A Kiss of Venom (Araneae Nation)

All’s fair in love and murder… Betrayed by her lover and exiled from her clan home, Nicolette has carved herself a new identity from the heart of her old life. Hardened by grief and desperate to survive, she hones a new skill set…and the daggers that go along with it. Armand is heir to the wealthiest clan in the Araneae Nation. His entire life is as mapped as his heritage. Tradition dictates his every decision, and the one choice he ever made for himself cost him the woman he loved. When Nicolette is offered a contract she can’t refuse, she returns to Erania with deadly intentions. Her secrets are safe behind the façade she created. Or they would be if Armand would stop chipping at the cracks in her veneer. One kiss ignites an old flame, and suddenly their history is in danger of repeating. Armand falls for Nicolette’s charade, but she can’t let a second chance at happiness distract her from her mission. Someone in the Araneidae nest is marked for death, and Nicolette aims to deliver. Warning: This story contains one heroine bent on revenge and one hero determined to atone for his sins. Also included are venom kisses, poison hangovers, pointy objects and questionable taste in condiments. Expect fireworks, near-death experiences and one surprise ten years in the making.

From the Inside Flap

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Salticidae believed in marriage before sex. In my heart, Armand and I had been as good as wed. This was my last chance to enjoy my husband's body, because there was no divorce in Salticidae society, and even if there had been, I had already tried and failed to cut him from my heart. "One time." Warning bells clanged in my head. This was a bad idea, a horrible idea. "One afternoon," he coaxed, a wicked gleam in his eye. "Once is not enough." "Two hours," I countered, fearful of how much damage he could deal my heart in so short a time. His teeth scraped my throat. "I can work with that." Fisting his collar, I pulled him inside the room then slammed him against the door. His hands went to the hem of my shirt, lifting it higher, until his fingers brushed my breast band. "I need a moment." I couldn't risk him finding me armed. I planted my palms on his chest. "Don't move." I backed away, and he tried to follow. The hunger in his eyes made it hard to think, to speak. I stumbled over a chair, grasped its back to keep from falling and came away with a scarf in my hand. Heart racing, I patted the seat. When Armand got near enough, I shoved him down, captured his wrists and tied them behind his back. One more knot secured him to the chair as he tested his bonds. I circled around to his front. "I told you not to move." He continued to flex his arms. "I told you that, and look where it got me." "Tied up in my room." I tapped my lips. "Not a bad deal from where I'm standing." "From where I'm sitting, I can't complain." He grunted. "About my hands..." "What about them?" I eased behind his back, out of sight. My trunk was still open, so I flung my clothes and weapons into it, taking care to situate the vial before I shut it as quietly as I could. I kept a hand on the lid, debating, but the preventative I'd brought with me was as effective before intercourse as it was afterward. Considering its foul taste, I would do Armand a favor and wait until after he left to put my herbs to use. My robe lay crumpled on the bed. I slid it on and padded around to face Armand. Until that moment, I wasn't sure I wanted this, wanted him. The rapid rise and fall of his chest, the dilation of his gorgeous lavender eyes, I couldn't resist. He was air to me, and I'd gone too long without breathing him in.

From the Back Cover

The Araneae Nation reading order is as follows:A Heart of Ice, Short Story Prequel A Hint of Frost, Book One A Feast of Souls, Book Two A Cast of Shadows, An Araneae Nation Novella A Time of Dying, Book Three A Kiss of Venom, An Araneae Nation NovellaA Breath of Winter, Book Four A Veil of Secrets, Book Five

About the Author

Born in the Deep South, Hailey is a lifelong resident of Alabama. Her husband works for the local sheriff's department and her daughter is counting down the days until she's old enough to audition for American Idol. Her dachshund, Black Ilex, helps Hailey write by snoozing on his dog bed in her office. Her desire to explore without leaving the comforts of home fueled her love of reading and writing. Whenever the itch for adventure strikes, Hailey can be found with her nose glued to her Kindle's screen or squinting at her monitor as she writes her next happily-ever-after.

Reviews

News