Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1) by Keri Lake
Zayne stared out the window in the back seat of the Range Rover, listening to Zeke sucker the female he’d picked up into wearing the blindfold. Gavin’s rule. All female bar-strays had to wear one on the ride to and from the mansion. Too many breeds—demon, Alexi, lycan—would have killed to be privy to their whereabouts.
“I don’t like not knowing where I’m going,” the female argued from the passenger seat.
“Baby, it’s not my rule. It’s my brother’s and he’d kill me if I defied him.” Zayne rolled his eyes at the plea in his brother’s voice. A leather skirt and stilettos never failed to pussy-whip.
The click of the door signaled her sudden retreat and Zayne’s attention swung forward.
Zeke reached across the space between the two chairs. “Wait!” He pulled her back to him and whispered something in her ear. The woman’s shoulder rolled back and a giggle followed. Dimples formed in Zeke’s cheek as he spoke.
“Okay.”
That annoying trill to her tone grated on Zayne’s nerves. The buzz of the alcohol he’d consumed had begun to dull in these moments of ‘he begged, she begged’. He’d need something else quick or risk being dropped back into his reality. “Get on with this.”
The woman’s eyes met his as she gave a demure glance back. A flash of blue flickered in them and Zayne’s muscles stiffened. What the hell … He fought through the lingering drunkenness to make sense of what he’d just seen. Human? She seemed to be—everything he’d read inside of her at the bar told him she was. Shitty thing about being a soul reader—nobody’s secrets were safe with Zayne. It’s why his twin brother, Zeke, always dragged him along on the bar runs. Sure as fuck wasn’t for Zayne’s company—since Shey’s death he’d come to loathe socializing, always in search of his next trip to crunkedville.
Had he missed something in this female?
His eyes locked on her.
She turned back around in her seat and leaned to the side, allowing Zeke to secure the blindfold.
The eyes held the secrets of the soul and in one good stare, Zayne could get spill-happy if he wanted. All he’d found earlier the female was some guilt from a drunken one-night stand she’d had two weeks ago, the usual nasty remarks between family and friends over the years, and her first time smoking weed—a discovery that had actually won her some clout in Zayne’s eyes.
After tuning the radio to some stab-me-in-the-eyeballs-with-a-toothpick R&B, Zeke fired up the Rover and pulled forward out of the parking lot. Zeke listened to the shit whenever he wanted to preheat the ladies for the night ahead.
Zayne glanced behind through the back window. Could it have been flicker of headlights he’d seen? Just seemed stronger. Like the blue of flames dancing in her eyes.
“Would’ve been nice for Amber to have someone to talk to.” Zeke peered at him through the rear-view mirror. “Might’ve put her at ease, right beautiful?” He shifted his gaze toward the female.
“Actually,”—she threw her blindfolded head to the side—“I wouldn’t mind having both of you for myself.”
Zeke snorted. “I’m sure you would. Too bad my brother’s a lame ass these days.”
Yeah, always the same bullshit. A nice trip down fuck-my-life avenue every time he left the bar without a female. Problem was, no female could ever come close to his fallen mate, Shey. And why should he force himself? Not like a bastard ever died from abstinence.
The city passed by in long streaks of reds and whites. Zayne had pounded shots of Elysia—one of the strongest liquors in the demon realm. Though why the hell it had any association with paradise, he couldn’t figure out. “Pull off.”
Zeke’s eyes appeared in the rearview mirror again. “What? Are you shitting me?”
“Do it.”
“Fuck man, I told you to stay away from that stuff.”
The vehicle jerked across lanes to the shoulder of the road. Streets were empty at that hour, including the highway.
“What’s … what are we doing? Where are we?” The woman’s voice carried an edge of urgency. “Why did we stop?”
“My brother can’t handle his liquor,” Zayne heard Zeke say as he climbed out of the back seat and opened the door to the humid summer air. He punched Zeke’s shoulder on the way and slammed the door behind him.
It may have been the Elysia tickling his stomach, but Zayne had a feeling it was his senses blowing up like an alarm, teasing his oh-shit sensors the way they did when something just didn’t feel right.
As he leaned against the car, clutching his stomach, muffled voices rose from inside the vehicle. Zayne concentrated on them and could hear Zeke trying to calm the female. Her voice battled back until it came into a crisp pitch at the same time the passenger door flew open.
Zayne straightened.
“What are you trying to pull here?” She’d removed her blindfold and stalked toward him—slow-like .
The blue flames returned to her otherwise brown eyes and danced like rattlesnakes. Green scales popped up through her skin while horns protruded from her head.
You gotta be fucking kidding me.
Zeke had circled around the other side of the vehicle and sidled up beside him.
“Of all the fucking females in the place, you had to pick up a Dzafolite dragon?” Zayne asked.
“You’re the goddamn soul reader, you didn’t happen to see a big, green fucking monster somewhere in that shit?”
Zayne turned only a second to cast a glare toward his brother, then fixed his gaze back on the transforming mess in front of them. Her eyes had bulged like a cartoon figure, black orbs too big for their sockets clinging to whatever kept them anchored to her head. Her body was covered in those scales and a long, red forked tongue slithered past her lips. In a matter of seconds, her size had doubled, black skirt in tatters on the road. Haunch claws burst through the dainty stilettos.
Backing along the highway, side-by-side, Zeke grabbed himself. “Jesus, Zayne. This bitch is going to make me piss myself.”
“I hope she goes after you first. Asshole.”
In the demon realm, only two things could tighten a demon’s nuts—the torture prison, also known as Obsidius, and a Dzafolite dragon.
A roar signaled the last burst of her change, and the cue to run like the motherfuckin’ wind. Both brothers spun on their heels and took off down the empty highway. Like landmines exploding behind them, the sound of destruction trailed their steps.
“I got a plan,” Zayne said, on a short pant of breath. “Sharp left.”
“Over the wall?”
“Yeah, you’re going to lead her away.
“Like some kind of dangling carrot? Fuck that. You’re not using me as bait this time.”
Thuds pounded toward them, getting closer. Zayne chanced a quick glance behind to see concrete broken in the dragon’s wake. She bounded toward them like a lizard after a snake buffet
“Sharp left. Now!”
Both brothers leapt against the concrete wall, about ten feet in height. They grabbed hold of the top and scaled like their lives depended on it. Hell, it did. Zeke pulled himself over the top first, twisted to a kneel and yanked Zayne upward. Heat licked Zayne’s ass as cinders flew over his head. “Ah shit!” He patted the flames that’d caught on to his leathers. Dragon’s fire.
Brown claws gripped the edge seconds before those black orbs peered over.
“Get up!” Zayne yanked his brother’s arm and they pushed to a dead run toward a shitty-looking neighborhood with half-burnt houses like it’d been in a war. “Run that way then round back behind the houses! Toward the factory! Don’t stop.”
Zeke gave a nod and zipped off in the opposite direction as the two separated.
The earth rumbled and faded the faster Zayne ran—the dragon had clearly gone after Zeke. He pulled the small chunk of chalk that most demons carried from his inner pocket. Like a nickel for a phone booth. At the end of the block, he reached the abandoned factory, run down and covered in graffiti. Perfect.
In the darkness, weaved carefully between the gang art, Zayne drew a large circle. He placed his hands in the center of it, dropped his head and spoke an ancient chant. The circle shifted, undulating like waves. A blast of heat hit his face and he wiped the instant perspiration that’d formed on his cheek.
The portal to the underworld.
Every demon knew the key to opening it. Hopefully the now-blurred ‘suck cock’ written smack in the center of it would camouflage the hell that waited on the other side.
Zeke’s shouts from behind prompted Zayne to move to the side. His brother must’ve been about a block away. Zeke pounded pavement like a crack dealer at a rehab parade, the dragon at his heels. He came to a halt right in front of the wall.
“Get out of the—” Zayne shouted just before the dragon rolled Zeke into a ball through the portal. Zayne dashed forward, scrambling toward the wall.
Zeke’s arms shot out gripping the edge of the circle, fingers slipping against the chalk.
Grappling for his brother’s wrists, Zayne locked hold and tugged. A jerk forward sent Zayne slamming against the edge as Zeke’s heavy body hung from his grip. The dragon pulled on Zeke’s leg as it dangled from inside a pit of blackness.
“Son of a bitch!” Zeke shouted, his eyes squinting. “This … bitch … is gonna…split me!”
Still clutching Zeke’s arm, Zayne anchored his footing against the wall and hauled back. With his other hand, he pulled out his Sig and shot three times into the abysmal black hole. The dragon slid down Zeke’s leg just enough for Zayne to give one sharp yank. Zeke flew up out of the wall, landing on top of Zayne, issuing a quiet grunt out of his brother.
“Fuck man, I could kiss you right now,” Zeke said through heaving breaths.
Zayne shoved him aside and quickly rose to his feet. He used his boot to scratch away the edges of the hole, sealing it slowly as he went. Zeke moved beside him and did the same on the opposite side until the heat no longer radiated and the distortion of the letters faded back into clarity.
Zeke turned and fell back against the wall, leaned forward with his hands on his thighs, sucking in deep breaths. “Man, I thought we were goners.” He shook his head. “I hope you didn’t hide that dragon shit on purpose. Some life lesson bullshit.”
Zayne swiped at his nose. “Should’ve let the bitch take you.”
A grin skimmed across Zeke’s face. “Brother, why don’t you just admit I put the excitement in your life.” He fist-knocked Zayne in the shoulder. “Let’s get the fuck out of here. We’ll hit up another bar on the way home.”
SOUL AVENGED (Sons of Wrath, #1)
By: Keri Lake
Release Date: February 6, 2013
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance/Dark Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-9848517-3-7
Number of pages: 533
Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)
Passion is blind in vengeance and love …
Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.
The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.
Now, one motive burns in her soul:
KILL THEM ALL.
The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.
Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.
Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest. To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.
Time is running out.
In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most. She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice. As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.
Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.
Soul Avenged Blog Tour “Fire & Ice” Giveaway
Grand Prize: (Valued at approximately $280)
1-Kindle Fire HD (approximate value $199)
1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)
1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt
1-Sons of Wrath coffee mug
1-Soul Avenged Notebook
1st Runner-Up: (Valued at approximately $75)
1-$25 iTunes giftcard
1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)
1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt
1-Sons of Wrath coffee mug
1-Sons of Wrath notebook
2nd Runner-Up: (Valued at approximately $35)
1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)
1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt
If you have trouble with the code, here is the direct link to the Rafflecopter form:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Y2VkYWEzZTcxZGU3ZTRjYjkyMzhlMWYyNDg5YjVhOjQ=/
Keri Lake Bio:
![[img_reflect_right src=”http://www.pcbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sons-of-Wrath-Logo-e1362343599951.png”]](http://www.pcbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sons-of-Wrath-Logo.png){kind=link}
Keri Lake is a married mother of two living in Michigan. She writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy and loves a good, tragic love story. Though novels tend to be her focus, she also writes short stories and flash fiction whenever distraction manages to suck her in to the Land of Shiny Things.
When she isn’t toiling away on plots and protagonists, she enjoys reading, music and travel. If she could create mystical powers for herself, she’d have the ability to flash to anywhere in the world. And if she could flash to anywhere in the world at this very moment, she’d be staring at the ocean from her adirondack chair on the shores of North Carolina.
Contact Keri
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
Thanks so much for hosting a tour stop!
Your welcome 🙂
Yeah, it’s official… I have to have this series!!!! I have loved all the excerpts and teasers you have given us so far, but this has to be my favorite so far!!!!!! I am now dying to get to know more about ALL these characters!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!