Welcome to Shayla Blacks's guest blog

A few years ago, my grandmother told me how much she loved my books and stories about magic. Then she said to me in her sweet-sly voice that she just knew any books I wrote about magic would be wonderful.

She made me think. I’d had the idea for TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS, the first Doomsday Brethren novel, about a dozen years earlier. I had parts lovingly plotted—but then I had big holes. Originally, Marrok (the hero) was a shapeshifter. There was no Doomsday Brethren. Bram, the group’s leader, was merely a friend with a problem. Olivia was still an American girl in London. Her goal was still finding her father, but I didn’t know if she would succeed or how.

I’d also had another idea about a magical book that granted wishes, fantasies—whether good or bad. In my head, that magical book was tied to a story about a human tabloid reporter who stumbled into the book and the wizard sent to retrieve it from her. But again, I had holes. Why was this particular wizard sent to snatch the book from her? For that matter, how had the reporter received the book? Why? This idea eventually morphed into SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW.

When I finally started marrying up these two ideas in my head, the Doomsday Brethren were born. Marrok, one of King Arthur’s banished soldiers, finds himself living in modern UK, an utter recluse. His one outlet is elite wizard Bram. Marrok hates magic…but suddenly finds himself mated to Morganna le Fay’s great-granddaughter and training the Doomsday Brethren to fight like humans in order to deal with a frightful, rising evil immune to magic.

At the end of TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS, we’re introduced to Caden MacTavish, who returned to the UK only to help his brother recover from a magical malady stemming from the loss of his long-time mate. But Caden is desperate to return to “normal” life, far away from magic and memories and everything he purposely abandoned. With the help of his human reporter and an assignment to shut her up that’s disastrous from the word “go,” Caden becomes embroiled in magickind’s problems. The glue that holds both books together? The Doomsday Brethren! Those were my plot holes. They represented not just motivation and action, but a sense of continuity, family, caring, change, growth, compromise, and love. These warriors banding together for a common cause will change not only magickind forever, but each other as well.

I can’t wait for future installments of this series to release. In book 3 (November 09), POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT, you’ll see Ice’s story unfold, learn about his devotion to the one witch he cannot have, his heartbreaking past, along with his incredible sacrifices for his woman and magickind. If you’ve been following along, yes, I’ll continue with storylines about Lucan and Anka, Shock, Bram, and Duke, as well as introduce you to some new members. I Hope you’re excited too!

Thanks, Nana, for the suggestion!

Here is the cover blurb of SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW:

When a villainous wizard escapes from exile, the devastatingly sexy Doomsday Brethren must defend all magickind in the spellbinding second book in bestselling author Shayla Black’s seductive new paranormal series.

Ex-Marine Caden MacTavish has shunned his magical heritage all his life, but he will do anything to heal his desperately ill brother, a Doomsday Brethren warrior in mourning for his missing mate. Posing as a photographer, Caden must convince firecracker tabloid reporter Sydney Blair to reveal the source of her recent exposé on a supernatural power clash. Unfortunately, keeping his hands off the sizzling redhead proves as hard as getting them onto the potent and mystical Doomsday Diary he discovers at her bedside. A bloody rebellion led by an evil, power-hungry wizard is imminent. If Sydney divulges the book’s existence, she will jeopardize magickind’s most deeply guarded secrets and become the ruthless wizard’s number one target. Caden has never trusted magic’s cruel and dangerous powers, but he will protect Sydney with his life and magic—even if it means risking his heart.



Excerpt

“Who is it?”

“Caden. Open the door, Sydney. Now.”

His voice quickly washed away her surprise. A bit angry. Insistent. And dripping sex. She shivered.

Her jittery fingers closed around the lock and unlatched it, then fumbled to grab the knob. Before she could turn it, the door flew open.

Caden filled the doorway, breathing hard, his entire body tense. Those blue eyes lit on her mouth like a laser. Hot. Sydney tingled.

Clearing her throat, she struggled to find her voice. “Why—”

He kicked the door closed. The crash boomed in her little foyer, resounding in her ears, echoing her racing heart as he reached behind his head, gathered his baggy white shirt in his fist, and yanked it off. Tossing it to the floor, he stood silently. Watching. Primed. His muscled chest and shoulders rose and fell with each hard breath. His abdomen rippled. Veins and tendons stood out across his forearms and hands.

Her mouth was agape, and she couldn’t stop staring. Oh my Lord, she’d known he was gorgeous, suspected he was well put together. But this male animal was far more than she bargained for. Dangerous. Pushed to the edge.

Sydney swallowed.

“You know why I’ve come.”

If she hadn’t guessed by now, his sexual growl told her everything.

Had he reconsidered her proposition? Or was it even possible the magical book had persuaded him?

“What about a fling being unfair to me because you’re returning to Dallas?”

Those burning eyes of his lit a path of fire from her face to her breasts, then…between her legs. She felt his stare like a physical caress, as if he’d reached out and rubbed his fingers over her flesh. Sydney steadied herself on the table beside her. Her robe, once slung over her arm, floated to the floor.

“I…can’t stay away. God knows I tried. Do you want me?”

She shouldn’t. This was mad. Dangerous. “Yes.”

His gaze skated over her lingerie once more. “Take it off. All of it.”

“Here?” Her voice squeaked, and she cursed herself. She was never meek, never backed down, and rarely showed vulnerability. She also didn’t sleep with men she’d never dated. But Caden… apparently, she had a whole new set of rules for him.

He lifted a brow, stepped closer, and reached for her. Sydney got the distinct impression that if she didn’t get her silky things off fast enough, he’d dispense with them quickly—and without a lot of care, just like the fantasy she’d written in the magical diary. Her womb clenched at the thought.

It took her two tries, but she plucked at the tie between her breasts and loosened the soft corset. Breathing ragged, she shimmied it over her hips, exposing her breasts to the cool night air and his rapt gaze.

He zeroed in on the hard tips. His possessive stare made her ache.

“The rest,” he growled, eyeing the nearly transparent thong with malice.

A thrill zipped up her spine…