Dusk’s Warriors by Emerian Rich

Vampire love. Sexy, eternal…deadly?

Experience love the vampire way with three great couples.

Julien is obsessed with a woman who has left him for a world and duties he only vaguely understands. Without her, he feels as if part of himself has been ripped away. Just think of the last time your heart was broken, and then imagine you have all of eternity to live with that intense pain.

Reidar, on the other hand, is in love with a woman he sees every day. She is always there, reminding him of her beauty, her scent, her laughter. He walks the line of keeping quiet but near her, or telling her of his unwavering love and chancing her sending him away. His heart aches with the thought of losing her.

Markham is a tortured soul. Every woman he’s ever loved has been ripped from his grasp in a horrible way. In Dusk’s Warriors, he’s all but given up when he sees a woman who is the spitting image of a love he lost in 20s to the vampire wars. Could it truly be her? Or is this new version a gift sent from heaven to fill the void he’s felt for decades? Will the guilt of his old love’s death hamper him from finding love once more?

These love affairs are captivating, addictive, and sometimes toxic. Read an excerpt of Julien/Jespa’s love affair below.

———-Excerpt of Dusk’s Warriors———-

Their mouths couldn’t connect fast enough as Julien latched on to Jespa with the force of a high-powered magnet. Before they hit the hotel suite, garments were stripped, and once inside the suite, a trail of clothes littered the floor to Julien’s room.

Not a word passed between them. Any emotions or questions they had about their time apart remained locked away in the dark corners of their minds. Primal lust took over as their bare bodies met.

Sex. Break. Thrust. Bite. Devour. Julien could think of nothing else than to have her. A mere hour later, they were too weak to go on. They had rushed everything, but their passion couldn’t be stopped.

The first words uttered were Julien’s.

“What took you so long?” He’d meant it as a joke, but the words came out in a wounded voice. Jespa lay in the crook of his arm, a lock of his white hair between her fingers.

“I didn’t know you were calling.”

“Ah.”

“Well, I did, but…I saw your prayers to me, but…it’s difficult to explain, I…couldn’t be sure…I mean…”

“No matter. You’re here now. I will never let you go again.” He kissed her forehead, brushing back her auburn hair.

“You chose this life and didn’t come with me.” Her words caused silence between them.

Julien stood, anger inside him brimming over as he gripped his fist. A knife stabbed straight through his heart. Not come with her? The box in his heart he’d put his anger in burst open.

“You didn’t tell me! How could I know?” His breathe came in fast pants as he attempted to keep control. “I didn’t know I could come with you. I didn’t know it was an option. I would have gladly…but you pushed me away. You said you had to go. I didn’t know I could follow.”

“It’s not god’s place to push the will of her subject. You were supposed to…”

“I was supposed to what? Come after you? Beg for you? You seemed so full of importance, so ready to reclaim your heavenly seat. I felt unimportant to your destiny. How could I know?”

Jespa didn’t answer. She sat up in bed, her perfect, full breasts exposed, her face void of expression.

“Miss cool. Miss under control. Nothing bothers you. There’s nothing you can’t solve with a good fight and quick wit. I’ve never seen you crack. Your body was torn to shreds and even then you were a mask of control!” His fangs extended. Only then did she show concern.

“Your fangs. They’ve returned? You’re a vampire?”

“They’ve never left! Don’t you understand? I’ve not moved on! I’m frozen in the state of despair you left me in. I’m a being without a home, without control!” He approached her, grabbing her shoulders and throwing her back on the bed.

“Julien!”

He heard her, but his blood lust had taken over. His fangs latched onto her precious skin, locked forever. Her blood was sweet, pure. It tasted like fresh whipped cream and honey.

“Julien!” Jespa screamed.

He couldn’t stop. He’d been craving her blood, her love, for longer than he could fathom. His mind told him to move, to release her, but his body would not give way.

Jespa shoved him away from her, his body as a scrap of cloth in her grip. She threw him across the room and he slammed into the wall. He sunk onto the carpet in a heap of despair.

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I…” He was no longer his composed, strong self, the one that stood gladly beside Jespa, ready for anything. He was a crumbled shell of a man whose soul had been tortured to the point of madness.

She crouched near him, pulling him into her arms. Her tender embrace felt much more like love than their earlier lustful lovemaking. She smoothed back his hair, gripping him tightly to her.

“I’m sorry I left you. I did not know what I was doing,” she said.

His voice came as a whisper. “Jespa, my love, I would follow you to Heaven. I would follow you to Hell. I’d follow you anywhere. I thought you knew. If I must beg to make you mine, I shall.”

Jespa pulled him to the bed. He was on his back and she rose over him, their hips together. She kissed him deeply. She smelled of honeysuckle and rain and he could think of no better place to be, but under her, inside her.

“Don’t ever leave me here again,” he said. “Truly, take me with you wherever you may go. I fear for a life void of you, my love. You don’t know what dark thoughts I had alone. My life up until now has been to serve a duty I never really felt was my choice. I thought I had to become Lord of Dawn to make all things right. I thought…” He swallowed. “I thought somehow if I accepted Dawn, you would be proud of me and I thought you would fight for me.” He swallowed. “It matters not. We are together now. I love you, and I’ll spend the rest of my days with you, for when you are gone, my days will be at an end.”

***

Jespa gasped as she landed on her back next to Julien. Lovemaking was glorious on Earth. Everything felt more thrilling, more real. Angels didn’t cut it. She curled in front of Julien as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her shoulder.

“You are delectable, love,” his voice rumbled in her ear.

She allowed herself to look into his mind and explore his soul. She found complete and utter devotion there. Was it true devotion or simply his infatuation with her godly presence? Did she still bewitch him enough to make him forget his own desires, or was he truly in love with her?

Give him a cup of Kingdom Tea and all your questions will be answered.

The tea. She glanced over to her jacket. Should she give the pouch a try? If he truly loved her, the tea would not dim his adoration. If he didn’t… Well, did she really want to know?

“Julien,” she said, turning to face him. “Would you really come with me, to my realm?”

“Without hesitation.” He ran his hand over her temple, smoothing back her hair.

She smiled. I have to know. Before I ask him to sacrifice his life to be with me, I must know if he is acting of his free will. She detangled from him and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“I want some tea. You want some?”

“I don’t know how you can think about tea at a time like this.” He laughed. “But yes, I would like some.”

Jespa ventured into the main room for cups and hot water. When she returned, he was sitting against the headboard. His pale skin rippled with muscles, the veins in his arms making her want to run her tongue along them. She put the cups on the side table and retrieved the tea from her jacket.

“You came prepared,” Julien said.

“This is special tea from my realm. It…”

His expression was so open and accepting. How could she drug him without his knowledge?

“Yes?”

“Well, it will let us sleep. Otherwise, I don’t think we’ll get any rest sleeping in the same bed.”

“You’re right. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

She laughed, tipping the pouch of tea equally into their cups. He took a deep breath.

“Smells glorious.” He rose the cup to his mouth and took a sip. “And tastes like blueberry or…”

“Zionberry actually.” She sat down next to him on the bed as he lifted the tea to his lips, finishing it off. He set the cup on the side table and then scooted down on the bed, a warm hand squeezing her leg.

“Julien, I love you. I probably haven’t said it enough. I do. I’ve never felt like this for anyone before. I’ve never looked to fall in love. I’ve never felt it was my place to hope for someone for myself.”

Julien’s hand went limp on her leg and she looked down. His eyes were closed and his face held a serene smile. She’d accomplished her task, she just had to wait for the outcome.

He loves you. This will prove it. After all, you drank the tea and still love him.

Jespa stood, taking the two cups to the sink in the main room.

 

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Dusk’s Warriors by Emerian Rich

Heaven has opened up and welcomed the vampires of Night’s Knights into a new reality. As they struggle to find their place in their new world, trouble brews on Earth.

Demon servant, Ridge, is causing havoc by gathering up all the souls on Earth that have been touched by immortality. When he injures one of the Night’s Knights crew, he launches a war between the vampires of Heaven, the Big Bad in Hell, and a mortal street gang of vigilante misfits.

Will Julien, Markham, and Reidar be able to defeat the evil that’s returned, or will they once again need Jespa’s help?

Praise for Dusk’s Warriors:

“All hail, the queen of Night’s Knights has returned! Emerian Rich’s unique take on vampires delights my black little heart.” ~Dan Shaurette, Lilith’s Love

“A world of horror with realistic characters in a fast paced thriller you won’t be able to put down.”

~David Watson, The All Night Library

Praise for Night’s Knights:

“Fresh, original, and thoroughly entertaining.” ~Mark Eller, Traitor

“Emerian brought the Vampire Novel back from the dead.” ~C. E. Dorsett, Shine Like Thunder

Available now at Amazon.com in print and eBook

Emerian Rich is an artist, horror host, and author of the vampire series, Night’s Knights. She is the hostess of the internationally acclaimed podcast, HorrorAddicts.net. Under the name Emmy Z. Madrigal, she writes the musical romance series, Sweet Dreams and she’s the Editorial Director for the Bay Area magazine, SEARCH. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and son.

 

 

Tagged: dusk's warriors, love, romance, sex, vampires