Guardian Demon (GUARDIAN SERIES)

Praise for Meljean Brook’s Guardian Novels

DEMON MARKED

“I opened this book and didn’t stop [reading] until I had inhaled it.”

—
Fiction Vixen

“I am enamored with this whole series and it continues to enchant me with each new story line. As long as Ms. Brook keeps writing, I’ll keep reading.”

—
Smexy Books

DEMON BLOOD

“Fiery attraction and steamy love scenes . . . Fans won’t be disappointed.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Meljean Brook has her fans hooked.”

—
The Best Reviews

“Brook’s characters leap from the page.”

—
RT Book Reviews
(
)

DEMON FORGED

“Dark, rich, and sexy, every page makes me beg for more!”

—Gena Showalter,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Another fantastic book in a beautifully written series. [It] has all the elements I love in Meljean’s books—strong, gorgeously drawn characters, a world so real I totally believe it, and the punch of powerful emotion.”

—Nalini Singh,
New York Times
bestselling author

DEMON BOUND

“An excellent entry in a great series . . . Complex and beautifully done.”

—
Book Binge

“Be prepared for more surprises and more revelations . . . Brook continues to deliver surprising characters, relationships, paranormal elements, and plot twists.”

—
Alpha Heroes

DEMON NIGHT

“I just went weak at the knees. And the love scenes—wow, just wow.”

—Nalini Singh,
New York Times
bestselling author

“The epitome of what a paranormal romance should be! I didn’t want to put it down.”

—
Romance Reader at Heart

“Poignant and compelling, with lots of action, and it’s very sensual.”

—
Fresh Fiction

“An intense romance that will leave you breathless.”

—
Romance Junkies

DEMON MOON

“Turns up the heat without losing any of the danger.”

—
Entertainment Weekly

“Hot and sweet—utterly unique—and one hell of a ride.”

—Marjorie M. Liu,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Sensual and intriguing,
Demon Moon
is a simply wonderful book. I was enthralled from the first page!”

—Nalini Singh
, New York Times
bestselling author

DEMON ANGEL

“I’ve never read anything like this book.
Demon Angel
is brilliant, heartbreaking, genre-bending—even, I dare say, epic. Simply put, I love it.”

—Marjorie M. Liu,
New York Times
bestselling author

“A complex, interesting world that goes far beyond your usual . . . paranormal romance.
Demon Angel
truly soars.”

—Jennifer Estep, author of
Deadly Sting

“Enthralling . . . [A] delightful saga.”

—
The Best Reviews

“A fiendishly good book.
Demon Angel
is outstanding.”

—
The Romance Reader

Praise for Meljean Brook’s Novels of the Iron Seas

RIVETED

“A superb thriller that grips the reader . . . Fans will be riveted.”

—
Alternative Worlds

“In-between the fantastic elements and fabulous action, Brook also weaves in themes of the dangers of prejudice and judgment . . . A rip-roaring and wonderful addition to Brook’s amazing Iron Seas series.”

—
RT Book Reviews
(Top Pick)

HEART OF STEEL

“An exciting and stimulating read. Fast-paced, with plenty of humor and gripping action that grabs you at page one.”

—
Smexy Books

“Rising star Brook has created two completely mesmerizing characters whose journeys in this gritty and treacherous world make for heart-stopping fun!”

—
RT Book Reviews

“Exciting and amusing steampunk adventure! The world building is fantastic.”

—
Fresh Fiction

THE IRON DUKE

“I loved it! As far as I’m concerned, with
The Iron Duke
, Meljean Brook has brilliantly defined the new genre of steampunk romance. From now on, everyone will compare other writers in the genre to her.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz,
New York Times
bestselling author

“A stunning blend of steampunk setting and poignant romance—smart, sexy, breathtaking, and downright addicting. I’m ready for the next book or anything else Meljean Brook writes.”

—Ilona Andrews,
New York Times
bestselling author

“With adept writing and a flair for creating believable worlds, Brook’s first in the Iron Seas series showcases her masterful storytelling.”

—
Booklist

Titles by Meljean Brook

The Guardian Series

DEMON ANGEL

DEMON MOON

DEMON NIGHT

DEMON BOUND

DEMON FORGED

DEMON BLOOD

DEMON MARKED

GUARDIAN DEMON

Novels of the Iron Seas

THE IRON DUKE

HEART OF STEEL

RIVETED

MINA WENTWORTH AND THE INVISIBLE CITY

(A Berkley Sensation Special Novella)

TETHERED

(A Berkley Sensation Special Novella)

Anthologies

HOT SPELL

(with Emma Holly, Lora Leigh, and Shiloh Walker)

WILD THING

(with Maggie Shayne, Marjorie M. Liu, and Alyssa Day)

FIRST BLOOD

(with Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, and Chris Marie Green)

MUST LOVE HELLHOUNDS

(with Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, and Ilona Andrews)

BURNING UP

(with Angela Knight, Nalini Singh, and Virginia Kantra)

ANGELS OF DARKNESS

(with Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, and Sharon Shinn)

ENTHRALLED

(with Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, and Lucy Monroe)

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

For more information about the Penguin Group, visit penguin.com.

GUARDIAN DEMON

A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

Copyright © 2013 by Melissa Khan.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

BERKLEY SENSATION
^®
is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

ISBN: 978-0-425-25098-3

eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-62228-5

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / August 2013

Cover art by Cliff Nielson.

Cover design by George Long.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A part of me always feared that this book would never happen. Either readers would lose interest, or my publisher would, or I’d be in a plane writing the final chapter and it would tumble out of the sky, and no one would ever know how the Guardian series ended.

But here it is, in your hands. And I have so many people to thank for that.

First and forever, my editor, Cindy Hwang, who read a romance about superheroes I’d written online and sent me the e-mail that changed my life. I’ve been late with books, I’ve gone waaaaaaaay over typical word counts for novels in this genre, and I’ve included heroines who talk to spiders, which might have made anyone else drop me as fast as she could. And yet Cindy supported me every step of the way. Writing is a crazy and uncertain business at the best of times, and outright terrifying and soul-killing at its worst, and she always kept it from getting to the worst.

I’d like to thank the team at Berkley, as well, for creating such gorgeous books. Leis Pedersen, who always made sure I got what I needed on time (and that I got it back to her on time) for so many years, and to Kristine Swartz, who is doing it now. George Long, who created these covers using Cliff Nielson’s stunning artwork. Laura K. Corless, who designed the interiors of the books. To the copy editors and proofreaders and typesetters, marketing, publicity, and everyone else whose work touched this series: Thank you.

To my friends and family who supported me and who held my hand through all the rough spots, thank you. Kat, Jess, Ilona, Jen, my siblings and parents, my husband and daughter—and
so
many more. I wish I could name you all, but this book is already long enough.

A huge thank-you to all of the pilots of all of the planes I’ve traveled on in the past eight years.

But most of all, thank you to my readers. To everyone who picked up any book in the series, whether you enjoyed it or not. To everyone who picked up another book in the series, to everyone who sent me e-mails, to everyone who asked “When is Michael’s book coming?” To everyone who smiled as they turned the last page and to everyone who cried. To everyone who ranted about the books, and to everyone who raved. Thank you all, so very much.

Now turn the page! That’s where the good stuff is.