I’m working on cleaning Trouble in Bliss and hope to have this out in the summer.
Blurb:
After years away, Violet Collins returned to her hometown of Alden Glen. An Aelfir with an affinity for gems, she’s ready to start rebuilding her life. When she meets hunky Theron McDonal, she thinks things might be getting on the right track.
Theron McDonal, an ex-Hunter with a metal affinity, came to Alden Glen to help stop the forces threatening the town. Strange disappearances, attacks, it adds up to danger for the townspeople. But he discovers a little piece of bliss among the chaos. Violet’s gorgeous, welcoming, and the attraction between them is hot enough to burn down the town.
When danger comes to Alden Glen, they’ll have to uncover a longheld, secret grudge or the town could be torn apart. Can they survive and claim a future together?
First teaser:
Theron McDonal stared after the black haired woman as she strolled away from him. Tight blue jeans accentuated her curves. A bright green shirt clung to the thrust of her breasts. Her invitation to lunch tempted him, especially if they extended it into dinner. Maybe breakfast the next morning if he could manage it. But he couldn’t get involved with her. Not when this sickness lurked within. She’d end up hurting or getting hurt when the inevitable happened.
“You are so going to regret that.” Ciara came out from behind the table.
Before she came back here and began acting as the city’s Forge, Ciara had hunted with them She was a fierce fighter and it was great to see her again. Hopefully, he could help this town. The end would come for him, probably sooner rather than later. He wouldn’t be able to fight it.
“I can’t get involved with her, better to make sure she has no misconception that it’s possible.” Theron took a deep breath. A date or a night or two would be two easy and so sweet.
“She didn’t plan to take advantage of your innocent body. She wanted to talk, maybe make you feel welcome. Violet recently came back to town. She knows how it feels to be treated like an outsider here.” Ciara shook her head. “Follow me. We’re going to my workshop. I have someone who’ll watch my wares. We’ll get what you need.”
Theron winced. Maybe he should have talked a little more than that single word. He strolled along behind Ciara. She led them out of the civic center and hopped into a small pick up. They went to their van. Time to get a new weapon. Others would probably have theirs fine tuned. Only someone with metal and fire capabilities and the right knowledge could do it. He clenched his hands. How long could he avoid touching the blade before someone noticed?
Her workshop turned out to be a warehouse. She pulled into a parking slot to the side of the building and walked to a door. He pushed open the side door and followed along with the other men. Ciara led the way inside. A forge sat in the middle of the large area and hood above it with a pipe chimney that took smoke outside the building. Not that she’d need it with her talents. This was a nice set up. If it was possible, something like this would have been great. Shelves lined one wall, filled with metal crafts. Not the blades that were what they were here for, although a few decorative knives rested up there. They wouldn’t be imbued as the ones they needed were.
“All right, let’s get to this. Theron come on over here. I’ll need you to hold the blade while I touch you so I can fine tune it for you.” Ciara walked over to a trunk and pulled out a roll of cloth. She put it on a metal table near the forge. With a flip of her hand, she unrolled the package. It revealed at least ten blades tucked into the cloth.
Theron stood still. No other forge had ever offered to fine tune any damn blades without a request. They gave them the blades and then sent them on their way. Nothing more to it.
“That’s not necessary. I’ll just take a standard imbued blade.” Theron shook his head. Not touching the blade, especially with her near him. He could hurt her. Before he turned that dangerous, he’d have someone take him out.
Ciara tilted her head as she studied him. “Do you seriously think that I can’t see the fear in your eyes or notice that there’s something strange about the way you’re acting? Do you think you’re the first I’ve seen in this state?”
Somehow, she knew. Fuck. “I…”
“Theron, I can help you. Just come over here and do as I say.” She pointed to a spot right in front of her.
“I can’t. I don’t want to chance hurting you.” Theron clenched his fists. So far, he had control, but with the burn of the tuned metal, that might not last.
“You won’t hurt me. Since you’re so reticent, do you trust the men you’re with?” She glanced at the other men.
Theron turned. Ban, Cord, Dash, Gable, Scott, and Jesse were all good men. They’d had his back on multiple missions.
“Yes.”
“Then let them hold you. If you’re afraid you’re going to hurt me, let them grab your arms and keep you in place.” Ciara lifted her chin. “You need a weapon that’s tuned to your body. Trust me to not lead you wrong.”
There was that brash woman who’d fought with them. Theron simply nodded. No use arguing. She wouldn’t give up and if she started to back off, Ban would insist. Did she plan to kill him to remove the danger or was she actually telling the truth? He took a deep breath and locked his legs in place.
Ban gripped his arm and then hooked his leg around Theron’s holding him firmly. The man was strong, more obviously muscled than most Aelfar. It damn well showed in the strength. Cord moved up on his right. He wrapped his fingers around Theron’s arm and tangled his leg as well.
Ciara walked up to him with one of the blades in her hand. She stared at him. “I’m not going to lie to you. This is going to hurt like a bitch. If you’d gone to someone earlier, it wouldn’t be so bad, but it’s been festering in you for a while.”
Gone to someone. Theron frowned. Festering? Was she saying this was some kind of sickness? Maybe caused by the tainted blood of one of the Aelfir that he’d taken down. The imbued steal burned his palms when he held them, but he’d hunted for years. No one could do that without something changing or twisting.
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