Fallen Redemption
The Trihune Series # 1
By- R.B. Austin
Genre- Paranormal Romance
Killing Fallen to save mankind is Cade's redemption for murder and only one human-mouthwatering and absolutely forbidden-stands in his way.
Cade committed himself to saving lives before he learned the full consequences of his life-altering decision. It wasn't until he was tending his sick wife that he learned the enormity of what he'd done and he was unable to save her from the monster he had become. Consumed with guilt and praying for absolution, he threw himself into killing every Fallen he could find to save the humans he'd sworn to protect. But then Emma, deliciously mortal and completely forbidden, swept into his world, stirring an overpowering desire. Now he's not only fighting soulless creatures, but also his inner cravings, trying to maintain his distance and continue on his path to forgiveness. He won't lose control again and lose another love.
Excerpt:
Emma
woke in a dark room that was not her bedroom. Moaning, she clutched her head
with her hands, rubbing the temples with the pads of her fingers. Her head was
killing her and her body ached. Did she have the flu?
“The
headache will pass soon.”
A small
scream of terror burst from her lips. She jerked to a sitting position. Her
gaze bounced around the dark and she saw absolutely nothing. No light from
underneath a door. Nothing from a window. It was
couldn’t-see-the-hand-in-front-of-her-face dark. “Who’s there?” Emma’s voice
shook as she uttered the stupid line. If someone had to ask who’s there they’d
better start running because nine times out of ten they weren’t going to like
the answer, especially if they were in a horror flick. With the night’s events
rushing back in rapid succession, she was the main character in this scary
movie.
Adrenaline
kicked in and she rolled to the side to get off the bed.
He.
She. It moved, too. Emma quickly backtracked. The noise—not footsteps, more
like a rush of air—also changed directions. On hands and knees, she crawled,
hopefully, to the edge of the bed. Stumbling on it quicker than planned, Emma
pitched over the side and fell to the floor with a grunt. Surging to her feet,
she stumbled, legs deciding to take a break for a moment. Bastards. Light
suddenly filled the room. It blinded her. Her hands shot up to cover her eyes.
Shooting pains erupted in her skull like a knife stabbing her temples.
“I
know,” the deep voice said softly. “Light will make the headache worse. I’m sure
with Lucas’s interference and the bump on your head, the pain is doubled, but I
can’t have you bumping into the furniture or falling off the bed anymore, can
I?”
The
speaker was a man. His voice was closer to her than she’d have thought with the
light just flicked on. Near enough that his breath brushed across her face.
Her
eyes snapped open. She gasped and stepped back. It was the man from downstairs.
The one who’d felt the bump on her head. He was supposed to do something to
her. Erase her memory? No that can’t be right. Emma took another step back and
tripped on the corner of the bed.
The man
caught her by the arms. “Are you always this clumsy?”
“No.”
Shit. Don’t give any information. No matter how insubstantial. Concentrate on
getting out of here.
Inhaling,
she tried to get her bearings. To calm her ragged breaths. She wouldn’t faint.
For the second time, apparently. The light still played with her temples like
sticks to a drum, but not as intense as the knives. Did she have a fever? She
was chilled to the bone and weak.
“More
blood has been taken than we’d hoped. Lie down. It will help your head as well.
And,” his gaze traveled to her arms she’d wrapped across her torso, “keep you
warm.”
Emma
shook her head and grimaced when the knives returned.
His eyebrows
drew together. “I will shut the lights off.”
“No.”
She grabbed his arm before he could move. Emma didn’t want to be in the dark
anymore. The memories swirling just below the surface would be worse than the
pain in her head.
He
froze, gaze locked on her hand squeezing his arm.
She
snatched her hand back. What was the matter with her? Emma took a couple steps
back, this time making sure to spot the corner of the bed. Relief spread. A
part of the bed was in between them now. Except the door was way across the
room. In the opposite direction from which she moved. Awesome job, Ace.
“How
long have I been here?” She shivered and tiny beads of sweat pooled on her
forehead. Excellent time to get sick.
“Two
hours.” His voice low and soft.
The
tone was meant to calm, soothe, and crap, it was working. Little shocks of
electricity also coursed through her body causing blips in her “he’s dangerous”
radar. Emma remembered when his hands felt her head. She’d been pleasantly
surprised the trained killer look-alike touched her so gently.
He was
tall. She reached the tops of his shoulders and had to tilt her head back to
meet his gaze. His black T-shirt did nothing to hide the muscles in his arms
and shoulders. Emma wouldn’t be able to overpower him. But how fast could he
run?
Shoulders
back, feet planted, legs spread, indicated he was ready for anything. His body
language said he was in charge, but the tilt of his head contradicted the
attitude. Black, shoulder length hair covered half of his face. What was he
hiding?
Didn’t
matter. She shook her head. Ugh, bad move.
Running
was out. What was left? Distracting him with her womanly wiles then escape. Ha.
The fever must be messing with her brain.
Had she
laughed out loud? He looked concerned. The color of his eyes, well eye since
she could only see one of them, was unusual. She’d have to mix cyan and green
in order to get that exact shade of blue . . . when she did a sketch for the
police . . . with her paints.
Suddenly
the eye was extremely close. Blinking, she jerked back from the man who was
only inches away and banged her head into the wall.
“Ow.”
That did not help her head. No wonder he considered her a klutz. Not that she
cared what he thought.
The man
raised his hand. Froze. Retreated a step. “Are you all right?”
He was
staring at her like she was a museum piece. The man didn’t fidget or twitch.
Didn’t blink from what she’d detected. His chest wasn’t even mov—oh, no there
it went. So he was a breathing statue.
Emma
licked her lips and cleared her desert-like throat. She’d kill for a glass of
water. Stupid alcohol. Stupid sickness.
“When
can I leave?”
“Soon, chemda. I promise.”
She
paid attention to the movement of his eyes, the gestures of his hands and lips
for telltale signs he was lying. He portrayed nothing. The man was either
telling the truth or he was a psycho killer. Emma hoped for the former, but
kind of suspected it’d be the latter.
“Soon
as in a few minutes?”
The
corners of his lips twitched. “Come. Lie down. I’ll have Jeeves bring you food
and drink. You need to counterbalance what’s been taken from you.”
Emma
made no move toward the bed. There would be no discussion about what was taken.
“Jeeves?”
“Our
butler.” How about half an aspirin? Exhaustion suddenly plagued her. She leaned
back against the wall.
“Come, chemda,” he demanded. “You’ll feel
better after you’ve rested.”
The bed
did look inviting. The longer she stood, the more blood fought against gravity
to pool in her head. Pump. Pump. Pump. She closed her eyes for a moment. A
quick reprieve from the pain then she’d go for the door.
She was
in the man’s arms. Her eyelids flew open. “Put me down. Put me . . .” The man
walked two steps, pulled down the bed covers, somehow still holding onto her
and deposited her onto the bed. He left her side and the lights went off.
Total.
Complete. Darkness. No!
Alley.
Fear.
Small
blade. Panic.
Blood.
Pain.
Emma
shot up. “No.”
Fallen Darkness
The Trihune Series # 2
By- R.B. Austin
Genre- Paranormal Romance
The war between Apollyon and the Trihune has begun.
Lucas scours the street in need of a fix. He captures his enemy instead of kills. Spins lies instead of truth. Seeks darkness instead of light. So close to the edge with no concern for the fall.
The map was foretold. Its key long lost.
Sent on a mission to find the key necessary to defeat Apollyon, Lucas meets Kate. Fiery, powerful, unable-to-touch-any-object Kate. As his feelings for her grow, the addiction inside him wanes.
Until he learns she is not meant for him.
Find the key. Find the way and triumph.
His future with Kate is bleak. The darkness, too hard to control. The key, still lost.
Can Lucas win the battle raging inside his body in order to win the war rising on the streets?
Excerpt:
For the first time, Kate allowed the fear she’d
felt in the priest’s house to trickle in. She’d kept it under wraps after
making her decision to work for him.
Her mind flashed to the high metal gate closing
behind them. She hadn’t heard the clank of metal as it latched, but, now, in
her head, she did.
Trapped. There was no way to climb the gate. It
was too high. The surrounding trees were tall, but not close enough to use to
get out. She hadn’t seen a fence on the drive up to the house, but she’d known
it was there. No one installed an entrance like that unless it connected three
other sides.
Always have a way out. It was the first part of
her plan. More often than not she needed that escape.
Kate jumped when Lucas touched her arm, just
above her gloved hand. She jerked back. Heard a loud, quick rasp fill the car
and realized it was her. She was breathing heavy. She tried to slow it. To
quiet it.
She couldn’t.
“Kate.” He spoke quietly. “I promise you’ll be
safe.”
Her gaze latched onto his blue one’s. She’d
trusted him. She never trusted anyone. But for some reason she’d trusted him.
Had willingly got into his car. Allowed him to drive her across the country.
She was the kid taking candy from the dirty,
perverted old man. For her own idiocy, Kate deserved whatever happened to her.
She was street smart. Proud of it, ‘cause she never made it through high
school.
She was a fool. And this place would be her
downfall. She’d never get out. Never see Stacy again.
It was hard to breathe. The frickin’ heat was
finally off but it was so hot. She had to get out.
Get out.
She grappled for the door handle. Spots danced
in front of her eyes. Panic swarmed in full force.
Don’t faint. Not here. Don’t lose
consciousness.
Noises sounded from her left. Lucas was leaving
the car.
What would happen to her? They could do
anything to her. She’d be helpless.
Her door opened and she’d have fallen out if
Lucas hadn’t caught her by the shoulders. The urge to pull away from his touch
was strong, but she’d fall flat on her face if she did. Cold air blasted her.
She lifted her head. Allowed it to push back the spots. Clear her vision. She
sat in her seat sideways. Lucas’s hands were still on her shoulders supporting
her as she half leaned out of the car. She sucked in gulps of air. Her gaze
sought his through no will of her own and stayed.
Kate didn’t know how long she sat. Lucas never
once shifted or acted like his arms were getting tired. Slowly her breath
evened out. She braced her arms on the door jam and slowly leaned back against
the seat.
“Better?”
She wasn’t going to pass out now, so that was
better. But the fear was still there. She was still trapped.
“Kate?”
Her gaze darted around the grounds, searching
the perimeter. Hurry. Find a way out.
“Kate, look at me.”
Again, her eyes found his.
“What can I do to prove you’ll be safe here? No
one will hurt you.”
She made her own safety. Didn’t rely on others
to provide it for her. She jumped from the car, making him back up. Spots
danced crazily in front of her eyes. Maybe she was still going to pass out?
Kate reached out, clutched something. She would not faint. Her gaze latched
onto Lucas’s and she used him as a focal point to steady her breaths. When the
dizziness passed and her vision had cleared she realized her hand was in his,
squeezing it tight. She dropped it quickly. Leaned back against the door.
“Come on,” he said softly. “Let me show you. No
one will harm you in any way. If you’re still afraid afterward I’ll take you
anywhere you want to go.”
She stiffened. “I’m not afraid.” Was that her
voice, weak and high-pitched? She pushed away from the door, making herself
stand on her own. Then had to lock her knees to keep from falling back against
the car.
His lips twitched like he was going to smile,
but he didn’t. He just offered his arm, as if she were some damsel in distress
and he was the dashing hero ready to save the day.
Yeah, right.
“Let’s go inside,” he said.
She ignored his still raised hand and walked
past, keeping her arm out near the SUV in case she had to catch herself. For
the moment, the dizziness had fled. The cold wind battering her cheeks helped.
From the number of trees surrounding the place, she’d thought it would act as a
buffer to the elements, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. Lucas
stopped at the back of the SUV and retrieved his bag.
Her heart pounded faster as they neared the door.
Calm down. She could get out of anything. She
wasn’t helpless. Would never be that way again. This was a job. Just a place to
make money. Nothing more.
So why did it feel like if she walked into the
mansion, she’d never leave?
The doors opened as they headed up the steps.
Kate jerked, falling back two stairs until Lucas’s arm came around her. It was
comforting. She moved to the side, breaking contact. Her heart slowed at the
old man wearing a suit standing in the doorway. She could definitely take him. If
it came to it.
“Welcome back, adohn,” he said and bowed.
Kate’s gaze shifted from the old guy to Lucas.
What the hell?
About the Author-
RB Austin enjoys torturing dogs
(dressing her Cairn terrier in knitted sweaters and booties), embarrassing her
daughter (singing in the car . . . at the top of her lungs . . . with the
windows open . . . at a stop light), and indulging in the second deadliest sin
(chocolate, Swedish fish, chocolate, sour patch watermelons, and chocolate).
This author's love of the sun
puts in her in the more-than-likely-not-a-vampire category, unless
you're referring to the bloodsuckers in her Trihune series, then all bets are
off.
Feeling stalkerish? Visit her
website, www.rbaustin.com, and learn where she hangs out on the Interwebs.
Links-
Website ~ Facebook ~ Facebook page ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads
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