Betrayal
The Demon Hunters
Book 3
A.S. Fenichel
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kensington/Lyrical
Date of Publication: December 8, 2015
ISBN: 9781616505851
ASIN: B00URQETG8
Number of pages: 175
Word Count: 79,000
Cover Artist: Morgan Pielli
Book Description:
In service to His Majesty, one must be prepared for Hell.
To survive as a scullery maid requires hard work, discipline, and a stiff upper lip. To survive as a Demon Hunter is something else entirely. Elizabeth Smythe learned this after she was captured by Demons and rescued by Hunters. Now a Hunter herself, Elizabeth’s first task in this new and strange world is to aid the recently wounded Lord Reece Foxjohn, and get him back into Demon-slaying shape. . .
Reece Foxjohn is used to defying convention. He enraged his family by becoming a Demon Hunter, and prefers eviscerating the spawn of Satan to mixing with the ton. He is a man who doesn’t hesitate when he knows what he wants, and what he wants is Miss Elizabeth Smythe. To watch her behead the progeny of Evil is to behold a thing of beauty—one he must claim for his at all costs. . .
Excerpt :
“Don’t you even want to know why I broke the chair?”
She shrugged. “You’re angry. I do not blame you. I would be angry too.”
He stepped closer. His breath warmed her cheek as he lifted her chin with one finger. “Since you will offer no lecture and have no plans to draw out my feelings, why not tell me why I’m so angry?”
Swallowing to clear the lump in her throat, she gazed into those eyes. “You think you’ve lost everything. You were on top of the world, and now you have to start over again and from lower than before. You doubt you can ever recover and fear you will end up a crippled old man.”
He gaped as he stepped back from her. His head hung, and the shoulders she’d been admiring slumped. “Dear God, Lizzy, am I that obvious?”
Her heart ached for him, and she stepped forward. Wrapping her arms around his middle, she rested her head on his chest bare chest. If heaven existed, she’d found it. She imagined an eternity snuggled against his warmth. “I do not think it is quite as clear to everyone, Reece. You put up a good front at the wedding. Lillian likely saw through it, but maybe not the rest.”
His arms remained at his sides, but his cheek brushed against the top of her head. “Lilly has known me for years. How is it you see through me so easily?”
“You forget I have spent part of every day for a year watching you heal. Plus, I know how I would feel if I had to start training all over again. You were probably already strong when you started training to become a hunter, but I was only as strong as heavy pots and buckets filled with water can make a girl. I would be in despair if I had to do it all again.”
One hand skimmed the center of her back. “And would you? Would you start all over again, if you lost everything you have gained in the last year?”
She tipped her head up and stared him in the eyes. “I would do everything in my power to be better than before.”
“And if you failed?”
“I would pick myself up and try again until I succeeded.” Her heart tripped.
His head lowered until full lips she’d longed for touched hers in a whispered kiss. She stiffened at the first touch and relaxed as his hand came up to cup her cheek.
He pressed his thumb to her jaw, and when her mouth opened, he swept his tongue inside.
The kiss reached through, around, and inside her. Rising on her tiptoes, she opened for him and matched his kisses with her own desperation. Yes, this was what she wanted, more of this man. Her imagination had not done the moment justice. She threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling it from the neat queue. Soft tresses spilled over her hands. She burned as she molded against him.
Reece broke the kiss and stepped back, heaving breath and staring at her as if he’d never seen her before. “I should not have done that.”
Elizabeth gasped to catch her breath. The pleasant tightening in her lower belly knotted painfully. Tears threatened to push out, but she refused to cry in front of him. “I see. Well, what is done is done. I will see you at dinner.”
Before she could run from the room, he grabbed her arm. The temptation to hit him so hard he’d release her warred with her desire to nurse him back to his former glory. Maybe then, he would see more than a scullery maid when he looked at her.
“Please, Lizzy, do not be cross with me. I wanted to kiss you. Just because I want something does not mean it is the right thing. I should not have forced myself on you, but I was caught up in the moment.”
Jerking her arm away from his grip, she laughed. “You think you could have kissed me if I was opposed to it? I am a demon hunter, Reece Foxjohn. Just because you have not yet seen me in action, do not suppose I am not capable of stopping you or anyone else. I know you, but you clearly know nothing about me. You should rest. I will see you at dinner.”
She gathered her wits in the hallway before she ran to her room, bolted the door, and looked for something she could break. She paced the carpet, took up a pale green vase, lifted it over her head, and then set it back on the table with added care. Breaking the expensive glassware would not change anything. It would not make her his equal. If The Company could not do that, then nothing could. Above her station, he viewed kissing her as an error in judgment. His conscience would not let him take liberties with the help. She understood. In fact, over the years, she had wished more of her employers had been so honorable. Ironically, she hated him for the same virtue that made her admire him so.
About the Author:
A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She’s never looked back.
A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.
Multi-published in historical, paranormal, erotic and contemporary romance, A.S. is the author of The Demon Hunters series, the Psychic Mates series, and more. With several books currently contracted to multiple publishers, A.S. will be bringing you her brand of edgy romance for years to come.
Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the East Texas with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden. Her babies are both rescues and include; a demanding dog and a temperamental cat, both bring constant joy and laughter.
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