A Kiss at Midnight: Reign of Blood, #1

By K.N. Lee and Aurora Dawn

Three supernatural warriors from different paranormal empires. One powerful witch with a dark past. An unmistakable bond they can't resist.

This dystopian world of fog, darkness, and danger bows to the world leaders of their respective paranormal emperors. Vampires walk amongst us. Dragons fly through the sky. Wizards and fairies brush shoulders with us on the train.

For immortal witch, Leia Grant, hiding in the shadows is her only way of survival. She's looked pure evil in the eyes once before, and served as his slave for nearly a century. 

Now, as an ancient foe searches for her, her fate may rest in the hands of three handsome supernatural warriors, and perhaps the immeasurable power she's been denying all of her life. 

The vampire she left behind. 

The wizard. 

The dragon shifter. 

They all have one thing in common; they want the witch, and will do anything to protect her. 

Join Aurora Dawn on a thrilling paranormal romance where dark fantasy and magic combine for a supernatural adventure that will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of mystical reverse harem, fairytales, and folklore.

Reading Order:

A Kiss at Midnight

A Taste of Dawn

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dragon Roots Emporium
• Release date: Sep 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393919506

K.N. Lee

K.N. Lee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She is the author of the Dragon-Born Saga, Eura Chronicles, Wonderland University, and the Chronicles of Koa series. When she is not writing twisted urban fantasy, epic tales of dragons, pirates, and mermaids, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and spending time with her family and Princess Polly, the pet pig. Wannabe rockstar, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys gaming and sketching. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award for her success as a writer, business owner, and for community service. She is signed with Dragon Roots Emporium and represented by Hershman Rights Management.

Book preview

Chapter 1

EVERY FIBER IN Leia’s body ignited as she stood in the center of the the quiet space within her mind.

The Spirit Room.

The air was cold, unnervingly so.

Lights danced along the concrete floor, illuminating her shadow as she set a flame above her open palms.

What was once blue was now white as her irises transformed with the surge of power that emitted from her body. She controlled her breathing and focused on manifesting the power within.

Welcome, Leia, an eerie voice whispered.

The voice seemed to come from the dark crevices of her mind, the ones that she feared above all. Her skin crawled and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

Inhaling, she fought the terror rising up her throat.

This was just one trial she had to complete before she could be crowned.

I ask for guidance, she said, her heart pounding in her chest. She put on a brave face, but it was false.

It had taken her years to come to this point, and—like the other witches in the world—she knew that her training was life or death.

Your wish is our command, the voice said. How can we guide you?

Swallowing, Leia closed her eyes. Bask me in the light, so that I may defeat the dark.

As she stood in the center of the room, a bright, white light shot from above, and basked her in its glow.

A cold surge flooded her body and she lifted her arms over her head as the light continued to shower over her.

Your wish, the voice said. Has been fulfilled.

A smile came to her face. Before she’d entered that room, she’d been nearly crippled by fear. Now, with the light inside of her, she was confident she could do anything—even the final trial. The one that could kill her.

Thank you, Leia said, softly, and a screeching sound filled her ears.

Leia woke up to pitch black. Safe in her room back in the apartment she shared with a girl she’d met in yoga class, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Visiting the Spirit Room was always draining, but it was a journey that had to be done.

In dreams, her power was nearly immeasurable.

Yawning, she stretched her arms over her head and glanced to the large window at the end of her room. She wished the sun would rise, and wash away all of the fear and darkness smothering her.

When it was dark, being alone was something she’d rather do without.

Sometimes she wanted to be normal. But, she wasn’t born to be like everyone else.

She was born to rule them.

She left her bed and grabbed her spell book; the one passed down from her ancestors. Even though the fear of coming face to face with the final trial of her training frightened her more than anything, she would study and practice and prepare.

"All right," she said to herself. Time is running out.

Chapter 2

L EIA, YOU HAVE to see this, Sarah said in a whisper that broke Leia’s attention to her journal.

Studying in her best friend’s coffee shop was a welcome change from the academy grounds where all of the witches either kept their distance from her or worshipped the ground she stood on. It was nice being around normal people—where no one knew who she was—or what she could do.

The tone of her voice told Leia that her study of spells and formulas could wait. Hmm?

Come. Quick!

Leia stopped twirling her long silver hair and glanced up.

Sarah stood at the door with her back to the crowded coffee shop. The pretty young woman with cocoa-colored skin and a curvy frame looked uncharacteristically tense as she watched something outside the glass.

She took a sip of her coffee. What is it?

"A vampire," Sarah said in a lowered voice as she waved Leia over.

Blimey. Despite her fear, the very mention of a vampire intrigued her.

It was daytime.

The air felt thick as Leia shot from her seat and met Sarah at the storefront window. Her breaths quickened as they watched the slender woman step from her silver Mercedes parked along the busy street.

Leia swallowed as she glanced up at the sky, the sun’s light muted from behind the cloud cover of the overcast London morning. She bit her bottom lip and put her hand over her heart.

It’s working, she thought as she watched the woman.

Bloody hell, it’s really working, she whispered.

All of the patrons in Little Sarah’s Coffee Shop crowded in front of the window to watch the spectacle before them.

Leia scooted closer to Sarah, uncomfortable with the proximity of the other patrons of her best friend’s coffee shop. Each time someone touched her, a jolt of visions filled her head, showing her their thoughts.

Some were pleasant.

Most of the thoughts were not.

Warily, Leia’s eyes went from the short man whose arm pressed against hers as he ogled the woman outside to the morning sky. Visions of him sitting in an old recliner with a lazy cocker spaniel on his lap came to her. The smell of cigar smoke and whiskey accompanied the image, making her cover her nose. It was no use trying to mask the smell. She was thankful when it faded with the vision.

Sighing, Leia crossed her arms over her chest and chewed her bottom lip. She still had yet to find a way to exact her revenge on Lukas and save the other witches he’d imprisoned.

A gruff voice came from the short man beside her. How do you know she’s a vampire, Sarah?

Sarah took a picture of the vampire on her cell. It’s not difficult, Mr. Craig. They just stand out.

And, Sarah was a witch, like me.

We should make them wear something. So they stand out even more. I can’t tell them apart, Mr. Craig said.

Like the Jews? Leia raised a brow. 

He glanced at her, frowning. You know what I mean.

The vampires have come out of hiding, Sarah said, tapping her bottom lip.

Leia looked down to see Sarah uploading the picture to Instagram.

Her brows drew in. Stop that, she whispered, nudging Sarah.

Nearly a foot taller, Sarah looked down at her with an amused smile on her mauve lips. What? They don’t care! They love the attention. Her hazel eyes left Leia’s stern face and locked on the beautiful woman with the porcelain skin and impeccable style.

Leia envied how the woman’s gray dress hugged her full bosom and slim hips.

Look, she’s almost glowing, Sarah said.

Bloody vampires, the short man said, shaking his head. Won’t be long now before the world’s overrun with them.

Leia glanced at him. She wished he’d shut his mouth. Only years ago people said