Dance With the Devil Read online


Prologue

 

  NEW ORLEANS

  THE DAY AFTER MARDI GRAS

  Zarek leaned back in his seat as the helicopter took off. He was going home to Alaska.

  No doubt he would die there.

  If Artemis didn't kill him, he was sure Dionysus would. The god of wine and excess had been most explicit in his displeasure over Zarek's betrayal and in what he intended to do to Zarek as punishment.

  For Sunshine Runningwolf's happiness, Zarek had crossed a god who was sure to make him suffer even worse horrors than those in his human past.

  Not that he cared. There wasn't much in life or death that Zarek had ever cared about.

  He still didn't know why he'd put his ass on the line for Talon and Sunshine, other than the fact that pissing people off was the only thing that truly gave him pleasure.

  His gaze fell to his backpack that rested by his feet.

  Before he realized what he was doing, he took out the handmade bowl that Sunshine had given him and held it in his hands.

  It was the only time in his life anyone had given him anything he didn't have to pay for.

  He ran his hands over the intricate designs that Sunshine had carved. She had probably spent hours on this bowl.

  Caressed it with loving hands. . .

  "They waste their time over a rag doll and it becomes very important to them; and if anybody takes it away from them, they cry. . . "

  The passage from The Little Prince ran through his mind. Sunshine had wasted much of her time on this and given him her hard work for no apparent reason. She probably had no idea just how much her simple gift had touched him.

  "You really are pathetic," he breathed, clutching the bowl in his hands as he curled his lip in repugnance. "It meant nothing to her, and for a worthless piece of clay you just consigned yourself to eternal death. "

  Closing his eyes, he swallowed.

  It was true.

  One more time, he was going to die for nothing.

  "So what?"

  Let him die. What did it matter?

  If they didn't kill him on the trip in, he'd go out with a good fight, and good fights were all too few and too far between in Alaska.

  He looked forward to the challenge.

  Angry at himself and the world at large, Zarek splintered the bowl with his thoughts, then brushed the dust off his pants.

  Pulling out his MP3 player, he scrolled to Nazareth's Hair of the Dog, put his headphones on, and waited for Mike to lighten the windows of the helicopter and let the lethal sunlight in on him.

  It was, after all, what Dionysus had paid the Squire to do, and if the man had a lick of sense he would obey it because if Mike didn't, he was going to wish he had.

 
-->

    Styxx Read onlineStyxxInferno Read onlineInfernoDark Side of the Moon Read onlineDark Side of the MoonInfinity Read onlineInfinityAcheron Read onlineAcheronDead After Dark Read onlineDead After DarkPlaying Easy to Get Read onlinePlaying Easy to GetSecond Chances Read onlineSecond ChancesOne Silent Night Read onlineOne Silent NightNight Play Read onlineNight PlayDance With the Devil Read onlineDance With the DevilUnleash the Night Read onlineUnleash the NightBorn of Legend Read onlineBorn of LegendNo Mercy Read onlineNo MercyFire Bound Read onlineFire BoundSeize the Night Read onlineSeize the NightIntensity Read onlineIntensityRise of the Gryphon Read onlineRise of the GryphonBorn of Vengeance Read onlineBorn of VengeanceWitchlock Read onlineWitchlockRetribution Read onlineRetributionThe Curse Read onlineThe CurseDragon King of Treoir Read onlineDragon King of TreoirThe Dream-Hunter Read onlineThe Dream-HunterCloak & Silence Read onlineCloak & SilenceThe Guardian Read onlineThe GuardianSins of the Night Read onlineSins of the NightDeadmen Walking Read onlineDeadmen WalkingUpon the Midnight Clear Read onlineUpon the Midnight ClearDream Chaser Read onlineDream ChaserDragonmark Read onlineDragonmarkSon of No One Read onlineSon of No OneIllusion Read onlineIllusionIn Other Worlds Read onlineIn Other WorldsBorn of Defiance Read onlineBorn of DefianceBad Moon Rising Read onlineBad Moon RisingBorn to Be Bad Read onlineBorn to Be BadBorn of Ice Read onlineBorn of IceBad Attitude Read onlineBad AttitudeA Dark-Hunter Christmas Read onlineA Dark-Hunter ChristmasDream Warrior Read onlineDream WarriorAlterant Read onlineAlterantHouse of the Rising Son Read onlineHouse of the Rising SonInstinct Read onlineInstinctStygian Read onlineStygianDevil May Cry Read onlineDevil May CryTime Untime Read onlineTime UntimeDark Bites Read onlineDark BitesInfamous Read onlineInfamousDragonbane Read onlineDragonbaneNight Embrace Read onlineNight EmbraceKiss of the Night Read onlineKiss of the NightBorn of Fire Read onlineBorn of FireInvincible Read onlineInvincibleDragonsworn Read onlineDragonswornBorn of Night Read onlineBorn of NightNight Pleasures Read onlineNight PleasuresBorn of Shadows Read onlineBorn of ShadowsBlood Trinity Read onlineBlood TrinityDeadly Promises Read onlineDeadly PromisesRogue Belador Read onlineRogue BeladorDeath Doesn't Bargain Read onlineDeath Doesn't BargainBorn of Betrayal Read onlineBorn of BetrayalAt Death's Door (Deadman's Cross Book 3) Read onlineAt Death's Door (Deadman's Cross Book 3)Belador Cosaint Read onlineBelador CosaintFire and Ice Read onlineFire and IceTie Me Up, Tie Me Down Read onlineTie Me Up, Tie Me DownBig Guns Out of Uniform Read onlineBig Guns Out of UniformSilent Truth Read onlineSilent TruthWhispered Lies Read onlineWhispered LiesPhantom in the Night Read onlinePhantom in the Night[BAD 07] - Silent Truth Read online[BAD 07] - Silent TruthDark Bites (Dark-Hunter World) Read onlineDark Bites (Dark-Hunter World)Stygian (The Dark-Hunter World Book 28) Read onlineStygian (The Dark-Hunter World Book 28)The League 3: Paradise City Read onlineThe League 3: Paradise CityUntil Death We Do Part Read onlineUntil Death We Do PartFear the Darkness Read onlineFear the DarknessFantasy Lover Read onlineFantasy LoverInsurrection [Nevermore] Read onlineInsurrection [Nevermore]Winter's Night Read onlineWinter's NightDead After Dark_Shadow of the Moon Read onlineDead After Dark_Shadow of the MoonDeath Doesn't Bargain: A Deadman's Cross Novel Read onlineDeath Doesn't Bargain: A Deadman's Cross NovelWinter Born Read onlineWinter BornDragonswan Read onlineDragonswanRise of the Gryphon (Belador #4) Read onlineRise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)Infinity: Chronicles of Nick Read onlineInfinity: Chronicles of NickThe League 1: Born Of The Night Read onlineThe League 1: Born Of The NightWhat Dreams May Come (Berkley Sensation) Read onlineWhat Dreams May Come (Berkley Sensation)The Beginning Read onlineThe BeginningAlterant: Belador Code Series: Book Two Read onlineAlterant: Belador Code Series: Book TwoLove At First Bite Read onlineLove At First BiteStyxx (DH #33) Read onlineStyxx (DH #33)A Hard Day's Night-Searcher Read onlineA Hard Day's Night-SearcherPhantom Lover Read onlinePhantom LoverCloak & Silence (The League) Read onlineCloak & Silence (The League)The Curse (Beladors) Read onlineThe Curse (Beladors)[Dark Hunter-Were Hunter 2] - Night Play Read online[Dark Hunter-Were Hunter 2] - Night PlayChronicles of Nick 02 - Invincible Read onlineChronicles of Nick 02 - InvincibleNaughty or Nice? Read onlineNaughty or Nice?BAD to the Bone Read onlineBAD to the BoneStroke of Midnight Read onlineStroke of MidnightDragonbane_[AN_SK] Read onlineDragonbane_[AN_SK]Man of My Dreams Read onlineMan of My Dreams