Fair Warning: Wizards don't always play fair.
Welcome to MFRW Book Hooks, a regular Wednesday feature! Today, I'm sharing a snippet from my second book, Deadly Enchantment, a Victorian paranormal romance concerning the deadly rivalry between two shape-shifting wizard brothers. The legitimate heir, Terrence, received his father's money and title, but his illegitimate half-brother, Dominic, received all their father's affection and love, earning all of Terrence's resentment.
Published by New Concepts Publishing, the story revolves around a young psychic woman unwittingly drawn into the brotherly conflict when she faces off with the dark wizard of Ravenscroft, whom she is convinced has brutally slaughtered her sister in a fit of jealous rage on their wedding night.
This segment introduces us to Terrence Moreland, who's at play in his dungeon. He's bored, and a bored wizard trained in black magic is a very dangerous animal indeed. He has been practicing one of his spells on a young maid, who displeased him that morning. This is not the first time he's worked this spell, but it is the first time he's been satisfied with the results. In return for ruining his breakfast, Terrance reduced the girl to a crisp. Literally. Ordering his man servant to take care of the "results," Terrence dismisses him, but Basil has information he is eager to share.
Basil cleared his throat. “I do have something to tell you that I
believe will be of great interest to you, my lord,” he murmured deferentially.
“Go ahead, then. Say it.”
“I believe Mr. Westcroft may have
found a new mate.”
“Really. And what makes you think I’d care to hear
tale of some new trollop my bastard brother wishes to mount?”
“I have good reason to believe that
the woman is none other than Felicity Cunningham’s sister, my lord.”
“Rumor mills can be notoriously
inaccurate. Who’s your source?”
“I’ve been passing the occasional
evening with one of Westcroft’s serving maids, and she overheard the girl
talking to her cousin. She says the girl
is using her cousin’s name instead of her own and that Westcroft isn’t even
aware of the girl’s duplicity.”
Terrence rubbed his chin. “Now that is interesting. His dead wife’s sister is living under his
roof, and my bastard brother has no idea. I may just have to pay my little
brother an unexpected visit this week.”
Terrence Moreland, Earl of Lynwood, is not a man you would ever wish to meet in a dark alleyway.
M/F, Shape shifting wizards in Victorian England.
Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment
Available at NCP, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Kathryn, there's absolutely no way I'd want to be anywhere near Terrence. He seems like a very well-done bad guy...sight unseen, I'm rooting for the bastard brother. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOoh, this was intriguing Kathryn. I don't think I'd want to be anywhere near Terrence either!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Roz