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, but changes her mind when she recognizes the danger in provoking the beast.
Unnerved by the gleam of pure
pleasure shining in Westcroft's eyes, Serena decided the stakes were higher than she was
willing to pay. “You are a devil
hiding behind an angel’s smile, but I see through your parlor tricks. I know exactly what sort of monster you are,
and I won’t let you terrorize my cousin in this way. We’re leaving, too.”
He took a step toward her, and she
instinctively took a step back. His
expression was lethal, but his voice was whisper soft.
“And you, my sweet, are a fool. If you truly had any concept as to the exact
sort of monster I am, you wouldn’t dream of challenging me directly.”
Anger and fear loosening her tongue,
she said, “I know that you’re capable of murdering your own wife, and I’ll be
damned before I’d let Allison fall prey to a similar fate.” Serena whirled to leave, stopping just short of her destination when the door slammed before her. Her fingers tentatively grasped the handle,
but it refused to move. He was
right. She was a fool.
Though Dominic Westcroft has done nothing to hurt Serena or her cousin, yet, the potential remains everpresent, and Serena still suspects the wizard 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
Great intense snippet Kathryn. Oh boy, no escape!
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Roz