Stone Cursed by Lisa Carlisle A new Zodiac Shifter
Zodiac
Shifters
A collection of books with an astrological spin on
love. From Aries to Virgo… discover all-new tales of paranormal romance and
urban fantasy.
Zodiac Shifters features New York Times, USA Today,
and other bestselling authors. Each month expect new releases based upon the
twelve astrology signs.
Taurus - Loyal, Stubborn, Sensual
Stone
Cursed by Lisa Carlisle
Locked in stone.
On his
night off from sentry duty, gargoyle shifter Alec heads out for a night flight.
When he spots a strange green light, he soars closer to investigate.
And is caught…
Veda
has had doubts about Kai since they left their coven to seek ley lines in the
Scottish Highlands. When he curses a gargoyle with dark magic, she’s forced to
act. How can she free the gargoyle from his stone prison without invoking Kai’s
notorious wrath?
Stone
Cursed is a standalone novella in the Highland Gargoyles series.
If you’re a fan of the
Zodiac Shifter novels, you’ll love meeting this Taurus shifter who is as sensual
as he is stubborn.
Release date: May 8, 2018
ASIN: B07CSG815B
Buy Links:
AMAZON US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSG815B
AMAZON UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CSG815B
AMAZON CA:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07CSG815B
AMAZON AU:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07CSG815B
All retailers: https://books2read.com/stonecursed
Excerpt
Alec soared north past mountainous peaks wreathed by mist, a lone loch,
and fog-covered forests to head to the Scottish coastline. An odd green light
flickered in the distance. Was it the Northern Lights? He approached it. No. It
originated from the earth not the skies, and it glowed with an unnatural hue.
His gargoyle instincts flared. Whatever this was had to be investigated.
It hadn’t been long since the gargoyles had battled the sluagh, demons that had massacred almost an entire clan of gargoyle
shifters. If this light signaled malevolent activity, he had to warn his clan.
He attempted to open a communication link with his father. Nothing. Alec
tried again with others.
Bugger. No luck. He must have flown out of range. He’d have to
investigate on his own.
Alec slowed his trajectory as he approached and searched for cover.
Nothing would shield him near the source of the light, but the nearby forest
would have to do. He dipped low and circled in, taking cover in the boughs of a
tree.
A small cabin was situated hundreds of feet from the tree line. A tall,
thin man wearing a black hooded robe and holding a staff stood with a petite
woman with dark hair and a forest green cape in front of an enormous black
cauldron with the strange mist.
They had to be witches.
He scowled at the discovery. Whatever magic they attempted to practice
couldn’t be good. Even at his distance, he could smell the distasteful odor,
one that reminded him of burning flesh and foul rot. His nostrils curled.
“Kai, are you sure about this?” The woman’s voice had a hint of an
Eastern European accent, and spoke with an edge of uncertainty. “Something
seems off.”
“Of course, I’m sure. This one isn’t enough. We need to find a stronger
crossing.” The man’s accent was thicker, his tone heavy, almost a growl.
She raised her hand and dropped it. “I sense darkness. I feel it
draining me.” Her voice wavered.
“You fear the dark end of the spectrum too much.” The man paced before
the bubbling cauldron. “It’s the only way we can tap into our full potential.”
“No,” she said. “You can’t. Our coven practices in the light.”
“We’ve left the coven, Veda,” he snapped. “Whatever rules they preached
don’t apply to us here. We carve our new path forward, embracing all that the
world has to offer.”
“I did not agree to that when I left with you.” Her voice hardened.
“This was not what we had planned.” She raised her index finger.
He cocked his head and sneered as he eyed her. “Careful, my sweet. I’d
hate to think you’re opposing me like the others.” The warning edge in his
voice was as sharp as an icicle.
She took a step back. “I’m not. And nobody in the coven has either. Just
because someone doesn’t agree with you doesn’t make it an all or nothing
relationship. That’s what people do—they disagree and compromise.”
“Veda.” He laughed without mirth. “You’re so young. So naive.” He raised
his hand and turned his head. “Wait, what is that?”
Alec’s muscles turned taut. Shite.
Could they see through the magic that cloaked him?
The man narrowed his eyes at the woods. He pointed his staff as he
strode forward. “Reveal yourself!”
Alec struggled to extract himself from the branches of the tree. He had
to get out of here. Nobody in his clan knew where he was, and the man’s tone
promised punishment. As soon as Alec found room to extend his wings, he hurled
himself into the night, headed far from there.
“A gargoyle shifter,” the man’s voice twinkled with amusement.
“Brilliant.”
What was so funny about that? Alec didn’t turn to look. Escape was
paramount. He’d return with his clan, armed, to investigate. After only two
flaps of his wings, a tingling spread over them. Hot shivers shot through his
body, which then cooled and hardened.
And hardened even more.
He couldn’t flap them any longer. They were frozen.
His ribs tightened like a vice, squeezing his lungs. His heartbeat
rammed up to rocket speed, slamming his blood through his veins.
But, then the flow slowed like a slow-moving stream, tightened his
muscles. He flailed his arms in a desperate attempt to stay aloft, but failed.
His limbs hardened.
To rock.
About the Author
Lisa Carlisle is a USA Today Bestselling author of romance and suspense. She loves
stories with dark, brooding heroes and independent, caring heroines. Her
travels have provided her with inspiration for various settings in her novels.
She lived in Japan, backpacked alone through Europe, and worked in Paris before
returning to the U.S. Now she lives in New England with her husband, two
children, two cat, and too many fish.
Connect with Lisa:
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