The
pre-order for In the Pureblood's Arms, Book 4 in The Magiste Chronicles, is
live now at select e-book retailers! This smoking hot tale set in 13th century
France tells the story of Chantal and Henri, two members of the Magiste, a
magical race of people who live alongside ordinary humans. Of course, due to
the superstitions and fears of the people of the time, exacerbated by the words
and actions of the Catholic Church, they have much to fear from their neighbors
and fellow countrymen.
This
book has been revised in many ways, and sports a super sexy new cover by my favorite
cover artist, Winter Bayne, and features Michael Foster as Henri. Check it out –
isn't it beautiful?
In the
Pureblood's Arms will be available everywhere, in e-book and print, on
September 30, but pre-order it now so you'll have it the very instant it goes
live.
In the meantime, you can get Book 1 in the series, In the Devil's Arms,
for only .99! But hurry – this special price is only for a limited time.
Here's
an excerpt from In the Pureblood's Arms – links for both books are below. Henri has just saved Chantal from the forest behind her home,
where an attack by The Inquisition's henchmen have left her family dead. Henri
has brought her to his home:
"Chantal, for now, you must rest. You've been through
a terrible ordeal."
She nodded and wiped her puffy eyes, her vision still
watery. She took several shuddering breaths until finally, she calmed further,
and the threat of fresh tears abated. With hands on her arms, Henri helped her
to her feet once more and guided her toward a closed door.
He flicked his fingers toward the door and it opened. The
moment he stepped inside, more oil lamps lit, and she realized this was his
sleeping room. She couldn't stay here!
"Non, Monsieur—"
"Call me Henri. And don't fear. I won't attempt to
seduce you."
For a moment, she thought she heard him whisper,
"Tonight," but surely that was only her chaotic imagining. Still,
intensity glowed in his eyes and she swallowed, hoping to soothe the lingering
burn of her tears. Caught by the shimmer in his gaze, her own eyes widened, and
her heart beat a little faster.
"Did you…?"
No matter how she tried, words refused to form. Another
chuckle from Henri sent heat racing up her cheeks. He probably thought he'd
saved a simpering fool. Determined not to appear weak any longer, she
straightened her spine and lifted her chin. If he intended to take advantage of
her, she would make the task as difficult as she could. As if in
acknowledgement of her silent vow, the amulet stone in the pendant at her neck
warmed.
Henri moved closer, so close the warmth of his breath
against her hair grew into a tangible caress.
She held his gaze, trying to understand the strange heat in
his eyes. A long finger stroked her cheek, sending an odd tingling through her
and rousing a shiver.
"You will be safe alone in here tonight. Tomorrow, we
will discuss what choices you must make."
He gave her cheek another caress, the heat of his hand
soothing the riot of emotions swirling in her thoughts. Why should his touch
calm her? Logic warned of the grave danger he presented, not to mention other
members of his family, once her presence was known. She needed to be wary,
though she doubted her half-trained magic would be capable of fending off his,
should he try to use it against her. The knot in her gut tightened.
He pointed toward a table near a large window. "There
is a wash basin there. I will arrange for some clean clothes for you. Are you
hungry at all?"
She shook her head. The thought of food roiled her stomach.
The terror, chaos and agony of the night left every bone in her body nearly
ready to shatter. She had to admit the thought of curling up in the luxurious
bed appealed.
Her gaze darted several times toward the iron poster bed,
with its wide crossbars and… were those hooks fastened along the rails? Why on
earth would he have…? Her eyes widened when her gaze reached the top of one of
the posts. No! Surely, what she saw was an illusion, brought on by her tattered
nerves. But when she looked again, there was no mistaking the iron cuffs
hanging from each post, making the bed frame look eerily like one of the
torturers' devices she had heard described.
She spun about, sucking in a breath to find him so close.
The heat of his body seared through her ragged nightdress. Warm hands rested
upon her shoulders. She tried to jerk free, but his grip tightened.
"Is this a sleeping room or a prison?" One more twist
and she managed to put some space between them, even if he still refused to
release her.
"I assure you, you will be quite comfortable here. I
will be right outside the door should you need anything."
"But…why are there chains on your bed?"
The chilling grin he gave intrigued her. Nonsense thoughts
poking into her frayed emotions and his possessive grip oddly enough lessened
the chill lingering on her skin.
"You need not worry about them."
She wasn't so sure. "Why are you doing this?"
Doubts about his intentions weighed heavily. If only her wits were sharp,
focused, instead of completely illogical. Fatigue sapped her logic.
"Consider it a favor. However, don't think I will
neglect collecting that debt."
The devilish smile adorning his face sent another tremor of
uneasiness through her. Yes, he'd saved her from certain and likely gruesome
death, but he posed a serious danger himself, in ways she wasn't sure she
understood. Her fingers closed around her pendant, the blue stone warming
beneath her touch.
His thumb under her chin tilted her head back, and before
she could question him, his mouth lowered to hers. Surprise stiffened her, even
as the brief acknowledgement she'd expected this pinched into her awareness.
Yet, she found the feel of his lips sliding along hers pleasantly soothing.
Warmth seeped through her veins, his mouth moving slowly over hers,
tentatively, as if seeking some sort of affirmation. Powerless to resist, she
kissed him back, seeking the comfort he offered.
At the moment of her response, he gave a muffled groan and
crushed her against him, his tongue thrusting between her lips. The unfamiliar
sensation drew a gasp, yet warmth continued to grow, slowly thawing the ice
encasing her heart. Each velvet slide of his tongue along hers sparked a thrill
that left her breathless.
Her knees buckled; if he hadn't been holding her, she'd
have fallen. Instead, she gripped his arms, holding on tight for fear she might
slip away into the darkness. Her head spun, and when his fingers slid through
her hair, holding her still while he devoured her, an odd sense of protection
infused the pleasure he stirred.
A moment later, she found herself abruptly released and he
turned away. She pressed her fingers against her lips, noting how they felt
swollen and tender, but in a way that left her wanting more. Realization
sharpened her clarity. For a few moments, she'd forgotten the horrors of this
night. Was that why he'd done it, to distract her, even if only for a little
while? So far, he'd been nothing but courteous, well, until the kiss, but she
could truly trust no one. Caution must guide her, and stealth. Most of all, she
needed to strengthen her magic. She was still months away from her twenty-first
summer, so her full powers had yet to blossom, as her father had told her.
Certainly, they would soon. The notion soothed her worries, at least for the
moment. She waited until Henri faced her once more.
"I will bring you some clothing. Tend to your
ablutions and I will return shortly." He strode from the room, waving his
hand. The door closed then locked. If he meant her no harm, why did he imprison
her? She walked to the door and pulled the handle, but it didn't budge. He'd
used a spell to secure her. Why? She closed her eyes, her amulet heating.
"Ouvrisse."
The unlocking spell failed. Well, at least now she had proof his magic was
stronger than hers. Not for long, though. Her bloodline was as just pure, even
if it was not as ancient as his. And when she matured in a few months, she
would be a force to reckon with.
But not now. Now, she was bone-weary, broken-hearted and
the sense of being lost loomed heavier than ever. With a sigh, unable to
completely forget the reasons that now she lived on the whim of a Marchand,
instead of sleeping safely in her own bed, she walked toward the washbasin.
Better to focus on what she could control, she reminded herself. Lifting the
cloth beside the bowl, she dipped it in the water and wiped the soot from her face and neck. She gazed at her
reflection in the water and grimaced.
Leaves and twigs littered her hair, the natural soft waves
transformed into a wild mass of unruly and snarled curls. She muttered a spell
to remove the remnants of forest and ran her fingers through the tresses,
smoothing the chaotic style. There, much more herself.
A knock on the door drew her attention. She turned just as
Henri stepped into the room. His gaze settled on her and his eyes widened, a
spark of delight glowing in the silvery depths. He held out a small bundle.
"Here."
She accepted the clothing, thanking him.
"It is my pleasure," he assured her. He stepped
closer once more and the odd hope he would kiss her again grew louder. As if
he'd heard her thoughts, his hand slid to the back of her head, drawing her
near.
"I find I'm unable to control myself."
He muttered the words absently, almost as if he spoke to
himself, before taking her mouth once again in a searing kiss. Chantal leaned
into him, wondering what power this man possessed to make her forget everything
but the delight he stirred with his lips.
Then he was gone, the door once again closing and locking
behind him, leaving her gaping after him in stunned silence. With a shake of
her head, she removed her tattered nightdress and unfolded the one he gave to
replace it, a dark green silk that slid over her skin. The luxurious feeling
diverted a small measure of her distress. At this moment, she wanted nothing
more than to sleep, to forget the night ever happened. She turned to the bed
and froze, her gaze once more drawn to the manacles dangling from the posts.
After a slight hesitation, she inched toward the bed and
pulled two pillows and a blanket from it, stepping quickly away. She set them
on the floor, facing the bed. Just in case. After wrapping herself in the
blanket, she lay down, fluffing the pillows beneath her head and praying to
find a small measure of peace.
Here's
where you can pre-order In the Pureblood's Arms:
*He
saved her from certain death, but is he more dangerous – to her heart?*
In 13th century France, attacked by those carrying out the
Papal Inquisition, Magiste
Enchantress Chantal Belliveau is thankful for rescue from certain torture and
death. But she never expected her savior to be Henri Marchand, one of a
powerful pureblooded line of ancient Magiste,
the Zyndevines, known for their practice of dark magic. Henri holds the key to
her survival, but the danger he poses to her heart and soul could be even more
perilous.
Despite his dark lineage, Henri is part of Il Resistasse, a handful of powerful Magiste fighting the atrocities the
Catholic Church inflicts on their race. Saving Chantal becomes more than a
simple rescue - the innocent young woman with half-trained powers enchants him
more than he has ever been before. That she enjoys the dark side of pleasure he
inflicts makes him question his determination to never give another his heart.
Chantal is horrified when Henri invokes an ancient spell,
the Possede Puissant. The incantation
leaves her little more than his possession. While she finds herself enjoying
his dark and wicked sensual delights, she determines to free herself. Yet, the
security she finds with Henri encourages her to stay by his side, claiming
spell or not.
Resentment from Henri's family convinces Chantal she must
ultimately break free of Henri's possession. When the Inquisitors attack, Henri
convinces Chantal to embark on a journey to a new land, a journey that may well
mean the survival of the entire Magiste
race but the loss of her freedom forever.
Amazon
US: http://ow.ly/Sp9Q30f4G6Y
Amazon
UK: http://ow.ly/CtPB30f4Ggr
Apple/iBooks:
http://ow.ly/vguo30f4Grg
Kobo: http://ow.ly/Xagv30f4FMn
Smashwords:
http://ow.ly/HA1B30f48pe
And don't forget, you can get
In the Devil's Arms for only .99 – for a limited time:
Can
They Overcome the Past to Have a Future?
Helene Gaudet finds the perfect Dom in an internet chat
room. When they agree to meet, Helene realizes why he knows her so well – he's
Devlin Marchand, the man who, years ago, handed her over to a dark sorcerer –
to be killed.
She wants to forget the past, including badly impaired
magical powers and an ex-husband who cursed her, leaving her infertile. At
first fearful of Devlin's intentions, she finds her passion for him is so
intense after each encounter, she can't bring herself to leave.
Devlin's guilt over past betrayals grows when they learn the
curse dogging Helene was created by the trove of magic created by his very own
family. Devlin fears for their tentative relationship.
Will he be able to keep his vow to heal her, in every way
possible, or will their enemies succeed in tearing them apart?
Amazon
US: http://ow.ly/Wnn5305Zb8s
Amazon
UK: http://ow.ly/HRi5305ZbrY
Apple/iBooks:
http://ow.ly/z3b6305ZbC2
B&N/Nook:
http://ow.ly/5q7n305ZbGf
Kobo: http://ow.ly/J44P305ZbSC
Smashwords:
http://ow.ly/FZYP305Zc6Y
CreateSpace
(print): http://ow.ly/vGkk305Zcbx
Both
books feature Magically Kinky! love scenes of the paranormal kind, including
magical sex toys, potions, bondage and spanking and more!
