Immortal Destiny Book 4 Update

Hello and Happy Holidays to all.

I love the holidays but they sure keep you busy. Though December has been chaotic, I am happy to announce that the final book of the Immortal Destiny Series is ready for release. Tears of the Vampire should be available for purchase from Amazon and Barnes and Noble no later that Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Lorraine Kennedy

Tears of the Vampire Immortal Destiny Book 4

Eternal love and unrelenting passion. This is what Kathrina finds in the arms of an ancient vampire. Unfortunately, dark and dangerous takes on a whole new meaning with this vampire lover, especially for Kathrina. He needs her blood.

Kathrina is the third immortal sister and she has possession of the Book of Anu, the journal of the world’s oldest and most powerful vampire. While reading this journal she becomes obsessed with the vampire and determined to find out who he is, but she doesn’t have to look far. The vampire is much closer than what she realizes. He has heard the calling of her blood and has come to claim what is his, but neither of them is prepared for the uncontrollable passion that is unleashed when they come together.

Kathrina is convinced that the information in the journal can help the immortal sisters defeat their uncle and win the final battle between good and evil, but what she doesn’t know is that there is an evil at work that is far more powerful that anything she could ever have imagined. Their only hope may be her vampire lover and the secrets he has kept from the world since the dawn of mankind.

Immortal Destiny Book 3 – Wolves and Black Roses

Copyright 2011 Lorraine Kennedy

A love triangle is complicated enough, but when it involves a werewolf and a vampire, it can get downright scary.

Summer Gray Eagle’s fate has always been tied to the immortal sisters, but in ways that she could never have imagined. College girls are dying in a series of bizarre murders. Summer is caught up in helping the police catch the killer when her girlhood crush shows up to take her home to her groom, and a prearranged marriage that she is set against. Summer has loved Anton since she was a young girl, and she is determined to entice him into falling in love with her long before she ever makes it to the altar.

Unfortunately, Summer runs into a number of problems. Anton just happens to be a werewolf, and she is about to become the obsession of a gorgeous but sinister vampire. Summer is about to enter a world of passion and danger that will change her life forever.

Wolves and Black Roses Excerpt

She was entombed in darkness - a darkness so complete that nothing existed beyond that black void but her own poisonous thoughts and fears. The rapid pounding of her heart was like a relentless hammer beating against her chest. 

How long had she been here?

Terror had been her constant companion - its grip so tight that she no longer knew what it felt like to not be afraid.

She could hear movement above the pounding of her heart. Something scurried across the floor and brushed up against her leg.

Summer put a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. She dare not make any noise for fear that she would wake them. For now they lay rotting in their coffins - unaware of her and her terror.

There was another sound - a creaking. It came from the direction of where the coffins were lined up against the cold - gray wall.

Something came out of the darkness to brush up against her hair. Her mind exploded with panic, and she scrambled up the steep stairs to the opening of the tomb.

Pounding and digging at the door, she could no longer contain her terror and she began to shriek.

The heavy door creaked and groaned as it was pulled open. For so long the darkness had stolen her sight, that now even the moonlight was blinding.

She could see only a looming shadow that grew as it moved toward her.

He stood there on the stone steps, a silhouette against the moonlight streaming in from the open door of the tomb. His dark eyes resonated an inner light - the light of the immortal.

Screaming, she backed away.

“Come my love,” he said, holding out his hand to her.

His eyes pulled at her - forcing her body to move against her will. She placed her hand in his and he led her out of the tomb.

The vision of the gravestones bathed in the light of the full moon was surreal - eerie, but she was aware of only one thing - her captor.

Drawing her down into the grass, he positioned himself above her. She felt the chill of his touch on her legs.

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, as well as other online retailers.

Seducing the Wolf Excerpt

Short Story
Rating: Sizzling - Very detailed sexual encounters with graphic language that some may find offensive. Some graphic violence.
The wolf’s hunger is insatiable, and Emma is what he craves most of all. Ten years ago a stranger saved Emma’s life, and when he kissed her, he awoke a yearning that no other man can satisfy. Every year she comes back to her hometown in the Ozark Mountains, looking for Jeremiah, the legend of Lightning Ridge. The locals say he is a werewolf that lives deep in the mountains, but no one has ever seen him … that is except Emma.

Emma knows that the legend of Lightning Ridge is true … and she intends to find Jeremiah, but when she does, she may not be prepared for the hunger that consumes him.

Excerpt

Frantically she grabbed for low-lying branches, struggling against the wind. The storm had come out of nowhere - bringing with it, plummeting rains and wind.

When the first streaks of lightning illuminated the sky, Emma had known it was time to start back down the mountain, but when she’d tried to cross the bridge, it had been there … waiting. Since she’d crossed the river earlier, the wolf had been trailing her. It had kept to the shadows of the trees … watching. She’d gotten a brief glimpse, but it had quickly slipped out of sight into the thicket.

The wolf had made no threatening moves toward her … until now. It stood in the middle of the bridge, blocking her escape. Even over the wind she could hear its angry - hungry growls.

She would have to get across the river to get back down the mountain, and soon too. The river could wash the bridge away at any moment.

The large wolf took a step in her direction and Emma froze in place, not daring to move … barely able to breathe. Baring its teeth, the animal lunged toward her, but just at that moment there was a deafening crack and the bridge gave way to the rain swollen river.

The raging current pulled her under, but she managed to fight her way to the surface. Emma could feel sharp teeth biting at her clothes. The icy water closed off her breath, and her vision blurred until she could see nothing but darkness.

In her next moment of awareness, she was choking and gasping for air. When she could finally make her lungs work, Emma realized that she was no longer in the water, but resting on the riverbank. The rain had letup, but the wind still howled - drowned out by an occasional peal of thunder.

Instinctively Emma knew she wasn’t alone. She felt his presence close by.

A streak of lightning ripped across the darkened sky, illuminating the figure that stood over her. He was large, easily over six feet.

“Jeremiah!” she gasped.

The man continued to stare down at her, but said nothing.

“I’ve come to help you.”

He reached out to take her hand and pull her to her feet. “I’ve taken you to the other side of the river … you can now get off the mountain.”

Now that Emma was standing, she could see him more clearly. The wind whipped at his long hair, creating an ethereal image. He had one of the most handsome faces she’d ever seen, but it was his eyes that held her transfixed. They were almost gold in color, and seemed to glow, as if they held a light of their own. Glancing down, she became aware that he wore no clothing.

Emma gasped - not because he had no clothes, but because he was pure perfection. He was lean and hard, so much so that she could actually see the contours of his muscles beneath his skin as he moved.

A predator!

That’s what came to mind as she watched him. She was in awe of his graceful movements, and those eyes - so haunting - so mesmerizing.

Though she tried, Emma couldn’t help but take just a quick peek at what hung between his legs. At the sight of his abundant male endowment, she felt her heart skip a beat.

Emma looked away quickly so that he wouldn’t guess what she’d been thinking. “Jeremiah, I know it’s you. Please let me help you,” she pleaded.

Without warning, he pulled her into his arms. Her body trembled as his mouth came down on her lips. His tongue sought hers, and as he kissed her, an explosive energy seemed to engulf them.

She swayed on her feet when he released her.

“You can’t help me,” he told her before turning and walking away.

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, as well as other online retailers.

Book 4 Immortal Destiny Series

The fourth book in the Immortal Destiny series is coming along great so hopefully it should be ready before the end of the year. Wolves and Black Roses will also be available in paperback in December. I want to thank all my readers for being so patient.

Finally Back Online

Hello Everyone

I need to apologize for the long delay since my last post. I was in the middle of a move and there was just so much more work involved than what we had anticipated. I’ve just now reached the point where I can do more than just check my email. Unfortunately this means that there will be a delay in the release of the last book in the Immortal Destiny Series, but I hope to have the fourth book available before the end of the year.

Busy Summer

It has been such a busy summer. Not only am I working on the last book of the Immortal Destiny Series, but our family has had weddings galore this year, and I am packing to move. Thankfully things are moving along fairly well, and once we are settled in I hope to be able to update this blog a lot more frequently. I anticipate releasing the last book in the Immortal Destiny Series by the end of October, if everything goes smoothly.

With the little spare time I’ve had, I have been watching old episodes of the X Files. I used to love that program and hope that they make another feature movie for 2012.

Excerpt - Night Breed Immortal Destiny Series Book 2

Chapter One

When she inhaled, the heat scorched the tender flesh of her throat and lungs. Flames leaped at the thick fabric of her skirt. Soon her clothes would catch fire and sear the flesh beneath the fabric. She could already feel the heat, but she refused to cry out. Staring out at the crowd gathered around her, she mentally cursed all that were present. Their bloodthirsty eyes gazed in her direction, waiting for the instant that she would take her last breath.
He stood apart from the crowd, hidden in the shadows. She did not need to see him, she knew who he was. Even now, she could hear his dark whispers promising her immortality, if she would accept his poisonous kiss.
Her skirt caught fire. The flesh of her legs sizzled and blistered - the excruciating pain quickly chasing away her will to live.
“Burn witch … burn!” The crowd chanted over and over.
“May God have mercy on your soul.” The clergyman’s voice was weak, drowned out by the angry - unforgiving crowd.
Gasping for air, Sarah’s eyes flew open. The blankets were tangled around her legs, and for a brief moment she panicked, believing that she was still tied to the wooden stake. She frantically tore away the blankets so that she could examine her legs for burns, but there was no evidence of the blisters that had been there in her nightmare.
Taking a deep breath, she fell back into her pillow and closed her eyes.
It was stress. She had been under too much stress. The last week of spring semester had been hell and now the stress was catching with her.
With that thought in mind, Sarah tried to drift off to sleep. Just as she started to relax, the double windows burst open and a strong wind blew through the room. She sat up and stared in the direction of the windows. The wind tore at the lavender curtains, shredding one panel and nearly pulling it off the curtain rod.
Slipping out from beneath the covers, Sarah went to the window. The full moon was obscured by the storm clouds that had gathered over the sea.
“Saraaah,” a faint voice called out to her from the dark.
Sarah held her breath, waiting to see if she would hear the voice again.
Had it been her imagination?
“Saraaah.” The soft male voice seemed to drift on the wind.
Leaning out the window, she peered into the darkness below but could see no one. Nothing seemed out of place in her aunt’s perfectly manicured gardens. Another burst of wind drove her back from the window.
Pushing against the gale, Sarah forced the window closed. Giving up on sleep she slipped on her robe. Maybe if she did some reading she could relax enough to fall asleep.
Just as she came to the conclusion that she hadn’t really heard anything at all, the windows again few open.
“Saraaah.” The whispering voice seemed to be one with the wind.
Stepping to the window, Sarah was startled when she saw a figure lurking in the shadows. The man stood near the hedge maze, not in full sight, but not exactly hiding. He stared up at her - a strange light burning in his eyes.
He was beautiful, but dark. Even from where she stood at the window she could feel the danger. A sense of foreboding settled around her like a heavy cloak. Sarah’s first thought was that it was her time and the angel of death had come for her. Then she thought that he might be a dark specter - a lost soul searching for the light.
Even before the thought had completely formed, she could feel his amusement at what she was thinking. He was not an angel of any kind, but he was there for her. Sarah’s sixth sense picked this up so strongly that it took her breath away. She tried to back away from the window, but her legs had a will of their own and she could not get them to move.
Then she was no longer seeing the garden. She was seeing his face, staring at her - angry, but he seemed to be pleading with her. She was lying on a bed, wrapped in his arms. He was pleading with her for something - something that she could not bring herself to do. The vision was more like a memory that she just could not completely grasp. For a brief instant, she felt compelled to go to him - to touch him.
As soon as the thought entered her mind, she banished it - slamming the door on it as if the very idea was too terrifying to contemplate. The dark figure bowed to her and then disappeared into the darkness.

* * * *

Darrien walked away.
It would have been easy to rise upon the winds and take her from the window - to steal away her last breath and extract the life force that flowed through her veins, but he couldn’t do it. Not yet.
The sight of her standing at the window was tantalizing. The way the wind blew through her long - auburn hair, and the way her silk nightgown fluttered behind her like the wings of an angel had stirred a desire deep within him. The image was enchanting, enflaming his hunger - his lust for blood, and his lust for something more. He could have taken her then, if not for the intrusion of the memories - memories that he had banished long ago. The pain of those memories was fresh once again, and it brought out the anguish that festered in his soul.
But why?
Why was he thinking of her now?
He had a job to do.
Darrien had discovered a long time ago, that for the vampire, nothing mattered but the moment, at least if you wanted to remain sane.
His thoughts returned to the girl. She had resisted his calling, but she would not hold out for long.

* * * *

Sarah descended the long - spiral staircase to the first floor. The scent of breakfast made her stomach growl. When she entered the kitchen, Aunt Jeanie was standing at the stove, flipping pancakes.
As usual, her aunt was wearing her red hair in a bun on top of her head and a loose fitting black dress. “I hope you’re hungry. I’ve made you a huge breakfast.”
“Thank you auntie.” Sarah kissed her cheek.
Sarah looked around the large kitchen as if she was seeing it for the first time. She had been away at school for most of the year, and the one thing that she’d missed most about home was Aunt Jeanie’s kitchen. The kitchen’s large windows let in an abundance of morning sunshine. During the warmer months, they would often eat breakfast with the windows open so they could enjoy the tangy sea air.
“Have a seat.” Jeanie placed a plate full of pancakes on the table.
Sarah sat down and took a bite. Though the food was delicious, she barely tasted it. Finally Jeanie heaved her heavy frame into the chair across from her.
“What’s on your mind Sarah? You have been playing with your food more than eating it.”
“There was a man … or something … standing in the garden last night.”
Aunt Jeanie drew her brows together. “What do you mean, or something?”
“I don’t think he was human.” Sarah set her fork on her plate. She couldn’t get another bite down until she figured out who or what had called her to her window in the middle of the night.
“I don’t know. He almost didn’t seem real, and his eyes had this … strange light in them, but I don’t think he was a ghost either.”
Aunt Jeanie stared at her, a look of shock spreading across her face. “A light in his eyes you say?”
Sarah nodded. “Whoever he was, there was something dark about him.”
“Hmm, well you stay clear of him.”
“Is he real … or something else?” Sarah asked.
Growing up in Aunt Jeanie’s house, she’d become accustomed to things being a little strange. The Fabre family had practiced witchcraft for centuries, and Aunt Jeanie was no different. Sarah had been able to see spirits since she was a child, but she could usually tell if the person she was seeing was living or dead.
“Oh he’s probably real enough,” Jeanie said, as she got to her feet and started cleaning up breakfast.
“Well?” Sarah wanted her aunt to continue, but it appeared as if Jeanie had said all that she intended to say on the matter.
“The summer solstice is this month.” Jeanie gave her a wink. “Maybe we’ll pick up this conversation after that.”
Sarah leaned back in her chair and folded her arms in front of her. “I’m not so sure I’ll be going.”
“Oh fiddlesticks! Of course you’re going.” Jeanie waved the suggestion away as if it were the most absurd thing she’d ever heard. “You are probably one of the most talented of the Fabre women in generations, why wouldn’t you join us?”
“Maybe I just want normal! I’ve never had normal until I went away to school. Everyone in this town thinks we are freaks. The Sutter Point witches!” Sarah scowled.
“Normal is far too overrated,” Jennie assured her.
Sarah decided it was best to drop the subject for now. Later she would talk with her aunt about moving to Portland permanently. There was time. She still had a couple of years before she’d get her degree.

* * * *

Sarah stood beneath the large - wraparound porch and stared out at the ocean. The sound of the surf crashing against the rocks was soothing and exhilarating at the same time. If she moved away, she would miss waking in the morning and listening to the sea just outside her bedroom window. But could she survive if she didn’t?
Sutter Point was a dark shadow that hovered over her life, but when she’d gone away to Portland to attend the university, that shadow had been lifted. It wasn’t Aunt Jeanie’s fault. Jeanie was the sweetest aunt ever. No, it was because no one knew her in Portland - no one knew of the Fabre witches.
Closing her eyes, Sarah thought of the day that she’d come to live in Sutter Point. Though it was long ago, she could still remember it as if it were yesterday. Her mom’s green eyes - misty with tears, and how she’d knelt down to tell Sarah goodbye.
“I’ll be back soon peanut,” Beth told her, kissing her daughter’s forehead.
Sarah shook her head. “I want to go with you mommy! Don’t leave me!”
“You’ll love your Aunt Jeanie,” Beth assured her. “Jeanie and I … we would have such fun as girls. We would sneak treats in the middle of the night and go sit on the beach. The two of us would spend hours just talking. Jeanie was my best friend … and she’ll be your best friend too.”
“But mom, I just want to stay with you!” Sarah whimpered.
Beth smiled. “I know you do sweetheart. But where I’m going would be much too dangerous for a little girl.”
Her mother had never come back for her. Aunt Jeanie had done her best to ease Sarah’s hurt and anger at being abandoned by her mother, but the pain had never really gone away.
Day after day, Sarah would ask about her mother, but Aunt Jeanie never had any answers for her. She could tell that it was nearly as painful for her aunt as it was for her, so eventually Sarah had quit asking. She loved Aunt Jeanie and didn’t want to cause her grief, but the pain still festered in Sarah.
Why hadn’t her mom come back for her?
Sarah opened her eyes, willing the memory away.
From behind, she heard Aunt Jeanie clearing her throat. Sarah turned to look at her.
“Are you okay honey?” Jeanie asked.
Sarah forced a smile to her lips. “Yes, I’m fine auntie.”
“Well okay.” Jeanie didn’t seem convinced. “Do you feel up to digging some clams for dinner?”
“Sure. I’ll get on it now,” Sarah promised.
Jeanie stared at the sinking sun. “Just hurry. You don’t want to be out after dark.”

Excerpt - Born to Darkness Book 1 Immortal Destiny Series

Chapter One

Through the haze of smoke, Nicole looked at the man that she had been sent to find. Beneath the red and blue lights of the stage, he appeared ethereal - almost dreamlike. His fingers played across the strings of the guitar so fast that her eyes could not detect movement.
The music vibrated through the room. To listen to it was to be pulled into a world of enchantment where reality blended with fantasy. Nicole felt her heart beating faster, as the notes he played filled the small nightclub.
Until that moment he had been looking down as he played, but abruptly he lifted his head to peer out at the crowd. His eyes came to rest on Nicole. His icy - blue eyes locked with hers. As he stared at her, he seemed to look right into her soul. His dark hair fell in waves around his shoulders - glistening beneath the glare of the lights.
His black clothing hugged his muscular frame, leaving little to the imagination. Not that Nicole would let her imagination get away with her. After all, she was here on business. Even as his gaze drew her in and she felt the first prickles of pain behind her eyes, she had to keep reminding herself what Ethan had told her.
Don’t look into his eyes!
Those were his exact words, and precisely what she’d made the mistake of doing.
He stepped up to the microphone, and his deep - smooth voice vibrated in her ears. He sang of passions, darkness and unfulfilled hunger.
Her mouth went dry and she began to shake. She lifted her drink to her lips. Nicole now knew why the infamous Alec Norwood could make women lose their minds.
She hadn’t believed it for a moment. Sure she’d heard of him. Who hadn’t? He was quickly turning the local rock scene on its head. His dark music was like nectar to the troubled soul, and his looks were enough to send a woman’s common sense right out the window.
But you’re not another one of his groupies. You’re here for a reason!
Nicole wouldn’t let herself be put under Alec Norwood’s spell. She struggled to focus on the task at hand.
The rest of the members of Necro were just as dark as he was. The music was perfect, not one of them missing a note or a beat. When the song ended, they went into a slow - haunting melody. Nicole felt the music come over her like a soothing warm blanket.
She suddenly felt tired, as if she’d been drugged. Getting up from the table, she wound her way through the crowd toward the ladies room. Maybe if she could splash some cold water on her face she’d feel better.
* * * *
Alec watched the woman rush away from her table near the stage. She had a strong mind that was able to withstand his probing. He had felt her scrutiny while she watched him, but he had been unable to read her thoughts.
There was something about the woman that pulled at him - stirring feelings that he had not felt in centuries. It was as if he knew her, or had known her in another form - another time.
She was attractive. Dark but innocent, and nothing like the women that followed him around every night. Those women were exotic and beautiful, but their spirits were tarnished. He felt darkness in this woman, but a different kind of darkness. It was the type of darkness that can grow out of despair.
Unlike the rest of the crowd, she was dressed plainly. She wore her dark hair in a simple - down to earth style. The casual jeans and white blouse she was wearing, looked great on her. The woman was dressed nice, but it was obvious that she hadn’t come to Dark Wind to impress anyone.
As simple as her appearance was, it was her eyes that drew him in. Her dark brown eyes were warm - like the sunshine. It was as if she’d captured the sun in her eyes and brought it with her wherever she went.
The warmth of the sun was something that he had not experienced for a long time. To look up and see the essence of that eternal light in her was as stimulating as the scent of the blood that ran through her veins.
She was here specifically to see him, but not for the same reason the rest of the women in the little nightclub.
What could a girl like her want with someone like him?
When the song ended, he glanced at the other members of the band. “I’m going to take a break,” he told them.
They stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. Why would someone with a vampire’s endurance need a break?
* * * *
Feeling better, Nicole left the women’s restroom. She did not notice the figure that lurked in the shadows until it was too late. A hand snaked out from the darkness to grab her. Startled, she let out a yelp.
“Let’s take a walk,” he told her as he led her through the crowd and toward the exit.
At first Nicole was too startled to object. By the time she recovered, she was already outside. It was dark - too dark for Nicole to feel comfortable with someone she didn’t know. The moon was not quite half full so there was not much light. There was a small blue neon sign above the door that depicted a bat with outspread wings, and a single light in the little parking lot.
“Who are you?” he asked, wasting no time getting to the point.
So he had noticed her watching him and wanted to know why.
“Someone sent me here to give you a message,” she told him, fighting the urge to look into his eyes.
She’d found out just how hypnotizing his eyes could be and she sure didn’t want to take the chance of coming under his spell. Not while they were alone and she was vulnerable.
“Now you have my undivided attention,” he told Nicole, stepping a little closer and taking her hand in his. “You’ve had my attention since I first set eyes on you.”
His sweet - spicy scent was distracting. Suddenly her head filled with images of tangled - slippery bodies, moving together in the most erotic of dances. Nicole shook the thought from her head, wondering where it had come from.
“Ethan Lamont said to tell you that it is urgent he sees you as soon as possible,” she explained, her voice cracking from nervousness.
Nicole was startled by the hard glint in Alec Norwood’s eyes. “I told him never to contact me again.” Though his voice was barely a whisper, he radiated danger.
She instinctively took a step back. “I’m just the messenger.”
Abruptly his demeanor changed and he smiled. “And a very attractive one.”
Nicole smiled but said nothing. Determined that she would not fall allover herself for him like so many other women did.
Alec stepped closer, backing her up against the white - cinderblock wall. He was less than an inch away, his lips close to her face. “Who are you?” he asked in low voice.
Nicole resented the intrusion into her personal space. He was too close. Her heart was beating so fast that she thought it would burst from fear, and from the sheer exhilaration of being so near him.
“My name is Nicole. I work for Ethan,” she said. Her voice betrayed nothing that she was feeling.
Alec leaned in even closer - his lips almost touching hers. “Do you like being close to me Nicole?”
Nicole brought up her hands and pushed him away. “You’re too close,” she told him.
“But isn’t this what you want … what you have been thinking about since you sat down to watch me?”
The amusement in his voice was even more irritating than his boldness. “You flatter yourself.”
Alec cocked his head to one side. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Tell Ethan that I will meet him in our usual place … in two days.” He bowed mockingly to her and then turned to leave, but stopped and looked back at her. “Don’t hang around out here. It can be very dangerous after dark.”
Then he was gone.
Nicole continued to stare after him, long after he had gone inside. What did he mean by dangerous? Ethan had told her that the people Alec hung with were not the type that she’d want to get to know, but he didn’t exactly say they were dangerous. He’d only told her that it was not a good idea to be at the Dark Wind any longer than was necessary. When she’d tried to get more information out of him, he’d been very evasive.
Something just wasn’t right with all of this.
Something just wasn’t right with Alec Norwood. He was probably the most magnetic - alluring man that she’d ever met, but it was more than that. As soon as she found herself alone with him, she’d felt like a 12-year old that had just been left alone with her first crush. But the feel was far more powerful than that. You would have to times that feeling by a thousand to come close to what Alec Norwood had made her feel when he stepped close to her.

Immortal Destiny Series Update

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Things have been hectic in my own life, which may result in the release date for the next book in the Immortal Destiny Series being pushed back by a week or two.

Night Breed - Immortal Destiny Series Book 2

Night Breed – Immortal Destiny Book 2

The second book in the Immortal Destiny Series is now available for purchase exclusively from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Night Breed will be available from additional online retailers and in paperback at a later date.

Night Breed

Born the daughter of a witch, Sarah is no stranger to magic. But meets an immortal, she quickly discovers that nothing can compare to the magic of being loved by a vampire.

Coming from a long line of powerful witches, the only thing Sarah has ever wanted is to have a normal life, but a normal life is not part of her destiny. She is one of the immortal sisters, and her fate is one of darkness. But within that darkness, she will discover a love that she could never have imagined.

While Nicole and the Light Seekers search for the two remaining sisters, Sarah is on her own and unaware that she is the target of an ancient and powerful vampire … a vampire that wants her dead.

Darrien is a cold and ruthless vampire. He kills without conscience, and is the perfect assassin to rid the ancients of the immortal sisters, but when he looks into Sarah’s eyes, he is consumed with a fiery passion that not even his bloodlust can overcome.

Book Length – Approximately 68,000 words.


Born to Darkness – Immortal Destiny Series Book 1

Born to Darkness is now available in paperback from Amazon, Barns and Noble, as well as other online retailers.

The Immortal Destiny Series

Night Breed, the second book in the Immortal Destiny series is due to be released next week. The second book is longer than the first book, and goes into more detail about the immortals, as well as introducing another of the immortal sisters.

My plan is to make this into a 4 book series. In the third book you will be seeing more of the wolves.

Born to Darkness is now available in paperback from Amazon as well as other online retailers.

What Inspired the Realm of the Wolf Series

Inspiration for the Realm of the Wolf series came from a few different sources. First of all, I have always been fascinated by the shapeshifter legends, especially the legend of the Navajo witches that are known as Skinwalkers. These witches are thought to be able to shapeshift into different animals. I know Indian people that are very adamant about the skinwalker legends being real, though they are generally thought of as witches that use their power for evil purposes. Then there is the location that much of the first book takes place in. Years ago our family would take trips to the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming. Near this mountain range is an area that is littered with old ghost towns left behind after the gold rush era of the 1800s. We spent many summers in the area, and I always thought of what a great location it was for the setting of a book. Some of the locations in the book are real, but I’ve changed the names in the stories. For example, Brantic City in the book is Atlantic City, a small - nearly deserted town located on a dirt road in Wyoming. Near Atlantic City is the ghost town of South Pass City. This town has been restored by the BLM, and is a lot like it was over a hundred years ago. Miner’s Delight is another ghost town located in the area. In Wolf Dance, this town is Beaver Creek. The atmosphere of the area is haunting, and somewhat intriguing. I thought it was the perfect place to begin the Realm of the Wolf series. There is a rest stop on a small highway near the Wind River Mountains, and this is the location I used for the beginning of the book, “Moon Calling.” It was a very dear and close friend of mine who inspired the hero of Wolf Dance, Justin Gray Eagle. There are many bits and pieces of my life that are interwoven in the books, Wolf Dance and Moon Calling, so writing this series has been very interesting and fun.

Chat at NCP tonight to promote the Realm of the Wolf Series

I will be chatting with readers March 30 at 8:00 PM Eastern on the New Concepts Publishing Chat Group. Everyone is welcome to signup with the group and come and chat with us. The group is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ncppromochat/

Indian Outlaw Excerpt

Indian Outlaw by Lorraine Kennedy
Copyright 2011


Bondage can be a lot of fun when your captor is an irresistible - drop dead gorgeous outlaw.

Sadie has a gift … she can see pictures of the future. When she has a vision of some men robbing a bank, she realizes that one of those men is the handsome stranger she’s just met. Unfortunately, she lets it slip that she knows what the stranger has planned and ends up becoming his captive. Thankfully, she finds that being tied up in his bed isn’t such a bad thing.

Coleman Wells has no choice but to kidnap the woman and keep her tied up in his cabin, deep in the mountains. If only he didn’t want to tear the woman’s clothes off and taste every inch of her body … he just might get them both out of the situation unharmed

Excerpt

Chapter One

A rush of steam filled the air as the old Indian man poured water of the hot rocks. Warm vapor wrapped around her … cutting off her breath until she was sure that one more moment would bring her to the brink of death. Somewhere far away, she could hear the drumming … but it really wasn’t far away. She knew the drumming was coming from right outside the lodge. Her consciousness had slipped so far from reality that she was no longer in the sweat lodge.

Sadie felt as if she were floating … moving through the rawhide covering of the lodge … when she looked down she could see the lodge below her. In the next instant Sadie was flying through the air, over mountains and rivers. Suddenly she came to an abrupt stop … but she still wasn’t on the ground. She found herself floating above a ghastly scene of death … two men brandishing guns, ran out of a building. Someone inside fired shots toward the retreating figures as they made their getaway.

Her throat tightened, cutting off her breath even more. She could feel herself being pulled back through a tunnel, and then she was back inside herself. Sadie gasped, trying to pull air into her lungs … but couldn’t. Jumping to her feet, she moved toward the structure’s opening. Leaning down so that she would fit through, she stepped out into the cool night air.

The abrupt change in temperature set the world spinning and Sadie swayed on her feet. She prayed that she would not fall into the nearby fire that was being used to heat the rocks for the lodge, but out of nowhere she felt strong arms around her waist, supporting her so that she would not hit the ground.

“Are you okay ma’am?” The deep voice had a distinct western drawl.

Sadie blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision. When she could see again, she found herself staring into the darkest – sexiest eyes she’d ever seen. For just a fraction of a moment she didn’t want to respond … she just wanted him to keep holding her.

“Yes … I am now. Thank you,’ she told him.

Slowly he let go and backed away. Now she could get a good look at him. His black hair hung just past his shoulders and his smooth features reminded her of someone she might find in Hollywood … not in the backwoods of Montana. Since he had been participating in the sweat lodge … he wore only a white towel wrapped around his waist, leaving the rest of his body open to her heated gaze. The way the dancing firelight illuminated his dark skin was erotic … tantalizing.

Sadie decided that she’d better pull herself together before he sensed what she was thinking.
“Hi … my name is Sadie.” Smiling, she held out her hand.

He was now staring at her with open curiosity, and perhaps just a spark of interest, but maybe that was just wishful thinking on her part?

“Coleman Wells” he told her, taking her hand in his.

Sadie felt her heart skip a beat when he held her hand a little longer than necessary. Suddenly it all came back. She was slammed with the vision of the two gunmen and she knew that one of those men was standing in front of her right now.

“Don’t do it! Don’t do what you are planning,” she blurted out without thinking.

He abruptly dropped her hand.

When Sadie saw Cole’s eyes turn hard, she knew she’d made a mistake.

“I’m sorry ... I have to go. I’m not feeling too well,” Sadie words were rushed. She only hoped that he would accept her explanation and forget what she’d said.

Without waiting for a reaction, Sadie rushed out of the small clearing and into the dark woods. Moss’ house was not far away. She’d change inside and leave before the others finished at the sweat lodge.

How could she have been so foolish to blurt out what she’d seen while in the lodge?

The one thing she had learned the hard way about her psychic gift, was that you just didn’t go around telling everyone what you saw … especially if you’d seen the person doing something like robbing a bank.

Sadie felt her heart sink. It had been a long time since she’d felt like that in a man’s presence … and damned if he didn’t turn out to be an outlaw. Her mom was always telling her what terrible taste she had in men. Perhaps she’d better pay better attention to what mom was telling her.

Maybe it had been just plain crazy for her to come out here in the middle of nowhere to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony. Especially with a bunch of Indians that she didn’t even know … well except for old man Moss. She knew him well enough. He came into the diner where she worked nearly every morning.

When he’d first asked her to come, Sadie had declined … but he’d been very persistent. He’d really wanted her to come for some reason. Finally she’d agreed, reasoning that since she’d only moved to Montana a few months ago, she really needed to make some friends.

Sadie opened the screen door of the house and headed for the bathroom where she could shower and change into fresh clothes. Old man Moss had told everyone that they were free to use his shower when they were done.

* * * *

Cole watched the petite blond stumble away. He didn’t know what was up with the woman … but she seemed to know something about their plans.

“What was that all about?” Derrick asked.

His cousin had exited the sweat lodge without Cole realizing it, and had apparently witnessed his exchange with the woman, Sadie.

“She knows,” Cole told him.

“There’s no way … you haven’t talked have you?” Derrick asked in a tight voice.
Cole shook his head. “I’m telling you … she knows.”

“Well you know what we’re going to have to do don’t you?” Derrick asked, his dark eyes full of hostility.

“Yeah … I know,’ Cole answered.

“You gonna do it, or do you want me to?”

“I’ll do it,” Cole told him. Derrick was wild and he didn’t want the woman getting hurt. They would just have to get her out of the way for a little while … until the deed was done.

“Well

Lorraine Kennedy New Releases for March

February and March have been very busy months, with several new releases. I have several new releases to talk about.

Short stories, Indian Outlaw, Hans and Greta’s Interlude, along with Seduction of the Wolf are now available for purchase. You can view samples of these stories by visiting htt://www.lorrainekennedy.com

Another book that has been released is Born to Darkness – One in the Immortal Destiny series.
This series will eventually merge with the Realm of the Wolf series, along with another werewolf romance series that is a take off of the two Realm of the Wolf books. Look for more later this year.

Dreamscape Seduction Book Excerpt

Dreamscape Seduction an Erotic Vampire Romance

CHAPTER ONE


Early evening light filtered through the canvas of ancient trees. A sudden gust of wind sent the autumn leaves into a macabre dance around the old - gothic headstones.
The mourners were long gone, only Madison remained. She fixed her gaze on the large mahogany casket and its shroud of white and pink roses.
Abruptly she was pulled from her grief when a prickling sensation made her feel as if an unseen hand had touched her. Scanning the tree line, Madison was certain that someone was watching her, covertly hiding from view in the lengthening shadows.
The contrast between sunlight and shadow made it difficult to see, but just then a cloud covered the sun and she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Deep in the shadows of the trees ... near a large - intricately carved headstone, someone was watched her. The wind sent his long golden -brown hair in all directions, but he seemed not to notice. His gaze was on her and it did not waver, even when it became evident that she had noticed him.
Their eyes met, and for a fraction of a moment she felt as if she could not breathe. The intensity of those dark eyes held her captive, as if they were pulling at her life essence. Suddenly the world began to spin and the ground was rushing up at her.
He was standing over her ... but she was no longer in the graveyard but her own bed. His eyes were a mixture of fire and ice ... so cold but yet his gaze felt as if it burned her skin. Cold hands caressed the skin on her legs, but then she felt stinging pain. Lifting her head she saw that he was between her legs, piercing this skin of her inner thighs with his teeth.
Terrified, she wanted to run, but at the same time she could not get enough of the tantalizing feeling of his teeth, scraping against her tender skin.
* * * *
She could hear a voice ... it sounded as if it was coming from some place far away. It pulled at her, coaxing her into the light of consciousness.
“Girl! What ya doing lying around an old bone yard. Don’t’ ya know this aint no place for the livin?”
Madison opened her eyes, shocked to find herself on the ground, staring up at the darkening sky. A weathered face came into view. The old man stared at her with milky blue eyes, set in a deeply lined face. His tattered blue overalls were covered in dirt.
“Who are you?” Madison finally found her voice, still reeling from the odd dream she'd had while she was out.
“I’m the caretaker here,” he said as he held out his hand to help her to her feet. She grasped the hand he offered, but quickly let go when the chill of his touch sent shivers up her arm. She quickly got to her feet on her own, and took a moment to smooth her grass stained skirt.
“I’m sorry, I guess I blacked out,” she tried to explain.
“Must have seen a ghost … hah miss.” His words were laced with laughter.
Madison smiled. “No, but I did see a man standing over there,” she said, pointing in the direction of where the stranger had been standing. “Have you seen a tall guy in a long black coat by any chance?’
The old man shook his head. “Nope, just you. Could a been you had a visitor from the other side.” He gave her smile, revealing many missing teeth. “The dead don’t rest quite as soundly as you might hope.”
“Well, thanks Mr…, “ Madison realized that she did not know the man’s name.
“Name’s Hugh.”
“Well thanks Mr. Hugh. I won’t take up more of your time.” Madison started for her car, but remembered she’d left her purse hanging on one of the folding chairs that had been set up for the funeral.
When she turned back, Mr. Hughes was nowhere in sight. It had only been a moment ... how could he have left so fast?
Unnerved, she retrieved her purse and made her way quickly to her car. She was only too happy to get home. All she wanted was to curl up in her bed and try to forget the grief that tore at her heart. Would she ever be able to get the image of the strange - surreal funeral of her best friend out of her head?

Realm of the Wolf: Moon Calling

Realm of the Wolf: Moon Calling
Paranormal Romance

Rating: Spicy – Contains some violence, graphic sex with scenes that include sex with werewolves in human form and transformation.

In the second book of the Realm of the Wolf saga, a new danger is lurking.
Five years ago, Kayla Chandler fell in love with the mysterious and handsome Jace, but just as they were ready to start their lives together, he disappeared into thin air. The only clues left behind are a puddle of blood, and a wolf figurine carved out of crystal. Looking for clues to her lover’s disappearance, Kayla is drawn back to Wyoming and the land of the Sungmanitu.

Vance is a Sungmanitu, and a member of the elite warrior society known as the Zen, guardians of Outerlands. He is sent to kill Kayla and eliminate the threat of her discovering the truth of the Sungmanitu legends, but he has his own reasons for wanting vengeance on the luscious blond doctor … he believes that she is responsible for the death of his best friend, Jace.

When the wolf and his prey come together, nothing matters but an all-consuming passion that threatens to destroy them both.


© copyright by Lorraine Kennedy, December 2010

Cover Art by Jenny Dixon, December 2010

ISBN 978-1-60394-475-5

Chapter One



Ten years after the Jaguar Wars



He’d know her scent anywhere, it was forever engraved in his memory. Being this close to his prey was driving him to madness. His fury erupting, he let out a low--angry growl as he watched her through his wolf’s eyes. In the fading light he could see her leaning against the hood of the car, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

The rest stop was miles from civilization, on a desolate and rarely traveled highway. Now would be the time, but he remained hidden in the thick brush--watching his prey.

He had been sent to eliminate her. The female was a danger. They thought she knew too much.

The persistent wind played havoc with her blond tresses. It was easy to see that she’d been out in the sun far too long, as her cheeks were flushed red. Even from this distance he could sense her fatigue, but still he waited.

With her legs spread slightly, she leaned over to reach into her car to grab something. When she did this, he got a good look at her inner thighs, and the way that her tight--white shorts highlighted her slight--feminine physique.

Lust tore through his body, confusing and enraging him. He howled in protest. Human thought could easily intrude--even while he was in his animal form, but it battled with the instinct of the beast.

Pulling out a sandwich, she started to eat as the last rays of sunshine vanished and the moon began its ascent. The wide-open expanse of the Wyoming desert provided a view of the darkening sky for miles, the brightness of the twinkling stars, drowned out by the bright moonlight. A cloud passed--obscuring the moon, casting the night in deeper shadows.

Painful hunger gnawed at his loins, and again he howled. The human female froze, her senses picking up on the danger that lurked in the darkness, beyond the glow of the lit parking lot. Her hand strayed to the handgun that she’d stuck in the waistband of her shorts, as if the feel of the cold--hard steel was comforting to her.

Far off in the distance, the mist was gathering around the Shadow Mountains.

Still he watched and waited.

* * * *

Kayla pulled out her phone and looked at the time, it had been over an hour and still there was not a soul in sight. Nervously, she directed her gaze to the mountain range in the distance. The peaks rose up from the desert floor--imposing--ominous. Fingers of mist gathered around the base of the mountains, reaching up toward its peaks, glowing eerily in the silver light of the full moon. The thick mist hid the mountain’s secrets--secrets that she could sense, though they somehow seemed to stay just out of reach.

Shaking off her strange thoughts, Kayla decided she might as well have a bite to eat while she waited. Unwrapping the baloney and cheese sandwich, she nibbled at the food without really tasting it. It had been foolish to come all the way out here in the hopes that she’d finally get some information about Jace.

Her parents were expecting her back in Denver by the end of the week, and this little side trip had really put her off schedule.

Kayla’s hand strayed to the carved crystal wolf that hung on a silver chain around her neck. She would never have believed the caller knew anything about Jace … if they hadn’t have mentioned the crystal. No one could have known how she’d gotten it. She’d never mentioned the details to anyone.

A brown lizard scurried across the blacktop near her feet, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. Though the night was cooling, she could still fell warmth radiating from the dark surface of the parking lot.

The howling of a lone wolf caught her attention and she stopped to peer out into the distance. Unconsciously … her hand rested on the small, 25-caliber handgun at her waist. It had been a last minute decision to bring it along.

Normally she didn’t condone gun violence, but she had no intention of stupidly walking into a trap laid out for her by Jace’s killer. The police would do nothing so it was up to her to find out what happened to him.

Kayla checked the time once more and decided she’d wait five more minutes and that was it. She didn’t relish the idea of having to drive through the Shadow Mountains after dark, and the sooner she got it over with, the better.

When she’d been here five years ago, she’d heard rumors from the locals. They swore that unearthly creatures roamed those mountains under the cover of darkness. Not that she believed such ridiculous nonsense, but … Jace had disappeared in those mountains--leaving behind only scarlet bloodstains, and the crystal. Kayla didn’t believe there was anything supernatural about Jace’s disappearance, though she was confident that the strange people he’d been involved with were responsible for whatever had happened to him.

Subconsciously … Kayla reached for the crystal again, feeling comforted by its warmth.

The caller had promised to reveal information about what happened to Jace, but as she looked around for any sign of life, Kayla became convinced that the call had been nothing more than a cruel joke. But cruel joke or not … whoever had called her knew something.

She’d hoped that her caller ID recorded the number of the caller, but it was only zeros, no number at all.

Maybe the police could use her cell phone records to track the caller? She’d contact them and give them this bit of information. Not that it would do much good … nothing had so far.

With a forlorn sigh, Kayla scanned the area one last time and got back in her car. She had to be at the Tribal Clinic in the morning, and then there would be one more stop in Montana before she could go home to Denver. Strangely enough … the flu season had started in midsummer this year, and it was ravishing the children on the reservation. Kayla was sure there would be a lot of cases to see in the morning, she’d need a decent night’s sleep.

Her heart heavy with regret, Kayla decided it was time to leave … not just the rest stop, but maybe it was time to leave that whole episode behind her. Easing the blue rental car back onto the narrow state highway, she headed straight for the Shadow Mountains. She would confront their dark secrets one last time, but on this occasion when she left them behind … maybe she would be leaving behind any hope of ever finding out what happened to the man she had loved all those years ago.

For five years she had searched for answers, but she was no closer to those answers now than she was the day she’d discovered Jace missing.

As the mountain loomed closer, the mist began to gather around her car, obscuring the details of the road. Even the light of the moon could do little to penetrate the thick--almost radiant fog that had settled around the mountain. The road was barely visible within the beam of the headlights. Kayla let off the gas, slowing the car to a crawl.

The mist that encircled the Shadow Mountains was not unusual. Even in the best of weather, the majestic peaks were often hidden with fog. Going through the mountains was the shortest route to the Shoshone reservation, but now she wondered if it wouldn’t have been better to go around them.

To soothe her nerves, Kayla forced herself to think of something else, but the direction her thoughts took wasn’t much better.

She’d been offered a resident position at a hospital in California, and there was no doubt that it would pay so much better than what she was making now, but was it what she really wanted?

Since the summer she’d met Jace, she’d worked for Outreach Medical Assistance, a nonprofit program that sent doctors into impoverished communities to administer medical treatment. Helping people had been her life, and moving her allegiance to an establishment that cared more about money than people … left a sour taste in her mouth.

But it’s what Travis wanted. He was accustomed to big cities and luxury. He’d made it clear that he wanted her to take that job if they were to get married. Kayla frowned at the thought of marriage. She’d grown to like Travis, but she wasn’t so sure she wanted to marry him, though he’d been turning up the heat. He wanted them to be married so they could settle down to a nice--middleclass existence.

Isn’t that what most women wanted?

Leaning closer to the steering wheel, Kayla struggled to see through the whirling night mist.

She wondered if there was something wrong with her for not looking forward to marriage with Travis. Of course she missed Jace terribly, and it had taken her years to even start dating again … but was she ready to tie the knot?

Maybe … but in her heart she knew it would not be with Travis. Even if she took the new job, it would be to get away from her past--not so that they could get married. There was something about him that bothered her. She had lately noticed a mean streak in Travis that he could not always keep hidden.

Jace had been different--so primal, but yet so gentle. It had been a whirlwind romance, but he’d swept her off her feet just like a Texas twister. She’d never known a man like Jace, and when he disappeared, he’d left her hungering for more of that primitive passion his lovemaking had stirred within her.

Kayla’s thoughts drifted to that moment she’d gone looking for him. There was no way she could handle thinking of that horrible night right now … her mind searched for something else.

From the side of the road she’d caught movement--no more than a shadow within the thick haze. Kayla was torn between slowing the vehicle even more, or speeding up to avoid whatever was moving in the fog.

A nagging fear began to gnaw at her insides.

What if the stories were true?

After all, people around the Shadow Mountains did have a tendency to disappear at a higher rate than in other rural areas. At least that’s what she’d been told.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw something moving in the middle of the road … just beyond the headlights.

Kayla instinctively hit the brakes. The rear-end of the car fishtailed, and the wheel slipped from her grasp. The next seconds were a haze of movement before the car came to an abrupt stop against a large pine tree.

Kayla’s vision blurred as her head fragmented into a million points of pain, and a cloak of darkness enveloped her in comforting numbness.

Gradually the darkness retreated to be filled with dancing firelight. There were creatures all around her, no matter where she looked. Their eyes glowing, emanating rage, the bloodlust in those eyes was so strong that she could actually feel their hunger.

“They will devour you.” The words were muffled and barely audible.

Kayla tried to force words from her mouth but she had no mouth, she had no body … she just was, with no physical existence.

Consciousness exploded within her mind, bringing with it--excruciating agony. The world was a contrast of light and shadow. The mist had taken on an ethereal glow, as if the light came from within the fog, and not from the moon. If it were not for the pain, Kayla would have believed she was dead.

She could hear snarling growls from outside the car, compelling her eyes into focus.

Within the mist, there was movement--and eyes that radiated an eerie, unnatural light. She bit her tongue to keep from screaming--hoping that if she played dead, whatever was outside the car would lose interest and go away.

The car shook violently, and she became aware of the sound of tearing metal as the door was ripped from its hinges. Screaming, Kayla was no longer able to control her terror, she scrambled away from the gaping hole where the car door had been just an instant before. Reaching for her gun, Kayla aimed for her unseen attacker and fired blindly, hoping that she would hit something. The mist was too thick to see, but the livid snarling grew louder.

From the mist came an anguished howl, and then nothing but silence--a silence so complete that Kayla could hear the pounding of her heart. Frozen in place, she barely breathed for fear of attracting attention to herself.

Hands were reaching into the car, grasping at her arm--they pulled her from where she was huddled against the passenger door. Her whole body quivering with fear, she pulled the trigger and fired again, but the bullet went astray. She heard it ping off of metal.

The gun was ripped from her grasp.

With flailing arms and legs, she tried to fight off the intruder, but the blows she delivered were easily pushed aside. Through her terror, Kayla realized that the arms that held her were human arms, and she calmed slightly.

He was at least a full head taller than she was, and the arms that held her up were huge, she could feel the rock hard muscle beneath the skin. Though it was difficult to take in much detail through the misty darkness, she could not miss his eyes. They were the eyes of an animal … a wolf. It was then that she realized his chest was bare, and in fact--he wore no clothing at all.

Silently he studied her with those strange, radiant eyes--eyes that she’d seen before.

The memories burst through her mind as her pulse quickened. The first time had been in a crowd. She and Susan had just stepped from the theater out onto the sidewalk. It was dusk and the Denver nightlife was starting to buzz.

The orange sunset was marred by the glow of the neon lights lining the road. Across the narrow street from where they stood, was an alley. The decaying alley was an ever-present reminder of the neglect and poverty that plagued cities everywhere. On both sides of the alley were old, red brick buildings that had seen their better days long ago. Here and there, piles of garbage provided cozy hiding for rodents. Though the city streets were still lit in fading light, the ally was already darkened by shadows.

An odd feeling crept over her, like when you know you are alone but could not shake the overwhelming sensation of being watched. She’d stopped suddenly--frozen by that feeling. She was not just being watched … she was being hunted. She’d come to a stop so quickly that Susan had nearly run over the top of her.

Kayla scanned the crowd, searching for the source. From the alleyway, he emerged from the shadows. Their eyes met and he’d held her gaze, pulling her into his fiery golden eyes.

He had been hunting her--watching her. She was sure of it, and just as sure that he was aware of her knowledge of it.

His eyes were magical--compelling and dangerous. If she had to describe the feeling with a single word--the word that came to mind was heat. Looking into the stranger’s eyes made her feel as if fire were licking at her skin.

In that single moment that she’d stood transfixed by those burning eyes, she’d taken in every detail of his appearance. He was taller than average and appeared to be of Native American descent. His black hair cascaded down below his wide shoulders, framing a face that could have been a masterpiece of art--giving him the look of untamed sensuality.

There was nothing especially different about the clothes he wore, simple blue jeans and a flannel shirt, but the way in which those clothes highlighted his exquisite male body made her want to see more.

Susan had stepped up and was waving a hand in front of her face to divert her attention from the stranger. “Girlfriend, he’s hot, but wouldn’t it be better to go ask him for his number … instead of just staring like a scared schoolgirl?”

Blushing, Kayla had looked away. If Susan had been in her shoes she would have done just what she’d suggested. She was risky and adventurous, while Kayla played it safe.

Though she’d turned away and went about her business that night, she’d never forgotten those eyes, or the erotic feeling that had flooded her senses as their gaze locked across the swarm of people between them. There had been something familiar about him, though she’d been sure she didn’t know him. Some element that pulled at her primitive instinct to be close to him--touch him.

Then she’d woken one night to see him standing over her bed, but as she’d become aware of his presence, a haze had come over her and in the morning she’d believed it to be nothing more than a dream … but here he was.

Or was she dreaming again?

Loosening his grip on her, she was forced to put weight on her feet, but her knees buckled. Only his arms around her waist kept her from hitting the ground. Before Kayla could protest, he lifted her--cradling her body against his chest.

Again her vision blurred and she welcomed the darkness.

Realm of the Wolf: Wolf Dance Book Excerpt

Realm of the Wolf: Wolf Dance


Rating: Carnal – contains violence and graphic sexual encounters, sex with werewolves in human form. Previously published by NCP in 2004, this work has been revamped to be longer and sexier.


Dark, erotic dreams and eerie phantoms warn of forbidden passions. Long ago, the Sungmanitu Indians withdrew into isolation; what dark secrets were they hiding?

Laura Ellison was soon to find out. The company she works for is planning to send her to Wyoming, where they are preparing to clear-cut the land of the Sungmanitu. A fellow employee has mysteriously disappeared, and the local police are baffled by a string of strange murders.



The land of the Sungmanitu: a place of breathtaking beauty and menacing evil, where Laura will discover the demon who haunts her nightmares, and the dark truth of who she really is. Laura Ellison will defy all warnings and fall in-love with Justin Gray Eagle, the sinister leader of the Wolf People.

© copyright by Lorraine Kennedy, October 2004

Reissued October 2010

Cover Art by Jenny Dixon, October 2010

ISBN 1-58608-252-3

Chapter One


Surrounded by darkness, her heightened senses picked up the scent of damp earth, and blood--so tangy--so sweet. It drove her into a mindless frenzy that threatened to rip away her shell of sanity. Her nails tore at her flesh in a desperate attempt to free herself of her prison of flesh.

The beast was close--she could feel his hunger, his lust. Instinct coursed through her, screaming at her to run, but a dark part of her soul kept her rooted in the midst of the inky darkness.

Though she could not see him, she could sense his nearness, and his hunger--a hunger so powerful, so overwhelming that it seemed to seep through her skin, penetrating into the core of her very being.

Large, powerful hands grasped her legs--spreading them against her will. Her struggles were fruitless against the brute strength that assaulted her. Sharp teeth nipped at the tender skin of her inner thighs, and savage hunger flooded her body as sweet, erotic pain.

The next moment she felt the sensation of a soothing wet tongue licking at her wounds, moving gradually toward that furiously burning need that she could not sate.

A woman's harsh voice came at her from the darkness. "Puta! Run you stupid girl!" the voice hissed.

She could feel his hot breath close to her ear. "Stay with me," he pleaded. Though his voice was soft, there was also an underlying, animal like growl emanating from him.

Thick mist whirled around her, reaching into her nostrils to suck at her life force. In desperation, she clutched at her throat and labored to breathe. A hand grasped her shoulder and gently shook her.

Gradually the fog cleared and she forced her eyes open. The purple hues of dawn were creeping into the small dingy windows of her grandfather's trailer.

"Laura, you are being haunted in your dreams." Grandpa Busby's hoarse voice pulled her further into the waking world. "You should not go on this trip."

Laura sat up, rubbing her sleep-swollen eyes. Getting to her feet, she walked the few steps to the small kitchen of the cramped trailer.

The coffee was fresh, as she knew it would be. Laura poured herself a large cup.

Sipping the soothing liquid, she studied her grandfather through the dim light. He still sat on the edge of the couch where she had slept.

Once again worry gnawed at her. He was old and so frail. The right side of his body no longer worked as well as it once had. This was the result of a stroke that had cut him down only a few years ago. Since that time he used a cane to help him get around.

Each and every day since his illness had struck, Laura had thanked God that he had been spared to walk the path of life with her for just a little while longer.

Long, thin wisps of gray hair framed the old man's deeply lined face. At times his eyes gave the impression of staring off into space, as they were at this very moment. Laura thought it possible that he might be losing his sight, but Grandpa would never admit it. She had tried on many occasions to convince him to move to Santa Fe where he would be near her, but she had received the same answer each time.

"I am Busby, born to the Bitter River People for the Deer Clan. I am Dineh and will die in my own country."

She understood him of course. He had raised her in the tradition of the Navajo and she knew that his homeland was very important to him. Nevertheless, the thought of him out here--all alone--troubled her. If something was to happen and she lost her grandfather--the thought was devastating. He was her only living relative, unless she counted the distant relation of her clansmen.

Laura quietly sipped her coffee, letting the hot liquid soothe her dry throat. Her grandfather's dark eyes seemed to be analyzing her, dissecting her from the inside out.

"Grandpa, you know I have to go to Wyoming. I stopped here to let you know where I'd be." She tried to soothe him.

His old bones burned with age and he grunted with the effort of getting to his feet.

"Don't know why you'd have a hand in that kind of work," he muttered.

Once again, Laura attempted to explain her motives. "It's my life, Grandpa, and I cannot live my life in poverty on this reservation."

"I warned your mother of the consequences of getting mixed up with a Belagana and now your father's ways are bleeding into your spirit." Busby painfully lowered himself to the hard kitchen chair.

"I don't cut the trees, I just work for them." Laura pleaded with him to understand.

"That is enough." Busby's voice contained the stern quality she knew meant he was deeply concerned about something. "If you destroy the earth, bad things will come of it. Already the darkness enters your dreams."

The sun had finally made its majestic appearance and Laura opened the aluminum door to let some light into the trailer. She breathed in the dry desert air. The tangy scent never failed to bring back childhood memories. Most of her memories were good, but the constant lack of food and water cast shadows on some of those memories.

"I don't agree with what they do Grandpa, but I just can't stay here and marry one of my mother's people. Life is too hard here and when I have children of my own, I do not want them to live through the ugliness of poverty. Not if I can prevent it." She tried to explain her reasons, like she had many times before.

The old man got to his feet and walked to the doorway where she stood. "You mean you want to hide your children from the truth of what remains of the Dineh." He brushed past her and slowly descended the steps of the trailer. A few moments later he disappeared into the junipers of the nearby hills where each morning he went to pray.

Maybe her grandfather was right?

Laura was not ashamed of her Navajo blood--she was just not sure that she wanted to share in their destiny, not when there was a life out there free of the dark clouds that existed within the boundaries of the Navajo reservation.

Her strange dream crept back into her thoughts. For two nights now, she had been plagued with the same nightmare. Heat flooded her cheeks as she recalled the details of the dream, and how it left her feeling, but even more troubling than the desire the dream stirred within her, was the fact that she was left with the vague feeling that she was being torn in two different directions.

In the brightness of day the dream seemed too ridiculous to worry about, but she had been brought up in a superstitious world, and doubt nagged at her.

The woman in the dream called her a whore--why? Why would she dream something like that?

Possibly she was feeling guilty? Her grandfather had been needling her since she'd started working for Duccini, and maybe it was finally starting to get to her.

Laura tried to shake the dark dream from her thoughts as she stepped into the small bathroom. She hurriedly changed into a T-shirt and blue jeans, and then ran a brush through her long, golden brown hair. As a result of inheriting her father's coloring and amber eyes, Laura appeared to be more white than Indian. She wasn't entirely sure she was pleased with that fact or not. When she was a child, there were times she'd felt out of place among the Dineh, and it had made her self-conscious.

Returning to the kitchen, Laura prepared the breakfast food that she'd brought with her on the small, propane stove. Once she'd finished, she waited on the steps for her grandfather to return. It was not long before he emerged from the brush, and Laura watched his slow progress across the desert floor.

She felt her throat constrict with emotion and unwelcome tears stung her eyes. The old man had made many sacrifices for her over the years and no matter how she might disagree with him, her heart would never forget that. Laura recalled the times he had pretended not to be hungry so that she would have enough to fill her aching stomach.

Laura set the food on the small wooden table and they settled down to eat. There were no further words between them.

Her eyes scanned the tabletop, taking note of the deep gouges and scars in the wood. Laura's gaze came to rest on some carved letters. Deeper than the rest of the marks on the table, the letters L.E & K.B stood out.

Remembering the day she'd carved them into the wood with her little pocketknife brought back fond memories of her childhood sweetheart. The days of innocence, childish laughter, and Kenny Begay seemed worlds away from her life now.

Finished with breakfast, Busby sat at the table and nursed his coffee while Laura tidied up the kitchen. When the kitchen was clean, Laura knelt beside her grandfather.

"I'll have to be leaving now. I'm due at the field office the day after tomorrow, but I'll be back soon, a couple of weeks ... maybe." She made a feeble attempt to put some cheer into her voice.

"The Indians up there, they have given your boss the rights to cut?" His voice betrayed his doubt.

"Yes, we received the release just a few days ago. It clearly states they have signed off cutting rights to the land surrounding Beaver Creek."

"I find it a hard thing to believe that the Shoshone would hand over their land to butchers of the earth." He was clearly skeptical.

"They are not Shoshone." Laura paused, trying to remember the name of the tribe that had laid claim to the area. "I believe they call themselves, Sungmanitu. From what I have been able to gather, they broke off from their main band years ago and settled a small part of the land in the area--forming their own community."

Laura was busy packing and failed to notice the way her grandfather's face had drained of color or the way his features distorted with fear.

"It's better if you do not go there, something's wrong about this. Why do they need you there?"

Snapping her suitcase shut, Laura took a deep breath and patiently tried to explain the situation. "The people there are not real happy about the situation and they need a

P.R. specialist to try and smooth the way for a while."

She felt it would be better not to add the fact that Dan Mitchell had disappeared shortly after forwarding the release documents. In addition to her other duties, she had been instructed to find out what she could about Dan too.

Franklin Duccini was a shrewd businessman, and smart enough to know that without Dan, there could be a problem. The Sungmanitu could contest the legality of the release documents, and without Dan as a witness, things could get messy.

"Grandpa, I have to go now." She stood next to him, holding her bags.

Busby took hold of her arm. "Be careful," he whispered in a raspy voice.

Laura's eyes widened in shock--a sudden rush of fear caught in her throat. "Grandpa, are you feeling well?"

Putting down her bags, Laura kneeled beside him, putting her arm around his shoulders. Never before had he been so adamantly against her work.

He gazed at her with a wisdom that one can only obtain with the passing of many years. "You must promise me something, Laura."

"If I can, Grandpa."

"Stay far away from the Sungmanitu ... they are dangerous."

"What do you know of them?" Laura's curiosity was peaked.

The old man shook his head. "Stay away from them, Laura."

* * * *

The summer sun was climbing high in the turquoise sky and the surrounding desert shimmered with the rising heat. Laura drove west toward Arizona--she felt a slight sense of dread as she left New Mexico behind her.

Laura took her eyes from the road for only a split second to fiddle with the knobs on the stereo. When she looked back up her heart jumped into her throat. In the middle of the road stood an old woman--her bulkiness covered with a thin cotton blouse and blue skirt. Streaks of gray ran through the black hair that was neatly bound in a tight bun at the back of her head.

Her panicked consciousness took all this in as she was instinctively slamming on the breaks. The tires squealed and her red Bronco slid off the road, missing the woman by mere inches.

Still dazed, Laura scrambled out of the vehicle. The woman stood in the same spot, as if the near miss had not affected her in the least. The old lady just stood there-- staring with piercing black eyes that seemed to cut through Laura's soul.

Raising her hand, the woman pointed in the direction from which Laura had come. "Go back, Puta! The way you go leads only to darkness. Go back before it's too late."

Laura felt faint. It was the same voice she heard in her dreams. Shards of light burst forth in her head and Laura squeezed her eyes shut in an effort to block out the sudden ball of pain. When the throbbing finally subsided and she was able to pry her eyes open, the woman was gone. Laura quickly scanned the area but the specter was nowhere to be seen.

With her stomach twisting into knots, a wave of nausea overtook her. Laura leaned against the Bronco until the feeling began to pass.

Reaching inside, she grabbed a canteen of water. Taking the cap off, she brought the water up to her dry, parched lips. Laura took several swallows before capping the canteen and putting it back in its place on the floorboard.

Circling the car, Laura checked for damage. Fortunately everything seemed to be in order. Still too shaken to drive, Laura sat in the driver's seat and rested while trying to gather her wits. It must be heat sickness, she concluded. The woman could not have vanished into thin air.

Dreamscape Seduction - A Vampire Romance

My newest release is for those of you that like vampire romances. And just a hint for those that are following the Realm of the Wolf series … I have plans for my werewolf romances to lead into a vampire romance series.

Now Available




Dreamscape Seduction

A night out gets Madison more than she bargained for ... like danger, intrigue and the sexiest man she's ever seen. Too bad he's a vampire.

Madison's best friend has been murdered. She knows there's a connection to the Dreamscape nightclub and the club's mysterious owner, Damon Vaughan. This doesn't surprise Madison, considering the naughty reputation of Dreamscape. Determined to find the serial killer stalking her town, Madison goes to Dreamscape under the guise of writing a review on the club, but she is immediately pulled into the erotic atmosphere, and Damon's dark embrace.






Coming Soon
Indian Outlaw



Bondage can be a lot of fun when your captor is an irresistible - drop dead gorgeous outlaw.

Sadie has a gift … she can see pictures of the future. When she has a vision of some men robbing a bank, she realizes that one of those men is the handsome stranger she’s just met. Unfortunately, she lets it slip that she knows what the stranger has planned and ends up becoming his captive. Thankfully she finds that being tied up in his bed isn’t such a bad thing.

Coleman Wells has no choice but to kidnap the woman and keep her tied up in his cabin, deep in the mountains. If only he didn’t want to tear the woman’s clothes off and taste every inch of her body … he just might get them both out of the situation unscathed

My Favorite Things About Paranormal Romance Ebooks

Many people probably remember a time when book lovers had to have shelves and shelves of books. With ebook readers your reading material doesn’t have to take up so much room, and you can carry your paranormal romance books with you when you are away from home. I love not having to find room to put all of my books, and buying new books doesn’t require a trip to the local bookstore or waiting days or weeks to get your books in the mail. I just wish more of the older titles would be released as ebooks.

When I Decided to Become a Romance Author

I can’t say that I always wanted to be a romance author; when I was 5 I wanted to be a singer, when I was 10 I wanted to be an archeologist. I decided to become an author when I was 13, and have been working toward that goal since. It was my love of reading that sparked my interest in writing, so for all aspiring authors reading is probably the number one thing you can do to help you with your writing career.

Moon Calling: Realm of the Wolf Book 2

Moon Calling’s print release date has been moved back to April by New Concepts Publishing. The publisher is planning to open a brick and mortar store and many of the released dates have been pushed back. If you can’t wait until April for the print release, it is now available in ebook format from New Concepts Publishing.

Buy Moon Calling Here

Realm of the Wolf Series

Hope everyone had a great Holiday and New Year. I have some updated information on Realm of the Wolf Book 1: Wolf Dance and Realm of the Wolf Book 2: Moon Calling. Wolf Dance is now available form New Concepts Publishing, as well as Fictionwise and Amazon. This book can be downloaded as an ebook, plus is available in print.

Moon calling is now available at New Concepts Publishing; this book will be released in February in print format.

Congratulations to Miranda S. in Lawrence Kansas, winner of the Realm of the Wolf Giveaway.