Table of Contents
Praise for Jayne Castle
Titles by Jayne Castle
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
A Note from Jayne
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
Praise for
THE HOT ZONE
“[Castle] gives her multitude of fans another wonderfully witty, futuristic-set romantic suspense with the incredibly exciting The Hot Zone . . . A superb addition to the brilliant Rainshadow/Harmony/Arcane series . . . This highly talented author never disappoints readers. I am always looking forward to her next novel.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Castle weaves a suspenseful tale complete with murder, mayhem, and escalating danger that kept me on edge . . . Best dust bunny EVER.”
—Caffeinated Book Reviewer
“Inventive and brimming with whimsy, this pleasing escapade gives sexy new meaning to the term ‘fire and ice’ and carves another brilliant facet in Castle’s mesmerizing futuristic world. Great fun!”
—Library Journal
“In her own mad-genius fashion, Castle combines a perfectly matched pair of protagonists with a riveting plot filled with plenty of sexy twists and dangerous turns, and adds just the right dash of dry wit to cook up another riveting addition to her futuristic Harmony series.”
—Booklist
“Definitely hot in more ways than one. The world and characterization continue to expand and evolve in the most delicious of ways. I recommend to all readers who enjoy a more suspenseful PNR.”
—Smexy Books
“Erotic thrills ensue . . . Breathless narrow escapes and familial conflicts . . . made intriguing by the otherworldly and esoteric setting.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The intensity a Castle hero projects toward [his] woman is what makes these books for me. It is why I keep coming back for more.”
—Fiction Vixen
“Castle’s newest heroine . . . is utterly compelling from the first page . . . An out-of-this-world must-read . . . No shortage of heart-stopping action and thrilling romance.”
—RT Book Reviews
Praise for
DECEPTION COVE
“Another wonderful addition to this entertaining series. Jayne Castle again proves her writing prowess with Deception Cove.”
—Fresh Fiction
“In her usual spot-on fashion, Jayne Ann Krentz, writing as Castle, serves up another riveting installment in her futuristic Harmony series, and the resulting fast-paced, witty, sexy romance is guaranteed to keep readers enthralled with its danger-spiked plot and compelling characters.”
—Booklist
“Castle continues to expand her world and draws on an engaging cast of characters to make it come further alive for her readers. Deception Cove certainly lived up to its name, and I look forward to my next visit to Harmony.”
—Smexy Books
“Full of suspense, passion, and discoveries that both answer and leave more questions . . . I can’t wait for the next venture into this world. To say that I Joyfully Recommend this book as a must-read is putting it almost too simply, but I do wholeheartedly.”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“Three-word review: suspenseful, romantic, and entertaining . . . Fans of romantic suspense in a futuristic setting will enjoy Deception Cove and the Rainshadow series. You just have to meet a dust bunny! Four cups of coffee out of five.”
—Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Praise for the novels of New York Times bestselling author Jayne Castle . . .
“Castle is well known for her playful love stories, and this futuristic tale of romantic suspense runs delightfully true to form . . . An appealing, effervescent romance mildly spiced with paranormal fun, this novel won’t disappoint.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Writing under Jayne Castle, Jayne Ann Krentz takes her trademark combination of witty, upbeat action, lively sensuality, and appealing characters to [a] unique, synergistic world.”
—Library Journal
“Jayne Castle, one of the pioneers of the futuristic subgenre, continues to set the standard against which all other such books are judged.”
—Affaire de Coeur
“As always, the characterizations and plot blend perfectly for a thrilling, funny, and fully satisfying read.”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)
. . . and Jayne Ann Krentz
“Good fun.”
—Cosmopolitan
“Entertaining.”
—People
“Fast-moving . . . entertaining . . . highly successful.”
—The Seattle Times
“Fast-paced . . . interesting characters . . . A good time is had by the reader.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Along with Nora Roberts, Krentz is one of the most reliably satisfying romance writers publishing.”
—Sunday Times (CA)
“Jayne Ann Krentz is one of the hottest writers around.”
—Albuquerque Journal
Titles by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle
SIREN’S CALL
THE HOT ZONE
DECEPTION COVE
THE LOST NIGHT
CANYONS OF NIGHT
MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL
OBSIDIAN PREY
DARK LIGHT
SILVER MASTER
GHOST HUNTER
AFTER GLOW
HARMONY
AFTER DARK
AMARYLLIS
ZINNIA
ORCHID
The Guinevere Jones Titles
Desperate and Deceptive
The Guinevere Jones Collection, Volume 1
THE DESPERATE GAME
THE CHILLING DECEPTION
Sinister and Fatal
The Guinevere Jones Collection, Volume 2
THE SINISTER TOUCH
THE FATAL FORTUNE
Titles by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick
GARDEN OF LIES
OTHERWISE ENGAGED
THE MYSTERY WOMAN
CRYSTAL GARDENS
QUICKSILVER
BURNING LAMP
THE PERFECT POISON
THE THIRD CIRCLE
THE RIVER KNOWS
SECOND SIGHT
LIE BY MOONLIGHT
THE PAID COMPANION
WAIT UNTIL MIDNIGHT
LATE FOR THE WEDDING
DON’T LOOK BACK
SLIGHTLY SHADY
WICKED WIDOW
I THEE WED
WITH THIS RING
AFFAIR
MISCHIEF
MYSTIQUE
MISTRESS
DESIRE
DANGEROUS
RECKLESS
RAVISHED
RENDEZVOUS
SCANDAL
SURRENDER
SEDUCTION
Other titles by Jayne Ann Krentz
TRUST NO ONE
RIVER ROAD
DREAM EYES
COPPER BEACH
IN TOO DEEP
FIRED UP
RUNNING HOT
SIZZLE AND BURN
WHITE LIES
ALL NIGHT LONG
FALLING AWAKE
TRUTH OR DARE
LIGHT IN SHADOW
SUMMER IN ECLIPSE BAY
TOGETHER IN ECLIPSE BAY
SMOKE IN MIRRORS
LOST & FOUND
DAWN IN ECLIPSE BAY
SOFT FOCUS
ECLIPSE BAY
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
FLASH
SHARP EDGES
DEEP WATERS
ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY
TRUST ME
GRAND PASSION
HIDDEN TALENTS
WILDEST HEARTS
FAMILY MAN
PERFECT PARTNERS
SWEET FORTUNE
SILVER LININGS
THE GOLDEN CHANCE
Specials
THE SCARGILL COVE CASE FILES
BRIDAL JITTERS
(writing as Jayne Castle)
Anthologies
CHARMED
(with Julie Beard, Lori Foster, and Eileen Wilks)
Titles written by Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle
NO GOING BACK
An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
SIREN’S CALL
A Jove Book / published by arrangement with the author
Copyright © 2015 by Jayne Ann Krentz.
Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.
JOVE® is a registered trademark of Penguin Random House LLC.
The “J” design is a trademark of Penguin Random House LLC.
For more information, visit penguin.com.
eBook ISBN: 978-0-698-18722-1
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Jove mass-market edition / August 2015
Cover art by Craig White.
Cover design by George Long.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Version_1
For Lorelei—you’ll look fabulous on the cover of Harmonic Bride magazine
Contents
Praise for Jayne Castle
Titles by Jayne Castle
Title Page
Copyright
A Note from Jayne
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
A Note from Jayne
Welcome back to my other world—Harmony—and another adventure on Rainshadow Island, where everyone has a past. The local inhabitants are good at keeping secrets—their own and those of their neighbors. On Rainshadow you don’t ask too many personal questions. The island has long been a refuge for people who don’t fit in anywhere else.
Those who make their home on the island are also accustomed to dealing with the dangerous mysteries concealed in the ancient underground catacombs and inside the forbidden territory known as the Preserve. Rainshadow, it turns out, was once the site of ancient Alien bioengineering labs. (What could possibly go wrong, hmm?)
The tight-knit community on Rainshadow figures it can handle the monsters, the reverse-engineered dinosaurs, and the deadly legends that seethe just beneath the surface.
The real problems, as usual, are caused by humans.
Chapter 1
It was the wedding of the season and it went off flawlessly—right up until the moment when the bridesmaid announced to the bride, the pastor, and the crowd in the pews that the groom had murdered his first two wives. . . .
“If anyone knows why this man and this woman should not be married, let him speak now or forever hold his peace,” the pastor intoned.
Ella’s cell phone rang. Everyone grumbled at the breach of good manners, although several people surreptitiously checked their own cell phones to make certain they were switched off.
But Ella dug hers out of the middle of the bouquet where she had concealed it and read the text, her pulse racing.
“Stop the wedding,” she shouted.
All three hundred guests, the bridal attendants, the best man, and the wedding singer stared at her. She focused on the message she had just received and then looked at the bride.
“Karen, you can’t marry him. His real name is Leo Bellamy and he’s wanted for the murder of his first two wives. He’s also wanted for questioning in the murder of another woman, a fiancée.”
Karen Leggett, a delicate blonde draped in yards of white tulle and silver satin, was nearly speechless with shock.
“Ella,” she finally managed. “What is wrong with you? Have you gone crazy?”
Ella moved to stand between Karen and the too-handsome, too-perfect groom. Her senses were heightened and she could see the cold, dark shadows in the dreamlight fields of Bellamy’s aura. She knew a monster when she saw one, and she had known Bellamy for what he was ever since Karen had introduced them a few weeks earlier.
“I sensed that there was something off about you the first time I met you,” she said. “I had a private-investigation agency take a closer look into your background.”
Violent energy spiked in the groom’s aura but his expression was one of calm, compassionate concern. He was a chameleon-talent, Ella reminded herself. He had a talent for deception.
“Karen, your friend is having some sort of nervous breakdown,” he said gently. “Someone should escort her to the emergency room at the nearest para-psych hospital. Perhaps one of our guests will volunteer to assist her.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Ella held up the phone displaying the text message she had just received. “This is from Jones and Jones, Karen. It says that the man you know as Charles Forbes is a chameleon-talent whose real name is Leo Bellamy. He lied to you from the start. Lied to the matchmaking agency, too.”
It was the Jones & Jones name that finally penetrated Karen’s state of stunned shock and sparked a wave of low-voiced concern among the wedding guests. Like Ella, Karen and many of those present were members of the Arcane Society. Within Arcane, everyone was aware of the organization’s storied investigation firm.
Unfortunately, Leo Bellamy recognized the agency’s name, too.
“Shit,” he growled.
Before anyone realized that he was not going for the ring, he pulled a small mag-rez pistol out of the pocket of his tuxedo and grabbed Ella. He put the barrel of the gun to her temple.
“If anyone moves half an inch, the bridesmaid dies,” he shouted to the crowd. “She and I are leaving now. If I see a cop in the rearview mirror, Miss Morgan is dead.”
He edged toward a side door, dragging Ella with him. The pistol never wavered from her head.
The crowd watched in horror.
Bellamy’s arm was around Ella’s throat. She put her fingertips on his bare hand. He ignored the light touch, intent on hauling her through the doorway and out into the parking lot.
Ella pulled hard on her talent. She had physical contact. That was all she needed. The delicate crystal chimes on her bracelet shivered. They weren’t absolutely necessary but they helped her focus.
She began to sing.
It was a silent, psychic song, audible only to Bellamy because he was the focus of her paranormal music. The crashing, soaring chords drew power from the far end of the spectrum. She wove ominous, compelling harmonies that ensnared Bellamy’s dreamlight and pulled him down into the depths.