Wicked Circle Read online

  Is a little time alone with the man you love too much to ask?

  Well, it may be—when you’re Persephone Alcmedi, Lustrata of the witches, and your lover is Domn Lup of the wærewolves. For once, however, the disturbance is not Seph’s foster daughter, Beverly, her wacky grandmother, or her newly rediscovered mother. This time, it’s the ancient and incredibly sexy vampire Menessos, bearing bad news: because the vampire council fears he is plotting a power grab, Menessos is being hunted by a trio of truth-seeking vampire sisters so dangerous they are usually kept locked in stone.

  His dreams imperiled, Menessos needs Seph more than ever . . . and she needs him. Now, Seph has magical promises to fulfill for the wæres, multiple mundane family challenges to meet, vampire politics to confront . . . and into the bargain she’s balancing two sexy supernatural males. It’s enough to drive any woman insane, especially when you throw in a dragon and—even worse—a government investigator. As danger threatens, Seph isn’t sure she can stay alive for the rest of the day . . . let alone long enough to accomplish all that needs to be done.

  “The perfect mix of action, romance, and magic.”

  —Book Lovers Inc.

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  Praise for the action-packed fantasy

  of

  LINDA ROBERTSON

  Arcane Circle

  “[Each book in this series] can be read in one sitting with hours of enjoyment as I linger in the alternate world of Cleveland that Robertson has created.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Took the various aspects of urban fantasy I love, threw them all together, and created a masterpiece of discovery, devotion and desire. . . . Make sure you don’t have anything planned for a few days when you pick this up because you will not be able to put it down.”

  —Bitten by Books (5 Stars)

  “Urban fantasy at its best, with lovable characters and the perfect mix between action, romance, and magic.”

  —Book Lovers Inc. (5 Stars)

  “A great addition to this incredible series. I can’t wait to get my hands into the next book.”

  —Fiction Kingdom

  “Action filled, sexy, and full of promises for future installments.”

  —Scooper

  Fatal Circle

  “The third in Robertson’s Circle series won’t disappoint fans who’ve come to expect lots of romance, mystery, and intrigue from her books.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

  “Well written, fast moving, and fueled by a mix of romance and paranormal influence. A must read!”

  —Darque Reviews

  “Packed full of action, intrigue, and events that would not let me put this book down. . . . This book was a wild pleasure to read.”

  —Fangtastic Reviews

  “A strong thriller.”

  —Alternative Worlds

  “I love this series and this book did not disappoint. . . . I’m hooked, baby!”

  —Book Lovers Inc.

  Hallowed Circle

  “Robertson brings back the magic and the mayhem. . . . Twists, turns, and narrow escapes keep the pages turning.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)

  “An instant classic, featuring a refreshingly wise and likeable heroine.”

  —Affaire de Coeur (5 stars)

  “Readers will find themselves swept off their feet, without the use of a broomstick, and into a dangerous world that is teetering on the edge of a war between the non-humans. Very entertaining!”

  —Huntress Book Reviews

  “Exciting characters with a good story line that equal . . . pure magic.”

  —Fallen Angel Reviews

  “An enthralling supernatural urban fantasy filled with mystery, romance, and intrigue. . . . Loaded with action and a cast who make the paranormal seem normal, so much so that readers will believe that they exist. . . .”

  —Alternative Worlds

  “Hallowed Circle is near perfection.”

  —Book Lovers Inc. (4½ “Bookies”)

  “Make sure you don’t overlook this series.”

  —Mondo Vampire

  Vicious Circle

  “A breath of fresh air . . . I read the novel almost straight through.”

  —Urban Fantasy Fan

  “Another new entry into the urban fantasy genre—with an interesting twist to it.”

  —SF Revu

  “Well-developed supernatural characters, mystery, and a touch of romance add up to an out-of-this-world thriller.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

  “Refreshing and unusual.”

  —Fantasy Literature

  “An adventure filled with strong characters and their tangled human emotions.”

  —Darque Reviews

  “All you could look for in an urban fantasy, with witches, werewolves, and vampires mixing it up and each adding their uniqueness to the story.”

  —Romance Junkies

  All the Persephone Alcmedi books are available as eBooks

  DON’T MISS THESE OTHER

  PERSEPHONE ALCMEDI BOOKS . . .

  Vicious Circle

  Hallowed Circle

  Fatal Circle

  Arcane Circle

  Available from Pocket Books

  Pocket Books

  A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  1230 Avenue of the Americas

  New York, NY 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  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 Linda Robertson

  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 Juno Books/Pocket Books paperback edition January 2012

  JUNO BOOKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Wildside Press LLC used under license by Simon & Schuster, Inc., the publisher of this work.

  POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

  Cover illustration by Don Sipley

  ISBN 978-1-4516-4695-5

  ISBN 978-1-4516-4699-3 (ebook)

  eISBN-13: 978-1-45164-699-3

  DEDICATION

  For my agent, Don, who recently

  embarked on the path of fatherhood.

  May your journey be blessed.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Chapter Sixty

  Epilogue

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Red-Caped Hero Thanks to:

  My nephew Evan for letting me use his name; and also to Doug Kusak and Matt Grabski at the Great Lakes Science Center for answering all my questions about the steamship William
G. Mather.

  Java-and-Chocolate Thanks to:

  My writing groups, OWN & CNW, to the gals at word-whores.blogspot.com, and to my beta-readers Shannon, Beth, Missy, Jon, and Andrea.

  Margarita Thanks to:

  All the readers that blog and review who took the time to read and spread the word! I called you out by name last time, but you are far too many to list now. SQUEE! My appreciation is truly heartfelt. Cheers!

  Geek Hugs for:

  S. A. Swann—for an invaluable critique. Michelle “Swann”—for the most incredibly scrumptious brownies EVER.

  REVERENT GRATITUDE FOR:

  The Many-named Muse. Rock on!

  CHAPTER ONE

  Heldridge Ellington opened the small crypt door from the inside of the musty hole that served as the Wirt family’s final resting place. Although not a unique place for a vampire to shelter for the day, it did not suit Heldridge’s particular taste. But as it had been raining and dawn fast approaching, the place had met his specific needs at the time.

  Cold rain spattered his blond hair as he emerged. The vampire swore under his breath.

  Making every effort to keep his clothes clean, he wriggled free. If his luck held, he’d soon be meeting with the Excelsior—the highest authority in all of the Vampire Executive International Network—to reveal the immense secret Menessos and his court witch were hiding. Heldridge didn’t want to be discredited by arriving covered in cobwebs and grime. It was bad enough that he would smell of moist earth and old death.

  He trudged toward the Congressional Cemetery gates. Washington, D.C.’s persistent rain had made a monstrous marsh of the ground—it sucked at his every muddy step.

  Heldridge soon traded the mucky path for a solid sidewalk. He couldn’t meet the Excelsior with filth on his shoes, so he stopped and kicked a homeless man curled in a storefront alcove. When the man groaned and sat up, Heldridge showed him a twenty-dollar bill. “Get the mud off my shoes.”

  The homeless man twisted onto his knees and shrugged out of his jacket. He tugged off his shirt and wiped the shoes with it, exposing his emaciated body to the rain and cold. When he’d finished, Heldridge inspected the job and walked away with the money still in his hand.

  “Hey,” the homeless man cried, scrambling to his feet.

  Heldridge wadded the cash and tossed it over his shoulder. He laughed as the man scampered into the rain to claim the paper before it was swept down the gutter and into the storm drain.

  Hunger gnawed at him, but he dared not try to feed at the local blood bar; that was exactly what the area vampires would expect him to do. Instead of risking recognition and capture, he would feed unlawfully.

  In an alley a few blocks away, Heldridge sated his hunger with a mesmerized donor in a dapper hat. It was illegal and dangerous, but this risk was necessary.

  As he thought of how easily he had fed for the last decade at his own bar—the Blood Culture, which catered to the vampires of Cleveland—his outrage swelled.

  Menessos had transferred his headquarters to Cleveland! Heldridge had barely gotten away from him, barely established himself as a legitimate vampire lord, and his night-father had followed him to measure his every move.

  He thinks he’s found his Lustrata. His witch queen. If I can’t have autonomy in my own haven, then he can’t have her. If I can’t part them, once I tell the Excelsior what I know . . . VEIN will.

  Heldridge wiped his mouth on his coat sleeve, immediately realizing the mistake. The scent of blood would linger. He shuffled his small packets of home earth from his coat to his pants pockets, then traded overcoats with the unwitting donor. This new coat reeked of cheap cologne, but that would be a benefit. Snatching the man’s fedora as well, he fled.

  He flipped the collar up and lowered the hat brim so it mostly hid his flaxen hair. Hopefully, this was enough to conceal his distinctive features; Heldridge could have modeled for comic book artists. His chiseled jawline and broad-shouldered body had brought him much admiration.

  Tonight, however, being easily recognized was a problem.

  On K Street he strode directly toward the massive building where VEIN was housed.

  With an easy gait he passed the building, examining the security. Two vampire sentries stood under the awning on either side of the revolving door, chatting. Though they scented him, it was a superficial effort. They detected the terrible cologne and dismissed him as a mortal.

  Behind them the lobby inside was empty except for the receptionist at the desk. Relying on cameras, they kept the real security forces out of sight. This maintained a nonaggressive appearance in the nation’s capital—where lawmakers would be more than pleased to have an excuse to deem VEIN a threat.

  Heldridge snapped his fingers and turned as if he’d forgotten something, then hurried back the way he had come. At the last second, he rushed toward the revolving door with inhuman speed.

  He walloped the vampire on the right, grabbed his shoulders, and dragged him into the space of the spinning door. The unconscious sentry suffered a secondary impact with the floor as Heldridge used him as a temporary doorstop to block the other vampire from entering.

  Inside the scarlet and dove gray interior, the lovely receptionist picked up a phone and pushed buttons. Heldridge sped by her, running directly to the elevator in the rear of the lobby, discarding the hat and overcoat on his way.

  The doors parted, revealing a sentry vampire in a stark white shirt, black dress pants, and shiny shoes. His collar had been loosened. He was posed to keep whatever he was holding hidden behind his thigh. Smiling, he said, “It must be my lucky night.”

  Heldridge was taller and broader than the guard, but vampiric strength was based on age rather than size. With immortals that was never easy to tell at first glance. “Escort me to the Excelsior.”

  “Gladly.” The sentry showed fang as he produced a machete from behind him. “Part of you, anyway.” He stepped out of the elevator, advancing toward Heldridge.

  Heldridge widened his stance, preparing for an attack. “I am a haven master and I demand to see the Excelsior!”

  “Dunno what you’ll see, but I promise to keep your eyes open for you, traitor. There’s a bounty for your head. The rest of you is optional.”

  Heldridge hissed, “I want an audience with the Excelsior.”

  The elevator doors began to close. Heldridge surged forward. He blocked the vampire’s machete-swinging arm and hit him in the solar plexus, knocking him backward into the elevator car. Momentum carried Heldridge in also, and the doors shut them in.

  The guard didn’t have room to effectively swing the long blade and resorted to jabbing with it. Heldridge caught the vampire’s arm, twisted, and felt the elbow break. The machete clattered to the floor and Heldridge slammed the guard’s head against the elevator wall, denting the shiny metal.

  When the doors parted on the next floor up, Heldridge wedged the machete in the opening to keep the doors from closing and, more importantly, prohibit the car from picking up reinforcements. There were other elevators and stairs, but he didn’t have to make it easy for his opponents.

  He dragged the unconscious vampire by his unbroken arm. The hall was nondescript gray with a slate floor and plain wall sconces for light. At the next checkpoint, six sentries blocked his path.

  With minimal effort, Heldridge sent the body sliding to the sentries’ feet. “I want an audience with the Excelsior. He told me no.”

  “Do you think our answer will be different?”

  Heldridge could have torn both the door guards and the machete-wielding sentry apart, but he’d hoped his restraint would gain him a measure of consideration instead of indicating he was weak. They had been individual foes, however. With six vampires before him, his options were fewer.

  He was willing to kill his way through the building if it became necessary, but as it would undermine his claims of acting in the best interests of VEIN, he preferred to consider slaughter only as an emergency exit strategy.