Blood Bound: A Mercy Thompson Novel - Softcover

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Patricia Briggs is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series and the Alpha and Omega novels.

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Praise for

MOON CALLED

“An excellent read with plenty of twists and turns. Her strong and complex characters kept me entertained from its deceptively innocent beginning to its can’t-put-it-down end. Thoroughly satisfying, it left me wanting more.”

—Kim Harrison, New York Times bestselling
author of A Fistful of Charms

“Patricia Briggs always enchants her readers. With Moon Called she weaves her magic on every page to take us into a new and dazzling world of werewolves, shape-shifters, witches, and vampires. Expect to be spellbound.”

—Lynn Viehl, USA Today bestselling
author of the Darkyn series

“A suspenseful read that will have you on the edge of your seat as you burn through the pages. Ms. Briggs weaves paranormal and mystery together so deftly you can’t put the book down. The cast of characters is wonderfully entertaining, and Mercy’s emotional struggles will pull on your heart-strings. For lovers of the paranormal, this is a must-read.”

—Romance Junkies

“A strong story with multidimensional characters…Mercy is, at heart, someone we can relate to.”

—SFRevu

“I’ve never been disappointed by one of [Patricia Briggs’s] books and this one is no exception. Mercy’s world is an alternate universe much like Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake books…or the Buffyverse or more recently the Kim Harrison books…Moon Called ends on a high note and leaves you wanting more. Like a good book should.”

—Fresh Fiction

“Fans of Kim Harrison’s Dead Witch Walking are sure to enjoy this fast paced, creature-feature-packed suspense story. Mercy’s no-nonsense approach and quick wit coupled with a strong story line and interesting subplots make for a thoroughly entertaining read.”

—Monsters and Critics

“Mercy’s a compelling protagonist…The story hums along like a well-tuned engine, keeping the reader engaged through the tumultuous climax.”

—Romantic Times

“A really good story…exciting, interesting, and not always predictable…a fun read for a lazy afternoon.”

—Italics

“Authors the likes of Tanya Huff, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Charlaine Harris have successfully peopled our modern world with vampires, lycanthropes, and other supernatural beings who, to some extent, coexist politely among us mere mortals, living within complex hierarchies, bureaucracies, and clan protocols. Add Patricia Briggs to the list…Moon Called is an exciting new entry in the field of dark urban fantasy…I will be watching for Mercy Thompson’s next adventure with great anticipation.”

—Rambles

“Inventive and fast-paced…Mercy’s first-person narrative voice is a treat throughout…an entertaining book from start to end.”

—Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Praise for the novels of Patricia Briggs

RAVEN’S SHADOW

“Patricia Briggs is a talented storyteller who enchants her audience with a spellbinding tale.”

—The Best Reviews

“A great novel for grown-ups. I look forward to the next installment in the series.”

—Crescent Blues

DRAGON BLOOD

“[Patricia Briggs] is an inventive, engaging writer, whose talent for combining magic of all kinds—from spells to love—with fantastic characters should certainly win her a huge following, and a place on many bookshelves.”

—SF Site

“Briggs writes in a fantasy setting, but deals with abuse and love and delivers action and romance.”

—The Alien Online

DRAGON BONES

“Tightly written with fully developed characters and a lavish backdrop, Ms. Briggs’s latest fantasy delivers a thrilling coming-of-age story.”

—Romantic Times

“[Briggs] possesses the all too rare ability to make you fall hopelessly in love with her characters, including the utterly, delightfully inhuman ones.”

—Crescent Blues

“Patricia Briggs is a natural-born storyteller.”

—Midwest Book Review

THE HOB’S BARGAIN

“It is easy to like Patricia Briggs’s novels…Her books are clever, engaging, [and] fast-moving.”

—Romantic Science Fiction & Fantasy

“Briggs has a good ear for dialogue and pace and a marked talent for drawing complex characterizations…This is a love story on many levels, all of which are satisfyingly resolved.”

—Rambles

Ace Books by Patricia Briggs

STEAL THE DRAGON

WHEN DEMONS WALK

THE HOB’S BARGAIN

DRAGON BONES

DRAGON BLOOD

RAVEN’S SHADOW

RAVEN’S STRIKE

MOON CALLED

BLOOD BOUND

blood bound

PATRICIA BRIGGS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

With thanks to Barry Bolstad, who let me pick his brain about police work in the Tri-Cities—and to his wife, Susan, who was patient with us while we talked business at lunch. Thanks also to my sister, Jean Matteucci, who double-checked my German. This book wouldn’t be what it is without the contributions over the years of our VWs, VW mechanics, and the folks at opelgt.com. Also a hearty thanks to the usual suspects for service above and beyond the call of duty: Collin and Mike Briggs, Michael and Dee Enzweiler, Ann Peters, Kaye and Kyle Roberson, and John Wilson—and my editor, Anne Sowards. They read it when it was rough, so you don’t have to. Special thanks to my terrific agent, Linn Prentis, who takes care of business so I can write. Most of all I’d like to thank my family, who is getting used to “make your own dinners” and “go away—I have to finish this three weeks ago last Tuesday.” Without these folks this book would never have been written.

As always, all mistakes are the fault of the author.

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 1

Like most people who own their own businesses, I work long hours that start early in the morning. So when someone calls me in the middle of the night, they’d better be dying.

“Hello, Mercy,” said Stefan’s amiable voice in my ear. “I wonder if you could do me a favor.”

Stefan had done his dying a long time ago, so I saw no reason to be nice. “I answered the phone at”—I peered blearily at the red numbers on my bedside clock—“three o’clock in the morning.”

Okay, that’s not exactly what I said. I may have added a few of those words a mechanic picks up to use at recalcitrant bolts and alternators that land on her toes.

“I suppose you could go for a second favor,” I continued, “but I’d prefer you hang up and call me back at a more civilized hour.”

He laughed. Maybe he thought I was trying to be funny. “I have a job to do, and I believe your particular talents would be a great asset in assuring the success of the venture.”

Old creatures, at least in my experience, like to be a little vague when they’re asking you to do something. I’m a businesswoman, and I believe in getting to the specifics as quickly as...