Mystic’s Run

Mystic Renaldi might have been born to guard the border between the human world and the supernatural one, but in her mind, she will never measure up to the other Renaldi Angelini. She can dance, mix drinks, play hostess, manage the music and even sing along with a band, all the things necessary for a good party—but not what’s required of an hunter.

When she slips away from the Howl for an adventure in Las Vegas, little does she know she’s stepping into her Angelini destiny. Her first hunt waits, along with three alpha males who are ready to convince her she’s the equal of any Renaldi female.

For Roman, Mystic is the mate who’ll appease the gryphon he was before becoming vampire. For Hawk, she’s the mate who’ll gain him a pack of his own. For Christian, a lone wolf, she’s the mate he never dreamed possible. But once she’s theirs, she becomes so much more than they imagined.

Nothing’s left to chance when an Angelini takes a mate. And everything is claimed–body, heart, and soul.

Note: This book contains a male/male sex scene between secondary characters.

Please note: A previous edition of this story was published by Ellora’s Cave.

Connected Books: The Angelini

Old magic is returning to a world where vampires and Weres exist—and the Angelini, who always take at least two mates, guard humans against the predators hidden among them. While the stories in The Angelini world can be read as stand-alones, they are best enjoyed in order.


Book 1

Book 2
Vampire's Companion
connected

Book 4

Back to Top

Read an Excerpt

Nervousness made Mystic stumble as they moved into the woods seeking a place that would grant them some privacy. Hawk and Roman steadied her automatically. Their hands on her arms sent a shock of heated need through her. Their touch intensified the fullness between her legs as blood pooled in her sex. The rub of her jeans and panties against her swollen folds made each step part of an erotic journey.

Anxiousness filled her when they came to a spot that looked as if it had been made for what they intended. It was a place of deep shadow and thin rays of sun, a place that smelled of nature’s own hidden magic.

Mystic’s stomach tightened. She took a step backward though her body and the Angelini magic protested her sudden reservation and her worry that she’d made a mistake in suggesting this, that it might yet end in bloodshed and death, in a guilt she’d carry with her for the rest of her life.

Roman took his shirt off and spread it on the ground. Hawk did the same.

Her heart sped up at the sight of them standing side by side. Together they were like day and night, Roman’s skin warmed and golden for a life begun under a shapeshifter’s sun, Hawk’s darkened for hunting in the light of the moon.

Mystic licked her lips in a nervous gesture that brought their sharp focus to her mouth. Part of her wanted to turn and run, to escape, but the other part wanted to be captured and mounted.

She took another step backward. She wasn’t sure she could go through with letting them both have her.

Hawk fought his instincts to pounce and force his mate into submission, then fuck her until her whimpers turned into howls of ecstasy and her fear turned into searing, insatiable desire. Every cell in his body knew she was his. But the kiss she’d shared with the other Were, the cop, was burned into his memory. Witnessing it made him realize he still needed to proceed cautiously with Mystic.

He’d seen how she responded to Christian. The wolf inside had howled at the sight of her softening in her other mate’s arms, soaking up his confidence and reassurance. The man had protested the knowledge Mystic and Christian were already deeply bonded.

He couldn’t risk she’d find him too rough by comparison, too primitive. Yet deep inside the wolf dreamed of the day when Mystic would wear fur and he could take her in a way that had nothing to do with emotion and everything to do with creation.

Hawk’s hand went to his jeans-covered erection. Mystic’s gaze followed, sending a roar of blood to a cock already close to exploding. When she didn’t look away he unzipped the fly before kicking off his shoes and stripping.

He let her see what she did to him and thrilled in the way her nostrils flared and her pupils dilated. His cock bobbed in greeting when he took a step forward.

“Come to me,” he ordered. The wolf was willing to keep chasing her as it had been doing since the first moment it saw her, but the man wanted her to admit she was attracted to him.

His cock head beaded with arousal when she licked her lips nervously and took another step backward. A low growl sounded deep in his chest as Roman’s clothing fell to the ground and her attention shifted to the other man’s cock.

Roman could barely think of anything but getting Mystic out of her clothes. He wanted to explore her body with his hands and mouth. He fantasized about pinning her wrists to the ground while his cock tunneled in and out of her. He could almost taste her cries of pleasure as she locked him deep inside her channel and orgasmed repeatedly.

For centuries he’d taken human women to his bed. He’d preferred them tall and blonde and well endowed, interchangeable, their conversation nonexistent or non-important. No more. None of them warranted even a footnote in the centuries-old text of his life. Against Mystic’s dark, exotic looks, they were pale ghosts of what a woman should be.

Mystic. Her name prowled through his heart and soul. It coursed through his veins and commanded his cock.

The lion’s growl answered Hawk’s wolf’s challenge.

Both of their beasts remained willing to fight to the death in order to claim this Angelini female. But when Mystic retreated again, fear and worry in her eyes, it was the men who pushed past their animal instincts and stepped forward in silent truce. Without needing to speak they both knew there’d be no winner if they continued to allow the most primitive parts of themselves to rule.

“We’ll be good from now on,” Roman teased, his fingertips settling lightly on Mystic’s spine and stopping her from moving further away from them.

Mystic shivered at Roman’s double meaning. Her gaze went to Hawk’s face when he took her hand and urged her forward, back to the spot where their shirts were spread out on the ground.

“It will be okay, Mystic,” Hawk whispered.

The husky sound of his voice curled in her womb and shredded her resistance. She didn’t protest when his free hand made quick work of unbuttoning her shirt.

His palm slipped under the parted fabric to cover her hard, tight nipple. A moan escaped and her face flushed with heat and a little embarrassment at yielding so easily, but there was no fighting the need for their touch.

Roman’s free hand stroked over her belly in a caress that made her clamp her legs together. He laughed, a wonderful, satisfied sound.

Mystic turned her head and met his eyes. He leaned in and covered her lips with his. His tongue stroked into her mouth, offering seduction instead of domination, the kiss so mesmerizing she barely noticed when Hawk stripped her of her clothing.

Back to Top

Read the Reviews

“Everything about this book is great! Jory Strong definitely has a gift for compelling storytelling. The world of THE ANGELINI is rich and well crafted, the characters are all very likable, and the sex is, of course, erotic. Tender and passionate in turns, the romance isn’t bogged down in angst or misunderstandings. Mystic is open and caring, she makes being in a relationship with three men seem almost easy. The three men are all wonderfully Alpha, and the interaction between the three of them as they work hard to form a family with Mystic is terrific. The mystery they are all working together to solve is intriguing, and keeps the reader guessing. Characters from the other Angelini books were included, and they definitely play a large part in the plot. All in all, its very easy to give MYSTIC’S RUN highest marks and say this will definitely be on my keeper shelf for a long time to come!”

— Caty Dean, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

“MYSTIC’S RUN is a gripping story that compels you to keep reading, glued to every page as the magical story unfolds. No one does it so well as Jory Strong. Wolves and vampires and a race of those in between that seek justice and serve retribution. THE ANGELINI is one series that you won’t regret reading. Ms. Strong takes an often overdone genre and breathes new life into it. There is a sensuality that comes through with every word you read and the suspense and intrigue keep you wondering where she is going. I hope that this series never ends.”

— Debbie H., Gotta Write Network

“Talk about a scorching, carnal read. Jory Strong is a master at creating consuming stories and MYSTIC’S RUN definitely is a consuming, compelling read. Mystic was a strong, endearing heroine. I really liked watching her come into her power, her hunting senses coming alive. She was no weakling by any means…This is a taut, tension filled story but fortunately, humorous plot developments, intense love scenes, and the beautiful reality of falling in love help to make MYSTIC’S RUN a perfect story to escape into.”

— Sarah W., Romance Junkies

“THE ANGELINI 3: MYSTIC’S RUN is a scorching read that should not be passed up by fans of THE ANGELINI series or lovers of paranormal erotic romances.”

— Bella, TwoLipsReviews.com

“MYSTIC’S RUN is the type of book that drags you in with excitement, danger, sex, fear, commitment, and yes, more sex!”

— Lisa Freeman, The Romance Studio

“Jory Strong is an amazing author. Her talent in creating the world of THE ANGELINI is fresh and bold. This is truly a must read story for all those who love a good paranormal romance. The added bonus of three hot men made this a most enjoyable reading experience.”

— Kimberley Spinney, eCata Romance

“A great story, full of adventure, action, family dynamics, friendship, and passionate sex.”

— Aris, Alternative-read.com

“I have only read MYSTIC’S RUN to date but I will be on the Ellora’s Cave website snapping up SKYE’S TRAIL, THE ANGELINI, book one and SYNDELLE’S POSSESSION, THE ANGELINI, book two. MYSTIC’S RUN can be read by itself but now that I have met Skye, Syndelle and their mates I have to check them out. Jory Strong has given me a paranormal world and characters I fell in love with. I can’t wait to go back.”

— Dana P., Fallen Angel Reviews

“Another strong, well written Paranormal Romance from THE ANGELINI series.”

— Nicole Harvey, ParaNormalRomance (PNR)

“Holy moly! MYSTIC’S RUN should come with a warning and its own ice pack. Sweating from each encounter with her mates, I found myself engulfed by the emotions of each individual character and their ability to throw away their doubts and do the one thing they were sure of—love Mystic.

“The plot, the emotions, the sexual tension; it all made for a better book. I love Jory Strong’s writing and with books like MYSTIC’S RUN, she only keeps writing better and better. Two thumbs up and a long howl for MYSTIC’S RUN!”

— Talia Ricci, Joyfully Reviewed

“This is one deliciously hot read! With three sinfully sexy mates, you know there’ll be many scorching sex scenes between the covers-not to mention a good plot.”

— 4 Stars, Gail Pruszkowski, RT Book Reviews

Back to Top