Kensington is hosting a Tour Wide Giveaway of Two Print Bundles Including: BORN IN BLOOD and BLOOD ASSASSIN by Alexandra Iv
Blood
Assassin
The Sentinels # 2
The Sentinels # 2
By: Alexandra Ivy
Releasing December 30th, 2014
Zebra
They are
the outcasts of humanity. Blessed with power. Cursed by fate. Driven by
passion. The Sentinels have returned…
OUT OF THE
SHADOWS
At
six-foot-three and two-hundred-fifty pounds, Fane is a natural born guardian. A
flawless mix of muscled perfection and steely precision, he has devoted years
of his life to protecting a beautiful necromancer. But after she found love in
the arms of another, Fane has been a warrior adrift. He swears allegiance only
to the Sentinels. And no woman will ever rule his heart again…
INTO THE
FIRE
Not only a
powerful psychic, Serra is that rare telepath who can connect to minds through
objects. When the daughter of a high-blood businessman is kidnapped, Serra
agrees to help. But when she stumbles onto a conspiracy involving secrets sects
and ancient relics, her life is in mortal danger—and Fane is her only hope. Is
the warrior willing to risk his body, his soul, and his heart, for Serra? Or
will one last betrayal destroy them both?
Serra felt like she’d
been shoved back into the fog of confusion that had compelled her to drive from
Valhalla to St. Louis. Only this time she wasn’t completely oblivious to her
surroundings.
She knew that she was
in an upscale hotel a few blocks from Bas’s office building. And that she was
riding in a glass elevator up to the top floor. She even had a vague impression
of the breaking dawn painting a beautiful pink glow over the nearby river. A
sight that she might have appreciated any other morning.
But the only thing
that seemed truly real was the feel of Fane’s hand that was planted at her
lower back, the heat of his touch a welcome assurance that she wasn’t alone.
The elevator came to
a halt and, following Fane to one of the two suites that composed the top
floor, she waited for him to use the card key to push the door open.
With an effort she
tried to shake off the strange sense of lethargy, glancing around the large
sitting room with low, comfy furniture in browns and tans that were arranged to
take advantage of the glass wall that offered a stunning view of St. Louis.
Against one wall was
a fireplace with a large-screen TV suspended over the mantel and on the other
was a wet bar complete with a wine rack. There were doorways leading to two
bedrooms and another that offered a glimpse of a bathroom as large as her
entire apartment at Valhalla. Serra forced a stiff smile to her lips. “I
suppose there could be worse places to spend the last hours of my life—”
Her words were cut
off as Fane placed his hand over her mouth, leaning down so he could speak
directly into her ear.
“Shh.”
Serra frowned,
effectively snapped out of her weird fog as the Sentinel scoured the room,
pulling out two hidden transmitters that he crushed beneath his feet before
lifting his hand toward the chandelier in the center of the room. There was an
electric prickle in the air as he used his powers to disrupt any hidden
cameras.
He sent her a
searching gaze, as if trying to determine if she was going to do something
stupid if he left her alone. Then, giving a nod at her fierce scowl, he jogged
into the attached bedrooms to perform a similar sweep. The bathroom was last,
and much to Serra’s disgust he found two transmitters and a camera hidden in
the overhead light.
She would have
accused Bas of being a perv if she wasn’t certain he was more interested in
keeping track of his guests than seeing them naked.
Destroying the last
of the expensive equipment, Fane returned to the sitting room, and headed
directly toward her.
“Happy now?” she
asked.
“No, I’m damn well
not happy,” he growled, astonishingly wrapping his arms around her waist and
yanking her against his chest.
“Fane.” Serra tilted
back her head. She couldn’t have been more surprised if he’d sprouted wings and
begun flapping around the room. “What the hell?”
He lowered his head,
burying his face in her tangle of dark hair. “I need to hold you,” he muttered.
Oh.
Serra briefly allowed
herself to savor the strength of his arms as they held her as if he was never,
ever going to let her go.
God. It was . . .
perfect.
Just as perfect as
she’d always fantasized it would be.
His exotic, male
scent that teased at her nose. The searing heat of his hands as they pressed
against her lower back. The solid thud of his heart beneath her ear.
He was all man. And
he made her very glad she was all woman.
The desperate urge to
melt against him surged through her. To depend on him to support her, if only
for a few minutes.
She released a small
sigh. Her hands were already sliding up his chest when she remembered why she
felt so damned vulnerable.
Bas, the assassin.
Deadly toxin. Kidnapped a little girl.
“No,” she breathed.
With a sharp shove, she was out of Fane’s arms, her chin tilted to a defiant
angle.
Fane frowned. “What’s
wrong?”
“I won’t be your
damned damsel in distress.”
His eyes narrowed, as
if caught off guard by her defiant words. “Is that what you think?”
“It’s not what I
think, it’s what I know,” she corrected, wrapping her arms around her waist as
her body trembled with an urgent desire to return to his embrace. “You were perfectly
content to walk away when I was a capable, independent woman who could be a
true partner.”
Something that might
have been regret tightened his stark, mesmerizingly beautiful features.
“You
could’ve been my partner, but we both know I could never give you what you
need.”
“And what’s that?”
“Time . . .
attention.” His dark, piercing gaze lowered to her lips before returning to
meet her glare. “A life we could build together.”
She snorted. Fane had
been using that wearisome excuse to keep her at a distance for years.
“You’re no longer
bound to Callie.”
“No, but I am bound
to my job,” he stubbornly countered. “It always comes first.”
Serra understood what
he was saying.
Many hunter Sentinels
had long-term relationships. Some even married. But guardian Sentinels found it
much more difficult. They were mystically bound to the highblood they were
protecting with an intimacy that might not be sexual, but was just as intense.
Few partners could
bear to see their lovers that closely connected to someone else.
Still, no
relationship was perfect. And if she was willing to accept the inevitable
strain of being with a guardian, what right did he have to try to convince her
that she needed more?
She gave an
aggravated shake of her head. What did it matter? That was all in the past.
Fane had made his
choice.
Even if her current .
. . hmm, her current what? Situation?
Difficulties?
Near-death
experience?
Whatever.
The fact she was in
danger was stirring his need to play knight in shining armor.
“Your problem is that
you have a hero complex.”
His jaw tightened, but
he met her gaze squarely. “It’s my nature to protect.”
“Well, I don’t want
to be your latest victim that needs to be rescued.”
“Serra—”
“Okay, I’m not
stupid,” she interrupted his protest. “I know I need your help. But that’s all
I want from you.”
His hand lifted, but
he dropped it as Serra instinctively stiffened in rejection. “Serra, my
decision to leave Valhalla was because I thought it would be better for both of
us.”
She pointed a finger
directly into her face. “You know what? You don’t get to decide what’s good for
me.”
“Fine.” Moving with a speed that she didn’t have a
hope in hell of avoiding, Fane lightly grasped her wrist, his thumb skimming
over the pulse thundering beneath its skin. “Tell me how Bas managed to poison
you.”
I got sucked in from the first chapter! I haven't read the first book in the series, and while I wasn't lost, I do want to go back and read it.
The chemistry and sexual tension between Serra and Fane is incredible after holding off for so many years. Fane is an alpha hero who can be sweet and tender when it comes to those he cares about. Serra is a strong heroine who can who hold her own against Fane. I really liked that while she gave into her attraction to Fane, she didn't make it too easy for him to regain her trust and heart.
The story is exciting flows nicely with some unexpected turns, I wish we didn't have to wait so long to see where the next book takes us.
ALEXANDRA
IVY graduated from Truman University with a degree in theatre before deciding
she preferred to bring her characters to life on paper rather than stage. She
currently lives in Missouri with her extraordinarily patient husband and
teenage sons. To stay updated on Alexandra’s Guardian series or to chat with
other readers, please visit her website at www.alexandraivy.com.
Thank you for hosting today!!
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