Countdown to Netherworld IV: Animal Attraction, Excerpt 3

I made myself businesslike. “What do you want Tristan to know?”

“A number of shifters have gone missing in the last four months. Gone without a trace.”

“No sign of hide nor hair?” My quip fell flat judging from Levi’s grim expression. I sighed. “Levi, you of all people know how marginalized the weres are. You live it every day. All it takes is a scratch and some human gets Zoo Flu. Then they’re dead or furry. The majority of the time, they get ostracized. Since when is it anything new for shifters to drop out of society?”

He folded big, mouth-watering arms over his chest. “When they’re family people with steady jobs. I’m not talking about new shifters. I’m not telling you about the poor bastards who end up homeless and dumpster diving for their meals. Hell, two of my best instructors at the academy have vanished. Missing persons reports have been filed by wives and parents.”

Okay, this was serious. “How many shifters are we talking about?”

“Eight total, which I know doesn’t sound like many—” 

My mouth dropped open. “But in four months’ time, it’s a lot. I see what you mean. Tristan won’t talk to you?” 

Tristan employed a ton of people, all paras. If shifters were going missing, he would know. He had to know.

Levi rubbed the back of his neck, his expression frustrated. “When I’ve tried to set up appointments with him, his aide reminds me that he’s the head of a vampire clutch, not the alpha of a pack. She won’t give me the time of day.”

I’d had my own run-ins with Wendy and could vouch for her ability to keep people away from Tristan. “Go on.”

“I showed up at the King George tonight, hoping to catch our would-be state senator and force him to talk to me. He may not be a shifter, but he’s a para and he keeps up with everything in this town. He claims to be about all paras’ rights. Surely he’s noticed something by now.”

“If he has, I’m probably the last person he’d discuss it with.”

“I guess seeing his sister’s body roaming around with someone else in it isn’t a welcome sight?”

A spark of anger came and went, leaving depression in its wake. “Tristan tried to deal with it. He really did, but he and Patricia were too close. He can’t even tolerate being in the same room with me these days.”

Once upon a time, Tristan and I had been in love. We’d been in an uncomfortable triangle, he, Dan, and me. I’d been ready to give up Dan for Tristan when I’d been pulled into this weird half-time life in Patricia Keith’s body. 

Levi pulled me out of my morose musings. “I need some help here, Brandilynn. Even the smallest tidbit of information might be worth something. The cops have nothing. As much as I hate to admit it, Tristan’s my only hope.”

I sighed. I didn’t want to talk to my ex. But eight shifters in four months ... this was a big deal. If Fulton Falls’ champion of para rights didn’t know what was going on, he needed to.

“I’ll try. I’ll talk to Tristan and the others.” 

“Great. Here are pictures of my instructors.” Levi handed me some shots, obviously the agents’ federal identification photos. I looked them over. A weregator and werehog, both men, both late thirties, early forties. Strong and proud. They sure didn’t look like people who would up and leave with no warning.

Releasing Friday, January 29

Don't forget, the first book of the Netherworld series Drop Dead Sexy is available in ebook format for 99 cents until February 1 at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and All Romance.

 

Countdown to Netherworld IV: Animal Attraction, Excerpt 2

“I never would have pegged you for a cat person, Brandilynn.”

The amused voice cut through my quieting emotions. In an instant Gerald and I were on our feet, alerted predators ready to take on whoever had dared to encroach on our territory.

I relaxed with an inward groan as I recognized the interloper. Levi Ward. Great. As if things weren’t screwy enough, I’d been caught banging Gerald by the werewolf federal agent who also had the hots for me.

I self-consciously covered my naughty bits with my arms. I tried to hide my discomfort by glaring in defiance at Levi. “What are you doing here, Bane?”

Our intruder identified, Gerald eased up and adjusted his clothing. His had come through our amorous encounter in dirty but otherwise decent shape. He eyed Levi with overt warning. The men had never met, but Gerald knew the story.

I delighted in Levi’s scowl. I’d called him Bane. He hated the name he’d been given when working undercover with a criminal motorcycle gang. I use it every time he ticked me off.

Levi Ward ticked me off quite often.

His golden gaze turned to Gerald, sizing him up. Levi was almost as muscled and every bit as handsome as the werepanther. His mouth was more pronounced, a definite though slight muzzle. His golden-brown eyes were riveting. His dark hair was shot with gray, the color of his wolf. The way his black tee shirt stretched across his defined chest would make a nun scream for strength. Jeans clung lovingly to carved thighs.

Seeing him and Gerald put evil thoughts in my head. My libido, still enlivened by Gerald’s blood, perked up yet again. I firmly shut it down. Levi was never, ever on the menu. I made that mistake once and vowed never to do it again.

Unfortunately Levi was one of those for whom the word ‘no’ translates to ‘maybe if you keep trying’. He looked me up and down with unconcealed interest as he said, “I came looking for you. Dan Saling sent me.”

“Dan? Try again, dog breath. You can’t see ghosts.” I let go of my glamour to show off my fangs. 

Gerald sighed and picked up the full bottle of BP9 he’d dropped when I’d jumped him. Most had spilled, but about a quarter of it was left. He shoved it in my direction. “Don’t provoke her, Wolf Boy.”

Levi frowned at him as I shook my head, indicating I didn’t need the juice. The agent asked him, “What’s the matter, kitten? Can’t handle Ms. Payson?”

“I’d say I handled her fine, pup. Now shut up before she decides to take a bite out of you. I won’t stand in her way for that part, but you better believe you won’t get a taste of her after she’s done tasting you.”

I didn’t like how this conversation was shaping up for several reasons. I gave the two shifters angry eyes as I said, “Why don’t you both settle down? I’m not territory to be marked.”

Levi took a good look at me, this time keeping his gaze above neck level. For an instant his gold eyes glowed. The shine faded and he nodded to Gerald in grudging respect. “Don’t provoke. Check.” He drew a deep breath and addressed me again, his tone a good deal more polite. “Dan relayed his message through that psychic who hears the dead. Lana?”

That didn’t help my temper one bit. What was Dan thinking, sending Levi here to see me? He knew how badly things went when I worked on flying. He knew what situation Levi might stumble on.

Releasing Friday, January 29. 

Don't forget, the first book of the Netherworld series Drop Dead Sexy is available in ebook format for 99 cents until February 1 at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and All Romance.

Shalia's Diary Monday Post

Catching up with the clans. http://shaliasdiary.blogspot.com/

Countdown to Netherworld IV: Animal Attraction, Excerpt 1

For ghost Brandilynn Payson, there is no such thing as resting in peace. Trapped in a vampire’s body during the night much to the horror of those surrounding her ... particularly her former sweetheart Tristan ... she struggles to cope with an afterlife that keeps getting more complicated.

Even with her one true love Dan and werepanther Gerald helping her, Brandilynn struggles to find her way. As she deals with a body that desires more than just blood, Brandilynn must also come to terms with her former lovers triangle and the new unwanted one that has come about. Plus she must now face a member of her family who cast her aside.

Worse still, the town’s shifter population is disappearing without a trace. As if her afterlife isn’t crazy enough with personal failure and heartbreak, an unspeakable threat menaces Brandilynn’s friends and family.

Being a vampire is tough. Keeping those she loves alive is even tougher.

Contains elements of BDSM.

 

Red hazed my vision. Anger dripped acid in my brain, melting any sanity that lived there. Hatred for my condition exploded from my non-beating heart until every fiber of my body quaked with it. I tore clods of soil from the ground, wanting to claw the world apart.

I saw movement at the corner of my eye. I sensed warmth, smelled life. Without thought, I launched myself at it, mouth gaping wide open.

Shifters are fast. Vampires are faster. Gerald had no time to reverse course or put up a defense.

I had him by the throat in less than a breath. My mouth filled with heat, the only heat I could feel in this body. The thick fluid spilling from the rent I’d torn in the werepanther’s flesh fairly sang against my tongue. All conscience fled as I drew on the man I’d toppled to the ground.

What does it feel like to feed on real live blood? The best way I could describe it would be the elation of Christmas morning, graduation, and your wedding day all rolled into one. It’s joy so incredible that it can’t be contained. 

My whole being warmed as I filled with that sweet elixir. My stolen heart thumped once, twice, and then pounded against my sternum. I drew breaths between swallows. I was alive again. Alive! And more alive than when I’d lived in my own body. I felt hyperaware of everything, particularly the man lying beneath me.

Patricia had been a long, lithe gal, elegantly slender without veering into skinny territory. With her body I draped lightly over the behemoth werepanther giving me a small taste of animation. My breasts, lovely teacup mounds, mashed against the concrete swells of Gerald’s heaving chest. The tops of my thighs cradled within his hips.

My pussy throbbed to life, as it always did when I attacked Gerald. Live blood made my entire being want to celebrate every possible sensation of warmth ... especially that of sex.

As I continued to suck hungrily at Gerald’s throat, I tore at his fly. He helped, shoving his jeans down as soon as he was able. His cock matched the rest of him: big and swollen. 

He was eager as always. Sometimes I thought he didn’t put up much of a fight on purpose. Not because he knew he’d lose, but because he wanted to lose. Gerald had suffered an unrequited love for Patricia when she was still with us. With no hope of winning her, he contented himself with being her bodyguard and protector. The man definitely had a knight-in-shining-armor complex when it came to his former charge.

Having sex with me in Patricia’s body was the closest he could come to being with his lost love. Plus sex with a feeding vampire was supposed to be as good for the victim as it is for the bloodsucker. At any rate, Gerald showed no hesitation when I ripped open the slacks and panties I wore and plunged down on his avid cock. His hips bucked upward, spearing deep into me.

My senses rioting, I came on the spot. My pussy clenched hard around the thickness within, pulling as hard on the flesh as my mouth did on Gerald’s throat. Now all was elation, 4th of July fireworks, and a New Year’s Eve celebration. 

Releasing January 29

DON'T FORGET! The first book of the Netherworld series Drop Dead Sexy is available in ebook format for 99 cents until February 1 at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and All Romance.