Kat

The Vampire Series Book One

By Cynthia Cantrell

Kat Sanura is a three-thousand-year-old Egyptian vampire...an ancient. Her bid to live a peaceful life in the small oceanside town of Seaside Way is upset by an evil invading her territory. An arch enemy, Sardon, leads an army of vampires on the march. With the help of another ancient, Audrianna, Kat frees many of Sardon's men and enlists their aid in fighting their former master. The last thing she needs is a distraction, but she gets one when she meets Trace Albano, the new town doctor. She can think of little else but him and his ice blue eyes.

Trace has come to Seaside Way to try to forget, to start over. A year ago, his wife was murdered, and it almost drove him mad. Her murderer was never found; justice wasn't served. When he meets Kat, he's surprised to find himself falling in love again. But, the truth of what Kat is may destroy any chance at happiness. Trace's wife was killed by a vampire, and his own memory of this event had been expunged. The vampire has come back for him, and his best hope at survival may be more monster than miracle...Kat, another vampire. Is it possible to trust her? Or to love her?

About the Author

Cynthia Cantrell

Cynthia Cantrell lives in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. She has a special affinity for animals and includes them in all of her novels. Cynthia has lived in many places, growing up in a military family. She graduated high school on Guam, USA in the late 70's, spent many years near the beaches of South Carolina, and will be visiting many of these childhood stomping grounds in future books.

Excerpt

"Poor little one... now you are mine. I bet you taste like fine wine." This evil man croons, wrapping his arms around her.

She feels herself tilting her head to the side. Not of her own accord, but she can't seem to stop herself. She can't make herself move. He gazes into her eyes as his fangs lengthen, watching the terror in her gaze. Feeling it coming off of her in waves. He will feed on her silent terror, just as he will her blood.

"LET HER GO! NOW!"

The vampire raises his eyes to find a woman standing before him. He releases Erin, letting her body fall to the ground. He smiles, his fangs dripping with blood.

"Oh, but I have already tasted of her. It is now your turn."

The woman standing before him smiles and his eyes widen in shock. His smile fades slowly as he takes in her appearance. She's more than just jaw-dropping beautiful. Her jet black, straight hair is waist length and blowing freely in the light wind. Her skin is the color of highly creamed coffee and her cheeks rosy from the anger boiling within her.

Her eyes hold him captive in their intensity. They're the most unearthly shade of green. The shade of emeralds, but deeper, tilted like a cat's and fringed in thick black lashes that seem impossibly long. Her mouth is full, as if made for kissing. Her body is firm. Rounded in just the right places, with a full bosom and a tiny waist. She stands no more than five-six, but straight and proud. No fear can be seen in her eyes.

It's then that he feels her power. Her power rushes over him, taking his breath with it. He's never met anyone with so much power.

"If the child dies, so do you." The anger in her voice is apparent, but her voice is like beautiful music. Pure seduction.

The vampire loses his smile and advances on her slowly. She raises her chin just a notch and he finds himself plastered against the side of the brick building, his feet dangling two feet above the ground. Now it's the woman who does the advancing. She steps close enough to him so that he can feel the breath from her words on his skin.

"Fledgling, you dare to enter my territory and feed from my people. For this alone I should kill you. You didn't even use the glamour. You wanted to feed from her fear. What say you? Should I let you live, or should I take your heart now?" The woman breathes deeply, her gaze never wavering from his.

"I am no fledgling. I will go where I please and take what I want! You, a woman, will not tell me where I will go or on who I shall feed!" Though he's still held immobile against the brick wall, he will show no fear. He knows his power and this woman will not see his trepidation.

"I feel you fear fledgling. Yes, you are a mere fledgling, and not a very smart one at that. I would know your maker. Who is it?" This woman looks into his eyes, pulling the answer from his mind.

He struggles against her hold on his mind, trying to throw up blocks so she can't read him.

"I have the blood of the ancients running in my veins! You cannot read me woman!" He begins to smile.

This woman laughs at him and he struggles against her hold on him. She tilts her head and he slams against the other side of the alley wall, falling to the pavement, hard. He tries to raise himself, to take his revenge on the woman. She simply places her booted foot onto his chest, pushing hard. She holds him immobile with one foot.

She laughs again, looking into his eyes. "Your maker is Sardon. That makes sense, he was always a bungling idiot. Only he would make such a simpleton into a vampire."

"My maker is an ancient! If he hears of this insult he will take your heart himself. But I think I'll take it first!" The vampire is beginning to show his fear. He had used the strongest mind block he could and she had still found his maker's name.

"Your maker was a mortal when I was already an ancient! He's no ancient. Oh, to you he is, I'm sure. He's still a fledgling to me. His own maker's heart was taken by me. No, I have no fear of Sardon, or of you.

"Take a message to your maker... tell Sardon that if any of his fledglings enter my territory again, they will not be so lucky as you. I will take their hearts, then I will find Sardon and take his. Tell him that Kat protects this town and it's people!" Kat removes her foot and he literally flies to his feet.

She asks, "What are you called, fledgling?"

"Kat?! Sanura?!" His eyes grow round as he backs away from her. "Sardon did not know that I was coming here. I am Ramon." He bows deeply, from the waist. He's heard of this woman, this ancient, and he doesn't want to anger her further.

"Ramon, you will live this night, but if this girl dies... I will find you. Then I'll take your heart. Pass that on to the others that might wander into my territory. These people are mine and I will not tolerate you here." She turns her back on him, reaching down to gently lift the young Erin into her arms.

Ramon feels his fangs lengthen once again, his nails turning to talons. He takes one step toward Kat.

"Ramon, if you are not gone from here when I turn around, I will have no more sympathy for your ignorance. I don't repeat myself." She feels his leap into the air, his body turning to mist, and the tension in her body flees along with him.