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EXCERPT
Rurik bit the inside of his lip, his gut
clenched as he watched Ari lift the Chalice to her lips. Even from across the
hall he could see that her eyes hadn’t changed in their blue intensity. She saw
him, he had no doubt, but she didn’t smile, didn’t show that she recognized him.
Part of him wanted to watch her, the
beauty of her face, the soft curves of her body as she moved beneath the
clinging material. The years had been kind to her, maybe too kind for they’d
made her a gorgeous woman. He’d heard people speak of her beauty, but in his
mind she was always the young girl, awkward and without power. He’d been
attracted to her then, but now, now she was a woman and attraction didn’t even
begin to cover what he felt.
The two women kissed his neck, but he
didn’t feel them, not really. Their hands were on his thighs, but in his mind he
only wanted one person and neither of them was she. His hands trembled, and he
longed to wipe the makeup from her face, longed to run his fingers through her
loosened hair.
Ari drew the Chalice down from her mouth,
her eyes wide as she looked down. The Chalice dropped from her hand and he felt
a strange tingling in his stomach, an almost nauseous sensation. Jealousy?
Regret? Anger? A shiver worked over his spine and he couldn’t move.
“You’re cold as ice.” The blonde pulled
away from him. “Commander, what is it?”
“He’s freezing,” the dark haired temptress
added.
“Commander?” Ivor and Lleu said
simultaneously.
Rurik opened his mouth to say he was fine,
but a rush of air hit him, filling his lungs and knocking the breath from him,
followed by a blinding light. He couldn’t see a thing as the noises of the hall
disappeared into the pounding sound of warriors’ feet running over a battlefield
seconds before they took to flight.
Then, suddenly, darkness replaced the
light, a heavy, disorienting contrast. Soft cushioning pressed into his hands
and knees and he realized he was bent over on a soft mattress. Something warm
was by his leg and he reached over blindly to feel what it was.
“It’s done,” a woman whispered. There was
relief in her tone. “I can’t believe it’s finally done.”
His fingers ran over a leg, buried within
a gown. It didn’t take long to ascertain it belonged to the woman.
Nae, not just a woman. It belonged to…
“Ari?” he whispered.
Rurik drew his hand away as if burnt.
Jerking back, he spread his wings slightly. They bumped an invisible boundary.
He reached for it, feeling the air like a thick wall encircling them and keeping
him trapped with the princess.
“Yea,” Ari said. Her tone had deepened
into an almost sultry, vixen’s tone.
“Princess Ari?” he said, more to himself
than to her.
“Yea, are you well, Lord?” she asked. “Did
the transition take you by surprise? What is your name? Who has the Chalice
chosen for me?”
© copyright Michelle M. Pillow, 2006
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the
author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living
persons or events is merely coincidence.
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REVIEWS
"4 STARS! Each author crafts a believable
world populated with creatures who are realistic in their chosen situations.
While some of the novellas are faster-paced than others, each features
passionate characters in very (a)rousing situations!" —Karen Sweeny-Justice
RT Magazine, May 2007
"4 1/2! Ms. Pillow has crafted an intensely
passionate story that will have you panting along with Ari and wishing for
your very own Rurik. Fans, old and new, will love this erotically romantic
tale." Literary Nymphs, Oct 2006
"Seize the Hunter book 5 in a
themed series focusing on winged shifters is a sexy piece of work. I’ve
heard a lot of about Michelle Pillow’s books and I see all the praise
is well deserved." Rachelle, FAR, Oct 2006
"Ms. Pillow has crafted unforgettable
characters and an intriguing plot in Seize the Hunter. I was
instantly drawn into their world of Falconia and mesmerized by the winged
creatures. If you’re looking for a great fantasy romance you should not
pass up Seize the Hunter." Klarissa, Joyfully Reviewed, Dec
2006
"4 HEARTS! Ms. Pillow has created a
wild world of flying soldiers and magical princesses." TRS, May 2007
"4 1/2 CUPIDS! an enjoyable and
entertaining book!" Cupid's Library Reviews, 2007
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