Prisoner of Temptation

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Tatiana Patrescu’s people have been at war with the gargoyle clans for centuries. A powerful witch, she has prepared to fight them her whole life…until a mission goes awry and she is captured by the most dangerous gargoyle warrior of them all, Lucien Korzah.

Despite their feud, Tatiana feels an uncanny connection and attraction to Lucien—especially when daylight transforms him into a handsome human. And when Lucien unleashes his own brand of seduction on the innocent sorceress, she cannot resist their forbidden passion….

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Romania, present day

Tatiana Patrescu slipped through the small hatch in the roof of the old factory. Dressed in a black leather catsuit, a leather mask and calf-high boots, she eased onto the metal catwalk that was suspended from the high ceiling. Scanning the shadows that darkened the room below, she advanced a few feet. The muffled sound of riotous shouting echoed from somewhere in the building, but no one could be seen.

Gargoyles, she thought with disdain. Her hands shook as she cocked the trigger of her semiautomatic handgun. She eased back a few paces and peered up into the hatch. “Let’s go.”

As graceful and quiet as the large cats that roamed

the hills of Bucharest, her squad of ten warriors descended through the narrow passage. They were called Uniil, an elite group of powerful warlocks and witches—the first line of defense for the Solomonarii kinship.

Her people had been at war with the gargoyle clans since the days of Vlad and now, hundreds of years later when most of Romania had blossomed into thriving and modern dwellings, the holocaust of animosity and thirst for power still raged undiminished. The entire region had been divided as the Solomonarii had been driven to the north, forced to abandon their lands as the gargoyles swept over the terrain. For the Solomonarii, this war was about regaining what was rightfully theirs and protecting their kind along the way.

This particular clan of rogue gargoyles had attacked one of the Solomonarii lairs and taken prisoners at their leisure. Tatiana had come to rescue her kin. This was her first major mission, her first chance to prove herself. For years her abilities had surpassed those of even the elder warlocks of her clan, yet she’d been denied any part in the grueling war. The lord of her clan, Demetrius Borimirov, had been patient in grooming her in the arts of combat, his sole intent to have her lead the Uniil. Demetrius had raised her from an infant. It was he whom she desired to please and thus, for this task, failure wasn’t an option.

With quick gestures Tatiana communicated with her squad: You three, that way. You four, this way and the rest of you, follow me.

Like spirits, the Uniil infiltrated the shadows, racing to do her bidding. Tatiana led the way and slipped into another narrow passage. Once through, she found herself on a catwalk that surrounded a large room. Torchlight filled the chamber and the walls vibrated with the intensity of the shouting below.

The winged and horned creatures were congregated about a raised stone platform as they lifted their voices in a chorus of anger. Upon the platform, their arms chained above them, were the four Solomonarii prisoners. After being assigned this mission six hours ago, Tatiana had left immediately, for she’d been told how the gargoyles disposed of their enemies. No mercy was shown and death was a long and painful procedure involving ritualistic torture.

The shouting persisted and Tatiana knew that they had to act quickly. She scanned the upper level of the room, finding and making eye contact with her Uniil. They were all in position, awaiting her command. She gave the signal. The battle was on.

Outnumbered at least four to one, the Uniil had two advantages—the element of surprise and their advanced weaponry. Whereas her kin opted to fight with guns, the gargoyles preferred the old ways. They were traditional, believing that a warrior’s true ability wasn’t measured by the number of bullets he fired but by the sureness of his sword and the accuracy of his arrows.

Tatiana and her Uniil sprang from the catwalk with guns blazing. The dark creatures took flight, swarming into an aerial assault. The Uniil

Tatiana planted herself between her squad and the infuriated gargoyles as she pelted the air with bullets, dropping them like flies. Her final bullet found its mark within the chest of a female gargoyle, and then she tossed her gun aside. She leaped onto the platform with the members of her squad as they quickly released the prisoners, blasting through the chains with their guns. The gargoyles crept along the walls and ceiling, surrounding them.

Tatiana knew they had to make an exit, and fast. Fear flickered within her, but she quickly doused it. Everything she’d been taught had prepared her for this moment, the day she finally faced her enemies.