Arcanum 5: Rapture

By Mychael Black

The militant group Eidolon is hellbent on hunting shapeshifters to bolster their ranks or eliminate threats altogether. Detective Ryan Brooks has been assigned to the case. Isreal Greene has been on the run from Eidolon for years. There's one thing he refuses to run from, however: the undeniable attraction he feels for the mortal detective who heads the case.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arian Derwydd Books, LLC
• Release date: Nov 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798218331511

Mychael Black

Alter ego of Katherine Cook, Mychael focuses on gay erotic romance stories in many genres. She lives in the eastern US with her family.

Book preview

ARCANUM, #5

The militant group Eidolon is hellbent on hunting shapeshifters to bolster their ranks or eliminate threats altogether. Detective Ryan Brooks of Arcanum has been assigned to the Eidolon case. Wolf shifter Isreal Greene has been on the run from Eidolon for years, relying on friends to keep him out of harm's way. There's one thing he refuses to run from, however: the undeniable attraction he feels for the mortal detective who heads the case.

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This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Arian Derwydd Books, LLC

https://arianderwyddbooks.com/

Rapture

Copyright © 2023 by Mychael Black

ISBN: 979-8-218-33151-1

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.

Chapter One

Ryan Brooks glanced up at the doorway, then over at his fellow officer Hunter Gideon. They always do that?

Hunter snorted and nodded without looking away from his computer. Yep.

How the fuck does any work get done around here?

Hell if I know, Hunter said with a shrug. They’re both excellent at their jobs, though, so the bickering tends to be worth it.

Ryan just shook his head. He’d joined Arcanum a few months ago, his own experience with otherworldly beings driving the need to deal with them -- and help them. It didn’t take long for him to realize the arguments between the two lead detectives were actually lovers’ spats more than anything else. The relation between the men didn’t phase him. Hell, his closest friends were brothers but had been lovers for ages. Literally.

The low, growly voice in the hall belonged to the older of the Pierce brothers, Jonah. The snarky replies came from Riley. At least their disagreements made for good office gossip and entertainment.

Hunter’s phone rang, and he answered it without missing a beat in his typing. Ryan turned his attention back to his own report. Hunter chuckled at something the caller said, and judging from the almost sappy tone, Ryan figured Hunter was talking to one of his two lovers.

Must be nice.

Sighing, Ryan refocused on his work. Moving here had been a long time coming, but that hadn’t made it easy. He’d left a lot behind, including a broken heart. Kurt’s cheating had been hell, but the pain had dulled. Still, a part of him wondered just many men Kurt had slept with before Ryan had caught on.

A thud sounded from the office next door. Then another. Then came a groan.

Well, at least the Pierces were making up. Again.

Several minutes later, Riley appeared in the doorway, looking satiated and a bit disheveled. Deanna and Tyler are holding down the fort tonight. He flashed a grin at Ryan. Wanna hit the club?

Jonah’s not up to going?

Riley shrugged. He’s not the clubbing type. Never has been. I think he just does it to amuse me.

Ryan grinned and nodded. All right. Gimme a few.

Hunter hung up from his call and stretched. Never pegged you as the bar-hopping type.

It’s fun, Ryan said. Besides, the kinds of clubs I prefer aren’t here, so I just go for the booze and eye candy.

One eyebrow lifting, Hunter eyed him curiously. Dare I ask?

Ryan tugged out his keys and tossed them to Hunter, who caught them with no effort.

What am I… oh…

"Like I said, this city doesn’t have my kind of club, so I just go for the hell of