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Synopsis
HER TOUCH IS DEADLY
As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she'll die before she'll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin's innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence.
HIS HUNGER CAN'T BE DENIED
Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she's no stranger: He's bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld's most wanted and Con soon learns he's the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.
Release date: September 1, 2010
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Print pages: 432
* BingeBooks earns revenue from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate as well as from other retail partners.
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Sin Undone
Larissa Ione
“4½ Stars! Rich with passion, mystery, and mythology. Ione is a master worldbuilder, and one can’t help but fall headlong
into this imaginative and compelling story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Compulsively readable… intensely interesting… this book was awesome.”
—LikesBooks.com
“Great… fast-paced… a strong tale that has the audience believing that demons and angels walk the earth.”
—Midwest Book Review
“An astonishing addition to Larissa Ione’s Demonica series… fast-paced and totally captivating… The most action-packed and
suspense-driven Demonica novel to date, readers will be hard pressed to put Ecstasy Unveiled down.”
—RomanceJunkies.com
“Overwhelmingly moving at times, totally hilarious during others, and always a captivatingly magical adventure… The Demonica
series is always fascinating and the fourth book superbly demonstrates why its gifted creator is an unequaled storyteller.
Larissa Ione cleverly combines plots and memorable characters with her special brand of humor to craft outstanding paranormal
tales.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Paranormal romance at its finest… a fast-paced thrill ride of epic proportions that will have you on the edge of your seat,
cheering for the good guys… This series holds no punches and is becoming a serious must-have… it will definitely not disappoint.”
—Examiner.com
“Fast-paced and fun… The action in this book is nonstop and I never once wished I was doing anything but reading the book
while the story lasted.”
—DearAuthor.com
“Ione’s best yet… a fast-paced read that kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened
next!… Each Demonica book just keeps getting better and better. The momentum of the story and pacing keeps you drawn in until
way past your bedtime.”
—FictionVixen.com
“A wicked and exhilarating ride full of provocative and arousing love scenes and intense physical and emotional encounters
that left me beyond a doubt captivated from cover to cover.”
—BittenByBooks.com
“4½ Stars! The third book in Ione’s supercharged Demonica series ignites on the first page and never looks back… Adventure,
action, and danger leap off every page. The best of the series to date!”
—RT Book Reviews
“Fast-paced from the onset and never slows down until the exhilarating climax… Readers will be enthralled by the action and
the charmed lead couple.”
—Midwest Book Reviews
“Larissa Ione pulls no punches… The love scenes are scorching hot and grab at your heart with their emotional intensity. Dark
moments are written with just the right touch of hope that leaves the reader begging for a happy ending. I couldn’t have loved
Passion Unleashed more and hated for it to end. Raw, gritty, and tremendously passionate… It was awesome!”
—RomanceJunkies.com
“5 Stars! Larissa has outdone herself with the story of Wraith. I was pulled into this story from the first page. The action
is intense and nonstop. I was engrossed and enthralled… and highly recommend adding this series to your library.”
—BittenByBooks.com
“Awesome… Everyone loves a bad boy and Wraith is so the poster bad boy. Another great novel… Ione gives us a great spin on the relationship between her ‘Buffys’ and the demons
of the world, along with a good apocalypse.”
—LiteraryEscapism.com
“Heart-pounding… outstandingly superb… an adventure-filled romance where passion and danger continuously mount… The plot and
characters are truly unforgettable.”
—SingleTitles.com
“A delightful paranormal romance with strong world-building and a suspenseful plot. Passion Unleashed will captivate readers… The seducer is about to be seduced, and fans won’t be disappointed.”
—DarqueReviews.com
“Plenty of steamy love scenes… nicely balanced with a high-octane plot… Larissa Ione is fast becoming a master at telling
dark, edgy, and highly complex paranormal tales.”
—BookLoons.com
“Absolutely fabulous! Wraith is the ultimate bad boy who is just begging for salvation and Serena is his perfect complement.
Ms. Ione will have paranormal fans begging for more.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“4 Stars! Rising star Ione is back in this latest Demonica novel… Ione has a true gift for imbuing her characters with dark-edged
passion… thrilling action and treacherous vengeance… a top-notch read.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Wicked… decadently sinful… prepare to be burned!”
—Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author
“A fabulous tale… The story line is fast-paced from the opening sequence… Fans will relish a visit to the Ione realm.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Warning! Read at your own risk. Highly addictive… Rising star Larissa Ione takes her already well-crafted and unique demon
world to new heights. The sex is darker, hotter, wickeder, and wonderfully erotic; the vengeful enemy is diabolical, and the
story line is unparalleled. Ione is a master at creating tortured, sexy bad boys who are full of flaws and make you melt…
Desire Unchained may only be book two in her Demonica series, but I’m completely head-over-heels in love. I have never been so enthralled
with a series before. With the end of each book, I’m left desperately wanting more.”
—FreshFiction.com
“Imaginatively riveting… Emotional intensity is the driving force behind every Larissa Ione book. Scenes may be packed with
suspenseful peril or steamy passions or even quick humor and clever banter, yet it is the emotions behind the reactions of
the characters that really grab the reader.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Five Stars! Recommended read. I have to say that I absolutely love this book. Larissa Ione has become one of my favorite
authors, and I crave more of her books. The first book in her Demonica series was fantastic, and this one is even better…
[Shade] is the perfect romance hero… The whole world and all the other characters have taken a place in my heart… I wish I
could go back and read Desire Unchained again for the first time. It was just that good.”
—FallenAngelReviews.com
“What a ride! Dark, sexy, and very intriguing, the book gripped me from start to finish—totally recommended.”
—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author of Mine to Possess
“4 Stars! [Ione’s] hard-edged style infuses the story with darkness while taking it to sizzling heights.”
—RT Book Reviews
“5 Stars! Fascinatingly innovative… full of fervent encounters and shocking disclosures… compelling scenes and dynamic characters.
Never has the paranormal world been more intriguing. Pleasure Unbound will leave a lasting impact on the reader, as this unforgettable story will evoke emotions long after the last page is read.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Fast-paced… never slows down… Romantic fantasy fans will appreciate the first Demonica tale.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Intense, engrossing, and titillating, Pleasure Unbound is a story not to be missed. I can’t wait for the next story.”
—RRTErotic.com
“Ione has… created a very imaginative demonic tapestry as well as rich, multilayered characterizations… a heady blend that
I look forward to revisiting in her next installment.”
—BookLoons.com
“4½ Stars! Wow, wow, wow! This is one hot demon love story! The pages are riddled with action, sex, and danger. The intensity
is palpable. I was moved by this love story and will think about it for some time.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“Sexy, dark, and emotion-filled… Took me on a rip-roaring ride through every emotion I have… Go out and buy a copy today.”
—JoyfullyReviewed.com
The Aegis—Society of human warriors dedicated to protecting the world from evil. See: Guardians, Regent, Sigil
Carceris—The jailors of the underworld. All demon species send representatives to serve terms in the Carceris. Carceris members are
responsible for apprehending demons accused of violating demon law, and for acting as guards in the Carceris prisons.
Council—All demon species and breeds are governed by a Council that makes laws and metes out punishment for individual members of
their species or breed.
Dresdiin—The demon equivalent of angels. See: Memitim
Fakires—Derogatory term used by vampires to describe humans who either believe themselves to be real vampires or who pretend to be
vampires.
Guardians—Warriors for The Aegis, trained in combat techniques, weapons, and magic. Upon induction into The Aegis, all Guardians are presented with an enchanted piece of jewelry bearing the Aegis shield, which, among other things,
allows for night vision and the ability to see through demon invisibility enchantment.
Harrowgate—Vertical portals, invisible to humans, that demons use to travel between locations on Earth and Sheoul.
Infadre—A female of any demon species who has been impregnated by a Seminus demon.
Maleconcieo—Highest level of ruling demon boards, served by a representative from each species Council. The U.N. of the demon world.
Marked Sentinel—Humans charmed by angels and tasked with protecting a vital artifact. Sentinels are immortal and immune to harm. Only angels
(fallen included) can injure or kill a Sentinel. Their existence is a closely guarded secret.
Memitim—Earthbound angels assigned to protect Primori. Memitim remain earthbound until they complete their duties, at which time
they Ascend, earning their wings and entry into Heaven. Also known to demons as dresdiin. See: Dresdiin, Primori
Orgesu—A demon sex slave, often taken from breeds bred specifically for the purpose of providing sex.
Pricolici—Werewolves who are born as such. Pricolici can only conceive during the breeding heat, and offspring are almost always born werewolves, even if the father is varcolac. Pricolici are born with a mark that identifies them as pricolici. See: Varcolac
Primori—Humans and demons whose lives are fated to impact the world in some crucial way.
Regent—Head(s) of local Aegis cells.
Renfield—Fictional character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Also, derogatory term for any human who serves a vampire. A vampire groupie.
S’genesis—Final maturation cycle for Seminus demons. Occurs at one hundred years of age. A post-s’genesis male is capable of procreation and possesses the ability to shapeshift into the male of any demon species.
Sheoul—Demon realm. Located deep in the bowels of the earth, accessible only by Harrowgates.
Sheoul-gra—A holding tank for demon souls. The place where demon souls go until they can be reborn or kept in torturous limbo.
Sheoulic—Universal demon language spoken by all, though many species speak their own language.
Sigil—Board of twelve humans known as Elders, who serve as the supreme leaders of The Aegis. Based in Berlin, they oversee all
Aegis cells worldwide.
Swans—Humans who act as blood or energy donors for vampires, either actual undead or fakires.
Ter’taceo—Demons who can pass as human, either because their species is naturally human in appearance or because they can shapeshift
into human form.
Therionidryo—Term a were-beast uses for a person he or she bit and turned into another were-beast.
Therionidrysi—Any survivor of a were-beast attack. Term used to clarify the relationship between the sire and his therionidryo.
Ufelskala—A scoring system for demons, based on their degree of evil. All supernatural creatures and evil humans can be categorized
into the five Tiers, with the Fifth Tier composed of the worst of the wicked.
Varcolac—Werewolves who were once human, turned into wargs by the bite of another. Both born and turned werewolves can infect a human
with lycanthropy. Offspring conceived outside the breeding heat are always born human. Offspring conceived during the breeding
heat are occasionally infected with lycanthropy in the womb and are born as werewolves. See: Pricolici
Classification of demons, as listed by Baradoc, Umber demon, using the demon breed Seminus as an example:
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Demon
Family: Sexual demon
Genus: Terrestrial
Species: Incubus
Breed: Seminus
“The wargs must die.”
Sin paced back and forth in the master chamber of her assassin den, her mind working overtime to process Bantazar’s words.
The Assassin Guild’s messenger stood near the cold fire pit, outstretched hand holding a parchment scroll. Sin snatched it
from the Neethul male, who must stand seven feet tall even without the platform Goth boots he wore. With them, he was at least
two-and-a-half feet taller than she was. Still, the Guild’s lackey didn’t intimidate her. She’d killed much larger demons
than him.
“Eight of them?” Sin asked. “Eight werewolves at once?”
He nodded, his shoulder-length, snowy hair catching on his pointed ears. The Neethul were—externally, anyway—a beautiful race,
elven in appearance. “An entire pack.”
Which included a two-year-old cub. She cast a covert glance at the male standing in the corner, saturated in shadow and silence. Lycus, her only warg assassin, might as well have
been a stone statue. The news that the contract would end the lives of several of his own people didn’t faze him at all. Not
that she’d expected it to. He was a professional. Cold, efficient, and ruthless.
Biting back a curse, Sin stopped pacing. She couldn’t afford to show nerves or reluctance. The Guild was watching her closely
for signs of weakness, would seize any excuse to crush her and take her assassins for themselves. She had to be more ruthless
than ever right now, especially since she’d already declined to bid on nearly a dozen contracts, and she’d only been an assassin
master for three weeks.
She scanned the details scrawled on the parchment in Sheoulic. “Who else has this job been presented to?”
“You know I can’t tell you that.” Bantazar’s ruby lips peeled back in a lecherous smile. “But if you use some of your succubus
talents on me, I might let some names slip in a moment of passion.”
Sad as it was, she was actually tempted to screw the bastard if it would get her the information she needed. She had to offer
on this job, but she needed to ensure she overbid and wouldn’t win the contract. Knowing who else was bidding would give her
an edge.
“I’d tell you to go to hell, Bantazar, but no doubt you own a large chunk of it.” The Neethul were wealthy slave traders whose
holdings included massive sections of Sheoul, and as a minor assassin master, Bantazar was definitely on the same path.
“Deth would have taken me up on the offer,” he purred.
“I wouldn’t brag about that.” She studied the ring on her left index finger that used to belong to her dead boss. “Deth would have screwed a spiny hellrat if he could catch one.”
Bantazar laughed as he moved toward her, sinuous as a serpent. “Your assassin slaves grow restless, half-breed. Are your human
morals interfering with your ability to manage them?”
She snorted. “I have no morals.” Maybe she’d started out with them, back before she found out she was a demon, but all the
things she’d done in her life, both forced and of her own free will, had chipped away at her heart and soul, and there wasn’t
a lot left.
At least, there hadn’t been until she’d started a plague that was killing werewolves all over the globe. Something about that
action had scraped her emotions raw, exposing a nugget of regret that sat inside her like a pebble in a shoe.
And now there’d been a mysterious increase in the number of hits put out on werewolves—wargs, as they liked to be called—and
she was having a hard time bidding on contracts that would set her assassins against them.
She was already killing them by the dozens, without ever having touched them.
Absently, she rubbed her right arm, her palm registering the difference in temperature between her bare skin and the sharp
lines of the tattoo that had appeared when she was twenty. The dermoire, a paternal history of her demon heritage, had come with a raging libido and the ability to infect anyone she touched with
a disease that killed within minutes. As sucky as that was, her twin brother, Lore, had gotten off much worse. She could at
least control her “gift.” He couldn’t touch anyone but his siblings and mate without snuffing them.
“Well?” Bantazar cracked his knuckles, an annoying sound that echoed off the chamber’s smooth stone walls. “Will you bid,
or will you let your slaves mutiny?”
Thanks to the bond that connected her to her assassin slaves through the assassin-master ring, they couldn’t raise a hand
against her—not so long as she remained in the den or at assassin Guild headquarters, or in a place protected from violence,
like Underworld General. But they could attack her anywhere else in Sheoul or aboveground, in the human realm—which was why assassin masters rarely left their dens.
For the millionth time since she had accepted the position of assassin master, she cursed her situation. She hadn’t wanted
it, but she would never let her brother know that she’d taken it to prevent his angelic mate from being forced into the job
Idess had won by killing Detharu. Idess would have lost her soul over this job, and since Sin figured she’d already lost hers…
Yeah. No big deal.
Snagging a double-ended penknife from the hip pocket of her leather pants, she scrawled an absurdly high monetary figure on
the parchment. She signed, and then flipped the pen over and sliced her thumb with the sharp blade. A drop of blood splashed
onto the page, and instantly, red, pulsing veins sprouted from the fluid and wove their way through the document. Within seconds,
the parchment had gone from a crisp, stiff square of dried skin to a pliable, warm scrap of flesh that would become a binding
contract if the individual behind it accepted her bid.
Disgusted, Sin handed the thing back to the Neethul, her stomach churning as he sauntered to the exit.
“That was hard for you,” Lycus said, after the huge door slammed shut. From behind her, his hands came down on her shoulders, his fingers kneading, but his touch made her tense
up only more. “Take me up on my offer. Mate with me. We’ll rule the den together.”
“Are you deaf, or just really stupid?” Not once since taking this job had she committed violence against one of her underlings,
but she really was tempted to turn around and introduce her knee to his balls. “How many times do I have to say no?”
His lips brushed the top of her right ear. “I can say no, as well.”
She stiffened. “Blackmail, Lycus?” He was one of her few, precious bedmates now; since becoming master of the den, most of
her assassins, the ones who had shared her bed for years, had become wary or afraid of her. Although it was within her rights
to force them to service her, she would never do so. Lycus allowed her full use of his body, but it wasn’t because he knew
that she’d die without sex.
He wanted her job, wanted her as his mate so he could assume shared control over the den. But as nice as it would be to shove
off the hard decisions on someone else, she couldn’t give Lycus what he wanted. She could never, ever be someone’s mate. Could
never belong to anyone again.
Funny how she’d considered sleeping with Bantazar for information, but she had issues with bonding with a male in order to
pass off distasteful but necessary duties that kept the den running and her assassins happy.
Something was going to have to give soon.
So, as she shoved Lycus away, she did something she hadn’t done since she found out she was a demon.
She prayed.
“There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.”
—George Carlin
“You damnedpire motherfucker!”
Con barked out a laugh at Luc’s shouted insult, even as he hit the snow hard enough to shatter a human man’s thigh bones.
But Con was a dhampire, a rare cross between a werewolf and a vampire, and he was made of stronger stuff. As a werewolf, Luc
was equally strong, but he wasn’t nearly as fast, as Con had proven by hot-loading out of the helicopter before Luc had even
tugged his ski goggles down over his eyes.
Con hopped his skis twice to pull himself out of the snowpack that still glazed the peaks of the Swiss Alps, and then he was
zigzagging down the mountain. The sky was clear and blue, and here above the timberline, the silence was broken only by the
soft whoop-whoop of the helo blades and the swish of his Rossignols as they cut the fresh powder.
The lulling quiet lasted only until Luc hit the snow and hurled insults at Con again.
The helo sounds faded as the pilot, who had called them all kinds of insane but had agreed—for quadruple his usual fee for
heli-skiing—to bring them up higher on the mountain, hauled ass out of there. The dude had nearly stroked out when Con told
him to hover at thirty feet instead of the inches he normally held at when letting human skiers off the bird.
But no, Con didn’t do anything the easy way, or even the same way twice. The last time he and Luc had heli-skied, the drop
had been shorter.
And the risk of avalanche had been far, far less.
The powder was thick on top of an unstable snowpack, the slope steep, and the effort it took for Con to navigate it all would
have him trembling with exhaustion by the time they reached the Harrowgate in the valley miles below.
Ahead, the mountain face became a sheer cliff, and he leaped, catching air under his skis. The ground was impossibly far beneath
him and scattered with boulders, but the wind was in his face, the scent of pine was in his lungs, and adrenaline was pumping
hotly through his body.
This was the best way to live—or die, depending on how he landed.
Sometimes, he didn’t really care either way.
He came down hard in an explosion of snow and nearly took a header, but he caught himself just before he hit a patch of wind-loaded
crust that would have sent him flying.
Behind him, he heard Luc’s skis scratching out turns… and then came the sounds of something more ominous.
Con turned in time to see Luc leap off a snowcapped boulder, but behind him, a giant sheet of snow had begun to crack and
slide, an avalanche being born.
“Luc!” Heart pounding painfully against his ribs, Con tucked and pointed his skis down the hill, angled toward Luc and a massive
boulder stabbing out of the side of the mountain. Luc couldn’t see the potential shelter, was too close to the leading edge
of the slab of white death coming at him.
Luc, never one for delicate maneuvers anyway, left finesse behind as he shot straight down the slope, barreling through drifts
like an oil tanker through thirty-foot seas, but shit, he wasn’t going to make it. The avalanche behind him was gaining, and
though Con could veer to the left and avoid it, he headed straight into its path.
The wind seared his face as he gained speed, getting closer to Luc… closer to the rock… closer to the fucking wall of ice
and snow. They had one shot at this, and his mind shut down, taking him to a place of calm as he hit Luc at the last second,
knocking them both off their feet and into the boulder as the monster wave of snow rolled over them.
Con landed on top of Luc, gripped his shoulders hard as he turned his face away from the assault of frozen chunks that broke
apart against the rock. The noise was deafening, the rumble so fierce that it vibrated Con’s body and seemed to shock his
heart into a new, frenzied rhythm.
Sixty seconds later, he lifted his head. Excellent. They were still alive.
“Get the hell off me, you damned pervert,” Luc muttered.
Con eased himself off the werewolf and brushed snow out of the gap between his jacket and his neck. “Nice way to thank a guy
who saved your miserable life.”
Luc sat up and patted himself down, as if checking to see whether he was missing any parts. “Fuck,” he breathed. “This means I owe you.”
“Damned straight.” Con lifted his leg and discovered that one boot had snapped out of its binding, but thankfully, he had
a ski leash, so the ski hadn’t gone anywhere. “I can’t wait to cash in.”
“You’d better not make me do something stupid. Like run with the bulls.” Luc dug inside one of his jacket pockets and pulled
out a flask. “Naked.”
Con grimaced. “Trust me, I have no desire to see your pale, bare ass.” He snatched the flask from Luc and took a swig, relishing
the burn of the rum as it slid down his throat. “But I wouldn’t mind seeing you trampled by bulls. You’re an asshole.”
“Ditto.” Luc grabbed the liquor away and took a deep pull. “You ready to go?”
Con snapped his boot into the binding. “Yep.”
“What are we gonna do after this?”
A flare of regret jerked in Con’s gut. Eidolon had sent all warg hospital employees into isolation to keep them from contracting
the virus that was attacking the werewolf population, and Luc was going stir-crazy. Though Con and Luc had never been friends,
exactly—they’d gotten their introduction in a bar fight with each other—they were paramedic partners and they hung out together
occasionally, mainly to see who could beat who at whatever they did.
But ever since Luc had gone into isolation, he’d been even more eager to do crazy shit. Con was always game, but he did have a job, and he was working more than ever to make up for Luc’s absence.
“I gotta work. But we’ll go skydiving next week.”
Luc nodded, and though his expression was as stony as ever, Con didn’t miss the flash of disappointment in the guy’s dark
hazel eyes.
“When’s the last time you got laid? When you were in Egypt? That Guardian chick?” Con shoved to his feet. “You need a woman.”
Luc snorted. “Women are a pain in the ass,” he said, and wasn’t that the truth.
In fact, the biggest pain in the ass female he’d ever met was responsible for the very epidemic that was killing wargs. And
Doc E had requested—well, ordered—a meeting with Con this afternoon, and he had a sickening feeling that the pain in the ass
female, aka Sin, was going to be there.
Fuck. Once more, Con grabbed the flask from Luc, put it to his lips, and finished it off. Then he punched down the mountain.
Oh, yeah. Rum and adrenaline mixed well. Much, much better than he and Sin ever would.
Sin had been summoned.
Here she was, the freaking head of an assassin den, master of more than three dozen highly skilled killers, and she’d been
summoned like some lowlife imp to an audience with her brother.
The great demon doctor.
She’d already given him her blood, her DNA, her pee, her spinal fluid… whatever samples the doctor wanted for his research,
she’d handed over. Sin was, after all, responsible for the disease that was wiping out the werewolf race.
What a claim to fame.
A couple of days ago, she’d even come into Underworld General to channel her power into an infected male in an attempt to
kill the virus, but if anything, she’d only accelerated its spread.
And she hadn’t thought it could get any worse.
Sin muttered to herself as she traversed UG’s dark hallways on the way to Eidolon’s office. Her boots clacked on black stone
floors that were unusually in need of a good sweeping, and the echo bounced in eerie vibrations off the gray walls. She trailed
a finger over the writing on said walls—protective antiviolence spells scrawled in blood. She had to give credit to her brothers
for that; the hospital serviced nearly all species of demons, many of which were mor
into this imaginative and compelling story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Compulsively readable… intensely interesting… this book was awesome.”
—LikesBooks.com
“Great… fast-paced… a strong tale that has the audience believing that demons and angels walk the earth.”
—Midwest Book Review
“An astonishing addition to Larissa Ione’s Demonica series… fast-paced and totally captivating… The most action-packed and
suspense-driven Demonica novel to date, readers will be hard pressed to put Ecstasy Unveiled down.”
—RomanceJunkies.com
“Overwhelmingly moving at times, totally hilarious during others, and always a captivatingly magical adventure… The Demonica
series is always fascinating and the fourth book superbly demonstrates why its gifted creator is an unequaled storyteller.
Larissa Ione cleverly combines plots and memorable characters with her special brand of humor to craft outstanding paranormal
tales.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Paranormal romance at its finest… a fast-paced thrill ride of epic proportions that will have you on the edge of your seat,
cheering for the good guys… This series holds no punches and is becoming a serious must-have… it will definitely not disappoint.”
—Examiner.com
“Fast-paced and fun… The action in this book is nonstop and I never once wished I was doing anything but reading the book
while the story lasted.”
—DearAuthor.com
“Ione’s best yet… a fast-paced read that kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened
next!… Each Demonica book just keeps getting better and better. The momentum of the story and pacing keeps you drawn in until
way past your bedtime.”
—FictionVixen.com
“A wicked and exhilarating ride full of provocative and arousing love scenes and intense physical and emotional encounters
that left me beyond a doubt captivated from cover to cover.”
—BittenByBooks.com
“4½ Stars! The third book in Ione’s supercharged Demonica series ignites on the first page and never looks back… Adventure,
action, and danger leap off every page. The best of the series to date!”
—RT Book Reviews
“Fast-paced from the onset and never slows down until the exhilarating climax… Readers will be enthralled by the action and
the charmed lead couple.”
—Midwest Book Reviews
“Larissa Ione pulls no punches… The love scenes are scorching hot and grab at your heart with their emotional intensity. Dark
moments are written with just the right touch of hope that leaves the reader begging for a happy ending. I couldn’t have loved
Passion Unleashed more and hated for it to end. Raw, gritty, and tremendously passionate… It was awesome!”
—RomanceJunkies.com
“5 Stars! Larissa has outdone herself with the story of Wraith. I was pulled into this story from the first page. The action
is intense and nonstop. I was engrossed and enthralled… and highly recommend adding this series to your library.”
—BittenByBooks.com
“Awesome… Everyone loves a bad boy and Wraith is so the poster bad boy. Another great novel… Ione gives us a great spin on the relationship between her ‘Buffys’ and the demons
of the world, along with a good apocalypse.”
—LiteraryEscapism.com
“Heart-pounding… outstandingly superb… an adventure-filled romance where passion and danger continuously mount… The plot and
characters are truly unforgettable.”
—SingleTitles.com
“A delightful paranormal romance with strong world-building and a suspenseful plot. Passion Unleashed will captivate readers… The seducer is about to be seduced, and fans won’t be disappointed.”
—DarqueReviews.com
“Plenty of steamy love scenes… nicely balanced with a high-octane plot… Larissa Ione is fast becoming a master at telling
dark, edgy, and highly complex paranormal tales.”
—BookLoons.com
“Absolutely fabulous! Wraith is the ultimate bad boy who is just begging for salvation and Serena is his perfect complement.
Ms. Ione will have paranormal fans begging for more.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“4 Stars! Rising star Ione is back in this latest Demonica novel… Ione has a true gift for imbuing her characters with dark-edged
passion… thrilling action and treacherous vengeance… a top-notch read.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Wicked… decadently sinful… prepare to be burned!”
—Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author
“A fabulous tale… The story line is fast-paced from the opening sequence… Fans will relish a visit to the Ione realm.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Warning! Read at your own risk. Highly addictive… Rising star Larissa Ione takes her already well-crafted and unique demon
world to new heights. The sex is darker, hotter, wickeder, and wonderfully erotic; the vengeful enemy is diabolical, and the
story line is unparalleled. Ione is a master at creating tortured, sexy bad boys who are full of flaws and make you melt…
Desire Unchained may only be book two in her Demonica series, but I’m completely head-over-heels in love. I have never been so enthralled
with a series before. With the end of each book, I’m left desperately wanting more.”
—FreshFiction.com
“Imaginatively riveting… Emotional intensity is the driving force behind every Larissa Ione book. Scenes may be packed with
suspenseful peril or steamy passions or even quick humor and clever banter, yet it is the emotions behind the reactions of
the characters that really grab the reader.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Five Stars! Recommended read. I have to say that I absolutely love this book. Larissa Ione has become one of my favorite
authors, and I crave more of her books. The first book in her Demonica series was fantastic, and this one is even better…
[Shade] is the perfect romance hero… The whole world and all the other characters have taken a place in my heart… I wish I
could go back and read Desire Unchained again for the first time. It was just that good.”
—FallenAngelReviews.com
“What a ride! Dark, sexy, and very intriguing, the book gripped me from start to finish—totally recommended.”
—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author of Mine to Possess
“4 Stars! [Ione’s] hard-edged style infuses the story with darkness while taking it to sizzling heights.”
—RT Book Reviews
“5 Stars! Fascinatingly innovative… full of fervent encounters and shocking disclosures… compelling scenes and dynamic characters.
Never has the paranormal world been more intriguing. Pleasure Unbound will leave a lasting impact on the reader, as this unforgettable story will evoke emotions long after the last page is read.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Fast-paced… never slows down… Romantic fantasy fans will appreciate the first Demonica tale.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Intense, engrossing, and titillating, Pleasure Unbound is a story not to be missed. I can’t wait for the next story.”
—RRTErotic.com
“Ione has… created a very imaginative demonic tapestry as well as rich, multilayered characterizations… a heady blend that
I look forward to revisiting in her next installment.”
—BookLoons.com
“4½ Stars! Wow, wow, wow! This is one hot demon love story! The pages are riddled with action, sex, and danger. The intensity
is palpable. I was moved by this love story and will think about it for some time.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“Sexy, dark, and emotion-filled… Took me on a rip-roaring ride through every emotion I have… Go out and buy a copy today.”
—JoyfullyReviewed.com
The Aegis—Society of human warriors dedicated to protecting the world from evil. See: Guardians, Regent, Sigil
Carceris—The jailors of the underworld. All demon species send representatives to serve terms in the Carceris. Carceris members are
responsible for apprehending demons accused of violating demon law, and for acting as guards in the Carceris prisons.
Council—All demon species and breeds are governed by a Council that makes laws and metes out punishment for individual members of
their species or breed.
Dresdiin—The demon equivalent of angels. See: Memitim
Fakires—Derogatory term used by vampires to describe humans who either believe themselves to be real vampires or who pretend to be
vampires.
Guardians—Warriors for The Aegis, trained in combat techniques, weapons, and magic. Upon induction into The Aegis, all Guardians are presented with an enchanted piece of jewelry bearing the Aegis shield, which, among other things,
allows for night vision and the ability to see through demon invisibility enchantment.
Harrowgate—Vertical portals, invisible to humans, that demons use to travel between locations on Earth and Sheoul.
Infadre—A female of any demon species who has been impregnated by a Seminus demon.
Maleconcieo—Highest level of ruling demon boards, served by a representative from each species Council. The U.N. of the demon world.
Marked Sentinel—Humans charmed by angels and tasked with protecting a vital artifact. Sentinels are immortal and immune to harm. Only angels
(fallen included) can injure or kill a Sentinel. Their existence is a closely guarded secret.
Memitim—Earthbound angels assigned to protect Primori. Memitim remain earthbound until they complete their duties, at which time
they Ascend, earning their wings and entry into Heaven. Also known to demons as dresdiin. See: Dresdiin, Primori
Orgesu—A demon sex slave, often taken from breeds bred specifically for the purpose of providing sex.
Pricolici—Werewolves who are born as such. Pricolici can only conceive during the breeding heat, and offspring are almost always born werewolves, even if the father is varcolac. Pricolici are born with a mark that identifies them as pricolici. See: Varcolac
Primori—Humans and demons whose lives are fated to impact the world in some crucial way.
Regent—Head(s) of local Aegis cells.
Renfield—Fictional character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Also, derogatory term for any human who serves a vampire. A vampire groupie.
S’genesis—Final maturation cycle for Seminus demons. Occurs at one hundred years of age. A post-s’genesis male is capable of procreation and possesses the ability to shapeshift into the male of any demon species.
Sheoul—Demon realm. Located deep in the bowels of the earth, accessible only by Harrowgates.
Sheoul-gra—A holding tank for demon souls. The place where demon souls go until they can be reborn or kept in torturous limbo.
Sheoulic—Universal demon language spoken by all, though many species speak their own language.
Sigil—Board of twelve humans known as Elders, who serve as the supreme leaders of The Aegis. Based in Berlin, they oversee all
Aegis cells worldwide.
Swans—Humans who act as blood or energy donors for vampires, either actual undead or fakires.
Ter’taceo—Demons who can pass as human, either because their species is naturally human in appearance or because they can shapeshift
into human form.
Therionidryo—Term a were-beast uses for a person he or she bit and turned into another were-beast.
Therionidrysi—Any survivor of a were-beast attack. Term used to clarify the relationship between the sire and his therionidryo.
Ufelskala—A scoring system for demons, based on their degree of evil. All supernatural creatures and evil humans can be categorized
into the five Tiers, with the Fifth Tier composed of the worst of the wicked.
Varcolac—Werewolves who were once human, turned into wargs by the bite of another. Both born and turned werewolves can infect a human
with lycanthropy. Offspring conceived outside the breeding heat are always born human. Offspring conceived during the breeding
heat are occasionally infected with lycanthropy in the womb and are born as werewolves. See: Pricolici
Classification of demons, as listed by Baradoc, Umber demon, using the demon breed Seminus as an example:
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Demon
Family: Sexual demon
Genus: Terrestrial
Species: Incubus
Breed: Seminus
“The wargs must die.”
Sin paced back and forth in the master chamber of her assassin den, her mind working overtime to process Bantazar’s words.
The Assassin Guild’s messenger stood near the cold fire pit, outstretched hand holding a parchment scroll. Sin snatched it
from the Neethul male, who must stand seven feet tall even without the platform Goth boots he wore. With them, he was at least
two-and-a-half feet taller than she was. Still, the Guild’s lackey didn’t intimidate her. She’d killed much larger demons
than him.
“Eight of them?” Sin asked. “Eight werewolves at once?”
He nodded, his shoulder-length, snowy hair catching on his pointed ears. The Neethul were—externally, anyway—a beautiful race,
elven in appearance. “An entire pack.”
Which included a two-year-old cub. She cast a covert glance at the male standing in the corner, saturated in shadow and silence. Lycus, her only warg assassin, might as well have
been a stone statue. The news that the contract would end the lives of several of his own people didn’t faze him at all. Not
that she’d expected it to. He was a professional. Cold, efficient, and ruthless.
Biting back a curse, Sin stopped pacing. She couldn’t afford to show nerves or reluctance. The Guild was watching her closely
for signs of weakness, would seize any excuse to crush her and take her assassins for themselves. She had to be more ruthless
than ever right now, especially since she’d already declined to bid on nearly a dozen contracts, and she’d only been an assassin
master for three weeks.
She scanned the details scrawled on the parchment in Sheoulic. “Who else has this job been presented to?”
“You know I can’t tell you that.” Bantazar’s ruby lips peeled back in a lecherous smile. “But if you use some of your succubus
talents on me, I might let some names slip in a moment of passion.”
Sad as it was, she was actually tempted to screw the bastard if it would get her the information she needed. She had to offer
on this job, but she needed to ensure she overbid and wouldn’t win the contract. Knowing who else was bidding would give her
an edge.
“I’d tell you to go to hell, Bantazar, but no doubt you own a large chunk of it.” The Neethul were wealthy slave traders whose
holdings included massive sections of Sheoul, and as a minor assassin master, Bantazar was definitely on the same path.
“Deth would have taken me up on the offer,” he purred.
“I wouldn’t brag about that.” She studied the ring on her left index finger that used to belong to her dead boss. “Deth would have screwed a spiny hellrat if he could catch one.”
Bantazar laughed as he moved toward her, sinuous as a serpent. “Your assassin slaves grow restless, half-breed. Are your human
morals interfering with your ability to manage them?”
She snorted. “I have no morals.” Maybe she’d started out with them, back before she found out she was a demon, but all the
things she’d done in her life, both forced and of her own free will, had chipped away at her heart and soul, and there wasn’t
a lot left.
At least, there hadn’t been until she’d started a plague that was killing werewolves all over the globe. Something about that
action had scraped her emotions raw, exposing a nugget of regret that sat inside her like a pebble in a shoe.
And now there’d been a mysterious increase in the number of hits put out on werewolves—wargs, as they liked to be called—and
she was having a hard time bidding on contracts that would set her assassins against them.
She was already killing them by the dozens, without ever having touched them.
Absently, she rubbed her right arm, her palm registering the difference in temperature between her bare skin and the sharp
lines of the tattoo that had appeared when she was twenty. The dermoire, a paternal history of her demon heritage, had come with a raging libido and the ability to infect anyone she touched with
a disease that killed within minutes. As sucky as that was, her twin brother, Lore, had gotten off much worse. She could at
least control her “gift.” He couldn’t touch anyone but his siblings and mate without snuffing them.
“Well?” Bantazar cracked his knuckles, an annoying sound that echoed off the chamber’s smooth stone walls. “Will you bid,
or will you let your slaves mutiny?”
Thanks to the bond that connected her to her assassin slaves through the assassin-master ring, they couldn’t raise a hand
against her—not so long as she remained in the den or at assassin Guild headquarters, or in a place protected from violence,
like Underworld General. But they could attack her anywhere else in Sheoul or aboveground, in the human realm—which was why assassin masters rarely left their dens.
For the millionth time since she had accepted the position of assassin master, she cursed her situation. She hadn’t wanted
it, but she would never let her brother know that she’d taken it to prevent his angelic mate from being forced into the job
Idess had won by killing Detharu. Idess would have lost her soul over this job, and since Sin figured she’d already lost hers…
Yeah. No big deal.
Snagging a double-ended penknife from the hip pocket of her leather pants, she scrawled an absurdly high monetary figure on
the parchment. She signed, and then flipped the pen over and sliced her thumb with the sharp blade. A drop of blood splashed
onto the page, and instantly, red, pulsing veins sprouted from the fluid and wove their way through the document. Within seconds,
the parchment had gone from a crisp, stiff square of dried skin to a pliable, warm scrap of flesh that would become a binding
contract if the individual behind it accepted her bid.
Disgusted, Sin handed the thing back to the Neethul, her stomach churning as he sauntered to the exit.
“That was hard for you,” Lycus said, after the huge door slammed shut. From behind her, his hands came down on her shoulders, his fingers kneading, but his touch made her tense
up only more. “Take me up on my offer. Mate with me. We’ll rule the den together.”
“Are you deaf, or just really stupid?” Not once since taking this job had she committed violence against one of her underlings,
but she really was tempted to turn around and introduce her knee to his balls. “How many times do I have to say no?”
His lips brushed the top of her right ear. “I can say no, as well.”
She stiffened. “Blackmail, Lycus?” He was one of her few, precious bedmates now; since becoming master of the den, most of
her assassins, the ones who had shared her bed for years, had become wary or afraid of her. Although it was within her rights
to force them to service her, she would never do so. Lycus allowed her full use of his body, but it wasn’t because he knew
that she’d die without sex.
He wanted her job, wanted her as his mate so he could assume shared control over the den. But as nice as it would be to shove
off the hard decisions on someone else, she couldn’t give Lycus what he wanted. She could never, ever be someone’s mate. Could
never belong to anyone again.
Funny how she’d considered sleeping with Bantazar for information, but she had issues with bonding with a male in order to
pass off distasteful but necessary duties that kept the den running and her assassins happy.
Something was going to have to give soon.
So, as she shoved Lycus away, she did something she hadn’t done since she found out she was a demon.
She prayed.
“There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.”
—George Carlin
“You damnedpire motherfucker!”
Con barked out a laugh at Luc’s shouted insult, even as he hit the snow hard enough to shatter a human man’s thigh bones.
But Con was a dhampire, a rare cross between a werewolf and a vampire, and he was made of stronger stuff. As a werewolf, Luc
was equally strong, but he wasn’t nearly as fast, as Con had proven by hot-loading out of the helicopter before Luc had even
tugged his ski goggles down over his eyes.
Con hopped his skis twice to pull himself out of the snowpack that still glazed the peaks of the Swiss Alps, and then he was
zigzagging down the mountain. The sky was clear and blue, and here above the timberline, the silence was broken only by the
soft whoop-whoop of the helo blades and the swish of his Rossignols as they cut the fresh powder.
The lulling quiet lasted only until Luc hit the snow and hurled insults at Con again.
The helo sounds faded as the pilot, who had called them all kinds of insane but had agreed—for quadruple his usual fee for
heli-skiing—to bring them up higher on the mountain, hauled ass out of there. The dude had nearly stroked out when Con told
him to hover at thirty feet instead of the inches he normally held at when letting human skiers off the bird.
But no, Con didn’t do anything the easy way, or even the same way twice. The last time he and Luc had heli-skied, the drop
had been shorter.
And the risk of avalanche had been far, far less.
The powder was thick on top of an unstable snowpack, the slope steep, and the effort it took for Con to navigate it all would
have him trembling with exhaustion by the time they reached the Harrowgate in the valley miles below.
Ahead, the mountain face became a sheer cliff, and he leaped, catching air under his skis. The ground was impossibly far beneath
him and scattered with boulders, but the wind was in his face, the scent of pine was in his lungs, and adrenaline was pumping
hotly through his body.
This was the best way to live—or die, depending on how he landed.
Sometimes, he didn’t really care either way.
He came down hard in an explosion of snow and nearly took a header, but he caught himself just before he hit a patch of wind-loaded
crust that would have sent him flying.
Behind him, he heard Luc’s skis scratching out turns… and then came the sounds of something more ominous.
Con turned in time to see Luc leap off a snowcapped boulder, but behind him, a giant sheet of snow had begun to crack and
slide, an avalanche being born.
“Luc!” Heart pounding painfully against his ribs, Con tucked and pointed his skis down the hill, angled toward Luc and a massive
boulder stabbing out of the side of the mountain. Luc couldn’t see the potential shelter, was too close to the leading edge
of the slab of white death coming at him.
Luc, never one for delicate maneuvers anyway, left finesse behind as he shot straight down the slope, barreling through drifts
like an oil tanker through thirty-foot seas, but shit, he wasn’t going to make it. The avalanche behind him was gaining, and
though Con could veer to the left and avoid it, he headed straight into its path.
The wind seared his face as he gained speed, getting closer to Luc… closer to the rock… closer to the fucking wall of ice
and snow. They had one shot at this, and his mind shut down, taking him to a place of calm as he hit Luc at the last second,
knocking them both off their feet and into the boulder as the monster wave of snow rolled over them.
Con landed on top of Luc, gripped his shoulders hard as he turned his face away from the assault of frozen chunks that broke
apart against the rock. The noise was deafening, the rumble so fierce that it vibrated Con’s body and seemed to shock his
heart into a new, frenzied rhythm.
Sixty seconds later, he lifted his head. Excellent. They were still alive.
“Get the hell off me, you damned pervert,” Luc muttered.
Con eased himself off the werewolf and brushed snow out of the gap between his jacket and his neck. “Nice way to thank a guy
who saved your miserable life.”
Luc sat up and patted himself down, as if checking to see whether he was missing any parts. “Fuck,” he breathed. “This means I owe you.”
“Damned straight.” Con lifted his leg and discovered that one boot had snapped out of its binding, but thankfully, he had
a ski leash, so the ski hadn’t gone anywhere. “I can’t wait to cash in.”
“You’d better not make me do something stupid. Like run with the bulls.” Luc dug inside one of his jacket pockets and pulled
out a flask. “Naked.”
Con grimaced. “Trust me, I have no desire to see your pale, bare ass.” He snatched the flask from Luc and took a swig, relishing
the burn of the rum as it slid down his throat. “But I wouldn’t mind seeing you trampled by bulls. You’re an asshole.”
“Ditto.” Luc grabbed the liquor away and took a deep pull. “You ready to go?”
Con snapped his boot into the binding. “Yep.”
“What are we gonna do after this?”
A flare of regret jerked in Con’s gut. Eidolon had sent all warg hospital employees into isolation to keep them from contracting
the virus that was attacking the werewolf population, and Luc was going stir-crazy. Though Con and Luc had never been friends,
exactly—they’d gotten their introduction in a bar fight with each other—they were paramedic partners and they hung out together
occasionally, mainly to see who could beat who at whatever they did.
But ever since Luc had gone into isolation, he’d been even more eager to do crazy shit. Con was always game, but he did have a job, and he was working more than ever to make up for Luc’s absence.
“I gotta work. But we’ll go skydiving next week.”
Luc nodded, and though his expression was as stony as ever, Con didn’t miss the flash of disappointment in the guy’s dark
hazel eyes.
“When’s the last time you got laid? When you were in Egypt? That Guardian chick?” Con shoved to his feet. “You need a woman.”
Luc snorted. “Women are a pain in the ass,” he said, and wasn’t that the truth.
In fact, the biggest pain in the ass female he’d ever met was responsible for the very epidemic that was killing wargs. And
Doc E had requested—well, ordered—a meeting with Con this afternoon, and he had a sickening feeling that the pain in the ass
female, aka Sin, was going to be there.
Fuck. Once more, Con grabbed the flask from Luc, put it to his lips, and finished it off. Then he punched down the mountain.
Oh, yeah. Rum and adrenaline mixed well. Much, much better than he and Sin ever would.
Sin had been summoned.
Here she was, the freaking head of an assassin den, master of more than three dozen highly skilled killers, and she’d been
summoned like some lowlife imp to an audience with her brother.
The great demon doctor.
She’d already given him her blood, her DNA, her pee, her spinal fluid… whatever samples the doctor wanted for his research,
she’d handed over. Sin was, after all, responsible for the disease that was wiping out the werewolf race.
What a claim to fame.
A couple of days ago, she’d even come into Underworld General to channel her power into an infected male in an attempt to
kill the virus, but if anything, she’d only accelerated its spread.
And she hadn’t thought it could get any worse.
Sin muttered to herself as she traversed UG’s dark hallways on the way to Eidolon’s office. Her boots clacked on black stone
floors that were unusually in need of a good sweeping, and the echo bounced in eerie vibrations off the gray walls. She trailed
a finger over the writing on said walls—protective antiviolence spells scrawled in blood. She had to give credit to her brothers
for that; the hospital serviced nearly all species of demons, many of which were mor
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