Dark Lover

Dark Lover
Brenda Joyce

Every Rose Woman Has Her DestinySlayer Samantha Rose’s latest mission is to recover a stolen page from the Book of Power – and get payback from the only man who’s ever rejected her. What she hasn’t counted on is the raging attraction still burning between them. But Ian Maclean’s arrogance hides a terrible secret – for decades he was held prisoner by demons and he is tormented by his darkest memories.As the powers of the evil from his past gather, Sam will do anything to help him – even if it means following him into a different time and facing his worst nightmares with him…

Praise for New York Times bestselling author (#u5497b82a-db68-50f9-980b-8b99e441769e)

and the Masters of Time

series

Dark Embrace “A Perfect 10. Brenda Joyce has created a tale that is full to overflowing with emotion. Passionate, heartbreaking, hopeful, and entertaining, Dark Embrace is a novel you do not want to miss. I recommend it highly.” —Romance Reviews Today

“Known for her intensity of emotion and superlative storytelling, Joyce draws you into a new Masters of Time

novel that will blow you away with its unforgettable alpha hero and a willful heroine who feels his pain across the centuries.” —RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)

Dark Rival “The supporting characters are excellent, the sex scenes are plentiful…and the plot thick, making this sophomore series entry a fine entertainment, sure to gratify fans of the bestselling kickoff.” —Publishers Weekly

“For intense emotions, power-packed writing, alpha males and building sexual tension, Joyce is unrivaled.”

—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)

“A novel that will rivet your attention from the first page to the last.”

—Romance Reviews Today

Dark Seduction “Bestselling author Joyce kicks off her Masters of Time

series with a master’s skill, instantly elevating her to the top ranks of the ever-growing list of paranormal romance authors…Steeped in action and sensuality, populated by sexy warriors and strong women, graced with lush details and a captivating story…superlative.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Dark Lover

Brenda Joyce

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Dear reader,

I hope you enjoy reading Dark Lover, the last installment of the Rose trilogy, as much as I enjoyed writing it. When I started THE MASTERS OF TIME

, I really didn’t realise how much this world would grow and evolve, and all the undertones it would have. I am really enjoying taking the paranormal wherever my muse leads me. Nor did i realise how exciting it would be for me to do strong, modern women, but mostly it is the damaged, dark heroes who are making this series so exciting.

In Dark Lover, both the heroine, Sam, and the hero, Ian, were departures for me as an author, and I had a blast putting the two of them together. Once they were on the same page, they pretty much wrote their own story, as I am sure you will see. I look forward to doing other strong, contemporary heroines, and heroes as dark and damaged as Ian.

If you haven’t tried my historical romances yet, you might want to consider checking out An Impossible Attraction. It continues the saga of the great de Warenne family and, as always, is a tale of power and passion, tragedy and triumph—and romance. Alexandra Bolton gave up marriage to her true love nine years ago, when her mother died, in order to care for her family. Now the family is in disgrace, her father having gambled away their entire fortune, and Alexandra actually sews for a living. Stephen Mowbray, the Duke of Clarewood, is the most powerful peer in the realm (and a bastard de Warenne). Haunted by his past, he lives in “splendid isolation,” and is accused of being cold and heartless. His life begins to change when he meets Alexandra, whom he decides to take as a lover. As he begins his pursuit, she is determined to refuse him, but fate has other plans for them. An Impossible Attraction is about pride and passion, sacrifice and betrayal, and love won and lost, then won all over again. And, as always, the de Warenne adage holds true: a de Warenne loves once and forever, or not at all.

Happy reading!

Brenda Joyce

For my readers

This one’s for all of you who have helped make this series such a success. Thank you!

Table of Contents

Cover (#u565c4289-9c4b-5376-ae30-46d447e17cfc)

Praise

Title Page (#u27d7301a-3a21-529a-a16f-27317b7662e0)

Dedication (#ub0652dfc-b5b2-58a9-80ed-1a91b3f3cb21)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen