Marna was a peaceable person; at least, she had always considered herself so. But at the moment, a bone-wracking anger possessed her entirely. She struggled to keep her voice mild. “Put the knife down unless you intend to use it.” Seonid’s hand shook on the haft of the knife. Her fierce glare withered. She dropped … Continue reading A Peaceable Person
The problem with Seonid, Callum thought, was that she attracted trouble like iron to a lodestone. This particular trouble leaned in close to Seonid, whispered something that made her laugh. Callum seethed in his corner. He was not jealous. The idea would not have occurred to him. It was not the fact of the flirtation … Continue reading Lodestone
The conversation did not go as she had planned. "You are leaving again." It was not a question. Hand on the doorknob, Seonid turned and smiled, radiating as much reassurance as she could muster. "No, no. I will return soon." She stepped closer to him and murmured, "You know that I am yours completely, my … Continue reading Promises
The first thing he made her do was burn the gown. She tore the beautiful rose silk into narrow strips and fed them, one by one, into the flames. It smelled like burning hair. When he wasn't looking, she tucked a scrap of cloth into the pocket of the too-large linen trousers he had given … Continue reading Ghosts of Desire
In the end, it was not about the money, he decided, though truth be told, it was a ridiculous sum that would support him well into old age. It was not about the thrill, either, though that certainly played a part: the rush of exhilaration when the knife slides in, the desperate knowledge in the … Continue reading The Price of Fame
Christine Hanolsy 