Forbidden Blood
Authors: R.L. Kenderson
A Forbidden Series Novel
by
R.L. Kenderson
PUBLISHED BY:
R.L. Kenderson
(Renae Anderson Au & Lara Kennedy)
Forbidden Blood
Copyright © 2014 by Renae Au and Lara Kennedy
All Rights Resereved
ISBN-13:
978-0-9904144-0-7
Cover Designer: Viola Estrella, Estrella Cover Art,
www.estrellacoverart.com
Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing,
www.unforeseenediting.com
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Next in line to lead the vampire species, Princess Naya Kensington has always abided by her royal responsibilities. At the urging of her best friend, Naya breaks the rules and crosses the line when she goes to a human nightclub. Following a chance encounter, Naya alters her life with a singular act forged from lust and blood.
Vaughn Llewelyn has secrets and obligations of his own, but he ignores them when he spots Naya across the nightclub. He wants her in a way he’s never felt before, and although he can’t possibly have more than one night with Naya, he knows no one else will do.
One night of forbidden love creates a bond that will forever change both of their lives…as well as their worlds.
For each other.
We never could have done it without one another’s motivation, tenacity, encouragement, and support.
We would like to thank our editor,
Jovana Shirley, for all her hard work and our book cover designer, Viola Estrella, for her beautiful cover design. Our book would not be the polished piece of art it is without them.
We would like to thank our beta readers, Julie Martel,
Tera Larsen, Heidi Morris, and Laura Au. The book wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have all your wonderful thoughts and input. Also, big thanks to Gary Arntzen for his editing help.
We’d like to give a special thanks to the two most important beta readers, our moms, Susan and Gay. Thank you for all your unconditional love and support and for believing in us through every step of the way. We never could’ve done it without you two.
To all the reviewers and bloggers, thank you for taking a chance on a new series by an upcoming author. You are awesome!
Also, we would like to thank our families, with specific thanks to Renae’s husband for his idea to put in the drunk’s pickup line. Thanks for channeling your inner dirty old man, Hon.
Renae would also like to thank her two beautiful children. Sorry for all those times Momma worked hard on the computer instead of playing with you. I love you both so very much, and hopefully someday you’ll be able to read what Momma and “Auntie” Lara wrote and think it was worth it.
S
HE COULD ALREADY tell it was going to be one of those nights.
Vampire Princess Anaya Kensington suppressed a groan, instead sighing heavily. The bachelorette party behind her was drunk and loud
. Their impatience was rudely on display as they pushed her toward the doors of the new nightclub. Their obnoxious presence was the last thing she needed.
Naya wanted to turn around and flee. She hadn’t even gone inside
, and already, she was full of apathy from just being there. But she remained in line, knowing her best friend was waiting for her inside. It didn’t really matter if she stayed or left because she didn’t have anywhere to go or anyplace she wanted to be. Even the thought of going home held no appeal.
Fi
nally, it was her turn to enter. She was grateful at least to escape the group of drunken, giggly females. Their ridiculous excitement over the bride’s upcoming wedding only made her feel alienated because of her own impending future. Breaking away, she spotted her friend as she stopped inside the doors of the huge space and glanced around.
Pulse had become one of the hottest spots for entertainment in the Minneapo
lis-St. Paul night scene since opening a month ago, but this was Naya’s first time at the club. The dance floor appeared full, and the booths lining the wall were occupied. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and having a great time.
Part of her envied their carefree attitudes. She angled her neck
from side to side, trying to relieve the deep ache, but nothing could remove the weight on her shoulders. Watching everyone made her realize how tired she was of feeling alone. She was restless. Humans didn’t know how fortunate they were.
Fingers snapped in her face, jarring her from her thoughts.
“Earth to Naya,” Kenzie, her best friend and human, said over the music.
Naya looked at her friend and tried to give her a sincere smile.
Naya had only agreed to come to make her friend happy. Hitting the clubs, mingling with humans, and pretending to be ordinary for the night were her stress relievers—usually. Lately though, her nights out had ended up being a disappointment because she would leave as tense as when she’d arrived.
“Naya
?”
Naya raised her brows
.
Kenzie
pursed her thin lips and clenched her hands into fists. “Why don’t you tell your parents they can shove this arranged marriage—betrothal or whatever you call it—up their asses?”
Naya shook her head. “You know I can’t do that.”
Kenzie’s chestnut eyes narrowed, but after a moment, she huffed and her shoulders relaxed. Her gaze softened. “I wish you would.” She laughed, a small smirk crossing her lips, and she wiggled her eyebrows. “At least I was able to lure you to the wrong side of the river tonight.”
Naya returned he
r smile, this one more genuine.
Most of Minneapolis and St. Paul were separated by the Mississippi
River, but one section of Minneapolis lay on both banks. Pulse had been built on both sides of the border. Kenzie didn’t approve of vampire rules, including the one where all vampires were required to live on the St. Paul side, and she savored the knowledge that she had convinced Naya to come to a place with a Minneapolis address.