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 in the middle of the second 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. What neither he nor his sister suspects, however, is that one of the women is actually his deceased bride's sister. Tormented by guilt over his wife's tragic and brutal death, Dominic has no intention of ever marrying again. However, when his show of temper accidentally reveals one of their guests possesses magical abilities she's trying to keep hidden, he invites the ladies join him for dinner, so he can rout her out.
His resulting magical show ends up causing a few of the women to cry out in dismay, so Serena calls an end to the charade by revealing herself as the woman with whom he had psychically linked a few hours ago. Serena knows she's taking a huge risk by standing up to Westcroft, but she believes doing so will put an end to his magical shenanigans without revealing her true identity. However, when Westcroft intimates he knows her secret, her chair magically rises into the air. Realizing she can't appear weak before a predator, Serena calls Westcroft's bluff. He surprises Serena with his concession, but when he lowers her chair back to the ground, the other frightened women inform him they wish to leave the manor that night. Rather than give in to their pleas, he addresses the quailing group in a low, melodic voice that suggests they all get a good night's rest, and he'd discuss their leaving in the morning. When the women shuffle out of the room in a daze, Serena demands to know what Westcroft did to them. He admits to having adjusted their memories a bit, so when they awaken the experience would seem more like a dream.
His resulting magical show ends up causing a few of the women to cry out in dismay, so Serena calls an end to the charade by revealing herself as the woman with whom he had psychically linked a few hours ago. Serena knows she's taking a huge risk by standing up to Westcroft, but she believes doing so will put an end to his magical shenanigans without revealing her true identity. However, when Westcroft intimates he knows her secret, her chair magically rises into the air. Realizing she can't appear weak before a predator, Serena calls Westcroft's bluff. He surprises Serena with his concession, but when he lowers her chair back to the ground, the other frightened women inform him they wish to leave the manor that night. Rather than give in to their pleas, he addresses the quailing group in a low, melodic voice that suggests they all get a good night's rest, and he'd discuss their leaving in the morning. When the women shuffle out of the room in a daze, Serena demands to know what Westcroft did to them. He admits to having adjusted their memories a bit, so when they awaken the experience would seem more like a dream.
“Until
they wake up hungry, that is. You didn’t
even give them supper.”
“No,
I didn’t, did I? How remiss of me. Are you hungry, Miss …?”
“Blanford,”
Serena supplied without hesitation, totally reassured now that her disguise
remained intact.
“Are
you hungry, Miss Blanford?”
“No,
thank you. I should like to leave now as
well. Will you cloud my mind as you did
theirs?”
“Do
you want me to?”
Dominic Westcroft is determined to uncover his young guest's secrets even if it means keeping the others around as a ruse.
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.
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