Awakening the Dragon
Author: Kelley Heckart
Publisher: independently published
Release Date: October 28, 2020
Series: Shadow-walkers Book 5 (This is a standalone story in the Shadow-walkers series.)
Genre: Contemporary, erotic paranormal romance, dragon shifter romance, mystery, fantasy
Snippet:
Ah crap. The ginger hotness was gone. I glanced back at the booth. Dina and Roan were engaged in a deep lip-lock. No way was I going back there. I sighed and turned around.
The hot vampire smiled at me and sauntered over. “Hey, gorgeous, would you like to dance?”
I shrugged. “Okay.”
We danced to a remake of the Cars’ “Dangerous Type” with a female singing lead. The handsome vampire had some smooth moves that had my pulse racing, and I sidled up to him and swiveled my hips to the rocking beat.
He tugged me off the dance floor and into a shadowed nook, peering down at me, desire lighting up his dark eyes. I knew better than to make lingering eye contact with a vampire even though it was against Council rules for them to compel a human. Only Jessie with her Undead rune was protected from a vampire’s magic. The rest of us Shadow-walkers were vampire bait.
Feeling bold and left out of the “mate club,” I kissed him.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, deepening the kiss. My lips tingled. He was a good kisser. I was sure he’d seduced many females, but all I could think about was the red-haired hottie, and my rune didn’t even twinge in the presence of the hunky vamp. I drew back and pressed my hands against the vampire’s taut chest.
“You want to go somewhere and continue this?” He stroked my shoulders.
I shook my head. “No, sorry. I have to go home. Alone.”
“Too bad.” He let go of me and sauntered away, scanning the crowd for another willing female.
“Yeah, too bad,” I mumbled.
I was thirty-seven, single, mate-less, and I had just turned down a chance to spend the night with a hot vampire. My life was so pathetic.
Roan and Dina were engaged in a deep make-out session, so I decided to leave without saying goodbye.
As I squeezed through the packed revelers toward the exit, a sharp, brief sting pricked my arm and then my head. What the hell? I patted the side of my head. Had someone pulled my hair? I looked down but didn’t notice any blood or any type of wound on my heavily tattooed right arm.
Strange. My skin prickled as if someone was watching me. I halted before the exit and whipped my head around, surveying the crowd. Everyone appeared to be involved in their own world, none of them paying any attention to me. Both my arm and hair must have caught on something while I’d squeezed through the crowd.
Continuing out the door, I shook my head. I could have sworn I sensed someone watching me. What if my dream was real and a leprechaun was really trying to kill me? I shuddered.
Darting a wary glance around, I hurried to my SUV, slid inside, and locked the doors before starting the engine. That strange prickling sensation clung to me as I pulled out of the parking lot and drove home.
Geez, not only was I single and lonely, I was getting paranoid.
*
About the Book:
Some secrets are deadly.
Do you like stories with sexy, mysterious dragon shifters, romance, and mystery? This passionate, thrilling romance is part of the highly rated Shadow-walkers series.
She has a gentle soul, but she hides a dark secret.
Mickey Dalton, wearer of the Opening rune and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Hecate’s Fury, is haunted by her past. Now, her present doesn’t make sense. Savic, the scarred dragon shifter, insists she tried to kill him, but she didn’t. Or at least, she doesn’t recall trying to kill him.
She barely escaped his blade once, but not his passion.
Ten years ago, Mickey had a one-night stand with the dragon shifter. His ominous reappearance puzzles her, especially since it coincides with a recent string of unsolved murders in L.A. Whether his return is a coincidence or not, she can’t deny the powerful attraction between them. When the Council accuses Savic of the murders, she will defend him, to the death if necessary.
Purchase links:
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M499CKP
Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MS5KF8B
About the Author:
Multi-published author Kelley Heckart lives in Arizona with her musician husband, dog, and a number of backyard “pets.” Her tales are filled with fierce warriors and alpha heroes, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic, romance, and twists and thrills.
Author links:
http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart
www.amazon.com/author/kelleyheckart
https://booksprout.co/author/3632/kelley-heckart