The Dragon Awakes -Snippet Sunday

It's Snippet Sunday, a Weekend Writing Warriors'  blog hop! 

I'm back...and I have a new blog header!  Yay! What do you think of it? My husband actually took the photos used, both the background clouds and Yours Truly. They were taken at Disneyland, by the way. 

I didn't post snippets for two weeks, and it felt like forever! Mostly because it meant I wasn't writing my next book. I was itching to get started, but my husband (also a writer) needed my help to get some of his stuff spiffed up. Now I finally have a snippet to share with you all, this one from the final book in my Sons of Herne series. Here's a quick synopsis of Archipellus: God of Samhain:

How can he hope to embrace love when his very touch brings death?

Archipellus thinks he alone is immune to the romantic power that has overtaken his sabbat brothers, for an incubus who drains partners during sex could never find happiness with a mortal woman. Then he meets Melissa, a woman willing to brave the danger of his erotic touch in hopes that his power might also cure her sister. When their passion tears a hole in the veil between worlds, Archipellus will embark on a quest to seal the breach and rescue the sister who was snatched and taken across the rift.​

Today's snippet is the opening of the book. We meet our hero (scantily clad and in a randy mood, be forewarned). Some creative snipping was done to fit the length requirements.

The horns called forth the god of Samhain, and Archipellus felt urgent need rise from deep in his marrow. He stood in the antechamber, focused on the statue of Apollyon to keep his eyes from closing. Doing so brought him too near the suffering, voices crying out for relief in an anguished chorus. With the veil thinned to dangerous proportions, echoes from many worlds were mingled together, although few could match the pain and sorrow of those on earth.

Taking a deep breath that he held in his chest, Archipellus let the sound of the horns fill him. The lust he forced down all year swelled in response, rising in fury like a dragon’s head after being jolted from a long sleep. Drums added to the call, a primal beat that he matched with his steps as he strode forward to perform his duty, naked aside from the leather mask and the black ritual robe trimmed in blood-red. 

As Samhain was the high sabbat, most sacred of all the pagan holidays, all members of the counsel were required to be present while he invoked the ritual to seal the veil. He entered the Samhain chamber while the gazes of most in the room followed without making eye contact. His father, the great Herne himself, managed to meet the red, glowing eyes of his son without flinching, but Archipellus saw his Adam’s apple give a telltale bob.

...What do you think?  

Read Book 1 of the series, Dominus: God of Yule--and follow the link inside to get Book 2 free!
Buy on Amazon

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For more awesome snippets, check out 

Weekend Writing Warriors!

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I'm J. Rose Allister, wife, working mom, and the author of over thirty books. Somewhere in between one and the next, I love hanging out here on my blog and over on Twitter. Give me a comment or follow-I love chatting with people!