Explore the emotional upheaval that is the transformation from human to vampire. Bleeding to death after brutal mugging on the campus of UNLV, Twenty-five year old Alyssa, is rescued by the cold and aloof, vampire, Lysander. Taking pity on her, he shares the gift-and curse-of immortality. She awakens as a vampire and is soon devastated by harsh realities of her new way of life: An unyielding thirst for blood as well as the loss of her friends, her independence, and her humanity. As if having her humanity stripped away was not enough to make life interesting, Alyssa finds out her "turning," did not go unnoticed by the rest of undead society. Old enemies; an ancient sect of vampire hunters, known as the Acta Sanctorum, as well as a powerful Vampire mistress, each set plans in motion to destroy both Alyssa and Lysander. Only by accepting her new-found immortality, seizing the night, will Alyssa hope to survive. She and Lysander must fight together against two sets of enemies bent on destroying them both.
Excerpt
“Shy, are we, ma chère?” Edmond spoke softly, inching
closer. Again, I felt the eerie sensation of his eyes probing me. ”Might I at
least have the pleasure of your name?”
“Get the hell away from me,” I snapped.
“Leave her out of this, Edmond, and get to the point of your
visit,” barked Lysander.
Edmond’s lips curled at the corners. “I’m afraid I can’t do
that.”
I shuddered. Damn it, I probably should have kept my mouth
closed. My chest became tight. My heart raced, pounding like a drum roll.
Edmond took another small step closer, reaching a hand out
to me. I flinched.
Lysander stepped in front of me, blocking Edmond’s path. He
knocked away Edmond’s hand. “I said, leave her alone.”
“Jealous, are we, Lysander?” He sneered. “Don’t worry. I
won’t steal her. I just wish to know her name.”
An odd silence halted their verbal tennis match. It piqued
my curiosity. I chanced a look at Edmond. He stood firm in his place. He and
Lysander stared at one another as if each was threatening the other to make a
move, but no words were exchanged.
Lysander’s face was blocked from my view, but I saw the
struggle in Edmond’s eyes. His lips quivered at the corners, but he did not
move or speak. His hands twitched, fisting and rising to a defensive position,
and then relaxing back to his side.
The odd silence and strange behavior confused me. Lysander’s
body also seemed to tense and relax in front of me. I shrank behind him,
waiting for something to happen. Tension ran thick in the air. I sensed a fight
was about to start. Many moments went by silently before Lysander spoke again.
“Enough mind games, Edmond. Speak your purpose for being
here or leave us,” Lysander demanded.
“Fine,” Edmond huffed. “It is precisely this enchanting
little urchin you have recently turned that gives us cause to have this chat.”
There was a definite note of disdain in his voice.
Me? What do I have to do with anything?
A chill ran down my spine. I wanted to get out of there. I
needed to escape.
Lysander’s stance became more defensive. He continued to act
as a wall between Edmond and me. “She is none of your—or anyone else’s—concern,
Edmond.”
“That may be your opinion; however, there are those among us
who do not look too kindly on bastard fledglings turned without permission,
and, well, you know the law.…”
“Those laws do not pertain to me,” Lysander said with a
snarl. “I am under no one’s rule.”
“That, too, is a
matter of opinion, and it would be in your best interest and the interest of
your…lady friend to sort this matter out with Kallisto.”
“I have nothing to discuss with you or Kallisto,” Lysander
said. “I am through with this conversation. Leave my presence before I decide
to send Kallisto a message of my own, using your corpse.”
Edmond waved his hand at Lysander. “Save your childish
threats for someone else.” He turned and walked away toward the elevators.
“Consider this your one and only warning. You have thirty nights.”
Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkins off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, she still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.
And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…
Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment. 