The Sin Eater’s Prince
Gay Fiction/VAMPIRE
Keta Diablo
Number of pages: 236
Blurb
Unlike the villagers, physician Andras Maddock has never shunned Owen, the Sin Eater. How can Andras ignore the one man he loves? Owen is stunned when Andras saves him from a gruesome death at the hands of vampire and then wonders how a simple man acquired supernatural powers?
Dagan, Dark Lord of the Underworld, vows to take the mystic sword from Andras, a weapon that allows his vampires to wreak their diabolical havoc in sunlight. Dagan will do anything to avenge his father’s death, and in the process, make the Sin Eater his slave.
Star-crossed love, sorcery, ancient myth and lore collide on a vengeful path where only one side will taste victory.
A stand-alone homoerotic full-length novel with suspense, werewolves and dragons.
Sin Eater
One gifted with magic, able to absorb the sins of a dying person so that person’s soul is free to go unencumbered to heaven.
The Vampire Prayer
“Whatever flows through your body, flows through mine. I am in your likeness, he who feeds on the warm, red elixir of life. I am the dreaded vampire, a blessed composition of your energy, lust and desire. My day is the mortal’s night, my sustenance their blood. When earth has witnessed its last day, I shall rise again and serve you for all eternity.”
Moonlight slanted through the pine trees, and in the stillness of the forest, the ocean roared in the distance. Owen stumbled on a rock, regained his footing and followed the silver ribbons down the narrow path.
“The forest holds danger and mystery,” his tad always said.
From the inflection in Andras’s voice tonight, apparently, he felt the same. The man had tried to warn him without alarming the servant. And he’d tried to tell Andras he couldn’t spend another night under his roof hungering for his touch.
A fluttering of giant wings to his left brought forth a shocked gasp, and another stumble. He fell to his knees as the moon ducked behind a patch of clouds and pitched his world into darkness. Through the black mystery of the forest, he narrowed his eyes and searched for the airborne creature. When the skin at the nape of his neck prickled, he wished he’d taken Andras’s advice and stayed in the stables. The scent of horse dung would have been preferable to the fear anchoring him to the forest floor.
His tad’s voice echoed in his ears. “A vampire cannot enter a private dwelling unless the occupant grants him permission. Most long tooth attacks occur outside the abode in isolated areas at night.”
Get up, Owen, ye dolt! Run! Ye have got to make it home!
Clambering to his knees, he stilled when a brilliant flash exploded in the clearing ahead. Beneath a canopy of evergreens, a beast appeared in his line of vision. Nay, it was not a predator of the forest but an upright human form. Shrouded in billowing black, his white skin shone like a beacon under the inky sky. Terror seized him as the phantom advanced at a foot-dragging pace, the undercurrents of death heavy in the morbid air. The ghoul’s eyes crazed with bloodlust, his long white fangs descending, he circled him.
Owen’s throat constricted with fear, yet the specter’s ageless features and hypnotic eyes immobilized him. Time ceased to exist and his immortality rushed forward. Death clung to his pores; he felt it surround him like a black shroud.
Lladd amser. His father’s words for Killing Time lashed about him like a hard rain. He knew someone would die again soon, but never suspected the someone would be him.
In the breath of a heartbeat, a new shape burst onto the scene, exploding through the bracken with lightning speed. Without pause, the newcomer lunged, the flash of his sword powerful and true. Metal met metal in a timeless dance of deflect and parry, to meet time and again beneath the shadowy moon.
A peal of laughter bounced off the trees. “Well done, Andras. Someone has taught ye well.”
His name fell from Owen’s lips on a whisper. “Andras?”
The scene played out before him like an act from a Shakespearean play…except the characters knew one another.
Andras gave no answer to his enemy’s false compliment, but rather countered with a vicious upward slice toward his groin. The being lunged with a heavy thrust and sliced open Andras’s shoulder. Owen focused on the torn fabric of his jerkin, waited for a stream of blood to arc through the vaporous air, and groaned when it failed to appear.
Vampire against vampire, their bodies whirled and twisted in a maelstrom of flesh and bone. They thrashed and tumbled on the ground only to continue the fight moments later in the branches of a massive oak.
Paralyzed, Owen watched with his heart in his throat.
Long fangs gnashed and an anonymous bloodcurdling scream rent the air. Still it didn’t end. Blades clanked beneath moonbeams and then Andras pirouetted with the agility of a jungle cat. Time ceased to exist as he brought the claymore up high above his head. On the downswing, the mighty blade keened its death knell and severed the long tooth’s head from his neck. The demon’s limp body tumbled from the branch and landed three feet from Owen. Gray smoke rolled from the creature’s open cavity, his body recoiling like a giant serpent’s tail in the last throes of death.
Owen clutched his abdomen and retched. Long seconds later and fighting off waves of dizziness, he lifted his head and stared into the ghost-white face of Andras Maddock. Bent at the waist, the physician gasped for precious air, yet kept his keen sight on the periphery of the clearing.
Owen followed his gaze with sickening dread. Were more long-tooths waiting to attack? And who or what was Andras?
“Can ye walk?” Andras said jumping from a low branch of the tree with the sinuous grace of a cat. He holstered his sword in the scabbard about his waist.
Owen nodded.
“I suggest we leave. Now.”
“But, who―”
“If we remain here, more will come, and I can’t fight them all.”
“More?”
Andras straightened and studied him with narrowed perception. “’Tis certain.”
He fought through the rising panic and looked at Andras’s shoulder. “No blood again.”
“Aye, but ’tis the least of our worries. I’ll explain soon if we live long enough.”
Mesmerized by the voice and in shock over the scene played out before him, Owen looked into the cold, lifeless eyes of the dead man. “Vampires here in Pembrokeshire?”
“I could ask the same: a sin eater in our midst?”
Owen knelt beside what remained of the long tooth and tried to form the words he knew by heart. His lips moved, but no sound came forth.
“What in the hell do ye think ye are doing?” Andras asked.
“Claiming his sins.”
“Are ye daft? Traherne is a pure-blood bequeathed with mystical powers. He suffered none of the typical weaknesses known to his kind.”
“I’m a sin eater, Andras.”
“Ye mustn’t assume his transgressions.”
“I’ve learned to divest myself of the sins I assume.”
Andras’s mock laughter echoed around him. “Not from the oldest vampire in the universe. If ye think to regurgitate his sins ye are mistaken.” He shook his head. “Ye could die.”
“Pity, that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It can’t kill me.” Owen placed his hand over his heart. “I’m already dead.”
Compassion flitted through Andras’s eyes, replaced by steeled determination. “Get off your knees; recant whatever portion of the creed entered your mind. Do it now, before―”
Demons howled in the distance, clotting Owen’s blood.
“They come,” Andras said.
Before Owen could react, Andras flung him onto his back, soared into the night sky and flew above the trees.
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About Keta
Keta Diablo lives in the Midwest part of the United States on six acres of gorgeous woodland. When she isn’t writing or gardening, she loves to commune with nature. A pair of barn owls returns to the property every year to birth their young and show them off in the high branches of the oak trees. Nothing more adorable than these white fluffy babies with heart-shaped faces. A lifelong animal lover, Keta devotes her time and support to the local animal shelter. Emma LaPounce, a rescued feline, has been her furry companion for the last ten years.
Keta is an award-winning and bestselling author who writes in several genres: Western Romance, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance and Contemporary Romance. Occasionally, she writes Gay Romance. Her books have received numerous accolades, including RWA contest finalist, Authors After Dark finalist, Top Pick of the Month and Recommended Review from many top review sites, and Best Romance Finalist from The Independent Author Network.
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Keta brought a fabulous giveaway with her!
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I am so glad to see you books again.
sounds like a really interesting story…..very different
Sounds like a very interesting.
Loos like a thrilling read!
Thanks for the excerpt, it sounds great.
Love the cover! Thank you for the chance!
Vampires seem to be making a comeback! This one sounds…nice?
Hi Becca and Dani, Becca did a wonderful job on her review. Much appreciated. Thanks so much for spotlighting The Sin Eater’s Prince. Stay well everyone, Keta
A really great read!
Sounds really interesting, Really like the cover too =)
looks interesting
I’m glad I got to learn about this!
This sounds so delish! Much success, Keta.