Deceiving the vampire that saved her could get her killed, but it's a risk she's willing to take.
When tragedy strikes, Rae makes a terrible choice and struggles with the aftermath. In the wilderness of the Tongass rainforest, she finds herself hunted by creatures of hell, monsters she never dreamed could be real.
A hidden world, an ancient race, and a secret she discovers by accident give a new meaning to her life but only if she can escape and return to civilization. If she is to survive, Rae must comply with Ari, her reluctant hero, and allow him to wipe away any memory of this realm. Knowledge is power, but is it worth dying for?
When push comes to shove, that's when real strength emerges.
What would it take to discover what you're made of?
Excerpt
She ran through the darkness of the forest without looking back. Rae ducked under the low hanging branches the way she had a million times before. A howl from nearby brought her to a halt. Smiling, she wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and whistled. He was close enough to hear her.
"They found me! Take everyone back to safety, and I'll take them off your trail. I'll see you later!" Her words came out in a rush but she had no doubt he understood. Without wasting another moment, she ran in the opposite direction. This wasn't her first rodeo with the forces of evil. A dark cloaked silhouette emerged from the cover of a thick tree. His voice was hoarse, and he mumbled something under his breath. As Rae got closer, his words got clearer. He was chanting in a language she didn't understand, yet the effect wasn't lost on her. A debilitating headache almost blinded her. She fell to her knees, grasping her temples, breathless, as blood trickled from her nose. A sharp pain tore through her head. An ear-splitting scream left her lips with what she imagined was her last breath. It was a signal for the others to keep running and not look back. They were on their own.
The pain stopped as suddenly as it started, and she panted, filling her lungs with air again. Rae rubbed her eyes and waited a few moments to regain her sight while she used her sleeve to clean the blood up.
The cloaked man knelt and sobbed while someone's face buried in the crook of his neck, long blonde curls cascading over his shoulder. Seconds after the sobbing stopped, the man dropped to the ground.
Blondie stood up and turned towards Rae.
"Are you OK?"
"I am now, thanks to you!" She recognized her sister's voice and felt at ease. "It's my job to look after you, Rae."
"Maria, it's almost dawn. You should find shelter. Run as fast as you can! I'll be fine on my own. I promise I'll be careful!"
Maria stopped for a moment and smiled. The full moon lit her face in a grotesque picture of pitch-black eyes, bloody lips, and protruding fangs. She took a deep breath, and her face morphed back to human. Her eyes reverted to their natural blue, revealing the pretty girl behind the monster.
"Please be careful! You're getting cocky, and that makes you reckless. That was one of their elders. You're no match for them. You were lucky I got here when I did. As a shadow, too many lives depend on you. We can’t afford to lose you!" Her voice softened. "I can't lose you!" After a quick hug, Maria disappeared in a blurred motion into the darkness.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and listened for any sound that would give her stalker away. She counted the bodies she left in her wake, adding the one Maria killed. There was at least one more hunting for her. She couldn't be taken by surprise if she expected an attack. Rae didn't have to wait long. A twig snapped at her right. She pivoted with grace on the ball of her right foot and faced the threat.
Author bio -
Anca Antoci started out as a fan-fiction writer and then moved on to write her own story. Thus her debut novel Forget Me Not got published in January 2020.
Her fan-fiction stories are still available on her blog. Living in Romania, Anca speaks English as a second language.
Because she's a passionate reader, Anca started a blog where she reviews fantasy books called Summon Fantasy. When she's not reading or writing, Anca loves cooking and watching movies with her daughter while eating nachos.