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    Devil's Gate: Elder Races
    Devil's Gate: Elder Races
    Devil's Gate: Elder Races
    Ebook114 pages1 hour

    Devil's Gate: Elder Races

    By Thea Harrison

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    This title was previously published and is being rereleased by the author. It has not been revised.

    As a coroner, medusa Seremela Telemar has always felt more comfortable chatting over a dead body than over drinks. But when her wild niece, Vetta, runs off to Devil’s Gate, a lawless town that sprung up overnight in a modern-day gold rush, she knows she has to extricate her before the rebellious girl gets into real trouble.

    Vampyre Duncan Turner is not about to let his new co-worker go into that chaotic Wild West town alone. His Vampyric power and lawyer smarts make him the perfect ally, and the fact that he already had his eye on Seremela for more…personal reasons, doesn’t hurt matters. Any romantic thoughts are put on hold, however, when they arrive at Devil’s Gate and learn Vetta is set to hang by morning.

    In order to save Vetta and themselves, Seremela and Duncan are going to have to fight fire with force, and magic with fangs. And pray they make it out of Devil’s Gate alive.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTeddy Harrison LLC
    Release dateAug 22, 2017
    ISBN9781947046993
    Devil's Gate: Elder Races

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    Reviews for Devil's Gate

    4/5

    55 ratings5 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I'm really loving these in-between novels. They're just enough to tide me over between full-length release.

      I enjoyed these two very much. I especially loved how their perception of each other changed over the course of the story.

      As with the other shorts Harrison has written, I wish the romance spanned more than a few days. While I believe a Happy-for-Now would work, I'm not sure I bought the I-Love-You's after so short a period of time.
    • 3/5
      This one didn't really do it for me. Maybe it was the Medusa-thing, maybe the vampyre/lawyer thing. Or the teenager runs wild and needs to be rescued theme. All in all, it was a bit boring (astonishing for such a short story) and the big show down ended with a few words about the "good connections" the vampyre/lawyer has and everything is fine.
      Also the love story didn't really develop: the story starts at a point where both MCs already know each other for some time and it is more about the "now we should schedule a first date" phase. Not really exciting, but ok.
    • 3/5
      I'm not sure how to review this story, as a romance and as an adventure it worked very well. The problem is that those two halves felt entirely separate from each other.

      The messy danger of Devil's Gate blew in and out too fast, I wanted more out of that tent city than a blur of troll parking, pharmacy, casino. Still, the places Harrison does describe are striking and distinct, and Devil's Gate shimmers with the squalor and lawlessness of an Old West town. There is a lot of story for this short little novella, and the situation Harrison created could easily have filled a much longer format.

      With so much plot rushing by, I'm glad Harrison kept the romance separate, but this contributes to the almost split personality of DEVIL'S GATE. I could wish that the genre didn't demand a happily-ever-after, I would have been happy if Duncan and Selema were just setting the stage for a later book, and some of that "even better if" longing did detract from my over all enjoyment. Harrison, once again, does a great job writing how the "otherness" of her paranormal creatures impacts their everyday life. Selema's headsnakes are a riot in the opening scene, jockeying to look through the peephole of her door like excited kids (PD - Those headsnakes don't just disappear, and though Duncan and I both found them charming, anyone with a morbid fear of snakes may not be able accept them).

      The exotic danger of Devil's Gate and the shy attraction of this romance are both memorable, if not particularly tied to each other. Whether in a longer novella or a full length book, DEVIL'S GATE is a story that feels like it needed more room to grow.
    • 4/5
      The blurb itself tell much about the story and since its a short novella I can hardly comment more without spoiling the story . Devil’s Gate is the Elder Races novella that narrates the story of Seremela, the medusa medical examiner that had helped the previous Elder Races characters with cases and sometimes research on something. Now she’s newly relocated to Miami where she can continue working with Carling and Rune, her days became stunted when her sister called up with a news that her unruly niece had trouble in Devil’s Gate, a town where the bad and wild prowled. Duncan Turner, Carling’s Vampyre lawyer who had helped Rune when Carling’s dying, came to helped Seremela when Carling called up about Seremela’s family issues.

      For me, Elder Races series are not just any ordinary PNR book series. What’s intriguing about the urban fantasy series is that most of the books are either comedy mythology, mystery and politics which masquerades as paranormal romance. If you judge the books by the cover (full of hunks by the way) you’re likely to miss out a lot from these action adverture books. The short novella actually have a lot of romance elements that the novels itself almost lacks. With the coming book about Drogos and Pia again, the novella tried it best to tie up some of its side characters stories by giving what some readers crave since the novels are more serious that it let on.

      The novella bring newer conflict that may be apparent in future storylines; an ancient item resurfaces, the dark fey politics strife and fragile wyr demesne. With the fifth novel coming up in five more month, the novella does manage to make me stay intrigued with the storylines and refreshed some of the books’s side character without rereading the entire series. A skill which most YA writers absolutely lacks.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A fun story about a medusa and a vampyre going to rescue a girl in a lawless town and eventually finding love that’s set within the world of the Elder Races series.Opening Sentence: Seremela Telemar leaned against the frame of the open balcony doors in her high-rise apartment and looked out at the ocean view.The Review:Seremela Telemar is a medusa working for Carling and Rune (their story is in Serpents Kiss). She must leave her job for a family emergency involving her missing niece and while this is not uncommon thing for Seremela to do, her companion is: Sexy vampyre lawyer, Duncan Turner. While she may entertain naughty thoughts about Duncan, she is more worried about her niece’s location within the famed lawless tent town of Devil’s Gate. Can Seremela and Duncan get Vetta out with all of them alive and unscathed? Is this the perfect opportunity for these two beings to explore the sexual chemistry between them?Seremela and Duncan have been side characters that make bit appearances in most of the recent books of The Elder Races series. Seremela’s character seems extremely intelligent, yet shy and reserved. Duncan, on the other hand, comes across as more confident and aloof. In this novella, we see that there is so much more to the both of them. Out of all the novella’s to date, I have to say that this is my favorite. It is like watching two of your old acquaintances find love in one another. Seremela and Duncan not only work well together, they complement each other. I find myself more attached to these two than the other background characters and I look forward to seeing their relationship progress in future books.Devil’s Gate is a very interesting place. It brings to mind the old West settlements, only with supernatural creatures. There is gambling, shake downs, and no laws but their own. I found the entire place to be a wonderful addition to the Elder Races universe and its strict laws and regulations. It was extremely satisfying to see Seremela “let down her hair” and allow her inner strength to shine through in such adversity.While this novella ties into Natural Evil, it is a wonderful read in itself. I’m glad that my Elder Races fix is supplemented by such witty and heartwarming tales.Notable Scene:“After we park, we’re going to need reliable information. Where?”“Down Main Street, north side,” said the troll. “Look for the pharmacist. Name’s Wendell. He’d sell pics of his mother’s tits to the highest bidder. But they’d really be of his mother’s tits.” As Seremela stared, the troll lifted his rocky shoulders. “What can I say, guy’s got a code. Sort of.”Duncan bit back a smile. “He your boss?”“Yeah.” The troll patted the roof of the SUV, straightened and lumbered back a step. “Now git outta here.”Duncan drove the SUV gently over the rough, pitted ground toward the end of one row of vehicles where a ghoul in an orange reflective vest stood, flashing them with a flashlight.“I brought cash too,” Seremela said. “I’ll pay you back.”“Let’s not worry about that right now,” Duncan said. “It’s unimportant. Let’s just focus on getting your niece.”“Okay.” She stayed silent for a moment as he parked the SUV. Then she said, “Wendell.”“The pornographic pharmacist,” Duncan said, deadpan.“It’s not funny.”“Of course it’s not,” he said.A soft, odd noise escaped her. It sounded a lot like hot air hissing out of a tea kettle. He looked at her suffused face, found her looking back at him, and them they both burst out laughing again.He pulled the emergency brake and killed the engine. “Let’s go see what Wendell has to say for himself.”“Okay,” Seremela said, eyes dancing, “but if he tries to sell me a picture of his mother’s tits, I’m so out of there.”FTC Advisory: Samhain Publishing graciously provided me with a copy of Devil’s Gate. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.

    Book preview

    Devil's Gate - Thea Harrison

    Chapter One

    Sacrifice

    Seremela Telemar leaned against the frame of the open balcony doors in her high-rise apartment and looked out at the ocean view. Tropical humidity licked her skin. As soon as she had gotten home, she had opened up the balcony doors, stripped off her work clothes and put on denim shorts and a tank top.

    The weather in Miami was playing the blues. Like the singer Nina Simone’s voice, it had a dark, sultry vibe with a bitter edge and an unexpected snap. Massive knots of moody clouds obscured the sun as they roiled over turbulent water, and heavy rain lashed down in vertical sheets. All that was needed was a world-weary man in a Bogart suit, fingering ivory piano keys in an abandoned hotel as he waited for a hurricane.

    One of her head snakes slipped over her shoulder and rose to look at her, its jeweled gaze curious. It tasted the storm-laden air with a slender tongue. She put a forefinger underneath its jaw and nudged it gently. It slid closer and rested its tiny cheek against hers. In another mood, she might have smiled, but not this morning.

    Was she really going to do this again?

    Yes. Yes, she was.

    She sighed, turned on her cell phone and hit speed dial. She held it up to her ear. A strained feminine voice on the other end said, Serrie?

    Yes, she said to her sister, Camilla. I’ll go get her.

    Oh, thank the gods, Camilla said fervently.

    I do not believe the gods are whom you should be thanking, said Seremela.

    Of course not! Camilla said. Thank you, Serrie! You know how much this means to me. Vetta won’t mind me at all anymore—she never listens to anything I say, and I know what would happen if I tried to fetch her home myself. It would blow up into everything being my fault again, and the fight would drag on for hours and hours—and Vetta would make it as public as she could just to humiliate me, she knows how much I hate public altercations—

    Camilla, Seremela said. Her tone was sharp enough that it cut through Camilla’s babble. The other woman fell silent. She said, I need for you to listen to me right now.

    Of course, whatever you need, Camilla said quickly.

    This is the last time I’m going to be able to drop everything to help fix your problems and your mistakes.

    Camilla’s tone turned cautious. What do you mean, the last time?

    I can’t keep putting my life on hold every time something goes wrong for you, or every time you and Vetta have an argument that you can’t resolve. I just started a new, very demanding job. My employers are wonderful people, and they’re really good to me, but there’s only so much I can ask from them. Unlimited time off at a moment’s notice is not one of those things.

    Camilla’s voice turned cold. She’s your niece. I thought you cared about what happened to her.

    Seremela bit back her anger. Now it was time for the guilt trip, but it was always time for the guilt trip whenever she didn’t do what Camilla wanted her to do, or say what Camilla wanted to hear. Children were rare for all of the Elder Races, and ever since Camilla had managed to carry Vetta to term, she had a skewed perspective on what the world owed her for achieving such a precious miracle.

    Of course I love both of you, she said. And I care about what happens to you. That’s why I’m agreeing to make this trip. But she’s your daughter, and I have to agree, Vetta’s out of control. You have to figure out how to work things out with her yourself. You need to get counseling, Camilla, not only for yourself but for Vetta too.

    I have to go, Camilla said.

    Seremela rolled her eyes. Sure you do, she said. She spoke too late, and a dial tone sounded in her ear. Camilla had hung up on her.

    She resisted the urge to throw her iPhone. Instead she checked her work email again. Still no response from either of her new employers, Carling or Rune.

    To be fair, she had only emailed them a short while ago, when she had gone into the office to ready her desk for a leave of absence. Deep regrets, family emergency, need to take time off work, will be in touch soon, blah blah blah. She had written the same kind of letter so often through the years, she could compose one in her sleep.

    How many times had she sacrificed herself on the altar of Camilla’s neediness? She blew out a breath. Too many times to count.

    If she expected Camilla to learn to take responsibility for her own life, Seremela had to do the same. She had chosen to enable Camilla’s behavior over the years. Now it was time to focus her energy on building a new life for herself.

    After all, that’s what her move to Miami was all about: taking on a new job and doing medical research she really wanted to do, building a new life and exploring new opportunities and horizons. It was not too late for her to break out of her sheltered, academic shell.

    The small, poisonous voice of her Adversary whispered, the only confidence you ever found was in the classroom or the laboratory. When you’re not lecturing over an autopsied body, you turn into a klutzy fool. You haven’t dated in years—actually decades now—and you rarely make new friends. You’re never going to have children of your own, and you’ve grown set in your ways as well. You’re starting a new life with the old you. All your old problems and old weaknesses have come with you, so how can you expect to truly change anything?

    She rubbed her forehead tiredly. The medusae believed that each medusa was born with a drop of poison in their souls. The poison turned into the medusa’s Adversary, the dark voice that whispered doubts and fears in one’s own thoughts. The measure of one’s strength was determined by how well one withstood one’s internal Adversary. Seremela tried to overcome that negative voice, but her own Adversary had a lot of ammunition to use against her.

    She forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand. There was no reason to procrastinate any longer by pretending that she was waiting to hear back from her bosses. Many employers were very understanding about family emergencies—at least the first time. And Carling and Rune were much better than many other employers. They had gone out of their way to show her how much they valued her.

    She sighed, tossed her phone onto the coffee table and went to pack a carry-on. Seriously, when she found Vetta, she was going to wring that girl’s neck. That’d solve any potential problems with further confrontation or conflict. It wouldn’t cure Camilla of her neediness or get Seremela a life outside of work, but that was okay, it would make room for taking care of the rest. Lots and lots of lovely room.

    A knock sounded on her apartment door. The nictating membrane on her eyes snapped shut in surprise, and she paused, bras clutched in one hand and undies in the other. Dropping the filmy, colorful handfuls of underwear into her open case, she hurried to the door and peered out the peephole.

    A dark haired man stood on the other side of her door, looking like he had just stepped out of an issue of GQ magazine. He stood in a casual stance, hands in the pockets of a hand-stitched linen summer suit, the jacket unbuttoned. Every expensive line of the tailored clothes emphasized his lean, well shaped body. His sleek dark hair, layered in a razor cut, fell on his forehead as though he had just run his fingers through it. His eyes were just as dark as his hair and glittered with intelligence. In contrast his skin was the pale ivory of a man who never saw any sunlight.

    Because if he did, he would vanish in a blaze of fire.

    Duncan Turner, internationally famous lawyer and the youngest progeny of one of the most Powerful Vampyres in the world, stood on her doorstep? In midmorning?

    Once her nictating membranes started they wouldn’t stop. They snapped open. Shut again. Open again. Shut again. It was a medusa’s version of nervous hiccups.

    She jerked

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