Authors: Cathy Clamp
Forbidden (43 page)
“It's not scruples that would stop me from taking the job, lady. It's self-preservation. Too many people know your name. Investigators would work a lot harder because you're newsworthy. And I'm not for rent on an hourly basis.”
That was supposed to be it. The end. I don't know why I said the next. “But, fine. If you want to buy my ear for the night, it's for sale. A thousand up front and I'll let you know how much more when the story's over.” I half-stood and half-slid out of the booth. “Let's go.”
She looked startled. “Just like that?”
There I go againâbeing impulsive. I should walk out. My gut told me I should run. I've learned to trust my wolf instincts even when I don't understand them. And yet, I shrugged and smiled tightly at her. I had nothing better to do right now. I had no reason to fear this person. No logical reason, anyway. Money's money. It's just another job.
“Just like that. You're driving. But I have to make a call first. So finish your drink, go to the john or whatever. I'll meet you out front in a couple of minutes. What are you driving?”
Her eyes got wider. I could smell the hot tang of fear, the soured milk smell of disbelief and rising under both, the lighter smell of hope. She had been expecting me to walk out. Probably thought I was playing a cruel joke. Not a chance. For once I'd be able to indulge my curiosity. In my position, the less I know about a client or a mark the better. Except this time I wanted to know more. Maybe I'd find out how many people had walked out on her in the past. Or why she wanted to die. Maybe I'd walk out too. We'd see.
Â
Cathy Clamp
has hit the
USA Today
bestseller list for paranormal romance written in partnership with C. T. Adams. Clamp was also half of “Cat Adams” for the first six novels in the Blood Singer series, which begins with
Blood Song
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TOR BOOKS
by
CATHY CLAMP
Forbidden
BY
CATHY CLAMP
and
C. T. ADAMS
T
HE
S
AZI
BY C. T. ADAMS
and
CATHY CLAMP
T
HE
T
HRALL
W
RITING AS
C
AT
A
DAMS
Â
EARLY PRAISE FOR
FORBIDDEN
“One of the richest supernatural worlds in the genre. Sazi fans are about to hit the jackpot as Clamp returns to reenergize this amazing series. Searching for layered plotlines and complex characters? Look no further, as Clamp truly delivers!”
â
RT Book Reviews
PRAISE FOR THE SHAPESHIFTER NOVELS OF
CATHY CLAMP
and
C. T. ADAMS
“I read the book in one sitting.⦠[It] has some new twists in the werewolf's tail that were very cool.”
âLaurell K. Hamilton on
Hunter's Moon
“This incredible novel is inventive, totally riveting as well as surprisingly tender. Adams and Clamp are a powerhouse team that has opened the door to an amazing new world.”
â
RT Book Reviews
(4½ stars) on
Hunter's Moon
“Adams and Clamp are adept at writing intensely sensuous, hot lovemaking scenes, but where they really shine is in the creation of an unforgettable world where secret shapeshifters live, love, and scheme. Laurell K. Hamilton readers will enjoy this edgy world.”
â
Booklist
on
Moon's Web
“Adams and Clamp score another winner. They continue adding new and interesting branches to the greater shapeshifter hierarchal tree; with so many animal species to choose from, the sky is literally the limit in their imaginative and complicated mythology. There's also a nasty set of power-hungry villains whose characters and sinister agenda will literally make your skin crawl. Exciting and very readable.”
â
BookLoons
on
Captive Moon
“Is it good? Oh yeah. Adams and Clamp just keep getting better and better with each book, and they've made it easy for a new reader to jump in at any point. Whether you like urban fantasy or paranormal romance, this is a series worth picking up.”
â
SF Site
on
Howling Moon
“By focusing on complicated pack politics and on the difficulties of balancing a human and an animal self, Adams and Clamp have created a fascinating but credible world. [Characters] confront fairly complex issues related to leadership, community, and individual freedom. This makes for a thought-provoking but riveting read. It also results in characters who are far more multifaceted than the average super-powered paranormal creations.”
â
The Romance Reader
on
Moon's Fury
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Contents
Â
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
FORBIDDEN
Copyright © 2015 by Cathy Clamp
Hunter's Moon
excerpt copyright © 2003 by Cathy L. Clamp and C. T. Adams
All rights reserved.
Cover design by FORT
Cover art by Gene Mollica
Title page image:
iStock.com
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-7720-3 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-4668-5460-4 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466854604
First Edition: August 2015