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.
In this segment from Chapter Four, Serena decides to confront Westcroft directly by marching into his study and insisting he admit his true goal is to purposely frighten the other women, who'd been selected by his sister as his potential brides, into leaving. Though Serena knows Westcroft possesses magical powers, she's just not sure what form they take other than parlor tricks, so she decides to see for herself just how far he is willing to go. This is a case of being careful what you ask for, because you may not like the answer.
Gathering her courage about her in a
mantle of righteous indignation, Serena marched down the stairs and gave a brisk
knock at his library door. Barely
waiting for him to call out permission for her to enter, she strode in like a general
on the attack.
Taking the offensive, she made the
first accusation in the hopes she could get him to admit his tactics. “You
really are a bully, aren’t you?” Not waiting for his answer, she continued on. “What makes you think terrifying young women
into leaving is an honorable occupation for a man to engage in?”
He crossed his arms before him. “If they are that easily frightened, then
there is little point in their remaining, is there?”
“So you admit you were out to simply
scare them into leaving?”
“I don’t deny it was a test. I never claimed it would be anything else.”
“And what exactly do you hope to
gain by these actions, sir?”
He raised an eyebrow, then pressed
back in his chair. “All that I seek,
madam. All that I seek.”
Though Dominic Westcroft hasn't actually hurt anyone, yet, the potential is always there, and Serena still suspects he is responsible for the brutal murder of her sister.
M/F, Shape shifting wizards in Victorian England.
Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment
Available at NCP, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Ooh, intriguing answer. Serena was brave!
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Roz