About Vyper
by Kiernan Kelly
204 pages / 59300 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-739-7
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html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub, also available in
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Vyper is a dashing pirate whose name strikes fear in the hearts of
blackguards and civilians alike. A fortuitous message in a bottle leads
Vyper to the island of Jamaica, but soon entangles him in a web of lies,
deceit, and double-crosses, and introduces him to the man who may plunder
Vyper's heart and destroy his world.
Byron Caldwell is a handsome, titled British landowner, whose holdings
include a thriving plantation on the island of Jamaica. The only shadow on
his otherwise brilliant future is his shrew of a sister, Elizabeth. It's his
intention to marry her off as soon as possible, if only he can find someone
willing to take her off his hands.
Elizabeth wants one thing and one thing only, the key to the Caldwell
fortune, and she'll stop at nothing to get it, including arranging the
kidnapping and eventual death of her brother by hiring the most ferocious
pirate she can find.
The events spurred by a seemingly innocuous message found in a bottle washed
ashore on a tiny island in the Caribbean soon set Vyper's life on its ear,
and may ultimately bring about his demise.
Review
Jane Davitt, author of Hourglass, writes: I'm a fan of this author and
really any book that begins with a gorgeous pirate lounging naked in a
hammock has my vote. 'Vyper' was pure, swashbuckling fun, with some darker
threads running through it that lent the story some intriguing layers. The
characters were compelling, vividly drawn, and well-rounded.
Interestingly, there were four main characters in the book and I found it
fascinating to see the story through their very different points of view.
We're introduced to Toby, the cabin boy who's desperate for Vyper to see him
as the grown man he's become, not the damaged waif Vyper rescued, Vyper
himself, strong, pragmatic, ruthless and yet with a softer side, and the
warring siblings, Elizabeth and Byron, whose fates become inextricably
tangled with those of the two pirates.
This is a book I couldn't put down once I started. I was swept away by the
adventure, drawn in by Toby's unrequited, adolescent love for his hero and
Elizabeth's tragic past and uncertain future. Elizabeth is capricious, even
callous at first glance, but she's got her reasons for everything she does
and it's impossible not to admire her strength and end up supporting her
aims. She's not involved romantically with anyone in the book, but she's far
from a secondary character; all four of them shine.
Byron and Vyper certainly turned up the heat to tropical. Their mutual
attraction and tempetuous fights sizzled on the page and I enjoyed every
flung insult and every scorching kiss.
Memorable, thrilling, and entertaining as hell, this book had me wishing for
a sequel.
Sample
Byron's eyes blazed with fury; Vyper felt his cock jerk
again. There was nothing, Vyper decided, as arousing as this man when he is
angry. "Byron, listen to me. She wants only one thing -- your money. She
doesn't care a whit about you. There is something wicked in that woman,
evil. I saw it in her eyes, heard it in her voice when she tried to turn you
over to me."
"You know nothing of her." Byron's expression gave away his true feelings.
He knew Vyper spoke the truth, even if he didn't want to admit it. "Tell me,
what good am I to you, Vyper? I have no money in my pocket. My documents are
in the house, and all the gold I possess is in the bank in Port Royal, or in
England. I am but a pauper here on your ship."
"Albeit a well satisfied one," Vyper added, chuckling as Byron's face
darkened from red to purple.
"If my sister is as coldhearted as you claim, she'll not pay a farthing for
my return. Let me see to her safety, and I swear to you I will pay whatever
you wish."
"She'll not have the funds to pay me, not while I have you, even if she
wished it so," Vyper retorted. "You hold the purse strings. She will inherit
only if you die. Why do you care so much for the welfare of a woman who
wishes you dead?"
"She does not!"
"Byron, you may lie to me, but surely you can't deceive yourself!" Vyper
insisted. "She tried to sell you to me, and as I recall, you tried to better
the offer if I took her instead!"
"She was half-crazed with fright," Byron mumbled, turning away. "As was I."
"Ha! You were positively joyous at the possibility of ridding yourself of
the shrew."
"Lies! She is my sister!"
"Blood between siblings means nothing when it is bad," Vyper countered.
"Should I allow you to return home, she might well slit your throat in your
sleep."
Byron grew quiet. He seemed to look everywhere but at Vyper, then his
shoulders slumped as if in defeat. He sat on the edge of Vyper's bunk,
staring at his hands. "She was not always this way. As a child, she was pure
sunshine, always smiling, always laughing. She followed me everywhere; I
called her my pinafore shadow. Then, just as she stepped over the threshold
to womanhood, she… changed. She became demanding, and jealous of me. Envious
of the freedoms I enjoyed as a man." His voice dipped into a whisper so low
Vyper needed to strain to hear him. "It became worse after my parents died
and we went to live with our uncle. She would come to me with the most
outrageous stories..."
Vyper nodded. It all sounded very much in keeping with his perception of
Elizabeth's temperament. He'd thought when he met her she would make a good
pirate. Her actions spoke of ruthlessness, and he wondered what might have
happened to change her from a happy child to a venomous snake. Then again,
he knew too well that some men -- and women as well, it appeared -- were
simply born bad. Perhaps she was one of those.
He placed his sword down on the desk again, a sign of trust he wasn't sure
Byron would comprehend. "What do you wish me to do, Byron? I cannot set you
free, not yet. I have my men to consider, and the booty promised them by
your sister. It is the reason we sailed to Jamaica in the first place, and
our journey was not without risk, I assure you. I may understand your
dilemma and commiserate, but they will not be so inclined."
"What? What do you mean?"
Vyper quickly relayed the story of finding the bottle with Elizabeth's note
inside, and following its imperative to rescue her from Byron, and their
narrow escape from the Ares.
"Good Heavens! Surely not even Elizabeth would... but why should I find it
more shocking than her wanting me dead?" Byron rubbed his eyes as if weary.
"I don't know what to do now." There was such despondency in Byron's voice
that it caught Vyper by surprise. It saddened him to see this vibrant man,
so handsome and strong, brought so low by his sister's treachery. It was
like seeing a glorious African lion caged, and tormented not by its keeper,
but by the lioness of its own pride. "I suppose in the morning we may go
ashore and I will withdraw the funds from the bank sufficient to secure my
release."
Vyper gave a short laugh. "I am sorry, Byron, but I cannot trust you to go
alone, yet what do you think the fine bankers will do when you walk into
their facility with a pirate at your side? I fear we must think of an
alternate plan." He gestured toward the door. "Come. Let us go topside. Some
fresh, cool night air will help clear your mind." He gave a short, courtly
bow, and genteelly held out his hand.
Byron didn't take his hand. He blinked, as if suddenly coming awake from a
dream, and straightened his spine. "You, sir, are a pirate who kidnapped me,
and moments ago took advantage of me. Why are you being so kind to me? What
are you playing at?"
Vyper gaped, deeply offended by Byron's remark. He was a thief, yes, but
never of an unwilling man's body. The accusation stung his pride. "Aye, I
suppose I did kidnap you, but you were more than willing to submit to my
attentions! That was your seed on your stomach, Byron," Vyper said sternly.
"It was my name on your lips at the end, when your body convulsed around my
cock."
"You are a vulgar man." Byron's voice was harsh, but the look in his eyes
softened. "Not to mention a pirate," he added. He said it with the ghost of
a smile on his lips.
"I may be a pirate, but I speak the truth and you know it," Vyper said. He
refuse to return Byron's smile with one of his own. His pride was still
bruised. "I do have some honor, sir."
Byron's humbled look was obviously feigned, and there was a twinkle in his
eye as he gave Vyper a short bow. "Oh, my apologies, sir. Truly, it was
insensitive of me to insult my kidnapper."
Vyper snorted, finally relenting. Truly, the man was far too entertaining
for him to remain angry. "Apology accepted. Come now, I wish for fresh air
and salty breezes."
Byron reluctantly took his hand, and Vyper led him up the narrow stairs to
the quarterdeck, then to the rail. They gazed out over the brilliant
turquoise water of the Caribbean at the island floating like an emerald
before them. The sun reflected off the water in countless sparkling
diamonds. Vyper never tired of gazing at it. Spread before them was treasure
beyond reckoning, free for all who cared to look.
As they stood watching, shoulder to shoulder, pirate and prisoner, each man
lost in his own thoughts, all Hell broke loose.