“Come here.” His voice was low and rough, and Sin’s furious glare burned a hole right through him.
“Screw you.”
“Been there, done that,” he growled. “Now, come here.”
She shot him the bird and started toward the door. “I don’t respond well to orders.”
He was up in a flash, and he had her backed up against the wall. “Then what do you respond to, little demon?”
She struck out, but before her fist could knock his teeth loose, she hissed and grabbed her head as the anti-violence enchantment kicked in.
More gently than she deserved, he peeled her bleeding hand away from her head and swiped his tongue over the needle puncture. God, she tasted decadent, with a bite like fine brandy, and he couldn’t help but let his tongue linger on her skin.
The air between them crackled with sudden heat, and his hips surged as he pressed his palm to her delicate throat.
Power swamped him… She was life. She was death. She was the most dangerous female he’d ever met, and if he was smart, he’d run like hell.
“Ione knows how to make your heart race.”
—CHEYENNE MCCRAY, New York Times
bestselling author of The Second Betrayal
MORE PRAISE FOR LARISSA IONE
ECSTASY UNVEILED
“4½ Stars! Rich with passion, mystery, and mythology. Ione is a master worldbuilder, and one can’t help but fall headlong into this imaginative and compelling story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Compulsively readable… intensely interesting… this book was awesome.”
—LikesBooks.com
“Great… fast-paced… a strong tale that has the audience believing that demons and angels walk the earth.”
—Midwest Book Review
“An astonishing addition to Larissa Ione’s Demonica series… fast-paced and totally captivating… The most action-packed and suspense-driven Demonica novel to date, readers will be hard pressed to put Ecstasy Unveiled down.”
—RomanceJunkies.com
“Overwhelmingly moving at times, totally hilarious during others, and always a captivatingly magical adventure… The Demonica series is always fascinating and the fourth book superbly demonstrates why its gifted creator is an unequaled storyteller. Larissa Ione cleverly combines plots and memorable characters with her special brand of humor to craft outstanding paranormal tales.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Paranormal romance at its finest… a fast-paced thrill ride of epic proportions that will have you on the edge of your seat, cheering for the good guys… This series holds no punches and is becoming a serious must-have… it will definitely not disappoint.”
—Examiner.com
“Fast-paced and fun… The action in this book is nonstop and I never once wished I was doing anything but reading the book while the story lasted.”
—DearAuthor.com
“Ione’s best yet… a fast-paced read that kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next!… Each Demonica book just keeps getting better and better. The momentum of the story and pacing keeps you drawn in until way past your bedtime.”
—FictionVixen.com
“A wicked and exhilarating ride full of provocative and arousing love scenes and intense physical and emotional encounters that left me beyond a doubt captivated from cover to cover.”
—BittenByBooks.com
PASSION UNLEASHED
“4½ Stars! The third book in Ione’s supercharged Demonica series ignites on the first page and never looks back… Adventure, action, and danger leap off every page. The best of the series to date!”
—RT Book Reviews
“Fast-paced from the onset and never slows down until the exhilarating climax… Readers will be enthralled by the action and the charmed lead couple.”
—Midwest Book Reviews
“Larissa Ione pulls no punches… The love scenes are scorching hot and grab at your heart with their emotional intensity. Dark moments are written with just the right touch of hope that leaves the reader begging for a happy ending. I couldn’t have loved Passion Unleashed more and hated for it to end. Raw, gritty, and tremendously passionate… It was awesome!”
—RomanceJunkies.com
“5 Stars! Larissa has outdone herself with the story of Wraith. I was pulled into this story from the first page. The action is intense and nonstop. I was engrossed and enthralled… and highly recommend adding this series to your library.”
—BittenByBooks.com
“Awesome… Everyone loves a bad boy and Wraith is so the poster bad boy. Another great novel… Ione gives us a great spin on the relationship between her ‘Buffys’ and the demons of the world, along with a good apocalypse.”
—LiteraryEscapism.com
“Heart-pounding… outstandingly superb… an adventure-filled romance where passion and danger continuously mount… The plot and characters are truly unforgettable.”
—SingleTitles.com
“A delightful paranormal romance with strong world-building and a suspenseful plot. Passion Unleashed will captivate readers… The seducer is about to be seduced, and fans won’t be disappointed.”
—DarqueReviews.com
“Plenty of steamy love scenes… nicely balanced with a high-octane plot… Larissa Ione is fast becoming a master at telling dark, edgy, and highly complex paranormal tales.”
—BookLoons.com
“Absolutely fabulous! Wraith is the ultimate bad boy who is just begging for salvation and Serena is his perfect complement. Ms. Ione will have paranormal fans begging for more.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
DESIRE UNCHAINED
“4 Stars! Rising star Ione is back in this latest Demonica novel… Ione has a true gift for imbuing her characters with dark-edged passion… thrilling action and treacherous vengeance… a top-notch read.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Wicked… decadently sinful… prepare to be burned!”
—Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author
“A fabulous tale… The story line is fast-paced from the opening sequence… Fans will relish a visit to the Ione realm.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Warning! Read at your own risk. Highly addictive… Rising star Larissa Ione takes her already well-crafted and unique demon world to new heights. The sex is darker, hotter, wickeder, and wonderfully erotic; the vengeful enemy is diabolical, and the story line is unparalleled. Ione is a master at creating tortured, sexy bad boys who are full of flaws and make you melt… Desire Unchained may only be book two in her Demonica series, but I’m completely head-over-heels in love. I have never been so enthralled with a series before. With the end of each book, I’m left desperately wanting more.”
—FreshFiction.com
“Imaginatively riveting… Emotional intensity is the driving force behind every Larissa Ione book. Scenes may be packed with suspenseful peril or steamy passions or even quick humor and clever banter, yet it is the emotions behind the reactions of the characters that really grab the reader.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Five Stars! Recommended read. I have to say that I absolutely love this book. Larissa Ione has become one of my favorite authors, and I crave more of her books. The first book in her Demonica series was fantastic, and this one is even better… [Shade] is the perfect romance hero… The whole world and all the other characters have taken a place in my heart… I wish I could go back and read Desire Unchained again for the first time. It was just that good.”
—FallenAngelReviews.com
PLEASURE UNBOUND
“What a ride! Dark, sexy, and very intriguing, the book gripped me from start to finish—totally recommended.
”
—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author of Mine to Possess
“4 Stars! [Ione’s] hard-edged style infuses the story with darkness while taking it to sizzling heights.”
—RT Book Reviews
“5 Stars! Fascinatingly innovative… full of fervent encounters and shocking disclosures… compelling scenes and dynamic characters. Never has the paranormal world been more intriguing. Pleasure Unbound will leave a lasting impact on the reader, as this unforgettable story will evoke emotions long after the last page is read.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Fast-paced… never slows down… Romantic fantasy fans will appreciate the first Demonica tale.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Intense, engrossing, and titillating, Pleasure Unbound is a story not to be missed. I can’t wait for the next story.”
—RRTErotic.com
“Ione has… created a very imaginative demonic tapestry as well as rich, multilayered characterizations… a heady blend that I look forward to revisiting in her next installment.”
—BookLoons.com
“4½ Stars! Wow, wow, wow! This is one hot demon love story! The pages are riddled with action, sex, and danger. The intensity is palpable. I was moved by this love story and will think about it for some time.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“Sexy, dark, and emotion-filled… Took me on a rip-roaring ride through every emotion I have… Go out and buy a copy today.”
—JoyfullyReviewed.com
ALSO BY LARISSA IONE
Pleasure Unbound
Desire Unchained
Passion Unleashed
Ecstasy Unveiled
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2010 by Larissa Ione
Excerpt from Eternal Rider copyright ©2010 by Larissa Ione Estell
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Grand Central Publishing
Hachette Book Group
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New York, NY 10017
Visit our website at www.HachetteBookGroup.com.
www.twitter.com/grandcentralpub.
Grand Central Publishing is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The Grand Central Publishing name and logo is a trademark of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
First eBook Edition: September 2010
ISBN: 978-0-446-57478-5
Contents
Copyright
MORE PRAISE FOR LARISSA IONE
ALSO BY LARISSA IONE
Acknowledgments
Glossary
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Twenty-four
Twenty-five
Twenty-six
Twenty-seven
Twenty-eight
A Preview of Eternal Rider
For all the medical personnel out there. You’ve been the inspiration behind these books. I admire the work you do, and I thank you for the risks you take with your own health and safety. I’ve imposed on many of you for advice regarding some of my medical scenarios, and I can’t thank you enough.
Also, for my sisters-in-law, Stephanie Rice, Andrea Etheridge, and Anna Walker. Your support means so much to me… and it’s a bonus that you like the books!
And for Steve Gitre. I know you would have been proud. You are missed.
Acknowledgments
As always, I have about a million people to thank for their help, support, and just plain awesomeness.
First of all, thank you to everyone at Hachette who has done such a fantastic job with these books! Huge thanks to Amy Pierpont, Alex Logan, Anna Balasi, and Melissa Bullock. I’m sure I make you crazy at times, but you never let on. And I can’t forget everyone in the art department, who has given me some seriously man-chesty goodness on my covers!
Special thanks to Renee, Karissa, and Arlene for Karlene, and Ashley Hopkins and Christy Gibson for their helpful medical advice.
Thank you to Lea Franczak, Melissa Bradley, Michelle Willingham, Ann Aguirre, and Stephanie Tyler for their help and reads. I owe you margaritas. With double shots.
And I owe so many people for just being cool and supportive, not just to me, but to the romance community, readers and authors alike. So a big shout-out to Valentina Paolillo, Larissa Benoliel, Jodie West, Joely Sue Burkhart, Heather Carleton, Diane Stirling, Ryan Rohloff, Tigris Eden, Mandi Schreiner, Hasna Saadani, Sarah Gabe, and Ericka Brooks.
Finally, thank you to all my wonderful readers. I’m truly blessed to have you.
Glossary
The Aegis—Society of human warriors dedicated to protecting the world from evil. See: Guardians, Regent, Sigil
Carceris—The jailors of the underworld. All demon species send representatives to serve terms in the Carceris. Carceris members are responsible for apprehending demons accused of violating demon law, and for acting as guards in the Carceris prisons.
Council—All demon species and breeds are governed by a Council that makes laws and metes out punishment for individual members of their species or breed.
Dresdiin—The demon equivalent of angels. See: Memitim
Fakires—Derogatory term used by vampires to describe humans who either believe themselves to be real vampires or who pretend to be vampires.
Guardians—Warriors for The Aegis, trained in combat techniques, weapons, and magic. Upon induction into The Aegis, all Guardians are presented with an enchanted piece of jewelry bearing the Aegis shield, which, among other things, allows for night vision and the ability to see through demon invisibility enchantment.
Harrowgate—Vertical portals, invisible to humans, that demons use to travel between locations on Earth and Sheoul.
Infadre—A female of any demon species who has been impregnated by a Seminus demon.
Maleconcieo—Highest level of ruling demon boards, served by a representative from each species Council. The U.N. of the demon world.
Marked Sentinel—Humans charmed by angels and tasked with protecting a vital artifact. Sentinels are immortal and immune to harm. Only angels (fallen included) can injure or kill a Sentinel. Their existence is a closely guarded secret.
Memitim—Earthbound angels assigned to protect Primori. Memitim remain earthbound until they complete their duties, at which time they Ascend, earning their wings and entry into Heaven. Also known to demons as dresdiin. See: Dresdiin, Primori
Orgesu—A demon sex slave, often taken from breeds bred specifically for the purpose of providing sex.
Pricolici—Werewolves who are born as such. Pricolici can only conceive during the breeding heat, and offspring are almost always born werewolves, even if the father is varcolac. Pricolici are born with a mark that identifies them as pricolici. See: Varcolac
Primori—Humans and demons whose lives are fated to impact the world in some crucial way.
Regent—Head(s) of local Aegis cells.
Renfield—Fictional character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Also, derogatory term for any human who serves a vampire. A vampire groupie.
S??
?genesis—Final maturation cycle for Seminus demons. Occurs at one hundred years of age. A post-s’genesis male is capable of procreation and possesses the ability to shapeshift into the male of any demon species.
Sheoul—Demon realm. Located deep in the bowels of the earth, accessible only by Harrowgates.
Sheoul-gra—A holding tank for demon souls. The place where demon souls go until they can be reborn or kept in torturous limbo.
Sheoulic—Universal demon language spoken by all, though many species speak their own language.
Sigil—Board of twelve humans known as Elders, who serve as the supreme leaders of The Aegis. Based in Berlin, they oversee all Aegis cells worldwide.
Swans—Humans who act as blood or energy donors for vampires, either actual undead or fakires.
Ter’taceo—Demons who can pass as human, either because their species is naturally human in appearance or because they can shapeshift into human form.
Therionidryo—Term a were-beast uses for a person he or she bit and turned into another were-beast.
Therionidrysi—Any survivor of a were-beast attack. Term used to clarify the relationship between the sire and his therionidryo.
Ufelskala—A scoring system for demons, based on their degree of evil. All supernatural creatures and evil humans can be categorized into the five Tiers, with the Fifth Tier composed of the worst of the wicked.
Varcolac—Werewolves who were once human, turned into wargs by the bite of another. Both born and turned werewolves can infect a human with lycanthropy. Offspring conceived outside the breeding heat are always born human. Offspring conceived during the breeding heat are occasionally infected with lycanthropy in the womb and are born as werewolves. See: Pricolici