Title: In Darkness: The Vampire
Author: L. Diane Wolfe
Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampires, Fantasy / Paranormal, Fantasy / Romance
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/ Book Blurb:
Souls shrouded in darkness…
Stuck working as a barmaid for her demanding father, Anna dreams of adventure. When mysterious strangers enter the bar, she overhears they seek Zancrela, an ancient fortress filled with treasure and a magical library. Taking her chance, she offers to guide them. The conditions: deliver Zancrela or die.
As they journey through the wilderness, she discovers their secret: they are vampires. And most view her as food. One takes interest in her and her heart dares to hope, but it might not be enough to change her fate. Will Anna find Zancrela or become a vampire morsel?
EXCERPT:
I wish I knew where you were going. I need to get closer.
The logs shifted in the fireplace and Anna seized the opportunity. She slipped to the end of the bar, her face averted. She slid to the wall and dropped lower as she approached the fireplace. Anna kept her chin down, peering through the locks that fell across her face. The strangers continued to talk among themselves, oblivious to the figure crouched by the fireplace.
Anna picked up the poker and knelt in front of the fireplace. She stabbed at the flames, her prods gentle. The embers crackled, but the sound didn’t mask the voices of the strangers. She leaned to her left and inched closer.
“I still say we need to go through the pass.”
“Fool, why would they build it in such an accessible spot?”
“Besides, that takes us away from the Chiltarn Valley.”
“Still clinging to the belief it’s there? Not bloody likely.”
Anna frowned, her gaze on the curling flames. What did they seek? Chiltarn Valley rested high in the mountains. Few traveled her treacherous path. Her mind churning over who might attempt such a feat, she continued to prod the logs with care.
“We’re chasing our tails. We could spend months searching those mountains.”
“Maybe even years.”
“Do you want to give up now?”
Anna paused, the poker hovering over a log. That voice belonged to the burly man. She leaned closer.
“Victor, we just want to know where we’re going. We’ve traveled so far already. We don’t want it to be for naught.”
“After years of searching, we know it’s in this region,” Victor replied. “We don’t know the exact location though.”
“And without a map, we could spend years more looking for Zancrela.”
Anna gasped. Zancrela! The hidden fortress of myth.
The poker slid forward and jarred loose one of the logs. It tumbled from its perch, crackling as it sent sparks flying. The table fell silent, and Anna cursed under her breath. She wanted to hear more about Zancrela.
She pushed the offending log back into place. Without looking their direction, Anna returned the poker to its place. She strode toward the back room, fists clenched in an effort not to turn around. Once through the doors, Anna hid behind a row of shelves. If the man who cooked and cleaned noticed her, the chances of discovering more about the strangers would vanish in a barrel of sudsy dishes.
They’re searching for Zancrela, she thought. The castle of legends, constructed by scholars rumored to be vampires. The origins didn’t matter, though. Only the fortress’s library. Every book of history and magic lay within that room.
I remember reading about it in one of my mother’s books. I’d long since given up hopes of ever finding it. But now, she thought, peering around the shelves. These strangers are looking for it. I must talk to them. Or rather, get them to talk to me. But how?
Buy Links:
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BC4SRKH2
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165920110
Author Biography:
A professional speaker and author, L. Diane Wolfe conducts seminars, offers book formatting, and author consultation. She’s the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
Social Media Links:
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https://www.facebook.com/l.diane.wolfe - Facebook
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