Stalk the Darkness, page 1
Stalk the Darkness
Table of Contents
Books by Alexandra Ivy
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Teaser chapter
Books by Alexandra Ivy
Guardians of Eternity
WHEN DARKNESS COMES
EMBRACE THE DARNKESS
DARKNESS EVERLASTING
DARKNESS REVEALED
DARKNESS UNLEASHED
BEYOND THE DARKNESS
DEVOURED BY DARKNESS
BOUND BY DARKNESS
FEAR THE DARKNESS
DARKNESS AVENGED
HUNT THE DARKNESS
WHEN DARKNESS ENDS
DARKNESS RETURNS
BEWARE THE DARKNESS
CONQUER THE DARKNESS
SHADES OF DARKNESS
DARKNESS BETRAYED
BEWITCH THE DARKNESS
STALK THE DARKNESS
The Immortal Rogues
MY LORD VAMPIRE
MY LORD ETERNITY
MY LORD IMMORTALITY
The Sentinels
BORN IN BLOOD
BLOOD ASSASSIN
BLOOD LUST
Ares Security
KILL WITHOUT MERCY
KILL WITHOUT SHAME
Historical Romance
SOME LIKE IT WICKED
SOME LIKE IT SINFUL
SOME LIKE IT BRAZEN
Romantic Suspense
PRETEND YOU’RE SAFE
WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?
YOU WILL SUFFER
THE INTENDED VICTIM
DON’T LOOK
FACELESS
UNSTABLE
And don’t miss these Guardians of Eternity novellas
TAKEN BY DARKNESS in YOURS FOR ETERNITY
DARKNESS ETERNAL in SUPERNATURAL
WHERE DARKNESS LIVES in THE REAL WEREWIVES OF VAMPIRE COUNTY
LEVET (ebook only)
A VERY LEVET CHRISTMAS (ebook only)
And don’t miss these Sentinel novellas
OUT OF CONTROL
ON THE HUNT
Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.
Stalk the Darkness
Alexandra Ivy
LYRICAL PRESS
Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
LYRICAL PRESS BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2022 by Debbie Raleigh
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First Electronic Edition: August 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5161-1134-3 (ebook)
First Print Edition: August 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5161-1135-0
Printed in the United States of America
Dedication
To my boys Chance and Alex. Always my inspiration.
Chapter 1
Every demon in Chicago could recognize Satin. It wasn’t just the fact that she was a stunningly beautiful vampire with thick black hair that tumbled down her back and a pale face dominated by eyes the precise shade of aged cognac. Or that she managed the Viper Pit, the most exclusive demon club in the city. It was the thunderous power that vibrated around her reed-slender body. The sort of power that was usually reserved for a clan chief.
Her notoriety meant that she was rarely challenged. By anyone. Something she appreciated when she was working, but it did ensure there wasn’t much variety in her life.
Until now.
Standing at the edge of the clearing, Satin absorbed the pulse of her surroundings. If her heart could beat, it would be thumping with excitement. Instead, it was her fully extended fangs that throbbed in anticipation.
The night air was laced with the scent of her prey. A rich male musk that was unique to pure-blooded Were. It whispered of power and sex and the most delicious pain. Relishing the raw, primitive sensations that vibrated through her, Satin stepped out of the thick fringe of trees and allowed the moonlight to bathe her in silver.
When she’d first sought out this secret club that sprawled over a thousand empty acres an hour south of Chicago, it had been to scope out the competition. Viper, the local clan chief and owner of the Viper Pit, wasn’t a male who shared his territory. If the Were was attempting to steal their customers, then she would shut him down. Permanently.
It had only taken one visit to realize that the Hunting Grounds was nothing like Viper’s club. There was no elegant building, no plush booths, nor any beautiful waiters delivering the finest champagne while soft music played in the background. This place was woodlands and overgrown fields and meadows that were shrouded in layers of magic. The demons didn’t come here to mingle or seek their eternal mates. They came to hunt and fight and enjoy meaningless sex with complete abandon.
Even better, the owner of the club, Marco, had strict rules that kept the bloodshed to a minimum. Every guest was there of their own free will, and any of them could call a halt to the game whenever they wanted.
It was a place for the most powerful demons to test their strength against each other without fear of lasting consequences. And if the night ended with a bout of sizzling sex…so much the better.
Which was exactly why Satin had returned over and over again. There were few creatures who could match her in a one-on-one battle. Perhaps Viper or Styx, who was the current King of Vampires. And there were even fewer demons who could stir her icy passions to a fever pitch.
As if on cue, a large male joined her in the clearing.
She hissed, as always stunned by the sight of Marco. Even for a pure-blooded Were, he was tall with broad shoulders and muscles that rippled beneath his white silk shirt and black slacks. His dark hair was cut short, emphasizing the chiseled symmetry of his features and his eyes, which were as dark as the pits of hell and circled with a rim of shimmering gold. It was the brutal heat and savage strength in the air when he was near that enticed Satin. He was not only the local pack master, but he was a cousin to Salvatore, King of Weres.
A perfect opponent.
In more ways than one.
Marco flashed a smug smile, folding his arms over his impressive chest. “I knew you would be here tonight.”
Satin felt a stab of irritation. Was the jerk implying she was predictable? Or that she simply couldn’t stay away? Either one pissed her off.
“You can read the future? Impressive.”
His smile widened. “I can’t read the future, but I can read you.”
The air dropped by several degrees. “Doubtful.”
His nose flared, a hint of his wolf flashing gold in the depths of his dark eyes. “I can smell your hunger.”
“Actually, I ate before I left my lair,” she drawled.
“You’re not hungry for food.”
“No?”
“You’re hungry for me.”
He was right, of course. It’d been nearly a week since she’d last visited the Hunting Grounds, and she’d grown increasingly restless. As if she had an itch she couldn’t scratch. But she’d have her fangs extracted before she let him know he’d struck a nerve.
“Of course, you would assume every female desires you.” She lifted her hand to her lips, as if stifling a yawn. “Males are so predictable.”
He tilted back his head, sniffing the soft breeze. “I can smell it in the air.” His voice thickened with his own desire. “But it’s not just sex. You want to prove you can match me in combat. And what better night to prove your superiority than on the night of the full moon?”
Satin stilled. She wasn’t a werewolf. She didn’t pay attention to the cycles of the moon. But she couldn’t deny the possibility that he was right. There might be an inner instinct to seek out this male when he was at the apex of his powers.
So what?
It didn’t change anything, did it?
No. Of course not.
Satin spread her arms in a mocking gesture. “I know one thing I didn’t come here for.”
He arched a dark brow. “What’s that?”
“Talking.”
He blinked, as if caught off-guard by her response. Heat prickled through the clearing, then with a flash of his snowy-white fangs, he lifted his hand and wiggled his fingers.
“Fine. Let’s do this.”
Satin smiled in anticipation, reaching up to make sure her hair was still tightly braided. She didn’t want any distractions. Before coming to the Hunting Grounds, she’d changed out of her designer gown and three-inch heels. The black spandex pants and sports bra clung to her rail-thin body like a second skin, and the soft leather boots were designed to allow her to move in complete silence. Perfect attire to kick some sexy Were ass.
Striding forward with the bold assurance of a predator who was at the top of the evolutionary ladder, Satin kept close watch on Marco. He pretended to be an arrogant brute like most of the customers at the club, with more ego than skill, but Satin wasn’t fooled. He was a lethal competitor who could shift into his wolf form at any moment.
Marco pulled back his lips, revealing his razor-sharp fangs that could rip through flesh and bone. The sight of them ignited a blast of desire that seared through her. She’d discovered a shocking addiction to fangs and claws and hot male skin pressed against her naked body.
They met in the center of the opening, the air sizzling with an electric energy that sent the local wildlife scurrying for cover. It was a battle between titans, and no one wanted to get caught in the crossfire.
For a long moment, they stared at one another, allowing the anticipation to build to a crescendo. Then, with a blur of motion, Satin was leaping forward, crashing into the male with enough force to knock him backward. With a grunt, he grabbed her arm, flinging her over his head as he regained his balance. Satin twirled to land on her feet and swiftly reversed his grip on her arm to yank him toward her. Marco growled, his eyes burning with the golden fire of his wolf as he snapped his teeth a breath from her face. Satin flashed her own fully extended fangs, a sharp chill clashing against Marco’s ferocious heat.
A heady musk teased Satin’s senses, promising pleasure beyond her wildest dreams. She leaned against Marco’s hard body, pretending to melt in submission. Marco released another growl, wrapping his arms around her slender waist as he lowered his head.
Using his distraction to her advantage, Satin whirled in a circle, kicking out to sweep his legs from beneath him.
Blindsided by her move, Marco did a complete backflip before he was flowing to his feet and pouncing toward her. Grabbing her by her shoulders, Marco leaned down to speak directly against her ear.
“Run.”
Any other time or place, Satin would have punished a male who dared to give her orders. She had a low tolerance for bossy creatures. No, not low. Zero. Zero tolerance. Even Viper took care when he was requesting her to deal with a task for him.
But this was part of the game. The rare occasion she could release the rigid grip she kept on her emotions and give in to her primitive desires.
With a speed impossible to track, Satin was flowing toward the nearby trees and disappearing into the shadows. Behind her, the howl of a wolf pierced the night. Satin laughed as she raced through the darkness, feeling the press of Marco’s power just behind her. It was exhilarating.
The scent of wolf was laced on the breeze, but the footsteps that were gaining on her were human. Marco had never shifted during their encounters. She didn’t know if it was because she was a vampire and he feared reminding her that they were natural enemies. Or if he simply didn’t have ample control when he was in his animal form.
Leaping over a fallen log, Satin was about to double back when hands grabbed her from behind.
Satin felt herself lifted off her feet and then tossed on the mossy ground. She didn’t struggle as she landed flat on her back. Instead, she studied Marco in silence as he crouched over her, his dark beauty emphasized by the feral glow in his eyes.
His wolf was just below the surface, watching her with a ruthless desire that was tangible. He was gloriously, decadently sexy.
And for tonight, he was all hers.
She stretched up her arms, wrapping them around his neck before she was using her leverage to flip their positions. In one smooth movement, Marco was lodged beneath her and Satin was perched on top, her legs straddling his hips.
A slow, wicked smile curved his lips.
“Do you always have to be on top, cara?”
She grasped his silk shirt, holding his smoldering gaze as she ripped the silk material to expose the smooth expanse of his chest.
Her fangs throbbed with an unexpected hunger. What the hell? She had a sudden, violent urge to drink his blood. As if she was starved for the taste of him.
No. She squashed the dangerous thought. What she wanted from this male was nothing more complicated than a primitive release. Anything else was a product of the adrenaline pumping through her.
Focusing on the raw passion that pulsated between them, Satin scored her nails down his chest. Not hard enough to cut through his skin, but enough to wrench a groan of pleasure from his lips.
“You’re rough on a man’s wardrobe, cara,” he murmured, his Italian accent thicker than usual.
“Are you complaining?”
He reached up to grasp her stretchy sports bra. With one yank he had it over her head and tossed on the nearby brush. Then he cupped her breasts in the searing heat of his hands.
“No complaints,” he assured her. “No complaints at all.”
Satin shivered, drowning in his rich musk.
“Your wolf is close tonight.”
“Full moon.” The words came out as a guttural rasp, his hands skimming down her rib cage to slide beneath the waistband of her pants. “And you.”
Satin wriggled, helping Marco strip off the thin spandex. He muttered a curse as he fumbled with the lacing on her boots, but Satin didn’t mind. Their sex was always hard and fast. She enjoyed having a minute to admire his fierce male features and the bulge of muscles beneath his smooth, golden skin.
Once she was naked, Satin ran her palms down his rock-hard stomach, investigating each ripple of his washboard abs. Even for a pureblood Were, this male was a beast. White-hot passion flared through her as the heat of his body seeped through her bare skin, igniting the fire that had smoldered since she’d arrived at the Hunting Grounds and caught his scent.
Savage impatience replaced her desire to savor the moment, and with zero guilt, she grabbed his expensive slacks and ripped them off his body. He could send her the bill to have them replaced. She relished the sensation that she was unwrapping him like a long-desired gift.
She grinned at the sound of his soul-deep groan. Her wolf liked it rough.
She froze. No. Not her wolf.
Just a temporary boy toy to sate her hunger. She’d forget all about him the second she found a new diversion.
Refusing to consider that this was anything more than sex, Satin leaned down to press her lips against his chest, using her lips and fangs to stir his desire to a fever pitch.
She liked him hot and bothered.
A lot.
“Satin,” he ground out, his fingers digging into her lower back as he spanned her waist.
In answer, she wrapped her lips around the tip of his rigid erection. The taste of him exploded through her. A spicy musk that was tastier than ambrosia.
“Now,” he abruptly barked, and Satin realized she’d pushed him to the edge of his control. Positioning herself over him, she slowly slid onto his massive length, feeling stretched to the limit as she at last had him fully inside her.
“Now,” she agreed, bracing herself as he lifted his hips off the ground and began to pound their bodies together with glorious abandon.
Satin tilted back her head, her gaze blindly locked on the star-splattered sky as ecstasy cascaded through her. It was stunningly perfect. As if Marco had been created just to sate her deepest needs. Releasing the tension and aggravations of the past week, Satin gave herself completely to the barbaric coupling.
