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Chapter 1 Teaser

Emily Harwood sat nervously on the plush neon green chair in Mr. Young’s office at 1834 W. Mill Street in Sunrise, Iowa. He was the CEO of Stardust Records, an up-and-coming recording studio in the middle of nowhere. Emily was a forty-one-year-old mother of two, recently divorced, wanting to restart her life with just her and her sons.                                              

“I believe we have everything in place. Your old job gave you an outstanding recommendation,” Mr. Young said as he glanced over the paperwork again.

“Thank you, sir,” Emily replied with a nervous sigh.

“I know it’s odd to hire someone with your experience to babysit a group of misfit rock stars, but I need to make sure I am making the proper investments,” Mr. Yong mentioned with a sympathetic nod. “What do you know about Vermilion?”

“The color?” Emily asked innocently, and an amused smile spread over Mr. Young’s face.

“No, Ms. Harwood, the band.” Mr. Young looked at a golden record on the wall. “They came onto the scene out of nowhere and dominated the charts. I’m surprised someone with your background does not know who the band is.”

Emily blushed and pushed a strand of blonde hair from her face. “My sons listen to them, but I never sat down to assess their talent.”

Mr. Young nodded. “I understand. You are not the talent agent, just the person making sure my money is well spent.” He reached into his desk, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Emily. “Here is a ticket to tonight’s show. I suggest you come and listen. Meet me backstage once the show has ended so you can meet the boys.”

“Thank you,” Emily stuttered as she took the paper from Mr. Young.

Looking at the sheet, she noticed it wasn’t an average ticket. It was a list of instructions of where she needed to go before the show, what she was to do to get in, and in bold letters at the bottom of the page, how she was to dress.

Arrive at Sunrise Theater at 7 o’clock.

Hand this paper to the gentlemen behind the glass. He will call for your escort, Nadia.

— Please arrive in jeans, tennis shoes, and a T-shirt. —

Be comfortable but do not try to stand out from the crowd.

Enjoy the show.

“Are the instructions easy to follow?” Mr. Young asked softly as he watched Emily’s blue eyes skim the page.

She nodded, agreeing. “I’m sure one of my boys has a t-shirt I can borrow for tonight.”

“Good, good. Because of what is required with this job, I will need you to dress the part. I suggest you speak with Nadia, our costume manager.” Mr. Young motioned to the pinstriped slacks and cream-colored silk blouse Emily was wearing for her entrance interview. “I’m not saying you don’t look nice, but we have a reputation to live up to, and even our roadies are put under a strict dress code.”

“Thank you, sir.” Emily stood from her chair and reached out her hand, hoping Mr. Young would be kind enough to seal their deal with a handshake. She heaved a heavy sigh as he stood and took her hand, firmly shaking it.

“Welcome to Stardust, kid,” Mr. Young said with a Cheshire grin.

Emily left Stardust Records with hurried steps, got behind the wheel of her rundown Ford Fiesta, and drove the three miles to the Manhattan Inn. The inn was only temporary housing. Two rooms with a kitchen and living space sounded ideal when she made the arrangements a week earlier. However, she quickly learned that the Manhattan Inn had two disturbing amenities upon arrival. One was the forest green shag carpeting, and the other was the stench of an open sewage system. However, it was all she could afford as money was thin, and she didn’t want to leave a trail.

“How did it go?” Todd, the oldest of her two teenage sons, asked as soon as she walked through the door and tossed her keys on the table next to the dirty window.

“Well, it’s all set. I will go on tour with Vermilion and assess the spending for the recording label.” Emily sighed as she took her shoes off and sat on the hard floor beside her son.

“Vermilion? Mom, you said it was for some new band, but you didn’t mention it was Vermilion. You will rub elbows with Chance Pennington and Justin Locke.” Todd’s eyes were the size of saucers, his hands clenching his gaming console.

“I have heard little from them, so I’m not as enamored as you are. However, I need to borrow one of your shirts. I have to go to the concert tonight.” Emily held up the letter with the instructions listed.

“Do we get to go?” Todd asked excitedly.

“Not this time, buddy, but I promise you will see them at least once on this tour.” Emily winked as she placed her arm over her son’s shoulder and pulled him in for a tight squeeze. “Where’s Andy?”

“Sleeping still,” Todd answered as he pulled away from his mother’s grasp.

“It’s noon. How can Andy still be sleeping?” Emily huffed as she pushed herself to her feet and walked the half-dozen steps across the living room to the boy’s room door.

She slowly opened the door and saw her son sprawled over the bed, his blonde hair sticking up in several places and a trail of drool running down the right side of his mouth. She let out an amused giggle and shut the door.

“He didn’t sleep well last night. I heard him whimpering again,” Todd said when Emily sat beside him.

“You think it was the nightmares?” Emily asked her son hesitantly. She didn’t want to mention the event that had led them to leave their home a week earlier.

“Mom, he saw what he said he saw. I know Andy. He doesn’t lie. Why didn’t we go to the police?” Todd narrowed his eyes at his mother, but his voice did not question her judgment.

“I know he doesn’t lie, but the police would have been no help. It was easier to leave,” Emily explained as logically as she could.

Leaving their home had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, and what her son had witnessed was a horrific accident, but she couldn’t make up for it. Andy had only told Todd about the full extent of the situation. Knowing the parties involved, Emily knew the only way to keep the three of them safe was to leave.

“You say that, but I don’t think you believe it.” Todd pressed his lips together and returned his attention to the small gaming console in his hand.

Emily watched him briefly before starting lunch for her and the boys. While cooking on the tiny stove was not ideal, she knew it brought some of the warmth of their home into their lives. Todd was a junior in high school, while Andy was fourteen and starting his first year. She had called their grandparents on a burner phone from the road, asking if they could take them in until everything blew over. They had graciously agreed, excited to spend an extended vacation with the boys. Emily would be on the move with the band keeping her location secret, and even if the parties found out about it, she would be gone before they could step foot near her. She had complete faith in their grandparents. Edward would assume she was traveling with Andy and Todd, and as long as she kept moving, he would not learn otherwise.

***

“Mom?” Emily heard her son speaking but was still locked inside her memory. She shook her head a few times and glanced to her right to find a disheveled Andy beside her.

“Hey, honey.” Emily smiled and put the stirring spoon down on the counter. She reached to hug Andy, but he took two steps backward and placed both hands in front of him. The smile vanished from Emily’s face, and she returned to the food she was preparing. “How did you sleep?”

“I’m still here, so that’s a plus.” Andy’s voice was hollow.

Emily closed her eyes to stop the tears from coming.

“Hey, Andy, let’s play a game or something. Mom’s cooking, and if you distract her, she will burn it.” Todd’s voice was Emily’s saving grace as she heard Andy exiting the small kitchen to join his brother.

Andy quickly grabbed a matching handheld from the coffee table. They would be immobile for at least an hour, giving her time to finish lunch and begin prepping for the concert. She hated how horrible her youngest appeared, with his pale skin and dead eyes. Each day he would answer her with the same daunting response as if he was shocked he made it another night. Emily was sure Edward wouldn’t harm Andy. That didn’t mean one of Edward’s men wouldn’t take on the job.

Emily finished preparing the boy’s lunch and retired to the bedroom. She was used to plush fabrics and earth-tone colors. The green shag carpeting and wood-paneled walls were far from luxurious. She grabbed a pair of faded jeans from the dresser and tossed them on the bed. As grateful as she was to have the job, she didn’t know what to think of Mr. Young telling her she had to look the part.

She dug through the boy’s bags and found a t-shirt before dancing off to jump in the shower.

Emily looked in the bathroom mirror and nearly broke out laughing. She had never looked so ridiculous in her life. The black Vermilion band t-shirt clung to her chest, distorting the lettering. Then there was the black eyeliner she knew would smear with the first drop of sweat. She had arranged her blonde hair into a ponytail and removed all her fashion jewelry before replacing it with cheap imitations.

She left the bathroom, hoping her sons wouldn’t notice her appearance. Instead, she was treated with applause and a few giggles.

“Thank you, I look stupid,” Emily said as Todd stood to help her find her shoes.

“No, it’s about time you embraced today’s culture. All those suits and slacks back home are gone.” Todd handed her a pair of tennis shoes and winked. “Get with the times.”

Andy smiled but said nothing. It warmed her heart to see him try, but she wasn’t sure if it was genuine or if he was trying to give her false hope. She looked at her watch and sighed, it was already six, and she had to be at the ticket counter before seven.

“All right, I guess I am off to the concert. I’m supposed to check in at the front desk and ask for Nadia.” Emily let her eyes scan the instructional letter.

“Just have fun,” Todd said with another smile before sitting next to his brother again. “If anything happens, I’ll call. I promise.”

Those words should have sat well with Emily. However, they made her blood grow cold. This would be her first time leaving the boys alone since fleeing. The idea of anything happening made her feel instantly sick, and she had to fight the urge to go back into her room, change into her pajamas, and claim she wasn’t going. They needed the money, though, and the instructions were clear. She was to see the show and meet the band after.

“I won’t be too late. Keep the door locked, and if you see anything, call me.” Emily grabbed her phone and keys.

“I will, Mom. Please go before you change your mind,” Todd said jokingly as Emily opened the door.

She hesitated a moment too long. The anxiety was going to get the best of her. “Maybe,” she said.

“Go!” Todd exclaimed, pointing out the door.

Emily laughed and then exited, closing the door behind her.

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS, CHECK OUT VERMILION IN THE REJECTED BY THE IMMORTAL ANTHOLOGY. http://books2read.com/rejectedimmortal

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Chapter 1 Sneak Peak

“Lucas,” Maryanne’s voice pulls me from the memory. I’m telling her the tale of my latest adventure, but somehow got stuck inside one of the defining moments. You know, when the monster comes face to face with the hunter, they battle it out for supremacy. It isn’t like that, but I make it sound like it is.                                                                  

“Huh?” I grunt as I shake my head. The sooner I can return both feet to reality, the quicker I can end the tale of terror.

“What happens next?” she asks, gripping her pen tightly. She’s on the edge of her seat. My crossbow is ready, the monster pleads for mercy, and I’m nearing that explosive conclusion.

I’ve worked with Maryanne for the past decade. I go on monster hunts, and she turns them into best-selling horror novels. We both get a monetary gain out of it. She calls me her muse, but I’m what she writes in her blood, romance, and intriguing stories. I’m the hero, the man putting his life on the line to save all of humanity. In simpler words, I’m the chosen one. Suppose the chosen one has safe houses and a hundred others doing the same job. The money funds my hunts, and I don’t have to commit credit card fraud.

“I killed it, of course,” I say enthusiastically, and the look of interest drops from her face. There was a time she would cheer when I reached this point of the story.

“You always kill it. Are there any monsters you won’t put an arrow through?” Maryanne asks, her bottom lip stuck in a pout.

I won’t openly admit it, but I have a soft spot for the author. I wouldn’t spend so much time with her between jobs if I didn’t. I used to commend myself for having no distractions, nobody that I was committed to; just me, my car, and the open road.

“Your neighbor is still alive,” I mention with a hint of humor.

“For the last time, Mike is not a vampire. He works overnights at a blood bank,” Maryanne groans as she rolls her emerald green eyes.

I laugh. “Seems a little convenient, don’t you think?”

I am already aware she is a skeptic. I share stories of werewolves, vampires, fairies, and the occasional rogue reaper. If I were her, I would probably think I’m crazy, too. It’s her blindness that makes us the perfect partners.

She doesn’t realize that Mike is, sure enough, a vampire, but he’s smart. He works at a local blood bank, and therefore isn’t a murderous monster needing a good old-fashioned stake to the heart. He’s not on my radar, but I’m pretty sure I am on his.

Whenever I walk up to Maryanne’s front door, he clams up, runs up his stairs, and locks the door to his house. He’s a good enough man, but we have a specific smell, like those from the underworld. Which explains why it is so hard to get away when you find yourself in a tough spot.

“If you say so,” I say through the laughter, but she is far from amused.

“Well, even if he is, he’s been kind to me.” She presses her lips together and sighs.

I’m sure if I had a pro-monster sign on a stick to hand to her, she would march around in a circle claiming that monster lives mattered too. However, I do have to agree. Her neighbor has been nothing but kind to her, and that kindness keeps him alive. I’ve even looked away a time or two when he dragged men from the bar into an alleyway. They weren’t good men. Both had committed serious crimes against their families.

“Not all monsters are bad people,” I say slowly, letting my hazel eyes wander her face. “Montana has a vampire reform school, and there’s a commune for vegan werewolves in Sacramento. There’s no cure for what happened to them. Only ways to help them come to terms with their physical changes.”  

I admit the locations are wrong —for a reason, just in case she puts them in a book — but they exist. I can’t have her putting good people’s lives in danger because she doesn’t want to believe I’m telling her the truth.

As with humanity, there is a balance in the underground. Good versus evil isn’t just tied to our world. I’ve seen it all over the country, all over the world. I grew up in this lifestyle; my mother, father, older brother, and generations before them, even. But where they saw teeth and claws, I see something different. If no harm is being done, why must they die? Would I ever say this aloud? No!

“You tell me these things, then refuse to show me when I ask for proof.” Maryanne runs her manicured fingers through her long red ponytail and rolls her eyes again.

“With all due respect,” I say, standing up from the recliner I had been sitting on to kneel at her knees, “if I show you, and you put it in a book, you are compromising the lives of good people.”

“Why do you care?” she asks me somberly.

I honestly have no idea what to tell her. She’s already aware of my intentions and knows more about me than my parents. Still, she doesn’t realize I do care. Under this exterior of frowns and shrugs is a heart.

She looks down at me, and the disapproval fades. A smile spreads across her pretty face. Her legs open as she tosses her notebook and pen to the floor. I’ve been intrigued by what she could be hiding under her skirt all day.

Wandering hands and twitching fingers make Maryanne’s eyes roll into the back of her head as she loudly moans.

Did I mention that my relationship with Maryanne combines business and pleasure?

***

I leave Maryanne’s two hours later. She’s passed out on the floor of her office, her clothing in various locations. This is normal for us. She won’t expect me to be there when she wakes up. I toss on my jeans and t-shirt before meandering out the front door of her two-story home.

I swing by the hotel first to shower and change. Monsters, like humans, get confused when you show up brandishing a weapon while smelling like Chanel #5. Plus, I do have business in the city concerning a haunted house owned by a family of shifters. The last thing I need is to show up smelling like sweat and regret.

I met Kaleb on a hunt a few years earlier when he helped me locate a child kidnapped by a coven of vampires. Yes, there are occasions when even a member of the underworld creates a moral dilemma for others in the same circle. We’ve kept in touch off and on over the years. Recently, he purchased a house on the west side of town. The Realtor did not disclose any crimes committed on the property; therefore, he was blindsided upon move-in.

Things went well the first few days, and then the haunting began. It’s not uncommon to come across a poltergeist or two, especially in older homes. They usually enjoy making people miserable, but this situation sounds slightly different. The haunt seems more like an emotionally derailed teenager, angry they weren’t getting their way. Pictures have been knocked off the wall, cabinets opened and closed, and there is constant, audible crying. It hasn’t attacked anyone yet, but the longer Kaleb waits for someone to step in, the closer the spirit could come to starting physical violence.

I told him I would stop by the next time I was in the area to see what I could do. There are several directions an intervention can go. If I play my cards right, I can cleanse the house in an hour. If things go south, the whole house can catch fire and burn to the ground before the firefighters arrive. I didn’t disclose that part to Kaleb. In fact, I don’t tell anyone that last bit. It only happened once, and the fire happened miles from town on an old abandoned farm.

From an early age, I’ve had a gift. My mother used to say it was because I died at birth, and the reaper sent to collect my soul gave me the sight before she gave me life. I have no proof of this, but it would make sense. I can see the dead among the living. When I was younger, it used to confuse me, but now I have learned when to look and when to keep walking. Another uncanny ability is how I can relive points in the past. If you want to know how your aunt Betsy died, I only need access to the location and a photo. Some locations can have multiple guests, so it’s easier if I know who I’m supposed to be talking to.

Ghost hunting is not my passion, though it can prove lucrative in the long run. I go to a location, scout out the monster scene, and make a few bucks telling people their loved ones are on the other side thinking of them. It’s not a hoax, either. If I fail to locate a spirit, it’s a money-back guarantee. Sometimes it happens. It all depends on how long it has been since they made their presence known.

I look at my watch. I’m running a little late. I had been more involved with Maryanne than I intended. I had told Kaleb I would be at his house by four, and it’s approaching five. I’m never late to paying gigs, but this one is pro-bono, and I haven’t put much thought into it.

By the time I arrive, Kaleb and his wife are sitting on the front steps of their two-story home. He has his hands in his hair, and she keeps looking over her shoulder and scowling at him.  Their toddler daughter is playing with the dandelions on the lawn. I can instantly tell the spirit has been pestering the adults but leaving the young one alone.

I park my 1971 Dodge Challenger and cut the motor. All my gear is in the trunk, but I won’t need much. I already told Kaleb to salt the entrance and exits to rooms the spirit frequents. I only need salt, a recorder, and other trinkets. I hope this will be an in-and-out job. No fires!

WANT TO READ MORE? CHECK OUT CURSE OF HELHAVEN IN THE MONSTER HUNTER ANTHOLOGY. www.books2read.com/monsterhunter 

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Dawn Weather’s believed she was alone, the only living offspring of an Angel and Demon. Life begins to bend and turn when Dawn and her mother move to Midvale. Now she’s tossed into a whole new world of vampires, demons, humans, and teen angst. When she loses her first love, her world begins to darken, and her true calling is revealed.

 Could she really be who she’s told she is?

 Fall in love with Dawn as she tries to comprehend the secrets of her blood. Will the fire consume her, or learn to bend to her will? ⁠

 Read the first three books in the Wardens Series for free on Kindle Unlimited.

⁠

https://books2read.com/u/3Raj8p

https://books2read.com/u/bQa7n7

https://books2read.com/u/4XZxPg

 COMING SOON: Fizzle - Book 4

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Darkest Days - Dark Madame Part I (on Wattpad) https://my.w.tt/z2DC63FHi1 All she remembers was running, everything before age ten is nothing more than fuzzy memories and partial conversations. When Joselyn Jager's mother dies, she is thrust into the world of bordellos and laws. It isn't until the Vanderbilt's, a wealthy couple from the Township, take her in and reveal secrets that could destroy the planet of Utopia. "What follows is not a love story, though some sections can be thought of as such. This is only the start of my story; much more will become known as we flashback to when it all started. My name was Joselyn Jager, and I am from the planet Utopia. This is the story of how I became the Dark Madame of Disport."

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t's time to separate the truth from the lies!⁠ ⁠ Now that the cat is out of the bag. Dawn must learn to find her place within her new life. When her cousin shows with news of her birthright, Dawn is thrust into a whole new predicament. She thought she was only meant to save Wesley, but she soon learns the real reason for her birth. ⁠ ⁠ Follow Dawn as she navigates the truths and lies of her blood. Will she fall victim to her own delusions, or learn to accept the tasks laid out before her.⁠ ⁠ https://books2read.com/u/bQa7n7

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Dawn Weather’s always believed she was alone, the only living child of an Angel and Demon. Things begin to bend and turn when Dawn and her mother move to Midvale. Now she’s tossed into a whole new world of vampires, demons, humans, and teen angst. Toss in a bit of star crossed love, and you have one twisted story.

Fall in love with Dawn as she tries to comprehend the secrets of her blood. Will she be consumed by the fire, or learn to bend it to her will.

https://books2read.com/u/3Raj8p

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A bite of pleasure and pain...An excerpt from Alyssa Drake & Bella Emy’s ETERNALLY YOURS

~*~

A heavy black object crashed into his chest, flinging him across the room. Flying over the sofa, he crashed into the glass coffee table. It shattered beneath him, carving chunks of skin out of his back. Gasping, Reed lay dazed, staring at the ceiling. His front door closed, followed by an ominous click. He was locked in! Reed moaned, rolling off the table’s metal frame, crumbling onto the floor. A whimper escaped as he pushed up on his forearms; broken glass ground into his skin. Pulling himself across the floor, Reed crawled toward the fireplace… and the gun hidden behind the fake logs. Agony slithered down his back, originating in his shoulders and skating down his spine. Each movement brought a fresh wave of pain, stealing his breath. Panting, he dug his elbows into the carpet, his fingers clawing at the plush material. A black blob appeared in Reed’s fuzzy vision, hovering over his right hand. It pressed down, crushing his fingers. The bones cracked. Reed screamed, collapsing, his chin smacked into the floor, splitting open on a chunk of glass. He ripped his broken hand out from underneath the boot. Clutching his fingers to his chest, he howled, his head angled toward the black boot.“Whatever you want, I can get it.” Blood spurted from his lips, dribbling down his chin. Sharp fingernails dug through Reed’s scalp, ripping his head backward. Dragging a gloved finger down Reed’s cheek, the assailant hovered just outside of his vision. Reed’s left hand clenched. He swallowed, sucking in a cry of agony, and pushed up on his right arm, swinging his fist. He connected. A muffled groan echoed above him, and the intruder released Reed’s head. Reed drew his arm back again. With a hiss, the attacker leaped on top of Reed, driving the glass pieces deep into his chest. Reed’s suffering reverberated in the room. Yanking his head back again, the intruder forced Reed’s body to bend into an unnatural arc.“Please,” begged Reed, through the overwhelming anguish, his voice strained. “Please. I’ll give you anything.”Lips pressed gently to Reed’s neck, caressing his skin. Two sharp points pricked his throat, barely breaking the surface. The pressure from the points intensified, burrowing deep into Reed’s jugular. With a snarl, the assailant plunged their teeth into Reed’s soft skin, ripping upward. A numb feeling spread through Reed’s limbs as though his body had been plunged in freezing water. His head crashed into the carpet, flung away by the black-clothed attacker who rose and walked into Reed’s line of sight, standing just outside his reach—a final taunt. Reed lay immobile, paralyzed, as blood ebbed from his veins, his vision blurring. The black boots, now distorted and dim, vanished, followed by the unmistakable click of the front door. Each breath became increasingly difficult as Reed struggled to fill his lungs with oxygen. His chest rose once more, then the room fell silent. The quiet was interrupted by a soft buzzing, which pulsated through the apartment, brushing over Reed’s immobile form. His phone lit up a second time, vibrating against the table leg. A third ring…Missed call… Charlie Sinclair.~*~Find out what happens next in ETERNALLY YOURS available exclusively in the Prophecy of Magic boxed set. Preorder now for the limited time price of 99c!books2read.com/u/m2xw7o

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October 2019 New Releases - Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author T.M. Caruana

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Check out today’s blog featuring an awesome excerpt from Samsara, exclusive to Prophecy of Magic set on pre-order now! If you haven't already purchased your copy, pre-order now for just .99 cents!

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Meet Today's Prophecy of Magic Author of Fate's Bite, @CR Robertson

https://prophecyofmagic.wordpress.com/

Check out today’s blog featuring an awesome excerpt from Fate's Bite exclusive to Prophecy of Magic set on pre-order now! If you haven't already purchased your copy, pre-order now for just .99 cents!

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Sometimes we are our own worst demons. Excerpt from Hamal's Dancer by Joel Crofoot.

~*~

“Will you please sit back down? I won’t hurt you if you don’t try to hurt me.”Ornias almost laughed at the innocence of that statement. Now that he could tell how young this angeling was, he knew he could easily overpower him, but this angeling obviously didn’t know that. Ornias joined him in the booth, sitting across from him this time though, and still nearer to the door.“Are you guys recruiting sex demons?” he asked. The angel laughed heartily. “No, it just sort of happened that way I guess. Why, is that what you are?”Ornias stared at him, deciding whether or not he wanted to give away any information about himself. He’d run into angels before, and it wasn’t pleasant, but this one was so young and so sincere, what could it hurt?“Are you going to tell others about me?”The angel shook his head. “Not if you don’t want me to.”“I don’t, and yes, I’m an incubus.”“Is that why you’re dancing in a club?” the angel asked.“It's a good way to draw energy.” The angel smiled at him, a slow mysterious smile, that was making Ornias uncomfortable. “What?”“It’s just, I can’t believe it. You’re another celestial being! We can talk and really be honest with each other! We don’t have to hide who we are!”Ornias smiled back at him, charmed at his naivety. “It’s not that easy. You’re an angel, I’m a demon.”“So?”“So the eternal war? Good versus evil? All that stuff.”The angel shrugged casually. “Jahi says it's more important to see things in shades of gray, not black and white. You don’t seem evil.”“I drink sexual energy. Doesn’t that bother you?”“No, should it?”“Yes, I suck the libido, the life energy, out of people and I get them all riled up to do it.”“So? You found a way to do it without hurting anyone.”He wanted to respond with, “I’ve killed a lot of people before I figured out how much I can take and not take,” but for some reason he didn’t want to see the look of horror on Hamal’s face. This kid believed he wasn’t that bad, and Ornias liked this illusion. He must have taken a long time thinking about it because the angeling filled the silence.“Can we start over? Are you really Middle Eastern? How old are you? How long have you been up here?”Ornias felt his features soften at this line of questioning. This kid was really trying to get to know him. It was endearing and refreshing. He couldn’t even remember the last time someone had actually tried to understand him on a personal level. In truth it made him a little uncomfortable. What if he got to know Ornias and didn’t like him anymore or tried to use that information to hurt him somehow? The personal rejection would be far worse than just hating him for being a demon, so Ornias went with what he did best.“How about we start over where we left off,” he said, taking the angel’s hand in his and locking eyes until he gently pulled the man closer and leaned in for a kiss. The angel froze at first, but didn’t pull away, so Ornias pressed his lips into the other man’s, feeling the warmth of his skin against his cheek. For about one second, there was no magic, just a platonic touching of skin, making Ornias question what exactly he was doing, but then something amazing happened. Something so small it would be imperceptible if there had been any onlookers. The angel leaned into the kiss, and that tiny spark was enough to kindle a fire.~*~Find out what happens next in Hamal's Dancer, available exclusively in the Prophecy of Magic boxed set. Preorder now for the limited time price of 99c!

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It's all fun and games until an assassin falls for the one she seeks to destroy. An Excerpt from NOT SORRY by Dylan Quinn & Daniel Cade Quinn. 

~*~

Ravenous, my stomach rumbles as I inhale a trace scent of blood in the night air of Chicago.

They’re coming. My gaze fixates on the parking lot, lights flickering from the street lamps above them. I close my eyes and listen to the sound of a car rumbling down the road. It’s at least a mile away, so I have a little time. Hiding behind a huge oak tree, I wait as a car pulls into the lot. A blonde bimbo gets out of a Mercedes, pulls out her cell phone, then makes a call. I’m not sure which one this is from my list, but I don’t really care. I’m hungry. While the vampire stomps her feet and stares down at the cell in her hand, I move stealthily between the trees until I’m standing a few feet away. With a grin, I lunge out from the woods and attack, knocking her easily to the ground. Feeding from vampires makes me a hundred times stronger than this chick will ever be. Truth is, I’m addicted to the power. Wouldn’t trade it for anything… Well, except for the one that I lost after I was turned. “Annaliese.” She gasps out my name as color drains from her face. Not surprised she recognizes me. Every vampire does. They fear me, just as they should. “I swear, I didn’t do anything.” “I don’t really care,” I say before baring my fangs. “You’re not supposed to be here, and I’m starving.” Without another word, I sink my teeth into her neck while she struggles beneath my grip, pinned against the ground beside her shiny, expensive car. “Please.” Her shrilled cry echoes through the still night air, but there’s nobody around to hear her. As her blood drizzles into my mouth, I stop short of completely desiccating her. Killing her now wouldn’t be much fun if I did. Pulling my fangs from her neck, I retract them while swallowing the last of her blood that’s drizzling down the back of my throat. Still smiling, I let out a sigh and sit up while straddling her waist. I stare into her silver eyes that are getting dimmer with each passing second. “Any last words… Renee?” I pull out a stake from my boot, ready to get this over with. She isn’t putting up much of a fight, and I’m bored. “What about your family? Or Marcus?” My eyes grow wide. “What did you say?” The mention of my former lover turned leader of the NOLA vampires was something I never expected to be associated with my family. And for the first time in a very long while, my chest hurt at the memory of all that I’d lost in their absence. “He… I know who turned you.” It was no secret that the very reason I’d become an assassin, only ever killing my own kind, was to get my revenge on the one who sired me. But nobody that I knew of was privy to the reason behind my rage but me and the gods. Even after all these years, my cold heart still ached for her… My daughter, Alexis. I was a mother once, a very long time ago. A widowed single mother with a young daughter, she had nobody else but me after her father abandoned us and the rest of my family was killed during the wars. After I was turned, I couldn’t control my bloodlust, so I couldn’t be her mother anymore. Abandoning my daughter was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, save for watching her die in her old age, never even having said goodbye. I’ve been singularly focused ever since, searching for the bastard who sired me, turning me into the very monster I now hunt for sport. Alexis is the reason I refuse to leave New America. Her family – my legacy – they need my protection, and I will always fight for humans against the very thing that stole everything from me. Someday, I’ll find all those responsible. And when I do, may the gods have mercy on them all.~*~Find out what happens next in NOT SORRY, available exclusively in the Prophecy of Magic boxed set. Preorder now for the limited time price of 99c!

books2read.com/u/m2xw7o

[hdglidewell]

One good girl in Hell. One demon tasked as her caretaker. And one wager that will change the fate of the world. An excerpt from Kelsie Rae’s GAMBLED SOUL

~*~ “W-what did you just call me?”“I didn’t stutter, Amara. Your head should be hurting, and your vision will need a little time for adjustment, but your ears should be fine. Do we need to get that checked?”Asshole! I think to myself.“Not the first time I’ve been called one. Won’t be the last. Let’s get going.” He pushes off from the wall and heads down the corridor, not bothering to see if I decide to follow him or not. Unfortunately for both of us, I have questions, and he seems to have the answers…even if he is pretty crappy at explaining them.“How are you doing that?” I seethe, my voice laced with confusion as I stomp behind him, rushing to keep up. The dimly lit enclosure starts to spin, and I brace myself against the wall when I realize I’ve pushed myself too far. Sensing my discomfort, he turns on his heel and taps his finger against his temple.“Simple minds mean simple to read. We’ll have to work on that.”“What the heck are you talking about?”And…rude!He opens his mouth to say some smartass remark, so I cut him off. “Look, I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck, and I’m about to lose my cookies all over the floor. Did you drug me? Where am I? Why am I here? I have so many questions, and none of them are being answered. Will you please fill me in? Please? I’m begging you.”With his jaw made of the same stone I’m leaning against, he assesses me. Really assesses me. I can feel him take in every minute detail of my disheveled state from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. There’s a weight to his stare that nearly brings me to my knees. I can tell he’s smart. That he’s always in control. And here he is, picking through my armor with ease. Squeezing my eyes shut, a fresh wave of nausea overwhelms me, and I slide to the floor with my back pressed against the wall. I’m about to completely give up and curl into the fetal position when Rush’s steely voice pulls my lids back.“Follow me.”He takes two steps forward and pulls open the closest curtain barrier before I hear him bark, “Get out.”“But––” a voice argues. Rush cuts him off. “Now.”A few bodies shuffle down the hallway, their clashing footsteps echoing as they disappear around a corner.“Get up, Amara,” Rush says in a cold voice.“The floor seems fine, thank you very much,” I quip, holding my head in my hands with my butt still firmly planted against the floor.“Now.”“No.”“For shit’s sake, get your ass off the ground right now or I’ll––”“I don’t care what you do to me. I feel like I’m dying,” I whine as my stomach tightens in pain.“You’re already dead, Amara.”~*~Find out what happens next in GAMBLED SOUL, available exclusively in the Prophecy of Magic boxed set. Preorder now for the limited time price of 99c!

books2read.com/u/m2xw7o

[hdglidewell]

Meet April Canavan, USA Today Bestselling Author today's Prophecy of Magic Co-Author of OF MAGIC AND LIES.

https://prophecyofmagic.wordpress.com/

Check out today’s blog featuring an awesome excerpt from Of Magic and Lies, exclusive to Prophecy of Magic set on pre-order now! If you haven't already purchased your copy, pre-order now for just .99 cents! 

http://bit.ly/ProphecyOfMagic

[hdglidewell]

Meet Today's Prophecy of Magic Co-Authors of Cursed Luck, C.L. Coffey & J.S. Lee.

https://prophecyofmagic.wordpress.com/Check out today’s blog featuring an awesome excerpt from Cursed Luck, exclusive to Prophecy of Magic set on pre-order now! If you haven't already purchased your copy, pre-order now for just .99 cents! 

http://bit.ly/ProphecyOfMagic