Surrender the Void

By Isadora Brown

Twenty-year-old orphan Kara Darling will do anything to find her missing brother, even break into the crypt of one of the most dangerous heathens. The last thing she expects is to meet Keaton himself. More than that, he’s willing to make her a deal: marry him, free him from the confines of his crypt, and he’ll tell her everything she wants to know.

Now, Kara is forced to choose between finding out what really happened to her brother, the only family she has left, or the family that took her after the attack, gave her a home and a purpose by allowing her to attend their academy for ghost hunters.

Trusting Keaton is out of the question, but no one from the academy will give her answers. If Kara wants information, she’s going to have to trust Keaton, whether she wants to or not.

Fans of Beetlejuice and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are addicted to this new slowburn paranormal ghost romance by a USA Today Best Selling Author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather C. Myers
• Release date: May 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005398408

Book preview

1

It was the darkest Samhain I had ever been part of. It was perfect for the very bad, very forbidden thing I was about to do.

In Ember Hollow, a dark Samhain was a good thing. It gave me a blanket to work within so I wouldn’t get caught.

Hopefully.

I tucked my blonde hair behind my ear before reaching up to take the rim of my witch’s hat and pulling it over my head even more than it already was. There were specks of blood underneath my fingernails. Instead of trying to get it out like I would have, I let it stay.

It added to the effect of my costume.

I glanced back at my two best friends, Matilda and Daphne, a few paces behind me. They looked like they wanted to be anywhere but where I was leading them.

I didn’t care.

I didn’t turn back to join the festivities even though I could smell the zesty scent of the barmbrack cooking in the outdoor ovens. My stomach rumbled, interrupting the otherwise silent night.

Daphne hissed through her teeth. "I swear, Kara, you are always hungry, she said in that unique whisper-yell she was known for. Your stomach has gotten us into more trouble than anything we’ve ever done."

I had nothing to say to that. Whether I liked to admit it or not, Daphne was right. I was surprised she still wanted to tag along on these little adventures I led them into. Granted, these little adventures tended to get us into trouble since they went against the strict code the Crypt Keepers enforced on students who attended their academy. It didn’t matter that we were all twenty or around that age, that we were legal adults, we still had to obey the rules - including the mandatory curfew that was only lifted tonight. 

And we definitely were not allowed in the Hallow Crypt. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn’t count how many rules we were breaking. It had to be a record, even for me.

But rules hadn’t stopped me before.

The guilt hadn’t stopped me before, either.

This place was my home, my sanctuary. After my family and I were attacked by shades – little ghosts that shouldn’t be lethal or threatening – Dean Davidson found me and took me in when I was ten years old. He was the father I lost, giving me a safe place to be, to learn. I had my own room, access to a grand library, and all the food I could ever want. I’d never go hungry, never have to wander through the forest, wondering where I was going to sleep because of him.

And here I was, ready to betray him all because of something that might be possible.

You know, Mattie said, skipping a few steps to keep up with me. I don’t think we should be here. I think this is pushing it, even for us.

You helped steal my lock picks back, I said, my voice nearly overwhelmed by the howling wind that tangled my hair. I clutched the rim of my hat even tighter, glancing around in the dark sky, almost as though I expected shades to peek themselves from the low hanging waxing gibbous moon. You’re in this, Mattie. Whether you want to be or not.

I’m not saying that, she said hurriedly. I’m just saying I’m… Her voice trailed off as the iron gates came into view, silhouettes against the black blanket of sky. 

Scared?

I didn’t have to look at Daphne to know she was smirking. It wasn’t mean, not exactly. It was probably because she was trying to make herself feel better because she was scared too. Hell, even I was. But that wasn’t going to stop me. This was too important to let fear or guilt stop me.

Oh, lay off her, Daphne, I said.

Dean Davidson says the crypt is sacred ground, and stepping inside of it, especially on Samhain is blasphemous, Mattie said quickly. And what if we get caught? What then?

Sacred ground? I shrugged the bag hanging from my shoulder as we stopped just before the gates. You know what they do here, don’t you? You know why they don’t want anyone to go in unless you’re officially a Keeper, right?

And what’s that? Daphne asked flatly, crossing her arms over her chest. Since you seem to know everything.

I ignored the chill that swept down my spine. Autumn was in full swing in the small town, and it wasn’t uncommon to see a frost late at night and early in the mornings.

They keep souls of the damned here, I said.

Mattie looked over at Daphne and the two exchanged a look of disbelief. Mattie’s lip curled down in disbelief.

Okay, Daphne said, rolling her eyes.

Sure, Mattie added.

It’s the truth, I insisted through a hiss. Where do you think the Hunters put all the shades they’ve captured?

And where did you hear that? Daphne asked. Please don’t tell me you’ve been listening to Graham and all his conspiracy theories. You know the guy is like Fox Mulder crazy.

"But aliens existed in the X-Files world, Mattie said, lifting a finger. She nearly stumbled over her feet, trying to talk and rush at the same time. So…he wasn’t really that crazy."

Thank you, I said with a smug grin as I pulled out something from my heavy trench coat. It didn’t exactly scream witch but it held my lock picking kit and kept me warm. 

Wait, Mattie said, stepping forward and placing her hand over mine. You can’t possibly be serious. We’re actually breaking into the cemetery?

Not just the cemetery, I said. "But his crypt."

Mattie’s blood drained from her face as she reached for me. I looked over at Daphne. Her eyes went wide and she shot me a pleading look with her sapphire eyes.

Kar, Daphne said, trying to maintain a tone of cool rationality. "Come on. We already stole back your lock picking kit in the biology lab after Professor Horn confiscated it yesterday. You didn’t even let us shower before demanding we get in our