An unhappy shape shifter can be a dangerous companion....
It's Frisky Friday, and for A Writer's Naughty Thoughts, Fridays are also anything can happen days.
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 at the beginning of the third chapter, Dominic Westcroft has reason to suspect Serena Blanford, one of the guests his sister has invited for him to consider as a potential bride, possesses magical abilities she's trying to keep hidden. Believing she may actually be a plant placed in his home by his treacherous brother, he decides to give her a purity validation test.
Serena has no idea what this "test" actually entails, but given the reaction of the other women who went through it, she knew it wasn't anything she wanted to experience. Up until this point, she has successfully managed to keep both her and her cousin safe from having to undergo the ordeal, but now Westcroft is adamant they both submit to the procedure. When Serena declines, he advises his servants that she will be leaving first thing in the morning.
Serena has no idea what this "test" actually entails, but given the reaction of the other women who went through it, she knew it wasn't anything she wanted to experience. Up until this point, she has successfully managed to keep both her and her cousin safe from having to undergo the ordeal, but now Westcroft is adamant they both submit to the procedure. When Serena declines, he advises his servants that she will be leaving first thing in the morning.
Serena
gazed at him in disbelief. “Why are you
doing this?”
“There is
little point in your remaining if you refuse to fulfill the terms of your
contract.”
“I
originally came here to serve as my cousin’s companion. Why can’t I remain with her as such?”
“We have an
abundance of servants to see to your cousin’s needs, Serena. There is no need for you to remain on in that
capacity, and as your cousin appears to listen to you, your interference could
jeopardize all we are trying to accomplish here. It would be best for all if you were to take
your leave as quickly as possible. Henry
here will be more than happy to assist you in this endeavor.”
Trapped by
her own strategy, Serena realized he had out maneuvered her. She couldn’t protect Allison from the danger
Westcroft represented if she was sent away, and unless she remained, she would
never learn the truth about Felicity’s death.
She owed both her sister and her cousin that much at least. Blinking back angry tears of frustration,
Serena lifted her chin and confronted the man who certainly had the ability if
not the desire to murder all of them.
“It would seem that I have little choice but to comply with your wishes
in this matter. What is it you would
have me do?”
Dominic Westcroft is determined to uncover his young guest's secrets even if it means "testing" her himself.
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 wish you and yours a very Frisky Friday.
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