Bayou Book Junkie: Excerpt Tour ~ Bad Magic by Evelyn Elliott ~ (Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway)

Monday, April 18, 2016

Excerpt Tour ~ Bad Magic by Evelyn Elliott ~ (Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway)

Excerpt Tour ~ Bad Magic by Evelyn Elliott ~ (Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway)

Author Name: Evelyn Elliott

Book Name: Bad Magic

Series: Spell Slave

Book: One

Can be read as a standalone

Release Date: October 28, 2015

Blurb:

Morality is relative. At least that’s what young sorcerer Regis Teller convinces himself. He’s done what he must to survive: working for a witch since he was nine, helping her throw the kingdom into anarchy, and taking his only comfort in her mysterious son, Crow. And soon, Regis is going to commit his first murder.

A do-gooder named Jonathan White has information the witch needs, and it’s Regis’s job to get that information and slit Jonathan’s throat. But then Regis actually meets Jonathan. And Jonathan is perfect—a hero with a passion for justice and little regard for civility.

Lucky for Regis, Jonathan has a weakness for attractive men. Lucky for Jonathan, Regis is fast developing a conscience and a heart. But for Regis, keeping both of them alive at their adventure’s end means breaking a magical oath and surviving his ruthless boss—all without telling Jonathan the truth. Falling in love is never easy, especially when everyone involved is lying through their teeth.

Pages or Words: 161 pages, 55,000 words
Categories: Bisexual, Fantasy, M/M Romance, Romance

Exclusive Excerpt:

As the heat of day grew, so did Regis’s irritation. Tense, heavy silence hung between them. Jonathan stumbled once, overcome by the heat and humidity of the forest, and when Regis steadied him, Jonathan jerked away as if scalded.

Regis happened to glance down. Horrified, he noticed something: the cobblestones were gone.

He looked behind them. Brambles covered their trail.

He looked at Jonathan. Jonathan, who was clearly about to pass out. Jonathan, who refused to be touched or talked to. Who had lost the road.

Regis snapped. He tore off his pack and threw it, narrowly missing Jonathan’s head. Jonathan turned to give him a patient look. “The road’s gone,” Regis said.

Jonathan collapsed onto a fallen log. “So it is.” He pulled out his flask and took a drink. “Surely we can still find the castle.”

“Yes, maybe, if we feel like meandering aimlessly for a few days. And in case you haven’t noticed, it’s almost nightfall. And look! It’s about to rain!”

Jonathan gave him a patient look. “You threw a pack at my head because you’re scared it’s getting dark?”

“Yes. I—” Regis stopped. “No. You know what? You’re right. I’m angry at you, you bastard. You won’t even look at me.”

Jonathan winced. “Well, if we’re talking about this now…. Look, I’m sorry, okay?”

“Oh no,” Regis said. “Don’t you dare apologize. I refuse to let you off the hook that easily. Your dragon called me useless, weak, and short.” He kicked the pack. “Yes, I rejected you. It’s been a week. Get over it.”

Jonathan opened his mouth.

“No,” Regis said. “Shut up, I’m not done. You are the least honest ‘good’ person I’ve ever met. You threw a man out a window! You fed him to Chartreuse! And then—and then you went and fucked a total stranger. Yeah, Chartreuse told me. Apparently you reek of sex. And now what? You want me to believe you’re so devastated by my rejection that you can’t stand to treat me politely? Grow up.”

Jonathan’s hands curled into fists, but Regis didn’t stop there. “You’re an ass, White. The rest of the world has the decency to be honest about what awful people they are, but you, you waltz around like a saint, a living martyr. You probably rescue kittens from trees and help old ladies cross the street. It’s sickening.”

Jonathan rose from his seat. “Oh, you want to start a fight? You’ve been a prick to me this entire trip. I have no reason to help you, and yet here you are, spitting insults at me. I can’t believe I thought I liked you. I don’t even know who you are, not really!”

“You never asked.”

“I did so. All you do is dodge questions or give me bullshit answers. Well, Regis? What’s the truth?”

Regis tensed. “The truth?”

“Yeah,” Jonathan said. “You know why I’ve been helping you? Because I’m not afraid of you, and because you seemed nice. No more. You want my help, you pay for it. In coin or in answers.”

“Answers,” he said, backing away.

“How did you steal Belcane’s amulet? Who sent you? Why are you doing this? How did you find me? All of it. Now.”

The oathspell twinged, a dull ache that cramped his gut. Regis doubled over. He needed to stay on Jonathan’s good side. “I have my reasons,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Yeah, well, damn your reasons,” Jonathan spat. “I’ve been adventuring with Chartreuse for years, and you’re the first person who’s ever repaid me with a knife in the heart.”

Regis bit his tongue. He’d never seen Jonathan so angry before.

A sane man might have apologized. Regis crossed his arms over his chest and said, “Melodramatic today, aren’t we?”

Jonathan punched him.

It hit him like a brick to the face. Shocked, he clasped his jaw. Almost immediately, Jonathan began to back away, holding up his hands. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

“You goody two-shoes piece of shit!” Regis shrieked. “Stop! Apologizing!”

He threw himself at Jonathan. They hit the ground hard, rolling.

The first thing he did was knee Jonathan in the stomach. Jonathan curled, wheezing, and Regis managed to get a couple punches in before Jonathan grabbed his arms and rolled them over. They flailed about until at last Regis managed to twist free and stumble upright.

Jonathan recovered quickly. He leapt into a crouch, then sprung and slammed into him. Regis knocked against a tree, his head thumping against the wood. He gasped, lights spinning before his eyes, and went limp. Jonathan’s grip on his neck kept him upright.

Jonathan leaned forward, their faces inches apart. His breath ghosted Regis’s mouth.

Regis’s pulse roared in his ears, and he was painfully aware of the places Jonathan had him pinned, the hand around his windpipe just tight enough to make breathing a chore.

“Stop. Pushing. Me. Around,” Jonathan said.

Regis didn’t dare move. He had no idea if Jonathan was about to break his nose or kiss him again, but he had a feeling it was going to be the first one. “Okay, okay,” he panted. “I’m done.”

Jonathan let him go.

Regis punched him in the throat.

Jonathan made a choking noise and went down like a lead weight. Startled by his own success, Regis stared down. Jonathan didn’t move. Not an inch. “Oh shit. Jonathan?”

No response. Regis knelt to check for a pulse.

Jonathan rolled over, seized Regis in a headlock, and pulled him down. Almost instantly, Regis found himself pinned beneath Jonathan’s weight. “You… conniving… bastard!” Regis panted.

Jonathan laughed breathlessly. “Kind, not stupid!”

“You… you win. I’m done.”

“You’re a filthy liar,” Jonathan said.

“That was before! I’m telling the truth this time!”

Buy the book:

DSP ~ Amazon ~ ARe

Meet the author:

At first glance, Evelyn Elliott seems like a perfectly normal person. Do not be deceived.
Her hobbies include watching grisly horror movies, torturing her characters, and tending to her flower garden. She enjoys long walks on the beach and collecting the souls of small children. Whenever she reads a book, she always roots for the villain.

Avoid her at all costs. Certainly do not find her on facebook or befriend her online. You have better things to do.

Where to find the author:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011035004723

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14427929.Evelyn_Elliott

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Christine Griffin