Today, we have a Book Blitz to share for Elexis Bell's upcoming adult fantasy romance, A Blessed Darkness. Get a sneak peek with an exclusive excerpt AND a couple of character bios to share. In addition to these previews, we have a blitz-wide giveaway to share, too! So... Be sure to check it out and pre-order your copy now! Don't forget to add this your TBR list on Goodreads!
Genre:
Adult
Dark Fantasy Romance
Publish Date:
February 22, 2022
Synopsis:
A dark connection. A deadly responsibility.
Sparks fly when Elairie, a mixed-blood elf living on the edge of society and serving as a night guard, meets her latest prisoner. Strange auras surround them, and a magical gravity draws her to him, despite what her associates might say about his race. But the connection they share comes with a dark side.
When Beluroan learns that he and his guard are Blessed Ones, hand-crafted by the Gods to stop a madman from recreating the Blood Magic of old, his veins run cold. Threatened with a return to the magical slavery such magic commands, fear grips him, and memories of his childhood Master fill his mind.
But together, their potential power frightens even the Gods. Can they overcome the prejudices marring their land and master their new magic in time to stop the man trying to enslave their country? Or will they succumb to their own power?
Filled with grit and magic, this literary romantic fantasy will take you on a ride.
*Excerpt*
I take another deep breath and turn to the lake. Water reaches up to Elairie’s waist. She looks back at me, glancing over her shoulder with a sweet smile playing on her lips, dancing in her eyes.
I sprint for the lake, kicking up a spray of water on entry. She squeals as it splatters over her, and I laugh, deep and hearty, a laugh I haven’t known for a long time.
A mischievous smile decorates her face, and she splashes back at me. For a few blissful moments, we forget everything and play at water wars. Just like all those couples I used to make fun of.
I didn’t get it.
I do now.
She splashes me repeatedly, but one splash from me is bigger than five of hers.
I rush her, arms sliding around her waist, and tackle her. We go under for an instant, and when we come back up, her arms have wrapped themselves around me.
Peering through a wash of red hair, delighting in the sound of her laughter, I brush the loose strands of lilac from her eyes. She smooths my hair back, in turn.
Her eyes fall to my lips, and I tip my head, aching to accept any invitation she might extend. But she takes a deep breath, eyes darting toward the bank. Toward Geeran. Her gaze softens, but he isn’t looking. She looks back at me, and that mischievous glint returns to her eyes.
She really is worried about hurting him.
I nod, glad to just be near her.
She pulls back, managing only a pitiful attempt at a splash, and I completely drench her with one move. The sunlight slants through the air, casting warm yellow light over her, sparkling in every drop of water that clings to her skin.
My eyes wander over her. Two dark circles hide, just barely, beneath her soaked top, and I have to wonder if she really thought about this white shirt.
I pretend not to notice, but I’ve already lost the war. A massive wave of water surges forth and bowls me over. My knees buckle, and I topple backward.
Surfacing, brushing the hair from my face, I splutter, “What just happened?”
Elairie stares at me, openmouthed. She looks down at her hand, cups water in her palm, and lifts it. After only a moment’s concentration, the water in her hand swirls. Slowly, the miniature whirlwind rises, looking more like a tornado than a little pool of water.
A surge of wind comes out of nowhere, whipping the tiny vortex into the air and spinning it into individual drops that fly around us.
My jaw drops as the setting sun catches each droplet, sending out millions of rainbows. The air swirls and rushes at me, splashing the water droplets all over my face. Then, in an instant, it all dissipates.
I wipe my face and stare at Elairie.
Her eyes have yet to leave her open palm.
“That was amazing.” My words come out quiet, reverent. “How did you do that? How did you control it so fast?”
“I don’t know.” Finally, she looks up at me. “The wave was an accident, just like the vision…” She trails off with a shrug.
Clearing her throat, she says, “I felt the magic though. I felt the force in the wave, and I just thought, why not take hold of it? So, I did, I tried.” She smiles, incredulous. “And it worked.”
Can it really be that easy?
I know our willpower is all it comes down to anyway. That’s the basic gist of control for all our magic.
But it was so quick.
I look back up to the shore. Geeran sits by the fire, watching us, and I thank the Gods that we won’t have to explain this.
I look back at Elairie. “Can you try to do it again?”
She glances at her hands, then closes her eyes. Gradually, the air begins to spin around us, whipping the water into a frenzy. We stand in the eye of the storm, shielded from view of anyone beyond the vortex. Sunlight slants through water droplets, sending rainbows flashing about.
Elairie’s eyes spring open, lit up with joy, and she rises onto tiptoes to kiss me. Our lips meet softly, and her arms tangle around my neck. My arms slide easily around her waist, and I pull her close.
We fall deeper into the kiss, mouths dancing together. My hand slips down to her hip.
And all the swirling water falls around us.
We jump, startled by the noise of it.
Laughing, Elairie says, “I guess I wasn’t focusing enough.”
I sprint for the lake, kicking up a spray of water on entry. She squeals as it splatters over her, and I laugh, deep and hearty, a laugh I haven’t known for a long time.
A mischievous smile decorates her face, and she splashes back at me. For a few blissful moments, we forget everything and play at water wars. Just like all those couples I used to make fun of.
I didn’t get it.
I do now.
She splashes me repeatedly, but one splash from me is bigger than five of hers.
I rush her, arms sliding around her waist, and tackle her. We go under for an instant, and when we come back up, her arms have wrapped themselves around me.
Peering through a wash of red hair, delighting in the sound of her laughter, I brush the loose strands of lilac from her eyes. She smooths my hair back, in turn.
Her eyes fall to my lips, and I tip my head, aching to accept any invitation she might extend. But she takes a deep breath, eyes darting toward the bank. Toward Geeran. Her gaze softens, but he isn’t looking. She looks back at me, and that mischievous glint returns to her eyes.
She really is worried about hurting him.
I nod, glad to just be near her.
She pulls back, managing only a pitiful attempt at a splash, and I completely drench her with one move. The sunlight slants through the air, casting warm yellow light over her, sparkling in every drop of water that clings to her skin.
My eyes wander over her. Two dark circles hide, just barely, beneath her soaked top, and I have to wonder if she really thought about this white shirt.
I pretend not to notice, but I’ve already lost the war. A massive wave of water surges forth and bowls me over. My knees buckle, and I topple backward.
Surfacing, brushing the hair from my face, I splutter, “What just happened?”
Elairie stares at me, openmouthed. She looks down at her hand, cups water in her palm, and lifts it. After only a moment’s concentration, the water in her hand swirls. Slowly, the miniature whirlwind rises, looking more like a tornado than a little pool of water.
A surge of wind comes out of nowhere, whipping the tiny vortex into the air and spinning it into individual drops that fly around us.
My jaw drops as the setting sun catches each droplet, sending out millions of rainbows. The air swirls and rushes at me, splashing the water droplets all over my face. Then, in an instant, it all dissipates.
I wipe my face and stare at Elairie.
Her eyes have yet to leave her open palm.
“That was amazing.” My words come out quiet, reverent. “How did you do that? How did you control it so fast?”
“I don’t know.” Finally, she looks up at me. “The wave was an accident, just like the vision…” She trails off with a shrug.
Clearing her throat, she says, “I felt the magic though. I felt the force in the wave, and I just thought, why not take hold of it? So, I did, I tried.” She smiles, incredulous. “And it worked.”
Can it really be that easy?
I know our willpower is all it comes down to anyway. That’s the basic gist of control for all our magic.
But it was so quick.
I look back up to the shore. Geeran sits by the fire, watching us, and I thank the Gods that we won’t have to explain this.
I look back at Elairie. “Can you try to do it again?”
She glances at her hands, then closes her eyes. Gradually, the air begins to spin around us, whipping the water into a frenzy. We stand in the eye of the storm, shielded from view of anyone beyond the vortex. Sunlight slants through water droplets, sending rainbows flashing about.
Elairie’s eyes spring open, lit up with joy, and she rises onto tiptoes to kiss me. Our lips meet softly, and her arms tangle around my neck. My arms slide easily around her waist, and I pull her close.
We fall deeper into the kiss, mouths dancing together. My hand slips down to her hip.
And all the swirling water falls around us.
We jump, startled by the noise of it.
Laughing, Elairie says, “I guess I wasn’t focusing enough.”
~~~~~
*Character Bios*
Elairie
She's unusual in her village. Of mixed blood, she has attributes of Light Elves and Fox (aka Blood) Elves.
All thanks to a Blood Elf rapist taking a liking to her Light Elf grandmother during what came to be known as the Blood War. Given all the prejudices that carried over from the war, her mixed blood means she lives on the edge of society.
She's not completely ostracized. She even has a decent paying job, but it's one that keeps her on the fringes of society. As the night guard at the local jail, most everything in her village happens while she's asleep.
Not that she minds. Interacting with other people is often exhausting, also thanks to her mixed blood. From one conversation to another, she has to gauge whether to fade into the background or let herself be seen depending on who's around, and she's gotten good at reading a room.
Of course, her Aura Magic helps with that, too.
She lives with her mother, having lost her father to the Blood War and her grandmother to old age. Though she's not opposed to the idea of finding a partner, especially now that she's in her early twenties and most everyone else her age has partnered up, no one has ever drawn her in.
Until now.
Until Beluroan.
Until they meet, and sparks fly. Literally. In a strange, shared aura that burns and jolts around them.
But neither of them know the truth of their bond. Or the sacrifices it may require.
All thanks to a Blood Elf rapist taking a liking to her Light Elf grandmother during what came to be known as the Blood War. Given all the prejudices that carried over from the war, her mixed blood means she lives on the edge of society.
She's not completely ostracized. She even has a decent paying job, but it's one that keeps her on the fringes of society. As the night guard at the local jail, most everything in her village happens while she's asleep.
Not that she minds. Interacting with other people is often exhausting, also thanks to her mixed blood. From one conversation to another, she has to gauge whether to fade into the background or let herself be seen depending on who's around, and she's gotten good at reading a room.
Of course, her Aura Magic helps with that, too.
She lives with her mother, having lost her father to the Blood War and her grandmother to old age. Though she's not opposed to the idea of finding a partner, especially now that she's in her early twenties and most everyone else her age has partnered up, no one has ever drawn her in.
Until now.
Until Beluroan.
Until they meet, and sparks fly. Literally. In a strange, shared aura that burns and jolts around them.
But neither of them know the truth of their bond. Or the sacrifices it may require.
Beluroan
His life has been... difficult. To say the least.
Born a slave to the Blood Magic, serving an especially brutal Master, he has a lot of scars, both physical and emotional. The worst of those scars come from the night that brought him freedom but stole his parents' lives... and almost his.
As a Blood Elf (formerly known as Fox Elves), he's tolerated in small doses in society. Blamed for the Blood Magic and the atrocities it wrought during its reign, mistrusted because maybe there's still a Master out there controlling them all, he's often denied the means of earning an honest living.
Even his Earth Magic, useful in construction and farming, only gets him so far. He earns less than Light Elves and often resorts to theft in order to provide for himself, his sister, and her two children.
Meeting someone, let alone having a family of his own, hasn't really been possible. Scrounging a living, stealing food, and hiding from Guards doesn't allow much time for dating, and anyway, how could he hope to help provide for them when feeding his nephews is already a struggle?
But when he gets thrown in jail for his thievery, he accidentally meets someone he could never dream of walking away from.
Elairie and Beluroan are inescapably linked, created as one entity then split into two for the mortal realm because their united powers are too much for any one mortal to control.
But the gift of their bond has a cost, a destiny written in blood.
Blood Magic, that is.
~~~~~
**About the Author**
Elexis Bell is a nerd with a lot of hobbies and enough sarcasm and swear words to make a sailor blush, though, you'll never hear a word of it if she's not comfortable around you. Elexis has been an introvert since birth. When she's writing, though, words come easily.
At the end of the day, Elexis just want to write stories that make people feel something.
Stay connected with Elexis Bell
~~~~~
***The Giveaway***
Giveaway Open Internationally
- ends February 24, 2022
Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box
Book Blitz Organized by
No comments:
Post a Comment