Read Shadows of Fate (Shadow Born) Online
Authors: Angela Dennis
Shadows of Fate (Shadow Born) (34 page)
Warm masculine laughter spilled from his throat, an invitation for sex that would have drowned an unprotected woman in a sea of lust. “I never forget why I like you.”
“Well that makes one of us. What do you want, Connor?” It was the second time she’d asked. If he forced a third, she would have to remind him that despite his position, she ruled this theatre.
The Midnight Mystery Lounge belonged to her, and it didn’t matter that it sat nestled in the heart of the Arcana Royale. She owned it through her blood, sweat and tears. Everything and everyone in it was under her protection. She fought for those contracts, held them tight in her fists, and wouldn’t allow the Overseers any more influence than they were due. Yes, they had some lease on the girls’ souls, but she had everything else. She hoarded that control and the ability to negotiate their freedom when the right circumstances presented themselves.
“Fine. Business it is, then.” Disappointment flickered across his face, too quick for her to grasp what had upset him. She ignored the tug of curiosity. Better to avoid traveling that path again. “We have an issue that needs your delicate touch.”
My delicate touch? Circumstances must be dire indeed if he issued his invitation in such flattering terms. “I’m listening.”
Connor pulled his legs back and leaned forward. His intense gaze locked on hers and urged her cooperation. The compulsion eddied over the surface of her skin, but couldn’t quite penetrate her shields. It wasn’t on purpose, his power came from deep within and he wore it like others would a finely cut suit—natural and effortless.
“An FBI agent checked into the Royale this morning. His name is Finn Mikelson.” He paused, as though waiting for her to acknowledge the name.
The name meant nothing to her, however. “And I care because…?”
“Because he is here to gather evidence about the casino’s secrets and to build a case against the owners.” The declaration actually surprised her.
Frowning, Heidi continued to pet Minion’s head, gentle, soothing strokes. It helped her stay calm as much as it kept the imp asleep. “He’s human?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you worried?” She saw the agitation under the words, in his bearing, and hanging around his neck like a noose threatening to string him up.
Connor tried to force a more relaxed posture. It didn’t work. “He is a very stubborn human. He makes his living doing surveillance and is extremely talented.”
Heidi waved a hand.
“He’s still human. There’s more to it. Spill.”
“He’s a null.” He pushed the words out through gritted teeth.
A null—well, that explains Connor’s presence. “So the natural enchantments don’t work on him.”
“No.” As one of four remaining Overseers, Connor wielded considerable power. That only he approached her suggested his fellow Overseers remained divided on how to handle the issue. Or perhaps he acted alone without their knowledge or approval.
She imagined it was some combination of the two. The Overseers lost one of their number just a couple of months before and had, to her knowledge, not replaced their fifth. That meant the four who remained had to drain their considerable personal resources to maintain the protections over the casino.
Exerting some energy, she wound a spell around the Minion and activated the little one’s teleportation ability. The imp vanished with a poof to Heidi’s private suite where she could sleep safe and undisturbed.
Inching forward on her seat, she flattened her palms against the desk. “If he is a null, then my only option is to put him in a puzzle box. I could remove the issue, but that would generate far more interest if he disappeared while here on assignment.” They rarely needed to deal with the human authorities, but it wasn’t unheard of. Actions demanded consequence, but did they dare risk attracting more agents to search for one downed man? She doubted it.
“No. That needs to be an absolute last resort. I want to use one of your girls. Let her seduce him, distract him, change the data if necessary—”
“My girls are not prostitutes.” Nor would she sell them out to the highest bidder.
“No, but one of them owes us a favor. We’re calling that favor in now.”
And there was the rub.
“She is far too innocent to do what you’re asking.” Innocent wasn’t the correct word, but the woman’s innate sunshine and honesty powdered her every action like sweet sugar on glazed donuts.
“It’s what makes her perfect. She need not truly deceive, just distract, enchant, seduce. I have seen your dancers. They are all capable of it.” Connor didn’t threaten, but she didn’t mistake the steel in his tone for a request.
“I will ask her. If she agrees, fine. If not—”
“If not, she doesn’t need to stay here any longer. We can revoke our agreement.” The FBI agent’s arrival clearly had him rattled. The thought intrigued her, but she refused to let it distract her.
“You cannot take away her sanctuary.”
“Why not? If the man is successful, we will find more threats coming at us than some unhappy gamblers. If the humans discover this haven, it will have to be destroyed—along with everything it holds—to ensure no trace exists to lead them to any of our kind. We survive and thrive because we remain out of sight. Human authorities know we are here, but if they have no proof, they don’t act. Strip away the curtain and everyone loses.” Dramatic—yet effective.
“Fine. I will talk to her. Now get out of my theatre.” She didn’t envy Peppermint this task. The woman’s gentle soul was a fragile, beautiful thing. She wasn’t given easily to deceit.
Connor leaned over and placed his hand along the back of hers. The warmth of his palm flattened over her skin and electricity zinged through her. Her shields flared. Heidi didn’t pull her hand away, but she shut down her response to the physical contact.
The Overseer’s teeth flashed in a tight, feral grin. Power shimmered in the air between them—buzzing with menace. “You may run your theatre, but we both know that your throne is also your prison.”
“You’re boring me, Connor.” She spared him a minute smile and resisted any pleasure at the fury flashing across his eyes before he could shutter the emotion. “Go away and bother someone else.”
He didn’t move so much as disappear. The surge cost her and she sagged back against the chair. Banishing him from the theatre was the only influence she could exert over the creature she’d once loved.
Closing her eyes, she brought her rebellious heart under control and concentrated on draining the uneasy emotions his presence stirred. Peppermint would wake in a few hours and Heidi would give her the task. And if she fails—shutting down the business would free Connor.
She quashed the thought and forced her mind back to the folder on her desk. Opening it again, she stared at the pages, but couldn’t focus on the words. Destroying the Arcana Royale would answer so many problems—
But could she really sacrifice so many for the good of herself?
Shadows Of Fate
Angela Dennis
Redemption lies beyond the veil between truth and lies.
Shadow Born, Book 1
After witnessing her husband’s brutal murder, Brenna Baudouin lost control of her Shadow Bearer powers and wreaked havoc on her home world. Her penance: one hundred years policing hordes of supernatural misfits that spilled onto the Earthly plane after a cataclysmic war.
She’s on a routine exorcism run when she learns she’s been assigned a new partner. But there’s something about this Shadow Bearer that sparks her suspicions. Particularly when people closest to her start turning up as piles of ash.
Gray Warlow holds tight to the glamour that allows him to get close to the woman on whom he plans to wreak vengeance for betraying his people. Yet as he skillfully manipulates his way past her distrust, he begins to see her not as the heartless monster he was led to believe, but a strong, vulnerable woman.
As they work to put together the pieces of a killer’s macabre puzzle, an attraction deeper than blood and bone flares between them. And they must reveal their deepest secrets to avoid becoming the final targets.
Warning: A thrill ride of supernatural proportions. Contains violent battle scenes, nail-biting suspense, crazy hot sexual tension, and enough twists and turns to make your head spin.
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B
Cincinnati OH 45249
Shadows of Fate
Copyright © 2014 by Angela Dennis
ISBN: 978-1-61921-927-4
Edited by Noah Chinn
Cover by Kanaxa
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: April 2014
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