Posts Tagged ‘Charles E. Yallowitz’

War of Nytefall for 99 Cents!

Posted in Books & Movies, tagged Charles E. Yallowitz, fantasy adventure, vampires, War of Nytefall on September 4, 2021| 4 Comments »

As the vampires battle in the shadows, a new enemy appears to drag them into the light!

Cover Art by Alison Hunt

The paladins of Windemere have had enough!

As the Vampire Civil War heats up, mysterious murders are being committed against members of every holy order. All signs point to the culprits being vampires, which has resulted in the creation of a unified paladin army. To protect his people, Clyde must find the killers before the holy warriors unleash their purifying crusade. It is a battle against frustrating obstacles as the war inches closer to mortal civilization and ambitious new allies join Nytefall.

One slip is all that is needed for the secret of the Dawn Fangs to be revealed.

Curiosity piqued? Check out this teaser!

The urge to move faster nearly overtakes Lost’s common sense, but she reminds herself that adults are supposed to be patient. As if her mind is trying to undermine her actions, she is on the verge of whistling the first tune that slips into her thoughts. Sucking in her lips, the Dawn Fang pierces them with her fangs to stop them from causing trouble. The pain makes her eyes water and she squishes mud in her hands to hold back a scream. Reaching out with her telepathy, she tries to locate her targets while she lets her unfocused thoughts run their course. A distant prayer to Ram the War God causes her to change her direction and she takes a deep breath to regain her composure. With the paladins so far away, Lost moves a little faster, but stops short of giving in to her silly, impatient urges. Seeing the edge of the tall grass, she drops again and uses her elbows to pull herself along like she remembers seeing Titus do on several missions. As she comes out of her cover, the bright sun blinds her, so she is unable to stop herself from banging into something metal, which falls onto her back.

“Get off of me!” Lost shouts before telekinetically hurling the object into the river. She scrambles to her feet and freezes at the sight of six paladins standing in her path. “Such shiny and pretty armors, you have here. I really like the guy with the big helmet. Is that an ostrich feather? I keep meaning to ride one of those again. So, nice day for a walk. This is bunny who is totally unable to fly. That’s why he’s on my head. Your friend seems okay, so there’s absolutely no reason for us to spend any more time together. Bye!”

“You must be Lost,” Lord Adam says through his great helm. He takes a step forward and holds out a diamond fused to a bronze chain. “We are well aware of you and your abilities, monster. That is why I travel with this. None of your mind tricks will work on those who stand in my presence. Even your keen senses are tricked by the spells designed specifically to thwart your actions. Be honored that we went to so much trouble to design items with you in mind. No other Dawn Fang has earned so much individual attention.”

“That’s kind of creepy,” she replies as she steps back. Seeing weapons getting drawn, she stops retreating and playfully slaps at the mud with her bare feet. “Needed to wash some gunk out from between my toesies. Well, this is awkward. You brought me such a pretty present and I don’t have anything for you. Bunny says that I need to work on my manners. There’s really no need for violence. Dawn Fangs are mostly good. Just like mortals, we have some bad ones, but we’re all individuals like all of you. I mean, we all eat soup the same way, right? I really hope you all use spoons for that comparison to work.”

“Abominations such as you-” the paladin begins to announce.

“Look at the naked heretic!” she shouts while pointing into the distance.

All of the holy warriors, except for Lord Adam, turn to see what Lost is gesturing at, so she flings mud at their leader’s helmet grating. The man coughs and hacks as the Dawn Fang sprints back to the river and launches herself to the other side. A quake meets her as she lands and she nearly topples onto her side, but manages to stumble along. Glancing over her shoulder, she does not see any of the paladins in pursuit and considers slowing down to get her bearings. Lost’s eyes go wide when she sees the powerful steeds rise into the air, arch over the river, and land in a perfect line that immediately charges ahead. The open plains allow the warriors to move at full speed, which is only slightly slower than the sprinting Dawn Fang. They hurl spells and glowing weapons, which return to their hands, but the attacks never hit their mark. Those that come close are deflected by a telekinetic shield, which repeatedly shatters upon impact thanks to Lord Adam’s diamond weakening her even from a distance. With the relic defending the paladins’ minds and muffling their hoofbeats, she has to repeatedly look over her shoulder to make sure none of them have disappeared. To her relief, they never break formation and she gets a sense of their attack pattern, which never falters.

Get a copy of this vampire action adventure for
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*****

Want to catch up on War of Nytefall?Grab the volumes 1-6 for 99 cents each ($6 total)!

Cover Art by Alison Hunt

Interested in more Windemere? Then don’t forget to check out Charles E. Yallowitz’s first series: Legends of Windemere

About the Author:

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After spending many years fiddling with his thoughts and notebooks, he decided that it was time to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house with only pizza and seltzer to sustain him, Charles brings you tales from the world of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and drawing you into a world of magic.

Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyallowitz/

Enjoy the fang-filled adventure by clicking here!

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War of Nytefall: Savagery (Queen Titania’s Court)

Posted in Books & Movies, Queen Titania's Court, tagged Charles E. Yallowitz, Queen Titania's Court, vampires, War of Nytefall on June 16, 2021| 7 Comments »

Today we welcome author Charles Yallowitz and his character, master vampire Clyde, from the series War of Nytefall.

An imposing gentleman pauses at the top of the staircase. He is garbed all in black, a short sleeved shirt and trousers, except for a flowing crimson cape that does not appear quite attached to his shirt. Wisps of crimson rise from his skin, creating an aura of sinister power. Darting eyes take in the glittering assembly of fey creatures, assessing their might compared to his own. He nods a brief appreciation of the sumptuous ballroom and its furnishings. It would be good to “acquire” something expensive back for Mab, his consort. It also gives him something to think about besides the discomfort at having to behave like a diplomat instead of a vampiric warlord.

Character Questions

Are you an insider or an outsider in your homeland? That’s a more complicated question than I realized because I’m technically both. As a vampire, I’m an outsider in the eyes of most of civilization. People are afraid I’ll eat them, which is understandable. Yet, I’m also an insider since vampires have their own shadow society. Well, I’m kind of an outsider in there too since I’m a Dawn Fang. Guess I’m only an insider when it comes to the kingdom of Nytefall, which I rule over. That’s rather sad.

Has your homeland known long periods of war or of peace? What has this meant for people living there? Let’s say my homeland is Nytefall for the purpose of this question. We’ve only known war because everyone has wanted to kill Dawn Fangs since they emerged. The other vampires want us dead because they fear being replaced at the top of the food chain. Those who follow the Sun God want us destroyed since that’s their thing. You have vampire hunters, various monsters, rogue Dawn Fangs, and other enemies as well. All my people have known is war, which is why we hold out hope that we can know peace one day. That’s the reason we fight or hide. It’s all to achieve the goal of perfect unity with our mortal neighbors. Yeah . . . That sounded regal and leader-like. I think I’m getting the hang of this ruler gig.

Author Questions

Fantasy has many genres. How did you choose yours? In the case of War of Nytefall, it was by accident that it became vampire fantasy. Originally, I had my main fantasy series and a separate vampire series on Earth. As I began sorting through my story ideas, more of them were being swallowed by my fantasy world of Windemere. The adventures of Clyde were moved over as an experiment to see if the Dawn Fang vampires functioned better in a fantasy setting. Magic filled in all of the plot holes I had been suffering with for years. I had to give up motorcycles, chainsaws, and modern skyscrapers, but the series was finally solid.

Why do you write? I write because it’s what I enjoy doing. It helps me relax and gives me a chance to escape reality for a while. My hope is to create something that will give readers the same sense of escapism that I feel when I’m writing. When I was younger, I thought my stories could help make the world a less stressful place. Now, I’d be happy to bring a smile to even one person who is having a bad day.

War of Nytefall: Savagery

For the first time in over a century, Clyde will know what it means to feel powerless and weak. Headless bodies appearing across Windemere is only the beginning as Clyde faces the terrifying vampire hunter, Alastyre. Able to match the Dawn Fang leader in power and ferocity, this new menace shows no signs of weakness or mercy. With both friends and enemies getting dragged into the battle, Clyde will have to find a way to become stronger. For that, he will have to accept an ancient challenge and pray that those he cares about and trusts can hold Alastyre at bay. Which monster of Windemere will claim the top of the food chain?

To Purchase

More about the series

About Charles E. Yallowitz Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn’t working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. Truthfully, his tales of adventure are much more interesting than his real life, so skip the bio and dive into the action.

Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter.

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War of Nytefall: Ravenous

Posted in Books & Movies, tagged Charles E. Yallowitz, Dark Fantasy, fantasy adventure, magic, monsters, vampires, War of Nytefall, Windemere on September 9, 2020| 5 Comments »

The world of the Dawn Fangs is about to explode into chaos thanks to Desirae Duvall.

Cover Art by Alison Hunt

In the shadows of Windemere, fangs are sprouting from the least likely of maws.

News is spreading that wild beasts with vampiric natures have been attacking mortals and carrying off random victims. With the Dawn Fangs still a secret from mortal society, Clyde fears that these strange creatures will reveal his peoples’ existence before they are ready. Old enemies and trusted friends begin to disappear as the investigation goes deeper into a business that has been lurking in the shadows of Windemere for decades. Those who return are beholden to a new master whose cunning is matched only by her primal desires. As his allies disappear, Clyde is left with the one he trusts the most in all of the world to help him solve this mystery. Too bad Mab has her own secret that can cause more damage to Nytefall than any vampiric beast.

Is this how the Dawn Fangs will be revealed to Windemere?

Still need more to wet your appetite?

Then enjoy this excerpt:

Titus shrugs the girl off his shoulders and grips his blades, but refuses to draw them to avoid causing a scene. The warriors around him are on edge from overhearing Lost’s words and seeing his reaction, but they follow his example and keep their weapons sheathed. The Vengeance Hounds know that it is only a matter of time before the mortals with weaker wills lose control and drive the others into panic. They can hear the rumors of a deadly beast stalking the hunting party ripple through the crowd, each telling more gruesome and bone-chilling than the previous version. Several warriors ignore the warnings of their companions and draw their weapons, but keep them out of sight. Two of the casters begin to chant, which is revealed by the sparkle of magic on their lips. One by one, the lines of warriors stop walking and assume various defensive formations. Frustrated by the collapse of her army, the priestess turns around and tries to assure everyone that they are safe. Standing in the middle of the blossoming chaos, the Vengeance Hounds can only watch as the woman loses her temper and shouts at the archers who were supposed to maintain control.

The warriors go silent when a booming roar erupts from above and a large shadow passes over the area. With a gurgling scream, the priestess collapses in a heap and stares unblinking at the sky. The archers move away from the drooling woman, whose breathing has stopped as if she has been instantly turned off. Landing in front of the hunting party, a crimson-scaled Verenstone Dragon unfurls its muscular tails with one to each side and the other arching over its reptilian head. The thick ridge of black hair going

down its back rustles and shivers in the breeze, which heats up as the monster bellows once more. Curled against its side are wings composed entirely of blue flame that licks at the trampled grass, but they are not hot enough to ignite the emerald blades. Leaning forward, the terrifying predator sniffs at the braindead priestess and chuckles before swallowing the body whole. In the brief moment that its mouth is open wide, the Vengeance Hounds notice that two of its teeth are changing as if they are stretching out of the gums. The plaque-covered ivory is curved in a way that makes it clear that they are fangs and the beast is in desperate need of a fresh meal. Its eyes scan the mortals and stop on the three Dawn Fangs for a moment, but it is enough to tell them that the cunning creature recognizes their true nature.

“A vampiric dragon,” Titus mutters under his breath.

Get War of Nytefall: Ravenous on Amazon for $2.99!

Add it to your Goodreads To-Read Lists!

*****

Need to catch up? Then, check out Volumes 1-4 of War of Nytefall!

Cover Art by Alison Hunt

Interested in more Windemere? Then don’t forget to check out Charles E. Yallowitz’s first series: Legends of Windemere

All Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

About the Author:

Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com

Twitter: @cyallowitz

Facebook: Charles Yallowitz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyallowitz/

Enjoy the adventure by clicking here!

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Queen Titania’s Court — War of Nytefall: Lost, by Charles E. Yallowitz

Posted in Books & Movies, Queen Titania's Court, Writing About Writing, tagged Charles E. Yallowitz, fantasy fiction, Legends of Windemere, Queen Titania's Court, War of Nytefall on June 3, 2020| 12 Comments »

Lost studies the magnificent palace with crimson eyes as she approaches. The half-elven vampire’s short silver hair is neatly brushed, and she is swathed in an enormous ball gown. The ungainly skirt nearly conceals the fact that she is barefoot and telekinetically hovering at times. A reanimated bunny peers over her shoulder. Lost speaks to it in a painfully polite voice. “We must be on our best behavior, Bunny.”

Character Questions

Are there any fantastic beasts where you live?

Only if you’re not from here. We have vampires, dragons, fairies, elves, orcs, mermaids, griffins, goblins, undead, gods, humans, dwarves, halflings… Mom says I shouldn’t list everything we have in Windemere. To us, these are fairly common beasts, so we only get surprised by them if they’re trying to eat us. For a tourist, I can see how they would be fantastical. I’d be the same way if I visited another world. All in the nose of the beholder.

If you encounter a dragon, what should you do?

That really depends on what species. A Weapon Dragon is always mean, so best to run, fight, or shake your finger at it until it leaves in shame. I assure you that the third option is bound to work one day. The natural dragons are friendlier as long as you aren’t a threat and they’re not jerks. I met a Kelynmire Dragon who was really nice even though he smelled like sour gas, but one day I got in a fight with a Sirynian Dragon. She didn’t like how I chipped a little off her icy wings to cool my drink. What was the question again?

What is your magical weapon of choice?

I’m glad you asked because being able to protect yourself is very important. Danger lurks around every window. The shadows watch your every move and not only because my friend Mab has that power. As a Dawn Fang vampire, I’m very strong and I have powers that make weapons fairly unnecessary. Still, you never known, so I have my bunny. His name is Bunny for obvious reasons. He can eat anything and flies almost as fast as a griffin. My little pet has the sharpest of teeth and can blast through objects if he builds up enough speed. Bunny has saved my life many times and I pay him in tomatoes.

Author Questions

Who would be your ideal reader?

I know many authors try to narrow down an age range for ideal readers, but I’ve had trouble doing that. My books are definitely difficult reads for kids under 12 unless they are advanced and mature readers. So, I focus my aim more on what a person is looking for when they pick up a book. My goal is to give people a sense of escape from reality and help them relax. If you haven’t read a fantasy book before and want to give it a try then I think my books would be a nice fit. They have a lot of magic and action, but they are very character driven, which can appeal to those who have never tried the genre before. I guess my rambling boils down to writing for the casual, escapist reader.

How much do you plan ahead of time?

I create character biographies to get a general idea of what my main heroes and villains look like and how they act. It focuses on appearance, relations to other characters, weaponry, history, and where I want them to go in the story. Personality is one line that is fairly vague. I make outlines that are broken into chapter sections, which have the basic purpose and goal. Key items, spells, locations, and events are fleshed out to before I start writing. Sometimes, I treat all of this as my real first draft because I edit it all at least once like a real book. Then, I settle in for writing and see what sticks and what gets tossed away. Outlines tend to be adjusted as I go and I always have to rewrite the one for the next book since I set up the whole series early on. This is fine because I see my planning as a skeleton and the writing is me adding the organs to my creation.

Are your books self-published or traditionally published? Why?

I am entirely self-published through Amazon. The reason is because I spent 10 years trying to get published traditionally. It was disheartening to get ignored, form letter rejections, or told that I needed to get a fan following before I could get published. That last one was the confusing response that had me consider self-publishing. I was becoming a stay-at-home parent to help my special needs son, so I thought it was a great time to try for the dream on my own terms. These days, it’s much harder to get any attention for my books without spending a lot of money, but I still think it was the right choice. I prefer to have all this control even though I’m much more of an author than a businessman. As one friend put it, I’m great at creating stories, but I mentally turn off when I need to sell myself.

War of Nytefall: Lost

As the Vampire Civil War of Windemere rages on in the shadows, a mysterious girl appears to deliver mayhem to both sides.

Rumors of old-world vampires disappearing and mortals being attacked by an army of humanoid monsters have reached Clyde’s ears. Still learning how to rule the city of Nytefall as a strong, but fair leader instead of a vicious warlord, the former thief assumes he has rogue agents on his hands. Instead, his people stumble upon Lost, a teenage Dawn Fang looking for her father and aided by a decrepit bunny that might be an animated corpse. Bounding from one side of the Vampire Civil War to another, this carefree girl will turn out to be more trouble than she looks as all of the demons of her past emerge to get what they have been promised. Yet, her chaotic actions are nothing compared to the secret of her creation, which will change the very fabric of the Dawn Fangs’ world.

It is time for the womb-born to be revealed.

The Author

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After spending many years fiddling with his thoughts and notebooks, he decided that it was time to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house with only pizza and seltzer to sustain him, Charles brings you tales from the world of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and drawing you into a world of magic.

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Signal Boost: Eradication

Posted in Books & Movies, tagged Charles E. Yallowitz, fantasy adventure, fantasy writer, Legends of Windemere, War of Nytefall on February 26, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Today I’m helping a friend promote his books. If you enjoy vampires, fantasy, and wild action, then the War of Nytefall series might be for you!

Is the Orb of Durag the key to Clyde and the Dawn Fangs’ Destruction?

Eradication cover — Illustration by Allison Hunt

As Dawn Fang vampires are found dead across Windemere, their infamous leader will remember what it is to be afraid.

With the truce between Nyte and Nytefall nearing its end, an old enemy has emerged to rekindle the vampires’ most ancient feud. A Duragian priest is on the move and he is wielding a weapon that can depower and kill Dawn Fangs. This follower of the Sun God has claimed enough victims that Lord Tempest wants the weapon for himself and Clyde is beginning to worry that his fledgling kingdom is in danger of extinction. When it becomes clear that the mysterious relic and Clyde’s transformation into the first Dawn Fang are connected, he will be forced to face a past that he can barely remember.

What can Clyde do to defend his people, his life, and the child he does not know is on the way from the terrifying Fist of Durag?

Excerpt: Stirring

The thick darkness that greets Clyde’s eyes is suffocating and disturbingly familiar. A disconcerting numbness flows along his skin and plunges all of his senses into a mental fog. He groans as he sits up and touches the warm ground beneath him, his fingers finding it rough and jagged. The memory of being in Gregorio’s lair strikes his mind like a perfectly aimed arrow and he tries to stand up. A dull ache courses through his legs and forces him to remain on the floor, which trembles for a brief moment. Picking up a stone, he can feel the faint carving of half a sun with a grinning face. With a yawn, the vampire throws the rock away and waits for it to land, but the sound of it bouncing takes several minutes to reach his ears. Clyde scowls when the noise ends with a strange thud that reminds him of a fist punching flesh. The distant gurgling of a stream draws his attention to the right and he squints at a strange form that is gradually taking shape in the gloom. Finding the energy to rise, he gets to his feet and wipes the dirt from his body, which he learns is unclothed. The Dawn Fang’s senses steadily return to their full strength and he realizes that his vision has been blocked by his own hair. Luscious and tangled tresses cascade from his head to cover everything from his scalp to his elbows. Wrapping all of the strands around his left hand, he uses his right to slice them off and is about to use his fingers like scissors when his body locks.

The ruins of the Duragian temple are laid out before Clyde, their details making it clear that they are the genuine articles. Bodies of civilians and priests are strewn about the area, all of them having been drained of blood. A white-bricked wall has been marked with scratches that the vampire knows are a foolish attempt to keep track of time, which he abandoned after he had run out of prey. Far in the distance, he can see the tower where he was once held prisoner, its top seven floors having snapped off as it sunk. Light pulses from the enormous structure to drive the cavern’s darkness into the corners. Smaller shrines help to illuminate the streets, which are littered with debris. The smell of rotting meat is thick in the air, the stench emanating from the abandoned food and corpses. Not far away, the vampire sees a cleared area with a burn mark in its center. It takes him a moment to recognize the battered ruins of the execution square, its right side having slumped into a sinkhole.

A pang of doubt and anxiety races through Clyde’s mind as he recalls getting struck by the fake Fists of Durag. He begins to walk through the ruins in search of signs that he is being tricked, but it becomes clear that he is not trapped within an illusion. All attempts to see through the spell are met with failure, which feeds a primal rage in the pit of his soul. Coming to a broken fountain, he kneels and scoops up a handful of stagnant water to drink. The foul liquid makes his tongue burn and his stomach twists to the point where he has to vomit in order to avoid passing out. Focused on his own body, Clyde releases his severed hair when he realizes that his heart is no longer beating. Jamming a finger between his ribs, he touches the organ to find it wrinkled and still. With a growl, he swings his fist at the nearest building only to find that he cannot knock the whole structure over. The vampire stares at the hole in the wall and flexes his fingers, which make the gestures for a claw-growing spell. He curses loudly when he feels his nails lengthen and harden into natural blades.

“What in all of Windemere is going on?” Clyde asks.

Get War of Nytefall: Eradication on Amazon for $2.99 and add it to your Goodreads To-Read List.

Or start the adventure from the beginning with War of Nytefall: Loyalty!

Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyallowitz/

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War of Nytefall: Rivalry

Posted in Books & Movies, Snippets, tagged Charles E. Yallowitz, Dawn Fangs, Deby Fredericks, fantasy author, gothic fantasy, vampires, War of Nytefall on April 24, 2019| 2 Comments »

One of my good friends, Charles E. Yallowitz, has kindly agreed to let me do a guest spot on his blog, Legends of Windemere, about my brand new novella, The Tower in the Mist. But it’s only fair I return the favor, so here is Charles with his own new book, War of Nytefall: Rivalry. With a full cast of vampires, this book is sure to please all you goths out there.

Welcome, Charles, and take it away!

Clyde & the Dawn Fangs return to face a new enemy: The Vampire Queen!

Seeking the pleasure of revenge,

an ancient rumor will reveal herself to be a deadly legend.

Lurking within the shadows for centuries, the Vampire Queen has been drawn to the conflict that surrounds Clyde. Only whispers have been spread about this elusive figure, who has amassed a kingdom that can rival Nyte and Nytefall. All that she is missing is the strongest vampire to crown as her king. In one fell swoop, she has taken the most powerful of her kind, including Clyde and Xavier Tempest. Hosting a tournament where the rules seem to change at her whim, the Vampire Queen threatens to shatter the already strained world that lurks beneath Windemere’s surface. Yet, there is more to her desires, which seep from a soul that is pulsing with fury. For her kingdom can never be complete until she holds the head of the one who wronged her centuries ago.

Can Mab stand against her ancient rival and save her monstrous partner?

Excerpt: Party Crashers

Among the well-dressed vampires, the pair are obviously out of place, but they are not approached thanks to everyone seeing them enter with the beautiful desserts. The lack of suspicion allows them to move around the room and mingle with the waitstaff, who they talk to about the other dishes. Clyde makes sure to stay as far away from Xavier and Nadia as possible, but not appear too obvious. He watches the couple talk with their new council, all of them standing atop the dais where the thrones of Nyte have been placed. There are a set of nine smaller chairs being set up at the base of the steps, each one adorned with its owner’s house symbol. The Dawn Fang notes that they are all some kind of flower, which mimics the fanged orchid crest of the Tempest family. Meeting Lady Sylvan’s blue and yellow eyes, Clyde politely bows his head and is relieved to see that she ignores his presence. He chuckles at how her sparrow pendant does not match her black and red dress, the wooden bauble still on the leather strap it came with centuries ago. A gentle elbow to the ribs from Mab stops him from smirking at his own thoughts and reminds him that he is dressed like a woman, so he tries to walk with more of a sway in his hips. The exaggerated motion causes his partner to put an arm around his waist and end the horrible imitation that is earning a lustful leer from Archillious.

“Thank you to everyone for attending!” Xavier declares, his voice rising above the music and conversations. Taking his wife’s hand in his, he directs Nadia to her throne and waves for the council to

take their seats. “On this day, the vampire nobility has been reborn. There will be no infighting or schemes to overthrow each other like with our predecessors. All of us have agreed that the only way for our kind to survive is to work together and form a global society with Nyte at its center. Many say that I have done this in order to call myself the Vampire King, but I assure you that this is a lie. Not that I would say no to the title, but my goals are not so vain and simplistic. Windemere is still changing and we need to be united under one flag. Otherwise, we will go the way of those who were lost in the Great Cataclysm. With these wise and powerful nobles at my side, I will make sure that our people will live and thrive. Extinction is not the destiny for vampires as long as I draw breath . . . so to speak.”

“We move as soon as he finishes the toast,” Clyde whispers to Mab.

The Lord of Nyte raises his drink over his head and says, “I am honored to present to all of you-”

“A real king requires the true queen!” a voice shouts from the back of the crowd. A vampiric halfling dressed in a bejeweled suit jumps onto one of the tables and shivers even though he is sweating. “This ceremony is a farce because it does not carry the favor of the Vampire Queen. It has been centuries, but now she is ready to assume the throne. As her emissary, I have come to warn all who would dare to deny her that they will be crushed. I also come with an invitation to those who have been granted permission to compete for the Vampire Queen’s hand. It is only through her blessing may you claim to rule our people. Do not accept forgeries who wish to draw you off the path!”

The halfling stops when a fang strikes him between the eyes, the shot from Archillious having very little effect. Stepping out from behind the tapestry on the back wall, Lou charges at the intruder. The hairy ogre knocks guests out of the way and lowers his head to display his horns, one of which is adorned with a colorful bow. He leaps for the smaller vampire, which he can easily crush in one hand. Decker is not far behind the bodyguard, his keen senses screaming that they are in danger. Crossbow bolts soar over the dwarf’s head to strike the halfling in the knees, but he does not buckle. The advancing warriors skid to a stop when Clyde, still wearing his dress, appears above the emissary and rears back to deliver a full-strength punch. His fist is about to make contact when the halfling suddenly bloats and the jewels on his suit begin to crack. The entire castle is rocked by a violent explosion, which fills the ballroom with a crystalline dust that hangs in the air like an immovable curtain.