TORCH: Underground Encounters 9 Read online

  TORCH

  Underground Encounters 9

  Lisa Carlisle

  LisaCarlisleBooks.com

  Contents

  TORCH

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  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Tempted by the Gargoyle

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  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Book List

  LisaCarlisleBooks.com

  TORCH

  Underground Encounters 9

  By Lisa Carlisle

  A gargoyle in need of a mission...

  The curse is finally broken,

  Yet, freedom never felt so empty.

  No longer confined to his stone form, gargoyle shifter Mattias yearns for a purpose. Feeling increasingly lost, he plans to search for his destiny elsewhere. But, a chance encounter with a wary woman roots him to the spot--for now.

  A werewolf in search of a cure.

  Rachel heads into an underground club to pick up an elixir--and runs into Mattias. The attraction is strong, but her affliction has left her too damaged to pursue a relationship.

  Mattias and Rachel guard their secrets to protect their hearts. But, the cost is high. Will they be able to break through the darkness?

  Or are they doomed to carry the weight of their curses alone?

  Torch is a novel in the Underground Encounters series, set in a club that attracts supernatural creatures. Each book features a different couple--and perhaps different species!--and can be read on its own.

  Step into Vamps, a thrilling new world of steamy paranormal romance featuring sexy shifters, thirsty vampires, wicked witches, and gorgeous gargoyles.

  Torch

  Copyright 2019 Lisa Carlisle

  Edited by Natasha Larry

  Cover by Willsin Rowe

  The right of Lisa Carlisle to be identified as author of this Work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please do so through your retailer’s “lend” function. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at [email protected].

  All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.

  Find out more about the author and upcoming books online at lisacarlislebooks.com, facebook.com/lisacarlisleauthor, or @lisacbooks.

  Created with Vellum

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  Other Books by Lisa Carlisle

  Highland Gargoyles

  Gargoyle shifters, wolf shifters, and tree witches have divided the Isle of Stone after a great battle 25 years ago. One risk changes it all…

  Knights of Stone: Mason

  Knights of Stone: Lachlan

  Knights of Stone: Bryce

  Seth: a wolf shifter romance in the series

  Knights of Stone: Calum

  Stone Cursed

  Knights of Stone: Gavin

  Underground Encounters

  Steamy paranormal romances set in a underground goth club that attracts vampires, witches, shifters, and gargoyles.

  Book 1: SMOLDER (a vampire / firefighter romance)

  Book 2: FIRE (a witch / firefighter romance)

  Book 3: IGNITE (a feline shifter / rock star romance)

  Book 4: BURN (a vampire / shapeshifter rock romance)

  Book 5: HEAT (a gargoyle shifter romance)

  Book 6: BLAZE (a gargoyle shifter rockstar romance)

  Book 7: COMBUST (vampire / witch romances)

  Book 8: INFLAME (a gargoyle shifter / witch romance)

  Book 8: TORCH (a gargoyle shifter / werewolf romance)

  Chateau Seductions

  An art colony on a remote New England island lures creative types—and supernatural characters. Steamy paranormal romances.

  Darkness Rising

  Dark Velvet

  Dark Muse

  Dark Stranger

  Dark Pursuit

  Stone Sentries

  Meet your perfect match the night of the super moon — or your perfect match for the night. A cop teams up with a gargoyle shifter when demons attack Boston.

  Tempted by the Gargoyle

  Enticed by the Gargoyle

  Captivated by the Gargoyle

  Night Eagle Operations

  A paranormal romantic suspense novel

  When Darkness Whispers

  Berkano Vampires

  A shared author world with dystopian paranormal romances.

  Immortal Resistance

  Blood Courtesans

  A shared author world with the vampire blood courtesans.

  Pursued: Mia

  Visit LisaCarlisleBooks.com to learn more!

  For E. Always.

  Chapter 1

  The moon beamed close to its highest intensity. It glowed with energetic anticipation as if announcing its upcoming show tomorrow night. Mattias would be sure to soar under its glow. A full moon was a spectacular night for a gargoyle to fly, and he wouldn’t miss his chance.

  Especially after being unable to fly at will until recently.

  Mattias entered Vamps, the underground club he’d guarded in stone form for many years. He greeted the bouncer, Byron, before approaching the sign warning:

  Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.

  Mattias’s brows quirked. The sign warned newcomers this wasn’t a typical nightclub.

  He narrowed his eyes as he reread the sign. Odd. It struck with a different resonance this time. He should have been exultant at being freed earlier this year from the curse that had locked him in stone, yet strangely, an emptiness had spread within.

  Would it eventually engulf him?

  With a roll of his shoulders, he shoved that morbid question aside. After entering the main club space, his gaze was drawn as always, to the perch on which he’d guarded for countless hours. How many days had he watched from stone eyes from that vantage point, anticipating for night to fall, and the club to burst to life with music and energy? A gargoyle replica now took that spot, as did two other statues to replace where his brothers had stood. Merely decoration. They couldn’t protect anyone.

  Mattias and his brothers still watched over the club, but in human form. Danton worked as a bouncer and Lucan tended the bar. Mattias occasionally filled in as a bouncer or to help the stage
hands. His visits had become more sporadic during the past month.

  The familiar scent of the club filled his nostrils, a mix of alcohol and humans. Fewer than a dozen of die-hard regulars had arrived. It was still early in the night. The DJ played the Creepshow’s “The Garden.” Although nobody yet ventured to the dance floor, soon it would be packed by hot, sweaty bodies, throbbing to a heavy beat.

  Mattias greeted his brothers, who stood a head above the surrounding patrons. Danton stood on watch near the entrance while his mate, Tracy, tended bar. Lucan had the night off, but he’d flown in from Salem to meet Mattias for a drink and then they’d soar.

  “A perfect night for a flight,” Lucan said.

  “It is indeed. La lune est presque pleine,” Mattias noted the moon being almost full. “I’m prepared.” He patted the small pack slung over his back where he’d stash his clothes.

  “A warm summer’s breeze will be most welcome after the scorching day,” Lucan said.

  It had reached a humid ninety degrees earlier. Mattias had found a shady spot with an ocean breeze while he rested in stone form. Although he’d rented a studio in the apartment building where Lucan lived with his mate and daughter, Mattias spent much of his free time outdoors. He took to the night skies whenever he could.

  “I’ll join you after my shift,” Danton said. “After I ensure Tracy gets home safely.”

  “You’re overprotective, even for a gargoyle,” Mattias teased.

  Danton cocked his head. “Once you find your mate, you’ll understand.”

  Mattias released a doubtful laugh. “That’s not going to happen any time soon.”

  “Why not?” Lucan asked.

  “I don’t know what I want in my life, so I’m hardly in a state to commit to someone.”

  Danton and Lucan exchanged a glance.

  “Not going to happen,” Mattias repeated. “No matter how wonderful and fulfilling and life-changing you both tell me it is.”

  The owner of the club, Tristan, strode over to the bar. He was almost as tall as the brothers, but didn’t have their bulk. He called the staff over and invited the regulars to join them.

  “Tracy, could you pour us all some champagne?”

  “Sure thing.” She retrieved a chilled bottle and some glasses from behind the bar.

  That was odd. Tristan rarely stopped for chit-chat, let alone with a round of champagne. His wife, Maya, was the more social of the duo and managed the bookings at the club. When she was around, Tristan would linger longer, especially if she’d coaxed him to dance.

  “Are we celebrating something?” Lucan asked, vocalizing the question on Mattias’s mind.

  The corner of Tristan’s mouth twitched. “We are, indeed.” His eyes twinkled with excitement.

  Once Tracy distributed the glasses, Tristan raised his. “Maya’s pregnant.” His mouth spread into an uncharacteristic grin that reached from stage to bar. It shaved ten years off him. “I’m going to be a dad!”

  All cheered and offered congratulations. Some good news was welcome in their young marriage. The past spring, an arsonist had set fire to Tristan and Maya’s home on their wedding day.

  “When’s the baby due?” Tracy asked.

  “In the new year. She’s about three months along.”

  Tracy nodded. “How’s she feeling?”

  “Happy, but tired. She planned on coming tonight, but the exhaustion caught up with her, so she asked me to announce the good news.”

  “Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” Tracy asked.

  “No. We’re going to wait.”

  Mattias exchanged a glance with Lucan and then they turned to Danton. With her enthusiastic questions, Mattias wouldn’t be surprised to soon hear Tracy was expecting.

  Don’t get any ideas, Danton communicated telepathically to his brothers. She wants to finish school before we start a family.

  Sure, sure, Lucan responded.

  Anything can happen, Mattias added.

  People broke off into conversations. Tristan spoke to a few regulars.

  An hour later, the club was full. People danced in a wild frenzy to “Maneater” covered by the Koffin Kats or chatted in small groups. Mattias knew the song, knew which ones the crowd responded to no matter how often it was played. That was one of the things that kept him sane while locked in stone—the music. It didn’t matter if it was live or recorded, he listened to the various parts of the songs, and attempted to discover the secret of what pulled it all together. Music could transport him to a different place while his body remained still. It had its own kind of magic. Creation in any form could cast a spell.

  He turned his attention back to the bar to order another drink. A woman sitting a few stools down caught his attention. Her dark hair fell in loose waves hiding half of her pale face, but it didn’t hide her worried expression. She twisted the cocktail napkin with trembling hands.

  She appeared to be alone. Wearing all black from head-to-toe was common in this club, but he sensed she had a different intention. While those who shimmied seductively out on the dance floor strove to be noticed, she pulled her black wrap around her as if she wanted to be cloaked. A worry line furrowed between her brows as she scanned the club.

  A guy with spiky black hair and goth makeup stepped beside her. By his swagger, Mattias sensed the man would hit on her within the next ten seconds.

  It took four.

  The man leaned close to her ear and said something. With a wide smile, he appeared confident that whatever he said was clever.

  Mattias growled.

  Odd. How many times had he witnessed a similar scenario? He shouldn’t have had that possessive response.

  “What are you staring at?” Lucan asked.

  “Just the usual entertainment. Boy meets girl. Girl flirts or shoots him down. Boy walks away with girl or defeated and alone. I’m hoping this one strikes out.”

  The way the woman squirmed aided his case. She responded without much enthusiasm in her expression and looked away. The guy didn’t seem to read her lack of interest.

  “My betting days are over,” Lucan said. “Now that we are free, it’s time to pay more interest in our own affairs rather than others.”

  “True,” Mattias agreed.

  Yet, less than ten seconds passed before he dragged his gaze back to her. The guy was gone. Too bad. Mattias missed the moment when she’d shot him down.

  What was wrong with him? Why did he care about the fate of yet another potential hook up at this club? It meant nothing to him. She meant nothing to him.

  “I’ll be right back,” he told his brothers.

  He approached the woman. What the hell are you doing?

  He ignored his internal voice and continued to walk over.

  What the hell are you doing?

  My duty, he snapped back. I need to make sure she’s all right.

  Great, now he was arguing with himself over a complete stranger.

  Despite the potent scents of alcohol and perspiration, her subtle fragrance wafted to him. He inhaled it more deeply. A tantalizing swirl of vanilla and nutmeg and wildflowers suffused his brain, triggering a torrent of desire. He stifled a moan of pleasure.

  This might have been a bad idea. His reaction to her was unprecedented. What the hell did it mean?

  He closed his eyes and continued his internal debate. Should he proceed?

  Or run?

  Chapter 2

  After Rachel evaded the man’s attempt to buy her a drink, she checked her phone for what seemed like the forty-seventh time. Was Darla going to come?

  She’d never entered a place like this. It was wild. No other word came to mind. Many wore latex or flashy fantasy outfits that would get them noticed, from skin-tight pleather to tiny schoolgirl outfits that exposed a lot of flesh—and an abundance of tattoos.

  She stuck to the basic guideline of when in doubt, wear black. She wanted to avoid attention and hide in the shadows. A college professor didn’t belong in a place like this. I
f any of her colleagues saw her here… She cringed at the thought. Wild nights for them consisted of theoretical discussions over a glass of wine.

  Rachel didn’t have a choice. This was where Darla had arranged for their exchange.

  It was ridiculous that a woman like Rachel, who pursued facts through science, now relied on the mystical creations of a witch. A witch! Not a scientist, but a woman who referred to the phases of the moon for times to create potions.

  Rachel picked up her straw wrapper and twisted it. Until science could find a cure to her monthly affliction, she would return here to avoid the unthinkable…

  Cursing somebody else with her fate.

  She glanced through the people congregating at the bar or compact in tight groups on the dance floor for Darla. Last month, she’d dyed her hair a pale blue. Who knew what color it would be this month? Whatever it was, she’d stand out.

  Except maybe in this crowd. Unnatural hair color was common, from raven to ruby and even silver.

  Her gaze was drawn up to the gargoyle statues perched around the club. Silent monsters watching over them all. Was it to add to the gothic ambiance?

  Or intimidate?