Playing with Fire

"Crazy paranormal high jinks, delightful characters, and simmering romance.’’ —
Booklist

"Once again Katie MacAlister knocks one out of the box with the third book in the Aisling Grey series.
Light My Fire
. . . takes you on a nonstop thrill ride full of sarcastic wit, verve, and action right to the end. Clear your day, because you will not put this book down until it is finished.’’ —A Romance Review

‘‘Once again Aisling Grey will fire up readers. . . . Katie MacAlister provides a humorous fantasy.’’

—
Midwest Book Review

‘‘There is lots of enjoyment to be had. . . . This is a staying-up-late-to-see-what-happens-next story.’’

—
The Romance Reader

‘‘
Light My Fire
. . . may just be her best yet.’’

—Curled Up with a Good Book

‘‘I simply adore Aisling. . . . Get on over to the bookstore and pick up your copy of
Light My Fire
today. You don’t want to miss it.’’ —Romance Reviews Today

"MacAlister has created a world of dragon shifters, demons, imps, sorcerers, and other otherworldly creatures; mixed them all up together with a wacky, sympathetic heroine; and given her reader a helter-skelter of a read that will have her biting her nails on one side and laughing out loud on the other. This reviewer was glued to the pages, turning rapidly and enjoying every single word. . . . Truly a great read.’’ —Love Romances

‘‘A fun and witty paranormal romance . . . an entertaining and engrossing read . . . engaging and memorable. Also, the fact that it is a paranormal romance with lots of immortal characters but no undead ones makes it refreshing and unique.’’ —BookLoons

‘‘Book three in this delightful series pours on the romance big-time and adds complications galore. Aisling’s never-say-die attitude is mixed with a snarky humor that gives this magical saga extra zing. MacAlister’s comic genius really shines through!’’ —
Romantic Times

‘‘[A] wickedly witty, wildly inventive, and fiendishly fun adventure in the paranormal world.’’ —
Booklist

‘‘Who knows where she will take us next! . . . [A] fascinating and fun writer.’’ —The Best Reviews

‘‘Fresh, funny, and fabulous . . .
Fire Me Up
will crack you up. With so many intriguing, intelligently drawn, distinctive characters, it is no wonder [Katie MacAlister] is soaring to the top.’’ —A Romance Review

"MacAlister’s ability to combine adventure, thrills, passion, and outlandish humor is fast making her a superstar. Unstoppable fun!’’ —
Romantic Times BOOKclub

‘‘Smart, sexy, and laugh-out-loud funny!’’

—Christine Feehan

‘‘Amusing romantic fantasy. . . . Fans will appreciate this warm, humorous tale that slays readers with laughter.’’

—The Best Reviews

"Katie MacAlister creates an entertaining world of demons, dragons and the people who control them. . . . Intriguing and funny.’’ —A Romance Review

‘‘Graced with MacAlister’s signature sharp wit and fabulously fun characters, this paranormal romance is wickedly sensual and irresistibly amusing.’’ —
Booklist

‘‘In the first of what I hope are many Aisling Grey novels, MacAlister shoots straight for the paranormal funny bone. Her outlandish sense of humor is the perfect complement to her sexy stories.’’

—
Romantic Times
(Top Pick, 4
¹
⁄
₂
Stars)

‘‘Humor, suspense, and intriguing characters . . . a real winner.’’ —Romance Reviews Today

"MacAlister’s fast-paced romp is a delight with all its quirky twists and turns, which even include a murder mystery.’’ —
Booklist

‘‘A wild, zany romantic fantasy. . . . Paranormal romance readers will enjoy this madcap tale of the logical physicist who finds love.’’ —The Best Reviews

‘‘A fascinating paranormal read that will captivate you.’’

—Romance Reviews Today

‘‘A pleasurable afternoon of reading.’’

—
The Romance Reader

‘‘The sexy humor, wild secondary characters, and outlandish events make her novels pure escapist pleasure!’’

—
Romantic Times

Aisling Grey, Guardian, Series
HOLY SMOKES
LIGHT MY FIRE
FIRE ME UP
YOU SLAY ME

THE LAST OF THE RED-HOT VAMPIRES
EVEN VAMPIRES GET THE BLUES

BLOW ME DOWN
HARD DAY’S KNIGHT
THE CORSET DIARIES
MEN IN KILTS

SIGNET
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
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First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, May 2008

Copyright © Marthe Arends, 2008

All rights reserved
SIGNET and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

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 Web sites or their content.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

I am profoundly grateful to all the readers who have taken the time to let me know how much they’ve enjoyed visiting my Otherworld, and I am especially appreciative of those people who’ve pleaded for books featuring the silver dragons. This first silver dragon novel is dedicated to all those dragon fans, with the hope that they enjoy seeing Gabriel through a new pair of eyes.

Chapter One

‘‘Good twin calling evil twin. The weasel crows at midnight. How copy?’’

‘‘Oh, for mercy’s sake . . . I’m busy! Stop sending me silly messages in code! If you have something to say, just say it; otherwise, radio silence, remember?’’

‘‘You’re no fun anymore. You used to be fun, but lately, I’ve noticed a change in you. Is it menopause, May?’’

Cyrene’s question took me aback so strongly, I stopped creeping down the darkened hallway and blinked in dumbfounded surprise at the mirror that hung on the wall opposite.

No reflected figure blinked back at me.

‘‘Are you still having your period? Do you experience hot flashes at night? Are you now growing, or have you at any time in the recent past grown, a mustache?’’

‘‘Goddess help me,’’ I murmured to no one in particular, and tried my best to ignore the perky little voice that chirped so happily in my ear as I continued to make my way down to the dark and deserted room. I thought for a moment of just turning off the miniature radio that allowed Cyrene to contact me, but knowledge born of long experience with my twin reminded me of the folly of such an idea.

‘‘Boy, you really are in a grumpy mood if you won’t rise to the bait of menopause,’’ she said in a mildly disgruntled voice.

I stopped briefly to admire a beautiful dull-sea green vase that sat in a glass-fronted display case before slipping silently across the room to the door opposite. ‘‘That’s because it was completely ridiculous. You’re older than me, which means you’ll be menopausal before me.’’

‘‘I’m barely older than you. Just a few years, really. A thousand at the most. What are you doing now?’’

Trying to keep from going mad, I wanted to say, but I knew better than to do that, too. Cyrene being helpful was survivable. . . . Cyrene hurt, depressed, or unhappy could have dire repercussions that I truly didn’t want to contemplate. ‘‘I’m in the library, approaching the office. Which could well have extra security, so radio silence from here on out, OK?’’

‘‘You said I could help you.’’ The petulance in her voice was potent enough to make my lips tighten.

‘‘You’re helping me by guarding the front of the house.’’ I sidled up to the door and gave it a good long look. There were no wards that I could see. I held up my hand, lightly placing my fingers on the wood. Nothing triggered my sensitive danger alarm.

‘‘I’m on the
other
side of the street!’’

The doorknob turned easily, the door opening with the slightest whisper, which bespoke attentive care by the house staff. ‘‘Gives you a better view.’’

‘‘In a tree!’’

‘‘Height gives you an advantage. Hmm.’’ Across the small room, another lovely antique display case stood, this one lit from within, the yellow light spilling out of the case and casting a pool on the thick carpet beneath it. There were a couple of pieces of object d’art in the case, but it was the slender glass vial that sat alone on the center shelf that held my attention.

‘‘Hmm what? I think I’m getting bugs. There are definitely bugs in this tree. What hmm? Did you find the thingie?’’

‘‘The Liquor Hepatis? Yes. Now, hush. I have to figure out how this case is protected.’’

‘‘This is so exciting,’’ Cyrene whispered. ‘‘I’ve never been a part of one of your jobs before. Although this watching business is a bit boring, and I don’t see that it’s necessary if you said this mage is in England somewhere. I mean, after all, it’s a mage!’’