Excerpt and Giveaway: Reckoning (Fallen Siren #2) by S.J. Harper

Published: October 7th, 2014

Description:

Join Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.

She’s sacrificed. He’s suffered. They’ve both been betrayed.

Now it’s time for a reckoning.

Special Agent Emma Monroe has a secret. She’s a Fallen Siren, cursed by the gods and banished to Earth for her failure to prevent the kidnapping of Persephone. As an FBI agent she saves the lives of others believing redemption could be one rescue away.

Her partner Zack is a werewolf and former Black Ops sniper who once carried out a string of questionable assignments. Now he’s determined to atone for his past. Ironically, there’s a portion of his past Zack doesn’t remember—an affair with Emma. Giving into their attraction for one another almost led to their undoing. Now it’s back to business as usual.

While trying to unravel the mystery behind a series of kidnappings in Southern California, Emma and Zack become entangled with political tensions in the vampire and Were worlds. Not to mention the struggles they face in their relationship with one another. With so much uncertainty, they come to realize the only thing they can really count on is one another…or can they? 

CAPTURED

The Fallen Siren Series, Prequel #0.5

Join FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.

She’s a Siren. He’s a Werewolf.

Their mission is redemption.

Emma Monroe is a Fallen Siren, cursed by the gods and banished to Earth for her failure to prevent the kidnapping of Persephone. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now she works for the FBI and is on temporary assignment in Charleston. Solving this next missing persons case could be the key to ending her ancient curse—unless the temptation that’s her new partner gets in the way.

Zack Armstrong is a Werewolf. Tall, dark, and dangerous, he currently works for one of the bureau’s elite Child Abduction Rapid Deployment teams. In many respects the man is every bit as mysterious as his secret and perilous past. But there are two things he’s certain about, that he’s going to get his man and his woman.

When Zack finds himself suddenly shy a partner and a third child goes missing in Charleston, Emma goes from consultant to CARD team member in the space of a few hours. The abductions of the first two boys ended in murder, an outcome that neither Zack nor Emma can abide. As they race against time to track down the kidnapper and rescue the latest victim, they find themselves fighting something just as treacherous—a growing attraction that can’t be ignored or denied.

CURSED

The Fallen Siren Series, Book 1

Meet FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.


She's cursed. He's damned. 

Together, they make one hell of a team.



Emma Monroe is a Siren, cursed by the gods and bound to earth to atone for an ancient failure. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now that she works missing persons cases for the FBI, it could be just a rescue away. Unless her new partner leads her astray.



Special Agent Zack Armstrong just transferred into the San Diego Field Office. He’s a werewolf, doing his best to beat back the demons from his dark and dangerous past. As a former Black Ops sniper, he’s taken enough lives. Now he’s doing penance by saving them.

Emma and Zack’s very first case draws them deep into the realm of the paranormal, and forces them to use their own supernatural abilities. But that leaves each of them vulnerable, and there are lines partners should not cross. As secrets are revealed and more women go missing, one thing becomes clear: as they race to save the victims, Emma and Zack risk losing themselves.

EXCERPT

My cell rings. It’s Liz. I toss the rest of the sub into the trash can and answer. “Hey.”

One word and she knows. “What’s wrong?”

Liz recognizes my moods better than anyone.

“You mean besides that fact that I seem to be stuck. Here. Forever. Alone. That I have to walk around wear- ing some stupid Clark Kent disguise, saving people in hopes that one day the wack job of a goddess who ban- ished me will decide that the good I’ve done has out- weighed the bad?”

“Yeah, besides that.”

I smile.

Liz doesn’t skip a beat. “You know you’re not alone. You have me. And you have Kallistos.” “He keeps asking me to move in.” “Why don’t you?”

I frown. Zack is on his way back. “You know why,” I tell her.

Zack drapes his wet shirt on the wall, then sits back down and resumes his attack on the meatball and cheese. “Tell Liz I said hi,” he says between mouthfuls.

I do, then sign off, promising to call her back later and wondering how much of my conversation he overheard. I don’t have to wonder for long.

“So, it’s getting serious between you and Tall, Dark, and Pasty?”

“He’s not pasty. He’s fair. His people were Dorian.” I hand him back his gun and holster.

“Still, centuries without sun. That’s got to affect a guy.”

I recall what Kallistos looked like this morning, out on the balcony. “I think it really makes him appreciate it now.”

“He probably has a vitamin-D deficiency.”

“He doesn’t have a vitamin-D deficiency.”

“That’ll lead to brittle bones as he gets older, you know.” Zack tosses the wrapper from his sub into the trash.

“He’s already older.”

“Not to mention dead.”

“Undead.”

“Whatever.” He knocks back the rest of his soda.

“Why aren’t you moving in with him?”

The question catches me by surprise, the directness of it. “What do you mean?”

“It’s a simple question.”

My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. I release a breath. “I guess because I’m not in love with him. Moving in with someone . . . Now, that seems like a really big commitment.”

He smiles and reaches for his shirt. “And now we’re talking about me and Sarah.”

I follow him back up the stairs to the parking lot. “You’ve been living together for what—five months?”

“Uh-huh.”

“She seems happy,” I finally say.

Zack keeps walking. Stoic. Silent.

“And you seem . . . happy,” I add.

We reach the car and Zack holds out a hand for the keys. He opens the back, throws his shirt inside along with the tie and suit coat, then slams it shut.

“Are you happy, Zack?” I ask. A dangerous question. One I have no right to ask.

I’m standing, my hand on the passenger door to the Suburban. He’s on the driver’s side, key in the lock.

“I’m not sure I ever will be. Something’s missing. I don’t even know what it is, but I know I want it back in the worst possible way.”

The locks on the car pop. We both climb inside. I look straight ahead, expression neutral. The engine turns over. For a second I think he’s going to say more. Then the moment passes and he’s grasping the steering wheel and slipping into traffic.

*****

I pop the lid off the coffee cup, lift it to my lips, and breathe in the aroma before taking a sip. 

“How you feeling?” he asks as I sink down onto the sofa. 

I lean my head back and close my eyes. “Like I drank too much wine, passed out, and slept in my clothes.” 

A whiff of cinnamon forces them open again. Zack’s holding a bagel in front of my face. I reach for it and take a grateful bite. “How are you feeling?” 

“Answering that will only annoy you,” he says. Damned werewolf metabolism. 

Then, a moment of hesitation before he asks, “Is he still feeding from you?” 

As if that question won’t annoy me at all. I leave the bagel and coffee on the table in front of the sofa and head for my closet. “I thought we agreed that was none of your business?” 

When he doesn’t answer, I turn around. 

Instead of being across the room, where I’d left him, he’s right behind me. 

“You agreed,” he answers. “You know the more you allow it, the more you’ll want it, crave it, crave him. I worry about you, Emma.” 

I gaze into his eyes and I see the ache in them, the longing. 

“Why?” I ask. 

I get a sad smile. “You know why.” 

His thumb glides across my cheek. I should have pulled away, but instead I lean into the caress. 

His other hand moves toward my shoulder, ghosts across my collarbone. He pinches the fabric of my robe between his fingers and peels it back a few inches. I hold my breath. 

“Zack.” 

Fingers over my mouth force me to silence. Then they slide the other side of my robe from my shoulder. He circles round me. Warm hands slide down the length of my neck, over my shoulders. They pause. 

“He didn’t just bite you. He marked you.” His fingers trace the scar. “This should have disappeared by now. He’ll mark you again. And then again and again. He’s not just feeding from you. He’s building a connection, one he’ll use to control you, manipulate you.” 

Zack’s normally warm, brown eyes are now sky blue. “Your eyes—” 

He closes them. “Sorry. The beast isn’t as good as I am at pretending.” 

“I should get dressed. We need to go.” I reach for the last clean black pantsuit that’s hanging in my closet and head for the bathroom. 

Again, he follows. “My wolf, he wants to take away Kallistos’ mark.” Zack stops, filling the doorway. “Just say the word. I can break the cycle.” 

“How? By trading one mark for another?” I hang my suit up on the shower rod. 

“I’m not offering to mark you for myself. I’m offering to free you from him. Unlike a vampire’s, a wolf’s mark means something. It’s a mutual commitment. One made for life. That’s not what we’re talking about here.” 

“What are we talking about?” 

Zack appears to be weighing his words carefully. “We’re talking about doing what’s smart, what’s neces- sary.You said Kallistos would never get the upper hand. But it seems he has.” 

Suddenly I feel trapped. I need to put distance be- tween myself and Kallistos. I step back and stuff my hands into the pockets of my robe. My fingers wrap in- stinctively around the key card. It’s a tangible reminder of the truth of Zack’s words. 

“Yes.” It comes out in a rush. 

“You want me to remove the mark? Are you sure?” 

“Yes. Do it.” I’m trying to focus on what Zack said about this being smart and necessary, nothing else. A wolf’s mark means something. But this will mean nothing. “Hurry. Let’s get it over with.” 

But Zack doesn’t hurry. He takes his time, pulling me back, gently curving his body over mine. His is warm, impossibly warm, and I can feel it through my robe. Just as I feel his breath on my neck, feel the echo of his heartbeat in my own. 

“Trust me?” he asks, his voice a low, intoxicating rumble. 

I do trust him. “Completely.”

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About the author:

S. J. Harper is the pen name for the writing team of Samantha Sommersby and Jeanne C. Stein, two friends who met at Comic- Con in San Diego and quickly bonded over a mutual love of good wine, edgy urban fantasy, and everything Joss Whedon. 

Samantha Sommersby left what she used to call her “real- life” day job in the psychiatric !eld to pursue writing full- time in 2007. She is the author of more than ten novels and novellas including the critically acclaimed Forbidden series. She currently lives with her husband and terrier pup, Olive, in a century- old Southern California Craftsman. Sam happily spends her days immersed in a world where vampires, werewolves, and demons are real, myths, and legends are revered, magic is possible, and love still conquers all. 

Jeanne Stein is the national bestselling author of The Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles. She also has numerous short story credits, including most recently the novella Blood Debt from the New York Times bestselling anthology Hexed. Her series has been picked up in three foreign countries and her short stories published in collections here in the U.S. and the U.K. She lives in Denver, Colorado, where she !nds gardening a challenge more daunting than navigating the world of mythical creatures.

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