An unhappy shape shifter can be a dangerous companion....
For Sneak Peek Sunday authors share six paragraphs from a published work or a WIP (work in progress).
My excerpt for this week is from my 2nd book, Deadly Enchantment. A shapeshifting wizard romance set in Victorian England published by New Concepts Publishing,
In this snippet, which occurs near the end of the first Chapter, Dominic Westcroft has returned from London to discover his sister has invited several young women to his home, so he can select a new bride. Except, Dominic has no intention of ever marrying again. However, when he suspects one of their guests possesses magical abilities she's trying to keep hidden, he decides to have the ladies join him for dinner, so he can rout her out. Once his guests are all seated, their napkins and silverware begin to act up and the soup tureen walks around the table serving itself. Finally, things settle down enough that everyone is able to eat, though a few are still too nervous to sample the soup. The lady on Westcroft's right, however, appears eager for his attention, so he asks if she had any talents of her own she'd like to share, causing Serena to cough into her napkin.
Katherine
sent a quick scowl of displeasure Serena’s way before she turned back to
Westcroft with a honey-sweet smile pasted on her lips. “In truth, sir, I have few abilities to speak of, but I am most fascinated by yours.”
Dismissing
her with a bland smile, he glanced about the table at each of the women before
he replied, “I’m pleased to hear it.
Wait until you see what I have planned for the main course.”
As
if on command the servants entered and removed the soup tureen and the
bowls. Next, they carried in a large
silver-domed platter. Closing her eyes,
Serena mentally groaned in dread of what his next feat of sorcery might bring. Once again, after the servants had placed a
new setting before each of the women, Westcroft dismissed them with a wave of
his hand. Serena opened her eyes just in
time to see the domed cover lift itself off the platter and float to the sideboard. Getting used to his displays
of magical grandstanding, a few of the women sighed a collective “oh” at the
succulent, well-basted and delicately seasoned goose seated prominently on a
bed of roasted potatoes and carrots.
Next
the knife and fork rose up from the table and crossed each other in a sort of
salute. Then they turned and lowered their
well-honed edges toward the bird, but the golden-brown goose got up on its
sturdy hind legs and began to flap its crispy little wings as it attempted to
escape being carved into serving bits.
The
women’s delight quickly turned to dismay as the knife and fork began hacking at
the bird despite its valiant effort to flee without flying. Allison and Susan covered their heads
with their gold-rimmed plates and ducked under the table, Melissa and Serena rose and took a step back. Dorothy
fainted, Georgina screamed while Frances and Caitlyn actually tried to catch
the “running” bird. The fork stabbed at
Caitlyn’s fingers while the knife took swipes at Frances’s hand. Then the hot, minted peas began flinging
themselves at Katherine. When she screamed,
both Allison and Susan started to cry.
Unable
to ignore her cousin’s distress any longer, Serena glared at the man who
watched them all like a hungry cat.
“That’s enough! You’ve made your
point quite clearly. Now leave them
alone,” she commanded, though her declaration gave their host exactly what he wanted, Serena's conscience no longer permitted her to remain silent.
Dominic Westcroft has caught the mouse with his trap, now he intends to expose her for the deceitful liar he takes her to be.
M/F, Shape shifting wizards in Victorian England.
Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment
Available at NCP, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ARe
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and want more. Please click the link below to continue your hop Sneak Peek Sunday. Wishing you a wonderful journey.
Great snippet Kathryn. Don't think I would want to attend that party! LoL
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Roz
Nice tease.
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