This week’s Tuesday Teaser is from Frankie Sutton. We have an excerpt from Vampiric Crush. This is a vampire fantasy. Enjoy!
Shae finished breakfast: a plate of dry toast, stale cereal, and a bowl of watery
oatmeal. The meal focused on nutrients rather than taste or aesthetic appeal. She carried the
tray to the dispensing station, leaving the utensils and dishes in one bin, and the remaining
trash in another bin. Then she set the tray on the top shelf, where a stack of used trays rested.
Back in the room, she sat in a rickety chair at the scratched old desk. Books and
tomes rested in a stack in one corner. She opened a tome and removed a few sheets of
paper used as a bookmark. The paper had almost illegible notes scribbled on it in
familiar handwriting. The book left untouched was a history of Deviants—advanced Civilians
that had mastered magic, such as raising or lowering their vibrational frequencies for open
travel. Otherwise known as portals.
In her downtime, tomes laid open on the desk. So what if I read them and write
essays for fun. The other Deviants will never understand that. Delving deep into the spell
books to familiarize herself with any new undiscovered abilities, often became obsessive.
Being one step ahead of Gerard Jacquain, if and when she ever engaged him face-to-
fang, was the goal, determined to be prepared.
An intriguing spell caught her eye while flipping through some of the musty pages
in the thick, leather- bound tome. The spell promised to grant the caster the ability to reveal
the true nature of things. But she already knew Jacquain’s true nature. He’s a very
powerful vampire with a fetish for pleasure. Many Civilian women fell victim
to his quest for ultimate pleasure. And Dorian’s team had many brushes with the vamp.
Shae’s thoughts about Jacquain and Dorian, her fellow Deviant, were interrupted
by a knock on the door. She closed the tome and rose from the chair to answer it.
“Dorian?” Well, that’s creepy. Did he know I was just thinking about him?
He leaned against the door frame, running a hand through his classic tapered
hairstyle. “Lady Chastain requests your presence in the Throne Room. Mind if I escort you
there?”
“Sure.” Shae held the door open for him. He entered and shut the door. “So…”
“Turn around or close your eyes. I need to change.”
“Right, sorry.” Dorian placed a hand over his ocean-blue eyes. “Better?”
“Yeah.” Shae approached the armoire. She changed into an emerald-green jumpsuit with a
fitted high waist matching sash and wide-leg pants.
“Other couples don’t really hide from each other, Shae. You’re gonna have to let me
in some time.”
Shae headed into the private small bathroom. “We’re not ‘other couples’, Dorian.”
“Tell me about it,” he mumbled.
“I heard that!” she shouted as she combed her hair. Returning to the main part of the
room, she saw him standing there with his hands at his sides.
“Can’t you at least…try?” Dorian moved to the door, holding it open.
As Shae marched down the hallway, her footfalls created a soft echo that
reverberated off the floors and walls. Dorian hustled, slowing down as soon as he
caught up to her. They passed by other people in the hall, who moved aside, opening up
an unobstructed path to the Throne Room.
Dorian’s words rang out as they reached the imposing double doors of the
Throne Room, desperation dripping from his voice. “After your meeting, maybe we
could hang out at the market? Please.”
Shae refused to look at him, gaze fixed firmly on the formidable entrance ahead. I
want to say yes, but…
Dorian sighed. “Yeah, fine. I’ll go find something else to do…again.” He dared to
lean forward and kiss her lips.
Shae stood there, stiffly.
“I really miss the early days, when it was you, me, Roz, and Keitan learning how to
handle swords and magic in battle.” He left her at the door.
Preorder Vampiric Crush now.
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