Angels' Blood - A Guild Hunter Novel

FIRST IN THE GUILD HUNTER SERIES!

Nalini Singh introduces readers to a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires.

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it s not a wayward vamp she has to track. It s an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other and pull her to the razor s edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn t destroy her, succumbing to Raphael s seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break.

Leseprobe:

Elena s instincts were screaming at her to grab the knife in her boot, do some damage and get the hell out, but she forced herself to stay in place. The truth was, she wouldn t make it more than two feet before Raphael broke every single bone in her body.         
It was exactly what he d done to a vampire who d thought to betray him.

That  vampire had been found in the centre of Times Square. He d still been alive. And he d still been trying to scream No! Raphael, no! But his voice had been a rasp by then, his jaw hanging on by stringlike tendons, his flesh missing in places.

Elena out of the country on a hunt had seen the news footage after the event. She knew the vamp had lain there in agony for three hours before being picked up by a pair of angels. Everyone in New York, hell, everyone in the country, had known he was there, but no one had dared help him, not with Raphael s mark blazing on his forehead. The archangel had wanted the punishment witnessed, wanted to remind people of who and what he was. It had worked. Now the mere mention of his name evoked visceral fear.

But Elena wouldn t crawl, not for anyone. It was a choice she d made the night her father had told her to get on her knees and beg, and maybe, maybe, he d accept her back into the family.
Elena hadn t spoken to her father in a decade.

You should have a care, Raphael said into the unnatural silence.

She didn t collapse in relief the air continued to hang heavy with the promise of menace. I don t like to play games.

Learn. He settled back in his chair. You will live a very short life if you expect only honesty.

Sensing the danger had passed for now she unclenched her fingers with an effort of will. The force of the blood rushing back into them was painful in its extremity. I didn t say I expected honesty. People lie. Vampires lie. Even She caught herself.

Surely you re not going to practice discretion now? The amusement was back but it was tempered with an edge that stroked like a razor across her skin.

She looked into that perfect face and knew she d never met a more deadly being in her life. If she displeased him, Raphael would kill her as easily as she might swat a fly. She d be smart to remember that, no matter how the knowledge infuriated her. You said I had to do a test?

His wings moved slightly at that instant, drawing her attention. They truly were beautiful and she couldn t help but covet them. To be able to fly what an amazing gift.

Raphael s eyes shifted to look at something over her left shoulder. Less a test than an experiment.

She didn t twist around, had no need to. There s a vampire behind me.

Are you sure? His expression remained unchanged.

She fought the urge to turn. Yes.

He nodded. Look.

Wondering which was worse having her back to an enigmatic and highly unpredictable archangel, or to an unknown vampire she hesitated. In the end, her curiosity won out. There was a distinctly satisfied expression on Raphael s face and she wanted to know what had put it there.

Shifting, she turned sideways with her whole body, the position allowing her to keep Raphael in her peripheral vision. Then she looked at the two creatures who stood behind her. Jesus.

You may go. Raphael s voice was a command that awakened absolute terror in the eyes of the one who looked vaguely human. The other scuttled away like the animal it was.

She watched them leave through the glass door and swa