Taste of Kiwi

My special guest today is Selena Illyria. She has an unusual shifter in her new release. I’ll let her tell you about her hero, Renato.

First I’d like to thank Shelley for allowing me to invade her blog yet again.

I know it’s not a usual shifter type. Most shifter are either cats, dragons, wolves, etc., but a komodo dragon? After I had finished Discovering Passion, the second book in the Vampiropolis series, I knew I wanted give Renato a story. At first I had thought Magda should be a phoenix, but scrapped that idea. I wanted something different, some unusual, something that I don’t think someone has done yet. I knew I wanted to do a dragon shifter but what kind? Which one?

The thought came to me, a komodo dragon! Perfect, it also allowed me to keep the title of Renato’s Dragon, which I had gotten attached too. At first I was scared, I hadn’t read any books with a komodo dragon for a shifter. I wasn’t sure how to approach the story. But as I began to write things just began to fall into place.

I adored writing for Magda it was both fun and interesting writing for a Komodo dragon shifter. And now here’s a sneak peek at my latest release Renato’s Dragon, Book 3 in the Vampiropolis Series, Out

Now at Changeling Press.

Blurb:

She left him…

Renato’s world shattered when his fiancée Magda disappeared. He buried himself in family, work and meaningless flings. Nothing filled the void in his life, and he could never forget the only woman he’s ever loved.

She’s back…

Magda was given a choice: her brother or her love. In order to find her lost brother, she had to give up Renato. She made a choice, one she has always regretted. She could never forget the man she left behind.

Now she’s been ordered to kill him. Their lives are about to collide, secrets are about to be exposed, and danger waits in the shadows.

Will they survive when the dust settles?

Buy Link

Excerpt:

Renato’s Dragon
Selena Illyria

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2008 Selena Illyria

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

“Stay here, I have to get something.”

“Champagne?” Magda asked, grinning. “It is New Year’s after all.”

“Better.”

He padded barefoot to his dropped jacket and found the small velvet box he’d left in his pocket. Box in hand, he crawled onto the bed, grinning.

“That better be something that will make me forget about champagne.”

“It is, trust me.” He handed her the box, which she took hesitantly.

“This isn’t one of your practical jokes, is it?”

He laughed. “No, it’s not. Open it, go on. I promise you, you’ll like it.”

“Renato!” she gasped, her eyes wide. “What…”

Smiling, he took her hands into his, squeezing them gently. “I am asking for your hand in marriage. I want you to be my wife.”

She looked from the ring to him and back. “You want to marry me? Why?”

“Why? Because I love you. I can’t picture my life without you. Did I mention the loving you part?”

She nodded her head, and tendrils of dark brown hair bounced around her face. “Oh my God, you want to marry me? Me?” She stared at the ring.

“Let me put it on you so you can see how it looks.” He took the box and slipped the ring on her finger, admiring the way the gold and the creamy green stone contrasted with her tawny skin. “It was made for you.”

“Do you need to hear the words?”

Renato opened his mouth, wanting to tell her yes, but she cut him off.

“Yes, I want to marry you and be your wife.”

There were no words he could think to say, so Renato did the only thing he could think of. He took her in his arms and just held her.

“Do you want to go back to the party?” Magda asked.

“No. I just want to be here with you.” Leaning back against the pillows, Renato closed his eyes. Magda pulled the covers over them. Renato’s energy was now gone. Breathing slow and deep, he held her as a feeling of contentment took hold of him. Sleep soon followed.

* * *
Magda awoke with a start. Sitting up, she gently pushed away Renato’s arms. Her body stilled as she waited for any sign that Renato had awakened. Relief flooded her when she felt him roll over, inhale deeply and then let out a snore. Shoving the covers away, she crawled down the bed. Not bothering to retrieve her shoes, she padded barefoot over the carpeted floor.

Strains of the party still in full swing could be heard through the floorboards. A glance at a wall clock told her it was four in the morning. There was very little time to waste. Picking up her skirt and what was left of the corset, she glanced back toward the bed, saying a silent good-bye to Renato. Magda wished she could tell him her reasons for leaving him but knew he would just want her to stay. The problem was no one could help her. Not even him.

Her parents were dead. All the family that remained was Paxton, her brother, and he had vanished after their father had died. Renato, despite his family’s connections, didn’t have the ties that the Guild had. They had offered her a once in a lifetime opportunity. In exchange for doing odd jobs for the members of the Guild, they would help her find Paxton. Her thoughts turned to the morning she had woken up to find him and all of his meager possessions gone. Her heart constricted. She had to find him. They were the only two now. The last of the Komodo Dragon shifters.

Magda didn’t want to think of the possibility that she was the last of her kind. To have no one else who would understand what it meant to be a Komodo shifter? To be alone was unthinkable. Taking one more glance at the bed, her shoulders sagged. “Kali, why?” she whispered. “Why do I have to leave him when I just found him?”

–
Dear Reader, Let Me Seduce You . . . Love, Selena Illyria: www.selenaillyria.com, www.pinkchairdiaries.com

Coming Nov 7th to Changeling Press: Renato’s Dragon.
Coming Nov 14th to Aspen Mountain Press: Del Fantasma Mudslide.
Coming to Loose-Id Dec 23rd: Trapped

Like Selena, I’ve written a couple of unusual shifters and have some specific questions for you. Most writers tend to write wolves or feline shifters. What do you think about other types of shifters? Do you like them or hate them? Do you prefer a shifter that turns into a “pretty” animal? Does ugly turn you off?

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