An Except from my new book, Arcane Betrayal

Dear Reader –

Ispent this summer working on the latest novel in my Arcane Talents series. Nowhere it is, just in time for Christmas (and my birthday)!

Here’s a taste:

 

Targetedby terrorists, a woman inhabited by a tiger spirit turns to the lover she leftbehind.

MargayWhitfield has a mystical bond to a tiger spirit which allows her to call on theanimal’s power – until a terrorist bombing leaves her with PTSD and shakycontrol over her inner big cat.

 

Nowshe’s come home to Ashburg, S.C., where her mother owns a restaurant. Margayhopes that a simple, boring job will give her the time and peace to heal herpsychic wounds and rebuild her control over Razia, her tiger. 

 

But when theterrorists who attacked her in Ukraine use Raz to turn the town against her andher mother, she has to call a cop.

 

ThoughAshburg Police Chief Grant Sawyer has no magical abilities at all, he andMargay were childhood best friends – and high school sweethearts. But ten yearsof tragedy has left Margay with deep psychological wounds and a fear she couldhurt – even kill – the man she loves.

 

CanMargay and Grant defeat the terrorists despite the odds, and rediscover theirlost love?

 

 

Excerpt:

 

Grant Sawyer stared downinto Margay’s lovely oval face. As always, those big, Feral gold eyesfascinated him. They seemed to glow against the warm brown of her skin in theillumination from the SUV’s dash lights. She wore no lipstick on her wide, fullmouth, and her white teeth flashed as she spoke. Her long black hair was woveninto countless thin braids, with other strands left curling loose. He’d Googledit, and the style was called goddess braids. 

 

Which, as far as he was concerned,was an entirely appropriate ‘do for Margay Whitfield. All that hair was tied ina swinging tail that hung to her pert, perfect ass. Since she wore onlyleggings and a United States Arcane Corps long-sleeved tee, he could tell shewas as fit as she’d been in high school. Curves everywhere curves should be,and lean muscle everywhere else.

 

God, he wanted her. Herwide nostrils flared, and he had the uncomfortable feeling she could see thehunger in his eyes, smell it in his scent.

 

She was even more beautifulthan back when he’d dreamed of a future with her. Before the Arcane Corps --and something seriously nasty -- had put that look in her Feral gold eyes.

Grant had been sitting inhis vehicle working on a report when some instinct made him glance up to see adark figure darting by. Running so fast his jaw dropped.

 

Then she’d shot in front ofhis headlights, and he’d recognized Margay. Her braids flew behind her as sheran, long legs flashing as her arms pumped. She’d been running full out,nothing held back, and her face gleamed with sweat even in the cold. She’d wornan expression of such desperation and pain, his heart clenched in his chest.

 

So he’d started his vehicleand pulled out after her. When she’d turned back to him, he’d instantly readthe fear behind her wide, tight smile.

 

He couldn’t stand thethought of scaring Margay Whitfield. Yet even after he’d identified himself –even after he’d gotten out of the SUV -- the unease remained.

 

Why the hell would she lookat him like that? Why had she beenducking him? They’d grown up best friends – caught frogs as nine-year-olds,watched anime in middle school, geeked out together about SF novels, comics andfilms as teens. Gone to Dragon Con in Atlanta every year, collecting selfiesand cosplaying as superheroes or anime or gaming characters. Shared their firstkiss. Gone to prom. Made love.

 

Loved.

 

And yeah, Brandy had beenright – Grant had loved Margay more than he’d ever loved his wife.

 

He’d understood why Margayhad walked away from him after high school. She’d wanted to join the ArcaneCorps ever since they’d been kids. After all, her father had been a Corps vetwith a magical tiger of his own. So Grant hadn’t resented it – much -- whenshe’d left to join the Corps. He’d wanted to be a cop just as bad.

 

She’d succeeded in hergoal, just as he had, only to leave the Corps and come home. With rumoredwounds that didn’t show.

 

Grant had tried more thanonce to talk to her -- even showing up at her mother's restaurant -- but she’djust shaken her head and said she was busy.

 

Jocelyn had told him she'dcome back injured to the soul. Not physically -- that long, smooth body waswhole. She still moved with the same fluid strength and confidence. But therewere scars in those golden eyes.

 

Before Grant could think ofa way to reach her now, the radio handset on his shoulder gave a demandingcrackle. "Ashburg I-1, you've got a 10-80 at 156 Jones St.”

 

He cursed silently andtriggered the handset clipped to his shoulder as he turned back to his SUV."Ashburg I-1, en route.” He released the transmit button and told her,“I’ve got to take this.”

 

Margay frowned, worry inher eyes, and half started after him. “What’s a 10-80?”

 

“Domestic violence call.”He curled his lip in disgust. “Sounds like Sam Jenkins beat the hell out of hisgirlfriend again.”

 

"You need backup? Icould go with you.”

 

Because of course shewould. Everything else might be gone to shit, but Margay would always have hisback. “Thanks, but I’ve got it.”

 

She frowned, visiblyworrying. “But what if this asshole has a gun? I'm bulletproof and you'renot."

 

"And if you were acop, I'd love to have you. But you're not, and if something happened, theliability would eat the town alive."

 

At that she deflated."Yeah, it wouldn’t be a good idea to put Raz in that situation anyway.It'd be too likely to set her off." With a sigh, Margay waved him on.“Better go answer your call."

 

She watched as he slid intohis vehicle. When he glanced into his rearview mirror as he drove away, she wasstill staring after him.

 

As if, despite her cat,despite whatever the hell had happened to her, she still cared.

 

Christ knew he did.

 

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