Wild Invitation: A Psy/Changeling Anthology (Psy-Changeling) Read online

  “I DON’T THINK THERE IS A SINGLE PARANORMAL SERIES AS WELL PLANNED, WELL WRITTEN, AND DOWNRIGHT FANTABULOUS AS MS. SINGH’S PSY-CHANGELING SERIES.”

  —All About Romance

  Praise for

  Tangle of Need

  “A novel of aching passion and pulse-pounding risk.”

  —BookPage

  “A truly satisfying romance and compelling action in one of [Nalini Singh’s] strongest episodes to date.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  Kiss of Snow

  “Tender and sweet, captivating and superbly delicious…Easily one of the best books I’ve read this year.”

  —Fallen Angels Reviews

  “If you are anything like me, you too have been breathlessly anticipating Kiss of Snow…[A] true treasure in this already amazing series.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “Kiss of Snow delivers…Of course, this entire series is great.”

  —Smexy Books

  Play of Passion

  “Every superlative possible has been used to describe [Singh’s] Psy-Changeling world…What a damn good time I had.”

  —The Good, The Bad and The Unread

  “A STANDOUT SERIES AMONG THE PARANORMAL ROMANCE ON THE MARKET TODAY.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Alternately playful and deliciously sexy.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Compelling characters and wonderfully dense plotting are two reasons why Singh’s books continue to enthrall. There is no finer storyteller around!”

  —RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)

  Bonds of Justice

  “An absolute must-read. Intrigue, danger, passion, and more fill the pages, tempting you, forcing you, to keep reading well into the night.”

  —Touch the Night

  “Sheer genius. Nalini Singh writes with amazing skill…You have to read this book!”

  —The Romance Reviews

  Blaze of Memory

  “This is a paranormal author who is at the top of her game!…You will want to revisit this love story again and again.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “Another incredibly strong entry in the Psy-Changeling series, my very favorite in paranormal romance.”

  —Romance Novel TV

  Branded by Fire

  “An emotional masterpiece.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “An amazingly talented writer…She grabs [readers] and doesn’t let go until the very end and leaves them begging for more.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  “I COMMEND NALINI SINGH FOR WRITING A COMPLETELY UNIQUE AND UTTERLY MESMERIZING SERIES.”

  —Simply Romance Reviews

  Hostage to Pleasure

  “A thrilling read with action, danger, passion, and drama.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “This series just continues to get better and more vibrant as it goes.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  Mine to Possess

  “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

  “This book was fast-paced and riveting. I can truthfully say that once you start reading it, you’ll find it impossible to put down!”

  —Publishers Weekly, “Beyond Her Book”

  “Ms. Singh’s world-building is as fascinating as the characters with whom she populates it.”

  —The Eternal Night

  Caressed by Ice

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

  —Lora Leigh, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  “A compelling read with wonderfully developed characters and the strong world-building that has made Singh a star.”

  —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

  “WHAT MORE CAN BE SAID ABOUT NALINI SINGH AND HER AWESOME SERIES THAT HASN’T ALREADY BEEN SAID?”

  —The Good, The Bad and The Unread

  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!”

  —Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author

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

  —All About Romance

  “Brace yourselves because…[it] 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

  Slave to Sensation

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

  —Christine Feehan, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  “An electrifying collision of logic and emotion…A volcanic start to a new series that’ll leave you craving more.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “A sensual romance set in an alternate-reality America with just a bit of mystery to keep readers flipping pages.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  Berkley titles by Nalini Singh

  Psy-Changeling Series

  SLAVE TO SENSATION

  VISIONS OF HEAT

  CARESSED BY ICE

  MINE TO POSSESS

  HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE

  BRANDED BY FIRE

  BLAZE OF MEMORY

  BONDS OF JUSTICE

  PLAY OF PASSION

  KISS OF SNOW

  TANGLE OF NEED

  Guild Hunter Series

  ANGELS’ BLOOD

  ARCHANGEL’S KISS

  ARCHANGEL’S CONSORT

  ARCHANGEL’S BLADE

  ARCHANGEL’S STORM

  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)

  MUST LOVE HELLHOUNDS

  (with Charlaine Harris, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brook)

  BURNING UP

  (with Angela Knight, Virginia Kantra, and Meljean Brook)

  ANGELS OF DARKNESS

  (with Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, and Sharon Shinn)

  ANGELS’ FLIGHT

  WILD INVITATION

  Specials

  ANGELS’ PAWN

  ANGELS’ DANCE

  Wild Invitation

  NALINI SINGH

  BERKLEY SENSATION, NEW YORK

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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

  USA / Canada / UK / Ireland / Australia / New Zealand / India / South Africa / China

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

  For more information about the Penguin Group visit penguin.com

  WILD INVITATION

  A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

  “Beat of Temptation” by Nalini Singh copyright © 2009 by Nalini Singh.

  “Stroke of Enticement” by Nalini Singh copyright © 2008 by Nalini Singh.

  “Declaration of Courtship” by Nalini Singh copyright © 2013 by Nalini Singh.

  “Texture of Intimacy” by Nalini Singh copyright © 2013 by Nalini Singh.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or di
stributed 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.

  Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

  BERKLEY SENSATION® is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN: 978-1-101-60221-8

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Berkley Sensation mass-market paperback edition / March 2013

  Cover art by Don Sipley. Hand lettering by Ron Zinn.

  Cover design by George Long.

  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.

  “Beat of Temptation” previously appeared in An Enchanted Season,

  published by Berkley Sensation.

  “Stroke of Enticement” previously appeared in The Magical Christmas Cat,

  published by Berkley Sensation.

  ALWAYS LEARNING PEARSON

  Table of Contents

  Beat of Temptation

  Happiness

  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

  Epilogue

  Stroke of Enticement

  Wishes

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Declaration of Courtship

  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

  Texture of Intimacy

  Lauren Family Tree

  Surcease

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Beat of Temptation

  Happiness

  THE PSY COUNCIL tried to outlaw Christmas once.

  It was in the year 2019, four long decades after the implementation of the Silence Protocol. The Protocol itself arose out of the overwhelming incidence of insanity and serial killing in the Psy populace. Driven to the edge, the Psy made a choice. They conditioned their young to feel nothing—not jealousy, not rage, and certainly not joy at the thought of Christmas morning.

  So it was that by 2019, only ice ran in the veins of the Psy politicians who wanted to make Christmas illegal. Since the Psy race controlled government then as it does now, Law 5198: Deletion of Christmas and Associated Holidays was near certain to pass.

  There were a few minor hiccups. Some elderly Psy—those who had been too old at the inception of Silence to allow for true conditioning—weren’t certain they wanted the holiday outlawed. But the old ones were few; the last, unwanted vestiges of an emotion-filled past the Psy preferred to forget. They were ignored, their fading voices drowned out by the Silent majority.

  Law 5198 was read into the statute books and life moved on.

  Except that the humans and changelings, the other two parts of the triumvirate that is the world, took no notice. Christmas trees went up as usual, gifts were bought, and carols were sung. Human business owners did a roaring trade in mulled wine, fruit cake, and roasts with all the trimmings.

  In comparison, Psy who owned interests in companies that usually profited from Christmas suffered a sharp drop in income—Law 5198 meant they could no longer advertise their products in conjunction with the outlawed holiday.

  The Psy Council found itself faced with both a mass revolt by the other races, and considerable opposition from the very businesses that backed up its regime. Psy might not feel, but they also did not appreciate their profit margins being compromised. The businesses weren’t the only ones who felt the negative impact of Law 5198—Enforcement could find no way to prosecute everyone who violated the law against Christmas.

  The churches simply acted as if the law didn’t exist. But they, in their solemn dignity, weren’t the worst offenders. The changelings, in particular the nonpredatory deer species, took great amusement in walking the streets in their animal forms, dressed up as Santa’s reindeer.

  Then the horse changelings decided it wouldn’t hurt their pride to be harnessed two by two to large sleds in order to transport shoppers around the cities. Finally, the humans, the weakest of the three races—with neither the psychic powers of the Psy, nor the animal strength of the changelings—came up with the killing strike.

  They changed the name of Christmas to the Day of Happiness.

  It was unacceptable for Psy to feel happiness. Those who did had their minds wiped clean and their personalities destroyed in a horrifying process known as “rehabilitation.” But it wasn’t illegal for anyone else to celebrate happiness. And if they wanted to do it by singing songs, gathering with loved ones, and attending certain ceremonies dressed in their Sunday best, well, that wasn’t illegal either.

  The powerful, deadly Psy Council was used to instant obedience in all things. However, in the year 2021, the Councilors admitted that wasting Psy resources to ensure compliance with Law 5198 made no financial or strategic sense. The law was quietly repealed.

  Now, some forty years later, Christmas is a celebration unlike any other. Though the Day of Happiness was retired soon after the repeal of Law 5198, changelings and humans have always known that they are one and the same thing. Of course, happiness isn’t guaranteed by the magic of Christmas. Sometimes, a woman has to fight with everything in her, with her pride and her fury, her love and her anger, with her very soul, in order to claim the joy…and the man, meant to be hers.

  Chapter 1

  TAMSYN LOOKED ACROSS the Pack Circle to the men and women who stood on the other side. Lachlan, their alpha, his hair going the white of wisdom and age, was saying something to Lucas, who was barely fifteen but carried the scent of a future alpha. The past and the future side by side. One day soon, Lucas would lead them. Everyone knew that. The boy had been drenched in blood, his parents murdered in front of his eyes. But he would lead. It didn’t matter that even if they waited a decade, he’d still be far too young.

  Just like Tamsyn was too young at nineteen to be the senior healer for the DarkRiver leopard pack. Her mentor had been Lucas’s mother, Shayla. The attack on Lucas’s family had not only stolen their healer, it had left DarkRiver in a state of constant alert. That didn’t mean they had given up. No, they were quietly building their strength until the day they could destroy the ShadowWalkers—the pack that had murdered their own.

  She knew Nate would be one of those who went after the rogue pack when the time came. He stood tall and strong besi
de Lachlan, his concentration on whatever it was they were discussing. At twenty-nine years of age, he was one of the pack’s top soldiers and would soon be a sentinel, assuming Cian’s position when the older man retired from active duty. The sentinels were the pack’s first line of defense. They were the strongest, most intelligent, and most dangerous predators of them all.

  “Tammy, you’re back!”

  Startled, she looked away from Nate and into Lysa’s bright green eyes. “I only got in an hour ago.” Even now, she didn’t quite believe she was home—the six months she’d spent at the teaching hospital in New York had been the hardest of her life.

  “So the course is over?”

  “Yes. That part of it anyway.” She could finish the rest of her medical training in nearby San Francisco. Most changeling healers relied on their inborn gifts, but Tamsyn had made the decision to study conventional medicine as well. It was one more way to compensate for her inexperience, for the healing gifts that hadn’t yet matured to full strength. She refused to allow her youth to disadvantage her pack.