The Sorcerer’s Guardian
Page 35
They kissed lazily with no purpose to it, no intention for it to lead to anything. At some point Savarin released his hold on the wall, pushing them away from it and wrapping his arms around Loriot. They drifted in the water and the steam with the stars overhead, the sound of the waves, and the castle slumbering peacefully above them. And he realized that maybe it did need to be said, tonight while they were together like this at the beginning of something good, something real and solid and permanent. So he whispered it between kisses, a few words but powerful ones. Maybe the most powerful.
And when Savarin, the most powerful sorcerer in Tournai, whispered them in return, he knew they were. That Savarin loved him, that he loved Savarin, had to be powerful magic.
More from Antonia Aquilante
A Tale of Tournai
Legends tell of large cats defending the principality of Tournai, but such creatures have been lost to time.
Or have they?
Prince Philip inherited the throne at a young age, and since then, his life has centered around ruling his country and resisting those pressuring him to take a wife and conceive an heir—forcing him to hide his attraction to men. When kind-hearted Amory is offered to the prince in exchange for more time for Amory’s father to complete a commission, both Philip and Amory are horrified. But Philip agrees to keep Amory at the palace, where they gradually become friends, then lovers. For the first time in his life, Philip is free to share not only his heart, but the magical shape-shifting ability that runs in the royal bloodline.
Neither Amory nor Philip imagined falling in love, and they certainly don’t expect the lengths those who oppose their relationship will go to keep them apart—maybe even resorting to murder.
A Tale of Tournai
As the first-born son of the Duke of Tournai and cousin to the prince, Cathal has always tried to fulfill his duty to family and country, including following through with an arranged marriage to Velia, cousin to the emperor of Ardunn. But it’s Velia’s companion, Flavia, who fascinates Cathal. Cathal doesn’t know that Flavia is really Flavian, a man masquerading as a woman to escape Ardunn, a restrictive place in which Flavian’s preference for men is forbidden.
Even when Cathal discovers Flavian’s true gender, he cannot fight his attraction to him. Flavian is intrigued by Cathal, but Cathal is still betrothed to Velia, and Flavian worries Cathal is more taken with his feminine illusion than the man beneath it. While both men battle their longings for each other, spies from Ardunn infiltrate the capital, attempting to uncover Tournai’s weaknesses. They are also searching for Flavian, who possesses a magical Talent that allows him to see the truth of a person just by painting their portrait—a skill invaluable to Ardunn’s emperor.
A Tale of Tournai
Youngest son of a royal duke, Etan is a scholar at heart who juggles his work for the prince with his studies of the history and legends of Tournai, something of particular interest to him because he shares the magical Talent that runs in the royal bloodline. Etan’s peaceful world turns upside down when his best friend—the man he secretly loves—unexpectedly marries a woman. Though Tristan values his friendship with Etan and has always been attracted to him, he is a dutiful son, raised to shoulder responsibility for the family business one day. That day comes far sooner than anticipated, and he makes a deathbed promise to his father to marry the woman his father chose and become head of the company and family.
A year later, Tristan is a widower with an infant daughter and a mother who demands he marry again quickly—something Tristan resists. Circumstances throw Etan and Tristan together, and even as they succumb to the desires they’ve always harbored, Etan battles his feelings, wary of being cast aside again. When Tristan’s daughter is kidnapped, Etan and Tristan must come together to find her, find the person responsible, and support each other through the ordeal… and maybe beyond.
Readers love the Chronicles of Tournai by Antonia Aquilante
The Prince’s Consort
“…I liked the premise of the story and loved where this author took it.”
—The Blogger Girls
“…I really liked this book and the world this author created!”
—Inked Rainbow Reviews
The Artist’s Masquerade
“The Chronicles of Tournai is a loving, kind, relaxing alt-historical/fantasy series that has taken me by complete surprise… I’ll freely admit that I am totally addicted.”
—On Top Down Under Reviews
“While their love story is full of hot, clandestine encounters, it is also obviously full of love, attractions, and mutual respect. I like these two for one another. They complete each other.”
—Prism Book Alliance
The Scholar’s Heart
“I am in love with this story and I can’t contain myself as I write this.”
—Oh My Shelves
“The combination of settings, the characters, writing style, and folklore makes an enjoyable read—filled with smexy scenes and romantic details.”
—Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
ANTONIA AQUILANTE has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and, at the age of twelve, decided she would be a writer when she grew up. After many years and a few career detours, she has returned to that original plan. Her stories have changed over the years, but one thing has remained consistent—they all end in happily ever after.
She has a fondness for travel (and a long list of places she wants to visit and revisit), taking photos, family history, fabulous shoes, baking treats that she shares with friends and family, and of course reading. She usually has at least two books started at once and never goes anywhere without her Kindle. Though she is a convert to e-books, she still loves paper books the best, and there are a couple thousand of them residing in her home with her.
Born and raised in New Jersey, she is living there again after years in Washington, DC, and North Carolina for school and work. She enjoys being back in the Garden State but admits to being tempted every so often to run away from home and live in Italy.
Twitter: @antoniaquilante
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AntoniaAquilanteAuthor
E-mail: antonia.aquilante@gmail.com
Website: www.antoniaaquilante.com
By Antonia Aquilante
CHRONICLES OF TOURNAI
The Prince’s Consort
The Artist’s Masquerade
The Scholar’s Heart
The Sorcerer’s Guardian
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Sorcerer’s Guardian
© 2016 Antonia Aquilante.
Cover Art
© 2016 XXXXXXXX.
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
ISBN: 978-1-63477-851-0
&
nbsp; Digital ISBN: 978-1-63477-852-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016913757
Published November 2016
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America