Sunday has rolled around again, so it's time to air another six tantalising paragraphs for Sneak-Peek Sunday.
Today's selection leads on from last week where Lorcan of the Brigantes has Nara of the Selgovae in his grasp, after she tries to escape. What will Nara do now?
Enjoy!
Lorcan moaned into her face while she squirmed, her
breasts writhing against his solid chest. She watched his eyes shut tight in
anger before he rolled off her, the leap to his feet agile as a gambolling lamb
as he dragged her upwards. Her hands were clamped in front of her before she
took another breath, a long cord from his belt lashed securely around them
before she managed any real struggle. The other end of the leash he entwined
with the harness for dragging the carcass of the boar, fisting both of them in
a firm clench. Forcing her chin up with his free hand, his words whiffed
through the whiskers bordering his upper lip.
“No further escape attempts. Now walk.”
Nara felt him push her into motion none too gently.
The leash was only long enough for her to be a few steps away from him, yet was
secure enough for her to know trying to break free was futile. He seemed
reluctant to kill her, though why? The local Celtic tribes did not generally
take slaves. Sometimes captured women were absorbed into the tribe as
concubines, bringing new bloodlines to the families. If that was his intention,
why had he not taken her virginity?
Lorcan of Garrigill’s conduct made no sense.
Yet, how dare he treat her so? Nara raged at the
situation, her feet stamping the ground mercilessly, but jerking the leash only
hurt her wrists for the warrior yanked it back with double her strength.
She was a warrior-princess, though how was he to know?
Unless she told him, and she vowed she would not do that. Apart from the
warrior’s mark on her arm, she wore no other sign of her status; no rings, no
torque and no arm bands of precious metal. This enraged man knew nothing of her
purpose, or who she was. Ceasing her stomp found not his spear but his splayed
fingers at the small of her back.
Banished
from the nemeton, becoming a priestess is no longer the future for Nara, a princess of the
Selgovae tribe. Now charged with choosing a suitable mate before Beltane, her
plan is thwarted by Lorcan, an enemy Brigante prince, who captures her and
takes her to his hill fort. Despite their tribes fighting each other, Nara feels drawn to her
captor, but time runs out for her secret quest.
As armies
of the Roman Empire march relentlessly northwards, Lorcan intends to use Nara as a marriage
bargain, knowing all Celtic tribes must unite to be strong enough to repel
imminent Roman attack. Nara’s
father, Callan, agrees to a marriage alliance between Selgovae and Brigante,
but has impossible stipulations. Lorcan is torn between loyalty to his tribe
and growing love for Nara.
The Beltane
Choice
Amazon.com ebook only http://amzn.to/UdT8v0
Amazon.co.uk ebook only http://amzn.to/Rqg7yY
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/221383
Youtube trailer http://youtu.be/igJmfBoXRhQ
Amazon author page:
Amazon UK author page:
Please hop on over now to the other sites that are participating in this fantastic Sneak-Peek Sunday hop.
Hi Nancy! I loved this one last week and am glad you treated us to some more. Lorcan's snagged himself one ticked off princess and doesn't know it. (The princess part, I mean. I think he can guess the ticked off part!) :)
ReplyDeleteTo find out more, all you have to do is... wait till next week... or, of course, pre-empt that by buying it and then you'll get the befores and the afters. :-) Thnsk for stopping by, Delynn.
DeleteHi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteWhat an intriguing snippet. I believe Lorcan will have his hands full with Nara. I can't wait to read more!
Hi Karen. As Delynn says, Nara remains one 'ticked-off' princss! :-)
DeleteLoved the snippet, Nancy. I thin Nara isn't a happy princess...
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarah. Don't think I would be in her shoes... er...boots.
ReplyDelete