Possessed by a Wolf. Sharon Ashwood

      

       “This was all I ever wanted. To be close to you, even with you knowing what I am.”

      Faran looked down into her face, his human eyes as impassive as the wolf’s had been.

      Lexie’s hands found his chest, bringing back a flood of sensory reminders. Suddenly she felt flushed and aching with memory. Her first thought was to push him away, but the crack in his voice stopped her. Her heart was pounding so hard she felt breathless. “I’m sorry.”

      Her hands slid down his shirt, feeling the quivering muscles beneath. He was holding himself in check so hard, it felt as if he might explode.

      And then her hand found hot, sticky wetness. She gasped. “Faran, you’re bleeding.”

      He exhaled, his breath warm against her cheek. “That wasn’t what you said in my fantasy of this moment.”

      SHARON ASHWOOD is a novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky. She has an English literature degree but works as a finance geek. Interests include growing her to-be-read pile and playing with the toy graveyard on her desk. Sharon is the winner of the 2011 RITA® Award for Paranormal Romance. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.

      Possessed

      by a Wolf

      Sharon Ashwood

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      To my Grandma, who taught me the joys of the kitchen (and the occasional tall tale).

      Follow love and it will flee,

      Flee love and it will follow thee.

      —English proverb, 16th century

      * * *

      The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Marcari

      King Renault

      Dowager Queen Sophia

      Princess Amelie

      * * *

      The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Vidon

      King Targon

      Crown Prince Kyle

      Prince Leopold

      Contents

       Cover

       Excerpt

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Dedication

       The Royal Families

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

       Chapter 7

       Chapter 8

       Chapter 9

       Chapter 10

       Chapter 11

       Chapter 12

       Chapter 13

       Chapter 14

       Chapter 15

       Chapter 16

       Chapter 17

       Chapter 18

       Chapter 19

       Chapter 20

       Chapter 21

       Chapter 22

       Chapter 23

       Chapter 24

       Chapter 25

       Chapter 26

       Chapter 27

       Chapter 28

       Extract

       Copyright

       There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.

      —Andre Gide

       Chapter 1

      Something cracked, a snapping sound that shot up Lexie Haven’s spine with an icy, instinctive foreboding.

      She looked up from her Nikon, still absorbed in photographing the wedding ring on its black velvet pillow. Her concentration had been absolute, and it took a moment to come back to reality and wonder what had disturbed her. Curious, she glanced around the room, but the portable lights she’d rigged up sank everything and everyone else into darkness. The night outside turned the floor-to-ceiling windows into mirrors. She was far away, but could see herself move—a figure in an emerald silk tunic and slacks, her pale face framed by a hip-length tumble of fiery hair. And then someone moved, blotting out her reflection.

      “What was that?” she said to no one in particular. No one replied. She looked around, almost ready to dismiss the noise from her mind. She had work to do.

      The dim room crowded with party guests made it next to impossible to take good photographs, but royalty paid well. In return, Lexie took plenty of shots of the attendees and their bling, and that included the celebrated wedding band. Although not every palace official wanted a photographer at the party, Lexie was the compromise choice between no coverage and a tabloid free-for-all. Hers would be the first photographs to hit the press. The royal couple had unveiled the ring only half an hour ago.

      Which was why Lexie was standing beside the marble fountain, camera pointed at the display case where the ring was being shown. For Lexie’s convenience, the case’s glass top had been removed and the