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Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: Red Lily by Juliette Cross

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The Red Lily by Juliette Cross // VBC ReviewWe gave you an early review of Juliette Cross’s latest Vampire Blood book Red Lily two weeks ago. Now we have an exclusive excerpt from Red Lily (which hit stores last week, hint hint) and a giveaway to help you decide if this one is for you!

ABOUT RED LILY

When Red falls for the Big Bad Wolf…

The Black Lily resistance needs a larger army if they are to defeat the vampire monarchy. In order to do so, former lieutenant and traitor to the vampire Crown, Nikolai must seek help from the red-hooded temptress he needs to avoid at all costs. The secret he carries could prove dangerous for her if she gets too close…even though keeping her close—very close—is the only thing on his mind.

Sienna will do anything for the Black Lily, and when Nikolai asks for her assistance to gain the trust of the commonwealth, it’s the last thing she wants to do. The thought of leaving her woods and her wolves behind is terrifying…not to mention the danger being with Nikolai poses.

EXCERPT FROM RED LILY

Sienna could feel Nikolai’s anger like a biting chill in the air.

He made no move from the window when the duke shut the door behind him. His stance and posture blocked her out, as cold as the snowy landscape beyond. She couldn’t stand to see him suffer, especially when it was because of her.

Approaching lightly, she grazed a hand from his taut shoulder down his arm. “Nikolai?”

He flinched but didn’t move, continuing to stare at the vast snowy hills rolling away.

Inhaling a deep breath, she positioned herself in front of him. He’d left little room between himself and the casement, so she was forced to squeeze in close and grip his shoulders.

With her body so near his, their chests touching, he finally broke his distant glare out the window and lowered his gaze to hers.

“I don’t want you to be angry, but you must understand the importance of our mission.”

“It will matter little if we die in the fulfilling of it,” he snapped, his hands still clasped at his back.

She brushed a hand down his chest. “I am surprised you are afraid of such a thing as death.” Lifting her wandering hand, she brushed her fingertips along his granite jaw, trying to soothe him.

He caught her hand and leaned into her palm, closing his eyes briefly before giving her the full force of his supernatural gaze—intense, lethal, and razor-sharp. “I am not afraid of death.” He pressed a kiss into her palm, the slow, sensual act weakening her knees. “I am afraid of losing you.”

The stark admission of his feelings knocked the breath out of her. But then he made it worse by crowding her farther back against the window ledge, her bottom resting on top. He braced his legs on either side of hers and cupped her face with both hands.

“I’d rather take you away to some safe place and hide from the world so there is no one but you and me. I’d rather let the world bleed than put you in danger’s path one more day.”

Somehow she managed a small smile, even as he hovered his tempting mouth so close. “When this is all over, we can return to my cottage in Silvane Forest. I’ve done a fine job of hiding from the world there. And I never knew loneliness until—” She faltered, gathering strength to say what she longed to say.

He grazed his lips across hers, like the brush of silk. “Until what? Tell me, my sweet.”

She clenched her fists in his shirt and finally admitted aloud, “Until you.” Refusing to take the cowardly way out, she raised her gaze and met his fierceness, head on. “Ever since we first met and you went away with Marius and Arabelle, I have longed for you. Daily. Nightly. Desperately. I want nothing more than to have you near me.”

His brow bunched into a frown. “You never said a word of this before.”

“How could I? You have always been flirtatious. But so are many men I encounter at the market. I thought you might be indifferent.”

He scoffed. “Indifferent?”

In a punishing kiss, he swept in, brutal and hard, his tongue tasting and devouring, evoking a soft moan from her throat. After a long, bruising kiss that set her body on fire, he pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers.

“I can’t take chances with your life, Sienna. It would cut me too deep if anything should happen to you.”

“It is my decision. We return to Dale’s Peak tonight.”

“Damn you, woman,” he ground out, breath coming fast. “Why won’t you listen? You could be killed. So could I.”

“Then we die for a good cause. Look at Mina. She already suffers for her part in helping us.”

“Yes. Precisely. Look what the queen did to her.”

“Even more reason to do all we can to arm ourselves so we can fight.” She slid a hand over his nape, the muscles in his neck still tense. “And here I thought you were fearless?” she teased.

“I was fearless when it was only my life at stake. Now I have so much more to lose.”

ENTER JULIETTE’S GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT JULIETTE CROSS

Juliette lives in lush, moss-laden Louisiana where she lives with her husband, four kids, and black lab, Kona.

Multi-published author of paranormal and urban fantasy romance, she loves reading and writing brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes.

From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.

Connect with Juliette:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon | Goodreads | Newsletter

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