Archangel's Shadows (Guild Hunter series Book 7)

“We really need to get a handle on that,” she said some time later, her legs finally free of clothing.

She was on top of Janvier, licking up the two thin trails of blood that had escaped her bite because she hadn’t had the presence of mind to seal the wound before he blew her brains out. That wound was now healing, but he’d carry the bruise for a few days. She kinda liked that, which was why she kept biting him on the neck.

“Why?” He ran his hand down her back and over her butt, luxuriating in her body with an earthy sensuality that made her boneless. “I’m not complaining about quickies straight out of a porn movie.”

She snorted with laughter. “Porn? Seriously?”

His slow, wicked smile caught her heart, made her glad all over again that she’d taken the jump into the unknown. “Didn’t we do it on the bathroom floor last night?” he said. “Today, I have you sans pants in the kitchen. Seems pornish to me.”

Bursting out laughing again, she kissed his gorgeous, playful mouth. “Is this normal? The insane sexual connection?”

“Not that I’ve heard. It is our little gift.” He squeezed her butt. “One that I hope will continue for a long, long, long time.”

Sitting up on him, the T-shirt she’d worn to work out in doing its best to preserve her modesty—and failing spectacularly, if the glint in his eye was any indication—she pushed back her hair and spread her hands over his chest. “I’m happy, Janvier.” A whispered confession. “I’m so happy to be here, to be with you. It hurts my heart, the happiness.”

His amusement faded, his expression naked with emotion. “Your heart bruise is a perfect match to mine.” Tugging her down, he cupped the sides of her face, spoke words low and rough that made her feel whole in parts she hadn’t even known were broken.

“Marry me,” she whispered. “I’ll show you things that’ll make you laugh in delight, scream in passion, cry for the sheer joy of it.”

The light in his eyes, it was her whole world. “Done.”





Author’s Note


I hope you enjoyed Ashwini and Janvier’s story! As mentioned in the book, the first time these two worked together, going from adversaries to allies, was during their visit to Atlanta—when they came face-to-face with the cruel and deadly angel Nazarach as well as the Beaumont vampire family.

If you haven’t yet read the story of that mission, you can find it in Angels’ Pawn. This short is available on its own as an ebook, or you can read it as part of the Guild Hunter anthology Angels’ Flight (available in ebook, paperback, and audio). You can find excerpts for Angels’ Pawn and the other Angels’ Flight novellas on my website: nalinisingh.com/flight.php.

Happy reading!





Acknowledgments


As Janvier was born over two hundred years ago in Louisiana, he speaks Cajun French perfectly. He also speaks French as it is spoken in France, thanks to his years spent acting as a courier, but Cajun French is his mother tongue and a language I wanted to incorporate into the book because it’s an integral part of him.

I would like to thank Lori and Michael Leger for translating a number of words and terms into Cajun French for me. I’d also like to thank the many people who maintain online websites dedicated to the Cajun French language.

Of particular help were Louisiana State University’s Cajun French–English glossary, Learn Louisiana French’s list of proverbs and sayings, LouisianaCajunSlang.com’s list of expressions, and Clarence’s list of Cajun Cuss Words on CajunRadio.org. (Be careful when speaking French in Louisiana! Some words that wouldn’t be considered rude in France will be in Louisiana, and vice versa.)

My thanks also to Laura Florand for help with standard French terms.

Last but never least, I’d like to thank my readers, many of whom pointed me in the direction of various resources when I posted the research request online. You are awesome covered in awesome-sauce.

Any errors in the language or its usage are, of course, mine. I also admit to a bit of artistic license in using terms and phrases originating from a number of different regions within Louisiana. I figure a vampire who has lived over two centuries would have traveled and picked up bits and pieces here and there (maybe from other immortals and near-immortals!).

Before I go, I’d like to make a note about the use of the word cher. It is sometimes believed that this is an incorrect usage of the word chère. However, cher (pronounced sha) is part of the Cajun French language. It is a fluid word whose meaning can change in context or with the tone of the speaker. When it comes to Janvier, he only ever uses it with Ashwini, no one else. It is very much a term of affection, of love for his one and only Ashblade.





Turn the page to read an excerpt from Nalini’s novella Secrets at Midnight

Available November 25, 2014, in the anthology Night Shift.