Frisky Friday - 8/7/15 - Deadly Enchantment - An unpleasant truth #Shifters #ParanormalRomance

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.  When Serena declines, he advises his servant she will be leaving first thing in the morning. Knowing if she's sent away that she'll never be able to solve the mystery surrounding her sister's death, Serena agrees to have her purity "validated".  However, as they approach the room where the testing is taking place, Serena hears her cousin crying. She rushes in to comfort Allison only to learn a man had forced her cousin to drink a potion, which was in effect a truth serum for the spirit intended to expose those who intend harm through deceit. When Serena discovers the gentleman who attended Allison was not only Westcroft's brother-in-law, but a physician as well, she isn't the least bit reassured.

            “How convenient,” she snapped back, wanting to slap him for his smugness.

            From the look on his face, she fully expected him to tell her that the reason for Dr. Sinclair’s presence was none of her concern, but for some reason he changed his mind.  “Jonathan Sinclair was Regina’s husband and the good doctor’s brother,” he replied, keeping his voice low and calm.  “When Jonathan died unexpectedly, Regina moved in with me and Dr. Sinclair came to offer her his support.  Then, when Jonathan’s death left us with more questions than answers, Frederick remained on as our physician.  So, I’d hardly say his appearance here is a mere convenience.”

            A part of Serena felt small for her pettiness, but she refused to show it.  Frederick Sinclair may not have hurt Allison, but he’d upset her, and that was enough.

            Placing a comforting arm around Allison, Serena helped her cousin to her feet, but when she stepped forward, Dominic blocked her.  “I’d like to see my cousin to her room,” Serena insisted, her back stiff and straight and her chin high.

            “I’m not sure that’s wise.  Regina can see Allison to her room.  You and I, however, have some unfinished business to attend to.”

            Serena felt the blood drain from her face.  She didn’t expect him to insist upon conducting her validation personally.

Dominic Westcroft is determined to uncover his young guest's secrets even if it means "testing" Serena himself. He views her cousin merely as a means to his end.

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.