D. Reynolds: Aden

Down below, only one Council member still remained apart, his lip curled in disdain as he skirted the boisterous group and went directly into the conference room, his lieutenant behind him. Enrique Fernandez del Solar had ruled over Mexico for more than two hundred years and seemed determined to stay there for another two hundred. He was the only remaining member of the old guard on this Council, other than Raphael himself. But Raphael saw the future, while Enrique was more likely to dwell in the past. And that made him a potential breaking point for the entire continent. He would never agree to work with the others, and so he had to go.

Raphael knew things about Enrique’s territory that he doubted even the old vampire lord knew, not least of which was that the loyalty of his lieutenant, Vincent, was no longer as staunch as it should be. Vincent had been lieutenant nearly as long as Enrique had been lord. But the Mexican vampires were increasingly frustrated by Enrique’s iron rule, by his unwillingness to change, and Vincent was the focal point for that restlessness.

Unfortunately for Enrique, Vincent was about to discover a truth that would push his loyalty to the very brink. In fact, Raphael was betting the discovery would tip Vincent right over the edge, and that Enrique’s lies would finally be his downfall.

“Are you going to tell them about the letter?”

Raphael’s mouth curved into an automatic smile at the sound of Cyn’s voice behind him. She stepped up to his side, and he slipped an arm around her waist, leaning down to breathe in the scent that was hers alone.

“Not yet,” he murmured, answering her question.

“You don’t trust them?”

“Not all of them.”

Cyn studied the group as he had, her gaze sharpening when she caught a glimpse of Enrique through the open doors as he settled into a chair against the far wall.

“Enrique?” she whispered.

Raphael nodded.

“Anything we can do about it?”

He smiled in amusement and hugged her closely. “Even I can’t control everything, my Cyn. But there are events moving even now that I suspect will see a new Council member joining us soon.”

“My lord?” Jared’s deep voice drew Raphael’s attention to the fact that all of the other lords had disappeared into the conference room and taken their seats.

Raphael bent to brush his lips against Cyn’s. This meeting was for the lords and their lieutenants only. One lord, one lieutenant. He could have taken Cyn instead of Jared. No one would have questioned him. But Jared needed to know that Raphael trusted him, and so did the others. Jared had a role to play before this was over, and he would need all of his confidence if they were to survive.

So, he kissed Cyn and said, “I’ll see you shortly.” He let his hand slide down her back and over the curve of her hip as he stepped away.

She nodded, seeming to understand, and he thanked whatever fate had brought her to his side. They would all need people they could rely on in the coming months, people who would stand by them and not flinch in the face of danger.

But he would need Cyn more than ever.

To be continued . . .

in VINCENT

(Please continue reading for more information about D.B. Reynolds)

This book is dedicated to Linda Kichline, the heart and soul of ImaJinn Books, who left us well before her time on earth should have been over. It was Linda who looked at my Vampires and saw what they could be. When every other editor was telling me my vamps were too violent or that the story didn’t follow some mythical formula, Linda read the first few chapters and said, “I love it!” From the beginning, it was her skill and generosity that made my books possible. She was my friend, and I will miss her.

I want to thank Debra Dixon and everyone at both BelleBooks, Inc. and ImaJinn Books who stepped in to get Aden’s story out to my readers on time, and to Patricia Lazarus for bringing Aden to life on his cover.

A very special note of thanks to Karen Roma for her generous contribution to Brenda Novak’s Auction for Diabetes Research and for lending me her wonderful son Kristopher, a.k.a. Kage, so that he could not only fight at Aden’s side, but also create such beautiful art on Aden and all of his vamps.

As always, I owe sincere gratitude to my friends and critique partners, Steve McHugh and Michelle Muto, for their help in making everything I write sound (and read) better. They’re both wonderful writers, and I’m lucky to have them in my corner—check out their books on Amazon, you won’t be sorry you did. Thanks also to everyone in the Misfit-Rebel Alliance for keeping me sane when the yard gremlins wrecked my sprinklers and flooded half my house. Rebel love all around.

More thanks to John Gorski, my go-to source for everything I need to know about guns and sharp pointy things. Thank you to Zainab Mulla (and her sister-in-law) for their help with Arabic, as well as to the anonymous participants in the several online forums where we discussed the variety and appropriateness of the many different Arabic endearments.

Endless thanks to all of my readers who make it possible for me to tell my stories and do what I love. And finally thank you to my Darling Husband and my very big family for all of their love and support in everything I do. I love you all.