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

The next afternoon, Patrick found Michael hiding in a kitchen cupboard. When he tried to get him out, Michael screamed about sunlight and Patrick slammed the door again. It was too fucking weird.


When Michael finally slinked out, his bruises and broken nose miraculously healed, he whined about being hungry.


Patrick skipped asking him about the magic and went straight for, "What do you want me to do? Knock off a blood bank?"


"No. But you have blood. You could give me some."


Patrick choked on his beer. "You're joking, right?"


Patrick moved away from him. "Are you out of your mind? There's no way I'm going to let you kill me!"


Michael rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to kill you, moron. I just need a little bit. You won't even notice it. Now come on before I lose control and rip your throat out."


Patrick took another step back. "What do you mean 'lose control'?"


Chapter 53