by C. M. Owens
His eyes flick over my cheek that hasn’t started healing yet, and he cuts a lethal gaze toward Arion.
“The bloke who left that mark should be ready soon,” I hear the freshly risen vampire answering from the right, instead of the left, where I expect his voice to come from.
My eyes dart to where Arion is standing behind the bar as Vance releases my chin. As if summoned, the doors open on the other side of the room, and a large keg rolls in, loudly sloshing around.
“Ah, there he is. Anyone else want a drink?” Arion asks as he goes to lift the keg with one hand.
The doors behind him close without anyone ever coming into view.
My stomach churns when I realize Lurch’s blood must have been drained into that keg.
Without hesitating more than I already have, I turn and walk out, hearing Arion talking behind me.
“I knew I’d come back to a mess if you weak-balled prats were in charge all on your own for a damn century,” Arion is saying conversationally. “I have quite a few people to kill, it seems.”
I walk a lot faster, ignoring the chill up my spine as I take in the gravity of the situation. For at least the next two years he was supposed to be buried, anything he does will be all my fault, because I was the stupid, trusting gypsy who made eye contact and let a ghost lead me.
Damien takes two seconds to join me at my side, following me out to my van that has been parked in the driveway like I drove myself here.
My knees give out before I can make it halfway there.
END OF BOOK 1.
AUTHOR NOTE—
Don’t kill me. Please. This would have been a nine thousand page book if I’d tried writing it without a cliff-hanger. The story moves the slowest in the first book, and gradually builds speed and momentum. Violet’s story wouldn’t allow me to start in the middle. I had to start at the beginning, and that’s a first for me. It’s the beginning of the end…according to Arion.
I love this series. I hope you do too. I’ll be releasing the second book in about three weeks. Thank you for giving it a shot! <3
As always, I love the hell out of you.
xx,
C.M.
