Ashwood, Sharon - [Dark Forgotten 02] - Scorched.pdf - Ashwood, Sharon - azuleya

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"I urge anyone who is a fan of urban fantasy and paranormal romance to put Sharon Ashwood at the

top of their list!"—Night Owl Romance

Praise for Ravenous

"A multilayered plot, a fascinating take on the paranormal creatures living among us, plus a sexy vampire, a

sassy witch, and a mystery for them to solve ... Ravenous leaves me hungry for more!"

—Jessica Andersen, author of Skykeepers

"Sexy, suspenseful fun. Ashwood really knows how to tell a story."

—New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong

"Strong world building____Readers will look forward to

the sequel." — Publishers Weekly

"Intriguing and darkly entertaining—not to mention sexy. Ashwood is definitely making herself right at

home with this genre." — Romantic Times

"The world is interesting (I look forward to seeing more of it!), the romance gorgeous, the sex sizzling.

There's plenty of action, as well." —Errant Dreams Reviews

"This tongue-in-cheek, action-packed urban fantasy hooks the reader from the opening moment... and never

slows down." — Midwest Book Review

A fast-paced urban fantasy... nonstop action that will keep the reader turning pages long into the night.

Ashwood has created a wonderful fantasy romp that's tough to put down until the end. I look forward to

reading the next installment in this series." —Romance Junkies

"The world building is complex and absolutely terrific. But, most of all, it's the powerful attraction between

the spunky witch heroine and her sexy vampire partner as they battle evil that makes this story a real page-

turner! With demons, hell hounds, weres, and vampires waiting in the wings, I can't wait to see what

happens next!" —Alexis Morgan

"I think I have found a new favorite series...I guess I have to wait for the next story, hopefully not for too

long!"

—The Romance Studio

"Ravenous is a fantastic read, filled with action, suspense, lush details, sizzling romance, and very

memorable characters. Ms. Ashwood has created a very compelling world and left us with enough questions

about the fate of certain characters to have us hoping that this is the start of a very promising new series." —

MyShelf.com

"Ms. Ashwood has created an intriguing world where both good and evil dwell in the shadows and things

are rarely what they seem. Ravenous is a well-written and sexy read that makes for a great escape from the

norm. I look forward to the next visit with the Dark Forgotten."

—Darque Reviews

"Ravenous is packed with action, humor, and a drool-worthy vampire. The demons and the hellhounds and

the evil house with a killer mind (oh my!) are what set it apart from the fold. A whole new mythology

surrounding the supernatural and how humans police them is introduced, and I can't wait to see where

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Ashwood takes it. This book earns 5 tombstones for creativity, sex appeal, and one kick-ass house." —

Bitten by Books

"Sharon Ashwood hooked me from the first page! Ravenous gets off to a roaring start and the fast pace

never relents. Ravenous has all the elements of a top-notch urban

fantasy tale____It will be hard to surpass this book! I can't

recommend this one highly enough!"

—CK 2 S Kwips and Kritiques

October 7, 7:15 p.m. 101.5 FM

"G ood evening to all you fanged and furry listeners out there in radio land. This is Errata, your hostess from

CSUP, the FM station that denies and defies the normal in paranormal. It's October first and a crisp evening

up here on the Fairview U campus. Looks like there'll be frost on the pumpkin tonight.

"We have our usual dark and dangerous lineup ahead, but first a special alert. It's come to our attention that a

certain demon detective is back in town. Word has it he's been lying low for the past while, but my

informants spotled this local bad boy out and about last night. Welcome back from the dark side, detective,

but be careful of all those bridges you burned last year. I think the footing's a little treacherous.

"Oh, and by the way, I wouldn't count on running a tab at the local watering hole—I think a Thanksgiving

turkey has a better chance of long-term credit."

Chapter 1

So, they buried her at a crossroads. Some folks just bring that out in people.

Conall Macmillan shoved his hands into the pockets of his Windbreaker. Autumn dusk closed around him in

shades of blue and charcoal, heavy with seaside moisture. It would be dark in minutes. He could hear the

wash of waves in the silence. St. Andrew's Cemetery was empty, except for the dead. And him, of course,

though where he fit on the whole dead/live continuum was open to debate.

The grave lay at the intersection of two white paved walkways, smack in the way of joggers and dog

walkers. Not much of a crossroads, but enough to keep her down. It said something that the ones doing the

burying had been vampires. They didn't scare easily, but the woman now resting beneath the earth had been

a demon, a monster's monster, evil pure as... What was the right comparison, anyway?

Mac looked up at the fading horizon, memories as black and sharp-edged as the cedars etched against the

ocean. Sudden, cold nausea invaded his gut, riding a wave of remembrance at once intimate and brutal.

What could compare to the desperate, terrifying hunger that had flayed him until he shrugged off humanity

like a tattered bathrobe? What could compare with the silver sweetness of each human soul as it slid over his

teeth and down his throat like a delicate summer wine?

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Each life was a drop of relief in a desert of desperate need. That was the thirst of a demon, a soul eater. A

murderer. He knew, because the woman beneath the crossroads had made Mac just like her. Walking evil.

The brass plaque on the headstone simply read: GENEVA. It had been a year since she was placed, suddenly

human and instantly dead, beneath the dirt.

A breeze hushed through the leaves that littered the lawn, an anticipatory sound. The wind was changing as

the sun bloodied the sea, carrying in the smell of brine. Mac walked around Geneva's last home, viewing it

from every angle.

What am I looking for? To reassure myself she's really down there—human, deceased, and rotting the way

she's supposed to? Not a good thought. Geneva had been beautiful, for all her wicked ways. The memory of

her still brought heat to his flesh.

He'd always gone for the wrong women, the kind who weren't interested in forever. After years on the

squad, his heart was entombed in dead bodies and paperwork, insulated against a cop's daily dose of

carnage. A quick and dirty grapple in the dark was all he had to give and those mad, bad babes fit him to a

So when a pretty blonde had invited him for a drink, he'd considered it lucky, but business as usual. Bad

mistake. Life-ending mistake.

Now the forever kind of woman was beyond his grasp. Even if he dared to make her his own, one day he

might fall off the wagon and then it would be, "Sorry, darling. I scarfed down the kids."

A short brick wall encircled Geneva's plot, holding in the sod. The site was on a hill and had views of

everything: the ocean, the acres of yew trees and headstones, even glimpses of the strip mall to the north. It

was fitting. Geneva had loved to be in the center of things.

Dead center, ha-ha, Mac thought bitterly.

A desolate feeling stole over him. It was bad when you had to laugh at your own lousy puns. Fortunate that

he wasn't a drinker. It would be far too nice to forget everything, even for just a little while.

Thunk!

A knife thrummed into the dirt at his foot, silver blade quivering as it struck. The dark steel hilt had the

elegant simplicity of all vampire armaments.

Mac hunched, his spine itching at every spot where the knife might have struck. "What?" he snapped to the

empty air.

The answer was dry with sarcasm. "You finally showed up. It's been a year."

Mac had forgotten how much he hated that low, smooth, arrogant voice. His teeth clenched so hard, pain

shot up his left temple.

Between one blink and the next, Alessandro Caravelli appeared on the other side of the grave, his weight

resting on one hip. Yes, it had been a year since they last met. Shrink-wrapped in leather, the vampire still

had the rock 'n' roll biker vibe going on: boots, studs, and attitude. Curly wheat blond hair fell past his

shoulders; his amber eyes were steady, unblinking, and not at all friendly.

"The sword's a nice touch," Mac said. "Very retro."

The vampire held the huge blade loosely at his side. "Special edition. It kills everything. Even demons."

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Despite himself, Mac felt a sizzle of fear. "I'm not a demon anymore. I'm not evil. I'm cured."

Caravelli's chin lifted; he took a subtle sniff of the breeze. "Faint, but the demon stink is there."

Mac's lip curled at the insult. "Oh, yeah, and seeing you brings back all the good times, Caravelli. I've so

missed your bad-assed sheriff-to-the-Undead routine."

"I still keep the law among the supernatural citizens in Fairview." Without a flicker of expression, Caravelli

took a step closer. "And you're still a danger. You were Geneva's thrall. Our enemy."

"Yeah, well..." Mac trailed off. The events of a year ago were confused in Mac's mind, but he remembered

the essential facts. Geneva picked a fight with Fairview's supernatural community—werebeast and vampire,

demon and fey—in a bid to control the territory. Yes, he had fought with the black hats, being a demon and

all at the time.

His side lost. Holly Carver, a witch, had turned the tide, blasting Geneva with a spell so powerful that it had

stripped away the demon's powers. The moment Geneva became human, her own soldiers had killed her.

Drained her blood. Left her corpse to the mercy of her enemies.

It's hard to get good help when you're an archvillain. It's even harder to change careers from henchdemon to

harmless civilian.

Caravelli frowned, a slight movement of his foot signaling his impatience.

Oh, crap. Shifting his weight, Mac forced himself not to bolt, though the urge burned along every nerve.

Never show a vampire fear. He couldn't take his eyes off Caravelli's sword. How come I ' m walking around

unarmed? Stupid! He'd lost the habit of carrying weapons during his demon days.

Mac played his only card. "Hear me out. I was caught by the same spell as Geneva. If she was made human

again, so was I."

It worked. The vampire lowered the blade an inch or two. "Then tell me this. You disappeared after the

battle. We looked for you. The queen offered a reward for your return. Where have you been?"

"Out of my mind." Mac looked away. "Yeah, I feel guilty. I was a cop, for God's sake. Geneva made me turn

against everything I stood for." Heat rushed up his face, but he forced himself to meet Caravelli's gaze. "I

didn't join her willingly. She corrupted me. You know that. You were there."

For the first time, Caravelli showed emotion. Damn him, it was pity. "That would've been the point, with

her."

Mac used a few pithy obscenities. "Yeah, ain't that the truth."

It had taken only one long, hot kiss to infect him with that craving for human life. A hunger he hadn't

entirely lost. Not that he was going to mention that to Caravelli and his meat cleaver.

Now Mac let himself take a step back, then another. "I'm sorry for what I did. I've prayed for some means to

atone. It's not enough, but there's nothing else I can offer."

"Not so fast." With a rush of wind and leather, Caravelli sprang into the air, sailing lightly over Geneva's

grave. For <\ moment, he hung there like a biker bird of prey.

Mac scrambled backward, the instinct to run winning out. His legs felt clumsy, as if he were trying to run on

bags of water. Caravelli's arms stretched out, the moonlight kissing the sword and the studs on his coat and

boots. He had barely touched down when he bounded again, right over Mac's head. Mac spun. The vampire

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Ashwood, Sharon - [Dark Forgotten 02] - Scorched.pdf

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