Kerry Allen

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6

“We have company.”

Nate’s low-pitched words against her ear pierced through layers of sleep and brought her to instant alert. No threat of imminent attack presented itself to her, but she trusted the guy who could hear a heart beating a quarter mile away.

He eased off the bed and picked up the gun. “Take the keys to the van. The first chance you get, run.”

She retrieved the shirt from the floor and jabbed her arms into the sleeves. A blind vampire armed with a gun he couldn’t aim didn’t stand much of a chance against a mob of genocidal zealots. “I’m not leaving you again.”

A key grated in the lock. The knob turned.

“Fine, then. Take off the shirt and draw their attention.”

Her fingers stalled over the buttons. “Are you serious?”

“If I could see, I know where I’d look.”

See the rest of “Beyond the Darkening: Chapter 7″

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

WARNING: Here there be fairly explicit sexual content. If you are a minor, have some condition necessitating avoidance of undue excitement, or possess an easily triggered gag reflex, read beyond the fold at your own risk.

Amanda returned her gaze to the road after a quick flick toward Nate. This was the third time since the diner he’d ground the heel of his hand against his left eye. Regeneration of healthy tissue would cause itching. So would a festering pocket of infection. Regardless of the prognosis, if he didn’t get relief from the discomfort, he’d cause further damage poking at the wound. He needed a doctor who specialized in vampires, sooner rather than later.

She could deliver him to his hometown hospital and the best care the Hilliard name and fortune could buy in two hours. Too bad dawn would catch up with them in about forty-five minutes, if the clock on the dashboard was correct. No amount of influence could procure a remedy for vampire sun exposure. “Can you fit in one of those coolers?”

“If you had a chainsaw, I might fit in both. Find a hotel.”

“Most hotels require credit cards as sort of a security deposit, especially when the potential guests look as disreputable as we do.”

“Most hotel employees require numerous pieces of paper money as sort of a bribe, especially when the potential guests look as desperate as we do.” He produced a wad of such currency before she could point out their lack of same. Good old Hank thought of everything. “You’re not too chicken to spend one more day with me, are you?”

Her palms grew slippery on the steering wheel at the thought of being alone with him until sunset in any space smaller than a football arena. Five little words—I like having you around—and she came dangerously close to melting right into his hands. He liked having lots of things around, like thick drapes and clean socks. She’d have to be an idiot to believe she meant any more to him than that.

See the rest of “Beyond the Darkening: Chapter 6″

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

Nate woke, instinct trained on the nearest source of blood. He crawled halfway across the room before his mind caught up with his body and reestablished command of his limbs.

He retreated to his corner and wiped the sweat from his face. Fever sped the draining of his reserves. He needed to feed soon, before he added physical damage to his list of crimes against Amanda. “You can quit holding your breath. It’s passed.”

“My offer stands. I’ll give you enough blood to get you through a few more hours.”

He raised a brow at her generosity. “Done being angry with me?”

“I hope you choke on it, but I’d rather feed you while you’re lucid than wait until you snap and attack.”

Hunger stated its preference by cramping every muscle in his body—not the worst he’d experienced, but a warning of what he had to look forward to if the deprivation lasted much longer. Feeding from her would spare him a lot of discomfort. It would also introduce a predator-prey dynamic to a relationship too fragile to survive another hit. “I can make it through another night.”

“Suit yourself.”

See the rest of “Beyond the Darkening: Chapter 5″

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

She broke her vow not to cry. She was quiet about it, but in that close, musty space, her tears smelled like spring rain, overpowering the aroma of earth and mildew and long-dead things decaying in the walls.

Nate knew the smell of her tears. He’d always hated it.

She’d been crying the first time he saw her, sitting on the sidewalk with her freshly skinned knees pulled up to her chest, sucking air in the weird reverse-sob little kids did that usually preceded an ear-shattering wail. Like any self-respecting seven-year-old boy confronted with a weeping female, he would have run in the opposite direction—if not for the blood.

Three days into a fast imposed by his father, he was experiencing hunger for the first time in his life. It nipped at him like one of his mother’s yappy little dogs. In another day or two, he knew the Big Bad Wolf would be chomping on him. A taste of blood would buy him a few agony-free hours. He might earn another week of punishment for feeding against orders, but there was a slim possibility he would get away with it under the circumstances. If the old man hated anything more than disobedience, it was waste. The blood had already been spilled. No one could begrudge him a lick.

No one except Amanda Tessler, who swatted him on the nose with a stern No! Bad vampire! before swiping her hands over her knees and smearing the remains of those precious red droplets on the front of her Barbie T-shirt.

See the rest of “Beyond the Darkening: Chapter 4″

(If your memory needs refreshing: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.)

The cab driver must have overcome his disapproval long enough to report her alleged breakdown. Why tonight, of all nights, did she have to encounter a conscientious human being?

“Thank you so much for rescuing me from that nice windowless building.”

“Dawn is hours away. There’s no need to panic.” Amanda added that last part for her own benefit, since Nate’s sarcasm suggested more annoyance than apprehension.

She fished her cell phone out of the bag to call another cab. They could drive around until midnight, when she could make another ATM withdrawal—most of which would have to go toward reimbursing the driver for hours of chauffeur service. Then they’d be right back to no cash, no transportation, and no way to contact Leo.

The phone showed a full battery bar, but no signal. She headed back toward the highway, where she’d been able to connect earlier. Time to stop deluding herself. She didn’t need a ride to the bank. She needed a car, and one wasn’t going to come into her possession through lawful means. “I’ll get us a ride.”

See the rest of “Beyond the Darkening: Chapter 3″