By the Horns (39 page)
– a traditional Malaysian fabric
– a form of martial arts
– a clan association; a secret society
– Sheng’s
Kongsi
– the enemy of the Hai San
– The Plague God responsible for the Red Death
– an Asian liquor similar to vodka
– “Spirit Thief”
– a Cantonese greeting
– to “drink tea” in Cantonese
– “thank you” in Cantonese
– “you’re welcome” in Cantonese
– a traditional cooling tea
– a fox spirit
– a water ghost
– grandmother
Acknowledgments
I’m so excited to release the second novel in my Chinese Zodiac Romance Series. As always, none of this would be possible without the amazing support of my family and friends.
To the world’s most awesome PA, Karie, thank you for holding my hand.
I am so lucky to have some of the best critique parters ever, and I can’t thank them enough for pushing me with each and every story. But thank you, Alison, Jo, Renee, Miguella, Josie, Misty, and Samantha.
I’m also blessed with two incredibly supportive beta readers, Pat and Nicola. Thank you, ladies!
To Rachael’s Rush Hour, my amazing street team, I truly appreciate every share and shout out from you fantastic ladies.
To my behind-the-scenes support, AJ, Kelley, Jeanette, and NovelArt Designs, I’m so grateful for all of your help.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the loving support of my wonderful husband and children. Hugs and kisses.
And finally, thank you to my readers. Sharing my stories with you and hearing your enthusiasm for them is my dream come true.
About the Author
Rachael has explored forgotten temples in Cambodia, kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, and stood inside the Roman Coliseum. She loves studying people and cultures, current and ancient. Her appetite for romance began with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, which she later nurtured with a healthy dose of Jane Austen.
As a writer of scorching hot fantasy romance, Rachael blends the lines between mythology, reality, and fantasy. In her worlds, you’ll encounter strong, sexy alpha males and the capable women who challenge them. If her heroines can’t meet their heroes toe-to-toe, then they’ll bring them to their knees.
No matter what torture she puts her characters through, true love will always prevail. Love is, after all, the most powerful force on Earth, and beyond.
Rachael holds an Honours BA in anthropology, as well as a CELTA. Her secret indulgence is her passion for baking, which she offsets with her addiction to running (she’s completed four marathons). She resides on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, two children, cat, and dog.
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Thank you for reading!
Books by Rachael Slate
Look for these titles, available
here
.
BOOK 1: TRANCING THE TIGER
BOOK 1.5: REMATCH
BOOK 2: BY THE HORNS
BOOK 2.5: MATCH ME LATER
BOOK 3: REINING HIM IN
BOOK 3.5: MATCHING DRAGONS
BOOK 4: IN WOLF'S CLOTHING
BOOK 1: MOON BORNE
BOOK 2: EARTH BORNE
BOOK 3: WATER BORNE
BOOK 4: METAL BORNE
BOOK 5: WIND BORNE
Want more Chinese Zodiac Romance? Read on for an exclusive sneak peek at the first chapter from Book 3, REINING HIM IN:
She’s Queen of a dying race…
Daji, Queen of the fox spirits, will do anything to save her people. Except mate the disarmingly charming Price Wentworth. But Price’s careless actions have made her already weak race appear even more like prey to their circling enemies. To ensure the protection of the fox spirits, she’ll have to feign a show of strength…with Price at her side.
He’s ruled by no one…
For Price, Chosen of the Horse, teaming up with the Queen is the Lotus League mission he’s been waiting for. Even so, the free-spirited Horse can’t be convinced to settle down, not even to the bewitching beauty Daji. But that doesn’t mean he’s not determined to get close to the Queen. Very close. She hides more secrets than she reveals, including the one that’s haunted him for years.
Together, they will either rule, or fall to ruin…
In her centuries-long reign, Daji has made enemies. A lot of them. She’s desperate for Price’s help, but handing over Horse’s reins isn’t something Price is willing to do. Yet as passion smolders between them, the lines of duty and desire blur. When a curse from Daji’s past takes hold, Price will have to choose between his freedom and that of the fox spirits. Because if the Queen dies, so does everyone else.
Chapter 1
The handcuffs were nothing new.
Price Wentworth yawned, his heavy lids refusing to open as he yanked on his bound wrist. The cuff didn’t release, so he grabbed for it with his left hand. A sticky, fibrous substance sucked at his fingers.
What the fuck?
His eyes shot open. Not a manacle, but a cotton candy-like gunk coated his right hand and wound halfway up his arm.
Grimacing at the damp funk stinging his nostrils, he adjusted to the dim lighting of the earthen hellhole he stood in. A handful of light beams filtered through the cracks of the layered cobweb-like canopy. His arm was lashed above his head, chained by a long cord that dangled from above, and he stood in some sort of burrow—large enough to fit at least a dozen men. After wiping his free hand on his short-sleeved, dark blue shirt, he pinched the bridge of his nose. How had he ended up in this…den? And bound?
Screw this.
Unless some beautiful blonde strolled into this nasty cavity in the next two seconds, he was outta here.
Grasping his restrained arm, he wrenched downward. The rope didn’t give way, even though the strength of the Horse spirit animal inside him ought to be enough to break through this. He ground his jaw and tugged harder, but nothing.
Dammit.