PHE - An Exclusive Short Story by Shona Husk + Giveaway

Today we get to know a little more about Shona Husk's Court of Annwyn series. Shona has written a Halloween themed short story set in her world, just for our event. She stopped by last year for the release of the first book of the series, but now she's here to promote her new book. TO LOVE A KING, is the third book in the series and it was released earlier this month. Shona is also graciously doing a giveaway so make sure to scroll down at the bottom of the post.

Again, welcome to the blog, Shona!

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The fairy court of Annwyn celebrates many festivals including Samhain, or Halloween. Samhain is an old festival and the night when the veil between the worlds is thinnest. The veil separates Annwyn from our world and while fairies can cross freely, humans can’t. Which is probably a good thing as fairies love tricking humans out of their souls.

The Making of a Spy falls before The Outcast Prince so is The Court of Annwyn #0.5. It features the Prince, Felan (hero of To Love a King), and Darah the heroine of The Darkling Lord. I hope you enjoy this taste of Halloween in Annwyn!

 

The Making of a Spy

His mother had done an excellent job planning the celebration of Samhain. The decorations made it appear as though they had indeed crossed the river of the damned and entered the afterlife—not that any fairy knew what was really over there. Unlike humans fairies had no soul and Felan had no idea what happened when a fairy died. However mortals came to Annwyn for judgment. Tonight every fairy was dressed as a faceless soul…or as humans would say, a ghost.

He was dressed entirely in white, even his mask. Despite the masks there was no doubt who was who. Fairies loved status too much to be anonymous. Even though they had gathered at Court to celebrate, there were still deals to be made. His mother was up to something and he had no idea what. He trusted her about as much as she loved him, or his father. His parents tolerated each other at best. He hoped that he would make a better choice of queen when the time came, though his heart still ached for Jacqui and he wasn’t ready to try again so soon.

He glanced at his mother and her ladies. How much time did he have left as Prince?

A woman with skin like honey approached and Felan went on guard. Darah was married to man on his father’s Council and part of his mother’s circle…although if rumors were to be believed—and they generally were in Annwyn—Shea was favoring the Queen more than his wife.

Darah inclined her head. Her black hair was done up in intricate knots and her lips were the same blood red as her mask. All off his mother’s ladies wore red masks like hungry ghosts. Who would fall to their cruel appetites? His mother enjoyed a Court at odds too much. “We must dance my, Prince.”

“On my mother’s command?” she still saw him as easy to manipulate and he saw no reason to change her mind. Not yet anyway. He knew how to play the games the Court required.

“Perhaps…she doesn’t like to see you alone.” Her fingers slid over his chest in a calculated manner.

He knew what his mother’s plan was. She liked to know what he was doing the same way he always kept one eye on her. Unfortunately at the moment he had no one in her circle of ladies. He gave Darah the smallest smile….perhaps this was the opportunity he’d been waiting for.

“Then let us dance.” He offered Darah his hand. It was easy to play the part his mother expected he’d been doing it for years aware that she was plotting against him and hoping to place another on the throne when the time came. He had no idea what he’d done to make her hate him so much.

There was none of the expected small talk that he expected from dance partners. While Darah moved well and her smile never slipped, there was a darkness in her eyes that he didn’t like. There was something else going on besides what his mother wanted. However he wasn’t going to tip his hand first. He wanted to Darah to make the first move. The music changed and became slower. Darah used it as an excuse to move closer…for the moment he let her.

“I am to seduce you,” she murmured close to his ear.

“You will have to do better.” He’s already had several offers and turned them down. He didn’t like Halloween as it made him think of Jacqui and the time they’d gone trick or treating. Halloween was a big deal in America even though they had forgotten the old ways.

“I have no desire to sleep with you. But our enemies are the same.” Her lips brushed his ear as if they were discussing something other than dancing.

He was supposed take the bait and his mother’s spy to bed…but even the would-be-spy had other ideas. It was that that intrigued him. Darah wasn’t playing his mother’s game. Would she play his? “And who might they be?”

“My husband and your mother are in bed.” Her hands never stopped moving.

To an onlooker there was nothing extraordinary going on. None would be surprised if he left with Darah. His mother expected it. Darah could feed false news back...besides he didn’t want her to fail and face his mother’s wrath. No doubt his mother was hoping that he’d keep Darah entertained while she toyed with Shea.

“That isn’t news.” Marriages were for power and affairs were for passion. He knew that and yet after Jacqui he’d begun to question the way the Court worked—not publically of course. “Tell me something I don’t know and we might work together.”

He still couldn’t be sure that he wasn’t being played. These days there were few he trusted and it made him weary. He was tired of the endless games and power plays.

She pressed her lips together, her eyes hard like gems as she weighed him up. The small curve of her lips betrayed her decision. She pressed her body to his as if they were lovers. “They talk of finding the Window,” her voice lowered, “and of a changeling who can assist.”

It took all his years of Court training not to flinch, but his blood became ice as though death had slid into blood and was searching for a soul to steal. Not his though as he didn’t have one. His son’s.

“You know what it is,” Darah said, her breath on his skin like the caress of the most delicate silk.

Damn it he should have asked. They danced on, never stopping and giving up the pretense that they were planning anything more than an affair, while he considered his next step. A spy amongst his mother’s ladies would be useful…but could also cut him. And he had no idea what Darah really wanted, only that it wasn’t to help him. No, she had her own agenda.

He smiled and let his hand wander as if he were enamored with Darah and her suggestion. Let people talk and assume he cared only about pleasure at least they weren’t watching what he was really up to. “I think we should retire to my chambers.”

The were some conversations that were best had in private. Any deals made could be sealed. No fairy dared break a vow. In Annwyn your word was sacred and oath breakers were dealt with.

She nodded. “I am your loyal servant.”

Time would tell, but she wasn’t his mother’s and that was enough for him at the moment. Finding the window and protecting his mortal son had to come first…stopping the Queen and her schemes would be a bonus.

He glanced at the Court filled with gleaming white, masked ghosts and shivered. The thinning of the veil had brought his worlds together. He knew then that he’d see his son’s soul in Annwyn too soon.

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Thanks for stopping by Shona! It's been a pleasure to have you here.

Here’s the scoop on TO LOVE A KING:

HE’S TRYING TO RECLAIM THE PAST

To keep the balance between good and evil at the court of Annwyn, Prince Felan ap Gwyn has two weeks to marry and take the crown. But he wants more than just power—he wants love; a love he once had but was too stubborn to hold on to.

SHE’S STRUGGLING TO FACE THE FUTURE

It took years for Jacqueline Ara to put her life back together after Felan abandoned her. She’s moved on, even if her heart still burns for him. But with war in Annwyn looming and death bleeding into the mortal world, Felan and Jacquie will need to heal old wounds and rekindle the passion that once welled between them…or face losing everything.

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Other books in the series include:

  

About the author

Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back.

To connect with Shona Husk, check out the following links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter

Shona Husk is giving away one (1) e-copy of THE CHANGELING SOLDIER to a lucky reader.

Open internationally. Giveaway ends November 7th, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted by Tynga at 03:26

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Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

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