CONQUER THE DARKNESS
She forced herself to continue. “Once I was taken to the Oracles I only became more determined to bury my emotions.” She needed him to understand. “My people were depending on me to fulfill my duty. I couldn’t risk being distracted.”
“That’s what I am?” His fingers drifted along her jaw and down her neck. “A distraction?”
“At first,” she murmured, tilting back her head as his hand wrapped around her throat. It wasn’t threatening. It was a gesture of delicious possession. “A very sexy, occasionally charming distraction.”
His eyes darkened, the heat in the room ratcheting up several more degrees.
“Sexy,” he growled. “I like the sound of that.”
Rainn swallowed a groan, her gaze skimming over his hard, chiseled features, and down the muscular chest that was emphasized by his tight T-shirt. Sexy was actually an understatement. He was…well, she didn’t know what was sexier than sexy. All she knew was that he was a loyal, gorgeous male who came complete with a wolf.
What could be better?
Books by Alexandra Ivy
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DEVOURED BY DARKNESS
BOUND BY DARKNESS
FEAR THE DARKNESS
DARKNESS AVENGED
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WHEN DARKNESS ENDS
DARKNESS RETURNS
BEWARE THE DARKNESS
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The Sentinels
BORN IN BLOOD
BLOOD ASSASSIN
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KILL WITHOUT MERCY
KILL WITHOUT SHAME
Historical Romance
SOME LIKE IT WICKED
SOME LIKE IT SINFUL
SOME LIKE IT BRAZEN
Romantic Suspense
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WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?
YOU WILL SUFFER
THE INTENDED VICTIM
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Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Table of Contents
CONQUER THE DARKNESS
Books by Alexandra Ivy
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Teaser Chapter
Conquer the Darkness
Alexandra Ivy
LYRICAL PRESS
Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
LYRICAL PRESS BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
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Copyright © 2019 by Debbie Raleigh
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Lyrical Press and Lyrical Press logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
First Electronic Edition: December 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0844-2 (ebook)
ISBN-10: 1-5161-0844-2 (ebook)
First Print Edition: December 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0847-3
ISBN-10: 1-5161-0847-7
Printed in the United States of America
Chapter 1
Mojave Desert
Ulric released a howl of sheer pleasure as he loped through the vast darkness. It’d been far too long since he’d had the luxury of leaving the glittering lights of Vegas to run across the desert. This week, thank the goddess, Chiron had returned to his elegant casino on the Strip.
That meant Ulric could finally shift into his wolf form and lose himself in the wild pleasures of the night. He ran, he hunted, he terrified a group of campers and bayed at the moon until his throat was raw.
All in all, a perfect night.
Dawn was nearing when he halted at the edge of the desert. Tilting back his head, he released a pulse of magic. A shudder raced through him before a shimmer surrounded his body. The thick, midnight-black fur disappeared, and his elongated muzzle started to shrink. In the space of a heartbeat he’d gone from a massive wolf to his human form.
Bathed in moonlight, he stood over six foot with the wide, muscled body that came from his long runs while in his wolf form. He also had the rabid temper of his animal, and the willingness to use violence when necessary. His skin was the creamy color of cappuccino and his eyes were golden and smoldered with an unmistakable power.
Running his hands over his smoothly shaved head, he wiped away the layer of sweat. The February air was cool, but he’d expended a considerable amount of energy during the night. Plus shifting always made him hot.
In a good, shivery way.
Primitive magic was always the best magic.
Stretching out his muscles, he moved to grab his jeans and black T-shirt that he’d folded on a flat rock. With a few efficient movements he was dressed and ramming his feet into a pair of military boots. Then, with a last glance toward the sky that was beginning to turn pink around the edges, he headed toward the city. Less than fifteen minutes later he was surrounded by civilization.
As usual, he took the most direct route to Dreamscape, indifferent to the fact he was strolling through one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Vegas. What did he have to fear? Already he could hear the scrape of running footsteps. He had a badass vibe that sent both humans and demons scurrying out of his path.
A shame, really. The adrenaline was still pumping through his veins. He wouldn’t mind the chance to
knock one or two thugs on their asses.
Chiron, unfortunately, had strict rules on what Ulric could do to the customers, even if they were trying to cheat or being a drunken pain in his ass. It meant that he rarely had a chance for any fun. At least none that involved blood and screams of pain.
With a shrug of resignation, he jogged through a back parking lot and entered the towering glass and steel building through the kitchens.
Like all of Chiron’s properties, this Dreamscape Resort was sleek, elegant, and designed to please the humans who were willing to spend a small fortune to avoid the horde of tourists that descended like locusts on the city. Only the high-end gamblers walked through the door or stayed in the luxury suites.
Ulric glanced toward the chefs who were sorting through the fresh ingredients they’d just purchased from the local markets before heading toward an opening next to the walk-in fridge. He entered a small, dark hallway and stood in front of the private doorway. He knew that Chiron would be making a last sweep of the gaming rooms before heading down to his rooms beneath the building. Although the vampire had a sun-proof office on the top floor, he always felt more comfortable when he was resting in his heavily fortified rooms buried deep in the ground.
On cue, Chiron opened the door and moved to stand directly in front of Ulric.
The vampire was not as large as Ulric. In fact, he was slender enough to look almost delicate in his expensive, tailored suit. His dark hair was cut close to his head and his features were finely chiseled. One glance in his black eyes, however, warned even the most thick-skulled creature not to screw with this male.
The temperature dropped by several degrees, but Ulric was accustomed to a chill in the air. He’d been with this vampire for over five centuries. Ever since Chiron had rescued him from the slave pits beneath the previous King of Vampires’ lair. The old Anasso had been addicted to blood that was tainted by alcohol and drugs, secretly holding humans and demons in dark caves to feed his nasty habit. Chiron had desperately tried to reveal the Anasso’s treachery only to have his own master, Tarak, disappear and Chiron’s clan banished.
Chiron had rescued Ulric and together they’d fled. For several decades they’d simply drifted from one place to another, both needing time to heal the wounds inflicted by the previous Anasso. Then, on a dare from Ulric, Chiron had established his first gambling club. It’d been an instant success and Dreamscape Resorts had been born.
Ulric loved the challenge. Chiron concentrated on the style and finances of the business, while Ulric dealt with the vast staff. Chiron had given him a purpose to keep living, along with a sense of pack.
But in the past three months, everything had changed.
Ulric didn’t deal well with change.
Probably because it always sucked.
Easily sensing the strange agitation that boiled inside Ulric, Chiron tilted his head to the side.
“Everything okay?” the vampire asked.
Ulric shrugged even as the question pressed against his raw nerves.
Was everything okay?
It should be.
He had money. Security. Females if he wanted them. And a master who was as close to him as any brother. So why did he feel like a dark cloud was forming just over the horizon?
It was just the recent upheavals, he fiercely reminded himself. Chiron was mated to a witch named Lilah. Tarak was released from his prison. And the new Anasso, Styx, made a habit of traveling to Vegas. No doubt out of guilt that he’d refused to believe Chiron when he’d claimed the former King of Vampires was a whackadoodle.
Ulric trusted Chiron. Period.
As far as he was concerned, the rest of the leeches could sink back into the netherworld they’d crawled out of.
It was no wonder he was feeling a little antsy.
“Everything’s better now that I had a chance to get out and stretch my legs,” he assured his companion.
Chiron studied him for a beat, obviously aware that Ulric was hiding something from him. Then he shrugged. He knew Ulric wasn’t a touchy, feely, share-every-emotion sort of dude. He was a growly, bitey, dangerously rabid sort of dude.
He’d talk when he wanted to talk.
“I don’t think I’ve thanked you for taking care of things while I enjoyed my honeymoon,” Chiron said, smoothly changing the direction of the conversation.
“It’s what brothers do.”
“Not all brothers.” Chiron reached out his hand to lay it on Ulric’s shoulder. “I appreciate your loyalty, Ulric, even when I forget to tell you.”
Ulric felt heat crawl beneath his skin as he cleared his throat. Clearly being mated was making the vampire all mushy.
It was…unnerving.
“How’s Lilah settling in?” Ulric asked, knowing it was the easiest way to distract his companion.
Chiron’s features softened even as he released a rueful chuckle. “She’s already making notes on how we can streamline our check-in process and more efficiently schedule the maid service. Plus, she has stacks of decorating magazines she’s been thumbing through. I have a terrible fear we’re in for a complete remodel.”
Ulric smiled. He liked Lilah. He truly did. And she’d proven to be more than just a mate for Chiron. She had managed her own hotel for centuries. She was the perfect partner.
“If you wanted a mate who was happy fading into the background, you picked the wrong witch,” he teased.
“True enough,” Chiron readily agreed, a sappy expression on his face as he glanced toward a nearby elevator that led to his lair. No doubt Lilah was already down there waiting for him to join her.
Ulric paused, then spoke the words that had been on his mind since Chiron’s return to Vegas.
“You know, now that you have Lilah to be your partner, it might be time for me to consider—”
“Stop right there,” Chiron commanded.
“Why?”
“No one’s moving anywhere,” he informed Ulric, a hint of fang showing. “We started this journey together, and as far as I’m concerned we’re going to finish it together. We’re family.” He narrowed his eyes. “You got it?”
Ulric held up his hand. He hadn’t expected such a fierce reaction. “Yeah, I got it.”
“Good.” Chiron made a visible effort to soothe his flare of temper. “I’m headed to my lair. We’ll talk more this evening.”
Ulric nodded, turning away. Before he could leave, however, Chiron made a sudden sound of annoyance.
“Oh, I almost forgot.”
Ulric glanced over his shoulder. “Forgot what?”
“Have you seen that damned gargoyle?”
A low growl rumbled in Ulric’s chest. Levet was a three-foot gargoyle with fairy wings who was not only the bane of his existence, but a source of constant chaos.
“I kicked his thieving ass off the property when I caught him taking a joy ride in your favorite Porsche.”
Ice abruptly coated the wall. “He stole my car?”
Ulric snorted. “Oh, he returned it. But only after he’d put a dent in the bumper and a long scratch on the hood. I have no idea where he went, or what happened.”
Chiron’s eyes glowed with a dark fire. “I’ll kill him.”
“Which is why I decided to have him vacate the property before you returned,” Ulric admitted. “You’ve just started to form a relationship with your new Anasso. I didn’t want you to do something stupid and be banished again.”
Chiron snorted. “I’ve done just fine being banished, and if the cost of being back in the fold is having to deal with that aggravating lump of granite, I’d rather be in exile.”
Ulric couldn’t argue. Instead he watched in silence as Chiron stomped across the hallway and used the keypad to open the elevator. Then, as the vampire disappeared from view, Ulric heaved a faint sigh.
It was part envy, par
t regret for the inevitable change in his life, and part…what?
Damn. He didn’t know. It was like having an itch he couldn’t scratch. He gave a sharp shake of his head, forcing himself to walk down the narrow hallway to enter the main casino.
Despite the early hour, there were a few customers strolling through the vast rooms. A group of men wearing matching tuxedoes were clustered around a roulette table, while other gamblers were settled in front of the slot machines. On the far wall was a set of glass doors that opened into the high-limit section of the casino. That area was packed with guests no matter what time of day or night.
Strolling along the edge of the room, Ulric made a mental note to have the massive chandeliers polished and the silver carpets cleaned. It was the lull between the craziness of New Year’s Eve and the crush of summer vacation. A perfect opportunity for some deep housekeeping.
Of course, Lilah might have a different opinion…
Ulric snapped his teeth together. What the hell was wrong with him? He was acting like a whimpering pup instead a grown-ass Were.
Lost in his baffling mood, Ulric barely noticed the svelte woman dressed in a long, backless black gown. Beautiful women in expensive clothes were a dime a dozen in this city.
It wasn’t until he caught the faint scent of musk that he came to a screeching halt. Okay, maybe he didn’t actually screech, but he did freeze in place as he sucked in a deep breath.
Disbelief exploded through him.
Over the years there’d been a handful of Weres who’d strolled through the casino or stayed at the hotel. Most, however, preferred the numerous demon clubs hidden on the fringes of the city. Why force yourself to behave in a civilized manner in front of the humans when you could literally let your animal out to play?
But none of them had smelled like pack.
Like family.
Narrowing his eyes, Ulric studied the female as she sauntered toward the front of the casino. If he’d been in his wolf form his hackles would have been raised.
It was impossible. His entire pack had been slaughtered over five hundred years ago. Still…
There was no denying that scent.
Unlike humans, Weres didn’t use sight to recognize others. Anyone could change their appearance. Whether it was from aging, from magic, or mundane surgery, the outside shell was easily manipulated. But a person’s smell…that remained the same.
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