About The Devil's Fire
Written by Sara Bell
229 pages / 96500 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-249-2, 1-60370-249-0
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc
Forced into an arranged marriage after the death of his true love, Gareth has no intention of giving Alric of Kray the time of day. He'll do what he has to, but he knows he'll never find a love like the one he's lost. Alric has problems of his own, but is willing to go along with the wedding to help defend his kingdom from the forces ready to tear it apart.
When Alric is gravely injured, Gareth discovers the secret of Alric's magic, and discovers that he has feelings for Alric that he's been trying to deny. They may be able to heal Alric's wounds, but can they defeat the enemy that lurks behind the scenes, waiting for them to make one false move?
Review
Stephanie Vaughan, author of the Off World series, writes:
Gareth of Lachlan is a man caught in the middle in Sara Bell’s delightful “Devil’s Fire.” As the widowed brother-in-law of the childless King Tristam of Drystan, a minor kingship within the larger kingdom of Orielle, Gareth is the legal heir to the throne of Drystan. When Drystan’s peace and security are threatened by an alliance between two neighboring kingdoms, it’s only natural that King Tristam proposes to strengthen Drystan’s strategic position through a marriage alliance of his own making.
By arranging a marriage between his former brother-in-law and Alric, the young and marriageable son of King Declan of Kray, Drystan’s safety will be assured and the dying King of Kray will see his only son safely wedded to the renowned warrior Gareth.
Gareth, however, wants nothing to do with the match. Still mourning the love of his life, Tristam’s brother Kiel, the idea of binding himself to another man in marriage so soon after Kiels’ untimely death is unthinkable to Gareth. When Tristam informs Gareth that Lucien of Denmar – the man behind the alliance threatening Drystan – was also responsible for Kiel’s death, Gareth agrees to the match as a way to thwart Denmar, vowing vengeance on the man who killed his husband and only love.
Dark, with striking silver eyes, Alric is nothing like Gareth imagines, though. Reluctantly attracted to his husband-to-be, Gareth quickly realizes there’s a lot more to Alric than he’s been told. A guarded personality, Alric has reasons of his own to want to avoid the match and does his best to keep Gareth at arm’s length.
Swashbuckling action and intrigue aplenty carry the day in this intricately plotted fantasy. Two haunted souls, Gareth and Alric each marry for reasons having nothing to do with love or desire, but together find a second chance at both. Bell has created an opulent tapestry of a tale, where each thread is thoughtfully placed, and “Devil’s Fire” is filled with a rich cast of characters. Heroes and villains, kings and consorts, chaplains and healers, each element adds to a story that builds relentlessly to a bravura finish -- and positively begs for further adventures.
Sample
Holden watched with interest as a slow smile crept across the face of his betrothed, Lucien of Denmar. Lucien's dark hair gleamed with red streaks against the light from the fire. There was a gleam in his black eyes that chilled Holden to the bone.
"We have them, love." Lucien waved the missive he was holding back and forth for Holden to see. "At last you and I shall have vengeance against Gareth and his kin."
"Really now?" Holden straddled the bench he'd been sitting on and gave Lucien a grin he figured might be a bit lopsided due to the mead he'd been drinking steadily for the past hour. "And what is it? A pox on both their houses? Bloody welts courtesy of the village hag?" He did a half turn to pour himself another round. "I know. A potion to make certain Gareth's cock remains flaccid from here on in."
"Good ideas all, but I have something a little bloodier in mind." Lucien tossed the missive into the fire, then strode with purpose to Holden's bench. He took the goblet from Holden's hand, drained it himself, then tossed it to the rush-covered floor. He tangled his hands in Holden's hair and jerked his head back.
The pain went straight to Holden's cock.
Lucien laughed. "Like it rough, don't you love?" His fingers made circles against Holden's scalp. "Did Gareth make Kiel scream the way you scream when I'm fucking your arse, I wonder?"
"Don't talk about Kiel." Holden feigned a pout, difficult considering his cock was trying to pop from his hose. "Half the time you speak as if you still love him."
"Once, perhaps." Lucien lowered his head to bite Holden's bottom lip. "But then Kiel betrayed me." He pushed Holden back over the bench, ripping his hose with a viscous jerk as Holden went down. "Kiel learned his lesson, and if I have my way, so will his hapless relations." He grabbed Holden's prick with a savage twist. "Let that be an example to you, love. Don't cross me and you won't get hurt."
Holden shuddered. He didn't doubt Lucien's words one bit. He had just a moment to wonder if he'd made a bargain with the wrong man, but by then his cock was in Lucien's mouth and all his thoughts melted away.