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Authors: Mandy M. Roth
Tactical Magik (Immortal Ops)
Immortal Ops Series and PSI-Ops Series Helper
About the Author, Mandy M. Roth
The Raven Books’ Complimentary Material
Tactical Magik (Immortal Ops)
by
Mandy M. Roth
Tactical Magik (Immortal Ops) © Copyright 2014 by Mandy M. Roth
Cover art by Natalie Winters, © Copyright 2014
First Electronic Printing February 2014, The Raven Books
ISBN 9781625010261
Edited by: Sue-Ellen Gower
Final Line Editor: Dianne B.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
All books copyrighted to the author and may not be resold or given away without written permission from the author, Mandy M. Roth.
This novel is a work of fiction. Any and all characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or events or places is merely coincidence. This book is intended for a mature audience only. Must be 18 years or older.
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Raven Books and all affiliate sites and projects are © Copyrighted 2004-2014
Tactical Magik (Immortal Ops)
by
Mandy M. Roth
Mandy M. Roth Featured Books
Immortal Ops Series
Administrative Control
Separation Zone
PSI-Ops Series (Part of the Immortal Ops World)
Act of Surrender
Act of Submission
Act of Security
Act of Command
King of Prey (Bird Shifter Series)
King of Prey
A View to a Kill
Master of the Hunt
Rise of the King
Prince of Pleasure
Prince of Flight
Tactical Magik (Immortal Ops)
Book Five in the Immortal Ops Series.
Eadan Daly has thrown himself into the role of the sixth Immortal Ops team member, even though it wasn’t supposed to be a permanent position, and has forged a brotherhood of sorts with the other men. When he’s asked to go on a solo mission for the Paranormal Security and Intelligence Branch—PSI, for short—he’s not so sure he wants his old job back.
Inara Nash is a survivor, doing what she must to get by. On the run for years from an organization she doesn’t fully understand, she tries to stay under the radar. When a blond hunk arrives and claims he’s her savior, she suspects her luck might have finally run out. Sure, he’s hot and looks like he’d be good in bed, but there is something almost magikal about him that defies reality. And if there is one thing she’s learned during her life in the paranormal underground, it’s that you never trust a magik.
Dedication
This is a long one. I’m sorry, but this book was a long time coming. I’ll start with my author buddies. To Michelle M. Pillow, Jaycee Clark, Melissa Schroeder and Jax Cassidy, thank you for agreeing to be part of the Magical Temptations project. And thanks for understanding when TM had to reach into another series instead. Michelle and Jaycee, you both went above and beyond, listening to me talk about various storylines, yelling at me when I deleted 20k words in thirty seconds, and making me swear to knock that crap off. Thank you!
To Laurann Dohner, thank you for encouraging me to keep reaching for my dream. You’re one tough cookie!
To my partner in mischief, Yasmine Galenorn, thank you for talking me off the proverbial ledge and for making me remember to take time for me.
To my proofer, Leah, my editor, Suz, and my final line editor, Dianne, thank you for fixing “me.” And to Suz for taking on this project even with all you have going on.
To the fans of my Immortal Ops Series. Thank you for your continued support for the series over the past ten years. I’m honestly having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that 2014 will mark the ten-year anniversary of the release of Immortal Ops Book One. I think the saying is true: time does fly when you’re having fun.
I know you’ve been waiting for more installments and I promise you Tactical Magik is the first of many more within the Immortal Ops World. A side note: Tactical Magik picks up one month after Strategic Vulnerability ends. Also, be on the lookout for related spinoff series from the Immortal Ops. I’m sure you can guess PSI-Ops (Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops) will be headed your way as well as the other Ops team stories. The first is Act of Mercy. Plus, I have many more surprises in store for you all because you’re the greatest group of readers an author could ask for. And for my “super fans”, I hope you enjoy the crossover into the underground fight club world from my book
Going the Distance
(Paranormal Death Match).
As for Tactical Magik, I hope you love Eadan’s story as much as I do. I know he’s different from the other ops, as he’s not a shifter, but he’s still kick-ass. And from the bottom of my heart I hope you like how his story demanded it be told. Sometimes, I really do feel I’m at the mercy of the character. His story was a long time coming for me. You all know the Ops hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you,
Mandy M. Roth
Immortal Ops Series and PSI-Ops Series Helper
(This will be updated in each upcoming book as new characters are introduced.)
Immortal Ops (I-Ops) Team Members
Lukian Vlakhusha:
Alpha-Dog-One. Team captain, werewolf, King of the Lycans, mated to Peren Matthews (Daughter of Dr. Lakeland Matthews). Book: Immortal Ops.
Geoffroi (Roi) Majors:
Alpha-Dog-Two. Second in command, werewolf, blood-bound brother to Lukian, mated to Melissa “Missy” Carter-Majors. Book: Critical Intelligence.
Doctor Thaddeus Green:
Bravo-Dog-One. Scientist, tech guru, werepanther, mated to Melanie Daly-Green (sister of Eadan Daly). Book: Radar Deception.
Jonathon (Jon) Reynell:
Bravo-Dog-Two. Sniper, weretiger. As of this book, not currently mated. Book: Separation Zone.
Wilson Rousseau:
Bravo-Dog-Three. Resident smart-ass, wererat, mated to Kimberly (Daughter of Culann of the Council). Book: Strategic Vulnerability.
Eadan Daly:
Alpha-Dog-Three. PSI-Op and handler on loan to the I-Ops to round out the team, Fae, mated to Inara Nash. Brother of Melanie Daly-Green. Book: Tactical Magik.
Colonel Brooks:
Chief of Operations and point person for the Immoral Ops Team. Book: Administrative Control.
Paranormal Security and Intelligence (PSI) Operatives
General Jack C. Newman:
Director of Operations for PSI, werelion. Adoptive father of Missy Carter-Majors.
Duke Marlow:
PSI-Operative, werewolf. Book: Act of Mercy (PSI-Ops).
James (Jimmy) Hagen:
Werelion, left the organization on questionable terms ten years ago.
Miscellaneous
Culann of the Council:
Father to Kimberly (who is mated to Wilson). Badass Fae.
Pierre Molyneux:
Master vampire bent on creating a race of super soldiers. Hides behind being a famous art dealer in order to launder money.
Gisbert Krauss:
Mad scientist who wants to create a master race of supernaturals.
Walter Helmuth:
Head of Seattle’s paranormal underground.
Dr. Lakeland Matthews:
Scientist, vital role in the creation of a successful Immortal Ops Team. Father to Peren Matthews.
Jinx:
Magik, succubus, well-known, well-connected madam to the underground paranormal community.
Chapter One
Present Day. Location: Classified.
“I said I was sorry,” Geoffroi “Roi” Majors stated as he glanced back at Eadan from the front passenger seat of the Hum-V. The vehicle that currently held five not-so-small guys was hardly inconspicuous. It was also less than comfortable. They stuck out like sore thumbs and Eadan Daly had to question the wisdom of this being their getaway vehicle. This one wasn’t reinforced to help stop bullets. It seemed a lot like tissue paper at the moment. Pretty much all it had going for it was cool factor. One that screamed government or paramilitary group. A blinking sign on the top would only make it worse.
Shoot here. There is a better than average chance you’ll hit your target.
With the entrance Lukian had been forced to make to get to them, they might as well have sent out engraved invitations to the enemy to come shoot at them there. Would have proven as effective.
“This thing go any faster?” Wilson asked, fidgeting in his seat.
Lukian didn’t comment. He merely glanced at the rearview mirror. His glare was enough of a response.
Eadan’s ears were still ringing from the hail of gunfire around them. Had he not assisted with his magik, they’d be picking lead out of his ass.
Out of all their asses.
He’d expended more power than he should have, but it was required. Unfortunately, he’d be feeling the ill effects of that much usage for probably a week or more. Unless he met up with a hottie at a bar and spent the night rockin’ her world. Sexual energy would speed his ability to rebuild his natural-born power base.
He looked to his left at his fellow Immortal Ops (I-Ops) teammates, Jon and Wilson. Jon shook his head, indicating they should not accept
this
apology from Roi either. They’d been steadily rejecting Roi’s attempts to make amends for the past twenty minutes.
Wilson tapped his fingers on the doorframe, an annoyed breath easing from his lips. “You left without us. In a hostile zone, mind you. Might as well have painted a damn target on us yourself.”
“No,” Roi protested, twisting in the seat. His dark hair fell partially onto his face. “I told you already I thought Lukian was getting you. And, see, he got you.”
Lukian, the team captain, snorted as he drove. He tended to be on the quiet side yet always managed to get his point across. Eadan had been unsure how to read him at first but was learning more and more each day.
“What?” Roi grunted and tossed his hands in the air. “Fine. I wasn’t listening during the briefing because I was exhausted.”
Green’s voice came over their comms unit earpieces. “Stop worrying. Your wife and your girls will be fine.”
Roi shifted around in his seat as he tapped his wrist and spoke into his comms piece. “You’re the one who told me it’s uncommon for a woman pregnant with twins to go to term. That means I could become a father any day now. I’m not ready yet. I only just got the nursery finished. I haven’t set up college funds for them yet. I didn’t…”
Roi was going to spiral out of control again. He’d been doing that more and more of late. Seemed as if the prospect of fatherhood was going to do what the enemy couldn’t—kill him.
Lukian reached over as he continued to drive and touched Roi’s arm. “Relax, brother. There is plenty of time for all that.”
“Why am I the only one freaking out? Your wife is due soon too,” Roi said, sounding frantic.
Eadan held back a groan. All this talk of pregnancies was getting on his last damn nerve.
Green’s chuckle echoed through their earpieces. He was currently tucked away in a tiny location the team had preselected as base during their current mission. Green was their eyes and ears on everything else going on, a technical guru who also happened to be the best at patching them up when need be.
“Peren has another two months. Missy, with the twins, probably won’t go that long. Melanie has two and half months left and Kim has—”
Wilson leaned forward. “Just under five months left.”
Eadan nudged Jon. “Is it just me or have our missions deteriorated into recipe swaps and what-to-expect-when-your-mate-is-expecting moments?”
“No,” Jon said, his eyes widening. He looked almost scared, as if he too might catch the bug to discuss upcoming babies. “It’s not just you.”
“I’m fairly sure we were once feared,” Eadan added with a laugh. “Now we’re the labor patrol. We make the enemy shake in their boots—well, right after we’re done talking about the first signs of contractions.”
Wilson shook his head. “No. Not feared. Misunderstood. We were totally misunderstood. And just wait, you two will see what this is like when you meet your mates. Then we’ll all laugh at you.”