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Chapters (64)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  6. Pronunciation Guide
  7. Prologue
  8. Part One
  9. One
  10. Two
  11. Three
  12. Four
  13. Five
  14. Six
  15. Seven
  16. Eight
  17. Nine
  18. Ten
  19. Eleven
  20. Twelve
  21. Thirteen
  22. Part Two
  23. Fourteen
  24. Fifteen
  25. Sixteen
  26. Seventeen
  27. Eighteen
  28. Nineteen
  29. Twenty
  30. Twenty-One
  31. Twenty-Two
  32. Twenty-Three
  33. Part Three
  34. Twenty-Four
  35. Twenty-Five
  36. Twenty-Six
  37. Twenty-Seven
  38. Twenty-Eight
  39. Twenty-Nine
  40. Thirty
  41. Thirty-One
  42. Thirty-Two
  43. Thirty-Three
  44. Thirty-Four
  45. Thirty-Five
  46. Part Four
  47. Thirty-Six
  48. Thirty-Seven
  49. Thirty-Eight
  50. Thirty-Nine
  51. Forty
  52. Forty-One
  53. Forty-Two
  54. Forty-Three
  55. Forty-Four
  56. Forty-Five
  57. Forty-Six
  58. Forty-Seven
  59. Epilogue
  60. Excerpt from The Sun and Its Shade
  61. The Night and Its Moon Playlist
  62. Acknowledgments
  63. About the Author
  64. Back Cover

The room was thick with the same strong vanilla perfume she’d first detected on Millicent, accompanied by notes of sandalwood and the lush, smoky burn of the incense sticks themselves. After Nox’s three years at the Selkie, the scented haze had begun to trigger the part of her mind that readied her for the hunt. The lush smell acted like a signal, tingling some imaginary talons.

Tonight was different, though. The Duke of Henares was of particular importance, and everyone under the Selkie’s roof knew it.

Nox kept to a shadow behind a pillar until she was ready for him to see her; first impressions were vital. First, the man would need to swallow a gulp or two of burning liquor. She’d give him a chance to relax into the music. If she played the game correctly, he’d convince himself that he’d been the one who first spotted her—and she always won the game.

The duke made his way directly to the bar and ordered a drink, not bothering to look at any of the Selkie’s girls. He had the arrogance of a lordling who was familiar with getting whatever he wanted. The bartender’s gaze flitted briefly to where Nox leaned against the pillar, then he slid the duke his two fingers of whiskey.

Once he had his glass in hand, he turned to open himself up to the room, elbows behind him on the counter. This duke made it abundantly clear he was unimpressed. His posture informed the others that he’d been to brothels, and his expression declared to the world that the Selkie was nothing new. His golden-brown eyes began scanning for whatever life-changing encounter he’d heard whispers about, face slack with boredom. The young lordling took one, slow sip of his whiskey while he searched.

Nox’s lips twitched in anticipation, but she fought down the smile. It would do no good to gloat before the victory. She glanced to where the Madame had remained engaged in conversation with a patron, though Millicent had kept her peripherals trained on Nox and the duke the entire time. She was a shrewd businesswoman, generous host, and an excellent multitasker.

With a nod of confirmation from Millicent, Nox was ready. The lutist across the salon knew the game as well as anyone else in the lounge. She transitioned her song into the soft melodies of a love ballad. Nox stepped into view wearing a paper-thin silk dress that clung to her curves, with a neckline so daring she may as well have been naked. Her gaze touched the duke’s brown-gold eyes from across the lounge. Once he saw her, his face slackened. It was the distinct expression of someone experiencing the cacophony of the world fading away.