Sanguine Veritas Page 6

  My eyes narrow. “What the hell?” I lunge at her, but she’s too fast now and she zips out the door in a blur of color and satisfied laughter.

  I was just accusing Stefan of not being smart enough to see her underlying motivations, but I made the same mistake. She knows I’m no good at mushy, do-you-really-love-me conversations. But I am great at arguing, and I damn well know I am better for her than Stefan would ever be.

  I chase her down the stairs, glorying in the speed and the sound of her laughter. Being a vampire with Elena is going to be fun.

  It doesn’t take me long to catch her, because I’m older and faster. Or maybe because she wants to be caught.

  I pull her to a stop with my arms around her waist and she twists around to steal a kiss.

  “You’re an ass, Damon. But I love you.”

  I mock-glare at her, then smile cockily. “I know.”

  Her face softens, and I know it was hurting her that I didn’t believe her.

  Enough angst. I am right for her, and I am done letting her try to squirm out of it. She can try to change her mind and always-Stefan me twice a week and I’ll just drag her right back into my room and show her how wrong she is. This girl is mine, and I am ready to start enjoying the benefits of that. Starting now.

  I turn the full force of my compulsion on her, which of course does nothing because she’s a vampire. “You’re going to go upstairs and act out every second of those compulsion fantasies for me. Even the really dirty parts you were too embarrassed to tell me about earlier.”

  “Your wish is my command, my love,” she says softly, and she kisses me like it is the only thing she’s ever wanted to do.

  Acknowledgments

  Huge thanks to Carol for beta’ing this and cutting out every little word that wasn’t perfect, and for many wonderful talks about the nuances of these complicated, lovely characters.

  Thanks today and always to Katie, for making writing fun, and for supporting me every step of the way.

  And finally, a big hand of applause to Alfred De Varona for pulling off another book cover of superlative gorgeousness. Your talents know no bounds, my friend.

  About the Author

  I live kind of an odd life.

  In 2010, my husband and I decided we wanted a change, so we put our house up for rent and moved into our Toyota pickup. From there, we started traveling around and rock climbing, hiking, canyoneering, writing, scuba diving, riding horses, slacklining, kayaking, and generally having more fun than you should be allowed to have as an adult. Along the way we've taken seasonal jobs as: a wrangler in Arizona, a heavy shop mechanic assistant in Antarctica, a fragrance product development staffer, a riding instructor in Idaho, a counselor, a curriculum and activity writer, a stunt rider in a western movie and most commonly, as tortoise biologists in the Mohave Desert.

  Currently, I’m living on the beach of an island off the coast of Honduras, writing and SCUBA diving and loving every second of it.

  To see my other Vampire Diaries fanfiction, or to check out my published original fiction, head on over to my website at www.michellehazenbooks.com or check out my free posted stories at www.fanfiction.net, listed under author name Trogdor19.

  Hearing from my readers is my favorite thing on earth, so please feel free to drop me a line at michelle@michellehazenbooks with the subject line “Sanguine Veritas.” Thanks for reading.

  Also by Michelle Hazen

  Kindle Worlds

  The Desperate Love Trilogy

  A suspenseful and steamy exploration of the true nature of love and free will, friendship, and sacrifice. Without a sire bond or untimely death to distract from the drama of Damon and Elena's first few months together, this is Season 4 the way the fans would have written it, with lots of romance, action, and an explosive, game-changing finale!

  Desperate Love: Book 1

  Only a few days after her transition, Elena has finally gathered enough courage to face her feelings for Damon. Now, Damon will be forced to weigh his chance at happiness against his loyalty to his brother, and his choice will leave everyone reeling. The whole gang will have to draw together to help as Damon and Elena struggle to translate their unruly passion for each other into a relationship stable enough to withstand the constant peril of life in Mystic Falls. But with a mysterious new threat in town, will they have time for their moment in the sun before everything falls apart?

  Desperate Love, Book 2: Love Thy Enemy

  How do you live when your every instinct is to kill those you love the most?

  The Gilberts are struggling to maintain a tenuous balance as Jeremy's vampire hunter urges grow stronger and Elena battles the overwhelming desires of a newly transitioned vampire. Damon is doing his best to teach Jeremy control and keep Elena safe from the brother she can't seem to learn to distrust. But when a new vampire hunter vows to turn Elena and Jeremy against each other, will Damon be able to pull them all through unscathed?

  A thrilling story of love, sacrifice and friendship that will keep you reading late into the night!

  Desperate Love, Book 3: The Price of Faith

  Damon's discovery about the Petrova doppelgangers has made him question everything, and he lashes out viciously in his grief. But Damon Salvatore is the least of Mystic Falls' problems when some very old and dangerous adversaries come to call with a deal for Elena, Jeremy, Caroline and Tyler that speaks to the best and worst in all of them.

  As the gang debates morality and breaks out some major firepower, Damon is forced to enact his most daring plan to date, gambling the lives of everyone he loves as the most exciting book of the trilogy comes to its thrilling conclusion.

  Happily Ever After: Salvatore Style

  This is a cute and comical look at life in the boarding house, where Damon/Elena and Stefan/Caroline are living happily ever after, along with their ragtag new extended family of ghosts and vampire hunters, bloodsuckers and humans.

  Join them for many sweet Damon and Elena moments, some never-before-seen Salvatore brothers' history, and lots of laughter in between. Especially after Caroline and Damon start a pranking war and the rest of the family gets caught in the middle of their increasingly bizarre shenanigans.

  Laugh out loud funny and guaranteed to leave a smile on your face, this story is for anyone who likes a little snark with their romance.

  **This book is a companion novel to The Desperate Love Trilogy but can also be read as a stand-alone story.**

  Original Fiction

  Becoming Katelyn

  Before our car went off the road tonight, I’ve never felt fear like this. I didn’t know it could feel like screams creeping up my arms and into my shaking fingers. That it could erase the person I had been in the space of a single night.

  I can’t believe it is up to me to rescue my older brother Seth. From anything, but especially not from death.

  I need help, but there’s no one I can trust. When we started dating, Jeff was funny, athletic, strong. He only broke his leg in the crash, but what came after broke something else within him. Now he’s no good to anyone.

  Seth’s eerie friend Luke is watching me, his unnerving colorless eyes stealing what little courage I have. He’s the last person I would ever choose to share a dark forest with.

  The snow is falling. The sun is gone. My fear staunches no wounds, sets no bones, repays no blood. No one is coming to rescue us.

  I didn’t know fear could be like this, could twist people like this. Before tonight, I didn’t know anything.

  What to read next!

  Recommendations for the best stories on Kindle Worlds from the author of Sanguine Veritas

  Unthinkable by C.L. Marlene: A wretchedly beautiful story of loss and love, and strength. Set in Season 3 and unlike any other fanfiction story on Kindle Worlds you’ll ever read.

  Mirrors and Broken Things by C.L. Marlene: The most heart-wrenching Delena story on the market. This is a story based around episode 4x02 Memorial, with many never-before-seen moments that
change everything about what we think happened that day.

  The Sounds of Tomorrow by C.L. Marlene: A sweet and romantic look at the first few days of Damon settling into his new life, now that he's got the girl.

  Resonance of Reality by C.L. Marlene: This is a hilarious short story starting with the aftermath of a drunken Damon, moving to Damon finding just the right present for Elena's birthday, and ending with a little of Marlene's signature sarcastically sweet Delena banter as they try to find a compromise to a running argument.

  Time Stretching Out Toward Forever by Catherine Holloway: A love story in three parts, about Elena living out her human life and the effect on both Salvatores. Unforgettable and exquisitely well-written.

  Out Of My Mind by Jenna Elliot: Rebekah compels Damon not just to hurt Elena, but to "break" her. An intensely private and memorable Damon POV narrating a story of incredible desperation, love, and every shade of pain contained within.