It's that time again. This time, I wanted to bring everyone back to the 2nd installment of my Darkness Unleashed series, KISS OF THE WOLF. Currently I have 3 novels out for this series and I'm hoping to release the final installment sometime next month.
A promise made is more than he’d bargained for…
Fiery and strong, Kara has always walked alone. Though she retains the same gifts as her sister, she is sent on a journey of her own. One that takes her out across the Baylo Sea and into a dark world of demons.Had she known the danger that followed her, or the man who’d save her life, she might have reconsidered.
Sent to find Saleene’s sister, Zachius is plagued with the vision of the woman who haunts his dreams. Though he swore an oath to his friend to save Kara, he never imagines the woman he would find would be the same as from his dreams. Torn between his duty to protect Kara and keep her safe, he finds that there is more at stake than just their lives.
Can he save her from the evil before it’s too late….
or will he be the one needing to be rescued.
EXCERPT:
Zachius reached behind his head, soreness from weeks
of travel crept across his body. He swore he would find a better way to get
back home, the knot in his neck a constant reminder of the lack of comfort he’d
found on the ship. He had been cramped in the small boat, one he swore was
older than the gods themselves, traveling across the Baylo Sea for longer than
he could recall. Looking up to the sun, he prayed he could fulfill his promise
to Dartian and Saleene. He had vowed to find Saleene’s sister Kara, to warn
her, and if needed, keep her safe from harm. Short glimpses of his dreams still
haunted him though. Visions of a red haired beauty with eyes the color of the
deep emerald visited him every night. Could it be possible the two were one and
the same? He shook his head as he pushed the idea aside; sure it was just a
coincidence.
“How much farther until we reach land?” He asked the
captain. Fatigue and annoyance laced his words, even though he tried to keep
them neutral. The man who ran the small vessel rarely spoke to anyone other
than his crew. He’d done what he could to help on the boat, but his thoughts
continued to drift to his quest. Though the crew was engaging enough, he found
his mind continued to drift toward his first meeting with Kara and what he
would say. Part of him hoped she was not the woman from his dreams, that she
would be something completely different, yet somewhere inside he knew she would
be.
“We are very close to the island you seek, sir.” The
captain’s rough voice broke through his thoughts. “See...there in the
distance...those are the peaks of Ahska.” Zachius’ gaze followed the direction
the old man motioned toward, his eyes taking in the snowcapped mountains. A
shudder moved through his body. Something evil had already made its way to this
small island and if Kara was anything like her older sister, she was already
knee deep in the middle of it.
“How close can we get to the island?” His gaze drifted
to the rough waves that crashed against the side of the boat. He knew that even
though he could see the bottom, it was likely that it was much farther than he
would like.
“I’m afraid, maybe another few feet, is as close as we
dare to go.” The man’s voice held a hint of apprehension. He had listened to
the tales the men told over the previous nights. They believed the island was
cursed. For once, he would have to agree. If the evil he had already met had
engulfed the island, it would not be safe for any of them.
“I understand, captain, just get as close as you can.
I’ll make my way from there.”
As the boat neared the outer banks, Zachius grabbed
his pack, swinging it over his shoulder as he vaulted from the deck and into
the shallow water, his feet thudding lightly as he landed. Without a glance
back, he took off into the forest, his mind focused on finding the woman he had
vowed to protect. Whether she’d accept his protection or not was yet to be determined.
Behind him, he could hear the boat back out of the shallow waters and head back
to sea. Each of the men had asked him if he was sure he wanted to go. Their
intentions were understandable, but he had told them he had to. Each one had
nodded their understanding.
The moment he stepped into the forest, a thick cocoon
of cold enveloped him, sending shivers across his skin. The impact was so
strong it stopped him in his tracks; his first instinct was to turn around and
leave. Shaking his head, he cleared his mind. It was a trap meant to turn
strangers away. He wasn’t about to fall for it, not if she was nearby.
“I don’t think so.” He refused to let anything stop
him. He had come too far and his every instinct told him she was close. He
needed to be here. He was firm in his resolve to locate her. How to find her
was more of the problem. His contacts had advised him that a woman who fit her
description had come to the island, but where she had gone they could not say.
Unsure of which direction to take, a sound on the wind alerted him to a
disturbance in the area. The moment he closed his eyes he picked up the howl of
a male wolf, a warning to other animals of something wrong in the area.
Something about the sound caught his attention, as if she was also calling for
help for more than just herself. Then he heard it, the one thing he could not
mistake for anything other than a woman’s voice softly floating on the breeze.
“Kara.” He whispered.
Turning toward the sound of her voice, Zachius vaulted
through the deep lush foliage, his energy renewed. He needed to find her. If
the voice of the wolf held true, danger was close. Old weathered tree branches
blocked his advances, roots reached up to keep him from moving forward. It was
more than a coincidence, he thought, and pushed even harder past the barriers
that continued to be put in his way. He was not about to fail after getting so
close, not when he still had the energy to fight. Pulling his sword out, he
slashed at the obstacles, refusing to stop.
As he entered a clearing, he found a rundown cabin,
its door, and windows gone for what appeared to be many years. Looking inside
he could tell someone had used it recently. Smoke still drifted up from the
used fireplace. Moving his gaze around the interior of the cabin, he found a
small piece of cloth. Picking up the fabric, he knew it was from a blouse made
of soft cotton, its forest green color faded from continual use. Bringing the
fabric to his face, he breathed in, the scent of jasmine filling his nostrils.
Kara.... It had to be her, he was sure of it. It could
be no other. Her scent filled his mind and soul until he knew he could find her
anywhere, no matter what she looked like or where she hid. He placed the piece
of fabric in his pack and moved out of the cabin and back into the woods, his
stance solid as he made his way toward the east and the coming battle.
Okay everyone, that is the snippit for this week. Hope you enjoyed the read. You can find this novel at Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes and Noble Smashwords and if you want a print copy you can get it here
Happy reading and writing!
R.G. Porter
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