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, and 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. Serena asks if he intends to cloud her memory as well when she asks to go to her room. His expression an unreadable mask, he asks if she wants him to.
His resulting magical show ends up causing a few of the women to cry out in dismay, and 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. Serena asks if he intends to cloud her memory as well when she asks to go to her room. His expression an unreadable mask, he asks if she wants him to.
Surprising
even herself, she shook her head. He had
done his best to intimidate her, but he hadn’t really hurt her. Still, it was unconscionable for him to
terrorize the others like that. And she
told him so, directly.
“I
didn’t invite any of you here,” he informed her curtly. “You are quite welcome to leave on the morrow
if you wish.”
She
arched a skeptical eyebrow.
“Really? Are you trying to say
that someone else arranged for us all to arrive here together without your
knowledge?”
“That
is precisely what I am saying, Miss Blanford.”
“What
about the money?”
His
left eyebrow arched slightly. “What
money?”
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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