Isobel
Here is a small sneak peek of the upcoming new release in the Blazing Fire trilogy which is the next installment in the Celtic Fae Legend. Awakening is the first book in the second trilogy and follows Isobel’s story.
This scene takes place at the first council meeting that Isobel has attended in over ten years. It is also the first meeting between Isobel and Drew. Enjoy!
As her parents began to question Bryce about his upcoming marriage Isobel got the strangest feeling that someone was watching her. The hairs on the back of her neck begin to prickle.
She slowly scanned the room until her gaze settled upon a pair of the darkest eyes she had ever seen. They were like polished ebony. And they were staring right back at her.
She caught her breath as unexpected emotions coursed through her. She examined the face that the eyes belonged to. Sharp, strong features were framed by overlong midnight black hair. A day’s growth of beard added to his rakish looks.
She let her eyes drift downwards to take in the huge, muscular body covered in a black velvet cloak. His heavy arms were crossed over his broad chest and he was standing ramrod straight. He was easily over six feet tall. His cloak was open and she noticed the impressive bejewelled sword that hung from a belt around his waist. He was unmistakably a proud Fae warrior.
Isobel lifted her eyes up to his face once again to find him still staring at her. She felt heat shiver through her body and quickly looked away from him. She did her best to rejoin the conversation with Bryce and her parents all the while aware of those eyes upon her.
Some minutes later her father called the council meeting to order and they all took their seats at the long rectangular table. Seats were arranged down both sides with King Geraint at the one end. Isobel was dismayed to find she was sitting across from the man she found so distracting. He was once again pinning her with his stare and she found it very difficult to look away from him. She shivered involuntarily while trying to pretend he wasn’t there.
“Order!” Geraint banged his round, wooden block sharply against the desk making Isobel jump. When the council members had quietened down he continued. “Good to see everyone here tonight. Before we begin I would like to welcome my daughter, Princess Isobel, back to the council.”
She squirmed at the mention of her official title. She hated being addressed as princess. Especially since she had shirked the responsibilities that belonged to that title for so long. There was a lot of murmuring and welcoming from the other members of the council and Isobel nodded her thanks and recognition. She noticed that the disturbing dark man hadn’t uttered a word. He sat there, studying her. Who was this man? She wished she’d asked her parents before the meeting had begun.
She sent him a stern look and was surprised to see him smirk in return.
It took a moment to realize that her father had been talking to her. “I’m sorry, Father. I was thinking of something else. What did you say?”
Geraint raised his eyebrows. “I asked you if you know everyone here.”
It took a moment for Isobel to free herself from the man’s stare. She slowly turned to face her father. “I believe I know everyone.” She swallowed hard and speared the man across from her with her eyes, daring him to smirk again. “Except for you, good sir.”
Soft laughter floated around the table at how she had addressed the man in the formal manner usually reserved for adversaries or strangers. There, she thought. Smirk that one off.
Her father missed the little contest going on between them entirely. “Ah yes, of course you wouldn’t know Drew would you? This is Drew Morrison. In your absence he has become one of our most trusted warriors. Drew this is my daughter, Isobel.”
Isobel watched as Drew Morrison, trusted Fae warrior, stood and held out his hand towards her. Realizing she was supposed to take it she stood slowly and embraced his hand with hers. A strange heat burned at his touch, up from her hand to her chest. She was breathless as she sat down again.
Isobel hoped that this would be a reasonably light meeting. She had been too long away from this and needed to ease her way back in. But also, she wanted to get away from Drew and calm her racing thoughts. This was silly. She wasn’t a child any longer, to be turned inside out at the mere look of a handsome, rugged, strong, alluring…
She found herself staring at him and drifting away from the lively conversation going on amongst the other councillors regarding a territorial dispute. Several times already Drew had caught her staring and had regarded her with that irritating smirk.
By the time Geraint finally called the meeting closed and she could leave, she had the beginnings of a headache. She quickly gathered up her things and said goodbye to her parents.
Taking a deep fortifying breath she moved as quickly as possible across the room to the door. She thought that she had made it without running into Drew again when she heard a deep masculine voice say, “Running away so soon Isobel?” The voice sent tingles down her spine and she stopped dead in her tracks.
She didn’t expect to find him so close to her when she turned around. There were only a few feet separating them and she swallowed hard as his pure masculine scent enveloped her.
“I’m not running away. I have things to do.” Thank goodness her voice sounded even and strong. She held her head high, and put defiance into her glare, daring him to contradict her.
“I think you’re running away.”
He smirked at her and she felt her temper rising. “Oh, do you now? It’s so good that you know me so well, Drew Morrison. Please, do tell me, what am I supposed to be running away from?”
“Me.”
Rather than make her angrier, the arrogance of the man had the opposite effect on her. She found herself inching closer to him still, and she couldn’t quite keep her lips from quirking to mirror his own smirk. “You! Don’t be so ridiculous. I need to go, now. I will see you at the next meeting, Drew Morrison.”
“As you wish, my Princess. But I think you may see me before the next meeting.”
A tremor rippled through her at the way he used her title. From everyone else it was a term of respect, a means of keeping her distant and separate from them. When Drew Morrison used it, the title sounded…intimate.
Without another word she left the council chambers and hurried towards her carriage. The sooner she was home the better.
She was starting to think that maybe taking up her council responsibilities had gotten her into more than she had bargained for.
Get Your Copy and Read Awakening NOW!
Awakening was published on Monday June 17, 2013 Get Your Copy NOW!
