Angels' Flight
Authors: Nalini Singh
PRAISE FOR THE GUILD HUNTER NOVELS OF NALINI SINGH
Archangel’s Consort
“Steamy and beautiful… A great novel that makes me want to read everything that Nalini Singh has ever written.”
—
Fresh Fiction
“[I’m] hooked on Nalini Singh’s fantasy world… Highly recommended reading for romance and fantasy fans alike. Brilliant!”
—
Love Vampires
“For those who have yet to experience this world of archangels and mortals, drop what you’re doing and find the nearest bookstore; Raphael is waiting for you.”
—
Supernatural Snark
“[I] could not put the book down until I’d finished it. This is one series utterly worth keeping up with.”
—
Errant Dreams Reviews
“Awesome as always.”
—
RT Book Reviews
(Top Pick)
Archangel’s Kiss
“The world is heartbreakingly original… Sizzling hot.”
—
Errant Dreams Reviews
“[A] remarkable urban fantasy series… Better clear off more space on your keeper shelf!”
—
RT Book Reviews
(Top Pick)
“In the mood for a dark, intense, and smoldering sexy read that may have you gasping for breath? Nalini Singh delivers this in ways you can’t imagine.”
—Babbling About Books, and More
“I’m so intrigued by this world, so captivated… that I simply cannot wait until the next Angel book.”
—
Dear Author
“Nalini Singh has really outdone herself with
Archangel’s Kiss
… [She] is a master at her craft. I can’t wait for the next book.”
—
Night Owl Reviews
“Ms. Singh’s books never fail to draw me in and keep me enthralled until the very end… Utterly fascinating. The Guild Hunter series is one that will not disappoint and will keep readers invested until the very end.”
—
Romance Junkies
“Paranormal romance doesn’t get better than this.”
—
Love Vampires
Angels’ Blood
“Terrifyingly, passionately awesome… You’ll love it.”
—Patricia Briggs, #1
New York Times
bestselling author
“I loved every word, could picture every scene, and cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is amazing in every way!”
—Gena Showalter,
New York Times
bestselling author
“This is probably one of the best stories I have ever read and will be one that I will rave about for quite a while.”
—
Fallen Angel Reviews
“Amazing. Fantastic. Simmering with both violence and sexual tension, and with vivid worldbuilding that blew my socks off.”
—Meljean Brook, national bestselling author
“A refreshing twist on vampire and angel lore combined with sizzling sexual tension make this paranormal romance a winner.”
—
Monsters and Critics
“With the launch of a second paranormal series, Singh provides incontrovertible evidence that she’s an unrivaled storyteller… Tremendous!”
—
RT Book Reviews
(Top Pick)
“Nalini Singh should take a bow!
Angels’ Blood
is going to leave you hungering for more instantly.”
—
Romance Junkies
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
Guild Hunter Series
ANGELS’ BLOOD
ANGELS’ PAWN
(A Berkley Sensation eSpecial)
ARCHANGEL’S KISS
ARCHANGEL’S CONSORT
ARCHANGEL’S BLADE
Anthologies
BURNING UP
(with Angela Knight, Virginia Kantra, and Meljean Brook)
MUST LOVE HELLHOUNDS
(with Charlaine Harris, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brook)
THE MAGICAL CHRISTMAS CAT
(with Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, and Linda Winstead Jones)
AN ENCHANTED SEASON
(with Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy, and Jean Johnson)
ANGELS OF DARKNESS
(with Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, and Sharon Shinn)
Angels’
Flight
Nalini Singh
BERKLEY SENSATION, NEW YORK
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered 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’ FLIGHT
A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / March 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Nalini Singh.
“Angels’ Pawn” by Nalini Singh copyright © 2009 by Nalini Singh.
“Angels’ Judgment” by Nalini Singh copyright © 2009 by Nalini Singh.
“Angel’s Wolf” by Nalini Singh copyright © 2011 by Nalini Singh.
“Angels’ Dance” by Nalini Singh copyright © 2012 by Nalini Singh.
Excerpt from
Tangle of Need
by Nalini Singh copyright © 2012 by Nalini Singh.
Cover art by Tony Mauro. Cover hand lettering by Ron Zinn. Cover design by George Long.
Interior text design by Kristin del Rosario.
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: 9781101560396
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® is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 3 1
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
Contents
Angels’
Pawn
1
“T
his 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 his 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.”