The Immaculate
(Ancient Blood 3)
by Kate Hill
Format(s): Ebook
Heat Level: Steamy
Pairing(s): M/F
Genre/Themes: Paranormal, Vampires
Length: Novel
Ebook cover art created at Canva.com
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Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK2MCDF8
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-immaculate-kate-hill/1005704391
UBL: https://books2read.com/u/bzywNL
Tagline: A victim searching for answers meets a vampire
fighting demons of his own.
Tags: #vampires, #paranormal, #magic, #alphahero,
#darkfantasy #urbanfantasy
Blurb:
Scarred in mind and body after a brutal attack, Mara travels
to
Note: The Immaculate was previously published. This re-edited version contains additional scenes. The Immaculate contains scenes with sex and violence. The story refers to past rape, past child abuse, and a past suicide attempt.
Excerpt 1 (Mild):
Standing, Mara knocked several leather-bound volumes onto the carpet. “Damn. I’m so clumsy.”
She stooped to gather the books when a large hand picked up an especially heavy volume by her toe. Startled, she jumped.
She glanced at the man beside her. He had broad shoulders, a strong neck, and a face that compelled Mara to stare. Though not handsome, his features were endearing. He was smooth-shaven, his cheekbones high and broad. His straight nose was slightly snubbed and his lower lip full. Before her attack she might have called his mouth kissable, but lately romance was the last thing on her mind. Her heartbeat fluttered when she looked into his eyes. Fringed with thick lashes, they were the darkest blue she’d ever seen.
“Let me help you.” His deep voice resounded in the empty room. Like her, he was American.
“Thank you. I fell asleep and I guess I’m still a little groggy.”
He glanced at the books. “Whispers of the Damned. The Book of Eternal Curses. Death Kisses. Just a little bit of light reading? No wonder you have nightmares.”
She quickly gathered the books into a pile. They stood, and she noticed he was tall enough to be intimidating. “I have strange taste. Thanks for your help.”
“You forgot one.” He caught up to her. “Lords of the Moon.”
Mara stared at him. “You can read that?”
“It’s an odd dialect, but not quite lost.”
“At first I thought it was Latin. Not that my Latin’s great. I should have paid more attention in class.”
“It is Latin. A form of it, anyway.”
“Can you…” Mara shook her head.
“Can I what?”
“Nothing. There’s no time. The library is closing. I just really wish I knew what was in that book. These others are all the same. Just a lot of folklore.”
His lips curved in the slightest smile. “Sure it’s folklore. You don’t really believe in vampires and werewolves, do you?”
“Of course not. I’m just interested in…true crime. You know, people who think they’re vampires and werewolves. Lycanthropy and such.” She nodded to the pile of books in her hands. “You can just toss it on top. I have to take these to the desk. They don’t let anyone check them out. I guess they’re rare.”
He took the books from her and brushed through the glass doors to the desk.
Mara trotted to keep up with his long strides. “Listen, sir, you really don’t have to—”
“Adam.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll be here around six tomorrow to translate for you.”
Mara paused beside him at the desk. Her hands trembled and her heart pounded. What a fool she must sound like.
“You really don’t have to do that.”
“You want to know what’s in the book?”
“Yes, but I hope you don’t think this is some kind of crazy come-on.”
Those dark blue eyes fixed on hers. Heat rose in her face. What had made her say that?
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He walked down the marble steps to the exit door. One hand on the glass, he turned. “And that’s not a crazy come-on, either.”
Mara watched him disappear into the dark streets of
Excerpt 2 (Some Spice):
The door opened and Adam stepped inside, drenched, his dark hair a mass of shiny ringlets.
Mara hopped off the bed and into his arms.
“It’s pouring.” He squeezed her and kissed the top of her head. “There's a thunderstorm coming.”
“I love thunderstorms.”
“Do you?”
“Don’t you think they’re romantic?”
He brushed his thumb across her lips. “That depends on who I’m with.” He glanced down to the floor and smiled. “You have such small feet.”
“I’m five foot three, what do you expect?”
“They’re so cute.”
She glanced down at her bare feet and curled her toes into the carpet. She’d never considered her feet to be a point of attraction. To her, they were short and stubby. Even the grape colored nail polish did little for them.
“I have to take a shower before the storm starts.”
“Don’t bother.” Mara grasped his T-shirt and tugged him toward the bed.
He laughed. “Turning wild on me?”
“You bet.”
Though her strength didn’t affect him, he allowed her to push him onto the bed. She grasped the bottom of his shirt, dragged it over his head, and tossed it aside. Adam reached for the light and turned it off, bathing the room in blackness, except for an occasional streak of lightning.
Straddling his waist, she ran her hands over the massive expanse of his hot, damp chest. Lowering her mouth to his, she murmured, “I haven’t felt this good in so long. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He lifted his head slightly and kissed her. Mara’s hands slid over his shoulders and behind his neck, supporting it as their lips caressed and their tongues stroked each other.
Outside thunder rumbled and the wind wailed.
“Umm,” Mara purred, allowing him to remove her tank top.
Wrapping his arms around her, he trapped her body against his. He emanated heat from running, his muscles like steel beneath velvety flesh textured by hair in all the right places. She’d expected him to feel rough somehow, yet his regenerative nature made his skin feel soft and new.
She wondered why vampires were so often compared to wolves. Adam reminded her of a big, sleek cat. Smooth, lean, flexible and powerful.
“Touch me,” she whispered, her heart pounding at the potential risks of her request. Risks with another man, not with Adam. “I’m tired of being afraid.”
“I’m glad you’re not afraid of me.”
“I probably should be, but I’m not.” She lifted her face slightly to stare into his dark blue eyes. His gentle expression warmed her entire body. Was she falling in love? Could she be, after such a short time?
“You don’t ever have to be afraid of me.”
“I know.” Placing her hands over his, she guided them to her breasts. He cupped the globes, his thumbs flicking over her nipples through the flimsy fabric of her bra. She closed her eyes while his touch left a warm trail across her abdomen and up her back. Their legs entangled as she stretched out on top of him. Deft fingers unhooked her bra. She sat up enough that he could slide it off and toss it aside.
About Time (Ancient Blood 3.5)
Want a taste of the Ancient Blood series? Read about Brett
and Mercedes from the Immaculate in their free short story About Time (Ancient
Blood 3.5). https://kate-hill.com/about-time/
Author
Bio:
Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies. When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, watching horror movies, and researching vampires and Viking history. She runs the Compelling Beasts Blog that is dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. Kate also writes as Saloni Quinby.
Visit her online at https://www.kate-hill.com. Join her
newsletter at https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter.
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