Donât miss the other spooky and sensual NOCTURNE BITES, available at www.millsandboon.co.uk and wherever eBooks are sold. Titles include:
A Vampireâs Mistress by Theresa Meyers
Vampireâs Tango by Michele Hauf
Her Dark Lord by Mel Teshco
Time Jumper by Connie Hall
The Prophecy by Nina Croft
Lured by Lori Devoti
Moon Marked by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
His Magic Touch by Cynthia Cooke
The Bewitching Hour by Vivi Anna
The Vampireâs Desire by Alexis Morgan
Moon Shadow by Jenna Kernan
The Secret Vampire Society by Lisa Childs
Looking for more paranormal romance? The sizzling and spine-chilling books of Silhouette Nocturne are available at www.millsandboon.co.uk or your local bookstore.
Interested in writing for Nocturne Bites? Send your submission to [email protected]
âHeâs here somewhere. Find him!â
Rand Wilder stood silent in the desert darkness. Despite the moonless night, his enhanced vision allowed him to see the six vampires hunting for him.
The thump of music from the run-down highway bar nearby sounded like a heartbeat in the night. The lights of Las Vegas shimmered in the distance. The warm desert air brushed over him.
As did the vampiresâ energies, prickling over his skin and pulsing under his heart.
Anaharta. Vampires ruled by the heart chakra. And ones whoâd let their energy course out of alignment.
Unbalanced vampires were Randâs favorite prey.
âCome out, come out.â The tallest vampire spun in a slow circle. âWe know youâre here, hunter.â
One of the vampires came closer, his feet kicking up the coarse desert sand. Randâs hand tightened on his stakeâa shaft of pure titanium. The vampireâs jagged energy was evident in the creatureâs jerky movements.
Come on, just another inch. Rand waited. His career as a vampire hunter had taught him patience. Against unbalanced rogues, it was his greatest weapon.
The vampire paused, lifting his pretty face to the star-scattered sky. It seemed a cosmic joke that such powerful, vicious beings were so beautiful. No doubt the Indian vampire goddess Kali had laughed when sheâd created the first of her children thousands of years ago.
Vampires were ruled by the energy coursing through their chakrasâenergy they got from blood. Over time it improved their skin, trimmed their bodies and smoothed out their features.
But it didnât hide their rotten insides.
Dark memories of his fatherâs blood running like a river across the floor twisted through Rand. A man whoâd dedicated his life to protecting the innocent hadnât deserved to be tortured to death.
Rand tried to recall his fatherâs deep voice and booming laugh, but the sounds were lost to him. His heart thumped hard against his ribs. Time, and the blood of all the vampires heâd killed, had dulled his memories.
Now he knew only rage and death.
The vampire inched closer, unaware his executioner stood within a breath of him. Rand thrust out his arm.
The stake sank into the vampâs heart, the executed seeing no more than a blur of shadow. He didnât make a sound as he crumpled to the sand.
Using his speed, Rand attacked the two closest vampires. They, too, died in silence.
âWhat the hell?â
âAlban and Jago are down!â
âWhere is he?â
The frenzy of panicked voices echoed through the dark. Again Rand waited.
âItâs The Darkness,â one of the vampires moaned.
It was the name the vampire community had given Rand many years ago. The darkness hid him, was a part of him, one of his many hunter skills. He came from it when the vampires least expected him. It also filled his soul.
Long nights in the darkness had taught him that to fight the monsters, he had to become the monster.
But killing when he couldnât be seen was hardly a challenge. He wanted the fight to be personal. He wanted to see their fear, smell their terror, hear their ragged heartbeatsâ¦and if he got too closeâ¦well, it wasnât like there was anyone whoâd miss him.
He strode forward, coming out of the dark like the predator he was.
âSo, finally I meet The Darkness.â The tall vampire stood flanked by his two remaining followers. His voice was composed, but his fear stained the air.
Rand didnât say anything. He didnât talk to those he executed.