Mage's Bane Book Tour - Excerpt & Character Interview |

Hi everyone – Please enjoy the latest book tour post, including a character interview and excerpt from this paranormal romance – Mage’s Bane.

Mage's Bane Book Cover — Mage’s Bane Book Cover

Title: Mage’s Bane

Author: Chacelyn Pierce

Publisher: Breathless Press

Length: 40,500 words

Genres: Paranormal Romance (Adventure)

Heat Level: Steamy

Dates: Sept 24-Oct 7

BUY LINK(S):

Breathless Press
Amazon
Smashwords
Bookstrand

TOUR LINK

BOOK BLURB:

Being a rogue Akasha Mage is no easy feat for Aribelle Delano. Neither is summoning Riaz, a djinni that makes her knees go weak in a way that would shame her ancestors.

A new threat of demons intent on killing Ari for nefarious purposes has her putting all her trust in Riaz, who swears to protect her in the face of evil. But she’s been taught that fully trusting Riaz is unwise, and he’s constantly looking for a way to break free of her control.

Ari must face the new demonic threat and handle the Sultan of Old Magic who dominates her mind…and eventually, her body and soul as well. Together, her and Riaz must find a way to stop the demons and their summoner, even if that means breaking the rules that have been in place between the Akasha and Djinn for millenniums.

EXCERPT:

I stumbled into the musty room, trying to see through the hazy shimmer. I kept attempting to blink it away with no success. A cold sweat gave me clammy skin, and I was sure it was because of the venom being pumped faster by my erratic heartbeat. I was slightly nervous by the Djinn healing to come. The demon venom threatened to kill me at any moment, but I was actually more worried about Riaz’s hands on me, touching me in my most intimate spots. Even though I’d known him a quarter of my life, I couldn’t rid myself of this childish discomfort…or was it anticipation? This isn’t a big deal at all, so stop acting like it is.

It wasn’t like it was the first time. Riaz had healed me once before when I was a teenage girl. I’d tried to be a smart ass and show off to the big, bad Djinni my new driver’s license—as if he cared about mortal things—and I got showy-flashy with my driving. I plunged us off the highway and down a steep embankment, hitting damn near every tree on the way down. The rescue crews and newspapers called me a lucky girl for over a year. Had it not been for Riaz’s healing touch, I’m pretty sure internal bleeding would’ve taken me out at the tender age of eighteen. I’d been pretty out of it, but I remember Riaz had been fast-acting on keeping me alive. I know I hit my head pretty hard because after all his insults calling me a foolish girl, I thought I saw compassion in his eyes. I even thought I heard him telling me not to die and leave him. Well, I figure he said that out of fear he’d waste away on earth as nothing more than a specter.

He saved me to save himself then. But this particular night, I expected him to demand I send him back while I rotted away from demon venom. Just to prove he didn’t care I needed him, I thought he might make me beg for my life. But he did none of that as he silently trailed behind me. I turned—a bit unsteadily—to see him close and lock the door with a tight-lipped expression.

The fast motion sent me into a dizzy state, causing my stomach to churn. I covered my mouth until the wave of nausea passed. Good lord, I’ll be mortified if Riaz sees me puking or hears me spilling my guts in the bathroom like some college frat party. It was bad enough he’d probably never let me live any of this down. After a few deep breaths, I was finally okay enough to remove my hand and place it against my stomach.

“Take your shirt off and lay across the bed.” Riaz’s authoritative voice caused my pulse to jump a notch. Hesitantly, I lifted my grubby shirt over my head and let it fall to the floor. I glanced at him to see what emotion—if any—Riaz felt and sighed. All I saw was indifference—and me half-naked before him.

In fact, he didn’t even try to catch an eyeful of skin as any normal male would. Granted, Riaz was no normal male, but most males, human or not, would soak up the exposed skin of a female. I wondered how he could look at me with irrelevance when I stood before him in only a bra. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him at any given moment.

It was unfair he had a willpower I didn’t possess. I mean, I wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous, but I assumed—hell, I don’t know what I assumed. Riaz was ancient. He’d had at least fifteen Akasha Mage handlers before me over the eras, so me parading around fully naked would only get a raised eyebrow and him asking if I’d fallen off the deep end again. I hated that the attraction was one-sided in our relationship.

It was immoral for an Akasha to become sexually involved with her Djinni. It would never end well for either party, and according to my former mentor, Yasmin, it was forbidden. But I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever gotten intimate with any of his past mages. Someone must have slipped up to realize that bonking a Djinni wasn’t the best tactic in any given situation.

Character Interview

Riaz from Mage’s Bane

Sitting down with Riaz has always been a bit intimidating for me. I’ve done it once before to get a feel for his character when writing the novel. He always has a slight smirk to his lips and a mischievous glint in his eyes just before he answers anything. I get a sense that every answer is left with something unsaid, as if he likes a little mystery surrounding his words. Riaz is of royal Djinn blood, so he is usually blunt in his answers and cares little of what how it would make anyone feel.

Chacelyn: If you were granted one wish, what would you ask for?
Riaz: Usually it is my kind granting the wishes. I find this question amusing but I’ll answer your question with one of my own. What do you think a djinni would ask for, Ms. Pierce?
Chacelyn: I dunno, Riaz. Freedom I guess.
Riaz: An excellent assumption. Not entirely incorrect but it is individuality we so desperately seek. Every djinni is crafted from the same dark fires. While we may strive to seem different, we aren’t. We share the same life-force of the dark flame. So I say the correct answer is individuality. We seek it in our transformations, to look different than that of our brethren. It is why we seek to be free, to be liberated of our connection to other Djinn.
Chacelyn: But aren’t different levels of the Djinn?
Riaz: nods Every civilization has a hierarchy. Ours is no different. Some of us have become stronger in our abilities than others.
Chacelyn: Okay… How did you fall in love with Ari? At first sight or over a long period?
Riaz: Since the Djinn are long lived beings, this love at first sight business is hard for me to understand. You humans are strange. You fall in love so freely. Well, I believe it takes time to trust someone. I, myself, have been used over the eras by women so I don’t give myself freely to any person on a whim. It took time for me to trust, Aribelle and for her to trust me.
Chacelyn: Where is your homeland?
Riaz: Salot is…how to put this, between your world and another.
Chacelyn: Can you elaborate?
Riaz: No.
Chacelyn: Okay then…What really moves you, or touches you to the soul?
Riaz: Since I share my soul with the other Djinn, it’s unlikely anything well “touch” me there. I do have things I consider special. People as well.
Chacelyn: You mean Ari?
Riaz: smiles Perhaps. I don’t kiss and tell, Ms. Pierce, you know this.
Chacelyn: You’re right. So, what is one physical attribute you are proud of?
Riaz: raises eyebrow Do you really want me to answer that?
Chacelyn: No, never mind.
Riaz: No, no, let’s explore this question further. leans forward in chair You’re familiar with everything physical about me, Ms. Pierce.
Chacelyn: Riaz, you’re taking this interview way out of proportion.
Riaz: Did I write these questions and just forget? snatches question cards from my hands No, see, this looks like your handwriting, Ms. Pierce. You’re next questions are very intriguing, are they for the benefit of others or yourself? Aribelle isn’t too far away, she might have something to say about these questions.
Chacelyn: Anyway! Give me my cards.
Riaz: Are you blushing, Ms. Pierce?
Chacelyn: No, and I was not flirting either.
Riaz: Sure, if you say so. winks
Chacelyn: I think we can call this interview done.
Riaz: If you wish. laughs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A rocker by heart, Chacelyn Pierce is constantly ear plugged with heavy tunes blaring to stir up the phantom personalities that swarm her mind. It’s no surprise that she enjoys writing and reading to satiate her appetite for the male antagonist in a story. Married to a blatant redhead and mothering a diva, there is never a dull moment in the house. As a native Texan, she doesn’t personally own a horse but follows the unwritten southern rule of knowing how to ride one. When she’s not testing the emotional capacity of her characters, she works part time as a dog groomer.