SHADOWLOVE--STALKERS
He had to interfere with Shawna’s future…
The alternative was, for him, unthinkable.
“Excuse me.” Shawna sidestepped the big hunk of a man, who seemed to purposely get in her way, and started across the street.
Chadwick MacFare fell into a clipped walk beside her, and his voice was low but intense. “Listen to me, Shawna Wellsly—you are in terrible danger, and
you
know it. I know it. They might not know where you are yet, but eventually
they will
find you.”
“
You’re nuts
,” Shawna scoffed as she kept on walking—faster then before.
He didn’t miss a step. “You know otherwise.”
“Get away from me before I call the cops.”
“You won’t do that. It would draw attention to yourself—and you can’t afford that.” Suddenly he had her shoulders in his large hands. His green eyes stared hard into her silver pools. “Just stop!”
“Stop! You are a total stranger, talking nonsense, and I am warning you…” Shawna grimaced at him. “Get your hands off me.”
* * *
He gave it up. The way he saw it was that at least for the moment she was not in any immediate danger, even though he had seen more than the ordinary numbers of vampires since he had arrived last night. He could try again later, but not too much later, not with the vision he had still taunting him.
This time he had to succeed. He had to interfere with Shawna’s future.
The alternative was, for him, unthinkable.
Other books by Claudy Conn
Published by Wings ePress
Spellbound—Legend
Shee Willow—Legend
Trapped—Legend (
August 2011
)
Published by The Wild Rose Press
Darklove (
late summer 2011
)
Written as Claudette Williams
After the Storm
Blades of Passion
Cassandra
Cherry Ripe
Cotillion for Mandy
Courting Christina
A Daring Deceit
Desert Rose, English Moon
Fire and Desire
Heart of Fancy
Lady Barbara
Lady Bell
Lady Madcap
Lady Magic
Lady Runaway
Lady Sunshine
Lady Velvet
Lord Wildfire
Masquerade Waltz
Myriah
Passion's Pride
A Rake's Folly
Regency Star
Sassy
Song of Silkie
Spring Gambit
Sunday's Child
The Convenient Romance(ss)
Jewelene
Lacey
Naughty Lady Ness
Mary, Sweet Mary
Lady Brandy
Hotspur & Taffeta
Sweet Disorder
Acclaim for Spellbound—Legend
One hot and thrilling book
I fell for all three of the main characters, fun loving Maxie, dark and brooding Julian, and one hot Fae, Breslyn. However, it wasn’t just the characters that kept me on the edge of my seat, it was the entire involved plot that included jealously, betrayal, magic, murder, and, of course, hot passion … Like all good thrillers, it seemed as one problem was solved another would spring up. The last few pages had me hoping that this is the first of a new series that will be worth each torturous wait for the next book. The well-written out mixture of myth and legend, not to mention the characters, all in today’s world has me Joyfully Recommending Spellbound-Legend as one book you won’t want to miss.
~ Jo,
Joyfully Reviewed
This is one book I’ll never forget
The author has done a magnificent job of creating the world of the Tuatha De Danaan, the Druids and the humans who interact with them. She succeeds in making them so realistic, I found myself believing they really exist—and who knows, perhaps they do… Their dangerous situations had me on the edge of my seat, while the loves scenes had me enthralled. I am excited about this book, which, apparently, is the first of a series, and will definitely begin collecting them as they become available. This author will become one of my favorites.
~ Jaye Leyel,
The Romance Studio
Praise for
Shee Willow—Legend
Five Stars! A Joyfully Recommended Read, June 2011
Once again Conn ignites the page with hunk madness
Shee Willow carries us deep into the world of Fae intrigue and danger … exciting and fast paced, this is a novel with plenty of plot twists and surprises to support the romance … Conn brings back the cast of Faery characters we fell in love with from Spellbound—Legend, deepening the Seelie intrigues, romance, and dangers in part two of the series. Conn is in high form and never shorts her heroine or her reader. Once again Conn ignites the page with hunk madness, as every which way Willow turns brings hot potential for love and misdirection. It is pure torture deciding which of the men or Fae to fantasize over, and I do so love the bad ones!
~ Vonnie Faroqui,
Ink Slinger’s Whimsey
A great combination of paranormal, scorching romance, and suspense!
Ms. Conn again brings readers a different side of lore and allure surrounding the Fae. Willow and Shayne’s storyline was magical, in the sense that you knew something greater, deeper was in store for them. Then add Breslyn, the Dagda Prince, childhood crush of Willow, into the mix… just get comfy, because you are in for a heck of a rollercoaster… Thankfully, another title will be released soon. I cannot wait until the simmering conflict between the Seelie Fae and Unseelie Fae reaches its boiling point!
~ Monica Solomon,
The Romance Readers Connection
ShadowLove
Stalkers
Shadow Series, Book 1
By
Claudy Conn
Edited by: Karen Babcock
Cover Artist: Rae Monet
All rights reserved
Names, characters, and events depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
Claudy Conn
http://www.claudyconn.com
Copyright © 2011 by Claudy Conn
Published in the United States of America
June 2011
Dedication
To our daughter, Dawn, who has created a world of joy, and spoiled us with her love.
Prologue
A LONG, LONG time ago…
Little was known of the infamous Dracula’s mother, and during the first twenty-five years of Dracula’s somewhat normal life
he
knew nothing of
her
at all. Hers was a name no one in his father’s household was allowed to speak, and Vlad Dracula grew to manhood believing she was dead.
That was what his father had told him…
He discovered her name when he was just coming into his teens. At first, he used to whisper it on the wind—
Elizabeth.
He didn’t know that she had only been sixteen and full of life, with eyes the color of fresh spring grass and hair the color of gathered honey, the day his father saw her. He didn’t know she had been an innocent approaching maturity with an enormous secret she kept well hidden from the outside world.
She kept those secrets still…
When Count Wendall Dracula came to the Highlands, locals looked away in fear, for his behavior was brutish. They were suspicious of him and recognized that he was a warrior with a ‘rough old Eastern mindset’. He rode out on his horse every morning, and on one of those mornings he saw Elizabeth.
She had been picking wildflowers for her grandfather—her parents had been killed in a wagon accident the year before, so it was just she and her grandfather. Wildflowers for the wine her grandfather was making…
The count took one look at her and decided he had to have her, cursing whatever consequences there might be. He wanted her—that was all he cared about. And in the stealth of night he managed to abduct Elizabeth MacFare from her grandfather, and her home.
During those first ten months Elizabeth’s grandfather and village friends searched for her everywhere. They had no idea who had taken her. Wendall Dracula left behind no clues.
Back in his country, the count didn’t court her, he didn’t cherish her, and he didn’t really love her. Elizabeth was a possession to him, and she despised him—all the while, planning her escape.
She became pregnant almost immediately, and when she discovered she was pregnant with twins, she enlisted the help of her young midwife and friend. Together they kept the knowledge that she was pregnant with twins a secret from the overbearing count. He only knew she was going to have his child, and for him that was enough; it was what he wanted.
She got larger during those first months of pregnancy, he lost interest, and he left her to her own devices while he pursued other women—and other entertainment. It gave her the freedom to plot out her course.
Elizabeth had made up her mind that as soon as they were born, she would take one of her twins and run…
Her plan was well thought out. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the only way she knew to save at least one of her children, and herself, and return home.
She did not fear for the child she would leave behind. She knew that although the count was a selfish, often mean-spirited, and willful man, he wanted a child with all his heart, and she believed that he would love his child.
Her twins were born, and her plan was put into action. The count was enamored with the one son that was put into his huge hands and had no clue that he had twins. He no longer had any interest in Elizabeth, for she had served her purpose. When the midwife told him she had a difficult delivery and needed rest, he was more than willing to leave her to her sickbed as he coddled his son and cavorted with his court.
Thus, with her son hidden in her arms, she ran for the border, and there bought her way home to her grandfather.
In the ‘
old country’
the count poured all his time and endeavors into the hearty son Elizabeth had given him before she fled his house. He didn’t bother trying to follow her. His pride prohibited him from caring.
He had not allowed her name to be mentioned in his presence, and he told everyone that he had gotten news of her death.