Hello,
Happy New Year!
I have decided to re-release a special book close to my heart, my New Adult Victorian Vampire Romance with a twist of Steampunk, Knight of Swords. It is the first book in a series. Check out the excerpt below while I wait for the Amazon link to come up. The moment I get it I will post it here and on my
Madeline Croft Facebook Page.
Watch out for some other paranormal & steampunk adventures I will be releasing in the near future.
Madeline
Knight of Swords Excerpt
Before my donor was brought to my room, Gabriel instructed his
valet to attend me and bring some fresh clothes. Thankfully, his taste
and tailor were comparable in quality to my own and I was able to consider
myself properly attired. Alone, I paced back and forth waiting for him to
return. I was agitated with worry for Juliet’s wellbeing. I wanted
us to be on our way. He was taking much too long.
I glanced out of the window. Snow was falling in the fading
afternoon light, adding to the thick white blanket already covering the
ground. Juliet was out there. Alone, cold, and starving for
blood. If Gabriel and I had not been so domineering perhaps she would not
have run away. She had felt subjugated to our wishes and longed for her
freedom. We had driven her to it. I would not be so foolish or
insensitive to her passions in the future, whatever the strength of frustration
she caused within my emotions. I would not give her cause to leave my
side again.
Placing my hands in my trouser pockets, I paced the floor once
more, feeling my impatience begin to rise. I stopped suddenly, catching
sight of myself in the oval mirror adorning the top of the dresser. I
looked different. Something about my appearance I had not noticed whilst
dressing. I hurried towards the mirror, sitting down on the chair to
examine my face.
I pressed my fingertips onto my skin. It was softer to the
touch and much paler than of late. The blue of my eyes had
intensified. Their colour was almost hypnotic. Although my body was
dead, my eyes sparkled with life. I remembered Juliet and Gabriel’s eyes
turning black with anger and tried to imagine my own that way.
I brushed my fingers through my hair. It had lost the faint
hue of chestnut. Now it was as dark as a raven’s plumage. It bore a
fullness and vibrancy to it I had never seen in hair before. I vainly
decided that a diet of blood had enhanced my already more than satisfactory
appearance. This would duly be an advantage in wooing Juliet.
I laughed at myself. It would take more than mere
good looks to capture the heart of my feisty Juliet. I needed to reinvent
my own beliefs of her place in society. Then, within reason, I would be
able to grant her the independence her spirit craved so much. It would be
a difficult challenge, but one I would attempt for her sake alone.
My heart did not beat anymore. I rested my hand over its
place in my chest to experience the strange sensation. I did not breathe,
but my sense of smell had increased with great strength. I sniffed at the
air around me testing what odours I was able to detect. There were an
assortment, some pleasurable, others foul. I set my mind to work
separating the different sources.
Someone was cooking food somewhere, a chicken broth. It
smelt good, but it did not make me hungry. I inhaled deeply, smelling
freshly baked bread rising from deep in the house. I explored my new
heightened sense further, detecting the odour of manure in the stables. I
could not believe it. The stables were set well back from the house.
I could even smell urine on the stable-hands and the vermin that scuttled in
the out houses. I twisted my nose in disgust. I wanted to smell
Juliet and feel her close to me.
A surge of irritation rose inside me as I suddenly noticed a dull
ache dwelling in my head again. It appeared every time Juliet placed too
much mental distance between us. Whether she desired it or not we were
joined by something stronger than the bonds of matrimony. I rose to my
feet with a growl, not able to tolerate the waiting any longer. I had to
find her. I started towards the door to seek out Gabriel when a strong
scent accompanied by a loud noise brought my movement to a halt.
I had protested to Gabriel that I did not need feeding, eager to
begin our journey. Besides, it had been merely hours since I had last
been fed by his men when he first brought me to the house. He had
laughed, informing me that it had been two days since that occurrence. I
had been fed when I had awakened from my death. Since then, Juliet and
myself had been under his influence to dull the fierce pain and assist our safe
transition. We would not remember anything. Now, freed from
Gabriel’s hold, it seemed my hunger had returned.
There were two sets of footsteps breaching the stairs. A human
heartbeat sounded in my ears. It was deafening. I could feel and
see in my mind the thick blood pumping fluidly through the fleshy cavity,
fresh, strong and vibrant. It called out to me like a temptress. I
closed my eyes, feeling every fibre in my body reach out towards it, ready to
obey the call. I could not fight it.
I heard the soft, gentle rustle of a ladies skirt as it brushed
the stone floor of the open landing. A smile grazed my lips as I raised
an eyebrow. Gabriel was bringing me a woman to feed upon. Did he
not know of my scandalous reputation with the fairer sex? He professed to
know all about me. The door opened and Gabriel entered the room with a
young maid.
‘Nathan, Camille has graciously offered to be your donor.’
Camille stood before me, rolling down the high neck of her maid’s
uniform in a business like manner. She had clearly done this many times
before. I watched her curiously as Gabriel talked. She would not
meet my eyes.
‘Just do what comes naturally, Nathan, but act with respect and
above all restraint. It is a precious gift Camille bestows upon you.’
I watched Gabriel give Camille a quick glance, resting his hand on
her arm. I could feel his anxiety for her fill the room. She nodded
at his silent communication of concern, but I did not feel Gabriel’s mind
ease. They had clearly been lovers at one time and my suspicions told me
they still were. I was perplexed as to why he would bring me one of his
conquests for my first human feed. Perhaps he sought to tempt me.
Maybe he wished to divert my affections from Juliet whilst he stole her out
from under me? I felt my teeth clench together ready to snarl my contempt
at him, but he was suddenly leaving.
‘I will leave you both alone. Feeding is a private matter
between a vampire and his donor.’
He made it sound as though I was about to make love to her.
But I had no objections to his absence; he tried my patience too well. He
gave Camille a courteous nod. She returned him a nervous smile.
Gabriel briefly hesitated as he opened the door. He turned to
Camille. ‘I won’t be far.’ She visibly paled when he closed the
door behind him.
I stood watching her with interest, unable to fathom why she would
offer her blood to a vampire. She regally jutted her chin out at me, not
unlike the way Juliet did when she was vexed. Camille was a pretty, dark
haired young woman and, I feared, barely twenty-one.
I was a small distance away from her, and she appeared both
confused and anxious by it. She clasped her small dainty hands at the
front of her waist, waiting patiently for me to make my move. I could not
help but view her with pity. What would make her commit such an act of
self sacrifice? She must be very afraid. I put my hands in my
pockets and spoke.
‘You do not have to do this, Camille,’ I reassured her as I swept
my eyes over her petite, fragile form, inspecting her for visible signs of fear
and reluctance.
‘I am unafraid, sir. Please . . . do not hesitate a moment
longer.’
I searched her eyes for the truth of her statement but they did
not betray her. Still I could sense her potent fear in the atmosphere of
the room.
‘Camille, please tell me what benefit you receive from being a
blood donor to a vampire?’
That nervous smile danced upon her lips again. She seemed
both amused and disbelieving of my lack of knowledge. She put her hand to
her chest and I noticed it suffered a slight tremble. ‘Why, sir, it is I
who receives the greatest benefit.’
I widened my eyes with surprise. ‘Please, forgive my
ignorance and explain. I have no wish to hurt you. I am finding it
difficult to believe that you would simply offer yourself to me as a
delicacy.’ I felt instant remorse for my mocking, sarcastic tone.
Her eyes rose to look at me directly this time. They were
filled with disapproval at both my tone and choice of words. Camille’s
friendly cockney tone was dispelled. ‘I am not a delicacy, sir, and nor
do I view myself as a victim to be served up for lunch.’
I lowered my face to look at the floor, vainly attempting to hide
my smile. I had dulled the sound of her thudding heart in my ears when
she and Gabriel had entered the room, but its pace had strengthened and now her
blood called loudly to me once more. I felt all of my muscles tense as I
fought the sudden urge to simply rip her throat open and drink. I heard
myself breathe hard with shock at the violence of my thoughts and the massive
strain they placed on my moral restraint. I could not hold out much
longer but I needed to know. I needed her to give me some excuse for
allowing myself to engage in such barbarism upon a young, innocent girl.
I was not Sebastian.
‘I have cancer, sir,’ she blurted out as I raised my eyes to her
once more.
There was a plea in her voice, as though I might deny her my
bite. I stared at her for a moment, shocked at her piteous
outburst. She was far too young to suffer the agonies of an early death.
There were unshed tears in her voice when she addressed me again.
‘Your saliva, sir. The venom it contains to stun your
prey. It keeps the disease at bay, so to speak. I have a sick
father and five younger brothers and sisters. I must work to provide for
them. Beggin’ your pardon, your Lordship, but I cannot afford to die.’
I straightened to my full height. For her sake, I must think
no more about my conscience. I could only feel respect for her courage
and selflessness. There was no choice but for me to feed, and she had
none but to allow me. I began to walk towards her, no more words were necessary.
They were insufficient to console either of us.
Tiny beads of sweat sprouted upon her forehead the moment I began
to move. Her breathing became erratic. I fancied that she imagined
I would be upon her swiftly, taking what I needed from her before she could
think upon it. I intended to take my time, not wishing her to feel
attacked. But as I approached, she took two steps back from me, her eyes
widening with sudden terror as she looked up at my own. I quickly turned
to the mirror to ascertain what had increased her fear so acutely. My
eyes were as black as midnight, darker than Gabriel’s or Juliet’s had turned
with their anger. The colour contributed to the cruelness that now
haunted my features, turning them dark and threatening. The beast inside
me curled my lips with amused satisfaction at my appearance, revealing the cold
violent predator I had become.
I noticed Camille was still taking steps away from me. Her
eyes flicked back and forth between myself and the door. But it was too
late for escape now. She cried out as she reached for the door
handle. I focused my gaze on it. As easily as I had held William
Cameron against the wall with the simple flick of my eyes, I mentally forced it
to lock.
Camille gave another sob and pressed herself back into the door in
a vain attempt to reel from me. I closed the distance between us, cupping
her chin with my fingers, lifting it so I might search her eyes more
deeply. ‘Camille, do you still wish to do this of your own free will or do
you want me to force you?’
She snatched her hand away from the handle as though it were
scalding her. I put my free hand above her against the wall, trapping her
there. Her small voice quivered, ‘Yes, I want to be willing . . .
It is just that . . . your eyes, they are so dark, so fierce . . . and you are
. . .’
‘Unpractised,’ I finished for her.
‘Yes. I am sorry, sir, but Lord Masters usually keeps me as
his donor. I belong to no one else.’
‘I am not surprised, you are a pretty woman. He would be a
fool, if he did not keep you all to himself. I warrant you also share his
bed.’
Her eyelashes flickered down to hide her guilt. I smiled as
I smoothed my fingers along the line of her jaw. She was tempting, but she
did not bear Juliet’s beauty or finely carved countenance, or her grace.
There was no comparison to be made between them. Gabriel would not win
this game, despite my nature.
‘Lord Masters is gentle . . .’
I put a finger to her moist, trembling lips, whispering softly to
her, ‘Shhh, hush. I will also be gentle.’
I cupped the side of her face with a little more firmness.
Stroking my thumb over her pale cheek, I tilted her head to one side.
‘I promise I will be gentle. Close your eyes, Camille.
Put your trust in me as you do in Lord Masters. Do not open them until I
am finished,’ I instructed.
She nodded and obediently closed her eyes. I brushed her
forehead with a kiss to calm her fear. With rampant hunger I looked down
at her vulnerable, exposed throat. I widened my mouth feeling a tingling
sensation in my incisors, not the ache I had felt with Juliet. But there
was one more final hesitation from my prey.
Camille made a sharp movement away from the door. I quickly
slipped my arm tightly around her waist, pulling her to me as I secured her
captive position. She cried when I cradled her head more firmly to the
side. I began to caress the area I was to bite with the tip of my
tongue. Gabriel was correct, it did feel natural. She gave another
cry as my saliva burned hotly against her skin, then she became perfectly
still.
I couldn’t help feeling satisfaction as I swooped down upon her
neck and bit cleanly into her flesh. My thirst for her essence became
insatiable, as did my sudden unexpected lust for her body. It appeared as
though the two needs were entwined as one. Feeding was a sensual
experience. Here and now with Camille it bore no resemblance in strength
to the uncontrollable need I felt for Juliet. But, I could not stop the
urge of wanting to be inside this woman as I gorged upon her blood.
I pushed her back against the door in a frenzy, warring with
myself to stop. The beast inside did not want to. My fingers
reached to circle her breast and she was suddenly moving against me with soft,
sweet moans of pleasure. I gathered up her skirt so that I might explore
underneath it.
It was then that I felt a hand tug sharply at my
collar. I found myself suddenly flying through the air backwards away
from Camille to crash heavily against the opposite wall. I slid to the
floor with a thud. Dazed, I looked up to find Gabriel in the room.
He was standing over Camille, his tongue flicking back and forth
over her wound as he lapped at her blood. I jumped up, feeling no pain or
injury, just pure rage. I was at his throat before he knew I was there.
Gabriel swung his elbow forcefully back into my stomach. I
flew backwards again and landed on top of the chair facing the dresser.
It splintered, breaking underneath me. I fell heavily. I rose back
to my feet with speed as Gabriel pushed Camille through the door to
safety. He turned to face me as I lunged at him once more. It was
then that I noticed the hole he had knocked through the wall to get to Camille.
His eyes were now a healthy black, displaying his intense
anger. His white teeth gleamed in the fading grey light as his lips
curled into a snarl. I growled at him as I grabbed his arms to swing him
against the wall. I expected more resistance from my opponent, but he
appeared to be struggling against my strength as I applied it more directly
than in my previous attacks. I held him pinned to the wall.
‘Why did you do that? Why did you steal Camille? Are
you jealous she wanted me?’ I demanded.
‘I wasn’t taking her blood. I was closing her wound.
You took too much. You could have killed her. If I hadn’t been in
her mind to see what you were doing . . .’
‘There is more to it. She wanted me and you didn’t like
it. You don’t want me taking her from you. I can feel it.’
He made an attempt to move. I found myself gripping his
throat, holding his head still against the wall. If he were human
he would have been dead under the pressure I exerted.
‘Any woman you take blood from will want you, Nathan, especially
you. It is part of the exchange. Taking human blood is arousing for
both you and the female prey. You must learn to master your desire and
keep control for both of your sakes.’
‘If that is so, why did you send Camille to me when you are
lovers? What do you mean, especially me?’
Gabriel started to fight my hold again. He refused to answer
my question, distracting me with alternative conversation.
‘You are strong Nathan, the change is almost complete.’
I began to raise him from the floor as if to test his words.
My extra show of strength made him angry.
I ignored his protest and continued. ‘You profess that you
wish to take Juliet as your mate, but you have feelings for this woman,
Camille.’
‘I do not have any feelings for her. She is my donor and
nothing else. Juliet will be my mate and I will see you die.’
I narrowed my eyes darkly at him, an amused smile twitching at my
lips as I listened to his bluster.
‘I thought we were immortal, Gabriel.’
‘Oh there are ways to end your life, Nathan. When we fight for
Juliet I will take your head.’
‘But I could take yours now.’
‘You won’t.’ There was confidence in his speech that
only further infuriated me. ‘You need me to help you find Juliet.
If she’s walked into a slave camp, one hybrid male is not going to be able to
rescue her.’
‘Perhaps you are right. But I will keep you here until you
answer all of my questions. What is it you kept from her? Juliet
told me you believe her to be special?’
‘We are wasting time, Nathan. Put me down. I will tell
you everything.’
‘No, you will learn your place and answer me first,’ I bellowed at
him, losing my fragile patience. ‘What do you hide from her?’
He closed his eyes with dismay and angry frustration at having to
reveal his secret. He spoke slowly, carefully, ‘Nathan, Juliet was born
into our royal clan. She is the rightful Queen of Talus. She has
the power to unite all of our dissident clans and will bring hope and peace to
those who war with each other. The Queen of Talus will provide justice
and reparation for those of us who have been betrayed by our own kind to the
humans.’
He twisted his hands around my own trying to ply them from his
throat. He spoke hoarsely beneath my grip. ‘Our people have been
waiting centuries for her. We believed the female ruling royal clan was
lost to us, it is a miracle she has been born.’
I stared at him in disbelief.
‘There were two royal clans, Nathan. Morrigan and
Breanainn. Only female Taleians from the Morrigan clan are permitted to
rule our people. Juliet is Morrigan. Her family heritage denotes
her as the rightful Queen of Talus. You are of Breanainn. The word
means Sword. It is the clan from which our elite, royal warriors are
taken to guard the Queen of Talus. They wage war on her behalf.
Both myself and my men are also from the Breanainn clan. Our Queen is
always provided with a mate from the warrior clan, a Knight of Swords to
protect and counsel her. He commands her army.’
Gabriel coughed and gurgled. I slackened my grip a little.
‘You were chosen at birth to be that Knight. That is why
your strength is above my own and any other hybrid or Taleian vampire.
But it is an honour that is always open to challenge. Search my mind,
Nathan. You will find that I do not lie to you. Camille wanted you
because she could feel the allure of your power. Female humans and
hybrids are potently attracted to you. That is why you were so successful
with them in your human life.’
I read his thoughts, feeling him invite me freely into his mind.
He spoke the truth as he showed me the dangers Juliet faced because of her
role. But I also saw the reason he wanted Juliet so much. There was
hardness in his heart. It was not because he simply desired her love and
would rejoice in being her mate. It was a quest for power.
He eyed me warily as I viewed him with distaste. I dropped
him to the floor.
‘You showed me too much, Gabriel.’
