An unhappy shape shifter can be a dangerous companion....
For Sunday's Six of the Best authors share six paragraphs from a published work or a WIP (work in progress). Though it appears I'm the only one sharing this week (everyone else is too full of turkey, I guess), I don't mind. I love sharing excerpts and will continue to do so until I decide my time would be better spent elsewhere.
That said, 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 a secret. After her close call with their host, however, she returns upstairs to speak with her cousin, while Dominic retreats to his study to send for his sister. As he waits, he recalls his former mentor's prophecy stating both Dominic and Terrence would need to mate with a woman pure of spirit and body prior to their thirtieth birthday. Failure to do so would mean slipping into a steady decline that would result in them not only losing their powers, but their minds as well. Since marriage wasn't a requirement, Terrence fulfilled his end of the prophecy many years, while Dominic waited until his wedding night when his bride was brutally slaughtered before they could consummate their marriage. All the same, when you considered his tenants paid only 75 GBP a year in rent, the fact that his sister was offering each of the women 100 GBP of his money, rankled. He wasn't that difficult to be around.
Though Serena is routed out during dinner, she manages to keep her true identity a secret. After her close call with their host, however, she returns upstairs to speak with her cousin, while Dominic retreats to his study to send for his sister. As he waits, he recalls his former mentor's prophecy stating both Dominic and Terrence would need to mate with a woman pure of spirit and body prior to their thirtieth birthday. Failure to do so would mean slipping into a steady decline that would result in them not only losing their powers, but their minds as well. Since marriage wasn't a requirement, Terrence fulfilled his end of the prophecy many years, while Dominic waited until his wedding night when his bride was brutally slaughtered before they could consummate their marriage. All the same, when you considered his tenants paid only 75 GBP a year in rent, the fact that his sister was offering each of the women 100 GBP of his money, rankled. He wasn't that difficult to be around.
“Serena
didn’t see the point in either herself or her cousin, Allison, being validated
since they have yet to decide if they wish to accept you,” Regina informed him rather pertly.
Dominic’s
brow rose and he grinned.
“Somehow that seems fitting. Make
arrangements to test the cousin tomorrow.
I’ll see to Serena Blanford myself.”
This
time Regina was the one to raise an eyebrow. “Have you
made your choice already?”
“No,
and I shan’t be, despite your grand machination. The prospect of taking another bride is not why I'm hesitating to send them all packing tomorrow. I
get the feeling that Miss Blanford is hiding something. Her powers are strong, yet she claims not to
have any. I wouldn’t put it past our
brother to plant an informant in my home.”
“What?”
Regina asked, her pallor revealing her dismay more eloquently than her
words. “You can’t seriously believe that
Serena Blanford is here as some sort of agent for Terrence?”
“I
only say that it’s a possibility, not a certainty. I suspect I shall be able to get to the truth
one way or another very quickly.” He
settled back in his chair. “Now tell me
all you know about these Blanford women.”
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.
Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt and want more. Please click the link below to continue your hop Sunday's Six of the Best. Wishing you a wonderful journey.
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