The Garnet Dagger Blurb: Everyone
knows what happens when a vampire bites a human…but what if the victim is
Elvin?
Forbidden to cross the Elvin barrier into human lands, Brock
cannot sate his curiosity. Cursed by a vampyre bite that forces him to feed on
the life-essence of others, he is unable to touch another without taking their
life. Chained by prophesy, he must find a witch, pierce her heart, and draw her
blood for his cure.
Celeste must escape the monks who have held her
prisoner for years. Her magic has been kept dormant by her captors. An ancient
powerful Warloc craves her powers. If he succeeds in devouring her magic, she
and his world will die.
When Brock falls in love with Celeste before
realizing her demise is his cure, will love triumph over his desire to be
healed? Will he risk everything to save her from a Warloc, an oath breaker, who
also wants her dead?
The Garnet Dagger Excerpt: Chapter One
I’ve known
death. For over half a millennia, I escorted many to death at the end of my
sword. In the eyes of the dying, I watched it shroud them. Foolishly, I thought
many more eras would pass before death came for me. It came so swiftly that I
could not run; I could not escape. At a village, dressed in human clothes, I
took in everything. By observing for eons, I understood and spoke their
language. The world of mankind fascinated me. Their hobbled homes burrowed into
the ground.
Rocks
crunched on top one another with thatched roofs woven from straw. Never had I
seen a home or inn that was higher than three levels, as if they were afraid of
the sky. I delayed my return to my people as I watched human jugglers bounce
torches and knifes. It was autumn equinox and the festivities would continue
well into the night. Children laughed as they chased each other. A trail of
leaves from their costumes twirled after them. It was dark when I reached the
forest. Since I was already late, I hiked uphill to a shortcut rather than take
the long path back home. I didn’t need to alert any of my kind near the barrier
at this hour. Liana would wonder why I was late.
Tonight was
the two month anniversary of our hand twining ceremony. One more month as was
custom, and then we’d be wed. A gasp rustled through the trees. The roots shot
a warning through to me with stifled caution. Adjusting my pack, I continued on
instead of changing back into my Elvin clothes. After I passed the border which
kept humans from entering our land, then I’d change. In the distance, I heard a
groan. Curious, I spun in the direction of the sound. The autumn wind breezed
through my worn human clothes, chilling me. But someone needed help. I turned
in the direction of the sounds. Whatever made the noise should be a few yards
ahead.
I
hiked slower than my normal speed, so as not to startle whatever human called
out. My leather boots crunched upon dried, diseased leaves and bark. Horrified,
I glanced up. Branches twisted around each other to suffocating. Lifeless limbs cracked in the wind. Flesh of
the trees sloughed off in layers, exposing its bones. Gashes hollowed out
chunks of warmth. Fragments of leaves clung to finger tips, marking sepulchers
of the dying trees. Trees mourned with wails like splitting wood, and I brought
my hands over my ears. I must flee before I became infected, they told me. Flee
before the stain of this defilement creeps into you, they warned. Trees spoke
to my kind, always had. Yet these trees were in such agony of death that I
could not breathe. Felt as though my lungs had folded in on themselves, like a
moth unable to break loose from its cocoon.
Nothing I could do for them, and if I
lingered too long, whatever disease gnawed upon them may choke me. Where would
I go if I carried something so foul as to devour trees from the inside out? I’d
never return to Tamlon if I brought this infection with me. I drew away, but a
movement at the base of a decaying tree to my right caught me. My night vision
picked up the sight of a human. His sallow face seemed to glow in the
moonlight. Poking out from rags lay his arms and legs, which resembled skin
stretched over sticks. So cadaverous was his face, I’d have thought him dead if
he hadn’t moved.
“Please,” he said and his voice sounded like cicada’s vibrations, “help me.”
“What ails you in this troubled place?” I wondered if my voice, foreign to my
ears in speaking the human’s language, revealed my nature.
“I am lost.” His dark eyes crinkled around the corners. “Without strength to
rise. If you would but assist me up, I’ll be on my way.”
I’d never touched a human on purpose before. Was it that that gave me pause, or
dread that stilled my heart? My feet itched to flee. As soon as I helped him,
then I’d leave. I gritted my teeth and reached a hand down.
His gnarled fingers snapped
on my arm, making me wince. Jerking me forward, his face contorted. Surprised
by his strength, I fell beside him. Blackness curled around me. Teeth, fangs,
broke through the skin on my neck. Then I knew him for what he was, a vampyre.
Cooper, Andrea R. (2013-03-25). The Garnet Dagger (Crimson
Romance) (Kindle Locations 60-67). F+W Media. Kindle Edition.
Andrea’s Bio: Growing up in Houston, Texas, Andrea has
always created characters and stories. But it wasn't until she was in her late
twenties that she started writing novels.
What happened that ignited the writing
flame in her fingers? Divorced, and disillusioned by love songs and stories.
They exaggerate. She thought. Love and Romance are not like that in the real
world. Then she met her husband and realized, yes love and romance are exactly
like the songs and stories say. She is now a happy wife, and a mom to three
kids (two boys and a girl).
Andrea writes paranormal and
historical romance. When not writing or reading, one may find Andrea dancing in
Zumba.
She believes in the power of change
and counting each moment as a blessing. But
most importantly, she believes in love.
Twitter: @AndreaRCooper
