Night Shade: an Interracial, Paranormal Romance, page 1
Night Shade
Chronicles of The Otherworld
Book 1
Melissa Cummins
Published by Melissa Cummins
Copyright © 2021 Melissa Cummins
https://melissacummins.com/
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
For permissions contact: melissa@melissacummins.com
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover by Secret D’Artiste
Editing and Proofreading by E.M Editing
Formatting by Melissa Cummins
Published by Melissa Cummins on September 28th, 2021
ISBN: 9780578987439
Contents
Author’s Note
Playlist
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
Night Fury Preview
Let’s Connect!
Also by Melissa Cummins
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Dedication
To my husband, even though you’re not a vampire, I’d still choose to spend eternity with you.
About Night Shade
Some secrets are far too dangerous to keep.
Daniella has only ever known one person she could rely on: herself. But when she meets The Novaks, everything changes. They become her closest friends, colleagues, and an integral part of her life. But The Novaks hold deadly secrets, and the night Daniella is attacked, she learns them all.
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Gregori Novak is the leader of the largest vampire circle in the United States, and the moment he met Daniella, he knew he’d found his mate. But the ongoing vampire war forces him to keep his distance from the person he wants most. Greg thought the lies and secrets would keep her safe, but he was wrong. Now the enemy knows her identity, and he will stop at nothing to destroy them both.
* * *
In a world where monsters are real and powers run rampant, can Daniella forgive Greg and embrace immortality as his mate, or will the lies, death, and darkness of The Otherworld be too much for her to bear?
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Please turn the page and read the Authors Note or visit my website for content warnings.
Author’s Note
I started this book as a way to get myself back into writing after Imposter Syndrome hit me hard. It then lived in my head for two years, begging to be written. I am so happy I finally listened.
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This book is fast-paced, with incredible characters that feel real. You’re going to have a lot of questions, get some answers, and find out more as the books and individual parts of the series goes on. I hope you enjoy the journey!
* * *
Welcome to The Otherworld
* * *
Night Shade is book one in the Chronicles of The Otherworld series, and the first in part one, The Vampire War. Each part of the series will feature a different paranormal species. Each book will feature a different couple and will always have a Happy Ever After (HEA) for that couple.
* * *
Tropes: Strong, Magical, Diverse Heroine, Billionaire, Spanish, Gamma Hero, Friends To Lovers, Fated Mates, Vampire, Mutual Pinning, Dark Secrets Keeps Them Apart.
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Night Shade is intended for mature audiences. This story contains mentions of physical, emotional, mental, and sexual abuse, drug use, suicide, violence, explicit language, sexually explicit scenes, and blood drinking.
* * *
Reader discretion is advised.
Playlist
Want to listen along while you read? Visit the Spotify Playlist here!
* * *
Streets - Doja Cat
Telepatia - Kali Uchis
Off Limits - BAYNK, Glades
Horoscope - Young Cereal, Baby Frankie
Surrender - Cash Cash
Throwaway (with Clairo) - SG Lewis
Always Been You - Jessie Murph
Crazy In Love - Sofia Karlberg
Sweater Weather - Kurt Hugo Schneider, Alyson Stoner, Max S
Middle Of The Night - Elley Duhe
Into You - Ariana Grande
Excuses - Audrey Mika
Alone (feat. Brielle Von Hugel) - NERVO, Askery
Chapter 1
The mattress squeaked underneath them. Sweat glistened off Daniella’s skin as she rode Alexander, working them closer to ecstasy. Alexander gripped her hips hard as he fucked her, bruising her skin, slamming into the slick heat of her body. She knew he was close.
Daniella ground her hips in response, her eyes drifting shut as her head fell back. No longer did she see the pale man beneath her, with his curly, sandy hair sticking to his forehead, and his heated brown eyes. Instead, he shifted in her mind, changing into the one she truly desired. Her fantasy lover. It was his silky brown hair, his darkened eyes, his smell, his taste.
Yes, yes!
His was the body beneath hers, filling her, bringing her closer to climax.
The familiar shiver started at the base of her spine, circulating throughout her body, and then it snapped hard, making her cry out as she came. In three quick strokes, Alexander joined her with a loud, guttural moan.
Daniella draped her dark brown legs over the edge of the bed. Her orgasm left her feeling warm, relaxed, until the man behind her stirred.
“Another go?” Alexander smirked as he thumbed a new condom.
She cringed. Her stomach knotted, a deep weight settling within as her intuition flared to life. It demanded he leave. If it weren’t for the few glasses of wine she’d had before he called, she would have never allowed him into her home, or her.
Daniella stepped away from the bed to retrieve her robe. “No, I’ve got to get ready for work.”
Alexander purred. “It could wait.”
She could feel his gaze. It roamed over her like a slithering snake ready to strike.
Daniella narrowed her eyes. “No, it can’t.” She lifted her dark curly hair from the collar of her robe and tied the sash tight around her midsection in finality. “I’m sorry if you’re confused, but nothing about our deal has changed. I came, you came, and now it’s time to go. I have things to do, and I’m sure you do as well, elsewhere.”
Alexander’s feet hit the floor and she breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to give him privacy while he dressed, but her body refused to relax as the feeling within her gut grew heavier.
He’s leaving. Just give him a couple of minutes.
Daniella pressed the button to open the long pink and gold drapes covering her floor-to-ceiling windows. Her gaze settled on the breathtaking view from her penthouse floor, unobstructed by the surrounding New York skyscrapers. The soft rays of the sun were low against the horizon, but still magnificent in the way their rosy tints contrasted through the early morning blues.
The scene almost calmed her, but then a noise shattered the serenity. Daniella turned and found Alexander behind her, still naked and much too close. She took a step back, and he took another forward, caging her against the glass.
He smirked as he grabbed ahold of her chin, his lips hovering near her own. “Now come on, Daniella, we both know you didn’t mean no.”
She narrowed her eyes and quickly slapped his hand away. But before she could speak, he covered her mouth and pressed against her. “Or do you just like it rough, pet?”
Her fight-or-flight response went into high gear, flooding her with adrenaline. Daniella opened her mouth and bit his hand, hard. Alexander chuckled at the pain as if it were nothing, but he pulled back just enough to give her an opening. Daniella used the space to twist, and then flew forward, throwing a punch at his head.
Alexander jumped back and threw up his hands, but that asinine smile was still on his face. “Alright, I’ll go. No need to be so hasty. But just remember, I’m only here because you agreed to let me in. I don’t know why you’re playing hard to get now when I was deep inside you not even ten minutes ago.”
“And I think it’s hilarious you think it’s an act.” She glared at him, clenching her fists. “You’re right, I let you into my home, but you know what? Everyone makes mistakes they wish they could take back. So, let me be perfectly clear since you didn’t understand the first two times. You have two choices. Either you leave my house willingly, or I will haul you out myself.”
He let out a low whistle and backed away, grabbing his clothes and shoes. “Whatever you say, babe. Whatever you say.”
It wouldn’t go away. The nagging, soul-wrenching feeling that something was wrong had buried itself deep in Daniella’s gut. If she was being honest, the f
eeling had been there for the past two weeks, but it had never been this intense.
Before, it was a whisper, something she could turn a blind eye to. It didn’t worry her; it wasn’t even a blight on her day. But today, everything felt drenched in the icky, sinking blackness. Even after her cup of coffee, warm bath, and meditative session, she still felt filthy.
Perhaps the situation with Alexander had bothered her more than she’d realized. He’d never acted that way before. But today … Daniella shook her head. It didn’t matter. She would never see or speak to him again, and if he tried anything, she could always rely on the guards in the lobby.
Daniella blocked his number, and on her way out she had a quick chat with both security guards. Under no circumstances was he to enter her floor, or the building, without her authorization. After confirming she was all right, they replied with a sincere, “Of course, Miss Ismania.”
But despite that, the feeling remained, and if her intuition was right, she was in for a hell of a day. With a sigh, Daniella thanked the guards, before she scurried out the door and set off to work.
Chapter 2
The Novak Firm was Daniella’s home away from home. She loved her work, the company, and, most of all, the people. Yet the moment she entered through the double doors, she almost vomited.
Panic and dread crept up her spine, making her shudder. She labored her way to her office and stashed her breakfast in her mini refrigerator. After she logged into her computer, she saw an urgent email calling the executive team to meet in Conference Room B for an emergency meeting. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she made her way to the room, pen and paper in hand.
The moment she opened the door and saw Luke’s face, some of her tension eased. Luke had been her best friend for the last four years. They met in college as dorm neighbors and bonded over their differences. She appreciated his out-of-the-box thinking, creative spirit, and how it directly contrasted with her analytical and serious personality. He loved to laugh, to make others smile, to throw caution to the wind. Luke taught her how to have fun, to balance her dedication to work while still appreciating life. He’d introduced her to his cousins, Gregori and Mya, and they had embraced her as if she was a missing part of their family.
When Luke told her that he and Greg wanted to start a business, it didn’t surprise her. But when he asked her to help with their accounting part-time, she’d nearly fallen out of her chair. Wanting to support her friends, she said yes, but she never imagined that decision would have put her on the path to becoming the CFO of a now multi-million-dollar agency.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Luke said with a small smile.
“Good morning to you too.” She paused, taking in his ruffled copper hair and slightly wrinkled clothing. “Is it still going to be a good morning after this meeting?”
“I wish I knew, Dani. I wish I knew.”
Before she could respond, the door opened behind her and the air rushed out of her lungs. Her nerve endings awoke, firing so fast that goosebumps erupted over her skin. She shivered from the sudden change in body temperature and bit her bottom lip to keep from gasping. The expansive energy washed over her and spread throughout the room—dark, hot, seductive. Daniella didn’t need to see who was behind her. There was only one person who had ever made her feel this way.
“Good morning, Ella.” The deep baritone of Greg’s voice rolled over her in waves.
She straightened in her chair, trying to disguise her body’s natural response to him. “Good morning, Greg.”
He walked to the head chair, coming to stand between herself and Luke. While he conversed with Luke, she looked him over. Gregori Novak was breathtaking. He was a six-foot-six Adonis covered in toned bronze skin that made his Spanish heritage proud. His russet-colored hair fell to his ears, complementing his sharp jaw and strong facial features. While Greg considered his eyes to be brown, she had stolen enough glances at him to know they were, in fact, hazel. They took on a life of their own, becoming lighter or darker depending on his mood, sometimes even light enough for her to see their pale jade depths. They drew her in, enticed her, while his lips could—and often did—convince her of anything. And if that wasn’t enough, he also had a perfectly shaped ass.
Luke cleared his throat and she blushed at being caught ogling. Luckily, the door opened once more, saving her from any additional embarrassment.
Once the rest of the executive team arrived, Greg took his seat, drawing their attention. “Now that you’re all here, let’s begin.”
The room fell silent when Greg uttered the single word “embezzled”.
“Embezzled? What the fuck do you mean, embezzled?” Mya snapped.
His eyes narrowed. Mya’s anger was second to none and she was about to unleash it in full force. “Mya—”
“Do not ‘Mya’ me right now. How the fuck did this happen?”
“We don’t know. But this is a time for solutions, not anger.”
“I go away for two weeks, two fucking weeks, and this happens?” she grumbled.
Greg’s eyes bore into Mya’s, warning her to keep her mouth shut. She sat back in her chair with a frustrated sigh, crossing her arms while still glaring in his direction. That was as good as he would get, and he’d take the small blessing.
He scanned the room, observing his team. Merida and Dominick appeared calm and collected, even though he knew they were brimming with rage. Luke had also known of the news prior to the meeting, which was the only reason he hadn’t lashed out like Mya.
Greg’s gaze lingered on Daniella, who concerned him the most. Her amber eyes stared down at the table, unblinking. She may have hidden it well, but the death grip on her pen told him exactly how upset she was. She took her job seriously and was devoted to not only the company, but his family as well.
“Aren’t there accounting principles and security measures in place to prevent things like this from happening?” Johanna asked. “I’m sorry, but I’m with Mya. I don’t understand how this could have occurred.”
As his Chief Human Resources Officer, Greg knew she had a right to this table. He could understand her concerns, especially if anything might affect funds for wages and benefits, but he did not appreciate her subtle accusation of blame toward Daniella and Merida.
“That’s an excellent question, Johanna,” Merida said as she laced her fingers together. “The security and accounting protocols that we have in place are why we made this discovery so quickly. This is a jarring and confusing time for all of us, but we will collaborate with the pertinent parties to find the perpetrator and fix any security issues in our processes. If you have any questions regarding this incident, please be sure to come to my office and I will do my best to explain everything to you.”
“Thank you,” Johanna responded, giving Merida a curt nod.
Greg continued, holding the gaze of each person around the table as he spoke. “I know this is a stressful time for everyone. Your behavior here shows how much you care about this corporation and the dreams that Luke and I founded this company upon. We thank you and are confident that we will overcome this setback.”
He motioned to his security team. “Merida and Dominick’s team will be speaking with each of you and your departments. We trust that if you have seen anything suspicious, you will be forthcoming with any information you may have. As Merida has already stated, if you have any questions, please direct them to her. Thank you.”
