Joleene Naylor is the author of the glitter-less Amaranthine vampire universe, a world where vampires aren't for children. Comprised of a main series, a standalone prequel, and several short story collections, she has plans to continue expanding with a trilogy and standalone novels. 
In her spare time, Joleene is a freelance book cover designer and for-fun photographer. She maintains several blogs, full of odd ramblings, and occasionally updates her website at JoleeneNaylor.com. In what little time is left, she watches anime, plays PokemonGo, and works on her crooked Victorian house in Villisca, Iowa. Between her husband, family, and pets, she is never lonely, in fact, quite the opposite. Should she disappear, one might look for her on a beach in Tahiti, sipping a tropical drink and wearing a disguise. 

The prequel to the Amaranthine series tells the story of Patrick and Michael, how they got tangled into Claudius' web, and their valiant fight to escape.

When Patrick's missing brother returns, he brings a world of darkness. Turned into a vampire against his will, Michael is the coven's whipping boy. When Patrick tries to help, he's claimed as a slave who spends his weekends preparing victims, scooping ashes, and falling prey to the vampires' twisted desires.

There's only so much hell he can take. When vampires from a warring coven offer sanctuary in exchange for cooperation, Patrick agrees. What he thought would be a few months drags into a long smear of nightmares and, though he fights for hope and freedom, the cost of victory may be more than he bargained for.


Brothers of Darkness

They were barely inside Patrick's apartment when the door burst open and Michael rushed in. His expression was torn between panic and fury. "Where the hell have you been?"


"Whoa, man, chill." Anthony turned too fast, and fell back onto the sofa. "Okay, yeah, I'm a little fucked up still."


Patrick rubbed his face and tried to concentrate. "Mikey? What are you doing?"


"I'm here to get you. Dammit, we were supposed to be back like an hour ago!" He grabbed Patrick's arm and hauled him toward the door. "I can't believe this shit."


Anthony sat up and called, "Hey, where you going?"


Patrick didn't get a chance to answer. 


When they reached the lobby, he jerked free. "What's the rush?"


Michael spun on him, his lips drawn back from furious fangs. "Claudius sent for you, you jackass!"


With that sentence all the nightmares turned back into reality. "Why?"


Chapter 23