Darkness Falls (DA 7)
Praise for Keri Arthur
Winner of the
Romantic Times
2008 Reviewers’ Choice Awards for Career Achievement in Urban Fantasy
“One of the best urban fantasy authors in print today.”
—Darque Reviews
“You’ll be hooked.”
—
USA Today
Darkness Splintered
“Readers will be swept up in a whirlwind of action that doesn’t let up.”
—
RT Book Reviews
“There is plenty of action, suspense, danger, and romance at every turn of the page. . . . I have enjoyed watching Risa grow and adapt to her situation. I really can’t wait to see how everything ends.”
—Urban Fantasy Investigations
“This story has a way of [getting] into your mind to the extent where you are trying to sleep and then find yourself picking up the book again even though it’s already four a.m.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“The pace doesn’t seem to let up even for a second. . . . Each time I pick up a [Dark Angels] book, Risa’s grown a little more, become a little stronger, and is in deeper shit.”
—The Book Swarm
“Urban fantasy at its best! Arthur captures readers and catapults them into a world that is both authentic and explosive. . . . This book is a must read.”
—Readaholics Anonymous
“The biggest indicator of [being] a phenomenal author is . . . writ[ing] book after book that keeps the reader coming back for more, and this surely fits Keri Arthur. . . . [She] should be on every urban fantasy lover’s autobuy list, which she proves yet again with this fabulous showing in
Darkness Splintered
. An absolute must read!”
—A Book Obsession
“So much is going on, but it never feels rushed. . . . Arthur really knows what she’s doing and
Darkness Splintered
just might be the best in the series!”
—Under the Covers
“Captivating and hard to put down.”
—Happily Ever After-Reads
Darkness Unmasked
“Another compelling web of action, intrigue, mystery, and suspense! . . . The outside world simply disappears when I have a Dark Angels book in hand. . . . While a lot of series start to lag at the five-book mark, somehow I feel like this thrill ride is just getting started. . . . These books have everything you want in a perfectly written urban fantasy.”
—Literal Addiction
“Awesome. . . . A lot of series start to go stale after multiple installments, but that just isn’t the case here.”
—A Book Obsession
“This is another gripping read in a series that I can’t get enough of.”
—Happily Ever After-Reads
“A well-written, thrilling urban fantasy.”
—All Things Urban Fantasy
Darkness Hunts
“[A] kick-ass heroine. . . . I’m enjoying this series more and more with each book.”
—Happily Ever After-Reads
“Another thrilling installment in the Dark Angels series. . . . I am definitely looking forward to the next book.”
—All Things Urban Fantasy
“An absolute thrilling ride from start to finish!”
—A Book Obsession
“I am a huge fan of this Dark Angels series . . . a must read for urban fantasy readers.”
—Book Savvy Babe
“This series is awesome. . . . I absolutely cannot wait to read the next in the series.”
—AwesomeSauce Book Club
“I cannot imagine anyone not loving this series!”
—Urban Fantasy Investigations
“Chock-full of revelations, nonstop action, and a true MUST read for fans . . . a page-turner that will have readers on the edge of their seats.”
—Nocturne Romance Reads
Darkness Devours
“Prepare for intense action and sexual attraction to take center stage. . . . Arthur writes stellar action scenes. . . . I absolutely cannot wait to read what happens next in this indomitable story.
Darkness Devours
is bloody good with its provocative heroine and killer plotline.”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“An intricate and thrilling urban fantasy filled with sensuality, violence, and imagination . . . mesmerizing.”
—Night Owl Reviews
Darkness Rising
“You will fall hard for [Keri Arthur’s] Dark Angels series.”
—Coffee Time Romance & More
“A highly imaginative world with memorable characters . . . everything a fan of romance and urban fantasy would enjoy. There is a cosmopolitan mix of supernatural creatures: werewolves, vampires, and witches . . . an exciting new series!”
—Night Owl Reviews
Darkness Unbound
“Keri Arthur has blown me away again. Her worlds are so complex and ‘real.’ . . . Risa makes readers fall in love with her. . . . I highly recommend Arthur’s books.”
—
USA Today
“Must read! I love, love, love it! Arthur’s . . . kick-ass action and indelible heroine left me enraptured. Risa Jones is . . . one of a kind; she is the next generation’s paranormal superheroine!”
—Joyfully Reviewed
Full Moon Rising
“Keri Arthur skillfully mixes her suspenseful plot with heady romance. . . . Sexy vampires, randy werewolves, and unabashed, unapologetic, joyful sex—you’ve gotta love it. Smart, sexy, and well conceived.”
—Kim Harrison
“Deliciously sexy . . . [it] pulls you in and won’t let go. Keri Arthur knows how to thrill! Buckle up and get ready for a wild, cool ride!”
—Shana Abé
Also by Keri Arthur
The Dark Angels Series
Darkness Unbound
Darkness Rising
Darkness Devours
Darkness Hunts
Darkness Unmasked
Darkness Splintered
The Souls of Fire Series
Fireborn
SIGNET
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014
USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China
A Penguin Random House Company
First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Copyright © Keri Arthur, 2014
Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
ISBN 978-1-101-62194-3
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Version_1
Contents
I’d like to thank my lovely editor, Danielle Perez; copy editor Eileen Chetti for making sense of my Aussie English; publicist Nita Basu for getting the word out; and the fabulous Tony Mauro for the cover art.
A special thanks to those whose support I couldn’t survive without: my agent, Miriam Kriss; my crit buddies and best friends, Robyn, Mel, Chris, Carolyn, and Freya; and my lovely daughter,
Kasey.
Chapter 1
The Raziq were coming.
The energy of their approach was very distant, but it blasted heat and thunder across my senses and sent me reeling. But even worse was the sheer and utter depth of rage that accompanied that distant wave. I’d known they would be angry that we’d deceived them, but this . . . This was murderous.
Up until now, the Raziq had used minor demons to kidnap me whenever they’d wanted to talk to me—although
their
version of talk generally involved some kind of torture. This time, however, there would be no talking. There would be only death and destruction.
And they would take out everyone—and everything—around us in the process.
It was a horrendous prospect given that we were still at the Brindle, a place that not only held aeons of witch knowledge but was also home to at least two dozen witches.
I reached for my sword. Even though we couldn’t fight in this place of peace, I still felt safer with Amaya’s weight in my hand. But she wasn’t there. Just for an instant, panic surged; then I realized I’d left her behind, among the ruins of our home. In the aftermath of my father’s destruction, I’d been desperate to see whether Mirri—who’d been under a death sentence, thanks to Father’s magic—had by some miracle survived, and I hadn’t given Amaya a second thought.