The Immortal Kiss Dark Fantasy Romance Series is ON SALE for $0.99 for a Limited Time!
Centuries ago ten powerful vampire gods first walked the earth; their blood thirst knew no boundaries. The destruction of mankind was inevitable. Recognizing their weakness, they selected twelve wise human beings to transform with their godly blood. These twelve, known as The Old Ones and The Council, govern The Ten. A blood lottery appeasing The Ten’s hunger was set forth into the human world and passed down every fifth generation, continuing into the present day. All of Beth Ryan’s life a mysterious mist has watched over her; a mist she believed to be a vampire. On a cold winter night, Philippe Delon, a 700-year-old vampire walks into Beth’s life. She is drawn to him, certain he is the vampire behind the mist...but is he? Beth and Philippe cannot deny their love for each other, nor do they try to fight it. Within days of their encounter, Beth accepts Philippe’s invitation to move into his mansion. The mansion unlocks the door to the vampire world and exposes secrets from Beth’s past. Within its walls, she learns the true identity of the mist, her link to the blood lottery, and betrayal of her loved ones. Surrounded by lies, Beth stands before The Council begging for resolution. Get Your Copy
Five years crawled by at a painfully slow pace for young vampire, Beth; each year more agonizing than the next. The powerful unyielding spell which masked Amon’s whereabouts showed no signs of weakening. Influenced by the binding ritual and Amon’s blood surging inside her, Beth will stop at nothing, and risk everything, to find him and turn the tables on Osiris, Isis, and Hathor. In foggy streets of London, lives are threatened by a new breed of hunter, and nothing is what it seemed. Beth once again finds herself surrounded by betrayal. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between Philippe and Amon – knowing that her decision will change one life forever. But whose?
Get Your Copy
Brandon Cass is not your average teenager. He has a taste for blood—human blood. For sixteen years, he stumbled through life without a hitch until the enigmatic aroma of blood awakened something dark within him. Visions of a beautiful young woman with chocolate brown hair and ocean blue eyes haunt his mind, yet her identity is a puzzling mystery. His hunger for blood strengthens, and the cravings become too powerful to control. No one is safe, not even his family. To safeguard all he once found dear, Brandon sets out on a quest for answers. In an unfamiliar city, he comes face-to-face with the beautiful young woman, confronts the dark force which controls him, and learns what he must endure to reclaim his soul.
Get Your Copy
Excerpt
Just after midnight, Danny’s beat-up Mustang convertible pulled into my driveway. With a turn of the key, he silenced the soft rumble of the engine before leaning over to kiss my cheek. “Happy birthday, Beth.”
A gust of humid summer air tousled my hair. As I tucked the strands behind my ears, I gave his shoulder a nudge. “That’s number seven. You can stop now.”
He grinned, calling forth a set of adorable dimples. “Seventeen is going to be epic. Feel any different?”
Danny was such a dweeb. “You’re acting like I won the lottery.”
He pursed his lips and gave a slow nod. “Now that would be truly epic.”
“Yeah,” I responded, my gaze drifting toward my open bedroom window. The moon hung low in the sky, peeking through the trees surrounding my house, but complete darkness lurked behind the curtains. I squinted. I could’ve sworn I’d left the light on.
“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” Danny mumbled, but his words emerged loud enough for my ears to catch their meaning.
His use of the word “it” scratched at my bones like nails on a chalkboard. I twisted in my seat to face him. “Don’t call him that.”
Tensing his jaw, Danny fixed his gaze on me. “What should I call it? It’s mist, Beth. It’s not human.” He breathed a little easier, the rosy red returning to his cheeks. “I get it. It’s been around for most of your life, but so have I, and you can see me, touch me, and talk to me.”
I bit my tongue and swallowed my smartass remark. Danny was right, yet I didn’t care. The mist’s voiceless gestures had conquered my heart. Closing my eyes, I sat quietly, listening to the crickets sing like drunken fools. When we’d been kids, the mist had drawn Danny in, like an addict. He’d dubbed the shapeless mass Commander Vapor—his superhero. Every night of our childhood, Danny had camped out in front of my bedroom window, his eyes bulging from their sockets as he waited for the mist to appear. “It can’t give you what I can,” Danny pressed, breaking through the memories.
You’re wrong, Danny. Opening my eyes, I turned toward him. I didn’t say a word, just stared at him in silence.
He squirmed and looked away, like a dog being reprimanded by his master.
I slouched down in my seat as I said, “The mist is part of me. I can’t let go. I…I don’t know how to.”
Danny inched closer, narrowing the gap between us. “I’m not asking you to let go.” He touched my hand. “Just give me a chance.” The corners of his lips pulled upward to form a toothy grin. “You and I have things in common.”
I blinked and cocked my head. “Like what? I collect shoes, you collect creepy bugs. I read poetry, you read comic books. I paint, you play paintball.”
Shrugging his shoulders, he fired back, “We’re both seventeen, next door neighbors, and go to Emery High.”
I smirked. None of those things were shared interests. “Nice try.”
He lifted his chin and snapped his fingers. “Got it! We’re near doppelgangers. My eyes are greenish-blue, and your shade mimics the sea. I’m covered in freckles, while you have just a few sprinkled across your nose. I’m a carrottop to your apple-red.”
I eyed him, letting his words sink in. Danny’s lips quivered, making it impossible to keep a straight face. Exploding with laughter, we fell into each other, our foreheads colliding.
He curled a strand of my hair around his finger. “Give me a chance.”
I stiffened and pulled away. “I care about you, Danny, but we’re—”
Bobbing his head, he finished my sentence. “Just friends, I know, but I may be able to change your mind.” He tapped his temple. “I’ve been doing some research. Found some pretty interesting stuff in my comic books.”
I clamped my lips shut. Comic book research? This should be good.
He held up his hand. “Hear me out. I mean, we’re dealing with mist that forms into a man. Comic books aren’t such a far stretch.”
He had a point. “I’m all ears.”
“I’ve narrowed the possibilities down to three types of beings.” His expression screamed ‘wait for it,’ just like when our science teacher, Mr. Mayor, hesitated after every word, letting the anticipation build. “An alien…a warlock…or a vampire.” He paused before adding, “In comic books, all three can turn their bodies into mist. You should ask him which of the three he is.”
His words crept across the surface of my brain. The nagging itch to do just as he’d suggested filled me. I have to know, I thought as I pushed open the car door and stepped onto my driveway.
Danny flashed to my side, taking my hand. “Let me come up with you?”
I didn’t look at him, my gaze fixed instead on my bedroom window. “No.” I dropped his hand. “Go home, Danny. I’ll see you tomorrow.” As an afterthought, I faced him and pressed my hand over my heart. “Thanks for making my seventeenth birthday special.”
His lips stretched into a goofy grin. “I love you, Beth.”
I couldn’t say it back, because I didn’t love him. Forcing a smile, I backed along the drive and up onto the porch. As I turned and opened the front door, the Mustang’s engine whined to life again. I waved to Danny as I slipped inside, closing the door behind me.
In the darkness, I climbed the drab, carpeted stairs. My mother wasn’t one for color. Muted gray décor claimed every surface of our home. She called it modern; I called it boring. In contrast, my cotton-candy-pink bedroom screamed of my personality. Danny called it the “Pink Palace,” and the space was my palace.
My bedroom door stood ajar, releasing the scent of dewy rosebuds. Inhaling the intoxicating air made my head spin. I inched closer, running my hand along the wall and peering through the partially opened door. The mist drifted past the opening, and my heart jumped into my throat. Pushing the door wide, I hurried inside and flicked on the light. Red rose petals cascaded like a waterfall of blood from my bed’s comforter onto the carpet. I opened my mouth, but no sound escaped me, and my feet seemed rooted to the floor. He’d prepared this surprise for me, for my birthday. As I struggled to catch my breath, I shut the door, closing us off from the outside world.
The mist shifted to form the silhouette of a man, who glided across my room toward my bed. His translucent finger pointed to a pink sheet of folded paper resting on my pillow.
My palms tingled in anticipation of clutching up the filmy page. Could it be a love letter? I ran to my bed, scooped the pink note into my hands, and fell backward onto the silky blanket of rose petals. They fluttered around me, caressing my skin as gravity called them back. I bit my lip as I stroked the coarse paper between my fingers before opening it. My gaze roamed over the page.
If I had to choose whether to breathe or to love you, I would use my last breath to tell you that…I love you.
The paper trembled in my grasp, his words blurring inside my tears. He loved me and I him. I rose to my feet to face the mist, my mouth dry as a jarful of cotton balls. I forced out each of my words.
“What…are …you?”
He waved his hand over the petals, spinning them faster and faster. As they came to rest upon my bedding, a letter began to take shape, becoming a V. Others followed, creating sense from chaos. My small human life shrunk into the background. All that remained in that moment was the word…VAMPIRE.
About the Author LAURA DALEO is known for capturing vampiric persuasion in her Immortal Kiss series. This book takes an interesting spin on the Egyptian pantheon, from which vampires originated. At present, she is working on Once We Were Witches, the fourth book in the Immortal Kiss series. Immortal Kiss, Bound by Blood, The Vow, The Vampire Within, The Soul Collector, and The Doll are among her published works. She grew up in San Diego, California, and currently lives with her two dogs, Rose and Cooper, in Tucson, Arizona.
Contact Links
a Rafflecopter giveaway
1 Comment
Laura Daleo
8/6/2023 04:10:47 pm
Thank you for sharing!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |