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 later that evening when Michael's nervous eyes darted around the yard. "Here." He shoved a flashlight into Patrick's hand. "You take the autumn gardens over there, and I'll take the rose garden and the graveyard. Just pace it out and make a note. Don't stop and draw it. You can do that when you get home."


Patrick nodded and the brothers split up. Michael disappeared into the shadows along the house, and Patrick tried to do the same. The ballroom's veranda was in the center, and he counted his steps as he moved toward the west. He ducked under the glowing windows and hoped everyone inside was too busy to notice him. The funny part was, even if they saw him, they'd probably ignore him. He was just a human servant, carrying out some task. 


Chapter 75