This fortnight, it is my pleasure to introduce the amazing Shona Husk, with an excerpt of her book Dark Secrets.
Can
you, in less than five words describe your book/story Dark Secrets?
Weird west, male prostitute, redemption
What
inspired you to write it?
I really like this world (same world as
Dark Vow) and I have a lot of fun in the western style setting with magic and a
few other tweaks. Haidyn, the hero, has made some big mistakes in his past and
he hides a secret that could get him killed. He has magic but he doesn’t work
for the Arcane Union. He is Rogue (which means he’ll hang if caught). Writing
about a fallen hero who runs and works in a Lust House was a tempting
challenge. Finding the perfect heroine was easy—a woman from his past, the only
woman he’s ever loved. Of course I put her in the arms of his enemy.
Then I saw her, gold hair pinned up and
glinting in the sun the way it always had. Back then she’d worn it loose or in
one long braid. She was dressed in pale blue and white, and until then I’d
never hated white so much. It was his claim on her and a reminder that he was
spending his nights with Anisa.
I should’ve turned away.
She was his, not mine. Not anymore. But
I couldn’t get the memory of his thoughts out of my head—or his words.
I walked closer, feigning interest in
ribbons and lace as I studied her. Her face had lost the childish curves and
had gained the sculpted look of a woman. Wide cheekbones and lush lips that I
remembered kissing far too well. Seeing her, I needed her the same way I always
had. I craved her touch. My blood heated as a desire that was all mine crept
through my body.
Back then, that hadn’t been enough for
me. I’d wanted more.
But where her mouth had once been ready
with a smile, now there was tension. Her blue eyes held a concern that had been
lacking when she’d been in my arms. We’d been so young.
Without a care.
I’d broken it all.
She lifted a stick of cinnabark and
sniffed. As she did her gaze caught mine. What did she see? Not the boy filled
with pride and sure of his place. A man in clothes that spoke of too much coin,
a dandy? The whore master of the Red Lust House? Or did she see me, Haidyn?
For a moment neither of us moved. Her
hand jerked and her eyes widened, and in that moment I knew she recognized me.
Not because I could sense her thoughts. My mind was silent. Around Anisa my
magic had always been unrequired and I’d never tried to sneak into her mind.
She’d made me promise never to look inside. It was the one promise I’d made to
her that I’d kept.
Then she looked away and spoke to the
spice merchant. So that was it. I released the breath I’d been holding, not
wanting to break the moment. Somehow I’d expected more. My boots remained still
as if nailed to the cobbles. Six years on, and she still had the power to stop
my world. Only this time I knew the value of that gift.
She paid for the spice and glided closer
as if she were interested in buying ribbons.
Suddenly so was I.
Thank you so much for sharing Shona :)
If you want to find out more about Shona and her books, check out the following links!
And here are the buy links!
I loved reading Dark Secrets. It was a great novella and now I really need to get a copy of Dark Vow to read.
ReplyDelete