by Tessa Dawn
The vampire’s arcane heart beat in his chest at a steady, even rhythm just as it had done for decades…centuries…millennia.
He was aware of no one.
He was aware of nothing.
He had not been aware for over twenty-eight hundred years…
At least not until now—not until he felt a subtle prick of magic piercing his blood-starved organ: the sensation of familiar power; the taint of another wizard; the pulse of a singular woman’s heartbeat.
Destiny…destiny…destiny.
His destiny?
The word was as odd as it was unfamiliar, yet it rang inside his ears.
And then something—someone—connected the circuits: her eyes, his power, a stone from the well.
All fell silent, yet again.
Then another connection, stronger still: her eyes, his power, a stone from the well!
Fabian’s eyes blinked open, only to find darkness above, below, and all around. All the world was dark and dank; water and mud; earth and clay. The circuit closed once more, and this time, it was teeming with electricity, sorcery, and power: an undiluted pool; an unrestricted chain; a pure, untainted channel to the source that fed his heart…and awakened his timeless soul.
That wizard.
And that girl.
Thump-thump; thump-thump; thump-thump—his heart sprang to life, and he let out a thunderous roar, releasing a millennium of anguish, confusion, and famine! He was starving all the way to his core, the hunger gnawing, bone-deep. His muscles spasmed in agony, and his skull began to throb.
Blood.
He needed blood.
He needed her blood, and he needed it now.
And then his power flowed back into him like water breaking through an ageless dam, and he sent the full breadth of it lambasting forward, exploding through the grave…the mud…the sand…
The well.
Fabian Antonescu, the most infamous wizard to have ever been born to the union of a celestial god and a human mate, was lying at the bottom of a simple archaic well.
He was…
He was…
He was no longer in Romania, leading the convoy of warriors, a secret group of mercenaries, through the Transylvania Alps. He was no longer holed up in the southern Carpathian Mountains, hiding Ciopori and Vanya from their bloodthirsty brother, Prince Jaegar. He was no longer changing, suffering, wishing for his final death, along with his loyal followers, as claws and fangs and power beyond imagining assailed them…changed them…made them into something else.
And he was no longer in that rotting ship, being tossed about at sea.
He was…
He was in North America, awaiting Prince Jadon’s return.
No!
He was lying beneath a well.
Starving.
Ah, yes…yes…yes!
He was Vampyr.
His hunger overcame him, and he called to the four cardinal winds. He tunneled one hand into the dirt and extended his grimy fingers, reaching for that wizard’s power, the one who had spoken to the stone, and he suckled on the magick like a newborn babe, growing stronger, more determined…more alive.
He threw back his wild hair and embraced the elements all around him, gave vent to his feral nature, and became the untamed storm, lashing out in all directions. And then he exploded from the belly of the well, emerged into waning sunlight, and recoiled from the unbearable glare of the light.
Where was she?
That woman…
His woman!
The one who would feed him her blood?
He scanned his surroundings like a stalking predator, sinking down onto his haunches as he prowled.
Domes.
There were two carefully constructed domes…
Carbon.
Intricate bonds.
Powerful, magical weaving…
He tossed his head back and laughed.
Flicking his wrist in the direction of the nearest conical structure, he sent an explosion of diamonds scattering across the mountain, then reached inside the collapsing rubble and snatched the female by her arm. Her legs kicking and dangling beneath her, he drew her to his mouth, sank his fangs deep into her convulsing throat, and groaned in exquisite pleasure.
Ah, yes…
Blood.
Release.
Destiny.
Still drinking to his heart’s content, he wrapped a firm, unyielding arm around the female’s waist and dove back into the well.
COMING NEXT: BLOOD ECHO
Book #11 in the Blood Curse Series
Books in the Blood Curse Series
Blood Genesis (prequel)
Blood Destiny
Blood Awakening
Blood Possession
Blood Shadows
Blood Redemption
Blood Father
Blood Vengeance
Blood Ecstasy
Blood Betrayal
Christmas In Dark Moon Vale
Blood Web
Blood Echo ~ Coming Soon
Also by Tessa Dawn
DRAGONS REALM SAGA
Dragons Realm ~ Book 1
Dragons Reign ~ Book 2
PANTHEON OF DRAGONS
Zanaikeyros ~ Son of Dragons (Book 1)
Axeviathon ~ Son of Dragons (Book 2): Coming Soon
NIGHTWALKER SERIES
Daywalker ~ The Beginning (A New Adult Short Story)
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A sneak peek from Zanaikeyros
Son of Dragons
(Book #1 – Pantheon of Dragons Series)
He continued to take the stairs, two at a time, until he had passed her without incident, and then he suddenly stopped in midstride and spun around to face her.
She sensed it more than she saw it.
She could literally feel his domineering presence behind her, and despite her immediate impulse to run, she turned to face him instead.
The stranger tilted his head to the side and emitted some strange, feral sound. It was almost like a snarl, and Jordan’s heart began to race. They locked eyes a second time, and she almost let out a yelp: He was glaring at her now, like she had stolen his firstborn child, his dark, sculpted brows creased into a frown.
She unwittingly took a step back, clutched the rail, once again, for stability, and stifled a terrified gasp. Determined to appear calm, she stuffed her free hand into her pocket, hunched her shoulders in some instinctive, submissive gesture, and slowly backed away, feeling carefully for each stair beneath her.
He took a casual step toward her, and she almost bolted.
He halted, almost as if he dared not frighten her any further, and then he did the oddest, most animalistic thing: He inhaled deeply, sniffed the air, and he groaned.
Whether it was a groan of annoyance, impatience, or anger, Jordan had no idea, but that was the final straw—she had no intention of sticking around to find out.
Releasing the rail, she spun around in a whirl, leaped the four remaining stairs—almost twisting her ankle—and took off running for her car, all the while digging frantically for her keys as she ran. She could hear the stranger’s footsteps behind her, and she cringed at the stupidity of her choice. Why hadn’t she screamed or tried to push past him? Headed back in the direction of the mall, to the safety of other people?
Rounding the corner of the parking garage, she eyed her forest-green, metallic BMW, only five spaces away, and rotated her key-fob in her hand, pressing the unlock button over and over, just to be sure it opened. She glanced over her shoulder to judge the distance between herself and the stranger, and gasped, her feet skidding to a sudden halt.
He wasn’t there.
Even though she could have sworn she’
d heard his footsteps just moments ago, the man was no longer behind her.
She pressed her hand to her heart and fought to catch her breath, feeling a curious mixture of both relief and embarrassment. She scanned the garage in all four directions, making sure she hadn’t overlooked his presence, that he wasn’t hiding behind a nearby post or a vehicle, and then she started once again for her car.
Angry tears filled her eyes as she finally reached her BMW, yanked on the door handle, and bent to climb inside.
“Stop.” An invisible hand snatched her by the arm, slammed her door shut behind her, and pressed her back against the driver’s-side panel. And then, just like that, the stranger was standing, once again, in front of her.
What the hell!?
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Zanaikeyros ~ Son of Dragons
About the Author
Tessa Dawn grew up in Colorado, where she developed a deep affinity for the Rocky Mountains. After graduating with a degree in psychology, she worked for several years in criminal justice and mental health before returning to get her master’s degree in nonprofit management.
Tessa began writing as a child and composed her first full-length novel at the age of eleven. By the time she graduated high school, she had a banker’s box full of short stories and novels. Since then, she has published works as diverse as poetry, greeting cards, workbooks for kids with autism, and academic curricula. Her Dark Fantasy/Gothic Romance novels represent her long-desired return to her creative-writing roots and her passionate flair for storytelling.
Tessa currently splits her time between the Colorado suburbs and mountains with her husband, two children, and “one very crazy cat.” She hopes to one day move to the country, where she can own horses and what she considers “the most beautiful creature ever created”—a German shepherd.
Writing is her bliss.