Two unlikely allies search for the secrets of their pasts while on the run within the Alien world of Harmony in the thrilling new novel by Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact. Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent--they say you never see him coming--is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver--a risky decision that gets her fired. Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.

Autorentext

Jayne Castle

Klappentext

"Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora's Box. But she's not the only one interested in that artifact"--

Zusammenfassung
*AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES* BESTSELLER

Two unlikely allies search for the secrets of their pasts while on the run within the Alien world of Harmony in the thrilling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Castle.**

Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact.

Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent—they say you never see him coming—is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver—a risky decision that gets her fired.

Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.

Leseprobe
Chapter One

The dust bunny chortled from underneath a nearby display stand.

Leona Griffin paused her examination of the curiously shaped crystal object she had just removed from one of the glass cases and looked around the heavily shadowed gallery.

It had been a long evening and the annual reception of the exclusive Antiquarian Society was far from over. In a desperate attempt to stave off boredom, she had left the crowded ballroom to check out the organization's impressive collection of paranormal antiquities. The realization that a dust bunny had found its way into the private museum was a lot more interesting than the small sculpture she had just plucked from the case.

She did not see any movement in the shadows, but the dust bunny chortled again, more insistently this time.

She put the crystal artifact back into the case. The label claimed it was Old World, circa the nineteenth century. The dating was accurate, in her professional opinion. She was never wrong when it came to authenticating artifacts and antiquities. It was one of her talents, the one she used to make a living as a para-archaeologist. There was a vibe of paranormal energy in the crystal. That was what had qualified it to be displayed in the gallery. Only artifacts of power were acquired by the Society's museum. Every object in the dimly lit space had a paranormal provenance. The result was that the atmosphere in the room was infused with a buzz of energy that lifted the hair on the back of her neck.

She was sure the object had been stolen, most likely from a private collector who had not reported the theft for fear of drawing attention to other objects of questionable provenance in their collection. The trade in illegal artifacts was a booming business, and it was accompanied by the equally profitable side hustle of collector-on-collector crime.

The dust bunny chortled again. Not a cheerful chortle, she decided. It sounded more like a plea. Maybe a cry for help.

"Where are you?" she asked. "I can hear you but I can't see you."

Sensing that she was paying attention, the dust bunny fluttered out from under a glass case.

"There you are," Leona whispered.

The dust bunny came to a stop directly in front of her and rose to its full height on its hind paws. She was not a tall woman but she was wearing very high heels tonight. The top of the dust bunny's head, with the tips of two ears poking through the gray fur, did not even reach her knee.

Dust bunnies were cute. Until they were not. As the saying went, By the time you see the teeth, it's too late. They were small, but they were omnivores-not vegetarians.

The good news was that the one in front of her was in what she thought of as adorable mode-fully fluffed with only its bright blue eyes open. It was not sleeked out, and the other two eyes-the ones used for hunting-were closed. If it weren't for the blue eyes and the six little paws peeping through its gray fur, it could have been mistaken for a large wad of dryer lint.

It chortled again. Leona whisked up the skirts of her ankle-length evening gown and crouched in front of the dust bunny. It was not an easy maneuver, given the four-inch heels. For some reason-there was no obvious physical evidence because of all the fur-she decided she was dealing with a female.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "You don't look like you're injured or sick. Are you trapped in here? I'll bet you want me to find a door and open it so you can leave. No problem. I wish I could go with you. Rarely have I been so bored."

Aiding and abetting the dust bunny's escape would be a trifle easier said than done, because the entire mansion was a fortress protected by sophisticated quartz-tech security and cameras. But she was good when it came to that sort of stuff. She had a talent for picking locks.

She stood and checked the time on her low-tech, amber-powered watch. Her work as a para-archaeologist took her into the Underworld, where high-tech devices, such as quartz-powered watches, did not function. The sturdy timepiece was not a stylish look with the formal evening gown, upswept hair, and heels, but she had refused to buy a more fashionable one for the evening.

The rest of her accessories were equally functional-amber earrings, a small amber-trimmed evening ba…