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Ever think Scrooge had it right before
the ghosts ruined his life and left him vulnerable?
At one time Aidan O’Conner was a world renowned celebrity who gave of himself
and his money without wanting anything in return. Until those around him took
without asking. Bitter betrayal came at him from all directions. Even those
closest to him. Now he’s a man who wants nothing of the world or anyone who’s a
part of it.
Until the night he finds a stranger on his doorstep that he’s seen before... in
his dreams.
Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a
ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams, into the home of the
only man she knows. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions and
Aidan’s anger and hostility are just the fuel she needs to defend herself.
One cold winter’s night that will change both their lives
Trapped together by a storm, the two of them must do the one thing they swore
they never would. Trust.
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Sherri has been wanting
to write a Christmas story for a long
time. So when SMP asked her for one, she
was thrilled.
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Longer than a novella, but not quite
as long as a novel, UTMC is a
special thank you to fans. It's a
story that's very near and dear to
Sherri's heart and it's one that she
had to tell. She's very grateful to
her publisher for allowing her to
tell a story that she's been dying
to tell for awhile now.
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Factoid: There will also be another
Christmas novel out in 2008. That one is
Stryker's One Silent Night.
Click here for
Correct Reading Order
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More countries coming as
we get the books in |
Excerpt
“The way to overcome the angry man is with gentleness, the
evil man with goodness, the miser with generosity and the
liar with truth.”
~An Indian Proverb
“It sounds good, doesn’t it? If only people and life were
that effing easy. Trust me, it takes more than a friendly
biscuit to tame a hungry lion. And it’s all fun and games
until someone gets hurt. Then it’s war.”
~Savitar, Chthonian god
Prologue
Dressed in a long, flowing white Grecian gown, Leta came
awake with a sharp gasp. It took her several seconds to
acclimate to her surroundings. She was still in her
cushioned pod, asleep in the hall of mirrors on Olympus.
But something was wrong. She could sense it. The dark hand
of evil slithered over her body with an unmistakable touch.
Dolor, the most vile of all gods, had been summoned back
into the human realm which had triggered her own waking. The
god of pain had been trapped centuries ago by Leta who had
fought him until they’d both been bloody and spent.
Forbidden by Zeus to kill him outright, she’d been forced to
trap him so that he would never do to another what he’d done
to her.
And once he’d been trapped, she’d placed herself in stasis
to heal and await the moment when he would stir.
Now someone had uttered that which was to never be uttered
again. Sucking her breath in sharply, she allowed her buried
memories to assail her.
Damn them! The stupid humans had no idea what they’d
unleashed. Pain wasn’t content to attack just the one person
it was sent after. No, it was bloodthirsty and ruthless.
Dolor respected nothing and no one was immune to Pain.
Sure, he’d stalk and kill the one he was sent after, but
once that was through, Pain would return to the one who’d
summoned it.
May the gods help the summoner then.
Closing her eyes, she reawakened her dormant powers. She let
her thoughts drift until she found Pain’s target.
The target had his back to her, but even so she could tell
he was tall and broad shouldered. His blond hair was tousled
and wavy as it fell to the top of his black collar.
As a dream god, she could feel his bitter emotions calling
out to her.
“Yeah,” he said, his deep voice filled with malice. “It
never fails to amaze me how a single lie can undo an entire
lifetime of good.”
And it was then she realized something. This man didn’t need
Pain. It already lived inside him right alongside Bitterness
and Rage. They had him nestled tight against their bosoms
and from what she sensed they had no intention of letting
him go.
Then she heard it...
That deep, blood chilling laugh.
“Leta...”
She flashed herself from her sterile pod to stand on the
cold, marble floor. A bitter wind plastered her gown against
her body, exposing her bare feet to the ankles. It made the
gold bands on her upper arms bitingly cold. The walls around
her were white with no pictures, curtains or anything else
to break its sterile quality.
Still she felt the presence of the god of Pain.
“Where are you, you bastard?”
Dolor appeared behind her. Before she could move, he grabbed
her by the hair and wrenched her head back against his
shoulder. “You didn’t really think you could keep me trapped
forever, did you?”
She tried to fight, but he released her and vanished. “This
isn’t over, Dolor,” she said, her voice filled with the
weight of her determination.
His laughter filled the room. “No, it isn’t. You bound me to
this curse and before this is over, you will pay for it. Now
if you’ll excuse me, I have a human to torture and kill.”
She felt him receding all the way down her spine and there
was nothing she could do to stop him. By the order of Zeus,
her own emotions had been drained. Yet she felt something...
remnant emotions from the past perhaps?
She wasn’t sure.
But one thing was certain, she wasn’t about to allow Pain to
hurt another soul if she could help it. It was a solemn vow
she’d made and it was one she would keep. So long as she had
life in her veins, she would fight.
And as she started forward, her target turned in the mirror
to face her.
Leta froze as she saw the man’s features. He was as
beautiful as an immortal. Through the mist that separated
Olympus from the human plane, she could see every curve and
line of his perfect face. Sharp brows arched over eyes that
were a pale green. Searing with intelligence, they showed
her a soul that was tainted by betrayal. One completely
devoid of trust.
And in that one single moment, she felt his sorrow inside
her own heart. He wanted to trust someone. He wanted to
reach out. But he’d forgotten how.
Alone and cold, he was pain personified.
Cocking her head, she realized something else. That pain
that burned so fiercely within him was exactly what she
needed to use in order to defeat Dolor. If she could channel
it, it would meld with her powers and give her the
advantage.
He’s been hurt enough...
It didn’t matter. She couldn’t see his pain for her own.
Dolor must be defeated at any cost and if this human paid
the price, so what? The life and soul of one would never be
worth more than the lives and souls of many.
Aidan O’Conner would be her sacrifice and her past would
finally be avenged. Pain would be defeated by her hand and
laid to rest for all eternity.
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