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A Cold Silence: The Cold Book 2 (The Cold #2)
by Alison LittlewoodThe sequel to the Richard and Judy bestseller A Cold Season. New game Acheron offers you everything you desire . . . at the cost of your soul.Ben Cassidy promised his mother he would never to return to Darnshaw, the remote village they barely escaped when he was a child. But when his friend, Jessica, kills herself, he feels compelled to investigate.Jessica was playing a sinister computer game called Acheron, which claims it will give you anything you desire . . . for a price.As Ben and his friends delve ever deeper into the world of Acheron, good motivations and morality begin to slip, and they find themselves spiralling out of control. Ben could save them all, but the cost for doing so might be too high to pay . . .Would you?
A Cold Silence: The Cold Book 2 (The Cold #2)
by Alison LittlewoodBen Cassidy has strict instructions from his mother, Cass, never to return to his childhood home of Darnshaw. But when an old friend dies, he returns to investigate a computer game she was playing named Acheron. Acheron claims it will give you all that you ask for, something Gaila, Ben's sister, knows all too well. But there is a price, and hers is to get Ben to London.As Ben and his friends delve ever deeper into the world of Acheron, good motivations and morality begin to slip, and they find themselves falling further into corruption. Ben and Gaila could save them all, but the price for doing so might just be too high to pay . . .(P)2015 WF Howes Ltd
A Coldness in the Blood
by Fred SaberhagenThe Bram Stoker Award–Winning saga continues . . . . <P><P>Matthew Maule has seen many horrific things in his five hundred years as one of the most powerful vampires in the world. But even his formidable talents cannot predict the unthinkable acts about to occur within his own home. <P><P>When the vampire Dickon and his human partner appear in the middle of the night frightened for their lives, Matthew offers them protection. They carry with them a small Egyptian statue of great value and many secrets. By morning, Matthew has woken from a mysterious trance to discover that Dickon’s human friend has been brutally murdered, the vampire has gone missing, and their statue has been smashed to pieces. Matthew has also made a dangerous new enemy, one who possesses strength even Matthew may be no match for. <P><P>For the statue is no ordinary artifact, but one of six replicas. However, only one contains a gem in the center, a stone of unimaginable magical power that could spell the end of humanity if it ever fell in the wrong hands. <P><P>Matthew sets out on a heart-pounding journey to track down the remaining statues before his ancient foe finds them. Racing across the country, the vampire teams up with both the living and the undead, though not all are the allies they pretend to be. Using his wits, he must unearth the answers to a millennia-old mystery in order to prepare himself for a final showdown against the evil stalking him at every turn. Acclaimed fantasy and science fiction author Fred Saberhagen takes readers along for a trek of unbelievable suspense, action, and pure page-turning entertainment.
A Coldness in the Blood (The Dracula Series)
by Fred SaberhagenThe Bram Stoker Award–Winning saga continues . . . .Matthew Maule has seen many horrific things in his five hundred years as one of the most powerful vampires in the world. But even his formidable talents cannot predict the unthinkable acts about to occur within his own home.When the vampire Dickon and his human partner appear in the middle of the night frightened for their lives, Matthew offers them protection. They carry with them a small Egyptian statue of great value and many secrets. By morning, Matthew has woken from a mysterious trance to discover that Dickon's human friend has been brutally murdered, the vampire has gone missing, and their statue has been smashed to pieces. Matthew has also made a dangerous new enemy, one who possesses strength even Matthew may be no match for.For the statue is no ordinary artifact, but one of six replicas. However, only one contains a gem in the center, a stone of unimaginable magical power that could spell the end of humanity if it ever fell in the wrong hands.Matthew sets out on a heart-pounding journey to track down the remaining statues before his ancient foe finds them. Racing across the country, the vampire teams up with both the living and the undead, though not all are the allies they pretend to be. Using his wits, he must unearth the answers to a millennia-old mystery in order to prepare himself for a final showdown against the evil stalking him at every turn. Acclaimed fantasy and science fiction author Fred Saberhagen takes readers along for a trek of unbelievable suspense, action, and pure page-turning entertainment.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
A Collapse of Horses: A Collection of Stories
by Brian EvensonPraise for Brian Evenson:"Brian Evenson is one of the treasures of American story writing, a true successor both to the generation of Coover, Barthelme, Hawkes and Co., but also to Edgar Allan Poe."-Jonathan Lethem"One of the most provocative, inventive, and talented writers we have working today."-The Believer"There is not a more intense, prolific, or apocalyptic writer of fiction in America than Brian Evenson."-George Saunders"Packed with enough atrocities to give Thomas Harris pause. . . . Not many writers have the imagination or the audacity to transform what looks like salvation into an utterly original outpost of hell."-Bookforum A stuffed bear's heart beats with the rhythm of a dead baby; Reno keeps receding to the east no matter how far you drive; and in a mine on another planet, the dust won't stop seeping in. In these stories, Brian Evenson unsettles us with the everyday and the extraordinary-the terror of living with the knowledge of all we cannot know. Praised by Peter Straub for going "furthest out on the sheerest, least sheltered narrative precipice," Brian Evenson has been a finalist for the Edgar Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and is the World Fantasy Award and the winner of the International Horror Guild Award, the American Library Association's award for Best Horror Novel, and one of Time Out New York's top books.
A Collection of Mysteries to Mystify
by Toni A. StarThis is a collection of short mysteries that are interesting and mystifying. They are stories of journeys that will interest and entertain anyone who reads them....
A Coming Evil
by Vivian Vande Velde"This well-written . . . fast-paced adventure raises some interesting issues." -School Library JournalLisette Beaucaire was angry when her parents sent her away from Paris that September day in 1940. And although she knew that with the Nazis occupying the city she'd be safer at her aunt Josephine's farm in the Dordogne Valley, Lisette resented her "exile." She'd miss her friends and the excitement of being thirteen and starting a new school. Instead, she'd have nothing to do but amuse her little cousin Cecile. <P><P>That's what Lisette thought, but she soon found out that she wasn't the only visitor at the farmhouse. And then she encountered Gerard, a visitor from a long time ago, who proved to be a valiant ally at a crucial moment.
A Condessa louca (Noivas góticas #1)
by Erica MonroeO amor verdadeiro deve quebrar a maldição da loucura nesse romance regencial sombrio e cheio de emoções… Quando a mãe de Lady Claire Deering é internada num hospício, a sociedade não perde tempo para desprezar sua filha, apelidando-a como a “filha louca”. No entanto a reputação manchada é a menor de suas preocupações, pois os rumores carregam consigo uma verdade terrível e assustadora: as mulheres da família Deering são vítimas de uma maldição sombria lançada por bruxas. Se Claire se casar com seu amor verdadeiro, passará o resto da vida como escrava da loucura. Para se salvar, ela se mantém isolada... Até que a leitura de um testamento em um castelo misterioso, na véspera do dia de Todos os Santos, aproxima-a de seu mais querido amigo e sua paixão secreta. O tímido e estudioso Teddy Lockwood nunca encontrou uma regra que não ficasse feliz em seguir. Quando inesperadamente herda o condado de Ashbrooke, decide virar a página e se tornar um novo e corajoso homem — dirá a Claire que a ama desde que eram crianças. A leitura do testamento é a oportunidade perfeita para conquistar o coração dela, mesmo estando fora da zona de conforto no enigmático e sombrio castelo em Cornwall. Logo, a paixão reluzente entre eles se torna incontrolável. Agora, para salvar o amor de sua vida, Teddy fará o que for preciso para quebrar a maldição de Claire. Irá Claire passar o resto dos seus dias nas garras de uma loucura misteriosa ou o amor provará ser mais forte do que tudo? Esse conto foi anteriormente publicado na antologia Mystified.
A Confraria da Serpente, volume 1 : A Invasão (A Confraria da Serpente #1)
by Alice VellosoUm suspense sobrenatural contagiante. Uma corrida em busca da verdade que vai deixar você sem fôlego até o final. A arqueóloga Viviane Robert, é movida sem saber para dentro de uma conspiração milenar onde os adversários, os Serkys e os Guardiões, se defrontam com poderes sobrenaturais. Os Serkys são criaturas meio humanas, meio répteis que querem subjugar os homens e explorar os recursos do planeta. Os Guardiões são uma elite capaz de desenvolver dons inacretitáveis, contudo, devem desvendar os segredos contidos numa tábula de argila suméria que somente Viviane pode decifrar. Para Viviane, a verdade vai aos poucos sendo desvendada. E se ela também fosse uma guardiã ? Perseguida de Roma à Jerusalem, passando por Londres e pelo México, a jovem arqueóloga deverá aprender a controlar seus poderes para poder lutar contra os Serkys e impedir o retorno de suas criaturas sobre a face da terra, pois essas criaturas, os Anunnaki, são mais terríveis ainda... Classificado como um romance de ficção científica, fantasia, sobrenatural... E se tudo isso fosse mais que apenas uma teoria ?....Manipulação de DNA, visita de seres vindos do espaço que se fazem passar por deuses, seres humanos que despertam para uma outra realidade... A autora expoe fatos sobre o ser humano, revelações sobre a história da humanidade que leva o leitor a se questionar : e se tudo isso não fosse apenas ficção científica ? Explore esta história apaixonante que te levará para a época dos sumérios e babilônios te transportando depois para um futuro não muito distante quando o homem doa sua vida à tecnologia, aceitando o microchip, a realidade virtual e uma vida dentro de cidades ultra protegidas que serão na verdade sua prisão. Deixe que a autora te transporte para este mundo fantástico. Como Viviane, a arqueóloga, vá em busca da verdade, descubra os segredos que não querem te revelar, abra a porta do m
A Conventional Boy
by Charles StrossIn A Conventional Boy, the fate of the world will depend on a roll of the dice... twenty-sided dice, that is. In 1984, Derek Reilly was just another teenage nerd growing up in middle England. But his love of D&D caused him to fall afoul of the Laundry, a government agency tasked with suppressing supernatural threats. It turns out that sometimes ninth level wizard spells drawn on the back of your maths textbook can look suspiciously like actual magic...Decades later, Derek is a long-term inmate at Camp Sunshine, a centre for deprogramming captured cultists. But Derek finally has reason to escape, and an escape plan to out into action: he wants to attend his first gaming convention. While Derek's D&D games were fictional, a game at the con really is a dread ritual designed to summon a great evil into our world, and it's up to Derek and his players to stop them.The fate of the world may depend on the contents of Derek's dice bag.The Laundry Files series follows an agency of British spies who deal with supernatural threats; they also have to deal with chronic underfunding, government ministers, rival agencies and worst of all, each other. Think Slow Horses crossed with the monsters from Stranger Things, this series is funny, nerdy, and a cult classic.***Publishing just ahead of the final Laundry Files novel (The Regicide Report, summer 2025), this new collection includes the never before published Laundry Files novel A Conventional Boy - inspired by the 1980s Satanic Panic - and two other short stories in this joyous celebration of all things Laundry Files.***In this collection:*A CONVENTIONAL BOY (53.3k words)*DOWN ON THE FARM (12.7k words)*OVERTIME (8.7k words)also includes exclusive afterword from Charles Stross
A Conventional Boy
by Charles StrossIn A Conventional Boy, the fate of the world will depend on a roll of the dice... twenty-sided dice, that is. In 1984, Derek Reilly was just another teenage nerd growing up in middle England. But his love of D&D caused him to fall afoul of the Laundry, a government agency tasked with suppressing supernatural threats. It turns out that sometimes ninth level wizard spells drawn on the back of your maths textbook can look suspiciously like actual magic...Decades later, Derek is a long-term inmate at Camp Sunshine, a centre for deprogramming captured cultists. But Derek finally has reason to escape, and an escape plan to out into action: he wants to attend his first gaming convention. While Derek's D&D games were fictional, a game at the con really is a dread ritual designed to summon a great evil into our world, and it's up to Derek and his players to stop them.The fate of the world may depend on the contents of Derek's dice bag.The Laundry Files series follows an agency of British spies who deal with supernatural threats; they also have to deal with chronic underfunding, government ministers, rival agencies and worst of all, each other. Think Slow Horses crossed with the monsters from Stranger Things, this series is funny, nerdy, and a cult classic.***Publishing just ahead of the final Laundry Files novel (The Regicide Report, summer 2025), this new collection includes the never before published Laundry Files novel A Conventional Boy - inspired by the 1980s Satanic Panic - and two other short stories in this joyous celebration of all things Laundry Files.***In this collection:*A CONVENTIONAL BOY (53.3k words)*DOWN ON THE FARM (12.7k words)*OVERTIME (8.7k words)also includes exclusive afterword from Charles Stross
A Conventional Boy: A Laundry Files Novel (Laundry Files)
by Charles StrossIn this new Laundry Files adventure the fate of the world will literally depend on the roll of dice... twenty-sided dice, that is.In 1984, Derek Reilly was just another spotty teenage dungeon master growing up in middle England. But then a secret government agency tasked with suppressing magical intrusions received a tip-off – and one midnight raid later, his life was turned upside down by the Satanic D&D Panic.Decades later Derek, now middle-aged and institutionalized, is a long-term inmate at Camp Sunshine, a center for deprogramming captured Elder God cultists. He’s considered safe enough to edit the camp newsletter, and he even has postal privileges – which he uses to run a play-by-mail game. After 25 years, Derek finally has reason to escape: a nearby D&D convention. While Derek’s D&D games were full of fictional elder gods and world-ending threats, a LARP game at the con is a dread ritual designed to summon a great evil into our world, and it’s up to Derek and his players to stop them.The fate of the world may depend on the contents of Derek’s magic dice bag.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
A Conversation in Blood: An Egil & Nix Novel
by Paul S. KempThe hard-fighting, harder-drinking fortune hunters of The Hammer and the Blade and A Discourse in Steel are back to test their mettle and tempt fickle fate. Fantasy fiction has long welcomed adventurous rogues: Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, George R. R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg, and Scott Lynch’s Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen have all made their mark. In his Egil & Nix series, New York Times bestselling author Paul S. Kemp introduces a daring new duo to the ranks of fantasy fame—or is it infamy? Nix is a nimble thief with just enough knowledge of magic to get into serious trouble. Egil is the only priest of a discredited god. Together, they seek riches and renown, but somehow it is always misadventure and mayhem that find them—even in the dive bar they call home. And their luck has yet to change. All Nix wants to do is cheer Egil up after a bout of heartbreak. And, of course, strike it so rich that they need never worry about their combined bar bill. But when the light-fingered scoundrel plunders a tomb and snatches mysterious golden plates covered in runes, the treasure brings terrifying trouble. Pursued by an abomination full of ravenous hunger and unquenchable wrath, Egil and Nix find all they hold dear—including their beloved tavern—in dire peril. To say nothing of the world itself. Praise for Paul S. Kemp’s thrilling Egil & Nix novels “Most heroes work up to killing demons. Egil and Nix start there and pick up the pace.”—Elaine Cunningham, author of Honor Among Thieves “Kemp delivers sword and sorcery at its rollicking best, after the fashion of Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.”—Library Journal “Egil and Nix might not be the safest guys to go adventuring with, but they’re sure good company.”—Ed Greenwood, bestselling creator of Forgotten Realms “Did I mention how much fun Egil and Nix are? So. Much. Damn. Fun.”—Tor.com
A Cosmology of Monsters: A Novel
by Shaun Hamill"If John Irving ever wrote a horror novel, it would be something like this. I loved it.&” —Stephen KingNoah Turner sees monsters.His father saw them—and built a shrine to them with The Wandering Dark, an immersive horror experience that the whole family operates.His practical mother has caught glimpses of terrors but refuses to believe—too focused on keeping the family from falling apart.And his eldest sister, the dramatic and vulnerable Sydney, won't admit to seeing anything but the beckoning glow of the spotlight . . . until it swallows her up.Noah Turner sees monsters. But, unlike his family, Noah chooses to let them in . . .
A Counselor Among Wolves (Leader Murders #2)
by Liv OlteanoLeader Murders: Case TwoFive dead leaders, their bodies arranged in a pentagram. Treason, lies, and backstabbing. A make-believe affair that turns into a real mating. Timothy Sands is a PBI counselor, half-fey, half-elf, with a secret crush on Herman Weiss, PBI director. As a new chapter is added to the Leader Murders, it is Weiss's responsibility to investigate what seems an impossible-to-solve case. The other problem? Weiss is suffering from rages, and his only salvation lies in Tim's emotional-grid-balancing skills. They only have to pretend to be a couple for Tim to use his talents, and he owes Weiss a big favor. Piece of cake, right? The fey might be involved in the Leader Murders. Someone on the Council might be their ally, and another prominent PBI figure looks more and more suspicious as they investigate. The stakes are upped when Timothy's father, the Fey King, threatens to leave the Council destitute if they don't hand Timothy over to him. Weiss's brilliant solution? Mating Timothy and forcing the Council into protecting him. There's only one small hitch in that plan: instead of protecting one, the Council might decide to get rid of two.
A Country Christmas: Village Christmas, Jingle Bells, Christmas At Caxley 1913, The Fairacre Ghost
by Miss ReadA wonderfully entertaining collection of Christmas tales from the enduringly popular Miss Read.Taken from the original omnibus CHRISTMAS AT FAIRACRE, Miss Read's wonderfully festive collection of Christmas stories is packed with entertaining characters and enchanting stories.From the rural festivities in 'Village Christmas' and 'Jingle Bells' to the pre-war story 'Christmas At Caxley 1913', the intriguing 'The Fairacre Ghost' and the poignant tale of 'The White Robin', Miss Read's wry wit and light touch is the perfect antidote to the long winter evenings.
A Country Christmas: Village Christmas, Jingle Bells, Christmas At Caxley 1913, The Fairacre Ghost (Christmas Fiction Ser.)
by Miss ReadA wonderfully entertaining collection of Christmas tales from the enduringly popular Miss Read.Taken from the original omnibus CHRISTMAS AT FAIRACRE, Miss Read's wonderfully festive collection of Christmas stories is packed with entertaining characters and enchanting stories.From the rural festivities in 'Village Christmas' and 'Jingle Bells' to the pre-war story 'Christmas At Caxley 1913', the intriguing 'The Fairacre Ghost' and the poignant tale of 'The White Robin', Miss Read's wry wit and light touch is the perfect antidote to the long winter evenings.
A Coven of Witches (The Last Apprentice #7)
by Joseph DelaneyBeware a girl in pointy shoes! A girl wearing pointy shoes might be a witch. And the first thing a spook's apprentice learns is never, ever to trust a witch. In this bone-chilling collection of tales, you will learn exactly why that is, as you encounter:a fair and beautiful woman with green scales running down her spine ... a dead witch who lurks under rotting leaves and hunts for blood ... Alice, Tom Ward's best friend, who once lived with one of the darkest witches of all ... and a witch whose cry of revenge can kill. The dark is all around. Who will survive?
A Crooked Mark
by Linda Kao"A dark, twisting coming-of-age sure to leave readers glancing over their shoulder for the Devil. Kao perfectly illustrates the struggles of choosing your own path through a lens of fire and knives, and you won't want to put it down." —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed With UsA dark and sinister debut YA novel about a teen boy who must hunt down those marked by the devil - including the girl he has fallen for. Perfect for fans of Neal Shusterman and Kendare Blake.Rae Winter should be dead.Some say that walking away from the car crash that killed her dad is a miracle, but seventeen-year-old Matthew Watts knows that the forces of Good aren&’t the only ones at work. The devil, Lucifer himself, can mark a soul about to pass on, sending it back to the land of the living to carry out his evil will.Matt has grown up skipping from town to town alongside his father hunting anyone who has this mark. They have one purpose: Find these people, and exterminate them.After helping his father for years, Matt takes on his own mission: Rae Winter, miracle survivor. But when Matt starts to fall for Rae, to make friends for the first time in his life, he&’s not sure who or what to believe anymore. How can someone like Rae, someone who is thoughtful and smart and kind, be an agent of the devil? With the lines of reality and fantasy, myth and paranoia blurred, Matt confronts an awful truth....What if the devil&’s mark doesn&’t exist?
A Crown of Dragons (UNICORNE Files #3)
by Chris d'LaceyFrom the NYT bestselling author Chris d'Lacey comes the final installment in this action-packed paranormal adventure series full of mystery, alternate realities, thrills and chills.Although Michael Malone has completed two missions for the secretive UNICORNE agency, he is still far from finding his missing father. But when he is asked to investigate a scale of a dragon -- the very same artifact his father researched before he disappeared -- Michael realizes he's closer than ever to unlocking the truth. Soon, he learns that his father is lost in an alternate reality, and Michael is the only one with the power to save him.The deeper Michael ventures into his father's past, however, the harder it becomes to distinguish ally from enemy. Now, Michael must embark on his most dangerous mission yet. What deadly trials will he face in his attempt to rescue his father? And worse, does his father even want to be found?
A Crown of Ivy and Glass (The Middlemist Trilogy #1)
by Claire Legrand"Full of high stakes and detailed fantasy worldbuilding with interesting mythology for readers." —Library JournalNew York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, Claire Legrand, makes her stunning adult debut with A Crown of Ivy and Glass, a lush, sweeping, steamy forbidden romance series starter that's perfect for fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses.Lady Gemma Ashbourne seemingly has it all. She's young, gorgeous, and rich. Her family was Anointed by the gods, blessed with incredible abilities. But underneath her glittering façade, Gemma is deeply sad. Years ago, her sister Mara was taken to the Middlemist to guard against treacherous magic. Her mother abandoned the family. Her father and eldest sister, Farrin—embroiled in a deadly blood feud with the mysterious Bask family—often forget Gemma exists.Worst of all, Gemma is the only Ashbourne to possess no magic. Instead, her body fights it like poison. Constantly ill, aching with loneliness, Gemma craves love and yearns to belong.Then she meets the devastatingly handsome Talan d'Astier. His family destroyed themselves, seduced by a demon, and Talan, the only survivor, is determined to redeem their honor. Intrigued and enchanted, Gemma proposes a bargain: She'll help Talan navigate high society if he helps her destroy the Basks. According to popular legend, a demon called The Man With the Three-Eyed Crown is behind the families' blood feud—slay the demon, end the feud.But attacks on the Middlemist are increasing. The plot against the Basks quickly spirals out of control. And something immense and terrifying is awakening in Gemma, drawing her inexorably toward Talan and an all-consuming passion that could destroy her—or show her the true strength of her power at last.
A Crown of Lights (Merrily Watkins Mysteries #3)
by Phil RickmanExorcist Reverend Merrily Watkins is challenged by a modern day witch hunt, in her third adventureWhen a redundant church is bought by a young pagan couple, the local fundamentalist minister reacts with fury. In an isolated community on the Welsh border, a modern witch hunt begins. Diocesan exorcist Merrily Watkins is expected to keep the lid on the cauldron, but what she finds out will seriously test her beliefs. Also, there's the problem of the country lawyer who won't be parted from his dead wife; the mystery of five ancient churches all dedicated to St. Michael, slayer of dragons; and a killer with an old tradition to guard.
A Cruz Ansata
by Ayce DezNum mundo de vingança, a falsidade e a amargura ressuscitam naquilo que eles pensavam ser a salvação. Remanescentes do culto Rosacruz causaram uma tragédia maior a si mesmos e àqueles que possuíam a ansata lendária, quando o seu ritual antigo corre terrivelmente mal... Conheça Claudia, uma encarnação perfeita de uma adolescente feliz, que se esconde nessa maldição há alguns anos. A fim de superar a maldição, ela terá de aprender a dor do sacrifício, a agonia da perda, a tristeza da vergonha e o pior deles, toda a tortura do perdão...
A Crying Shame
by William W. JohnstoneEach night they emerged from the murky depths of the swamp to claim another victim--a lovely, innocent, fertile female who would be carried off in huge hairy arms and plunged into a nightmare world of terror. Her screams would echo in the darkness. Her face would contort in the throes of horror and pain. But once taken, each became a mother of an unholy child, a link in the chain of madness and evil, a spawn to carry on the devil's name!DON'T MISS THESE WILLIAM W. JOHNSTONE THRILLERS!The Devil's KissThe Devil's HeartThe Devil's TouchThe Devil's CatThe UninvitedThem
A Cunning Plan
by B. SnowAlec, Earl of Whittlesey, lives a dull and reclusive existence, rarely mingling with society and, to his mother's regret, refusing to marry. But his mother and society do not know he harbors a secret: a kind of madness that is driving him to deadly despair. When Alec meets the commoner Morgan Villenie, he finds the man's cheer and wit hard to resist, despite his own dark moods. Alec warms to Villenie, but Villenie has secrets of his own. If these two men are ever truly to be together, they must trust each other enough to reveal those secrets--even if they both believe the truth could tear them apart.