The Darkest Kiss. Gena Showalter

      Praise for the novels of New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author

       Gena Showalter

      “A fascinating premise, a sexy hero and nonstop action, The Darkest Night is Showalter at her finest, and a fabulous start to an imaginative new series.” —New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning

      “Showalter delivers another smart and sexy romance

      brimming with hilarious pickup lines, fiery banter

      and steamy sensuality. A wickedly well-matched hero

      and heroine mix with an entertaining, creative and

      tremendously fun premise.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKreviews, 4½ stars, on Catch a Mate

      “Smart-alecky, wicked, and hilariously funny…

      sure to please the most jaded reader.”

      —Contemporary Romance Writers on Catch a Mate “A world of myth, mayhem and love under the sea!” —New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward on The Nymph King

      “I want to visit Atlantis! Deliciously evocative and

      filled with sexy men, The Nymph King is every woman’s fantasy come to sizzling life. A must read.” —Award-winning author P.C. Cast

      “Wow… Gena Showalter always takes us on

      a fantastic ride.”

      —USA TODAY bestselling author Merline Lovelace on Playing with Fire

      “The versatile Showalter takes the nail-biting elements

      of her exciting paranormals…and blends them with

      the wit and humor of her contemporary romances…

      to make a delicious offering spiced with the best

      ingredients of both.”

      —Booklist, starred review, on Playing with Fire

      “Charming and hilarious…

      I was hooked from page one.”

      —New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson on Playing with Fire

      “Another sizzling page-turner from one of the premier

      authors of paranormal romance. Gena Showalter

      delivers an utterly spellbinding story!”

      —USA TODAY bestselling author Kresley Cole on Playing with Fire

      “Showalter writes with a sparkling humor that keeps

      the story light without losing poignancy.”

      —Booklist on Animal Instincts

      “Bold and witty, sexy and provocative,

      Gena Showalter’s star is rising fast!”

      —New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips on Animal Instincts

      “Shines like the purest gem…. Rich in imagery

      and evocative detail, this book is a sterling example

      of what makes romance novels so worthwhile.”

      —A Romance Review, 5 stars, on Jewel of Atlantis

      “Lots of danger and sexy passion give lucky readers

      a spicy taste of adventure and romance.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Heart of the Dragon

      “This couple is dynamite and Tristan’s intense sensuality

      will have you sweating. [The Pleasure Slave] is definitely going on my keeper shelf.” —The Romance Studio

      “Sexy, funny and downright magical! Gena Showalter

      has a lyrical voice and the deft ability to bring

      characters to life in a manner that’s hilarious and

      absorbing at the same time.”

      —New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister on The Stone Prince

      Dear Reader,

      I’m thrilled to present my brand-new paranormal trilogy, Lords of the Underworld, which began with The Darkest Night and continues with The Darkest Kiss. In a remote fortress in Budapest, six immortal warriors—each more dangerously seductive than the last—are bound by an ancient curse none has been able to break. When a powerful enemy returns, they will travel the world in search of a sacred relic of the gods—one that threatens to destroy them all.

      Join me on a journey through this darkly sensual world, where the line between good and evil blurs and true love is put to the ultimate test.

      Wishing you all the best,

      Gena Showalter

      Gena Showalter

      THE DARKEST KISS

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To Karen Marie Moning. Thank you! Your talent constantly amazes me, and your generosity blesses me.

      To Kresley Cole. You would let me wear your skin if at all possible—and I won’t mention what you’d let me do to your eyeballs, though I will thank you for it—and for that, I will always be in your debt. Also, sorry I stole your bike pump and blamed it on Slurpie!

      To Marjorie Liu. Because you spank on and there’s nothing cooler!

      To Jill Monroe. You are a sister of my heart— hearter? sisart?—and even though you stole my gnome, I can’t imagine a life without you. For realsies.

      And to Tracy Farrell, Margo Lipschultz and all the wonderful people at Harlequin Books who have blessed me in countless ways. You’re making all my dreams come true! Art director Kathleen Oudit and designer Juliana Kolesova—I owe you big-time! The lips on this cover…Shiver! And you didn’t blink twice when I mentioned one brown eye and one blue eye.

      Acknowledgements

      Thank you, Low Down members, for your support! And thank you to Kerensa Wilson and Elaine Spencer for all you do! You are both amazing women.

      PROLOGUE

      HE WAS KNOWN AS THE Dark One. Malach ha-Maet. Yama. Azreal. Shadow Walker. Mairya. King of the Dead. He was all of those things and more, for he was a Lord of the Underworld.

      Long ago he had opened dimOuniak, a powerful box made from the bones of a goddess, unleashing a horde of demons upon the earth. As punishment, he and the warriors who aided him were forced to house those demons inside themselves, melding light and darkness, order and chaos, until they were barely able to retain any tether on the disciplined warriors they’d once been.

      Because he was the one to open the box, he had been given the demon of Death. A fair exchange, he supposed, for his action had nearly caused the demise of the world.

      Now he was charged with the responsibility of collecting human souls and escorting them to their final resting place. Even if he opposed the idea. He did not like taking innocents from their families, found no joy in delivering the wicked to their damnation, but he did both without question or hesitation. Resistance, he’d soon learned, brought something far worse than death to his door. Resistance brought an agony so complete, so inexorable, even the gods trembled at the thought.

      Did