Into the Dark

When investigative journalist Allison Reed chases an anonymous tip about a string of disappearances, she never expects to become the next victim. But after she's caught snooping around a wealthy recluse's estate, she uncovers a terrifying secret: his daughters are witches, casting innocent people into a dark and deadly world where magic feeds on the living... and the dead don't stay dead.

Trapped in this nightmarish realm, Allison is rescued by Brian Morrissey, a brooding stranger who's given up hope of ever returning home. Haunted by loss and hardened by survival, Brian carries demons far worse than the monsters that prowl the woods. But Allison awakens something in him he thought was long dead—hope.

As they fight to escape the horrors that surround them, a powerful bond begins to grow. Allison becomes Brian's light in the darkness, and he becomes her strength in the storm. But in a world ruled by shadow and sorcery, love is a dangerous weakness—and the witches will do anything to keep them from leaving.

Will love be their salvation... or their downfall?

Can they escape this world before it's too late—or will they be consumed by the darkness together?

Perfect for fans of slow-burn paranormal romance, high-stakes fantasy, and fearless heroines who fall hard for the men willing to risk everything for them.

CONTENT WARNING:

Graphic violence, blood, gore (hey, zombies!), depression, suicide ideation and attempt, sex scenes

Abruptly, the man stopped moving. He froze completely, his entire body going still. Then he tilted his head to the side.

He was listening. Was he listening for her? Didn't he know she was already there? Perhaps the shadows were deeper than she imagined.

Maybe he really couldn't see her.

She kept her hand pressed over her mouth to prevent any sound from escaping again. Silence descended until the room became so quiet, she could hear the man's steady, even breaths. Could he hear her breathing, too? He must, since she felt like hyperventilating.

But he no longer faced her direction. Instead, he tilted his head toward the archway where he'd come.

Allison heard the noise that must have alerted him.

A noise unlike any she'd heard in her life.

A moan. An inhuman moan that echoed throughout the room so she couldn't tell where it originated nor how close it was to them. Accompanying the moan came a footstep. Then another. Louder than the man's footsteps. Despite the shuffling, the man had walked in silence compared to what now approached.

She stared at the opening, the horrible moan distracting her attention from the man.

What approached? How close was it? What kind of animal made noise like that?

Tension built until she thought she might scream.

Suddenly, the man was atop her, one arm wrapping around her curled legs, slamming them against her chest, the other hand covering her mouth. She froze, shocked she hadn't heard him move. A surge of pure panic burst within her. Adrenaline flowed through her veins, lending her energy to struggle against him to break free from his powerful grip. 

Her earlier estimation of his strength proved correct.

He was strong.

Incredibly strong.

He held her locked in place, keeping her prisoner against him.

"Shh," he said. "Don't move. Don't make a sound."

He whispered gently against her ear. He could have picked her up and cradled her on his lap like a child, but he stayed seated beside her, pinning her hands between them.

It took a moment for her to realize he'd dropped his weapon. 

Why?

He could have skewered her with it. Her attention had been turned toward the archway. Why hadn't he killed her as the Alder sisters promised?

"Please." He whispered so softly that even with his mouth pressed against her ear, she barely heard him.

The desperation in his voice stunned her. Silenced her. Allison stopped struggling.

And she realized his attention wasn't on her either. He stared in the direction of the opening, where the moaning grew louder. Whatever made that horrible noise moved closer.

A shadow filled the doorway. It shuffled, rocking side to side as it crept forward. And then it stepped into the light, making it visible to where she sat huddled with the stranger beneath the ladder.

At one time, the creature must have been human. It had the features of a being who could have passed for human.

Arms, legs, a torso, a head.

Beyond that, the thing was barely recognizable.