ANOINTED by Maggie Mae Gallagher is part of The Cantati Chronicles, paranormal kick-butt and sexy!!
SYNOPSIS
My name is Alana Devereaux. I enjoy the simple things in life, walks in the park, sky gazing,
and ripping a demon’s heart out through its chest. I am a demon slayer, the last of my kind, and
I have been sent back through time to save your world. How am I doing so far? My time travel
went haywire, all the signs I needed to stop the prophecy have passed, and the only way I can
save my world is by keeping yours from ending. Then there’s Gaelen, most days I want to deck
him. He hides his true motives and if it was not for the intel he had, I would be rid of him. Any
day in my life without a demon attack is a good day; I haven’t had a whole lot of those lately.
The only problem is, if I don’t stop the Mutari, this world will burn.
EXCERPT (Chapter 9)
The group advanced, sharpened claws glistened in the firelight. A lump formed in my
throat. This was it. Sweat soaked my clothes. I heard the honk of a passing car on the bridge
nearby. Thunder rumbled low in the distance. The wind subsided. The air stilled. A storm
brewed. Balling my fists I switched to hand combat. Changing to offensive tactics, I took them
Duck, punch, kick, and rip out their jugular became my motto. I sensed movement at my
back and turned swinging. My fist stopped inches from luminescent green eyes and I heard a
Shifting my head, I slid out from between the mystery man and the oncoming Hatha
Who the hell was this guy?
I’d barely turned when another demon charged me. I felt, more than saw, the man at my
back. We wordlessly worked together, dispatching demons one by one until we were the only
Had the Densare sent someone else? “Who the hell are you?”
He was at my side before I could blink. “Silence. We need to move fast. More are on the
way. Look at the gem in your pocket.”
Well shit. Sure enough, it was casting vibrant light again. I needed firepower if more
were coming. Without further prodding, I ran back the identical way I’d come. The stranger kept
doggedly close to my heels. At the gate, his hands boosted me to the top. I flipped over the side,
landed on the balls of my feet. Mystery man dropped down beside me on the deserted street.
He stayed to the shadows, masking his visage. I kept pace with him for a block before he
hailed a passing cab. Maybe the driver wouldn’t notice I was covered in demon blood. Granted,
the cool air had helped it congeal, so at least it wasn’t dripping anymore.
“Where to?” I think the driver asked, his accent far too heavy to be certain.
“The Savoy.” Mystery man’s voice shivered through me.
“All right, I’ll ‘ave you folks ‘ere in a jiffy.” My worry had been for naught. The cabbie
didn’t glance in his rearview mirror. Hopefully most of the blood was on the front of me, so
there wouldn’t be too much on the seat when we got out.
Curiosity peaked. I glanced at mystery man by my side. A million questions hammered
through my brain. His hair fell below his jaw line, the color unfathomable in the darkened cab.
Shadows played across his wide, full mouth and angular face. His bone structure was chiseled
perfection, his jaw covered in dark stubble. He was taller than me by at least a foot. His broad
shoulders, ripped with muscles, broadcasted his dangerous strength. Sinuously muscled, his
body reminded me of a resting panther. A passing street lamp momentarily illuminated his long
eloquent fingers covered in demon blood.
Who the hell was he? His eyes met mine. I opened my mouth to question him. He shook
his head no. His expression silenced the interrogation poised on my lips.
Screw that! If it took the rest of the night, he’d answer me.
As grateful as I was to be alive, too much was at stake. Questions boiled in my chest.
Who the hell was he? He fought them like a Cantati.
The cab ride lingered indefinitely. We could have walked faster than this. Patience was a
virtue. My mother tried instilling me with it. But I hated waiting. She complained that I was too
much like my father. By the time the cab pulled alongside the Savoy, I jumped from my seat. At
this point, I couldn’t care less if the man looked like the sun god Apollo. He’d answer my
The doorman opened the taxi door exclaiming, “Good evening, Mister Cormac. Great to
see you again, sir. Is there anything you and your guest require this evening?”
“Nothing for now, Greely. Thank you.”
I followed Mister Cormac into the hotel and stopped. Oh my Goddess, here I stood in the
most opulent place I had ever visited, covered in demon guts. Crystal chandeliers dangled over
an intricately patterned marble floor. Embellished gold trim decorated the walls. It was beyond
elegant—I had stepped into a world with a kaleidoscope of colors and fabrics, carved woods, and
marble statues. It made me wonder what a room there cost.
Too rich for my blood, that’s for damn sure.
Other than the bellman, who made no comments regarding our appearance, we didn’t
encounter another soul in the lobby. Inside the elevator, Mister Cormac pressed the button
Alone in the elevator with walls covered in tasteful navy blue furnishings trimmed with
gold, his eyes took in my measure from head to toe. Those eyes, they were a thing of true beauty,
a clear, sea green color so pure and crystalline no ocean in the world could compare. There was
not an ounce of skin, clothed or exposed, which did not fall under his gaze.
He made me uncomfortable with his scrutiny. My skin tingled every place he looked. His
perusal halted a moment at my chest before heading further south.
Damn homing beacon of a bra. I had to get rid of this stupid thing. He had this bizarre
energy that emanated off him. All at once, I felt a spatial distortion around him. Like I saw him,
but only what he wanted me to see, and what I did was muted. Different, unlike any being I’d
encountered, his energy signature had a rich smoky flavor. The tiny bit my sensors registered
were suffused with heat. Returning his stare, I had the strangest sense of foreboding. My instincts
told me to run as far and as fast as I could away from him.
Did I listen to my inner voice? Of course not. As much as the sane, logical part of me
wanted to run, I also had the weirdest desire to touch him. He was attractive, sure, but my body
never reacted physically this fast. Granted, a woman would have to be dead not to want him.
And last time I checked, I wasn’t dead.
Returning his caustic stare, I realized it was his eyes. They drew me in with a magnetism
that made me want to sink into him. He was Eros wrapped up in tight jeans. Here we were
covered in demon blood, and I wanted to attach my lips to his, taste him in big, unending gulps
My squad could attest to the fact that I never got all googly eyed when it came to men.
Warning bells sounded in my skull. I had to proceed with the utmost caution. Mister Cormac had
way to much pull over my senses.
The elevator doors opened and we emerged into the hallway. Only one room on this
floor, he unlocked the door with one of those keycards and entered the room, expecting me to
follow. I’d get the answers I sought, then get the hell away from here. The farther away from
“So who are you and why were you at the Tower tonight?” I asked, my voice came out in
a panting whisper. Curse it! He ignored my question and proceeded throughout the room,
As he lit the last light he turned, his voice resonated deep down inside me. “I could ask
“Ah, but I asked you first.” Scoping out the room, I noticed balcony doors at the far wall
that could be useful if things barreled out of control. A bedroom sat to the left of the entryway if
things headed a different…nope, not contemplating it. Keeping my hands near my sides, there
was a fireplace on the right with an iron poker next to the grate. I shifted my focus back to him.
We would conduct this interview my way, not his.
“We can go the long way around this or we can cut to the chase. Why were you at the
Tower and where did you learn to fight them so well?” He stalked me, pushed me further into
the bowels of his elaborate sitting room. With cream colored sofas on either side, I kept the front
door in my sights even though he blocked that escape route with his big body. There was always
the balcony behind me. My pulse accelerated, I hated feeling trapped.
He chuckled and the reverberation tingled clear to my toes. “No, not going to tell me.
Well how about your name first then?”
“Alana. Yours?” Damn, why did I tell him my real name? Centering myself, I threw up
my mental blockers and sensed his mind poking into mine. “Stay out of my head, Mister
His eyes whipped to mine. “You felt me? Interesting. Most people can’t sense my mind
probing theirs. But then, you’re not like other people, are you, Alana?”
I shivered as his tongue caressed my name. Those mesmerizing eyes held my gaze
captive; neither willing to back down. I would never share my reasons when it was evident he
didn’t plan on enlightening me. This was a horrible waste of my time. As much as I wanted
to know the mystery surrounding Mister Cormac, the urge to escape boiled in my blood. His
nearness made me a bit more preoccupied with self-preservation.
Screw it, time to go. I rubbed my hands together. Demon blood crusted my skin and came
I took a step to his right, toward the door, and his body moved with mine. Shit, I could
pick them. Would he force me to remain?
Leave now! Before it’s too late!
“I’m leaving.” Hurry! I swiveled around him. Damn near sprinted to the door. My hand
reached for the door handle. I almost made it, too.
He grabbed me from behind, bodily spun me to face him. In seconds the steel bands of
his arms wrapped around me and held me prisoner.
I attempted breaking from his grasp. My hands met his rock solid chest and I pushed.
Why wasn’t he…? I tried slipping my right shoulder down to wiggle out of his grip. He tightened
his arms. Stars appeared in front of my eyes as my lungs were compressed.
Stomping on his foot did nothing. I went for the girlish attack and brought my knee
within striking distance of his manhood. He crowded my body against the door, trapping my
I gaped at him like a fish. I’ve thrown four hundred pound demons across alleyways, but
I couldn’t make his arms budge an inch. His right leg pushed between mine and I found myself
trapped. How was this possible? Who was he? None of the Cantati men had been this strong.
Bewildered, I peered into his eyes. Intense green scanned my facial expressions. He had
the longest eyelashes. I stopped squirming; shut my eyes against the intoxicating fire in his. My
heartbeat clanked in my chest. Straight from possible death by demon massacre to kidnapped by
strange man. I had to get out of there before I started hyperventilating with what little air he
afforded me. With as much bravado as I could muster, I demanded, “Release me.”
An eternity passed. I waited for his response. My bones liquefied, melted into his. My
traitorous body answered the carnal pull he emanated. Desire pooled in my belly. The coarse
stubble of his five o’clock shadow whispered along my jaw. My pent up breath expelled in a
rush. I felt my nipples harden against his chest. His succulent lips moved next to my ear. “I’ll let
you go this time. Next time, I won’t be so kind.”
Every word resonated and I knew my panties were wet. I wanted him. I inhaled to reply
and his scent, dark and exotic, slammed into me. His essence stirred me, my blood recognized
him. “There won’t be a next time.” I had to get out of here, immediately. Before I did something
He reached behind me and opened the door. “Yes there will be, I’m afraid. And I might
not let you go. Then again, you probably won’t want to leave.”
“Not a chance in hell.” I backed out the door to the elevator. I’d never make the mistake
of giving my back to that man ever again. He moved faster than lightning, faster than any Efrit
I’d encountered. I kept pressing the button as he sardonically gazed at me. Bastard leaned against
the door jam, arms crossed over his expansive chest. I prayed. Did it have to take the elevator
forever to reach this floor? At this hour, no one else was up.
The doors slid open with a slight ding and I darted inside. I slumped against the back
wall. His laughter followed me as the doors closed. What the hell was he? More importantly,
what was I going to do about him?
AUTHOR BIO
Bestselling Author Maggie Mae Gallagher doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing.
When she was a kid she acted out her favorite scenes, only better, with her brother and cousin.
As a teenager, she wrote reams of poetry, but realized her true love lay with creating characters
and stories. A former music and history major, Maggie is a total geek at her core. When she is
not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She lives
in St. Louis, Missouri, with her two furry felines.
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/maggiegallagher
website: http://www.maggiemaegallagher.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Mae-Gallagher/107335792624944
Twitter: https://twitter.com/magmaegallagher
Sneak Peeks are our way of helping readers find new authors, new stories and get previews! Please share and/or comment. Thank you!
