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. Except she's too late. When she reaches for the door handle she discovers he'd locked her in with him. Magically.
Lifting a shaking hand to the top
of its head, Serena rubbed her fingers against the silky white fur and heard a
low rumbling purr that sounded almost like a growl.
When she dropped her hand, it
wrapped its massive jaws around her wrist and gave a gentle tug. The moment she tried to pull away, it
released her, but when she didn’t move from the door, it mouthed her wrist again
and gave another tug. Realizing it
wanted her to follow, she obeyed uncertainly.
So far the animal hadn’t hurt her, but she wasn’t sure how much of the beast
before her was leopard, and how much was Dominic Westcroft.
It led her over to the couch, then
nudged her hip firmly with its nose.
That push was strong enough to cause Serena to briefly lose her balance,
but she steadied herself by grabbing the arm of the couch. The large white cat regarded her unblinkingly, but
made no further move toward her.
Wondering if she’d taken leave of her senses or if they had only
temporarily deserted her, Serena sat on the green velvet divan, as it clearly
wanted her to. Once she was seated, the
large feline pressed its furry head against her hand again in a plea for more
scratches.
Though Dominic Westcroft has done nothing to hurt Serena or her cousin, yet, the potential remains ever-present, and Serena still suspects the wizard is responsible for the brutal murder of her sister. Now, her suspicions may have taken an ugly reality.
M/F, Shape shifting wizards in Victorian England.
Read the first three chapters at: Deadly Enchantment
Available at NCP, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Wonderful intriguing snippet Kathryn :)
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Roz