Characters move into my head and start directing me in ways that use to be unimaginable. Allowing them control can be a bit scary but I've also learned over years permitting them freedom is a good thing! I'm working on White Blood a little each day to get it ready for a June release. Though plotted out, Cayson Covett's story took unexpected twists and turns giving me new ideas and another set of characters to play (or argue) with! I Won't Stop is practically done and it will roll out right behind White Blood in June.
Ancient
blood runs deep and it’s much colder!
Layne
Indigo’s existence abounds with extremes—men, women, his own bloodlust, and
death. Especially death. He’s a supreme stalker of not only humans but his
kind, vampires, some of which are so audacious he relishes ending their lives.
Adding to his troubles, he becomes enamored with a cunning woman who hates vamps
more than anything and Layne can’t let Emerald “Esme” Franklin out of his
sight.
Carnage
amongst both species has Layne uncertain of his ability to continue as a member
of The Triumvirate that rules over vampires. One thing he is sure of after Emerald
surrenders her virginity—Layne wants more. Until Esme belongs to him, Layne won’t
stop.
A Multicultural M/M/F
Vampire Romance
“She yanks your chain because she believes
you have no interest in her.”
“Don’t remember seeking companionship or
advice, Cayson.”
“You require someone’s counsel. Your best
friend, Julius, is busy courting your inamorata’s mother, so you’re stuck with
me.” Cay’s eyes remained glued on the couple at the bar. “Jesus.” Cayson
adjusted his cock. “Except for Jack I’d be all over that. He’s magnificent.”
Layne grunted. “You tread close to death.”
“And which would I be dying for?”
Stretching his legs, slouching further into
his seat, Layne turned to look at Cayson. Studying his protégé, the only vamp
privileged to digest his blood aside from Julius, he smiled baring sharp fangs.
“Both.”
“Hot damn, you mean a man…”
“What do you want?”
“Jack is in his office going over accounts
and we couldn’t help but feel your displeasure.” Cayson Covett’s mate, Jackson
Reynolds, owned Curtain’s Shadows as well as one with the same name an hour
away in Charlotte, South Carolina. Vampires frequented both clubs in the wake
of Jackson’s hunter cell disbanding. “Why didn’t you keep Esme in New York
until she met your criteria to be set free?”
“She missed Curtain.” Layne felt Cay
attempt to break his shield. “You know that’s not going to pan out. Ask what
you want to know.”
“I spent a lot of time at your side
learning to stalk strays and hunters.” All vampires knew Layne to be an
extraordinary stalker and he’d trained many including Cay. “Aside from Julius you
never gave a damn about what anyone wanted.”
He returned to observing the couple. “Did
you not benefit from my kindness?” Attacked by an ancient undead creature, Cay’s
lover had been near death before garnering two votes needed from The
Triumvirate to gain salvation. Cay wasted no time turning Jack who soon after admitted
his gayness along with declaring love for Cay. Both men grew up in Curtain and bore
not only sexual discrimination, they now carried another label—monster.
A different world yet prejudice still
reared its grotesque head.
“I can never thank you and Julius enough
for allowing me Jack.”
Layne had turned one vampire in his
lifetime, Julius Talmane who, before becoming one third of The Triumvirate,
made Cayson. Layne smiled recalling the exorbitant fee his friend extorted from
Cay’s racist father even though Juls would have done it for nothing. The council
needed a fledgling with compassion to temper both factions’ desire to kill.
Cayson, dying of cancer, met all requirements. He and Julius had come to care
for the young vampire whom they imbued with enough strength to conquer fiends
from either side of the equation—undead or human. “I don’t need thanks every
time we meet.”
“What do you need?” Cay searched Layne’s
face. “Why haven’t you taken her?”
“Not your business.” Why, indeed? Layne asked himself that same question every single
day since the night he snatched Emerald away from everything she knew. He
fingered a bullet hanging from a heavy chain around his neck. Fabricated from
holy wood and fired from specially made weapons, it could destroy some vamps.
Emerald had fired it at Layne after a ruckus between a hunter and some stray
vamps that interrupted a celebration a few months ago in honor of Covett
Petroleum’s newest oilrig off the coast of South Carolina. “When did you last
enter a holy place?”
“I’ve made piece regarding my relationship
with the Lord.” Cay nodded toward Layne’s hand. “I’ve wondered how you wear
that thing so close to your heart.”
“Are you afraid of it?”
“We’ve had a conversation about fear.”
“We discussed Jackson’s fear regarding his sexuality many weeks ago behind your
home. What are you most afraid of?”
“Losing Jack and living alone forever.” Cay
shrugged. “Loss of my religious ideas.”
“Why did you let your beliefs go?”
“I don’t relish dying in a church
surrounded at every turn by holy wood.”
“You only lose what you give away.”
“Not sure what the hell you’re talking
about.”
“We take life, shit, we live on human blood
but if we are to survive it’s important for our undead nation to remember we
are also children of God.”
“Layne, are you okay?”
“I’m going to rip that motherfucker’s heart out
and bury it so goddamn deep, the devil won’t find it.” Layne snapped his
fingers and vanished with the male vampire who had dared touch Emerald in tow.
Growl and roar - it's okay to let the beast out. - J. Hali Steele
My chicken usually doesn't look so pretty but today I hauled out the heavy frying pan and it definitely made a difference--arm burns included. Also, I figured if a restaurant chain can make deep fried mac & cheese I could deep fry stuffing right? And, yes, I use lard. Golden brown and yummy! Decadently delicious. Of course I spiced everything to hell and back with jalapeno, red chili, and my own mixture of suicide hot sauce which includes ghost pepper goodness (thanks Annette L.). Roquefort and bleu cheese dip includes a splash or two...or three...okay, six drops of Dave's Gourmet Insanity sauce (insanity@davesgourmet.com). Finishing it off by making salad with iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber (Aimee D.-did you say can't have a salad without cucumber?), beets, carrots, sharp provolone cheese, chopped jalapeno (can't have too much hot! *smile*) and sweet onion topped with dried edamame for crunch, and then I'll add caesar dressing. The pickled egg, made by me, is because I love 'em.
Orange slices will most likely end up in the wine which is Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot (www.wildvines.com) served chilled in an old SPCA event glass. Everyone who knows me will laugh that I haven't thrown it out considering what happened with Poppy, the tom cat... Oh well, he's in a better place (but will miss chicken bits I use to toss out to him.)
Ooh, desert--life is good and so is my dinner!
