The Darkheart Saga A Vampire Fantasy Romance Suspense Series Book 1: A Hunger Beyond Time Elira, a centuries-old vampire cursed never to feel love, awakens in a futuristic world where vampires are hunted by a shadowy organization called the Dominion. When she captures Kieran, a rebellious Dominion agent with a mysterious vendetta against his employers, Elira senses something she hasn't felt in centuries-an emotional connection. Bound by necessity, they form an uneasy alliance to uncover the Dominion's true purpose. As Elira's curse begins to weaken in Kieran's presence, their forbidden bond exposes them to dangers that stretch beyond mortal comprehension. Book 2: Whispers of the Night Blade Elira and Kieran's partnership deepens as they uncover the Dominion's experiments: a scheme to resurrect the ancient vampire queen, Seraphine, whose reign of terror once brought humanity to its knees. But Elira's connection to Seraphine is closer than she realizes-her bloodline is the key to the queen's revival. As enemies close in, Kieran discovers his own blood holds a devastating secret that could destroy Elira. In a race against time, the pair must navigate their growing feelings while fighting against betrayal from all sides. Book 3: Queen of Shadows Betrayed and captured by the Dominion, Elira awakens to find Seraphine's dark spirit tethered to her own. Forced to act as the queen's vessel, Elira must resist Seraphine's influence or risk unleashing a new age of terror. Meanwhile, Kieran discovers a hidden prophecy linking their love to the world's salvation-or its ruin. With the Dominion, rogue vampires, and ancient forces vying for control, Elira and Kieran must fight together, risking their lives and their love, to stop the queen's rise and forge a new future for both mortals and immortals. Series Themes: Romantic Suspense: A forbidden love that transcends curses and mortal boundaries. Fantasy: A richly built futuristic world where vampires and humans clash in unexpected ways. Mystery: Uncovering secrets about ancient curses, hidden prophecies, and the true motives of the Dominion. Action: Intense battles, betrayals, and high-stakes confrontations with supernatural foes.
Awakening the Shadows
Chapter one
The air was cold and damp, heavy with the weight of centuries past. Beneath the surface of the earth, a crypt lay hidden-a tomb carved into the heart of stone, untouched by the world above for ages. Inside its crumbling walls, a silence reigned so profound it could have been mistaken for death itself.
Until the silence was broken.
A low rumble coursed through the ground, faint at first, then building to a tremor. The crypt quivered, ancient stone groaning under the strain. In the center of the cavernous space, a sarcophagus of dark obsidian sat undisturbed for countless centuries. Runes etched into its surface glowed faintly, their light flickering like dying embers.
Then, with a deafening crack, the lid of the sarcophagus split apart.
A pale hand emerged, its fingers clawing at the air as if grasping for life itself. The figure inside stirred, her body rigid from her long confinement. Slowly, she pushed herself upright, gasping as if surfacing from deep water. Her skin was porcelain pale, her hair cascading in inky waves down her back. Her eyes opened, glowing faintly crimson in the dim light.
Elira had awakened.
Her breath came in sharp bursts as she clutched the edge of the sarcophagus, her nails scraping against the cold stone. Memories surged through her mind, fragments of another time-of fire, blood, and betrayal. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the familiar weight of her curse, an ache that was both physical and emotional.
"Still here," she murmured, her voice hoarse from disuse.
Her curse, the thing that had plagued her existence for centuries, remained unbroken. The aching void in her chest confirmed it. The absence of love, of connection, was like a gnawing hunger that would never be sated.
Elira swung her legs over the side of the sarcophagus and stood, her movements slow but deliberate. Her senses began to sharpen, the dullness of sleep giving way to an acute awareness. She could hear the faint drip of water from a crack in the ceiling. She could smell the earth and stone surrounding her, mingled with something faintly metallic-blood.
She turned her head, her glowing eyes narrowing as she scanned the crypt. "Who disturbed this place?"
The chamber was dimly lit by the flickering runes, their light casting eerie shadows on the walls. Elira's gaze fell on the shattered remains of the protective seals that had once encased her tomb. Someone-or something-had broken them. Her instincts flared, a mixture of caution and anger.
She took a step forward, her bare feet silent on the cold stone. Her long slumber had not dulled her strength. If anything, she felt more powerful, her senses sharper than they had been before her imprisonment.
As she approached the entrance to the crypt, the faint sound of gunfire reached her ears. It was distant but unmistakable-a rapid staccato echoing through the layers of earth above her. Elira froze, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the sound.
"Gunfire," she whispered to herself.
The mortal world. How long had it been since she had walked among them? Decades? Centuries? The memories of her exile were hazy, her mind clouded by the long years of isolation. Yet the sound of battle stirred something in her-a curiosity, a pull toward the chaos.
Elira ascended the crumbling staircase leading out of the crypt, her movements fluid despite her long confinement. The air grew colder as she neared the surface, the earthy scent of the tomb replaced by the sharp tang of the night. She emerged into a forest shrouded in mist, the moon hanging low in the sky like a watchful sentinel.
The gunfire was louder now, accompanied by shouts and screams. Elira tilted her head, her heightened senses picking up the faint scent of blood on the wind. The sound of mortal conflict drew her like a moth to flame, a reminder of the world she had left behind.
Her bare feet made no sound as she moved through the forest, her dark hair flowing behind her like a shadow. The trees thinned, and the source of the commotion came into view.
A small village lay ahead, its streets illuminated by the pale glow of streetlamps. But the village was far from peaceful. Vehicles burned in the town square, their flames casting flickering shadows on the surrounding buildings. Figures moved through the chaos-soldiers in dark uniforms, armed with rifles, their faces obscured by helmets. They hunted with precision, their weapons trained on a group of desperate villagers attempting to flee.
Elira stopped at the edge of the forest, her crimson eyes narrowing. The scene was one of carnage, the scent of blood and fear thick in the air. But it wasn't just the mortals being hunted. She could sense it-others like her, vampires, their presence faint but unmistakable.
The soldiers weren't ordinary men. They moved with an efficiency and ruthlessness that spoke of training, their weapons designed not for mortal enemies but for supernatural prey.
The Dominion.
Elira's lips curled into a faint snarl. She had heard whispers of them in her time-a mortal organization dedicated to the eradication of her kind. But this... this was something new. Their weapons were sophisticated, their tactics precise.
Her gaze shifted to the villagers caught in the crossfire, their terror palpable. She clenched her fists, the urge to intervene warring with the caution instilled by centuries of survival.
Then she saw him.
A man darted through the chaos, his movements fluid but desperate. He wore no uniform, his dark clothing marked by dirt and blood. He carried a young girl in his arms, her face pale and lifeless. Soldiers pursued him, their rifles raised.
The man stumbled, falling to his knees. He shielded the girl with his body, his face twisted in pain and defiance.
Elira felt a pang in her chest, a sensation so foreign it startled her. It wasn't love-her curse ensured she could never feel that-but it was something close. A flicker of empathy, of recognition.
Without thinking, she stepped out of the shadows.
The soldiers turned, their rifles trained on her in an instant. But Elira was faster. She moved like a shadow, her form a blur as she closed the distance between them. Her hand shot out, gripping the barrel of one rifle and twisting it effortlessly. The weapon shattered, the soldier staring at her in stunned silence before she struck him down.
The others reacted, opening fire. Bullets whizzed past her, some grazing her skin, but she didn't falter. Her vampiric strength and speed made her a force of nature, her movements almost too fast for the mortal eye to follow.
Within moments, the soldiers lay incapacitated, their weapons destroyed. Elira stood amidst the wreckage, her breath steady despite the exertion.
The man stared at her, his expression a mixture of awe and wariness. "Who... what are you?" he demanded, his voice hoarse.
Elira turned to him, her crimson eyes glowing faintly. She looked at the girl in his arms, her heart tightening at the sight. "Leave this place," she said, her voice cold but not unkind. "More will come."
The man hesitated, then nodded. He gathered the girl in his arms and disappeared into the shadows.
Elira watched him go, a strange heaviness settling over her. The night was silent again, save for the crackling of flames in the distance. She glanced down at her hands, stained with blood, and clenched them into fists.
The mortal world had changed in her absence, and it seemed she was no longer a mere observer.
As the sounds of approaching vehicles reached her ears, Elira vanished into the darkness, her thoughts filled with questions and an unfamiliar sense of purpose.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"