by Cheree Alsop
—Michael, Amazon Reviewer
“You’ll like this one and want to start part two as soon as you can! If you are in the mood for an adventure book in a faraway kingdom where there are rival kingdoms plotting and scheming to gain more power, you’ll enjoy this novel. The characters are well developed, and of course with Cheree there is always a unique supernatural twist thrown into the story as well as romantic interests to make the pages fly by.”
Karen, Amazon Reviewer
When Death Loved an Angel
“This style of book is quite a change for this author so I wasn’t expecting this, but I found an interesting story of two very different souls who stepped outside of their “accepted roles” to find love and forgiveness, and what is truly of value in life and death.”
—Karen, Amazon Reviewer
“When Death Loved an Angel by Cheree Alsop is a touching paranormal romance that cranks the readers’ thinking mode into high gear.”
—Rachel Andersen, Book Reviewer
“Loved this book. I would recommend this book to everyone. And be sure to check out the rest of her books, too!”
—Malcay, Book Reviewer
The Shadows Series
“. . . This author has talent. I enjoyed her world, her very well developed characters, and an interesting, entertaining concept and story. Her introduction to her world was well done and concise. . . .Her characters were interesting enough that I became attached to several. I would certainly read a follow-up if only to check on the progress and evolution of the society she created. I recommend this for any age other than those overly sensitive to some graphic violence. The romance was heartfelt but pg. A good read.”
—Mari, Amazon Reviewer
“. . . I’ve fallen for the characters and their world. I’ve even gone on to share (this book) with my sister. . .So many moments made me smile as well as several which brought tears from the attachment; not sad tears, I might add. When I started Shadows, I didn’t expect much because I assumed it was like most of the books I’ve read lately. But this book was one of the few books to make me happy I was wrong and find myself so far into the books that I lost track of time, ending up reading to the point that my body said I was too tired to continue reading! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. . . Some of my new favorite quotes will be coming from this lovely novel. Thank you to Cheree Alsop for allowing the budding thoughts to come to life. I am a very hooked reader.”
—Stephanie Roberts, Amazon Reviewer
“This was a heart-warming tale of rags to riches. It was also wonderfully described and the characters were vivid and vibrant; a story that teaches of love defying boundaries and of people finding acceptance.”
—Sara Phillip, Book Reviewer
“This is the best book I have ever had the pleasure of reading. . . It literally has everything, drama, action, fighting, romance, adventure, & suspense. . . Nexa is one of the most incredible female protagonists ever written. . .It literally had me on pins & needles the ENTIRE time. . . I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Please give yourself a wonderful treat & read this book… you will NOT be disappointed!!!”
—Jess- Goodreads Reviewer
“Took my breath away; excitement, adventure and suspense. . . This author has extracted a tender subject and created a supernatural fantasy about seeing beyond the surface of an individual. . . Also the romantic scenes would make a girl swoon. . . The fights between allies and foes and blood lust would attract the male readers. . .The conclusion was so powerful and scary this reader was sitting on the edge of her seat.”
—Susan Mahoney, Book Blogger
“Adventure, incredible amounts of imagination and description go into this world! It is a buy now, don't leave the couch until the last chapter has reached an end kind of read!”
—Malcay- Amazon Reviewer
“The high action tale with the underlying love story that unfolds makes you want to keep reading and not put it down. I can't wait until the next book in the Shadows Series comes out.”
—Karen- Amazon Reviewer
“Really enjoyed this book. A modern fairy tale complete with Kings and Queens, Princesses and Princes, castles and the damsel is not quite in distress. LOVE IT.”
—Braine, Talk Supe- Book Blogger
“. . . It’s refreshing to see a female character portrayed without the girly cliches most writers fall into. She is someone I would like to meet in real life, and it is nice to read the first person POV of a character who is so well-round that she is brave, but still has the softer feminine side that defines her character. A definite must read.”
—S. Teppen- Goodreads Reviewer
“I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. . . This premise is interesting and the world building was intriguing. The author infused the tale with the feeling of suspicion and fear . . . The author does a great job with characterization and you grow to really feel for the characters throughout especially as they change and begin to see Nexa's point of view. . . I did enjoy the book and the originality. I would recommend this for young adult fantasy lovers. It's more of a mild dark fantasy, but it would definitely fall more in the traditional fantasy genre. ”
—Jill- Goodreads Reviewer
To my amazing and supportive husband,
Michael my love,
And to my children, Myree, Ashton, and Aiden,
who bring joy to every adventure.
Mommy loves you!
Being different doesn’t mean
We must be excluded.
Our differences are what make us special.
Embrace what it is that separates you from the world,
And use it to find your own integral part.
You have worth, you are unique,
And the world needs what you have to offer.
Believe in yourself.
Chapter One
He could feel it happening. It had been far too long since his last meal. Everett leaned against one of the restaurant’s garbage containers and looked inside. Grateful for the fact that his muted sense of smell hadn’t picked up the scent of half-eaten food the flies appeared to relish, Everett stuck his hand into the container in the hopes of finding a rare steak or pork chop. He gritted his teeth at the squishy feeling of old mashed potatoes and admitted that he had definitely reached a low point in his life.
A sound caught his ear. Everett looked up to see two cats rush past, both of them black. They disappeared around the corner. The persistent vines of the jungle that crept into the city tangled in the darkness, the lingering reminder that the Ending War had changed the world into something that continually attempted to reclaim the cement and asphalt for its own.
Everett’s gaze shifted to a window of the restaurant across the street and his heart gave an angry beat. He put his free hand to it unconsciously as he stared at the girl with golden eyes who watched him from the other side of the window.
She sat at the table alone, her fork paused halfway to her mouth with a twirl of spaghetti caught in its tines. Everett figured she was close to his fourteen years, and thought it strange that someone that young was dining by herself. Her long white-blonde hair was caught back in two ponytails over her shoulders; a few strands had worked free, creating a striking counterbalance to her eyes. Her eyebrows pulled together, causing a little furrow to form between them.
Everett recognized the emotions that crossed her face, pity, sadness, and a touch of concern. Embarrassment flooded through him. He withdrew his hand from the garbage container and ducked behind the building in the direction the cats had gone. He used his arm to shove his hair out of his eyes so he wouldn’t touch his face with his dirty hands. His stomach hurt and his heart gave another angry beat, but he leaned against the brick wall, unable to make himself go for the garbage again. Pride was all he had left, and he had little of that as it was. He crouched over as another surge of pain arched through him.
“Leave me alone!”
E
verett opened his eyes. His thoughts were sluggish and it was hard to focus.
“What’s a nice girl like you doing out here alone?” a man asked. “Trouble comes after curfew.”
“Trust me, I know about trouble,” the girl answered, her voice tight.
“Apparently not enough,” another man said. “But we’re happy to teach you.”
Both men chuckled.
Everett pushed off from the wall. It took a lot of effort to force one foot in front of the other as he made his way to the edge of the alley. He paused with a hand on the rough bricks.
Two men were accosting the girl he had seen. Her back was against the wall and she glared at them; her golden eyes flashed in the moonlight.
“Leave me alone before the real monsters come out,” she warned as she tried to leave.
One of the men, tall and hulking, grabbed her arm. “You’re not going anywhere.”
His fingers gripped tight enough that his knuckles turned white and she flinched.
Anger rushed through Everett. “Leave her alone,” he demanded.
The men jumped at the sound of his voice. The first dropped his hand from the girl’s arm, but when he saw who had spoken, his lips twisted.
“Who are you?”
Everett took another step forward, allowing his lips to pull back in a humorless smile that revealed his elongated canine teeth.
“One of the monsters.”
Instead of running like he had imagined they would, the first man advanced toward him while the second stayed with the girl. A knife flashed in the darkness.
“You little freaks think you rule the night,” the huge man said with a growl.
“We do,” Everett replied with false bravado. He was in no condition for a confrontation. The man would pulverize him if he ran out of blood, and the pain in his stomach let him know that was exactly what was happening.
“I’m not afraid,” the man said.
“End them while they’re young,” his friend called from where he held the girl, his wiry arms pinning her to his chest.
Her eyes met Everett’s and reflected animal-like in the moonlight. She slammed an elbow into her captor’s stomach.
The man in front of Everett attacked, blocking her from view as he sliced with his knife. Everett ducked under the blade and landed two solid punches on the man’s ribs. The attacker grunted and swung again. Everett caught his hand and spun, using his momentum to slam the man into the brick wall.
Normally, Everett would have channeled his speed to get away, but his steps faltered as the blood gave out. He felt the bite of the knife in his side when his attacker retaliated. Everett fell back, blocking another blow. He tripped over something on the ground. The man crouched, attempting to drive the knife into Everett’s heart. Everett held him back with one hand and fumbled for whatever had tripped him. He felt the remains of his strength slipping away. The knife drove downward.
Everett’s hand closed on a broken chair leg. He slammed it into the side of the man’s head. His attacker collapsed to one side and lay still, unconscious.
Worried about the girl, Everett used the chair leg to help him up. Surprise filled him at the sight of her standing above her own attacker. A groan of pain escaped the man from where he lay curled in the fetal position on the grimy cement.
“Maybe they’ll listen to the curfew next time,” she said, giving Everett a small smile.
He nodded, but couldn’t spare the strength to speak. He stumbled against the wall. The girl’s eyes widened. Everett pulled his hand from his side. The blood on his palm was thick and clotted. He had used it up. A rushing sound filled his ears like the ebb and flow of the ocean. He slumped to the ground and gritted his teeth against the pain. He held his stomach and closed his eyes.
***
Light pierced his eyelids. Everett lifted a hand to shield his face, but the movement was impeded by the clink of a chain. Fear rushed through him. Everett opened his eyes to see handcuffs chaining him to a cot. There was a bandage on his wrist. A glance showed that the tube coming from it was hooked to an IV on a pole near his head. Red liquid flowed down the tube from a bag that was almost dry.
“You’re finally awake.”
Everett craned his head to see the girl from the night before standing in the doorway. She watched him with a guarded expression, her eyebrows pulled together and a spoon coated in dark liquid held in one hand. Her hair was caught back in a loose braid and there was more of the dark liquid in the few strands that hung around her face.
“Where am I?” Everett asked, pulling meaningfully at the handcuffs. He realized his strength had returned. His stomach no longer hurt, and the rushing sound had vanished. He glanced back at the IV. “You gave me blood.”
“Someone had to,” the girl replied, taking two steps into the room and pausing as though worried he would break free and attack her. “You about died from that little stunt you pulled back there. I’d think a vampire would be a bit more careful.”
Everett grimaced and said, “I prefer the term blood-deficient.” He remembered her ducking under his arm and pulling him to his feet. He recalled the sound of her blood pounding through her jugular inches from his face when she helped him walk. It would have taken less than a second to bite her neck and drink the life-giving liquid. “I could have killed you.”
Humor touched her eyes and lifted the corners of her mouth the slightest bit. “I’m not sure you would’ve enjoyed it. Who knows? Maybe you would have grown furry ears and a tail.”
“You’re a werewolf,” he said in amazement.
She gave him a wry look. “I prefer the term canine-inclined.”
Everett fought back a smile of his own. “So you could have handled those guys on your own.”
She shrugged and crossed her arms. “I had it covered until you showed up.”
He thought about the look in her eyes when the men had confronted her. He hadn’t seen fear, only frustration.
“What is it about the night that reveals the true monsters?” she asked.
He watched her, not sure if she expected an answer or was being rhetorical. Her eyes held his, questioning and steady. Uncomfortable at her scrutiny, his shifted his gaze to the room. He appeared to be in the main living area. There was a small kitchen through one of the doors and a bathroom through the other. He could see the small square of a closet from a crack in only other door.
It was sparsely furnished with only the cot and a lamp on a simple end table, yet it was filled with color. The walls had been painted with a tapestry of murals. On one wall, children knelt on a grassy hill eating a picnic, on another, a mother and father pushed children on swings. In the next, a flurry of faces, hands, ribbons, and activity made up a scene from a party.
Each picture captured intricate smiles and joy on every face. The warmth of the scenes belied the emptiness of the room. The pictures looked so real, as if they had been copied out of a photograph. Everett couldn’t see the one behind his head, but he found himself wanting to. He tried to sit up and found that there were handcuffs around his ankles as well.
“I didn’t bite you before,” he said quietly. “Why worry about it now?”
She gave him a searching look. “You can never be too careful, especially around vamps.”
That caught his attention. “Do you know many vampires?”
She shrugged and her cheeks colored. “No. You’re the first. I’ve just been told things.”
“What things?” Everett asked. He pulled at the cuffs around his wrists, testing them. If he channeled his strength, he could snap the chains. The thought made it easier not to fight. He willed his muscles to relax.
“Plenty of things,” she replied evasively.
Silence settled between them. Her gaze moved from his eyes to his chest. Everett realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt. He glanced down at his pale skin. The wound along his side had healed. A small, even row of stitches marked the line where the knife had bit. He looked back at the girl.
“You stitched me up?”
“Couldn’t let you bleed to death. The blood took a long time to kick in, and you’d lost more than it looked like you had left.” Her gaze shifted away as if she was uncomfortable at the sight of his bare chest.
“Uh, thank you for patching me up,” Everett said.
“Thank you for trying to save me,” she replied.
Everett smiled. “Even though it wasn’t necessary.”
She smiled back as if she couldn’t help herself.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Everett said in what he hoped was a persuasive tone. “Seriously. I could have let them do it instead of almost killing myself.”
Her smile faded and she regarded him silently for a moment, her expression untrusting.
Chapter Two
Everett let out a slow breath. “I’ll leave and you’ll be safe,” he promised. “You won’t have to worry about having a vampire in your place.”
She seemed to make up her mind. The jingle of keys sounded loud in the room when she pulled them from her pocket. Letting out a breath, she crossed to his side. She regarded him warily while she unlocked his left wrist. As soon as the first handcuff was free, she tossed him the keys and backed up.
Everett caught the keys and unlocked his other wrist. He sat up and did the same for his right ankle. He hesitated on the left and glanced at her. He channeled his strength and yanked. The chain broke. He squeezed the cuff and the hinge snapped as well. It fell to the floor.
“You could have broken free this entire time,” she said; it was more of a statement than a question.
Everett fought back a smile at the accusation in her voice. He pulled the needle from his wrist. After ensuring that the needle was hung so it wouldn’t catch on anything, Everett made his way to the door.
