RUTHLESS
Author:
Gena Showalter
ISBN:
9781335474964
Publication
Date: August 9, 2022
Publisher:
HQN Books
Book Summary:
Forbidden. Powerful. Ruthless.
Micah the Unwilling, fae King of the Forgotten, can tame even the
most violent of beasts. Forged on the battlefield, this iron-willed warrior
considers his soldiers his family, and he will stop at nothing to reclaim their
dispossessed land. Gearing for war with a sadistic enemy, he is disciplined and
focused—until a feral beauty he encountered long ago wanders into his camp.
Viori de Aoibheall wields a terrifying ability to sing monsters to
life. Having spent her childhood in a forest, raising herself and her
frightening creations—the only friends she’s ever known—she’s ill prepared for
the scarred royal and his fearsome brutality. Not to mention the ferocity of
their connection and the carnality of his touch. But the real problem? Her
brother is Micah’s greatest foe. And though the sensual king makes her burn,
she must stop him, whatever the cost.
Sneak Peek into Ruthless:
CHAPTER
ONE
Not
quite present day
Fifteen-year-old Micah spun slowly, his
jaw slack. What is this place? Spears
of lightning forked across a dark sky heavy with darker clouds. Glowing silvery
orbs hung from tree branches, illuminating a forest clearing he wished he
hadn’t discovered. The eeriness of it all boggled the mind.
From the outside, thick white fog had
enveloped the interlocking trees set in a wide circle. From the inside,
however, he had an unobstructed view of the dried blood that stained the
bark—and the faces carved within. Fierce expressions projected everything from
dread to malice, and he shuddered.
Someone had gone to great trouble to make
the gnarled giants resemble belua.
Monsters of unimaginable strength, somehow birthed from the elements
themselves. Able to live and breathe and walk among fae.
Micah tightened his grip on a makeshift
dagger—a twig he’d sharpened with his teeth and what remained of his nails.
Beady eyes seemed to track his every
movement as he trod deeper into the clearing. A large, moss-covered stone with
a wide base and a flat top occupied the center of the ring. An altar?
A chilled breeze blustered past, rousing
goose bumps on his skin. Scanning… The vibrant moss provided the only foliage
here. There were no animals or insects. No other life whatsoever.
Death reigned here.
A crack of thunder boomed, punctuating
his thought, and he almost jumped out of his skin. The next lightning bolt
charged the atmosphere; electric currents pricked his spine. Micah dragged in
the scent of ash and… What was that?
Sweetness itself? A unique fragrance brimming with all the glories of the Summer
Court. Sunshine, flowers and citrus.
His mouth watered, and his empty stomach
protested. When had he last eaten?
Twig at the ready, he approached the
stone and gathered a fistful of moss. The first bite proved bitter, the second
more so. But as the greenery settled in his stomach, some of his pains faded;
he only desired more.
He shoveled another fistful into his
mouth, then another and another, unable to slow himself. For over a year, he’d
wandered the wastelands of Astaria alone. Originally, he’d traveled with his
guardian. A great warrior named Erwen. A great man, period. He’d found baby
Micah inside a basket, and saved him from being eaten by trolls.
He bit his tongue, tasting blood. Erwen
had died in battle with a belua. A
massive snow beast in the Winterlands.
Micah had expected to perish alongside
his guardian. A part of him had hoped
to die. How he’d loved Erwen, his sole companion—the only person willing to be
near him.
Like his guardian, Micah was a chimera. A
rare fae born with dual glamaras that were constantly at odds. The clash
created a negative force field around them. Unwanted by fae and humans alike.
Feared by everyone. Known for scarring—outward evidence of weakness and a badge
of shame.
Chilly wind rattled branches. Lightning
peppered the sky, spotlighting— Micah froze, his breath hitched. Were their
limbs untangling? Had the one to his left narrowed its eyes?
An
illusion?
Genuine belua? Had he stumbled into a nest?
He dropped the newest handful of moss,
preparing to bolt. But, from the corner of his eye, he perceived an array of
color. Smooth gold. Vivid pink. Gleaming scarlet. He meant to glance, nothing
more. A quick peek to ensure no one sneaked up on him. Instead, he stared and
reared back, his eyes going wide.
Was he seeing what he thought he was
seeing? Surely not. And yet…
Maybe.
Heart jumping, he lurched closer to the
stone. Sucked in a breath. A girl. A fae. Exquisite.
She slept upon the slab, seemingly growing from the surface. Or from the forest
itself.
Lightning flashed, there and gone,
showcasing a smattering of freckles, pink cheeks and cherry lips that were
bowed in the center. Other details hit him, throwing him for loop after loop.
They might be the same age. Flawless skin the color of sunlight, vibrant with
life. Delicate features usually only found on royalty. A plain gown too short
and tight to cover the abundance of shapely curves.
Who was she? Why was she here? What color
were her eyes?
Excitement arced through Micah. Would she
mind being friends with a chimera?
A rolling rumble precipitated the first
splatter of rain. Cold droplets splashed his cheeks, and he grinned. Let the
liquid soak him. What did he care? He’d uncovered a treasure of unsurpassed
value.
The rain deluged her, too, her gown
becoming transparent. Trembling suddenly more pronounced, he reached out to
brush droplets from her cheek.
A rustle sounded behind him, and he
wheeled around, ready to defend his prize. Too late. A tree loomed before him,
and the truth hit, hard.
“Belua!”
Hiding in plain sight.
A fat branch slammed into his head. He
flew across the clearing, dropping his makeshift weapon when he crashed into
another tree.
His lungs emptied. So dizzy. No time to recover. Another branch flung him in the
opposite direction.
Ribs broke on impact, and agony seared
him. Before he could rise, roots coiled around his ankle and attempted to eject
him from the clearing. He clawed at the ground, determined to hold his position
and shield the girl. Dirt and blood coated his tongue.
Bark scraped his spine. Limbs stabbed
into different bones. Wheezing, fighting the urge to vomit, Micah rolled out of
the way.
A limb pierced a vital organ, and an
agonized scream burst from him. The pain! Then, suddenly, he was airborne,
soaring across the expanse. When he landed, a world of darkness crackled open
its jaw and swallowed him whole.
As Micah healed, he realized a startling
truth. The monsters safeguarded the girl. They hadn’t attacked until he
uncovered her. More than that, they hadn’t struck to kill him. Otherwise, he
would be dead.
Why they guarded her—why they had shown
him mercy—he didn’t know. But he wondered. Was little Red on that stone slab of
her own volition or a captive?
There was one way to find out…
Micah returned to the clearing—to
her—with a firm goal in mind. Befriend these belua. If he could join them, protect the girl until she awoke…
Was this a betrayal to Erwen and
everything he’d stood for? Surely not. His guardian had lived by four rules.
Do
no harm to the innocent. Protect what’s yours. Always do what’s right. Never be
without a backup plan.
The sleeping beauty was vulnerable and in
need of another fae. Just in case the trees held her against her will.
What better path to travel than keeping
her safe?
Micah advanced on the creatures
cautiously, both hands lifted. “You had every right to eject me,” he told them.
In their minds, he’d committed a terrible offense. Touching a female without
her willing consent. Or theirs. Now, he hoped to prove the innocence of his
intentions. “I did your fair lady wrong. Allow me to present her with a gift of
apology. And respect.” He revealed a red crystal he’d dug from the earth bright
and early this morning. “So much respect.”
A prolonged hesitation followed his
words, anticipation stealing his breath. Finally, the trees opened a doorway
for him.
Giddy but remaining vigilant, he entered
slowly, placed the present on a step leading to the altar and backed away.
Rather than exit, he faced the largest of the bunch. “I mean her no harm, and I
won’t touch her again. If you’ll let me, I’ll help you with her protection.”
He wasn’t immediately impaled, a good
sign. Micah set up camp. As one week blended into another, the trees relaxed
around him. As their tension faded, bright leaves budded, creating a vibrant
paradise.
For the first time in Micah’s life,
provision without price abounded. Various species of flowers, fruits and nuts
flourished without cease, dropping from overburdened limbs.
Nourishment rained all hours. In offering
or apology, he didn’t know which.
Morning and evening, he thanked his companions
for the bounty. Never had Micah enjoyed such delicious meals. But…when will she awaken?
Fresh moss covered the girl, protecting
her from sun, wind and rain. Her sweet scent magnified daily, coating the air;
he considered every inhalation a precious gift.
How did she sleep so deeply? And why? For
how long? Why did belua continue to
protect her, no matter how much time passed?
Did she crave a friend? If the beautiful
fae with freckles sought a fellow fae companion, shouldn’t he oblige her?
Longing gripped Micah. But you aren’t a
fae, are you? Not exactly. He shifted in the bed he’d constructed with twigs
and fallen hanks of moss. He just…he wanted to belong to someone. To be
welcomed. Maybe even admired.
What did such affection even feel like?
And what was the beauty’s name? Would she like his offerings? There were many.
Anytime a troll or centaur neared the
clearing, Micah departed the ring to end the threat. He collected supplies left
by the dead, amassing a treasure trove of weapons, dried meats, clothing, maps,
coins and jewels. All for her. Well, mostly for her. He’d kept some of the
clothing for himself, exchanging a filthy, tattered tunic and ripped leathers
for higher quality garments. Even a cloak to help him hide the scars left by
the tree attack.
Would she like him?
As he gathered an array of fruit for
breakfast, he stole glances at her. For the first time, much of the moss
withered, baring her fully. Morning sunlight lent her golden skin an
otherworldly glow. Silken locks of auburn hair gleamed.
Curling black lashes cast spiky shadows
over pinkened cheeks. Plump red lips with a bowed center and a stubborn chin
added to her captivating allure.
The girl— Wait. Had that cherry mouth
parted? Micah froze, every cell buzzing. Even the trees stilled, as if time
suspended. Then…
A soft moan left her. The first sound
she’d made since his arrival. Then she stretched her arms over her head.
He dropped the bundle in his arms,
pink-and-red fruit thudding to the ground, rolling away. Startled by the noise,
the girl jolted upright, auburn locks tumbling around her delicate shoulders.
She blinked to orient herself.
His mind raced with a thousand thought
fragments. Even more beautiful… jade eyes, brighter than the leaves…gown soon
to tear apart at the seams…friend… Mine?
She turned, maneuvering her legs over the
side of the bed. Standing. Stretching. As graceful as a swan he’d once spied in
the Summer Court.
Micah stood in awe, utterly transfixed.
As if sensing him at last, she looked his
way and gasped. Her mouth floundered open and closed, fright overtaking her
expression.
He hurried to offer a reassurance. “I
mean you no—”
A high-pierced scream burst from her. The
most horrifying sound he’d ever heard. Sharp pains stabbed his brain, hot blood
dripping from his ears. He slapped his palms over the blood-soaked shells, but
it didn’t help.
The trees snapped to attention. In an
instant, leaves wilted. Fruit dried up. The belua
army lunged at him, and this time, they attacked to kill, stabbing and
pummeling full force. Pain wracked him, each injury teaching him a new lesson
in agony.
Deserve
this. He’d foolishly shown favor to an enemy. Had
thought to become friends with vessels of evil.
But the girl…
Will
come back for her. The trees wouldn’t harm her. Even
now, they kept her out of harm’s way. If she required freedom, Micah would free
her. But first, he must survive.
He escaped the clearing, crawling out of
range before collapsing in a beam of sunlight, eating dirt. Then the darkness
came…
Excerpted
from Ruthless by Gena Showalter. Copyright © 2022 by Gena Showalter. Published
by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
|
|
Gena
Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over
seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the
Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and
Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming
contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in
Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs. Visit her at
GenaShowalter.com. |
Social Media Links:
Author
Website: https://genashowalter.com/
Facebook: Gena
Showalter
Twitter: @genashowalter
Instagram: @genashowalter
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