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    Pleasure of a Dark Prince
    Pleasure of a Dark Prince
    Pleasure of a Dark Prince
    Ebook540 pages8 hours

    Pleasure of a Dark Prince

    By Kresley Cole

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole enraptures again with this seductive tale of a fierce werewolf prince who will stop at nothing to protect the lovely archer he covets from afar.

    A DANGEROUS BEAUTY …

    Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her—and those she loves.

    AN UNCONTROLLABLE NEED …

    Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own.

    THAT LEAD TO A PLEASURE SO WICKED …

    From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia's greatest weakness—her wanton desire for him.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPocket Books
    Release dateFeb 16, 2010
    ISBN9781416583554
    Author

    Kresley Cole

    Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals After Dark paranormal series and the young adult Arcana Chronicles. Her books have been translated into over twenty foreign languages, garnered three RITA awards, and consistently appear on the bestseller lists in the US and abroad. Before becoming a writer, Cole was a world-ranked athlete, coach, and graduate student. She has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings. She lives in Florida with her family and “far too many animals,” and spends any free time traveling. You can learn more about her and her work at KresleyCole.com or Facebook.com/KresleyCole.

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    Reviews for Pleasure of a Dark Prince

    4.5/5

    463 ratings29 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Loved this! I thought this one had a realness to it that some of the other books didn't. Lucia was probably one of my favorite heroines of the series thus far and the Dark Prince was this delicious alpha male who is this amazing guy and sex on a stick. And that ending was awesome!

      2 people found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I <3 Garreth!! Lucky Lucia... the bitch! ;)

      Of course, I love the Lykaes, so this one is a fav. Plus it takes place while floating through the jungle... lots of intrigue and who-dunnit.

      I've never wanted to attend a Rugby match more in my entire life!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I think this got a little weaker at a couple points near the end, but overall I still enjoyed it more than average, so I'm going with 4 stars. I really liked all the patience the hero showed the heroine. Too often heroes are given a hair trigger and are always just one little blip away from turning cruel or something. This hero was definitely a tough, warrior type, but he also showed quite a bit of patience even when there were mixed signals or difficult circumstances. His consideration is definitely one of the things that warms the heroine to him, and that was really nice to watch. I've noticed that characters often are either good with the small signs of respect and kindness and stuff, but then fail some test of sacrifice near the end, or they're kind of a jerk half the time during the day to day but then come through in a big way in the end. This hero held up well for both, and it made me like him more.
    • 5/5
      No one, and I mean no one can spin a sexy paranormal tale like Kresley Cole. I have absorbed and loved every single one of her "Immortals After Dark" books and "Pleasure of a Dark Prince" was no exception. I love the sexy Scottish Lycae the best of all the immortal creatures. I hope there are second cousins and uncles that need matched up too, because I want more of the wolves.

      It was very cool to finally get these two's story since we have seen them "together" since the beginning of the series. I liked that of all the characters these two seemed to want to be together and had the most tangible "excuses" not to. This story is filled with monsters, mayhem, and sexy sexy Werewolf/Valkyrie time, this book measures as a 10.0 on the steam scale and still manages to have an awesome plot. Loved it! But...now we have to wait and see what's up with the cliff hanger Ms. Cole left us with

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is Lucia and Garreth MacRieve's story, through the whole story people refer to him as MacRieve so I'm not sure why in the description he is called Garreth.. I guess it's just a quirk of mine. This whole series has grabbed me by the shirt collar and just dragged me along for the ride. And this book is no different. Once I started reading I knew I wasn't going to be able to put it down. I had to force myself to stop reading last night at 2:40am cause I knew I had to get up with my daughter and nephew this morning... but anyways, back to the review. It was nice to learn more about both MacRieve and Lucia. They both made appearances in past books, but their parts were never really big.. just a conversation here and there. Lucia is an archer who rarely misses but when she does feels great pain because of it. MacRieve is Lachlain's younger brother so never really had any responsibilities. They first met while MacRieve is playing Rugby (in the rain mind you :)) and he is suddenly distracted by a scent. He discovers the scent belongs to Lucia, he has found his mate. Lucia was tracking a creature that was hunting mortals. MacRieve watches Lucia shoot some arrows through the crowd and find her mark, against the odds and he is in awe. The story continues with her wanting nothing to do with him and of course him following her wherever she may go to try and win her over. I found the story well written, funny at times but also serious when needed. The whole storyline is awesome and I personally loved that Lucia is strong enough to take care of herself and that MacRieve eventually comes to understand this and attempt to live with it. They are a really good couple.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Once again I am glad that I don't have to wait for a year for the next book to come out and I have to add that there better be a solution to the ending of what happen in this book in the next one. I hate cliff hangers, HATE THEM!!! Also I want to point out that it took me longer to read this book that it normally would because of a number of distractions like jury duty and doctor’s appointment. There was also some spring planting to distract me. What to say about this book? It was a different werewolf/Valkyrie story. I really felt sorry for Garrett. He had waited so long to find his mate and she happens to be Lucia (the ice queen). I understand why Lucia is the way she is but she makes Garrett miserable from the very beginning. She and Regin do all in their power to make him go away and I mean all in their power. I am surprised the Garrett didn't just give up on her. Garrett is a Lykea though and there is nothing that will make him give up claiming his mate. I love that he is patient and caring trying to make sure that she is taken care of even when she doesn't want his attention. I loved the butterfly gift while they are on the Amazon River. I also loved all the descriptions of the rain forest and the mythical creatures that they find on their journey. I could almost feel the mosquitoes closing in for the feast. This is a vicious story filled with lots of gore and fighting. The Bloody Broken One would give any sane person nightmares and the description of his lair will be with me for a long time. This book has more carnage than any of the previous stories, especially the last 10 chapters.Lucia is intelligent and reasonable most of the time; however with the Ascension starting she knows that she will once again have to trap her disgusting husband in his lair for another 500 years. She and Regin having been looking for a way to kill the monster once and for all and they are close to finding what they need. She is tired of having to fight this battle over and over. She never expects to find the one man that will make her want sex and companionship. She also never thought that the man that would attract her would be a Lykea. It takes a while but she begins to soften toward Garrett. After week on the Amazon she sees that he is really a considerate man that cares for her. I think that she should have trusted Garrett with her secret much earlier than she did. I think that they could have been better prepared for the problems they could have and did face in the Lair of the Bloody Broken One. I also think that they should have been better prepared for Lothaire, Garrett especially. This book ends with a mystery. There are individuals being kidnapped from all over the Lore. No one knows what has happen to all of them. Regin is one of the missing and Lucia is determined to find her. I am hoping that the next book has some answers.There is a lot going on in this book and it shows that the Ascension is getting closer all the time. While I like the relationship between Lucia and Garrett there were times that I would have liked to shake both of them. They are both stubborn and unyielding at times. Ms. Cole does write some very hot love scenes and they never seem to overwhelm the plot of the story. Most of these characters are likable and make you want to know more about them, even the mortals in the group. This is a good addition to the series and I definitely look forward to the next book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book was very good and drew me right in. The Huntress is proud, but he wants to protect her more than pride will allow. What ensues is an amazing mash of personalities.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book, as I have all the IAD books. I love reading the Scottish brogue that Garreth and the rest of the pack use. I think I like them best of the immortals in this series. I also enjoy the Valkyries. I love Nix and really want to see a book for her.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Another rip-roaring roller coaster ride in the Immortals After Dark (IAD) series. Here we have Garreth McGrieve, Lykae who finds his mate - Lucia, a Valkyrie who is the greatest Archer and due to a promise she made eons ago, she must not have sex - at all - ever. Of course, this is anathema to Garreth who lives for sex - especially with his mate, but he finds ways to get around this with her. For the first half of book, Lucia is evading him, while he is chasing her around the world until they wind up in the Amazon together. This was one long adventure of ups and downs, often reading like an Indiana Jones movie - with lots of sex! Loved it!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Not my favourite of the Immortals After Dark series.

      I didn't quite get her fierce reluctance to be anywhere near him, okay she thought she'd lose her archery skills but was it necessary to do all that stuff to him? But then again, he seemed determined to bed her so I suppose I can sympathise a little...

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Garreth and Lucia. These are my favorite couple in the Immortals After Dark series, other than Lothaire and his bride.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I really wanted to like this book more, but I didn't really care for Lucia. She was the epitome of stubborn and I wished she opened up to Garreth a little more. He proved to her continually how much he cared for her, but it was extremely difficult for her to trust him. Now, she did have her reasons and some of them were justified, however, a little more communication between them would have been nice. The chemistry between them was there and one of the reasons I kept on reading.

      I thought the pacing was too slow. Things didn't get exciting until the very end and I found the first three quarters of the book boring. I am curious to find out about the kidnappings, so I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Such a great read - spring break, no guilt! Out of all the immortals series books, this one made me tear up.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Loved the plot and characters. It was a nice change to read about different mythical beings such as the Werewolf and the Valkyrie. Garrett was a superb character. Cheeky and caring, fierce and loving. His accent and his wit were so endearing.in fact, most of the laugh out loud moments all came from something he did or said. I liked Lucia's strength in the beginning, but as the story began to reach it's climax, I didn't care for her as much. I understood her fears and insecurities, but felt she could have told him about the consequences of consummating the mating ritual without divulging the dark secret about her ties with Cruach. Garrett kept giving, but Lucia's reluctance to give back until the very end made me unsympathetic to her. I did feel she redeemed herself in the end, but it was a little too late. Regin aggravated me to no end, especially her texts. I would still recommend this to anyone because of the nail-biting action, a great hero and the sexual tension was sizzling.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Pleasure of a Dark Prince
      3 Stars

      The Immortals After Dark is an excellent series and I had been eagerly awaiting Lucia and Garrett’s book ever since they were introduced in A Hunger Like No Other. Unfortunately, the book and their romance fell flat.

      The first 1/3 rehashes the plots from the first two Lykae books. While the parallel storylines in the series are nothing new and usually mesh well, this recurring element is becoming tiresome and contributes little to Garrett and Lucia’s story. In fact, the narrative jumps forward one whole year after this section, which emphasizes its redundancy.

      The romance is lackluster despite the excellent sexcapades. Lucia is quite bland as far as IAD heroines go. Yes, she suffers from a traumatic past but this is glossed over in the book and she seems to get over her fears of sex and vows of chastity very easily. Moreover, she comes across as childish and self-centered, and her constant “woe is me because sex will make me lose my archery skills” (which were never really hers to begin with) becomes annoying. She also has a tendency to keep secrets, which is a trope that I dislike intensely in contemporary romance and is out of place in PNR. Rather than confide in Garrett and work with him to defeat Cruach, she evades, prevaricates and lies, which ultimately gets them both into trouble.

      Garrett, on the other hand, is far more likeable. He is sexy, strong and determined and his passion for Lucia is tangible despite the fact that it is impossible to see why his infatuation with her turns into love even with the dictates of Lykae mating. That said, the ultimate resolution to their relationship is satisfying.

      The villain, while evil and disgusting, never seems to pose a substantial threat and the final encounter with him is predictable and anti-climactic.

      Lothaire is the most compelling character in the book. The section in the Necropolis with him along with the epilogue are particularly intriguing and have definitely whet my appetite for the next three books.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Love the MacRieves, though I do start to get them confused after awhile. They're more or less the same character with different names but hey, fun read anyway. Plus, Lucia was awesome.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      WOW!!! I love Cole & I love this series & this book was awesome!!! I loved both of the characters, and all of the story behind the main romance plot. The steamy scenes were hot & definitely turned up a notch in this book! I waited to read this book because I knew I would have to read it in one day and finish before I could sleep. It's very long and now I'm very tired:-) Worth missing sleep for!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I love this series and am looking forward to future book releases from Kresley Cole. Pleasure of a Dark Prince, the ninth release in the series. This book focuses on the romance between Garreth and Lucia. Garreth is the brother to the king of Lykae, Lachlain, and this book takes picks up the time frame surrounding Lachlain's return, as we saw in the first book. Lucia is known only as the Archer among the Valkyrie. This book contains a lot of action, from the misty swamps of New Orleans to the exotic hell of Amazonian Jungle and frozen peaks of northern mountains. The love story is fairly typical, considering that the male is dominating werewolf, who is driven by desire to protect his mate. A mate who would rather prefer to handle her own problems, than relinquish her career for an insanely hot piece of man candy. Add to that vows of chastity that the heroine made a long time ago.....and the sexual tension ensues. It was nice watching these two fall in love and defeat evil and darkness together while learning that they can in fact trust and rely on one another. Another great book and anxiously awaiting the next release in the Fall!!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Garreth MacRieve is sick of easy women, sure the Lykae are the best built and most ruggedly handsome Lore creatures around but Garreth, the "king" until his brother Lachlain is found, is done with easy. Just as this crosses his mind in the middle of a Lykae vs. Demons rugby game he catches a whiff of his destined mate, the one woman who he now simply cannot live without, and when he catches the sight of her he's surprised to see a bow wielding Valkyrie. This bodes ill as the two Lore fractions don't... get along, to put it nicely.Lucia the Archer, came by her ability as she laid broken and raped on the floor of temple of the Goddess Skathi who bestows on her her talent for archery and a mission to keep The Bloody Broken One, her attacker from leaving his ghastly residence every 500 years. Lucia swears an oath of purity, swearing celibacy for her healed body and unmatched archery, if she is to sleep with a man her gift would be gone. Another term is that if she misses she will experience unimaginable pain.Now a wolf is watching her like she was made for him, and he doesn't take half-hearted no - after all he is gorgeous - for an answer. Finding out MacRieve's secret she tricks him and escapes to find the diemont, the god killer, which she can use to actually kill the god, The Bloody Broken One. But Garreth follows her whereever she goes, hunting her, always one step behind her. But she can't be distracted there is an apocalypse to stop.I absolutely loved this book! The story is fairly simple but Garreth and Lucia make it so spicy!Lucia desperately wants the werewolf even though she cannot admit it, and Garreth can't think of anything except having her for forever even if this means chasing her all over the globe. It's such a yummy combination that it's impossible not to get a little giddy!I'm a fan of Kresley Cole, and this was very similar to A Hunger Like No Other ( IAF#1 ) in its mood, and I absolutely loved it. Loved the world, loved the nasty dangerous Amazon and the Indiana Jones-esque story with hot enough romance to melt one's panties!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I read these books for the sex scenes, as I find the gendering of the characters atrocious (dominant men who don't respect women or their wishes and women who want dominant men who don't respect them or their wishes). The phrase 'she says no but her body means yes' would be a great tag-line for this series - how many times was that used as a defence in rape cases? I don't find any romance in these books as it's all solely focused on sex (which is fine, in and of itself) but the attempt to equate dominance and sex with a real emotional connection is trite.That aside, I've enjoyed - to a lesser or greater extent - most of Cole's books in this series. This one I didn't - the characters were annoying and under-deveoloped and the ending just irritating in its blatant setup for a few more books to come.My least favourite of them all.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I LOVE the IAD series! [SPOILERS] I love Garreth and Lucia as a couple. Cole knows what each of her couples needs in terms of a mate and it definitely comes through on the page. Their adventure takes them to the Amazon. Regin is missing, and as usual Nix knows more than she is letting on. Their journey to the steamy Amazon is reflected in the relationship that develops between Garreth and Lucia. Lucia fears losing her archery abilities by having a physical relationship with Garreth, but of course her feelings for him are too strong and she succumbs to passion. Lucia has to battle an old enemy who likes to play with peoples minds, so of course he uses the couple against each other and Garreth is made to believe that he killed Lucia... I loved this story and this series is AMAZING!!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      After reading Pleasure of a Dark Prince, I'm going to say it's my favorite book in the Immortals After Dark series. I can't think of a better fit as a paranormal couple then Garreth and Lucia. Lucia is a beautiful and confident female whose not afraid to toot her own horn, which she does in a hearty but succinctly way. Now, the main interest for me in this story was the so very sexy, Garreth MacRieve. Garreth was my ideal fantasy man throughout this entire story, so full of raw animal magnetism, it oozed off the pages. I loved his devil-may-care attitude towards the world but loving and solicitous demeanor towards Lucia. I swear he had my heart pounding too many times to count, you couldn't ask for a better alpha male.The entire story was action packed full of heart-pounding scenes and intrigue, there wasn't a dull moment for me. There were spot appearances from previous main characters but not enough to feel like it overwhelmed Garreth and Lucia story in anyway.The Immortals After Dark series is a must read for paranormal romance readers and current readers of this series should not, I repeat, should not miss this book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I really love Kresley Coles historical romances; If You Dare is one of my all time favorite books. I am not so hot about her paranormal romances. This one I loved Garreth (I have a thing for Scots) but Lucia was a bit annoying. All in all I liked the build up and anticipation of their romance but I guess Ms. Cole has set such high standards from her previous work and these novels have been falling a bit short.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I fully intended to read this whole series in order, and read the first three, but the fourth book didn’t capture me and this is the only other one I had in paperback. Firstly, I’d like to say Kresley Cole is a very talented writer. She’s one of those people who can write extremely readable prose, and she has some great ideas. But the problem is she’s so caught up in her ‘great ideas’ that the story suffers greatly for it. This series is very heavy on the sex, so be warned. For me, it is a much more erotic series than, say, the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And - as always - we have the ‘almost sex’ scenes for most of the book and the characters always have some excuse as to why they cannot sleep together. Right from the first paragraph I encountered the main problem I have with this series: too much made up stuff. Too many strange names and made up creatures. In most paranormal series we have to learn the world rules for one or two species. In this one there are two trillion and counting. It’s so overwhelming there’s a great long glossary to study up on at the beginning of the book - and even then it doesn’t make much sense. You should NEVER have to study before reading a book, and an author should be able to get their story across without gigantic information dumps. Kresley Cole breaks these two rules, and the story loses its impact. This one follows a Lykae, Garreth (think super cool werewolf), and Lucia, a Valkyrie (uh, an immortal warrior woman who texts like a teenager and speaks like a sixth grader). I enjoy reading about the Lykae in this series, but the Valkyrie are annoying and always spend the entire book pushing the hero away. This story has been a long time coming. It happens parallel to the first few books in the series, and we’ve seen it unfolding in the background of other books. The concept of telling a story from so many perspectives is interesting and fun to a certain extent, but perhaps now - so many books into the series - it’s time to move forward. Is it not a little strange that after thousands of years all the characters find their mates in the same few weeks? There is so much careless, calculated violence in these books. The leading characters are always being badly hurt and hurting each other. There’s little appeal in a heroine who has no qualms about firing arrows through her mate. I don’t care if these characters are immortal - pain and violence are still revolting when unnecessary. Kresley Cole information dumps like nobody’s business. It gets to the point where I just don’t care if I understand everything or not and start skipping pages. For example, ALL of chapter seven was an information dump. We learnt about six new characters, found out about a whole lot of convoluted mythology, and the storyline was not furthered AT ALL. Cole writes incredibly well when she’s writing action or love scenes, but then her books grind to a halt while we get a fed endless clever facts about ‘the Lore’. It’s frustrating. I don’t like the Valkyrie and all the ‘feisty cuteness’ the author has given them. I don’t like silly yet cold-hearted ancient warrior women who act like teenage bimbos and treat their men like garbage. I don’t like heroines who are ‘romance cute’. I could not believe the ending - or non-ending, as it is - which failed to wrap up the story and instead smacked of ‘buy my next book!!’. There were four cliffhangers, presented one after the other in a terribly disjointed fashion, shamelessly dragging us into the next story for answers. Any book in any series should be able to be read as a standalone, and we should reach the end and feel the story has a resolution that’s satisfying. There’s a good story in there, with an interesting plot and some very clever ideas. However, it’s so buried in ‘the Lore’, and so constantly interrupted with annoying bits and pieces, that I had a hard time appreciating it. Kresley Cole is a very talented author, but her fantastic prose is ruined by her determination to write every ‘clever’ fantasy idea she can include in the series.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I didn't like this book much, which greatly disappoints me because I was hoping this would be a great, new series for me. Yummy cover art aside, I found Garreth annoying -- and Lucia not much better. The plot was an interesting concept that wasn't played out to my satisfaction. Worst of all, though, were the skips in time that made the story disjointed. One minute you're here, next minute you're there. With no or poorly executed transitions between some scenes, there was a lot of "wait, what?" As part of a series, this book definitely does not stand alone. In fact, I think one would need to read several books from this series simultaneously in order to get a smooth reading experience.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I enjoy this series, and this book was no exception. It wasn't my favorite (which is funny because I've been waiting for the Lucia book since the first novel), but I still found it captivating by the end. I like the development of the overall series plot as well.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Kresley Cole does it again. Another wonderful book for the powerful series.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Almost from the moment he spies her on the sidelines of the bone crushing rugby match he's participating in, Garreth MacRieve- prince and soon to be King of the Lykae (that's werewolves to you and me)- knew the luscious, blond Lucia was meant for him. Lucia, Valkyrie and best dang archer the Lore has ever seen, is not so sure. Oh she feels the pull too, she just can't allow it.Garreth will not let her go, however, for he knows she's his destiny and though she escapes him this time, he knows he will find her again.Which he does ... after her sister Valks imprison him in their dungeon.But even then, Garreth cannot let their scorching attraction go, and he manages to continue wooing her from his cage. When Lucia discovers a secret he's been keeping from her from the outset- that she is in fact, his mate- she plans her escape once and for all.He will chase her around the world to get her back- down the heart of the Amazon river and to a source of power that Lucia hopes will aid her in getting rid of her own darkest secret. Little does she know, it's the love of a good werewolf that will actually set her free... if she can let her guard down long enough to let him in.Ninth in Kresley Cole's vastly popular paranormal romance series, Immortals after Dark - Pleasure of a Dark Prince delivers what many have come to expect from a IAD novel- action, adventure, witty dialogue, sizzling heat and crackling chemistry!Garreth is relentless in his pursuit of the skilled hunter he calls Lousha. And Lucia is dogged in remaining elusive- like any good little prey. This almost became a source of irritation for me. But I was saw enthralled by their sensual play- especially on the riverboat taking them down the treacherous Amazon- that I forgave the author for drawing it out so long. Garreth & Lucia are magic together and the heroes desire to win her is some of the most romantic stuff out there!A howling good read you won't want to put down!If you haven't started this series- what are you waiting for?

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book was fast paced and very fun! There was a lot of action and adventure in it. I loved the travel to the Amazon, hearing about legends as if they were real, and the struggle between what Lucia wanted and what she thought she couldn't have. Also, who doesn't love a Scottish werewolf, right? Each book in this series bring about another species or myth that I'm loving reading about. It never gets boring. Way to go Kresley Cole!

    Book preview

    Pleasure of a Dark Prince - Kresley Cole

    PROLOGUE

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    Thrymheim Hold, the Northlands

    Home of Skathi, goddess of the hunt

    In ages long past . . .

    Lucia the Maiden cracked open her eyes and found herself atop an altar, staring up at a furious goddess. Somehow her younger sister, Regin the Radiant, had found Skathi’s temple and had brought Lucia here.

    From one altar to the next, she thought deliriously as her fever raged. Pain roiled inside her broken body. Her fractured limbs . . . never had she imagined such agony.

    You deliver this into my sacred place, Skathi the Huntress of the Great North said to Regin, and desecrate my altar? You court my wrath, young Valkyrie.

    Regin—all of twelve years old, with Lucia’s blood covering her glowing skin—said, What can you do? Torture my sister? Murder her? She has already survived the first and is about to succumb to the second without your aid.

    "I could murder both of you."

    In answer, Regin pursed her lips, looking as if she were sizing up Skathi’s shins for a good kicking.

    Lucia struggled for consciousness, labored to speak. Don’t hurt her, please . . . my fault, my fault . . . But her words were drowned out by a rumbling boom. This hold was carved into the heights of Godsbellow Mountain, shaken continually by thunder.

    Skathi asked Regin, Why bring her here?

    Because you’re both neighbor and nemesis to the one who did this.

    Had interest flickered in the goddess’s eyes? The Broken Bloody One?

    Aye.

    Canting her head at Regin in an appraising way, Skathi said, You’re not even old enough to be a true immortal yet. For one so powerless and insignificant, you dare much, Valkyrie.

    For Lucia, I dare this and more, Regin answered proudly. Best be forewarned.

    Regin! Lucia gasped. The girl had lost her mind.

    What? She stomped her foot. What’d I say?

    Instead of smiting Regin, the goddess impatiently gestured for her guards, the legendary Skathians. They were renowned archers, all females who underwent grueling training rituals to serve the goddess. Take the glowing one down the mountain. Make sure she does not remember the way back.

    When Regin charged toward her, Lucia cried, Nay, Regin . . . leave me!

    The Skathians snagged Regin around the waist, forcing her out as she flailed and shrieked, biting them.

    Lucia heard one of them say, Ow! You little ratling! And then they were gone.

    Skathi regarded Lucia’s battered face impassively. You worry for her? When she has been spared? You, however, will not last the hour.

    I know, Lucia whispered. Unless you help me. She caught Skathi’s gaze as she pleaded—a mistake to look directly upon the great and terrible goddess. Meeting her fathomless eyes brought on the sorrow and fear of all her prey over the ages. It sank over Lucia like a bitter frost. Please . . . . When Lucia held up her crimson-stained hand in supplication, the wound across her torso she’d been holding welled with blood, flowing over her sides. A fountain of sticky warmth coated the altar beneath her, surrounding her battered body, but it quickly cooled on the chill stone.

    Each drop lost left her shuddering harder, even more desperate. The pain of her injuries maddened her.

    You made your decision, Valkyrie, the goddess said in answer. And reaped what you sowed when you disobeyed those you were born to obey. Why should I help you?

    Because I’ve only lived sixteen years, Lucia thought, but she knew that wouldn’t sway Skathi, a timeless being who could scarcely comprehend death—or youth.

    Because I’ll do . . . whatever you ask of me, Lucia said at last. The shuddering was getting worse; the altar beneath her was so cold. P-pay any price.

    If I saved you, I would impart my essence to you. A being like you would bear my mark of favor and be tied to the bow forever, Skathi said, strolling to an opening overlooking her mountain, guarded by miles of deadly woods that swallowed unwary travelers. Lucia barely remembered traversing the mystical forest as Regin dragged her across portals and dales for days.

    Lucia, I’m taking you to Skathi!

    She will . . . not help.

    "She will! The Skathians fight him every five hundred years . . . ."

    Thunder boomed once more, the sound seeming to soothe the goddess. Where my followers have sacrificed to become expert markswomen, you would simply be gifted with my hunting skills. An unequaled archer, better than them all. Why do you think you’re worthy of that? When they have trained so hard? When they are pure of heart—and body?

    The Skathians lived by an ascetic code—and despised men. I understand why now.

    They are not tainted as you are, Skathi continued. "As you willingly offered yourself up to be."

    Dim memories arose of her last nine days as prisoner of Crom Cruach—the Broken Bloody One, a monster with the face of an angel. Had that animal bitten her? She refused to look down at her body, but she suspected he’d gnawed at her skin once she’d blacked out. And that she’d fought him before she’d mindlessly jumped from his lair—chunks of scaly flesh were still embedded beneath her claws.

    Lucia ruthlessly stamped out those visions of her captivity. She would never let herself remember them, especially not that last night.

    What happened in the dark. Blood streaming down my thighs.

    I didn’t know . . . . I never knew. Regret washed over her. I’ll s-sacrifice anything, Skathi.

    Gifts from gods always come with a price. Are you ready to pay mine?

    Lucia nodded weakly. I can become . . . p-pure hearted. And I’ll shun men. She must know I’ll never be fooled again.

    Virgin from this day forward? After a long moment, Skathi said, You escaped the Broken Bloody One this time—courage, or cowardice, making you leap—yet Cruach will come for you in the next Accession if he escapes his jail.

    Yes, but by that time I’ll be truly immortal. I’ll run farther, faster.

    He shall merely do this again. Unless . . . you fight him.

    I want to fight him. She never wanted to see his hideous visage again.

    Every five hundred years, he would become your bane and you his jailer.

    Let me live to face him. Lying to a goddess? But Lucia was desperate.

    Skathi’s face took on a thoughtful mien. "Yes, I have decided to heal you and make you an Archer—so long as you remain chaste. Yet any time that you miss a target, you shall experience the pain you are about to suffer. You shall always remember what brought you this low and never repeat this fall from grace. That will make you a Skathian."

    Dizziness overwhelmed Lucia. She was so confused. "About to suffer?" This torment could not be worse?

    Yes, pain to hone your mind. Agony to sharpen your resolve like a blade stone. As she placed her milk-white hands over Lucia’s torso, Skathi murmured, Ah, young Lucia, in the end, I believe you shall wish I’d let you perish. The goddess’s palms began to glow with blue light.

    Brighter, brighter . . .

    Suddenly Lucia convulsed, shrieking as her infected wounds pulled taut, purging blood and pus, her fractured bones grinding as they knit together. Her fingers clenched tight, her back arching—like a bow.

    You’ll be my weapon, Skathi cried, her face becoming a frenzied mask. You’ll be my instrument!

    On and on, the light burned, until abruptly there was none. Lucia was healed—but changed. A bowstring coiled around her body like a serpent. And in her trembling hands, a black ash bow and a single golden arrow had appeared.

    Welcome back to life—to your new life. You are now an Archer. Skathi met her eyes, and Lucia felt the weight of overweening dread, just as a thousand other souls had before her. And, Lucia, you shall forever be nothing more.

    ONE

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    Southern Louisiana

    Present day

    Munro, you daft git, pass the ball! Garreth MacRieve yelled at his kinsman over the thunder and howling winds.

    Tonight was their yearly skins-versus-demons rugby match—a tradition for Garreth and his clan, meant to take his mind from the anniversary this day marked. Garreth was barefooted, wearing only jeans and no shirt. Rain pounded in strengthening intervals, turning this abandoned grassy airstrip in bayou country into a mire of muck and turf. Sweat mingled with mud—and some blood.

    He almost felt . . . not numb. And that in itself was a feat.

    Munro flipped him off but did finally sling him the ball. The leather was coated in grit, mixing with the filth covering Garreth’s bared chest. He feinted left, then sprinted right around two colossal Ferine demons, shoving his hand in their faces, stiff-arming them.

    As he ran, with his heart pounding in his ears, he could forget. The exertion and the aggression were both so welcome, he wanted to beat his bare chest.

    The swift Ferines surrounded him, so he tossed the ball to Uilleam, Munro’s twin, who took it in to score. His brothers-in-arms were strong and ruthless contenders, as was he. The beasts inside them loved to fight, to play. Rough.

    The demons responded to the goal with trash talk and shoving. Like a shot, Garreth was in the middle.

    You’re raring to fight for an heirless king, Caliban, the Ferines’ leader, sneered. Nothing new—you Lykae go through kings like I piss demon brew.

    Of all the sore subjects to bring up, Garreth’s kingship was the one most infuriating. And on this day?

    He launched himself at Caliban, but Munro and Uilleam heaved him back. As other demons steered Caliban away from the scuffle, Munro said, Save it for the game, friend.

    Garreth spat blood in Caliban’s direction before letting the two lead him away to cool off. While Uilleam and Munro stayed with him, the other Lykae on the team made their way to the sidelines to mingle with the cheerleaders.

    The demons took the opportunity to take a timeout and drink demon brew. The only bad thing about playing with demons—one of the few species in the Lore that could contend with the Lykae in a physical contest—was their continual brew breaks. Only seemed fair that Garreth and his kinsmen shoot copious amounts of whiskey to mitigate their advantage. They swilled it straight from the bottle, each one with his own, the Lykae version of Gatorade.

    Their cooler was full of fifths.

    You’ve got to let this go, Garreth, Munro said, taking a deep drink.

    Garreth swiped his hand over the back of his neck, getting the feeling that he was being watched. But then, he and all the other players were. Nymphs lined the field, oblivious to the rain, touching themselves and sucking on their own fingers as they impatiently waited for this game to turn into an orgy.

    He irritably gazed at the females. Why’d you invite them? he demanded. Damn you both, I weary of this. Did you never think that I doona like nymphs?

    Nay, Uilleam said with a swig. Any being that sports a penis likes nymphs.

    Munro drained his bottle and added, You canna argue with medical facts.

    Garreth knew Uilleam and Munro meant well, but this was getting old. I doona like them. They’re too . . . too . . .

    Beautiful?

    Lusty?

    "Easy, Garreth said. They’re too easy. For once I’d like to have a female give me a challenge. One that would no’ fall into bed with me because I’m supposedly a king. When Munro opened his mouth to speak, Garreth said, Aye, supposedly."

    Munro shook his head gravely. And still you believe Lachlain will return.

    The three had been round and round about this for one and a half centuries, since the time his older brother had vanished after setting out to hunt vampires.

    Uilleam and Munro told Garreth that he awaited Lachlain unreasonably. Best accept that his brother was gone, especially after so long had passed since his disappearance. One hundred and fifty years—to the day, this day. They said Garreth hadn’t moved on and accepted his responsibilities as king.

    They were right.

    When will you believe he’s no’ coming back? Uilleam asked. Two hundred years from now? Five hundred?

    "Never. No’ if I still feel he’s alive. Though vampires had killed the rest of his immediate family, for some reason, Garreth still sensed Lachlain lived. No’ if I feel it as I do now."

    You’re as bad off as Bowen, Uilleam said, finishing his own bottle—and opening another.

    Bowen was Garreth’s first cousin, a shell of a man since he’d lost his mate. He spent every waking moment in agony, yet he wouldn’t accept the loss and end his life as most Lykae males would have in his situation. No’ like Bowen, Garreth said. He saw his mate gored, saw her death. I dinna see such proof with Lachlain. No, I searched and searched and found . . . nothing.

    Game on! a demon called.

    Garreth shook himself from his memories, swigged whiskey, then mustered to the field with his kinsmen.

    Caliban bared his fangs at his opponents, a gesture Garreth returned as the teams huddled up.

    Quick snap. Ball in play. Passed to Caliban. Garreth saw his chance, charging for him, pumping his arms for speed . . . faster . . . faster . . . He leapt for the demon, tackling him with all his strength.

    As they careened to the ground, a length of Caliban’s horn snapped off, and he bellowed with rage. You’re going to pay for that, Lykae!

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    For miles, Lucia the Huntress had been stalking her night’s prey, growing increasingly perplexed when the tracks she followed led her closer to what sounded like a battle, echoing with roars and curses.

    Mayhem? Without inviting the Valkyrie? And in our territory, too? If beings were going to trespass in order to war, they should at least have the courtesy to invite the host faction to the conflict.

    When she came upon the battlefield, Lucia canted her head to the side. Clash of the Loreans, she thought as she beheld modern gladiators—not at war, but at play. Immortal rugby.

    Winds whipped along the mile-long field, and lightning flashed above them, mirroring the intensity of the contest. It was like a ceremony celebrating . . . maleness.

    Lucia easily recognized the horned players as demons, and she suspected their shirtless opponents were Lykae. If so, then the rumors were true. The werewolves were in fact encroaching on Valkyrie territory. She was surprised. In the past, they’d kept to themselves, staying at their sprawling compound outside of the city.

    Congregating at the sidelines, Nymph spectators trembled with excitement, likely seeing this as no more than a mud-wrestling match between brawny heartthrobs.

    A ruthless hit on the field made Lucia raise a brow. Not at the violence—she was a shield maiden after all—but at the unthinking violence. Though these Loreans all trespassed, they were oblivious to an Archer in their midst, one who could inflict serious damage—very swiftly and from a great distance.

    Levelheaded Lucia, as she was now known, didn’t comprehend unthinking. But then she didn’t comprehend men. Never had.

    Luckily for them, the only violence she’d deliver this eve would be to her targets: two kobolds—vile gnomelike creatures—who’d been seen stalking human young to feed on.

    Her sister Nïx, the half-mad Valkyrie soothsayer, had dispatched her to these bayous to dispose of them. Lucia had asked Regin to join her, but she’d declined, preferring to play video games in the comfort of their coven over another rain-drenched bug hunt.

    Lucia had jumped at the chance. After donning a T-shirt and hiking shorts, she’d strapped on her leather thigh quiver, archer’s glove, and forearm guard. With her trusty bow in hand, she’d set out at once . . . .

    Another brutal hit. She nearly winced at the impact from that one—a piece of horn skipped down the field like a lost helmet—but she wasn’t surprised. Lykae and demons were two of the most brutal species on earth.

    Worse, one of those bare-chested males had caught Lucia’s attention. Completely. No matter how badly she wished otherwise, Lucia still noted attractive men, and as the teams skirmished, she couldn’t help but appreciate the power in his towering frame, his speed and agility. Though mud splattered his torso and a shadow of a beard swathed his lean face, she still found him handsome in a rough and tumble way.

    His eyes were a burnished gold color with rakish laugh lines fanning out from them. At one time, he’d been happy; he clearly wasn’t now. Tension radiated from his body, anger blazing off him.

    When those golden irises flickered a bright ice blue, she confirmed what he was. A Lykae. A werewolf.

    An animal. His handsome face masked a beast, literally.

    You call that a hit, you bluidy ponce! he yelled at one of the demons, the muscles in his neck and chest standing out in strain as he bowed up and bared his fangs. His accent was Scottish, but then most of the Lykae were Highlanders—or they used to be, before homesteading southern Louisiana. Aye, Caliban! Go fook yerself!

    Others were drawing him back from a particularly large demon, seeming exasperated, as if the male had been picking fights all night. Probably had. The Lykae were considered a menace in the Lore, with little control over their ferocity. In fact, they seemed to revel in it.

    One hundred percent unadulterated male, alpha to the core. And still he was making her . . . lust. As the game continued, Lucia waited for revulsion to drown out her attraction. And waited.

    Yet with each pitiless blow the male gave—and took—and with each of his growled threats and taunts, it burned hotter. Her breaths shallowed and her small claws went from straight to curling, aching to clutch a warm body to her own.

    But when she remembered the last time she’d felt like this, a chill swept over her. She dragged her gaze from his antics and surveyed the nymphs frolicking on the sidelines. Lucia had once been like them—hedonistic, serving no higher purpose.

    Am I still to be like them? No, she was disciplined now; she had a code. I’m a Skathian—by right of pain and the blood I’ve spilled.

    With a hard shake of her head, she forced herself to focus on her mission—dispatching the kobolds. To the naked eye, they appeared cherubic, but they were actually ground dwellers with reptilian features. And when their populations went unchecked they tended to snatch human young, which jeopardized all of Lorekind.

    The pair had split up, one of them fleeing deeper into the swamps, while the other hid behind the wall of nymph spectators, assuming itself safe in this crowd.

    Lucia absently fingered the flights of the barbed arrows strapped to her thigh and savored the comforting weight of her bow over her shoulder.

    Her prey assumed wrong. The Archer never missed.

    TWO

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    Garreth swiftly broke away from the pack of demons at his heels, gaining more and more ground toward the goal. Rain pelted him as his speed increased.

    This would be an easy score, taking him nearly the entire length of the field. Finally the demons pursuing him gave up, slowing one by one, hailing curses.

    Yet then, in the most bewildering moment of his life, Garreth’s lids grew heavy and his dark claws bit into the ball he carried, puncturing it. As he inhaled deeply, he isolated a new, exquisite scent from a thousand threads of them—the coppery smell of lightning, cut blades of grass, the swampy bayous all around them. Sensations overwhelmed him, racking his muscles as he slowed.

    Her. My mate. She’s near . . . . She was downwind but close enough that he detected her. He didn’t know what she looked like, what her name was, or even her species. Yet he’d been waiting a millennium—his entire existence—for her. His head swung around in the direction of the scent.

    A small female stood alone off to the side of the field.

    At his first sight of her, his breath was lost, his Lykae Instinct roaring to life within him.

    —Yours. Take her.—

    She was half a mile or so away, but he saw her clearly through the rain, could make out every detail. She had pouting pink lips and flashing amber eyes. A black bow was strapped over her petite body, and she’d tied a leather quiver full of arrows to her thigh. Wee pointed ears poked out through her mane of long, wet hair. Yes, mine.

    Gods, she was as exquisite as her scent—

    Wham! The demons tackled him with the force of a freight train, flattening him on the field, piling on top of him. His left shoulder popped from its joint. A knee to his jaw wrenched three back teeth loose. He growled, not with pain but with frustration, punching the still-hitting demons with his one good arm. As he battled to free himself, he sucked his teeth into his windpipe.

    The twins ran to help him, finally peeling the demons off him. Garreth struggled to his knees, futilely coughing, hacking as he watched the strange female.

    Suddenly, in a laserlike movement, she readied her bow, nocked three arrows from her quiver, and drew the bowstring to her cheek. What the hell? Everything happening so fast . . . Aiming for the nymphs? No, not them. A kobold cowering among them. Never hit it from so far away.

    She was poised, motionless, for a shot. Though rain and wind whipped her hair over her cheek, she never blinked, never took her eye from her target even after she released that bowstring.

    The arrows flew between two nymphs and sliced through the kobold’s neck, severing its head from its miniature body. A fantastical shot. Yet she appeared bored with the result.

    Heaving, choking, Garreth saw her casually wend her way through the stunned nymphs. Once she reached the two pieces of kobold, the archeress chucked them into the nearby swamp.

    She replaced the bow over her body, then strolled back in the direction she’d come from. When she realized all attention was on her, she slowed. Oh. She gave them a Queen Elizabeth wave and said, Play on.

    As he wheezed and his cousins whaled hits on his back like anvil blows, she met Garreth’s gaze. He reached a muddy hand toward her, but she frowned with disdain, then disappeared into the brush. Finally Uilleam kicked Garreth in the back, and his back teeth flew from his windpipe like Chiclets.

    What in the hell’s the matter with you? Munro demanded.

    Between labored breaths, Garreth clambered to his feet. He’d been told what to expect when finding his mate, but never had he imagined the strength of his reaction. It’s . . . happened.

    They knew immediately what he spoke of. Munro looked incredulous; Uilleam, jealous. How long had they both been waiting?

    The archer? Uilleam asked. "Never seen anyone shoot like that. But she looked like she might be . . . a Valkyrie."

    Munro swore under his breath, Bluidy bad luck.

    Just force my shoulder back in place! Be quick, man! Naturally, the first time Garreth encountered his mate—the one he’d awaited so long—she’d seen him calling his competitors pussies and playing by dirty rules. He was shirtless, well on his way to being drunk, and filthy with blood and mud. He wasn’t even wearing shoes.

    And it probably appeared as if he’d been about to take part in an orgy.

    You tell no one of this, Garreth grated.

    Why the hell no’? Munro gave a hard yank on Garreth’s arm.

    "Whatever she may be, she’s other, he said. And she’s to be the Lykae queen? No one knows, not until she’s marked and mated. Vow it!"

    Aye, then, we vow it, Uilleam said.

    The second they popped his shoulder back in, he took off at a sprint. —Track her. Claim.— With his Instinct louder and sharper than it’d ever been, he ran headlong through the rain.

    He’d just been despairing over another year without his older brother, another year of royal responsibilities that he’d never thought would fall to him. On this day, the fates still refused to surrender Lachlain. But they’d given Garreth his mate in that ethereal creature.

    As he charged forward, excitement welled within him, followed by overwhelming relief. With the way the rain had been pouring earlier, he could’ve missed her scent. Now he was on her trail.

    Yet at the line of moss-curtained cypresses—the entrance to the most remote section of the swamp—he slowed. Somehow her scent was emanating from four different directions. He decided on one to follow, then raced through the brush, hurdling streams and bogs.

    When he reached the source of the scent and there was no sign of her, he turned in place. Then gazed up to find one of her arrows lodged in a tree, so deep only the flights showed. And to those, she’d tied little bits of her T-shirt. Clever girl. She’d used her arrows to obscure her trail.

    But he would follow each to the end, tracking her for as long as it took. She’d been born for him. And I was born to find her . . . .

    Terrain passed beneath his feet for half an hour before he located her true trail. With the innate stealth of his kind, he prowled closer, hunting this huntress in the now drizzling rain.

    The swamp made it easy for him to approach her undetected. There were a thousand shadows to conceal him, with animals constantly creeping about to distract her.

    Once he spied her again, he just stopped himself from sucking in a breath. Up close, she was even lovelier than he’d thought her. She had to be a Valkyrie, one among a species of women both notoriously beautiful . . . and notoriously fierce.

    Her features were stunning—high, bold cheekbones, plump lips, and a slim, pixie nose—but her coloring made her beyond compare. Her skin was golden and smooth, her eyes the color of Scots whiskey.

    She was of middling height and curvy, wearing a wet white T-shirt that hugged generous breasts. Khaki shorts fitted tightly over her pert arse and displayed shapely legs. Her hair was long—a dark mane, heavy with rain.

    On her right hand, she wore a leather shooting glove. A long leather forearm guard stretched from her left wrist to her elbow. Who knew archery gear could be so sexy?

    His female would wear her leathers when he took her curvy wee body tonight. At the thought, his shaft hardened in his damp jeans, and he almost growled.

    Instead, he silently followed her, watching as she closed in on the prey he’d already scented in the burrows beneath them.

    If she was in fact a Valkyrie, she’d possess superhuman senses like his own—keen hearing and the ability to see in the dark or over long distances. Yet her sense of smell wouldn’t be nearly as developed as his own. She’d need to track the creature by sight and sound—and she was doing so expertly.

    But all the while she would freeze, jerking her head back in his direction, her pointed ears twitching.

    Without warning, she leapt up into a waterlogged oak, crouching there as she resumed her shooting stance, nocking another arrow. From a distance, her short bow was unassuming, a recurve bow with the ends arching away from her and a thickened grip in the middle. Typical, if old fashioned. But as he neared he could see there were etched gold markings in the polished black wood.

    Her weapon was as fine and proud as its owner obviously was . . . .

    She went motionless, aiming directly for the spot where he’d scented her prey. Did she plan to hit it through the earth?

    Aye, because in a reaper’s voice, she whispered, Underground won’t save you.

    THREE

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    I can hear its breath, muffled now. Lucia knew the kobold had gone underground, scurrying for its life. She’d trailed it here, easily reading the signs that all prey left behind.

    From this angle in the tree, she could shoot into the ground, piercing her arrow straight into the tunnel beneath. Her special arrow—it’d go in sleek and aerodynamic until contact, then it would release three razor-sharp barbs.

    Soon she’d report two confirmed kills back to Nucking Futs Nïx. Just as Lucia always did. And then what? Then I’ll repeat days like this, over and over, until the Accession.

    When the nightmares came.

    For now, kill the kobold, go home.

    Yet for some reason, instead of focusing on her target, she recalled broad shoulders and lean cheeks, remembering how the Lykae had looked at her just before he’d been tackled. He’d stared, heaving breaths with that barrel chest, sweat trickling down his muscled torso. Until he’d gotten flattened by some of the biggest demons she’d ever seen.

    His interest had disconcerted her. In fact, all eyes had been on her—something that didn’t often happen since Lucia usually had the brazen, showstopping Regin the Radiant to distract notice from her.

    But if anyone, including that male—who surely hadn’t been reaching for her with that grubby paw—had gotten curious and actually followed her, she’d taken care to cover her tracks.

    Lucia shook her head hard, refocusing, inhaling a breath. Once she exhaled, she held herself motionless, sighting down the arrow’s length. The ancient inscriptions on her bow seemed to glow . . . .

    She released the string. With a thunk, the arrow punctured the ground, boring deep, all the way to the kobold burrowed below. A muffled shriek sounded.

    Target hit. Even underground, she’d nailed it. Not surprising—she hadn’t missed a shot in centuries. Skathi’s essence literally worked like a charm.

    Lucia swung her bow back across her body, then leapt down to finish off her immortal prey with a swift beheading. It’s hard being this good, she thought as she sauntered to the spot of contact. It’s harder to act modest. She sighed. My cross to bear.

    Three tenets comprised the Skathian code: honesty, chastity, and humility. She managed honesty—mostly—and chastity totally. But she couldn’t grasp the reasoning behind humility.

    When she neared, the creature scurried in the tunnel beneath her feet, making the arrow shaft dart frenziedly in the mucky ground, which amused her.

    This was her greatest pleasure—the hunt. When she was out like this, she felt less like an imposter, filled with shameful secrets. In these moments, she didn’t feel as if her sins were stamped upon her like a scarlet letter for all to see.

    And she could briefly forget what would soon befall her in the approaching Accession.

    Shaking away that thought, she crouched to dig free her prey, hauling it out by the ankle in a rush of mud and roots. Still in cherubic form, the kobold squirmed frenetically, her arrow jutting from its throat.

    She dropped it to the ground and plucked free her arrow, taking half its neck with those barbs. The creature transformed, growing reptilian, with snakelike eyes and scaly skin. When it snapped its now elongated fangs at her, she turned the arrow lengthwise, pressing the shaft down over what was left of its neck.

    As blood sprayed up her arms, she grinned, relishing her job as enforcer of laws.

    Lucia had just beheaded the thing when her ears twitched with awareness yet again. Something’s watching me. She leapt back to her feet, eyes darting. Something close.

    The male. She sensed it was him—but how had he gotten the drop on her?

    She peered into the shadows and almost gasped when golden eyes glowed back. Why are you following me? she demanded. On occasion, she acted as a negotiator between factions because she was so patient and levelheaded—or so everyone thought. Perhaps he sought her help to solve some grievance.

    The male stalked closer to her, ignoring the natural path, heading directly for her. A Lykae had made her the object of its interest. Never a good development.

    How could I no’ follow a lass as bonny as you? he asked in a raspy brogue. The mud had washed clean, revealing the perfection of his still-bare chest and torso and all the strong planes of his face. His chin was stubborn with a hint of a cleft, his skin tan, with those faint laugh lines etched beside golden eyes. Rain spiked his lashes.

    His thick hair was wet and dark, whipping across his lean cheeks. She’d bet it’d be a rich brown when dry.

    His gaze met hers for long moments before he leisurely took in every feature of her face. The way he looked at her was consuming, savoring—as if she were the most beautiful creature on earth and he’d been starved for the sight of her.

    She frowned as a sense of awareness seemed to tingle through her every nerve.

    When his gaze dipped to her body, he raised a shaking hand to run over his mouth, clearly liking what he saw.

    What’s not to like— No! Act reasonable and serious. Above all things be rational. Who are you?

    I’m Garreth MacRieve of the Lykae clan. He drew nearer and she sidled back. They began circling each other. Never seen anyone shoot like you.

    That truly never got old. Because no one can, she answered matter-of-factly.

    Had the corner of his lips briefly curled? What devil did you make a deal with to shoot like that?

    She almost sighed. Devil? I did something entirely different with him. She stifled the memories that had begun to surface more and more often.

    Mayhap your bow’s enchanted?

    My bow’s not enchanted—merely unequaled. For over a thousand years, it’d held fast, as perfectly honed today as it’d been the night of Lucia’s transformation. The black ash wood was polished to a sheen and carved with elaborate inscriptions. In a long-dead language, it was written that Lucia was a servant to the goddess Skathi. Forever. You don’t think mine could be a natural—goddess-given—talent?

    "Aye. But to marry talent and beauty such as yours as well? Hardly sporting to other lasses."

    She’d often thought so herself. Luckily for them, she had no interest in garnering a man’s attention.

    And you could no’ be bonnier.

    In fact, she could be. Her hair was drenched. Her clothes were boring—a serviceable pair of shorts and a plain T-shirt. She wore no makeup or jewelry, but then, she never did. Not since she’d started wearing the bow.

    Are you fey or Valkyrie?

    I’m an Archer. A celibate in plain clothes. A shadow in the background. Guess. At least he got points for not mistaking her for a nymph. Unfortunately, the two species resembled each other with their elven features. That was where all similarities ended.

    With the bow and the pointed ears, I’d normally say fey. But you’ve wee fangs and claws, so I fear it will no’ be so easy as that.

    Easy? What are you talking about?

    He opened his mouth, then closed it, slanting his head at her in an appraising way. She sensed that whatever he’d been about to tell her, he decided against it, instead saying: Seduction. Valkyrie are notoriously difficult to seduce.

    He wanted to seduce her? No talk of a date, of courting, just sex. Men! Difficult, you say? If you’ve made a go at one of us in your current state—unshaven, bloody, half-dressed, and covered in mud—I just can’t imagine why. Not to mention that you smell of mash and distillery. Be still my heart.

    He scrubbed a palm over his face, seeming surprised to find stubble there. Today is no’ a good day for me.

    Then you should go back and enjoy your groupies. I’ve always heard that nothing brightens one’s outlook like an orgy with nymphs. Why this sharp tone? As if she were jealous. A spark of disquiet arose in her.

    Doona want them. He drew closer. Even before I saw you. He gazed deeply into her eyes, as if he could see through her chaste, ascetic shell and recognize how wild she truly was. As if he knew her façade was a shaky house of cards that could be felled with a touch.

    You have a darkness in you, Lucia, Skathi had warned her eons ago. You must constantly be vigilant against it.

    Yes, vigilant. Lucia needed to get home, away from this rumbling-voiced werewolf. A face like his had been her undoing once, a handsome face that had concealed a monster.

    Just as this one’s did.

    The attraction isn’t mutual, she said crisply. So be on your way. With that, she turned to dispose of her kill, intending to throw the pieces into the water for the animals there to feed on. When she bent for the kobold’s head, the Lykae picked up the body, as if he were being gentlemanly, retrieving a dropped handkerchief. So surreal. They lobbed the pieces into the murky water.

    Her task done, she brushed off her hands and turned for home.

    He followed.

    She stopped, glaring briefly at the sky before telling him, "Werewolf, save yourself both time and effort. Whatever is the opposite of a sure thing, that’s me."

    Because I’m a Lykae?

    Because you’re a man. "You were right earlier—I am a Valkyrie. And my kind considers yours little better than animals." They did. Though Lykae weren’t formal enemies like the vampires, older Valkyrie had battled them in the past, during bygone Accessions—faction-wide wars in the Lore. They’d said it was rare to see one fully turned unless you threatened their mate or offspring, but that even a hint of the beast that resided inside them was harrowing . . . .

    So where was the conviction in Lucia’s tone?

    Aye, mayhap they do, but what do you consider me? He narrowed his eyes. Surely you doona agree with them or you would no’ want me to mate you now.

    Her lips parted. "Mate me? I’ve met arrogant males in my day, but you are the king of them."

    A shadow passed over his face. The king, then? What a way of putting it. But he quickly recovered. "Then give me a boon for taking the prize.

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