Zoltan clenched his jaw shut, fury coursing through him. He had already had the drug in his hands without knowing it. That knowledge gnawed at him. He’d been so close. And now, everything was lost: the scientist was dead. He’d seen it with his own eyes. Later, the medical examiner had confirmed that it was her body that had burned in the wreckage. The Stealth Guardian’s body hadn’t been found. It didn’t surprise him. He would have been able to escape the inferno.
The sharp tips of his claws emerged from his fingertips, evidence that the anger that boiled inside him was getting stronger and would not be so easily subdued today. He wasn’t in the mood to be taken to task over his failure, even less so knowing ten of the Great One’s guards were watching his humiliation.
“An accident,” Zoltan pressed out, even though he had his doubts about it. What if the Stealth Guardians had in the end decided to kill the scientist after all, realizing it was safer for them that way?
“There are no accidents!”
Zoltan raised his gaze. “No, there aren’t.”
But his leader wasn’t done admonishing him. “I believed in your capabilities. You assured me that this woman would be easy pickings, that the drug would be ours. And now, Dragor, what have you got to say for yourself?”
Zoltan listened to his birth name, but didn’t like the sound anymore. He had changed. He wasn’t going to cower any longer. He saw himself as the new leader. And the name he’d chosen for himself, the name of a successful entrepreneur, one he’d had to kill after he’d resisted his influence, suited him fine. He’d in fact admired the man for his strength. Yes, his new name, Zoltan, reflected that strength.
“My name is Zoltan now.”
The Great One advanced, bringing them within a foot of each other. “I decide what your name is, boy. I’m your leader. And your chances of becoming my heir died with that woman. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, I understand fully,” Zoltan replied and pulled his dagger, driving it into his leader’s stomach.
Realization flashed in the demon’s eyes as Zoltan drew the dagger upwards, slicing him open. Green blood and guts spilled, and gurgles escaped his dying leader’s mouth.
“I don’t need you to declare me your heir anymore. I’m taking what’s mine, old man.”
Then he kicked him backwards, dislodging the dagger from his gut. With preternatural speed he turned, witnessing as the guards stared at him in shock, ready to attack.
Zoltan squared his stance. “Are you ready to die for your dead leader, or would you rather live and serve the new Great One?”
He waited, feeling power surge in him, never taking his eyes off his opponents. They exchanged glances.
“Then bow before me!”
One by one, the demon guards lowered their swords and fell on their knees. With satisfaction, Zoltan turned to the throne and took it, molding his broad back against the cold stone.
“Things are about to change. The Stealth Guardians will feel my wrath.” He stared at the demons who were now under his command and smiled to himself.
“Soon, very soon,” he murmured under his breath.
THE END
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About the Author & List of Books
Tina Folsom was born in Germany and has been living in English speaking countries for over 20 years, the last 11 of them in San Francisco, where she's married to an American.
Tina has always been a bit of a globe trotter: after living in Lausanne, Switzerland, she briefly worked on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, then lived a year in Munich, before moving to London. There, she became an accountant. But after 8 years she decided to move overseas.
In New York she studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, then moved to Los Angeles a year later to pursue studies in screenwriting. This is also where she met her husband, who she followed to San Francisco three months after first meeting him.
In San Francisco, Tina worked as a tax accountant and even opened her own firm, then went into real estate, however, she missed writing. In 2008 she wrote her first romance and never looked back.
She’s always loved vampires and decided that vampire and paranormal romance was her calling. She now has 15 novels in English and several in other languages (Spanish, German, and French) and continues to write, as well as have her existing novels translated.
For more about Tina Folsom:
http://www.tinawritesromance.com
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You can also email her at tina@tinawritesromance.com
If you enjoyed this book, please check out other books by this author:
To download your copy of Samson’s Lovely Mortal (Scanguards Vampires #1):
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To download your copy of Amaury’s Hellion (Scanguards Vampires #2):
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To download your copy of Gabriel’s Mate (Scanguards Vampires #3):
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To download your copy of Yvette’s Haven (Scanguards Vampires #4):
Click here to purchase.
To download your copy of Zane’s Redemption (Scanguards Vampires #5):
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To download your copy of Quinn’s Undying Rose (Scanguards Vampires #6):
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To download your copy of A Touch of Greek (Out of Olympus #1):
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To download your copy of A Scent of Greek (Out of Olympus #2):
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To download your copy of Venice Vampyr - The Beginning (Novellas 1 - 3)
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To download your copy of Venice Vampyr #1:
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To download your copy of Venice Vampyr #2 Final Affair:
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To download your copy of Venice Vampyr #3 Sinful Treasure:
To download your copy of Lawful Escort:
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To download your copy of The Wrong Suitor:
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To download your copy of Steal Me:
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To download your copy of Captured to Breed
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Table of Contents
AUTHOR’S NOTE
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
THIRTY-SIX
THIRTY-SEVEN
THIRTY-EIGHT
THIRTY-NINE
FORTY
FORTY-ONE
EPILOGUE
About the Author & List of Books
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