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.
Though Serena is routed out during dinner, she manages to keep her true identity secret. After her close call with their host, however, she returns upstairs to speak with her cousin.
Though Serena is routed out during dinner, she manages to keep her true identity secret. After her close call with their host, however, she returns upstairs to speak with her cousin.
“Does
he know who you really are?”
“No,
but he suspects something, and I think he believes I might represent some sort
of threat to him.”
“What
sort of threat?” Allison asked, unable to mask her nervousness. “Is it your visions and intuitions? Does he know you’ve seen him in your dreams?”
“I’m
not sure what he knows, but he could have hurt me, and he didn’t.”
“Maybe
not, but he wasn’t very gentlemanly, either.”
“No,
he wasn’t,” Serena admitted softly. “All
the same, I sense a deep chasm in his soul.
He’s changed a lot, Allie. I
remember him as being handsome, tall and charming. He even took time to play with me, though I
was only seven years old at the time and he was nearly eighteen. Yet the vision I had of him holding my dying
sister in his arms returns nightly to haunt me.
I have to know if he killed her.”
Though Dominic Westcroft suspects Serena has secrets she's not willing to share, he is determined to uncover the truth behind his young guest's deception, even if it means keeping the other women 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.
Intriguing snippet Kathryn. Interesting how Serena perceives he has changed. Sounds like they both have an agenda.
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Roz