This Blog Is Disabled.: Promise Me by Tara Fox Hall Blog Tour Character Interview

Synopsis:

Metal shop worker Sarelle “Sar” McGarran is the ultimate tomboy and considers herself capable of handling whatever life throws her way. Recently widowed, she takes refuge in quiet country life until the day she stumbles upon an unconscious vampire on her property. Unable to leave the wounded man, she takes him in.

Danial Racklan is a sexy bad boy with a complicated past and questionable motives. Yet before long, he has Sar completely captivated. He introduces her to his secret, supernatural world, in the process reawakening emotions and desires she hasn’t felt since her husband’s tragic death. Soon Sar finds herself drawn into a dark, dangerous reality in which her desire for Danial is second only to her wariness that he may break her heart. Yet Sar must soon face there is much Danial has kept from her, even as she begins to love him. When Danial asks her for an Oath of forever, will Sar give Danial his greatest desire?

When your lover is a vampire, a promise of forever takes on a whole new meaning…

Interview of vampire Danial Racklan, from Promise Me:

• In your relationship with others, how are you different with family than you are with friends? Why?

I tolerate much more from my family, as my brother Devlin is really all the family I have left. My best friend Theo would never dare cross the lines that my brother crosses with impunity. But his position over me in the vampire hierarchy allows him that freedom, so there is nothing I can do, except use Vampire Law whenever I can to outmaneuver him.

• How do you decide if you can trust someone? Experience with others? with this person? First impressions? Intuition? Do you test the person somehow? Or are you just generally disposed to trust or not to trust?

I trust practically no one, outside of my guards, and my best friend and partner, Theo. A State Ruler such as myself can’t afford the luxury of trust. This is why Sarelle became so important to me so fast. She risked her life to save mine not once, but twice. To know that I could trust a lover again after so many decades of being alone was a heady, intoxicating experience. I knew I must not lose her, no matter what I had to do. And I knew I had to find a way to protect her from Devlin’s predation, at all costs.

• When you walk into a room, what do you notice first? Second?

I first notice the body language of the inhabitants, their number, and if they look at me, because those three things tell me instantly if I need to be ready to defend myself. I am striking, and if someone deliberately doesn’t look up, even just in curiosity, they are someone to keep one eye on. Second, I discreetly watch people’s behavior, to better understand who might be an enemy, or a possible future blood donor. I am rarely at social gatherings, but this applies there, also, except I would also be aware of exits and vantage points above eye level.

• Describe yourself to me.

“Tall Dark and Handsome” fits, I am pleased to say. I inherited my mother’s straight dark hair, and her dark eyes. I’m a native Spaniard, but centuries in the dark have paled my skin. My physique is fit and trim, with broad shoulders. I’m equally comfortable in denim and business suits, as the occasion calls. In my mortal life, I was considered abnormally tall, but by today’s standards, I am average, being just shy of 6’.

• What do you consider are your strengths?

I am ruthless, passionate, just, knowledgeable, generous, wealthy, and skilled at most things. 400 years does give one time to perfect one’s behavior.

• What do you consider your special talent?

My special talent is ferreting out the truth. I love a good mystery, and I confess that love is what has kept me going these many years. I didn’t get a lot of justice in my mortal life…and often not in my early immortal days, either. I truly enjoy bringing to justice criminals that think they have gotten away with their crime, be that murder , theft, or anything in between. Sometimes I allow that justice to be dispensed by humans, and sometimes I bestow it with my own hands.

• What's the most important thing in your life? What do you value most?

I value Sarelle. I want to be with her for as long as she lives, to make her life easier than it has been, and to protect her. She deserves to be cherished.

• How do you feel about your life right now? What, if anything, would you like to change?

I wish that there were not so many strikes against Sarelle and I. We come from different worlds, and having her join mine has been a struggle. I enjoy my work, and my company Solutions Inc. is very important to me. Sarelle also has a job, and responsibilities that sometimes keep her from being with me. I wish combining our lives was easier. I want us to be happy together.

• What do you consider your greatest achievement?

That I have lasted 400 years and not gone insane from boredom is laudable, in my opinion. I did many things in my long life, but forming my company Solutions, Inc. has been the most satisfying. And I must give the credit for that to my partner, Theo. Without his help, I could never have taken on some of the bigger, more challenging jobs. I consider our friendship one of the best of my existence. Best friends are hard to find.

• What is your greatest fear?

I worry that I am going to lose Sar, that she will decide that it was fun to have a vampire for a lover, but having one as a committed partner for the rest of her life is too much trouble. Yes, vampires as soul mates are all the rage in film and fiction, but in knowing me, Sar has seen how much reality differs from the fantasy. There has been much she has had to accept, like my blood donors, my night hours, my enemies, and my incorrigible brother Devlin. I worry that my love will not be enough to make up for all she has had to go through.

• Which talent would you most like to have?

I wish I had the power my brother Devlin does to create other vampires. While I would not do that to Sarelle without her express wish, I know that even if we continue as lovers carefully, exchanging blood only infrequently, Sarelle may still become sick from the virus that makes me vampire. We have seen no signs as yet…but knowing I have no power to save her life, and that I may have to call on Devlin to save her eats at me. I must be able to save her life. I can’t let someone I love die again, not after all the years I spent alone. I will find a way, no matter how long it takes.