The Psy-Changeling Series, Books 6-10 (127 page)

“Nalini Singh has penned another keeper . . . If you want a thrilling read with action, danger, passion, and drama, don’t miss Nalini Singh’s
Hostage to Pleasure
.”

 

“I continue to be amazed by Singh’s ability to draw the reader into the Psy-Changeling world.”

 

“An intriguing world that’s sure to keep readers coming back for more.”

 

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

 

“I commend Nalini Singh for writing a completely unique and utterly mesmerizing series.”

 

 

 

“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.”

 

“WOW! ‘Brilliant’ is the best description for
Mine to Possess
. . . It just doesn’t get better than the best!”

 

“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
’s Beyond Her Book

 

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

 

“Nalini Singh has done it again . . . [A] must read!”

—Fallen Angel Reviews
(Recommended Read)

 

 

 

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

—Lora Leigh,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

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

 

“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.”

 

 

 

“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.”

 

“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!”

 

“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.”

 

 

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

—Christine Feehan,
New York Times
bestselling author

 

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

 

“Make room for [
Slave to Sensation
] on your keeper shelf.”

 

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

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

 

ANGELS’ BLOOD
ANGELS’ PAWN
(A Berkley Sensation eSpecial)
ARCHANGEL’S KISS

 

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)

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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.

 

PLAY OF PASSION

 

A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

 

PRINTING HISTORY

Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / November 2010

Copyright © 2010 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 : 978-1-101-44510-5

 

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.

 

 

In alphabetical order by first name

 

Abel Riviere
SD soldier, father of Indigo and Evangeline

Andrew Kincaid
SD tracker, brother of Riley and Brenna

Anthony Kyriakus
Psy Councilor, father of Faith

Ashaya Aleine
Psy member of DR, former Council scientist, mated to Dorian

Ben
SD pup

Brace
SD juvenile

Brenna Kincaid
SD tech, mated to Judd, sister of Andrew and Riley

Devraj Santos
Director of the Shine Foundation, one of the Forgotten (Psy who dropped out of the PsyNet over a hundred years ago and intermarried with the changeling and human populations)

Dorian Christensen
DR sentinel, mated to Ashaya

Elias
SD soldier, mated to Yuki, father of Sakura

Evangeline (Evie) Riviere
SD, sister of Indigo

Faith NightStar
Psy member of DR, cardinal F-Psy (foreseer), mated to Vaughn, daughter of Anthony

Ghost
Psy rebel

Hawke
SD alpha

Henry Scott
Psy Councilor, husband of Shoshanna

Indigo Riviere
SD lieutenant, daughter of Abel and Tarah, sister of Evangeline

Joshua
SD juvenile

Judd Lauren
Psy member of SD, lieutenant, mated to Brenna, uncle of Sienna, Toby, and Marlee

Kaleb Krychek
Psy Councilor

Lara
SD healer

Lucas Hunter
DR alpha, mated to Sascha

Lucy
SD, trainee nurse, assistant to Lara

Matthias
SD lieutenant

Max Shannon
Human, Nikita’s security chief, married to Sophia

Mercy Smith
DR sentinel, mated to Riley

Ming LeBon
Psy Councilor

Nikita Duncan
Psy Councilor, mother of Sascha

Riaz
SD lieutenant

Riley Kincaid
SD lieutenant, mated to Mercy, brother of Andrew and Brenna

Sascha Duncan
Psy member of DR, cardinal empath, mated to Lucas, daughter of Nikita

Shoshanna Scott
Psy Councilor, wife of Henry

Sienna Lauren
Psy member of SD, sister of Toby, niece of Judd and Walker

Silvia
SD juvenile

Sophia Russo
J-Psy, works for Nikita, married to Max

Tai
SD, novice soldier

Tarah Riviere
SD, mother of Indigo and Evangeline

Tatiana Rika-Smythe
Psy Councilor

Teijan
Rat alpha

Walker Lauren
Psy member of SD, father of Marlee, uncle of Sienna and Toby

Xavier Perez
Human priest

The Psy have
been pure, have been Silent for over a hundred years, their emotions conditioned out of them until a wall of ice separates them from the world. Passion and love, hate and sorrow are no longer things they know, except as weaknesses of the emotional human and changeling races.

But as winter thaws into spring in the year 2081, change is more than a whisper on the horizon. Too many powerful Psy have defected, too many are breaking conditioning, and too many fractures riddle the Net.

Some say it is inevitable that Silence will fall.

And some will kill to hold it.

Indigo wiped the
rain off her face, clearing it for a split second, if that. The torrential downpour continued with relentless fury, slamming ice-cold bullets against her skin and turning the night-dark of the forest impenetrable. Ducking her head, she spoke into the waterproof microphone attached to the sodden collar of her black T-shirt. “Do you have him in your sights?”

The voice that came back was deep, familiar, and, at that instant, lethally focused. “Northwest, half a mile. I’m coming your way.”

“Northwest, half a mile,” she repeated to ensure they were both on the same page. Changeling hearing was incredibly acute, but the rain was savage, drumming against her skull until even the high-tech receiver she’d tucked into her ear buzzed with noise.

“Indy, be careful. He’s functioning on the level of a feral wolf.”

Under normal circumstances, she’d have snarled at him for using that ridiculous nickname. Tonight, she was too worried. “That goes double for you. He hurt you in that first tangle.”

“It’s only a flesh wound. I’m going quiet now.”

Slicking back her hair, she took a deep breath of the watery air and began to stalk toward their prey. Her fellow hunter was right—a pincer maneuver was their best bet of taking Joshua down without damage. Indigo’s gut clenched, pain blooming in her heart. She didn’t want to have to hurt him. Neither did the tracker on the boy’s trail—the reason why the bigger, stronger wolf had been injured in the earlier clash.

But he’d have to if they couldn’t bring Joshua back from the edge; the boy was so lost in anguish and torment that he’d given in to his wolf. And the wolf, young and out of control, had taken those emotions and turned them into rage. Joshua was now a threat to the pack. But he was also their own. They’d bleed, they’d drown in this endless rain, but they would not execute him until they’d exhausted every other option.