Title: The Beast Within
Series: The Beast Within novellas #1
Author: Melissa Crowe
Publication Date: 5th June 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:
Karina's world is turned upside
down when she meets the sexy and mysterious Xavier. Something powerful and
sensual is unlocked from inside her that she cannot explain and seems to have
little control over.
With Xavier's help, Karina discovers she is a Tuatha De Danann, celtic faeries
long thought to have been eradicated. Xavier's insistence on making her believe
troubles Karina, what dangerous secret is he keeping from her? Can her ex
partner Ian save her before it's too late?
This novella contains violence, and sexual situations which may not be
recommended for readers under fifteen.
Buy your copy-
Excerpt:
“Tell me more about these Tuatha De Danann.” Karina whispered as
she sat back down in her seat.
Xavier was silent for a moment taking in Karina’s face again. “What
do you want to know?”
“What are they?”
“Celtic faeries, I told you.”
Karina laughed nervously and shifted uncomfortably in her chair,
she was trying to listen to what Xavier was telling her but it was all sounding
farfetched.
“What do you imagine when I say the word faerie?” he asked her.
“Diminutive pixies that live in toadstool houses? Tinkerbell? They are all
children story characters, works of fiction. The Tuatha De Danann were fierce
warriors, a race
of nomads who broke away from the Pelasgians in 1900 B.C. They left Greece and
called themselves the Tuatha De Danann and migrated north, eventually settling
in Ireland. They took with them their four sacred treasures, The Stone of
Virtue, the Sword of Lugh, the Spear of Victory and the Cauldron of the Gods.”
“You think I look like Danu? That’s why you called me Tuatha; you think
I’m one of them?”
“It’s a strange coincidence that you have been named Tuatha, and you
share a striking resemblance to them.” Xavier replied.
Karina shook her head. “But I’m no warrior; I can’t go into an elevator
without hyperventilating. I’m a doormat, people walk all over me all the time.
I have spent my whole life doing what other people tell me to do, what I think
will make them happy.”
Xavier smirked, “You can’t go in the water either.”
“But you said the Tuatha De Danann arrived in Ireland in a mist. They
would have had to travel over water,” she pointed out.
“That was part of the spell Manannan put on them. They could only live
on the hill and in their Otherworld fortress.”
“Why are you no good for me Xavier?” her fingers ran through his
hair playfully.
“You haven’t worked it out yet?” his mouth pulled up on one side.
She shook her head, “No. Tell me.”
“Do you wonder why I bring out the aggression in you? Feelings you
didn’t think you were capable of.”
Karina nodded.
“It’s because of what you are Karina. You need to embrace it.”
Karina rolled her eyes, “The faeries again. Do you know how much
trouble that caused with my family? They believe that Tuatha is a nickname my
Grandmothers wayward Great Aunt, called her bastard daughter. Apparently I look
like her so they decided to call me Tuatha because they thought it would be
cute!”
“Your family have no idea?” Xavier’s eyes lit up.
“Not that they are telling me, but my mother is avoiding my calls
now and will barely speak to me so I dare say they have an idea about
something. Let me guess Xavier, you’re one too?”
He smiled trying to fight back a laugh, “No, I’m definitely not.”
“Then what are you? What is it about you that gets under my skin,
and in my head?”
Xavier laughed, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” and he
moved from the table but Karina pushed him back. “Tell me,” she demanded.
Series: The Beast Within novellas #2
Author: Melissa Crowe
Publication Date: 25th December 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:
Karina has now discovered her
abilities, but this only puts her in further danger. With a 600 year old
lycanthrope thirsting for her blood, Ian must summon the help of his brother
Ronan, the keeper of the Spear of Victory, a treasure sacred to the Tuatha De
Danann. Can the two Guardians protect Karina, or will her secret ultimately
bring destruction upon them all?
Buy your copy-
Ian held Antonio’s attention
and Ronan ran to Karina. Taking a knife from a sheath strapped to his ankle, he
cut through the ropes that kept her captive against the tree. As the bounds
fell to the ground, she moved her arms, trying to assist the circulation. She
winced and held her elbow. “You’re hurt,” Ronan commented.
“I’ll be fine,” Karina
growled.
He nodded and handed her his
spear, “Don’t let me down girlie.”
When the ancient timber
touched Karina’s hands, she felt the power course through her. An unbelievable
rush that made her forget her ailments and strengthen every fibre inside her.
Karina took a few long deep breaths to focus. She looked to Antonio and the
beating he was inflicting on Ian, the man she loved, the one who would die to
protect her. She spun the spear around her hand and adjusted her grip before
she ran at the lycanthrope that was here to kill her.
When she was a few feet away,
Karina stabbed her weapon into the earth and leveraged herself, kicking Antonio
in the face. The impact sending him sailing backward through the air and
landing on his back with a loud thud as the air rushed from his lungs. Ian
stood frozen, looking at Karina “Are you ok?”
Karina’s lip twitched up on
one side and she pushed Ian back and moved her body in front of his, protecting
him from Antonio. He had now changed into his lycanthrope form and swung a
gnarled hairy claw which connected with Karina’s arm, leaving a long gash that
ran from her shoulder to her good elbow. Karina cried out in pain and clutched
her wound. Ian pulled her toward him “Karina!” he gasped. As the beast before
them snarled and took another swipe. Ian was able to pull Karina out of the way
and he waited for retaliation.
She looked at Ian and
grimaced through the pain. “I’m ok,” she assured. “I’m going to finish this,”
and she kicked the Spear of Victory from the ground up into her hands and
swaggered toward the monster that was Antonio. “You want me, come and get me,”
she jeered.
“Karina, no!” Ian started but
Ronan held him back.
“No brother, she has to do
this.”
A voice spoke in Karina’s
head. So you have finally worked out that
you are not strong enough for me. That only the descendant of Danu possesses
the strength to take on an ancient being. Karina ignored the agony she was
in and the protests from her body and started stalking Antonio. They circled
each other and Karina twirled her weapon around her hands. You know how this will end Karina why not give yourself over to me now.
“Never!” Karina shouted and lunged toward the lycanthrope that
thirsted for her blood.
Series: The Beast Within novellas #3
Author: Melissa Crowe
Publication Date: 20th September 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:
Ian has been
summoned by the Goddess Danu to the Otherworld, and Karina will not let him go
without a fight.
With a Tutha De Danann that is unable to cross
water, getting from Australia to Ireland will make for an interesting journey.
Supernatural beings, sworn enemies and the full moon are only half of the risk
as they try to cross three continents. Drug smuggling, guerrilla kidnapping and
lycans on the prowl will hamper their travels.
Davarus, self-proclaimed King of the
lycanthropes is building an army and on the move. Danger faces these forbidden
lovers at every turn.
Would you travel to the ends of the earth for
the one you love?
Buy your copy-
Excerpt:
The car was dangerously silent as it sped south through the
countryside. Karina’s eyes didn’t move from Aedan’s silhouette as he
concentrated on the road ahead. Lines of worry were forming around his eyes. In
the back with her, Ian and Lorcan drifted in and out of consciousness as Lakeyn
drove. How dare he order me around,
she thought, and what exactly did he mean
by her and Ian meeting our fate?
“Are you going to speak to me or continue to throw visual daggers
at me?” He asked turning around.
“Let’s get one thing straight. You don’t order me around.”
“If you weren’t hell bent of trying to get yourself killed then I
wouldn’t have to.”
Karina’s mouth dropped open. “I’m not trying to get myself killed!”
Aedan raised his eyebrows. “In the last few hours you have
attempted to swim across the North Channel through a swarm of Lion’s Mane
jellyfish, tried to slit your wrists, went toe to toe with a lycanthrope and
wanted to run into the night, on the full moon, looking for a Guardian.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed. “You should have
been with me for the last few weeks then.”
He shook his head and laughed. “You are like no Tuatha De Danann I
have ever met. I’ll give you that.”
“Until a year ago I hadn’t even heard of the Danann, so excuse me
if I don’t conform to protocol.”
Lakeyn let out a deep belly laugh and Aedan joined him. Karina
blushed with embarrassment.
“You’re in for a surprise,” Lakeyn commented. The two continued to
laugh at Karina’s expense a little longer before Lakeyn turned the car around
and stopped.
“What are we doing?”
“Just checking,” Lakeyn answered as he stepped out of the car and
listened.
“I don’t feel anything,” Karina said and looked out into the night
as her fingers tightened around the handle of Ian’s blade. Her knees was
bouncing with anticipation, they were so close she could sense it. Something
was urging her to continue on. Lakeyn strode away from the car and began to
jog. Aedan undid his seatbelt and turned to Karina. “Stay here.”
“Yeah right,” she scoffed and opened the door.
Aedan followed Lakeyn and Karina looked around. The moon was high
above and illuminated the landscape. A man was lying in the field and Lakeyn
was now at his side trying to rouse him. Aedan stopped and turned to Karina,
his face was sympathetic and she knew it must be Noah. Running down the hill
she joined them.
I am from Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. I have been a lover of
Paranormal and strong powerful women all my life and now am lucky enough to put
the two together and share it with the world. In 2009 I started writing and
have not looked back.
Author
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