Bound to Midnight Read online

  Bound to Midnight

  An Immortal Ops World Novel

  Mandy M. Roth

  Bound to Midnight (Crimson Ops) © Copyright December 2019, Mandy M. Roth

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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  All books copyrighted to the author and may not be resold or given away without written permission from the author, Mandy M. Roth®.

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  Mandy M. Roth®, Immortal Ops®, PSI-Ops®, Immortal Outcasts®, Paranormal Security and Intelligence®, and Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops Shadow Agents® are registered trademarks of Raven Happy Hour, LLC

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  This novel is a work of fiction. Any and all characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or events or places is merely coincidence. The book is fictional and not a how-to. As always, in real life practice good judgment in all situations. Novel intended for adults only. Must be 18 years or older to read.

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  Published by Raven Happy Hour, LLC

  Oxford, MS 38655

  www.ravenhappyhour.com

  Raven Books and all affiliate sites and projects are © Copyrighted 2004—2019

  "Mandy M Roth is a true master of her craft! Her breathtaking stories sweep me up, mesmerize and leave me desperate for more. She is my drug of choice!"

  - Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author

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  "Roth has the kind of characters and books that leave you hungry for more and stay with you long after the last page is read. One word sums up her writing style-addictive!"

  - Shannon Mayer, USA TODAY bestselling author

  “Roth writes from the heart, and her characters and worlds are guaranteed to suck the reader in and hold them hostage until the very last page!” NYT Bestselling Author, Yasmine Galenorn

  "The perfect mix of sizzling romance and heart-pounding action. If you like your heroes smoking hot…and not quite human, you can’t go wrong with a Mandy M. Roth book." – Laurie London, NYT and USA Today bestselling author

  Contents

  Suggested Reading Order of Books Released to Date in the Immortal Ops Series World

  Immortal Ops Series Helper

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Sources

  About the Author

  Suggested Reading Order of Books Released to Date in the Immortal Ops Series World

  While books in the Immortal Ops Series World can be read in any order, the author suggests reading them in the following order:

  Immortal Ops (Immortal Ops)

  Critical Intelligence (Immortal Ops)

  Radar Deception (Immortal Ops)

  Strategic Vulnerability (Immortal Ops)

  Tactical Magik (Immortal Ops)

  Act of Mercy (PSI-Ops)

  Administrative Control (Immortal Ops)

  Act of Surrender (PSI-Ops)

  Broken Communication (Immortal Outcasts)

  Separation Zone (Immortal Ops)

  Act of Submission (PSI-Ops)

  Damage Report (Immortal Outcasts)

  Act of Command (PSI-Ops)

  Wolf’s Surrender (Shadow Agents)

  The Dragon Shifter’s Duty (Shadow Agents)

  Midnight Echoes (Crimson Ops)

  Isolated Maneuver (Immortal Outcasts)

  Expecting Darkness (Crimson Ops)

  Area of Influence (Immortal Ops)

  Act of Passion (PSI-Ops)

  Act of Brotherhood (PSI-Ops)

  Healing the Wolf (Shadow Agents)

  Wrecked Intel (Immortal Outcasts)

  Bound by Midnight (Crimson Ops)

  Out of the Dark (Shadow Agents)

  And more…

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  This list is NOT up to date. Please check MandyRoth.com for the most current release list.

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  More to come (check www.mandyroth.com for new releases)

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  Books in each series within the Immortal Ops World.

  This list is NOT up to date. To see an updated list of the books within each series under the umbrella of the Immortal Ops World please visit MandyRoth.com. Mandy is always releasing new books within the series world. Sign up for her newsletter at MandyRoth.com to never miss a new release.

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  You can read each individual series within the world, in whatever order you want…

  PSI-Ops: Paranormal Security and Intelligence

  Act of Mercy

  Act of Surrender

  Act of Submission

  Act of Command

  Act of Passion

  Act of Brotherhood

  And more…

  (see Mandy’s website & sign up for her newsletter for notification of releases)

  Immortal Ops:

  Immortal Ops

  Critical Intelligence

  Radar Deception

  Strategic Vulnerability

  Tactical Magik

  Administrative Control

  Separation Zone

  Area of Influence

  And more…

  (see Mandy’s website & sign up for her newsletter for notification of releases)

  Immortal Outcasts:

  Broken Communication

  Damage Report

  Isolated Maneuver

  Wrecked Intel

  And more…

  (see Mandy’s website & sign up for her newsletter for notification of releases)

  Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops: Shadow Agents

  Wolf’s Surrender

  The Dragon Shifter’s Duty

  Healing the Wolf

  Out of the Dark

  And more…

  (see Mandy’s website & sign up for her newsletter for notification of releases)

  Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops: Crimson Ops Series

  Midnight Echoes

  Expecting Darkness

  Bound by Midnight

  And more…

  (see Mandy’s website & sign up for her newsletter for notification of releases)

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  Paranormal Regulators Series and Clear Sight Division Operatives (Part of the Immortal Ops World) Coming Soon!

  Immortal Ops Series Helper

  Immortal Ops (I-Ops) Team Members

  Lukian Vlakhusha: Alpha-Dog-One. Team captain, werewolf, King of the Lycans. Book: Immortal Ops (Immortal Ops)

  Geoffroi (Roi) Majors: Alpha-Dog-Two. Second-in-command, werewolf, blood-bound brother to Lukian. Book: Critical Intelligence (Immortal Ops)

  Doctor Thaddeus Green: Bravo-Dog-One. Scientist, tech guru, werepanther. Book: Radar Deception (Immortal Ops)

  Jonathon (Jon) Reynell: Bravo-Dog-Two. Sniper, weretiger. Book: Separation Zone (Immortal Ops)

  Wilson Rousseau: Bravo-Dog-Three. Resident smart-ass, wererat. Book: Strategic Vulnerability (Immortal Ops)

  Eadan Daly: Alpha-Dog-Three. PSI-Op and handler on loan to the I-Ops to round out the team, Fae. Book: Tactical Magik (Immortal Ops)

  Lance Toov: Werepanther and vampire hybrid. Book: Area of Influence (Immortal Ops)

  Colonel Asher Brooks: Chief of Operations and point person for the Immortal Ops Team. Book: Administrative Control (Immortal Ops)

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  Paranormal Security and Intelligence (PSI) Operatives

  General Jack C. Newman: Director of Operations for PSI North American Division, werelion. Adoptive father of Missy Carter-Majors

  Duke Marlow: PSI-Operative, werewolf. Book: Act of Mercy (PSI-Ops)

  Doctor James (Jimmy) Hagen: PSI-Operative, werewolf. Took a ten-year hiatus from PSI. Book: Act of Surrender (PSI-Ops)

  Striker (Dougal) McCracken: PSI-Operative, werewolf

  Carbrey (Car) McCracken: PSI-Operative, werewolf

  Macbeth (Mac) McCracken: PSI-Operative, werewolf

  Theodoar (Teddy) Beckert: PSI-Operative, werebear

  Miles (Boomer) Walsh: PSI-Operative, werepanther. Book: Act of Submission (PSI-Ops)

  Captain Corbin Jones: Operations coordinator and captain for PSI-Ops Team Five, werelion. Book: Act of Command (PSI-Ops)

  Malik (Tut) Nasser: PSI-Operative, werelion. Book: Act of Passion (PSI-Ops)

  Colonel Ulric Lovett: Director of Operations, PSI-London Division

  Dr. Sambora: PSI-Operative, (PSI-Ops)

  Garth Ingersson: PSI-Operative, werewolf. Book: Act of Brotherhood

  Rurik Romanov: PSI-Operative, werebear

  Johannes “Hans” Bach: PSI-Operative

  Jannick Bach: PSI-Operative

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  Immortal Outcasts

  Casey Black: I-Ops test subject, werewolf. Book: Broken Communication

  Weston Carol: I-Ops test subject, werebear. Book: Damage Report

  Bane Antonov: I-Ops test subject, weregorilla. Book: Isolated Maneu
ver

  Cody Livingston: I-Ops test subject, wereshark. Book: Wrecked Intel

  Ace Hargraves: I-Ops test subject, werehorse

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  Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops: Shadow Agents

  Bradley Durant: PSI-Ops: Shadow Agent Division, werewolf. Book: Wolf’s Surrender

  Ezra: PSI-Ops: Shadow Agent Division, dragon-shifter

  Caesar: PSI-Ops: Shadow Agent Division, werewolf

  Gram Campbell: Shadow Agent Division, werewolf and magik. Book: Healing the Wolf

  Armand Faucher: Shadow Agent Division, vampire

  Seth: Shadow Agent Division, vampire. One of the founders of the Crimson Ops Division.

  Wheeler Summerbee: I-Ops test subject, vampire hybrid

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  Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops: Crimson Ops Division

  Bhaltair: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire. Book: Midnight Echoes

  Labrainn: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire

  Auberi Bouchard: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire

  Searc Macleod: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire. Book: Expecting Darkness

  Daniel Townsend: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire

  Blaise Regnier: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire

  Philandros “Landros” Mires: Crimson-Ops: Fang Gang, vampire

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  Paranormal Regulators

  Stamatis Emathia: Paranormal Regulator, vampire

  Whitney: Paranormal Regulator, werewolf

  Cormag Buchanan: Paranormal Regulator, master vampire

  Erik: Paranormal Regulator, shifter

  Shane: Paranormal Regulator, shifter

  Kippar Reed: Paranormal Regulator, shifter

  Blurb

  Bound to Midnight (Crimson Ops)

  Mandy M. Roth

  Immortal vampire operative Philandros “Landros” Mires has spent years withholding the truth from all around him. He’s no stranger to lies and told himself over and over again that the ends justified the means. As an enemy from his past resurfaces, bringing with them a new threat, Landros knows everything he sacrificed to protect is in danger. He finds himself in a fight with evil and struggling to earn forgiveness, even if it means learning to forgive himself.

  Dedication

  To everyone who loves men who call the darkness their home.

  Chapter One

  Savannah, GA

  Philandros (Landros) Mires stood across the street from a large row house. He’d been doing as much for nearly two hours and planned to continue for several more. For two weeks, he’d found himself paying visits to the location almost nightly. The only thing that had kept him away briefly was an overnight trip out of town that had been needed for work.

  As a Paranormal Security and Intelligence Agency Operative (PSI-Op), he was often required to travel. His home base was Savannah, Georgia, but that hadn’t always been the case. America was relatively new for him, considering he’d only been living in it for around fifty or sixty years, give or take a few. Before America, he’d mostly been stationed out of headquarters in Europe and Asia.

  As one of the founding members of PSI, Landros tended to have his pick of locations as well as teams. It had been his choice to come to the United States. He’d hoped that by putting distance between himself and his past, he could avoid having history repeat itself.

  So far, his move had paid off.

  Everyone he loved was safe.

  At least for now.

  Recent events had left his niece—who had occupied the row house he now stood before, and whom he saw more as a daughter—moving from Savannah to an area just north of Richmond, Virginia. That meant she was an eight-hour car drive from him or an hour-and-a-half flight.

  He missed having her close, knowing she was minutes away, but that wasn’t what had drawn him to the row house. At least he didn’t think so. As he stood there, continuing to stare at the home, he wasn’t entirely sure why he kept feeling pulled back to the location or why he was logging so many hours outside of it.

  Night had done nothing to lower the temperature or the humidity that hung in the air, making it feel heavy. He was used to it, having called Savannah home for just over twenty years. Before that, he’d lived in New Orleans. Since he tended to run on the cool side no matter what time of the year it was, he preferred the warmth the South offered.

  The lowest-level door to the home was green and partially obscured by thick ivy that covered the brick walls flanking both sides of the door. The ivy then crept around and up the front of the home.

  A large black trash can sat to the right of the door. A six-foot iron fence encased the home, with a gate out front. The main entrance was up one level, with a beautiful exterior staircase and porch that was accessible from the single-car driveway. The main entrance was hardly ever used by the home’s occupants. In fact, he couldn’t recall them ever mentioning even opening that door.

  The home was a place Landros knew well. After all, he was the homeowner. It was one of many he owned. His main home was within the Historic District as well, sitting across from Forsyth Park.

  The row house wasn’t quite as large as his estate, which boasted eight bedrooms and eleven bathrooms, but it more than fit two young women. He’d purchased the property for his niece when she’d wanted to move onto campus to attend university several years back. The idea of her being in dorm rooms where he was sure nothing but orgies took place had left his inner darkness unsettled.

  When he’d stressed his issues with the dorms to his niece, Nicolette, she’d heard him out, all the while looking as though she was doing her best to avoid laughing. She’d then offered to find a small efficiency apartment just off campus. One she could share with her best friend, Clara Reed. Landros had nixed that idea as well, wanting his niece closer to him while still giving her some semblance of independence. Since she’d refused to live in the carriage home on his estate, he’d done the next best thing and found the row house within the same district of the city.

  Landros had more money than he could ever dream of spending. It was difficult for him to understand the lure of the apartment or the idea that Nicolette had craved living on her own, away from his homes. He didn’t think he ran too strict of a house. His main rule had always been no boys—ever.

  He wished that rule was still being enforced.

  Since Nicolette was newly mated to a man he considered a friend, Landros had slight guilt about his views on the matter. Garth Ingersson, the man who was, for all intents and purposes, married to his niece, was a good and honorable man. One who hailed from the Viking age of Scandinavia and who had warrior in his blood. A man who could and would protect Nicolette from the evils of the world. That didn’t change the fact Garth was a man, with all his male bits intact. The idea of Nicolette being intimate with anyone set Landros’s darkness on the edge of breaking free.

  As a vampire, he had to be mindful of his demon. It was stronger than most.

  It had to be.

  Had it been only average demon strength, which was quite powerful in itself, the demon wouldn’t have been able to overpower the Fae part of him. Something that came from his father’s side. That, combined with the gifts he’d gotten from his mother, who had been one of the Pythia in Ancient Greece, meant Landros had been born with gifts that far exceeded the gifts of those around him. As an oracle of Delphi, his mother had had a direct link to the gods. He’d grown up in a time when those around him believed fully in magik, in gods, and in monsters. Unlike today, where nearly everyone wrote it all off as nothing more than myths and legends.