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

Patrick worked like a robot. The real him was floating somewhere in a black void while his body shoveled on its own. When they finished, he went to the kitchen to wash his hands and throw up in the sink. He was mopping his face when Troy sauntered in, a familiar gleam in his eyes. Patrick looked at him and as quickly looked away. 


"Hello there, little boy." Troy came to a stop behind him. He stood so close that Patrick could feel the heat from his body, but he refused to turn and face him. 


"I'm not a little boy. I'm twenty-five."


Troy leaned closer, his breath in Patrick's ear. "I was born in 1887, kid. You do the math." He ran his finger down Patrick's tense spine. "You're shaking. Are you that happy to see me?"


Patrick swallowed a thousand horrible memories. "Go away."


Chapter 26