shielded. Unfortunately she got just enough of a feel off of that shield to know what she was dealing with.
Damn. A freaking wizard. Figures.
No way did she want to engage in a magical dance with a wizard, especially when she couldn’t tell how strong he was. Lana took a step back. Every instinct she had pushing her away from the man in front of her.
“I’d be careful too. There are rumors of some kind of wild animal in these parts. Found a few dogs mangled in the woods.”
The concern in his voice was false. A flash of black and sickly green surrounded him, the colors murky and muddled, before he shielded himself once more. Something was off about those colors, but she was too cold and tired to figure it out now. “Ah, thanks for the warning.” Lana took another step away from the scary stranger, her instincts screaming at her that her only safety lay behind her, somewhere in the shadows.
The man matched her, moving forward a step. “You really should have waited in your car for a cop or something, Miss…?”
Lana put her hands behind her, feeling for trees and branches. She continued to move away from the menace she sensed in front of her. If she could reach the safe harbor she felt behind her, everything would be all right.
Only if she could reach it, though.
Then again, the Lord does help those who help themselves. Her eyes were drawn to the branch swaying dangerously above his head. And the Lady provides the means.
The stranger dropped all pretense of helpfulness. He shook his head at her, his expression annoyed. “Are you going to make this difficult? It doesn’t have to be painful, you know.”
“What doesn’t have to be painful?”
“Your death.”
With those words several things happened at once. A long, menacing growl erupted out of the darkness. One of the shadows hurtled through the night, knocking the blond man onto his ass.
And the branch he’d been standing under snapped, helped along by Lana and the force of the wind, hitting the blond on the top of his head and knocking him out cold.
The shadow animal turned, its golden eyes trained on Lana. Slowly it stalked toward her, its body moving with a supple, lethal grace.
A black wolf. In rural Pennsylvania.
Lord? Lady? No freaking way that’s safe. Lana gulped, and wondered if, somewhere out there, Fate was laughing its ass off at her.
Christopher’s heart was still pounding in his chest. He turned toward his mate, scenting her for any injuries. He relaxed a bit when all he smelled were scratches, most likely from her flight through the woods.
When Cole had threatened her, it had been all he could do not to rip out the bastard’s throat. The only thing that had saved him had been the falling branch and his mate’s horrified gasp.
She was brave, his female. She stood there and watched him coming toward her with big, chocolate brown eyes wide with fear and…
Yes. Fascination. Good. Much better than the fear he’d sensed coursing through her as Cole threatened her.
He approached her slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. When he reached her side, he gently stroked her thigh with his massive head, unable to prevent the rough, happy grumble that leapt to his throat.
“Oh boy.”
Her soft whisper sent shivers down his spine. His tail curled in pleasure, waving back and forth. Her hand came to rest tentatively on his broad back, her fingers digging into his fur.
With a yip he turned. Gently he gathered her hand in his mouth, careful of his sharp teeth, and tugged her toward his home.
“Um, okay. Go with the big doggie. Got it.”
He rolled his eyes but did his best to ignore her words. The breathy, scared tone of voice matched her scent—frightened, wary and brave. Christopher felt pride in his mate. She followed his lead, barely sparing Cole a glance. It pleased him that she made no move to give his enemy aid.
Certain now she followed, Christopher let her hand go and stalked into the cold, wet night.
I’m following a wolf through the woods in rural Pennsylvania after it attacked a man who told me he was going to kill me, and somehow my inner warning signal is okay with that.
Lana pinched the fleshy part of her arm hard. “OW!”
The wolf stopped and looked at her curiously, its head tilted to the side.
“Nope, not dreaming.” Lana rubbed at her arm, hoping it wouldn’t bruise. She hadn’t meant to pinch quite that hard.
The wolf huffed and turned, heading off once more. Of the two strangers she’d met in the woods tonight, Lana considered the wolf far less dangerous, at least to her. The way the big wolf had acted after she’d hit the man on the head with that branch had been surreal, but not very frightening at all. The sense of safety she’d been heading toward had centered itself on the wolf, and she’d felt compelled to follow wherever he led.
The big wolf led her through the woods, his footfalls silent and sure. The few times she lost sight of the wolf he returned, tugging on her hand to lead her forward.
I hope wherever we’re going I can take my boots off. My fee
t are killing me.
“Are we there yet?”
Up ahead the wolf gave a strange chuffing cough.
“And I’m sure I’d understand that if I spoke fluent woof.”
The wolf stopped, staring at her again. “What?”
The wolf gave a shake of his head before moving forward once again.
“Yup, you’re male.”
Once again that proud head turned toward her. She could almost sense the question he wanted to ask.
“You haven’t once stopped for directions and you don’t make a lick of sense.”
Those golden eyes narrowed, almost as if… Nah. Not possible. Grammy had told her a long time ago that shapeshifters were a myth. Although he could be someone’s familiar. That would explain how he seems to understand me. But even familiars didn’t have the level of intelligence this wolf seemed to possess, unless he was under a compulsion spell of some kind.
And anyone who put a compulsion spell on someone else wasn’t someone she wanted to meet.
She felt the magical barriers before they passed through them, early enough that she stopped before going in. “Wait.”
The wolf, on the other side of the barrier, yipped impatiently.
“No way. I have no clue what’s on the other side. For all I know you actually work for tall, blond and dorky. You could be luring me into his evil lair.” Not that she actually believed that, but for some reason her instincts were telling her that crossing that border meant nothing would ever be the same again. She wasn’t certain yet if it was a good thing or a bad thing, since her insides were currently filled with butterflies doing a crazy, half-scared, half-excited mambo.
The wolf lowered his dark head, golden eyes closed. She could almost hear the pleas for patience.
Guess that answers that question. A familiar, then. At least she knew for certain now she was dealing with someone magical. “Besides, judging from the look and feel, whoever’s on the other side is a wizard.” The wolf’s head snapped up. “Not sure I’m so eager to meet up with another one of those any time soon.” The wolf slowly shook his head. “Well, what would you do if you were in my—” she looked down at her feet, “—boots?”
The wolf snorted.
“Yes, I know, Pup in Boots, doggie drag, call it what you will. The question remains. Would you put your life into an unknown wizard’s hands?”
The image of the wolf blurred until a tall, wet, naked man stood in front of her.
“You already did.”
Lana blinked. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out, other than a whimpered “Ugh.”
The man’s lips twitched. “Are you coming through or do you like getting rained on?”
Lana squeaked.
Hot, wet, naked male, with dark hair and golden eyes. Golden eyes.
The same eyes as the wolf who’d led her through the forest.
Sorry, Grammy, looks like you were wrong.
Someone wants her. And someone else wants her…dead.
Savage Betrayal
© 2012 Shelli Stevens
Savage, Book 2
If life as a not-fully-human has taught Agent Grace Masterson anything, it’s that she’ll never again be anyone’s sitting duck. Whoever is deftly evading the traps around her remote sanctuary outside Seattle, she intends to shove his easily sensed self-confidence way, way up where the sun don’t shine.
When she comes face to face—and body to body—with Darrius Hilliard, relief and lingering guilt over past choices weaken her knees. Plus something bad. Really bad. A surprising, intense desire for her fellow agent.
Darrius knows what Grace needs, and it’s not the kid-glove treatment. If she’s ever to overcome her past trauma and return to full active duty status with the P.I.A, she needs a strong shoulder. Yet he’s shocked at how quickly he’s become physically and emotionally entwined with her.
Fighting their growing attraction to one another becomes secondary, though, when it becomes clear that someone not only isn’t thrilled at Grace’s return, they want her gone. Maybe even dead…
Warning: This book contains an alpha male who likes to take control, federal agents that can be a little primal, sex that’s steaming, lives at risks, and nearly orgasmic maple bars.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Savage Betrayal:
Someone was on her property.
Despite the massive heat from the glass-blowing furnace in front of her, an icy chill swept through Grace’s body. It faded into anger that coiled quickly through her limbs, tightening her muscles as disbelief pounded in her blood.
How? How had someone made it through without tripping any alarms? No average human could’ve done that.
Which is exactly why he’d succeeded. He wasn’t average. He wasn’t even fully human. Whoever was stalking her house was just like her. Their genetic abnormality meant they were part of a species that most of the world’s population was oblivious to—would be incapable of comprehending. It also made them highly elusive.
But she knew exactly what he was—this person on her property, and the knowledge that he was one of her own kind offered little comfort. Maybe once it might have, but not anymore.
He made no attempts to hide what he was, or his arrival at her isolated home a half hour outside of Seattle.
The son of a bitch. Her fury expanded, growing as hot and threatening as the fire she’d been using to create her glass sculptures.
For a moment she considered using the blowpipe in her hand as a weapon, but decided it might hinder more than help. With steady hands, she laid it down and turned off the furnace before rushing back to flick off the lights in the garage.
Whoever was approaching the building might want the element of surprise—like hell would she let him have it. He should know better than to think he’d have that advantage. Even if he’d deftly avoided all her little traps and alarms, she would never be a sitting duck.
Grace moved to the window, tugging the curtain aside just enough to peer out into the chilly autumn morning. The sunrise left streaks of pink in the sky and the fog outside curled its heavy fingers through dense evergreen trees and past the rotting wood of her fence some fifty feet away. It left patches of her property in shadow and gaping open areas where there was nowhere to hide.
And yet he did. Though she couldn’t immediately spot the intruder, she knew he was there. Watching. Waiting to make his next move. She could smell the scent of his confidence and determination.
Come any closer, you bastard, and I’ll shove that self-assurance so far up your ass…
How fucking dare he come onto her property? She would never again be a victim. Been there, done that, and had the nearly faded scars to prove it.
The dark memories, still so fresh, so raw, threatened to bubble to the front of her mind, but she ruthlessly shoved them back. They were better hidden away, not to be dwelled on or psychoanalyzed…
She almost missed the blur of movement as the person leapt stealthily above the silent alarm she had rigged at the far end of her yard.
Her heart thumped and her shoulders went rigid.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Grace dropped the curtain back into place. There were several more alarms and traps set to slow someone down, but she knew he’d avoid them just as deftly as the ones he’d already passed.
Who was he? The question raced through her mind as she went to the metal garbage can in the corner and jerked off the lid. Guns, knives, and perhaps the underestimated baseball bat, were all among her choices in weapons.
Though the idea of taking her Louisville Slugger to this shifter’s head had appeal, it was along the lines of the blowpipe. Not quite what she needed. Instead, Grace pulled out the Glock and removed the safety before slipping up against the wall beside the side door to the garage.
Whoever had snuck onto her ranch wasn’t looking to steal her Eclipse out front—they’d come for her. She knew it with a certainty that gave her the calm and determination to face this head-on.
The birds
that had been chirping outside went ominously silent. Grace turned her head and stared at the door.
He’s here.
She waited for him to break in, for some kind of dramatic entrance so that she could pull the trigger. Seconds ticked by. Slow. Menacing. Making the clouds of fear she’d kept at bay threaten to seep back in.
Her training kept her completely still and kept every one of her heightened senses on the alert. She drew in slow, deep breaths to keep calm.
But it was hard. Because with each breath drawn in came the image of what could potentially happen. Soon he’d be inside, and if she didn’t successfully defend herself she’d be at his mercy.
Memories assailed her. Being grabbed. Held down.
She tried to shake the image from her head. But her throat closed up as she could almost feel the prick of the needle again. And then hell. Pure hell. The present vanished as she was completely sucked into her reality from two months ago.
You think you’ll be free when you leave here? I’ll find you again, Grace, and I’ll make you pay.
She always wondered if the threat from a shadowed male figure had been real, or a dream. Today it seemed she’d find out.
Bile rose in her throat, and her hands—a moment ago so steady—began to shake.
If she’d learned anything, it was that she had to focus. Had to fight.
There was the smallest thud outside the garage and Grace pulled the trigger. Four times. The bullets splintered the wood and pierced through the door, but there was no answering sound of pain or shock from outside.
Son of a bitch, how had she missed?
The door burst open and Grace lurched forward, desperate to shove him back out. Instinct screamed at her to keep him at bay. But he pushed back harder on the door, and her sneakered feet skidded on the cement floor as she was thrust back into the garage and toward the wall.
Grace let go of the door and struggled to regain her balance. Darkness hid his features, but she lifted her gun at the silhouette of the man who filled her doorway.
The Hob (The Gray Court 4) Page 24