QSFer Wendy Rathbone has a new MM fantasy book out: The Imposter King.
Their love made them close. Their secret kept them closer.
Dare and Prince Malory are happily married and in love, but the secret of Dare’s true identity as a mere servant threatens their romantic bliss.
Messages to the king of Brookfall go unanswered, and rumors of war unsettle both kingdoms. Until one day heralds arrive with bags of gold to ransom Dare and demand his return to Brookfall.
King Millard, Prince Malory’s father, orders Dare to make the journey to see his father. But Dare is not the true heir, and if they meet, the secret he and Mal have been guarding will be revealed. Also, impersonating a royal means a death penalty offense. Worse, it could mean all-out war between their countries.
Panic. Despair. Lovers torn asunder. Personal sacrifice. More dark secrets revealed. An ending that will leave you breathless.
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Giveaway
Wendy is giving away an eBook copy of “The Android and the Thief” with this post – just comment below for a chance to win!
Excerpt
Out of the silence, Mal’s voice drew softly about them. “You came into my kingdom quite suddenly, as if you were lifted from one of my innermost private dreams.”
“Yes, and then ruined your life.” Dare let his fingers go still in Mal’s hair, as if they were now part of the tangles.
“No. You didn’t ruin it. All the things happening were in play regardless of you or me. You know that.”
“I didn’t know. I was only a servant. I did as I was told, remember?” Dare’s voice was soft.
“I didn’t know that when I saw you. You looked every inch a prince.”
Dare let out a sound of disbelief.
“I know all this hasn’t been easy for you, so much change,” Mal said.
“No. That’s not true.”
“But it’s hard—“
“No. It’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done,” said Dare, never so certain of anything in his life. “To fall in love with you. All this death and I’m still so happy I found you. I feel guilty for it sometimes. But it’s easy. The easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Me, too.”
Dare’s heart swelled. “The hardest thing about it is walking around all the time feeling like my chest is ripped open and my heart is exposed for all to see, beating in the air. Raw. Vulnerable. Beating just for you. It’s ecstasy and agony. But this?” He gestured around them at the filthy straw, the stained rock walls of the dungeon. “This is easy. Because of you. Because I know you’ll live now. And I will live. And maybe, one day, we’ll meet again.”
Mal’s breath grew hitched. He stayed quiet, but his shoulders had a tremble in them that Dare knew meant he was trying to keep himself emotionally together, in control.
Dare had not lied. It was easy. He’d always lived for others, at their whims, obeying commands, simple or insane. He was used to it. Used to doing demoralizing things like being a human footstool, used to improper respect, or no respect at all.
Horrible things had happened, but then he’d met Mal. For those moments of joy they had together, he felt lucky. He was the luckiest man alive.
He could weather anything as long as he knew Mal lived.
His eyes passed over the long legs, bare against the hard stone. The loincloth ended just where the lean thighs met the curve of buttocks. The golden skin of Mal’s legs was mostly unblemished. The tops of his ass peeked out from the upper gathering of the cloth below his waist, showing two perfect dimples on either side of his spine. Mal’s ribs showed above his waist where the bandages began. He had such a perfect body, so hard and slippery, and sweet to hold.
Even through all this suffering, Dare felt himself warm to it, felt pleasure in seeing his lover, in holding his lover, course through his veins. He never wanted this feeling to end.
Author Bio
I have written in all genres: scifi, fantasy, horror, paranormal, contemporary, erotica, romance. My poetry has won awards, publishing contracts, and was recently nominated for a Pushcart. I am a hybrid writer, publishing both indie (under my press name Eye Scry Designs) and with publishers, most recently with Dreamspinner Press.
I keep coming back to romance. Gay romance. Male/male romance. Many of my themes involve escape from abduction, pleasure slavery, indentured servitude, imprisonment. It’s like, with my writing, I’m constantly breaking out of some self-imposed cage and letting my wings unfurl until I can finally fly.
I live in the high desert of Southern California, USA with two dogs, a sprinkling of cats, and my partner of 38 years.
All my books are available on Amazon.
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Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Rathbone/e/B00B0O9BMS/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1