The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 (83 page)

A voice sounded behind them. “Don’t tell me you’re going to stand here all night when there’s a Seether to be Reclaimed.”

Malise turned. A tall figure strode towards them, a charred, still-smoking leather case in hand. As he drew nearer, the light from the flames illuminated his features – those of a young man in the prime of his life. She recognized him from the tintypes in Mr Rathburn’s room.

In shock, Malise broke free of Dominic’s embrace and raced towards the one who approached them.

“Mr Rathburn,” she exclaimed, reaching out to touch his face. “It’s you.”

He dropped the case, and seized her up into his arms.

“I like the hair,” he murmured. “It and immortality suit you.”

“What in the hell?” Dominic demanded, the intensity of his fury hotter than any inferno. “You played me for a fool. All these years, you were simply playing a part.”

Anson released Malise and turned towards him. “No, I truly aged. There’s a way, little known and I begged the approval of The Primordial Council. But the method is dangerous. A gamble. I was never certain once I’d let things go this far that I’d be able to return from the brink. But remember, St Vinet, the process by which we are all given our immortality. We are baptized in fire – and fire reversed the process of my aging and returned me to my true, immortal state.”

Dominic said, “But you gave up your immortality when you wed the mortal woman. Once you’ve relinquished your immortality, you can never go back.”

Anson shook his head. “I never relinquished my immortality. I simply allowed my physical body to age. I loved Lavinia. She wanted someone to grow old with. She deserved that much. By then, you were already so furious with me for marrying her – curse your bloody temper – I let you believe as well. Then Ether returned, seeking revenge. I thought I’d already Reclaimed him with one of my elixirs but the formula was faulty. Though weakened, he murdered Lavinia, then disappeared. Disappeared so completely, I feared I would never have my revenge upon him. So I took a chance. The chance that he hated me so greatly that as he regained his strength, while he was watching and waiting, he would one day reappear when I was at my oldest and my weakest.”

“And he did, and you Reclaimed him,” exclaimed Malise, gazing at him in admiration.

“No, he’s still out there.”

“Still out there?” growled Dominic. “We’ve got to stop him, then. Tonight.”

Malise added, “And there are still his victims who must be saved. Returned to their normal state.”

Anson took up the case. “Then let us be on our way. He can’t escape the three of us. Though not a Shadow Guard with final Reclamation powers, Malise can still join in the hunt.”

Dominic rested a hand on Anson’s shoulder. “When this is all over . . .”

“I know. You’re going to kick my arse. Do your best.”

“The Primordial Council will be furious that we’ve turned a mortal.”

“Let me do the talking, then.”

Their gazes held. “I’m glad you’ve returned.”

“So am I.” Rathburn lowered his voice. “But if you ever kiss my nurse again—”

Malise looked to St Vinet and then to Rathburn, and laughed.

Lara Adrian

New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of the Midnight Breed vampire romance series from Bantam Dell Books. To date, Lara’s books have been translated into fourteen languages and have sold more than a million copies worldwide.
www.laraadrian.com

Sharon Ashwood

Author of The Dark Forgotten contemporary paranormal series.
Ravenous
, book 1 in the series, won the 2010 Golden Quill award in the Paranormal category. She is a freelance journalist, novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky.
www.sharonashwood.com

Sonya Bateman

Urban fantasy author of
Master of None
(4.5 stars,
Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine
), with the first in a new series featuring an original take on the djinn.
www.sonyabateman.com

Gail Carriger

Author of the Parasol Protectorate series (
Soulless, Changeless
and
Blameless
), urbane steampunk fantasies with comedy and romance thrown in. When not moonlighting as an archaeologist, she lives on a vineyard in Northern California surrounded by fabulous shoes. She drinks too much tea.
www.gailcarriger.com

Karen Chance

New York Times
bestselling author of urban fantasy, including the popular Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Basarab series.
www.karenchance.com

Shirley Damsgaard

Author of the acclaimed Ophelia and Abby paranormal mystery series, she resides with her family in small-town Iowa where she has served as postmaster for the last twenty years.
www.shirleydamsgaard.com

S.J. Day

Author of the Marked urban fantasy series S.J. Day is the pseudonym of Sylvia Day, national bestselling and award-winning author of paranormal and historical romances.
www.sjday.net

Sherri Browning Erwin

A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Sherri writes contemporary and historical fiction with a paranormal twist. Her latest book is the horror mashup
Jane Slayre
(Gallery Books), a timeless tale of love, devotion and the undead.
www.sherribrowningerwin.com

Seressia Glass

Award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance, Seressia made her urban fantasy debut with
Shadow Blade
, book 1 in the Shadowchasers series, which is set in her hometown of Atlanta.
www.seressia.com

Ava Gray

The 2008 PEARL award-winner for Best New Author, Ava Gray is the romance pen name for national bestselling author Ann Aguirre. She lives in Mexico with her family.
www.avagray.com

Nathalie Gray

Award-winning author of over thirty novels of speculative fiction ranging from steampunk to fantasy. She has been featured in
The Independent
(UK),
RT Book Reviews
Magazine, and
Realms of Fantasy
. A former soldier and avid renovator, Nathalie makes her home in an impregnable fortress beneath the Nordic ice sheets, where she plots to one day take over the world.
www.nathaliegray.com

Michele Hauf

Author of dark paranormal romance, action/adventure and fantasy, her story in
Paranormal Romance 2
is part of her Of Angels and Demons series available from Silhouette Nocturne.
www.michelehauf.com

Jackie Kessler

An urban fantasy and paranormal romance author who likes to write about demons, angels, the hapless humans caught between them, superheroes and the supervillains who pound those heroes into pudding. Along with her books for adults, she writes novels for teens under the byline Jackie Morse Kessler.
www.jackiekessler.com

Kim Lenox

The award-winning author of the Victorian-era paranormal Shadow Guard series. She was a 2008
Romantic Times
Magazine nominee for Best First Historical, and winner of their 2009 Best Vampire/Shapeshifter/Werewolf Historical award.
www.kimlenox.com

Moira Rogers

Author of dark paranormal romance and romantic urban fantasy.
www.moirarogers.com

Helen Scott Taylor

Winner of the
American Title IV
contest, Helen writes paranormal and fantasy romance. The first book in her Magic Knot Fairies series was chosen as a
Booklist
Top Ten Romance for 2009.
www.helenscotttaylor.com

Elissa Wilds

Award-winning of sexy paranormal romance novels
Between Light and Dark
and
Darkness Rising
from Dorchester Love Spell.
www.elissawilds.com