Nathan Lancaster could hardly believe this was happening. Not this year. Not again.

“She’s not coming, is she?” Nathan’s brother Dare leaned back on his lawn chair and looked up at the sky where vivid lights sparkled in contrast to the pure darkness all around them.

The large boat rocked slightly, and the three men waiting on the roof simply waited in silence for another few moments.

“The stars are bright tonight,” Theo said.

Nathan was pensive as the weight of their situation slowly settled around them.

In his heart, he’d known this could be a possibility, but he’d never truly considered it. The thought that after all of this—the waiting, the work—it could be for nothing made him feel colder than the water sloshing around them.

It was fall, a time when most wouldn’t bring a houseboat onto the lake, but Nathan and his brothers didn’t really have a flexible time frame.

In fact, it was a time frame that should have expired. Two years ago, if Nathan’s calculations were correct. That first night, after so much waiting, had been intense with shock and agony. Loss. Hopelessness. And then he and his brothers had regrouped. Perhaps they had miscounted. It had been many years, after all. Perhaps they had lost track. It was a very small possibility but better than the alternative.

That they had been forgotten. That it had all been for nothing.

Then what was the point of remaining in this world?

Dare’s shoulder-length blond hair whipped in the wind as the night air stirred. His boyish good looks belied a heart that was darker than either Nathan’s or Theo’s. Just like Theo’s calm composure hid a heart that was icy cold.

As for Nathan’s heart, he didn’t know much about it. He’d been told he was soulless, that all of them were. Abominations. Never meant to be in existence. Meant to be destroyed. Yet there had been a chance… and they’d worked and worked and…

His hand slid over the small ledger in his pocket. Over the many years, it had changed as methods of recording things in writing had changed. But the records were the same. The information just as pertinent. And he was finally at the point where he knew their creator couldn’t deny him.

But now, two years after the date they’d agreed on, Nathan realized deep in his soul that she wasn’t coming.

He tilted his head to look over at Dare, measuring his words carefully because Dare had been known to go off at the slightest provocation. “No, I don’t think she is. I don’t think she will. Maybe it’s time for all of us to move on.”

Theo was quiet, but a muscle at the side of his mouth tightened and he kept his muscled arms folded as he stared at the sky. On his wrist was a nice watch, the kind humans admired. They all had access to unlimited wealth if they wanted it. That came from living as long as they had.

Dare didn’t have any interest in that kind of thing, and if he did, he always knew he could come to Nathan.

Nathan had somehow accumulated wealth in abundance. He’d been the first to figure out physical force wasn’t the only way to save humans, and money, applied properly, could have the same effect as well.

He’d worked hard and accumulated a score that their creator couldn’t have argued with.

Not that it mattered anymore.

Theo’s icy stare glittered, his light-blue gaze a contrast to his pitch-black, very short hair. He was a well-known surgeon, choosing to save lives that way, as well as other ways when the darkness took over. But at this moment, he simply looked like a desolate monster.

Which was what all of them were.

“That bitch,” Theo said caustically, quietly.

The boat rocked ominously in the darkness.

“Dare?” Nathan asked, checking in with his youngest brother.

Dare was still gazing at the sky, but there was tension in his handsome features. Anyone looking at him would see innocence, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

None of them had ever been innocent. Not even when they were born.

“It just figures,” Theo said. “We should have known. We should have done whatever we wanted.”

“And what did you want?” Nathan asked Theo quietly.

Theo thought for a moment, moving his hands to rest them behind his head. “I’m not sure. But Dare would have toppled civilizations.”

“Would not,” Dare said fiercely. “But I would have at least killed a few more people.”

It had been Nathan’s principle never to kill if he could help it. After all, who wanted to have to work harder to make up for that negative mark on the ledger? Nathan never caused extra work if he could avoid it.

Dare let out a sigh that sounded as desolate as the wind but said nothing further.

“At least we have this boat,” Nathan said. “We can still meet here.”

Theo’s lips quirked in a smile. “And we can come at times when it’s not freezing as well.”

They could do whatever they wanted as long as they stayed away from forming bonds with any sort of civilization, any world of either shifters or humans, both of whom would want them destroyed.

Dare stood and walked to the edge of the boat, standing by the railing as the moon rose overhead. Crooked horns slowly worked their way out of his hair and rose upward in an ominous spiral. Theo stood to join him, his spiked tail swishing ominously from under his robe.

Nathan was last to walk over, his blood thrumming with the feel of the moon, the darkness calling to the creature inside him now that the night was fully in bloom.

Wings lashed out from his back, unfurling in the night air, causing a rush of adrenaline as well as pain. Plus a bit of cold resignation.

He and his brothers would never fit into human society. Any hope of joining their creator’s world was gone now as well.

Nathan stared out at the blue-black water, watching small waves carrying bits of moonlight far away. Right now, everything felt as black as deep water, but Nathan knew the sun would rise.

And the monsters labelled nightmares would simply have to find a new reason to exist.

* * *

“So are you going to get that interview with Nathan Lancaster?”

Lillian Goss looked up from the pile of news articles on her desk to see her boss leaning impatiently against the door.

“Yes, Maggie.” Lillian pushed the articles out of the way so she could focus. Of course her boss wanted her to get an interview with Nathan. What newspaper, or e-zine for that matter, didn’t want to interview one of the most elusive philanthropists in the world?

Not to mention one of the most handsome.

But Lillian had her own reasons for wanting to come face to face with Nathan, and it had nothing to do with his good looks.

“I’m working on it, but it isn’t exactly easy with the security they keep on the building, plus his weird hours.”

Maggie shrugged unsympathetically. As usual, her blond hair was back in a tight bun, and everything, from her tailored white shirt to her tight-fitting skirt, seemed perfectly in place.

Completely unlike Lillian who usually looked as though she’d wandered in after rolling straight out of bed. Then again, what use was being a writer if you didn’t get to take advantage of the benefit of most people not seeing your face when you were at work?

She would make sure to straighten up before her interview.

Maggie tucked an invisible stray hair behind one ear. “If you need to be reassigned…”

“No,” Lillian said sharply. This was her beat, and she wasn’t going to lose it. Her eyes darted to one of the news articles on her desk. The burnt-out wreckage of a restaurant and, in one hard-to-see corner of the picture, a man in a trench coat disappearing down an alley.

Nathan.

He appeared in every one of the pictures she had on her desk, and it was kind of a Where’s Waldo moment every time she saw pictures from another crime or disaster.

What she didn’t know was why he was there. Was he some sicko who got off on seeing this kind of thing, or was he involved in a much deeper, more sinister way?

Either way, it was going to be the break of the century when she figured it out.

“Fine,” Maggie said. “But you need to make headway. Today, if possible.”

“But—” It was too late, and Maggie had already turned on her heel in a huff and disappeared back into the hallway.

Lillian slumped back in her chair, wondering what to do now. She’d tried several times to gain access to the Lancaster building, but security had always thrown her out. She’d tried to reach Nathan’s secretary, but that hadn’t worked either. No promise of good publicity could motivate him. It seemed he was happy to just let the world wonder about who he was.

She impatiently tapped her fingers on the desk, then walked over to her window that overlooked the street.

It was lunchtime, and perhaps she would get a chance to see Nathan leave the building.

Perhaps if she just didn’t take no for an answer…

Or perhaps with people coming and going, she could sneak in without anyone noticing.

Either way sounded fine. She wasn’t used to being this persistent about a story, but if Nathan Lancaster was setting fires or committing crimes, he had as much reason to be caught as anybody.

As far as she was concerned, rich people shouldn’t get any free passes.

She’d had to work for everything she’d gotten in this life, and people like Nathan Lancaster just seemed to skate through with their perfect smiles and probably huge trust funds.

She was still working to pay off student loans, but it was worth it to be able to do what she loved.

She grabbed her jacket and shrugged into it, tying the belt of the light trench material around her waist.

As she exited her building, she caught a look at herself in the glass doors. Harried with dark curls in all directions. Frumpy clothing hidden under a misshapen coat. Tawny, light-brown skin and a face that was more striking than pretty. Diamond-shaped with a stubborn chin and slightly crooked nose.

She liked her eyes, though. Big and dark and curious, mostly brown with a deep green at the center that complimented her tawny skin. She liked to think her eyes were her best feature, besides her brain.

Which she now needed to use to get into Nathan’s building.

As she crossed the street to Lancaster tower, she looked up at the glittering glass and its many windows and wondered which floor the elusive billionaire would be on.

If he was as nice as everyone in the press seemed to think, surely he’d at least listen to her pitch before booting her.

She shoved her hands in her pockets as she studied the automatic doors that led to a sparkling, elegant lobby floored completely in Italian marble.

She took a few steps back so someone coming out could get clear and then, with a short breath, rushed through the doors before they could close on her.

The person at the front desk noticed her, but lucky for Lillian, the elevator was still open and she quickly ducked inside before anyone could stop her.

She hit the “door close” button as quickly as she could, jamming her finger on it until the doors shut before the receptionist could get to her, and slumped back against the elevator wall in relief.

Worst case? Security would come talk to her. She wasn’t going to do anything to their precious building. She just had to talk to the man who owned it all.

And she wasn’t going to give up until she got that chance.

The elevator dinged. Lillian wasn’t sure who’d called it, but she knew it was too late to do anything as it began to rush up to an unknown floor.

With a final ding, the doors to the elevator opened, and she got ready to run for it as a dark shadow stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

A tall, handsome shadow, she saw as her eyes worked their way up to the face of the man in front of her.

Nathan Lancaster.

His thick, nearly black hair was swept carelessly off his forehead, though his immaculate appearance made it clear there was nothing careless about this man. He had the face of a fallen angel, wickedly handsome with a sharp jaw, straight nose, and clear blue eyes. Lips born for sinning. A tall, muscular body shaped by the gods displayed in the finest gray suit money could buy.

It wasn’t fair, in addition to being born indescribably wealthy, to be so incredibly beautiful.

He stared at her with a mix of confusion and shock. “What are you doing here? Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”

Maybe out of the corner of his eye on one of the occasions security was “escorting” her off the premises.

He took a step forward, putting his hand up to block the elevator doors when they tried to close. “Who are you? Why are you sneaking around?”

Now that she looked closer, he appeared tired. There were lines around his eyes and he was a little extra pale, as if he’d been up late. Perhaps she should watch the news for evidence of more fires.

“My name’s Lillian Goss, and I’ve been trying to get an interview with you.”

“Goss? Are you the one calling constantly?”

She took a step back as he stepped into the elevator, filling it with his huge, masculine body and an expensive, spicy scent.

Damn, he hadn’t looked this big in the photos.

“I wouldn’t say constantly,” she said nervously. “I would say persistently.”

His eyes narrowed, the blue almost looking black through slits shaded by long, curled lashes. “I would say annoying.”

She met his eyes defiantly. “Then give me an interview. I’ll be out of your hair when my article’s done.”

With a sigh, he leaned against the wall next to her. “I don’t know what you could cover that anyone else hasn’t.”

She grinned darkly. “Oh, I think there are a few things I’ve noticed that no one else has.”

“Intriguing,” he said, but his tone sounded bored. He pushed off the wall and walked out of the elevator. She followed him, but he turned and put up a hand. “No, you’re going back down. I’m afraid I don’t have time for an interview now.”

Alarm sounded through her. She hadn’t gotten this close to fail now. What kind of coldhearted billionaire turned down a woman this eager to interview him?

“Look, just answer my questions and I’ll get out of your hair. If not, I’m just going to keep coming back here and—”

She gasped in shock as he reached out, caught her arm, and jerked her out of the elevator. Then he shoved her against the wall and trapped her there, his hands landing with a thud, all his height looming over her.

It was odd seeing the usually calm, well-mannered man displaying so much intensity. He was nothing like the sweet, polite man he appeared to be on TV.

Was this the real Nathan Lancaster?

“I’m not in the mood for this,” he said irritably. He ran a hand through his hair, making the short, dark locks stand up in all directions. “I’ve been up all night and—”

“Doing what?” she asked innocently.

He glared at her. “Reporters. Always asking questions. Always thinking you’re entitled to my time.”

“Always noticing that you show up at fires,” she added quickly.

That seemed to startle him, and he took a step back, putting his hands in the pockets of his tailored black slacks. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been watching you, Nathan Lancaster,” she said avidly. She took a step forward and was surprised when he took a step back. “I see more than all the tabloids that want to paint you as something like an angel. I’ve been noticing things you do, and if I’m right, you’re more like a demon.” Why was she telling him this? It was sure to blow her cover.

But at the same time, she could sense if she didn’t do something out of the ordinary, he wasn’t going to listen to her at all.

Ignoring the general sense of danger she got just being near him, she took a step closer. This time he stayed still and simply looked down.

Was it her imagination, or was there a hint of purple in the blue depths of his irises?

He blinked, and she decided she must have been imagining it.

“I’m afraid you are mistaking coincidences for something greater. And as for interviews, I have nothing I want to say.”

He turned on his heel to walk away, and she curled her hands into fists.

“Where were you last night, Nathan?”

He whirled around, expression angry. “None of your concern.”

She shook her head, pulling a few news articles out of her jacket. “It has to be someone’s concern! Look. You’re here and here and here.” She pointed to the photos and then tossed them on the ground in front of him.

His lip curled, but she knew she had at least gotten his attention. His handsome face, with its sharp, straight features, looked even harsher than before.

“So you might as well give me an interview,” she said. “Because you aren’t going to get rid of me until you do.”

And then she stared up into his cold, dark eyes, and a frisson of danger ran up her spine, making her wonder if she’d just made an epic miscalculation.