Thursday, October 30, 2008

First Halloween after Winter 2012

HALLOWEEN DAY, 2013 ~ after Winter 2012 in WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS

SEDONA & VOLCANO’S FIRST HALLOWEEN

"Wicked guano stench, cherub. Thanks for saving us so fast." Sedona smiled.
Volcano swept his arm in a large arc, creating their translucent sphere of protection deep inside the artificially designed cavern, part of an ancient underground travelway. The huge colony of bats, survivors of Montana’s ecological catastrophes, were in the first stage of hibernation. With her enhanced hearing, Sedona listened to their high-pitched frequency conversation about their sudden arrival, and the bats’ group decision to ignore them.
Protectively, she held Aru, their baby dog, in her arms. Even he had been worn out by their brutally long day of avoiding the constant attacks of their shadow-elite enemies. Aru’s eyes squinched closed in a light doze, as Volcano retrieved his sleep pillow from the superspeed cycle’s compartment. He tossed it close to the center of their sphere, his gaze running over them protectively.
Before placing Aru on his pillow, Sedona kissed the top of his silky fur head. Settling quickly, Aru curled up, his eyes blinking shut within moments. Volcano wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her close, and for a few moments they stood companionably, gazing down at Aru like doting parents.
"How are you?" Volcano’s velvet tone tingled her ear, and sizzled her insides. Seductively, he handled her bottom, causing her mound to throb with sex-hot desires.
"I don’t know," she whispered. Turning inside his embrace, she slid her palms over his chest, caressing. "That smell as we entered, alone, could have given me a Halloween nightmare. Not to mention recalling all those vampire bat scenes. Too bad we can’t loose them on the hordes of evil following us."
"We could, precious woman."
"I know. It’s not divinely kosher." Sedona looped her arms around his neck, luxuriating in the feel of his muscle-carved body. "Mmmm, I love the way my breasts feel against your chest, carnal cherub."
"I’ll make them feel even better once we arrive at the cabin." His promise, spoken in black velvet, seared through her decadently.
"I know you will," she whispered, hearing the moan in her voice.
Volcano nuzzled her lips with his, and they kissed sumptuously, their passions rising as fast as a fueled bonfire.
Once their lips reluctantly parted, and with her breath in short supply, Sedona murmured his angelic name. Yet, she didn’t speak the tiny threads of love smoldering in her heart. She knew he heard them like harp strings, by the way he held her molded against him.
"We’re surrounded by psi spies, my Sedona. I have to remain awake, undistracted."
"Undistracted?" She raised a brow. "What a Halloween disappointment. I was looking forward to pretending you were Dracula in desperate need of my blood essence and my virgin-helpless body."
"I’m much more desperate than the blood-tasting lusts of Dracula, my beautiful one." Slowly, he stroked over the long length of her hair. "Your neck belongs to me," he badly imitated a campy version of Count Dracula.
"Count Chocula." Sedona chuckled.
"Count Chocula?"
"That’s who you sound like. Count Chocula in the old cereal commercial. It was a chocolate-tasting cereal for kids."
"You dare amuse yourself at the expense of the great and masterful Count Chocula, who, even now, bakes himself with superior chocolate flavor, just for you and your delectable-tasting sinful pleasures."
Sedona giggled as his splayed hands enjoyed the roundness of her butt. "Does that mean you’re going to taste like chocolate when I am allowed to ‘sinfully’ lick and ravish your incredibly hard, incredibly sexy body?"
"If you let me taste your naughty wet curls first." His gaze smoldered, flushing her insides to a sweet fierce heat. Only for him.
"Distraction," she murmured.
"Yes," he agreed, and gently released her. Holding her hand, he seated himself next to Aru’s pillow. Tenderly, he drew her down so she sat within the cradle of his body, her back to him.
Sedona vibrated with the strength of his protection for her, as if an ethereal song played inside her body. She should be accustomed to his care by now. Yet, she doubted she ever would be. Wearier than she realized, she leaned her head back on the hunky wall of his chest, and closed her eyes, hoping...
An instant later, her eyes snapped back open, and her adrenalin spiked. "I swear she must be a reincarnation of the Wicked Witch of the West. Even if that was a fictional character."
Immediately, Volcano hugged her closer, and Sedona snuggled more deeply into his embrace. She intimately covered his hands with hers. Still, she shivered violently, remembering her recent encounter with the Nazerazzi woman, a top operative, determined to capture her or destroy her. The fact, that the ‘Wicked Witch’ still possessed some manner of psychic connection with her was more than disturbing.
"I’ll make her vanish like a fake ghost once the immediate danger is passed. Talk with me awhile, precious woman."
"Fake ghost? Do you mean everyone wearing white sheets?"
"No. Pretend ghosts at Halloween parties. Fog machines. Mother talked about them."
"Oh, I guess that does make sense, handsome heavenly one."
"Your first Halloween costume?" He purred the words near her ear.
"You always know how to keep me awake and talking. Hmmm...let me see...spin some gray matter...take a trip back in time..." Sedona settled her head more comfortably against his chest. "It wasn’t the first one, probably. But it is the first one I remember. And it was before kindergarten. Mom made us three girls pajama footie costumes from a pattern."
"Footie?"
"Sort of like tights. But these were sewn from flannel. They were winter pajamas."
"Winter pajamas? I don’t understand."
"We wore them to bed after Halloween. It was a more practical time, the middle 50's. But they were also a costume. I was the black cat. I remember loving that costume, especially my tail and my ears, but I was envious of the tiger and lion costumes my other two sisters got."
"Meow," he darkly whispered. "My own black cat woman for Halloween."
"In flannel pajamas?" she drily teased.
"Batman eat your heart out."
"Plenty of bats in here. Batman could be in disguise just waiting to swoop down. Okay, more like a bloodthirsty move Dracula would make."
"I’ve got better wings. Better than Batman or any vampire bat," he reminded, his voice utter passion.
"Ooooh, you do. Black gorgeous sexy wings." Sedona shuddered with desire, remembering their celestial lovemaking.
"I want my black cat woman," he growled possessively.
"Don’t you dare read my mind and create those black cat pajamas. I’m not wearing them for you."
"Yes, you will."
"No, I won’t."
"You’ll be my black cat beauty."
"Hiss and grrrr...I’ll claw you to divine particles, cherub."
"I’ll make you beg and mew for my tricks and my treats," he promised in a dark purr.
"I’m not begging. Or mewing. What? Have you turned from angel to demon for Halloween?"
"Did I forget to tell you?" His voice unmercifully teased. "For this one night, the whole fabric of Earth turns inside out, and, yes, I transform into your demon lover."
Despite herself, Sedona wantonly trembled inside. "More than you already are?" she whispered, her heart rate frenzied and soaring.
"Especially, if you wear black cat flannel pajamas," he sinfully tempted.
"You won’t even let me wear a flannel nightgown, you bad cherub."
"You’ve forgotten the rules, my Sedona. If you wear a flannel nightgown, I get to rip it off. Have my wicked way with you."
Sedona twisted inside with raw passion. "Trick, and no treat for you. Or me. Since we’re here. Deep in bat do-do. It’s closing in on midnight. And the psi spies are still hunting us."
"Before dawn, my queen of the angels, I’ll make you fly. Next Halloween, black cat pajamas, and I’m your demon lover."
--------------------------------


HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
http://savannakougar.com ~

Volcano’s Angelic Forecast for this week ~
http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com ~

WHEN A GOOD ANGEL FALLS ~ Where angels fear to tread, 2012 Earth...Is a stranger on a superspeed motorcycle her savior from the brutal endtimes? ~ available from BookStrand ~
http://www.bookstrand.com/authors/savannakougar/wagaf.asp ~ http://www.bookstrand.com/product-whenagoodangelfalls-10981-192.html ~ http://bookstrand.com ~

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

If you haven't already, will you take a moment to read my story Moonlight Invitation and at least a couple of the other shorties and place your vote? My entry is at the following link and it's under 600 words.
http://playgroundmystique.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/entry-3-moonlight-invitation-by-faith-bicknell-brown/ (voting link below)

If you'd like to read all the stories, the Contest Entries link is posted on the 10/28 entry.

If you enjoy Moonlight Invitation, I'd appreciate your vote. Voting is here: http://playgroundmystique.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/462/

Winner is drawn on Halloween, I believe.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Join Me at Coffee time's Paranormal Book Chat Tonight at 9PM EST

Join me and other authors for the Paranormal Book Chat at Coffee Time Chat tonight, October 21st, at 9PM EST. Authors besides me, are Carolan Ivey, Leila Brown, Lizzie T Leaf, Kimberly Adkins, Mary Martinez, Angela Steed

Link: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Chat.html
Direct link: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ctr_chat.htm
Sapphire Phelan

Monday, October 20, 2008

Don't Wait For Your Ship to Come in Swim out to it!


In my morning reading today I came across this quote by Jonathan Winters: "If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to meet it."
There was another a day or too earlier that said something, "Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle." Abraham Lincoln.

In other words, the only thing that will create success, or create that book you've been waiting to write, or create some other printed words you dream to have written, is ACTION. There is no way around it if you don't put your butt in a chair and write - you will never publish a word. You need to banish all fear of failing, of making a mistake -- mistakes are the lessons of life.

This Frank and Ernest cartoon strip says it all. Frank is at the counter at an employment office he has a long long sheet of paper he is apparently reading from to the guy who is taking his application. The caption says--"I don't have any formal education so I brought you a list of the mistakes I've learned from."

Feel the fear and do it anyway is almost a buzz word nowadays, but it's absolute truth. Do not be afraid of mistakes, no one is perfect. Perfectionism will stall you in your tracks. Not that you should adopt a careless, reckless, not-give-a-darn attitude. You should do the best that you can do with what you have at this very moment and let the rest happen.

"You can never learn less; you can only learn more. The reason I know so much is because I have made so many mistakes," says Buckminster Fuller (a mathematician and philosopher who never graduated from college but received 46 honorary doctorates.

Imagine!
Write Like The Wind
Billie/Cricket
Coming Soon The Capricorn Goat
Mystery/Suspense
www.billiewilliams.com
www.cricket-sawyer.com

Friday, October 17, 2008

Tips! Win!

Grab some writing tips and enter an easy contest. For details go to www.faithbicknellbrown.com and click on BLOG. Read my lastest blog entry.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Online Chat and Blog Carnival

I will be giving away to a winner his/her choice of one of three eBooks from my backlist (Wedded Magic, Beast Magic or Crimson Promise) at the Bitten by Books Haunted Blog Carnival that starts October 27th and ends November 2nd at http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=1364. There are loads of many great prizes from other authors and publishing houses too, so check out the carnival that week.

I will also be doing a live chat at 9PM Eastern October 21st at Coffee Time's Paranormal Books chat. This will be both as Sapphire Phelan and Pamela K. Kinney. The link to it is http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Chat.html . The direct link is http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ctr_chat.htm , but if not signed up to chat, you must do this first. Other authors participating are Carolan Ivey, Leila Brown, Lizzie T Leaf, Kimberly Adkins, Mary Martinez, and Angela Steed.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

New website!

Check out my official author website! It's a combination of classy and paranormal with a dash of eroticism. I love it!

On the Cool Stuff page, you can download free PDFs. Leave a message through the contact page and let me know you stopped by!

www.faithbicknellbrown.com

Monday, October 6, 2008

Check out all the great stuff from Eternal Press this month!

Warning: adult themes may be present.

Eternal Press is releasing eight new titles for October. Be sure to join us on our reader’s yahoogroup for the launch party on October 7th. As usual there’s free stuff involved! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EternalPressReaders/

Here’s info, excerpts and blurbs for your enjoyment:


A Fine Cauldron of Fish
By Cornelia Amiri
Paranormal Romantic Comedy, 18,300 words
http://www.eternalpress.ca/afinecauldronoffish.html
$3.50
ISBN: 978-1-897559-64-2
Heat rating: 2 flames

Summary:

It’s summer on the Isle of Man an Andrew is looking for hot girls and good times. So when he meets the dreamy and seductive Margaid, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot. There are only a couple of minor problems: Margaid lives in a cave under the sea, is invisible, and thinks that only Andrew’s blood can save her from turning into a kelpie! But hey, whoever said love was perfect!?

Excerpt:

Before Margaid could answer, the guy shook his head at Andrew. “It’s okay. You can keep my shirt. Although I don’t know how you're holding it when your arm’s about four inches away from it, but hey, I’m sure I simply had too much to drink. Keep it, that’s fine.”

“What? No, I don’t want your shirt. Margaid, well she thought I wanted it, but—”

“No, don’t let him go.” Margaid shook her red head. “You do want his shirt. And you need his pants, too.”

Before Andrew knew what was happening, she shoved the shirt into his arms. Then she turned back to the quaking man and grabbed hold of his waist.

“Oh, no, Margaid, don’t do it.” The moment Andrew yelled out, he knew she wasn’t going to listen. He watched in utter horror as she unsnapped the poor man’s jeans, yanked down his zipper, and slid his pants all the way to his ankles. Damn, I’m glad he’s wearing underwear. Black boxers with writing all over them. What does that say? Andrew read aloud, “B is for big.”


Beltane By Erin O'Riordan
http://www.eternalpress.ca/beltane.html
Fantasy/Paranormal, 65,500 words
$5.95
ISBN: 978-1-897559-57-4
Heat rating: 4 flames

Summary:

Twin sisters Allie and Zen have always shared everything: including an unconventional upbringing at Pagan Spirits Farms. They even fall in love at the same time. Pagan priestess Allie thinks she’s met the man of her dreams in her buttoned-down lawyer fiancé, Paul Phillip. But is he everything he seems?

Zen, a witch gifted with the sixth sense, falls for Orlando. But there’s a catch: Orlando is married to someone else. As the celebration of Beltane nears, the sisters seem destined to be unlucky in love. But the Goddess moves in mysterious ways, and May Day may turn out to be magic for them after all.

Excerpt:

“I had an early board meeting yesterday morning, and I’ll have another one this morning. It’s the end of our fiscal year.” Orlando said.

Zen raised her wine glass. “Happy New Year, then.”

Orlando smiled. “How about you? Got a boyfriend? Any kids?”

“No boyfriend. And the closest thing I’ve got to a kid is Gillian. I’m sure I’ll get around to having kids one of these days. I’ve got time, I’m only twenty-three.”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem older,” he said. Zen frowned, so he explained. “I don’t mean you look older. I mean you seem more mature. Wiser, maybe.”

“I don’t know about that,” Zen replied. Orlando didn’t say anything, so she kissed him. She breathed in the soft floral scent of his aftershave.

Orlando was very still at first. Zen wondered if she’d made a mistake, or if he didn’t like the way she kissed. She looked into his eyes, looking for some clue. As she did, Orlando leaned in and caught her lower lip between his lips. He’d been a little shy, but now he wanted to show her what he knew. To Zen’s great delight, he knew what to do with his tongue.



In the Wee Small Hours by Clare London http://www.eternalpress.ca/intheweesmallhours.html
GLBT – M/M - Romance, 5,100 words
$1.80
ISBN: 978-1-897559-63-5
Heat rating: 2 flames

Summary:

In the small hours of the morning, on opposite sides of town, Jake and Matty each seek a shoulder to cry on after a fierce argument. But when their long-suffering listeners have had enough, it's time for the guys to realize where they've gone wrong.

Excerpt;

“I miss him so bad,” he said, softly. “I just chatter on and on because I’m worried I don’t understand what he’s thinking; what he wants. I don’t know what to do that’s going to be right. I need to know that—and I thought he’d understand. But how can I go back, after I ran out on him like that, after what I said?”

The king was suddenly tired of this audience. He had other matters on his mind, notably what to eat for his own supper, and what the approaching dawn would bring in the way of dangerous adventure. “Seek him out,” he said, dismissively. “Send word. It is never too late.”

The young man had something cradled in his palm—a strange, rectangular object with a glowing panel where words could be entered by use of the buttons. The king had seen these in the hands of other, less friendly people, and he believed they were for communication. Something from the ancient world, yet reliable enough for their purpose. “Your life is too short to waste,” he said, sternly.


Witch's Moon By Tabitha Shay
Paranormal Romance, 71,000 words
http://www.eternalpress.ca/witchsmoon.html
$5.95
ISBN: 978-1-897559-58-1
Heat rating: 3 flames

Summary:

Ru-Noc: A magical world teetering on the edge of destruction.

Excited about her first Beltane, the feisty and strong-willed Princess of Ru-Noc makes plans to find her ideal mate. But Princess Kali’s world is turned upside down when finds herself whisked away and trapped in the mortal realm of vampires.

Captain Koran T knows he’s in serious trouble when the King of Ru-Noc orders him to kidnap Princess Kali. He’s no different than any other male of his species at mating time, so the urge to breed Kali is strong. But Koran T has a dark secret of his own, one that could have him banished from the coven.

Fall under the spell of a Witch’s Moon—when dark forces gather to threaten the very existence of Ru-Noc—and Princess Kali and Captain Koran cross swords in a fierce battle only a witch can win!
Excerpt

Kali caught her breath as Koran suddenly leaned close to her and snapped, “Stop looking at me like that.”

She blinked, jarred back to her surroundings by his sharp tone. “How am I looking at you, Captain?”

Kali caught herself on the verge of clutching her run-away heart. Gods, his scent assailed her senses. Heat curled in her stomach in a tangled knot. She clenched her thighs and tried desperately to ignore the dampness that pooled there.

“Like you want my mouth all over you.” He skimmed his gaze over her breasts, lingering on the stabbing buds of her nipples. His eyes flickered. He shifted his gaze to her mouth. “Is that your desire, Princess? You want my mouth on you? Everywhere?”



Luminari by Kim McDougall
Paranormal Romance/Timeslip, 7,100 words
http://www.eternalpress.ca/luminari.html
$2.50
ISBN: 978-1-897559-69-7
Heat rating: 2 flames

Summary:

Devon loves Rosalie more than life itself, even though he knows that her life will extend far beyond his mortal one. But though they share their nights together in passion, they have never been able to spend a single moment together in the sun. Until now. Devon has learned of a powerful substance that can give Rosalie the gift of sunlight. But will he be able to pay the high price that the powerful Vampire in control of this drug will ask?

Excerpt:

“You mean…you aren’t going to bite me?”

Xavier laughed as he swabbed Devon’s wrist with alcohol.

“Frankly, mortal, you’re not my type.”

Devon thought of Rosalie wrapped around his waist, her teeth buried deep in his throat, and he blushed.

Of course, Xavier would not bite him.

He felt a pinch on his wrist, and a coldness swept up his arm into his head. He didn't even feel the blade that slit his vein.

“Don’t move,” said Xavier. Devon looked down and wished he hadn’t. A steel bowl caught blood as it drained from his arm. He swooned and fell back against the cushions.

“Easy,” said Xavier. “If you faint now, how will I know when you’ve had enough? Review


Bloody Murder by Carol Shenold
http://www.eternalpress.ca/bloodymurder.html
Paranormal Mystery, 62,000 words
$5.95
ISBN: 978-1-897559-60-4
Heat rating: 2 flames

Summary:

Event planner Tali Cates’s psychic gifts have brought her more than enough trouble in the past. She wants those irksome gifts to leave her in peace so she can support her family and lead a normal life in the small of Love, Texas.

But when not one, but two beauty contestants in the pageant she’s running turn up dead, Tali is again drawn into murder and mayhem. Toss in some witchcraft and kidnapping, and she has no choice but to protect her kids by hunting down the killer. Life gets even more complicated when her son accuses her new boyfriend of being a vampire, which is just plain ridiculous.

Or is it?

Excerpt:

Screams shrilled from the dressing room area, not the carnival. What else could go wrong with this damned county fair contest I was in charge of? I shivered, and it wasn’t from the cooler evening air. What now? I ran toward the dressing room, reaching the door in time to be trampled by Theresa, who was shrieking and carrying her daughter, Charlice.

“Oh God, oh God, oh God. My baby, my poor baby.” She finally took a breath and sat down on the ground. “It’s dead, it has to be. I don’t know what it is.” Theresa was one of the pageant contestant mothers.

From the way she was reacting, you’d think her child was dead, not struggling against her mother’s tight grip.

I picked myself up from the cement stage, ignoring my scraped knee. Charlice buried her head in her mother’s neck.

I went into the empty dressing room Theresa had opened. She had been anxious her daughter wouldn’t have enough mirror space to get ready for the talent competition.

Marcia Baker lay on the floor, or at least someone in Marcia’s clothes. The body looked like a mummy, not Marcia. It was as if something had removed all moisture from her. All I could think of was poor Marcia, poor Kimmie—who was one of the Queen Contest competitors. She would be without a mother.

I couldn’t catch my breath. My heart stuttered. I staggered out of the room, touching nothing. My cell phone rang. I fumbled it out of my jeans, swallowing several times before I could talk. It was Mumsie, my mother.

“What’s going on, Tali? Chung Po is beside himself. He says he can’t see anything but darkness.”

“Tell your stupid spirit guide to go into the light. Get off the phone and call JT. I have a dead body here in the dressing room.”

“Another one?”

“Just go call.” I hung up and threw myself behind a hay bale to be sick. It was déjà vu all over again.


French Kiss By Sloane Taylor
http://www.eternalpress.ca/frenchkiss.html
Contemporary Erotica , 15,000 words
$2.95
ISBN: 978-1-897559-61-1
Heat rating: 4 flames

Summary:

Straight-laced children's author, Rachel Conklin, awakens on a deserted island wrapped in the arms of a sexy pirate. Convinced she's in a dream conjured from the pages of her breakout novel, Rachel casts her inhibitions to the wind and rides the waves of passion.

Pediatrician Henri Bernier wasn't quite sure what to do with the sexy mermaid he'd pulled from the sea. Then she started kissing him and sent his libido soaring. Now the good doctor is ready for anything.

Excerpt:

Warm tingles started in her belly, pooling low in her abdomen, a sensation she’d long missed. His lips were strong, supple, working her own apart. She glided her tongue along the seam of his mouth, loving the salty taste and the rasp of his beard on her bruised face. Moisture filled her panties, making her alive and wanting more. She laced an arm around the broad shoulders leaning over her, curling her fingers in his long silky hair.

Her nipples puckered more with each stroke as he glided his hand along her spine, continuing lower over the curve of her ass to her thigh. Wet sand greeted her when he smoothly rolled them over. Her legs parted, welcoming her secret pirate. Nope, make that swashbuckler. More romantic.

Shivers raced through her and he held her closer. His body heat, a beautiful thing, shrouded them. Her breasts grew heavier, straining against her shirt, with his solid erection pressing into her. She wiggled closer, needing to feel him inside her.

Indistinguishable sounds filled her ears, forgotten lyrics from an old sweet love song. She wanted to remember, but not enough to give up her fantasy man and the erotic glow of mystery sex.


Shadow on the Crystal By Brittany Kingston
http://www.eternalpress.ca/shadowonrthecrystal.html
Paranormal, Vampire, Supernatural, Mild Horror, 6,200 words
$1.80
ISBN: 978-1-897559-62-8
Heat rating: 1 flame

Summary:

For years, Whisper has hunted his archenemy, the vampire, Santez de Aragon. Whisper intends to kill the vile murderer and put an end to his evil ways once and for all. Katherine Browning finds herself attracted to the tall, handsome Gypsy who wards off the unwelcome attentions of her brother’s tutor.

But soon she discovers that Whisper is not what he appears to be…

Excerpt:

Whisper tightened his grip on his sword. “I will never be like you.”

Santez circled their tight arena. “You are me. Do not deny you lust for blood the same way I do. You crave it. You take it wherever you can. You can’t get enough of it.” His eyes, like embers, ignited when his gaze came to rest on the frightened face of the girl. “So much the sweeter when virginal, no?” His stare challenged Whisper. “Deny that you want to drink her blood. Deny that you want it so bad you can already taste it.” Whisper glanced at Katherine. The haunted gaze that caught at the edge of his vision sent a chill up his spine.

“Deny it!”

“Whisper?” Katherine took a step backwards.

Santez laughed. “Tell her what you are, gypsy.”

“Enough, Santez! Your quarrel is with me.” He lunged forward swinging the sword, but Santez moved quicker. By the time the six-span blade had completed its arc, Whisper found Santez between himself and Katherine.

Nothing would have pleased Santez more than to have seized the girl and taken her right in front of Whisper, but the gypsy demanded all his concentration, and the girl slipped beyond his reach. He snarled, half crouching, ready to spring. “I should have made you wholly a vampire when I had the chance.”