Heir of Danger
A man too dangerous to live . . .
After seven years outrunning enemies, friends, and his own soul-crushing memories, Brendan Douglas is risking everything on a desperate mission. He has vowed to thwart the evil mage Máelodor’s plans to unlock the past and reshape the future; unfortunately, the precious treasure that is his key to success lies with a woman Brendan jilted seven years before.
A woman determined to find a life of her own . . .
When her golden-eyed childhood hero abandoned her at the altar—disappearing in a storm of magic and mayhem, destruction, betrayal, and disaster—Elisabeth Fitzgerald struggled to put away her humiliation and loss. Finally, she has found a new fiancé and a comfortable future. Then, the one man she thought she would never see again appears—among her wedding guests. Brendan Douglas has returned.
An inescapable destiny . . .
It’s not just that Elisabeth is promised to another; Brendan knows he is drawing her into terrible danger. But he cannot resist the bewitching, brave, wholly unexpected woman his youthful nemesis has become. He promised to sacrifice everything, but is he willing to sacrifice Elisabeth?
“Get ready to curl up on the sofa and lose yourself in this fabulous Regency with a wicked twist of paranormal.”
—Award-winning author Melissa Mayhue on
Earl of Darkness
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Earl of Darkness
“A new trilogy . . . as dark, brooding, and chilling as a gothic novel and as startling as a paranormal tale while still maintaining the deep emotions and sexual tension of a romance.”
—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars, Top Pick)
“This book is magic personified. . . . Watch out you other Grande Dames of paranormal romance, Ms. Rickloff just spun a winner that is sure to be nipping at your heels.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Secret societies, baffling documents, monstrous stalkers—Rickloff has studied the textbook thoroughly, then added more sex . . . the pages will turn breathlessly. . . .”
—Publishers Weekly
“A smart and exciting journey that will keep you enthralled until the very end.”
—The Season For Romance
“An exciting and spellbinding book.”
—Bitten By Books
ALSO BY ALIX RICKLOFF
Earl of Darkness
Lord of Shadows
Available from Pocket Books
| Pocket Books |
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.
Copyright © 2012 by Alix Rickloff
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Pocket Books paperback edition January 2012
POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Cover illustration by Gene Mollica
ISBN 978-1-4391-7038-0
ISBN 978-1-4391-7060-1 (ebook)
For Jane, Georgette, Rosamunde, and Mary
Once more I send out a multitude of thank-yous to all who helped me birth another book.
To my agent, Kevan Lyon, who goes to great lengths to explain to me the business side of things. I’m hopeful that someday I might actually understand it all.
To my editor, Megan McKeever, and all the wonderful people at Pocket, who have done such a fabulous job on this series. It’s been a joy to work with you from beginning to end.
To Maggie and Do, who are always there when my sagging middle becomes an insurmountable wall. This one almost got me, ladies.
To Helen McCarthy Goode and Pat Doody, for double-checking my Irish expressions. Any mistakes in the language are mine alone.
To the fabulous writers of The Beau Monde, who never leave me hanging when I’m searching for that last-minute answer and are always eager and generous in sharing their time and their expertise.
And kisses and hugs to my wonderful family, who smooth the path and keep me sane—even when they’re driving me crazy. I love you all!
one
Cornwall
April 1816