Captive of the Night

Contents Authors’ Note 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 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Sneak Peek: Lost to the Moon Lost to the Moon Stay in Touch The Mate Games Universe Also By Meg Anne Also By K. Loraine About Meg Anne About K. Loraine This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental. Copyright 2023 © Ravenscroft Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-951738-53-2 (Paperback Edition) 978-1-951738-54-9 (Hardback Edition) You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce, or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the author. Permission requests can be sent via email to: [email protected] Edited by Mo Sytsma of Comma Sutra Editorial Cover Design by CReya-tive Book Design Photographer: Wander Aguilar Model: Liam Black To Sunday’s Ravens. We love you, babycakes. “Hearts are wild creatures, that’s why our ribs are cages.” MORTICIA ADDAMS “The kind of love letters I write are the ones you read in bed, stretched out under the sheets with one hand between your legs.” MICHAEL FAUDET Authors’ Note Captive of the Night contains mature and graphic content that is not suitable for all audiences. Such content includes dubious consent, degradation, impact and blood play, bondage, and more. Reader discretion is advised. In addition to our usual warning, we also wanted to let you know that this book contains a scene some readers may consider to be extremely dubious consent. The scene in question can be found in Chapter 28 and occurs between Pan and Rosie. Please protect yourself if this is content you find harmful and skip this chapter. As always, a detailed list of content and trigger warnings is available on our website. Chapter One PAN “We should start making arrangements,” Gavin said, his voice cutting through the silence. We were all gathered in the hacker’s living room, the three of them sitting in shock, me biding my time. I had to play the grieving boyfriend before I could execute my plot. “W-what k-kind of a-arrangements?” Ben forced out. The vampire sighed and dragged a hand through his thick hair. “For her burial.” Both of the shifter twins stiffened, Remi’s jaw clenching as he inhaled sharply. “Burial? She’s not even cold, and you want to put her in the ground?” The way his voice broke would have gotten to a more sensitive man. Good job I wasn’t a man at all. Just wearing one’s skin. But this was my moment. It was time for my greatest performance to date. I stood, adopting a stricken expression, adding a bit of wobble to my lower lip. God, I was good. “I . . . I can’t believe I wasn’t here. She’s gone, and I didn’t save her.” Turning toward the hall, I began a purposeful stride toward the room where they’d placed her. “Where are you going, Asher?” Remi asked, rising as though he was going to join me. “I need to see her. I need to say goodbye.” “I’ll come with you. You shouldn’t be alone right now.” Motherfucker. Take a hint, wolf. This is a solo mission. Wait your turn. Thankfully the other Mercer got it. He reached out and grasped his brother’s arm, holding him back. “L-let him g-go, Remi.” “But—” “Some things are b-best d-done in p-private.” “I just need a few minutes with her. To apologize for not being here, you know?” What was this accent? I couldn’t get a read on it. Was I from California? Or the Midwest? Was I a surfer? Or a farmer? Why was this so difficult to figure out? “There’s nothing you could have done. Aisling got past all of us,” Remi said, his eyes bloodshot. “I know, but . . . it’s just something I need to do.” Before her blood goes cold and she’s not useful. I want my horns and tail back. And my cock. Praise Lucifer, the wolf sat down and stopped pressing the issue. I was worried he’d embrace me and try to comfort me. I was a good actor, but not that good. I’d likely kill him simply because I had the opportunity. I didn’t do touchy-feely. The only touchy I liked to do was with Rosie. Between her legs . . . or mine. A pang of loss hit me at the realization that was over. I’d never make her sigh again, or taste her, or feel her warm skin. Wait . . . was I bloody sad? Must be a side effect of the body. Demons didn’t get sad. I shook my head and cast my eyes down. “I’ll be back.” In moments I was alone with her, the veil of death shrouded the sparsely decorated room in its darkness. She was laid out on the bed, clad only in Gavin’s button-down shirt. If I didn’t know better, I’d assume she was simply sleeping. She looked so peaceful, her hair carefully arranged around her shoulders, her hands at her sides, face relaxed. I couldn’t help myself; I reached out and ran one finger across her brow and down her cheek. “Hello, my sleeping beauty. Why can you never stay out