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Showing posts with label Amanda J. Greene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amanda J. Greene. Show all posts

Saturday, December 17, 2016

$.99 Book Sale from PNR author Amanda J. Greene + Giveaway

From December 2nd through January 20th, Amanda J. Greene is hosting 2 sales:
A Bewitching Christmas (Under Realm Assassins #1)
and
Rulers of Darkness Box Set (Books 1,2, &3)
both titles are $0.99.
There is also a giveaway at the bottom of the post!

A Bewitching Christmas (Under Realm Assassins #1)
by Amanda J. Greene
ebook, 75 pages
Published December 16th 2013 
It has been seven years since Analette Dyson stopped practicing magic and headed to New York, where she created a new life, complete with a fabulous job, an apartment in Central Park West, and a sexy werewolf fiancé. She never planned on returning to her small home town in Maine, but when she learns her grandmother is ill, she decides to pop over for a visit and what better time than Christmas? Excited for her fiancé to meet her family, they head up a day early. 

Worst idea ever!

After doing some last minute Christmas shopping, Analette returns to their hotel to find her fiancé in bed with another woman. Cursing the universe for her never ending bad luck with men and dreading telling her family about her cheating fiancé, she heads to the bar to self medicate. 

Not one to celebrate the holidays, vampire and assassin, Cole McRae, has followed a lead to a rustic town in witch territory. But after a few days of research and waiting for his target to show, he begins to suspect he has wasted his time. That is, until he meets a curvaceous blonde with bewitching green eyes at the local bar. One night with the enchanting Analette could make this useless trip well worth his time.

Their passion is undeniable and unbeknownst to them, their fates are intertwined. Magic and romance will strike on Christmas, changing their lives forever.
~ A Holiday Novella, Erotic~ 

Rulers of Darkness Box Set (Books 1, 2, &3)
Amazon Kindle-B&N-Kobo-All Romance eBooks-Google Play

Read 3 sizzling, dark, paranormal romance novels and fall in love with the Rulers of Darkness.
Passion can be lethal...

Caressed by Moonlight (Book #1)
Dorian Vlakhos is no ordinary aristocrat. He is a vampire king, who will do anything to save his clan from complete annihilation, before an ancient curse can claim his immortal life.
Penniless and orphaned, Victoria Kingston has nothing to bring to a marriage, yet she must shackle an unsuspecting gentleman into marriage by the end of the month or forfeit her rights as guardian of her younger sister. With the help of her dearest friend, Victoria begins her hunt, and vows to stay far away from the dark, mysterious, Dorian Vlakhos.
After meeting the beautifully innocent Miss Kingston, Dorian had to have her. He would do absolutely anything to make Victoria his. One sweet stolen kiss would bring them together while a force, more powerful than any vampire, would bind them for all eternity, but treachery, war, and death rule Dorian's dark world and Victoria would be fortunate to survive.



Caressed by Night (Book #2)
Dimitri Arsov, the last remaining pure vampire, was thought to be dead for the past four hundred years. Now, he is back and has a score to settle with the traitor that had tried to kill him centuries ago. But as he waits for his prey to blindly step into his carefully laid trap, his overwhelming hunger for blood is triggered when he saves a beautiful art historian.
Kerstyn Ingmar's life was normal and straight up boring until the night she is rescued by the dangerously sexy, powerfully mesmerizing, Dimitri. Unable to resist his diamond blue eyes and intense kisses, she is drawn into his world of darkness and closer to her impending doom.
While their desire consumes them, Dimitri is haunted by images of a bloody and deadly future. As his enemies draw near, he must find a way to save his mate from her destiny before fate destroys them both.


Caressed by a Crimson Moon (Book #3)
Consumed by madness and tormented by dark memories of blood and death, Hadrian Lucretius, King of the Validus Clan, has returned after living in self-imposed exile for nearly three hundred and fifty years.
To maintain peace with the vampires, Eva Maldonado is offered as a sacrifice to the crazed vampire king by her father, the alpha of the Silveria Shifter Pack. Hadrian's reputation is both legendary and lethal; he is ruthless, bloodthirsty, lusty, and soulless. When Eva arrives at the ancient fortress high in the Carpathian Mountains, she is shocked to find a ravaged man with dark burning eyes filled with loneliness and dangerous desire. 
Would she be his lover...or his prey? His savior...or his victim? Would Hadrian lure her into madness or would their perilous passion be their redemption?


About the Author:
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Amanda J. Greene is an erotic paranormal romance author. When she is not writing, she can be found playing the role of a full time university student, who works part time.

She lives in Southern California with her very supportive, military husband and their sweet Cocker Spaniel.



GIVEAWAY
2 Winners: ebook Boxset + ebook Bewitching + $10 giftcard
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Cover Reveal: Wicked Passion (Under Realm Assassins #3) by Amanda J. Greene

Wicked Passion (Under Realm Assassins #3)
by Amanda J. Greene
James Stonewoll is an Elite Assassin for the Under Realm Syndicate - an expert hunter and merciless killer. As a former Pirate, he thrives on danger, the more perilous the mission, the better and he can't resist his newest contract: eliminate a rebel shape-shifting magic thief that stalks the border of the Under Realm kidnapping and murdering innocent Others. But never did the centuries old vampire anticipate playing hero to a mythical temptress with luscious curves, tantalizing lips, and hypnotic eyes.

Captured and held prisoner, Katya Moro was trapped in a seemingly endless loop of unimaginable agony as her magic was slowly being torn from her soul. A gasp away from death, she is rescued by a sinful kiss and awakens in the strong arms of a powerful warrior whose roguish smile, sharp fangs, and intense strength unlock the dormant Succubus instincts within her – an all-consuming madness that demands complete surrender.

Gazing down at her, James knew he had to kill her. Dark Magic Wielders, like the beautiful female he’d found, were a grave threat to human society and were not permitted to roam the mortal world. But Katya’s smoky voice and sweet kisses stir a fierce hunger inside him. She is unpredictable, uncontrollable and… wickedly seductive – his perfect kind of dangerous. To keep her safe, James will protect her from the magic thieves that hunt her and his fellow assassins until he can find a way to return Katya to her home in the Under Realm.

Will Katya’s passion be able to conquer the darkness within his soul or will James let her go?


Review: A Bewitching Christmas (Under Realm Assassins #1)



About the Author:
Amanda J. Greene is an erotic paranormal romance author. When she is not writing, she can be found playing the role of a full time university student, who works part time.

She lives in Southern California with her very supportive, military husband and their sweet Cocker Spaniel.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Rulers of Darkness Box Set (Books 1, 2, &3) by Amanda J. Greene only $.99 limited time

is now available for special price of $0.99
– Limited time only.
Read excerpts from each of the 3 novels. 

Read 3 sizzling, dark, paranormal romance novels and fall in love with the Rulers of Darkness.

Passion can be lethal...


Caressed by Moonlight (Book #1)
Dorian Vlakhos is no ordinary aristocrat. He is a vampire king, who will do anything to save his clan from complete annihilation, before an ancient curse can claim his immortal life.
Penniless and orphaned, Victoria Kingston has nothing to bring to a marriage, yet she must shackle an unsuspecting gentleman into marriage by the end of the month or forfeit her rights as guardian of her younger sister. With the help of her dearest friend, Victoria begins her hunt, and vows to stay far away from the dark, mysterious, Dorian Vlakhos.
After meeting the beautifully innocent Miss Kingston, Dorian had to have her. He would do absolutely anything to make Victoria his. One sweet stolen kiss would bring them together while a force, more powerful than any vampire, would bind them for all eternity, but treachery, war, and death rule Dorian's dark world and Victoria would be fortunate to survive.


Caressed by Moonlight Excerpt

“Dorian?” her voice was filled with concern and laced with fear as his hand caught her wrist. His fingers held her immobile as he bent his head down and took in the clean scent of her hair. He placed a kiss on the top of her head and reached out with his mind seizing hers. He whispered soothing words to calm her fears.

Victoria was captured in a net of dizzying pleasure. His mind dominated hers, filling it with a misty fantasy that stole her breath away. He snatched her roughly to him, pressing their hips together tightly, one arm wrapped about her waist as the other moved to cup the back of her neck. His lips hovered over the tempting pulse of her throat. She ran her fingers through his hair, tugging lightly, bringing him closer.

Falcon slammed his fist against the wall of the cabin, the sound snapping Dorian back into reality. He cursed and shoved himself away from his tempting wife. She stumbled back from the force of his movements and the release of her mind. She shook her head, trying to clear it.

“Leave.” His words were low and harsh.

Her eyes shot to Dorian, standing in the far corner of the cabin, his arms wrapped around his middle. He grimaced as pain drilled into his skull. He looked helpless and vulnerable. She took a step toward him and his eyes jumped with evil excitement.

“Leave, Victoria.”

“Why?”

The hurt and confusion in her voice was clear, it pierced his heart. She did not understand what had caused such a drastic change in him. He had been romantic and seductive one minute and cold and angry the next.

He knew she shouldn’t be in the room. It was dangerous for her; he could not restrain his hunger. He could easily kill her. But he needed her. He needed her caring, warm touch and her smooth voice. The beat of her heart pounded in his ears.

“You shouldn’t be in here.”

“You are ill,” she said, ignoring his words.

She was coming towards him now. He turned his back as she reached for his arm.

“Dorian?” She was standing behind him now; he was aware of her every move, her every breath, her every thought, and every beat of her heart. She wanted to ease his pain and was willing to do anything to help her husband. Victoria ran her hand up his back and Dorian hissed. Her touch was the perfect blend of ecstasy and excruciating pain.

“Please, you need to go,” he said between clenched teeth.

“Why?” She began to massage his shoulders.

“You aren’t safe—I can't control myself.” He cursed as her breath brushed the nape of his neck. His eyes grew black, his fangs burning to pierce her skin. He pulled away needing the distance.

Victoria blinked with a start as he vanished and appeared in his chair before the window. How could he possibly move that fast?

“Get out.”

“But I want to help.”

“Get out!” he bellowed.

Victoria stood motionless and puzzled. She opened her mouth to speak again but he now stood in front of her and grabbed her shoulders, his fangs flashing. Her eyes were a peculiar blend of fear, confusion, pain, and love. He’d never seen anything like those emerald green orbs. He turned and dragged her to the door, flung it open, and shoved her into Falcon's waiting arms. He slammed the door shut, the sound of the bolt sliding home cut through her like an executioner's axe.

Caressed by Night (Book #2)
Dimitri Arsov, the last remaining pure vampire, was thought to be dead for the past four hundred years. Now, he is back and has a score to settle with the traitor that had tried to kill him centuries ago. But as he waits for his prey to blindly step into his carefully laid trap, his overwhelming hunger for blood is triggered when he saves a beautiful art historian.
Kerstyn Ingmar's life was normal and straight up boring until the night she is rescued by the dangerously sexy, powerfully mesmerizing, Dimitri. Unable to resist his diamond blue eyes and intense kisses, she is drawn into his world of darkness and closer to her impending doom.
While their desire consumes them, Dimitri is haunted by images of a bloody and deadly future. As his enemies draw near, he must find a way to save his mate from her destiny before fate destroys them both.


Caressed by Night Excerpt

In a flash of movement, he twisted Kerstyn around and shoved her hard against the cold brick wall of a bar, shielding her with his body. Gunshots vibrated the night and drowned out Kerstyn’s screams as Dimitri’s body absorbed the bullets.

“Oh my God…Oh my God…” she chanted the phrase again and again even after the car peeled out of the alley.

Dimitri stepped forward, freeing her. She grabbed his arm and spun him around to face her. Her eyes were large circles as they met his chest. Blood welled out of the holes in his clothing.

“We have to get you to a hospital.”

“I will be fine.”

“Yeah, the fuck right. You don’t need to be a tough guy,” she snapped as she ripped open her purse, her fingers desperately searching for her cell phone.

“You do not need to call an ambulance, I assure you.”

Kerstyn cursed and threw her purse to the ground. She had left her cell at the house.

“We need to try to stop the bleeding.”

Before he knew what she was doing, he was shoved against the wall. She frantically worked the buttons of his jacket.

“Leave it.”

In her frustration and panic, Kerstyn tore open his shirt, buttons flying everywhere, and Dimitri cursed. Those damned humans had changed everything. A wave of scenes washed through his mind as the future began to rewrite itself, but the ending, Kerstyn’s ending, remained the same. He willed his eyes to focus on her, taking in deep, rapid breaths, his lungs filling with her rosy scent and…

His hand shot out and Kerstyn jumped back. Fear. He could smell it. Taste it.

Kerstyn could not take her eyes off his bare, bloody torso. His muscles contracted, contorted, and pushed one bullet out. Then another. And another. Five bullets in total clattered to the pavement. Her face paled, her eyes glazed over, her mouth hung open, and her breathing stopped. She was in shock.

“Kerstyn.”

She did not answer.

He grabbed her shoulders and lowered his head until their eyes met. “Kerstyn,” he repeated. Still she stood unblinking and not breathing. “Kerstyn!” He shook her until her head began to bob.

A steady stream of curses fell from his lips. The humans had been driving down the street possessed by the haze in their heads. A spur of the moment decision had altered everything.

Dimitri’s muscles eased slightly when he heard her suck in a sharp breath. Releasing her, she stumbled, but he did not reach out to steady her. His fingers drew into fists at his sides. Instinct told him not to touch her; she needed space.

Her eyes fell to the bullets that decorated the ground. Then, ever so slowly, her gaze began to travel up his body, beginning at his leather shoes, up his long, pinstripe-covered legs, pausing at his chest, and finally settling on his face. Dimitri didn’t move. His lungs failed to expand and his heart stilled. He tried to look into her thoughts, but they were as blank as his. Panic sparked at the base of his spine. For the first time in centuries, he did not know what was coming next.

“You’ve healed,” she whispered. Her voice was rough and her throat ached from her screams. “Your wounds are gone. That…that is impossible.”

“Not for me,” he grated.

Her eyes narrowed. “What are you?”

He dropped his head. Why now? Why did it have to happen this way? He cursed, damning Fate for the tricks she played. He had not wanted it to happen this way. He wanted them to take their time, to get to know one another before he shared his secret with her. Now he was cornered. He had to tell her or―no. He would not erase her memory; he could not disrespect her that way. He would not take the coward’s way out. He had to tell her.

His heart clenched. What if she rejected him? What if she hated him? What if he repulsed her? She was his mate, but that was no guarantee that she would understand, that she would stay with him, or that she would love him.

“What are you?” she demanded again, her voice shaking.

Her thoughts screamed at him. Vampire. Vampire. Vampire! He forced his gift aside, shoving it back into the darkness of his mind.

“I think you already know,” he said before pulling his shirt closed. 

Caressed by a Crimson Moon (Book #3)
Consumed by madness and tormented by dark memories of blood and death, Hadrian Lucretius, King of the Validus Clan, has returned after living in self-imposed exile for nearly three hundred and fifty years.


To maintain peace with the vampires, Eva Maldonado is offered as a sacrifice to the crazed vampire king by her father, the alpha of the Silveria Shifter Pack. Hadrian's reputation is both legendary and lethal; he is ruthless, bloodthirsty, lusty, and soulless. When Eva arrives at the ancient fortress high in the Carpathian Mountains, she is shocked to find a ravaged man with dark burning eyes filled with loneliness and dangerous desire.

Would she be his lover...or his prey? His savior...or his victim? Would Hadrian lure her into madness or would their perilous passion be their redemption?


Caressed by a Crimson Moon Excerpt

Hadrian materialized in the kitchen, the small action draining the remaining energy from his exhausted body. He staggered, almost blind, his hands outstretched, his bare feet slapping the cold tile. He could scent the blood within the refrigerator. His stomach rolled with disgust even as thirst scorched his throat.

He lurched forward, his clawed fingers splayed across the surface of the hidden refrigerator its façade blending seamlessly with the line of pristine, white cabinets. Throwing open the door, he snatched a bag of blood. His fangs ripped into the plastic, freeing the crimson liquid. At once the rush hit him, seeping into his starved cells. Images of Eva assailed him, sweeping him away. Her cries of ecstasy still rang in his ears, the heat of her body still clung to him and the intoxicating scent of her arousal drowned his senses.

Hadrian tore into a second bag. Eva, he could still see her beneath him. Her face flushed with pleasure, her eyes sparkling with desire for him, only him. Her lips parted as she gasped for precious air, her climax claiming her. She had thrown her head back in sweet abandon as her body convulsed around him, drawing on him, milking him. 

He groaned low in his throat as he reached for another bag allowing the second to join the first, empty on the floor.

The demon howled for Eva. Enraged. Craving. Her. Only her. Only Eva.

The chilled blood settled like a rock in his stomach as the tangy flavor of plastic filled his mouth.

One taste, the vampire pleaded, just one taste of heaven, of Eva.

Hadrian growled, forcing himself to swallow the repugnant blood.

The demon railed even as his hunger ebbed. Hadrian raised a shaking hand to grab another sack of blood. More, he needed more. He needed Eva. He needed her soft touch, the soothing sound of her voice, the warmth of her soul.

When he released the last drained bag, he stumbled back. His legs buckled, but he caught himself, clutching the edge of the marble countertop.

His teeth gnashed together as his chest pumped, frantically drawing in unnecessary breaths as he waited for the crazed hunger to wane. His muscles began to relax and his fangs slowly retreated. He could feel every cell in his body swell with life as the nourishing blood flowed through his system.

He cursed himself for being a selfish idiot. He should have known better. He had told himself he would feed regularly, a lie. He had intended to keep his bloodlust at bay while Eva resided within the fortress, but a part of him still refused to drink. He no longer enjoyed the act of feeding; he only took sustenance when it was vital he do so. He loathed the contact required to take directly from the source, from humans. It was too intimate. He found sinking his fangs into a bag of blood just as revolting. But deprivation only bred destruction.

Power coursed through him like lightning as he grew stronger. The demanding storm of hunger faded as a hurricane of overwhelming, unidentifiable emotions tore through him. His body pulsed, his heart thundered, and his soul…he could feel his soul. For the first time in centuries, he could feel the flutter of life within his chest, warming his heart. The broken pieces of his soul blazed, the heat so intense as they began to weld together.

Eva. She had somehow triggered this change within him.

What did it mean?

For hundreds of years he had existed void of all real emotion, knowing his soul was damaged. He had known no love, no true joy, only anger, sorrow and guilt, the demon’s favorites. But Eva made him feel everything in a flood. Even hope, a sensation he believed he would never know again. And rightly so, he did not deserve love or happiness, especially not hope.

His heart ached and swelled as his soul burgeoned with life and a strange, euphoric sense of contentment settled over him.

Gods, what was happening?

The lights suddenly flipped on, sending him reeling back. He buried his claws in the smooth, polished surface of the counter. His vision blurred as bright colors burst all around him. Hissing, he raised a hand to shield his sensitive eyes.

“Hadrian?” Falcon called from the doorway.

Hadrian muttered a curse when the knight rushed forward.  He knew he looked like hell: naked, his face smeared with blood. 

“My Latin is rusty, but I’m not a snake born of a whoring bitch,” Falcon said with a light laugh. “You look terrible.”

Prying back one finger at a time, Hadrian removed his hand. He blinked trying to clear his vision.

“This is the last place I thought I would find you, especially in this condition.”

Hadrian scowled.

“Here.” Falcon unzipped the duffle bag he carried and tossed Hadrian a pair of loose workout shorts.

Hadrian caught the clothing on reflex alone, his vision still blurred. His claws retreated and he leaned his weight against the cabinets behind him, his legs still weak.

Falcon glanced about. “Is Eva with you?”

“No.”

He ignored the knight’s frown and stepped into the shorts.

“Where is she?” Falcon demanded, his tone harsh, all humor gone.

Against his will, Hadrian’s senses sought Eva. He found her easily.

“I believe she is heading towards her room,” he answered as nonchalantly as possible, even though he longed to flash to her. Was she going to shower? He longed to join her. Or was she going to change and search for him. He felt a twinge of heat rise in his cheeks. He had ruined her clothes.

“What happened?”

Hadrian growled, the demon not liking Falcon’s accusatory tone.

“That does not concern you.”

“You slept with her?”

Hadrian said nothing as his fingers skimmed over the counter, searching for a towel. When he found one, he wiped the blood from his mouth.

“For god’s sake, Hadrian, she is mortal.”

“The girl is unharmed, if that is what worries you.” Folding the now ruined cloth, Hadrian straightened, his now sound and strong body. “I’m not a total beast.” His words, spoken in defense, suddenly struck him as truth. He had managed to be gentle, to hold himself back, to deny his very nature for Eva, for her pleasure. He had not ravished her, though he could not deny he still wanted to devour the sweet half-breed.

Falcon rubbed his nape. “I didn’t say that you were. It’s just, well, I’ve known you for so long. You aren’t exactly known for…I mean,” he sighed, “shit.”

Hadrian held up a hand, stopping his friend. He knew what Falcon was trying to say, he was not known for being a tender lover. “People can change.”

Falcon’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, people can change.”

Hadrian shrugged off Falcon’s implication and pushed the secret, blood stocked, refrigerator closed, the door seamlessly blending in with the cabinets.

He swooped down to collect the empty bags of blood. Popping open the lid of the trashcan, he tossed them inside, concealing the evidence of his frenzied feeding.

His senses strayed again, finding Eva still in her room.


B&N

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Book Review: Surrender to the Chase by Amanda J. Greene + giveaway

Surrender to the Chase (Under Realm Assassins #2)
by Amanda J. Greene

~ Novella ~
Kindle Edition
Published May 26th 2015
A year after the tragic death of his close friend and fellow assassin, Ethan Halstead is ready to take up his sniper rifle once more. But his first assignment is nothing he ever expected. Ethan must hunt and retrieve a beautiful, spirited, alluring werewolf.

Knowing no other way to escape an arranged marriage, Fraya flees from her pack. As she contemplates slipping across the border and heading to South America, she is captured by a dangerously seductive vampire who plans on escorting her back to her family. Even as Fraya vows to make Ethan’s mission as difficult as possible, she can’t resist the riotous desire he sparks within her.

But Ethan isn’t the only predator that peruses Fraya. A powerful rival pack’s alpha wants to make her his mate. Will Ethan be able to keep Fraya safe and return her to her pack? Or will he surrender to temptation and claim Fraya as his own?

Ethan Halstead went off the map one year ago after the tragic death of his close friend who was also an assassin like himself. Now back in the game his first assignment was to retrieve a female werewolf. He did not expect a beautiful young girl. Is this a joke, she was no threat, the assignment made no sense. He did feel another alpha male predator nearby ready to pounce. This did not surprise him, a young unattached female wolf with no protection. What was she thinking, she was fair game.

Fraya, trying to get away from an arranged marriage set up by her father, flees from her pack only to get caught by a dangerous assassin vampire who’s assignment was to take her back to her family. There was no way she was going back. She was planning to hide away in South America. Can she convince him to let her go?

Fraya’s inner wolf and Ethan’s inner vampire had different ideas however. The sparks could not go unnoticed. They fought with their inner selves throughout the story. He had a job to do, she had to run and hide and get as far away as possible from her pack family. He did not want her to go. She did not want to leave without him. However they could not trust each other. The story focused on them battling it out within themselves.

It was a light easy read, flowed very well. I liked the characters. Green always does a great job in bringing you into her characters worlds. You feel for them, get angry at them, and sometimes you even want to throw something at them but then realize oh it’s not real. She knows how to bring the emotions of the characters to the front.

Review: A Bewitching Christmas (Under Realm Assassins #1)

4.5 Inner self Sheep





Tammy K

Excerpt:

Lightning splintered the sky. Thunder shook the earth beneath his feet. Damp heat thickened the air. Any moment, the winds would kick up and the red hued clouds would release a torrent of rain.

Ethan loved summer storms and treasured Arizona for its monsoon season. It was only during the madness of the storm that he found peace. In those rare, precious moments, the world reflected the chaos that roiled inside him and he felt… as if he belonged.

Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath and savored the soothing scent of the desert. To his disappointment, he would not be able to appreciate the beauty of nature’s fury. Clearing his mind, Ethan unleashed his senses. His mark was close. He could feel her. Crossing the street, he headed for the quaint coffee shop he frequently sped past. She was here, which meant he could call an end to this pointless job.

Ethan was an assassin, not a damn babysitter. He was an expert tracker and sniper, yet the Under Realm Syndicate had him chasing after a spoiled little she-wolf. He had been tasked with fetching the runaway and returning her to her pack – a complete waste of his time and talents. He couldn’t believe he had let Cole talk him into this. The fact was this case should’ve never made the list. Why the Syndicate decided to get involved was beyond his understanding. This wasn’t a kidnapping or a hostage situation. The female wasn’t a criminal. She wasn’t a threat to the human world or Under Realm society.

His annoyed growl blended with the booming thunder. Cole had insisted Ethan accept this assignment, “You should be grateful the Syndicate is willing to give you a second chance. You’ve been out of practice.”

Who could argue with that logic? Ethan had been off the map for a year. Most within the Syndicate believed he had been killed on his last mission.

I should have been. Shaking his head, he dispelled the thought. He refused to take sober trips down memory lane. He needed to focus on his task.

The aroma of freshly ground coffee was overwhelming. Ethan reigned in his supernatural senses as he stepped inside the shop. The door closed and the torrential rain began to fall. He did a quick, nonchalant sweep of the café, careful not to meet anyone’s gaze. Eye contact encouraged conversation, and he was here on business not pleasure. He would grab the werewolf, take her back home, and detain her until he could make arrangements with her father. Simple.

Ethan walked to the counter. After the blonde and brunette baristas finished arguing over who would help him, he ordered and received a black coffee. The cup had both girl’s names and numbers written on it. He thanked them with a smile. They batted their lashes and insisted he stop by a college party later that night.

Ethan’s shoulders shook with a light laugh. Naïve mortals.

Turning, he headed up the winding iron staircase that led to the second floor loft area. The walls were made almost entirely of glass, providing a glorious view of the storm. Students sat at the tables working on their laptops while groups lounged on the sofas discussing the world of social media.

The delicate scent of wildflowers drifted through the air, drawing his sharp gaze to the far corner. There was nothing remarkable about her presence. She appeared to fit in perfectly with the scene, as if she were just another co-ed. She wore a pair of skinny jeans and a crimson sweatshirt. She sat with her feet tucked under her crisscrossed. Leaning over the table, her long dark brown hair tumbled forward, blocking his view of her face. Ethan noted the worn, tattered condition of the book she read. Her frame was small. She seemed fragile, but he knew better. She was strong, fast, and intelligent. His mark appeared to be ‘normal’ by human standards, but she was the wolf he was looking for.

Hoping everything would go smoothly, he advanced. This was a delicate situation. The female could freak out on him. She could cause a scene, and he loathed drama just as much as he loathed this particular job. It was not a search and rescue mission. No, it was a track-down-a-spoiled-brat-and-take-her-home mission. A simpleton could do it. Why it had to be done was beyond him. At twenty-four, she was an adult. She had a degree in biology and was a werewolf; she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

Who cares? Grab the girl and go.

Ethan quickly reminded himself of the two basic rules: never become personally involved with your mark and strike first, ask questions later – if you cared about asking question at all.

As he approached the woman, he felt a slight tremor in the air. A warning? A threat? Someone was watching them. He set his senses loose once more, scanning the café for the source of the violent energy, but it had vanished just as quickly as it had arrived.

The girl must have felt the glimmer of danger. Her gaze snapped up and met his. Her warm, honey colored eyes were round with surprise. Her tempting red lips parted with a silent gasp. Ethan froze. She was… more than beautiful.

She blinked up at him. Her gaze innocently seductive, her mouth violently tempting, and her wild flower scent was overwhelming. His body reacted instantly. It had been years since he’d felt such a strong, instant attraction.

He watched her lick her lips; lust shot through him like a lightning strike. Oh, yes. The wolf was alluring and, to his surprise, he was disappointed that she was his mark.

“Hi,” she said with a nervous lilt to her voice.

Ethan mentally shook himself and crossed over to stand at the chair opposite her. “Hi,” he replied.

Thunder rumbled; the force shook the glass walls. The girl flinched and her gaze fell from his. For a soundless moment, she sat with her hands clasped in her lap, her head tilted down. The mortals gasped and laughed as another boom shook the windows.

“You may sit,” she said, her voice low, barely audible.

Ethan could smell the fear that sparked within her. Was she frightened of the storm, or what possibly lurked outside? An overwhelming sense of protectiveness settled over him and he frowned. He didn’t like it. He wasn’t the protective type. He was a killer not a savior.

Focus and get this over with.

“Not a fan of thunderstorms?” he asked as he claimed the chair.

She straightened and fixed her gaze on him once more. Her expression was bland, her cute stubborn chin titled up, her shoulders back. She looked regal and refined. Every bit the aristocrat she was.

“I’m accustomed to snow storms.”

“Really? Where are you from?”

“Minnesota,” she answered with a hint of hesitation.

He smiled and was shocked he didn’t have to fake it. “You’re a long way from home.”

She shrugged and returned her attention to her book.

Ethan took a sip of the surprisingly good coffee and relaxed in his seat. He picked up a golf magazine, which rested on the table beside them, and began flipping through the pages. He wasn’t at all interested in golf. Being a vampire, he preferred keeping out of the sun. Although, contrary to popular lore, he wouldn’t burst into flame or turn to ash. He could work on his tan, he just preferred not to.

He casually glanced over at the werewolf and inwardly groaned. She was reading a list of the top ten hot spots in Chile. It appeared she was interested in sunbathing and he couldn’t stop the image of her in a bikini from cropping up in his mind even if he’d wanted to. And he certainly did not want to erase the image.

She sighed, closed the book, and tucked it away in her backpack, which hung off the back of her chair. She took up her latte and settled her gaze on him. Her lips turned up with a sweet smile.

“You don’t strike me as the golfing type.”

He raised a brow and tossed the magazine down on the table between them. “No?”

She shook her head, her long dark curls waving around her shoulders. “Not at all. You look like you’d rather go to a shooting range than work on your golf swing.”

Ethan couldn’t argue with that. He’d had his basement converted into an indoor gun range.

“Very observant,” he said. “What about you? What’s your hobby?”

She bit her bottom lip as she contemplated. Ethan wanted to bite it for her. “Traveling. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. You know, see the world, and experience different cultures.”

“Is that what your trip to Arizona is all about?” he asked.

“More or less,” she answered with a shrug.

“Well, South America is beautiful.”

Her eyes grew wide. She leaned forward, placing her hands on the table. Excitement laced her voice, “You’ve been?”

Ethan shifted closer and reached for her hand. The air trembled with another flicker of danger just before the lights went out. Darkness flooded the café.

His mark shoved away from the table, snatched her backpack, and darted toward the stairs. Ethan was right behind her. The mortals grumbled complaints, some laughed, while others stumbled through the dark.

She was about to reach the exit when the door flew open, crashing against the wall. Humans screamed and shouted in alarm. The girl froze, and Ethan cursed. Clearly, he hadn’t been the only one searching for her. He could sense the alpha’s presence and, judging by his target’s reaction, so could she.

Ethan grabbed her wrist. She swung around. Her fist raised, her honey colored eyes glowed, and her fangs bared. Shadows of a wolf’s fierce visage flickered over the fine features of her face. Her fierce growl vibrated her entire body. Ethan ignored the warning and tugged on her arm, pulling her toward the emergency exit at the back of the coffee shop.

He pushed the door open. His mark tried to twist free of his hold, but he held her firm.

“Let go of me,” she demanded, her voice roughened by her partial transformation.

“Not a chance, sweetheart.”

She growled and fought harder. He wasn’t surprised by her strength and knew she was still holding back. So was he.

Pushing her now soaked and tangled hair from her face, she snarled, “What’s going on?”

“I thought it was obvious,” he said.

“That you’re attempting to kidnap me?”

Ethan shook his head. “No. That you have an alpha hunting your ass.”

Her stare was one of confusion, awe, and horror. She stopped, and he paused. Literally dragging her across the street would draw unwanted attention. He reluctantly released her wrist. She was soft and warm while he was hard and cold. A frown creased his brow when the sharp sense of loss pricked his long dead heart. On some level, he’d enjoyed the feel of her.

She blinked up at him. Her large, honey eyes sparkled with fear. “W-what did you say?”

His chest rose and fell with a heavy sigh. “I’ll explain. For now, come with me.”

She shook her head.

Ethan glanced over his shoulder, scanning the parking lot for any sign of the alpha. He could sense the wolf was close.

“We don’t have much time. We need to go.”

The woman fell back a step and Ethan’s body tensed. His instincts flared. She retreated another step. Would she run? A part of him wished she would. He loved the chase. The hunt. His heart began to pound, his pupils dilated, and his fangs began to sharpen, all in anticipation.

“Don’t."



About the Author:
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Amanda J. Greene is an erotic paranormal romance author. When she is not writing, she can be found playing the role of a full time university student, who works part time.

She lives in Southern California with her very supportive, military husband and their sweet Cocker Spaniel.


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