Doranna Durgin - Sentinels - Jaguar Night

He let it swell within him instead of fighting it, until it verged on intoxication.

Below him, Meghan drew her sweatshirt together with one hand and shoved her hair back with the other, poised for flight. Suddenly vulnerable–and yet unable to keep from leaning towards him ever so slightly.

It was his undoing.

He leaped from the rock, invoking the shift along the way–riding the flash and crackle of the change and landing human.

And damned ready to face this thing between them.

“Meghan,” he said, and his voice came out as more of a growl. He rode the pounding demands in his body, the ache of being so close and yet not touching her. Until she lifted her face slightly, leaning into what lay between them. She took a deep breath; she let it out on a single, quiet, “Yes.”

He hesitated an instant longer–just long enough to be sure of what she’d said.

Doranna Durginspent her childhood filling notebooks, first with stories and art, and then with novels. After obtaining a degree in wildlife illustration and environmental education, she spent a number of years deep in the Appalachian Mountains. When she emerged, it was as a writer who found herself irrevocably tied to the natural world and its creatures–and with a new touchstone to the rugged spirit that helped settle the area, which she instils in her characters.

Doranna’s first fantasy novel received the 1995 Compton Crook/Stephen Tall award for the best first book in the fantasy, science fiction and horror genres; she now has fifteen novels of eclectic genres on the shelves. Most recently she’s leaped gleefully into the world of action romance. When she’s not writing, Doranna builds web pages, wanders around outside with a camera and works with horses and dogs. You can find a complete list of her titles at www.doranna.net, along with scoops about new projects, a lot of silly photos and a link to her SFF Net newsgroup.

BY

MILLS & BOON ®

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

Dedicated, of course, to the critters in my life–

Jean-Luc, Cheysuli Jean-Luc Picardigan

OJP NAP OJC NAC, CGC

Belle, Cheysuli’s Silver Belle

CD RE MXP3 PAX EAC EJC, CGC

Connery, Ch Cedar Ridge DoubleOSeven

CD RE MX MXJ EAC EJC, CGC

and Kacey, Xtacee Carbon Unit, CGC, who was still

with me when I wrote this book, and Strider the

WonderHound, who was there when it all started.

But especially to Duncan the Lipizzan, aka Pluto

Gladys, who has resisted critical injury, extreme

distance and lengthy separation to always fulfil the

task of keeping me humble.

And with thanks to Tashya Wilson and Tara Gavin,

for giving me a chance at all this fun!

Cover Page

Excerpt Dolan’s eyes narrowed as he drank in the rising power of what lay between them… He let it swell within him instead of fighting it, until it verged on intoxication. Below him, Meghan drew her sweatshirt together with one hand and shoved her hair back with the other, poised for flight. Suddenly vulnerable–and yet unable to keep from leaning towards him ever so slightly. It was his undoing. He leaped from the rock, invoking the shift along the way–riding the flash and crackle of the change and landing human. And damned ready to face this thing between them. “Meghan,” he said, and his voice came out as more of a growl. He rode the pounding demands in his body, the ache of being so close and yet not touching her. Until she lifted her face slightly, leaning into what lay between them. She took a deep breath; she let it out on a single, quiet, “Yes.” He hesitated an instant longer–just long enough to be sure of what she’d said.

About The Author Doranna Durgin spent her childhood filling notebooks, first with stories and art, and then with novels. After obtaining a degree in wildlife illustration and environmental education, she spent a number of years deep in the Appalachian Mountains. When she emerged, it was as a writer who found herself irrevocably tied to the natural world and its creatures–and with a new touchstone to the rugged spirit that helped settle the area, which she instils in her characters. Doranna’s first fantasy novel received the 1995 Compton Crook/Stephen Tall award for the best first book in the fantasy, science fiction and horror genres; she now has fifteen novels of eclectic genres on the shelves. Most recently she’s leaped gleefully into the world of action romance. When she’s not writing, Doranna builds web pages, wanders around outside with a camera and works with horses and dogs. You can find a complete list of her titles at www.doranna.net, along with scoops about new projects, a lot of silly photos and a link to her SFF Net newsgroup.

Title Page Sentinels: Jaguar Night BY

Dedication Dedicated, of course, to the critters in my life– Jean-Luc, Cheysuli Jean-Luc Picardigan OJP NAP OJC NAC, CGC Belle, Cheysuli’s Silver Belle CD RE MXP3 PAX EAC EJC, CGC Connery, Ch Cedar Ridge DoubleOSeven CD RE MX MXJ EAC EJC, CGC and Kacey, Xtacee Carbon Unit, CGC, who was still with me when I wrote this book, and Strider the WonderHound, who was there when it all started. But especially to Duncan the Lipizzan, aka Pluto Gladys, who has resisted critical injury, extreme distance and lengthy separation to always fulfil the task of keeping me humble. And with thanks to Tashya Wilson and Tara Gavin, for giving me a chance at all this fun!

Prologue

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

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Preview

Copyright

Meghan crossed her arms over her flat ten-year-old’s chest and gave her mother a defiant stare. “You never listen!”

Her mother smiled. Her mother always smiled. Sometimes her smile hinted at a joke not yet discovered by anyone else…sometimes it was a cleverness she’d seen in the world. Sometimes it was just because. Thus was the coyote shape-shifter—hard to pin down, cheerfully unpredictable.

Tonight, that smile broke Meghan’s young heart. “The animals are worried! Listen to them!”

“Ah, my sensitive girl…connected with us all.” Margery Lawrence sat right where she was, cross-legged there on the ranch-house porch, and pulled Meghan’s resisting body into her arms. Lanky, coltish Meghan didn’t quite fit there any longer, but her mother appeared not to notice. Her mother ran a hand along Meghan’s hair, smoothing…petting.

Meghan wasn’t fooled. She didn’t relax into the embrace. “You shouldn’t go,” she muttered. It sounded sullen even to her own ears.