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CHAPTER 1

The tall, dark-haired man stood outside the Los Angeles Central Library gazing up for a moment at the imposing Egyptian-themed edifice. Artfully illuminated at night time, each carefully carved symbol of the ancient world stood out in stark relief against the white-stone walls.

A wry smile touched his handsome, fine-featured face as he contemplated the fact that the setting at least was appropriate for what he sought. The world of antiquity might just hold the key to unlocking the mystery he was determined to solve. Much of what he wanted for his lover and himself might rely on the answers, positive or negative, he was convinced he would find within a certain tome housed somewhere in the archives of this building.

In just a few minutes the library would close for the night. He wasted no time, quickly passing through the main doors into the cavernous marble-lined entry hall. He smiled at the security guard, knowing that he was about to tell him, 'Sorry, we're closing'. Instead, the guard returned his smile — the power behind those ice-blue eyes causing the guard to forget that the tall man dressed in a full-length black leather coat who now strode past him with purpose toward the door that read 'No Admittance' in large letters had actually pushed it open and disappeared.

The guard stood to one side as the library's employees and a few stragglers exited, then he locked the doors and walked over to the security desk. Apart from the routine checks he would make from time to time, he would stay at his post until he was relieved at midnight by the graveyard shift.

Andrew Berés descended the flight of stairs leading to the underground archives. It was dark, the power having been turned off in any unnecessary areas of the library. Not that it deterred Andrew. He could see in the dark better than any cat, or bat, for that matter. His vampire vision could pick out anything within the murky recesses of the basement.

If I were the Talisman of Ardocan — where would I hide?

If not the talisman itself — and it did seem unlikely that it would actually be among the artifacts and documents piled high before him — at least some mention of it, be it myth or reality. Somewhere here, there must be some clue, a cross reference perhaps pertaining to its existence, or non.

Andrew's laser-sharp vision seared through the closed document boxes and crates, negating some as useless, pausing over others that looked as though they might be interesting, before dismissing them and moving on to the next box.

Marcus Verano, the most powerful of all vampires, had told Andrew he feared the talisman did not exist, and at the time Andrew had been prepared to accept Marcus' skepticism, yet the demon Dakar had insisted that it was indeed real. If Andrew were to doubt either man's word, it would certainly be that of Dakar — a devious and treacherous demon, now dead. Dakar had inhabited the body of Andrew's mate, Tommy Cordain, then had tried to seduce Andrew himself, all the while betraying his king by gathering a rebel force to usurp Kardis and take control of the Underworld region Kardis governed.

Yet hope, mingled with some doubt, remained in Andrew's heart.

His mate, Tommy, was a brave and beautiful man with whom Andrew wished to spend the rest of his existence. But Tommy was mortal and worried that as he grew older Andrew would leave him for someone younger. Despite Andrew's protestations to the contrary, he knew that in Tommy's darker moments that fear still existed, and with it a wish that Andrew, too, was mortal, and that they would grow old together. Something that, as the months had passed, and their love had become stronger, deeper, Andrew had longed for with all his heart.

Tommy had offered to give him his lifeblood, had pledged to accept the 'change' despite the fact he would be distanced from his family and friends, something Andrew knew tore at Tommy's heart and conscience. Because of his lover's willingness to sacrifice his closeness with those he held dear, Andrew was determined to at least try to find an alternative.

He had not mentioned his quest to anyone, not even to Tommy. Why build up hopes within him if the search should prove fruitless after all? Nor had he told his best friend Jared Lantos, although he knew Jared would not judge his actions. Jared also had a mortal lover. Although frowned on by certain segments of vampire society, it was not all that unusual for vampires' mates to be human. A regular infusion of vampire blood kept a mortal's youthful appearance, delaying the aging process and giving him or her many more years of life. But they were not immortal, and an eventual decision would have to be made ...

Andrew paused in his search and a shudder ran through his body. The thought of losing Tommy was not something he could accept, nor the desolation he knew he would feel as keenly as a wooden, silver-tipped stake to his heart.

There must be an answer! Somewhere in all of this there must be a clue, however small, however remotely connected to the talisman itself. Something to give hope ...

Despair filled him as he neared the final row of boxes. Perhaps Marcus was right after all, and Dakar would be proven a liar, perpetuating the demon reputation for evading the truth at all costs. Or perhaps, his search — though fruitless here as it had been in New York and Washington D.C. — should continue in some other archive — in Paris or Athens or — He paused again, a flicker of recognition dancing before his eyes.

The word Ardocan.

He strode toward a wooden box, securely bound with metal straps. A flick of his hand and the straps fell away. With some excitement he delved inside and pulled out a file, tattered and yellowed with age. His fingers skimmed over the worn pages, his eyes scanning each one with supernatural speed.

There it was ... The Myth of Ardocan. Findings of Arnold Metcalfe, July 1874.

Myth. Andrew's brow furrowed with a frown of disappointment. It was after all, only a myth?

Lost in the mists of time, the existence of the legendary City of Ardocan has proven to be beyond discovery of even the most ardent explorers.

The city was first mentioned in the Scrolls of Ashelak, one of the many Hittite princes raised to deity status, and it has long been sought without success, most of the research having been lost or destroyed.

Andrew's shallow breath caught in his chest, exhilaration flooding his powerful blood.

A city, not just a talisman?

The fact that men knew enough about it to actually search for it must mean that there were other writings, other theories, other possibilities. A smile touched his lips. That which had seemed out of his reach, a myth, now perhaps could become more of a reality. Yes, what he was reading described Ardocan as no more than a legend, but many legends were rooted in fact. Facts that could become less believable with time, for sure. The fabric of reality sometimes fashioned to suit a particular purpose. Yet now it was believed that the walls of Troy had been found. Troy, a legendary city that had existed and been destroyed before even Marcus Verano's existence. Was it possible then, that Ardocan could be uncovered, or at least the secrets it had once held — such as the talisman?

The Scrolls of Ashelak. Would Marcus know of these scrolls? He'd said the talisman's existence was rooted in myth. No doubt he'd point out that the city bore that same clouded history, but the Scrolls of Ashelak somehow had the ring of authenticity.

Something else to search for ...

He concentrated his efforts now on a new search, but after scanning and rescanning the boxes and crates, with reluctance, he had to admit defeat. Nowhere here was there any sign of the scrolls.

Where then?

Carefully, he removed the several pages containing the reference to Ardocan, replaced the file in the box and sealed it again, making sure the metal straps appeared untouched. One day, he would return these pages to their rightful place in the library archives, but right now they just might be the means with which he could change his destiny. His slowly beating heart quickened with anticipation. He would show his discovery to Marcus and ask him about the scrolls. Yet, he knew, that should the Master Vampire try to dissuade him from any further research on the matter, he would have to ignore his advice. This was too important to both Tommy and himself to disregard, no matter what others might think or say.

Tommy. He glanced at his watch. He would be getting off shift at the firehouse right about now, and he wanted to be there to greet him when he got home. He rolled the pages gently like a scroll, then slipped them into his coat's inside pocket.

Moving like a silent shadow, he climbed the stairs to the library's main floor and, unseen by the dozing security guard, left the building.

* * *

Andrew alighted on the balcony of the new apartment he and Tommy had moved into two months earlier. It had taken Andrew quite an effort to have Tommy okay the idea of giving up the smaller apartment he'd lived in for the past three years, but eventually Andrew had succeeded without using his 'other' powers of persuasion. Only some gentle loving had been necessary, along with a deal of whining that Tommy's apartment wasn't big enough for two grown men. One of his 'selling' points was the fact the new apartment building sported a pool and a workout room, both high on Tommy's wish list. High on Andrew's list had been a room he could use as an office for his ongoing research. The apartment, being on the top floor, also had vaulted ceilings that gave it an open airy feeling, a welcome contrast to the busy, crowded streets of Los Angeles.

After discarding his leather coat, he retrieved the rolled-up pages he'd purloined from the library and slid them into the bottom drawer of his desk. He'd tell Tommy about them later, after he'd talked to Marcus. He walked back into the living room just as the door in the entryway to the apartment opened.

"Hey ..." Tommy's smile and husky voice always stirred desire in Andrew, and this night, though his mind was still filled with unanswered questions, was no different. Andrew strode into the young blond fireman's open arms, returning the deep, thrilling kiss Tommy placed on his lips. Tommy's hot breath filled Andrew's mouth, sending his senses reeling and his blood rushing south to his cock that pressed hard and proud against the erection he could feel behind Tommy's chinos.

Andrew inhaled his lover's scent, soap and clean sweat and the essence that was now uniquely Tommy — a combination of his own musk and the spicy overlay from the vampire blood Andrew had imbued him with.

Tommy broke off their kiss to say, "I showered at the station. Didn't want to waste time getting you into bed."

"I love the fact that your one-track mind is still very much in place," Andrew said, teasing him. "But aren't you hungry?"

"Only for you." Tommy fisted Andrew's long, ink-black hair, drawing their mouths together again in another long, deep kiss. His muscles bulged as he lifted Andrew off his feet and carried him toward the bedroom.

Andrew chuckled. "What's this?"

"Oh, I know you can carry me with one hand behind your back, or no hands at all come to think of it." Tommy grinned as he deposited Andrew on the bed, then straddled his thighs. "But I've been sportin' this hard-on all day, just thinking about fucking you, so let me take control of this."

Andrew lay back and smiled up at him as Tommy pulled his T-shirt up over his head and unbuttoned his chinos. He hadn't put his briefs back on after his shower at the station and his impressive erection sprang free as he unzipped his fly. He leaned down and ripped Andrew's shirt open, devouring first one of the pebbled nibbles on Andrew's smooth chest, then the other. Andrew groaned and started to ease himself out of his jeans but Tommy's big hands stopped him.

"Let me," Tommy whispered, hooking his fingers into the waistband and sliding the denim over Andrew's narrow hips. "Oh, yeah ..." With one hand he gripped Andrew's cock at the base. Squeezing gently, he forced a glistening pearl-like drop from the slit then swiped at it with his tongue to savor the spicy pre-cum. "You taste so damned fine," he murmured between licks and before taking the rigid flesh into his mouth. He was rewarded not only by the sharp edge to the taste of Andrew's pre-cum but also by the soft moans of ecstasy that escaped his vampire lover's lips.

Tommy always got an extra sexual charge from the sound of Andrew's moans and the fact he was the one inducing them. Maybe in the years ahead he'd get used to it, maybe. But right now, the low hum that caressed his ears made him even harder than he'd been a moment before — and that had been hard. So hard it ached and Tommy couldn't wait to push that hardness inside Andrew, to feel that tight grip on his shaft, to plunge in and out and bring Andrew and himself to that state of near-delirium they experienced every time they made love. Tommy knew he and Andrew shared that ecstasy together because of the way their minds melded at the moment of climax. And Tommy loved that. There was no pretense, no faking in their relationship. After less than two years together, they knew each other's needs so well.

"Wanna fuck you," he whispered, raising his head to smile into Andrew's eyes.

"Want you to," Andrew said, raising his hips and presenting his ass to Tommy's eager mouth. "Want to feel every hard and wicked inch of you deep inside me."

Tommy tongued his way into the cleft between Andrew's cheeks, circling the hole with slow, rhythmic precision that had Andrew's moaning no longer soft, but harsh and demanding. Oh, yeah ... Tommy added a finger, probing deep into Andrew's silken channel, finding the sensitive gland that had his lover clutching at the sheets in a near-frenzy.

Andrew grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him up until he was kneeling between Andrew's muscular thighs. His erection throbbed in his hand as he guided it into Andrew's opening, filling him with the heat of his pulsing shaft. Andrew groaned, encircling Tommy's torso with his legs, his fingers teasing Tommy's nipples causing his breath to hitch in his chest. He leaned down to take Andrew's mouth with his, their tongues tussling, caressing, gliding into the innermost reaches of each other's moist warmth.

The intensity of their lovemaking increased. The long, slow rhythmic thrusts Tommy had begun quickened as the need to release his pent-up ardor burned hot in his blood. The feel of Andrew's satin-smooth skin against the palms of his hands, the hard muscle under that smoothness, the silken heat that gripped his cock all combined to take him closer and closer to the brink of orgasm. His eyes rolled back in his head and he shuddered in the throes of his ecstasy.

"Andrew!" His throaty cry was muffled by Andrew's lips on his. Their arms tightened around each other as Tommy emptied himself into his vampire lover's depths. Andrew sucked on Tommy's tongue while his body spasmed and bucked beneath Tommy, his scalding release spraying over both their chests.

A long, shaky sigh escaped Tommy. He broke their kiss only long enough to say, "You're sensational, babe. Totally fucking sensational." Then he pressed his lips to Andrew's neck, nuzzling and nibbling at the smooth skin.

"You are quite good yourself." Andrew chuckled and patted Tommy's butt.

Tommy raised his head and gave him a mock glare. "Quite good? Lucky for you I know you're kidding. See, I can get into that mind of yours too at times. 'Specially these times. And right now, I know you're happier than a kid in a candy store."

"And because neither one of our erections has yet diminished." Andrew clenched his sphincter muscles round the base of Tommy's cock. "Perhaps I'll keep you in here forever."

"Sounds like a plan I could live with, except when I have to go to work, of course. Might look a bit peculiar."

They laughed together then fell into a contented silence, Tommy's head resting on Andrew's chest.

Later, Tommy made himself a quick snack, then returned to the bedroom with a glass of wine for Andrew and a beer for himself. Andrew took the glass with a murmur of thanks, but it was obvious to Tommy his vampire lover was mulling something over. Something he had not yet mentioned.

"So, what's on your mind?" Tommy put his beer aside and rested on one elbow. He stroked Andrew's hair, running his fingers through the silken mane.

Andrew stared at him with surprise, then quickly averted his eyes. "Nothing."

Tommy drew in a sharp gasp of mock dismay. "You just lied to me, Andrew Berés. Something's rankling around in that busy brain of yours — there's never nothing on your mind — but this something has you worried. So spill it."

Andrew sighed and laid his wineglass on the nightstand. "Have you always been this clever, or are you now learning vampire tricks of the trade?"

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Excerpted from "Blood Talisman"
by .
Copyright © 2012 J.P. Bowie.
Excerpted by permission of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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