Angels' Pawn Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF NALINI SINGH

  Mine to Possess

  “Fierce . . . Paranormal romance at its best.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “With its intense characters, story line, and scenery, Mine to Possess is quite a read. It showcases Singh’s talent and shows her to be a writer that will no doubt shine for some time.”

  —Romance Reader at Heart

  “If you’ve been looking for a book that will entice and entrance, look no further. The very talented Nalini Singh has yet again proven that her books are gems, true treasures that are intriguing, multifaceted creations that just get better and better . . . Don’t miss Mine to Possess!”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Excellent urban fantasy romance.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “A heart-tugger from the very beginning . . . I eagerly await the next story of this series.”

  —Road to Romance

  “An outstanding paranormal romance . . . Mine to Possess grabbed me from the first, and I couldn’t put it down until the very end. Ms. Singh has created a very addictive series, and I can’t wait for the next book.”

  —Once Upon a Romance

  “[A] rich and unique world . . . Mine to Possess is another intense, sensual, and complicated story that leaves little doubt that Nalini Singh is at the top of her game.”

  —BookLoons

  “Singh has done it again. Mine to Possess grabs you and never lets you go. This may be the best book of an already outstanding series.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “The desire that this couple has is an inferno and smoking only begins to describe it. Suspense comes into play and will have you hurriedly turning the pages to see what will happen next. Nalini Singh has penned another wonderful installment to the Psy-Changeling series and readers will want to get on board to see what enticing plots she will come up with next.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “As plot points fall into place, it’s evident that clever, mega-talented Singh has truly spectacular things in store.”

  —Romantic Times (4½ stars)

  Caressed by Ice

  “A fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat romantic paranormal that will pull you straight into the story and into the amazing Psy-Changeling world!”

  —Romance Reader at Heart

  “The paranormal romance of the year.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “Craving the passionate and electrifying world created by the mega-talented Singh? Your next fix is here! . . . One of the most original and thrilling paranormal series on the market . . . Mind-blowing!”

  —Romantic Times (4½ stars, top pick)

  “A sensual, dangerous adventure not to be missed.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh

  “Nalini Singh continues to dazzle and ensnare new readers with each addition to the Psy-Changeling series.”

  —A Romance Review

  “A compelling read with wonderfully developed characters and the strong world-building that has made Singh a star. Readers will revel in this latest installment with two of the most riveting secondary characters from the previous novels.”

  —All About Romance

  “With a truly inspired mix of passion and danger, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat. [It] will surely earn itself a place among your favorites.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Delivers increasingly inventive world-building, intrigue-filled plotting, and a complicated and satisfying love story—and will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.”

  —BookLoons

  “A mesmerizing series.”

  —The Road to Romance (Reviewer’s Choice Award)

  “This is a wonderful story and I cannot recommend it highly enough!”

  —ParaNormal Romance Reviews

  “Ms. Singh is sure to win new readers with this release. I highly recommend the series and Caressed by Ice to all fans of paranormal romances.”

  —The Romance Readers Connection

  Visions of Heat

  “Breathtaking blend of passion, adventure, and the paranormal. I wished I lived in the world Singh has created. This is a keeper!”

  —USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter

  “This author just moved to the top of my auto-buy list.”

  —All About Romance

  “Brace yourselves because the second installment of the Psy-Changeling series will set all your senses ablaze and leave your fingers singed with each turn of the page. Visions of Heat is that intense!”

  —Romance Junkies

  “Visions of Heat is penned with an intensity that only Nalini Singh can give to a story . . . If you’re a paranormal reader, this is one book that you have to read!”

  —Romance Reader at Heart

  Slave to Sensation

  “I LOVE this book! It’s a must read for all of my fans. Nalini Singh is a major new talent.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan

  “An electrifying collision of logic and emotion . . . An incredible world where fire and ice mix to create an unforgettable sensual eruption. Slave to Sensation is a volcanic start to a new series that’ll leave you craving more.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “AWESOME! . . . A purely mesmerizing book that surely stands out among the other paranormal books out there. Slave to Sensation is captivating from beginning to end. It’s a must read for any paranormal fan!”

  —Romance Reader at Heart

  “Superb science fiction romance . . . Readers will enjoy Nalini Singh’s excellent futuristic thriller and demand more tales from this fascinating realm.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  Berkley Sensation Titles by Nalini Singh

  Guild Hunter Series

  ANGEL’S BLOOD

  Psy-Changeling Series

  SLAVE TO SENSATION

  VISIONS OF HEAT

  CARESSED BY ICE

  MINE TO POSSESS

  HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE

  Anthologies

  AN ENCHANTED SEASON

  (with Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy, and Jean Johnson)

  THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS CAT

  (with Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, and Linda Winstead Jones)

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P

  2Y3, Canada

  (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin

  Books Ltd.)

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  Australia

  (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)

  Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—

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  (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg

  2196, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Regist
ered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  ANGELS’ PAWN

  A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

  PRINTING HISTORY

  Berkley Sensation eSpecial edition / February 2009

  Copyright © 2009 by Nalini Singh.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or

  electronic form without

  permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in

  violation

  of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-02491-1

  BERKLEY® SENSATION

  Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  Berkley® Sensation and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  Chapter One

  “This is a surprise, cher,” Janvier said in that lazy drawl of his, one hand braced on the doorjamb of his Louisiana apartment. “Far as I know, I don’t have a hit out on me.”

  “I’m not an assassin.” Folding her arms, Ashwini leaned into the wall opposite the door—sleep-rumpled and half-dressed, Janvier was deliciously sexy. He was also a two-hundred-and-forty-five-year-old vampire capable of ripping out her throat with minimal effort. “Though it might come in handy with you.”

  A slow smile crept over that face that was a little too long, a little too saturnine for true beauty. And yet . . . Janvier was the man every woman in a bar would turn to look at, his appeal as rawly earthy as the unhidden interest in eyes the shade of bayou moss, all sunlight and shadows over green. “You wound me. I thought we were friends, non?”

  “Non.” She raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to let me in?”

  He shrugged, the muscles of his chest rippling with a strength most people would never guess at from the way he moved, pure liquid grace and charm. But Ashwini knew exactly how fast and tough he was—she’d hunted him three times in the past two years, and he’d led her on a merry dance all three times.

  “Depends,” he said, taking a leisurely survey of her body. “You here to beat up on me again?”

  “Eyes up.”

  Laughter in that wicked gaze as it met hers. “You’re no fun, sugar.”

  Only with Janvier did she end up the practical side of the unit. Everyone else thought she was way over on the east side of crazy. “This was a bad idea.” Turning on her heel, she flicked a hand his way. “See you the next time you piss off an angel.” In the normal run of things, the Guild existed to retrieve those vampires who broke their Contracts—to serve the angels for a hundred years in exchange for immortality—and then there was Janvier . . . “Try not to do it this week. I’m busy.”

  His hand closed over the back of her neck, a warm, oddly gentle touch. “Don’t be like that, now. Come in. I’ll make you coffee the way it’s meant to be made.”

  She should have pulled away, should have gone as far as humanly possible. But Janvier had a way of getting under her skin. She hesitated a fraction too long, and the heat of him seeped into her, a vivid bright thing that defied the ice of his immortality. “No touching.” It was as much an order to herself as to him.

  A squeeze of his fingers. “You’re the one who’s always trying to get her hands on me.”

  “And one of these days, you won’t dance fast enough to escape.” Janvier had the habit of annoying angels enough to end up on the Guild’s hunt list. But that wasn’t the worst part—right when Ashwini almost had him, when she could all but smell the collar, he’d somehow make up with whoever it was he’d offended. Last time, she’d nearly shot him on principle.

  A brush of laughter, his thumb sweeping along her skin in a languid caress. “You should thank me,” he said. “Because of me, you’re guaranteed a healthy pay packet at least twice a year.”

  “I’m guaranteed that pay packet because I’m good,” she said, twisting out of his hold so she could face him. “You ready to talk?”

  He swept out an arm. “Step into my lair, Guild Hunter.”

  Ashwini wasn’t much for allowing vampires at her back, but she and Janvier had an understanding after three hunts. If it ever came down to it, it would be face-to-face. Some of her hunter brethren might call her a fool for trusting a man she had hunted, but she’d always made up her own mind about people. She had no illusions, knew Janvier could be as lethal as an unsheathed blade, but she also knew he’d been born in a time when a man’s word was all he had. Immortality hadn’t yet stolen that sense of honor from him.

  Now she squeezed past him, aware he’d deliberately turned his body to ensure a tight fit. She didn’t mind as much as she should have. That was the problem—because vampires were off-limits. The Guild had no rule forbidding such relationships and a number of her hunter friends had vampire lovers, but Ashwini agreed with fellow hunter Elena on this. The other woman had once said that vampires were almost-immortals, after all—to them, humans were nothing but toys, fleeting pleasures, easily tasted, easily forgotten.

  Ashwini wasn’t going to be a snack for any man—vampire, human, or angel. Not that the angels would ever lower themselves enough to consort with a mortal. She’d be very surprised if the effective rulers of the world considered most humans as anything but an afterthought.

  “Not what I expected,” she said, walking into the stylish converted loft. Light dominated and had been infused into the décor—the colors of sunset echoed in the bright throws that lay over the earth-toned sofa, the Navajo rugs on the floor, the lonely desert vistas painted on the walls.

  “I love the bayou,” Janvier murmured, closing the door behind him and padding over to the kitchen area, “but to appreciate beauty, one must sometimes go to the opposite extreme.”

  As he moved about the kitchen with the ease of a man who knew exactly what he was doing, Ashwini allowed herself to admire the male beauty of him. Janvier might be a perennial pain in her ass, but he was built like the sexiest dream she’d ever had—lean and long, his muscles that of a runner or a swimmer, all sleek lines and contained power. At six feet three, he topped her by a good five inches, carrying the height with the confidence of a man completely at ease with himself.

  Then again, she thought, he’d had over two hundred years to build that effortless arrogance. “I’m guessing you’re not bothered by sunlight,” she said, checking out the sloping skylight to the right. The bed was right below it—and as the clock ticked over eight in the morning, the sun’s rays stroked possessively over the tumbled sheets.

  Her mind immediately supplied her with an exquisitely detailed image of Janvier’s long-limbed body tangled up in those sheets. The rush of blood in her ears almost drowned out his next words.

  “Looking for weaknesses, hunter?” Walking over, he handed her a small cup filled with a creamy brew that smelled like no coffee she’d ever had.

  “What is this?” She took a suspicious sniff, felt her mouth water. “And of course. Then I could just push you into sunlight and watch you fry.”

  His lips quirked up, the upper one a little thin, the lower eminently bitable. “You’d miss me if I was gone.”

  “Old age is giving you delusions.”

  “That is caf�
� au lait made with a blend of coffee and chicory.” Watching as she chanced a sip, he nodded to the bed. “I love sunlight. Vampirism wouldn’t have been the least attractive if I’d had to spend my life in the dark.”

  “You’d think with all the vampires walking around in daylight, that old rumor would die, but no, it keeps on chugging,” she said, soaking in the distinctive flavor of the coffee. “I like this stuff.”

  “It suits you.”

  “Bitter and strange?”

  “Exotic and luscious.” He ran a finger down the bared skin of her arm. “Such beautiful skin you have, cher. Like the desert at sunset.”