by Gaja J. Kos
I froze.
The heat vanished from Aric’s eyes, replaced by hardened alarm. “What—”
“Thrall.” My pulse hammered so hard I almost didn’t hear my own voice.
I held on to Aric tighter.
“What if Zierke’s thrall hadn’t been some fluke?” I blurted out, my tone conveying every ounce of the strain that wound its way through my body.
Zierke hadn’t gone after Aric immediately after he turned. I’d thought he’d just been biding his time to hoard enough money for a clean start, but what if that wasn’t it?
“What if it was like your healing ability?” My pulse ratcheted up another notch. “Something granted to him through magic? Maybe not when he was made, but somehow infused into his body after, to give him the means to fuck up your life?”
“Fuck.”
Aric’s jaw clenched, and the shadows in his eyes confirmed the fears roiling through my stomach.
He let out a long, tense exhale I felt in my own chilled bones. “Shelby.”
Thank you so much for reading DOWN WITH VAMPS! If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review. It would mean so much!
Gina’s story continues in LONG GONE WITCH!
And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to pick up the FREE prequel, FANG DEEP IN THE BLUES.
Acknowledgments
ICRA Files: Berlin is one of those bookish babies that had come to me unexpectedly (thank you, Phantom Moon, for bringing Gina and Aric into my life), yet the moment I’d connected with our MC, the very second Gina landed in my heart, I knew this was a story I just had to put into words.
Of course, it did come at a time when all my concert plans went down the drain (damn you, 2020), which…hurt. I’m not going to lie about that. But it also gave me a chance to delve into my love for music, especially live music, by letting Gina thoroughly enjoy herself.
So the first thank you should probably go to all the incredible concerts I’d attended since that fateful Depeche Mode one in my 8th grade of elementary school (Touring the Angel!) that made me realize live music was pure fucking magic and the best kind of ecstasy. From the small ones, like the Scars on Broadway show in Vienna’s Arena, to the super grand ones, such as Depeche Mode at the Olympiastadium in Munich, where tens of thousands of fans formed a unique connection for a night. The concerts where I released all the stress that had been weighing me down (looking at you, Serj), the ones where I kept grinning so hard my face hurt (massive thank you, The BossHoss, for your rich shows and richer music—and for inviting me to dance on stage!), the ones where I could feel the heat of the fire on my skin and the heavy beats in my heart (Rammstein!), the concerts I could lose myself in the ocean of gorgeous riffs (I mean, QOTSA kind of rock in that area!), and every other concert experience that gifted my life with its lovely magic. I can’t wait until the next time comes!
Next up, I just have to thank the incredible music that kept me company while I worked on this novel:
• Link Wray—the ultimate filthy riff babe who holds a huge piece of my soul. Actually, not just mine. I swear this entire series is soul-bound to “Ain’t That Loving You Baby,” with “Big City After Dark” delivering the meanest soundtrack in the background!
• Robert Gordon—it doesn’t get hotter than “Red Hot”…or that damn leopard jacket coupled with rockabilly hair!
• Hot Boogie Chillun—my beloved booty-shaker, heartthrob band, and the fucking masters of climaxing bridges that make a girl want to groan.
• John Lee Hooker—the music of the deepest parts of my heart and absolute mood setter.
• Muddy Waters—ah, Muddy, my love. The slides. The voice. Just the whole damn package.
• Seasick Steve—another artist that makes my soul serene. Of course, being a summer babe, it’s really no surprise, “Summertime Boy” that he is and all.
• Son House—by the gods, Son House! Never fails to reach all the way to my spirit with his incredible voice and mind-blowing, gut-wrenching slides.
• Howling Wolf—a fucking master with a fucking masterful voice and slick guitar skills.
• Elmore James—my go-to man whenever I get the taste for a slightly different blues flavor…or a desire to shake my moneymaker.
• Johnny Cash—holding his guitar like a bloody machine gun and wrecking hearts with his velvet voice.
• Bo Diddley—yet another absolute king I’m always happy to hear gracing my speakers.
• Little Richard—all fire and a voice that has my mood soaring!
• Gary Clark Jr.—the man who excels at merging the essence of old blues and modernity.
• Elvis Presley—how could any list be complete without Elvis? The heartthrob sweetheart with killer moves and even more killer voice that I swear is entwined with the fabric of the very fucking universe!
All right, now that that’s off my chest, massive, massive thanks go to my standard support team, without whom none of this would even be possible.
Michelle Rascon, my ever-incredible Word Wizard, whom I’m so damn grateful to have in my life. My books wouldn’t be what they are without you, nor would running this business! I’m always thrilled to send my manuscripts your way, knowing they’re in excellent hands.
Lloyd T. Taylor, massive thank you for the final polish! And huge thanks to Zero Alchemy for pairing us up! It was a joy to work with you and I can’t wait to do so again in the future!
Rebecca Hamilton, I’ve learned and improved so much since I started following your advice years ago, but working with you on this novel gave me such an energy boost—a boost that transcended this manuscript and spread outward to my entire view on being an author. Thank you for giving me the spirit to not just carry on but also to believe in myself and grow. I hope you know that I’ll be forever grateful.
Boris, my handsome babe, thank you for every single day you’re in my life—even the ones when you’re a cranky old man, hah! And for listening to me ramble on about Gina (and giving me the side-eye for Aric that you just knew would have me choking on laughter). And for attending concerts with me (and not complaining when we wait for hours to get to the front row). And for our evening guitar jams. And for your love for what I do. And…just everything. I love you.
Linda, your continuous support is an absolute gift for my author heart. Thank you for all the years, and I hope I’ll keep delivering stories you’ll enjoy!
Leeroy and Merkaba, my babies. Thank you for infusing every day with your doggy love and loving to listen to music right alongside me.
And last but not least, a huge thank you to all my readers. You’re absolutely incredible, and I’m honored beyond words to have you reading my books!
Love,
Gaja
About the Author
Gaja J. Kos is a USA Today bestselling author with a mission to breathe fragments of Slavic lore onto many, many pages of fiction.
She is also a bisexual witch who grew up watching Xena, Charmed, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. No one is really too surprised about the direction her adult live ended up taking.
She enjoys steamy books and steamier music, has an endless love for starry nights, and is a shameless summer babe with a soul-deep palm obsession.
Gaja resides in Celje, Slovenia, with her husband, two Chinese Crested dogs, and many, many plants.
For more information visit:
gajajkos.com
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