Midnight Magic (37 page)

Darian almost smiled at the clerk’s obeisance to the mercenary captain. Indeed, the king had granted William enough land and rights and fees that, were he not a Flemish mercenary, he would hold the title of earl of Kent. Accustomed to becoming lost in William’s shorter shadow, Darian wasn’t surprised when the clerk didn’t acknowledge him, but merely gave a hand signal to the guard to open the door.

Then the clerk glanced up, and a sly gleam within his eyes sent a shiver down Darian’s spine. Something was amiss.

He entered the inner chamber behind William, his senses alert. All seemed calm and normal enough. King Stephen sat in his ornate armed chair, the chamberlain standing beside him. Waiting. Their expressions gave nothing away.

No one else was in the room. Not even a servant.

Still, Darian sensed a threat and, for the life of him, couldn’t figure out why the back of his neck tingled—until he heard shouts through the still open doors to the antechamber.

“Make way for the bishop! Stand aside! Make way!”

The bishop had to be Henry, Darian realized, when he heard the man’s voice.

“Let them in! Let them all in to witness the king’s justice!”

“What the devil is Henry about?” William muttered.

Darian didn’t know, but sensed whatever the bishop was up to couldn’t be good.

Henry, bishop of Winchester, burst into the chamber, garbed in the full regalia of his office. He hustled toward King Stephen followed by four soldiers bearing a litter.

The room filled up with people. The air grew close and overly warm.

Henry pointed to a spot on the floor in front of the king. The men lowered the litter.

Darian heard the buzz of voices and could feel William uncomfortably shifting his stance, but nothing could tear his gaze from the face of the obviously dead man on the litter.

The face of Edward de Salis, the vile, evil man who yester noon the king had given Darian the order to assassinate. But someone had gotten to de Salis first.

“Darian of Bruges!” Henry, bishop of Winchester shouted. “I accuse you of murder!”

THE EDITOR’S DIARY

Dear Reader,

All’s fair in love and war . . . even a few white lies, a little bloodshed, and a dash of attempted burglary. And that’s just in love. Check out our two Warner Forever titles this December to see why.

Romantic Times BOOKclub Magazine
raves
Shari Anton
’s previous book is a “charming delightful romance” that “sparkles with originality.” Well, prepare to be enchanted by her latest,
MIDNIGHT MAGIC
. Though she is betrothed to another, Gwendolyn of Leon finds the King has given her hand in marriage and her land to a knight with her family’s blood on his hands. His arrogance astounds her, his steady gaze and teasing smile intrigue her. But on this knight’s hand rests the ring Gwendolyn needs to activate an ancient magical legacy . . . and she will do anything necessary to wrest it away—even seduce him. With the seal of the dragon slipped on his finger, Alberic of Chester has gone from landless knight to titled baron. Marrying Gwendolyn would secure his position and Alberic is intent on taking what is rightfully his by king’s decree. But winning the heart of his sensuous and fiery wife-to-be may prove his most daunting fight yet.

Good girls never lie . . . unless it’s their job. Lettie Campbell from
Kelley St. John
’s
GOOD GIRLS DON’T
knows that all too well. As a well-paid cheating consultant for
My Alibi
, the cover stories come easily to Lettie . . . until she discovers the man on the receiving end of one of her whoppers is none other than Bill Bannon—her best friend in high school. How can she lie to him now? But even more shockingly, when did the boy next door have the power to make her heart flutter and her toes curl? As the lies pile up and Lettie and Bill start to burn up the sheets, Lettie knows she has to come clean. Will she ‘fess up before Bill discovers he’s been conned? Grab a copy of this sassy and sensual debut from brand new Warner Forever author Kelley St. John today.

To find out more about Warner Forever, these titles, and the authors, visit us at
www.warnerforever.com
.

With warmest wishes,

Karen Kosztolnyik, Senior Editor

P.S. Believe in love and the afterlife vampire-style in these two irresistible novels:
Susan Crandall
delivers the poignant story of a woman who lost her husband and unborn child in a fire and the man who gives her a reason to believe in love again in
ON BLUE FALLS POND
;
Michelle Rowen
tells a death-defyingly funny debut about a girl who goes on a blind date and comes home a vampire in
BITTEN & SMITTEN
.