Page 1 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Seven

Prologue

Tarek

Listen, I know I have chains wrapped strategically around my wrists and that every second that goes by, said chains are burning a mark into my skin that may or may not mean I’m about to get completely demolished by a succubus demon.

But this is not how the story starts.

I mean, maybe it’s how it ends since I’ve been in this exact spot for the last two days without food or water, waiting for a rescue from my immortal friends, knowing full well they’re probably all just having sex and enjoying marital bliss without realizing I’m actually missing.

Me.

The manager of the Seattle demon bar, Sin.

Werewolf prince.

All around really upright kind of guy—or so I like to think. But do you know where that got me?

Here.

Chained.

See also: Demon goddess who has not come back to check on me even once and says she wants to kill me via sex.

Bartending is looking great right now. Immortal life in my werewolf clan did not prepare me for this or the fact that saving one succubus would actually turn me into her prey.

She was bruised.

Beaten beyond recognition.

I was going to kill the vampire that attempted to slaughter her, but that’s a longer, more violent story since she ended up doing the deed once she got a bit of my blood. But I did giveher water, thinking,wow, I’ve done this person a total solid. I mean, despite the fact that she was pretty. Even her tears were pretty. The bruising and swelling on her face didn’t even hide how beautiful she was—oris.

Maybe my first wrong act was comforting her. Because the minute we touched, her eyes flashed a creepy red, and well…see alsoactualburning handcuffs around my wrists.

It’s clearly been a fun forty-eight hours. Maybe she’ll make it quick, though a weird part of me kind of wants my last few moments being sucked dry via sex to last for a while, so long that it’s all I focus on, all I care about, all I see.

I see visions of the future, but I never saw this.

So, strap in because I’m sure it’s going to be a great story. I just may not make it all the way to the end with you.

Chapter One

Tarek

Three Days Prior

“So, a werewolf walks into a bar…” I grin. “Does he actually walk into it, or does the bar walk into him? So many questions, so many answers. Hey, bro.” I snap my fingers twice. “You drunk?”

The guy shakes his head once, twice. Oh, wow, we have a goner. I wait until his head hits the table with a giant thud that has me wincing in pain on his behalf, then call for help. “Need a ride here!”

I don’t know why I do what I do.

I don’t know why I keep working, day after day after freaking day, trying to help the world when I can’t even help myself. But here I am. A werewolf created by the gods to just…sit and serve alcohol.

I feel like this would be the part in school where they ask you: “Hey, what’s your passion? What’s going to change the world?”

Me: Beer.

That’s my life’s purpose, even though I’m second in line for the Earth throne. And before you get all like,oh, Earth throne, oh, werewolf, let me get you caught up.

---