He has known nothing but darkness for years. Now it’s time to let it consume him.
After witnessing the brutal death of his brother at the hands of the Steward Knights, Mason Grey turns to vengeance. Using his Gifts to read and control the minds of others, he climbs the ranks of the Dark Army, determined to earn the coveted Shadowstone-a powerful tool against the light-wielding Stewards. But when he is wounded in battle, he finds himself recovering in the home of a chatty peasant girl...without the use of his Gifts. Even worse, the girl mistakes him for one of the Stewards he despises.
Seria Gayle longs to be seen as more than the town washerwoman. When she finds an injured Steward in the woods, she welcomes the chance to use her healing skills and hopes it will earn her some respect. But as she nurses the sullen stranger back to health, she discovers he is nothing like the knights she has long admired.
When Mason's true identity is revealed, Seria is devastated and humiliated. But she is offered a chance at redemption by the very prince that Mason hates. Now Mason struggles between two choices: accept the Shadowstone to avenge his brother or pursue this newfound light in the form of a peasant girl. With time running out and war looming, will Mason and Seria defy their own convictions for a chance at love or stand against one another like they've sworn to do?
He’s scared. The realization made her heart ache. She had heard of men struggling with the trauma a battle left within. Not all scars were visible. Mason was helpless, tethered to a bed by his injuries, without his unit or his sword. Even his sleep seemed troubled at times. She had experienced Rackson from afar, and it had still shaken her. No wonder he was so ill-at-ease.
But there was more to his story than he was telling.
She hesitated, still trying to form the right words. “Your secret is safe with me. I’d hate for you to survive that fight and then get in trouble over it. Especially when you were trying to do the right thing.” She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
Mason stared at her, his stoic expression frozen in hard lines.
She finished stuffing the clean clothes in the bag. “While you’re here, you might as well take advantage of the time to rest and heal.”
As she moved about in her tiny kitchen area, she sensed him watching her every move. And not because he found her captivating, what with her ratty attire and tousled hair. Not for a man of his caliber, anyway.
Nay, there was something more, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. He kept a thick wall up, determined to stay behind it. But why? What caused him to pull so far within himself?
What was he hiding behind that mask?
Crystal D. Grant is a daydreamer who adores freshly-baked cookies and anything with fur or feathers. During the day, she strives to instill a love of books and learning within her young students. As a hearing-impaired, home-school graduate, she found her voice in writing and has had multiple short stories and poems published. When she’s not reading or writing stories that sweep her away to another time and place, she watches classic movies and TV shows that do the same. Or she works on jigsaw puzzles. Crystal currently resides in smalltown Missouri, where she is always looking for space for another scented candle.
(1) winner will win a signed copy of Shadowcast, book swag, and exclusive color art from the book!
Full tour schedule linked above. The giveaway begins at midnight September 18, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 25, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
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