Excerpt One | Excerpt Two | Excerpt Three | Excerpt Four
Draycott Everlasting
by CHRISTINA SKYE
in stores October 20, 2009
His senses screaming, Adrian Draycott was tossed flat, caught in waves of pain. Space seemed to bulge, then tear, while dark images streamed past. What had he done? Adrian thought wildly. How had he erred? Was some fine detail forgotten or a portal overlooked? But no, every phrase and gesture had been correct. The words were given, the four corners cleared. Old fires put to the damp and new fire ready to claim in the last minutes before the old year's gates closed forever.
Cold struck at the bone.
Too late…
Energy boiled up, swallowing Adrian. Vainly he tried to hold sight of the working of his magic, but his eyes were blurred. Mars trine Uranus was a difficult time, to be sure. Yet never had he expected this kind of violence. Something brushed against his booted leg and he saw the keen amber eyes of a great gray cat, face to the darkness.
"Gideon, do you feel it?"
Answering, the low meow was sharp.
"Aye, worse even that what happened in 1540. I'll need your help, old friend. This is something I have never—"
The stones of the roof shook. The abbey's great clock stopped in mid-peal, surrounded by yellow fumes. Cold gusted, filling the air.
The voice that rumbled through the darkness left Adrian's blood in icy chunks. "Well met, my old friend," the harsh whisper came. "My liege. My closest friend." The voice grew closer. "Adrian Draycott." A figure in chain mail stepped through the hole boiling at the middle of the roof. His sword gleamed silver in the moonlight.
"And now my hated betrayer," he said bitterly.
MOONRISE © Copyright Christina Skye 2009
Revisit Draycott Abbey!
My novellas, What Dreams May Come and Season of Wishes, Bridge of Dreams and Enchantment, have been reprinted. You can listen to an excerpt from Enchantment here.
Excerpt One | Excerpt Two | Excerpt Three | Excerpt Four