Queen of the Night Reviews: Scavenger Hunt & Blog Tour - Blood's Voice and Blood Bound by Aine P. Massie

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Guest Post by Aine P. Massie

Chapter Two

Strengthening my voice a little, as he had not answered all my questions yet, I continued. “Who are you and why are you here?” I was still in a defensive position, partially blocking him from Declán, just in case.

“Pyotr. My name is Pyotr Dikau. You would use Peter probably. As to why? I was told the strange Head of this House here had bonded a Guardian. I had to see for myself. I assume that would be you as only one that had blood bonded him could do what you just did and still be stable standing there.” The stranger’s eyes had been sweeping over me as if looking for something, now I knew what. He was waiting for me to break out in the blood-sweat like Jonathan had the one time he had tasted Declán’s blood. Intriguing.

“Ha-ha,” Declán began laughing staring up at the stranger, Pyotr. “Only you, Anya, would have a vampire attack you to try’n defend a Guardian.” I glowered down at him, not enjoying his humour.

“I was just to survey and watch a little before approach but then I saw her feeding on you. What was I supposed to think?” Pyotr truly seemed upset that I had bitten Declán even knowing it was his choice.

“Thinking of that, why is Nicholas not out here with Geoff trying to smash my chest in again?” I asked, absently touching my chest where Geoff had crushed me in his rescue of Declán when I was ‘ill’. This evening was just getting weirder by the moment. The fact Nicholas and I were both bonded to Declán meant that he should have picked up on my feeding on Declán – that counted as danger before, at least.

“Anya, release him. He’s no threat if all he wanted to do was make sure you weren’t trying to kill me. As for Nic . . . well . . . Louie and Simon are making sure he doesn’t come to my rescue actually.” He had that Cheshire cat grin going again. It always worried me when he did that.

I considered Pyotr for a moment longer and then relaxed my protective stance. “Relax, we won’t hurt you as long as you don’t try to attack us. Deal?”

Backing down finally, he nodded “Deal.”

Extending my hand down to Declán and pulling him back up, I turned to face Pyotr, unhappy. “You, I can just tell, are going to be trouble.” Sighing hard I continued, “Well, come on. You wanted to visit; you just got yourself an invitation.” I was not happy but Nicholas was probably panicking and as our conversation about ‘why’ was obviously not happening right then I figured that dealing with this stranger would be tonight’s adventure.

“Walk in front of us please,” Declán directed to Pyotr. He had sobered, mostly, and was now plainly annoyed. Poor Declán had gone to all the trouble to force my hand, or rather fang, to have someone new get in the way . . . I’d find it truly amusing if not so vexing.

We directed him back to the house. Declán reached out, lacing his fingers with mine casually. He was not concerned about our visitor – which seemed to annoy the visitor. Good. The fact he couldn’t watch us easily also seemed to bothered Mr. Dikau – goodie.

“You think Nic will still yell at me even with what we’re bringing home? I mean, thanks to me getting Louie and Simon in on this he knows the flare wouldn’t be due to him,” Declán teased, twitching his head towards Pyotr. Even with legitimate reasons to be concerned he was light and open. Yes, I definitely still needed to wonder about his sanity . . . possibly more than my own. Too funny.

Pyotr kept looking behind with a strange puzzled face. I was mildly curious which of the strange situations was piquing him more; I mean there are a few to choose from. If I could understand the language he was muttering in it would help. Sadly, Russian – I thought it was Russian at least – was not one of my languages.

As we reached the house Nicholas, Louie, and Jonathan came out to the large wraparound porch, arms crossed, glowering down at our company.

“Hey guys, look what followed us home,” teased Declán. “Can we keep him?” He even grinned while batting his big, sapphire blue eyes imploringly. Too much . . .

I caught the slight smile-twitch on Jonathan and Louie’s faces but Nicholas’s scowl actually etched further into his beautiful face. “I’ll deal with you later, Dec. For now, I think we’d all like to know about your new ‘friend.’” Declán shrugged, not taking the chastisement to heart.

“How about if we relax a little? If anyone has the right to be angry with our guest, it’s me. Back off guys.” Turning to Pyotr I continued, “As for you. Hum, why don’t you join us in the front sitting room and you can explain things a bit better. But we have rules here you have to abide.” Allowing my voice its power again, I added, “No thought scanning of my House and no harming them or the humans in our area. All humans are under my protection here.”

Guys, back down please. He came to Declán’s defence, not that he needed saving. I knew they would be checking both of our thoughts as we moved to the sitting room.

I gestured to a chair for our guest as I took my customary place. Declán and Nicholas both took up positions to my side. “Please, sit. No one here will harm you as long as you return the favour.”

Our strange guest paused before taking his seat, keeping a wary eye on everyone. “Thank you.”

“Is someone going to explain where he came from and why you three seem exasperated with each other?” Nicholas asked. He was upset but doing a reasonable job of controlling himself.

“This is Pyotr Dikau and he decided to try to rescue me from Anya earlier. He misunderstood what he saw and thought to protect me from her.” Declán was smirking again, ugh. “Only Anya could stumble on a vamp wanting to protect a Guardian.”

Crinkling his eyes in confusion Pyotr looked back and forth between the two guys and then to me. “Um, not to seem rude, well okay . . . I don’t care if I sound as rude, are they always like that?”

“You have no idea,” I said with a smile. “But he’s right. You attacked me knowing what he is and considering what you said, it was obviously to protect him. Most vampires wouldn’t try to protect him, not even aberrations like we are. Plus he’s still a little drunk, I think,” I added, looking over to Declán.

“Indeed. I apologize that I . . . interrupted but what was I to think? I know how charming those like you can be. Even a Guardian can fall prey to certain desires and charms.” Pain flashed in his eyes.

“Declán’s insanity aside, I do appreciate that you would defend him, even from me. That does not change the fact you came here for a reason, a reason I would like to know. Now.”

I heard a sharp, sudden intake of air as Louie’s eyes went wide. We all turned to stare at him, even our visitor. “What is it Louie?” The fact something caught him like that was somewhat unusual but the fact he didn’t immediately start ranting worried me.

“Him,” Louie murmured eyes still wild. “He’s a – he was a Guardian. That’s why he tried to attack you.”

“What! No, no way. There hasn’t been another Guardian in ages and they can’t be turned . . . unless bonded – not likely. They can’t even be tasted without nearly killing one of us.” No, it was not possible that this strange creature was a Guardian. Couldn’t be.

“Mmm, I am forbidden to scan thoughts but you are not. Harrumph,” Pyotr snapped folding his arms across his chest. “As to possibility, it is nearly impossible but you just gave the trick to it. That’s what worried me and why I panicked. You have no idea what it’s like for one of – for a Guardian to suffer that change and be subjected to this,” he gestured to both us and himself with disdain, “twisted half-life.”

I sat there in mild shock staring at the stranger. He had been a Guardian that was changed? That meant he had to have had a bond with one of us. Yet, he obviously didn’t want to be changed, or at least wished now that he had not been.

“He sounds a little like you do Anya, when you go into your slightly off centre ramblings,” Nicholas noted. His eyes were still hard and confused.

“You,” Declán began. “You were like me once? A bonded Guardian?” His voice was soft, bemused. “I didn’t think that would happen back when there were others. I was bonded to them before we knew what I was. Not that it would have changed anything, but still.”

“It was rare but those who are bonded have more power. It was something a few chose to do at times. I don’t – Wait,” Pyotr suddenly shrieked. “You said them. What do you mean them?

“He can’t bond to more than one!” He had jumped up, fists clenched tightly, towering over me.

Nicholas and Declán immediately moved to subdue the strange man, vampire, raging at me. It took only a moment for them to grab an arm each and have slammed him into the floor, pinning him. Declán already had one of his silver blades in hand.

With a sigh I grumped, “Guys, let him up. He panicked, in case you couldn’t tell. He is no threat to me. Now!”

“Fine,” they sulked in unison. I knew they didn’t like this but attacking our visitor wasn’t helping and he might just be useful in learning more. Valuable.

They released Pyotr and moved back to their positions beside me. I could feel the frustration and worry radiating off them both. Jonathan still seemed stunned and Louie, well . . . he seemed to find this all terribly amusing. Sadly, I did too. A bit.

“Please, calm down. They were only trying to protect me. Don’t take it too personal.” Poor guy, he looked beyond confused.

“Come on Nic. You dealt with Simon and me screaming at her better than this. No one is going to let her come to harm. But, you have to admit, a double bond is so strange and rare that most wouldn’t believe in such a thing.” Louie’s grin worse by the second. He needed to calm that before Nicholas tried to slam him too.

“Fine. I just don’t like people threatening her. You know that.”

Shaking my head slightly I continued, “Pyotr. Please try to contain your agitation, they aren’t very forgiving. Neither are the other two if they feel you are actually dangerous to us. Be glad my brother isn’t here, ha. Anyway, yes, Declán is doubly bound. To me and to Nicholas. Neither of us would ever do that to him though. Nor would we allow anyone to try!” The very thought turned my stomach. Corrupting a Guardian?

“To understand mortal cravings and passions, to take what is beautiful and complete and destroy the innocence. Rage and bliss, right and wrong, these are things I may not always understand or remember but love, love I do know. Love means loss and in time I will die a little with him, just as I have before . . .” I knew I was rambling again but I couldn’t seem to not speak my thoughts.

Nicholas and Declán were both suddenly kneeling in front of me, taking a hand. “Anya,” Nicholas said. “Love. No one really thinks you would do that to Dec. Pyotr just doesn’t know you yet. That’s all. Calm, please.”

Declán added his own plea for me to calm, adding in his faith that I wouldn’t do that to him.

“Sorry,” calming the mind was not the easiest thing some days. “I didn’t mean to scare you, any of you,” I added looking at all the faces gathered. Our visitor was going to think me dangerously unhinged if I didn’t behave better. What was wrong with me? Grrrr.

Pyotr’s eyes were wide as he stared from Declán to me and back. “You, a Guardian, are somehow bound to two – not that I know how that’s even possible – and your mistress is Sumasshedshij?” We all looked at him a little blankly. “Um, crazy? And I thought Guardian turned vampire was perversion.” He muttered something else but again the words were unknown to me.

“Don’t talk about her like that!” Declán snapped. “You don’t know the first thing about her. You think that just because you know she has fangs you know the person she is? You don’t!”

“Enough, both of you,” I chimed, trying to sound calm and centred. “Pyotr, I would suggest that more than upsetting me you need to worry about upsetting Declán. Though,” I paused to look at Declán and Nicholas for a moment, “he’s not technically speaking ill of me.

“I still want to know what you want from us, from Declán.”

“Maybe, our visitor would feel better if there were fewer of us here?” Jonathan suggested. “I don’t like the idea but he seems a bit nervous.”

“I’m not nervous. I’m . . . confused. I heard a Guardian had been found and that the leader here had bonded him. That he actually lived here with you. I couldn’t believe it so I came to find out. I hope to convince you not to destroy him like what was done to me.” Pyotr’s voice was strained politeness. He obviously hated dealing with us. I wondered if he was like this with all vampires or just me.

“He’s in no danger of being turned. Not from anyone here as only Nicholas or I could successfully do so. Declán is and always will be, human! Oh, and yes, he lives here – because he chooses to . . .”

His lips were caressing the hollow of my neck, his fingers sliding down my side applying such a light touch that I shivered. Slowly his hand moved across my hip and down my thigh to hook behind my knee. Wrapping ourselves tighter he lifted his lips back to mine and began kissing again with such passion and hunger that I felt as if my blood boiled just under the surface. His touch was life; his lips the very sun.

Pulling back slightly to look into my eyes with his ice blue eyes that I always felt like I would drown in, Braden murmured, “I still can’t believe you’re real and mine. I love you –” His words were cut off when my mouth again began devouring him with kisses.

After a few more moments he shifted, bringing my lips back to his neck. He arched a little and I knew what he wanted; he loved sharing his life while sharing his body with me. Pinning his wrists above his head, I began caressing his throat with my lips. I shifted us until I was straddling his hips, increasing his cravings for both my body and my bite.

His fingers bit into my hips as my fangs descended and slowly pierced the soft, luscious flesh of his throat. As the tantalizing elixir of his existence again spilt across my tongue we both shivered and we joined in both blood and flesh.

Only a taste, that’s all I would ever take but it drove us both into an ecstatic bliss that little else could.

Suddenly there were loud smashing noises and hands ripping us from each other, painfully. I struggled to break free but they were too strong and too many of them. I heard laughing as I cried, begging the others to let go of us and to not hurt him. I knew this voice: vicious, smooth, cruel – my sire.

“Did you really think I would tolerate such aberrant sickness in my favourite offspring? It’s time for you to come home and retake your place at my side, pet.” The look in Gabriel’s eye was malevolent yet amused. I hated him!

“I don’t follow your orders anymore!” I screamed. I continued to struggle but someone stepped into my line of sight and quickly shoved that damned gag he’d had made for me early on into my mouth, cutting off any more protesting.

Gabriel just laughed. His face turning into a sick mockery of a smile. “Your voice won’t do you any good.” He tapped his ear and I barely noticed the wax he used to block my power. “Now, you’re going to make a choice . . .”

Lightening fast he reached out, snatching Braden from one of his goons, biting hard into his flesh. I fought harder but couldn’t break free as I watched him drain the life out of my husband and love. Gabriel brought him to the cusp of death then released Braden, dropping him to the floor at my feet. “Your choice, pet.” He and his followers all left, releasing me at the last moment, still gagged.

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Title: Blood’s Voice
Author: Áine P Massie
Publisher: Geas Publishing
Series: House Millar, #1
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Length: Novel

Anya Millar had no memory of her life or an instruction manual on how to navigate the insane world of humans, biting, and reality. Instead, Anya has had to learn to navigate the world of love, life, and sanity while avoiding those that would see her dead or enslaved.

Anya must come to terms with who she is and her missing past, Nicholas must win back the object of his eternal love while dealing with new cravings in his silent heart, and Declán must learn to destroy the very creatures that he has unequivocally given his heart and blood.

This is the ongoing journey of Anya and Nicholas, human loving vampires and the human they love, Declán. What makes it all more complicated is that they are abominations in their own world and Declán is a natural born vampire hunter called a Guardian.

Buy Links

Purchase eBook: Geas Publishing | Amazon | ARe | Barnes & Noble | iStore

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Signatures: Authorgraph or Bookplate

Praise for Blood’s Voice

“Aine’s love for her characters shines in Blood’s Voice. She gives you a reason to become invested in their well-being. The definition of love triangle takes on a whole new meaning in the House of Millar. I was surprised in a most pleasant sort of way. This book does not contain the constant bickering and whining that are found in a lot of YA literature…a refreshing change. And, before I forget…a big thanks to Aine for her inclusion of alternate lifestyles in a very compelling manner.” – Kristin @ Better Read Than Dead

“I like the issues of LGBT that are brought up in the story and felt they were just enough of a sample of that lifestyle to not offend close minded individuals. It was very realistic and I enjoyed reading more about it. There is a ménage de trois alluded to in the book so some people may be a bit uncomfortable with that part of the story. From my point of view, it was very well written and only enhanced the book. I give this a 4 fair review as it was a very romantic story with paranormal elements that drew you in with the intricate plot.” – Heather @ Earth’s Book Nook

“Most of the vampires in this series have some type of unique ability. Especially Anya. She gives a new meaning to the coin phrase of “I get whatever I want”. You follow her on her adventures of trying to fit in with humans and seemingly thwarted by her own kind almost every time. She begins to have feelings for Nickolas, as well as Declan but they are different and easy to separate. At least for her. She loves whom she loves. Towards the middle of the book I grew a little envious of her situation.” – Nikki @ CEWTNK

“This is one book I could not put down at all and this is really one I want to read book #2 as soon as I can. Very well written and a great Young Adult book. If you are into Young Adult vampire books I think you will most likely like this book.” – Chantale @ Geeky Girl Reviews

“The author did a great job keeping my interest and making me want to finish the story to find out what happened next. They’re lots of surprises along the way and some things that truly didn’t expect but that just made it better than I thought the ending was going to be!” – Christina @ Intoxicated by Books

“This was an absolute pleasure to read, and an easy story to get into. I had no trouble getting lost in the pages and the storyline. Aine P. Massie has a very unique writing style which I found very pleasant. The characters never once got on my nerve. I quite enjoyed reading about them.” – Kyanara Night @ Kyanara’s Mad Reviews

“It’s a really easy book to read, I literally swallowed it in two days, and I really liked it! I recommend this book to all those who love vampire stories with romance, and those who like to learn new languages and cultures… Yes? Why? Well, because the author will delight us with a sweet romance full of phrases and words in Irish. : ) Happy Reading!” – Idris @ Throwing Books

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About the Author:

Áine P Massie is originally from Florida, she now lives in Wisconsin where she works on her House Millar series full time while raising four children (the term herding cats comes to mind). Her major in College was Childhood Education (specialization in ages zero to five) with a minor study in Deaf Culture/ASL. She is also a Wiccan priestess dedicated to the gods, family, and love.

A lifelong reader, Áine has always had a particular fascination with vampires, mythology, and the unusual. When she can escape from her children and books, she enjoys . . . oh yes, reading, playing, ritual, a good cappuccino, and working with her healing stones.

Her first published work came in high school where she was part of a writing and drama group. But, she’s been reading the likes of Shakespeare and Poe since late elementary school and enjoys most forms of fiction. Blood’s Voice has been a long time in coming and with its publication (June 2011) Áine embarked on a new chapter in her life.