Unchained (Men in Chains Book 3) (40 page)

He stayed put, enjoying Gabriel’s waterfall, a ten-foot sheet lit by three soft blue lights from below. The mass of blue crystals behind the waterfall set the entire room in a glow.

Adrien and Lucian drew close, each in turn clapping him on the shoulder.

“We’re glad you and Shayna are making a go of it,” Adrien said. “But it is amazing, isn’t it, these women that essentially Daniel chose for each of us?”

“A huge fucking irony. I don’t think this was what he planned at all.”

All three men chuckled. The last thing Daniel would have ever embraced was the warm family group his three youngest sons had created out of the nightmare Daniel had delivered.

Daniel was gone now, as well as the sons aligned with him. Their world would have a chance to breathe now and to grow. Marius was under no illusions: They were just getting started in terms of managing the illegal activities that some of his kind were prone to.

Lucian spoke quietly. “Rumy thinks we’ll have at least fifty cavern systems to uncover, each holding human slaves intended for Daniel’s clubs.”

Yep, he and his brothers had a lot of work to do yet, but they were no longer without power. Both Lucian and Adrien, wearing the Ancestral mark of the double-chains, had the corresponding power. Marius had something similar though it was agreed he might be the next evolution in his world. He wondered if just maybe his human mother was the cause—and wouldn’t that be another wonderful irony? But then Daniel had chosen her as well.

Now that Daniel was dead, Marius could let a lot of things go. His past for one, and his fear of his emerging powers for another.

He would regroup with his brothers in a few days, when he’d had a chance to be alone with Shayna and to set up his new apartment in the Cascade system. For now, he’d never been so content, so at peace, so hopeful for the future.

A call to dinner brought him back to Shayna. They gathered as the family they were, especially when Eve arrived just in time, vampires with one shared purpose: to see their world become a safe, well-governed place in which all could thrive.

Gabriel said the blessing. “In times of chaos, even in the midst of destruction, we are ever grateful for that which feeds our bodies, whether served from the sacrificial vein or from fare on the table. May the fire of the eternal spirit ignite your life force tonight and evermore.”

When Gabriel offered a short bow, everyone followed suit, then sat down to break bread together.

Marius held Shayna’s hand throughout the meal, not wanting to lose touch even for a second. With Shayna on his right, he had to work to eat left-handed, but he didn’t care. He’d found an extraordinary blessing and at least for now he honored that blessing by holding his woman’s hand and occasionally bringing her fingers to his lips.

She hardly noticed, however, because she’d asked Gabriel a question and the man not only answered her but encouraged her to ply him with as many questions as pleased her soul.

There were a lot of questions that night.

And laughter.

And love.

And above all a sense of hope that had not existed in his world for a long, long time.

Also by Caris Roane

ASCENSION

BURNING SKIES

WINGS OF FIRE

BORN OF ASHES

OBSIDIAN FLAME

GATES OF RAPTURE

BORN IN CHAINS

Praise for the Guardians of Ascension series

“Caris Roane powers into the paranormal romance genre with a sexy, cool, edgy, romantic fantasy that gleams like the dark wings and lethal allure of her Guardians of Ascension vampires. Prepare to be enthralled!”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Lara Adrian

“The latest Guardians of Ascension romantic urban fantasy is a great thriller … another fantastic entry in one of the strongest sagas on the market today.”

—
Midwest Book Reviews

“Roane’s worldbuilding is complex and intriguing, and in addition to her compelling protagonists, she serves up a slew of secondary characters begging to be explored further. The Guardians of Ascension is a series with epic potential!”

—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars)

“A super urban romantic fantasy in which the audience will believe in the vampires and the Ascension … fast-paced … thrilling.”

—Alternative Worlds

“A great story with a really different take on vampires. This is one book that is sure to be a hit with readers who love paranormals. Fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series are sure to love this one too.”

—Red Roses for Authors Blog

“
Ascension
is like wandering in the field of a creative and colorful dream. There are many interesting, formidable, terrifying, beautiful, and unique images. They surround and envelop you in a story as old as time.”

—Barnes and Noble’s Heart to Heart Romance Blog

“Incredibly creative,
Ascension
takes readers to another level as you learn about two earths, vampires, ancient warriors, and a new twist on love. I felt like I was on a roller-coaster ride, climbing until I hit the very top, only to come crashing down at lightning speed. Once you pick this book up, clear off your calendar because you won’t be able to put it down. Best book I have read all year.”

—
SingleTitles.com

“Tightly plotted and smoking hot … a fantastic read.”

—Fresh Fiction

“Nail-biting romance … hot sex … I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.”

—Bitten by Romance

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caris Roane
is the author of the Guardians of Ascension series and the Men in Chains series, both featuring powerful vampires and the women who love them. Caris lives in the Phoenix area of the Sonoran Desert, really doesn’t like scorpions, and in her spare time tries to stay off Facebook. You can find Caris at
www.carisroane.com
.

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.

UNCHAINED

Copyright © 2014 by Caris Roane.

All rights reserved.

For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

www.stmartins.com

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eISBN: 9781466829756

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / December 2014

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.