 My snippet this week is from Whiskey and Moonshine.  They stepped out the door, and Colt buttoned up his suit jacket. The sidewalk was wide, and there were quite a few people walking around the area. Someone—a guy who made the hair on the back of Colt’s neck stand up—cut in front of Mal. Mal was forced to sidestep around the guy, a move that also separated him from Colt. Another guy grabbed Colt’s arm. “Hey, I know you.” A chill ran through Colt; he knew that voice. “No, I n-never met—” He was in the middle of the sidewalk with people walking by, but all alone. “Yeah,” The guy got his face right into Colt’s and sneered. “You have.” Mal twisted around, got into position behind the guy, and barked, “Hey!” One of the private security guys dodged around the other man and was at Colt’s side. Mal pulled the guy away from Colt, forcing him to let go of Colt’s arm, then stepped between them. He turned to the side, fists bunched. His presence and ability to project an intimidating stance sent a sense of security coursing through Colt. There are more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group! Whiskey and Moonshine is available in eBook, paperback, audio and though Kindle Unlimited. 
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Sean Ian O'Meidhir & Connal Braginsky have a new MM paranormal book out, Darklight book three: Entwined. And there's a giveaway. After learning his mother is alive, Cameron, a telepath, travels across the country to find her, accompanied by Nathen, his neurodiverse vampire lover, and Syn, his best friend and sister of the heart. Once there, they find she is involved in a much larger war of her own and has been trying to keep him out of harm’s way for years. In their quest to help her, they make enemies, of course, but they also find several new allies. And when they are swept up in fae politics and looming war, the result is an entire paradigm shift that will have far-reaching effects on all their lives forever. Warnings: Trauma, death violence, sex assault, miscarriage, HFN, depression, grief Universal Buy Link | GoodreadsGiveaway Sean and Connal are giving away a $25 Amazon gift card with this tour: Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47315/ Excerpt
Then Nathen sensed it before he was there. A man standing casually against the railing. Not a man. A vampire. He could see the blood flow like an electrical current through him, so very different than humans or even mages. His tall frame was silhouetted against the city backdrop so he could not quite make out his features except for the piercing luminescent blue eyes that bore into him. He wore a T-shirt, the pattern of which Nathen couldn’t make out, and leather pants that may have been painted on. His biker boots with silver buckles were distracting to Nathen for a moment as one was poised across the other, tip to the ground. He leaned on his elbows, which rested on the railing behind him as if the man didn’t have a care in the world. Nathen interrupted Cameron from his midway point into unconscious sleep. “Babe, don’t freak out, and stay still. There’s another vampire in the room. I’m going to see what’s up. Pretend you’re sleeping in case he does something bad. That way maybe you can surprise him.” Nathen kept a mental hand on Cameron, trying to keep him calm though he saw the spike of adrenaline through Cameron, blood activating and moving through him quickly, swept with fear and concern. Cameron said, “Gorgeous, no! How am I supposed to surprise him?” He could see Cameron’s mind working through various scenarios, though he complied with Nathen’s request and didn’t make a move to get up Nathen turned his attention to the vampire. “May I help you, sir? It is awfully late…or early. Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting? My name is Nathen.” “Nice show.” The man’s velvety voice had a smile to it. “Caught the end. You boys interested in an encore with a new actor? It’s Augustus, or just August, by the way.” He made no move from his position, as if he were a marble statue. Looking closer, Nathen could make out the pronounced bulge tightening August’s pants. Nathen drew a blank on how he was supposed to act in this situation. He’d never experienced anything like this, so had no script to follow. Morally this was a gray area, not wrong, but not usual either. He had never had a threesome, and that could be interesting, especially with two vampires. Though it could be too much for Cameron. Would Nathen feel the same way being bitten by another vampire as Cameron did? His mind was going through many probabilities trying to pick one choice. All he could manage to say was “Um…” Feeling incredibly exposed, Cameron opened his eyes and pulled the blanket over him and Nathen. “Hey,” he managed, his fair skin mottled with embarrassment. Nathen could tell his thoughts were along the same lines of surprise and confusion which dripped with interest when he saw August. He could also feel Cameron delving into his desires, trying to read his preferences and though he knew Cameron preferred monogamy, the thought of being with both of them tickled through Cameron, alighting his already spent core. “Hey yourself,” August said. “You probably need a minute to recover…for that was—” He traced his tongue over his extended fangs and lips before finishing. “—delicious. Was it you who had affected all the humans in the area? It had to be. I haven’t met a thaumaturge in town for quite a while.” “I…” Cameron’s mind scrambled. “I’ll tell you what, gentlemen. Why don’t Nathen and I give you some of our blood to help you recover faster? Then we can all have a little fun?” August asked. Author Bio Connal Braginsky is a software engineer who lives in San Diego, California. Diagnosed with autism, Connal sometimes struggles in social situations, but has an inner world that is always incredibly rich. With an insatiable thirst for knowledge about many esoteric things, Connal brings his personal philosophies and interests to writing. Sean Ian O’Meidhir is a psychologist who lives in San Francisco, California. Sean is a hedonist who believes in living for today, living every day to the fullest, and enjoying as many experiences as possible. They have been gaming since adolescence and have written about and played hundreds of lives, reveling in the chance to take on new personalities, dramas, even disorders. Author Website: http://www.dreamersworkshop.com/ Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/seanian.omeidhir/ Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/groups/439462953480874/ Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19211564.Sean_Ian_O_Meidhir Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sean-Ian-OMeidhir/author/B07T6LTSQ2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 
  Drunk on love. Sale price good on English edition only. Now in Audio! Like a well-aged whiskey, master distiller and old-money entrepreneur Malone Kensington is elegant and refined. Unfortunately he’s also a perfectionist who is more dedicated to the success of his generations-old company than his own love life. That company needs a public spokesman. What Colton Hale lacks in sophistication, he more than makes up for with the charisma that’s allowed him to survive on the street from a young age and charm his way into the lucrative—if overwhelming—public position at the Kensington Distillery. When Mal takes Colt under his wing, hoping to polish off his rough edges, opposites attract and a passionate romance blossoms despite the differences in age and background. But can it survive a Kensington Board of Directors who believe Colt is nothing but a gold digger and a kidnapper determined to profit from the love of Mal’s life—dead or alive? Discover a New Author     Forge nodded. The man’s arms and legs began to move in stiff, jerky motions. “What the—?” Ori exhaled. “It’s not unheard of for a recently deceased body to have muscle…tremors….” Lucas’s voice trailed off, while his eyes widened, and his spine stiffened. Declan pushed Lucas away and Forge leaped a full meter back, shoving Sophia and Blair away at the same time. The man’s eyes were rolled back, and he didn’t blink but he staggered to his feet, arms flinging side to side, his body twisting and jerking one way then another. “Th-there’s n-no such thing as z-z-zombies,” Lucas stammered. “We’ll debate that later,” Forge ground out. Kruger rushed by them and ran down the corridor. “Not helping,” Forge growled. “Keep him surrounded,” Kai shouted. He drew his Taser and fired. The only thing that accomplished was to agitate the man even further. Kai heard no heartbeat, yet there was noise, odd unfamiliar noise, coming from the body. The man’s jaws snapped, and he tried to turn around but fell over. His arms and legs continued their sideways, uneven movements. He got to his hands and knees and began scrambling toward Porter and Ori who stood near each other. “He is dead.” Blair turned to Lucas. Kai heard Kruger shouting, his voice coming from where they’d set up a command post in the library. Holding an axe, Kruger ran at them. They scattered, which caused the dead man’s body to scuttle toward Kruger. Kruger morphed so he was more werewolf than human and swung the axe in an arc, bringing the blade down on the man’s neck. “Everybody get back!” Lucas shouted and threw one arm over his face. The head separated and rolled one way, the body immediately dropped flat, arms and legs sprawled out at odd angles. There should have been a massive blood spray. Yet there was none. Kai didn’t detect even a hint of released urine or feces, which also should have happened and in enough quantity to be noticed even by humans. All that happened was a small puddle of pale yellowish mucous like gelatinous substance dribbled from the man’s neck. Endosymbiont is available in eBook and through Kindle Unlimited.      “Hey, hey, don’t.” Val had one arm between them, pushing back against Wyatt’s chest. “It’s not worth it.” Wyatt ignored Val. When Kevin tried yanking free, Wyatt tightened his hold. “Don’t you ever talk to him”—he dipped his head at Val—“like that again. Better not forget I know a helluva lot about you that Lily doesn’t, and I’m sure you never want her finding those facts out.” He let go of Kevin, giving him a shove, and stepped back at the same time. “You can’t threaten me,” Kevin snarled. “Funny, I think I just did,” Wyatt snapped back. “And that’s not a threat; it’s a promise.”  Read more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A Barlow Lens is available in eBook, paperback and through KoboPlus.
NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: Best Wrong Thing Author and Publisher: Colette Davison Cover Artist: Covers by Jo Release Date: August 23, 2024 Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance Tropes: Forbidden romance, secret relationship, one-night stand to lovers, age-gap Themes: Being true to yourself Heat Rating: 3.5-4 flames Length: 56 000 words It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited Universal link | Amazon US | Amazon UK 
How can something that feels so right be wrong? Blurb What do you do when your dad tells you he’s married the woman he had an affair with? Go out and get drunk. At least, that’s my plan until the cute guy behind the bar chats me up. One thing leads to another, and we end up in bed together, only for me to discover he’s the last person on earth I should be fooling around with. The problem? I can’t keep away, even though I know I should. The more time I spend with Archer, the deeper I fall for him. But when everyone around us will judge us for being together, can I be brave enough to admit he’s the best wrong thing to ever happen to me? Best Wrong Thing is a one-night stand-to-lovers forbidden romance, with an age gap relationship, a strained holiday, and parents behaving badly. Excerpt “I guess your sorrows aren’t that bad,” Archer says once the rush dies. “Why?” He nods at my beer, which is three-quarters full. I’m doing a piss-poor job of getting drunk. “You haven’t drowned them yet.” “Maybe I’m debating other ways to forget my woes.” Shut up. He rests his forearms on the counter. “Oh?” I shake my head. “Forget I said anything.” “What if I don’t want to forget you said anything?” Is he flirting with me? Am I flirting with him? “What if I want to help cheer you up?” Oh, fuck. I lean forward. “How would you do that?” He chuckles. “You tell me. Have a think and let me know. I need to serve a customer.” He walks backwards towards the waiting customer, gives me a wink, and turns to give the woman his undivided attention. I fan myself. Would he be flirting with me if he cared I’m older than him? As he serves customers with an easy smile and brisk conversation, I trace shapes in the condensation on the glass. I’m no longer interested in drinking myself into oblivion. Besides, by this point, my beer is probably so warm it’s unpalatable. “And here we are again.” He grabs a cloth and wipes the spotless counter. I smile. “I haven’t moved. You’re the one who keeps coming and going.” “Right? Work is such a bore.” “You don’t enjoy it.” “Oh, I love it. I get to meet lots of interesting people. Sometimes I even get to meet handsome men.” My pulse spikes. He walks his fingers over the bar and taps it beside my resting hand. “You were going to think of ways I could help cheer you up tonight. Have you come up with anything?” “We could get out of here when you finish work.” I’m really doing this. I’m hitting on a barman. And why not? He can always say no. “For sex?” His question is so casual my brain stutters. “It’s a good distraction.” He grazes his fingers over mine. “You want to have sex with me?” Smooth, Jacob. Smooth. It’s been a while since I’ve chatted up anyone. Hook-up apps get rid of the need for it. His smile pops dimples in his cheeks. “Definitely.” I undo the top button of my shirt. “Aren’t I—?” “What?” “Too old?” He laughs. “How old are you?” I open my mouth. He holds his hand up, palm facing me. “Let me guess. Thirty-two?” “Close.” “Higher or lower?” “Higher.” “Not much higher. Thirty-four.” I point my finger at the ceiling. “Thirty-five?” He raises his brows. “Yes.” “That’s a good age. Thirty-five is mature and experienced. Men get better with age.” My pulse races. “Like red wine?” He hums. “Exactly like red wine.” I tug my collar away from my neck. Has it got hot in here? “I get off in an hour.” “So early?” “I’ve been on shift since midday when the bar opened. Do me a favour.” “What?” “Don’t finish your drinks. I don’t sleep with drunk guys.” About the Author 
Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing. Social Media Links Blog/Website | Facebook Page | Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner BookBub | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram: @colettedavison Mailing List | Newsletter Sign-Up 
Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card 
NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: Snow Angels in the Dust Author and Publisher: Kristoffer Gair Cover Artist: Kris Norris Release Date: August 27, 2024 Genre: LGBT, Romance Tropes: Quest, Fated Mates Themes: Forgiveness, Fate, Asian culture Heat Rating: One sex scene/ 4 out of 5 flames. Length: 73 000 words/ 336 pages It is its own self-contained story, but features characters from Butterflies I Have Known, and Falling Awake III: Requiem. It does not end on a cliffhanger Buy Links 
As it should be. As it needs to be. As it was meant to be. Blurb “I have one more job for you.” Milton Glass, an award-winning photojournalist, celebrated worldwide as one of the greatest documentarians of the twentieth century, has passed. However, he leaves an unfinished task for personal assistant Cristian Orr (Butterflies I Have Known): discover the fate of a soldier’s child who’d been born and abandoned during the Vietnam War. Cristian hesitates to get involved until an even greater mystery presents itself in the form of a name uttered over thirty years earlier by a comatose man on the other side of the world. A name no one there could possibly know. In an unfamiliar country and completely out of his element, Cristian must uncover the life of a man born of two cultures, accepted by neither, and the man’s connection to the whispered name. The answers draw Cristian into a personal journey unlike anything he’s experienced before, towards a fate two lifetimes in the making. Excerpt Cristian powered up his laptop and plugged the thumb drive into the side of the machine. A single file folder contained a lone video file. He double-clicked on the icon. Mr. Glass's face appeared on the screen. “Hello, Cristian. I'm sorry I'm not there to discuss this with you in person. I'd hoped to be, only, as you may have guessed from our time together, things don't always go to plan. Still, I have no complaints. I lived a very full life, and you played a part in helping me right a wrong after seventy years of searching. I won't forget that, your kindness, or you. “But there's another wrong out there, one I wasn't able to help right, and I believe you can. So, I have one more job for you. A veteran contacted me a couple of weeks ago. You'll find copies of his correspondences and my replies in the box Rebecca provided you, along with other documentation you’ll need. You’ll forgive me for presuming you’ll continue on with this, but I figure if you came this far, I’ve piqued your interest. “The man who contacted me is one of perhaps tens of thousands who fought in Vietnam and fathered children there. Some of these servicemen died in the line of duty, got injured and sent home, or left and abandoned the women they were with, as well as the children born to them. Some of these families reunited—though most didn’t—and some hoped word would never reach home because of what an illegitimate child could mean for them and their families back here in the States, let alone an illegitimate Asian child. It was a different time, Cristian, and while that doesn't excuse anything, the circumstances do help with understanding the situation. “Master Sergeant Dale L. Ricci wrote to me and asked for my help in finding out what happened to one such child—his child. Dale left before the birth of his son and, because he had a girlfriend waiting for him back home who he married shortly after returning, he never contacted his son or former girlfriend. The mother of his child, Hai Anh, tried many times to reach him based on what little information she had. Her letters went unanswered. Dale received them and made the choice not to reply. “The letters stopped for a good many years, then the Army base where he'd been stationed reached out to him. Hai Anh desperately tried to get word to Dale. Their son, then twenty-two, had been severely beaten, was in and out of a coma, and might not live. She pleaded with Dale to come and at least see their son once with his own eyes in case he never woke up again. This happened thirty-two years ago. “Dale never went, and this decision has haunted him ever since. He already felt guilty enough abandoning them, but to not go in what might have been a matter of life or death, especially knowing how the children of these GIs were treated? Still, he kept his silence. His wife recently passed, and he now wants to know what happened. He wants to know if his son’s life continued, or if it ended. “Yes, it's guilt, but it’s also about mortality. Dale himself has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He doesn't want to pass without knowing the truth, for better or worse. You once confided in me that your roommate taught you to speak Vietnamese during your college years, and you consider it your hidden talent. It need not remain hidden anymore. “I chose you to work for me, Cristian, because your research and project management skills are second to none. You're discreet, you have great instincts, and aren't afraid to act on those instincts. I need your discretion and great instincts now. Not for Dale, though he will most assuredly benefit from your skills, but rather for you. There is a mystery here in what happened to his child, but an even greater mystery for you to solve, and one I feel you will recognize when you see it.” Mr. Glass paused, then stared into the laptop’s camera as if Cristian truly sat in front of him and not a computer, and his former employer’s face softened. The hair on Cristian’s arms stood up. “I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't feel it important. You helped me, and even though I'm gone now, I want to help you. You know I believe some things are simply meant to be, and this is one of them. A thread from your life here is intertwined with lives over there… “Take care of yourself, Cristian. I know you’re not fond of taking chances, but I’m asking you to take one now. Your future is out there waiting for you.” The picture turned black as Mr. Glass clicked the button to end recording. About the Author Kristoffer Gair grew up in Fraser, MI and is a graduate of Grand Valley State University. He currently lives in a suburb of Detroit. Author Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 
BOX SET RELEASE BLITZ 
Book Title: Town Bronze Regency Box Set Trilogy Author: Ellie Thomas Publisher: JMS Books Release Date: August 10, 2024 Genre: Historical Regency M/M Romance Tropes: Hurt/comfort, Younger/older Themes: Cross-dressing, Spanking, Coming of age, Society of men Heat Rating: 3 flames Length: 66 677 words It Is the complete trilogy in a box set and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links Universal Book Link | Publisher 
This Regency box set comprises the three Town Bronze novellas by Ellie Thomas; Town Bronze, Pantaloons and Petticoats and Impeccable Credentials, with three young men, each unexpectedly finding love. Blurb All three novellas in Ellie Thomas’ Regency Town Bronze series are gathered together in this box set. A trio of young gentlemen, former university friends, Jasper, Barney and Julian, are set loose in Regency London to pursue carefree pleasure. Instead, they find unexpected romance and follow their individual paths to true love. Contains the stories: Town Bronze: In 1812, Jasper Goodhew departs from sleepy Somerset for his first London season, anticipating fun, frolics and drunken debauchery. But to his consternation, he finds that a spanking from the firm hand of a particular older man sets him ablaze. Can Jasper and Sir Mortimer Cleverly overlook their unorthodox introduction to become friends? Or is Jasper unable to resist his deepest instincts? Pantaloons and Petticoats: In the autumn of 1812, Barney Marshall is a carefree young man, able to afford every variety of entertainment in Regency London while remaining heart-whole and fancy-free. All that changes after a passionate encounter with Rose, who by day is Ross, a clerk at Coutts Bank. Can Barney persuade Rose to trust him? And might their connection blossom into love? Impeccable Credentials: In the autumn of 1812, aristocrat Julian Buchanan faces a crisis. He must choose between the trappings of his privileged life or the man he loves. Will Julian submit to his father’s decree and marry to further the family name? Or can he find the strength to break free? Excerpt Excerpt from Town Bronze The next part of Jasper’s evening passed in patchy coherence. The older gentlemen departed with dignity almost immediately after Jasper's inadvertent blunder. With his wine glass replenished more than once by a luscious attendant, Jasper almost forgot about the impact of that searing gaze. He was vaguely aware of some of his companions departing with young ladies. Others were content to remain, drink deep, and dandle a damsel on their laps. Minutes or hours progressed in a pleasant haze until Jasper reached the point where he had drunk himself sober. Relatively clear-headed and suddenly thirsty, Jasper rose on remarkably steady legs to fetch a glass of water from the drinks tray on the capacious sideboard. This gave him a clear view of the entrance hallway. The vestibule was empty, apart from the three gentlemen earlier expelled from the drawing room by an excess of wit. The gentleman with the remarkable hair was shaking the hands of his companions with a few congenial words. In that instant of seeming sobriety, it was terribly important for Jasper to make amends. He couldn’t have fathomed if this was due to his basic good manners and general inoffensiveness when not as drunk as a wheelbarrow. Or perhaps he was prompted by the infinite unimaginable possibilities in those haunting eyes. He entered the hall as the gentleman escorted his companions towards the exit. Jasper stood uncertainly in front of the central staircase, awaiting his opportunity. Once his companions had departed, the remaining gentleman approached a further another doorway off the hall. “Excuse me,” Jasper said, belatedly adding, “Sir.” The gentleman turned, raising an inquisitorial dark brow that made him no less forbidding. During Jasper’s formal education, he occasionally got into trouble. To be fair, these incidents occurred either from absent-mindedness or when he tagged along in the wake of more exuberant and imaginative students. Any resulting discipline, a removal of privileges or corporal punishment, was a matter of course and not taken personally. His sporadic visits to the principal’s study were desultory and instantly forgotten by the disciplinarian and the culprit. This charged confrontation was entirely different. Jasper was unnerved by the swooping feeling in his belly as he faced his unknown foe. The older man drew closer but remained silent, his face expressionless, that implacable glare holding a sense of threat and thrill. “I think I was somewhat discourteous earlier, and I wanted to say I was sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. We were all getting rather carried away and had too much to drink. I know it was a bit much, and we were rather close to the mark concerning you and your friends. But I suppose you were young once too, eh?” Jasper tried and failed to raise a placating smile. The gentleman didn’t move a muscle and stared at Jasper as though regarding a failed scientific experiment. "I mean to say, I was a bit bosky, and I wasn’t thinking straight. Anyone with decent eyesight could tell that’s your natural hair. You’re nowhere near old enough to be wearing a wig. You’d have to be in your dotage. And you’re not. Naturally. No one would think you’re wearing a cauliflower of the wig variety, and it doesn’t remotely resemble an actual cauliflower. I don’t know why I said that. You have very nice hair.” Jasper’s ramble stuttered to a stop. Without softening his expression, the gentleman said, “You were insolent.” Jasper blinked. He suddenly grasped his opponent was slightly the taller and his lean build held latent strength. He felt paralysed, like a snake to its charmer, in thrall to the depths of that gaze. “I think you deserve to be punished.” Jasper gulped. The gentleman’s voice was persuasive. “You’ve earned a good thrashing.” In a husky tone Jasper didn’t recognise as his own, he said, “I’ll let you be the judge of that. I’ll do anything you require.” That eyebrow rose again. A glint of humour lit those night-dark eyes. “Anything?” “Yes. No. I don’t know.” About the Author Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader, especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.
Author Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Facebook Group Twitter | Newsletter Sign-up | Bluesky 
My snippet this week is from my m/m scifi romance, Strays.  “Have people died on missions? I won’t lie to you, yes they have. Are we a feral pack of assassins? No. What we do do is try to prevent more damage than has already been done and get supplies to people who can work on a cure without interference from the government.” Daniel gave Kyle a smirk. “Sometimes we steal those things, and occasionally someone gets beat up.” He was glad some of the color returned to Kyle’s face. Reaching out, he put his hand on the side of the kid’s neck. “No one here is going to hurt you. You have my word on that.” There are many more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group! Strays is available in eBook and through KoboPlus.
 When the elevator door opened, Forge bolted out, Sophia on his heels. Kai and Declan followed their lead since they didn’t take the path to the library but went in the opposite direction. Kai heard Ori’s footsteps approaching and it wasn’t more than a few seconds before he fell into step with Kai. Kruger stayed a meter or so behind them. “Do we know what’s going on?” Ori asked. Kai shook his head but that was all he had time to do. Blair was backing down the hallway, arms held out in front of him. “Calm down…just stop and--stop!” The vampire they’d locked in the werewolf room had gotten loose. He snarled and snapped, then he began screaming, and launched himself at Blair. “Crap!” Forge spat and darted forward. Declan pushed his arm across Forge’s chest and shoved him away. Ripping off the hood of his hazmat suit, Declan dashed between Blair and the man. A wave of cold hit Kai—it made him stagger sideways a few steps. Declan’s forehead broadened and his jaw elongated. He stood his ground, facing down the oncoming, deranged vampire. He didn’t shout. Only a small percentage of vampires could fully shift and when they did they could make a noise that would incapacitate other vampires. The wave of cold he projected did enough to confuse the charging vampire. He turned one way, then the other, and faced Blair again. “Get back!” Porter shouted. He brandished a Taser and skidded to halt a meter or so from Blair and the man. Forge recovered and ran to Blair, grabbed him around the shoulders, and pulled him away just as Porter fired. The Taser shot hit the man in the back, but that barely slowed him down. Forge and Blair slammed into the wall and Forge jumped in front of Blair a split second before the vampire whirled toward them and spat. Forge was still wearing his hazmat suit, but Blair had taken his off. Pink-tinged saliva hit Forge’s face shield, streaking the plastic. He growled. Porter fired again and the vampire stumbled forward. At the same time Declan and Kai lunged at the vampire, grabbing him as he dropped face first. Declan returned to normal and caught the man. Kai quickly stepped up and pulled him away since Declan was no longer protected by the hazmat suit. Kai took advantage of the vampire’s weakened state, caught his neck in the crook of his arm, and applied enough pressure to cut off his air supply and render him unconscious. Easing him to the ground, Kai stepped away, shaking his head. “How did he get out?” “I need that,” Lucas said to Forge, stopping him from wiping his face shield clean. His shoulders slumped but he didn’t argue. “You didn’t get hit with any, did you?” Forge asked Blair. “No.” Blair looked around at them. “The lights in the room he was locked in have been out. It’s completely dark, no light source from anywhere. Even he wouldn’t be able to see anything. I had an audio feed running on my computer station so I could monitor him and make sure he was all right. He started screaming then there were sounds as if he was choking. I figured he’d have enough adrenaline in his system that I could get enough of a photograph of him to get an ID. When I flipped the lights on a low setting in the room, he went totally berserk.” Porter holstered his Taser. “He also could see well enough to operate the keypad inside and open the door. It seemed to have the same system as the main hatch.” Lucas helped Forge remove his hood. “Were either of you exposed?”         |
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