Black Friday: Sable Grace

Black FridayBlack Friday is here and we’re discussing the season with Sable Grace’s Geoff and Kyana from Bedeviled.

She has done the unthinkable– turned her best friend into a Dark Breed: part Vampyre, Lychen and Witch…

Kyana thought only to save her friend’s life when she fed Haven her blood; instead, she created a monster. Now the woman she thought of as a sister is under the spell of an ancient, vengeful god, determined to set him free and wreak havoc on the mortal world…and only Kyana can stop her.

But time is running out. In just seven days, Kyana’s Vampyre and Lychen abilities will be gone and she’ll be completely transformed into the Goddess of the Hunt — and her blood ties to Haven will be severed. By her side is Ryker — ally, demigod, lover — who will sacrifice everything to keep Kyana safe…even the attraction that burns between them. Together they have one chance to save Haven from herself… To save humanity from Hell on earth.

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December 22nd, Before Hell Broke Open

SGrace-BedeviledWhat the hell was he thinking? He was Vampyre, in a crowded mall, looking like a bloody window licker in the middle of a streaming wall of adolescent girls who wore too much make up and far too much perfume.

That should have made him hungry as hell, but Geoffrey had learned to quench those desires a long time ago. He glanced down at the thermal cup of blood-laced coffee in his hand and wondered how the swarms of humans around him couldn’t smell the sweet scent. It might not be fresh blood, or even human blood, for that matter, but it was sustenance. And in this crazy place, he was going to need all the stamina he could get. Fight Dark Breeds? No problem. Fight a mass of hysterical humans ready to kill for the last Ipad or whatever the latest fad was, he wasn’t sure he was man enough.

Or Vamp enough.

“There you are.” He turned to find his friend and fellow tracer for the Order of Ancients, Kyana Aslan, striding toward him, her leather attire matching his and making him feel a little less out of place. She snarled at a passing group of teens, careful not to flash her fangs but making it known that they should get out of her way, pronto. “I should kill you for dragging me to this hell hole.”

Geoff looked down once again at his coffee and wished it was a pint of Guinness, instead. “Yeah, maybe you should,” he muttered. Death was a lot less scary than this place.

“So?” Kyana said, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the crushing crowds outside the food court. “What’s this important thing you wanted me to see?”

He swallowed, suddenly awkward and wishing he’d thought this through a bit more. Knowing he was going to be teased and taunted for it, he sighed and pointed to the store behind them. “It’s in there.”

She peered over her shoulder and frowned. “A jewelry store?”

“I . . . thought I’d get something for Haven. You know. Human holidays and all.”

“She’s not human. Witches don’t celebrate –“

“I know. But . . .“ But what? Haven might dump the lousy git she’d hooked up with and finally come to Geoffrey because he’d bought her a bloody bauble for a holiday they didn’t even recognize? He was a complete moron.

Kyana’s face softened a fraction – something that rarely, if ever, happened. “I think she’s going to marry him, Geoff. Whatever might have happened between you two, you should have tried sooner.”

He nodded, staring blankly at the glaring neon light of the jewelry store. The pendant had been perfect. A Celtic knot that symbolized forever. What better gift from an Irish bloke who had eternity on his hands? Haven had always been curious about his heritage. He’d wanted to give her a small piece of it.

“Will you look at it anyway?”

She narrowed her eyes. “If you get her a gift, will I have to as well?”

He grinned. “Only if you’re trying to get into her pants, too.”

And into her heart.

“These days, my sex life has been so dry, it’s not the worst idea ever,” she mumbled. She grabbed his arm. “Show me so we can get the hell out of here.”

They shoved their way through the crowd to stand before the glass counter. The pendant shined bright as it sat center stage between two cases of diamond rings.

Kyana coughed. “It’s ten thousand bucks, Geoff. She’d be happy with a pair of socks for Zeus’s sake.”

He shrugged. The money meant nothing to him. One dime in an overflowing well of accumulated wishes. “Will she like it or not?”

“Hell yeah. But . . . if she finds out what it cost, it’s going to be more than just a gift. She’s with Drake, and as much as I hate the bastard, I’m not sure it’s appropriate to give this to her.”

He waved down an employee, and the moment he pointed out the expensive necklace, she made him priority above those looking at cheaper goods. He moved to the front of the line, trying to ignore Kyana’s boisterous reasoning beside him.

Before the woman could place the necklace in its box, he took it from her, fondling the thin chain as he imagined the diamond-encrusted knot pressing so close to Haven’s heart. Imagined himself putting it on her. Imagined her smile of gratitude.

It was perfect.

But as he looked up to complete the purchase, he saw her. Outside the shop, hand in hand with her lowlife boyfriend, was Haven. He watched them kiss. Laugh. Then stroll away looking impossibly happy.

A knot in his throat, Geoffrey set the necklace on the counter. “Never mind.” He tried to smile and was pretty sure he looked pathetic as hell. How else was a man to look when his heart was breaking? “Maybe some other time.”

Followed by a very confused Kyana, Geoffrey strolled back into the mall and stared down the path Haven had taken. He was Vampyre. He could never give her the children and life she dreamed of. Drake could.

No, Haven wouldn’t get the necklace this year. Instead, he would give the only thing he could.

He was going to let her go.
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Meet Sable Grace!

Sable GraceSable Grace is the writing team of Heather Waters & Laura Barone, long time critique partners and friends who came together by fluke to discover their voices fit together quite nicely during an experiment of “I’ll write the first sentence, you write the next.” It was meant to be nothing more than a warm up exercise for each of them to get started on their own projects, but soon, the story became far more interesting than what they were supposed to be working on and Sable Grace was born.

Both Heather and Laura reside in Florida, are happily married, and are, well, complete opposites. (Think the Odd Couple on crack here.) Still, there’s enough common ground for them to weave their words together in the voice of Sable Grace.

Heather also writes medieval romances under her real name, which you can find at www.heatherwaters.net, and Laura is a Golden Heart finalist for her highly sensual manuscript, Mr. Right Now.

Contact Info
Website: http://www.sablegrace.com/
Blog: http://sablegrace.blogspot.com/
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter

Want to purchase Sable’s novels?
Dark Breed
Ascension at Amazon | Book Depository
Before the Fall at Amazon | Book Depository
Bedeviled at Amazon | Book Depository

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.