Fallen Angels 02 - Crave

Praise for the Novels of J. R. Ward

“Now here‟s a band of brothers who knows how to show a girl a good time.”

—Lisa Gardner

Lover Enshrined

“Terrific…explosive…exciting…Ward has outdone herself.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

Lover Unbound

“The newest in Ward‟s ferociously popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series bears all the marks of a polished story-teller completely at home in her world…This fix will give Brotherhood addicts a powerful rush.”

—
Publishers Weekly

Lover Revealed

“These erotic paranormals are well worth it, and frighteningly addictive…It all works to great, page-turning effect…In just two years, the…series [has] earned Ward an Anne Rice-style following, deservedly so.”

—
Publishers Weekly

Lover Awakened

“Best new series I‟ve read in years! Tautly written, wickedly sexy, and just plain fun.”

—Lisa Gardner,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Hide

“Utterly absorbing and deliciously erotic. I found myself turning pages faster and faster—

and then I wished I hadn‟t, because there was no more to read…The hottest collection of studs in romance, and I can‟t wait for the next one!”

—Angela Knight,
USA Today
bestselling author of
Master of Dragons
Lover Eternal

“Ward wields a commanding voice perfect for the genre…Hold on tight for an intriguing, adrenaline-pumping ride…leaves readers begging for more. Fans of L. A. Banks, Laurell K.

Hamilton, and Sherrilyn Kenyon will add Ward to their must-read list.”

—
Booklist

“[An] extremely intense and emotionally powerful tale…Ward‟s paranormal world is, among other things, colorful, dangerous, and richly conceived…intricate plots and believable characters.”

—
Romantic Times
(top pick)

Dark Lover

“It‟s not easy to find a new twist on the vampire myth, but Ward succeeds beautifully. This dark and compelling world is filled with enticing romance as well as perilous adventure. With myriad possibilities to choose from, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series promises tons of thrills and chills.”

—
Romantic Times
(top pick)

“A dynamite new Vampire series—delicious, erotic, and thrilling! J. R. Ward has created a wonderful cast of characters, with a sexy, tormented, to-die-for hero…a fabulous treat for romance readers!”

—Nicole Jordan,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Touch Me with Fire

“J. R. Ward has a great style of writing and she shines…You will lose yourself in this world; it is different, creative, dark, violent, and flat-out amazing.”

—All About Romance

“An awesome, instantly addictive debut novel. It‟s a midnight whirlwind of dangerous characters and mesmerizing erotic romance. The Black Dagger Brotherhood owns me now. Dark fantasy lovers, you just got served.”

—Lynn Viehl,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Shadowlight
BY J. R. WARD

NOVELS OF THE FALLEN ANGELS

Covet

NOVELS OF THE BLACK DAGGER

BROTHERHOOD

Dark Lover

Lover Eternal

Lover Awakened

Lover Revealed

Lover Unbound

Lover Enshrined

Lover Avenged

Lover Mine

The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider’s Guide

SIGNET

Published by New American Library, a division of

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First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, October 2010

eISBN : 978-1-101-44372-9

Copyright © Jessica Bird, 2010

All rights reserved

Author photo by Jan Cobb

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For Judith Peoples, PhD,

and all her good works—

she is proof positive that angels can have GREAT shoes
while their feet touch the ground.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To Kara Welsh, for everything!

And with thanks to Leslie Gelbman and Claire Zion

and everyone at NAL who are so amazing.

Thank you to Steve Axelrod, my voice of reason.

With huge props and thanks to Team Waud: D, LeElla, and Nath, without whom none of this would be possible—what would I do without you? And with a shout-out to Jac (and his Gabe!): My kitchen is your kitchen. No, really. Please. Don‟t make me beg.

Thank you also to Ann, Lu, and Opal—the most incredible line tamers I‟ve ever seen! And Ken—I‟m trainable, see? I really am—you can send back the Gorilla Glue. Also to Cheryle, who I take orders from because I‟m no fool.

With big hugs to all the mods on the boards—I‟m so grateful for everything you do out of the kindness of your hearts.

Tremendous thanks to my C.P., Jessica Andersen, who has been endlessly supportive and smart and lovely and brilliantly funny for all these years. I still wish I were in your top five. *sigh*

And, of course, with thanks to Mother Sue (Grafton).

As always with love to my mother and my husband and my family and the better half of WriterDog.

The desert, far from Caldwell, NY, or Boston, MA, or…sanity.

S
ome two years after the fact, when Jim Heron was no longer in special ops, he would
reflect that Isaac Rothe, Matthias the Fucker, and he, himself, had all changed their lives the
night that bomb went off in the sand.

Of course, at the time, none of them knew what it all meant, or where it was all going. But
that was life: Nobody got a guided tour to their own theme park. You had to hop on the rides as
they presented themselves, never knowing whether you would like the one you were in line
for…or if the bastard was going to make you throw up your corn dog and your cotton candy all
over the place.

Maybe that was a good thing, though. As if back then he would have believed he’d end up
duking it out with a demon, trying to save the world from damnation?