Kissing Nightmares (Kissing Monsters 5)

By Lynn Robin

"Half-dreaming, Zane reaches out expecting to find Kiss’s body next to him, to let his hands roam over her soft, round curves and satin skin, his arms aching to pull her closer so he can bury his face in her hair and then sink back into sleep, into a dream in which he can kiss her shoulder, her collarbones, her neck, her cheek, her lips.
He reaches.
But the bed is empty."

Nightmares have come to life. Angels are falling.
But love burns bright.

Traveling the world for weeks now, Kiss and Zane are still searching for the Wandering Artist to help them make a ring to tame the monster in Kiss’s heart who wakes up every single night, always hungry for a demon’s or a human’s blood.

Skylar tries to track them down, determined to make Lady Scarlet—and any other monster—disappear from the world, unaware of the trail of nightmarish creatures she’s leaving behind while doing so.

It seems that Skylar’s kisses might not turn monsters into angels after all... but into Nightmares instead.

Following the rumors about the Wandering Artist into dreamy snowlands, Zane and Kiss first believe Skylar and the angels are the only ones who stand between them and their love—but soon they realize there are worse opponents out there; those who would do anything to tear them apart.

Even if it results in blood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynn Robin
• Release date: Dec 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005596149

Lynn Robin

Lynn Robin (1992) is an author of Paranormal Romance novels.Born and raised in the historical city of Leiden in the Netherlands, she has felt the urge to write stories ever since she was little— preferably ones with ghosts and other spooky things (probably because her parents let her watch Stephen King film adaptions when she was nine).Next to that, she likes to add a healthy dose of romance to her books; star-crossed lovers and forbidden romances, preferably about monsters hiding in the bodies of young men, and girls blessed with angelic powers—or at least humans touched by magical abilities.She made her debut in 2017 with her Dutch series entitled the Schimmenwereld Serie (the Phantom World series), containing six books about ghosts, angels, demons, music, dance, art, and—of course—love. She won the Best Book of 2018 award with the fourth installment, Schimmendroom (Phantom Dream), chosen by the jury of The Dutch Indie Awards.In 2020 she debuted internationally in English with the highly romantic Kissing Monsters series which concluded with 8 volumes in 2021. Her latest release is The Sea of Her, a still ongoing paranormal romance series in a tropical setting about the Weeper of Pearls, a Wild Stranger from the Sea and a long-lost King of the Ocean.Besides being passionate about writing, she’s also a rather dedicated running/fitness/yoga/martial arts enthusiast, and likes to spend time with her family, play videogames, or freak herself out watching documentaries about haunted houses (for research, she claims).

Book preview

KISSING NIGHTMARES

Kissing Monsters — Book Five

Lynn Robin

KISSING NIGHTMARES

Kissing Monsters — Book Five

Copyright (c) 2020 Lynnette Robin Slijkhuis

Cover and interior design: (c) 2020 Kimberly Jolanda

ISBN: 9781005596149

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the author.

www.lynnrobin.com

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Table of Contents

Kissing Nightmares

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Epilogue

Coming Soon

Kissing Flames

About Lynn Robin

Connect with Lynn Robin

Books by Lynn Robin

PROLOGUE

chaos in heaven

There is chaos in Heaven.

Nightmares have come to life and angels are falling.

Disappearing.

Their light winking out.

Pressing a hand to her chest to find her heart pounding, Nyokah tilts her head back to look up at the sky. The night is swiftly growing darker as she watches more and more stars—or rather, angels—vanish into nothingness.

She can vividly imagine their screams; the blinding, purple light swallowing them; the growls and snarls of the creatures that have been invading Heaven for weeks.

Nyokah can’t remember the last time she was breathless.

But she is now, exhausted from trying to save the other angels while also defending herself. It doesn’t matter, though. Despite their endeavors, despite their very histories as monsters, they can’t fight these creatures. These Nightmares.

We are losing the battle, says a voice from behind her.

Nyokah nearly winces, still she’s unable to tear her gaze away from the darkening night sky. She senses the smaller angel coming to stand next to her.

Smaller, yes. But far more powerful.

Dread twisting her stomach, Nyokah finally looks to the side. Her companion has white, curly hair, and the same pale skin as every other angel. In human terms, you could describe her as girlish—but one slightly resembling both a reptile with her slits for nose holes, as well as a fox with her sharp features and bushy tail. Fur covers some parts of her body, where humans would wear clothes, and two small yet elegant wings grow out of her shoulder blades.

Her name is Chula.

We are losing the battle, she just said.

We are, Nyokah now agrees faintly, her serpentine tail swishing restlessly as she glances back up at the sky from the flat rooftop they’re standing on. A few humans mill the streets below, unaware of the stars blinking out.

Unaware of the wicked war that’s being fought over their heads.

Or is it simply a slaughtering?

A purple flash briefly illuminates a cloud and Nyokah’s breath hitches when she catches sight of a large, horned silhouette, the shape of a terrible beast, right before another star extinguishes; right before another angel falls.

White-blue light glints in Nyokah’s peripheral vision, causing both her and Chula to turn around and find a third angel touching down next to them on the roof. He lands in a crouch and then straightens his back, his mouth set in a grim line.

Taller even than Nyokah, Javan resembles a human man with his broad shoulders and muscular physique, though his powerful legs end in hooves, and antlers protrude from his head. His white hair reaches to his chin, unruly bangs nearly covering his eyes.

I’ve informed the others of our Safe Haven on Earth, he says, his gentle voice sounding rough. Those who can are leaving the sky.

At that, their attention is pulled toward more white-blue flashes, blinding columns of light rushing down from Heaven as angels are abandoning their positions in the galaxy.

Yet more blink out in purple glows, slayed by the winged beasts.

This is all my fault, Nyokah says tonelessly. She feels Chula and Javan look at her, and swallows before she continues: I turned that girl into a Monster Kisser, while I knew something wasn’t right about her. But I thought… since all humans are complicated…

Humans are difficult to read, murmurs Javan.

But her passion, Nyokah says, shaking her head, "it was so bright."

It always is the brightest of fires that cause the most destruction, Chula says darkly.

Nyokah briefly closes her eyes.

It does not matter whose fault this is, Chula continues. What we need is a way to stop these creatures from doing even more harm to the world. Once they’ve taken over Heaven, they might very well start targeting the human realm.

"We can’t fight them," Javan comments tensely.

No, Chula agrees. "But we can end a Gifted One’s life, if we must."

The corners of Javan’s mouth turn down, but Nyokah merely blinks. After all, she’d been on the verge herself of taking out one of them not so long ago. And yet… I don’t think killing Skylar will solve this. Who says her creatures will die along with her?

Chula considers her. Then what do you suggest, Nyokah?

We need her to see reason. To tame the beasts. I believe she can control them, if she wants to.

Nodding slowly, Chula moves away from the rooftop’s edge, the wind tugging on her curls. You turned this Skylar into a Monster Kisser because the other one asked you to. Isn’t that right?

Nyokah stares at the smaller angel’s back, sensing where this might be going. She straightens her spine. That’s right, she answers softly.

And he could help make Skylar see reason?

He could.

Then I suggest we find him as soon as most of us have reached the Safe Haven.

Nyokah nods, and Javan steps up until he’s standing next to her. His hair covers his eyes, but she can sense his gaze on her as he looks down, the feathers of his wings fluttering in the breeze. This other Monster Kisser, he begins, used to be the Collector, correct?

She pauses before replying, glancing up at the sky once more. The powers of the universe certainly are ironic; angels are falling, while monsters turn into saviors.

Yes. Nyokah heaves a silent sigh. His name is Zane.

CHAPTER ONE

his gentle kiss

Half-dreaming, Zane reaches out expecting to find Kiss’s body next to him, to let his hands roam over her soft, round curves and satin skin, his arms aching to pull her closer so he can bury his face in her hair and then sink back into sleep, into a dream in which he can kiss her shoulder, her collarbones, her neck, her cheek, her lips.

He reaches.

But finds emptiness instead.

Zane stiffens, the realization rushing into his head and roughly shaking him awake. His eyes fly open and he pushes upright.

Next to him, the bed is empty.

He jerks his head up, looking left to right as he scans the small hotel room where there’s barely any space except for a bed, a tea table, two chairs and a cramped bathroom.

Small enough to be certain, after a single glance, that he’s all alone.

His eyes latch on to the window which he left ajar before they slipped into bed last night.

It’s open wide.

Swearing under his breath, Zane throws off the covers and hurries out of bed, the cool autumn breeze coming inside a chilly breath against his bare chest. His muscles flex as he steps over to the window and leans out, searching the street below. It’s dark. It’s empty.

Not a sign of Kiss.

Or, better said, Lady Scarlet.

Cursing again, Zane pushes away from the window sill and snatches up his black sweater—discarded on the floor after Kiss helped him slip out of it last night, while leaving a hot trail on his chest and stomach with her lips; it’s becoming harder and harder to rein in the need to kiss her back—, pulls it over his head, then reaches for his thick-soled boots.

They’ve been traveling from place to place for several weeks now, following the rumors of the Wandering Artist and outrunning Nyokah—and whoever else might be after them. Which means Zane has spent more than enough nights with Kiss to know that the hours between sunset and dawn is the time Lady Scarlet tends to awaken… and escape.

But she’s never gotten this far—out of his sight, that is.

How could he have allowed himself to fall