Book Title: Demon’s Past
Author and Cover Artist: Shari Sakurai
Publisher: Farnhurst Publishing
Release Date: March 7, 2025
Tense/POV: third person, alternating POV
Genres: MM Paranormal/vampires
Tropes: Friends to lovers
Themes: Coming out
Heat Rating: 1 flame
Length: 77 000 words
It is not a standalone story, but you do not need to have read the other books in the series to enjoy it.
It does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Immortality has its price
Blurb
April 1889, Nagasaki, JAPAN
When apprentice merchant Thane Bremen travels with his family to Nagasaki, he is more excited about the exotic destination than studying his trade. A chance encounter with a local man gives Thane the opportunity to learn more about the culture of Japan.
Kokawa Taku is unlike anyone Thane has ever met before. He is outgoing, charming, spontaneous and Thane finds himself instantly drawn to him. Taku opens Thane’s eyes to new experiences, and perhaps a different future to the one that is mapped out for him. When their friendship turns into romance, Thane struggles with his father’s expectations for him and how the society he is from would view his relationship with Taku.
As they become closer, Thane learns that Taku is a vampire. With this, he begins to understand just what it means for them both. Taku will live forever, and Thane’s life will be over in a comparative blink of an eye. While Thane contemplates what it is to love the immortal, a disaster strikes that threatens to part them sooner than either of them thought was possible.
As they conversed, Taku began to realise that this was the first time he had spoken to another at such length. That pang of loneliness returned as he focused on this thought. Despite his charming and outgoing nature, he only socialised as much as was required of him. Humans in general bored him. Thane was the only one whom he had found remotely interesting for a long time.
Time went by at a faster pace than even Taku was aware of, and Thane was becoming intoxicated. The Inn was now busier and louder, and to the vampire’s hearing the noise was deafening. Finally, Taku suggested that they take their leave. Thane was having difficulty standing and smiled gratefully when Taku took his arm. He led the human down the street. Thane’s step was willing, although he did notice that Taku was guiding him away from the harbour.
“A walk in the night air will do you good,” Taku explained softly, but with an edge to his voice that forced agreement. “You appear to have drunk a little more than perhaps was wise.”
Thane did not protest. He was still holding onto Taku and leaned into him as they walked. Taku felt Thane’s head resting against his shoulder. The human’s soft hair brushed against his neck, and this combined with the warm breath on his skin caused a jolt to run through him. A feeling that he had not experienced in a long time. A desire for something more than what he had set out to take that night. Taku gritted his teeth, disliking and welcoming the emotion at the same moment. He had sworn never to feel anything like this again.
Do it now
Taku saw a gap between two commercial buildings and took it. This side-street was not illuminated by streetlamps and so Taku was confident that they would be undisturbed. He stopped and expected more questions. However, Thane merely leaned against a building and closed his eyes. His head was tipped back exposing the pale and flawless skin of this throat. Taku could hear the beating of the human’s heart and scented the hot blood charged with alcohol rushing through his veins. He felt his fangs extending in anticipation, however, coupled with this was a curious sense of misgiving that Taku had never experienced before. Swallowing hard he tried not to focus on this or the handsome and trusting man before him. He had to concentrate on what he wanted, what Thane was so unwittingly offering him. Taku was about to move forward when Thane spoke.
“Thank you for your kindness this evening. And for your company, which I rather enjoyed. Perhaps we could have a drink together again soon?”
Taku swallowed hard and forced himself to back up. He shook his head as further conflicting thoughts invaded his mind.
“I can’t do this…” he mumbled in Japanese.
Thane opened his eyes, giving Taku a searching expression in the dark. He had no idea how much danger he had been in.
“Come,” Taku said as he sought out Thane’s wrist and gently pulled him from his position against the wall. “I will hail you a rickshaw.”
Taku’s pull on Thane was rougher as he battled with himself, but the human failed to notice the indecision and frustration that was building within the vampire. Luck appeared to be with them that night and as they walked back out onto the main street Taku found a rickshaw almost immediately. He paid the man and then assisted Thane with getting onto it. He slipped once and barely seemed to notice the strength that Taku displayed when he practically lifted Thane onto the seat.
“What about you?” Thane worried when Taku took a step back.
“My home is not too far from here.” A lie that Thane accepted without question.
“Thank you for tonight,” Thane smiled gratefully. He looked as though he wanted to say more, and Taku already knew what it was that he wished to voice.
“Meet me outside the Moon and Hare Inn tomorrow night,” Taku said finally. “I can show you around the city.”
“I would like that, thank you.”
“Until tomorrow then.”
“Goodnight,” Thane called out as the rickshaw began to move off.
Taku watched until it turned a corner and was out of sight before he started the rather long walk towards home. He felt the press of his fangs against his lower lip as he thought of how he had denied himself. It was very unlike him, and Taku could not help feeling disturbed by these events. Once more he experienced that curl of emotion as he recalled the warmth of Thane’s breath on his neck.
Shari Sakurai is a British author of paranormal, horror, science fiction and fantasy novels that almost always feature a LGBTQ protagonist and/or antagonist. She has always loved to write and it is her escape from the sometimes stressful modern life!
Aside from writing, Shari enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to (loud!) music, going to rock concerts and learning more about other societies and cultures. Japanese culture is of particular interest to her and she often incorporates Japanese themes and influences into her work.
Shari loves a challenge and has taken part and won the National Novel Writing Month challenge thirteen times!
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