The Dark Prince of Albany Book 3
Blurb
Please note to best understand Grayson's story you need to read books 1 & 2 in the Albany Nightingale Series.
THE DARK PRINCE OF ALBANY ~ BOOK 3 IN THE ALBANY NIGHTINGALE SERIES
Book Links
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2IE4i08
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3f4k1Sm
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2UsYHfJ
Book 1 & 2 Links
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2UtVHQo
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3f0z678
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3nuBs15
Teasers
Extract 1
Grayson
I don’t register my surroundings or the students of Albany staring as they walk past. All I see is her—her too-sad eyes, her fire dying a little more each second, and I’d needed to do something to fan the flames.
I’d kiss her for eternity if it were the only way to breathe life back into her soul.
Because her light can’t die. The world needs Sierra’s untamed spirit.
I need her untamed spirit.
She has wrapped her fire around my heart, thawed it from its frozen sleep and without it, I’ll be right back at the start.
A dark prince sitting on his lonely throne, never truly understanding what it means to live.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Sierra whispers, her gaze flickering to those around us.
“Why not?” I’ve never said the words, but I know Sierra knows I feel them. I don’t care if the entire city knows she’s mine. In fact, I’d rather they know; it will save me having to dig up dirt on the hundreds of guys who will think they have a shot with her.
“Because everyone is staring,” she hisses below her breath. “And I was hoping to get through my time here under the radar.”
“Baby, you messed up that plan the second you rolled through those gates on a skateboard looking like every guy’s secret wet dream.”
She looks over my shoulder. “We should go. Ashton and Rose are waiting for us.”
Shifting my stance, I slide my hand into Sierra’s, pleased she doesn’t pull away, and greet my stepbrother’s cocky smile with one of my own. Rose’s expression is harder to read though. It’s not jealousy on her face… protectiveness maybe… concern.
What happened between us before she got together with my brother has been left permanently in the past. There are no more sexual ties between Rose and me, yet our time together bound us in a way not many would understand.
Rose was the first person I lowered my guard down with. I let her have a little of my heart. She’s my best friend, and I know if I ever need her, she’ll be there.
But I’m beginning to worry she doesn’t see my relationship with Sierra as a good thing. And while I trust Rose with many things, she also has a tendency to take matters into her own hands.
She is queen of this school, after all, and ruling those who’ve been brought up to see everyone else as beneath them isn’t a job for the weak.
I flash her a smirk, get an eye roll in return.
I’ll be keeping a close eye on you.
Sensing Sierra’s apprehension as we approach our table, I give her hand a gentle squeeze. Looking up, she meets my eyes, silently asking me not to let go, and as the others surround us, I lean forward, kiss her cheek before whispering my reply in her ear, “I’ve got you, baby, always.”
“So, Sierra, tell me, how did you manage to do what no other girl has achieved before?” Rose’s friend, Camilla asks, much to the delight of the other girls around her.
Narrowing my gaze at Camilla, a threat is about to slip from my lips when Rose steps in—the ever-dutiful queen keeping peace in her kingdom.
“Now, Now, Cam. Play nice. We all know I was the one who house-trained the dark prince. Sierra’s just reaping the benefits.”
“I’m not a freaking pet,” I grumble.
Sierra watches our exchange with quiet confusion.
“Do you talk?” Porsha scoffs, her friendly smile doing nothing to mask her words.
I cast Rose a pleading look for help. Her mouth opens to answer when Sierra shocks us into silence.
“I was waiting for the conversation to become worth my attention. And for the record, Grayson isn’t house-trained. Let’s just say my tastes tend to veer on the side of bad not good.” Shifting toward me, she turns my face to meet hers. “Cafeteria this way?” she asks, pointing behind her.
I’m so shocked all I can do is nod stupidly.
She kisses me, rough and possessive. “Good, I’m starving.”
Watching as she saunters away, I swallow loudly, sure I’m hallucinating. It’s one thing knowing your girl is no pushover but seeing her in action is a whole different story. It’s captivating and one hell of a turn on, but underneath that lives worry, because while Sierra put on a good show, I know beneath all that spunk she’s slowly crumbling. Desperately holding onto the fraying threads of her sanity.
Extract 2
Sierra
I’m not sure what it is about him that made me pause. The way he’s dressed makes him stick out like a sore thumb, but it wasn’t the expensive-looking suit or shiny shoes which drew me near. It was the way he seemed totally unaware of his surroundings, how he was 100 percent focused on the gate in front of him. The haunted shadows in his dark eyes were obvious as I’d skated out behind a car leaving the cemetery. He didn’t notice when I stopped or hopped off my board and stepped up onto the pavement. He was aware of only the gate and the secret demons he was battling.
I have enough problems of my own to contend with; I don’t need to take on a stranger’s troubles as well. Yet my mouth had opened as I’d paused, gaining his attention, and when he smiles, all cunning and mischief, I know in my gut the guy before me is bad to the bone. He’s the type to charm his way into my pants and leave me pleasured and drunk on lust.
The kind I like the most.
He wants only one thing, and it has nothing to do with my heart.
“Want to get lost, huh? I could maybe help with that.” I eye him from head to toe. From his dark, chocolate eyes, to his styled almost-black hair, he’s the devil pretending to be an angel.
He eyes me with wicked intent, and anticipation swirls through my blood as I envision the fun we are about to have. Grayson Bishop has no idea what he’s getting himself into. He’s in my playground now.
After all, I spend every minute of every day waiting for my next hit of adrenaline. Waiting for that moment when I’m airborne, a board beneath my feet, heart in my throat, or when the ocean is roaring in my ears and I’m riding a wave lost in a land of blue. From sunset to sundown I live for these moments, for when the realities of my crappy life seem nothing but a speck on the horizon.
“Really?” He eyes my mouth and wets his bottom lip. Heat pools in my stomach; I know exactly what he wants but first I’m going to make him work for it. There’s nothing I love more than shaking the foundations on which bad boys live.
Running a finger down his cheek, I ask softly, “Do you know how to skate, city boy?” Leaning back, he eyes me skeptically, before taking in the skateboard under my arm with a fearful gaze. Laughing, I take his hand and tug him forward down the street. “Grayson, baby, I’ve so much to show you. But first we need to get you out of that stuffy suit.”
About the Author
Rachel M. Raithby started her writing career in 2013 and hasn't looked back. She draws her inspiration from the many places she has lived and traveled, as well as from her love of the paranormal and thriller movies. She can often be found hiding out with a good book or writing more fast-paced and thrilling stories where love always conquers all. A Brit who left the UK in 2008, she resides in a quiet town in New Zealand, with her 4 children.
Connect with Rachel here: www.rachelmraithby.com
Her books include best-selling YA Fantasy New Dawn novels & Adult Paranormal Romance The Deadwood Hunter series.
