By night, the winged warrior Antony Medichi fights the death vampires who threaten his world. By day, he hunts the rogue vampires who invade Mortal Earth. But deep in his heart rages the fiercest battle of all―his soul-searing passion for the one mortal he is sworn to protect…the one woman he is doomed to love. Parisa Lovejoy is so beautiful, and so powerful, that Antony cannot fight the feelings she arouses. But his unexpected love only intensifies his strength as her Guardian―a strength that is put to the ultimate test when Parisa is abducted. Her captor, Commander Greaves, enslaves mortal women for their blood. If Parisa hopes to survive―and ascend―she must forge an even deeper bond with Antony…in the flames of eternity. Caris Roane's Wings of Fire is sizzling, passionate paranormal romance. Experience the danger and desire of a secret race of vampire warriors--and the powerful women they are sworn to protect... IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE By night, the winged warrior Antony Medichi fights the death vampires who threaten his world. By day, he hunts the rogue vampires who invade Mortal Earth. But deep in his heart rages the fiercest battle of all--his soul-searing passion for the one mortal he is sworn to protect...the one woman he is doomed to love. ON THE WINGS OF FIRE Parisa Lovejoy is so beautiful, and so powerful, that Antony cannot fight the feelings she arouses. But his unexpected love only intensifies his strength as her Guardian--a strength that is put to the ultimate test when Parisa is abducted. Her captor, Commander Greaves, enslaves mortal women for their blood. If Parisa hopes to survive--and ascend--she must forge an even deeper bond with Antony...in the flames of eternity. Sexy, cool, edgy romantic fantasy...Prepare to be enthralled. --Lara Adrian on Ascension Experience the danger and desire of a secret race of vampire warriors―and the powerful women they are sworn to protect… IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE By night, the winged warrior Antony Medichi fights the death vampires who threaten his world. By day, he hunts the rogue vampires who invade Mortal Earth. But deep in his heart rages the fiercest battle of all―his soul-searing passion for the one mortal he is sworn to protect…the one woman he is doomed to love. ON THE WINGS OF FIRE Parisa Lovejoy is so beautiful, and so powerful, that Antony cannot fight the feelings she arouses. But his unexpected love only intensifies his strength as her Guardian―a strength that is put to the ultimate test when Parisa is abducted. Her captor, Commander Greaves, enslaves mortal women for their blood. If Parisa hopes to survive―and ascend―she must forge an even deeper bond with Antony…in the flames of eternity. "Sexy, cool, edgy romantic fantasy…Prepare to be enthralled." ―Lara Adrian on Ascension Caris Roane has authored over fifty published Regency romance novels and novellas under the name Valerie King.  In 2005, the Romantic Times honored her with a Career Achievement award for her Regency work. She lives in Phoenix with her two cats, one of which is named, Sebastian, after a favorite vampire. The "Guardians of Ascension" is her first paranormal romance series. Wings of Fire By Caris Roane St. Martin's Press Copyright © 2011 Caris Roane All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-312-53373-1 CHAPTER 1 In the last three months, since the abduction of his woman, Antony Medichi, out of Italy in the late Roman era, had become a killing machine. He had steel for bones and molten iron for blood. He rarely slept. He battled death vampires at night, sending to perdition any who crossed his sword. But during the day, when most of the pretty-boys were asleep, Antony bled his wrists on his altar and hunted rogue vampires on Mortal Earth, searching for the woman he'd lost. Those hunts also ended in death. Not his. He stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon, Mortal Earth, looking down, tracking a death vampire flying in the shadows. Even though he was far from the touristy areas, he still cloaked his presence with a heavy concentration of mist, a preternatural creation designed to confuse the average human mind. Most mortals simply couldn't see him, and right now he didn't want to be seen. Antony stared into the abyss. The profound silence across the canyon formed a strange juxtaposition to the visual feast. The Grand Canyon was all for the eyes, not for the ears. But he hadn't come to admire the view or embrace the quiet. His predatory gaze followed the death vampire flying below, legs straight back, glossy black wings glinting in the early-morning sunshine. He'd been hunting this particular bastard for weeks now. All clues had led here. This pretty-boy had known both Eldon Crace and Rith Do'onwa, two sons of bitches who had harmed women belonging to the Warriors of the Blood. Both vampires deserved death. Crace had already gotten what he deserved, and within the depths of Medichi's mind Rith Do'onwa, the fiend who had kidnapped his wom