Excerpt:
I drank deeply from the crystal goblet. The liquid was cool and its flavor was unfamiliar. “Aren’t these the type of questions one asks before choosing a fiancée?”
Valcas flashed a wide toothy grin. “You’ll fill your role perfectly.”
“What is my role, exactly?”
He draped his arm around me, pulling me closer so that he could explain in a hushed voice. “I just usurped a new throne. Local custom, law actually, requires that a successor not related by blood to the prior ruler be married. Do not worry. You’ll just be posing, acting. You are naturally beautiful and slightly unapproachable— they will interpret that as being secure in your own superiority. It also helps that you have the aura and freshness of someone from a distant land.”
I gave Valcas a hard look. I already knew that he wanted me to help him pretend to be engaged and that he was protecting me from what attacked me twice at the dock. In my haste to get away from the lake I’d agreed to help him. As reality set in, however, the arrangement was starting to sound a lot more long-term and, worse yet, deliberately planned—very well researched. I wasn’t exactly bad looking, but I wouldn’t consider myself beautiful. Was he trying to flatter me? The food in my stomach churned. I gently pulled away from Valcas’ embrace and smoothed out my napkin.
“What if when you found me I was unattractive?”
“I don’t see how that would happen. A dark-haired beauty was one of the necessary components of the search.”
“What were the other necessary components of the search?”
“Well, basic information such as your age, name, rough
location—”
“You searched for me? By name?” When he told me about tracking my attacker, I assumed that his search was not specific to me, that I just happened to be the white light’s target when he found it and that I conveniently could return his favor.
“Yes, you.”
Author Bio:
Hi! I recently authored the first two installments of the YA time travel serial series, The Call to Search Everywhen. I'm a longtime reader of fantasy and sci-fi novels, particularly classics and young adult fiction. There's nothing quite like a good fairy tale or fable. When I'm not writing I enjoy traveling, reading and trying to stay in tune on my flute.
I LOVE that cover. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, I love the colors.
DeleteThanks so much for hosting today Jillyn!
ReplyDeleteHope your day is going great!
Laurie Starkey
Good Tales Book Tours
You're absolutely welcome Laurie!
DeleteThanks, Jillyn, for hosting me today!
ReplyDeleteFor anyone who’s curious and hasn’t started yet, Travel Glasses is YA fantasy filled with metafiction and other literary twistiness.
I’d love it if you and your friends would sign up for my newsletter (http://eepurl.com/bgGzOT)! I plan to send updates on future giveaways and new releases. :o)
Chess
You're welcome! It sounds great :)
DeleteThis looks fantastic, I love the cover, it's gorgeous!
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