House of Spells: (A Paranormal Urban Fantasy) (The Vampire Project Book 3)
Page 16
Sloan didn’t want to say more, even if she had the words to do so. Instead, she embraced Kade. Whatever the future had in store for her, whatever she was, would have to wait. For now, it was enough to know her friends were safe and she was in the arms of someone she cared for and who cared for her in return.
End Book Three
Afterword
Hey You,
Good to see you again. Thanks for taking the time to read my work, and even finding the time to read this author note. I woke up today just after 3 AM to write. I know, crazy right? My brain just turned on and wouldn’t let me go back to sleep, so I thought, heck, instead of just lying in bed awake, I could do something productive and write this author note to you.
I’ve just completed House of Spells, and I’m so excited to see where the story is going. Initially, I was thinking of writing a five-book series, but with all the amazing feedback from readers like you, I’ve been throwing around the idea of seven books. I promise not to drag the story on if it’s not there, but we’ll see what happens.
Since I don’t outline and just write by the seat of my pants, it’s been fun seeing the characters develop. Sloan in book three is already so different than the Sloan we met in book one. That can be said for a lot of characters, but she holds a special place in my heart because I’m putting her through so much! Poor kid, right?
I’m going to include a teaser for you for book four in the series, House of Shifters. Oh, and I almost forgot: If you can take a minute to leave a review, Elwood and I would be forever grateful.
See you on the other side,
Jonathan
Epilogue
Here’s a sneak peek at the fourth book in The Vampire Project.
House of Shifters
Abigail
“Again, and like you mean it this time.”
Sweat poured down past Abigail’s eyes. Her chest heaved at a furious pace. Her lungs burned with the fire of exertion. The worst part was there was a small bit of her that actually liked pushing her body to its breaking point.
She lifted herself off the ground. Her hands clenched the pair of twin training swords she had been using over the last few weeks. Deep notches riddled the wooden blades, speaking volumes to her level of commitment.
“Freeing your sister will be difficult, but not impossible.” Saber looked over at Abigail with his one good eye. “The New Order takes care of its own, but if you plan on living long enough to see this conflict through to the end, you’ll need to be much better than you are now.”
Abigail tightened the grip on each of her swords. She maneuvered around her teacher, looking for an opening. There was no training mat to fall on if she was stricken down. The pair practiced on the hard rooftop of a four-story building on the outskirts of New Hope. It was the highest point for blocks in every direction, ensuring they were safe from prying eyes.
“What makes you think The New Order will be any different from the old one?” Abigail continued to circle her instructor. “I thought they were just a group of the city elite who wanted to keep the wealth in New Hope. They don’t care about what happens to me or my sister.”
“You’re wrong.” Saber’s voice was deep. It sounded like a rumbling carriage was always traveling through his lungs. “The Order was disbanded once our leader, Oliver Livingston, fled the city. Those who did remain understand the queen’s true endgame now. And we have no desire to see our city torn apart by war. Now, are you going to attack me, girl, or are we going to talk each other to death?”
Abigail rushed forward, her head down, both arms splayed out behind her with her swords.
I’m coming, Elizabeth, Abigail thought. I just need to be a little bit stronger, but I’m coming.
Leah
“What Commander Steel has become will be more than enough for Sloan.” Leah lounged in a plush leather chair in her sister’s private chambers. “It’s not her, or our failed undead experiment that bothers me any more. It’s Aareth Emerson. If we only had a sample of his blood—ugh, what I could do with a section of his bone marrow. We could create wolf soldiers; hybrids, even.”
Queen Eleanor Eckert looked at her sister through the mirror that sat on her dresser. It was late. The light in her room came from the many mage-powered lanterns in her luxurious living quarters. She brushed her white hair with long, even strokes from her silver hairbrush.
“I understand where your desire for this blood comes from, but Aareth Emerson was the only one bitten by the Burrow Den wolf before it was killed.” Eleanor shrugged, her mind already looking for an alternate answer. “Perhaps you can recreate the project on your own?”
“There are too many variables to consider.” Leah prepared what she was about to say next by laying out a compliment. “But, dear sister, you’re wise enough to remember that Aareth Emerson was not the only one bitten by the Burrow Den wolf.”
Leah looked on as realization struck her sister. The queen turned in her seat. Her face had gone a shade paler in the space of a few seconds since the words had left Leah’s mouth. “Leah, no. The cost was too great the first time we raised someone from the dead. Aareth’s wife was a failed experiment, anyway.”
“But she was not a sorcerer like he was.” Leah rose from her seat. She went to Eleanor, placing both hands on her sister’s shoulders. “Marcus Walker was also bitten by the Burrow Den wolf. Once I raise him, his resilience as a sorcerer should bring him back, with his heart intact and his memories whole.”
“He’ll refuse to help us.” Eleanor looked at Leah once more through the reflection of the mirror. “And the cost that is demanded when someone is brought back from the grave … Leah, I don’t—”
“Shh…” Leah kissed the top of her sister’s head. “You let me worry about the details.”
About the Author
Sloan, Jack and Aareth will be back in the fourth installment of the The Vampire Project, House of Shifters, available on Amazon now
Please feel free to join my Wolf Pack by visiting http://www.jonathan-yanez.com or if you are on an e-reader just
Jonathan Yanez is also the author of The Elite Series, The DeCadia Series, The Dread Novels, The Archangel Wars, Thrive and Bad Land. His books have been optioned for film and are available in ebook, print and audio book. He would love you to leave a review after you finish reading House of Wolves. You can find out more about him and his work by visiting http://www.jonathan-yanez.com
Contact Info
www.jonathan-yanez.com