A woman torn between fate and forbidden love must defy a Fae prophecy and battle dark forces to reclaim her future—and the heart of the Fae warrior she can’t forget.
About the Book: Kat MacArthur
still feels the loss of her brother to another time. Seeking solace, she
stumbles upon Ceallach, a Fae warrior, she’s had feelings for ever since she
met him. The emotion grows stronger whenever they are together. Yet he warns her to stay away from the
upcoming gathering for the Iona Stones. Kat refuses—she needs to be there to
help her family and Ceallach.
Ceallach is torn
between duty, magic, and the ache for mortal love. His Fae soul is sworn to
protect the Iona Stones during the Gathering, but his heart is lost to Kat.
With the prophecy looming, he cannot promise her forever—no matter how much he
longs to. The maiden of the Iona Stones now faces sacrifice, and he fears if
his beloved gets too close, he cannot save her.
When dark forces
rise to take the Iona Stones along with their powers, Ceallach is forced into
an impossible decision—to defy destiny or surrender to love?
Excerpt
Energy thickened in the room,
humming at the edges of her senses. The air felt charged, vibrating with an
unseen current that prickled across her skin. It was the same taut expectancy
she’d felt before a Fae appeared, like the moment before a storm split the sky,
when every particle seemed to tremble in anticipation. Kat stood and turned to
the door, hoping her brother would arrive. A gust of wind blew through the
chapel, even though the door was closed.
As she approached the wooden doors,
a familiar voice spoke from behind her. “Nice dress, Kat, but ye didn’t have to
dress up for my arrival.”
Kat spun around and leaning on the
altar was Ceallach, Aodhán’s cousin from the Tuatha Dé Danann, the good Fae.
His body filled out his incandescent shirt under his snug suit jacket, and his
pants hugged his well muscled legs. She had met the Fae at the wedding of Evie
MacDougall and Aodhán in the Fae realm.
With him standing before her now,
she almost sighed his name out loud. Kat had fallen for Ceallach at first
sight. Like all her past crushes, this one should have ended quickly. Instead,
her feelings lingered long after she left the Fae realm when Ceallach had
vanished from her life—until today. Ever since, she’d compared every man she
met to him. Not a single human measured up. That was when she’d started
questioning whether love had any logic at all.
He stepped forward with a grin as
he moved into a beam of sunlight shining through the stained-glass window. His
long jet-black hair glistened in the rays, and the color reflected purple,
matching his mother’s, Morrigan—the Fae assigned to assist the Captain of the
Castle, her da, John MacArthur. Being the MacArthur Fae, Morrigan also helped
her and her brother navigate the duty to the magic stones.
When he shifted in the sunlight,
his Fae necklace glittered. The pendant held the sign of eternity set on top of
fern leaves. Over that sat a five-pointed star made of clear Fae crystal. She’d
studied Evie’s intently, while Evie told her how her husband Aodhán had gifted
her the sacred item to save her life. The necklace was the only item a Fae
could give to anyone to form a bond lasting for eternity. Evie told her it was
the most powerful gem in the Fae realm—the power within held a Fae’s
immortality. She’d dreamt of Ceallach giving her his, if only in her dreams.
Still wearing a grin, he strode
forward with confidence, and a sensuality Kat had not forgotten. The man still
took her breath away with one look. Ceallach arrived before her, a smile
playing on his lips. As his eyes swept across her face, the expression
faltered. His brows knitted together in a frown, shadowing the sudden tension
in his gaze. Reaching with his finger, he lifted a tear from her cheek, gripped
his fist hard, and when opened, a small, clear teardrop-shaped gemstone sat in
his palm.
“Dry yer tears, sweet Kat. Yer face
is much prettier without them.” He took her hand and, with his other placed the
gemstone in her palm. “When ye hold the gem, yer tears will fade, and happy
thoughts shall fill yer heart.” When the stone touched her skin, her mind
cleared, and a sense of ease washed over her. Ceallach released her hand and
strode past her to the doors.
Kat turned, calling after him.
“Wait, why are ye here?”
The attractive Fae stopped and
turned. “Dagda sent me. I’ve come to meet with the guardian of the stones. All
the stones have returned. The gathering and battle of good vs evil is upon us.
The gods have called, and we must answer.”
He opened the heavy oak doors
without effort and strode through. The doors weight closed them, leaving Kat in
the shadows again. She blinked, almost not believing her eyes and the truth
before her. Her secret love had just casually strolled back into her life.
Gripping the gem, he’d shaped from her tears, warmth washed over her. Ceallach
was here. A smile crossed her face.
Ceallach
was here.
Stone of Destiny can be purchased at:
https://linktr.ee/mizardauthor
About our Focus Author:
Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author
of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years
through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over
the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums.
She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written
word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined
her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines,
steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She
lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear
from readers.
To
learn more about Margaret
Izard and the stories she creates, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/mizardauthor1
https://www.instagram.com/mizardauthor/