An Authorized Excerpt
Magic thrummed in the icy pitch of the night air. Sorcery
and song combined to create a powerful and potent spell, one
that promised to be all Jaden had demanded.
Arrah contained her wrath, pushed it into the darkest corner
of her soul, as she concentrated on the binding harmony she
was weaving with the winds. Power surged within her, and she
breathed in the sweet, pure essence of earth-force,
captivated now by the mystical rapture that the music
stirred and sent spiraling into the night.
Waves rose and battered the ebony shores of the Isle of Nyx,
their crashing voice another rhythm of power in the
enchantment. The winds coalesced, added their resonant wail
to the euphony of sounds that filled the air, and she
shuddered, savage spirit attuned to the maelstrom of forces
that engulfed her. She shifted the tone of her song, weaving
greater torrents of madness into the music, and the night
darkened further.
With the blackness came vision.
And Jaden.
She caught his unique scent, heard the whisper of silk
moving rhythmically with each step he took toward her. She
felt the power of his very presence long before his graceful
hand came to rest at her shoulder.
“The Spectre is ready for launch.”
Jaden’s smooth, sensual voice caressed her, as silken and
alluring as the power that vibrated within her body. She
smiled, felt his arms glide around her waist, and the soft,
evocative stroke of his tongue at the side of her neck made
her tremble. His hands roamed freely over her, everywhere at
once, lighting fire and hunger in her veins as he touched
and explored familiar curves. She arched away from him, and
he pulled her back against the solid steel of his body. Her
voice reached a new crescendo of furious power when his
mouth covered the throbbing pulse at her neck. She felt the
sharp piercing of her skin, then their thoughts merged and
reached outward as he sought beyond the storm she’d conjured
for him.
Long minutes later, he released his hold on her and turned
her to face him, dark eyes glittering in the darkness. He
smiled, tenderness in the shift of his perfect features. She
leaned up to kiss his cheek, then bent her forehead to his
chest, faintly aware of the stolen heartbeat that was hers,
hearing the even cadence that was a flawless echo of each
thump of life within her.
“How long will you need?” she asked, her earlier anger faded
for the moment.
“We will return before dawn,” he replied with faint laughter
in his rich tone.
“Is this treasure worth the risk you take, Jaden?” She
wasn’t as certain as he appeared to be. Something, an
indefinable and worrisome element that remained out of her
reach, nagged at her.
“This treasure is far more than gold and jewels, Arrah,” he
purred gently.
Startled, she met his gaze. “What did you see?”
“Betrayal.”
Her eyes grew huge; she felt it happen as he smiled down at
her.
“Have faith,” he murmured as he bent to kiss her lips, a
slow, erotic caress that tasted faintly of blood and magic.
“Wait for me,” he added with a wink, then he vanished in an
inky swirl of mist and silken cloak.
