Movies, Shows, & Books: BLOG TOUR: Lunar Court by Aileen Erin

Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for Aileen Erin's Lunar Court, book 8 in the Alpha Girl series! On our tour stop today, we have an exclusive excerpt to share! Not only that... There's a cool tour-wide giveaway, too! So... Check it out and grab your copy now!!! Follow the tour, HERE!

Genre:

Young Adult

Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

Series:

Alpha Girl, #8

Publish Date:

June 11, 2019

Publisher:

Ink Monster, LLC

Synopsis:

From USA Today Bestselling Author Aileen Erin

Chris is the guy Cosette always wanted.

Fun. Funny. Lighthearted and sweet. Chris always manages to find beauty and laughter, even when fighting a chapel full of demons. He’s exactly what she needs. Except he’s a werewolf and she’s a member of the Lunar Court — the only fey court that holds sway over the werewolves. Even on his best day, Chris isn’t strong enough to last a few hours in the Lunar Court without becoming a slave. No matter how much Cosette’s heart wants him, she knows she has to let him go.

But when Chris goes missing, Cosette realizes how much she has to lose if the worst happens. Except her mother — the Queen of the Lunar Court — won’t let her go after Chris. Being forced to stay at court is dangerous for Cosette. Assassins keep coming after her, and unless she accepts a mate, it’s only a matter of time before one of them kills her.

Cosette is the girl Chris has always dreamed of.

Chris sees through the tough facade to the girl exhausted from a lifetime of fighting off assassins and court politics. She needs a true friend, someone who she can be herself around, and craves solitude. The same solitude that Chris craves. But he knows he’ll never be enough to survive in her world. So, when Eli — a mysterious archon — requests his help, he figures why not? The guy might be a little shady, but he needs every distraction he can get.

But when Eli says that Cosette’s in trouble, Chris is more than ready to play by Eli’s rules. At least until Eli takes him to the Court of Gales. Chris knows he’s about to play a very dangerous game. Bargaining with the fey is something only a desperate person would do. But what wouldn’t Chris give up to save Cosette’s life?

“These books go by so very quickly, with the pacing making me think I just started reading. I could gobble up a dozen of these novels!” – Carrie Reads a Lot

“Aileen Erin: You did a great job as usual and I’m so excited for Invocation and Lunar Court.” – Lenniland

*Excerpt*

She nodded slowly, as if willing me to be rational on this. “Yes, but you’ve been gone from court for years now.”

“And I’ve maintained my abilities. I’m faster, stronger, and my magic isn’t a small thing anymore. It’s grown over the years.” I had a little gift of foresight. Not as much or as visual as Tessa, but it was enough to give me an edge. That, with the extra speed and strength and my father’s arsenal of enchanted weapons meant I was tough to beat.

“True. True.” She gave me a small shrug. “But you’ll get tired eventually. Sending you away won’t work again. I’m sure you gained even more power from this spell you’ve done, and your enemies want to harvest it.”

There had been a magical high for a few days, but it had faded. I wasn’t sure what that meant. “If I have gained anything, I’m as of yet unaware.”

“Hmm.” She was quiet for a moment, and I wasn’t sure she believed me. I wasn’t sure I believed me either. That kind of magic always came with power. And a cost.

“Even so, it’s time for you to accept your place at court and solidify your power base so that the madness ends once and for all.”

No. Accepting my place here wasn’t something I ever wanted. Having to fight for my right to breathe every day was exhausting. I could do it in small doses, but permanently? Not a chance in Hell.

“Look at it this way…” Her grin was back, but I wasn’t sure I was going to agree with whatever she said next. “It’s not as if you have to worry about ruling this bunch.”

I snorted in surprise. “No. Thank the heavens for that.”

“And I thank the heavens I have one child who doesn’t want to compete with me for the throne.”

“True.” I’d rather die than take control. Court was too fraught with drama. Deadly drama. And politics. I couldn’t stand the politics. It was revolting the way the fey acted toward each other. Always with a knife at their friends’ backs. Ready to stab should the need or desire arise.

I think that’s why Chris and I got along so well. His pack had been one of the worst run in history. We both lived our childhood surrounded by violence and now yearn for a quieter life. I wasn’t sure either of us would ever get it, but we’re both from long-lived races. There was always a chance. I hadn’t managed it yet, but—

I took a breath, and forced myself to think the next thought. Even if it hurt.

But Chris would never have the quiet life he wanted and deserved. Not if I kept pursuing him.

Letting Chris go was like turning my heart to ice and heaving it onto the marble floor. It would shatter into a million tiny pieces. I’d never find all of them before they melted away into oblivion. I’d be broken forever.

A single tear escaped.

“You have to forget him.” Mother wiped the tear away. “If you truly love this werewolf, it’s the only way.”

“And how well did that work out for you?” My tone was too sharp. I was snapping at her, and she didn’t deserve it. But damn it, letting go of Chris hurt something so vital, so deep inside of me, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over it.

My mother laughed, not caring about the sharp tone I’d used. “I’ve had a lot of different loves in my life. I’ve managed to get over nearly all of them.”

“I know. You’ve got children from three different sires.”

“Yet only one from your father. You’re special to me.”

I was the youngest of my siblings, so it made sense that she still talked about him the most. “You still miss him.” It didn’t take a genius to know that. My father was special. He was an archon. Their whirlwind romance hadn’t lasted more than a fortnight, but he left his mark on her. He gave her me.

“I will always miss your father, but he was not meant for this realm.” She let out a long breath. “Love can come and go, but this court is enduring. You’re past the marrying age, and with everything that’s happened these past few months—especially with your new magical ties—I can no longer shove you in a corner and help the court forget about you. You’ve become way too visible. You’ll be allowed to leave when you’re needed for this new council pact you made, but other than that—you need to be focusing on your power base at court. Marry. Not next month. Now. Find someone strong with good ties and for the sake of the heavens, get it done fast.”

No. I couldn’t stay here indefinitely. The court would suffocate me, emotionally if not literally. I couldn’t marry someone else when my heart belonged to another. The mere idea of it was revolting. “There has to be another way.”

“I’m afraid not. Perhaps someone from the Solar Court would suit?”

My laugh was equal parts annoyance, exasperation, and desperation. “Now I’m questioning your sanity. A Solar fey? Really, mother? They’re too hyped up on their own importance. We’d have to line the walls with mirrors to keep him occupied.”

“Fine.” She sighed and relaxed back against her desk again. “Then Leaves? I’ve always found them quite fun.”

“Leaves? You want me to marry someone from Leaves?” They were nice enough, but all they wanted to do was party and see where the days and nights took them. They were amazing archers, but I wasn’t sure that any of them would be much better off here than a werewolf. Lunar Court was the definition of deadly.

“Well, then, my dear. Is there someone from our court?” She crossed her arms. “Perhaps Van—”

“No.” I left no room for negotiation in my tone. Van had been my guard for a long time. He’d watched me grow up, and while that kind of thing was common among the fey, for a relationship to change as a person grew, I couldn’t with Van. He was too much like my father or even an older brother to me. It just could never, ever happen.

“Well, I’ve a list of suitors. A whole binder full.” She walked around her desk, pulling out an actual binder. “The letters started arriving a few weeks ago. I took liberties as your queen and mother and burned the ridiculous ones.”

My eyes widened as I took in the three inch thick tome. “I’m grateful for that at least.” But the pile was still too large.

“You should be. Some quite strange ones in the mix. Even for the fey.” She handed me the binder and it weighed as much as the moon in my hands. “Pick someone kind and strong. Someone who can survive this madness. Someone who can be a true partner. Or pick someone you could kill if you can’t stand them in a year. But be quick about it.”

“I can’t.” My throat was dry and my hands were sweaty and I couldn’t even begin to process what she was saying. The thought that I had to pick a husband when Christopher was in danger… “Not now. Maybe later when—”

“Put him out of your mind.” She tapped the binder in my hands. “You may read through the binder here or take it with you. Cry, if you must. But do that here and now in this space where no one will know. And when you leave this room, the facade goes back up and thicker than ever. Strong. Colder than moonlight over ice. And with no more mentioning of this werewolf of yours. Ever. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, mother.”

“Ugh. I hate it when you call me that. So formal.”

I blinked and another traitorous tear slipped free. “And what would you prefer?”

“From you, when it’s just us, mama.” She rubbed her thumb across my cheek, taking the tear with it. “Always mama.”

“I’m sorry, mama.” Saying it felt as if the long years of torment were gone and I was a child again. But they weren’t gone, and I was about to go through another wave of it.

“I love you. Be safe.” She cupped my cheek for a moment before striding though the door, slamming it behind her. She’d pretend that I’d annoyed her again with the werewolf business, but leave Chris out of it. She wouldn’t hurt my standing at court, even if it cost her something.

My feet were unsteady as I walked to her couch. I sat heavily, and when the tears threatened to drown me, I welcomed them.

~~~~~

Get started now on the Alpha Girl series now!!!

(covers link to Goodreads)

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**About the Author**

Aileen Erin is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd–from Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek (TNG FTW), she reads Quenya and some Sindarin, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and spends her days doing her favorite things: reading books, creating worlds, and kicking ass.

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