The hurricane was aiming for them.
Gabriel had to get them off the island soon. Picking up an icy water bottle, he took a deep swallow and thought of Megan. Her delicious floral fragrance. The natural sensuality of her throaty voice. The spark of passion in her eyes. Her sweetly rounded hips swaying as she walked â¦
His body tightened as he remembered her rosy mouth parting as if anticipating his kiss. The sultry awareness in her eyes, the longing for connection.
Heâd almost kissed her.
Dear Reader,
Out of all the Draicon werewolves in my previous Nocturnes, Gabriel Robichaux is the most misunderstood and the most dangerous. A fierce warrior with a dark past, Gabriel has a secret to hide and will do anything to protect it.
But Megan Moraine threatens to topple every safeguard Gabriel has erected. Megan is a Shadow Wolf, Draicon who are outcast because they can turn invisible. She and her cousins escaped their island prison and are on the run from authorities. To protect the girls, Megan must team with Gabriel, the very Draicon she fears the most.
Trust doesnât come easily to either Gabriel or Megan. But they must learn to depend on each other to survive â¦
Happy reading!
Bonnie Vanak
Please, donât throw us to the wolves.
Icy air blasted Megan Moraine as she pulled open Casa del Solâs etched glass door. The hotelâs sprawling lobby gleamed with polished wood and mirrored columns. Beneath the cracked soles of her secondhand tennis shoes, the marble floor sparkled.
Motioning the twins to remain outside in the sticky Florida heat, she scanned for threats. The restaurant here was a safe house, but so was the oceanfront Naples, Florida, mansion theyâd visited last night. When Megan had exposed the silver crescent moon birthmark, the homeownerâs expression had turned ice cold.
âI donât like Shadows, but Iâm generous. Iâll give you sixty seconds to leave before I call an Enforcer or send my mate after you,â the Draicon werewolf had warned.
Sixty seconds didnât allow enough time to reach the carâs hiding spot. Chased by a brutish male waving a meat cleaver, she and the girls raced down the beach. Megan spent the night guarding the twins, two seven-year-old girls who should have been tucked into soft beds instead of curling up on wet sand. As dawn streaked the gray skies, theyâd snuck back to fetch the car.
More hostile Draicon could be inside, but she had no choice. Her jeans pocket held a few crumpled dollars. The aging Ford sheâd hotwired was running on fumes. She needed help to reach New Orleans and Alexandre Robichaux. The kindly Draicon secretly gave escaped Shadow Wolves new identities. He wasnât a soulless creature like his legendary Enforcer brother, Gabriel, who liked to make his captives bleed.
The girlsâ blue eyes widened as they scurried past the hotel lobby into the arched hallway. Megan felt more conspicuous when she saw the restaurantâs linen-draped tables and polished silverware. The trick to blending was all in the act. Act like you belong, and people treated you that way. In a voice as impervious as a Palm Beach matron, she asked for seating on the terrace.
Their granite-topped table was half-hidden by a terra cotta planter. The terrace overlooked a lush garden of palms, ferns and tropical flowers. Best, she had a good view of the hotel entrance to eye new arrivals.
A smiling waitress in black trousers and starched white shirt sailed over, pen and pad in hand. Her gaze fell to Meganâs right hand.
Damn. Megan clapped her left hand over the birthmark sheâd forgotten to cover with cosmetics. She couldnât risk exposing her identity until they knew this was a safe house. But the waitress only smiled.
Megan glanced down at the heavy leather menu and cringed at the dollar signs. âOne small glass of milk for them, and water for me, please.â
âCousin Megan, canât we have sausage and eggs?â Jenny pleaded.
âWe can share,â piped in Jillian.
âMaybe later.â
The girls stared at the tabletop. Her heart broke at their crestfallen expressions. Iâm doing the best I can. Iâm sorry I canât do better.
The waitress hesitated. Megan lifted her chin. âThatâs all, thanks.â