Dragon

Dragon THE HALLOWEEN BOYS BOOK TWO KAT BLACKTHORNE Copyright © 2023 by Kat Blackthorne All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Cover by Shanoff Designs Editing by V.B. Edits Proofreading by Krys Lore Consulting by Eric Titus Albion Chapter Art by Turning Pages Designs Formatting by Kat Blackthorne Song lyrics by Kat Blackthorne, edited and performed by Orcus Auditory Author’s Note Dear Gothic Romance Lover, You hold in your paws a story about demons, vampires, dragons, werewolves, the devil, death and all the passion and adventures they share as a budding polyamorous unit. Within those characters are stories of trauma, loss, identity, and deep love and acceptance. It is my hope that you find comfort in these pages. With that said, this is a dark and twisted tale. Our monsters all have their particular tastes and proclivities. Content warnings include but are not limited to: sleep play, red substance play, several graphic love scenes, graphic violence, monsters and imagery some may find disturbing, fictional occultism, witchcraft, rituals, and biting… lots of biting. There are many more, so be sure you check them under the book on the author website before proceeding. This is not a Dracula retelling, though it is loosely inspired by vampire lore and old Hollywood horror. This is not historical fiction or a true representation of each occult theme explored. This is a villainous, monster story where the bad guys get the girl. Ready your sails because you’re about to venture into vampire territory. I hope Onyx steals your heart. Xo, Kat For all the melancholy girls... you are exquisite. & For everyone who wants their vampires less glittery and more bitey. Vibes Dragon’s Playlist Onyx’s Cassette Tape Dragon’s Mood Board Contents Death’s Love Song 1. Onyx 2. Blythe 3. Onyx 4. Blythe 5. Onyx 6. Blythe 7. Onyx 8. Blythe 9. Ghost 10. Blythe 11. Onyx 12. Blythe 13. Ghost 14. Onyx 15. Blythe 16. Onyx 17. Blythe 18. Onyx 19. Ghost 20. Blythe 21. Blythe 22. Onyx 23. Blythe 24. Onyx 25. Ghost 26. Blythe 27. Onyx 28. Onyx 29. Blythe 30. Blythe 31. Onyx 32. Blythe 33. Onyx 34. Blythe 35. Blythe 36. Onyx 37. Blythe 38. Dragon 39. Blythe 40. Onyx 41. Blythe Afterword Acknowledgments Bite Me Also by Kat Blackthorne Death’s Love Song BY ONYX HART Verse Bella, belladonna I am dying for your taste Would you ever let me taste you? Can I burn my soul to keep you warm? Chorus I offer her my fire and my blood. She is my flame I am her cinder ash The melody I’ve been seeking Is sweet death in her red kiss Verse Bella, belladonna How long will you let me suffer Your current of lonesome pulls me under My cursed stairwell in the woods invites Our gruesome paradise Bridge I step off your plank, through your door, Screaming in your forbidden forest Bleeding dry my onyx heart In offering to love’s death song Chorus I offer her my fire and my blood. She is my flame, I am her cinder ash The melody I’ve been seeking Is sweet death in her red kiss (Whispers fade out) Bella, my belladonna Deadly Nightshade, Wolf’s Bane Devil’s cherry Beautiful Death Sweet poison Death’s Love Song . . . LISTEN TO ONYX SING AND PLAY THIS SONG ON THE AUDIOBOOK. CHAPTER 1 Onyx NO JUSTICE FOR OLD MEN There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke. Vincent Van Gogh The opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s death. Your dreams dying, resolutions and loyalties writhing on the floor. On the other side of the door of love is a funeral for who you thought you were. A mirror revealing who you hoped to be as a distorted and idealistic farce. And if it’s romantic love we’re talking about? God help you, it’s a funeral for two. The opposite of love, the ending, the goodbye to who you hoped you’d be together. I’d witnessed a lot of death and very little love in my two hundred years of existence. Normal beings would seek out the latter. Unfortunately for me, normal was far too boring. I chased after death, taunted it, played with it, finding it in the oddest of hiding places. I pushed its rules and barriers, seeing how close to the line I could dance. And then, sometimes, I’d coax death out from hiding and revel in the satisfaction of meeting it face to face. God, how I loved a good murder. But death was Blythe now, too, wasn’t it? A reaper. My mate was a reaper. My Claimed, as the demons would call it. My blood simmered in knowing agreement. The spindly blond human tapped her heel. What was her name again? I forgot my clients’ names often. Who cared? The woman wrung her sweaty palms as the sadist entered the room. The heavy weight of her anxiety tightened my shoulders. For such a small mortal, her emotions were so loud they were deafening. Sometimes I could block out the feelings of others, but lately, it was damn near impossible. Most vampires only felt others’ emotions during sex, but I was cursed to feel them constantly. “This will be over quickly. It’s open and shut,” I assured her. Her tired hazel eyes found mine, and she nodded calmly, though I sensed her heartbeat pick up as he neared. Cemeteries, haunted houses, hospitals, morgues—none of them felt as strongly of death as a courthouse did. Opposing counsel—didn’t