Today’s Medieval Monday
excerpt is about nature. My guest author today, Mary Morgan has given us a
delightful scene that lets nature take its course! Enjoy the read.
excerpt is about nature. My guest author today, Mary Morgan has given us a
delightful scene that lets nature take its course! Enjoy the read.
Excerpt:
Some of the men and women were
already dancing around the fire. She laughed when she spied Betsy twirling
around.
already dancing around the fire. She laughed when she spied Betsy twirling
around.
Betsy waved her over. “Come dance
with us.”
with us.”
Aileen held up her hand in protest.
“Oh, no…I’m fine just watching.” Turning blindly, she stumbled into Brian.
“Oh, no…I’m fine just watching.” Turning blindly, she stumbled into Brian.
“May I have this dance, Lady
Aileen?” he asked.
Aileen?” he asked.
“I really shouldn’t, Brian.” He
looked so dejected she decided to throw caution to the wind. “You know what? I
haven’t danced in ages. I think I will take that dance.”
looked so dejected she decided to throw caution to the wind. “You know what? I
haven’t danced in ages. I think I will take that dance.”
“I would be honored,” he said
proudly, holding out his hand.
proudly, holding out his hand.
Aileen swallowed the last of her
wine, before putting the cup on a log. Taking his hand, she gathered her dress
and joined the others.
wine, before putting the cup on a log. Taking his hand, she gathered her dress
and joined the others.
In no time at all, she found herself
being swept away with the contagious merriment. Letting her shields slip just a
bit, she relished the gaiety—twirling and singing. When Brian would gather her
close, she would move away, spinning in a circle. On and on, around the
inferno, laughter peeling out.
being swept away with the contagious merriment. Letting her shields slip just a
bit, she relished the gaiety—twirling and singing. When Brian would gather her
close, she would move away, spinning in a circle. On and on, around the
inferno, laughter peeling out.
She felt young and carefree.
***
Stephen had gathered some food from
Betha as he intended to be away all night. She and Donal had pleaded with him
to join in the feasting, but he waved them off rather rudely. He wanted no part
of the festivities.
Betha as he intended to be away all night. She and Donal had pleaded with him
to join in the feasting, but he waved them off rather rudely. He wanted no part
of the festivities.
Almost colliding with a couple, he
swore softly. Placing the food across Grian, he shifted hesitantly. It was then
he spotted…her.
swore softly. Placing the food across Grian, he shifted hesitantly. It was then
he spotted…her.
His hand froze on the leather sack.
Sweet Mother! What was she doing? And dressed like that? She was a Goddess of
the flame. He watched as she was swung up into the air by none other than
Brian. Then the man dared to slide her down against him.
Sweet Mother! What was she doing? And dressed like that? She was a Goddess of
the flame. He watched as she was swung up into the air by none other than
Brian. Then the man dared to slide her down against him.
Dark fury burst somewhere deep
inside Stephen. “I’m going to kill him,” he rasped out.
inside Stephen. “I’m going to kill him,” he rasped out.
The blood roared in his head, as he
stormed across the open field, never hearing those who greeted him in
passing—one hand held firm against his sword. He slowed his pace and Stephen
waited as any warrior would. Let the enemy show himself, he thought.
stormed across the open field, never hearing those who greeted him in
passing—one hand held firm against his sword. He slowed his pace and Stephen
waited as any warrior would. Let the enemy show himself, he thought.
When their dancing brought them
nearer to him, he darted in front blocking their path.
nearer to him, he darted in front blocking their path.
They never saw him coming.
Aileen’s back slammed into his
chest, and his arms grasped her instantly in a firm grip. “Hey, ouch!” She
tried to move, but he held her solid against his body.
chest, and his arms grasped her instantly in a firm grip. “Hey, ouch!” She
tried to move, but he held her solid against his body.
Brian skidded to a halt. “Greetings,
Sir Stephen.” He went to grab for Aileen’s hand, when Stephen let out a growl
of warning.
Sir Stephen.” He went to grab for Aileen’s hand, when Stephen let out a growl
of warning.
“What is your problem? Did you just growl?” demanded
Aileen. She tried to pry herself loose, but he continued to hold her firm.
Aileen. She tried to pry herself loose, but he continued to hold her firm.
“Mine,” he snarled.
Instantly, Brian’s face went white.
“Thank ye for the dance, Lady Aileen,” Brian clipped out. Giving Stephen a curt
nod, he stomped away.
“Thank ye for the dance, Lady Aileen,” Brian clipped out. Giving Stephen a curt
nod, he stomped away.
“Bloody. God. Damn. Hell,” Aileen
snapped.
snapped.
Stephen released her, only spinning
her around to face him. Something primal within him tore loose. He tried to
reason with himself that this was insanity, though his mind and body wouldn’t yield.
His gaze dropped to those lips—lips he had fantasized about for weeks.
her around to face him. Something primal within him tore loose. He tried to
reason with himself that this was insanity, though his mind and body wouldn’t yield.
His gaze dropped to those lips—lips he had fantasized about for weeks.
“Aileen,” he choked out before his mouth
took hers in a plundering kiss. His lips moved over hers devouring their
softness. The kiss became urgent, pleading in its need. His tongue sought hers,
and the dance of desire seared their bodies. Raw passion took over his anger,
and she opened fully, drawing him against her body. She took her hands and
wrapped them around his head, threading her fingers in his locks and pulling
him in deeper. Never in all of his life had he felt so right in someone’s arms.
took hers in a plundering kiss. His lips moved over hers devouring their
softness. The kiss became urgent, pleading in its need. His tongue sought hers,
and the dance of desire seared their bodies. Raw passion took over his anger,
and she opened fully, drawing him against her body. She took her hands and
wrapped them around his head, threading her fingers in his locks and pulling
him in deeper. Never in all of his life had he felt so right in someone’s arms.
When he broke from the kiss, his
breathing was labored. Her eyes were dark with desire for him, and he shook
with such need, it frightened him.
breathing was labored. Her eyes were dark with desire for him, and he shook
with such need, it frightened him.
“By the hounds,” he uttered
hoarsely. In one swift move, he picked her up. Carrying her to his horse, he
ignored the hoots and remarks coming from the crowd. Placing her on Grian, he
swung around in back, taking off through a large group of oak trees with only
one clear thought in mind.
hoarsely. In one swift move, he picked her up. Carrying her to his horse, he
ignored the hoots and remarks coming from the crowd. Placing her on Grian, he
swung around in back, taking off through a large group of oak trees with only
one clear thought in mind.
Back Cover Copy:
To right a wrong, two souls are brought together only to
shatter when they are torn apart by the deeds of an evil druid.
shatter when they are torn apart by the deeds of an evil druid.
Dragon Knight, Stephen MacKay’s powers are
altered after the death of his sister. Now he is plagued with visions that
threaten to destroy his soul. When Aileen Kerrigan falls through a time tunnel,
he vows to keep her safe, despite the fact the beautiful but head-strong
half-blooded fae could be the death of him.
When Aileen finds out her dad is a Fenian
Warrior, she flees to a nearby ruin. Armed with the medallion her mother gave
her, and a matching one belonging to a long dead knight, she is flung into the
past and finds a handsome but surly warrior who is on a quest. Now it seems her
future could be entwined with his, if she doesn’t kill him first.
Buy Links:
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/dragon-knight-s-medallion
Thanks so much for hosting me and Dragon Knight's Medallion, Ruth! Loved being here!