Cover Art by Alison Hunt

(A short and ominous scene from War of Nytefall: Savagery.)

With a half-hearted swing of his arm, Alastyre decapitates two of the Dawn Fangs that jump on him from the rooftop. The third fighter is grabbed by the face and held aloft while the hunter admires the unique collection of buildings that make up Nytefall. For years, he has tried to imagine what Clyde’s kingdom looks like, so the reality has been a constant source of amusement. Instead of dark streets and eternal night, the island is bathed in sunlight and more reminiscent of a tropical paradise than a crypt. He notes that every Dawn Fang has built a home or business using the architecture of their homeland, which makes him wonder why these citizens never attempted to return to the mortal world. With a  shrug, he twists the head off his flailing sparring partner and examines the snarling face before tossing it into a cart. With a tired sigh, Alastyre wipes his hands on his bare chest and turns to see if his latest display of strength has had any effect on his audience. All of the silent Dawn Fangs stare ahead and stand at attention like they have been doing since he left the fortress. He frowns and at how they are ready to be called on to fight the monster in the name of their leader regardless of their low chances of survival. Glancing at those standing high atop the fortress wall, he can see that his special prisoners remain unfazed by the carnage.

“You look disappointed,” Kai says after he gathers the last of the severed heads. Gently placing them in the cart, he goes about stacking the bodies in a collection of coffins. “They know Clyde is alive and believe he will save them. The deaths of their kin only fuel their desire to stand strong until salvation arrives. Those brought over from Nyte are the ones showing any amount of wavering, but they are taking strength from Xavier and Nadia. You need to make an example today. Not what you did to Chastity and Archillious. While their heads being mounted on the wall had an initial shock, the impact has already disappeared.”

“I was hoping that the death of twenty brave citizens would get the job done,” Alastyre admits in a low voice. His eyes fall on a young Dawn Fang, the halfling already brandishing the axe blades that come out of her wrists. “They are scared, but not enough. I thought their spirits would break as easily as their flesh. There are fools who believe Dawn Fangs are mortal in how they think and feel. Not driven by hunger, but by emotions. If that is the case then I will have to attack their hearts.”

“What do you have in mind?” the spymaster cautiously asks. The thought of the killer stumbling onto the true way to destroy a Dawn Fang makes him shiver, but a sneeze helps him hide the reaction. “I mean, decapitation is how you defeat a vampire. Just because their hearts beat doesn’t mean destroying them will be effective. Perhaps symbolic, but that will only work once and fade much like the wall display.”

“I meant that I should deal an emotional blow.”

“I see. Sorry for my foolishness.”

“No, I understand why you would think so literally.”

“May I make a suggestion?”

“Of course.”

“Defeat one of their heroes in combat.”

“And who did you have in mind?”

Find out who the victim will be in War of Nytefall: Savagery for 99 cents!