* * *
Garrett MacLachlan darted through the forest in pursuit of the wolf, not caring that he left his father’s estate far behind. It was only in the forest that he found peace, and only truly in the wilderness where he felt at peace. His curse seemed more of a gift when he left human society behind.
All the better, he had a quest this time. He tracked a ravenous wolf, one that had eluded all attempts to trap it. It had eaten well at the expense of many others, and Garrett would see the beast pay for its crimes.
As soon as he had set out after the wolf, Garrett realized why it was so elusive. It was larger than most, but moved with astonishing speed. Further, this wolf was silent in the forest and could disappear into shadows, as if it were not truly of this earth or as if it had never been. It was cunning even beyond its fellows.
Garrett would have lost it a hundred times, save for his curse. Even now, he caught only glimpses of it moving through the forest, a fleeting shape against the patterned shadows of the leaves.
It was his awareness of the wolf’s thoughts and intent that gave him an advantage.
For once in his life, his legacy had value.
On this day, Garrett felt the wolf’s thirst and guessed its intent.
He was aware the moment that it smelled water. He was not surprised when the wolf slipped over the ridge and descended into the hollow between the hills. He heard the bubbling of the water as he crept behind the creature and realized the wolf had found a spring.
The wolf glanced back more than once, pausing beneath a shrub or in the shade of a tree, its eyes gleaming as it sniffed the air. Garrett knew it sensed that it was pursued, and he dared not let it perceive him. He knew this wolf had not eaten for a week.
It would rip out his throat for coming too close.
It would rip out the throat of any creature it could devour. Harried by some awareness of Garrett’s presence, the wolf had not paused to eat. Now, hunger made its belly growl, and hunger - Garrett hoped - would drive it to err.
Garrett was not even certain where he was, save that he was close to his prey. It did not matter. Once the wolf was dead, he would claim its pelt as proof of his deed and return home - undoubtedly to have his father’s new bride discount his accomplishment. It did not matter what his father thought of him these days, or what lies Rowena told of him - it mattered only that he did what was right. He could not help what burden he had been born to bear, and he could not stop that curse from aiding Rowena’s scheme to discount him in his father’s affections.
The curse of hearing the thoughts of others had been his mother’s legacy. His father had loved her. He should have known what ailed his son. He should have been able to see beyond his own lust for Rowena to see the way she schemed to ensure the advantage of her own brat over his blood son.
Garrett paused to collect himself, aware that the wolf had a keener sense of him. Anxiety would draw the wolf’s attention, and his thoughts of Rowena had no place in this hunt. All was simple in the forest. There were hunters and there was prey.
He knew which he would be.
The wolf’s concern faded, perhaps because of its thirst. Garrett saw it leave the shadows ahead. On quick feet, it entered a glade dappled in sunlight, a tranquil place of verdant green. There were rags of all colors hanging from the trees at the bottom of the valley, a sign that people came to this place to pray for healing. The wolf was momentarily disconcerted by the scents of so many humans, but it made its choice and headed for the water.
Garrett waited and watched. He could see the light on the pool around the spring, turning it to a silver mirror. He could see the wolf clearly from this position, and he was downwind of it. He reached out to sense the wolf’s thoughts and felt its confidence.
The wolf was silvery grey, his snout and paws darker than its back, its tail lush. His pelt should adorn a lady’s bed, Garrett’s lady’s bed, a token that was proof of his intent to protect the woman pledged to be his own. But Garrett had no woman and he doubted there was a woman alive who could accept his curse. His life was lonely and it would remain so.
The wolf stepped into a patch of sunlight, glanced about itself, then bent to drink.
Garrett raised his crossbow to fire, then froze in place when the wolf suddenly straightened. He felt its heartbeat accelerate. It raised its head and folded its ears back, sniffing and scanning, then raised a lip to snarl at some threat.
That was when Garrett saw the woman. She was on her knees as if in prayer, her head bowed and her hands folded before herself. He had not seen her at first because her cloak was green and her hood pulled over her hair. She was utterly still, as women in his experience seldom were.
Her thoughts were nearly silent, so serene that even he with his gift had not been aware of her presence. That astonished him.
At the wolf’s snarl, though, her head snapped up and terror filled her thoughts. Garrett had time to see that she was lovely before the wolf leapt toward her with teeth bared.
Without hesitation, Garrett lifted the crossbow and fired.
* * *
Watch for The Highlander’s Curse
Coming in December 2012.
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If you liked this book and post a review online, you could win another book from Claire!
Each month, Claire hosts two contests on her blog - one for readers (which anyone can enter) and one for readers who post an online review for one of her books. To find out more, visit Claire’s blog and choose Reviewer Contest or Reader Contest from the category sidebar. There are two winners every month!
www.delacroix.net/blog
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Bestselling author Claire Delacroix sold her first romance novel in 1992 – that medieval romance, The Romance of the Rose, was published by Harlequin Historicals in 1993. Since then, she has published more than forty romance novels and numerous novellas. The Beauty by Claire Delacroix, part of her successful Bride Quest series, was her first novel to land on the New York Times List of Bestselling Books. In 2009, she was the writer in residence at the Toronto Public Library, the first time they have hosted a residency focused on the romance genre. In 2012, she was honored to receive RWA’s Mentor of the Year Award.
Claire has also written time travels and contemporary romances as Claire Cross. She currently writes the Dragonfire series of contemporary paranormal romances featuring dragon shape shifter heroes, as well as a linked paranormal YA series called The Dragon Diaries. Both dragon series are published under the name Deborah Cooke.
In 2012, Claire has returned to Ravensmuir and Kinfairlie with the launch of a new Scottish medieval romance series. The Renegade’s Heart is the first in a new series called The True Love Brides, and features Isabella’s quest for love and happiness. The Highlander’s Curse, which is Annelise’s story, will follow in December.
Learn more about Claire’s books at her websites:
• http://www.delacroix.net
• http://www.deborahcooke.com
She posts most weekdays on her blog, Alive & Knitting, at
• http://www.delacroix.net/blog
You can also subscribe to her monthly reader newsletter on YahooGroups, called “Chestwick”:
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chestwick/
Catch the latest news and reviews on her Facebook pages:
• http://www.facebook.com/AuthorClaireDelacroix
• http://www.facebook.com/AuthorDeborahCookeFanPage
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More Books by the Author
Claire Delacroix Books
Time Travels:
ONCE UPON A KISS
THE LAST HIGHLANDER
LOVE POTION #9
THE MOONSTONE
Medieval Romances:
ROMANCE OF THE ROSE
HONEYED LIES
UNICORN BRIDE
THE SORCERESS
ROARKE’S FOLLY
PEARL BEYOND PRICE
THE MAGICIAN’S QUEST
UNICORN VENGEANCE
MY LADY’S CHAMPION
ENCHANTED
MY LADY’S DESIRE
The Bride Quest:
THE PRINCESS
THE DAMSEL
THE HEIRESS
THE COUNTESS
THE BEAUTY
THE TEMPTRESS
The Rogues of Ravensmuir:
THE ROGUE
THE SCOUNDREL
THE WARRIOR
The Jewels of Kinfairlie:
THE BEAUTY BRIDE
THE ROSE RED BRIDE
THE SNOW WHITE BRIDE
“The Ballad of Rosamunde”
The True Love Brides
THE RENEGADE’S HEART
Apocalyptic Romances:
The Prometheus Project:
FALLEN
GUARDIAN
REBEL
Deborah Cooke Books
Paranormal Young Adult:
The Dragon Diaries:
FLYING BLIND
WINGING IT
BLAZING THE TRAIL
Paranormal Romance:
Dragonfire:
KISS OF FIRE
KISS OF FURY
KISS OF FATE
WINTERKISS
WHISPER KISS
DARKFIRE KISS
FLASHFIRE
EMBER’S KISS (October 2012)
Contemporary Romance:
(originally published under the pseudonym Claire Cross)
The Coxwells:
THIRD TIME LUCKY (August 2012)
DOUBLE TROUBLE (August 2012)
ONE MORE TIME (August 2012)
ALL OR NOTHING (August 2012)
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The Renegade's Heart Page 31