Dear Reader,
My characters constantly surprise me. I've come to points in my stories when the way forward seems impossible, when I wonder, "what in the world was I thinking?"—and then my hero or heroine shows me the way through. I had many of those moments with my hero in Demon Bound, Jake Hawkins. He's an immortal warrior, but a young one (if sixty years old can be considered "young"), and so there were many times when I asked myself, "what in the world was I thinking?" But, dear reader—Jake surprised me. His carefree attitude conceals a soldier's strength, a deep commitment to the Guardian corps, and a heart that is fiercely loyal…to that one special woman.
Alice Grey is known among the Guardians as the Black Widow, and she faces a terrible choice: if she doesn't kill the leader of the Guardians, she will be damned for all eternity. Fearing that she will be forced to betray everything that she holds dear, she has erected emotional and physical barriers...but she didn't anticipate Jake, and how much she would come to rely upon his unique Gift.
She is an outcast, and he is trying to find his place among the Guardians—and their search for a way out of Alice's terrible dilemma takes them on an unexpected journey. What they discover might free Alice...but it might also destroy everything that the Guardians have fought for against the demons of Hell. Only together will Jake and Alice overcome the dangers that the demons represent—and Jake has one final surprise in store for everyone.
What was I thinking? Dear reader, I was thinking that we all want incredible adventure, unforgettable characters, and a romance that will warm our hearts and curl our toes. I hope that you will join me, find that with Alice and Jake in Demon Bound.
Sincerely,
Meljean Brook
Moments after terrifying himself with memories of blood-splattered foliage and a splintered bamboo cage, Jake Hawkins opened his eyes and realized he had no idea where the hell he'd teleported.
At least it wasn't Hell. Though chances were, he'd end up in that realm sooner or later. Until he got his Gift under control, only dumb luck prevented him from taking a swim in the Lake of Fire. Or worse, landing on a warmongering demon horde.
Backstroking through burning lava was a damn good alternative to being skewered by a thousand swords—or kept alive so the demons could play a gleeful game of Torture the Guardian.
Fun for everyone but him.
But his dumb luck had held for one more jump, and instead of screaming Below, Jake was standing at the edge of a sheer cliff on the side of an arid, rock-studded mountain. A waxing crescent moon was settling behind the sand dunes on the horizon; early evening stars shot holes through the sky.
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