Born To Be Wilde: Immortal Vegas, Book 3
Page 28
Also by Jenn Stark
One Wilde Night
Tarot-reading artifact hunter Sara Wilde has had her share of tough assignments, but this one just might take the cake. When her newest client hires her to steal a fertility idol from an Amazonian sex-and-death cult, she finds herself south of the equator and shoulder deep in true believers, while Rio de Janeiro gears up for the closing celebrations of Carnival.
Stealing the idol is one thing, however. Keeping it is another.
The arcane black market has drawn a host of cutthroat operatives and Sara’s now in their sights. In a race across one of the most colorful cities in South America on its most famed night of the year, Sara must navigate cunning enemies, backstabbing allies, a fifty-foot wedding cake float and a new, sensually mysterious contact who may be friend or foe… and whose name she’ll never learn if she doesn’t make it to dawn alive.
No matter what the cards predict, it’s going to be One Wilde Night.
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Getting Wilde
Using her well-worn Tarot deck, magical-artifacts hunter Sara Wilde can find anything—for a price. And the price had better be right, since she needs to finance her own personal mission to rescue several young psychics recently sold on the paranormal black market.
Enter Sara’s most mysterious client and occasional lover, the wickedly sexy Magician, with a job that could yield the ultimate payday. All she’ll have to do is get behind Vatican walls… and steal the Devil himself.
But play with the Devil and you’re bound to get burned.
Pressure mounts for Sara to join the Magician’s ancient and mysterious Arcana Council, as militant forces unleashed by even darker powers seek to destroy all magic—including the young psychics Sara is desperate to keep safe. The Council may be their only hope. . . but it could also expose Sara’s own dark past. .
From the twisting catacombs of Rome to the neon streets of Vegas, Sara confronts ancient enemies, powerful demigods, a roiling magical underworld about to explode… and immortal passions that might require the ultimate sacrifice. But oh, what a way to go.
No matter how the cards play out, things are about to get Wilde.
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Wilde Card
All that glitters may not be gold.
When an antique gold show comes to Vegas, Tarot-reading magical artifacts hunter Sara Wilde’s job is simple: locate and liberate a set of relics rumored to give their bearers access to an ancient, incredible power. With whispers of a war on magic racing through the Connected community, every psychic, mystic, warlock, and witch descends on Sin City to claim the relics first. But no one wants these talismans more than Sara’s client: the insufferably arrogant, criminally sensual, absolutely untrustworthy Magician.
And what the Magician wants…
Sara’s heist takes a turn for the trickier as the smoky-eyed specter from her past, Detective Brody Rooks, is assigned to investigate a break-in at the gold show, forcing her to confront the one man in Vegas she can’t bluff. Even worse, just as she finally gets her hands on the goods, the game changes anew. The resulting chase leads her across the world to an ancient Egyptian temple filled with secrets, deception… and hints about her own abilities that could change everything. Desperate for answers, Sara is forced to turn to the one person she knows will lie, cheat, manipulate and steal to get whatever he craves. Only now, it seems, the Magician wants her.
Sometimes, when the deck is stacked against you… you’ve got to play the Wilde Card.
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A Note From Jenn
The cards that appear at the opening of Born To Be Wilde help Sara navigate her first assignment of the book. Their general interpretations are below – but if you find yourself in a castle looking for treasure, be sure to consider the symbols of the cards themselves, not just their more abstract meanings. Sometimes a cup…really is a cup!
The Star
As Trump 17 of the Major Arcana, the Star is one of the most hopeful cards in the deck. Symbolizing balance, harmony and all things associated with Aquarius, it's both the card of peace, compassion and of having your dreams come true. New opportunities abound for you and you attain your highest potential. In matters of romance, you follow your heart and your intuition and will not be led astray. In matters of creativity, you are on the right track to receive the inspiration you need to lead to profound success.
The Seven of Swords
The Seven of Swords can mean different things in different situations, but is always a card to note - particularly if you are in the midst of a difficult conversation or a negotiation. As the nimble, sly trickster scoops of swords and steals away in the night, we are reminded of the dual-edged nature of the card. It can mean trickery, deceit or wrongful actions (either on the part of the querent or against the querent) - but it can also mean quick thinking, new strategies, or brash thinking to save the day.
The Ace of Cups
The Ace of Cups is a card of joy and abundance overflowing the heart. It could mean the onset of a new love affair – or, if you are already committed, the renewal of your relationship. Everything is fresh and new (as with all access) and the card recalls the Holy Grail – symbolizing the great quest of your heart or your life. By going with the flow and following your heart, you reach the greatest level of success, and both your work and your creative pursuits are fulfilling.
Acknowledgments
Born To Be Wilde would not have been possible without amazing readers, who asked for another book in the series by sharing the story of Immortal Vegas with their friends and encouraging sales and reviews. Thank you for letting me continue to tell these stories! My gratitude as well goes to Elizabeth Bemis for your unwavering friendship, as well as for your mad book formatting and web design skills. Sincere thanks also to Gene Mollica for the photography and cover design/illustration for Born To Be Wilde, and to Linda Ingmanson and Toni Lee for both detailed and intensely valuable editing skills. Any mistakes in the manuscript are, of course, my own. Kristine Krantz, your extraordinary critiquing skills helped improve the story dramatically, and Rachel Grant, your early read and enthusiasm helped me believe this book might become what I hoped it would. Thank you as well to Dana, Jen and Nell. You will never, ever know how precious you are (but you are!) Finally, as always, to Geoffrey—thank you for your vision, insight and guidance, every step of the way. It’s been a Wilde ride.
About Jenn Stark
Jenn Stark is an award-winning author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She lives and writes in Ohio. . . and she definitely loves to write. In addition to her new "Immortal Vegas" urban fantasy series, she is also author Jennifer McGowan, whose Maids of Honor series of Young Adult Elizabethan spy romances are published by Simon & Schuster, and author Jennifer Chance, whose Rule Breakers series of New Adult contemporary romances are published by Random House/LoveSwept and whose new modern royals series, Gowns & Crowns, is now available.
You can find her online at http://www.jennstark.com, follow her on Twitter @jennstark, and visit her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorjennstark.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Wicked and Wilde
Also by Jenn Stark
A Note From Jenn
Acknowledgments
About Jenn Stark
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Wicked and Wilde
Also by Jenn Stark
A Note From Jenn
Acknowledgments
About Jenn Stark