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

It was noon the next day before Patrick climbed out of bed. Nightmares hovered as he poured a bowl of cinnamon toasties. The familiar sweet crunch brought a measure of comfort, and thoughts of Saturday morning cartoons replaced the bleeding girl in the basin and the rivers of yellow vomit.


Anthony exited the bathroom and flopped down next to him. "So where'd you go last night?"


"Eh, just some stuff with Mikey." Stuff that's probably gonna get me whipped again.


"Yeah, I figured that out." Anthony absently picked at the bandages he'd plastered over the hickey. They made him look like he'd been attacked by a vampire.


"You know Mikey," Patrick murmured without meeting his friend's eyes.


"There's nothing to tell." That you'd believe.


Chapter 24