Seeker (Companion Book)



  Seeker (Companion Book)

  Includes Seeker Bonus Material - Deleted Scenes, Interviews, Sneak Peeks and more...

  The Seeker Series

  Dark Beauty (Seeker, Novella)

  Dark Seeker (Seeker, Book 1)

  Dark Return (Seeker, Book 2)

  Taryn Browning

  Other Books By Taryn Browning

  Whispering Hills (Whispering Hills, #1)

  Emanare (Destined, #1)

  Copyright © 2013 by Taryn Browning

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

  without the express written permission of the publisher

  except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  www.tarynbrowning.com

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, and place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Acknowledgments

  I want to give a huge thanks to the YA blogging community for having me as a guest on your blogs, and for promoting my books through guest posts, interviews, giveaways, reviews, etc. I have been fortunate to meet the coolest people who share my same passion for books. For this, I am so grateful. Included in this companion book are - My Crazy Book Obsession, I Know That Book Blog, For Those About To Read, Girls On YA Books, and SupaGurl Books. Looking for your next book? Check out these amazing blogs.

  Series Overview

  She's the Seeker. He's the hunted. What's at stake could kill them both...

  Dark Seeker (Book 1)

  For 17-year-old Seeker, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. Seeker Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead. After her father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk. Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt. But, when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is. As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against. It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie.

  Dark Return (Book 2)

  Janie Grey is dedicated to hunting the undead, an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors and generations of powerful Seekers before her. Then, there's Kai. He's like no one she's ever met - cocky, fast, skillful, infuriating and gorgeous. Not only has he become a valuable asset in her fight against the growing population of the vampire/demon hybrid known as Daychildren...

  She's unwittingly fallen for him.

  Just when Janie thinks she's learned everything there is to know about Kai's mysterious past, there's a newcomer to Baltimore. Someone who will do anything to make sure Janie loses Kai forever.

  Dark Beauty

  Dark Beauty is a prequel novella about Isabelle, Janie's mother, and Abram, Janie's mentor. It takes place years before Dark Seeker and Dark Return, back when Isabelle and Abram were young Seekers.

  For fifteen-year-old Seeker, Isabelle Crowe, ridding the Houston streets of the undead is an inherited duty, passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. During her first night without her mentor, she encounters Abram, a more experienced Seeker from Chicago looking to avenge his cousin's death. Isabelle quickly learns she must work with Abram to protect her city. With one Seeker already dead, Isabelle's love of the hunt becomes a fight to survive.

  Character Bios

  Janie Grey

  Experienced Seeker in Baltimore, who quickly learns that the training lessons she’s always followed don’t always apply. Especially when she meets Kai.

  Kai Sterdam

  Kai is an experienced fighter who has golden-blonde hair with white highlights, bright green eyes, and scars on his forearms and chest - all markings from his tortured past. Kai is sarcastic and cocky, but loyal to those he cares for.

  Matt Baker

  Star high school wrestler who inadvertently finds himself caught in the middle of a war between the undead.

  Abram Mitchell

  Former Seeker and Janie’s mentor. Read about Abram’s life as a Seeker in the prequel novella, Dark Beauty.

  Isabelle Grey

  Former Seeker and Janie’s mom. Read about Isabelle’s time as a Seeker in the prequel novella, Dark Beauty.

  Tanya

  Vampire leader who becomes an asset in Janie's fight against Daychildren.

  Albania

  Witch and friend of Kai’s. She is also instrumental in the fight against Daychildren.

  Leah

  A newcomer, and dark presence from Kai's past. One of the first Daychildren created by the vampire king.

  Jerome

  Den leader for the vampire community in Baltimore.

  Antony

  Leader of the Baltimore gang of Daychildren.

  Ava

  Janie’s best friend and one of the only people who know she’s a Seeker.

  Josh

  Janie’s always fashion-conscious best friend.

  Deleted Scene: Training

  Janie flipped over the high bar and landed on her feet. "Try that." She smiled and jumped off the mat, settling in front of Kai.

  "Sorry, I don't do gymnastics...and anyway, if I wanted to do parecore I'd join the Ninja Warriors." He wrapped his arms around her exposed waist. "And wow, you're sweaty."

  She swiped the loose hair out of her face and leaned forward, brushing her lips across Kai's cheek. "Sure you don't want to join me."

  Kai laughed. "If I train with you, we're never going to get anything done." He raised a brow, eyeing her black halter top. "Well, anything regarding training of course. I can think of other things."

  Janie rose onto her tip toes and kissed Kai playfully. "Suit yourself, but I could really use a sparring partner." She flipped her dark ponytail, spinning out of Kai's embrace. "It's not like I haven't kicked your butt before."

  "Ha!" Kai followed behind her. "That's so not true." He grasped her wrist lightly and spun her around. "I'd say that was a challenge, miss."

  Janie cocked her head. "I'd say you're right, sir."

  "I think I like it when you call me sir."

  "I'm sure you do," Janie quipped.

  The warehouse served as a great training spot. Located in downtown Baltimore, her mentor, Abram, had found and leased the abandoned building. Now that Janie had been Seeking for going on eight years, she wasn't in as much need for training. But she had to keep up her endurance. Not that hunting the new vampire-demon hybrid known as Daychildren didn't keep her in great shape.

  Kai unzipped his hoodie, exposing a well-fit tee underneath. "So where's Abram? He's your mentor. Shouldn't he be here 'mentoring' you?"

  "He and my mother are out shopping for something for the house." Janie ran her fingers through Kai's blonde hair, twirling one of his white highlights around her finger. "I don't know. I don't have time for trivial stuff like decorating."

  He nodded. "I've seen your bedroom." Kai slipped out of his jacket and draped it over a chair. Janie examined the scars on his forearm. They were a sign of his life before her...his life as a Daychild. Luckily that time was behind him. He had been granted his humanity by a powerful witch. Now he spent his days and nights making up for his past actions. This included killing as many Daychildren as he could. Kai had become such an important part of her job...and life.

  Kai glanced up and smiled. "Let's do this."

  Following her over to a large open mat, Kai loosened his n
eck by rolling his head from side to side. He stood across from Janie, his green eyes locked on hers. She imagined how good his tee was going to look drenched in sweat. Or, better yet, what was under his tee.

  "Well, are you just going to stare at my chest?" He displayed his palm. "Ladies first."

  Janie sprang into action, driving a jab to his abdomen. He stopped her fist in mid swing, flipping her onto her back. He leaned over her. "You done yet."

  "Hardly." She freed herself from his hold and spun out from under him, sweeping his legs out at the ankle. He landed on the mat, but was upright just as fast.

  Janie matched his stance. He came at her this time. She jumped into a back handspring, dodging his advance. She placed her hands on her hips. "See, gymnastics, it works."

  He rolled his eyes. "Still no interest." Kai used his speed to advance in breakneck time. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into his chest. His heart beat loudly under her ear. She doubted the pace of his heartbeat had anything to do with their sparring. The energy between them was always crazy when they were together.

  His arms were warm and comforting. She wondered what life was like without his embrace. She had forgotten. The loneliness of only having her mother and Abram to confide in was a feeling she never wanted to experience again.

  "How about we lift free weights?" He pinched her bicep. "You're looking a little weak."

  She pushed him backward. "I am not!"

  He walked over to the section of the facility that housed the weights. His voice echoed through the large room. "You coming?"

  Janie huffed. "Fine, but I'm not weak." She dropped her hands to her side and joined him next to a weight bench.

  He reached for her, placing his hands around her cheeks and cradling her face. "You are anything but weak."

  Janie smiled. "You've got that right."

  Kai bent forward and kissed the tip of her nose, sending shivers down her spine.

  Training with Kai was not a good idea.

  Way too distracting.