Controlling the zombie coyote like a puppet, I turned it around and made it sink into the ground again. It moved through the soil like it was water and popped up on the other side of the fence directly in front of the box. Delicately taking the object into its mouth, it sank into the dirt again and appeared in front of me moments later.
“Rest,” I ordered and it returned to its grave. It hadn’t been easy raising the undead during the day, but it was possible. Not that I’d have to worry about doing this ever again. If my plan worked, it was probable that I wouldn’t have to worry about anything ever again. I would be at peace and my pain and angst would finally end.
Opening the box, I looked down at the gold necklace that had been enchanted to find my mother. I would only have twenty-four hours to locate her once I donned it, but I didn’t think it would take me that long. Something told me that she’d returned to New Orleans. That was where this had all started. It was where she’d first bitten me when I’d been a child and had begun the series of events that would now lead me back to her. It seemed fitting that this was where I’d face the finale.
After months of torment and uncertainty, of living in fear that I was going to become a creature of my worst nightmares, I now realized that I was something far worse than a mere vampire. I couldn’t allow myself to become addicted to raising the dead. Everything that I’d read in the archives about necromancers had told me that it never ended well for them, or for anyone they loved.
The dream of the mystery woman came back to me, bolstering the decision I’d made. Mark was aware that I could raise zombies, but he couldn’t admit to himself or to me just how dangerous I might become. Being locked up in a PIA prison didn’t appeal to me. I could think of only one way to make sure I’d never end up hurting the people I loved and possibly causing the annihilation of the entire human race.
It was time to confront my mother and to end this once and for all.
Titles by J.C. Diem:
(Mortis Series)
Death Beckons
Death Embraces
Death Deceives
Death Devours
Death Betrays
Death Banishes
Death Returns
Death Conquers
(Shifter Squad Series)
Seven Psychics
Zombie King
Dark Coven
Rogue Wolf
Corpse Thieves
Snake Charmer
Vampire Matriarch, book seven of the Shifter Squad Series is due to be released in November.
If you would like to be advised of any new releases, please visit my website: www.jcdiem.com and sign up to receive my newsletter.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three