Bond of Destiny, an all new action packed and incredible supernatural novella in the Demonica series from New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione and 1,001 Dark Nights is available now!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Larissa Ione returns with a new story in her Demonica series…

Sold into slavery mere hours after his birth to werewolf parents, Tracker spent decades in service to cruel underworlders. Then the fallen angel Harvester transferred his ownership to a human woman who gave him as much freedom as the unbreakable bond would allow. Still, thanks to his traumatic past, he’s afraid to trust, let alone feel love. But when an acquaintance shows up at his door, injured and in need of help, he finds himself longing for a connection. For someone to touch. For someone to care.

Stacey Orr has had it bad for Tracker since the day her best friend, Jillian, was forced to hold his unbreakable slave bond. At first, the fact that he’s a werewolf seemed weird to Stacey, but hey, her best friend was married to one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, so weird is definitely a matter of perspective. Stacey knows the depths of Tracker’s trauma, and she longs to help him even as he helps her, but breaking through his walls isn’t easy.

And it only gets harder when the only blood family he has, the pack that gave him away, lays claim to him…and everything he loves.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

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The author injected so much hope and positivity into this story that there was no way that darkness could win. Tracker was left broken after decades of abuse and with his new master, Jillian, he was slowly learning what it was to have some freedom. No more abuse, no more pain. And with Stacey he was learning what it was to truly appreciate his new life. He learned what it was to not only give, but to also receive love.

I haven't read much from this series, but after reading this, falling for these characters, and meeting Harvester and Reseph (who aren't together and are actually mated to other people, but are really compelling people I want to know), I'll be changing all of that. This series is obviously full of must-read stories!

Find my full review here: Bond of Destiny

Quick Peek

Impossible female.

Damn, Stacey was stubborn.

And sure, Tracker liked that. To a point. Her stubbornness made it damned hard to protect her. As a DART agent, he was sure she was capable, just as she’d said. But just as he’d said, she was injured, and until he found out what they were dealing with, she had no business being out here.

It was his duty. Period.

As far as her deception—although he hesitated to label it that—he wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t truly believe that Jillian would be cruel in her anger. His reaction had more to do with his past experiences than his present.

And in the past, he could be tortured mercilessly for what had happened between he and Stacey. Now…now he was worried more about disappointing Jillian. 

Jillian has basically freed you, but you keep putting the shackles back on.

Shackles? Stacey had no idea.

But it was something he’d have to deal with later. Right now, something was lurking in the forest.

He looked toward the heavens, measuring the darkness. The sky was clear and the moon was nearly full. Which meant a lot of light. Too much light. He’d be easily seen out in the open.

The trees and buildings threw silhouettes onto the fresh white snow, so he kept between drifts and in the shadows as best as he could and used his natural night vision to scan the forest. Pausing near the barn, he raised his head, seeking scents that might be out of place.

He caught a whiff of a deer somewhere nearby, but aside from that, nothing stood out. Still, the sense of a threat remained, like an oil slick on his skin.

He moved cautiously in the direction of the Harrowgate. The roads weren’t cleared yet, so anyone trying to get here would either have to use the gate, flash in, or hike for miles through deep snow and thick forest.

He really hoped no one had flashed in. Anyone capable of materializing into a location was powerful. Granted, anyone who could use a Harrowgate was a bigger threat than your average human, but the flashers were next-level dangerous. Fallen angel and hellhound-level dangerous.

As he approached the plowed path leading to the Harrowgate, the danger vibe intensified. Adrenaline spiked hot in his veins, bringing with it the high of the hunt. The only time he’d been happy in Sheoul was when there was a threat or when he was hunting something his masters wanted. The beast inside him craved the chase, and for a brief time, nothing else mattered. He could forget everything but the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of a good battle.

He’d given his all, and he’d earned a reputation among slave owners of being willing to face anything, do anything, go anywhere, because he was so brave.

His owners, who had bragged about his fierceness, were wrong. He hadn’t been brave. He just hadn’t cared whether he’d lived or died.

Now he cared. 

More important, he had people he cared about.

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.

She'd never met a man who purred. It was the most fascinating and sexy sound.

Pure Magnetism by Aja James

A lost king…

Goya is a rare magical being: a royal Beast. And not just any animal shifter, but the king of the earthly realm--the great white tiger. But now he is a king without a home, cut off from his kin, and trapped in a human body against his will.

A single mother…

Maddie Peterson is a career-minded single mother who has a fundamental distrust (and often, dislike) of men, especially in light of her cheating ex-husband and manipulative co-worker. But, then, she's never met a male like Goya before.

Opposite worlds collide…

When Maddie welcomes the silent stranger into her home, there is no denying their animal attraction. She teaches him how to be human, and he teaches her how to be wild. But when he gives his heart and soul to her, the pure spirit of the noblest of Beasts, is she brave enough to accept him as a partner into her life, as well as step into his fantastical, dangerous world?

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(free to read with Kindle Unlimited)

I went into this book with so many questions, and yet they all fled my mind because... GOYA!! My bookish friends, those who put me onto this series and have been encouraging me to fall for these characters, know exactly what I'm talking about.

Goya was an incredible, honorable, fierce tiger, the TIGER KING, and he was beautifully broken. I don't even know how being in pieces can make a male so gorgeous, but that's what he was. I want to claim him for my harem, but Cécile doesn't seem to want to share! 😭😭😭

No female will ever ride me like this, he vowed silently, willing her to understand through their fused gazes. No female will ever own me like this. Only you, Maddie mine. Only you will have the power to break me. He opened his eyes wide, then, and let her see everything inside of him. The animal, the man. The prisoner, the king.

I don't even know how him being silent could be so hot. Maddie did all the talking and her inner musings were hilarious! Everything she said or did showed how awesome she was. Sweet, kind and generous... she was the perfect person to help a lost tiger. She’d never met a man who purred. It was the most fascinating and sexy sound... Her inner slut cackled like it was on crack.

The elements have been referred to before, but I need to know what their importance is? Ramses has now confirmed that he his an Earth elemental, which is cool because Eli is wind and Clara is fire. So who is water? And isn't Goya an Earth elemental as well? With him being at least 12,000 years old, wouldn't that make him like ten times stronger than Ramses? Hello?! He's the King of Beasts!! And if Goya isn't the strongest right now, is it because he hasn't realized his full capabilities, such as having control over any living or non-living thing?

And why is Ramses being set as someone not to be trusted? What the heck is his real agenda?

Am I bad person for thinking the scenes between Medusa and Wan'er were hilarious? How funny was it that Wan'er used her? Their final transformation sounds disgusting and I can't wait until they die. I still want it to be graphic, bloody, torturous, and final.

Whatever, Goya was awesome, Maddie was awesome, even her brat of a son was on his way to being awesome. I love all of these characters so much and I can't wait to see if The Creature finally learns about its parentage!!

Check out the previous books:

Intensely, he stared into her eyes, letting her see into his fathomless depths.

Maddie’s heart stalled, lungs sputtered, the longer she looked.

So much sorrow and pain. So much loneliness and vulnerability.

Yet, burning through it all, was a steadfast strength, an undefeatable courage.

And he was giving it all to her.

His big hands cupped her face.

Her arms tightened around his waist.

Slowly, achingly, his head lowered to hers.

And when he kissed her softly with trembling lips, Maddie knew that she’d love this man forever.

Aja James just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

I felt alive.
Truly alive.
Everything else was deception.
She was my truth.
She was the reason for my existence.
I told her the only way I knew how. With my body. By my actions.
Without words.

Pure Providence by Aja James

All my existence, I have loved one woman.
But she was never meant to be mine.

I loved her when she was the intended bride for another.
I betrayed him too.
I loved her after they married.
I took what wasn’t mine.
I paid my penance by dying in his stead.
But it wasn’t enough to restore the Balance.

When the Goddess gave me a chance to make things right, to serve as a soldier of the Pure Ones, I embraced that offer. Even though what I really wanted to do was stay dead and numb.
Never to be reawakened in this world.
Never to feel again.
To yearn and desire and seethe with jealousy and despair at my own helplessness.
The Goddess warned me at the moment of my death and rebirth not to want her again. For our paths would cross in the future, though I wouldn’t know the time and place. Nor would I recognize her physical incarnation.
For she was never meant to be mine.
Will never be mine.

But the moment I realized who she was—the Pure Queen I’d been assigned to protect as the Paladin—the moment I recognized her soul, I Fell again.
I wanted. I craved. I yearned. I seethed.
I resisted.
I pushed her away over and over again. Made her angry and confused.
Made her hate me.
But Goddess above! I cannot change how I feel. I cannot stop wanting her.
Cannot stop loving her.
All my existence, my body, heart and soul have belonged to one woman.
Even though she can never be mine.

I love her still.
I love her forever.
This is the beginning of the end of our story.
Judge me if you dare.

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(free to read with Kindle Unlimited)

Pure Providence was another heartbreaking tale about another broken hero. And I loved it! Dalair was such a sweetheart, but I already knew that. Getting his side of things was a welcome treat. I finally know what happened between him and Sophia in their past life together and my heart is so broken for them. However, I think that some of it could have been avoided. These two just needed to damn well communicate!

I thought it was obvious that Amon was not only a female in disguise, but also the princess. However, I thought it was fun to watch Dalair fumble around, be oblivious to the facts and wonder why he's so attracted to a man when he's only ever been attracted to women. Seeing this usually stoic and controlled male lose himself like this was highly entertaining.

In the end, I was thinking of The Creature (who seems to be such a contradiction) and his conversation with the unconscious Dalair in the last book. He talked about their past connection and that he loved (and hated) Dalair like a brother. Does that mean he was Cambyses? If so, what happened to the real Cambyses and when did The Creature take over that role? This being gives me so many questions, having me question everything, and I can't wait to find it all out.

Anyhoo, Dalair died a horrific and yet honorable death all in the name of loving Sophia's past iteration. And it's likely that she remembers all of this. Maybe they will finally talk and she can reveal her true feelings to him. Can you imagine dying, being born again, and believing that the one you loved with your whole being didn't love you back?

Check out the previous books:

Aja James just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

Her mind might be confused, still sorting itself out, but her instincts were sure.
She knew this male.
She wanted this male.

Dark Obsession by Aja James

Maximus has always been in control.

As the Commander of the Chosen, the Dark King’s personal guard, he can’t afford to step wrong. With his eternal familiar at his side, he can loosen up, give in to moments of carefree fun. But all that changed on a fateful night.

She will always find a way back to him…

Ariel Kyles is an experiment with programmed thoughts but no soul—until a black panther’s spirit possesses her body. Suddenly, she discovers whole new needs, desires, and a primal, irresistible obsession: Maximus.

Fate will not be denied…

Maximus and Ariel each have secrets about themselves to uncover, and their journey leads them to a fantastic, hidden world.

But the most delicious mystery of all may prove to be their Destiny together.

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(free to read with Kindle Unlimited)

At first, when I thought of typing up this review, I thought I would use my usual format. Not that I have a set structure mind you, but it seems like one. Then I thought "F*ck that!" because it's not like this story deserves anything less than the rambling, passionate thoughts I had while reading it. So rather than hide everything under spoilers, I'm going to lay it all out right here. So if you don't want to be spoiled, stop here knowing that I loved this book, I love this series, and I highly recommend it!

Ariel and Maximus = too hot for words! Obviously Max's connection to Simca and hers to him made all of this possible, but I loved how much Ariel was able to blossom with her new soul. And how Max was able to see all sides of her. He loved this female. Loved everything about her. He loved her sass, her intellect, her badass attitude. He loved her passion, her competitiveness, even her over-the-top possessiveness. He loved the way she pushed him, the way she partnered him, the way they fit together like two halves of a whole.

While Max was the clear star of this story, Ariel gave him a run for his money. She was a joy to meet and a wonder in the making. And I loved how obsessed she was with him. “If you take me,” he rumbled low, “you’ll never take another male as long as I live.” She dug her sharp little fingernails into his ass. “Fair. And I’ll rip out the throat of any female who looks at you twice.”

Am I supposed to feel sympathy for Wan'er? I felt nothing but disgust for her. I still wish her a cruel, punishing and agonizing death. I did feel sorry for her mate (because he didn't ask to be a blood slave or to father a child, no matter that everyone should be thankful that Ishtar was created) and for her abandoned child. I get wanting revenge, but she went too far. Working for her enemy, watching her mate be dishonored, being disgusted by him, watching him die, then one day working for your enemy's daughter... Wan'er is pathetic.

Is it weird that I thought it was equally wrong and right that Simca (now Ariel) was so obsessed and aroused by Maximus? These two were insanely hot together!

I think it's hilarious that both Tal and Benji can see The Creature, no matter his disguise. When will these people figure it all out and realize that he is The Creature they have been battling all along? And The Creature watching Benji was such fun! This boy was positively diabolical! Ridiculously smart. Brilliantly astute. This was a boy after his own dark heart.

Could Ariel's life have been more sad before she was merged with Simca? Medusa and Wan'er are monsters and I can only imagine I'll have more horrifying stories to read about in the books to come.

I loved getting the glimpses of Maximus as a boy. The loneliness he suffered, the abuses were heartbreaking, but I enjoyed seeing his kinship with felines, his unrelenting passion and zest for life, his overwhelming compassion for the trapped white tiger (not even realizing their connection)... everything spoke to the amazing and beautiful male he became.

Okay, so mind blown over here but... Max's dad is the white tiger? I know Goya has a story in this series at some point (and I can't wait to read it), but holy sh!t I'm still stunned over this connection. Seriously, Aja James is brilliant!

I'm a terrible person for appreciating the fact that Max killed his mother to free his father. He didn't even know they were his parents. She was no maternal figure and his father was locked in a cage and tortured regularly. Of course he'd want to help his father, without knowing he was his father.

That moment when Max was in his vampire form and Goya was in his tiger form... and they were sitting in silence and kinship... so unbelievably sweet! This father/son duo were giving me life. And then when they fought together in their tiger forms... I'm telling you, this book was amazing!

I am enamored by The Creature's strong connection to Dalair. Those scenes are so intense and illuminating and I'm always excited to see them pop up.

I'm so glad Clara's mortality was brought up. How will she and Eli conquer that? How will they continue to thrive togeher if he is immortal and she is not? Is there more to her (as it seems) or will her genetics be changed as Ava's were?

I need Dalair to fight his programming again. This is getting ridiculous. How is he supposed to live with himself after realizing he was a part of the animal spirit massacre?That he has been 'sleeping' with the enemy? That he has been fighting against his own?

What caused Tal to bellow in such pain? Then, he threw back his head and let out a soul-shattering shout into the sky, the rawness and agony tearing through his vocal cords, breaking his voice. The Creature felt it to the core of its being. Its heart might be black and shriveled, but whatever heart that was left there twisted and clenched in vicarious pain, filling its nostrils with acid. There was an infinite amount of anguish in the Pure warrior’s howl. An unfathomable depth to his despair. The worst of it was, the Creature knew very well what had led to this moment. The Creature watching his father like that, not even knowing he's his father... my heart just keeps breaking for these people.

After getting a glimpse of Alend Ramses's pain and his determination to never fall in love again, wouldn't it be hilarious to find out that he was Anu's father and that the woman he loved and never loved him back was her mother? I'm just saying, this series seems to love its six degrees of separation, so it's not a reach.

I'm in so deep and I have no intention of finding my way out. I've already got Pure Providence downloaded so I'm off to go deeper.

Check out the previous books:

On a shudder, Maximus came awake.

And stared into Agent Kyles’ golden green eyes.

She’d turned in his arms while he slept, her torso flush against his. Her crotch cradling his hard-on oh so tightly even through the layers of their cold-weather clothes.

She was stroking his face lightly with her hands, tracing his eyebrows, temples, nose, cheeks, jaw and mouth with inquisitive fingers.

He realized that she’d been doing this for a while now.

It was her touch that calmed him in his dreams. Her touch that pulled him out of memories he’d rather forget.

“Hands are such wonderful things,” she murmured huskily, her voice rough from sleep.

“I could never do this with paws. And you have such an intriguing face. Such a beautiful body. I want to touch you all the time.”

Maximus swallowed.

His heart thudded. His cock leapt.

It would be so easy to push down their trousers and drive into her welcoming, wet heat.

He knew she would welcome him. Her body all but hummed for him to fill it.

“Ariel…” he rasped, searching for the right words but coming up empty.

Just her name alone gave him pause.

It was the first time he’d used it. The first time he’d even thought it.

She’d always been Agent Kyles to him, a designation instead of a person.

He also couldn’t see her as Simca, no matter what she said about the panther’s soul being inside her. No matter that he saw glimpses of his feline familiar in her personality, thoughts and gestures.

But now…somehow…she was Ariel.

And that realization and recognition made him even more confused than before. Even as a part of him embraced it.

He felt too raw right now, too conflicted from his recent dream.

Had she seen it too? Had she seen what he really was?

What was inside him all this time?

“Beautiful,” she said firmly. “You were magnificent in your dream. Fierce and primal. The most gorgeous being I’ve ever seen. You shouldn’t hide yourself. You should be proud. You protected someone helpless. You saved his life.”

Aja James just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!