A fun way to sample new books and find new writers! Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…
Continuing with the excerpts from MAGIC OF THE NILE =>This excerpt follows after last week’s.
Finally alone in the temple’s office, Sahure is confronting Tyema about her “masquerade” on the night of the festival. (A little creative punctuation and editing has occurred here.) :
She put one hand on his chest, trying to push him away, but under her fingers his body was
solid muscle, an unyielding wall, “I’m sorry, I didn’t set out to deceive you.”
He stared at her for a long moment before releasing the chair, backing up a step. Hands on hips, he asked, “Then why the lie?”
Pointing a finger at him, she said, “You just assumed I was a simple priestess – Ema is the pet name my family calls me, if you must know. Please, I had such a lovely, rare time last night, don’t ruin it with anger today.”
“You’re right, I did assume.” Eyes narrowed, he studied her more closely as he said, “The innkeeper was saying this morning you never come to the village, you’re never seen away from this temple. Of course he wasn’t addressing this remark to me and when he noticed me standing there, he shut up and scurried into the kitchen.”
SO hard to stop there, I just want to keep going LOL. But next week…As always, I love your comments and feedback. Although this is a published work, the input helps for the future novels…
Here’s the story blurb for MAGIC OF THE NILE:
The standalone sequel to Priestess of the Nile…picks up about fifteen years later and tells the tale of Tyema, who was the younger sister in Priestess of the Nile…
After a childhood spent scorned and ignored by her family because of her crippled foot, Tyema was magically healed then installed as the High Priestess of his temple by Sobek the Crocodile God. But Tyema is still haunted by her memories, scarred by the abuse she endured. Despite Sobek’s protection, as an adult she’s become a near recluse inside the temple grounds…
Until Captain Sahure arrives in her remote town, sent from Thebes on an urgent mission for Pharaoh, requiring High Priestess Tyema’s help. From that moment on, her quiet, safe life is upended in ways she never could have expected.
But after a whirlwind romance with Sahure, the two part as Pharaoh orders him to undertake another assignment on Egypt’s dangerous frontier, far from Tyema’s remote town.
Heart-broken, Tyema is ready to return to her life of loneliness, official duties and, now, regret. But the Crocodile God has other plans for his priestess: she must uncover the sorcerer who threatens Pharaoh’s life with black magic. Soon enough, Tyema finds herself thrown into the chaos of Pharoah’s court, neck deep in intrigue and danger. Just when she thinks she can’t take the pressures of a very public court life and her secret investigation for the Crocodile God any longer, Sahure re-enters the scene.
But is her former love there to help or to hinder? Can they resolve their differences and work together to find the dark sorcerer who threatens Pharaoh and Egypt? Will the love between a proud warrior and a shy priestess lead them to a future together?
Available at Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks iTunes Google Play Books
Assumptions can get you in all kinds of trouble.
Hopefully he will have learned his lesson and won’t make any more assumptions. Great snippet, Veronica!
Nicely done, Veronica!
I can feel both of their emotions. Very well done, Veronica!
Your excerpts are always easy to visualize, Veronica. I sense a bit of tension between these two here, and am definitely curious how they work that out.
And by the way, with your occasional references to Sahure’s physical appearance, I have some pretty interesting visuals 😀
I didn’t sign up this week but made sure I stopped over to find out more about Sahure–er, and Tyema 😀 😀
Thanks, I’m honored! So happy to see you 🙂
Even a priestess deserves a fun night on the town!
Nice tension. He’s quite the looming figure. I also like the mystique she apparently has in the eyes of the people. You certainly pack a lot into a short snippet.
Really enjoyed the dialogue tension. Can’t wait to read more.
What a tease. I need to know what happens next between them. Great snippet!
Never assume…it makes an…well, you know the phrase. lol. Love this snippet. I’m anxious to see what happens next!
Aha! So it’s his fault. I know that feeling well 🙂
We’re all panting for MORE, Veronica. Terrific snippet.
It’s about time he learned that being a priestess isn’t all golden chalices and sacrificial steaks. 😀
Her manner feels very regal.
I’m glad he didn’t hold onto that false assumption in the face of new evidence.
I’m so pleased that you’re enjoying the ongoing scene! I don’t usually excerpt an entire scene week after week but this is so much fun…and it does set the foundation for Sahure and Tyema for the rest of the book. I’m 14K into “Ghost of the Nile” and my next science fiction romance is at the editor so at some point I’ll be switching gears, but I’ll definitely finish this scene here, which will take a few more weeks. Off to read the other excerpts!
He’s a little scary when he’s angry! If I were the innkeeper, I’d have run, too!
Ohh, I’m with everyone else wanting more. Great interaction between the two.
Oh, I want to know what happens next. Nice 8.
Thank you, thank you for continuing with this scene! It’s so nice to see the story unfold and learn more about the characters as we go along. Fabulous! 🙂
you had me with his solid chest muscle, lol. He certainly is “ballsy” (please forgive the word, I couldn’t think of anything else) to stand up so indignantly to a person of her stature. Great 8,
Assumptions…uh oh! Great details through dialogue. 🙂
Yes, more would be great!
Emotional snippet! I loved the realistic banter, and your visual. Well done!
I love how he’s making it her fault even though he was the one who assumed, lol. Great excerpt, Veronica, looking forward to more 🙂