Sneak Peek: Lost Volumes

Today we have a sneak peek from author Marsha A. Moore’s new fantasy romance novel, Lost Volumes.

When Lyra McCauley learns residents of Dragonspeir’s Alliance are suffering with a deadly plague caused by the Black Dragon, she doesn’t heed warnings of her fiancé, wizard Cullen Drake, to remain in her human world. After all, she’s the present Scribe—one of five strong women in her ancestry who possessed unique magic.

Lyra must secure the three lost volumes of the Book of Dragonspeir. written by the earliest Scribes. Possession of the set will enable overthrow of the Black Dragon. Traveling into dangerous lands, Lyra and Cullen seek those volumes. Only if they succeed, will the Alliance be safe and Lyra gain the immortality she needs to marry Cullen.

Lost Volumes is available from Amazon.com and Amazon UK.

Here is an excerpt from Lost Volumes:

“Who are you?” Cullen demanded, clasping the bars and leaning forward.

A response came as a hiss. The menacing gaze jerked and moved fast toward them. Before Lyra could register what it was, a dark form darted along the stone floor and through the bars of their cell. Light reflected off a snake-like gray tail slithering inside.

It rooted in the dark back corner of the office.

Cullen grabbed his staff with both hands, drawing it behind his shoulder like a bat.

Lyra took hold of a broom, ready to fight the scorpent.

The clanking noise down the way started again.

From the shadows beside a desk, the same piercing black eyes glinted at them. No matter how long Lyra stared, she couldn’t make out even an outline of its shape. The dark body reflected no light.

The scorpent snarled.

The noise in the alley stopped.

Lyra’s palms perspired, causing her hands to slip down the broomstick.

The beast quieted to a low hiss, and the sound of metal scraping over stone began once more. Within moments, the noise seemed much closer.

The creature in the cage with them let out a spine-chilling call, half growling, half howling.

From the opposite direction and not far from the cage, something or someone shook what sounded like a baby’s rattle.

Footsteps thudded toward them. The clattering now seemed like many pieces of metal or a chain.

“Help us! A scorpent is in the cage with us! Please, help!” Lyra cried out, prompted by the human characteristic of the footfall.

No one responded, but the steps and scraping kept coming.

The eyes of the beast in the cage lowered to the floor, as if to pounce.

Lyra heard Cullen’s breathing, short and choppy. He wound his torso into a tighter twist, poised to swing the staff.

In one swift motion, the mysterious beast lunged from under the desk, and the jaws of a pointed snout clamped onto Lyra’s shin. Razor-sharp teeth pierced her skin. The force of the strike thrust her backward. Her spine hit hard against the cage bars.

She screamed and bashed the spine of what appeared to be a huge black rat, apparently not the scorpent as she assumed.

Its body was at least three feet long. On stumpy front legs, claws extended six inches from their origin hidden under dense fur. Those talons pinned Lyra’s ankles against the metal rails.

Cullen clubbed the animal. His staff thumped against the thick hide.

The oversized rat-beast only latched harder onto Lyra’s leg and snarled, pushing its weight against her. The metal of the cage dug into her back.

At the same time, the rattling sounded directly behind her. Held by the wicked rat, she felt something lightly trace her spine. A wave of nausea passed over her.

Unable to turn around, she looked at Cullen for a reaction.

Even in the low light, she noticed the color drain from his face. His arms dropped to his sides, no longer attacking the rat.

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