A SOMEWHAT ENCHANTED EVENING...

Sixteen-year-old Alexia pins the last banana curl in place. 

Why am I so plain and homely? I’ll never marry looking like this.

She presses the folds of her gown, glancing one last time in the ornate, gilded mirror.

Turning on a slippered foot, she heads out of her room and down the chilled corridor toward the entry.

Twenty stairs she counts before arriving at the front door. A small carriage awaits. The driver assists Alexia as she slips inside.

Another party…how will I endure this evening alone? Why me? Nothing exciting ever happens to me.

The driver pulls up to the neighboring estate, and extends a hand to Alexia as she steps out of the carriage.

“Thank you, Rodney.”

“Shall I pick you up at the usual time, Miss?”

Alexia stares into the moonless sky and sighs. “I suppose.” 

She lingers a moment lost in thought as another carriage nearly runs her over. She jumps back just in time, shaking from head to toe.

“My word! How utterly rude! Have you no shame, Sir,” she calls out to the figure at the top of the stairs.

He turns, locking his frigid, electric blue eyes onto Alexia’s warm brown eyes.”

She gasps and stumbles backward nearly fainting. 

He rushes to her side.

Once more dizziness overtakes her and she falls into his arms. 

This is the man of my nightmares…he’s real…he’s real. She blinks her eyes open and steadies herself, pushing away from him. But he clasps his hand around her arm.

“That will be all, Sir. Kindly release me.”

Stepping away, he bores his eyes into her very soul. With all the strength she can muster, Alexia runs into the house and disappears amongst the crowd.

Her heart pounds against her chest as she looks through the dozens of guests for any sign of the stranger.

“He’s gone,” she whispers and inhales several deep breaths.  

As the evening progresses, odd twinges, and chills race throughout her body. She watches her friends’ laughter and gaiety and longs to be a part of it.

An hour passes…

My driver awaits…it’s time to go. She sighs.

Alexia collects her things and heads toward the grand entrance to depart, leaving the ballroom at the height of the dance. 

She stops in mid-step.

Her heart explodes from her chest. 

She holds her breath.

The stranger stands over the murdered body of her host. He turns his head and stares directly into Alexia’s eyes…

An electric shock surges through her body.

Her eyes close for a split second…

And he disappears into the moonless night.

Moonless

by

Crystal Collier

As Alexia faces the mirror, preparing for bed, her mouth opens in a silent scream…

The face reflecting is not her own, but of a raving beauty with emerald eyes.

Amazon: Link

Whoa! I didn’t see that coming…did you? Crystal really has a FANTASTIC premise here. This book has it all. Mystery, intrigue, historical, paranormal, and suspense. This scene just scratches the surface of the inner story.

Just remember everyone, I do my intros mostly on blurbs and covers, so this may not have happened exactly in this way…but I did take this scene from the synopsis on Amazon.  

Crystal also has MOONLESS on sale now for only $1.99 for the next few weeks. SO this is an AWESOME time to buy it!

Thanks Crystal for creating such an exciting story and CONGRATS on your next book SOULLESS...

ALL THE BEST, Crystal!

Have a great day everyone!

❀Unleashing the dream world, one book at a time ❀

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