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Index
Prologue
Chapter 1 D estination: Nowhere, Texas. A town with a strange name and no location on the map. Now, that little Nowhere town had managed to scare up stories of real supernatural troubles. Or so the town sheriff seemed to believe, which was exactly why Sarah Meyers and her team were headed that direction. They investigated the paranormal events, the unexplainable and often scary things most thought to be fiction.Sitting in the passenger seat of the van, Sarah eyed the flatland around them, not a sign of life in sight. She glanced at Edward, a research assistant and friend, who manned the steering wheel on most occasions. He was their driver and electronics expert. “They don’t call it Nowhere for nothing,” she commented.He grunted his agreement, which was about all Sarah expected from him. A big black man with the brains of a genius and the sense of humor of a rag doll, he didn’t waste words. When he chose to speak, his words either had real value, or they were meant to annoy Cathy, who
Chapter 1
Chapter 2 T he lights flashed and then went out; the inn was cast, once again, into dark shadows. The room grew silent, the people inside transfixed by the sight of the black rain.Max and Sarah remained side by side, arms touching, watching the oily-looking substance pound into puddles on the ground. Sarah’s presence beside him drew unfamiliar feelings. A desire to keep her close and safe. The way she lingered near him, allowing their physical connection—the touch of two strangers—seemed to indicate that the invisible bond between them was growing without effort, growing from simple exposure to one another.It was Edward who broke the silence. From behind Max and Sarah, his deep, gravelly voice filled the air. “Shouldn’t we call the sheriff?”Sarah responded by turning to the woman behind the counter. “Can you get him on the phone?” she asked.Max’s eyes remained transfixed on that cursed black rain one more second before he glanced at Sarah, wondering what kind of evil was going to try t
Chapter 2
Chapter 3 D emon Prince Vars fed on human desires and emotions, created each person’s personal destruction by delving into their innermost thoughts and feelings. Until he was cut off from his connection to the earthly realm, imprisoned in the Underworld beneath a magical barrier created by the Archangel Raphael. For centuries, he had been without his powers, weak and pathetic.That had all changed when Kate and Allen Walker had chosen the land above his hell hole, his prison, as the place to build their home. Their presence had delivered to him the power to find escape, had allowed Vars to create a tiny hole in the magical barrier of his prison and begin controlling their lives.Vars stepped to the top of a boulder, the highest point inside the confines of his prison, and looked down at the fiery caverns he would soon depart. Satisfaction filled him. Everything was going as planned. Stage one had been Kate’s death, which had led to Allen’s interest in the dark arts and his study of black
Chapter 3
Chapter 4 M ax and Sarah didn’t speak as they walked toward the sheriff’s office, both watchful, the edginess they shared as evident as the puddles of ominous black rain splashing around their feet, its mere existence seeming to scream with silent threat. But there was a connection between them that didn’t need words, an understanding that what they faced would be faced together. Not to mention a charge of awareness, of attraction, that seemed to heat his arm where her hand rested.In Sarah, Max found a brave, feisty female; she was bold and uncompromising about being different, about being a medium. A woman who accepted his admission about hunting the supernatural. He had no doubt she had questions about who and what he was; yet, she had still accepted him. She even wanted to trust him, though she was fighting that desire. If she were, indeed, his mate, she would instinctively trust him. But she had baggage of some sort telling her those feelings were wrong. He could feel it in her, fe
Chapter 4
Chapter 5 “M ax,” Sarah said, willing him to look at her and tell her what was going on. Something about that town legend had him rattled. In turn, it had her rattled. No, if she were honest with herself, the way Max made her feel had her rattled. There was a weird connection between them. Even now, she could feel his distress almost as if it were her own. That had only happened with spirits until now. “Max, please. Talk to me.”His gaze lifted, locking with hers, the look in those soulful hazel eyes grim, matching the feelings he’d somehow been feeding her. He opened his mouth to speak, but paused as the sound of raised voices filled the air, rising in volume with each passing second. “That doesn’t sound good,” he said, pushing to his feet, hand going to his weapon.“I hope like heck you don’t need that,” Sarah said, standing up, fearful they had another obstacle to conquer before they’d even begun to tackle the root problem they faced. “Please, Lord,” she whispered. “Don’t let it be an
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 O n the short drive from the sheriff’s office to the inn, Max rode in the backseat of the patrol car while Sarah sat in front. A good thing because Max needed to think through some things before she had time to question him. Time to think about things like what he was going to tell her about that legend, about how Raphael’s connection indicated that his own involvement was far more profound than mere chance.The answers weren’t simple, considering he was partnering with Sarah and her team to some extent, and by doing so, possibly exposing the Knights and their secrets. Which simply wasn’t done. If the Beasts thought a human was important to the Knights, or might hold information about the Knights, that human became a target.By the time the car stopped in front of the inn and Max got out, he’d settled on the details of a basic cover story about the Knights being a special-ops group. He hated lying to Sarah, especially since there could be a time when he had to face that lie. Bu
Chapter 6
Chapter 7 M ax sank down onto the mattress in the center of the cozy little room, with its floral curtains and lacy pillows, feeling like a fish out of water. More so than he’d ever felt. Somehow, the environment emphasized the darkness growing inside him.The truth was he knew nothing of the softer side of life, of family and love. He’d come from a noble English family, and in those early days, he’d been known as Maxwell Kingsley, “the spare to the heir,” the younger of two boys. Despite how belittling his family had been to him, how abusive and downright vicious at times, they had been all he knew, all he had. And they had been taken from him—stripped away by the Beasts and violently bled dry.The centuries since had done nothing to stop that horrible day from replaying in his head in vivid, sickening color. Keeping others from falling prey to the Beasts had been the only peace his life had held, the only purpose.He shoved off the bed and flipped open a long suitcase full of weapons, t
Chapter 7
Chapter 8 T hey’re coming. With Vars’s words a whisper in his mind, Allen rushed to his truck, keys jiggling nervously in one hand, a small suitcase of supplies in the other. He didn’t know who “they” were, only that they intended to stop him from getting his Kate back. No one was going to stop him. No one. His hand shook as he opened the driver’s door of his candy-apple-red F-150 pickup. Kate loved red. He thought of her excitement the day they’d brought it home, and his chest tightened with the memory. Now, he had to bring her home. His temples were throbbing, his pulse pounding at double-speed—a product of his jacked-up adrenaline—yet despite the urgency to flee, Allen was careful with the case he held, taking care to slide it securely to the floorboard of the passenger’s side and under the seat.It held valuable supplies that Vars said would be needed for the task before him. Allen had to collect three power sources and bring them back to the cabin. With these sources, he would have
Chapter 8
Chapter 9 S arah hesitated as she entered the cabin, finding herself lingering, waiting for Max. Why—she didn’t know. Only that keeping him close felt important. As if her safety, and his, somehow depended on it.Behind her, she heard him push locks into place, sealing them inside the cabin. A momentary feeling of claustrophobia, an impulse to turn to Max and tell him to unlock the door, shot through her body. She shivered and hugged herself against the pure evil that seemed to pour from the walls.As if he sensed her need, Max stepped to her side, his hand grazing her back; a wave of calm rushed over her. She inhaled, chest expanding, wondering how Max had such an impact on her. How could a man, a stranger, somehow give her a sense of security when people she’d known for years could not?Together, operating almost as one, Max and Sarah began surveying the room. It was a tiny cabin with a fireplace in the corner, ruffled curtains and framed pictures decorating the walls. Normal enough exc
Chapter 9
Chapter 10 M ax wasted no time dropping Edward to the floor of the van, right next to the box of books that Cathy had collected from the cabin. The feeling of being watched was still biting at his nerves. He quickly turned to check on the sheriff. He was pouring gas into the van’s tank from a can they had found next to the lawn mover in the storage shed out back.“Done,” the sheriff confirmed, tossing the can to the side of the driveway, clearly no longer worried about Allen knowing they’d been there. He joined Max near the front of the van. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”“Agreed,” Max said, one hand resting on a weapon, in ready position as he motioned Sarah and Cathy forward. The sooner they were out of this place, the better.The two women darted forward, clearly as eager as the men to get moving. Sarah and Cathy were almost at the van doors—Cathy at the driver’s side, Sarah at the passenger’s side—when Max felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle and then stand on end. He bare
Chapter 10
Chapter 11 R eady to leave town, Max followed Sarah down the inn stairs, fresh bandages in place, compliments of his stop by the doc’s office. Max still felt like crap, but his natural healing abilities were aiding his efforts at hanging tough or at least faking it well. Though right about now, he wasn’t feeling the results of that ability. He’d lost a lot of blood. He needed rest to allow his body to do the job of healing.After several hours of attention by the doctor, the sheriff was stable—at least for the time being—and Edward was sedated, with Cathy by his side, working on her demon-binding spell.Sarah paused at the front desk, assuring the innkeeper that help was coming. Max stepped onto the porch, the clouds above black and ominous, though no more rain had fallen. He let his senses reach out, searching, expecting the scent of a Beast, but finding none. The presence of Hounds had to mean they were near. Were they? Max grimaced. He didn’t know anything for certain. This was a situ
Chapter 11
Chapter 12 W ith Rock at her heels, Marisol walked toward the door of the exam room where Cathy and Edward were resting. He was scared to death to leave her alone, afraid the Beasts would attack. The young Knight acted like her keeper, as if she couldn’t simply shimmer out of the room and away from danger. Secretly, she loved his protectiveness, just as she knew she loved him. But it was forbidden that she ever act on those feelings. Her love for Rock worked against her duty, her vows as a healer. She was not of this world, she simply served it.She turned to him, silently telling him she needed privacy to talk with Cathy. He stepped to the side of the entrance. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”Her heart clenched with his words and she resisted the urge to reach out and touch him. “Thank you,” she said, softly, not daring to look into his eyes for fear he would see how much his concern touched her.She stepped around Rock and opened the door, pausing as she took in the sight before he
Chapter 12
Chapter 13 S arah tossed and turned in the bed, screaming out in her mind as the cold bitterness of the familiar nightmare claimed her. Once again locked inside those moments so many years before when someone close to her—someone she trusted like a brother—had pulled the trigger of a gun two times, two deadly bullets hitting their targets and stealing her parents’ lives.Sarah lived that moment again, collapsing over her parents’ bodies, touching them, searching for life that wasn’t there to be found. “No,” she whispered, shaking, her gaze lifting to the one who held the gun—to Kevin, a man who’d worked closely with her family for years. Had he always been this…this evil thing? Had she missed the signs? “Why?” she sobbed, her voice and hands shaking. “Why?”But what she saw when she looked at Kevin wasn’t Kevin at all. Red eyes, evil and full of malice, stared back at her. “Who are you?” she demanded, but she knew already. She knew this was the demon they’d been hunting, the one the poli
Chapter 13
Chapter 14 “G et off me!” Sarah screamed, her heart about to explode out of her chest. Max had fangs. Fangs! She’d let her guard down and been fooled. She never let down her guard. Not since the day a friend had turned demon and killed her family.Max held her, his big body still on top of hers; good God, he was still inside her. “Wait. Sarah. Please.”“No!” She kicked and squirmed, but found movement near impossible. Grinding her teeth, she stared up at him. “Let me up.”“Not until you hear me out,” he said. “I told you I’m different. I tried to explain before…before we made love.”“Had sex! Just sex!” she shouted, refusing the feelings she had for him. She kicked some more. He grunted and rolled off of her.Sarah grabbed the sheet and yanked it around her body, turning to square off with him. “Who are you, Max? What are you?”“I mean you no harm, Sarah,” he said, standing there naked and glorious, his big body powerfully male. “I know you feel that. I know you trust me.”“How can I?” she as
Chapter 14
Chapter 15 O nce Sarah entered the bathroom, Max spent the next few minutes pacing the room. Jag had disappeared, no doubt orbing to some distant place, his return certain at any moment. Frustration welled in Max’s gut over his situation. Damn this test. Why give him some secret test that could doom him to hell and deliver him to his mate at the same time? Why? And the thought of dooming his mate to hell, as well, was unbearable. He began pacing again, scrubbing the now overgrown stubble on his jaw.A knock sounded on the door and Max reached for it, his frustrations funneled into the action as he yanked it open, biting back angry words of confrontation. A good thing because Jag was no longer alone. Karen, his mate, stood beside him.“We thought you might be hungry,” Karen said, smiling as if she didn’t notice the scowl on Max’s face, her blue eyes twinkling. Blond and beautiful, she was strikingly light in appearance and personality—a direct contrast to the dark edge that clung to Jag’s
Chapter 15
Chapter 16 S arah found herself stumbling and falling to the hotel floor, stunned to have been shoved away by Max. Even more stunned to see him pull his blades and charge out the door. Something told her she was about to meet a Beast up close and personal, and after those Hounds, she didn’t want to do it unarmed.Pushing to her feet, she scrambled toward the closet where she’d seen Max’s bag. He’d have weapons, she was sure of it. She had taken only a few steps when a snarl drew her attention. She turned, her eyes going wide at the creature standing in the doorway—with half its face distorted, and one eye bigger than the other. She noted the yellowish red eyes, and her stomach clenched as she recalled Max’s yellow-flecked eyes. She barely had time to take in the vinyl-looking suit the Beast wore, the long fangs, and wild mass of hair, before the Beast stumbled forward, Max on its back.“Lock yourself in the bathroom,” Max yelled, as he landed on the ground, on top of the Beast.Sarah dart
Chapter 16
Chapter 17 T hey’d been on the road about two hours when the sun set. A traffic jam had caused them to lose an hour sitting on the highway. Max had been in and out of sleep the entire time, occasionally sitting up to check on things and then sliding back into a nightmare. She knew they were nightmares because of the way she felt his emotions. It really was quite hard to get used to her sensitivity to him. Being sensitive to spirits had become a way of life, and it only came during their brief visits. But with Max, she got his emotional feed pretty much all the time. And boy, was it intense. He still had plenty of human in him. She didn’t doubt that now. He also had a lot of pain that needed healing.Another rush of feelings came over her, and this time it was so turbulent, so full of anguish and hurt, that she tensed, fingers turning white as she gripped the steering wheel.“William,” Max murmured, his head tossing from side to side. “No!”Her chest tightened, stomach queasy. He was dream
Chapter 17
Chapter 18 C aden was no place to be found. A visit to his house had found no one present, aside from the two armed guards outside the grounds, which sent a pretty clear message—Caden had something to hide.Now, near midnight, Max pushed open the door to the high-rise hotel room and tried not to think about the single bed the overbooked hotel had offered.Seemingly unaffected by the intimate setting, Sarah went straight to the bed and sat down, her scent lifting in her wake, taunting him with its sweetness. Max inhaled that soft smell despite his best efforts not to, his body warming, firing his desire to reach for her. They’d only just entered the room, and he was already fighting temptation. It was going to be one hell of a long night.Max hesitated by the closet, staring at Sarah as she reached for the menu lying on the bedside table. Thinking of what it would be like to be in that bed with her, naked, making love. His groin tightened and his gums tingled. Damn. His mating instincts we
Chapter 18
Chapter 19 Seventy-two grueling hours of searching for answers had passed for Sarah and Max.It was just past ten o’clock, with the full moon closing in on them in a matter of a few days, when Max and Sarah walked up a red-carpeted sidewalk leading to the Red Room, one of the many clubs Caden owned.Visiting several clubs a night had been a stretch, considering they were spread out from one end of the city to the next. And working the employees and patrons for information took an effort to fit in which couldn’t be made by darting in and out. Nor could searches of private areas be done without some tricky side steps.The time with Sarah had been both heaven and hell for Max. Heaven because he’d listened to stories about her life, and shared some of his own even—he’d learned about Sarah and he liked what he’d found. It had also been hell—keeping his hands off her was damn near killing him. Sarah wouldn’t sleep without him. She wouldn’t let him run from her, or push her away. Lord only knew,
Chapter 19
Chapter 20 A llen stood in the corner of the ritual room, naked, without his prior reservations about being a part of what went on here—about the sexual explorations required by Caden. His duty to contribute to the power of the stones could not be questioned—not when Kate would be the reward for his actions. Two women clung to him, touching him, kissing him. For days now, he’d shoved aside guilt, promising himself this was for Kate, that it did not betray his love for her. This was to bring her back. To bring her home.Murmurs filled the room, and Allen pried one woman’s lips from his to see what was going on. The Shadow Masters had returned after a short rest, and they now stood center stage. The robes they wore pooled at their feet, and all eyes turned to them, all activity stilled.Each time they returned, Caden tested the stones with some magical spell, and so far he’d been pleased with their progress, which was ahead of schedule. That progress kept Allen going, kept him focused on t
Chapter 20
Chapter 21 M ax sprinted toward the club, determined to get there before Allen took flight. He found the front door as the fire trucks pulled up. Flames flickered through the front entrance, energized now, spreading through the structure. Searching for a discreet entry point, Max darted around to the back of the building.Even as he scouted for trouble, on alert as his senses picked up the presence of Beasts, his thoughts were dimly fixed on Sarah. Leaving her worried him. Towing her along with him worried him more. Protecting her from an army of Beasts—which could well be the case—would be damn near impossible. Not to mention his present state of internal struggle. He’d barely reined in his beast after that last battle. He was clinging to a proverbial limb, barely holding on to reality. Days ago, he’d wanted to scare her away. Now, he was terrified he might really do it. He couldn’t let her see him like this. Not if he wanted her in his life. And he did. More than anything he’d ever wa
Chapter 21
Chapter 22 F or two days the town had been silent, almost normal. A facade that no one believed. And now, the night of the full moon had arrived.Max stood on the porch of the inn, Des by his side. “You don’t have to do this,” Max reminded Des. “You have a mate now to think about. Go back to the ranch and take care of her.”Des snorted. “Right. Like me leaving is really going to happen.” His hand went to Max’s shoulder before he leaned on the railing. “Jessica would kick my ass if I deserted you in your time of need. Not to mention I’d never miss a fight like this one.” He sobered. “You helped me save Jessica’s life, man. I am in your debt for eternity.”“If I have an eternity left,” Max said, his gaze traveling the dark horizon where lightning struck, searching for the trouble, his senses raw with warning.“You still don’t remember what happened that day, do you?” Des asked.Max’s gaze shot to Des. “Do you?”“I was freaking out over Jessica being stabbed. I didn’t see what happened. I wish
Chapter 22
Epilogue
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