by Aja James
Maybe it’s because I maintained dragon form (don’t ask me how, but I did). Maybe that magical creature didn’t process brutality and pain like humanoids did. Whatever the case, I don’t recall the details of my own evisceration in terms of how it felt.
And after she left, just disappeared like dissipating squid ink, I was left alone to rot on the bottom of the lake.
I should be drowning, slowly suffocating to death since I seem to have no more blood to bleed out, and no bones that haven’t already been pulverized.
But I’m not.
It occurs to me that I can breathe just fine underwater in my dragon form. Somewhere beneath whatever remaining scales I still possess are gills. I feel them fluttering belabouredly. Reminds me of Darth Vader gurgling through his mask at the end…
At some point I close my eyes, thankful that I still have lids to close.
Which brings me to my present state of being, surrounded by silence, save some distant, indistinct, muffled sounds, immersed in fluid so that I feel weightless, floating…as if I have returned to the womb.
I feel no pain. All is dark. It’s restful here, wherever I am. Perhaps I can finally be at peace. With myself. And with the universe that has always forsaken me.
It feels good to be dead…
Then, suddenly, my darkness got darker.
Like a solar eclipse, something large and formidable blocked out all light. It dove toward me from above; I can make out the sound of its entry into the lake, the vortex of currents it created with its strength and size.
It’s coming for me, whatever it is.
I can feel its approach like a fire in my blood.
(That’s from a song, by the way. Far be it for me to plagiarize. I love singing it in my old karaoke bar…ah, good times).
Without warning, I am engulfed in an explosion of flames.
Fuck!
Now that fucking hurts!
I open my mouth to scream and scream, but the water chokes out any sound.
No!
I shouldn’t be able to feel any more!
I don’t want to feel any more!
I’m supposed to be dead!
Make it stop!
But the great hulking bastard is merciless, incinerating me with its unholy fire. Until I can’t bear it any more. Until the entire world tilts to black. Then blinding white. Then black again. And I know no more…
Much later, I lose track of time and space, something lifts me in its unyielding yet gentle grip.
Up, up, up, it carries me. Out of the lake and into the sky.
I am no longer in my dragon form. My raw, naked, vulnerable skin burns in the swift wind as it climbs higher and higher with me toward the heavens.
I open my eyes just a sliver, just enough to squint up at my captor.
Wings.
They are all I see.
Beautiful, golden, flame-tipped wings.
Other Books in the Pure/ Dark Ones series:
Book 1, Pure Healing
Book 2, Dark Longing
Book 3, Dark Desires
Book 4, Dark Pleasures
Book 5, Pure Rapture
Book 6, Dark Redemption
Book 6.5, Pure Awakening
Book 7, Pure Ecstasy
Book 8, Dark Obsession
Book 8.5, Pure Providence
Book 9, Pure Magnetism
Book 10, Pure Surrender
Book 10.5, Pure Darkness
Book 11, Dark Possession
Book 11.5, Pure Requiem
Glossary of Characters
Alend Ramses: The reigning Dark King of the New England vampire hive, formerly one of the Chosen. Gift(s): unknown. Weapon of choice: scimitar.
The Chosen: The Dark King’s personal guards and advisors.
Maximus Justus Copernicus: The Commander. Leader of the Chosen. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant white tiger.
Ariel Kyles: Maximus’s Mate. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant black panther.
Rhys Evans: Call sign to be designated. Previously Goya’s right hand. Now a member of the Chosen. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant Golden Eagle.
Ryu Takamura: The Assassin. Executes special, often covert missions for the King. Known Gift(s): ability to turn to shadow. Weapon of choice: Ninja blade or ninjaken.
Devlin Sinclair: The Hunter. Hunts down and eliminates vampire rogues. Ensures security of the New England hive’s borders. Known Gift(s): photographic memory. Weapon of choice: varies, but usually a saber or gun.
Anastasia Zima: The Phoenix. The Dark King’s head of security, ensures safety of the King and assists Maximus with affairs of state. Known Gift(s): telekinesis. Weapon of choice: varies, as a lover and expert in all manner of weapons. Soft spot for daggers.
Enlil Naram-Anu/ Eli Scott: Formerly the Blooded Mate of Anunit Salamu and leader of the shadow warriors in Ancient Akkad. Known Gift(s): the ability to turn into air or wind, as well as shadows.
Ava Monroe Takamura: Ryu’s human wife and mate. Brilliant geneticist who developed and took a serum that makes her uniquely super-human, with the Pure Ones’ ability to heal, the source of their eternal youth and apparent immortality.
Kane (pronounced Kah-Nay) Takamura: Ryu and Ava’s son.
Grace Darling: Devlin’s Blooded Mate. Cyber genius who used to work unwittingly for Medusa’s empire.
Clara Scott: Eli’s human wife.
Annie (Annabelle) Scott: Eli and Clara’s adopted daughter.
Sophia Victoria St. James: Queen of the Pure Ones. Known in her past life as Ninti in her original Pure One incarnation during the Akkadian Empire. Known as Kira in her past life as an Egyptian princess who married the Crown Prince Cambyses of Persia. Known Gift(s): the ability to see and influence Pure souls; the ability to see the true intentions of all beings. The ability to turn into the Destroyer and eradicate souls en masse, as well as the ability to inspire and strengthen souls.
The Circlet: The Pure Queen’s royal advisors. Part of the Dozen or Royal Zodiac.
Seth Tremaine: The Consul. Handles the Pure Ones’ diplomatic affairs. Talented negotiator. Known Gift(s): the ability to project a spiritual version of his physical self anytime, anywhere.
Ayelet Baltazar: The Guardian. Main responsibility is to guide and educate the Pure Queen, caretaker and mother figure. Known Gift(s): the ability to feel and experience what others feel using a physical artifact of the individual or direct touch; deep empathy.
Eveline Marceau: The Seer: Records and interprets Pure Ones’ potential future in the Zodiac Prophesies. Known Gift(s): spells, some telepathy.
Rain: The Healer: Ensures the health and vitality of Pure Ones, especially members of the Royal Zodiac. Known Gift(s): used to have the ability to absorb pain and poison from severe wounds using the needles of her hair, called zhen. Since she gave up her Gift for her Eternal Mate, Valerius, her zhen acts more as acupuncture needles, and occasionally used as weapons.
Jade Cicada: Former Queen of the New England vampire hive. Mated to Seth Tremaine. Now dwelling with the Pure Ones at the Shield. Known Gift(s): Ability to draw others’ life force through touch and sexual intercourse; ability to heal or take life through touch.
The Elite: The Pure Queen’s personal guards. Part of the Dozen or Royal Zodiac.
Valerius Marcus Ambrosius: The Protector. Hunts down rogue vampires who hurt humans. De facto Leader of the Elite given that the previous leader was killed. Known Gift(s): fast healing, beyond even the typical Pure Ones’ ability to heal. Weapon of choice: Chained scythe.
Tristan du Lac: The Champion. Historically, he is the first warrior to be dispatched against enemies in one-on-one combat. In modern times, he helps train human Chevaliers. Known Gift(s): none. Weapon of choice: Excalibur or long sword.
Aella Alexander: The Strategist. Plans all manner of defense and attack vs. enemies and threats. Known Gift(s): speed. Weapon of choice: three chakrams, which can link together and stiffen into a longer-ran
ge hand-to-hand weapon or be thrown individually.
Cloud Drako: The Valiant. Trains Pure Ones and humans in combat. Known Gift(s): ability to exert strong compulsion on anyone who stares into his eyes. Weapon of choice: long spear.
Inanna: The ex-Angel of Death or Angel of the New England vampire hive under Jade Cicada, used to be a member of the Chosen. After discovering her Pure Soul as the daughter of a Pure and Dark One and having her Awakening, she is known as the Light Bringer. Human alias: Nana Chastain. Now a member of the Elite. Known Gift(s): the ability to see through any material and zoom in and out like a telescope or microscope. Weapon of choice: chained whip.
Gabriel D’Angelo: Inanna’s Blooded Mate. Used to be known as Alad Da-an-nim, born a Pure One, died and reincarnated as a human. Turned into a vampire by Inanna but retains his Pure Soul. Gift(s): none, but is a skilled martial artist as a human and was one of the fiercest Pure warriors in ancient Akkad.
Benjamin Larkin D’Angelo: Inanna and Gabriel’s adopted son. Known Gift(s): the ability to see people’s true selves.
Tal-Telal: The General who led the Pure Ones to victory in the Great War. Inanna’s and Ere’s father. Known Gift(s): used to have the ability to see possible futures, unknown now.
Ishtar Anshar: Once a Dark Princess when Dark Ones ruled the earth. Tal’s Destined Mate, Eternal and Blooded. Inanna’s and Ere’s mother. Human alias: Estelle Martin or “Mama Bear,” owns all-things and pastry shop called Dark Dreams. Known Gift(s): the ability to transform into a giant snow leopard.
Medusa: Anunit Salamu (the Dark Star). The arch nemesis of the Pure and Dark Ones, as well as humans. Known Gift(s): used to have telepathy and telekinesis. Now, the ability to transform into the Hydra. (Shared form with Wan’er).
The Creature: an enemy of both the Pure and Dark Ones. Seems to be working with Medusa. Known Gift(s): the ability to transform into different humanoid shapes, some form of telepathy. See Ere.
Dalair Al Amirah: Used to be the Paladin of the Pure Ones. Recruited humans and Pure Ones to their cause. Now a soldier in Medusa’s mind-controlled army. Recently liberated, his soul his own once more. He is Sophia’s Destined Mate. Known Gift(s): hyper-developed senses. Weapon of choice: Twin Dragon Blades or two half-moon crescent blades that can be combined into a disc.
Wan’er: Used to be the Pure Healer, Rain’s, handmaiden. Head researcher for Medusa. Also known as Lilith. Known Gift(s): a fox spirit who has one life for each of its nine tails. Ability to extend life indefinitely by shifting into another “skin,” but limited to nine skins. Ability to transform into the Hydra, and at least one other form. (Shared form with Medusa, but no longer).
Lilith: See also Wan’er. She is Ninti’s mother.
Ere: Sophia’s ex-teaching assistant and brief love interest. Also known as the Creature, Erebu, Cambyses and Binu. He is the lost son of Tal and Ishtar, twin brother of Inanna, biological father of Benjamin. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into any humanoid form. Ability to transform into a black, flying dragon.
Goya: the Tiger King. Maximus’s sire. Mostly animal. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into humanoid form. Natural form is a giant Siberian tiger.
Madison Jane Peterson (Maddie): Goya’s Eternal Mate. Human single mother of son, Logan, and marketing executive.
Animal spirits: Goya’s kinsmen. Pure, Dark Ones, and humans who can transform into animals, as well as animals who can take humanoid forms.
Character Relationships and Timeline
Table of Contents
Glossary
Prologue
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
Epilogue
Other Books in the Pure/ Dark Ones series:
Glossary of Characters
Character Relationships and Timeline
