If You Were My Vampire
A Shades Below Novel
Book 2.5
L.J.K. Oliva
Genre: Paranormal romance
Word Count: approx. 100,000
Cover Artist: L.J.K. Oliva
Sometimes, your life begins the day you die…
Asher Evans is a man haunted by history. Turned vampire in the concentration camp that claimed his family, he has never recovered from the loss of his humanity. Removed from the mundane world and resigned to facing eternity alone, he’s completely unprepared when the unthinkable happens: he meets a girl.
As the youngest daughter of San Francisco’s most prestigious psychic family, Grace Alan has always known about the things that go bump in the night. She especially knows about monsters…including the fact that she is one. Grace has spent her entire life trying to be normal, and finally, things seem to be looking up. There’s only one problem.
She’s just been murdered.
When Asher stumbles upon a dying Grace, he knows he should leave her to her fate. But in a world that looks at him and sees only a monster, Grace reminds him what it feels like to be human. He can’t bring himself to let her die.
Unfortunately, rescuing her has consequences. Female vampires have been illegal for centuries. In saving Grace, Asher may have condemned them both.
Can be read as a standalone
Listen to the Playlist at YouTube and Spotify
Playlist If You Were My Vampire (Shades Below, #2.5)
1. Rooster – Alice In Chains
2. If I Was Your Vampire – Marilyn Manson
3. My Violent Heart – Nine Inch Nails
4. This Is Where The Sun Is Now – Feral Children
5. Blue Veins – The Raconteurs
6. System – Chester Bennington
7. You Should Know Where I’m Coming From – Banks
8. Till the World Ends – Erato
9. Where Is My Mind – Mindy Jones
10. Kill Me Faster – Panic Lift
11. Paint It, Black – Ciara
12. Stand By Me – Ki:Theory
13. Born To Die – Lana Del Rey
14. Human – Madilyn Bailey
15. Hurt – Wylie Phenix
16. I Walk The Line – Halsey
17. Burning Down The House – The Used
18. Someone To Watch Over Me – Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge
19. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Hollywood, Mon Amour
20. Mother I’m Alive – Hot As Sun
21. Forever Young – Rhiannon Giddens
2. If I Was Your Vampire – Marilyn Manson
3. My Violent Heart – Nine Inch Nails
4. This Is Where The Sun Is Now – Feral Children
5. Blue Veins – The Raconteurs
6. System – Chester Bennington
7. You Should Know Where I’m Coming From – Banks
8. Till the World Ends – Erato
9. Where Is My Mind – Mindy Jones
10. Kill Me Faster – Panic Lift
11. Paint It, Black – Ciara
12. Stand By Me – Ki:Theory
13. Born To Die – Lana Del Rey
14. Human – Madilyn Bailey
15. Hurt – Wylie Phenix
16. I Walk The Line – Halsey
17. Burning Down The House – The Used
18. Someone To Watch Over Me – Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge
19. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Hollywood, Mon Amour
20. Mother I’m Alive – Hot As Sun
21. Forever Young – Rhiannon Giddens
Excerpt
Traffic was scant on The Embarcadero. Even going at a
light pace, it didn't take long to reach Fisherman's Wharf.
A stiff wind was blowing in off the Bay, and the crowds of
tourists had long since departed in favor of warmer retreats.
Seagulls feasted on the scraps of sourdough bread bowls sticky
with clam chowder left in their wake.
light pace, it didn't take long to reach Fisherman's Wharf.
A stiff wind was blowing in off the Bay, and the crowds of
tourists had long since departed in favor of warmer retreats.
Seagulls feasted on the scraps of sourdough bread bowls sticky
with clam chowder left in their wake.
A lone street musician remained on the empty sidewalk. He
was seated on a small, rusty stool, a battered guitar perched
on his knees. He sang in a haunting tenor, his voice crisp and
clear in the stillness. The words of the song echoed off the
surrounding buildings. Someone to watch over me...
was seated on a small, rusty stool, a battered guitar perched
on his knees. He sang in a haunting tenor, his voice crisp and
clear in the stillness. The words of the song echoed off the
surrounding buildings. Someone to watch over me...
Asher stopped. "This song was written the year I was born."
Grace didn't answer. Asher was about to look down when
her hand slipped into his. Perhaps it was the cold. Perhaps
he was still high from the streetcar ride or the race down
Market Street. Either way, he clearly wasn't in his right
mind, because instead of pushing her away, he spun her
around so she was squarely in his arms.
her hand slipped into his. Perhaps it was the cold. Perhaps
he was still high from the streetcar ride or the race down
Market Street. Either way, he clearly wasn't in his right
mind, because instead of pushing her away, he spun her
around so she was squarely in his arms.
Her eyes widened. "What...?"
"Dance with me." He couldn't believe himself. Asher took a
deep breath.
"I mean, unless you don't—"
deep breath.
"I mean, unless you don't—"
Grace coiled her fingers through his, lifted her other hand
and rested it on his shoulder. She met his eyes. Asher wasn't
sure what she saw there. A blush stole across her cheeks, but
she didn't look away. "You'll have to show me how."
and rested it on his shoulder. She met his eyes. Asher wasn't
sure what she saw there. A blush stole across her cheeks, but
she didn't look away. "You'll have to show me how."
Asher released the breath. He hadn't been aware he
was holding it. Gently, he reached up and adjusted her hand
on his shoulder. Then he set his hand to her waist. "It's easy.
Just move with me."
was holding it. Gently, he reached up and adjusted her hand
on his shoulder. Then he set his hand to her waist. "It's easy.
Just move with me."
He heard her breath stutter, and her hand trembled a little
in his. For some inexplicable reason, that pleased him. He
firmed his other hand against her back, and started to move.
It was nothing complicated, just a simple two-step he'd seen
his parents do. Asher closed his eyes. For a moment, he could
almost remember a time when things had been normal.
A time when he'd been happy.
in his. For some inexplicable reason, that pleased him. He
firmed his other hand against her back, and started to move.
It was nothing complicated, just a simple two-step he'd seen
his parents do. Asher closed his eyes. For a moment, he could
almost remember a time when things had been normal.
A time when he'd been happy.
A time when he'd been human.
He jerked his eyes open again. His throat ached. He
swallowed ruthlessly, tried to lock down the place inside
him that felt poised to crack wide open. He started to pull back.
swallowed ruthlessly, tried to lock down the place inside
him that felt poised to crack wide open. He started to pull back.
Grace's fingers tightened around his, and she rested her
cheek against his chest. Her hand slid from his shoulder
and curled around the back of his neck.
cheek against his chest. Her hand slid from his shoulder
and curled around the back of his neck.
Asher wasn't sure he remembered how to breathe.
"Grace," he whispered. The emptiness inside him expanded.
"I can't..."
"Grace," he whispered. The emptiness inside him expanded.
"I can't..."
"It's easy." He felt her voice in every fiber of his being.
"Just move with me."
"Just move with me."
Asher stared down at her. The emptiness receded a little.
The vise around his chest loosened. He closed his eyes
again and let Grace hold him, let the scent of patchouli
leak into his senses and anchor him firmly in the present
moment. They danced until the song ended, and the street
musician finally packed away his guitar.
The vise around his chest loosened. He closed his eyes
again and let Grace hold him, let the scent of patchouli
leak into his senses and anchor him firmly in the present
moment. They danced until the song ended, and the street
musician finally packed away his guitar.
L.J.K Oliva writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, with a heavy dash of suspense. She likes her whiskey strong, her chocolate dark, and her steak bloody. L.J.K. likes monsters… and knows the darkest ones don’t live in closets.
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