Karen Mahoney - The Eternal Kiss: Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire

Thank heavens youve picked up this book.

Would you trade your life for just one kiss?

With the amount of readers itching for vampire stories these days, you can be sure there are more and more that would. Vampires are bigger and tastier than theyve ever been. They are gorgeous and seductive and dangerouswhat more could you ask for? Its easy to see why everybody is scrambling to get into a pair of fangs. You get to be young and beautiful forever and make out eternally with an incredibly hot member of the Undead.

It seems to me that vampires are the gatekeepers of youth. If you reject their eternal kiss, you say yes to getting older (as well as yes to the sun, yes to eating food on a regular basis, no to blood drinking, etc.). As the editor of this book, I find that fascinating. Do I grow up, or do I refuse to? Its like Peter Pan all over again, only with pulsing veins and teeth, constant night and scary red eyes. Vampires are all Lost Boys (or Girls). Every one of them. Wandering the earth aimlessly, looking for love and blood.

These crimson-sweet tales, by some of the best living writers in the business of the dead, will satisfy your cravings. Whether your (blood) type is tall, dark and handsome or lonely and gorgeously Goth, youll find a choice selection of vampires to quench your thirst.

A kiss may be just a kiss, but a kiss from a vampire is an eternal kiss. Its a kiss that can mean forever. Death or immortality. Which would you choose?

That is, if youre even given a choice.

TRISHA TELEP

THEO WAS LATE. It had been almost a year since shed seen him, and he couldnt even be on time.

Moth growled, shifting her gaze to the moon so she could enjoy the cool rays as they bathed her pale skin. Moonlight was her favorite thing in the worldapart from brown eyes on a good-looking guy. She pulled her sunglasses down onto the tip of her nose and surveyed the alley, wondering what the hell had happened to Theo. She tapped her foot impatiently, enjoying the clicking sound the steel toe-caps of her boots made on the sidewalk.

Anything to avoid thinking about Moms memorial service tomorrow. Well, not so much the service itselfshe was far more afraid of facing her father. Her lips tightened as she remembered the last time shed seen him; fatherly love had been the last thing on his mind. Her mother had been gone for a year, and yet her dad couldnt care less whether or not his middle daughter turned up to remember her.

Moth swallowed and pushed those thoughts away, instead admiring the pure white skin of her slender arms as she stretched them above her head. It wasnt like shed ever been much for tanning, even before she became a vampire. She could still walk in daylight, but not in full-summer and never without some cloud cover or buildings to shade her. As each year passed, she noticed how the sun bothered her a little more; even SPF fifty wasnt always enough.

Pushing the cheap plastic sunglasses back into position, she leaned against the back door of Subterranean and wondered why they couldnt have met inside the club. It was ten-thirty on Saturday nightthe place would be crawling with vampires, and she might even see some familiar faces. Despite her desperation to get away from this place, shed been lonely the past few months.

And then Theo was there, sliding out of the shadows and gliding toward her with the cat-like grace she was so familiar with. His beauty never failed to take her breath away, even though she hated the knowing gleam in his eye as he touched her cheek in greeting.

Moth glared from behind her shades. Youre late.

And your manners havent improved.

I was in Boston, Theo. Not a finishing school for naughty girls.

Theo raised his dark eyebrows and grinned his wicked pirate-smile. Now theres an idea

Moth pushed the sunglasses up onto her head, balancing them among the thick black waves of her long hair. She knew that her silver eyes would be glowing brightly in recognition of her sire, but she couldnt bring herself to show him how happy she really was to see him. He hadnt earned that rightnot since the day, ten years ago, when hed stolen her innocence and made her a monster.

He reached out for the shades and snatched them before she could stop him. Why are you wearing these ridiculous things?

My eyes keep glowing and the contacts hurt. She nodded up at the moon. Its almost full.

You havent been feeding. Theos tone was filled with reproach. If you had, you wouldnt have this problem. His own eyes were currently light gray, his vampire nature hidden behind centuries of rigid control.

Moth glared. Ive fed more than enough.

He sniffed. From blood banks. Its hardly the same thing.

You said you wouldnt push me on this.

I havent pushed you on your eating habits for almost a decade. Perhaps I should start.

She scuffed her boot on the ground, deciding that a change of subject might be a good idea. Why are we standing out here, anyway?

Theo leaned against the wall and pushed his hands into the pockets of his custom-made jacket. His black hair was shorter than she remembered it, the curls resting neatly around his ears and stopping short of his collar. People often took them for family, which amused Theo. He liked to pretend she was his little sisterit gave him a sick charge.

Just as Moth began to wonder if he was going to answer, he met her eyes. I dont want anyone to know youre back. Not yet.

She frowned. What the hell was he cooking up now? Wasnt it enough that hed dragged her into the city for a meeting, just because he knew shed be back for her mothers service? You promised me a year of freedom, Theo. My times not even up, yet. This isnt fair.

Life isnt fair, my lovely. His eyes were like stone, his mouth unsmiling.

But you promised, she said, hating herself for showing weakness. She wrapped her arms around her body, as though she could hold back the pain that began to gnaw at her belly. Being around Theo always made her feel hungrythat was one of the reasons shed wanted to get away from Ironbridge in the first place.

I have a job for you, Theo said, breaking into her thoughts. Its something very special. Only my little Moth would do for this one.

Ten months into her vacation, and he wanted her for this? To steal something? Thats all he ever wanted her for. This is such crap. You dont need meits just an excuse.

His eyes grew wide and mock-innocent. An excuse? For what?

To get me back. Youre not happy unless youre controlling everyone around you.

Theos face hardened and Moth felt the familiar tug of power in her chest. He owned her, body and soulif she still even had a souland she hated him almost as much as she loved him. Right now, maybe she hated him more.

Be grateful that you had as long as you did, child. Its hardly my fault you came back to cry over your mothers grave. Now, listen to me. Heres what I want you to do

All this trouble for a stupid funeral urn? And why was death such a feature on this trip? Moth shook her head as she stomped through Ironbridge Common and avoided a group of kids who were taking turns swigging out of a bottle. She pushed down the sharp stab of envy somewhere in the region of her heart; she would never do those human things again. She sighed, and tried to remember what it had been like to be a normal teenager. If she was being honest with herself, it wasnt like shed been all that happy back then, anyway.

It was a mild night and the sky was clear. Summer wasnt far awayshe could already smell it in the air and dreaded the longer days to come. Moth flopped onto a bench under one of the old-fashioned iron lamps that lined the pathways. She tried not to remember the distressed expression on Caitlns face when shed left the city, ten months ago. Theyd sat in this very spot and said their goodbyes. Moth had promised to call her younger sister as soon as she returned to Ironbridge, but instead here she was skulking around the Common and wondering if there was any way she could get out of doing this job for Theo.