Bloodstorm (Heart of a Vampire)

Praise for Amber Kallyn’s Dragos Series

Dragos 1: Burned
What happens when a dragon falls in love with a fireman? Someone's bound to get... Burned.

"intense and incendiary...I recommend this for all of the dragon lovers out there..."

~ Whipped Cream Erotic Romance

"Ms. Kallyn takes the paranormal world and adds a dangerous twist of dragons, fires, and a mysterious past to make this an intense read..."
~ Coffee Time Romance

Dragos 2: Scorched

A bounty hunter and a dragon on opposite sides of the law? Even dragons can be Scorched by love.

"SCORCHED is a wildly passionate, captivating, ‘steal your heart’ read that is sure to bring a smile to the reader’s face..."
~ Romance Junkies

"intriguing moments in the story when things become much more than two people coming together, and these surprises make this a very good reading experience..."

~ Whipped Cream Erotic Romance

Dragos 3: Blazed

Only by working together can a fire nymph and a dragon prevent a fiery catastrophe. The only problem is, their love is going to Blaze.

"if it is at all possible for a dragon to become stronger or more alpha in general then Ms Kallyn has managed it..."
~ The Romance Studio

"full of intense adventure and even more intense passion..."
~ Got Romance Reviews

Dragos 4: Inflamed

Together, a dragon and a succubus find love might just conquer all.

"Sex demon Isabella has been at the dark mage’s mercy for centuries. Her only pleasure has been the dreams she shares with Pete Dragos. Can their relationship ultimately lead to the final demise of the dark mage and his obsessive terrorizing of the Dragos Clan?"

~ Romance Junkies

"Summer is coming, so heat up your world with the Dragos family of fire-breathing dragons..." ~ The Romance Studio

Titles by Amber Kallyn

(Paranormal Romance)

Heart of a Vampire

Bloodstorm

(Erotic Paranormal Romance)

The Dragos Series

Dragos 1: Burned

Dragos 1.5: Mistletoe

Dragos 2: Scorched

Dragos 3: Blazed

Dragos 4: Inflamed

Other Stories

(Erotic Ménage Paranormal Romance)

Wet: Ocean Music

For free goodies and stories, visit my website at

www.AmberKallyn.com

Bloodstorm

Heart of a Vampire, Book 1

Amber Kallyn

Bloodstorm

Heart of a Vampire, Book 1

Copyright © 2012 Amber Kallyn

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author.

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Excerpt Hungerstorm

Heart of a Vampire, Book 2

Copyright © 2012 Amber Kallyn

Cover art by: Dawné Dominique

http://dusktildawndesigns.com/

ISBN: 1475090404

ISBN-13: 978-1475090406

DEDICATION

Like always, to my favorite writers and the critiquers who kick my butt into shape ~ The Seven Evil Dwarves. You guys tell me when it’s great... and when it sucks. I wouldn’t be here without you, so Thanks.

Also to my family who puts up with my wandering mind and my strange imagination. Love you guys.

I’d also like to say thanks to all those authors out there who are extremely helpful and giving of their knowledge and time and helped this newbie along. You all rock!

Last, but not least, to you wonderful reader. I write for you. Thanks for being willing to dip into the strange inner worlds of my mind. I hope you enjoy the journey... and don’t get lost.

Wishing you all the Best,

Amber

Prologue

T
he pitch black tunnel, complete with crumbling dirt walls and cobwebs, didn’t frighten Nicola DeVeraux. The dark held nothing to fear. She’d seen too many real monsters in the years since her death.

Besides, her night vision was as good as any human’s in the bright light of day.

She stepped over a skeleton, then around the grisly remains of a wild boar.

At the far end of the tunnel, candlelight flared to life, as if welcoming her into the witch’s den. Her boots stirred up dust as she entered the small cave.

The walls glinted with a mix of crystalline dirt and flecked stone. The scent of a nearby spring layered heavy moisture in the air. In the center of the cavern stood a long rectangular table, covered by a black velvet cloth. Strange items, some unrecognizable at first--or even second--glance, littered the top.

“
Ye came.”

Spinning at the gravelly, androgynous voice, Niki grabbed for the dagger at her waist.

The old crone cackled as she entered, her grin nearly toothless. Stringy gray hair straggled around her plump, wrinkled, face. Jezamine glided to the table. “I didn’t think ye’d answer my summons.”

“
You asked me to come, old woman. I assume there’s a reason.” Though the dark tunnel hadn’t scared her, the witch did. Niki forced herself to take another step, though she kept a tense grip on the hilt of her still-sheathed dagger.

“
What question do ye ask the gods?”

Ignoring the tension roiling in her stomach, she moved to the woman’s side. “They’re finally ready to answer me?”

Jezamine laughed again, the sound sending skitters down Niki’s spine. “Ye know they take their time, girl.”

“
Fine. I want to know if I’ll finally find the man who murdered my family.”

The old woman reached for a silver cup etched with strange markings. She shook it three times before dumping the contents into a circle made from small, round crystals. Human finger bones clattered against one another. She bent over the table.

Jezamine had looked as ancient a hundred years ago as she did now. “Hmm. Yes. Mmm.” The old woman poked at one bone sticking above the others. “But what ‘bout...”

Niki eased onto one of the dark wooden stools at the far end of the table.

The priestess sprung upright, staring at Niki with her fathomless dark eyes. Her inky black lips stretched in a grimacing smile. “It’s yer birthday. Samhain be a good day for birthin’.”

Niki clenched her fists in her lap. “Not really.”

Halloween was a cursed day to be born. It had brought her nothing but pain, brought her family nothing but death.

The old woman poked at the bones again. “Maybe. Maybe ye be finding the monster ye seek, maybe be getting some other kind of lucky.” Jezamine’s screeching laugh echoed from the cavern walls.

Shivers inched along Niki’s spine and flooded into her legs. Thankfully she was sitting down. “What do you mean, some other kind of lucky?”

Jezamine’s dark eyes glittered. “Girl, I don’t think ye want me telling. Don’t think the Fates want me telling.”

“
Then what about Thomas?” Her nails poked painfully into her palms.

“
Lil’ girl. Why ye wanna spend all yer time tracking down pure evil?”

“
Duty.”

“
Duty?”

Memories flashed. The Halloween ball, celebrating not just her seventeenth birthday, but her engagement as well. The plantation in the bayou, ringing with music and laughter. At least until dawn arrived, the sun shining down on nothing but death.

Niki shook the old pain away. “Duty,” she repeated. “He owes me vengeance.”

“’
Tis a fine line ye walk between revenge and justice.” Jezamine shook her head, the corners of her lips drooping in a frown. “Revenge make yer soul dark as his.”

“
I don’t care.” In the far corner of the cave, wisps of white fog crept up the walls. Soon they would form into the shapes of those long dead.

She jumped to her feet, turning away. “Can you tell me anything else?”

Jezamine walked around the table to face her. “’Ware child. He who turned ye may also be the cause of yer downfall.”

Niki lifted her chin, facing down the old woman’s words, the Fates themselves. “Not until after I’ve killed him.”

Chapter One

A
s Shane Spencer finished the last of his beer, his deputy, Chase Campton, strode by, slapping him on the back.

“
Another re-election year well done, Sheriff.”

The small crowd in the bar cheered and the waitress, Rae, slipped another bottle onto his corner table.

Shane tipped his cowboy hat politely and plastered on a fake smile, unable to join in the spirit. All day, something dark had been hanging over the town. Not that anyone else sensed it. He needed to go to his childhood home. On the edge of town, the house sat at the borderline of the Apache reservation and Moss Creek.

His father, head shaman and seer, would know what the signs meant. Once again, doubt crept up inside Shane. How did the Fates pass over the eldest in their family and choose him as their father’s successor? It had never before happened in their tribe’s history.

He nursed the beer, deep in thought.

The door banged open, a cold autumn breeze swirled the smoky air. A woman followed it in, stopping just inside the bar. The air vibrated with unseen power. Even the deepest shadows shivered. Everyone in the bar fell silent, turning as one to look her way.

She held her head high, long black hair curling over her shoulders like silk. Her bright green gaze scanned the tables. She passed over Shane without pause, only to snap back to him.

Magic filled the room and the hair on his forearms rose. The other people in the bar were forgotten. Only the two of them existed.