Novels by Tyler E. Harrie

The moment we reached the island, I knew something was wrong.The storm had caught up with us.Rain poured from the sky as Ardonis guided the boat toward the shore, and the waves rocked us violently from side to side. I held onto the side of the boat as he fought against the current."Hold on!" he shouted."I'm holding!"The boat slammed against the dock, making me stumble forward.Ardonis caught my arm before I could fall."Careful.""I'm fine."He gave me a look that said he didn't believe me, but he released my arm and jumped onto the dock."Come on."We hurried toward the island, carrying as much of the medical equipment as we could manage. Ardonis carried two crates at once while I struggled with one.I was beginning to think vampires were annoyingly useful.We hadn't even reached the medical building when Olga came running toward us."Nyra!"I immediately dropped the crate."What happened?""It's Jorge."My heart sank."What about him?""He has gotten worse.""What do you mean w

Nyra’s point of view.We grabbed a boat and headed for town due to Ardonis’ claim that he “Knew a guy.’ The boat ride into town was a stark contrast to our peaceful island. The port was a chaotic scene of shouting men, screeching gulls, and the constant rumble of engines. There must be at least a hundred boats lined here. Ardonis expertly guided the boat into a crowded slip, his movements sure and confident. He grabbed a large, black duffel bag from under the console, and I couldn't help but wonder what, exactly, he had brought with him. It was heavy, that much was clear.He led me through a maze of narrow, winding streets, the air thick with the smell of diesel, fish, and spices. We stopped in front of a dingy, unmarked office building, the kind of place you'd never look at twice."The man we're meeting, Younis” Ardonis said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the street, "is the top supplier of medical supplies to underworld doctors. The kind who work exclusively for drug lords, maf

Ardonis point of view.As I hauled the last of the broken metal slabs into the disposal pile, my muscles burned with a satisfying strain. Wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my arm, I watched Nyra's retreating back. What the hell was that? One minute we were working together like a well-oiled machine, her barking orders and me and Jorge following them, the next she was running away like there was a fire.Things had been... good. Easy. The banter, the shared work, the quiet moments. I thought we were finally finding a rhythm that wasn't weighed down by our past. But all of a sudden, her mood changed. I wonder why?Curiosity, and something else I wouldn't name, pulled me away from the wreckage. I found her at the outdoor tap by the side of the main house, her back to me. She was splashing cool water on her arms and face, trying to wash away the grime and frustration of the day. Her thin shirt was damp with sweat and water, clinging to the curves of her back and shoulders in

Nyra’s point of view.I’m woken up by the guttural roar of a diesel engine and the screech of grinding metal. My eyes snapped open. Ardonis was already awake beside me, blinking in the dim light, his expression confused. The jacket he'd given me was still draped over my shoulders."What is that?" I murmured.A loud CRUNCH echoed from the lab, followed by the groan of stressed steel. Ardonis got on his feet in an instant, moving to the shelter door and pulling it open. The main lab was a disaster. Sunlight streamed through a massive hole in the roof where a giant, old tree, had crashed through.Its trunk and branches had completely destroyed the workstations and shattered equipment. And there, standing in the middle of the devastation, was Jorge, expertly maneuvering the arm of a small excavator, pushing the splintered remains of the tree away from the mangled lab door.I went up to meet Ardonis my hand flying to my mouth. "Oh my goodness," I breathed. "What a mess."Everywhere smelled

Ardonis’ point of view.The next few days fell into a rhythm of work and quiet companionship. We spent hours in the lab, with her testing everything possibly testable. She does not like to leave rooms for mistakes. I found a strange peace in it, being the subject of her singular focus. It was the one place where the world, with its betrayals and complications, couldn't touch us.Tonight, we were deep into it testing my bloodwork for the third time this week.When without warning, a huge bolt of lightning, thundered in the sky.Nyra froze, her head snapping up from the microscope. "What was that?"Another deafening crack of thunder shook the entire building, and the lights flickered violently before dying, plunging us into darkness, save for the emergency backup lighting that cast long, eerie shadows. The wind began to howl, a furious, screaming beast that rattled the windows and tore at the walls of the lab."A storm must have moved in fast," I said, my voice calm as I moved towards

Nyra’s point of view.The boat ride back was filled with the lingering energy and excitement of our small adventure. Ardonis carried the massive tuna like it was a loaf of bread, and I couldn't help but watch the easy way his muscles bunched and shifted under his shirt. When we reached the dock, Olga was there to greet us, her eyes widening at the sight of our catch."Madre de Dios!" she exclaimed, her hands flying to her cheeks. "Jorge, you have outdone yourself!""It wasn't me," Jorge said, a proud grin on his face as he gestured to Ardonis. "It was Mr. Ardonis."Olga looked from Ardonis to the fish and back again, her expression a mixture of awe and delight. "I will cook this for you tonight. A feast!""That sounds wonderful," I said, a genuine smile on my face. "I'm just going to take a quick shower. I feel... filthy."I escaped to my room, the promise of hot water pulling me. The steam filled the large bathroom, fogging the glass as I stepped under the spray. The water flowed ove