Not Quite Dead (A NightHunter Novel) Read online

  Not Quite Dead

  ISBN 10: 1940968046

  ISBN 13: 9781940968049

  Copyright © 2014 by Stephanie Rowe.

  Cover design ©2014 by Peter Davis. Cover design, book layout, and epub creation by Peter Davis. Cover photos courtesy of iStockphoto.com.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form or by any means or for any use, including recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the author and/or the artist. The only exception is short excerpts or the cover image in reviews.

  Please be a leading force in respecting the right of authors and artists to protect their work. This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel or on the cover are either products of the author’s or artist’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or the artist.

  For further information, please contact [email protected]

  Not Quite Dead

  ***

  A NightHunter Novel

  Stephanie Rowe

  "Rowe is a paranormal star!" ~J.R. Ward

  ***

  Praise for Not Quite Dead

  "[Rowe] has penned a winner with Not Quite Dead, the first novel in her new NightHunter vampire series...an action-packed, sensual, paranormal romance that will captivate readers from the outset...Brimming with vampires, danger, resurrection, Louisiana bayou, humor, surprising plot twists, fantasy, romance and love, this story is a must-read!" ~Romance Junkies:

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Possessed

  "A story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and characters you won't soon forget!" - Paige Tyler, USA Today Bestselling Author of the X-OPS Series

  "Stephanie Rowe has really outdone herself! Darkness Possessed is the perfect paranormal. Sexy, dark, and with enough twists to keep you glued to your seat with breathless anticipation. Zach and Rhiannon set the pages of this book on fire!" ~Kerrigan Byrne, International Bestselling Author

  "Darkness Possessed…is an action-packed, adrenaline pumping paranormal romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat… Suspense, danger, evil, life threatening situations, magic, hunky Calydons, humor, fantasy, mystery, scorching sensuality, romance, and love – what more could you ask for in a story? Readers – take my advice – do not miss this dark, sexy tale!" ~Romance Junkies

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Unleashed

  "Once more, award winning author Stephanie Rowe pens a winner with Darkness Unleashed, the seventh book in her amazing Order Of The Blade series…[an] action-packed, sensual story that will keep you perched on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning pages to discover the outcome…one of the best paranormal books I have read this year." ~Dottie, Romancejunkies.com

  ***

  Praise for Forever in Darkness

  “Stephanie Rowe has done it again. The Order Of The Blade series is one of the best urban fantasy/paranormal series I have read. Ian's story held me riveted from page one. It is sure to delight all her fans. Keep them coming!” ~ Alexx Mom Cat's Gateway Book Blog

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Awakened

  “A fast-paced plot with strong characters, blazing sexual tension and sprinkled with witty banter, Darkness Awakened sucked me in and kept me hooked until the very last page.” ~ Literary Escapism

  “Rarely do I find a book that so captivates my attention, that makes me laugh out loud, and cry when things look bad. And the sex, wow! It took my breath away... The pace kept me on the edge of my seat, and turning the pages. I did not want to put this book down... [Darkness Awakened] is a must read.” ~ D. Alexx Miller, Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Seduced

  “[D]ark, edgy, sexy … sizzles on the page…sex with soul shattering connections that leave the reader a little breathless!...Darkness Seduced delivers tight plot lines, well written, witty and lyrical - Rowe lays down some seriously dark and sexy tracks. There is no doubt that this series will have a cult following. ” ~ Guilty Indulgence Book Club

  “I was absolutely enthralled by this book…heart stopping action fueled by dangerous passions and hunky, primal men…If you’re looking for a book that will grab hold of you and not let go until it has been totally devoured, look no further than Darkness Seduced.”~When Pen Met Paper Reviews

  ***

  Praise for Darkness Surrendered

  “Book three of the Order of the Blades series is…superbly original and excellent, yet the passion, struggle and the depth of emotion that Ana and Elijah face is so brutal, yet is also pretty awe inspiring. I was swept away by Stephanie’s depth of character detail and emotion. I absolutely loved the roller-coaster that Stephanie, Ana and Elijah took me on.” ~ Becky Johnson, Bex ‘n’ Books!

  “Darkness Surrendered drew me so deeply into the story that I felt Ana and Elijah’s emotions as if they were my own…they completely engulfed me in their story…Ingenious plot turns and edge of your seat suspense…make Darkness Surrendered one of the best novels I have read in years.” ~Tamara Hoffa, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

  ***

  Praise for Ice

  "Ice, by Stephanie Rowe, is a thrill ride!" ~ Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

  "Passion explodes even in the face of spiraling danger as Rowe offers a chilling thrill-ride through a vivid--and unforgiving--Alaskan wilderness." ~ Cheyenne McCray, New York Times bestselling author

  "Ice delivers pulse-pounding chills and hot romance as it races toward its exciting climax!" ~ JoAnn Ross, New York Times bestselling author

  "Stephanie Rowe explodes onto the romantic suspense scene with this edgy, sexy and gripping thriller. From the very first page, the suspense is chilling, and there's enough sizzling passion between the two main characters to melt the thickest arctic ice. Get ready for a tense and dangerous adventure." ~ Fresh Fiction

  "Stephanie Rowe makes her entry into Romantic Suspense, and what an awesome entry! From the very first pages to the end, heart-stopping danger and passion grab the heart. ... sends shivers down the spine... magnificent... mind-chilling suspense... riveting... A wonderful romance through and through!" ~ Merrimon Book Reviews

  "[a] thrilling entry into romantic suspense... Rowe comes through with crackling tension as the killer closes in." ~ Publisher's Weekly

  ***

  Praise for Chill

  “Chill is a riveting story of danger, betrayal, intrigue and the healing powers of love… Chill has everything a reader needs – death, threats, thefts, attraction and hot, sweet romance.” ~ Jeanne Stone Hunter, My Book Addiction Reviews

  “Once again Rowe has delivered a story with adrenalin-inducing action, suspense and a dark edged hero that will melt your heart and send a chill down your spine.” ~ Sharon Stogner, Love Romance Passion

  “Chill packs page turning suspense with tremendous emotional impact. Buy a box of Kleenex before you read Chill, because you will definitely need it! ...Chill had a wonderfully complicated plot, full of twist and turns. “ ~ Tamara Hoffa, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

  ***

  Praise for No Knight Needed

  “No Knight Needed is m-a-g-i-c-a-l! Hands down, it is one of the best romances I have read. I can’t wait till it comes out and I can tell the world about it.” ~Sharon Stogner, Love Romance Passion

  “No Knight Needed is contemporary romance at its best….There was not a moment that I wasn’t completely engrossed in the novel, the story, the characters. I very audib
ly cheered for them and did not shed just one tear, nope, rather bucket fulls. My heart at times broke for them. The narrative and dialogue surrounding these ‘tender’ moments in particular were so beautifully crafted, poetic even; it was this that had me blubbering. And of course on the flip side of the heart-wrenching events, was the amazing, witty humour….If it’s not obvious by now, then just to be clear, I love this book! I would most definitely and happily reread, which is an absolute first for me in this genre.”Becky Johnson, Bex ‘N’ Books

  “No Knight Needed is an amazing story of love and life…I literally laughed out loud, cried and cheered.... No Knight Needed is a must read and must re-read.”Jeanne Stone-Hunter, My Book Addiction Reviews

  Acknowledgements

  Special thanks to my beta readers, who always work incredibly hard under tight deadlines to get my books read. I appreciate so much your willingness to tell me when something doesn't work! I treasure your help, and I couldn't do this without you. Hugs to you all!

  There are so many to thank by name, more than I could count, but here are those who I want to call out specially for all they did to help me with this book: Alencia Bates Salters, Kayla Bartley, Alyssa Bird, Jean Bowden, Shell Bryce, Holly Collins, Ashley Cuesta, Kelley Curry, Denise Fluhr, Valerie Glass, Christina Hernandez, Heidi Hoffman, Jeanne Stone Hunter, Rebecca Johnson, Dottie Jones, Janet Juengling-Snell, Deb Julienne, Bridget Koan, Felicia Low, Phyllis Marshall, Suzanne Mayer, Sandi McCoombe, D. Alexx Miller, Jodi Moore, Judi Pflughoeft, Carol Pretorius, Kasey Richardson, Karen Roma, Caryn Santee, Julie Simpson, Summer Steelman, Nicole Telhiard, Regina Thomas, Linda Watson, and Denise Whelan.

  And lastly, thank you to Pete Davis at Los Zombios for another fantastic cover, and for all his hard work on the technical side to make this book come to life, and for the most amazing website. Mom, you're the best. It means so much that you believe in me. I love you. Special thanks also to my amazing, beautiful, special daughter, who I love more than words could ever express. You are my world, sweet girl, in all ways. And of course, to my awesome dog, who endured such hardship sleeping next to me in his big armchair while I worked, just so that I would have company. What a dog!

  Dedication

  Special thanks to Lynne Griffin and Katrin Schumann at GrubStreet Writers for all their guidance, support, and generosity, and to the all the amazing authors in Launch Lab 2014 for turning the solitary author journey into a band of camaraderie, laughter, support and pure genius: Lori Jenkins Reisenbichler, Ellen Herrick, Lenore Myka, Ann Sussman, Robin McLean, Alice LoCicero, David Marshall Hunt, Mark Day, Nadine Lynn, and Stephanie Kegan.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Title Page

  Praise for Stephanie Rowe

  Acknowledgements

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Sneak Peek: Darkness Unleashed

  Sneak Peek: Darkness Awakened

  Sneak Peek: Ghost

  Sneak Peek: No Knight Needed

  Select List of Other Books

  Stephanie Rowe Bio

  Chapter 1

  The ancient burial ground was not where Eric Hunter wanted to find his brother, but not for the obvious reasons. Dead bodies, ancient spirits, and decaying graves were all well and good, but not when his twin brother, Tristan, was around them.

  Eric slogged soundlessly through the Louisiana swamp, his hiking boots flooded with murky water that reached his knees. Tendrils of mist were winding through the trees, hovering inches above the surface of the water. The full moon cast an unearthly glow on the mist, illuminating an iridescent silver reflection upon it. The air was thick with the stench of dampness and stale water, laced with the more subtle beauty of nature undisturbed by the intrusion of humans.

  A low whine, like that of an animal on the hunt, drifted through the night. Eric went still, straining to hear any indication that the stories of werewolves, vampires, and shape-shifting panthers were about to be proven true, just in time for his fairly immortal, but not entirely indestructible, body to be torn asunder. He could fight the good fight, but he really didn't have time to engage right now. This part of the Louisiana bayou was replete with tales of voodoo, deadly creatures, and magic that took lives with ruthless abandon. He'd seen enough and done enough in his life to know the odds were high that every single whisper of lore was steeped in truth. Hell, if he lived here, stories would soon start to circulate about what he could do and what he was.

  In truth, a lone werewolf probably wouldn't win a battle with him, but a pack of particularly impressive ones could be another story. And vampires? Yeah, well, Eric had a feeling it might depend on the vampire. A battle with a powerful one might take him where he didn't want to go.

  Preferring his throat to be attached to his body instead of set out on a silver platter as an entrée for a bloodsucker, Eric silently grasped the hilt of his knife as he mentally tracked the animalistic growl creeping through the swamp. Energy pulsed in his palm, generated by the weapon that carried several centuries' worth of secrets in its shadowy green blade. He waited, utterly still as he listened for the whine again.

  Sweat slithered down his temples, and steam rose from his skin, which was suffocating beneath his tee shirt. Even the air he breathed was so thick with humidity it seemed to weigh his lungs down, and he had to fight to get enough oxygen with each breath.

  Though he wasn't moving, the dark swamp was teeming with life. He could hear the scrabble of claws, the croaks of frogs, the splashes as alligators slid into the dank water, and the rasp of snakes stalking their prey. Again, he heard the low growl, and it was deeper this time. Not a small animal. A large one, in the nearby vicinity. For a brief moment, he wished he'd disregarded his gut and had opted to strap his gun beneath his arm for tonight's trip, but he knew that would have been a poor choice.

  The swamp didn't like those who entered its realm armed with guns, or at least this part of the swamp didn't. He'd stick with the knife unless the situation became dire. Knife first, gun not allowed, magic as a last resort.

  When nothing leapt out of the woods to try to sever his head from his body, Eric grew impatient. Unwilling to waste any more time, he moved forward again, keeping his blade ready.

  As the water swirled restlessly around his calves, he cast a glance at his watch and grimaced. He was already late. Would she wait for him? Anticipation rippled through him at the thought of the woman who had texted him right before he'd walked into the swamp, letting him know that her plane had touched down. After weeks of delay, Jordyn Leahy was finally in town. He was going to see her tonight.

  What would it be like when he saw her again? The same? More? More.

  He wanted more. Much more. Women didn't generally intrigue him these days. He'd trained himself out of the need to connect with females a couple hundred years ago. Yeah, sure, he entertained their flirtations and their attentions, but he never allowed himself to notice them. But Jordyn was different.

  The first time he'd seen her, she'd been hiking through the Brazilian jungle wearing a hot pink tank top, jeans, and a brand new pair of boots. When she'd stepped from behind a tree with a bazooka aimed at his head, he'd been riveted by her. She'd rebuffed every one of his attempts to seduce her, which made him even more intrigued. Add in the fact that his brother had nearly sacrificed his life to save hers? That meant she was import
ant to his brother, which made her important to Eric. It also made her off-limits, but his fantasies and certain parts of his anatomy were having a little trouble with that concept.

  Not that it mattered. She'd come to Louisiana to help him find Tristan, and that's what they were going to do.

  But there was no denying the fact that Eric's entire body had been humming in anticipation of seeing her again. And now, she was in town. Less than ten miles away. At that very moment, she was waiting for him at the bar where they'd agreed to meet. And where was he? Slogging through a swamp after what he suspected would be another dead end in the hunt for Tristan, who had been missing for a year.

  For a moment, he almost considered ditching the rank water and heading out to meet Jordyn. The thought was tempting as hell, and if he weren't so deep into the swamp already, he might even think about it.

  But he needed to find his twin, and soon. He was far enough along this particular trail that he'd be able to wrap up this lead in a few more minutes.

  Tristan couldn't be dead, because Eric would know if he was. Yeah, he'd know because they had that twin bond. They were also both connected to the metaphysical world in a way that neither of them fully understood. But the most damning indication of his brother's death would be the fact that Eric would keel over and die shortly after Tristan did. Since he was still alive and kicking, he knew that Tristan wasn't six feet under a pile of dirt somewhere, but Eric had a bad feeling that death wasn't far away. And even if Tristan wasn't teetering on the edge, the brothers could survive only so long without being near each other, and the clock was ticking on that one.

  It was time to find his twin, and now that Jordyn was here, Eric had a chance to make it happen. Although she hadn't lived in town for years, Jordyn was a local, bringing with her the inside knowledge of the town that had apparently swallowed up his brother a year ago. He needed her familiarity with the locale, and since she owed Tristan her life, she'd been determined to find Tristan as soon as she'd learned he was missing.