. There are 56 blogs participating in this blog hop, which runs from 12:01 am September 15 through midnight September 18.
As with the previous blog hop, I am holding another eBook-a-day giveaway. Each day, I will be giving away an eBook (PDF format) to one lucky follower/commenter to be picked randomly via Random.org. So, without further ado, I give you today’s prize.
Death of Innocence
(Foxworth Coven Series, Book 1)
by Kayden McLeod
Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Solstice Publishing
Blurb:
Even unconditional love cannot always banish an eternal nightmare.
The Foxworth family has blazed a trail through human and vampire history alike, changing the ways of both races in Canada for all time. The Council has demanded a full report for the long and twisted tale of how the Surrey Coven had come to be the most powerful and feared; an assemblage that anyone would question before coming up against.
The Leader of the Surrey Coven, Canya recalls how her family came to be. A story filled with pain and heartache, until she meets Gregory Foxworth: a debonair CEO to the family shipping company. Gregory remembers taking her away from a life that shocks him, hoping to shelter and love her. But little does he know all he has done, was make her a target for a sadistically warped man. One who will have her and his own personal brand of vengeance. Sometimes, a grudge is
forever.
Excerpt:
I opened my eyes, becoming aware of being back in the Foxworth home, barely understanding exactly what had happened. But it wasn't long before the blissful ignorance dispelled in a violent rush.
Antonio's eyes glazed over, looking through me. When they came alive, he was too close to me, and I knew I had to get away from him.
"Canya," he said testily. "You don't understand."
"I do, all too well. I was in your head, knew what you thought," I accused.
"Not all of it." He shook himself, coming to terms with the fact I now knew what he'd done. "This is far from over. I
will see you…soon."
Knowing what it was this time, I felt power push at my skin, forcing the hairs to stand right up on end. He was having a vision of his own. But of what? Not that he would tell me anyway.
"No, it isn't," I whispered. "Not
anywhere close."
I felt him in my head, imprinting my mind in some way, while I remained helpless to stop it. I didn't know how to do the same. Not sure if I would've wanted to, even if I could.
"At the risk of sounding cliché, we will meet again—just like you said," I said with utter certainty.
Anastasia and Henry stood oblivious at Jana's side, consoling her as best they could. But Gregory was no better at reading the situation, even with hearing my words. He was obviously distracted.
The knowledge blossomed in my head, telling me only so much, the rest remaining just out of reach. My discipline wasn't up to the task of deciphering the future adequately, and I understood these random pictures for the first time.
"Oh, I know we will become good friends," he said strangely, taking his hand back from me.
I struggled to rise, but too weak to accomplish it right away. Everything stayed in slow motion around me.
Gregory helped me stand as Antonio's cocky grin turned to one of malice when Gregory wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
Antonio had killed his brother in the coldest blood possible. But I only comprehended what he had been thinking
at the time, not what had made it come to be. I really wanted to know the back story to this crime.
Not that there was a reason good enough for this. Anger whipped through me, building and prodding my sluggish consciousness. Power unlike anything I'd ever known leaked over my thoughts, energy sizzling across my skin. What was this? I remembered something my grandmother said, the legacy our ancestors had left for us. What my mother had wholly denied. But I wasn't her.
I was
me.
My skin flushed terribly hot, burning anything it touched. Gregory cried out and released me, the feeling extending to him. I jerked away from him, a frail attempt to protect him.
Antonio looked resigned, seeming to know what was about to come to pass. I hated him for that, more than anyone in my short life. The fury scored me so deeply something monstrous and just as unfeeling emerged from the depths of my mind. Unskilled and unschooled, poorly unused and unacquainted with the gifts I had to call.
It was obvious these beings could use energy from their surroundings; much like witches could and did. Vampires were just a whole other level of tiers than we were.
To touch what I was feeling right then was inconceivable, that to kill another person was possible. It was so at odds with the peace-seeking girl I once thought I'd been.
"Children, can you go play upstairs for a while, please?" I asked evenly. But by the look on Ceanna's face, I had failed to pretend our world would be okay well enough for the intelligent child to be fooled.
Ceanna took her brother by the hand and simply left. Her haunted expression shut down, looking far too much like her Father in that moment.
The Foxworth family didn't seem to conceive the threat was still present. I knew they were distraught over Corbin, and they weren't paying enough attention at a critical time.
What should I do? Antonio was a family member, same as Gregory. I had seen some sort of organization in Gregory's mind, a Coven or something of the like. I wasn't a part of that, and remained unsure how well my news would be received.
Antonito seemed to know exactly what I thought, smiling all the while. He liked my indecision, revelled in it.
How could I accuse one of the inner-circle, when I'd been barely initiated? What could I say, so they would believe me over him? My nerves were rattled, the smell of blood and death still thick in my nose, throat.
Antonio waved a discreet hand in my direction, just when I would've actually said something. I felt my throat close, until breath was near impossible.
Greg stepped forward to help me, but I gestured him back.
"You are nothing compared to what I was created as." His voice in my mind was thick with arrogance, grating on every nerve.
I hastily erected any and all mental shields I had learned in these short months with the Foxworths. It wasn't much in the face of such an entity. Air rushed into my lungs, but speech was still beyond me. He'd prevented me from warning anyone, while they all talked heatedly amongst themselves.
I raised one hand in front of my body, staring at my palm. Antonio watched with interest when energy swirled and danced at my call. A long, serrated knife appeared at my summoning, turning around in slow circles, and the sharp tip hovered so close to my skin.
I lowered my hand and the knife straightened out, pointing directly at Antonio's heart. Fury flashed in my eyes, but I knew they looked nothing like a vampire when angered, as the example before me.
Antonio seemed bored as the knife moved towards him, steady and slow. He cocked one hip, and waited patiently to see the end of whatever stunt I was pulling. He wasn't even worried enough to look into my thoughts to see my intentions. That was how little I meant to this situation.
I wasn't aware of Jana watching me, but I felt her touch my mind. She wanted to know if I was all right, never expecting the fount of information she'd find. She snarled both in my head, and out loud where no one would mistake her rage.
Then it caught like wildfire, even with the grief that seemed to muddle everyone's reflexes. In the heat of the moment, each of them caught the information one by one. They touched me to confirm, not wanting to believe it. Of course they would. Some secretly suspected as much, but never considered it possible.
And none of it affected me.
I positioned the knife to strike in the same spot as he'd first stabbed Corbin, with every ounce of power I had available, biding to strike true and hoping it did.
Antonio jerked to the side, knowing exactly when to move towards the entrance. The wicked looking blade caught him in the side, piercing, but unfortunately not life threatening.
I remembered something Gregory taught me, and hoped it worked for me. My mind imagined fire burning brightly in my palm, awaiting command. It wasn't like a spell, but forcing energy into a form I needed. It was different, almost artificial, but served every purpose I needed it for.
The fire condensed, forming a tightly-packed, glowing orb. My eyes followed Antonio while he moved toward the door as I lobbed the ball into the air, and it raced for him.
Antonio's hand shot up, and the orb skittered to a halt in midair. I felt my fire's purpose being taken from my hands, the control slipping away, and there was nothing I could do about it. My eyes locked with his in an unbalanced battle of wills.
Gregory cried out, but I barely registered it. Time slowed even further, the seconds going by in fractions around me. I turned to look back at him, the second my limited power fully gave out. He moved towards me, but I knew he would never get to me in time.
Antonio turned my energy back on me. In hindsight, I was a fool to go up against a being I'd known was far more powerful. Desperation had fuelled me.
Now it would break me.
When it hit my chest, it didn't burn as I thought it might. There was nothing but movement, feeling the wind rush around me, my body being thrown back through the air.
A loud crack sounded when I connected with the wall. The plaster from the walls rained down from above me, but I was already sliding into oblivion.
Everything else went unnoticed. The blackness moved over me, but this time its intent was much more permanent.
Death always was.
Paranormal Author, Kayden McLeod, lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. She publishes everything from erotic romance to horror, and everything in between.
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