Felicity Heaton's Blog, page 108
October 29, 2011
Vampire flash fiction - The Moon and the Cherry Tree
This is the second of four flash fiction pieces I have written specifically for my Halloween Spooktacular!
A flash fiction is a short piece of work, normally around 1000 words long. It's pretty much a single short scene. All of my flash fics this weekend are based in my Vampires Realm world.
This time we're gaining a little insight into one of my favourite (and yours apparently) Vampires Realm characters, Hyperion. Hyperion hasn't had his own love story told yet but he's appeared in several of the Vampires Realm books, including the Prophecy Trilogy and Winter's Kiss . He's also in the next book in the series, Masquerade.
THE MOON & THE CHERRY TREE
So, did you all enjoy this peek into Hyperion and his love story?
A flash fiction is a short piece of work, normally around 1000 words long. It's pretty much a single short scene. All of my flash fics this weekend are based in my Vampires Realm world.
This time we're gaining a little insight into one of my favourite (and yours apparently) Vampires Realm characters, Hyperion. Hyperion hasn't had his own love story told yet but he's appeared in several of the Vampires Realm books, including the Prophecy Trilogy and Winter's Kiss . He's also in the next book in the series, Masquerade.
THE MOON & THE CHERRY TREE
Slender moonlight filtered down on him. It whispered to him, calling to his blood, touching him right down to his core. It spoke of how they belonged together. The moon ruled the darkness. Hyperion ruled the night. He was the splendid pale orb that all eyes turned to in the vampire world, looking up at him, seeking his light.
That light fractured into silvery ribbons when it met the ghostly pale blossoms on the lonely cherry tree.
Hyperion lay beneath it, his back against the broad trunk and his head tipped back, basking in the beauty above. A warm breeze stirred the white flowers, spreading their scent on the wind and casting him back one hundred years to the last time he had visited this land. It had been on a night like this that their paths had crossed again following their stormy first meeting and her beauty had arrested his steps and stolen his heart just as the cherry tree captured him now, holding him transfixed and under its sway.
She had been more beautiful than the blossom she had been named for, as delicate as its fragile petals and as soft as its scent, destined to dance away on a breeze and disappear from this world.
Sakura.
Hyperion lifted his hand to the sky, looking at the full moon and cherry blossoms through his splayed fingers. If only he could have grasped her more tightly and held her to him. If only he could have faced the fear of watching her wither and fade away. If only.
He had been convinced that such a beauty would not have survived in the darkness of his world and that it would have been cruel to bring her into it. She had needed light to bloom and feed the warmth in her smile and her heart, and that was something he never could have given to her.
He closed his fingers into a fist and stared at it. She had been within his grasp though, her beautiful smiles and precious laughter reserved for his eyes and his ears. She had given him everything that she had denied her clients, supplying them with hollow imitations of their splendour. He had taken them all, feasted on them. They had been his medicine to ease his pain.
His salvation and his destruction.
The white cherry tree swayed above him, dancing in the wind that stirred his dark hair and caressed his skin, carrying the perfume of the other blooming trees in the grove and the city beyond. Hyperion watched each blossom on the tree above as they performed a timeless ballet that could only end in one way. A single flower caught in the breeze and broke free, pirouetting through the air, continuing its dance until it finally came to rest on his black-clad legs. He plucked the delicate blossom from his thigh and brought it to his nose, inhaling the subtle sweetness of its scent. His Sakura had smelt as sweet as this one. She had worn blossoms in her hair and on her kimono. She had bloomed for him and in that moment she had ruined him to all others.
Hyperion crushed the blossom in his fist and frowned at the moon and the tree. Two different worlds that created such beauty when brought together, but that were destined to remain apart. A cherry tree couldn't bloom with only the moon as its light. The moon could only watch the tree from afar, longing to smell the sweetness of its fragrance and feel its soft flowers, knowing that it would never be his. The cherry tree thrived on light, but the moon could only offer the gentlest of caresses, a ghostly cold touch under midnight skies that would fade with the rising of the sun, driven away by the world where the tree truly belonged and could flourish.
The world that the cherry tree blossomed for.
Not the moon's world.
A world of warmth and light. The human world.
A world that Sakura had needed more than him. Or so he had thought. He had surrendered her to the human world, believing that she had no place in his, desiring her to retain her fragile beauty regardless of the pain it caused him and seek a happier life that she deserved. He had carried her in his heart, forever true to her, willing to remain that way until the end of his days. He had thought her long dead, alive only within his memories.
He had thought wrong.
Hyperion closed his eyes and listened to the moon, to the darkness around him. The call to hunt was strong but another desire eclipsed it.
The need to rise to his feet and continue his search for the one thing he had never dreamed he would see with his own eyes again. The woman who had walked back into his life barely two years ago looking as she had when he had left her a century earlier in this very city.
He opened his fist and looked down at the crushed blossom in his hand. Now that it had fallen, daylight would only speed its ruin. Now only moonlight and darkness could preserve it. The cool touch of the night not the heat of day.
Hyperion pushed himself onto his feet, reached up to the branches of the cherry tree and plucked a fresh white blossom.
Someone had dared to pluck the rare bloom he had left to flower in the human world and brought it into the darkness.
As payment for their insolence, he would take their life and take back what was his.
The cherry blossom would bloom again only it would be under the light of the moon.
They would be together again.
This time forever.
So, did you all enjoy this peek into Hyperion and his love story?
Ask a question to win - giveaway #2.5
This is more like a mini giveaway, with a smaller but still lovely prize and a simpler method of entering.
All you have to do to enter this giveaway is this:
If you enter, you'll be in with a chance to win the following hand-made necklace:
I will pose your questions to my characters, and answer those you've posed to me, during my Q&A session on Monday 31st October.
Open internationally. Giveaway closes at 11:59pm EST on 30th October. Winner will be chosen at random on 31st October and posted here. They will then be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.
All you have to do to enter this giveaway is this:
Leave a comment asking either myself or one of my characters (specify who) a question, together with your name and email address
If you enter, you'll be in with a chance to win the following hand-made necklace:
I will pose your questions to my characters, and answer those you've posed to me, during my Q&A session on Monday 31st October.
Open internationally. Giveaway closes at 11:59pm EST on 30th October. Winner will be chosen at random on 31st October and posted here. They will then be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.
Fantastic Halloween Spooktacular Giveaway #2
It's time for the second of my fantastic Halloween Spooktacular daily giveaways! Are you all excited? Remember, even if you won a giveaway already, you can still enter this giveaway!
Enter Giveaway #2 To Win:1 x signed paperback of your choice! Choose from Seventh Circle, Winter's Kiss, Hunter's Moon, Love Immortal, Forbidden Blood, Ascension, Her Angel (Her Angel books 1-3) or Her Guardian Angel1 x signed book swag as per the picture below!1 x vampire heroine beaded bookmark thong made by me! That's right. Hand-made by this paranormal romance author. It doesn't get much more personal and special than that. See the picture below.
This giveaway runs until 00:01 EST on 31st October 2011.
If the GFC box isn't showing on the left side bar of the blog, hit refresh until it appears. It should be above the NetworkedBlogs box but it's very temperamental.
Remember to click the instructions links so you know exactly what to do to make your entries count!
Enter Now:
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
Enter Giveaway #2 To Win:1 x signed paperback of your choice! Choose from Seventh Circle, Winter's Kiss, Hunter's Moon, Love Immortal, Forbidden Blood, Ascension, Her Angel (Her Angel books 1-3) or Her Guardian Angel1 x signed book swag as per the picture below!1 x vampire heroine beaded bookmark thong made by me! That's right. Hand-made by this paranormal romance author. It doesn't get much more personal and special than that. See the picture below.
This giveaway runs until 00:01 EST on 31st October 2011.
If the GFC box isn't showing on the left side bar of the blog, hit refresh until it appears. It should be above the NetworkedBlogs box but it's very temperamental.
Remember to click the instructions links so you know exactly what to do to make your entries count!
Enter Now:
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
Interview with a venator vampire - Kearn
Well, I think I need a break already and we're only just starting day two of my Halloween Spooktacular. I hope you can all keep up with the posts. I guess you can always spend a few days reading them when I'm done with this crazy event! Just make sure you're here for the giveaways and such, and do leave a comment on the posts you read if you have time, it lets me know you're there and you've enjoyed what I've posted.
Okay... on to the second of today's interviews and this time I've lured a rather handsome silver haired vampire venator into my lovely interview room. I shall introduce you all to Kearn, the leading man in my vampire romance book, Forbidden Blood .
(Kearn enters, swiftly crosses the room, dressed in a very fine white shirt and black trousers, and sits in the black velvet armchair opposite me. His silver-white hair is tucked neatly behind his ears and his green eyes pierce mine. I glance down to catch a glimpse of the elaborate silver markings that cover his right hand to his fingertips. The design covers all the way to his shoulder and isn't a tattoo, it's a link to the endless dark given to him by the Sovereignty when he took on the role of Venator. A Venator is a sort of hunter.)
FH: So, Kearn... it's great to see you again. How about we start off with you telling everyone a little about yourself?
KEARN: I am a Venator for the vampire species. I was chosen to succeed my father in his role as Venator for House Savernake. I was not happy with this, and I still resent the Sovereignty for the pain they caused my family and myself by forcing this role upon myself rather than passing it to my older brother, Kyran. A Venator is a hunter. It is my duty to carry out the sentence on vampires known to have broken the law. It is not a duty that I relish. I wish I were free of it, but that can only come through death or retirement, and I am a long way from either. I have a reason to live now. It was given to me by my beloved Amber.
FH: Can you tell us about what happened in your story?
KEARN: Most certainly. I was pursuing a known Source Blood abuser and had been hunting him for several years prior to the night I stumbled upon Amber under attack by a group of vampires. As a Venator, it is my duty to protect humans from my kind. I had not realised that she was a Source Blood, and by chance, the man who had sought to control her turned out to be the one I was looking for. He is elusive as the wind but with Amber's help I was finally able to track him down and sentence him. It was difficult for me, and I do not think I could have done it without Amber's assistance.
FH: As you mentioned, you meet Amber in your story, Forbidden Blood. How did you feel about her initially?
KEARN: (sighs) The benefit of hindsight is a beautiful thing. Now I can see with clarity that I was falling for her from the moment I set eyes on her, before I first tasted her blood. At the time, I believed myself indifferent and purely under the influence of her blood. Source Blood is rare. It is a gene in the blood of a specific line of humans, and it can bestow godlike powers upon vampires. It is also highly addictive. When we first met, I was reluctant to interact with humans. Amber was the first human I had actually worked with. Most of the time they are dead by the time I reach them. She entranced me so quickly that I was under her spell before I could realise what was happening, and that only put her life in more danger. She was an easy target for the man I was hunting and he knew that he could use her to weaken me and drive me to act on impulse rather than rationally.
FH: Your relationship with Amber was complicated because she's human, and a Source Blood, and it's illegal for you to taste her. Was it difficult around her after you had taken a sip of her blood?
KEARN: Extremely. It had been a long time since I had tasted Source Blood and the effects of Amber's on me were stronger than I had anticipated. Her blood is divine, a drug more addictive than anything else on this planet, and once I had tasted it, I wanted more. I could not help myself and it was difficult to control myself around her. That one sip triggered hunger in me stronger than any I had felt before and I craved her. Not just her blood though. I craved the whole of her. I needed her to be mine and I knew it was asking a lot of her after everything I had already put her through, but she is so beautiful, and she did not shy away or think me a monster because of what I was or what I desired from her. She accepted me and she brought me back to life and filled my world with light, chasing back the darkness.
FH: That's beautiful. For all your growl and menacing edge, you're a big softie when it comes to Amber. How has life been since the events that happened and brought you together?
KEARN: It has been quiet for the past few months. Amber is settling into her new life and says that she learns something new each night that we wake together and I teach her about the ways of my kind. Society has accepted her in a way I could not have wished or hoped for. Archduke Pendragon saw to that. We still turn heads at the balls and Amber's name is on everyone's lips. They are very eager to see how she turns out. I have been working with some of the other vampire Venators and the Sovereignty on matters regarding our species. It keeps me busy but I always find time for Amber. I want her to never feel that she is alone. She comes with me wherever I go when she can, and is becoming a very good ambassador for better treatment of humans who are brought into our world and are in transition.
FH: Your story, Forbidden Blood, is a book in a series. Can you tell us a little about the series and can we expect see more of you in other stories in this series?
KEARN: I believe that we are in the next book. The whole series follows the vampire Venators in their missions for the Sovereignty, a ruling body of demons that govern the nine demon species. They are the remains of their species, and countless centuries old, and extremely powerful. They bless their Venators with the power to sentence those who break the law. For a vampire, the weapon comes in the form of silver markings that cover the length of our strongest arm, in my case my right, but some are left-handed. Vampires have only a few laws that we uphold, and they are all related to Source Blood. I am not sure of the laws of the other species. Vampires do not tend to interact with them if we can avoid it, although I am aware that many of them share a complex society like ours. Lycanthropes and therianthropes in particular. I am told that the therianthropes are generally broken into two groups, the ailuranthropes, or those who shift into a cat form, and the rest. Vampires do not tend to associate with either group, but there are times when we are required to work together.
FH: Describe yourself in one word?
KEARN: Loyal.
FH: Thank you for meeting with me today and chatting. Is there anything else that you'd like to add before you leave?
KEARN: I wish to thank you for taking this time to interview me, and I also hope that you will be able to interview Amber too as she was very excited to hear that I was coming to see you to answer these questions. I am sure she would find it a pleasant change to her usual daily routine, and would like to meet with you again. I would also like to extend my thanks to the humans reading this, and to offer words of comfort in that the Venators are there to protect them should any of them be Source Bloods. I hope they will read, and enjoy my story, and also the glimpse it gives of my world.
FH: Ah, you're always so very eloquent. I'll let you get on now as I'm sure you're busy as always.
(Kearn nods, rises from the seat and leaves the room without a backward glance. I have the feeling he's going to tell Amber about the interview)
Did you all enjoy this interview with Kearn? If you would like to know more about this vampire and his love story, then here's some more information for you...
Forbidden Blood
Felicity Heaton
In a dark world where vampires exist and where Source Blood, a rare human blood type, can bestow godlike powers upon them, the vampire Venators of the Sovereignty fight to protect the humans by banishing those who drink it to the endless dark.
Exiled from his family and with only his duty to sustain him, Kearn has been on the trail of an elusive Source Blood abuser for three years. When he saves a beautiful human female from the vampire's grasp, it turns out she's the lead he's been waiting for. Amber is a Source Blood and the perfect bait, but for who?
As they race to catch the vampire and survive the cruel games he plays, Amber is pulled deeper into Kearn's world and discovers the painful secrets he hides behind his handsome but emotionless exterior—hurt that she has the power to heal if she is brave enough.
Forbidden Blood is book one in the Vampire Venators series and a dark, sensual tale of betrayal, revenge and a love that knows no bounds.
ebook price: $3.99
paperback price: $10.99
genre: paranormal vampire romance
length: 126000 words
rating: sultry
released: June 2011
Book 1 in the Vampire Venators series
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Forbidden%20Blood
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055I1LNW/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0055I1LNW/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forbidden-blood-felicity-heaton/1103572024
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-forbiddenblood-613573-139.html/
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/felicity-heaton/forbidden-blood/_/R-400000000000000406450
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Forbidden-Blood-Vampire-Venators-Romance/book-mWkS9umUmkmp2XI4cX_woA/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66030
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0055I1LNW/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0055I1LNW/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461132193/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1461132193/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forbidden-blood-felicity-heaton/1031509117
Okay... on to the second of today's interviews and this time I've lured a rather handsome silver haired vampire venator into my lovely interview room. I shall introduce you all to Kearn, the leading man in my vampire romance book, Forbidden Blood .
(Kearn enters, swiftly crosses the room, dressed in a very fine white shirt and black trousers, and sits in the black velvet armchair opposite me. His silver-white hair is tucked neatly behind his ears and his green eyes pierce mine. I glance down to catch a glimpse of the elaborate silver markings that cover his right hand to his fingertips. The design covers all the way to his shoulder and isn't a tattoo, it's a link to the endless dark given to him by the Sovereignty when he took on the role of Venator. A Venator is a sort of hunter.)
FH: So, Kearn... it's great to see you again. How about we start off with you telling everyone a little about yourself?
KEARN: I am a Venator for the vampire species. I was chosen to succeed my father in his role as Venator for House Savernake. I was not happy with this, and I still resent the Sovereignty for the pain they caused my family and myself by forcing this role upon myself rather than passing it to my older brother, Kyran. A Venator is a hunter. It is my duty to carry out the sentence on vampires known to have broken the law. It is not a duty that I relish. I wish I were free of it, but that can only come through death or retirement, and I am a long way from either. I have a reason to live now. It was given to me by my beloved Amber.
FH: Can you tell us about what happened in your story?
KEARN: Most certainly. I was pursuing a known Source Blood abuser and had been hunting him for several years prior to the night I stumbled upon Amber under attack by a group of vampires. As a Venator, it is my duty to protect humans from my kind. I had not realised that she was a Source Blood, and by chance, the man who had sought to control her turned out to be the one I was looking for. He is elusive as the wind but with Amber's help I was finally able to track him down and sentence him. It was difficult for me, and I do not think I could have done it without Amber's assistance.
FH: As you mentioned, you meet Amber in your story, Forbidden Blood. How did you feel about her initially?
KEARN: (sighs) The benefit of hindsight is a beautiful thing. Now I can see with clarity that I was falling for her from the moment I set eyes on her, before I first tasted her blood. At the time, I believed myself indifferent and purely under the influence of her blood. Source Blood is rare. It is a gene in the blood of a specific line of humans, and it can bestow godlike powers upon vampires. It is also highly addictive. When we first met, I was reluctant to interact with humans. Amber was the first human I had actually worked with. Most of the time they are dead by the time I reach them. She entranced me so quickly that I was under her spell before I could realise what was happening, and that only put her life in more danger. She was an easy target for the man I was hunting and he knew that he could use her to weaken me and drive me to act on impulse rather than rationally.
FH: Your relationship with Amber was complicated because she's human, and a Source Blood, and it's illegal for you to taste her. Was it difficult around her after you had taken a sip of her blood?
KEARN: Extremely. It had been a long time since I had tasted Source Blood and the effects of Amber's on me were stronger than I had anticipated. Her blood is divine, a drug more addictive than anything else on this planet, and once I had tasted it, I wanted more. I could not help myself and it was difficult to control myself around her. That one sip triggered hunger in me stronger than any I had felt before and I craved her. Not just her blood though. I craved the whole of her. I needed her to be mine and I knew it was asking a lot of her after everything I had already put her through, but she is so beautiful, and she did not shy away or think me a monster because of what I was or what I desired from her. She accepted me and she brought me back to life and filled my world with light, chasing back the darkness.
FH: That's beautiful. For all your growl and menacing edge, you're a big softie when it comes to Amber. How has life been since the events that happened and brought you together?
KEARN: It has been quiet for the past few months. Amber is settling into her new life and says that she learns something new each night that we wake together and I teach her about the ways of my kind. Society has accepted her in a way I could not have wished or hoped for. Archduke Pendragon saw to that. We still turn heads at the balls and Amber's name is on everyone's lips. They are very eager to see how she turns out. I have been working with some of the other vampire Venators and the Sovereignty on matters regarding our species. It keeps me busy but I always find time for Amber. I want her to never feel that she is alone. She comes with me wherever I go when she can, and is becoming a very good ambassador for better treatment of humans who are brought into our world and are in transition.
FH: Your story, Forbidden Blood, is a book in a series. Can you tell us a little about the series and can we expect see more of you in other stories in this series?
KEARN: I believe that we are in the next book. The whole series follows the vampire Venators in their missions for the Sovereignty, a ruling body of demons that govern the nine demon species. They are the remains of their species, and countless centuries old, and extremely powerful. They bless their Venators with the power to sentence those who break the law. For a vampire, the weapon comes in the form of silver markings that cover the length of our strongest arm, in my case my right, but some are left-handed. Vampires have only a few laws that we uphold, and they are all related to Source Blood. I am not sure of the laws of the other species. Vampires do not tend to interact with them if we can avoid it, although I am aware that many of them share a complex society like ours. Lycanthropes and therianthropes in particular. I am told that the therianthropes are generally broken into two groups, the ailuranthropes, or those who shift into a cat form, and the rest. Vampires do not tend to associate with either group, but there are times when we are required to work together.
FH: Describe yourself in one word?
KEARN: Loyal.
FH: Thank you for meeting with me today and chatting. Is there anything else that you'd like to add before you leave?
KEARN: I wish to thank you for taking this time to interview me, and I also hope that you will be able to interview Amber too as she was very excited to hear that I was coming to see you to answer these questions. I am sure she would find it a pleasant change to her usual daily routine, and would like to meet with you again. I would also like to extend my thanks to the humans reading this, and to offer words of comfort in that the Venators are there to protect them should any of them be Source Bloods. I hope they will read, and enjoy my story, and also the glimpse it gives of my world.
FH: Ah, you're always so very eloquent. I'll let you get on now as I'm sure you're busy as always.
(Kearn nods, rises from the seat and leaves the room without a backward glance. I have the feeling he's going to tell Amber about the interview)
Did you all enjoy this interview with Kearn? If you would like to know more about this vampire and his love story, then here's some more information for you...
Forbidden Blood
Felicity Heaton
In a dark world where vampires exist and where Source Blood, a rare human blood type, can bestow godlike powers upon them, the vampire Venators of the Sovereignty fight to protect the humans by banishing those who drink it to the endless dark.
Exiled from his family and with only his duty to sustain him, Kearn has been on the trail of an elusive Source Blood abuser for three years. When he saves a beautiful human female from the vampire's grasp, it turns out she's the lead he's been waiting for. Amber is a Source Blood and the perfect bait, but for who?
As they race to catch the vampire and survive the cruel games he plays, Amber is pulled deeper into Kearn's world and discovers the painful secrets he hides behind his handsome but emotionless exterior—hurt that she has the power to heal if she is brave enough.
Forbidden Blood is book one in the Vampire Venators series and a dark, sensual tale of betrayal, revenge and a love that knows no bounds.
ebook price: $3.99
paperback price: $10.99
genre: paranormal vampire romance
length: 126000 words
rating: sultry
released: June 2011
Book 1 in the Vampire Venators series
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Forbidden%20Blood
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055I1LNW/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0055I1LNW/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forbidden-blood-felicity-heaton/1103572024
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-forbiddenblood-613573-139.html/
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/felicity-heaton/forbidden-blood/_/R-400000000000000406450
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Forbidden-Blood-Vampire-Venators-Romance/book-mWkS9umUmkmp2XI4cX_woA/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66030
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0055I1LNW/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0055I1LNW/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461132193/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1461132193/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forbidden-blood-felicity-heaton/1031509117
Heart of Darkness - Vampire romance book - chapter two
As promised, I'm posting the second chapter of Heart of Darkness, my new vampire romance book this week. I know it's the middle of my Halloween event but just consider it a part of that event now.
Be sure to keep following these weekly posts in order to read the first six chapters of the book. You can find previous chapters under my Heart of Darkness label.
Heart of Darkness
Felicity Heaton
A vampire prince on a four hundred year old mission to avenge his murdered sister...
Aleksandr Nemov won't stop until the last of the vampire hunter's progeny is wiped from the Earth. Each kill has stolen a piece of his humanity, pushing him towards the black abyss all vampires hold within their hearts. Now he is teetering on the edge, close to devolving into a beast, and time is running out as he tracks the last hunter to Prague. There he finds a beautiful woman who could be his one chance for salvation, but is it already too late for him?
A vampire guard who will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves...
Elise is dedicated to her duty. It's the only thing she has left. All that changes when she meets Aleksandr in Prague and her master grants him permission to stay at her bloodline's mansion. She knows all about Aleksandr but none of it prepares her for how she feels when the legendary prince's hunt becomes one for her heart. Elise battles him with all of her strength but can she stop herself from falling for the handsome hunter? When he reveals the depth of the corruption in his soul, will she have the strength to face the pain in her past and do whatever it takes to save him?
ebook price: $3.99
genre: paranormal vampire romance
length: 130000 words
rating: sultry
released: October 2011
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Heart%20of%20Darkness
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005WK6E58/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-heartofdarkness-620972-139.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97624
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B005WK6E58/
EXCERPT - CHAPTER TWO
Elise stood with her back to the tall Grecian column, guarding the north garden exit of the ballroom. Barely two hours had passed since she had escorted their guest to his quarters and the ball was already underway, everyone in the mansion in attendance to honour Aleksandr Nemov. They packed the long room, their excited chatter competing with the small orchestra at the end opposite her near to the entrance. Her gaze slowly scanned the room, searching for any sign of trouble amongst the throng of brightly coloured dancers. Everyone was relaxed but she could sense underlying tension building in the room. They were waiting and they were growing impatient.
Aleksandr Nemov was the only person not in attendance.
Several people had discovered that she had met him, and had questioned her relentlessly until she had reminded them that she was on duty and not at liberty to talk about such matters.
Her gaze did the rounds again, checking everything. The glow of candlelight from the chandeliers warmed the normally cold cream walls and decorative white inset columns. The shutters on the tall sash windows that lined either side of the room were open. Moonlight streamed in through the windows on the courtyard side to her right, but it couldn't contend with the candles and only threw faint shadows across the hardwood floor.
Elise's blue eyes drifted over the heads of the dancers to the entrance directly opposite her and her mind wandered to Aleksandr Nemov. She was a fool for believing that such a powerful and noble vampire was little more than a beast. There had been nothing princely about his appearance though, and she had discovered him at a brutal kill. She had never seen anything like it. He had torn the hunter apart.
What sort of man was he?
Elise knew of him. There wasn't a vampire in Europe who didn't know of their rulers, the Nemov bloodline, and Aleksandr. The tales of his hunts were legendary. He was legendary. No other royal had ever renounced their title and disinherited themselves in order to hunt the vampire hunters. She wasn't too sure of Aleksandr's reasons but her father had told her that their true prince and heir had vowed to protect his people and had left his family to avoid tainting their name with his actions.
He had become a killer.
Aleksandr Nemov was a fool too.
Since the Nemov line had first discovered the path to achieving humanity, they had led their people. By following their rules, vampires had evolved from beasts into a peaceful society, safe from discovery by the humans and from the darkness that lived within them all. They had found humanity through limiting their kills and not hunting for the thrill of it or to feed their bloodlust. A kill a year was all most had to make for their families so they would have enough blood. At most, three or four kills were required, still within the safe amount set out by their leaders.
Some had gone against the rules.
Aleksandr Nemov was one of them.
There was only one outcome from killing for the sake of it, in cold blood or without need for sustenance from a victim, taking pleasure from the violence and bloodshed.
Corruption.
It led only to darkness and to the threat of becoming a demon again, their humanity destroyed by their blackened soul and the blood that soaked it.
Was Aleksandr walking that path?
Everyone moved, bowing in a wave that swept back towards Elise and revealed the doorway opposite her.
Elise stared.
Gone was the matted long dark hair, replaced by a neat short style. Gone was the beard, exposing the strong line of his jaw and a sensual mouth. Gone were the tattered clothes, replaced by a smart black military-style jacket and trousers similar to what she wore. Before her stood a handsome man. A man completely different to the one she had left in the guest wing. He no longer looked like a beast. He looked noble and as princely as his blood.
Every female in the room had her eyes on him.
And his were on her.
Elise bowed quickly, lowering her head to cover the shame that burned her cheeks. How could she have failed to respond correctly to his entrance? The moment his gaze had met hers across the room, she had forgotten the world existed. She hadn't failed to notice the ugly black bruise on the left side of his face though. Her shame deepened. She hadn't only forgotten to bow to royalty; she had fought and injured him too. How was she to have known that he was Aleksandr Nemov?
"My apologies for the events of this evening, your highness." Elise stared at her feet, too afraid to straighten up and see how everyone in the room was staring at her. How he was staring at her. His eyes bore into her. He was waiting for her to emerge. Why?
"I will forgive you if you dance with me." There was a slight Russian lilt to his English. The sound of his voice so softly spoken sent a shiver through her and she closed her eyes at the strange new feeling.
Elise straightened, her gaze catching on his broad chest and her cheeks flushing again when she remembered sitting on it. She had sat on royalty and held a knife to his throat. That was definitely worthy of punishment. She forced her eyes up to his face.
"My apologies again, your highness, but I am on duty tonight and not here to socialise."
A flicker of darkness crossed his handsome face and his grey eyes turned stormy. "You disappoint me."
"It is not my intention." Elise tugged the hem of her short black uniform jacket. She had disappointed royalty. There was probably a punishment for that too, but she couldn't do as he asked. "I don't have leave to dance. Besides, there are many other partners who would dance with you, I'm sure."
She gestured towards the horde of beautifully dressed women behind him. He didn't even look. His eyes remained fixed on her face, the disappointment he spoke of showing in their depths.
"All very pretty and simpering, I am also sure, but not the partner I desire, Elise."
She jumped at the use of her name. She hadn't given it to him and she couldn't fathom why he would've gone to any length to get it from someone, just as she couldn't understand why he wanted to dance with her when so many women were crowding for his attention.
Elise held his gaze and smiled politely. "My apologies again, but it isn't possible. I must remain here and guard the garden entrance to protect the party and your highness."
"I have not been a prince in many years." His low voice held a razor-sharp edge. He stepped closer to her, stared into her eyes for a few seconds with pure darkness in his, and then smiled. It sent another tremor through her that she chose to ignore. "It is not a prince asking you to dance, but a man. Will you not dance with me then?"
He was certainly persistent. When coupled with the seductive tone his voice had taken on and the wicked glint in his eyes, his persistence was nothing short of irritating. She had said no. Under different circumstances, she might have said yes to such a handsome man, or felt some sort of obligation to dance with him as an apology, but she was on duty.
Elise shook her head. "I have no leave to."
He gave a short growl of frustration and frowned. "I will have your orders changed then."
Aleksandr turned on his heel and left, the group of women that had gathered parting to let him through and then swallowing him.
"What was that all about?"
Elise looked over at Andrej, her captain, where he stood near the pillar on the other side of the door and shrugged. "I honestly don't know."
Andrej stared in the direction that Aleksandr had gone. Her eyes remained on Andrej. He had a noble profile and had grown into a fine figure of a man, especially in his uniform. The only thing that wasn't neat about him was his fair hair, cropped short at the sides but messy on top, and his long sideburns.
Some of the women of the guard lingered nearby, their attention dancing between their friends and Andrej. Several of them had admitted to Elise that the slight show of wildness in Andrej's hair only made him more handsome. Many of the female guards adored him.
Andrej's gaze remained fixed ahead.
He didn't acknowledge the women close to him, and hadn't all night. His focus was on his duty. She and Andrej were alike in that respect, placing duty before affairs of the heart. Or at least that's what she thought. Sometimes she wondered if she was wrong about him and he did love someone.
He looked at her, his blue eyes darkened by his wide pupils, and smiled the smile he only seemed to give to her.
"I think you are safe now," he said in Czech, the smile reaching his voice and bringing hers out.
He spoke of Aleksandr as though he was a predator.
Elise looked across the room at the gathering of women that marked the spot where Aleksandr would be. They were all beautiful, wearing fine corseted dresses that scooped low to reveal ample bosom and their throats. They were females bred for this sort of occasion, from families who had a rank or sought to attain one. Her family weren't of that ilk. She didn't belong in the group, or amongst the dancers. She belonged here at the door, protecting her bloodline just as her father had done.
The crowd parted again and she spotted Aleksandr. He did look handsome now that he had cleaned up and she could understand why all of the women wanted his attention. He turned and looked at her, stepping aside at the same time. Elise's eyes widened when she saw the commander of the guard with him, a dark-haired man of six hundred. Aleksandr looked older than him and she tried to remember how old he was. At least eight hundred. His appearance was more that of a man in his mid-thirties. Vampires aged slowly compared with humans.
He leaned towards her commander and said something, pointing in her direction. Commander Piotr's expression was a picture of horror, of amusement, and then warning. Elise frowned. What were they saying about her? Aleksandr smiled and shook his head. Her commander shrugged.
Was he warning Aleksandr to stay away from her?
Why?
To protect her from Aleksandr or Aleksandr from her?
Her frown increased along with her irritation.
Commander Piotr nodded. Aleksandr walked away.
Directly towards her.
He cut across the dancers, interrupting their flow, his pace brisk and gaze fixed on her. She swallowed and glanced at Andrej, searching for a possible means of escaping what she knew was about to happen. He was watching Aleksandr's approach with a glare.
"You have new orders." Aleksandr smiled, both charming and victorious. "You are to dance with me."
"I really—" Refusal seemed redundant when he had already taken her hand and was leading her towards the dance floor.
It loomed ahead.
Elise pulled back and Aleksandr stopped, his hand still tightly holding hers. He had a strong grip, and warm hands, and she wasn't about to let that affect her. She refused.
The dancers slowed. Everyone stared. Panic closed her throat. She didn't want to dance and have everyone watching her. She'd never been good at such things. Aleksandr paused, his expression softening and grip loosening the slightest amount.
"We can dance here, if you would prefer that." Concern laced those low spoken words.
It was as though he had sensed her feelings. She stared at their joined hands and hoped that he was only guessing. A strong enough connection to another vampire, one that allowed the sensing of emotions, was rare, and often led to a mating or exclusivity pledged between them. She couldn't sense his feelings, so he must have felt her fear. Vampires could easily detect that in one another.
Elise shook her head and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. It was better to be lost in a crowd than put on display. No one would see how atrocious her dancing was then.
No one except Aleksandr anyway.
They entered the dancers and Aleksandr turned to face her. The firmness of his hand on her waist made her jump and she swallowed when he drew her close to him, his smile all sin and seduction. What exactly was he after from her? A dance or something more? She couldn't understand why he wanted either.
The moment the music began, she trod on his foot. His jaw tensed and he removed his boot from under hers, and then led the way in the slow waltz.
Elise stared down at her feet, barely able to see them through the small gap between their bodies. He was so close to her. She lost focus and trod on his foot again, grimaced, and pressed her tongue against the back of her teeth in concentration. His grip on her waist tightened and she bumped into him, her body brushing his. Her hand trembled against his arm. He drew her closer still, until there wasn't a gap between them and she could no longer see her feet. Not good. In fact, it was terrible. Her dancing went from awful to abysmal and she cursed herself for being such a poor partner.
She hadn't had the luxury of the training ladies received. No one bothered to teach soldiers to dance or etiquette or any of the skills needed to converse politely with royalty. Aleksandr would have been better off with any number of the women present, or possibly all of them.
"I have not met a female guard before." His voice was a bare whisper, sensual and teasing. This man could talk about the weather and make it sound seductive. It was probably vast experience showing. His reputation said he had plenty of practice at seducing women, at least prior to renouncing his title. After that, only his battles with hunters had made vampire society's papers.
Elise glanced up into his eyes, stumbled, saw the irritation cross his face, and looked away again. She focused on her feet and mumbled a response, unable to focus on both dancing and speaking.
"Your city is beautiful. I visited here many years ago with my family."
She liked the Russian edge to his words, how hard but soft they sounded.
"Thank you." Was that the correct response? Should she have been more formal or denied Prague's beauty, or perhaps been flattered by his family's visit that had likely happened before she had been born?
Aleksandr was quiet for a moment, turning with her in endless circles, and she focused hard on her footwork, determined not to tread on his feet again.
"I have not been here in winter."
Elise looked up at him, right into his clear grey eyes.
They sparkled at her.
Her foot knocked his. She grimaced and went to lower her head but his hand left her waist and caught her chin.
"You have barely spoken a word." Disappointment marred his tone and expression again.
"There might have been another reason for my refusal." She closed her eyes and cursed when she trod on his foot, as if she needed to emphasise her point. Cracking an eye open, she peeked up at him. He didn't look angry. In fact, there was warmth in his eyes now and a look she couldn't quite decipher. She didn't like it. It wasn't anything she had seen before in them. It looked like hunger but not for blood. It matched his seductive tone.
The music mercifully ended and she was out of his arms in an instant and curtseying. Her heart pounded against her ribs at almost one beat per second, too fast for her liking. She preferred the usual slow patter of one beat per minute.
He didn't say anything.
She looked up at him. He stared at her, the disappointment etched back on his face, and then walked away.
Elise straightened and watched him go. Perhaps his lack of satisfaction over her dancing and her inability to make conversation would keep him away. She certainly didn't want his attention.
She looked at the floor and then over to him where he had joined Ladislav's group.
The music began again and she left the dance floor, returning to her post beside Andrej, who greeted her with the same dark expression that he had been wearing since Aleksandr had led her onto the dance floor.
"What was that all about?" he asked again.
Elise still didn't have the answer to that question. She tried not to look at Aleksandr but her gaze found its way back to him. She didn't know why he wanted to dance with her, or why she felt so empty inside now that he had. He was attractive but she had heard enough of his exploits over the past few centuries to know that he would be gone soon enough, chasing after the hunters. It would never work and she didn't want it to. She didn't want his attention.
His disappointed expression flashed across her mind.
So why was she feeling disappointed herself by the cold way he had left her?
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Heart%20of%20Darkness
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005WK6E58/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-heartofdarkness-620972-139.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97624
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B005WK6E58/
Be sure to keep following these weekly posts in order to read the first six chapters of the book. You can find previous chapters under my Heart of Darkness label.
Heart of Darkness
Felicity HeatonA vampire prince on a four hundred year old mission to avenge his murdered sister...
Aleksandr Nemov won't stop until the last of the vampire hunter's progeny is wiped from the Earth. Each kill has stolen a piece of his humanity, pushing him towards the black abyss all vampires hold within their hearts. Now he is teetering on the edge, close to devolving into a beast, and time is running out as he tracks the last hunter to Prague. There he finds a beautiful woman who could be his one chance for salvation, but is it already too late for him?
A vampire guard who will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves...
Elise is dedicated to her duty. It's the only thing she has left. All that changes when she meets Aleksandr in Prague and her master grants him permission to stay at her bloodline's mansion. She knows all about Aleksandr but none of it prepares her for how she feels when the legendary prince's hunt becomes one for her heart. Elise battles him with all of her strength but can she stop herself from falling for the handsome hunter? When he reveals the depth of the corruption in his soul, will she have the strength to face the pain in her past and do whatever it takes to save him?
ebook price: $3.99
genre: paranormal vampire romance
length: 130000 words
rating: sultry
released: October 2011
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Heart%20of%20Darkness
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005WK6E58/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-heartofdarkness-620972-139.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97624
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B005WK6E58/
EXCERPT - CHAPTER TWO
Elise stood with her back to the tall Grecian column, guarding the north garden exit of the ballroom. Barely two hours had passed since she had escorted their guest to his quarters and the ball was already underway, everyone in the mansion in attendance to honour Aleksandr Nemov. They packed the long room, their excited chatter competing with the small orchestra at the end opposite her near to the entrance. Her gaze slowly scanned the room, searching for any sign of trouble amongst the throng of brightly coloured dancers. Everyone was relaxed but she could sense underlying tension building in the room. They were waiting and they were growing impatient.
Aleksandr Nemov was the only person not in attendance.
Several people had discovered that she had met him, and had questioned her relentlessly until she had reminded them that she was on duty and not at liberty to talk about such matters.
Her gaze did the rounds again, checking everything. The glow of candlelight from the chandeliers warmed the normally cold cream walls and decorative white inset columns. The shutters on the tall sash windows that lined either side of the room were open. Moonlight streamed in through the windows on the courtyard side to her right, but it couldn't contend with the candles and only threw faint shadows across the hardwood floor.
Elise's blue eyes drifted over the heads of the dancers to the entrance directly opposite her and her mind wandered to Aleksandr Nemov. She was a fool for believing that such a powerful and noble vampire was little more than a beast. There had been nothing princely about his appearance though, and she had discovered him at a brutal kill. She had never seen anything like it. He had torn the hunter apart.
What sort of man was he?
Elise knew of him. There wasn't a vampire in Europe who didn't know of their rulers, the Nemov bloodline, and Aleksandr. The tales of his hunts were legendary. He was legendary. No other royal had ever renounced their title and disinherited themselves in order to hunt the vampire hunters. She wasn't too sure of Aleksandr's reasons but her father had told her that their true prince and heir had vowed to protect his people and had left his family to avoid tainting their name with his actions.
He had become a killer.
Aleksandr Nemov was a fool too.
Since the Nemov line had first discovered the path to achieving humanity, they had led their people. By following their rules, vampires had evolved from beasts into a peaceful society, safe from discovery by the humans and from the darkness that lived within them all. They had found humanity through limiting their kills and not hunting for the thrill of it or to feed their bloodlust. A kill a year was all most had to make for their families so they would have enough blood. At most, three or four kills were required, still within the safe amount set out by their leaders.
Some had gone against the rules.
Aleksandr Nemov was one of them.
There was only one outcome from killing for the sake of it, in cold blood or without need for sustenance from a victim, taking pleasure from the violence and bloodshed.
Corruption.
It led only to darkness and to the threat of becoming a demon again, their humanity destroyed by their blackened soul and the blood that soaked it.
Was Aleksandr walking that path?
Everyone moved, bowing in a wave that swept back towards Elise and revealed the doorway opposite her.
Elise stared.
Gone was the matted long dark hair, replaced by a neat short style. Gone was the beard, exposing the strong line of his jaw and a sensual mouth. Gone were the tattered clothes, replaced by a smart black military-style jacket and trousers similar to what she wore. Before her stood a handsome man. A man completely different to the one she had left in the guest wing. He no longer looked like a beast. He looked noble and as princely as his blood.
Every female in the room had her eyes on him.
And his were on her.
Elise bowed quickly, lowering her head to cover the shame that burned her cheeks. How could she have failed to respond correctly to his entrance? The moment his gaze had met hers across the room, she had forgotten the world existed. She hadn't failed to notice the ugly black bruise on the left side of his face though. Her shame deepened. She hadn't only forgotten to bow to royalty; she had fought and injured him too. How was she to have known that he was Aleksandr Nemov?
"My apologies for the events of this evening, your highness." Elise stared at her feet, too afraid to straighten up and see how everyone in the room was staring at her. How he was staring at her. His eyes bore into her. He was waiting for her to emerge. Why?
"I will forgive you if you dance with me." There was a slight Russian lilt to his English. The sound of his voice so softly spoken sent a shiver through her and she closed her eyes at the strange new feeling.
Elise straightened, her gaze catching on his broad chest and her cheeks flushing again when she remembered sitting on it. She had sat on royalty and held a knife to his throat. That was definitely worthy of punishment. She forced her eyes up to his face.
"My apologies again, your highness, but I am on duty tonight and not here to socialise."
A flicker of darkness crossed his handsome face and his grey eyes turned stormy. "You disappoint me."
"It is not my intention." Elise tugged the hem of her short black uniform jacket. She had disappointed royalty. There was probably a punishment for that too, but she couldn't do as he asked. "I don't have leave to dance. Besides, there are many other partners who would dance with you, I'm sure."
She gestured towards the horde of beautifully dressed women behind him. He didn't even look. His eyes remained fixed on her face, the disappointment he spoke of showing in their depths.
"All very pretty and simpering, I am also sure, but not the partner I desire, Elise."
She jumped at the use of her name. She hadn't given it to him and she couldn't fathom why he would've gone to any length to get it from someone, just as she couldn't understand why he wanted to dance with her when so many women were crowding for his attention.
Elise held his gaze and smiled politely. "My apologies again, but it isn't possible. I must remain here and guard the garden entrance to protect the party and your highness."
"I have not been a prince in many years." His low voice held a razor-sharp edge. He stepped closer to her, stared into her eyes for a few seconds with pure darkness in his, and then smiled. It sent another tremor through her that she chose to ignore. "It is not a prince asking you to dance, but a man. Will you not dance with me then?"
He was certainly persistent. When coupled with the seductive tone his voice had taken on and the wicked glint in his eyes, his persistence was nothing short of irritating. She had said no. Under different circumstances, she might have said yes to such a handsome man, or felt some sort of obligation to dance with him as an apology, but she was on duty.
Elise shook her head. "I have no leave to."
He gave a short growl of frustration and frowned. "I will have your orders changed then."
Aleksandr turned on his heel and left, the group of women that had gathered parting to let him through and then swallowing him.
"What was that all about?"
Elise looked over at Andrej, her captain, where he stood near the pillar on the other side of the door and shrugged. "I honestly don't know."
Andrej stared in the direction that Aleksandr had gone. Her eyes remained on Andrej. He had a noble profile and had grown into a fine figure of a man, especially in his uniform. The only thing that wasn't neat about him was his fair hair, cropped short at the sides but messy on top, and his long sideburns.
Some of the women of the guard lingered nearby, their attention dancing between their friends and Andrej. Several of them had admitted to Elise that the slight show of wildness in Andrej's hair only made him more handsome. Many of the female guards adored him.
Andrej's gaze remained fixed ahead.
He didn't acknowledge the women close to him, and hadn't all night. His focus was on his duty. She and Andrej were alike in that respect, placing duty before affairs of the heart. Or at least that's what she thought. Sometimes she wondered if she was wrong about him and he did love someone.
He looked at her, his blue eyes darkened by his wide pupils, and smiled the smile he only seemed to give to her.
"I think you are safe now," he said in Czech, the smile reaching his voice and bringing hers out.
He spoke of Aleksandr as though he was a predator.
Elise looked across the room at the gathering of women that marked the spot where Aleksandr would be. They were all beautiful, wearing fine corseted dresses that scooped low to reveal ample bosom and their throats. They were females bred for this sort of occasion, from families who had a rank or sought to attain one. Her family weren't of that ilk. She didn't belong in the group, or amongst the dancers. She belonged here at the door, protecting her bloodline just as her father had done.
The crowd parted again and she spotted Aleksandr. He did look handsome now that he had cleaned up and she could understand why all of the women wanted his attention. He turned and looked at her, stepping aside at the same time. Elise's eyes widened when she saw the commander of the guard with him, a dark-haired man of six hundred. Aleksandr looked older than him and she tried to remember how old he was. At least eight hundred. His appearance was more that of a man in his mid-thirties. Vampires aged slowly compared with humans.
He leaned towards her commander and said something, pointing in her direction. Commander Piotr's expression was a picture of horror, of amusement, and then warning. Elise frowned. What were they saying about her? Aleksandr smiled and shook his head. Her commander shrugged.
Was he warning Aleksandr to stay away from her?
Why?
To protect her from Aleksandr or Aleksandr from her?
Her frown increased along with her irritation.
Commander Piotr nodded. Aleksandr walked away.
Directly towards her.
He cut across the dancers, interrupting their flow, his pace brisk and gaze fixed on her. She swallowed and glanced at Andrej, searching for a possible means of escaping what she knew was about to happen. He was watching Aleksandr's approach with a glare.
"You have new orders." Aleksandr smiled, both charming and victorious. "You are to dance with me."
"I really—" Refusal seemed redundant when he had already taken her hand and was leading her towards the dance floor.
It loomed ahead.
Elise pulled back and Aleksandr stopped, his hand still tightly holding hers. He had a strong grip, and warm hands, and she wasn't about to let that affect her. She refused.
The dancers slowed. Everyone stared. Panic closed her throat. She didn't want to dance and have everyone watching her. She'd never been good at such things. Aleksandr paused, his expression softening and grip loosening the slightest amount.
"We can dance here, if you would prefer that." Concern laced those low spoken words.
It was as though he had sensed her feelings. She stared at their joined hands and hoped that he was only guessing. A strong enough connection to another vampire, one that allowed the sensing of emotions, was rare, and often led to a mating or exclusivity pledged between them. She couldn't sense his feelings, so he must have felt her fear. Vampires could easily detect that in one another.
Elise shook her head and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. It was better to be lost in a crowd than put on display. No one would see how atrocious her dancing was then.
No one except Aleksandr anyway.
They entered the dancers and Aleksandr turned to face her. The firmness of his hand on her waist made her jump and she swallowed when he drew her close to him, his smile all sin and seduction. What exactly was he after from her? A dance or something more? She couldn't understand why he wanted either.
The moment the music began, she trod on his foot. His jaw tensed and he removed his boot from under hers, and then led the way in the slow waltz.
Elise stared down at her feet, barely able to see them through the small gap between their bodies. He was so close to her. She lost focus and trod on his foot again, grimaced, and pressed her tongue against the back of her teeth in concentration. His grip on her waist tightened and she bumped into him, her body brushing his. Her hand trembled against his arm. He drew her closer still, until there wasn't a gap between them and she could no longer see her feet. Not good. In fact, it was terrible. Her dancing went from awful to abysmal and she cursed herself for being such a poor partner.
She hadn't had the luxury of the training ladies received. No one bothered to teach soldiers to dance or etiquette or any of the skills needed to converse politely with royalty. Aleksandr would have been better off with any number of the women present, or possibly all of them.
"I have not met a female guard before." His voice was a bare whisper, sensual and teasing. This man could talk about the weather and make it sound seductive. It was probably vast experience showing. His reputation said he had plenty of practice at seducing women, at least prior to renouncing his title. After that, only his battles with hunters had made vampire society's papers.
Elise glanced up into his eyes, stumbled, saw the irritation cross his face, and looked away again. She focused on her feet and mumbled a response, unable to focus on both dancing and speaking.
"Your city is beautiful. I visited here many years ago with my family."
She liked the Russian edge to his words, how hard but soft they sounded.
"Thank you." Was that the correct response? Should she have been more formal or denied Prague's beauty, or perhaps been flattered by his family's visit that had likely happened before she had been born?
Aleksandr was quiet for a moment, turning with her in endless circles, and she focused hard on her footwork, determined not to tread on his feet again.
"I have not been here in winter."
Elise looked up at him, right into his clear grey eyes.
They sparkled at her.
Her foot knocked his. She grimaced and went to lower her head but his hand left her waist and caught her chin.
"You have barely spoken a word." Disappointment marred his tone and expression again.
"There might have been another reason for my refusal." She closed her eyes and cursed when she trod on his foot, as if she needed to emphasise her point. Cracking an eye open, she peeked up at him. He didn't look angry. In fact, there was warmth in his eyes now and a look she couldn't quite decipher. She didn't like it. It wasn't anything she had seen before in them. It looked like hunger but not for blood. It matched his seductive tone.
The music mercifully ended and she was out of his arms in an instant and curtseying. Her heart pounded against her ribs at almost one beat per second, too fast for her liking. She preferred the usual slow patter of one beat per minute.
He didn't say anything.
She looked up at him. He stared at her, the disappointment etched back on his face, and then walked away.
Elise straightened and watched him go. Perhaps his lack of satisfaction over her dancing and her inability to make conversation would keep him away. She certainly didn't want his attention.
She looked at the floor and then over to him where he had joined Ladislav's group.
The music began again and she left the dance floor, returning to her post beside Andrej, who greeted her with the same dark expression that he had been wearing since Aleksandr had led her onto the dance floor.
"What was that all about?" he asked again.
Elise still didn't have the answer to that question. She tried not to look at Aleksandr but her gaze found its way back to him. She didn't know why he wanted to dance with her, or why she felt so empty inside now that he had. He was attractive but she had heard enough of his exploits over the past few centuries to know that he would be gone soon enough, chasing after the hunters. It would never work and she didn't want it to. She didn't want his attention.
His disappointed expression flashed across her mind.
So why was she feeling disappointed herself by the cold way he had left her?
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Heart%20of%20Darkness
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005WK6E58/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-heartofdarkness-620972-139.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97624
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B005WK6E58/
Interview with an immortal - Julian
We're staying with the world of my epic vampire romance novel
Love Immortal
for today's first character interview and catching up with the hero, Julian!
Julian, for those not familiar with him, is the sinfully gorgeous, dark haired and icy-blue eyed immortal protector of Lauren, the latest reincarnation of a goddess he once worshipped. He also commanded her army of Arcadian soldiers in their fight against Lycaon, the vicious original werewolf who was cursed by Zeus for tricking him into eating human flesh. Julian is drop dead handsome and with a beautiful soul to match his exterior. He's skilled with his silver katana, has preternatural strength, speed, sight, hearing and senses, and is a very determined yet sensitive man. He's also one of the ancestors, along with Lauren, of what we think of as vampires. Just don't let him hear you say that!
FH: I have Julian here with me today to talk about his book, Love Immortal. Firstly, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Julian: If necessary. I was born three thousand years ago in Arcadia, what you would think of as Greece these days, and died there. My goddess, Illia, gave me life immortal and Zeus allowed me to pass over, charging me with the duty of giving Illia's reincarnations my blood in order to awaken them. I am also her protector. Illia's blood has gifted me with preternatural strength and abilities, but because of it I also share her need for blood as sustenance. Upon my rebirth as her immortal protector, my thirst for blood awakened and I have not been able to eat or drink anything else since. It is a small price to pay for being able to continue to my duty as her commander.
FH: Can you tell us about what happened in your story?
Julian: My story has been flowing for the past three thousand years, broken into chapters that encompassed the lives of each of Illia's incarnations. The one you chose to write about was the final chapter, in which Lauren was born as the next incarnation and our paths crossed. From the moment I met her, I feared her fate would be the same as all of her predecessors and that she would fall to Lycaon's blade, the first werewolf and the man she was charged with the duty of defeating. Lycaon had killed all those that had come before her, even Illia, and had continued with his plan to gain revenge on Zeus and Olympus for the curse they had placed on him. For the first time in forever, I hoped that Lycaon would fall and I vowed to do all in my power to ensure that Lauren survived.
FH: In Love Immortal, you meet Lauren, who is the latest reincarnation of the goddess Illia. How did you meet and how did you feel about her initially?
Julian: Lauren is unlike any of the previous incarnations of my lost goddess. She is so much warmer and more compassionate than all of them, even Illia herself. Lauren made me realise that I had long been dead inside and breathed life back into me little by little, until I slowly realised my feelings for her. I had been through so much pain because of her predecessors that it was difficult for me to bring myself to trust her even when I wanted to with all of my heart. I couldn't take my eyes off her from the moment I set them on her, and I knew I had to find a way to make her mine, even risking my heart to achieve that.
FH: Your relationship with Lauren is complicated because of your role as her protector and the things that have happened in your past. Was it difficult at first?
Julian: It was very difficult. It took a lot for me to come to trust her and convince myself that she was worth the fight, and that she was different to the others and I wasn't imagining the feelings that she showed towards me. I think I frustrated her immensely at first. In fact, I know that I did. Sometimes she mentions what a pain I was and how hard I made her work. I had not realised that I had made things so difficult for her. I had only thought of guarding my heart against her because of the things that had happened to me in my past and the pain I had been through. I couldn't bear the thought of Lauren putting me through such pain too. It would have been the end of me.
FH: But it wasn't, and things turned out well for you in the end. How has life been since the events that happened and brought you together?
Julian: It has been busy. We had a short period of rest together to recuperate from the battle and then went straight back to work. Lauren is very enthusiastic about her work and what she sees as her duty. We have trained hard together too, so I know that she is ready to face whatever demons may come our way. At the moment, we are working closely with Duke and are also in contact with Morgan about his werewolf problem. Lauren says that we cannot delay much longer but I have little desire to set foot in Paris again, or see that vampire. I am certain he will try to gain Lauren's affection somehow and that is something I cannot allow, and if it came to blows I know that Lauren would be angry with me. I cannot help myself when I feel someone is trying to take her from me. She is mine and I love her with all of my heart and my soul. I live for her. I would die for her.
FH: You old romantic! I think it's beautiful that you're so possessive of her now that you have her. I have one more question for you and it's something you'll need to think about. Describe yourself in one word.
Julian: Steadfast.
FH: I would have gone with gorgeous. *smiles* Thank you for meeting with me today and chatting. Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
Julian: Only my thanks to you for penning the tale of our love and victory, and that I hope we can work together again in the future. Lauren has mentioned that you have had several requests for more of our tales. I am sure there is something we can do to satisfy those readers of yours. Another epic quest perhaps. Do you think they would enjoy reading it?
FH: I do. I can't wait to hear it. Thank you again for being here today, and say hi to Lauren and the gang for me. *watches his tight backside as he walks away* yum.
If you'd like to learn more about Julian and his vampire romance book Love Immortal, then here's a little information about the book:
Love Immortal
Felicity Heaton
Rescued from werewolves by the most breathtaking man she's ever seen, Lauren is dragged into the fight of her life and a dark world she never knew existed. There, she discovers that she's the latest reincarnation of a goddess and must drink the blood of her immortal protector, Julian, in order to reawaken and continue her three thousand year old mission to defeat Lycaon, the original werewolf.
With the help of Julian and an organisation of people with supernatural abilities, Lauren fights for her life, their future and the fate of mankind against Lycaon and his deadly army, but can she succeed when Lycaon has killed all of her predecessors?
Can she crack the armour around Julian's heart and seize her happily forever after with him? And can Julian bring himself to trust Lauren with the fragments of his heart after everything he's been through?
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Love%20Immortal
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HYHHME/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004HYHHME/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Immortal/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940011179648/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveimmortal-613574-139.html
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/felicity-heaton/love-immortal/_/R-400000000000000340123
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Love-Immortal/book-OyQ9CMW5Jkaf0K_UwfVfGw/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36609
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004HYHHME/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004HYHHME/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456487884/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1456487884/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Immortal/Felicity-Heaton/e/9781456487881/
Julian, for those not familiar with him, is the sinfully gorgeous, dark haired and icy-blue eyed immortal protector of Lauren, the latest reincarnation of a goddess he once worshipped. He also commanded her army of Arcadian soldiers in their fight against Lycaon, the vicious original werewolf who was cursed by Zeus for tricking him into eating human flesh. Julian is drop dead handsome and with a beautiful soul to match his exterior. He's skilled with his silver katana, has preternatural strength, speed, sight, hearing and senses, and is a very determined yet sensitive man. He's also one of the ancestors, along with Lauren, of what we think of as vampires. Just don't let him hear you say that!
FH: I have Julian here with me today to talk about his book, Love Immortal. Firstly, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Julian: If necessary. I was born three thousand years ago in Arcadia, what you would think of as Greece these days, and died there. My goddess, Illia, gave me life immortal and Zeus allowed me to pass over, charging me with the duty of giving Illia's reincarnations my blood in order to awaken them. I am also her protector. Illia's blood has gifted me with preternatural strength and abilities, but because of it I also share her need for blood as sustenance. Upon my rebirth as her immortal protector, my thirst for blood awakened and I have not been able to eat or drink anything else since. It is a small price to pay for being able to continue to my duty as her commander.
FH: Can you tell us about what happened in your story?
Julian: My story has been flowing for the past three thousand years, broken into chapters that encompassed the lives of each of Illia's incarnations. The one you chose to write about was the final chapter, in which Lauren was born as the next incarnation and our paths crossed. From the moment I met her, I feared her fate would be the same as all of her predecessors and that she would fall to Lycaon's blade, the first werewolf and the man she was charged with the duty of defeating. Lycaon had killed all those that had come before her, even Illia, and had continued with his plan to gain revenge on Zeus and Olympus for the curse they had placed on him. For the first time in forever, I hoped that Lycaon would fall and I vowed to do all in my power to ensure that Lauren survived.
FH: In Love Immortal, you meet Lauren, who is the latest reincarnation of the goddess Illia. How did you meet and how did you feel about her initially?
Julian: Lauren is unlike any of the previous incarnations of my lost goddess. She is so much warmer and more compassionate than all of them, even Illia herself. Lauren made me realise that I had long been dead inside and breathed life back into me little by little, until I slowly realised my feelings for her. I had been through so much pain because of her predecessors that it was difficult for me to bring myself to trust her even when I wanted to with all of my heart. I couldn't take my eyes off her from the moment I set them on her, and I knew I had to find a way to make her mine, even risking my heart to achieve that.
FH: Your relationship with Lauren is complicated because of your role as her protector and the things that have happened in your past. Was it difficult at first?
Julian: It was very difficult. It took a lot for me to come to trust her and convince myself that she was worth the fight, and that she was different to the others and I wasn't imagining the feelings that she showed towards me. I think I frustrated her immensely at first. In fact, I know that I did. Sometimes she mentions what a pain I was and how hard I made her work. I had not realised that I had made things so difficult for her. I had only thought of guarding my heart against her because of the things that had happened to me in my past and the pain I had been through. I couldn't bear the thought of Lauren putting me through such pain too. It would have been the end of me.
FH: But it wasn't, and things turned out well for you in the end. How has life been since the events that happened and brought you together?
Julian: It has been busy. We had a short period of rest together to recuperate from the battle and then went straight back to work. Lauren is very enthusiastic about her work and what she sees as her duty. We have trained hard together too, so I know that she is ready to face whatever demons may come our way. At the moment, we are working closely with Duke and are also in contact with Morgan about his werewolf problem. Lauren says that we cannot delay much longer but I have little desire to set foot in Paris again, or see that vampire. I am certain he will try to gain Lauren's affection somehow and that is something I cannot allow, and if it came to blows I know that Lauren would be angry with me. I cannot help myself when I feel someone is trying to take her from me. She is mine and I love her with all of my heart and my soul. I live for her. I would die for her.
FH: You old romantic! I think it's beautiful that you're so possessive of her now that you have her. I have one more question for you and it's something you'll need to think about. Describe yourself in one word.
Julian: Steadfast.
FH: I would have gone with gorgeous. *smiles* Thank you for meeting with me today and chatting. Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
Julian: Only my thanks to you for penning the tale of our love and victory, and that I hope we can work together again in the future. Lauren has mentioned that you have had several requests for more of our tales. I am sure there is something we can do to satisfy those readers of yours. Another epic quest perhaps. Do you think they would enjoy reading it?
FH: I do. I can't wait to hear it. Thank you again for being here today, and say hi to Lauren and the gang for me. *watches his tight backside as he walks away* yum.
If you'd like to learn more about Julian and his vampire romance book Love Immortal, then here's a little information about the book:
Love Immortal
Felicity Heaton
Rescued from werewolves by the most breathtaking man she's ever seen, Lauren is dragged into the fight of her life and a dark world she never knew existed. There, she discovers that she's the latest reincarnation of a goddess and must drink the blood of her immortal protector, Julian, in order to reawaken and continue her three thousand year old mission to defeat Lycaon, the original werewolf.
With the help of Julian and an organisation of people with supernatural abilities, Lauren fights for her life, their future and the fate of mankind against Lycaon and his deadly army, but can she succeed when Lycaon has killed all of her predecessors?
Can she crack the armour around Julian's heart and seize her happily forever after with him? And can Julian bring himself to trust Lauren with the fragments of his heart after everything he's been through?
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Love%20Immortal
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HYHHME/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004HYHHME/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Immortal/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940011179648/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveimmortal-613574-139.html
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/felicity-heaton/love-immortal/_/R-400000000000000340123
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Love-Immortal/book-OyQ9CMW5Jkaf0K_UwfVfGw/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36609
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004HYHHME/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004HYHHME/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456487884/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1456487884/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Immortal/Felicity-Heaton/e/9781456487881/
October 28, 2011
urban fantasy romance book - Ascension - Extended Excerpt
My Halloween Spooktacular is very vampire and werewolf orientated but there's always room for something a little different.
For those of you who enjoy urban fantasy romances involving demon bad boys and kick-ass heroines (especially witch heroines) or readers looking for something different from my normal offerings here is an extended downloadable PDF excerpt from my urban fantasy romance book Ascension. I've included a short excerpt in this post just to entice you a little...
Ascension
Felicity Heaton
A witch on the verge of achieving phenomenal power, Lealandra must turn to her half-breed demon ex-lover Taig for protection from the dark force that is after her and also from her own magic.
With her Counter-Balance dead and her coven against her, Taig's blood and power is the only thing that can help her control her magic and survive the ascension and gain the strength to defeat her enemy.
Old feelings come flooding back as Taig allows her into his world and Lealandra finds herself fighting not only for survival but to win his broken heart again and heal the pain in their past. Can he forgive her for walking out on him all those years ago and will he ever believe her when she tells him that he's not a monster but the man that she loves?
» DOWNLOAD EXTENDED EXCERPT PDF
ebook price: $3.99
paperback price: $8.99
genre: paranormal / urban fantasy romance
length: 91000 words
rating: sultry
released: April 2011
Book 1 in the Shadow and Light Trilogy series
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Ascension
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ascension/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940011267451/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ascension-613575-140.html
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Ascension-Shadow-and-Light-Trilogy/mix-eOMlgr3IoEeDmdBmXXi0CA/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54728
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461131839/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1461131839/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ascension-felicity-heaton/1031122152
EXCERPTTaig closed his eyes and released a long low groan of unexpected pleasure as Lealandra's warm mouth fused with his. Her tongue slid between his lips, a delicious and familiar hot velvet caress that swept across his teeth and drew another hungry moan from him. Without considering the consequences and forgetting his anger, he twisted her long black hair around his fingers and tethered her to him so this breathtaking fantasy wouldn't end before he wanted, and he wanted it to go on forever.
He tilted his head and pressed harder against her mouth, his tongue brushing hers, delving in deep to taste her. A shiver of desire and need shot through him, and his breathing turned rough as he reacquainted himself with her sweetness and warmth. He hadn't imagined things turning out this way when she had walked into the bar tonight, but he wasn't about to push her away now that she was kissing him again, rekindling passion whose embers had burned deep in his heart all the time they had been apart. She moved against him, her lips soft and grazing his, slowing the kiss until he wanted to groan and pull her against him, wanted to thrust his tongue back into her mouth and show her just how ravenous she made him. It coiled tight in his gut, pushing for control, urging him to act on his desire.
All too soon, her lips left his but she remained close. With a soft puff of air into his mouth, she spoke.
"Are they gone?" Her quiet voice trembled along with her body, telling him that the kiss hadn't only affected him. His heart pounded for more and his blood rushed through his ears, dampening his awareness of their surroundings.
Taig glanced around the dim emptying bar. The two men were gone. He stared into her eyes, refreshing his memory of every fleck of silver against stormy grey. It had been too long since he had seen her, and felt even longer since he had kissed her. A tortuous length of time and an absence he couldn't easily forgive, even when her kiss made him forget it.
"Not yet," he whispered the lie against her lips, a split-second before his mouth claimed hers, dominant now that he was ready for the kiss. Desire became a raging inferno within him, burning away the anger that blazed back into life whenever he had a moment to think. This kiss was the only thing that mattered right now.
This time, Lealandra loosed a deep breathy moan. The sound sent his blood rushing ahead of his thoughts. He hardened instantly against his tight black jeans and wrapped his fingers around the nape of her neck, pressing them in and dragging her closer still. The heat of her kiss reawakened lost passion and a need for her that could never die. Six years of separation disappeared in an instant, erased by the fact that she had finally walked back into his life. He wasn't going to let her go this time. Even if this kiss was only a decoy, it still meant something to them both. He knew it did.
Her fingertips grazed his neck and pushed into the shorter black hair at the back of his head. He groaned internally at the feel of her nails against his scalp, declaring her growing hunger, and furrowed his brow as he brought his hand forward to claim her jaw, holding her in place. He burned at the feel of her soft satin skin beneath his fingers. Her touch was still electric, sending waves of hot sparks dancing along every nerve in his body, bringing his cold flesh to life. Tilting her head back, he thrust his tongue into her mouth and slid his free hand around her waist at the same time, pulling her so close to him that her breasts pushed against his chest with each gasping breath she drew. He eased his hand lower and caressed the patch of bare warm skin between the bottom of her short black strapless corset top and the waist of her long black skirt. Lealandra tensed. Too fast.
Taig braced for impact.
The flat of her hand slammed against his chest, forcing him backwards in the curved padded seat of the booth and tearing her from his grasp. Her gelid gaze stopped him dead.
"They're gone, aren't they?" Lealandra's tone was pure venom that matched the ice in her pale grey eyes.
Taig held his hands up, surrendering with a seductive smile that confessed every sin he had been considering. Lealandra wasn't the kind of witch you lied to. With such strong power flowing in her veins, it was easy for her to read everyone. Everyone but him. His blood saw to that. Her ability to see through him didn't come from magic. It came from the divine six months they had spent locked tight in each other's embrace. Six heavenly months he would never forget followed by six hollow years he wished he couldn't remember.
Lealandra looked around the bar, flicking her straight dark hair over her bare slender shoulders. His black gaze raked over her in the same hungry way it had done when she had first appeared in front of him tonight. She had grown a little thinner in their time apart. Her partner hadn't been taking care of her. Taig curled his fingers into fists at the thought of another man touching what was his. Anger blazed in his chest, ignited by the idea that the man she had chosen over him hadn't been looking after her needs. Had the idiot failed to see what she truly craved?
The magic that inhabited her body drained her and made her hungry. She needed to feed often and he wasn't talking about food. Magic as old and potent as hers demanded the highest price and had the basest needs. If it didn't get what it wanted, it was hard for Lealandra to retain control. It only proved the point he had tried to hammer home to her when she had been on the verge of leaving him all those years ago and disproved hers.
Taig didn't give a fuck about the rules of her kind. A witch was no match for a witch, especially not one who needed blood to sustain her.
Demon blood.
The thought that Lealandra had been struggling with her power these six long years stoked his anger into blind fury. Every muscle itched with the desire to find her pathetic excuse for a man and teach him a lesson he would never forget for making her suffer. The kind of lesson that would satisfy Taig's own deep dark cravings.
"I can't believe you'd take a cheap shot like that," Lealandra muttered in his direction, her eyes meeting his. "No. Wait. Actually… I can."
With his best sexy smirk, Taig leaned back into the grotty dark brown leather seat and stretched his arms out along the top. He shrugged and held her gaze.
"You kissed me first. I just returned the favour."
Her tongue swept over her lips, as though she wanted to kiss him again and was contenting herself with the lingering taste of him. If she wanted him to kiss her, he would. He would kiss her so hard that she would forget that idiot she had left him for and her own name in the process. She would forget everything but the feel of him inside her where he belonged. He would ruin her to everyone but him.
"That's not the kind of favour I need from you." Lealandra casually rested her elbow on the back of the leather seat and propped her chin up with her hand. Her head tilted to one side, her dusky kiss-swollen lips curving into a smile. His heart thundered, beating hard with the rush of desire that flooded him.
That smile had made him want her the moment he had laid eyes on her all those years ago. He still wanted her.
He tamped down his desire and got a grip. Her kissing him hadn't changed a damn thing. Whatever they'd had, it didn't exist anymore. She had trampled it on her way out of the door and it was going to take a lot more than a kiss to get her into his good book again.
"A favour? Tell me, why should I do you any favours? Last I checked, you were shacked up with another bloke. Why don't you ask Loverboy to help you out? I'm sure he could do something… unspectacular." Taig picked up his shot of whisky from the table and necked it. The liquid burned his throat as it slid down, heating him through. Sometimes it was nice to feel something other than cold. Alcohol and hunting were the only things that did that these days. His gaze ran over Lealandra. She used to make him burn hotter than Hell on a summer's day. She still did, but he wasn't about to let her see that. "I guess that's why you're here. Loverboy just doesn't cut it when it comes to handling demons. That pair of weaklings would have him inside out and back to front before he could lift a finger to cast whatever impotent half-assed spell he could muster."
Taig held her gaze, cool and steady, watching the hurt surfacing in her eyes and feeling like a bastard for it, but on some twisted level, it satisfied him.
He narrowed his eyes and casually placed the glass down. "Well, you're shit out of luck, Lea. I'm not interested."
Her only reaction was to look away from him. She flicked the small silver bells on the ties of her long skirt and her shoulders lifted in a sigh. That was unsatisfactory. He had expected a better response than that. He had wanted her to argue with him about it. Perhaps even fight him. A good fight with her might go some way towards releasing the anger that was burning like acid in his veins, eating away at him and filling his head and heart with acrid memories.
Memories that drove him to kill.
He quirked a dark eyebrow and waited for her to say something. It wasn't like her. She looked up at him through her eyelashes.
A hint of fear surfaced in her beautiful eyes and rippled across her pale skin in a wave that only he could detect. He sat up, all sense of casual lost now that he had realised that she was frightened and it wasn't of him. His anger faded. Something was very wrong. Lealandra didn't do frightened. No witch as powerful as her did, at least not when they had their Counter-Balance, their other half, the one who could temper their magic and help them maintain control of it.
"I'll pay you... whatever you want... just name your price." She coughed to clear her throat, as though such a pathetic attempt to cover her turbulent feelings would fool him.
It was there in her body and her power, and he knew her well enough that he could easily read both. She was scared, and he was an idiot for not noticing it the second she had approached him, and the moment those thugs had walked into the joint. They had been out of place and suspicious, and he had sensed their demon blood, and then Lealandra had kissed him and he had lost track of them and her feelings. She had tasted purely of hunger and desire. All sweet with arousal. It had been enough to throw him off her underlying fear.
"You know my price." Taig's eyes narrowed on hers, intent and showing her that he was being serious for once. His voice dropped to a low whisper. "I want you, Lea."
She swallowed and blinked. Once. Twice. "No deal."
When she moved to stand, Taig grabbed her wrist, locking his fingers tightly around it. She looked down at his hand and then into his eyes. Her startled look added to her natural beauty, her eyes round and her rosy lips parted. A blush stained her pale cheeks, deep enough that he noticed it even in the low light of the bar. He wanted her more now than ever and he wasn't about to let her walk out on him again.
"You knew what I'd ask for so why come to me with your problems if you were going to refuse?"
Lealandra pried his fingers off her and frowned. "You saw those men. I need a demon hunter. You're the best I know."
Demon hunter. The job title neglected to mention the fact that his father had been one of the most powerful demons to walk the Earth. He stared into Lealandra's stormy eyes and saw the same calm acceptance that they always showed him. Had his mother looked at his father that way? She had dared to be with him after all. That union had spawned himself—half demon hidden behind the mask of man.
Taig tapped his fingers on the dark table, torn between rejecting her request unless she agreed to his terms and kissing her again. His eyebrows knitted tight together. This wasn't easy. What they had shared six years ago wasn't the kind of everyday passion that most people found at the start of a relationship. It had gone beyond that. The dark and hungry craving had consumed them both, had pushed them to the edge and had almost tipped them over it a few times. It had been unbridled passion—the sort that was rare in this world—and it still flooded him whenever he looked at her, whenever her beautiful eyes met his and dared him to make a move. He could deny it all he wanted, pretend that he no longer felt a thing for her, but she still tied him in knots and had him on his knees with only a smile. She licked her lips again, a nervous sweep of her tongue that reminded him that something was wrong.
What could be so bad that she wasn't asking her precious coven for help and was instead looking him up after six long years?
Was it just the demons that had her scared or was there more to this than she was telling him? Witches and demons got on like a house on fire but usually they kept well clear of each other, sticking to their own world. It was unusual for a demon to go after a witch, but he couldn't deny that the two kids earlier had been looking for Lealandra.
And now she was asking him for help.
What reason could demons have for going after her?
Taig looked deep into her eyes, focusing on them as he tried to get a hold on her feelings. There was anger in her now, aimed at him, but the fear was still there too. It echoed in the unsteady beat of her heart and danced in the depths of her eyes. She was in trouble, big enough that she had sought him out even when she knew that he would be pissed off at her and that he would demand a high price for services rendered. Either she was desperate or she truly believed that he was her best choice.
Or maybe she just wanted to see him again and this was the perfect excuse for her to waltz back into his life.
Still, his ineffable charm and attractiveness aside, parts of it didn't make sense. Lealandra was powerful enough to take care of a couple of weak lower demons and her bastard Counter-Balance and dear coven should have been able to protect her if she couldn't fight them for some reason. Taig had never met them, but the coven was probably strong enough to take on a demon of his strength. Two weaklings would be nothing to them. Like swatting flies.
And why was she here anyway? Alone too. Her Counter-Balance would have a tantrum of galactic proportions if he knew that Lealandra had come to her ex-lover for help.
In fact, none of it made sense.
Taig's head ached from trying to figure it out. It was just like her to send his mind in ten directions at once. There was only one way to find out what the hell had Lealandra walking back into his life. He never had been backwards about being forwards, after all. It was one of the qualities that Lealandra had liked about him.
"Why do you need me?" Taig sensed the deep spike in her feelings, the rise in her desire that struck him hard and sent a jolt to his groin, reigniting his own hunger.
Her eyes widened and her cheeks coloured.
He hadn't considered the possibility of a second meaning to his words but now he was. His suspicions had been right. He wasn't the only one the kiss had affected. He wasn't the only one who felt this need burning deep within.
His eyes narrowed on hers in both a challenge and a command. He was damned if he was going to let her get away without answering, and damned if he was going to let her walk out on him again.
"Tell me."
» DOWNLOAD EXTENDED EXCERPT PDF
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Ascension
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ascension/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940011267451/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ascension-613575-140.html
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Ascension-Shadow-and-Light-Trilogy/mix-eOMlgr3IoEeDmdBmXXi0CA/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54728
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461131839/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1461131839/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ascension-felicity-heaton/1031122152
For those of you who enjoy urban fantasy romances involving demon bad boys and kick-ass heroines (especially witch heroines) or readers looking for something different from my normal offerings here is an extended downloadable PDF excerpt from my urban fantasy romance book Ascension. I've included a short excerpt in this post just to entice you a little...
Ascension
Felicity HeatonA witch on the verge of achieving phenomenal power, Lealandra must turn to her half-breed demon ex-lover Taig for protection from the dark force that is after her and also from her own magic.
With her Counter-Balance dead and her coven against her, Taig's blood and power is the only thing that can help her control her magic and survive the ascension and gain the strength to defeat her enemy.
Old feelings come flooding back as Taig allows her into his world and Lealandra finds herself fighting not only for survival but to win his broken heart again and heal the pain in their past. Can he forgive her for walking out on him all those years ago and will he ever believe her when she tells him that he's not a monster but the man that she loves?
» DOWNLOAD EXTENDED EXCERPT PDF
ebook price: $3.99
paperback price: $8.99
genre: paranormal / urban fantasy romance
length: 91000 words
rating: sultry
released: April 2011
Book 1 in the Shadow and Light Trilogy series
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Ascension
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ascension/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940011267451/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ascension-613575-140.html
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Ascension-Shadow-and-Light-Trilogy/mix-eOMlgr3IoEeDmdBmXXi0CA/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54728
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461131839/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1461131839/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ascension-felicity-heaton/1031122152
EXCERPTTaig closed his eyes and released a long low groan of unexpected pleasure as Lealandra's warm mouth fused with his. Her tongue slid between his lips, a delicious and familiar hot velvet caress that swept across his teeth and drew another hungry moan from him. Without considering the consequences and forgetting his anger, he twisted her long black hair around his fingers and tethered her to him so this breathtaking fantasy wouldn't end before he wanted, and he wanted it to go on forever.
He tilted his head and pressed harder against her mouth, his tongue brushing hers, delving in deep to taste her. A shiver of desire and need shot through him, and his breathing turned rough as he reacquainted himself with her sweetness and warmth. He hadn't imagined things turning out this way when she had walked into the bar tonight, but he wasn't about to push her away now that she was kissing him again, rekindling passion whose embers had burned deep in his heart all the time they had been apart. She moved against him, her lips soft and grazing his, slowing the kiss until he wanted to groan and pull her against him, wanted to thrust his tongue back into her mouth and show her just how ravenous she made him. It coiled tight in his gut, pushing for control, urging him to act on his desire.
All too soon, her lips left his but she remained close. With a soft puff of air into his mouth, she spoke.
"Are they gone?" Her quiet voice trembled along with her body, telling him that the kiss hadn't only affected him. His heart pounded for more and his blood rushed through his ears, dampening his awareness of their surroundings.
Taig glanced around the dim emptying bar. The two men were gone. He stared into her eyes, refreshing his memory of every fleck of silver against stormy grey. It had been too long since he had seen her, and felt even longer since he had kissed her. A tortuous length of time and an absence he couldn't easily forgive, even when her kiss made him forget it.
"Not yet," he whispered the lie against her lips, a split-second before his mouth claimed hers, dominant now that he was ready for the kiss. Desire became a raging inferno within him, burning away the anger that blazed back into life whenever he had a moment to think. This kiss was the only thing that mattered right now.
This time, Lealandra loosed a deep breathy moan. The sound sent his blood rushing ahead of his thoughts. He hardened instantly against his tight black jeans and wrapped his fingers around the nape of her neck, pressing them in and dragging her closer still. The heat of her kiss reawakened lost passion and a need for her that could never die. Six years of separation disappeared in an instant, erased by the fact that she had finally walked back into his life. He wasn't going to let her go this time. Even if this kiss was only a decoy, it still meant something to them both. He knew it did.
Her fingertips grazed his neck and pushed into the shorter black hair at the back of his head. He groaned internally at the feel of her nails against his scalp, declaring her growing hunger, and furrowed his brow as he brought his hand forward to claim her jaw, holding her in place. He burned at the feel of her soft satin skin beneath his fingers. Her touch was still electric, sending waves of hot sparks dancing along every nerve in his body, bringing his cold flesh to life. Tilting her head back, he thrust his tongue into her mouth and slid his free hand around her waist at the same time, pulling her so close to him that her breasts pushed against his chest with each gasping breath she drew. He eased his hand lower and caressed the patch of bare warm skin between the bottom of her short black strapless corset top and the waist of her long black skirt. Lealandra tensed. Too fast.
Taig braced for impact.
The flat of her hand slammed against his chest, forcing him backwards in the curved padded seat of the booth and tearing her from his grasp. Her gelid gaze stopped him dead.
"They're gone, aren't they?" Lealandra's tone was pure venom that matched the ice in her pale grey eyes.
Taig held his hands up, surrendering with a seductive smile that confessed every sin he had been considering. Lealandra wasn't the kind of witch you lied to. With such strong power flowing in her veins, it was easy for her to read everyone. Everyone but him. His blood saw to that. Her ability to see through him didn't come from magic. It came from the divine six months they had spent locked tight in each other's embrace. Six heavenly months he would never forget followed by six hollow years he wished he couldn't remember.
Lealandra looked around the bar, flicking her straight dark hair over her bare slender shoulders. His black gaze raked over her in the same hungry way it had done when she had first appeared in front of him tonight. She had grown a little thinner in their time apart. Her partner hadn't been taking care of her. Taig curled his fingers into fists at the thought of another man touching what was his. Anger blazed in his chest, ignited by the idea that the man she had chosen over him hadn't been looking after her needs. Had the idiot failed to see what she truly craved?
The magic that inhabited her body drained her and made her hungry. She needed to feed often and he wasn't talking about food. Magic as old and potent as hers demanded the highest price and had the basest needs. If it didn't get what it wanted, it was hard for Lealandra to retain control. It only proved the point he had tried to hammer home to her when she had been on the verge of leaving him all those years ago and disproved hers.
Taig didn't give a fuck about the rules of her kind. A witch was no match for a witch, especially not one who needed blood to sustain her.
Demon blood.
The thought that Lealandra had been struggling with her power these six long years stoked his anger into blind fury. Every muscle itched with the desire to find her pathetic excuse for a man and teach him a lesson he would never forget for making her suffer. The kind of lesson that would satisfy Taig's own deep dark cravings.
"I can't believe you'd take a cheap shot like that," Lealandra muttered in his direction, her eyes meeting his. "No. Wait. Actually… I can."
With his best sexy smirk, Taig leaned back into the grotty dark brown leather seat and stretched his arms out along the top. He shrugged and held her gaze.
"You kissed me first. I just returned the favour."
Her tongue swept over her lips, as though she wanted to kiss him again and was contenting herself with the lingering taste of him. If she wanted him to kiss her, he would. He would kiss her so hard that she would forget that idiot she had left him for and her own name in the process. She would forget everything but the feel of him inside her where he belonged. He would ruin her to everyone but him.
"That's not the kind of favour I need from you." Lealandra casually rested her elbow on the back of the leather seat and propped her chin up with her hand. Her head tilted to one side, her dusky kiss-swollen lips curving into a smile. His heart thundered, beating hard with the rush of desire that flooded him.
That smile had made him want her the moment he had laid eyes on her all those years ago. He still wanted her.
He tamped down his desire and got a grip. Her kissing him hadn't changed a damn thing. Whatever they'd had, it didn't exist anymore. She had trampled it on her way out of the door and it was going to take a lot more than a kiss to get her into his good book again.
"A favour? Tell me, why should I do you any favours? Last I checked, you were shacked up with another bloke. Why don't you ask Loverboy to help you out? I'm sure he could do something… unspectacular." Taig picked up his shot of whisky from the table and necked it. The liquid burned his throat as it slid down, heating him through. Sometimes it was nice to feel something other than cold. Alcohol and hunting were the only things that did that these days. His gaze ran over Lealandra. She used to make him burn hotter than Hell on a summer's day. She still did, but he wasn't about to let her see that. "I guess that's why you're here. Loverboy just doesn't cut it when it comes to handling demons. That pair of weaklings would have him inside out and back to front before he could lift a finger to cast whatever impotent half-assed spell he could muster."
Taig held her gaze, cool and steady, watching the hurt surfacing in her eyes and feeling like a bastard for it, but on some twisted level, it satisfied him.
He narrowed his eyes and casually placed the glass down. "Well, you're shit out of luck, Lea. I'm not interested."
Her only reaction was to look away from him. She flicked the small silver bells on the ties of her long skirt and her shoulders lifted in a sigh. That was unsatisfactory. He had expected a better response than that. He had wanted her to argue with him about it. Perhaps even fight him. A good fight with her might go some way towards releasing the anger that was burning like acid in his veins, eating away at him and filling his head and heart with acrid memories.
Memories that drove him to kill.
He quirked a dark eyebrow and waited for her to say something. It wasn't like her. She looked up at him through her eyelashes.
A hint of fear surfaced in her beautiful eyes and rippled across her pale skin in a wave that only he could detect. He sat up, all sense of casual lost now that he had realised that she was frightened and it wasn't of him. His anger faded. Something was very wrong. Lealandra didn't do frightened. No witch as powerful as her did, at least not when they had their Counter-Balance, their other half, the one who could temper their magic and help them maintain control of it.
"I'll pay you... whatever you want... just name your price." She coughed to clear her throat, as though such a pathetic attempt to cover her turbulent feelings would fool him.
It was there in her body and her power, and he knew her well enough that he could easily read both. She was scared, and he was an idiot for not noticing it the second she had approached him, and the moment those thugs had walked into the joint. They had been out of place and suspicious, and he had sensed their demon blood, and then Lealandra had kissed him and he had lost track of them and her feelings. She had tasted purely of hunger and desire. All sweet with arousal. It had been enough to throw him off her underlying fear.
"You know my price." Taig's eyes narrowed on hers, intent and showing her that he was being serious for once. His voice dropped to a low whisper. "I want you, Lea."
She swallowed and blinked. Once. Twice. "No deal."
When she moved to stand, Taig grabbed her wrist, locking his fingers tightly around it. She looked down at his hand and then into his eyes. Her startled look added to her natural beauty, her eyes round and her rosy lips parted. A blush stained her pale cheeks, deep enough that he noticed it even in the low light of the bar. He wanted her more now than ever and he wasn't about to let her walk out on him again.
"You knew what I'd ask for so why come to me with your problems if you were going to refuse?"
Lealandra pried his fingers off her and frowned. "You saw those men. I need a demon hunter. You're the best I know."
Demon hunter. The job title neglected to mention the fact that his father had been one of the most powerful demons to walk the Earth. He stared into Lealandra's stormy eyes and saw the same calm acceptance that they always showed him. Had his mother looked at his father that way? She had dared to be with him after all. That union had spawned himself—half demon hidden behind the mask of man.
Taig tapped his fingers on the dark table, torn between rejecting her request unless she agreed to his terms and kissing her again. His eyebrows knitted tight together. This wasn't easy. What they had shared six years ago wasn't the kind of everyday passion that most people found at the start of a relationship. It had gone beyond that. The dark and hungry craving had consumed them both, had pushed them to the edge and had almost tipped them over it a few times. It had been unbridled passion—the sort that was rare in this world—and it still flooded him whenever he looked at her, whenever her beautiful eyes met his and dared him to make a move. He could deny it all he wanted, pretend that he no longer felt a thing for her, but she still tied him in knots and had him on his knees with only a smile. She licked her lips again, a nervous sweep of her tongue that reminded him that something was wrong.
What could be so bad that she wasn't asking her precious coven for help and was instead looking him up after six long years?
Was it just the demons that had her scared or was there more to this than she was telling him? Witches and demons got on like a house on fire but usually they kept well clear of each other, sticking to their own world. It was unusual for a demon to go after a witch, but he couldn't deny that the two kids earlier had been looking for Lealandra.
And now she was asking him for help.
What reason could demons have for going after her?
Taig looked deep into her eyes, focusing on them as he tried to get a hold on her feelings. There was anger in her now, aimed at him, but the fear was still there too. It echoed in the unsteady beat of her heart and danced in the depths of her eyes. She was in trouble, big enough that she had sought him out even when she knew that he would be pissed off at her and that he would demand a high price for services rendered. Either she was desperate or she truly believed that he was her best choice.
Or maybe she just wanted to see him again and this was the perfect excuse for her to waltz back into his life.
Still, his ineffable charm and attractiveness aside, parts of it didn't make sense. Lealandra was powerful enough to take care of a couple of weak lower demons and her bastard Counter-Balance and dear coven should have been able to protect her if she couldn't fight them for some reason. Taig had never met them, but the coven was probably strong enough to take on a demon of his strength. Two weaklings would be nothing to them. Like swatting flies.
And why was she here anyway? Alone too. Her Counter-Balance would have a tantrum of galactic proportions if he knew that Lealandra had come to her ex-lover for help.
In fact, none of it made sense.
Taig's head ached from trying to figure it out. It was just like her to send his mind in ten directions at once. There was only one way to find out what the hell had Lealandra walking back into his life. He never had been backwards about being forwards, after all. It was one of the qualities that Lealandra had liked about him.
"Why do you need me?" Taig sensed the deep spike in her feelings, the rise in her desire that struck him hard and sent a jolt to his groin, reigniting his own hunger.
Her eyes widened and her cheeks coloured.
He hadn't considered the possibility of a second meaning to his words but now he was. His suspicions had been right. He wasn't the only one the kiss had affected. He wasn't the only one who felt this need burning deep within.
His eyes narrowed on hers in both a challenge and a command. He was damned if he was going to let her get away without answering, and damned if he was going to let her walk out on him again.
"Tell me."
» DOWNLOAD EXTENDED EXCERPT PDF
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Ascension
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ascension/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940011267451/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ascension-613575-140.html
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Ascension-Shadow-and-Light-Trilogy/mix-eOMlgr3IoEeDmdBmXXi0CA/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54728
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004X6TWLK/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1461131839/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1461131839/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ascension-felicity-heaton/1031122152
vampire romance book - Prophecy: Child of Light - extended excerpt
While it's all well and good interviewing my characters, there's a chance that you might not be familiar with them. To make sure that isn't a problem, I've put together some long excerpts of my paranormal romance books in PDF format for you to download and enjoy.
First up is a very long (around 70,000 words) excerpt from the first book in my Prophecy Trilogy, Prophecy: Child of Light. It's also the first book in the Vampires Realm series so it's the ideal introduction to that world even though the Vampires Realm series doesn't have to be read in order. This should give you a taste for the world and the vampires and werewolves in it though.
Here's some information about Prophecy: Child of Light and a short excerpt to get you started...
Prophecy: Child of Light [book 1]
F E Heaton
A vampire unlike any other, Prophecy lives life in the dark until the night she encounters Valentine, a gorgeous vampire who is both her enemy and the man who will change her life forever.
Convinced that the prophecy about her is wrong and unable to ignore the vision of them that he saw in her blood, Valentine goes against his orders to execute Prophecy and kidnaps her instead. The attraction between them grows as they search for the truth behind the prophecy, battle a dark evil that threatens to destroy the world, and attempt to evade their families and the Law Keepers.
When the truth about her is revealed, will Prophecy be strong enough to face it? Will they discover a way to save the world from Hell? And will they finally see past the hatred bred into them by their families and surrender to their love?
The first novel in the Vampires Realm series, Prophecy: Child of Light, is part one in an epic tale of love and war that is sure to capture your heart and leave you craving more.
» DOWNLOAD THE EXTENDED EXCERPT IN PDF
ebook price: $0.99
genre: paranormal vampire romance
length: 135000 words
rating: sultry
released: March 2007
Book 1 in the Vampires Realm series
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Prophecy:%20Child%20of%20Light%20[book%201]
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Prophecy/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940000801048/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-prophecychildoflight-601470-139.html
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/f-e-heaton/prophecy/_/R-400000000000000248920
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Prophecy-Child-Of-Light/mix-rDOnD6cECkGermYtAHD9Dw/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7757
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0035LDNV4/
EXCERPTTrapped.
That's what she was, what she had been for as long as she could remember.
The walls around her had seemed to close in as the years rolled on, making the mansion increasingly unbearable, and drawing her ever more to the world outside her bedroom window.
Rain rattled against the windowpanes, creating an eerie melody when combined with the howl of the wind cutting through the power lines. Watching the streaks of water coursing down the windows, Prophecy ignored the ramblings of her blood-mother, Iona, and kept focus on the outside world.
She slowly ran the brush down her long auburn hair, smoothing away the knots and tangles while she stared out into the night.
Something stirred in the darkness and her gaze shifted there. The hunting group crossed the grounds towards the gates. There were eleven of them tonight, one less than last night because one had fallen. Talk of it had reached her even before her mother knew. The walls had ears in this house and Prophecy knew the owner of them.
A chance meeting with the other bloodline that lived in this city had led to a fight in which her family had lost a son.
Not that she cared.
What was it to her who died out on the hunt? She didn't know them, didn't know anyone outside a set sphere of people.
Her brown eyes followed the group as they reached the gates and she watched them slip into the darkness beyond. She knew where they were going. They were heading down into the city, down to a place she'd never been. Losing sight of them, she glanced at the high stone wall that surrounded the grounds.
It was the final barrier between her and the city. The outside wall of her prison.
A wall she longed to breach.
"Where do they go?" she said in a distant tone of voice, sounding as disinterested as possible.
She heard a swish of material and felt her mother close behind her.
"To hunt," her mother replied in a matter of fact tone. She took the brush from her.
Prophecy mused her mother's answer while she stared at the rain-soaked scenery and felt the brush in her hair, her mother's delicate fingers working through the knots.
To hunt.
It sounded so enthralling, so dangerous and dark. She wished she knew what it was to hunt, but she'd never been allowed out into the night with the others, not even with her so-called brother, Arkalus.
"Can I go too?" she asked, knowing what the answer would be, but hoping that tonight it might be different from the thousands of times that she'd asked in the past.
"I am afraid not," her mother replied and smoothed down her hair.
"Why not?" Prophecy challenged and turned to face her mother.
Iona didn't look at all concerned by Prophecy's outburst. Her face was a mask of calm, and Prophecy's eyes roamed over it, taking in the luscious black of her mother's curled hair and the wicked red that smeared her lips. Her eyes were surrounded by layers of black and brown, making them sinfully dark and alluring against her creamy pale skin. In all the years that Prophecy could remember her, Iona had always looked this way—like a true child of the night. Her mother was a fitting master of their bloodline, never straying from the tradition of dress or habit. Never straying from the laws.
All her life Prophecy had been taught to obey the rules of their society and of their house, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to obey her mother. She could feel the lure of the outside world keenly, as though it was in her blood, and she could no longer ignore it. She had tried. She had spent night after night resisting the call of the city and the promise of excitement it whispered in her ear. Now her blood was screaming at her to escape the confines of the mansion and taste the thrill of the hunt, to take hold of it and live the life she was born to.
"You're too young." A fond smile teased her mother's lips and she raised a slim hand. She pushed Prophecy's hair behind her ear, clearing it from her face. "Soon, maybe."
Prophecy allowed herself a small smile. It was the first time her mother had said that she would be allowed to hunt soon and it ignited a spark of hope inside her. She glanced at the window, still smiling serenely as her eyes followed the spatter of the raindrops against the glass.
"But first, you must complete your training."
A sigh escaped Prophecy's lips while she thought about that. Each night she woke and went through the rigmarole of training, and each night she was held back while the others went out to hunt. All she wished for was one night of freedom.
One thrilling night out hunting, even if it were with Arkalus.
Then she would be happy.
Then she would gladly spend eternity cooped up in the mansion.
She watched her mother leave and turned her attention back to the rain-soaked world outside her window. In the distance, she could see the pinpricks of light that were the buildings in the centre of the city.
Prague.
She longed to go there.
During her studies in the library, she'd read every book about the city and its dark history, even when she was supposed to be reading about her family and their own black and bloodied past. She didn't care much for them or the other family that presided over the city; she just wanted to be out there in amongst the people, and feeling the thrill of the chase.
She wanted her first taste of a kill.
Standing, she ran her fingers around the smooth white column of her throat while thinking about killing her first victim and her large dark eyes scanned the horizon. She caught sight of two guards patrolling the grounds.
How was it everyone else was allowed to hunt when she was forced to stay at home? She'd done her training, knew how to execute a clean kill, and could defend herself from the other family if she needed to.
She was ready.
Why didn't anyone see that?
Why was she being held back?
Casting a glance around her dimly lit room, she stopped when her eyes came to rest on her wardrobe. A mischievous smile wove its way across her lips.
She would see this city. She would feel the excitement of the hunt and learn the taste of fresh human blood, and no one would even know about it.
Tomorrow, the night was hers.
* * * *
The city was dark and clouds hung heavy in the air, weighing down upon it as they threatened rain. Prophecy slipped through the black shadows. Quieter than a cat, she moved from street to street, invisible to the people walking them as the nightclubs turned out.
She froze when she entered the cemetery, hurriedly crouching low and turning her face to the sky as a rumble of thunder echoed overhead. Her eyes narrowed and ran over the clouds, assessing just how long she had before the downpour reached her.
Just enough time to hunt.
She listened to the chatter of people as they passed by on the other side of the wall, unaware of the creatures they shared their world with.
Creatures like her.
She couldn't remember a time she had been like them. She'd never been able to remember it. Her kin barely spoke about their lives as humans, but she knew they could remember them. On the rare instances they'd mentioned them, she'd always been listening from the shadows. Their conversations had left her wondering about her life before she was a vampire and why she couldn't remember it.
The voices drifted into the distance and she stood up. She moved swiftly into the inviting darkness of the graveyard, allowing it to envelope her and hide her from the world.
She slipped from tomb to tomb, sharpening her senses more and more with each passing second and waiting with baited breath for someone to stray from the human world and into hers.
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. She pressed her back flush against the wall of a crypt when her sensitive ears picked up the sound of footsteps heading towards her. Her eyes closed as the person neared and she listened to their erratic movements. Inhaling deeply, she tried to catch their scent in the damp air.
Lightning forked in the distance, the thunder rolling above her just a few seconds later.
She only had a short time before the rain came, but it was all she was going to need.
She grinned when the man she was tracking stumbled and fell.
This man had been drinking.
Smoothing her clothes, she checked her appearance and then slipped out of the shadows and into the path of her quarry.
He stopped, his eyes raking over her as she stood awaiting him.
"What do we have here?" he breathed in a thick Czech accent.
She braced herself when he took a step towards her, his smile widening. Her stomach tightened with nerves and she struggled to keep her focus while she repeatedly went over what she needed to do in her head.
She managed a smile, dipped her head slightly and looked up at him through hooded eyes, luring him in. She fluttered her eyelashes when he stumbled forwards. The stench of alcohol came off him in waves and intoxicated her senses as it mixed with the scent of his blood.
He wasn't a large man, barely the same height as her and nearly as thin. His sandy hair hung in loose, wet curls, like a shaggy mop on top of his head. She wondered if someone had dunked him in one of the city fountains. He couldn't have been caught in the rain because it hadn't reached them yet.
"All alone…pretty girl like you…city like this," he slurred.
She kept her smile steady, holding her nerve and waiting for the right moment to strike.
When he came within arms reach, she lowered her head completely, turning it away from him so she was almost looking behind her.
So her face was hidden in shadow.
"I don't come out often," she said, hesitating while she built up the courage to take her first life.
"Shame…not enough girls like you in this city. You shouldn't hide away." He stepped up to her.
His fingers brushed against her cheek. She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. Anticipation curled like a snake in the pit of her stomach and she was ready to strike.
"Not enough girls like you in the world," he murmured and she smiled.
"You'd be right there." She raised her head as her fangs descended and in one swift move, she was on him.
Grasping his arms, she bit deep into his neck, hoping her aim was true and she would catch a vein strong enough to drink from.
Her hands wrestled with his. He struggled against her in a desperate attempt to break free. She sank her teeth deeper into his neck and was rewarded with a mouthful of blood. It tasted sweeter than the rarest wine as it slipped down her throat and she couldn't stop herself from drinking deeply. It was intoxicating. He started to cry out and she covered his mouth roughly with her hand, stopping him from drawing attention to them. She held him tighter and tried to contain him so she could feed properly. He was wriggling against her now and it only served to drive her on, heightening the thrill of her first kill. The taste of fresh, warm blood made her fingers curl and she didn't even notice that her nails were digging into his flesh.
All she could think about, all she could feel, was the all-consuming pleasure of his blood.
His heart stopped and she released him, hearing him slump to the ground at her feet.
Her head fell backwards and she lost herself in the sensations running rampant through her, potent feelings she'd never experienced before. Her mind swam with desire while she savoured the divinity of what she'd tasted.
* * * *
From the shadows, Valentine watched her, his eyes following her every move. She wiped her fingers across her mouth, licking and sucking every last drop of blood off them as though it would be her last. He'd never seen one take so much pleasure from the hunt and the kill. He'd never witnessed one lose themselves so much in the feed.
Slipping out of the darkness, he walked towards her, moving silently for fear of alerting her to his presence before he was willing to make himself known.
She was enthralling. Still wrapt in delight, she ran her fingers down her body, clearly buzzing from the fresh blood in her veins. He arched a brow at her when he stopped at a distance, close enough to see who she was, but far away enough that she still didn't notice him. She ran her tongue along her soft full lips, clearing them of any remaining blood.
"And what have we here?" he said.
Prophecy started as the velvet-edged, strong voice roused her from her haze. For a moment, she thought about answering him by mentioning that he'd just said exactly what her last victim had, but then she caught his scent and froze.
He wasn't human.
He was a vampire.
Her eyes shot open and she stared at him, her senses becoming painfully sharp when he stared straight back.
His eyes were sharp, narrowing as he studied her. "Who are you?"
She remained mute. She could sense a power in him that was nearly as strong as her mother's and she knew instinctively that he was from the other family. Her eyes remained fixed on him when thunder rumbled threateningly overhead and she blinked rapidly when fat raindrops began to fall. The sound of them filled the silence. She was saturated in a matter of seconds.
Those seconds seemed to stretch into minutes while she stared at him and he looked back at her. The dead body of the man she'd killed lay prostrate between them, marking a line that she chose as the boundary between her and the newcomer. If he stepped near it, she'd bolt in the opposite direction and head for the safety of home.
Until then, she would stay where she was and stand her ground as she'd been taught.
Lightning illuminated the turbulent blanket of grey above them. She noticed that his hair was black against his skin; a tangled spiky mess that made his slim face look even thinner. He stood straight, his head tilted back a fraction and his focus wholly on her. His eyes were as green as hers were when she was in her vampire guise and she was drawn to looking into them as he stared at her with a critical coldness.
He took a step towards her and she moved back one, keeping the distance between them steady.
"Why are you alone?" His words were an obvious attempt to get her to speak. She kept silent. "Not hunting with the pack?"
She felt like turning that question against him, but she was trapped in his gaze and answered without thinking.
"They won't let me. I'm still learning." It came out sounding sulky and she lifted her chin in defiance when he pulled an expression of mock sympathy.
"Learning what?" He took another step towards her. This time she remained standing in the same spot, not letting him back her up any more.
"To hunt," she said.
Her senses stretched out and assessed all avenues of escape around her. Now that he was closing the gap, she could feel just how powerful he was and her instincts were telling her to run before he got too close. She knew she would be able to outrun him. He was taller than her, but had a slightly heavier build, which would slow him down, even with his heightened abilities.
He laughed mockingly and then gave her a serious look when he took another step towards her, cutting the distance between them down to only a few feet.
"To hunt is in your blood." His voice lowered, his intimate tone sending a shiver down her spine. He looked deep into her eyes and held her gaze while he moved towards her. "To kill, your nature."
She blinked.
"Who is your sire, little one?" He purred the words at her, his sensuous voice lulling her. Her eyes closed for a split-second before she got the better of herself and they shot open.
She raised her head in an attempt to show him that she wasn't scared of him. She wasn't going to answer his questions and she could see he wasn't pleased about that when a shadow of annoyance crossed his face.
Her eyes widened when his teeth extended, his eyes shifting into their blue state as he revealed his true self. She gasped when he closed the gap between them and caught hold of her before she could move. She should have run when she'd had the chance. She shouldn't have come out alone.
Pressing her hands against his chest, she felt as though the tables had been turned on her while she struggled against him, trying to escape his grasp like her victim had attempted to break free of hers. She flinched away from him when he held her firm and whispered words to her.
"Do not be frightened. You know what I am going to do," he said and she closed her eyes, leaning away from him when he neared her neck.
She had to block him, had to stop him from seeing the visions of her past from her blood like he wanted to. She desperately tried to remember what she'd been taught, but forgot it the instant his lips brushed against her skin, sending shivers of desire racing through her, washing away all fear.
She swallowed hard and grimaced when his sharp incisors penetrated her, sinking deep into her. She stilled for a moment as pain swept through her, clearing the clouds of desire from her mind. He pulled on her blood and his fingers tightened around her upper arms. She struggled against him.
Escape.
She needed to escape.
* * * *
As the images that were swimming in his head came into order, Valentine stumbled backwards and stared at her. She was standing before him, clutching at her neck, her eyes wide and full of fear. He blinked once, twice, and then frowned when she bolted out of the cemetery gates, leaving him alone in the darkness.
He stared at the place where she'd been not two seconds before and then brought his fingers up to his mouth. He brushed the blood from his lips and thought about what had just happened. He thought about what he'd seen.
Could it be?
He glanced at the blood staining his fingers.
"Prophecy."
» DOWNLOAD THE EXTENDED EXCERPT IN PDF
Available in e-book for $0.99 from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Prophecy:%20Child%20of%20Light%20[book%201]
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Prophecy/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940000801048/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-prophecychildoflight-601470-139.html
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/f-e-heaton/prophecy/_/R-400000000000000248920
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Prophecy-Child-Of-Light/mix-rDOnD6cECkGermYtAHD9Dw/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7757
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0035LDNV4/
First up is a very long (around 70,000 words) excerpt from the first book in my Prophecy Trilogy, Prophecy: Child of Light. It's also the first book in the Vampires Realm series so it's the ideal introduction to that world even though the Vampires Realm series doesn't have to be read in order. This should give you a taste for the world and the vampires and werewolves in it though.
Here's some information about Prophecy: Child of Light and a short excerpt to get you started...
Prophecy: Child of Light [book 1]
F E HeatonA vampire unlike any other, Prophecy lives life in the dark until the night she encounters Valentine, a gorgeous vampire who is both her enemy and the man who will change her life forever.
Convinced that the prophecy about her is wrong and unable to ignore the vision of them that he saw in her blood, Valentine goes against his orders to execute Prophecy and kidnaps her instead. The attraction between them grows as they search for the truth behind the prophecy, battle a dark evil that threatens to destroy the world, and attempt to evade their families and the Law Keepers.
When the truth about her is revealed, will Prophecy be strong enough to face it? Will they discover a way to save the world from Hell? And will they finally see past the hatred bred into them by their families and surrender to their love?
The first novel in the Vampires Realm series, Prophecy: Child of Light, is part one in an epic tale of love and war that is sure to capture your heart and leave you craving more.
» DOWNLOAD THE EXTENDED EXCERPT IN PDF
ebook price: $0.99
genre: paranormal vampire romance
length: 135000 words
rating: sultry
released: March 2007
Book 1 in the Vampires Realm series
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Prophecy:%20Child%20of%20Light%20[book%201]
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Prophecy/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940000801048/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-prophecychildoflight-601470-139.html
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/f-e-heaton/prophecy/_/R-400000000000000248920
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Prophecy-Child-Of-Light/mix-rDOnD6cECkGermYtAHD9Dw/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7757
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0035LDNV4/
EXCERPTTrapped.
That's what she was, what she had been for as long as she could remember.
The walls around her had seemed to close in as the years rolled on, making the mansion increasingly unbearable, and drawing her ever more to the world outside her bedroom window.
Rain rattled against the windowpanes, creating an eerie melody when combined with the howl of the wind cutting through the power lines. Watching the streaks of water coursing down the windows, Prophecy ignored the ramblings of her blood-mother, Iona, and kept focus on the outside world.
She slowly ran the brush down her long auburn hair, smoothing away the knots and tangles while she stared out into the night.
Something stirred in the darkness and her gaze shifted there. The hunting group crossed the grounds towards the gates. There were eleven of them tonight, one less than last night because one had fallen. Talk of it had reached her even before her mother knew. The walls had ears in this house and Prophecy knew the owner of them.
A chance meeting with the other bloodline that lived in this city had led to a fight in which her family had lost a son.
Not that she cared.
What was it to her who died out on the hunt? She didn't know them, didn't know anyone outside a set sphere of people.
Her brown eyes followed the group as they reached the gates and she watched them slip into the darkness beyond. She knew where they were going. They were heading down into the city, down to a place she'd never been. Losing sight of them, she glanced at the high stone wall that surrounded the grounds.
It was the final barrier between her and the city. The outside wall of her prison.
A wall she longed to breach.
"Where do they go?" she said in a distant tone of voice, sounding as disinterested as possible.
She heard a swish of material and felt her mother close behind her.
"To hunt," her mother replied in a matter of fact tone. She took the brush from her.
Prophecy mused her mother's answer while she stared at the rain-soaked scenery and felt the brush in her hair, her mother's delicate fingers working through the knots.
To hunt.
It sounded so enthralling, so dangerous and dark. She wished she knew what it was to hunt, but she'd never been allowed out into the night with the others, not even with her so-called brother, Arkalus.
"Can I go too?" she asked, knowing what the answer would be, but hoping that tonight it might be different from the thousands of times that she'd asked in the past.
"I am afraid not," her mother replied and smoothed down her hair.
"Why not?" Prophecy challenged and turned to face her mother.
Iona didn't look at all concerned by Prophecy's outburst. Her face was a mask of calm, and Prophecy's eyes roamed over it, taking in the luscious black of her mother's curled hair and the wicked red that smeared her lips. Her eyes were surrounded by layers of black and brown, making them sinfully dark and alluring against her creamy pale skin. In all the years that Prophecy could remember her, Iona had always looked this way—like a true child of the night. Her mother was a fitting master of their bloodline, never straying from the tradition of dress or habit. Never straying from the laws.
All her life Prophecy had been taught to obey the rules of their society and of their house, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to obey her mother. She could feel the lure of the outside world keenly, as though it was in her blood, and she could no longer ignore it. She had tried. She had spent night after night resisting the call of the city and the promise of excitement it whispered in her ear. Now her blood was screaming at her to escape the confines of the mansion and taste the thrill of the hunt, to take hold of it and live the life she was born to.
"You're too young." A fond smile teased her mother's lips and she raised a slim hand. She pushed Prophecy's hair behind her ear, clearing it from her face. "Soon, maybe."
Prophecy allowed herself a small smile. It was the first time her mother had said that she would be allowed to hunt soon and it ignited a spark of hope inside her. She glanced at the window, still smiling serenely as her eyes followed the spatter of the raindrops against the glass.
"But first, you must complete your training."
A sigh escaped Prophecy's lips while she thought about that. Each night she woke and went through the rigmarole of training, and each night she was held back while the others went out to hunt. All she wished for was one night of freedom.
One thrilling night out hunting, even if it were with Arkalus.
Then she would be happy.
Then she would gladly spend eternity cooped up in the mansion.
She watched her mother leave and turned her attention back to the rain-soaked world outside her window. In the distance, she could see the pinpricks of light that were the buildings in the centre of the city.
Prague.
She longed to go there.
During her studies in the library, she'd read every book about the city and its dark history, even when she was supposed to be reading about her family and their own black and bloodied past. She didn't care much for them or the other family that presided over the city; she just wanted to be out there in amongst the people, and feeling the thrill of the chase.
She wanted her first taste of a kill.
Standing, she ran her fingers around the smooth white column of her throat while thinking about killing her first victim and her large dark eyes scanned the horizon. She caught sight of two guards patrolling the grounds.
How was it everyone else was allowed to hunt when she was forced to stay at home? She'd done her training, knew how to execute a clean kill, and could defend herself from the other family if she needed to.
She was ready.
Why didn't anyone see that?
Why was she being held back?
Casting a glance around her dimly lit room, she stopped when her eyes came to rest on her wardrobe. A mischievous smile wove its way across her lips.
She would see this city. She would feel the excitement of the hunt and learn the taste of fresh human blood, and no one would even know about it.
Tomorrow, the night was hers.
* * * *
The city was dark and clouds hung heavy in the air, weighing down upon it as they threatened rain. Prophecy slipped through the black shadows. Quieter than a cat, she moved from street to street, invisible to the people walking them as the nightclubs turned out.
She froze when she entered the cemetery, hurriedly crouching low and turning her face to the sky as a rumble of thunder echoed overhead. Her eyes narrowed and ran over the clouds, assessing just how long she had before the downpour reached her.
Just enough time to hunt.
She listened to the chatter of people as they passed by on the other side of the wall, unaware of the creatures they shared their world with.
Creatures like her.
She couldn't remember a time she had been like them. She'd never been able to remember it. Her kin barely spoke about their lives as humans, but she knew they could remember them. On the rare instances they'd mentioned them, she'd always been listening from the shadows. Their conversations had left her wondering about her life before she was a vampire and why she couldn't remember it.
The voices drifted into the distance and she stood up. She moved swiftly into the inviting darkness of the graveyard, allowing it to envelope her and hide her from the world.
She slipped from tomb to tomb, sharpening her senses more and more with each passing second and waiting with baited breath for someone to stray from the human world and into hers.
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. She pressed her back flush against the wall of a crypt when her sensitive ears picked up the sound of footsteps heading towards her. Her eyes closed as the person neared and she listened to their erratic movements. Inhaling deeply, she tried to catch their scent in the damp air.
Lightning forked in the distance, the thunder rolling above her just a few seconds later.
She only had a short time before the rain came, but it was all she was going to need.
She grinned when the man she was tracking stumbled and fell.
This man had been drinking.
Smoothing her clothes, she checked her appearance and then slipped out of the shadows and into the path of her quarry.
He stopped, his eyes raking over her as she stood awaiting him.
"What do we have here?" he breathed in a thick Czech accent.
She braced herself when he took a step towards her, his smile widening. Her stomach tightened with nerves and she struggled to keep her focus while she repeatedly went over what she needed to do in her head.
She managed a smile, dipped her head slightly and looked up at him through hooded eyes, luring him in. She fluttered her eyelashes when he stumbled forwards. The stench of alcohol came off him in waves and intoxicated her senses as it mixed with the scent of his blood.
He wasn't a large man, barely the same height as her and nearly as thin. His sandy hair hung in loose, wet curls, like a shaggy mop on top of his head. She wondered if someone had dunked him in one of the city fountains. He couldn't have been caught in the rain because it hadn't reached them yet.
"All alone…pretty girl like you…city like this," he slurred.
She kept her smile steady, holding her nerve and waiting for the right moment to strike.
When he came within arms reach, she lowered her head completely, turning it away from him so she was almost looking behind her.
So her face was hidden in shadow.
"I don't come out often," she said, hesitating while she built up the courage to take her first life.
"Shame…not enough girls like you in this city. You shouldn't hide away." He stepped up to her.
His fingers brushed against her cheek. She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. Anticipation curled like a snake in the pit of her stomach and she was ready to strike.
"Not enough girls like you in the world," he murmured and she smiled.
"You'd be right there." She raised her head as her fangs descended and in one swift move, she was on him.
Grasping his arms, she bit deep into his neck, hoping her aim was true and she would catch a vein strong enough to drink from.
Her hands wrestled with his. He struggled against her in a desperate attempt to break free. She sank her teeth deeper into his neck and was rewarded with a mouthful of blood. It tasted sweeter than the rarest wine as it slipped down her throat and she couldn't stop herself from drinking deeply. It was intoxicating. He started to cry out and she covered his mouth roughly with her hand, stopping him from drawing attention to them. She held him tighter and tried to contain him so she could feed properly. He was wriggling against her now and it only served to drive her on, heightening the thrill of her first kill. The taste of fresh, warm blood made her fingers curl and she didn't even notice that her nails were digging into his flesh.
All she could think about, all she could feel, was the all-consuming pleasure of his blood.
His heart stopped and she released him, hearing him slump to the ground at her feet.
Her head fell backwards and she lost herself in the sensations running rampant through her, potent feelings she'd never experienced before. Her mind swam with desire while she savoured the divinity of what she'd tasted.
* * * *
From the shadows, Valentine watched her, his eyes following her every move. She wiped her fingers across her mouth, licking and sucking every last drop of blood off them as though it would be her last. He'd never seen one take so much pleasure from the hunt and the kill. He'd never witnessed one lose themselves so much in the feed.
Slipping out of the darkness, he walked towards her, moving silently for fear of alerting her to his presence before he was willing to make himself known.
She was enthralling. Still wrapt in delight, she ran her fingers down her body, clearly buzzing from the fresh blood in her veins. He arched a brow at her when he stopped at a distance, close enough to see who she was, but far away enough that she still didn't notice him. She ran her tongue along her soft full lips, clearing them of any remaining blood.
"And what have we here?" he said.
Prophecy started as the velvet-edged, strong voice roused her from her haze. For a moment, she thought about answering him by mentioning that he'd just said exactly what her last victim had, but then she caught his scent and froze.
He wasn't human.
He was a vampire.
Her eyes shot open and she stared at him, her senses becoming painfully sharp when he stared straight back.
His eyes were sharp, narrowing as he studied her. "Who are you?"
She remained mute. She could sense a power in him that was nearly as strong as her mother's and she knew instinctively that he was from the other family. Her eyes remained fixed on him when thunder rumbled threateningly overhead and she blinked rapidly when fat raindrops began to fall. The sound of them filled the silence. She was saturated in a matter of seconds.
Those seconds seemed to stretch into minutes while she stared at him and he looked back at her. The dead body of the man she'd killed lay prostrate between them, marking a line that she chose as the boundary between her and the newcomer. If he stepped near it, she'd bolt in the opposite direction and head for the safety of home.
Until then, she would stay where she was and stand her ground as she'd been taught.
Lightning illuminated the turbulent blanket of grey above them. She noticed that his hair was black against his skin; a tangled spiky mess that made his slim face look even thinner. He stood straight, his head tilted back a fraction and his focus wholly on her. His eyes were as green as hers were when she was in her vampire guise and she was drawn to looking into them as he stared at her with a critical coldness.
He took a step towards her and she moved back one, keeping the distance between them steady.
"Why are you alone?" His words were an obvious attempt to get her to speak. She kept silent. "Not hunting with the pack?"
She felt like turning that question against him, but she was trapped in his gaze and answered without thinking.
"They won't let me. I'm still learning." It came out sounding sulky and she lifted her chin in defiance when he pulled an expression of mock sympathy.
"Learning what?" He took another step towards her. This time she remained standing in the same spot, not letting him back her up any more.
"To hunt," she said.
Her senses stretched out and assessed all avenues of escape around her. Now that he was closing the gap, she could feel just how powerful he was and her instincts were telling her to run before he got too close. She knew she would be able to outrun him. He was taller than her, but had a slightly heavier build, which would slow him down, even with his heightened abilities.
He laughed mockingly and then gave her a serious look when he took another step towards her, cutting the distance between them down to only a few feet.
"To hunt is in your blood." His voice lowered, his intimate tone sending a shiver down her spine. He looked deep into her eyes and held her gaze while he moved towards her. "To kill, your nature."
She blinked.
"Who is your sire, little one?" He purred the words at her, his sensuous voice lulling her. Her eyes closed for a split-second before she got the better of herself and they shot open.
She raised her head in an attempt to show him that she wasn't scared of him. She wasn't going to answer his questions and she could see he wasn't pleased about that when a shadow of annoyance crossed his face.
Her eyes widened when his teeth extended, his eyes shifting into their blue state as he revealed his true self. She gasped when he closed the gap between them and caught hold of her before she could move. She should have run when she'd had the chance. She shouldn't have come out alone.
Pressing her hands against his chest, she felt as though the tables had been turned on her while she struggled against him, trying to escape his grasp like her victim had attempted to break free of hers. She flinched away from him when he held her firm and whispered words to her.
"Do not be frightened. You know what I am going to do," he said and she closed her eyes, leaning away from him when he neared her neck.
She had to block him, had to stop him from seeing the visions of her past from her blood like he wanted to. She desperately tried to remember what she'd been taught, but forgot it the instant his lips brushed against her skin, sending shivers of desire racing through her, washing away all fear.
She swallowed hard and grimaced when his sharp incisors penetrated her, sinking deep into her. She stilled for a moment as pain swept through her, clearing the clouds of desire from her mind. He pulled on her blood and his fingers tightened around her upper arms. She struggled against him.
Escape.
She needed to escape.
* * * *
As the images that were swimming in his head came into order, Valentine stumbled backwards and stared at her. She was standing before him, clutching at her neck, her eyes wide and full of fear. He blinked once, twice, and then frowned when she bolted out of the cemetery gates, leaving him alone in the darkness.
He stared at the place where she'd been not two seconds before and then brought his fingers up to his mouth. He brushed the blood from his lips and thought about what had just happened. He thought about what he'd seen.
Could it be?
He glanced at the blood staining his fingers.
"Prophecy."
» DOWNLOAD THE EXTENDED EXCERPT IN PDF
Available in e-book for $0.99 from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Prophecy:%20Child%20of%20Light%20[book%201]
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Prophecy/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940000801048/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-prophecychildoflight-601470-139.html
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/f-e-heaton/prophecy/_/R-400000000000000248920
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Prophecy-Child-Of-Light/mix-rDOnD6cECkGermYtAHD9Dw/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7757
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0035LDNV4/
Interview with an immortal - Lauren
We're leaving the Vampires Realm world behind for this character interview as it's time to catch up with the lovely Lauren, the heroine of my epic vampire romance novel
Love Immortal
.
Lauren, for those not familiar with her, is the beautiful, warm and brave redheaded heroine who discovers in Love Immortal that she's the latest reincarnation of a demi-goddess when she's saved from werewolves by Julian. Julian is her sexy, mysterious and immortal Arcadian, who is responsible for giving his blood to her to awaken her latent powers. Together, they team up with Ghost, a demon-hunting organisation, and take on Lycaon, the vicious original werewolf who was cursed by Zeus for tricking him into eating human flesh. Along with Julian, Lauren is also the ancestor of what we think of as vampires.
FH: I have Lauren here with me today to talk about her book, Love Immortal. Firstly, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Lauren: Wow, where to start? I was your regular thirty-something before the night that I met Julian. All I expected out of life was growing up, getting married, doing something with my career and maybe having kids. I certainly never expected that I would wind up facing down a werewolf(!) on my way home one night and having someone like Julian rescue me. *looks dreamy* That man knows how to make an impact on a girl's heart. I was so shell-shocked that I just went along with everything at first… then out of the blue someone is telling me that I'm a reincarnated goddess and I'm about to reawaken those powers through death. Talk about a slap in the face. I really wasn't sure how to react to that one. Death at thirty-five definitely hadn't been on my agenda. I was just lucky that I had Julian there to help me through it all, and that I had the guys at Ghost to support me. I couldn't have coped without them.
FH: Can you tell us about what happened in your story?
Lauren: Sure. One minute I'm normal and the next I'm a goddess. *laughs but there's nerves in it* I really still can't get over that one. Julian was amazing. He was so supportive and kind to me. I know he's my protector, but I really felt he was helping me out of more than just duty. He did everything he could to make me feel better about what was happening to me, and explained everything so well so I would understand. I had so many questions and so many fears, but he handled them all and he gave me his strength too. He did everything for me. He endured so much for me. I can't thank him enough for what he went through so he could be there during my awakening. I can't thank the members of Ghost enough either. They all lent me their strength and without them I wouldn't have survived Lycaon's attacks.
FH: In Love Immortal, you meet Julian, who is your immortal protector and reminiscent of a vampire. How did you meet and how did you feel about them initially?
Lauren: Julian saved my butt from werewolves and just thinking about the way he dropped into my life, sword in hand, devastatingly mysterious and sexy, sends a shiver through me. It was difficult to come to terms with the suspicions I had about him and, after those were confirmed, what he was. I mean, it's not every day that you realise that vampires and werewolves exist, and that you're about to become a vampire too. He'll get a mood on if I mention the V word around him, but I still feel that we're vampires more than anything else. I know we're different to Morgan and his kin, but we drink blood and we're immortal.
FH: Your relationship with Julian was complicated by the fact that he is your protector and also everything he's been through in his past. Was it difficult to crack his armour and the barriers around his heart?
Lauren: It took a lot to get through to him, but I wasn't going to give up on him. Julian is so gorgeous, and such a beautiful soul, and I fell so hard for him. When I realised what he had been through, my feelings for him grew until I couldn't contain them. He frustrated me so much with the way he acted but I know it was all because of the way he had been treated, and that I could win his heart if I just persevered and proved I wasn't going to hurt him too. Talking about this makes me want to go and find him, and give him a hug. I know I lashed out at him sometimes but I think that might have actually worked in my favour as it gave us both a reason to speak to each other about the things we felt, and in Julian's case, the things he had been through. I think having to fight for him has only made me love him more.
FH: You're so mushy over him. *smiles* You're a reincarnated goddess. That must have come as a shock to you. Was it hard for you to accept your fate and your role?
Lauren: Was it ever. I don't think it was helped by the fact that I only had a short time to come to terms with it before my awakening happened. It wasn't Julian's fault that he was late in finding me. I can't hold that against him because he endured so much in order to be there for me during my awakening. I don't think I could have suffered what he did. I would have taken the easy way out. Julian helped me accept what was happening to me, and I honestly went through with it so I could win his heart and his love. Sounds corny, but it's true. I did it for him. I wasn't going to give up on him, or on life. If the only way to continue living was doing so as an immortal goddess, then I was going to go through with it so I could get what I wanted—a life with Julian.
FH: How has life been since the events that happened and brought you together?
Lauren: We've been busy. Duke keeps us constantly on the go and I've been training hard to improve my skills. Julian is a fantastic instructor, although sometimes it's hard to concentrate and I end up tackling him to the ground so I can kiss him. He gets miffed when I do that, but I make it worth his while to shut up and submit. *smiles* I think we'll be going on a new mission as soon as I'm ready. Morgan won't shut up about his werewolf infestation in Paris. I know that Julian doesn't want to go back to that city, or see Morgan ever again, but I did promise to help him out. I'll have to keep my guard up around Morgan and make sure that he doesn't try anything, because I'm sure that it will be the end of the vampire if he does. Julian won't stand for it. He'll kill Morgan if he tries anything.
FH: Describe yourself in one word?
Lauren: Warm. Julian would say that about me and I think I know myself well enough to agree with him now. I tend to put others first and friendships mean a lot to me, and I'll do all in my power to make people happy. I guess that makes me warm.
FH: Thank you for meeting with me today and chatting. Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
Lauren: Julian mentioned that people have been asking for more of our story. I think I'd like that, but I know you're busy with all your other stories. A sequel might be nice though. *smiles* You know you want to spend time around Julian again. The man is a god!
If you'd like to learn more about Lauren and her vampire romance book Love Immortal, then here's a little information about the book:
Love Immortal
Felicity Heaton
Rescued from werewolves by the most breathtaking man she's ever seen, Lauren is dragged into the fight of her life and a dark world she never knew existed. There, she discovers that she's the latest reincarnation of a goddess and must drink the blood of her immortal protector, Julian, in order to reawaken and continue her three thousand year old mission to defeat Lycaon, the original werewolf.
With the help of Julian and an organisation of people with supernatural abilities, Lauren fights for her life, their future and the fate of mankind against Lycaon and his deadly army, but can she succeed when Lycaon has killed all of her predecessors?
Can she crack the armour around Julian's heart and seize her happily forever after with him? And can Julian bring himself to trust Lauren with the fragments of his heart after everything he's been through?
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Love%20Immortal
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HYHHME/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004HYHHME/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Immortal/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940011179648/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveimmortal-613574-139.html
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/felicity-heaton/love-immortal/_/R-400000000000000340123
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Love-Immortal/book-OyQ9CMW5Jkaf0K_UwfVfGw/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36609
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004HYHHME/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004HYHHME/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456487884/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1456487884/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Immortal/Felicity-Heaton/e/9781456487881/
Lauren, for those not familiar with her, is the beautiful, warm and brave redheaded heroine who discovers in Love Immortal that she's the latest reincarnation of a demi-goddess when she's saved from werewolves by Julian. Julian is her sexy, mysterious and immortal Arcadian, who is responsible for giving his blood to her to awaken her latent powers. Together, they team up with Ghost, a demon-hunting organisation, and take on Lycaon, the vicious original werewolf who was cursed by Zeus for tricking him into eating human flesh. Along with Julian, Lauren is also the ancestor of what we think of as vampires.
FH: I have Lauren here with me today to talk about her book, Love Immortal. Firstly, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Lauren: Wow, where to start? I was your regular thirty-something before the night that I met Julian. All I expected out of life was growing up, getting married, doing something with my career and maybe having kids. I certainly never expected that I would wind up facing down a werewolf(!) on my way home one night and having someone like Julian rescue me. *looks dreamy* That man knows how to make an impact on a girl's heart. I was so shell-shocked that I just went along with everything at first… then out of the blue someone is telling me that I'm a reincarnated goddess and I'm about to reawaken those powers through death. Talk about a slap in the face. I really wasn't sure how to react to that one. Death at thirty-five definitely hadn't been on my agenda. I was just lucky that I had Julian there to help me through it all, and that I had the guys at Ghost to support me. I couldn't have coped without them.
FH: Can you tell us about what happened in your story?
Lauren: Sure. One minute I'm normal and the next I'm a goddess. *laughs but there's nerves in it* I really still can't get over that one. Julian was amazing. He was so supportive and kind to me. I know he's my protector, but I really felt he was helping me out of more than just duty. He did everything he could to make me feel better about what was happening to me, and explained everything so well so I would understand. I had so many questions and so many fears, but he handled them all and he gave me his strength too. He did everything for me. He endured so much for me. I can't thank him enough for what he went through so he could be there during my awakening. I can't thank the members of Ghost enough either. They all lent me their strength and without them I wouldn't have survived Lycaon's attacks.
FH: In Love Immortal, you meet Julian, who is your immortal protector and reminiscent of a vampire. How did you meet and how did you feel about them initially?
Lauren: Julian saved my butt from werewolves and just thinking about the way he dropped into my life, sword in hand, devastatingly mysterious and sexy, sends a shiver through me. It was difficult to come to terms with the suspicions I had about him and, after those were confirmed, what he was. I mean, it's not every day that you realise that vampires and werewolves exist, and that you're about to become a vampire too. He'll get a mood on if I mention the V word around him, but I still feel that we're vampires more than anything else. I know we're different to Morgan and his kin, but we drink blood and we're immortal.
FH: Your relationship with Julian was complicated by the fact that he is your protector and also everything he's been through in his past. Was it difficult to crack his armour and the barriers around his heart?
Lauren: It took a lot to get through to him, but I wasn't going to give up on him. Julian is so gorgeous, and such a beautiful soul, and I fell so hard for him. When I realised what he had been through, my feelings for him grew until I couldn't contain them. He frustrated me so much with the way he acted but I know it was all because of the way he had been treated, and that I could win his heart if I just persevered and proved I wasn't going to hurt him too. Talking about this makes me want to go and find him, and give him a hug. I know I lashed out at him sometimes but I think that might have actually worked in my favour as it gave us both a reason to speak to each other about the things we felt, and in Julian's case, the things he had been through. I think having to fight for him has only made me love him more.
FH: You're so mushy over him. *smiles* You're a reincarnated goddess. That must have come as a shock to you. Was it hard for you to accept your fate and your role?
Lauren: Was it ever. I don't think it was helped by the fact that I only had a short time to come to terms with it before my awakening happened. It wasn't Julian's fault that he was late in finding me. I can't hold that against him because he endured so much in order to be there for me during my awakening. I don't think I could have suffered what he did. I would have taken the easy way out. Julian helped me accept what was happening to me, and I honestly went through with it so I could win his heart and his love. Sounds corny, but it's true. I did it for him. I wasn't going to give up on him, or on life. If the only way to continue living was doing so as an immortal goddess, then I was going to go through with it so I could get what I wanted—a life with Julian.
FH: How has life been since the events that happened and brought you together?
Lauren: We've been busy. Duke keeps us constantly on the go and I've been training hard to improve my skills. Julian is a fantastic instructor, although sometimes it's hard to concentrate and I end up tackling him to the ground so I can kiss him. He gets miffed when I do that, but I make it worth his while to shut up and submit. *smiles* I think we'll be going on a new mission as soon as I'm ready. Morgan won't shut up about his werewolf infestation in Paris. I know that Julian doesn't want to go back to that city, or see Morgan ever again, but I did promise to help him out. I'll have to keep my guard up around Morgan and make sure that he doesn't try anything, because I'm sure that it will be the end of the vampire if he does. Julian won't stand for it. He'll kill Morgan if he tries anything.
FH: Describe yourself in one word?
Lauren: Warm. Julian would say that about me and I think I know myself well enough to agree with him now. I tend to put others first and friendships mean a lot to me, and I'll do all in my power to make people happy. I guess that makes me warm.
FH: Thank you for meeting with me today and chatting. Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
Lauren: Julian mentioned that people have been asking for more of our story. I think I'd like that, but I know you're busy with all your other stories. A sequel might be nice though. *smiles* You know you want to spend time around Julian again. The man is a god!
If you'd like to learn more about Lauren and her vampire romance book Love Immortal, then here's a little information about the book:
Love Immortal
Felicity Heaton
Rescued from werewolves by the most breathtaking man she's ever seen, Lauren is dragged into the fight of her life and a dark world she never knew existed. There, she discovers that she's the latest reincarnation of a goddess and must drink the blood of her immortal protector, Julian, in order to reawaken and continue her three thousand year old mission to defeat Lycaon, the original werewolf.
With the help of Julian and an organisation of people with supernatural abilities, Lauren fights for her life, their future and the fate of mankind against Lycaon and his deadly army, but can she succeed when Lycaon has killed all of her predecessors?
Can she crack the armour around Julian's heart and seize her happily forever after with him? And can Julian bring himself to trust Lauren with the fragments of his heart after everything he's been through?
Available in e-book from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Love%20Immortal
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HYHHME/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004HYHHME/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Immortal/Felicity-Heaton/e/2940011179648/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveimmortal-613574-139.html
Sony Reader Store: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/felicity-heaton/love-immortal/_/R-400000000000000340123
Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Love-Immortal/book-OyQ9CMW5Jkaf0K_UwfVfGw/page1.html
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/36609
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B004HYHHME/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004HYHHME/
Available in paperback from:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1456487884/
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1456487884/
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Love-Immortal/Felicity-Heaton/e/9781456487881/
paranormal hottie number one - Eric Northman
Halloween can't be all about tricks. There has to be some treats too... and what better treat is there than the super-hotties that grace our televisions in our favourite paranormal series?
Each day I'll be posting scrummy mancandy pictures of our favourite paranormal hotties for you all to purr over. First up is everyone's favourite vampire bad boy Eric Northman from True Blood, played by the gorgeous Alexander Skarsgård.
Are we ready to drool, ladies?
[image error]
I left my personal favourite picture until last... which one do you think is scrummiest?
Each day I'll be posting scrummy mancandy pictures of our favourite paranormal hotties for you all to purr over. First up is everyone's favourite vampire bad boy Eric Northman from True Blood, played by the gorgeous Alexander Skarsgård.
Are we ready to drool, ladies?
[image error]
I left my personal favourite picture until last... which one do you think is scrummiest?
![[image error]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBIi4dqPAu4/Tqrbd6KeL5I/AAAAAAAAASE/ll7RQX4F3y0/s1600/alexander.jpg){kind=link}