Today I am so pleased to welcome Victoria Sue to Joyfully Jay. Victoria has come to share an exclusive excerpt from her latest release, Dead of Knight. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

 

Excerpt

Lucan rubbed his eyes. He was so sick of death. So damn sick of everyone dying. Because they all did eventually. He blew out a breath of the chilled air and wondered why he was still here when he could be home with Tom.

Or if he was honest with himself, was that the problem? Was he inventing ghosts now to keep him—even for an hour—away from a decision that had been brewing for two years? Tom had lost his temper. Not even when he had told them he would leave two years ago when they had said he needed to go to St. Paul’s had Tom become angry.

He had been disappointed which was even worse. A thousand times worse.

Was it possible that Tom did know his own mind, or—which was more likely—did Tom need the security of Lucan and immortality? Then when it was over, he would go. Go start a life without Lucan.

Lucan fisted both hands so tightly the nails dug into his flesh, because for a moment he was selfish enough to wish that the final battle would never come, or at least that he died just as they won. Before Tom walked away from him.

He would die happily knowing Tom would be free to get a life. Free to love, free to live.

Lucan had a second of warning as the air shimmered in front of him and two creatures appeared.

They weren’t slow this time.

Lucan barely had chance to draw his sword before the first one came at him, but he was faster, and it was soon dust. He spun around and caught the second awkwardly but didn’t pierce its heart. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the third appearing and cursed silently. He wasn’t in a good spot. So close to the edge of the building, he was in danger of getting boxed in, and he swerved to avoid the second’s blade and rammed his own home, barely waiting for it to disintegrate as he leaped through it just in time to avoid another strike. This was better. He wasn’t hampered by the wall.

Another came at him at the same time as he registered incredulity at the fourth appearing. He needed help, and even though he knew the others would have been alerted, they were at best over twenty minutes away because he had told them to go home. Lucan stepped sideways and blade met blade. The creature in front screamed its frustration, and Lucan leaped just a fraction of a second too slow and pain sliced at his side. He had a second to right himself and thrust. Another one down.

He didn’t even react in surprise when the fifth appeared. They just kept coming. Kill after kill after kill. His arm trembled. His feet leadened. Sweat bloomed on his skin, and the stench of blood and decay rose to choke him. Blood, black and sticky. On his clothes, on his hands, in his hair. He could barely see. Pain stabbed at his side, stealing his breath, as sharp as the blade that had caused it.

He whirled as two came at him simultaneously, but he finished neither of them. One stumbled which gave him the second he needed, but another slash to his wrist and his sword clattered to the ground.

He was done. Yet another appeared, but it made no difference. It would only take one for him to die.

He had failed. Failed his heart. Failed Tom. Failed to stay alive long enough to keep him safe.


Blurb

A battle is coming…

…and the immortal knights aren’t ready.

Will an orphan be the key?

For fifteen hundred years Lucan has waged war with the greatest enemy the world has ever known

…and fought the ancient curse that means loving someone with all his heart and soul might be the reason they die.

Tom wasn’t supposed to be born… twice.

How, as a young child, had he even heard the monsters at all?

How, as an adult, is he caught up in a deadly battle to fight evil, but cannot get one stubborn man to even acknowledge he exists?

Time is running out, not just to unravel the secrets of Tom’s destiny, but for Tom to show Lucan that loving someone with all that they have doesn’t mean breaking their heart.

Or does it?


Bio

Victoria Sue fell in love with love stories as a child when she would hide away with her mom’s library books and dream of the dashing hero coming to rescue her from math homework. She never mastered math but never stopped loving her heroes and decided to give them the happy ever afters they fight so hard for.

She loves reading and writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best—and creating a family for them to adore. Thrilled to hear from her readers, she can be found most days lurking on Facebook where she doesn’t need factor 1000 sun-cream to hide her freckles.


Giveaway

Victoria has brought a $5 Amazon gift card and choice of backlist book to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Sunday, February 2nd at 11:59 pm ET.


  • By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
  • If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
  • Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
  • Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
  • All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
  • By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
  • Readers may only enter once for each contest.  Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
  • Void where prohibited by law.
FILED UNDER: Excerpt, Giveaway
TAGGED: