WELCOME AWESOME AUTHOR MICHELLE MILES
Michelle Miles found her love of writing buried in the fantasy books of Patricia
A. McKillip and the beautiful romances of Victoria Holt. It wasn’t until her
high school years she decided to take up the pen and try her hand at writing.
She created faraway lands, space adventures, and even princesses who just wanted
to be saved. Never learning to plot, she always believed that jumping in feet
first was the way to go and has since become a self-proclaimed Pantser, writing
sexy contemporaries, sizzling paranormal and sweeping fantasy.
A Native Texan, she loves hockey, baseball, drinking coffee, cross-stitching,
and shopping for shoes and Coach handbags. Follow her daily writings and weekly
guest features at her blog, Ye Olde Inkwell. Michelle is also a regular contributor to Pop Culture Divas and
Plotting
DEBORAH: Michelle has so many wonderful romance books, it's hard to know where to begin.
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Available for Pre-Order at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon and B&N!
Read an excerpt here!
Blush Sensuality Level: This is a sensual romance (may have explicit love scenes, but not erotic in frequency or type).
The sequel to One Knight Only. Get ready for Elves, dragons and sinister plots to destroy the Otherworld!
The Sword of Light is missing. Innocent Fae nobles are slaughtered. And now someone wants Princess Elyne’s head.
After saving her love, Princess Elyne returns to the Otherworld by order of her mother. But it’s not the homecoming she expects. Furious Elyne has meddled with humans, the queen imprisons her and strips away her magic. The only way Elyne can get it back is to perform one selfless act.
When Queen Maeve sends Derron to find the Guardian of the Sword of Light, he can’t leave without releasing Elyne. After all, she altered time to save his life. But freeing the princess comes with a steep price—he must take her with him on this dangerous quest. And the two must deal with feelings of past hurt and the love growing between them.
Their search becomes more than a pursuit for the missing Guardian as Lord Kieran rises to dominate the Unseelie court. He will stop at nothing to gain control of both the Otherworld and the human realm. Even with the help of Elves, dragons and their human friends, the odds are stacked against Derron and Elyne.
Available now from DCL
Publications. Get your eBook at Fictionwise, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble and Amazon!
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Kill, or be killed.
Elena Gaius is Hixyl’s most heralded gladiatrix, catching the Emperor’s eye
with her unspoiled beauty and fiery temper. Determined to let no man have her,
he forces her into a life of unwanted accolades—for slaughter in the Games. With
independence out of reach, Elena knows each day could be her last.
Cassius Antonius is a former general hired by an underground secret order to
assassinate the Emperor. When he refuses, they take away the only thing precious
to him—his freedom. Forced into servitude, he meets Elena and manipulates her
into helping him, forming a shaky alliance and a searing romance.
The two become unwitting pawns in the struggle to save Hixyl from the
Emperor’s tyranny. But plans spin out of control with the discovery of their
secret tryst, and for their ultimate act of betrayal, the Emperor demands one
last entertainment—to be pitted against each other in the Games in a fight to
the death.
FOLLOW MICHELLE AT THESE PLACES:
EXCERPT FROM ONLY FROM A KNIGHT:
FOLLOW MICHELLE AT THESE PLACES:
EXCERPT FROM ONLY FROM A KNIGHT:
Copyright © MICHELLE MILES, 2012
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
“I’m sure it was because I’m so charming.”
This made him laugh out loud, showing off
his deep dimples on either side of his kissable mouth. It sent her stomach
plummeting to her shoes to see the joy in his face. Something he hadn’t had in
far too long. As least since his last joust in the human realm when he nearly
died…twice.
Derron slid an arm around her shoulders and
pulled her close as they walked. She stumbled, falling into him a lot closer
than he probably intended. She could feel the warmth of him pressing through to
her skin, delighting every sense she had. Her pulse quickened as he leaned
toward her and kissed her on the cheek. Disappointment quickly followed when
that was all she got. A sisterly peck.
“You are truly delightful, your highness,”
Derron said.
“I wish you wouldn’t call me that.”
Irritation clawed through her. Mostly because he didn’t take her in his arms
and kiss her thoroughly. As though she were the last Fae woman worth kissing.
“Why not? Isn’t that your rightful title?”
“It is, but it’s unnecessary for you to
continue to use ‘your highness’.”
“You don’t seem to mind when the others
call you that.” Before she could answer, he asked, “Would you prefer princess
then?”
“No.” She pouted, clenching her jaw tight
and trying not to pucker her lips. Still, she was incensed. And he still held
her so close she could literally feel his pulsing heart. Or maybe that was her
imagination.
“Your worship?”
Now he was teasing her. She flushed to the
tips of her pointed ears, her face burning hot.
“Not that either, I gather. How about your
grace? I suppose I could bend the rules of address this once and call you that.
Would that do?”
“No.” She punched him in the ribs to get
away but he still held fast. “Let me go.”
He stopped walking so suddenly she
stumbled again. This time he turned to her, grasped her arms and pulled her
close. So close, her hands rested on his chest and she knew for certain she
could feel his heart pounding through his tunic. Their eyes locked, his
searching hers. Heat flooded her. Something she’d not known…well, ever. And
especially for Derron.
It had been much too long since he’d
looked at her like that. Ages, in fact. When he had tried to court her and all
she wanted to do was run away from him. She wanted nothing to do with him. She
had been such a fool to reject him. And why had she? She thought she hadn’t
been in love with him. How wrong she was.
“Elyne, then. How about I call you Elyne?”
She liked the way her name sounded on his
tongue. Oh, he’d said it before. But usually with princess attached to it. Rarely her name. And never looking at her
like that.
Her gaze focused on his lips, perfect for
kissing. The deep-set dimples on either side. The scruffy blond whiskers
shadowing his jaw and cheeks. Neither of them wore their glamour here in the
Otherworld to hide their true Fae features. His ears were tipped like hers, his
blond hair fell over his forehead in thick waves and she longed to run her
fingers through the silken strands.
“You may call me Elyne.”
His gaze landed on her lips, paused, and
then lifted back to hers. He wanted to kiss her but he was afraid. Mayhap as
afraid as she was for him to kiss her. That would mean they had deep feelings
for each other and since they’d made such a mess of things with the broken
betrothal, she wasn’t sure where that would leave them.
“Then ’tis what I’ll call ye.”
She blinked surprise as he released her and
resumed walking. For that brief moment, his Irish lilt came out so clear it
took her aback. In fact, she couldn’t recall ever hearing it. He masked it so
well.
“You coming, Elyne?” he called over his
shoulder.
Elyne picked up her skirts and fell in
step beside him. “Shouldn’t I be armed as well?” She steered the conversation
as far from the two of them as possible. She didn’t want to acknowledge the
need and desire Derron had managed to stir inside her. All she wanted to do was
ignore it.
“You? Armed? Why?”
“All of you are armed,” she said. “You
have a sword and a dagger. And I have no magic.”
“Fear not, dear prin—Elyne. I promise to
keep thee safe.”
She snarled at him. Mocking me again. “Are you denying me a weapon?”
“Can you shoot a bow?” he asked, giving
her a sideways glance. Even though he tried to keep his face passive, she could
see the underlying smirk.
“Nay.”
“Wield a sword?”
“Nay.”
Derron chuckled. “Then, pray tell, what
sort of weapon do you wish for?”
She’d never laid her hands on a weapon
before but it seemed silly to be traipsing through the Woodlands Forest with
nothing but her wits. She would feel much better if she had something within
reach. Mayhap some sort of blade she could keep on her person. Something that
could replace the fact she had no magic. She may as well be running around
naked.
She looked over Derron, noticed the sheath
tied to his thigh and knew that’s what she wanted.
“A dagger.” Aye, that would make her feel
better to have one. “I know how to use that.”
“A dagger?” He splayed his fingers. “You
have any ideas on where to get one? I don’t see Thuluke’s Weapons Shoppe here.”
Her gaze landed once again on his dagger.
He put a possessive hand on it. “You want mine. Of course you do.”
“You could spare the dagger.”
“I could, couldn’t I?” Smiling, Derron
unsheathed his dagger and handed it to her. “I expect you to take good care of
that. It was a gift from my father.”
“It will be safe with me.” She ran her
finger along the pearl hilt, admiring the iridescent colors dancing along it.
“Have any idea how to use it?”
Elyne blinked. “Not exactly.”
Grinning, he stepped behind her, wrapped
his long fingers around her thin wrist. “Allow me to demonstrate.”
Derron’s body pressed against her back,
molding to her easily. With her wrist in his hand, the delicious warm skin
pressing hers, it was difficult for her to concentrate on his words.
“Thrust like this.” He pulled her arm back
and then pushed it forward. “Aim for the heart. If you miss that, then the
neck.” Heated breath cascaded over her nape. His woodsy scent filled her nose.
“Why?” she asked.
“Best way to kill a man, princess. How
does it feel?”
Splendid. Though she was certain he meant the
dagger in her hand. “It feels like a dagger.”
He chuckled and released her. “You’ll need
this too.” He untied the sheath from his thigh. “But a lady, nay a princess, shouldn’t keep that in plain
sight.”
“Why not?”
“She is more lethal with a hidden weapon.”
A mischievous light twinkled in his eyes,
making her heart do a quick ka-thunk
in her chest. Derron knelt at her feet, his gaze still on hers. When his hand
went up her skirt and rested on her calf, she nearly came undone. Slowly, he
slid his hand along her leg, pushing up her skirt to reveal an expanse of
creamy white skin. Her heart throbbed, pounding wildly in her chest and ears.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Elyne watched as he tied the sheath to her
thigh in the same manner. She’d swear she could still feel the warmth of his
skin on it as he secured it in place.
“There. The dagger?” He held his hand up
for it.
She placed the pearl hilt in his palm and
he deftly slid it into the sheath. All the while keeping his hands in constant
contact with her leg.
“That should do it.” Derron rose to his
full height.
He had two inches on her, his hair
brushing his forehead as he gave her a wicked smile. He knew what he was doing
and he liked doing it. She liked him doing it. Why did he touch her so
intimately when they’d been at odds for so long? He’d gone to the court to have
their betrothal broken and now this?
“Feel better, princess?”
“I—”
But that was as far as she got when an
arrow went zooming between them and buried in the ancient oak beside her head.
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