Conducted by Patriarch Kristoff, leader of the vampires
Patriarch: As vampires near extinction, this interview is for anyone in the future to learn about our people. Levi, please state your name and background for the record.
Levi: My name is Levi Godfrey, proud vampire. I was turned in the 1970s by my brother, Cyrus. It helped us escape our abusive father.
Patriarch: And they say vampires are violent! I’m glad you two got away. Levi, what do you think of the plan I proposed?
Levi: To time travel into the past to wipe out the vampire hunters before they can kill us all in the future? It’s brilliant, Patriarch, and I believe it’s going to work. My brother and I will make sure of it.
Patriarch: It may be the only way to save our people from going extinct. Now, tell the people of the future—hopefully other vampire clans if we can get our numbers back up—about Allegiant.
Levi: growls Allegiant is who’s been hunting us for centuries. They call themselves Legionnaires and they hate vampires. Sadly, they’ve done a good job of killing most of us. Your plan is drastic, Patriarch, but humans have a charming saying—desperate times call for desperate measures.
Patriarch: One thing I agree with the humans on. Now, how do you feel about Emilia Rutherford?
Levi: She’s the madwoman who started Allegiant in the 17th century. When I time travel into the past and find her, I’m going to rip her to shreds myself, then drink from her. Slowly. And painfully. She deserves it for everything she’s done to our people…clears throat Um, sorry.
Patriarch: You looked a little lost in thought there, Levi. Daydreaming about drinking her blood?
Levi: Sorry, I just felt this pain in my chest. Like…like I know Emilia from somewhere. Eh, it’s probably nothing.
Patriarch: I hope not, Levi. You are the last of our people—and our future relies on you. Fail to stop Allegiant and the vampires will become extinct for sure. But since we’re on the subject of humans…what’s one thing you like about their culture?
Levi: Hmm…maybe their music, I guess. Their tunes are pretty catchy. I’m looking forward to seeing what the past looked like in the flesh. Uh, but I’ll remain committed to my mission, of course.
Patriarch: Of course. Pull this off and you can be the leader of the vampires one day too, Levi. Just don’t tell your brother that. He’s quite competitive, isn’t he?
Levi: Oh, definitely. My brother…Cyrus is brilliant, but very jealous and aggressive. Uh, don’t tell him I said that.
Patriarch: My lips—and fangs—are sealed. Now, just to make sure you don’t get the wrong idea, I hear Emilia Rutherford was quite beautiful in her time, as well as clever. Keep your wits about you and don’t let her convince you that saving the humans is the right thing to do.
Levi: Trust me, Patriarch, I have no intention of that. No matter how pretty she is…ugh, sorry, there’s that pain in my chest again. I think we might have to cut this interview short. I’m ready to time travel into the past whenever you have the ritual ready.
Patriarch: Soon, Levi. Very soon. Will the vampires rise and take over the world, or will Allegiant finally succeed in wiping us off the face of the planet? Two brothers time traveling into the past will have a chance at the former. Remember, Levi…all of vampirekind is depending on you. Now, go kill Emilia Rutherford and all her puny Legionnaires!
Find out who wins the human vampire war in Blood Oath, the first novel in the Vampire Empire series by Dana Gricken, featuring time travel, forbidden romance, and twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Coming March 17th!
He was sent to kill her. He never expected to fall in love.
The Allegiant have hunted vampires to extinction—almost. When their bunker is destroyed, brothers Levi and Cyrus Godfrey use forbidden blood magic to travel back to the 17th century to stop the war before it begins. Their mission is simple: infiltrate Allegiant and kill its founder, Emilia Rutherford.
But Emilia is nothing like the legend—brave, compassionate, and the first light Levi has known in centuries. As he infiltrates her world, duty turns to desire…and Levi realizes he can’t destroy the woman who’s teaching him how to be human again.
Meanwhile, Cyrus allies with ancient, vicious vampires determined to finish the job at any cost. Brother is pitted against brother, and history itself hangs in the balance.
Levi must choose: save Emilia and doom his people, or kill the woman he loves to save the last of his kind.
A sweeping, emotional vampire romance where fate collides with desire—and one choice can rewrite the world.
Meet Dana Gricken:
Dana Gricken is an author from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In her spare time, she enjoys watching Star Trek with her cats, reading, and playing video games. She hopes her books bring joy to people and wants to write over a hundred novels in her lifetime.
You can find her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and BookBub!
