Melis's Gambit

By Ann Gimpel

Running for her life, a frantic witch finds the man of her dreams. Can she trust him not to betray her?

A dark fantasy, historical romance novella with witches, vampires, a hunky mage. And Black Magick.

Hacked at with knives and tossed in the Danube, Melis Andresen is in desperate straits. Her tormentors are certain she's dead, or they wouldn’t have let her go. With survival on the line, she leverages witchcraft and her training as a healer, and it’s just barely enough. By the skin of her teeth, she survives the river running at flood stage and is asleep in a bedraggled heap next to a small fire, when a man walks out of the surrounding woods.

Though she doesn't know it at the time, her life is about to change forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Gimpel Books, LLC
• Release date: Aug 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536510805

Ann Gimpel

Ann Gimpel is a national bestselling author. She's also a clinical psychologist, with a Jungian bent. Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing. A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Her longer books run the gamut from urban fantasy to paranormal romance. She’s published over 20 books to date, with several more contracted for 2015 and beyond.A husband, grown children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out her family.

Book preview

Melis’s Gambit

Historical Paranormal Romance

By

Ann Gimpel

Running for her life, a frightened witch finds the mage of her dreams

Copyright Page

All rights reserved.

Copyright © April 2013, Ann Gimpel

Cover Art, Copyright, © March 2015, Ann Gimpel

Dream Shadow Press, Mammoth Lakes, CA

Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or people living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, e-mail, or web posting without written permission from the author.

Publishing History:

Initially published 4/13 as A Matter of Honor by Musa Publishing.

Re-released 3/15 as Melis’s Gambit by Ann Gimpel and Dream Shadow Press

Re-released by Liquid Silver Books 7/15

Re-released by Ann Gimpel and Dream Shadow Press 8/16

Table of Contents

Copyright Page

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Blood and Magic, Sample Chapters

Book Description:

Running for her life, a frantic witch finds the man of her dreams. Can she trust him not to betray her?

A dark fantasy, historical romance novella with witches, vampires, a hunky mage. And Black Magick.

Hacked at with knives and tossed in the Danube, Melis Andresen is in desperate straits. Her tormentors are certain she's dead, or they wouldn’t have let her go. With survival on the line, she leverages witchcraft and her training as a healer, and it’s just barely enough. By the skin of her teeth, she survives the river running at flood stage and is asleep in a bedraggled heap next to a small fire, when a man walks out of the surrounding woods.

Though she doesn't know it at the time, her life is about to change forever.

Witches and cats have nine lives.

Chapter One

The Danube River caught Melis Andresen and spun her around, pulling her under. Plumes of red eddied next to her, dark against the murky water, before vanishing into the swift current. A distant part of her mind clamored, That’s my blood. Strike out for shore. Do it now while there’s still some left.

The same thought repeated in her brain, Do it now...Do it now, but she couldn’t force her arms or legs into motion. It’s already too late, an insidious inner voice mocked.

No, she rasped, shocked by how weak her voice was. Damn it. It’s not too late. It can’t be. I have things to do yet. Pulling her body through the water was excruciating. Melis gritted her teeth so hard they ached. Muscles took over where her mind stopped, and she kicked against the weight of the water pulling against her. Somehow, she got into a ragged rhythm, but even that required constant attention. Her heavy clothing dragged her down. The river’s current was strong—almost stronger than she could handle in her present physical state.

A snag rose out of the turbulent water just out of reach—part of a huge logjam. If she could just catch hold of it, she might be able to work her way to shore using the logs for purchase. A shudder ripped through her, making her teeth rattle uncontrollably. Now that she’d begun moving, the cold enveloped her. She hadn’t noticed how close to river temperature her body had fallen until she started fighting so desperately for her life. Ironically, the cold water was likely the only reason she was still alive. It slowed the rate she was bleeding from multiple stab wounds.

Pay attention to now. It’s my only chance.

Melis forced herself to focus through bleary eyes. She was closing on the snag fast. She’d have to work hard, or she’d miss it by a good five feet. Gasping, panting, and moaning, she drove her limbs to move faster. Water cascaded into her open mouth, and she shook her head to avoid inhaling any more of the putrid stuff.

An ungodly shriek rose from deep inside her, trumping the rush of the water. She flung herself toward the snag and closed her fingers over it. She hadn’t counted on how slippery the bark would be and nearly lost her grip. Sheer will saved her—and a foot she jammed into something underwater. Pain ratcheted up her leg.

Don’t think about it.

Clinging to water-slick logs with both hands, Melis wanted to howl her victory to the skies, but the logjam began breaking apart. She had to hurry or she’d be right back where she started—a foundling in the current. She wouldn’t have the strength for a second round if she lost this one. Pulling herself onto the rolling logs, she eyed deep gouges on her arms and winced.

Get moving. Check the damage later.

A different inner voice chimed in, Do whatever you have to. Make sure you have a later.

Time slowed. The sun—a pale November presence—barely moved in the sky. Melis dragged herself to safety, clambering from log to log. More than one piece of wood slipped out of her grasp under the burden of her weight, and slithered into the current. Her heartbeat quickened when she wasn’t certain she’d find another in time. Finally, after she was almost too tired to care, her feet settled on the river bottom. She staggered upright, unutterably grateful the water only came to her waist. The logs tempered the worst of the current, as she slowly and cautiously made her way to shore.

Her vision wavered, and her head pounded. Her lungs were working, but there wasn’t enough air in the world to feed her cramping muscles. As soon as she was clear of the shoreline, she collapsed face down on the rocks and sand of the riverbank. Shudders wracked her. If she didn’t shuck her soaked clothes and find a way to get warm, all her efforts would be for nothing. Hypothermia would manage what the river and maddened crowd with their knives hadn’t.

Reaching up, she patted her back.

Yessss! I still have my kit.

It felt like she was moving through a