Unseen, The Heights, Vol. 1

Title: Unseen
Author: Lauren Stewart
Series info: The Heights, Volume 1
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Off the Hook Publishing
Date of Publication: May 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9881701-9-3
Number of pages: ~386
Word Count: ~100,000
Cover Artist: Amanda of Pixel Mischief Design
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Purchase Links: donât have them yet; however, you can use my Amazon author page if youâd like: http://www.amazon.com/author/laurenstewart
Iâd also love people to add Unseen to their Goodreads TBR lists: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18590199-unseen

Book Blurb:
An invisible wall built from the tears of those touched by death
An impossible love as divided as the world around them.
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After Addison finds a nearly-dusted vampire in the garbage outside her building, her ability to stay off the supernatural worldâs radar is deader than the vamp. Almost as dead as sheâll be if anyone thinks she put him there. Should she finish the job somebody else screwed up or move him somewhere humans wonât find him? To keep the Heights hidden, she may have shoved a stake into her own chest. Just when she thinks life couldnât possibly get any more dangerous, she finds out who he is.
As vampire king and Prime to all races of supernatural beings in the North American zone, Rhyse is accustomed to getting what he wants without asking. But he neither wanted nor asked to be wounded in an ambush, waking up chained to a bed with a hole in his chest. Unfortunately, he needs help to discover who tried to kill him. But worse than that, his only ally is his captor, someone unaware she has the power to destroy their entire world.
As a prophesized war brews in the Heights, Addison and Rhyse must decide which carries more riskâtrusting someone who could destroy you or trusting someone who could love you?
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Excerpt:
 Addison stumbled backwards, until the counter stopped her. It was over. It had been over ever since those chains came off. Ever since she brought him into her apartment. Into her life.
âI saved you, Rhyse. I couldâve left you outside until the sun came up.â
âI imagine you wish you had.â
âCan youâŠcan you not kill me? Just take some, but not all?â
Rhyse brushed her hair behind her shoulder and curled his fingers around the nape of her neck, whispering, âDo you trust me that much?â
âI donât even trust you a little.â She felt the sting of tears. âI donât want to be turned. If you drain me, let me die.â
He ran his other hand up her shoulder, to her throat and slowly closed his fingers around it. One move and her neck would break. âTo drain you I would have to drink from you. And that, my pet, I will not do.â
She didnât know what he meant but now seemed like a bad time to argue.
âDid you know what you are? How many of you exist?â
She didnât answer. Partially because speaking required the air he was cutting off. Then his hands were gone, just like the rest of him.
Was it over?
When one of the women behind the counter moaned, Addison went to make sure they were alright.
Rhyse was on top of one of them, his fangs obviously burrowed in her neck. The woman moaned again, her legs wrapping around him. One hand clutched his shoulder and the other slapped the wall, searching for a hold.
It had to have been shock that made it impossible to look away. Or run away. The womanâs moans got louder, then crested, and her body went limp. Not in a dead way, but in an I-just-had-the-best-orgasm-of-my-life way.
Get out of here.
âLeave and they will die.â His voice stopped her after only two steps. âStay and they will wake up from a very pleasant, very erotic dream.â
She grinded her teeth when she heard another moan. He must have moved on to the other woman. With two to feed from, there was less of a chance he would drain them, but⊠âWhy should I trust you?â
The womanâs moans stopped and she whined, âNo.â
âI do not care if you trust me,â he said. âOnly that you obey me.â
âFuck you.â But she didnât move. âAre they alive?â
âOf course. It is against the law to kill humans.â
âThen let me go.â
âYou are not human, Addison.â His voice came from just over her shoulder.
âI am. I promise. Totally human.â Somehow heâd missed the fact that seers were human, despite her telling him at least five times.
She heard the shuffling of fabric and looked down to see him wrapping his already-bloody shirt around the arm sheâd cut. He tied a knot with the sleeves and pulled it tight. There was no part of this that she understood.
She sucked in a breath when he put his hands on her hipbones. Then another as they slid to her belly and down, pressing her back into him. She felt his heat and a vibration on her back as he made a sound similar to a catâs purr but scarier. Clenching her eyes shut, she waited for death.
âYou should thank them.â His voice was all sex. Dangerous, risky, awesome sex. âThey just saved your life.â
They did? âThank you,â she called out with a shaking voice. âNow that your bellyâs full, how about you back off a little?â
âI should kill you, Addison.â
âIâm going to have to disagree with you about that.â
After a moment he stepped away, sighing as if he just made a really tough decision and wasnât sure it was the right one.
âSo,â she said, heading for the door, âit seems like youâre feeling better which is great. Iâm really happy for you. Since you donât need me anymore, Iâm gonna go now. Iâll see you around.â
âCome to me, Addison.â His eyes were back to their original inhumanly beautiful color. Though he didnât quite look calm, he looked satisfied.
âNo.â
âCome to me or I will snap your neck.â
âOkay.â
âIf you had simply brought a human to me, this all could have been avoided.â
âI was just thinking the same thing.â Total lieâshe wasnât thinking a goddamn thing besides, âShiiiiit!â
âYou and I have things to discuss, and a few memories to alter along the way back to your home.â
Damn it on many counts. âAlter or wipe?â
âAlter, of course. Although my strength has returned, wiping that many minds would still be highly taxing. I prefer to save my power for other activities.â
LikeâŠ? Nah, she didnât want to know.
He opened the door and gestured for her to go first. Which heâd probably never done before. Minions opened doors for him and she doubted chivalry ranked high on his list of valuable traits. But she went because when you gotta go, you gotta go.
âDid you know?â he asked.
What was it with that question? âKnow what? That your victims come while you feed? Yeah, I heard it happens occasionally.â
âAlways. They always come while I feed. If it were possible, I would show you.â
âI just heard more proof than I wanted to, thanks.â
âI have no doubt that it would be far more enjoyable to feel you come than to hear her do it.â

Author Bio:
Lauren Stewart lives in Northern California with two of the most amazing children that the world has ever seen. She reads almost every genre so, naturally, her writing reflects that. With every book, every story, you’ll find elements of other genres–fantasy, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense, YA, women’s literature, all with a touch of humor because what doesn’t kill us should make us laugh.
Author web links:
           www.ReadLaurenS.com
           @ReadLaurenS
           www.facebook.com/LaurenStewartAuthor
           www.goodreads.com/LaurenStewart
           ReadLaurens@gmail.com
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