Seize
Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor
(A Magnus Blackwell Novel, #3)
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication date: March 26th 2019
Genres: Adult, Supernatural
Lexie Arden has a loving husband, a thriving business, and consults with the New Orleans Police Dept on murder cases. Kalfu has given her everything she desires, but challengers to her authority are closing in.
Her dark secret remains hidden from everyone except Magnus. He sees the evil growing stronger, changing her, and hurting her marriage. If Lexie doesn’t rid herself of Kalfu’s influence soon, the consequences will be irreversible.
When she unexpectedly inherits a cottage in the swamp, she uncovers a library of rare books on voodoo. Their spells can reverse the dark lord’s hold and set right the balance between darkness and light. But such magic requires a great sacrifice; one Lexie isn’t willing to make.
With the shadow spirits and raging voodoo gods vying for her attention, Lexie is on the verge of losing everything—her husband, her power, Magnus, and possibly, her life.
The battle for control of the mambo’s soul is about to begin.
EXCERPT
A rush of footfalls came from the shelled road. Magnus floated toward the front of the cottage, attentive to the rumble of someone or something charging toward the house.
On the porch, he took on a defensive stance, ready to confront the intruder. A low, guttural growl came from the front yard. He frantically searched for anything that could have made such a noise. It was difficult to see, but when a cloud passed in front of the moon, the entire swamp turned pitch black.
Magnus used all his senses to discover what drew closer to the cottage. His insides rippled, and a pressure weighed on his center—an individual was there. Alive or dead, he wasn’t sure. Something was off. It was as if the being couldn’t make up its mind what it was.
I’ve never encountered this before.
The cloud passed, and the moonlight returned, sweeping over the grass. Magnus scoured the land, inspecting every knotted pine tree and shrub. A rustling came from behind some bushes at the edge of the driveway. Magnus brandished his cane, ready to face whatever approached. He could not harm any living thing, but his old human instincts died hard.
Then something darted from one side of the yard to another. It did not move like a man but an animal.
A creature, crouched on four legs, crept toward the porch. All black, it moved like a hungry predator.
It stepped into the light and fear knotted in Magnus’s center. It was big and had a broad snout.
Magnus edged closer to the railing, and the animal’s glowing yellow eyes tracked him. The large dog couldn’t have seen him. Convinced the beast had spotted something else, Magnus waited at the porch steps.
But the frightening eyes stayed locked on him.
Another passing cloud sent the entire front yard into darkness. Magnus lost the canine. He trotted down the steps, examining the yard. Seconds ticked by. When the cloud moved away and a line of moonlight crossed the yard, there was no trace of the creature.
A large black shadow leaped in front of him, sending him tumbling backward on the steps. A massive paw came down next to Magnus, shaking the boards beneath.
He came face-to-face with a huge black snout. A wet, black nose settled right under his chin and sniffed. There were traces of fresh mud on the thick, matted coat. The lips on the dog’s round snout curled back, revealing a set of sharp white fangs.
“You can see me, can’t you?”
With a powerful thrust from its hind legs, the dog jumped on the porch, sniffing the cane and keeping a wary gaze on him.
Magnus reached out to see if he picked up any other strange impressions.
The moment he got close, the black in him trembled. This was no ordinary swamp wolf. His essence would only register such a tremulous reaction if magic protected the animal—black magic.
Magnus stared into the beast’s fiery eyes, attempting to use his ability. But the creature was as impervious as the house next to him. He knew the swamps contained many mysteries—Lexie’s books included lots of legends—but this animal was real, and someone with evil intentions had created it.
Another howl came from a swath of trees not far from the house.
The dog’s ears pricked. He sniffed the wind, then crouched and growled.
Magnus reached for his cane, feeling safer with it in his hands. The dog leaped from the porch and took off across the yard.
Its speed was incredible. Magnus soon lost it in the night.
He’d encountered many entities since becoming a ghost, and none of them had unsettled him as much as the dog. It was as if the powers of the living and the dead resided in the beast, and such an abomination required a great deal of depravity to create.
Author Bio:
Alexandrea Weis RN-CS, PhD, is a multi-award-winning author of over twenty-seven novels, a screenwriter, ICU Nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight. Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable. A member of the Horror Writers Association and International Thriller Writers Association, Weis writes mystery, suspense, thrillers, horror, crime fiction, and romance. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans where she is a permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and rescues orphaned and injured animals.
Lucas Astor is from New York, has resided in Central America and the Middle East, and traveled through Europe. He lives a very private, virtually reclusive lifestyle, preferring to spend time with a close-knit group of friends than be in the spotlight.
He is an author and poet with a penchant for telling stories that delve into the dark side of the human psyche. He likes to explore the evil that exists, not just in the world, but right next door behind a smiling face.
Photography, making wine, and helping endangered species are just some of his interests. Lucas is an expert archer and enjoys jazz, blues, and classical music.
One of his favorite quotes is: “It’s better to be silent than be a fool.” ~Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)
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