Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The Devil's Trap by Honoria Ravena


Title: The Devil's Trap
Series: Into Darkness We Dwell #2
Author: Honoria Ravena
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Release Date: December 31, 2014

Pagan is the best vampire hunter money can buy. But, when she’s paid to kill one of the most powerful vampires in existence, she gets in way over her head. When things go south there will be no escape. 

Myths abound about the ancient vampire Nyx, claiming him to be so powerful that a blow to the heart won’t kill him. Even the vampire king fears his wrath. However, Pagan is different, and as soon as he sees her fire, he knows he’ll do anything to keep her. But she’s a stubborn woman.

But when Pagan's protection evaporates and an enemy from her past tries to murder her and her brother she'll be forced to trust Nyx. Because really, who is the larger threat? The man out to destroy mankind? Or the vampire determined to own her heart?



The Devil's Trap Excerpt © Honoria Ravena
I lunged, knife out, ready to slash at him. He jumped back in time to avoid the full blow, but I still caught him across the arm.
He hissed and glared at me. "You're sloppy, Pagan, you need more practice."
I smirked at the sight of blood. Oh yeah, I was going to enjoy causing him pain. He deserved it after what he'd done to my brother. "I got a slice of you, didn't I?"
"Sure, but that should've been a much more damaging blow than this little nick. You only got me because I thought I'd rolled your mind. I won't make that mistake again."
He disappeared in a blur of speed. He was too fast for my human eyes to track him. I spun around, expecting him to come at me from behind. He appeared by my side and knocked my knife hand. The blade went spinning.
I jumped back but stopped mid-retreat. I didn't want to escape him. I wanted him to pull me against his body, to forgive me for hurting him.
What was wrong with me? I was here to kill him. I didn't need his forgiveness.
He took a hesitant step toward me, and part of me yelled to draw my other knife while the other part demanded I caress his wounded arm and make sure I hadn't hurt him too badly.
A fog washed over my mind when he ran his hands up and down my arms. "Give me your knives, all of them."
"Don't give him jack shit, Pagan!"
I peered around Nyx and saw my brother. Deathly pale, with a sheen of sweat marking his face, my brother swayed on his feet. He leaned against the doorframe of the hallway, as if he couldn't stand on his own. I moved to go around Nyx. I needed to make sure he was okay, but Nyx seized my arm in a vise-like grip, stopping me in my tracks.
The master vampire frowned at my brother with disapproval. "How did you get away from Laedan?"
The corner of Jason's mouth tilted up, revealing one long, white fang. The blood left my head, and I actually placed my hand on Nyx's chest to keep myself from toppling over. God, my big brother really was a vampire. He definitely wasn't sporting any plastic fangs in that mouth of his.
"You shouldn't have left Laedan with me. You know a newly made, unfed vampire running on adrenaline is more powerful than a werewolf. Even one with fighting skills like his."
Nyx's eyes narrowed. "You didn't kill him, did you?"
"No, just had a little drink."
"You're not looking more powerful than Laedan," I said. My poor brother's face was a pale green, his eyes unfocused, as if he were knocking on Death's door.
Nyx glanced at me and placed his hand over mine on his chest. His frown of concern scrunched his forehead. "He's still changing."
Jason screamed and doubled over. I tried to jerk myself out of Nyx's grip, but he held firm, and the urge to move vanished as I watched my brother, horrified.
Nyx flinched. "This will be the last night he'll be in pain. Until then, he should really go lie down while I deal with you."
"I won't rest while you're trying to kill my sister, asshole," Jason gasped from the floor.
"I'm not going to kill her." He ran his fingers gently through my hair. A lover's caress.
"Pagan, get away from him." When I didn't move, he glared at Nyx. "What are you doing to her?"
"Touching enhances my hold over her." He released his grip on my arm and slid his hands up to my shoulders to pull me to him and kiss my throat. I jerked out of his embrace, unable to think. I had to get some distance from him.
My head ached, and my mouth was as dry as the desert. I drew my knife and backed away from him. "Let go of my mind, damn it!"
"Put that knife down." The order came through so clearly I couldn't tell if Nyx had spoken aloud or if it was all in my head.
Pain detonated behind my eyes. It was so ferocious I almost passed out. My hand shook so badly that I almost dropped the blade.
"Come here, damn it! Stop fighting me."
Agony scattered my thoughts. I stumbled as the weight of his mind crashed into mine. The knife clattered to the ground. My knees cracked as they hit the floor, but I barely noticed the pain. No physical sensation compared to what was going on in my head.
His commands bombarded me. I wanted to beg him to stop, to tell him I'd do whatever he wanted, but my teeth were clenched together against the words, and I couldn't force them apart.
Suddenly, everything stopped. I came to my senses, lying huddled on the floor, drenched in sweat. My short nails had managed to dig into my palms. I uncurled my fingers. Blood oozed from the little crescents indented in my palms.
"Get up, Pagan, damn it! You need to run." My brother started pulling me roughly to my feet.
"What happened?"
"I jumped Nyx, but he won't be down for long."
I glanced around and noticed the demolished bar. Broken glass and wood lay strewn everywhere. The mirrors behind the bar were cracked and coated in blood.
My brother shoved me toward the door, and I almost fell. He grabbed my hand to steady me and froze. "You're bleeding." His grip tightened around my hand, and I flinched.
He dropped my hand and spun away so fast that I couldn't track the movement. "Run, Pagan. You'll end up dead if you don't."
"You have to come with me. I can't leave you here."
He looked over his shoulder for a split second, but he didn't turn around. "Don't you get it? You're bleeding. Even if you weren't, I'm not sure I could go with you. Adrenaline got me this far, but I'm stretching my control to the limit just standing this close to you. I've resisted feeding until now. It's why I'm in even more pain than normal."
Tears streaked down my face. "Jason, I can't leave you here. He'll kill you for this."
I grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. He hissed, baring razor sharp fangs. He knocked my hand away, covered his face, and backpedaled.
Tears completely obscured my vision. A sob tore through my body. "Jason, come with me! I can't... You keep me safe. It's my fault this happened to you. Please!"
He didn't take his hands off his face. "This isn't your fault."
The rubble that used to be the bar shifted before Nyx sat up.
He wiped the blood out of his eyes and pointed at Jason. "I'm going to kick your ass, boy."
Jason pushed me toward the door and took up a fighting stance in front of me. "Pagan, run! I'll find a way out, but right now you need to be somewhere safe."
I backed away, glancing around the bar. The Devil’s Trap’s patrons sat around watching the show, but none interfered.

When my gaze went back to Nyx, he was already up and heading toward me. He shoved my brother so hard Jason dented the wall. I turned and ran for dear life.


HONORIA RAVENA is the author of Fear of Darkness, The Devil's Trap and My Cyborg Savior. When not writing or reading romance she’s belly dancing, traveling or spending quality time with friends and family at her home in Texas. Visit her website www.honoriaravena.com and join her monthly newsletter to stay up to date on new releases, win prizes and enjoy tidbits of wisdom from a dancing writer’s daily life. 


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