For the Murder
Gabrielle Ash
(The Murder, #1)
Published by: City Owl Press
Publication date: February 22nd 2022
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
A lone crow is a dead crow.
That’s what Diana Van Doren, exiled crow shifter, has always believed. The last murder of crow shifters known to exist wouldn’t accept her into the flock, leaving her vulnerable. Worse, her kleptomaniacal father’s schemes put them in a demon’s crosshairs. Without the support of the murder, Diana fears death will come all too quickly. So when an opportunity to steal a rare blade that can kill anything—even demons—crosses their path, she decides to play her father’s games one last time.
However, she isn’t the only one hoping to take the blade. Sasha Sokolov, a clairvoyant, has been forced from childhood to serve the very demon hunting Diana and her family. After two decades of service, his boss finally offers him what he can’t refuse: freedom. All he has to do is bring in the knife and the Van Dorens, and his bloodline will be free from serving the demon forever.
When Diana and Sasha meet at the auction, they strike an uneasy alliance. Diana sees a way to finally be welcomed into the murder. Sasha sees an opportunity to get his freedom. To get what they want, only one of them can walk away with the blade. But when their magic inexplicably links as they reluctantly work together to steal the knife, betraying each other for their own ends may no longer be an option.
—
EXCERPT:
Sasha flicked ash onto the ground, focusing on the feel of the cigarette between his fingers instead of the overwhelming urge to groan. He’d been doing this shit for Madame and her gang of conscripted agents for two decades. Despite only being thirty-two, he felt ancient.It was always something.
“Get my knife. Get the crows.” Madame leaned forward, fire dancing inside her irises. “If you get them both, I’ll cut you loose.”
He frowned as another brisk chill rolled over him and brushed his sandy-blond hair across his forehead. “Surely you don’t think I’m falling for that.”
“I knew you wouldn’t, so I brought this.” Madame reached inside her fur coat and pulled out a rolled-up something. Sasha stared at it longer.
Cow hide. His heartbeat quickened exponentially as his honey-gold eyes took in the leather. He knew exactly what that was.
“Bring me my knife and those goddamn birds dead or alive, and I’ll sign this.” Madame unrolled the hide. While only about a foot long, the sharp strokes of dark, inky blood spelled out an intimately familiar set of terms. “You’ll be unemployed.”
Sasha fought to breathe.
“In the meantime”—Madame rolled up the hide and gave him a sly look—“I have a new one.”
He managed to take a breath. The demon watched him exhale, gaze hard and fixed on his jugular, and she put the hide back inside her coat. “I am not inclined to sign another one of those.”
“This one you will. Already signed. Fresh.” She pulled out another hide, unfurled it, and let it lie flat atop her hands.
The prospect of freedom proved much too strong for him to ignore. Sasha took a step closer, just enough to see Madame’s jagged calligraphy.
“If you present both the knife and the Van Dorens, I’ll incinerate your original pledge.” Madame extended her hands out farther and gave him a glimpse of her true name etched at the bottom in an unfamiliar alphabet.
Sasha dropped his cigarette on the ground and crushed it beneath the sole of his oxford.
Years of servitude to Madame could be over. Done.
He could go back to Chelyabinsk. He could see his mother again.
His family would be freed from a monster.
Author Bio:
Gabrielle Ash is an author and perpetually tired mom of four from the great state of Texas. Born into a family of mischievous storytellers, she grew up listening to tales of the chupacabra, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night, never entirely confident that she wouldn’t get eaten if she went out to the creek after sunset.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, which ultimately landed her in a high school classroom to teach writing and coach the debate team. Dismayed at her inability to wear sweatpants to work, she left the classroom and now dedicates her brain power to books and taking care of her daughters.
When not writing, she spends time with her husband, four daughters, and their dog. The Family Cross is her debut novel.
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I like the excerpt. I look forward to reading this story
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