| 3x Featured | ONC 2024 Ambassadors pick | ONC 2024 Honourable mention | "Be careful of the waters you tread in, Mr. Crawford because you might become the very thing that lurks beneath." In the gritty underworld of London, Rhazien Crawford leads a double life. By day, he works as a detective, solving crimes and bringing justice to the streets. But by night, he is a vampire hunter battling the undead and protecting the innocent from their bloodthirsty clutches. One night, Rhazien's usual hunt takes a dark turn when he stumbles upon a child caught in the middle of a massacre. Unable to leave the boy to his fate, Rhazien takes him under his wing until Van Helsing Inc. can find him a safe home. But as he delves deeper into the child's past, Rhazien discovers that he is the son of Lord Ravenwood, the notorious crime boss of London. Now, Rhazien must decide between his duty as a detective and his duty as a vampire hunter. With time running out and his morals at stake, he must find a way to liberate London from the grip of corruption and protect the kid at all costs. Will he overcome the darkness within and emerge victorious, or will he succumb to the shadows and become the very thing he hunts? Only time will tell in this thrilling tale of danger, intrigue, and battle between a hunter and the creatures of the night. Prompt #3: "Your greatest fear is the monsters in the dark. The last thing you expect is to become the Monster in the dark." Started on: February 14, 2024 Ended on: April 28, 2024 Republished: August 29, 2025 Total word count: 27 600 Round 1(2000 words):✔ Ambassadors' pick: 🏅 Round 2 (8000 words): ✔ Round 3 (20 000+ words): ✔ Longlist: ✔ Shortlist: ✔ Honourable mention:🏅

Grady just wants to grieve the loss of his ex in peace, but then Quinn's younger sister, Taryn, whirls into his Texas hometown, looking to stir up the past. She brings in a wave of goons with her and a mystery that's well beyond his pay grade. Still, it's Grady's job to serve and protect, and as much as he may want to, he can't deny his involvement. Or Taryn's plea for help. Quinn's life may depend on it... | Featured on @Romance / Romantic Suspense | | @Mystery / Book of the Month / Stand Out Mysteries (April 2025) | | ONC2024 Round 2 Ambassadors' Pick |