Chaotic is a novella first published in the anthology Dates from Hell. It was republished as a standalone ebook and later in Otherworld Chills. It is narrated by Hope Adams.
Synopsis[]
Half-demon Hope Adams loves her job. Granted, working for True News tabloid isn’t quite the career her high-society family had in mind for her. What they don’t know is that the tabloid job is just a cover, a way for her to investigate stories with a paranormal twist, and help protect the supernatural world from exposure. When Hope’s “handler” sends her and a date to a museum charity gala, Hope suspects there’s more to it than a free perk. He’s tested her before. This time, she’s ready for whatever he throws her way. Or so she thinks...until she meets her target: werewolf thief, Karl Marsten.
Plot[]
Hopes is suffering through a boring blind date at a museum gallery gala, which she is attending as a perk from her work for the "interracial council" - really, a Cabal VP gone rogue. She picks up on chaos vibes that lead her to observe Karl Marsten stealing some jewels. She follows him, traps him, and handcuffs him with little trouble....although he slips the handcuffs easily when she goes out into the hallway.
Karl, who knows the interracial council personally, tries to convince her that either she is doing a terrible job of lying to him or her employers are fakes. He warns that her contact Robard has a personal vendetta against him and that Robard will likely harm her to clean up loose ends in this case.
They run and hide from both human and supernatural guards several times. In the biodiversity/animal exhibit, Hope gets turned on by chaos vibes from the taxidermy around her. Karl helps her with that excitement....but won't take her all the way to satisfaction if he's not the source of the pleasure.
A fire alarm goes off and they are able to escape the building in the mass exodus. They go to Hope's apartment to try to lure Robard out. While Hope hides, Karl faces Robard and his guards in wolf form. Karl is shot, and Hope calls the emergency number Karl gave her earlier: Benicio Cortez. Benicio is displeased to hear one of his staff have gone rogue, and instructs one of the guards to kill Robard. He arranges medical help for Karl.
Karl stays the night, in wolf form, once the danger has passed. In the morning, the two flirt but Karl still holds off on taking things further....for now.
Characters[]
- Hope Adams - writer for the tabloid True News. Daughter of a socialite
- Karl Marsten - werewolf and jewel thief
- Tristan Robard - Cortez Cabal vice president gone rogue. Killed.
- Benicio Cortez - CEO of the Cortez Cabal
- Nita Adams (mentioned) - Hope's socialite mother
- Douglas - Hope's very boring, networking-happy human date
- Aaron Darnell (mentioned) - interracial council member
- Paige Winterbourne (mentioned) - interracial council member
- Adam Vasic (mentioned) - interracial council member
Continuity[]
- Karl has been sort of in the Pack for two years, since Bitten
Trivia[]
- Vampires do NOT have superhuman strength
- Hope thinks she has been working on behalf of the Interracial Council for eighteen months now.
Cover Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Takes place the springtime before Broken
- ↑ Two years before the events of Personal Demon