In 1860, Nathaniel Bane and his brothers dug deep into the earth on a mission from God, searching for a cache of silver to help fund their new religious civilization. What they found altered them forever and set off a chain of events that changed the course of Nevada’s history.Nearly twenty years later, the constant hunger and restlessness has made Nathaniel desperate for relief. A chance … chance encounter in the desert and a meeting with an incredibly powerful holy man will set Nathaniel on a path to redemption—a journey filled with love, blood, and revenge.
Will Nathaniel find peace with his soul’s mate, or is he destined to walk the earth alone?
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First of all, I seriously recommend that you start with the first book so you know what’s fully going on …..
1878 Reno, Nevada ….. It’s been two decades since he’d first touched the cursed silver in the mine with his brothers. Nathaniel Bane had been living with his evil urges ever since. He and Lionel had discovered after some time that their powers waned without the regular influx of virgin blood.
He loved men and women equally and could never see himself tied to one person for the rest of his life.
William continued residing at their inn, and Lionel and his third wife built a large residence equipped for communal living with the many members of his church community. And Jonah… Nathaniel would never forgive himself for letting his younger brother leave their new civilization, now the city of Reno, Nevada.
Nathaniel was becoming quite infamous for his battles. He used bare knuckle fighting to unleash his dark side, and what better way than defeating opponent after opponent, regardless of their skill.
Until one night a roaring desperation sent him running out into the desert.
As far as his brothers knew, Nathaniel had just disappeared twelve years ago and he wasn’t ready to face them yet, not with his newfound knowledge and power. He’d taken over an abandoned U.S. Army post and began gathering souls given to him by the creature. He’d learned many painful lessons during his time in the desert. He asked very few questions. The creature assured him that he and his brothers would never experience death as long as they possessed and used his cursed silver, spreading the creature’s influence. His struggle currently was maintaining the careful balance between his humanity and the darkness inside him..
These gathered souls formed a band of unholy brothers that came across a group of Lakota as they crossed into Sioux territory.
The beat of the drums and their song called to Nathaniel. Afterward he came upon a young warrior beside the creek. The warrior felt his presence and spoke to Nathaniel. It became apparent that he too was something “more”. The Lakota said his name is Black Sun and he has both dark and light inside just like Nathaniel. They swam together and became lovers.
Black Sun regarded him seriously. “You have been touched by evil. And yet, I do not feel its mark upon your soul.” Nathaniel tells him of the cursed silver as Black Sun puts his hand on Nathaniel’s heart and says “This curse has not altered your heart. There is still purity within you, and the curse itself cannot take that away. Only you can let the darkness consume you—and I see this will not come to pass.” Could it be that he’d found the one who could accept and withstand the darkness that had previously threatened to overtake him?
Black Sun then tells him, “There is a darkness in my visions that I cannot see past. Something is coming, something deadly. I won’t be able to stop it, and that is unsettling.”
And the unthinkable comes to pass when the Seventh Cavalry slaughters the tribe including Black Star but he returns as “Fury” and Nathaniel vows… “We will descend upon the Seventh Cavalry as angels of death without mercy. Their deaths will be avenged at our hands.”
The Unholy Band traveled the countryside, stalking the 7th Cavalry for nearly three years.
Reno had since become the thriving city. It was an entirely different place, with the exception of the evil that still influenced the town.
Nathaniel and his men made their way back to Nevada near the turn of the century and reunited with his brothers briefly before he and his men took off for Cuba where the 7th is being deployed.
Nathaniel fears that at some point the creature will again find him and require more of a sacrifice. Fury tells him “If he demands more from you, if he interferes in our lives, I will not hesitate to meet him face to face and warn him that I am the two-spirit, I see what is unseen. When I returned to this realm from the beyond, I did not lose that ability. He has no power over me.”
Nathaniel wanted to believe Fury was right about that. Only time will tell.
This series just keeps getting better. I’m so looking forward to the next installment. There’s a sneak peek at the end here that has me very excited!