Table of Contents
Praise for the authors of Must Love Hellhounds
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author
CHARLAINE HARRIS
... [has] the sure touch of a master. Crescent Blues
Harris weaves storytelling magic.Lynn Hightower
New York Times Bestselling Author
NALINI SINGH
Paranormal romance at its best. Publishers Weekly
Nalini Singh continues to dazzle and ensnare new readers.
A Romance Review
New York Times Bestselling Author
ILONA ANDREWS
Andrews... demonstrates her mastery at balancing dark humor, clever mystery, and supernatural jeopardy. Andrews is the total package! Romantic Times
Andrewss edgy series stands apart from similar fantasies... owing to its complex world building and skilled characterizations. Library Journal
National Bestselling Author
MELJEAN BROOK
A fascinating series. Nalini Singh
Brook... creates fantastic, death-defying love... extremely erotic... with a paranormal twist. Fresh Fiction
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PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley trade paperback edition / September 2009
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Harris, Charlaine.
Must love hellhounds / Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook.Berkley
trade paperback ed.
p. cm.
eISBN : 978-1-101-14007-9
1. HellFiction. 2. VampiresFiction. I. Singh, Nalini. II. Andrews, Ilona. III. Brook,
Meljean. IV. Title.
PS3558.A6427M87 2009
813.54dc22
2009018735
http://us.penguingroup.com
The Britlingens Go to Hell
Charlaine Harris
Batanya and Clovache were cleaning their armor in one of the courtyards of the Britlingen Collective, which sits atop a hill in the ancient city of Spauling. It was a fine summer day, and they sat on benches that theyd positioned to catch the sun.
Im as pale as a pooka belly, Clovache said.
Not quite, Batanya said, after looking at Clovache rather seriously. Batanya was the older of the two; she was twenty-eight to Clovaches twenty-four. Batanya was pale, too, since she spent most of her time in armor of one kind or another, but that didnt bother Batanya.
Oh, thank you. Not quite , Clovache said, imitating Batanyas husky voice. It was a pretty bad imitation. Batanya smiled. She and Clovache had worked together for five years, and there wasnt much they didnt know about each other. They had both done most of their growing up within the Collective walls.
You are a bit like a pooka, though. Your hair is the same color as the back fur, and you like the night life better than the daylight. But Im sure you wouldnt taste as good deep-fried.
Clovache stretched out a foot to kick Batanya, very lightly. Well go out to eat later, she said. How about Pooka Palace?
Batanya nodded. Unless Trovis is there. If hes in the place, Im leaving.
The two women worked in a friendly silence for a few minutes. They were polishing what they called their liquid armor, the most popular single item of body defense in the Britlingens huge collection. Liquid armor wasnt really liquid. It resembled a wet suit more than anything, but it was considerably easier to don. There was a keypad the size of a credit card on the chest. It allowed for communication with anyone else wearing a similar suit, and it had a personal sequence programmed into it that allowed only one wearer to use the armor. The material would toughen when the sequence was pressed in, to allow the wearer to be almost invulnerable; without this procedure, the armor was ineffective. The protocol had been added to prevent the armor from being stolen. Before the code had been added, a few Britlingens had been murdered for their armor. It was used in cooler weather. The two women had already cleaned their summer-weight gear.
Batanya had turned her suit inside out and was cleaning the inner surface with a pleasant-scented solvent from a large green pot. Clovache was using the all-purpose cleaner on the hardened pieces that could be strapped on over the liquid armor.
Clovache threw a finished piece down on the towel shed spread on the ground and picked up another one. Hard drill this morning, she observed.
Trovis was not in a good mood, Batanya said.
And why would that be? Clovache asked, trying to sound innocent.
Batanya flushed a little, causing the scar that ran across her right cheek to stand out. Clovache had heard people tease Batanya about the scar, but they only did it once. He tried to jump me in the bathroom last night. I had to give him an elbow to the gut. Trovis is making a fool of himself.
Clovache agreed. If hes trying to show you whos boss, he is a fool, she said. And if he keeps it up, I shall go to Flechette and put it to her that Trovis should be removed from his command.
That would make Trovis crazy, which is a good thing, Batanya said. But it would make us look weak.
Clovache looked startled, but after a moment, she nodded. I understand. We should be able to eat whatever Trovis puts on the table. She tested the strength of a strap. If worse comes to worst, perhaps hell have an accident.