Dark Descent: Dark Allegiance, #1

By Imani L Hawkins

She had to kill him to save her kind...

Twenty years have passed since Naomi publicly executed a United States Senator on live television. In the beginning, she was celebrated. Mysts stood with her in solidarity to save her life and honor her sacrifice. But as the humans became increasingly hostile toward the wielders, Naomi was pushed aside, discarded, and forced to live outside of society.
Everything changed the moment Toni waltz through her home, an alley in Channingburg Nevada that boasted brick walls, broken bottles, and trash that littered her new home. Where once she'd thought she'd disbanded the Fraternity of Purifiers, she is faced with the knowledge they still existed and the daughter of the man she'd killed lead them.
Thrust between a woman who wanted nothing more than to see her rotting corpse plucked clean by vultures and wielders who wanted her to stand for their cause, Naomi must make a choice to either sacrifice her life to save the woman who hates her, or stand in solidarity with the ones who'd turned their backs on her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Imani L Hawkins
• Release date: Feb 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386643050

Book preview

Acknowledgments

IT JUST WOULDN’T BE right if I didn’t acknowledge the people who’ve been there with me through this long journey.

I would like to thank my husband and children for putting up with the long days and nights seated at the computer instead of spending time with them. Your sacrifices haven’t gone unnoticed, and I know you will make me pay for that! Haha

To my mother who has always believed in me and pushed me to continue pursuing my dreams.

Also, to my writing sister, who is always there for me to bounce ideas off of and motivate me to continue.

pRologue

PERCHED ON THE ARM of a loveseat, Naomi rubbed her hands together to ease the anxiety that swelled within her. Her heart thumped to the beat of the music that blared from the overhead speakers, an upbeat melody that belied the sanity of the thoughts rushing through her mind.

Plucking her wine glass from the table, she pulled it to her lips and took a deep drink from it, hoping the alcohol would calm her nerves enough she’d stop shaking. Or at the bitter least give her the liquid courage to confront the man who’d spent months building her up only to tear her to shreds.

She glanced across the room, her brown eyes meeting his. Dressed in a dark blue suit tailored to fit snugly around a strong chest and thin waist with black leather shoes to match, he exuded expensive. He tugged at the sleeve of his jacket, thumbing the golden cufflinks that stood out against the dark blue material, his green eyes never leaving hers.

Normally, she’d cringe from the scrutiny, knowing full well the lengths the man would go to make her life a living hell. This time, however, she met his gaze full on, challenging him to try something with her in a room full of doctors, lawyers, and politicians. One wrong move would bring about an end to his political career and she almost hoped he would do just that. She’d never agreed with his political views, especially when he applauded the systemic oppression of her own people, comparing them to animals and dogs that needed to be put down the moment they stepped out of line.

Yes. She’d known how he felt about African-Americans or any other minority race, but that hadn’t stopped her from sharing a bed with him if it would further her own ambitions. And she had to admit, he certainly had the proper equipment and knew exactly how to use it which made it easier for her. Still, their affair had been a means to an end for her, a way to advance her position before leaving him for the next target.

She gave him a wry smile, raising her glass to solute him. Anger darkened his green eyes at the gesture. She watched as his jaw tensed and the muscles in his arms rippled with barely contained rage. Acknowledging him in public was something she’d been warned against multiple times, for what good it did. Anyone looking close enough could see what was going on between them, though they dared not bring voice to it. Being on the receiving end of his rage was something most chose to avoid, so