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 nearly three a.m. when Lennon lugged two empty tureens into the kitchen. He set them on the floor, and Patrick and Amanda hurried to fill them with ice.


Patrick's first impulse was to say no, but he thought of the basement and the torture implements he'd seen. 


He gave Amanda an apologetic nod, then followed the vampire. They wound through the house, to a back room decorated in heavy furniture and fur throws. Lennon stopped before a large painting and Patrick felt a sudden sweep of panic. Why was he back here, alone with a vampire? Would it be Troy all over again?


Lennon felt around the edge of the picture frame. Something clicked and a door sprang open  like the one in the ballroom. 


What's with all these fuckin' secret doors?


Chapter 38