Can the pantheon of gods really control human emotions? Or can love really conquer all?
In the Tiki Vampires trilogy, everything we know about myth and magic explodes with the eruption of Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. Though legend has it that the old gods departed the islands, they didn’t. Many have been condemned to lives as creatures of the night. Vampires, werewolves and other fabled creatures abound on the islands’ silky coastlines. For the fallen god Kane, life as the vampire Malakai was lonely and pointless before he met Jepoi, a young man who somehow pierces Malakai’s invisible armor.
Kaneloa, the Hawaiian god who condemned Malakai to his undead existence, punishes Malakai and Jepoi, trying to keep the two men apart. As the series unfolds, Malakai and Jepoi face seen and unseen foes. Old legends about the islands come back to life. Ancient crossroads like the City of Refuge spring back to existence as Jepoi and Malakai are forced to live apart, even though each wants the other. Will the gods or the humans win?
Reader Advisory: This book contains a scene of non-consensual sex.
General Release Date: 14th March 2014
I’d received no good news of late. I sat across from Queen Ka’ahumanu now and she shook her head. I put up my hand. “Don’t…” I added “Please” out of respect.
“Do you abhor your destiny to that point, Kane?”
Her words were soft, meant to soothe. Nothing could soothe me. All this time I’d fought Kanaloa, refused to take my place with him in the kingdom above, and now… I was bound even more tightly to my fate.
Finally, I nodded. “I detest it. And with the loss of the sword, I can’t even end it.”
“The god of everything that is fine and good in this world committing suicide?” She put a hand to her buxom chest. “That is… You could bring down the heavens!”
“I don’t care.”
She took my hand. “Yes. You do.” She gave me a knowing look. “It’s what makes you Kane. It’s why Kanaloa sacrificed his own place in this world to save you.”
I squeezed her hand, smiled. “I will find a way to…accept it. It will take some time. More pressing is the subject of the sword.”
She nodded solemnly. “Yes, this is most worrisome. And you say Kanaloa does not have it?”
“I asked him. He wouldn’t dare lie to me now that he is my servant.”
“And the others saw nothing?”
“No, but there is the question of the zokuzokugami, who told Jepoi his name was Ousamane. I thought it to be Kanaloa following Jepoi to my sanctuary. Now, I’m not so sure. Do you know of this entity?”
Queen Ka’ahumanu rubbed her chin. “A fear-inducing ghost. This one was a slave in life, I believe, taken from the Ivory Coast.”
“So he does exist?”
“Um…”
“What would he want with the Sword of Woe? How would he even know of its existence?”
“Only one way,” the lady replied.
I knew the answer. “Ousamane had to have had some contact with Kanaloa or…his former lapdog, Delmontre.”
“Perhaps he was engaged to find the sword? Kanaloa has always hungered to know its whereabouts.”
“But Kanaloa would have the sword by now.” I got to my feet. “Perhaps our unfriendly ghost has a grudge against the gods?”
“Watch yourself, Kane.” The queen bowed to me and was gone. As I walked the hallowed halls, which were located in the home of the gods, I pondered the possibilities.
Various servants bowed their heads in respect as I passed by. I hadn’t missed these homage rituals. I entered the rooms of Kanaloa. Silky white curtains waved on a breeze. Slaves placed their faces on the floor, awaiting his every command.
Kanaloa glanced up at me as I approached. He lay on a feathery bed. A young man with the face of an angel fed Kanaloa pieces of mango with one hand, wiping the juices from his chin with the other. When the young man saw me, he dropped to his knees.
I waved him up. “Leave us,” I said.
The Slave disappeared. I eyed the other slaves, six of them, standing like statues. “Is that necessary?” I asked. “They come when summoned.”
“As you wish, My Lord.” Kanaloa lowered his head.
“Stop it,” I told him then turned to the slaves and called out, “Up. Go and do something useful.”
They scurried out backward, bowing as they went.
I sat beside Kanaloa on the bed. “Why did you give me your power?”
“You know why,” he said.
“I have too much power for one god. I never wanted any of it.”
“I know.” He touched my cheek. “I hope now you will lose your obsession with humans, Kane. They bring nothing but trouble. I am yours. We are connected. Live here with me and love me. I will do everything for you.”
I swallowed. “I do love you in my own way. I must. It is true we are connected. But…”
“But,” Kanaloa snapped, “you love that miserable vampire Jepoi more.”
“Jepoi is no longer a vampire,” I told him. “When you increased my power, I reversed what you did, and cured myself.”
“It would have been my pleasure to take your curse away. You had only to wish it.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “You said you couldn’t cure me. You said the witch made me a vampire and only she could undo the curse.”
Kanaloa shrugged. “I lied. But I cannot lie to you now. You could crush me with one look.”
I grew tired of this conversation. My thoughts turned to the sword. “I need to find the sword or we’re both in peril. You must tell me about this ghost you flirted with.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t call it flirting.”
“Did you ever send him on a mission to find the sword?”
He shook his head.
“Then… How do you know him?”
Kanaloa sighed. “He had a special talent in life.”
“Yes?”
“He could see the gods.”
“And?”
“He was taken as a slave. He saw Ku and me on the slave ship one night. He knew who and what we were.”
“Why was Ku there?” I narrowed my eyes.
“There was a pirate ship. They were trying to steal the cargo.”
“Human cargo.”
“Yes. So Ku was needed. There was a major skirmish.”
“And you profited how?”
“You wound me!” He feigned hurt.
“Bullshit. How did you profit?”
“I wanted the dead ones to use as slaves. Our friend didn’t approve.”
“There is liberty in death and you denied them. This is vengeance.”
“Perhaps, but how did Ousamane know you had the sword?”
“I was betrayed.”
“Delmontre?”
“It’s who I suspect.”
“But you’re not sure.” Kanaloa sighed. “I don’t believe Del would betray you. More Starsz, or Felix.”
“Well, rather than speculate, I guess it’s time I found out.”
“Leaving me so soon?”
“I’ll be back.” Those words stung, but then truth hurts.
“Say hello to Jepoi for me,” he called out.
A.J. Llewellyn
A.J. Llewellyn lives in California, but dreams of living in Hawaii. Frequent trips to all the islands, bags of Kona coffee in the fridge and a healthy collection of Hawaiian records keep this writer refueled.
A.J. never lacks inspiration for male/male erotic romances and on the rare occasions this happens, pursues other passions such as collecting books on Hawaiiana, surfing and spending time with friends and animal companions.
A.J. Llewellyn believes that love is a song best sung out loud.
D.J. Manly
I write not only for my own pleasure, but for the pleasure of my readers. I can't remember a time in my life when I haven't written and told stories. When I'm not writing, I'm dreaming about writing. Eroticism between consenting adults, in all its many forms is the icing on the cake of life but one does not live by sex alone. The story of how two people find love in spite of the odds is what really turns me on.
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