Domination (11 page)
Authors: Lyra Byrnes
Josie pushed in her earplugs. Half the band had changed but
if anything they sounded better—stronger, more passionate. Kraxis’ drum work
blistered. The skinny backup guitarist played to the crowd, leaning
back-to-back against the new bassist, a charismatic blond with a chin dimple
that drove the girls in the audience crazy.
As for Bram, he was on fire.
“I’ve sent your electronics on to Los Angeles,” shouted
Bucky.
“That’s okay. I’m out of the business.”
“And what business are you in now, if I may ask?”
She nodded at the stage. “His.”
Bucky sighed. “I’ve never been a fan of the human emotions—they
get in the way of one’s duties. But seeing my top moneymaker happy means I, for
one, am still in business, and so is Domination. I expect another number-one
hit soon so it’s all to the good.”
“Really?”
“Yes, and I suggest you pay close attention to the next
song. But a warning—it’s no Brahms.”
He bustled away and Josie turned her attention to the stage.
Bram silenced the strings and stood still in a cold white
spotlight, an ominous drumbeat behind him.
“New York City loves its metal, and Domination loves New
York City,” he shouted. “We have one more for you tonight, a treat for you
drunken blighters.”
He grinned and looked off to the side, catching Josie’s eye
offstage. The crowd went insane at the sight of Bram Hunter’s wicked smile.
“A new song and my best to date.
Transylvania
!”
The band roared to life and Bram began to sing.
Clear as the moon and twice as cold/Hope I die before I’m
old/The fight, the blood, the claws, the teeth/The undertow, the sweet
release/Her eyes are gray, her fangs are white/Our love’s insatiable bite/Don’t
take me there, don’t take me there/To Transylvania in your hearse/My love for
you is like a curse/Don’t ever take me there
Josie smiled in the shadows of the arena wings, roadies and
crew bustling around her. “I won’t,” she whispered into the dark.
Bookish crafter by day, scribbler of passionate tales by
night, Lyra Byrnes leads a most satisfying double life. A former award-winning
journalist and multi-published author, she turned to writing romances full-time
after being inspired by the many wonderful stories out there. Rumors that she
dons a cape and mask to write are probably unfounded.
Lyra welcomes comments from readers. You can find her email
address on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
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Lyra
Byrnes
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Domination
ISBN 9781419993411
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Domination Copyright © 2014 Lyra Byrnes
Edited by Beverly Horne
Cover design by Allyse Leodra
Cover photography by Maksym Poriechkin, Furtseff
Electronic book publication September 2014
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