Conall's Huntress: Hunted Hearts, #1

By Babette James

A sweet and sexy fantasy romance short story

All’s fair in love and vengeance.

Etaine Sabha hunts warrior Conall mac Guaire, seeking revenge for her murdered brother and kidnapped nephew, but when her wily former lover springs his own trap, the huntress becomes the prey.

Now Conall just needs to stay alive long enough to clear away the magic, secrets, and lies clouding the truth of her brother’s life and death—but revealing all is a risk he’s willing to take to win back Etaine’s love.

Recommended for those who like:  

• Fae Fantasy Romance 

• Sexy Reformed Rogues with Heart

• Second Chance Stories 

• Gutsy Heroines  

• Secrets, Fairytales, and Legends 

• Sexy, Tender Adult Romances 

• Short Stories 

• Happily Ever Afters

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chara Press
• Release date: Aug 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9780986251399

Babette James

Babette James lives in New Jersey with her wonderfully patient husband and extremely spoiled cats. A teacher, she loves encouraging new readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers when it’s time for their spelling test! When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread recipes and dabbling with paints.

Book preview

A Fantasy Romance Short Story

Babette James

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Copyright © 2016

All’s fair in love and vengeance

Etaine Sabha hunts warrior Conall mac Guaire, seeking revenge for her murdered brother and kidnapped nephew, but when her wily former lover springs his own trap, the huntress becomes the prey.

Now Conall just needs to stay alive long enough to clear away the magic, secrets, and lies clouding the truth of her brother’s life and death — but revealing all is a risk he’s willing to take to win back Etaine’s love.

Chara Press

Dedication

To the lovely ladies of NJRW for

all their support and encouragement.

He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.

Persian Proverb

One

Mad he was.

Etaine Sabha drank in the sight of the warrior bathing naked in the ice-skimmed river as if it were Midsummer Day rather than a darkening eve in deepest winter. Aye, utterly mad, but his wicked, battle-hardened body was the fairest form of male she’d seen in all her days, human or faerie. As yet, he remained unaware of her presence, and after a year of hunting him, surely stealing another moment or two to appreciate such a beautiful creature before completing her quest could be forgiven.

He submerged and rose again, his golden hair pouring in glossy, dripping crystal and shadow above broad shoulders, while the moonlight painted wet silver over every lean, carved muscle, his strong spine, perfect buttocks, and powerful thighs. When he’d destroyed that goblin in battle at sunset, he’d captivated her with his pure power and fierce grace.

Turn around. Turn around.

Her breath hitched, caught on thorns of anticipation, her tense body lifting.

Let me see your face once more.

He languidly scrubbed a double handful of water over his face, and then scraped the water from his hair, sending droplets sparkling and splashing. Giving a last sensual shake of his body, he turned for the shore —

Yes! Etaine smiled and let fly her arrow straight for the black heart of Conall mac Guaire.

In a flashing twist, fleet and supple as a salmon, Conall dove beneath the fragile shield of ice and black water. Etaine’s arrow quivered in the riverbank beside his armor and clothes, a clear miss and glaring proof that he was not alone in the night.

Etaine strangled a frustrated scream. A miss? Impossible! She never missed what she willed her arrows to strike.

A miss was a miss. She gritted her teeth. A year of hunting her beloved brother’s murderer ruined by her foolishness — no, Conall’s fault! His fault for his beauty and his lies and his cruelty.

Time to run.

No, she could yet succeed. Conall might be warned, but he’d need his weapons, armor, and clothing. He could not pierce her glamour to know where she hid.

Swiftly scanning the quiet waters, she reined in her racing heart and fit another arrow to her bowstring. Not a ripple hinted at his location, and her ears caught only her own rapid sips of breath and the lazy faint song of the river murmuring over stones.

Surface, damn you! Where are you?

In truth, aye, she was the mad one, with only herself to blame for being ever-susceptible to his charming beauty. He’d snared her the first time by a flashing smile and silver eyes full of sensual promise, and now she’d stumbled in her quest because of her unquenchable desire. Would she never learn?

Hah! Don’t forget the lonely, sleepless nights pining like some silly maiden for the rogue to take back the lies and the pain that never fades.

She exhaled softly against freeing a betraying mist into the air and sent her senses