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  SHADES OF DARKNESS

  “I didn’t ask you to get involved in any of this,” she reminded him.

  He studied her for a long moment. “Do you want me to tell you what Kgosi meant when he asked me if you knew?” he abruptly demanded.

  “Yes.”

  “He sensed you were my mate.”

  Chaaya hissed, as if she’d taken a blow to her stomach. It didn’t matter that she’d sensed the emotional bonds weaving them together. Or Basq’s fierce need to protect her. Or her own need to protect him.

  It was still a shock to hear the word spoken out loud.

  “Mate?”

  He stepped toward her. “Do I truly have to explain what the word means?”

  “I know what it means, but…” Her words trailed away as another shiver raced through her.

  He moved until he was close enough to lightly brush his fingers down her cheek. At the same time, he deliberately leashed in his powers to allow the air to warm above freezing. She tilted back her head, becoming lost in the striking beauty of his eyes. “How can you be sure?”

  He cupped her cheek in his palm, wrapping his other arm around her waist. “Like you said. Destiny…”

  Books by Alexandra Ivy

  Guardians of Eternity

  WHEN DARKNESS COMES

  EMBRACE THE DARKNESS

  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

  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

  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 Corporation

  Table of Contents

  Books by Alexandra Ivy

  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

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Shades of Darkness

  Alexandra Ivy

  LYRICAL PRESS

  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, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  LYRICAL PRESS BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2020 by Debbie Raleigh

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  Lyrical Press and Lyrical Press logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  First Electronic Edition: November 2020

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-1094-0 (ebook)

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-1094-3 (ebook)

  First Print Edition: November 2020

  ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-1097-1

  ISBN-10: 1-5161-1097-8

  Printed in the United States of America

  Chapter 1

  Mer-folk castle, late fall

  Troy, Prince of Imps, stifled a yawn as he strolled through the marble corridor of the mer-folk castle. It was a stunningly beautiful place that stretched for endless miles beneath the ocean. The walls were decorated with exquisite murals, and massive chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings. There were carved statues lining the wide corridors and delicate furnishings covered in fabrics that shimmered in pale shades of blue and green.

  Even better, the beautiful mer-folk drifted through the spiderweb of rooms in gossamer gowns that left little to the imagination.

  So why was he bored?

  Troy halted in front of a section of wall that was a clear panel to reveal the dark waters outside the castle that were populated with dazzling reefs and fish that glowed with an effervescent light. Tilting his head to the side, he admired his reflection.

  He truly was a glorious sight with his brilliant hair flowing down his back like a river of fire. His face was long and pale, with vivid green eyes that held the sort of sensual power to bring most creatures to their knees. Precisely where he liked them. He was also tall and slender, with bulging muscles that he made sure to emphasize with the one-piece spandex outfit in a vibrant shade of pink he was currently wearing.

  He was an exotic butterfly among a field of lilies.

  Troy stifled another yawn. He was accustomed to the bright lights of big cities and the naughty delights of his various strip joints. In contrast, the mer-folk were tedious, peace-loving fey who had tragically become even more boring after Chaaya was sent to live in Vegas with Chiron and his new mate, Lilah. The young female, sacrificed to protect the world centuries ago and then recently rescued from the dark dimension, had provided plenty of entertainment. Her name should have been chaos, not Chaaya.

  But now…

  Troy shook his head. Why d
id he linger in this place?

  He answered his own inner question as he turned to walk toward the massive double doors at the end of the corridor.

  Inga, Queen of the Mer-folk.

  That’s why he stayed.

  It wasn’t that he was in love with the female who was a mongrel mix of ogress and mermaid, although he took epic delight in tweaking Levet’s miniature snout by pretending a romantic interest. But he was utterly committed to ensuring that Inga succeeded in her new role as the leader of the mer-folk.

  She was one of the few demons who possessed a genuinely pure soul. Even after she’d been abused by slavers and manipulated by Riven, the former mer-folk king, and then shoved into a position she never expected and didn’t want.

  Every day she woke up determined to do the best for her people, even those who hated her for being a mongrel.

  Who didn’t root for an underdog?

  Plus, Troy had to admit there was a glorious satisfaction in being a king maker. Or in this case, a queen maker.

  He was the power behind the throne.

  Lost in his thoughts, Troy was distracted by the sound of voices echoing through the air.

  “You are not going to bother the queen with this, Riza,” a male voice chided in surprisingly loud tones. As if he was aggravated at repeating the same words over and over.

  “She needs to know, Jord,” a second male stubbornly retorted.

  There was the click of boots on marble, then the two males stepped out of a narrow hallway that led down to the lower chambers.

  They were both tall and willowy like all mermen with long, pale hair that was tinted with blue. And they were both wearing the strange armor that looked like overlapping scales, with short tridents belted at their sides. To the untrained eye they looked like toy soldiers, but Troy knew that shimmering armor was stronger than steel and the tridents could shoot out silver threads that wrapped around their opponent to trap them in an inescapable net.

  “Do you intend to make a personal report to the queen each time the prisoner sneezes?” the taller of the two demanded, his too-pretty features set in an expression of arrogant disdain. “Or if she refused to eat her dessert?”

  Riza scowled. His face was rounder, with a hint of petulance in the youthful features. “There’s something weird about that female talking to herself all the time.”

  Jord snorted. “Prisoners do weird things. They sing. They yell. They see pink elephants. It has something to do with being locked in the dungeons.”

  “But—”

  “If the two of you wish to squabble like children, you should loiter outside the nursery, not the royal chambers,” Troy chided.

  The two men came to an abrupt halt, as if they’d been so intent on their argument, they hadn’t noticed a six-foot imp in pink spandex standing in the middle of the corridor.

  Hard to believe.

  Jord sent him an impatient frown. Troy’s sardonic refusal to concede that the mer-folk were superior to other fey creatures meant he wasn’t a favorite among the natives. That was fine. He wasn’t there to win friends. His only concern was Inga and whether or not she was being treated with the respect and loyalty she deserved.

  Riza stepped forward. “I need to speak with Queen Inga.”

  “I’m sure she’s busy,” Jord snapped.

  “Of course she’s busy, she’s the queen,” Troy drawled, covertly studying the younger male. He was obviously upset. Maybe Inga should find out what was going on before Troy ran them off. “But I am certain she can make time for one of her loyal subjects.”

  Jord made a sound of impatience. “I assure you it’s not necessary.”

  Troy arched a brow. Why was the male so determined to keep the younger guard away from the queen? Was he the usual arrogant ass who enjoyed bullying anyone who happened to be his underling? Or did he have another reason for trying to silence the younger male?

  Only one way to find out.

  Troy moved to rap his knuckles against a gilded door, waiting for Inga to call out for them to enter before pushing it open. He stepped over the threshold and entered the room that matched the rest of the castle, with lots of marble and fluted columns and sparkling chandeliers. The major difference was the large dais that held the velvet and gold throne.

  A throne that was currently empty.

  Troy rolled his eyes, already knowing what he was about to discover as he strolled up the crimson runner that led the way to the dais. Sure enough, there was the sound of grunting as Inga struggled to her feet, and then she abruptly appeared from behind the throne.

  “Good morning, Troy.”

  She didn’t look like the Queen of the Mer-folk. There was none of her mother’s ephemeral beauty; instead she’d inherited her ogre father’s sturdy body that stood well over six foot, with shoulders broad enough to make a football player proud. Beneath her drunkenly tilted crown, her reddish hair grew in tufts and her features were carved with a blunt lack of finesse. Her blue eyes were the only hint that she had mermaid blood in her veins, but they flashed an ogre-red when she was annoyed. Which was more often than not.

  At the moment she wore a hideous muumuu dress that was an insult to fashion. The billowing gown was a strange shade of olive with big yellow and orange flowers splattered over it. She was also speckled with paint.

  A delicate shudder raced through Troy. He’d finally convinced this female to spend at least a few hours in the throne room each day, listening to the concerns of her people, but whenever she had a moment alone, she lost herself in her love for painting. It was a harmless hobby, he acknowledged, and she was exquisitely talented. The murals on the walls of the throne room were now the finest in all the castle. Still, she looked like she’d been sucked through a whirlpool, rolled in a multicolor mud pit, and tossed out the other side.

  Thankfully, she had the massive trident clutched in her hand. The Tryshu was a magical artifact that chose the leader of the mer-folk. As long as Inga was holding it, there was no question that she was the queen.

  Stopping next to the dais, Troy offered an elaborate bow. “Your Majesty,” he said in deep, formal tones.

  Belatedly realizing that Troy wasn’t alone, Inga grudgingly straightened her crown and forced a smile that revealed her pointed teeth.

  “Are you here to see me?” she demanded.

  Both guards offered polite bows. “I apologize for interrupting, Your Majesty,” Jord said, sending his companion a foul glare. “Riza is one of our younger guards. I fear he’s prone to exaggerating.”

  Riza folded his arms over his chest. “I’m not exaggerating.”

  Inga blinked in confusion. “Exaggerating about what?”

  “The prisoner,” Riza said.

  Inga’s confusion deepened. “Which one?”

  “The pureblooded Were,” Riza clarified.

  Inga stiffened in alarm. “Brigette?”

  Riza nodded. “Yes.”

  “What about her?”

  The younger guard paled, clearly intimidated by the towering ogress holding a trident that could destroy the entire castle with one blast.

  “I…” Riza stopped to clear his throat. “I heard her talking.”

  Inga glanced toward Troy. He shrugged and she returned her attention to the guard.

  “No one is supposed to enter her cell except for me, and I haven’t been down there for days.”

  “That’s why I went to check on her.”

  “And?”

  Riza grimaced. “She was alone.”

  Troy narrowed his eyes. It would be easy to overreact after Brigette had nearly managed to destroy their world.

  “Perhaps she’s become unhinged,” he suggested. “She did spend five centuries as a handmaiden to an evil beastie-thing.”

  “That’s what I thought,” Riza said. “But she keeps doing it. And the last ti
me I checked on her, I was sure I caught sight of a shadow in the cell with her.”

  Inga hissed in alarm. “A shadow?”

  “It was probably just a figment of his imagination.” Jord intruded into the conversation, his expression grim.

  “It was not,” Riza stubbornly insisted. “I know what I saw.”

  Troy moved toward the guard. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

  Riza turned his back on his glowering companion to speak directly to Troy. “I was on duty when I heard the female babbling about pledging her loyalty and promising to obey without question.”

  “Did you hear a name?” Troy pressed.

  “Name?”

  “Was Zella mentioned?”

  The guard wrinkled his nose. “I suppose she might have said Zella.”

  Inga muttered a curse. “This can’t be good.”

  “The understatement of the century,” Troy muttered. “And well past our pay grade.” He squared his shoulders. “We need Chaaya.”

  * * * *

  Dreamscape Resort, Vegas

  Chiron didn’t exactly stomp across the casino floor. He was, after all, a sophisticated, flawlessly elegant vampire with an image to maintain. Only a child indulged in temper tantrums.

  Still, the humans seated in front of the flashing slot machines or clustered around the roulette tables shivered with unease as he passed. They didn’t realize they’d been brushed by the icy power of his seething temper, but in the most primitive parts of their mind, they realized there was danger in the area.

  He ignored the lingering gazes that followed him. He knew what the humans were seeing: a slender male with devilishly handsome features. His dark hair was cut short and smoothed from his lean face. Next they would notice the designer suit that cost a fortune. From there they would decide that he couldn’t be responsible for their vague sense of anxiety and return their attention to their gambling. They would never suspect he was a monster beneath his polished façade.

  Chiron cast a last glance around the casino before heading toward the back of the vast space. He was in dire need of some peace and quiet, and the only place to find that was in his office at the top of the hotel.

  He’d managed to make it out of the public rooms and was waiting for the doors of his private elevator to slide open when his luck ran out. For the hundredth time that night.