Crimson City Series by Liz Maverick, Patti O'Shea, Carolyn Jewel, Jade Lee

Once, this was the City of Angels. The angels are no longer in charge. From the extravagant appetites of the vampire world above, to the gritty defiance of the werewolves below, the specter of darkness lives around every corner, the hope of paradise in every heart. All walk freely with humans in a tentative peace, but to live in Los Angeles is to balance on the edge of a knife. One woman knows better than most that death lurks here in nights of bliss or hails of UV bullets... moreOnce, this was the City of Angels. The angels are no longer in charge. From the extravagant appetites of the vampire world above, to the gritty defiance of the werewolves below, the specter of darkness lives around every corner, the hope of paradise in every heart. All walk freely with humans in a tentative peace, but to live in Los Angeles is to balance on the edge of a knife. One woman knows better than most that death lurks here in nights of bliss or hails of UV bullets. She’s about to be tested, to taste true thirst. She’s about to regain the power she’s long been denied. And Fleur Dumont is about to meet the one man who may understand her: a tormented protector who’s lost his way and all he loved. less

Los Angeles. Once, it was the City of Angels. Now, it's Crimson City, whose inhabitants know nothing of Heaven. The tentative peace between the species --- werewolf, vampire, human --- teeters on the brink of collapse. Sides are being chosen. Yet the peril is greater than any imagine. There is a power here that longs for release, an ancient darkness held captive too long. Below, beneath, beyond, it seethes. And there are those who would see it freed. Mika herself seeks freedom... moreLos Angeles. Once, it was the City of Angels. Now, it's Crimson City, whose inhabitants know nothing of Heaven. The tentative peace between the species --- werewolf, vampire, human --- teeters on the brink of collapse. Sides are being chosen. Yet the peril is greater than any imagine. There is a power here that longs for release, an ancient darkness held captive too long. Below, beneath, beyond, it seethes. And there are those who would see it freed. Mika herself seeks freedom. She's come to Crimson City looking for the key. But that key's keeper is a killer, an outsider, a mercenary with a poisoned past. To her kind, he has meant only death. No matter that Conor McCabe's pale green eyes hold a hint of lust, the glint of a bond never to be broken; the path ahead lies in shadow. In a city like this, death can come by fire or fang, by claw or kiss. And the moment of truth must come ... THROUGH A CRIMSON VEIL less

Just another day on the job for Officer Claudia Donovan of the Crimson City police department. Two guys dead in what looks like a paranormal kill, and now she has to deal with Tiberiu Korzha, a vampire who leads a notorious criminal enterprise. When demons kidnap her and her daughter, they work dark magic on her to enable her to open the long-closed portal to the demon world. After a dark demon bonds with her, her only hope for survival may well be Korzha... moreJust another day on the job for Officer Claudia Donovan of the Crimson City police department. Two guys dead in what looks like a paranormal kill, and now she has to deal with Tiberiu Korzha, a vampire who leads a notorious criminal enterprise. When demons kidnap her and her daughter, they work dark magic on her to enable her to open the long-closed portal to the demon world. After a dark demon bonds with her, her only hope for survival may well be Korzha. Tiberiu Korzha has little use for humans until he’s trapped in the demon world with Claudia Donovan, the one human woman he’s tempted to bite. His puts his private deal with the demons on the line in order to help her rescue her daughter. Can he and Claudia survive the dangerous demons who’ll do anything to escape into Crimson City? PRAISE FOR A DARKER CRIMSON Sinclair Reid, Romance Reviews Today: A DARKER CRIMSON is a fast-paced, attention-grabbing, action-packed hell of ride into the unknown demon world. Claudia is a tough-as-nails cop and a loving mother all rolled into one. . . The chemistry between Tiber and Claudia is intense, emotional, and simmers just beneath the surface, adding another level to the dangerous situation they are in. Another ingredient added into the turbulent mixture is Lath, the Bak-Faru demon who happens to be Claudia's vishtau mate. EXCERPT: “You are one hell of a woman, Donovan.” His face went completely and deadly still. But his eyes glittered. “A very long time ago, I won my independence. I will not now tolerate being manipulated. Not even by you. I will not make another vampire.” “Why not? Vamps go around biting people all the time.” She put her hands on his face. A slight roughness on his cheeks, but cool skin. “Despite the laws, vamps bite people all the time. Here I am, telling you no limits. No stopping point.” She had to convince him. She had to for Holly’s sake. “I’m not going to file a complaint afterward. What’s the problem? You get performance anxiety or something?” His teeth flashed. “I resent being treated like an animal. A performing bear.” “I don’t mean it like that.” “Yes, you do.” “I’ve read your file, Korzha. You hit the society pages about as often as you end up on the blotter. You got caught fang-deep in Senator Baker’s daughter. Salvatore Giamani testified you hit his Persian connection and had a drink afterward. How come I fall below your standard?” “She was biting me, Officer, and there were seven witnesses who directly contradicted Giamani.” “Smoke and fire, fangs. Smoke and fire. You’re a bad man.” “And an even more dangerous fang.” “Exactly.” “No.” “They want to keep my daughter here, the demons do. She’ll grow up without me, Korzha. I’m her mother. I don’t want to leave her. She’s only ten.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Who else is going to love her no matter what?” Korzha closed his eyes and whispered, “Draga inama.” Her breath caught and rattled on the way out. Her chest constricted until there wasn’t enough room for her lungs to expand. The force of his thoughts around her, calling to her made her sick to her stomach. “Stop that.” She bent her head, fighting the sensations. “Stop it.” “Why, when you won’t stop torturing me?” “Don’t you get it, Korzha? I’m going to die like all the others Aslet has made open the portal. You’re crazy if you think I’m going to leave Holly here at the mercy of these freaks. less

Long ago Los Angeles became Crimson City, a glittering metropolis and sometime-battleground-sometime-home for humans, werewolves and vampires. Before that, demons ruled. And with the Crimson Veil now torn asunder, those demons are on their way back. There exist those who oppose the Dark Ones: mystics attuned to the earth, the druids. From San Bernadino they come, sending one of their mightiest-their Draige-Uisge. He can shape energy, twist it to harm or heal... moreLong ago Los Angeles became Crimson City, a glittering metropolis and sometime-battleground-sometime-home for humans, werewolves and vampires. Before that, demons ruled. And with the Crimson Veil now torn asunder, those demons are on their way back. There exist those who oppose the Dark Ones: mystics attuned to the earth, the druids. From San Bernadino they come, sending one of their mightiest-their Draige-Uisge. He can shape energy, twist it to harm or heal. But he must have something to bend, and the requisite power can be summoned by one method aloneand from one source: the beauty Xiao Fei, the Phoenix Tear. Her blood is the key, along with her ecstasy; her union with Patrick means salvation. Yet in a world of vampires, werewolves and evil untamed, even a kiss can be deadly. Opposition lurks in every shadow, peril in every caressand both redemption and oblivion lie in one woman beingSEDUCED BY CRIMSON. less

In the final installment of the USA Today bestselling Crimson City series, vempires, werewolves, and humans must work together to close the gate into the demon world, and a beautiful but tormented mortal must find her salvation--as well as the salvation of the known world--in the arms of a man who is anything but human.

FOUR BRAND NEW STORIES FROM THE ORIGINAL AUTHORS OF THE USA TODAY BEST-SELLING SERIES. Its been said there's no such thing as quiet here. Ever since the metropolis first became home to paranormals, discord was named queen. But who will be her king vampires, werewolves, demons or men? One thing remains sure: This land is a battleground and conflict is eternal. Yet there are those who join together strangers, enemies, lovers... moreFOUR BRAND NEW STORIES FROM THE ORIGINAL AUTHORS OF THE USA TODAY BEST-SELLING SERIES. Its been said there's no such thing as quiet here. Ever since the metropolis first became home to paranormals, discord was named queen. But who will be her king vampires, werewolves, demons or men? One thing remains sure: This land is a battleground and conflict is eternal. Yet there are those who join together strangers, enemies, lovers. Here, one silken caress can be deadlier than a bullet, but some still know joy. For darkness can become light, and in one sharp instant pain can become ecstasy, and hatred, love. 1. "A Time to Howl" by Liz Maverick 2. "DX" by Carolyn Jewel 3. "School Bites" by Jade Lee 4. "Dark Awakening" by Patti O'Shea less

Helen "Hell" Marshall just wants her old job back as an agent with Crimson City's Internal-Operations. When her mentor brings her in for some contract work, she jumps at the chance. Her assignment? Track down and neutralize a demon on the loose in Los Angeles. Too bad she has to work with covert agent Jaden Lightfeather, and it's really too bad when her ex-boyfriend and vampire head of a criminal enterprise wants her back. In Crimson City, nothing is what it seems, not anyone or anything... moreHelen "Hell" Marshall just wants her old job back as an agent with Crimson City's Internal-Operations. When her mentor brings her in for some contract work, she jumps at the chance. Her assignment? Track down and neutralize a demon on the loose in Los Angeles. Too bad she has to work with covert agent Jaden Lightfeather, and it's really too bad when her ex-boyfriend and vampire head of a criminal enterprise wants her back. In Crimson City, nothing is what it seems, not anyone or anything. This novella was originally published as part of the Crimson City anthology Shards of Crimson. It is about 30,000 words long. less

This is a novella that was originally published in 2007 as part of the Shards of Crimson anthology. Kimi Noguchi is working as an intern for an advertising agency in Crimson City and she's discovered that she's a kijo or witch. She thinks having talent is cool, but her magic attracts the attention of a power-hungry Bak-Faru demon and she's forced to call on another demon, Nicodemus, for help... moreThis is a novella that was originally published in 2007 as part of the Shards of Crimson anthology. Kimi Noguchi is working as an intern for an advertising agency in Crimson City and she's discovered that she's a kijo or witch. She thinks having talent is cool, but her magic attracts the attention of a power-hungry Bak-Faru demon and she's forced to call on another demon, Nicodemus, for help. Nic made a promise to stay away from Kimi for her own good, but now that she's summoned him, all bets are off. She's his vishtau mate, a bond held in reverence by all demons, and he's not about to let this opportunity pass him by. Nic plans to protect, woo and win his woman. less

A new plot is developing in Crimson City—one meant to destroy all vampires and werewolves—and only it can bring together those ill-fated lovers from different species, Jill and Marius.