Mid Week Tease - The Beltane Witch - At the Bridge

Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a new year of Mid Week Tease hosted by Sandra Bunino.

Authors: this is a great opportunity to spotlight a few lines or even a paragraph or two from a new release or backlisted title. Readers: you get to sample some delicious snippets! We’ll do our best to tease, titillate and tantalize you into the weekend.

Today I'm offering snippets from The Beltane Witch, a paranormal romance, and Book 2 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Sabrina Foxglove went to meet her mysterious rescuer at a local coffee shop, but when he pisses her off, she turns to leave. Unfortunately, she trips over her chair and slams her head on a coffee table, knocking herself out. This is where she is now.

Sabrina stood at the foot of a suspension bridge extending into the mists, the cool wetness of spring dripping off the struts of the bridge. Silence of the senses surrounded her. No sounds, tastes, smells or textures shook the stillness. Only foggy sight offered any indication she still existed.

Sabrina frowned.

This had to be a dream because nothing like this stood in Cloudburst. The hazy silhouette of a great tree awaited her at the far end of the bridge, but the distance of the span escaped her estimation. She grasped the guy ropes and squeezed to find some sort of physical purchase, but her hands felt numb.

Where am I and how did I get here?

Memories sifted, as insubstantial as the mists around her. She shook her head to focus her thoughts, but everything swirled away as substantial as smoke. Something was wrong.

Sabrina sought to inhale, to find the scents of spring, but she couldn’t breathe. Panic gripped her mind and her hands tightened on the ropes. Oh Goddess, I can’t breathe! She bent at the waist and tried again, squeezing her eyes shut, but her lungs refused to expand.

Dear Goddess, am I dying? Is that why I’m at the edge of the bridge?

I can’t die! Who would care for her children? Who would protect them?

She wanted to wail her distress, but she had no air to expel sound. She bowed her head and tears fell, scalding her cheeks in fiery trails.

The ropes under her hands vibrated and she stilled, opening her eyes. Raising her head, she stared into the misty expanse of the bridge. A figure materialized half-way along the span, more solid than the rest of this world, and extended his hand out to her. She swallowed hard.

Darius? What is he doing here?

Even in his hazy state, he looked noble and strong. She wanted to believe his appearance meant safety and protection, but standing in the center of the bridge he only represented the unknown.

“Come with me, Sabrina.”

How does he have breath here and I don’t?

“You must focus, my lady. You must make the first step. Come back with me.”

Sabrina shook her head in confusion. Back with him? Back where?

His expression tightened with frustrated concern. “Take the step. Trust me.”

She wanted to scoff, but sound required air. Trust him? I don’t know him.

“Please, Sabrina.”

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