T. Lynne Tolles
New Adult Paranormal Romance
Date Published: June 18, 2014
A surprise visit from Blake and Devon's uncle, Dominic, demanding both vampires, come home immediately to find what is ailing his son Anton, puts everyone on edge. Can vampires get sick? Devon doesn't appreciate Dominic's demands, but agrees to fly back to Connecticut with Darby, since Blake has a job to finish up in California. Excited to meet more of Devon's family, Darby is confused by Devon's distance and coldness since Dominic's visit.
In Connecticut, this only gets worse when a gorgeous Libby, Anton's estranged wife, shows up unexpectedly and seems to have her sights set on Devon. To top it all off, there's seems to be some pent up animosity, Anton and Devon have towards each other.
What is this strange power Libby has over the men in this family? And what's wrong with poor Anton? Why does it seem that Anton and Devon hate each other? These are all questions Darby sets out to answer in this third volume of the Blood Series.
EXCERPT
Dominic smiled at her gesture and
said, “I’m sorry, miss, this is a private family matter and I just couldn’t
possibly stay. You understand, don’t you?” He said this dismissively as if
speaking to a servant; polite, but not sincere.
Darby saw that Devon
was irritated by his uncle’s rude behavior and was about to say something, when
Blake jumped out of his chair and said, “Sure, Dominic. They understand.”
He glanced at the others at the
table and gave Devon
an imploring look, all the while helping his uncle with his coat. “We’ll speak
in the front yard, Dominic. Go back to your meal, enjoy! We’ll only be a
minute,” Blake said rather apologetically to Darby still standing, stunned, in
front of her seat.
Darby looked at the rest of the
people at the table and said, “I’ll get some champagne flutes, to enjoy our
lovely gift.” She excused herself as Devon
and Blake led Dominic to the front yard.
They were almost to the black
limousine, when Dominic turned to the boys. “I’m in need of your help, boys.
Anton is terribly sick and I would like you both to come to Connecticut
“I’m very sorry Anton is sick,
but that does not excuse your…” Devon
started.
“What Devon
is trying to say, Dominic,” Blake interrupted, “is that we are not boys any
longer. We have lives here, jobs, commitments, significant others. We can’t
just up and leave.”
“Yes, I see you’ve hooked up with
a lively bunch of hooligans. Eating at a table with witches and werewolf swine.
How could you? So what, you with your Darby girl, and you with the werewolf
crossbreed creature? Both witches, I presume?”
“Yes. I am with Rowan, but you
don’t understand, Dominic,” Blake said.
Dominic’s eyes grew large. “How
despicable, boy! Didn’t I teach you anything? Didn’t you listen to a word I
told you? Your mother must be turning in her grave in shame. We are a family of
noble vampire blood. What a disgrace to your heritage. Vile. Disgusting!”
“That’s enough, Dominic. You are
wrong about werewolves, like many are wrong about vampires. You are mistaken…” Devon
defended.
“How dare you? I am a professor
of science. I most definitely am not mistaken. I saw, with my own two eyes, the
horrific act of a werewolf. They are animals, not people.”
“You’re wrong, Dominic, very
wrong. These are good and decent people. They’ve risked their lives for us on
numerous occasions…” Blake tried to explain.
“Don’t bother explaining, Blake.
He won’t change his mind. He has his view, and that is the only view he’ll ever
see,” Devon
said.
“I see your manners have been
severely degraded by the company you keep. I demand you come to Connecticut
“I’m not leaving. Not for you and
most definitely not for Anton,” Devon
said.
“Oh, grow up, boy. That was ages
ago. Let bygones be bygones already. I won’t take no for an answer. You will
both march in there, pack your things, and come home.”
“Connecticut Oljone ,
California Devon
said as he turned and headed back to the house.
“Wait, Devon ,”
Blake said. Devon
stopped and slowly turned. “Dominic, won’t you please join us for dinner. Get
to know these people. They are family to us.”
“It’s Thanksgiving. You said
yourself, Devon ,
Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for family, friends and loved ones.
Dominic and Anton are our only blood relatives.”
“Fine. You’re right, Blake, I did
say that. Dominic, would you please join us for dinner?”
“Thank you for the offer but no.
I can’t. No, I won’t sit at a table with two werewolves. I am staying at the
Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco 10:50 AM tomorrow. I
expect to see you on the plane.” He handed each of them a first class ticket.
“Whoa, wait a minute. I can’t go,
Dominic. I have to work. I have a project due, deadlines, I just can’t up and
leave,” Blake insisted.
“Fine, you will join us when you
are done with your commitments.”
“I’m not going either, Dominic.
This is my home, here with Darby. There is no love lost between Anton and me.
I’m sure he doesn’t want to see me any more than I want to see him. I’m sorry
he’s sick, but for God’s sake, he’s a vampire, he’ll heal. I’m sure he will be
fine.”
“No, Devon .
He won’t. He is rapidly declining. You must help me. I demand that you help
me.”
“You demand that I help you?
There’s nothing I can do for him. I’m not a doctor; you are. I’m a software
engineer. So is Blake. What could we possibly do for him?”
“You’re his family. You can be
his family. Maybe he will confide in you.”
“What makes you think if he
hasn’t confided in you, that he would do such a thing with me or Blake?”
“Because…you are his age. You
speak his language. You’re more understanding, like your mother.”
“Not where he’s concerned,” Devon
muttered under his breath.
“You must do this!” Dominic
yelled and turned red in the face, pounding a fist into his other hand, tears
welling in his ferociously angry eyes.
Blake said, “Hang on, now. You
both need to cool off a bit. Dominic, you’re going to blow a gasket. Relax. Devon ,
if Darby went with you to Connecticut
“If Darby were politely invited
to come, and treated appropriately, yes, I may consider going to Connecticut
“Dominic, would you be willing to
accept Darby as a guest in your home, treating her as such, for Devon ?”
He mulled this over, taking
longer than Devon
would have liked, but he reluctantly agreed.
“As long as her mutant sister
does not come. Yes, I would accept the witch as a guest in my home providing
she behaves in a proper manner.”
“What the he…” Devon
started. Blake saw he was about to blow his top and interrupted.
“See, I knew this could be worked
out. Now, would you at least join us for a glass of champagne and invite Darby
properly, Dominic?”
Dominic grumbled and nodded.
About the Author: T. Lynne Tolles
T. Lynne Tolles can be found most days, juggling one of two cat muses and a laptop, tripping over an ancient Newfoundland dog and washing a never-ending pile of laundry. When life doesn’t get in the way, she writes paranormal romances for new adults.
Her passion for witches, ghosts, and vampires together with a light-hearted wit are reflected in her loveable characters and the adventures of mystery they unravel to find their happily ever after.
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