Title: The Vampire’s War
Series: The Realm of the Vampire Council, Book Five
Author: Damian Serbu
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 12/27/2022
Heat Level: 2 – Fade to Black Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 85700
Genre: Paranormal, LGBTQIA+, immortal, vampires, witches, pets, war, hurt-comfort
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Description
War brews among vampires. Facing extinction at the hands of an ancient one, the Vampire Council plods along with a secret strategy. Jaret Bachmann, both vampire and witch, fears the Council elders move too slowly. He has the power to assist them in defeating their enemy, but the longer they keep him at arm’s length the more defiant he becomes. He’s already pushing the boundaries to assert his will when tragedy strikes, devastating him and compelling him to become even more rebellious.
A young vampire alone in the world, Jaret struggles to find his true self and discover how he wants to spend the remainder of his eternal life, even as the vampire war intensifies and the rogue vampire strikes again. To compound his problems, he’s faced with the allure of a hot renegade vampire, not sure if he is friend or foe.
Who will win the war, and where will Jaret’s soul-searching lead him?
The Vampire’s War
Damian Serbu © 2022
All Rights Reserved
Jaret patted his dog on the head. He owned the only vampire dog in existence. After a deranged ghost murdered his entire family, spiraling him into despair, Xavier turned Darth so Jaret would never need to say goodbye to her.
“Darth, we need to talk.” She eyed him but appeared uninterested since Jaret made no move to leave or to give her a treat. “See, Anthony and I chatted last night. Agreed to keep me in the dark because, well, he and the Council want to, and I have no recourse. Right?”
She tilted her head. Except he was certain she wanted a treat or to go on a walk, not to commiserate about the Council cockblocking him.
“But, you know I disagree with their slow, passive response. I mean, they’re going to get us fucking killed!” Darth wagged her stub of a tail in agreement. “See, you get it. Murdered. Wiped out. So to keep Anthony happy, I had no choice but to agree to his secrecy. However, I never technically promised not to operate my own plans on the sly. With you in the know, of course.”
Darth leapt to her feet when Jaret reached for the treat jar. She still wanted her dog biscuits, even though, like a human vampire, she needed blood and nothing more. He threw one to her.
“We’re heading out for a little party, you and I. Charon and I need to talk. On the downlow.” He pointed a finger at Darth. “So zip it. No telling Anthony. Or anyone else on the Council. We can have secrets too.”
When Jaret grabbed Darth’s leash and headed for the door, she spun in excited circles. He almost never used the leash because she obeyed as a vampire dog and could never get lost from him. But sometimes he needed the leash to keep up appearances when around humans. They hit the street and headed out.
Before they both became vampires, Jaret and Darth jogged together almost every day. In their undead state, they continued the ritual but instead of a thirty-minute jaunt up and down a mountain or along the Chicago lake front, they sprinted thousands of miles in a matter of minutes. One second they were in a Chicago house, next they stood on a deserted street corner in Savannah, Georgia.
Savannah haunted Jaret with its old-world feel and charisma. The historic houses and layout of the central tourist area hinted of a bygone era, one of both wonder and horror. The scenery spoke of ancient rituals and exquisite clothes. But the aura also reflected through time on slavery, human cruelty, and unsettled spirits. Modern Savannah included a vibrant arts scene, a college atmosphere, and a lot of little touristy places, not to mention a ghost tour on every corner.
Jaret loved the atmosphere and its complications. But tonight, he had little time to act as a vacationer enjoying the sights and sounds because of his mission. He would rather meet Charon in a more formal setting, one-on-one and away from distractions. But, alas, Charon seldom agreed to anything professional or too staid. He reserved intimacy for the possibility of being laid, not for official business.
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Damian Serbu is an author of gay horror/speculative fiction. After over twenty years of teaching history at the collegiate level, he now writes full time. He lives in the Chicagoland area with his husband and two dogs.
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