Nightstorm (Nightwraith Book 3) Read online

  Nightstorm

  Gaja J. Kos

  NIGHTSTORM

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  Copyright © 2018 Gaja J. Kos

  All rights reserved.

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  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  ISBN 978-961-94368-3-7

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  Published by Boris Kos

  February 2018

  For Špela. You kick ass, woman!

  Contents

  KOLOVRAT UNIVERSE

  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

  Also by Gaja J. Kos

  About the Author

  KOLOVRAT UNIVERSE

  The Nightwraith series is a fundamental part of the “present” portion of the Kolovrat universe. However, several other works exist in the same sphere.

  Each series/standalone title can be read individually, or as a whole for a more complex insight into the universe where myth and reality blend into one.

  * * *

  PRESENT

  * * *

  BLACK WEREWOLVES SERIES

  Urban fantasy

  * * *

  Novels:

  The Dark Ones

  The 24hourlies

  The Shift

  The Ascension

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  Novellas:

  Never Forgotten

  Chased

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  NIGHTWRAITH SERIES

  Paranormal romance

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  Windstorm

  Blackstorm

  Nightstorm

  * * *

  FUTURE

  * * *

  LOTTE FREUNDENBERGER SERIES

  Urban fantasy

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  Shadow Moon

  Darkening Moon

  Transient Moon

  * * *

  SHADE ASSASSIN SERIES

  Urban fantasy

  * * *

  Shadow World

  * * *

  PARADISE OF SHADOWS AND DEVOTION

  Standalone paranormal romance

  * * *

  DESTINY RECLAIMED

  Urban fantasy standalone novella

  Chapter 1

  “Hey, sweetheart, hold up!” The human college kid slurred his words, which fitted perfectly with the charming catcalls his friends were still throwing my way. “What’s got your nice little ass in such a rush?”

  A big fat bounty was the answer that lingered on the tip of my tongue. And it was the truth, too.

  Not that the hunt wasn’t a reward in itself, but I could almost smell the money floating my way. A whole fucking lot of it at that.

  Unfortunately, feeding my ego tended to bring only short-lived fulfilment and more trouble than it was worth, so I ignored the asshole—as well as the cascade of hurt, horny boys cussing after me—and slunk into a shadowed alley on my right instead. For a moment, just for one spectacular moment, I considered how nice it would be if one of the pig-heads suddenly got the clever idea of following me to this place where a lone woman would be perceived as vulnerable in their misogynistic eyes…

  Here, in the darkness, shielded from prying eyes, they would be fair game.

  Their intentions were as obvious as the alcohol riding the air, and I couldn’t let anyone keep me from doing my job, right? A couple of well-placed punches would solve that real fast.

  The assholes, however, stayed put. Maybe some primal instinct still worked in their thick heads, alerting them that this was one predator not even an entire group of them could overpower.

  I shrugged and pushed on. After all, there was nothing keeping me from paying them a visit once I was done with Mr. Vengart.

  My booted feet barely made a sound as I walked down the cracked asphalt of the somewhat less than savory part of Ljubljana, sleek tendrils of my magic preceding my steps. There had been a time in my life when I regretted being only half demon instead of a full-blooded one like my mother, but I had to admit, possessing the Kolduny’s abilities to connect with nature was a fucking stellar skill in my line of work. With the blend of the two magics, every ounce of my surroundings turned into a map, and the faint pulse of scent and energy weaving through the late evening air created a neat little dotted path for me to follow.

  Not long now, and the vamp would be mine.

  I glanced up at the stars breaking through the blanket of clouds and smiled. No, as far as thrills went, there certainly wasn’t a single damn thing that could compare to the exquisiteness of the hunt. Even one as uneventful as Mr. Vengart’s had been so far. Two measly days really wasn’t all that much to get a girl going, let alone a Nightwraith, but it did beat brooding over the other case I was working on. The one that had gone disgustingly stale before it even had the chance to develop.

  Frowning, I pushed those pesky thoughts out of my mind. No point in ruining my evening by obsessing over matters my will alone was helpless to change.

  The pulse of the vamp’s energy grew stronger as I reached an intersection, although it remained faint enough to let me know I didn’t have to exude all that much stealth. Soon, though. Soon.

  Bluntly ignoring the red lights, I sprinted across the road, then slowed once more on the other side. I unzipped my leather jacket and slipped my hand inside, the spring breeze brushing against my skin as lovingly as my fingers ran across the hilt of the knife concealed at my waist.

  I unsheathed the blade, holding it at an angle so that it wouldn’t catch the glint of the lamps bathing the street in their sickly yellow light. It wouldn’t do to give myself away now, in case Vengart had the sudden impulse to turn around—although chances of that happening were slim. He belonged firmly in the camp of less-than-cautious assholes as I’d discovered during recon. The ones who believed they couldn’t be touched.

  I pushed ahead, a smile blooming on my face.

  Bingo.

  The vamp was tall enough to make me wonder yet again if the whole knife-to-throat approach was a wise move. My height could be considered average at best, but I’d had worse. Granted, all those times before, I didn’t have to concern myself with accidentally embedding the lethal edge too deep and cutting up the mark, but beating Vengart into submission and tying him up like a bull somehow seemed a tad excessive. While vamps were strong, they had nothing on individuals in possession of demonic traits. Least of all on the Bounty Hunting Queen, as my prospective, as well as former, employers liked to call me. The enemies, however…

  Well, their monikers were certainly imaginative, if lacking kindness.

  Briefly, I contemplated sneaking up on Vengart from behind. But since the street was practically abandoned at this late hour, with tightly knit buildings leaving no holes for the vamp to squirm through, I could have a little fun
.

  I veered off the sidewalk and onto the road, running forward in a crouch as I used the beat-up parallel parked cars for cover. My body was wrapped in demonic shadows that further obscured from sight. My black clothes and matching hair tended to do the job just fine on their own, but together…

  The poor fuck never saw me coming.

  The shadows dispelled into thin air the instant I emerged on the sidewalk, Vengart’s pale eyes widening for a split second before he went for the fangs. They gleamed in the artificial light, sharp and lethal.

  If the person actually knew how to use them in a fight instead of mere showmanship.

  “Those must be a bitch for going oral,” I purred, one eyebrow lifted and a smile on my face.

  Not seeing me run in the other direction must have thrown Vengart off, because he just stood there for embarrassingly long seconds while the cogs turned over and over in his head. I had the good grace of letting him compose himself, although not a single twitch of his muscles eluded me.

  Lovely. He was planning to bolt.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Vengart hissed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

  “Lena Ambrose, honey.” I winked. “And I’ve come to take you home.”

  True to my assessment, Vengart spun on his heel and made a run for it.

  I rolled my eyes and released a vine of power, infusing it with just a dash of demon fire to make things a little hotter as the tendril pressed against his abdomen and bounced him back. Vengart jerked, trying to correct his course, but I was already behind him. My loyal blade pressed snugly to his throat, the thoughts of my bounty doing a little dance in my mind.

  Got to love payday.

  “Can we give you a ride, Ms. Ambrose?” Veronika asked as her pack stuffed the now unconscious vampire in the back of a nondescript van. The bastard had actually fainted during the few minutes it took for the werewolf to arrive on location.

  I shook my head at her offer. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

  Especially when Moondance was just a few blocks south. Why waste the gas?

  “I think I’ll air out my mind a little,” I added.

  Veronika, bless her furry soul, didn’t argue.

  “The funds have been transferred to your account, as agreed. The pack thanks you for handling this so swiftly.”

  “Yeah.” I glanced at Vengart’s silhouette, visible through the gap in the door. “I hope you give him what he deserves for cutting up those cubs.”

  Darkness touched the werewolf’s eyes, along with a smile I wore all too often myself. “Oh, you can be certain we will.”

  With a final lift of her chin, she turned around and climbed into the passenger’s seat. The van drove down the empty road then disappeared around the bend, and I made sure they were well and truly gone before I started walking. One could never be too careful in the bounty-hunting business, although I seriously doubted Veronika’s pack would try to double-cross me. They were an honorable bunch, after all, even if in need of my services from time to time.

  With the blade once more sheathed and my jacket zipped up all the way to my neck, I made my way deeper into the shady end of town. It didn’t take long before I reached a gray building that would have blended perfectly with the rest of the industrial zone if it weren’t for the sweaty pulse of life and lust undulating from behind its grisly facade.

  Moondance.

  The less posh, everyday twin to the Sunday Seduction parties designed for the elite of the supernatural. And, unsurprisingly, one of my regular hangouts when I was in town.

  I wondered what kind of theme they had going on tonight, but truthfully, black leather was always a winner in these circles. As long as I stripped a few layers, I would blend in perfectly.

  Not a problem at all.

  I crossed the parking lot at a brisk pace, then went round back to the thick iron slab that doubled as the main door. I rapped my knuckles against the single spot not covered with grime or dust, then waited. Two seconds passed before the telltale creak cut through the night. The door swung open, revealing a sturdy werewolf with more muscle weight in a single arm than I probably had in my entire body.

  “Hi, Dean,” I said.

  “Lena”—the bouncer smiled—“hadn’t seen you in a while.”

  “Yeah, work kept me abroad, then across the country.” I shrugged, as if said work didn’t include a trail of bodies. “So what’s on the menu tonight?”

  Dean flashed me his trademark wide grin, his eyes dipping down to my still very much clothed form. “If you shrug off a few items, you’ll fit right in.”

  Dean wasn’t joking.

  As soon as I left my T-shirt in the locker and walked out onto the dance floor in nothing but a flimsy, black lace bra and the skintight pants I already had on, I was dragged into a tempting sea of leather and darkness. It wasn’t a BDSM party, not like the last time I’d stopped by for a night of entertainment, but the vibe was similar, if a bit more subdued. Music blasted from the speakers, dark and erotic, and the stirrings of pleasure swirled low in my body before I as much as laid my eyes on anyone dancing in the sweaty, lust-ridden throng.

  I fastened the locker key suspended from a leather cord around my wrist, then tugged on it for good measure. I’d managed to lose it once, when the night became just a little too wild, and had no desire to repeat that sudden loss of clothes anytime soon.

  “Lena!” A delighted voice punctured the beat of music.

  I narrowed my eyes at the spill of shifting light and shadows, tracing the sound to the vampire manning the bar.

  I whistled. “Looking good, Tia, looking damn good.”

  And she sure as shit did. Tia’s tall, statuesque figure and dark skin were made even more breathtaking by the new hair color that turned her long tresses into what resembled an undulating sea of crimson. Her hair spilled across her generous breasts, drawing the eye and stirring imagination.

  Or, in my case, memories.

  For a moment, I considered breaking my one-time-sex rule, but given that our energies were just compatible enough to whip up something more than a casual entanglement, I killed the thought before lust had the chance to take over rational thought. I certainly wasn’t willing to bind myself to anyone, regardless of how mouthwatering they looked.

  “Want a drink?” she asked as I slithered closer, then tipped her head at the rows of bottles that dominated the wall behind her back.

  “Nah. I think I’ll do a quick sweep first. If the floor’s a dead end, I’ll need more than one drink while I wait for things to liven up.”

  Tia chuckled. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”

  “Just picky,” I shot back and grinned.

  Tia shook her head, her melodic laugh carrying on the seductive beat of music, and waved me away. I walked towards the edge of the dance floor, guiding my gaze, as well as my magic, along the crowd.

  There were quite a few regulars here—quite a few people I’d tangled up with before, as well—so I pushed my senses farther, enveloping every dark nook of the club. Even as I continued to scan, my body started to sway in tune with the rhythm, beads of sweat already rolling down my skin from the heat the tight press of bodies before me were creating. I entered their thrall, still searching, but refusing to keep myself away from the rolling pulse of hunger that dominated the air.

  Gods, I’d missed this.

  The assignment—not the vamp, the stale one from before—had me working for three weeks straight. Not a massive amount of time on its own, but in light of my stupid rule of not letting myself have any fun until the job was done… Yeah, I desperately needed the release.

  Just as I wanted to slither closer to a half-naked Blud with moves that fueled my imagination, something snagged my attention with a force I simply couldn’t ignore. A trace of power, so alluring and sexual that I involuntarily licked my lips, barely resisting the urge to follow the lead blindly. I kept on dancing, gradually making my way across the dance floor and towards the source.
>
  The thick spill of curly black hair was the first glimpse I caught—right before my gaze dipped down to the sculpted line of his muscular back and the firm, firm ass those tight pants he wore really turned into something extraordinary. Much like the man himself.

  I uncurled a vine of power and sent it curving around that shapely swell. Not intrusive, just enough to catch his attention.

  He turned around in a slow, graceful move, giving me a glimpse of the growing erection straining the fabric of his pants. Although it was a bloody effort, my gaze drifted higher, across his muscular abdomen and chiseled chest, drinking it all in until finally settling on his handsome face and wicked amber eyes.

  The stranger smiled at me with the mind-blowing sexual charm only an incubus dragon could exude.

  A dragon I had every intention of taking for a ride tonight.

  Chapter 2