Freedom: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance
Page 7
“We need to go,” Max nuzzled my neck. “Remember we’re leaving shortly.”
“I just need a moment,” I said, leaving the warmth of his embrace to go and say goodbye to Mallen.
“Sure.” Max reluctantly released me, only moving a few steps away.
I hunkered down, placing a hand on the newly turned earth. “I’m sorry, Mallen. You were a stubborn mule but I loved you and I know you loved me. I was the only one you allowed to ride you and I’m honored you let me. I treasured our time together and I’m going to miss you, but I hope there’s some kind of horsey heaven where you’re running wild and making hay with all the mares. Enjoy yourself, my beauty, and know I’ll always love and miss you.”
I had to stop. There was more I wanted to say but I just couldn’t. I’d loved my black steed with all my heart and, apart from my mother, he’d been the only other loss I’d ever experienced, and shit, it hurt. I was being, as my mother would say, ‘a big girl’s blouse’ aka a ‘greetin annie’, but I couldn’t help it. I missed my horse and I was sad as shit.
Max’s arms picked me up from the ground. I didn’t even realize he’d come over. He straightened up, moving to cradle me in his arms like a baby, my head on his shoulder. “Shush, it’ll be okay, you just need time, baby.”
I blubbered against him. “I don’t think I’ll ever feel better.”
“You will,” he whispered. “I promise you will.”
“You better not break your promises,” I blubbered again.
“I never break my promises.” He kissed the top of my head.
“Good.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Now take me home.”
“Home, as in the Manor?” he asked.
“Home is where you are, Max.” I kissed his cheek. “Scotland, New York, Hong Kong, LA, Austria, I don’t care so long as I’m with you.”
“Good answer, Mrs. Steele.”
Author’s Note
I sincerely hope you enjoyed Flora’s story, and I’d like to thank you for taking the time to read it. If you could possibly spare a moment to leave a review HERE then I’d really appreciate it, as your review could help a reader decide if it is for them.
I’d like to say a great big thank you to several peeps. As usual, my editor, Missy Borucki - thank you very much for helping me make Freedom better. Your suggestions always improve my stories.
Monica La Porta – thank you so much for the beautiful cover and for reading Freedom for me.. I cherish our friendship and value your opinion so much. Hope you manage to visit Scotland one day so we can finally meet.
A special mention to all the other authors in the Courtesans series – our wee group is amazingly supportive and I’d like to thank you all for your help and advice.
My lovely Sue, thank you so much for helping me and also for being there when I need a nice calm voice of reason! Stracey, you are a gem and have such a good heart, I think I’d have a panic attack if I didn’t have you to chat to every day.
My wonderful Beta readers – a huge thank you. You help me in so many ways and I’m so very grateful for you.
Also to my Reader’s Group, Ava’s Minxes, thank you for your support, girls, and taking the time to read my stories. Sue and Nicola, I really appreciate you running the Minxes for me.
Tammy Payne, you are fabulous, and your eagle eyes find things that’ve been missed, thank you, honey.
Join my Sassy Lassie’s VIP Clan for news and exclusive giveaways and lots of lovely special deals. Please pop over on Facebook and say “Hi” and let me know what you thought of Freedom.
Remember guys ‘n gals, Live, Love, Read!
Ava xx
Contact Ava
Sign up for my Sassy Lassie’s VIP Clan today and you’ll get details of my freebies in your welcome email and another free book. You can find details on my website as well as all my other book links.
Sassy Lassie’s VIP Clan
Find my books here
Website
Come chat on Facebook
Twitter
Blood Courtesans Series
Welcome to the shadow world of Blood Courtesans.
Where vampires are real, rich, powerful--and hungry.
Blood is bought and sold like fine wine, and the best blood goes to the highest bidder.
It's not supposed to be about love...until it is.
Meet the Blood Courtesans: Standalone Vampire romances set in Michelle Fox's Blood Courtesans world by NY Times and USA Today Bestselling and Award-Winning Authors. All books have an HEA and can be read in any order.
Reborn (Myra)--Michelle Fox
Ensnared (Star)--Rebecca Rivard
Bitten (Nova) & Taken (Nova, part 2) & Resurrected (Nova, part 3)--Kim Faulks
Marked (Winter)--Gwen Knight
Wanted (Corynne)--Kristen Strassel
Needed (Angel)--Ever Coming
Stolen (Dakota)--Marissa Farrar
Resist (Anya)--Tami Lund
Escape (Flora)--A K Michaels
Caught (Katharine)--Julia Mills
Desired (Stella)--Monica La Porta
Cursed (Piper)--Jami Brumfield
Pursued (Mia)--Lisa Carlisle
Freedom (Flora)--A K Michaels
Fallen (Paige)--Ever Coming
Coming soon!
Hooked (Poppy)--Selena Kitt
Ava’s Other Work
Guild of Dragon Warriors
Master of the Guild of Dragon Warriors, Jaxon is heading back to their sanctuary, exhausted and injured, after a battle that the human realm has never before encountered. Supernatural beings fighting against the Demon King for survival of not only them, but all of humanity.
It was horrendous, tortuous, and downright brutal. He and his fellow Dragons were lucky to escape with their lives and all he wants now is to reach home and recover, knowing it will take days for him to reach full fitness again.
When an urgent call for help reaches them, he has no option but to head out again and give the aid that he is sworn to deliver.
What he finds is a unique being that is under threat and he vows to ensure her safety. No matter the cost.
His Dragon Warriors rally round and they must fight to protect the female in dire need of their defense. But Jaxon is not quite prepared for the consequences of his mercy mission and must make a decision that he never thought possible.
Come and follow Jaxon and his Guild of Dragon Warriors in Book one of New York Times Bestselling Author, A K Michaels’ brand new series.
The Black Rose Chronicles
She is different, unique, and one of a kind. Even in this weird new world. A world ravaged by an inter-species war and almost devoid of Witches, she has to hide, keeping her heritage a secret. Only two people knew the truth about her: her father and her mentor; her savior, Seth. A highly trained assassin, she kills with impunity if the target deserves such a sentence. Unfortunately, far too many do. The lawlessness that stretches from coast to coast, allowing unspeakable acts to go unpunished.
Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, and a host of other species now run free upon the earth, and some of them are downright evil. She tasks herself with dealing with wrongdoers whenever she can. She is strong, fearless, and powerful. An anomaly, probably the only Witch/Wolf hybrid left alive. She shields herself from detection. If anyone knew she had Witch DNA they would all come after her, and she couldn’t take such a horde on and live.
Her assignments as the ‘go to’ assassin for The Council give her plenty of opportunity to wreak justice upon those who deal in death and destruction. Her targets mostly found dead with black lips and tongue; a result of her spells and not just the poison everyone thinks. So, when the new Head of the Council, Basilius, a Demon, tasks her with taking out the most powerful Vampire alive, she can’t refuse. Can she?
The Black Rose will strike again for the good of humanity. It’s what she believes she’s been born to do, and she will tackle this as she does all of her m
issions; with deadly intent. There’d be no difference this time. Would there?
Or is the dangerous Vampire, Cassius Allarde, not all that he seems?
Come follow Rose’s journey as she fights to find out the truth. About the Demon, the Vampire, and the Witch hunt that destroyed most of her kind.
Book one in New York Times Bestselling Author, A K Michaels’ series, The Black Rose Chronicles. If you like your dystopian books with the added bonus of supernatural beings in abundance, then this book is for you.
Highland Wolf Clan Series
A man born to be Alpha that walks away from his birthright and Pack. Cameron Sinclair wants nothing to do with either.
When summoned he reluctantly goes to the aid of his Uncle’s Pack. What he finds is danger, intrigue, heartache, and the chance of a different life.
His instinct screams at him to walk away but his heart has other ideas. Come and join the Highland Wolf Clan and find out what’s in store for Cameron and his Highlanders.
Read the book that has over 200 five star reviews! Reviewers are calling it “gripping,” “suspenseful”, with “lots of love and action” and a series “I couldn’t put down”!
The Witch, The Wolf and The Vampire Series
A witch on the run, hunted by her father…and pursued by two men who desperately want to make her theirs. You know what they say…what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
Peri is haunted by memories of her father’s dark, magical cult, who tortured and imprisoned her throughout her childhood. Even six years after her escape, Peri is still a wanted woman, and is only able to stay alive by tracking criminals as a bounty hunter, constantly on the move and always alone.
Her travels lead her to Las Vegas, where a job turns bad. Wounded, she collapses at the feet of a stunning, ancient vampire named Josef, and gorgeous wolf shifter Gabe. Josef and Gabe tend to Peri’s injuries, both of them falling in love with her. Claimed by both the vampire and the werewolf, Peri is caught in the middle.
As the romance unravels, Peri discovers her magic is far more powerful than she realized. Yet her father is searching for her, and Peri doesn’t know if she’s strong enough to stop him from taking her back. Trapped in a complex love triangle, who will Peri choose? Josef? Gabe? Or perhaps…both?
A thrilling urban fantasy full of adventure and suspense, The Witch, The Wolf and the Vampire is an erotic paranormal romance with a throuple taking center stage. This magical dark fantasy will have readers swooning for the next book in A K Michaels supernatural science fiction series.
Adult content in this book.
The Witch, The Wolf and The Vampire:
Next Generation, A Son’s Fate
A gripping addition to The Witch, The Wolf and The Vampire series by New York Times Bestselling Author, A K Michaels.
Follow Joey’s journey as he says goodbye to his life of luxury, with doting parents, and a sister he loves in ‘Sin City’. With each passing day he is more unsettled as his Wolf strives to live as its DNA is programmed: within a Pack. After all, it’s not just any Pack he wants. He is determined to join the very Pack that almost killed his father. He has no idea of the hardships ahead, but he faces everything with a deep resolve to gain his dream: Alpha status. Nothing less will suffice, even if he dies trying. Joey will give up everything to win his rightful place and seal his fate.
Joey is certain he won’t settle for that alone. No. He craves to be Alpha and he’ll do whatever it takes to achieve his goal. Including deceiving his parents as he uses underground fighting clubs to toughen up.
After all, it’s not just any Pack he wants. He is determined to join the very Pack that almost killed his father.
Supernatural Enforcement Bureau Series
As Director of the Supernatural Enforcement Bureau, powerful Vampire Ronan, thought he had seen it all...until he discovers that Dragons actually exist. Can he help the Dragon being hunted on his patch? He certainly has the means at his disposal...if they can find it first...before the dark magic-wielding Witches and their Vampire cohorts.
After seeing the magnificent beast with his own eyes he can't turn from the task, even if he wanted to. Especially as his Sire, Josef, gives him a direct command to find the Dragon and keep it safe. No matter the cost.
With rogue Vampires and Witches on its trail, it's only a matter of time before they capture it. That's not something Ronan will allow...not on his watch! He will do whatever it takes to find and save the Dragon, using every powerful being at his disposal, including the dark and dangerous Creed.
Sabrina’s Vampire Series
Sabrina's life was a mess, suspended from her police job, she ran to Vegas for a break, to escape the torment and embarrassment. She followed this up by getting blind drunk and down an alleyway with two thugs who wanted more than a goodnight kiss.
Kyle, a Vampire, hears her scream and against his better judgement enters the alley and saves her. As she collapses into his arms he had a deep need to take her home? He never takes anyone to his home. Soon Sabrina is ingrained in him - he can't get enough - can't let her go and just why are his bites not healing on her neck? When he finds out he is shocked - he must keep her - make her stay.
Will she? Will this woman stay in the arms of a Vampire?
Defender’s Blood Series
Alex has no idea her life is about to change beyond her wildest imaginings. She is the last in a long line of very special females born for a dangerous task, and she isn't sure she is up to it. Zach, her vampire protector, is just as sure she is.
Demon attacks, angels and even the ultimate, divine intervention, shake Alex to her very core. Can she do this? Can Zach keep her safe? The alternative is unthinkable: demons once more ruling the earth.
Zach has to ensure that Alex puts a stop to this - and quickly.
Read Defender's Blood, Alex's Destiny – Book 1 in the Defender's series.
Lori’s Wolf Pack
Lori’s lost in the forest, regretting her idea to go for a hike. Hurt and getting more terrified by the minute, especially when she hears the howls of a large animal nearby. In her haste to get away she falls and knocks herself out.
The animal finds her, having heard her screams.
The Wolf changes and the Alpha looks down at the female. As soon as he picks her up, his body reacts and he, at first, has no idea why. All he knows is his Wolf wants out, wants to mark this human as his.
Lori is oblivious to what’s in store over the next few days as the powerful Alpha carries her to his cabin.
Adult content in this novella, no cliffhanger, and a happy ever after.