Darkness Possessed (Order of the Blade) Read online

  Darkness Possessed

  ISBN 10: 194096802X

  ISBN 13: 978-1-94096802-5

  Copyright © 2014 by Stephanie Rowe.

  Cover design ©2014 by Peter Davis. Cover design, book layout, and epub creation by Peter Davis. Cover photos courtesy of iStockphoto.com.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form or by any means or for any use, including recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the author and/or the artist. The only exception is short excerpts or the cover image in reviews.

  Please be a leading force in respecting the right of authors and artists to protect their work. This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel or on the cover are either products of the author’s or artist’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or the artist.

  For further information, please contact [email protected]

  Darkness Possessed

  ***

  The Order of the Blade

  Stephanie Rowe

  “Rowe is a paranormal star!” ~J.R. Ward

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Possessed

  “A story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and characters you won’t soon forget!” - Paige Tyler, USA Today Bestselling Author of the X-OPS Series

  “Stephanie Rowe has really outdone herself! Darkness Possessed is the perfect paranormal. Sexy, dark, and with enough twists to keep you glued to your seat with breathless anticipation. Zach and Rhiannon set the pages of this book on fire!” ~Kerrigan Byrne, International Bestselling Author

  “Darkness Possessed…is an action-packed, adrenaline pumping paranormal romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat… Suspense, danger, evil, life threatening situations, magic, hunky Calydons, humor, fantasy, mystery, scorching sensuality, romance, and love – what more could you ask for in a story? Readers – take my advice – do not miss this dark, sexy tale!” ~Romance Junkies

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Unleashed

  “Once more, award winning author Stephanie Rowe pens a winner with Darkness Unleashed, the seventh book in her amazing Order Of The Blade series…[an] action-packed, sensual story that will keep you perched on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning pages to discover the outcome…one of the best paranormal books I have read this year.” ~Dottie, Romancejunkies.com

  ***

  Praise for Forever in Darkness

  “Stephanie Rowe has done it again. The Order Of The Blade series is one of the best urban fantasy/paranormal series I have read. Ian’s story held me riveted from page one. It is sure to delight all her fans. Keep them coming!” ~ Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Awakened

  “A fast-paced plot with strong characters, blazing sexual tension and sprinkled with witty banter, Darkness Awakened sucked me in and kept me hooked until the very last page.” ~ Literary Escapism

  “Rarely do I find a book that so captivates my attention, that makes me laugh out loud, and cry when things look bad. And the sex, wow! It took my breath away… The pace kept me on the edge of my seat, and turning the pages. I did not want to put this book down… [Darkness Awakened] is a must read.” ~ D. Alexx Miller, Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Seduced

  “[D]ark, edgy, sexy … sizzles on the page…sex with soul shattering connections that leave the reader a little breathless!…Darkness Seduced delivers tight plot lines, well written, witty and lyrical - Rowe lays down some seriously dark and sexy tracks. There is no doubt that this series will have a cult following. ” ~ Guilty Indulgence Book Club

  “I was absolutely enthralled by this book…heart stopping action fueled by dangerous passions and hunky, primal men…If you’re looking for a book that will grab hold of you and not let go until it has been totally devoured, look no further than Darkness Seduced.”~When Pen Met Paper Reviews

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Surrendered

  “Book three of the Order of the Blades series is…superbly original and excellent, yet the passion, struggle and the depth of emotion that Ana and Elijah face is so brutal, yet is also pretty awe inspiring. I was swept away by Stephanie’s depth of character detail and emotion. I absolutely loved the roller-coaster that Stephanie, Ana and Elijah took me on.” ~ Becky Johnson, Bex ‘n’ Books!

  “Darkness Surrendered drew me so deeply into the story that I felt Ana and Elijah’s emotions as if they were my own…they completely engulfed me in their story…Ingenious plot turns and edge of your seat suspense…make Darkness Surrendered one of the best novels I have read in years.” ~Tamara Hoffa, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

  ***

  Praise for Ice

  “Ice, by Stephanie Rowe, is a thrill ride!” ~ Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  “Passion explodes even in the face of spiraling danger as Rowe offers a chilling thrill-ride through a vivid—and unforgiving—Alaskan wilderness.” ~ Cheyenne McCray, New York Times bestselling author

  “Ice delivers pulse-pounding chills and hot romance as it races toward its exciting climax!” ~ JoAnn Ross, New York Times bestselling author

  “Stephanie Rowe explodes onto the romantic suspense scene with this edgy, sexy and gripping thriller. From the very first page, the suspense is chilling, and there’s enough sizzling passion between the two main characters to melt the thickest arctic ice. Get ready for a tense and dangerous adventure.” ~ Fresh Fiction

  “Stephanie Rowe makes her entry into Romantic Suspense, and what an awesome entry! From the very first pages to the end, heart-stopping danger and passion grab the heart. … sends shivers down the spine… magnificent… mind-chilling suspense… riveting… A wonderful romance through and through!” ~ Merrimon Book Reviews

  “[a] thrilling entry into romantic suspense… Rowe comes through with crackling tension as the killer closes in.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

  ***

  Praise for Chill

  “Chill is a riveting story of danger, betrayal, intrigue and the healing powers of love… Chill has everything a reader needs – death, threats, thefts, attraction and hot, sweet romance.” ~ Jeanne Stone Hunter, My Book Addiction Reviews

  “Once again Rowe has delivered a story with adrenalin-inducing action, suspense and a dark edged hero that will melt your heart and send a chill down your spine.” ~ Sharon Stogner, Love Romance Passion

  “Chill packs page turning suspense with tremendous emotional impact. Buy a box of Kleenex before you read Chill, because you will definitely need it! …Chill had a wonderfully complicated plot, full of twist and turns. “ ~ Tamara Hoffa, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

  ***

  Praise for No Knight Needed

  “No Knight Needed is m-a-g-i-c-a-l! Hands down, it is one of the best romances I have read. I can’t wait till it comes out and I can tell the world about it.” ~Sharon Stogner, Love Romance Passion

  “No Knight Needed is contemporary romance at its best….There was not a moment that I wasn’t completely engrossed in the novel, the story, the characters. I very audibly cheered for them and did not shed just one tear, nope, rather bucket fulls. My heart at times broke for them. The narrative and dialogue surrounding these ‘tender’ moments in particular were so beautifully crafted, poetic even; it was this that had me blubbering. And of course on the flip side of the heart-wrenching events, was the amazing, witty humour….If
it’s not obvious by now, then just to be clear, I love this book! I would most definitely and happily reread, which is an absolute first for me in this genre.”Becky Johnson, Bex ‘N’ Books

  “No Knight Needed is an amazing story of love and life…I literally laughed out loud, cried and cheered…. No Knight Needed is a must read and must re-read.”Jeanne Stone-Hunter, My Book Addiction Reviews

  Acknowledgements

  Special thanks to my beta readers, who always work incredibly hard under tight deadlines to get my books read. I appreciate so much your willingness to tell me when something doesn’t work! I treasure your help, and I couldn’t do this without you. Hugs to you all!

  There are so many to thank by name, more than I could count, but here are those who I want to called out specially for all they did to help me with this book: Alencia Bates, Kayla Bartley, Jean Bowden, Shell Bryce, Kelley Curry, Denise Fluhr, Sandi Foss, Valerie Glass, Christina Hernandez, Heidi Hoffman, Jeanne Hunter, Rebecca Johnson, Dottie Jones, Janet Juengling-Snell, Deb Julienne, Bridget Koan, Felicia Low, Phyllis Marshall, D. Alexx Miller, Jodi Moore, Judi Pflughoeft, Carol Pretorius, Kasey Richardson, Karen Roma, Caryn Santee, Summer Steelman, Nicole Telhiard, Regina Thomas, and Linda Watson.

  And lastly, thank you to Pete Davis at Los Zombios for another fantastic cover, and for all his hard work on the technical side to make this book come to life, and for the most amazing website. Mom, you’re the best. It means so much that you believe in me. I love you. Special thanks also to my amazing, beautiful, special daughter, who I love more than words could ever express. You are my world, sweet girl, in all ways. And of course, to my awesome dog, who endured such hardship sleeping next to me in his big armchair while I worked, just so that I would have company. What a dog!

  Dedication

  For Jeanne Hunter, a dear friend and awesome woman. Good luck on your journey!

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Title Page

  Praise for Stephanie Rowe

  Acknowledgements

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Sneak Peek: Not Quite Dead

  Sneak Peek: Darkness Surrendered

  Sneak Peek: Ghost

  Sneak Peek: Darkness Unleashed

  Select List of Other Books

  Stephanie Rowe Bio

  Chapter 1

  Rhiannon Diaz perched silently on the top of the eight-foot wrought-iron fence. She was utterly still, a barely visible shadow on the fence that wound around the lush grounds of a nouveau riche mansion on the outskirts of Boston. Despite the heavy clouds and lack of moon, the night gleamed brightly from the flood of light pouring from every window. She took a deep breath, her fingers loosely gripping the metal for balance, as she quickly and instinctively surveyed the property, analyzing it for traps, dangers, and the best way to access it. Her feet were bare, and her toes curled around the narrow bar, as if it were one of the trees of her childhood.

  This time, however, she was not holding a bow, with a quiver of lethal arrows slung over her back, and she was not exactly the wiry, fly-through-the-air, irreverent lightweight she had once been. This time, she was in skin-tight black leather pants that had enough elastic to contain the evidence of too many late-night chocolate binges. Her dark gray, long-sleeved top went all the way to the tips of her fingers, except for a small slit for her thumb.

  Around her throat glittered the amulet that had saved her life five years ago. She’d contemplated having it surgically attached to her neck to make sure it never, ever came off, but in the end, she’d concluded that just getting a titanium chain was the slightly less insane solution. Of course, each time she woke up after another nightmare, she was ready to call the nearest plastic surgeon and get it done. So far, she’d restrained herself, which gave her hope that maybe, just maybe, there was a well-adjusted stable person buried deep inside her damaged psyche somewhere.

  She shifted her weight, trying to wiggle the numbness out of her toes after being in a crouched position for so long. Hard to believe she had once been a predator who could wait many hours for the right moment to strike. But at least she was way better at war-paint makeup now than she had been as a kid, so that was one win for the “getting older” camp. Her face was painted with dark, glittery makeup that she knew made her dark eyes look even more dangerous and mysterious than they already did. Her thick black hair was pulled back in a viciously tight bun, completely obscuring all sense of femininity.

  She had to admit, she loved tying her hair up like that. Men liked long hair, and there was a certain macabre pleasure in twisting it up so tightly that no male would ever get to admire it, touch it, or otherwise get a chance to bask in it. It was hers, and hers alone. And yes, she was well aware that part of the reason she tied it up was so that no man could grab her by the hair and yank her around. A little pathetic, but true. Some lessons could never be unlearned, even after five years of safety. Better to be safe than dragged through the dirt by her hair, right?

  Rhiannon ran her fingers over the dagger perched at her hip, smiling faintly at the memory of her tenth birthday when her mother had presented it to her, officially granting Rhiannon warrior status in the tribe. The blade was ten inches long, and rubies glittered in its golden handle. A faint pink glow emanated from it, and she knew it was ready. She was ready.

  It was time to be the woman she hadn’t been for a long, long time.

  She tested her balance on the top of the fence as she studied the second floor balcony, where her target was waiting, oblivious that she was coming after him. The built-in pool glittered with blue light, and the glass sides made it easy for her to look through the water. Floating like the king of his world was the man she had come to see.

  No, not see. Hunt.

  Silently, moving with the innate grace that had never abandoned her despite living in civilization for the last five years, Rhiannon leapt gracefully off the top of the fence, landing on the soft, perfectly manicured grass without a sound. She could feel the humming of the sensors for the burglar alarm, but they didn’t notice her.

  She raced across the lawn, her senses on alert, but nothing in this loud, bright, overly saturated neighborhood was sensitive enough to notice a shadow drifting across their world. Exhilaration rushed through her as she skirted undetected across the yard, a feeling of power she hadn’t experienced in so long. Moving even more swiftly now, she reached the house and deftly ascended the brick exterior, her fingers and toes easily finding the miniscule openings that she needed. As she broke the plane of the second floor balcony, she paused just long enough to verify that her target was still there.

  Philip Wellfleet’s eyes were closed, and his head was resting against the edge of the pool. Thick muscles rippled across his shoulders and down his arms, and his stomach was chiseled even at rest. He was far more masculine than any man she’d seen since she’d left the jungle. His hands were relaxed, drifting in the crystal clear water, but on his knuckles were scratches and bruises, the ones she had known she would see after meeting his wife earlier in the day. He exuded strength and danger. And more than that, he practically bled arrogance, the kind of man who felt he owned everyone in his life.

  No wonder his wife was terrified of him.

  Rhiannon thought back to the well-dressed woman who had slunk so furtively into the shelter earlier that day, a scarf hiding the bruises on he
r face. A woman who could afford a lawyer, but was too terrified to act. She’d been counseled about her options, as was every woman who came in the door, but that wasn’t enough for Rhiannon. Sometimes, a woman needed more, the kind of help that was never allowed, not in this world that Rhiannon was trying so hard to fit into.

  She’d long ago stopped caring about anyone or anything. She’d failed her mother’s edict that it was her duty to use her powers to protect others. All she cared about was survival. One day at a time. That was all she could focus on. But the pain and vulnerability in that woman’s eyes today had awoken something in Rhiannon, something dark and primal that she couldn’t suppress. It had cracked open a fissure in her shields, awakening old wounds and scars that she tried so hard to keep crushed inside her.

  And so she’d come, and it felt so damn good to be here.

  Philip reached for his glass of champagne without even opening his eyes. No more, she whispered. No more victims.

  Rhiannon moved suddenly, pulling herself up over the railing. Philip sat up with surprising speed, and by the time Rhiannon had landed on the marble beside his head, he had a gun pointing at her heart, a smug look on his face.

  Rhiannon froze, her heart suddenly hammering in fear. Holy cow. How had she not realized that he was awake and tracking her approach? With sudden trepidation, she became all too aware that a few extra pounds were not all that separated her from the predator she’d once been. She’d lost her edge, that mental intuition that always knew when danger was present. Fear gripped her heart. If she couldn’t even out-maneuver this human, what about the real enemy? José Vasquez, the man she’d fled five years ago. An immortal warrior who had bested her even when she was in her prime? Oh, God. Instinctively, she looked over her shoulder, suddenly terrified that the man from her nightmares would be standing behind her, laughing smugly that she hadn’t even heard him coming.