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Overview
Dimitri Abraxas, who serves at the pleasure of the Goddess Demeter, is determined to find Prometheus’s flame. He will leave no earthly stone unturned to decipher clues as to its location, for the world needs it more than ever.
One look at Amazon librarian Jaimela and he knows the answer is within reach…but the sphinx harbors more than one secret. To awaken it, he must rouse the Amazon who would take the prize for her own. But unless they can put aside their differences and combine their quests, they will lose to the greatest foe of all…the Arcana Royale.
Each story in The Tales of the Arcana Royale Series is standalone story that can be enjoyed in any order.
Series Order:
Book #1: The Legal Vampire's Golden Goddess
Book #2: The White Tiger Shifter's Wild Amazon
Book #3: The Vampire Prince's Missing Mistress
Book #4: The Witchborn Detective's Porcelain Prisoner
Book #5: The Greek Hero's Lost Librarian
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781640632165 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Entangled Publishing, LLC |
| Publication date: | 07/31/2017 |
| Series: | Tales of the Arcana Royale , #5 |
| Sold by: | Macmillan |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 170 |
| Sales rank: | 886,577 |
| File size: | 2 MB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
The whispers surrounded him. Dimitri Abraxas had visited each resort along the Las Vegas Strip needing only to step inside to get a feel for the place before moving on. The moment the glass doors parted to reveal the parquet floors and marble columns of the Arcana Royale, a wash of cool air wrapped around him and the scents of figs, apples and pears teased him.
Closing his eyes, he sucked in a deep breath, sampling the flavors on his palate until the fruitiness seemed to coat his throat and lungs. This casino was his destination. He'd heard rumors of such a place since his quest began, but this paranormal palace of debauchery and drunkenness seemed more typical of Dionysus than the mistress Dimitri had served faithfully. Satisfied the location was correct, he took his time surveying the lobby. The interior pageantry leaned towards the decadent and extravagant.
A grotto of sorts occupied the center of the lobby, including a majestic pair of waterfalls spilling into a shimmering pool. Lush tropical foliage offered a natural obstruction to the areas beyond. The Eden effect of the area helped mute the throngs of people making their way to and from the lobby. The elevators on the far right opened and closed regularly, pouring out their passengers and whisking away those waiting.
Despite the lunch hour, the party here seemed to be in full swing, to quote the American colloquialism. Demeter's knowledge filled him, as it always did, alerting him to the changes in culture, language and common practices, so that he might blend in as needed. Or stand out, if required.
The increased activity was unsurprising, considering the nature of business conducted within these walls. Magic coated everything, adding a glistening sheen to the too-polished exterior. The spells clung like a sticky confection and fluttered behind every person in wisps. Cobwebs of power seeking a purchase — in their minds? Their souls? Their very being?
Dimitri couldn't determine which, but once aware of it, he took precautions. He would make a poor meal for the magic. The use of guests for sustenance would offend his mistress. In fact, nothing in his current view would appeal to her. But the farther he ventured, the louder the whispers became. He listened to the voices of the past and attempted to separate the threads.
"I lost it all."
"For a nickel? They trapped her for a damn nickel."
"You must be able to do something."
"You forfeited your life the moment you concluded the deal."
"Can I go? Please? Please?"
"I will not abandon my oath."
"Fine. Business it is, then."
"Someone who isn't what they appear to be."
"You really thought possessing this girl was the way to do it?"
"We would extend an invitation to you, Richard Casere, Prince of New York, to join us in oversight. Your abilities, your intelligence, your indomitable will serve us all well."
The echoes spilled over him like so many streams of water, weaving in and out of audible range. But one voice echoed beneath the others and he fought to capture the elusive notes.
"She's gone. She finally did it. She left me."
And he could no more ignore the lingering loneliness than he could abandon his quest. Opening his eyes, he focused on the Sphinx sitting high above the foliage, the statue's stillness a complete lie.
Because when Dimitri gazed upon it — the beast stared back.
"Sir?" A man in a bellhop's uniform interrupted him. "Can I help you find something?"
"I require a room." Loath to turn his back on the beast above, Dimitri shifted his position so he could keep the Sphinx in his line of sight. "Whatever you have available will suffice."
"Sure." The younger man gave him a wary grin, but pointed to the counter with a long line. "But you check in over there."
Tugging his wallet out of a back pocket, Dimitri flipped it open and extracted a credit card and several hundred-dollar bills. Money meant nothing beyond what opportunities it could facilitate. He held up the card, but didn't offer the bills. "Arrange it and the cash is yours."
"Yes, sir." The uniformed man took the card and glanced at it. "Mr. Abraxas, sir. One moment."
Awareness rippled over him. The Sphinx wasn't the only creature watching. Around him nymphs, satyrs, various shifters — wolves, cats, bears and others he couldn't readily identify — mingled with humans, witches and at least one vampire. Their veneer of humanity stretched thin, and nothing could disguise the low current of danger running beneath it all — a wicked heartbeat drumming out a peculiar cadence.
Was the building's almost-alien nature a part of the trap, or was it merely the construct housing an even darker secret?
"Sir?" The young man returned with his credit card, two slips of paper and a keycard for the room. "You're on the concierge level, suite 4242."
Dimitri examined the items. They appeared ordinary — but he had never been one to buy into appearances. He passed over the three bills he'd promised for the service. The man's childlike grin betrayed his youth.
"Can I do anything else for you, sir?"
"How large is this place?"
"Nearly five hundred thousand square feet if you take into account the upper levels and the outdoor resort, sir. Would you like me to arrange a tour?"
Dimitri shook his head. "No." The Sphinx's attention withdrew and focused elsewhere. "Thank you for your assistance."
"Happy to help, sir. Would you like me to take your luggage upstairs?"
"No." He dismissed the servant and crossed the lobby, careful to keep the great beast in his line of sight. It wouldn't do to give it his back. Sphinxes were peculiar creatures, and before they migrated south to serve the gods of the Nile Valley, they'd been dedicated to Athena.
No matter where the allegiance of this creature lay, he couldn't chance word of his presence reaching the Goddess of Wisdom or her Seekers. Strolling with a laconic ease he didn't feel, he made his way up to the second level and the numerous shops that lined the walk like an open-air mall. He chose one at random because of the clothing featured in the window, gave his measurements to the eager salesman and ordered an assortment of shirts, slacks and jackets — including eveningwear — and had it all sent to his room. As in any society, wealth purchased convenience.
Passing off a lie about misplaced luggage, the clerk assured him he would see to any other toiletries and supplies Dimitri might require. The transaction paid for, he exited back onto the mezzanine and began a slow, patrolling walk. If others were to look at him, all they might see was a man in an expensive suit, perusing possible purchases and opportunities.
He'd perfected the skill of blending in over the years. The quest demanded it of him, whether he played the role of street urchin in Nice, a gawky teen in New York or a young sophisticate in Monaco. Born to complete this quest, Dimitri fine-tuned his reactions and appearances to fit the situation.
Exploring the whole of the Arcana Royale would take time and patience. Fortunately, he had both. A poster on the wall below caught his attention and he made his way to the railing. Perfectly black with only white, glittering letters slashing through the darkness, the Midnight Mystery Lounge announced a grand reopening on the thirteenth. The darkened theatre was like a smudge, a shadow against the sparkling decadence of the casino and resort.
Shadows hid secrets. He would plunder them all. The scent of apples, pears and figs grew stronger, beckoning him. It's here ... I know it is.
The hairs on the back of his neck rose and the weight of the Sphinx's stare swept over him. Pausing, Dimitri canted his head up and for the barest flicker of a second, the beast's eyes moved.
Yes. It knew what he wanted, what he sought from the moment he first drew breath.
Let the game truly begin.
*
Awareness stabbed through the fractures in her attention. She nearly had the puzzle sorted. Nearly. But the distraction irritated her and she studied the lobby below, trying to track whatever kept interrupting her. Didn't they realize she had work to do? Didn't they know that every time she approached an answer, she couldn't afford the diversions?
Pain lanced through her mind like an ice pick digging into her brain. The headache shattered her concentration. The answer flitted away, a butterfly that had alighted for mere seconds and then was gone in a breath. Studying the people milling about, she couldn't see who it was until she studied the second floor.
Danger lurked around the sun-kissed man staring up at her. Despite the cut of his suit, she saw the warrior beneath the surface. Flames flickered in the depths of his mahogany gaze. Like a moth, she wanted to reach out a hand and touch the face housing the fiery eyes, but she didn't dare.
He saw her.
Shying away from the intensity of the knowledge, she let her eyelids drop, shielding herself from his seeing. It was impossible for anyone to see her. No one did.
Not true. She knew I was here. She never forgot and she swore she wouldn't leave me.
But then she did.
Agony pulsed through her as the whispers came, flooding through her. A declaration. A promise. A bond. A farewell. She stood in the lobby, her head tilted back with a streak of pure white in her otherwise midnight-colored hair. A man stood behind her, an arm wrapped around her waist.
A whisper so faint it seemed to drift away before it even registered — "Wake up ... You have to wake up ... Call me and I will come. I swear it."
Grayness clouded her vision and the woman, the man holding her and the lobby faded away. Twin flames flickered in the endless sea of nothing ... a pulse of heat — her eyes snapped open as waking struck her a physical blow.
Waking was different for every one of the dancers and wrenching pain always accompanied Cerveau's. Her first gulps of oxygen burned, the air almost brutally cold in her lungs. Every day a spell put her to sleep at dawn and leached the life and light from her body. At sunset, the spell released and flooded her with air, made her heart pound and she was reanimated once more. So had been her life, night in and night out for so long she'd forgotten what it was to not live this way.
Beyond the door of her little cell, voices echoed in the hallway — greetings and laughter and feminine sisterhood. She belonged to these other women and they to her, but the bonds were too thin to be seen and with the passing of each day those bonds frayed.
Whatever strange fire had preoccupied her sleep darted away with waking. Tonight they had to practice the new show they would be performing in the Midnight Mystery Lounge. A change demanded by the final closing of Roseâtre and Anthony's white-tiger show.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on her muscles and she took the time to stretch, easing the cramps in her arms and legs. Her hands hurt more than normal and she studied her palms. Surprise rippled through her at the crescent-moon-shaped cuts she'd made with her nails.
Why had she been clenching her fists? The wounds closed over, fading from sight as she stared at them. The swiftness of the healing barely registered. The spells binding her to the lounge solved so many issues, but unlike her sisters, she didn't go into the gray day unknowingly. Her life didn't pause.
She always dreamed, but waking chased away whatever she'd learned and she would have to wait for the sun to retrace her steps. But where did she need to go? A bang as more doors opened and footsteps in the hall as dancers hurried to get ready. If she didn't join them, they would come for her and the stage manager might punish her with a more complicated role on the stage.
That would never do. Cerveau grabbed a towel and headed for the showers. She preferred the chorus line, and her placement away from the audience. Behind the curtains, no one noticed her.
She preferred it that way.
CHAPTER 2
"Ladies!" Heidi clapped her hands together, silencing the pockets of conversation and laughter occupying the stage as she strode out from the wings. "I need you all to focus."
Once again, the Midnight Mystery Lounge sat dark while they put together another new show. In the past fourteen-some-odd months, they'd lost three lead performers and changed their show more times than any other in all the years that Cerveau could remember — and once again they were without a lead dancer. The best part of preparing for a new show was that she didn't have to get into any of the ridiculous costumes — the bad part was that all the moves she knew by heart got tossed and she had to learn new routines ... fast.
Center stage, Heidi set down a plain wooden stool and placed a pair of shimmering crystal heels on them. Silence slammed down across the assembled dancers. Where thirteen girls used to be, only nine remained. Four of their best and brightest weren't with them anymore, but Cerveau only felt one loss keenly.
Roseâtre, her shield-sister, had mated a were tiger and spent months performing at the Arcana Royale while dividing their duties between Tribe and Pride, but all of that ended seven short days ago. When Roseâtre left the casino once and for all.
Cerveau pulled her ponytail over one shoulder, wrapping the ends around her fingers and tugged it hard. The sharp pain brought her focus back to the present.
It was good for her sister to go. She deserved her freedom and, bit-by-bit, the sleeper woke.
The sleeper woke?
It didn't matter how she fought to hold on to that tiny thread of thought, it spun away and unraveled before she could examine it.
"Cerveau." Heidi's voice was a whipcrack. Staring at the stage manager, she prayed that she hadn't just been chosen for those crystal shoes. The other dancers may not have quite made the link as to what happened to those who inherited Pandora's beautiful crystal heels, but Cerveau wanted no part of them.
None.
A pair of shoes would not control her destiny
... and may the gods strike down any who would try to sway me from my ...
Ice stabbed through her mind, splintering the thought into so many shards. It took her a moment to realize Heidi stared at her, waiting. Oh, she hadn't responded yet.
"Yes?" The single syllable didn't betray her lack of interest or concentration.
"Hmm, did you hear what I said?" Heidi always knew, so Cerveau saw no point in lying.
"No."
Britta and Dayna stirred next to her, barely able to contain their snickers. The sound died swiftly under Heidi's glare. She stared at them for a heartbeat longer and then turned back to Cerveau.
"Would you like me to repeat myself?" Danger lurked within the question, irritation coating each word.
"If you believe the information is relevant to my understanding of the new show." A fresh wave of amusement crested at her response, but Cerveau knew better than to respond to it. Whether others saw Heidi as intimidating or judgmental, Cerveau saw reason and strength. The woman simply had no time for foolishness — even if laughter wouldn't kill her.
Although the corners of Heidi's mouth curved upward, Cerveau didn't make the mistake of thinking entertained meant forgiveness. "I think your use of a cerebral gambit to get out of the tryout for lead dancer isn't going to work."
"Very well." Cerveau shrugged. "But making me try out for lead dancer is a waste of your time."
"It's my time to waste," Heidi countered. "And interested or not, you're as competent as the others here." She held Cerveau's gaze until the Amazon dipped her head in assent. It wasn't a concession, but keeping up the pretense of a dispute wasn't worth her time either. Heidi didn't pretend to be fooled, but she did let her off the hook and swept her attention over the others. "We are nine now, so the next show will ride more strongly on all of you than it ever has before. You will learn this new routine in two days. You will be given one free day to ... modify it to suit your strengths, your personality, and then each of you will perform."
"Who picks the new lead?" Britta asked. Though nearly as quiet as Cerveau at times, her gaze didn't waver from the shoes. She wanted them and her hunger was a sharp presence on the stage.
"I will." The deep masculine voice startled several of the women and they turned to see a lean, dark figure approach from backstage. Cerveau frowned and studied the man. He was not familiar.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "The Greek Hero's Lost Librarian"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Heather Long.
Excerpted by permission of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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