Blood Challenge Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Acknowledgements

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY

  FORTY-ONE

  FORTY-TWO

  FORTY-THREE

  FORTY-FOUR

  FORTY-FIVE

  FORTY-SIX

  FORTY-SEVEN

  FORTY-EIGHT

  GLOSSARY

  Teaser chapter

  “Eileen Wilks writes what I like to read.”

  —Linda Howard, New York Times bestselling author

  PRAISE FOR EILEEN WILKS’S NOVELS OF THE LUPI

  BLOOD MAGIC

  “An intense and suspenseful tale. For anyone who enjoys were-

  wolves and romance, Blood Magic is a must read . . . Eileen

  Wilks is truly a gifted writer. Her newest novel is truly a work

  of art as her words paint a picture of a modern-day Romeo and

  Juliet.”

  —Romance Junkies

  “A tantalizing glimpse into the past of one of the series’ most enigmatic characters, Lily’s shape-shifting grandmother. Wilks’s storytelling style is so densely layered with plot complexities and well-defined characters that it quickly immerses readers in this fascinating world. There is no better way to escape reality than with a Wilks adventure!”

  —Romantic Times

  “Another great addition to the Lupi series, Eileen Wilks’s Blood Magic is an engaging paranormal tale full of action and adventure that should not be missed!”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Terrific.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  MORTAL SINS

  “Filled with drama and action . . . This story is number five in the World of the Lupi series and is just as good as the first.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Held me enthralled and kept me glued to my seat . . . The characters and world are intriguing, and the solution to the murders is unusual and thought provoking . . . Ms. Wilks has a skill with description and narrative that truly brings a world and its characters alive.”

  —Errant Dreams Reviews

  “Fabulous . . . The plot just sucked me in and didn’t let me go until the end . . . Another great addition to the World of Lupi series.”

  —Literary Escapism

  “I remember Eileen Wilks’s characters

  long after the last page is turned.”

  —Kay Hooper, New York Times bestselling author

  NIGHT SEASON

  “A captivating world.”

  —The Romance Reader

  “Filled with action and plenty of twists.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  BLOOD LINES

  “Another winner from Eileen Wilks.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “The magic seems plausible, the demons real, and the return of enigmatic Cynna, along with the sorcerer, hook fans journeying the fantasy realm of Eileen Wilks.”

  —The Best Reviews

  “Intriguing . . . Surprises abound in Blood Lines . . . A masterful pen and sharp wit hone this third book in the Moon Children series into a work of art. Enjoy!”

  —A Romance Review

  “Savor Blood Lines to the very last page.”

  —BookLoons

  “Quite enjoyable, and sure to entertain . . . A fast-paced story with plenty of danger and intrigue.”

  —The Green Man Review

  MORTAL DANGER

  “Grabs you on the first page and never lets go. Strong characters, believable world-building, and terrific storytelling . . . I really, really loved this book.”

  —Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  “As intense as it is sophisticated, a wonderful novel of strange magic, fantastic realms, and murderous vengeance that blend together to test the limits of fate-bound lovers.”

  —Lynn Viehl, USA Today bestselling author of the Darkyn series

  “[A] complex, intriguing, paranormal world . . . Fans of the paranormal genre will love this one!”

  —Love Romances

  “Terrific . . . The cat-and-mouse story line is action packed . . . A thrilling tale of combat on mystical realms.”

  —The Best Reviews

  “Gripping paranormal romance.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  FURTHER PRAISE FOR EILEEN WILKS AND HER NOVELS

  “If you enjoy beautifully written, character-rich paranormals set in a satisfyingly intricate and imaginative world, then add your name to Eileen Wilks’s growing fan list.”

  —BookLoons

  “Exciting, fascinating paranormal suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. With a mesmerizing tale of an imaginative world and characters that will keep you spellbound as you read each page, Ms. Wilks proves once again what a wonderful writer she is with one great imagination for her characters and the world they live in.”

  —The Romance Readers Connection

  “Destined to become a big, big name in romance fiction.”

  —Romantic Times

  “Fantastic . . . Fabulous pairing . . . Ms. Wilks takes a chance and readers are the winners.”

  —The Best Reviews

  “Fun [and] very entertaining!”

  —The Romance Reader

  “Should appeal to fans of Nora Roberts.”

  —Booklist

  “Fast paced.”

  —All About Romance

  “Eileen Wilks [has] remarkable skill. With a deft touch she combines romance and danger.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  Books by Eileen Wilks

  TEMPTING DANGER

  MORTAL DANGER

  BLOOD LINES

  NIGHT SEASON

  MORTAL SINS

  BLOOD MAGIC

  BLOOD CHALLENGE

  Anthologies

  CHARMED

  (with Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle, Julie Beard, and Lori Foster)

  LOVER BEWARE

  (with Christine Feehan, Katherine Sutcliffe, and Fiona Brand)

  CRAVINGS

  (with Laurell K. Hamilton, MaryJanice Davidson, and Rebecca York)

  ON THE PROWL

  (with Patricia Briggs, Karen Chance, and Sunny)

  INKED

  (with Karen Chance, Marjorie M. Liu, and Yasmine Galenorn)

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada

  (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Irel
and (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)

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  Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India

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  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  BLOOD CHALLENGE

  A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

  PRINTING HISTORY

  Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / January 2011

  Copyright © 2011 by Eileen Wilks.

  Excerpt from Death Magic by Eileen Wilks copyright © by Eileen Wilks.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-47668-0

  BERKLEY® SENSATION

  Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  BERKLEY® SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  As always, I had help. Thanks to Lisa for putting me in touch with her sister, Shannan Jones Naiser, a crackerjack trauma nurse who answered my gushing fountain of questions. I’d also like to thank Anna Brewer from J-R’s Water Well Service for her expertise.

  PROLOGUE

  Two months ago . . .

  “KNEEL.”

  The two young men did as they were bid. One was fair and lean, with hair the color of wheat and eyes the sunny blue of the sky that ripens it. The other was ruddy, with dark hair and a mouth that seemed permanently bent up, as if he smiled so often his face was trained to it. Both wore cutoffs, nothing else.

  Isen sat in his favorite armchair and studied them. It was an interesting moment. David Auckley and Jeffrey Lane were the first Leidolf to set foot inside his home since it was built.

  Unless, of course, he counted his son.

  Isen glanced at Rule standing several feet behind the two youngsters. Somehow, at the gens compleo that brought these two into their clan—into Leidolf—as full adults, Rule had also brought them into Nokolai. Isen had felt it when it happened. The imprint new clan members made on the clan’s mantle was subtle but unmistakable.

  This shouldn’t have been possible. But then, Isen’s second-born son was the first lupus in roughly three thousand years to hold more than one mantle. The impossible was becoming commonplace these days.

  The next wrinkle was more implausible than impossible. After accidentally bringing David and Jeff into two clans instead of one, Rule had been unable to remove them from Nokolai. Rule held only the heir’s portion of that mantle, but it should have been enough. Neither he nor Isen understood why it hadn’t worked.

  Today they amended that. Isen held the full Nokolai mantle, and had for a very long time. In a sense he held even the portion carried by his son and heir, for the full mantle was his to command, regardless of where it lay. It would do his will. He no more doubted that than he doubted his ability to direct his foot or his hand.

  They would do this without ceremony. No one was calling seco, though the procedure was the same as when a lupus was made clanless. But there was no shame to these young men in what must be done. They would no longer be Nokolai, but they wouldn’t be left without a clan.

  “David,” Isen said, keeping his voice low and matter-of-fact. “Jeffrey.” He placed a hand on each man’s shoulder. The mantle stirred, recognizing them. He held that recognition in his awareness . . . and denied it, with words and with intent, calling back the tiny portions of mantle swimming in each of them. “You are not Nokolai.”

  Nothing happened. For a very long moment, nothing at all happened.

  Isen leaned back in his chair and laughed loud and long.

  “Isen,” Rule said. Just that, and his tone gave away as little as his words, but Isen knew he was worried. No doubt he meant to hide that from the two pups who were staring at Isen now, the blond one alarmed, the darker one sufficiently astonished to have lost that small, perpetual smile.

  That, too, amused Isen. “Ah,” he said, wiping his eyes, which had watered from mirth. “The joke’s on me, isn’t it?”

  “I’m not finding the humor,” Rule said dryly.

  Isen looked at his son with great love and almost as much patience. He had two living sons, and both were a trifle too serious. Still, he understood Rule’s anxiety. Thus far, he and Rule had managed to conceal the condition of these young Leidolf-Nokolai hybrids by bringing them here to train as guards for their Rho. Supposedly this was to honor Rule’s first gens compleo as Leidolf Rho, and to signal the newly friendly ties between Nokolai and Leidolf.

  It did those things, but more importantly, it provided an explanation for the way they smelled. They trained with Nokolai, lived with Nokolai. People would assume the whiff of Nokolai scent they carried was acquired, not innate.

  Their little sleight-of-smell wouldn’t work forever. And then, as the saying went, the shit would hit the fan.

  Isen met his son’s eyes as one last chuckle escaped. “Ah, well. You and I don’t always laugh at the same things. The mantle didn’t answer me.”

  “I noticed that.”

  “Rule.” Fond but slightly exasperated, Isen shook his head. “A Rho commands his clan’s mantle entirely . . . with one exception.”

  Rule’s eyes widened. His gaze slid to the men still obediently kneeling. He said nothing, then looked at his father again, a question suspended in his dark eyes.

  Isen nodded. Yes, you understand correctly.

  Ah, hubris. Isen smiled wryly at himself. He’d forgotten that exception, hadn’t he? Though there was some justification. The Lady hadn’t acted directly on the mantles in over three thousand years. Not since the Great War, in fact. But they, like the lupi she’d created, remained hers to command.

  Why did she want these two to remain in two clans? Who knew? Clearly, though, she did. Just as clearly, many in other clans would not believe this.

  Interesting times, Isen thought. That was the Chinese curse, wasn’t it? May you live in interesting times.

  ONE

  FEAR comes in many flavors. Tonight’s dish was sour apples with a soupcon of bile. Arjenie swallowed and swallowed again.

  The moon was high and nearly full. A few tatters of high-flying cirrus clouds marred the sky’s dome like scuff marks left by skidding giants. Arjenie held herself still so as not to send any crackles or crunches out into the moon-flooded night.

  She was glad of the moonlight. There wasn’t much ambient light this far from the city, just the landscape lighting around Robert Friar’s big, expensive house. That sprouted up everywhere like electronic fungi—path lighting, spots trained on trees and shrubs, the diamond glow of underwater lights in the pool.

  Everywhere except at the guesthouse, that is. About fifty feet past the sparkling pool was a log cabin the size of a two-
car garage. Here it was dark, especially behind the thorny bush where Arjenie crouched. Neither moonlight nor landscape lighting reached inside the window two feet to her left. The window was open an inch. Behind the glass lay darkness. A whisper floated out to her from that darkness. “You’d better go.”

  “Yes.”

  “ And yet you aren’t moving.”

  “I hate to leave you here.”

  “I can’t go with you. You know that. Go now. They’ll bring the tears soon.”

  Arjenie said nothing. There was nothing to say. Dya had to have the tears, but Arjenie hated them and everything they stood for.

  “Tch. I shouldn’t have called you. You’re not—”

  “You’re not about to insult me, are you?”

  “You’re frightened.”

  “You can hear my knees knocking from in there?”