by Vivi Anna
Severin stepped into the garden and knelt beside me.
His presence sent a wave of pleasure over me. I wondered if it would always be like this between us. Would I always react to him in this way? Even when I was angry.
“I’m serious about wanting to help you, Nina.”
“Why?”
“Because I have feelings for you.”
I met his gaze, searching his face. Just looking at him was devastating, he was so gorgeous. And I couldn’t stop the little quivers in my belly as his scent filled my nose. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”
He cupped my face in his hand, running his thumb over my bottom lip. His touch ignited something deep and primal inside me. “I’m sorry for lying to you, for keeping things from you. I won’t make the mistake of doing that again.”
I looked into his eyes and saw the truth there. Relief shot through me. “I’m afraid to do this alone,” I confessed.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead, lingering there, drinking me in. “You’re not alone, Nina. I’ve found you. I’m not going to leave you to do this by yourself.”
I nodded, and he moved to sit beside me in the dirt. He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close.
“What about the pack?”
“They think I’m betraying my kind for you.”
I turned to look at his face, searching his expression. “And are you?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Leaning in, he gently pressed his lips to mine. “I’m here with you. That’s where I want to be.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
The breeze kicked up, sending the moonflowers swaying. I watched them as they spiraled on their stems. Their movement was kind of how I was feeling. Twisted. Not sure which way to go. Unsure if the way I was bending was the right one. Although I had strong feelings for Severin, I still wasn’t sure I fully trusted him. But I needed the help. I couldn’t enter Nightfall on my own.
So for now, I sat with Severin, his arm tight around me, making me feel safe and warm and secure, in the garden and watched the hole I’d dug. Watching and waiting for the moment when I’d lay everything on the line and go into Nightfall to face my destiny.
***
About the author
2008 Romantic Times Reviewer Choice Winner and Canadian author, Vivi Anna likes to burn up the pages with her unique brand of fantasy fiction. Vivi always writes fast paced action-adventure with strong independent women that can kick some butt, and dark delicious heroes to kill for.
Other titles by Vivi Anna
Valorian Chronicles: (paranormal romance)
Blood Secrets
Dark Lies
Mahina’s Storm – short story
Veiled Truth
The Bewitching Hour – short story
The Vampire’s Quest
The Vampire’s Kiss
Her Dark Heart – short story
The Wolf’s Heart – Oct/2011
Demon Dreamer – erotic paranormal
Of the Moon – erotic vampire historical fantasy
Turn the page for a sneak peak of an exciting first book by Michael J Lee…
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My Frankenstein
March/2011
“The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.”
—John Milton,
Paradise Lost
PROLOGUE
I’m dying.
Eva floated in the blackness. The world drifted away from her. Her friends, her village, her entire world receded until it was just a pinhole of light in a sea of darkness. She heard his desperate voice. He pleaded with her to stay but his voice grew faint. It gave her some comfort that at least the last sound she would hear would be his voice, that in her final moments he’d begged her to remain.
Then pain shot through her and she fell out of the blackness towards that speck of light.
She heard Viktor shouting. He was no longer speaking to her but to Igor.
“There was a reaction!” said Viktor.
Another jolt of pain coursed through Eva. It pulled her closer. The shouts between the two men became clear and loud, as if they stood on the other side of a door.
“Give her more!” Igor shouted.
Viktor retorted, “Give her too much at one time and we will kill her! I know what I’m doing!”
Sight returned to Eva. She saw the dim outlines of the room and the high ceiling.
Another burst of pain tore through her. She felt it in her chest and it ran up and down her spine.
White light flooded her eyes.
Eva bolted upright.
River water streamed from her throat and poured out of her mouth. She coughed and choked until it was gone. Then she took a long, loud gasp of air.
“Eva!”
Viktor was at her side. She hadn’t dared hope to see him again, his dark eyes, his alabaster skin, his coal black hair.
He wrapped his arms around her tightly. She felt the tight muscles beneath his shirt and waistcoat. She clung to him as the warmth of his body spread slowly through her taking away the deathly chill. She could hear his heart thump wildly beneath his chest.
“I’ll get you a blanket.”
Eva hugged herself. She was soaked to the skin and shivered.
She breathed. Her throat and lungs ached.
Where am I?
She’d never been in this room before.
It was large with a high ceiling. Against one wall was a great machine that whirled and hummed. Igor stood next to it and worked a series of levers. Two thick cables lead from the machine to the table next to Viktor. Sparks flew from the copper ends.
What happened?
She felt her chest just above her heart. Viktor pulled her hand away.
He said, “Don’t touch that. You’re burned. Not badly. I’ll take care of it.”
He left Eva to fetch a jar from a cabinet. Eva saw her reflection in the cabinet’s glass doors. She looked like a drowned animal.
I drowned.
I was dead.
***
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
About the author
PROLOGUE
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
About the author
PROLOGUE