Catspell by Colleen Shannon

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Shelley Holmes is accustomed to the bizarre. Such phenomena as werewolves and vampires hold no surprises for her. But in all her years of investigating the paranormal, she has never run across a case like this one...

Beautiful Arielle Blaylock is a proper Victorian miss by day, but a daring wanton by night. In her dreams she seems to enter another life, one where sorcery and sensuality hold sway. But how is it possible that the happenings of that shadow world are beginning to manifest themselves in reality? Of the two mystical beings who fight to seduce her, which is destined to be her lover... the creature of light or the one of darkness? Arielle now finds herself lost in a maze of danger and desire where one misstep might mean the end of love and life.

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Catspell

Dorchester Publishing

Chapter One

She was tired of feeling like a cripple. Tired of trusting her father, or anyone else, even Shelly, to look after her. She wanted to become a woman in full, in every way, independent, strong and passionate. And last night, climbing down the tree, not even feeling a twinge in her leg, seeing so well in the darkness, and then dancing, the earth spongy on the pads of her feet, Luke's strong body brushing against her, for the first time in her life she'd felt like a woman grown. A flush overtook her as she recalled those sights and scents, especially of that marvelous cologne he wore. She fanned her face with her hand, wondering when she'd see Luke again.

Seth turned from studying the passing view, which showed increasingly smaller and poorer houses as they neared Whitefriars, to catch the look on her face. His blank expression darkened as he examined her flushed cheeks, quickened breathing and dilated eyes.

Arielle felt a strange tingling sensation at her temples, as if the power of his intellect could probe through her outer defenses to the core of all she was and hoped to be. Shrinking against the squabs, Arielle said, "Do not look at me so!" She spoke louder than she intended.

Unseen by either of them, a tiny panel opened above their heads and the tip of a listening horn peeked through.

Intent on Arielle, Seth crossed his arms over his chest. "I shall look at you how I please, and before long, it shall be as often as I please, in great ... detail."

Well really! She knew it, his white knight performance was an act to ingratiate himself into her father's good graces. For all the good that would do him, because he irritated her extremely and she was not about to let herself be bamboozled by his obvious attractions. Luke was much more appropriate for her. Truly he was.

Trying to convince herself, she scowled at him, but he scowled right back. Again, she felt a psychic reaching in him that both mystified and frightened her. "Why have you appointed yourself my protector?"

A smile deepened the sensual tug of his mouth. "I didn't. Your father did. And you yourself did long before we met. You just have not realized it yet. I forgive you for being so confused."

Her gaze fell to his lips, then skittered back to his face as she blustered, "Poppycock! I'd as soon be a hen guarded by a fox as your ward. It mystifies me that my father cannot see that."

"Protege would be a better word. You have much to learn, Arielle, but you have natural gifts you have not begun to use. Someday you will not only match me in power, you could well surpass me." He leaned very slightly forward to emphasize, "However, unlike Luke, I am content to wait upon your pleasure." His gaze raked her form in the black taffeta. "Again, unlike Luke, I will take nothing from you that you do not want to give, and I will not seduce you to make you mine. What we can, and shall have together, must be mutually reciprocal."

This time, she shrank so close into the squabs that her bonnet went askew. Her heart thudded so frantically in her breast that she wondered if he heard it. The strange feelings of last night as she was torn between the two men returned upon her: desire and fear, mixed into some heady brew that settled low in her abdomen and incited a strange ache in her nether regions.

What manner of man was he? How could he make her so angry and so ... she fanned herself again with her hand. She had never been so confused in her entire life, and the fact that he obviously knew that only irritated her more. Sheer defensiveness made her retort before she could stop herself, "I think I know when a man is trying to seduce me."

He quirked a skeptical eyebrow that infuriated her.

"I do, I tell you. Besides, Luke is good for me. You are not. He makes me feel as if I only have to stretch my wings to fly. You make me feel as if I have to be cautious at every step."

A strange expression flitted across his face, and in a lesser man she might have believed she hurt him, but then it was gone. "Most young girls fear their first strong attraction. I will not castigate my rival, save to say that one day you will apologize to me when you realize that I am thinking of you and your happiness in all my actions. Luke is thinking only of himself. I only hope you do not realize it too late and that I can protect you, from yourself if need be, until that day." And as if the subject were closed, he tipped his hat over his head and leaned back, giving every appearance of drowsing.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Catspell by Colleen Shannon Copyright © 2004 by Dorchester Publishing. Excerpted by permission.
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