“Wow,” Anice said, breaking into the spell they had.
Fletcher pulled back, regret filling his expression, but his eyes told her they weren’t done celebrating.
Fletcher turned to face his family as he slipped his arm around her waist. She leaned against him.
“Everyone, we have a new member of this family. Serena Fay soon to be McLennan.”
There was a cheer from the family, and this one was even bigger than the last one.
All the male cousins insisted on kissing the bride to be, and she laughed all the way through it. Her heart warmed by the love they showed. One thing about the McLennans, they continually surprised her with their eagerness to accept others. When Anice approached her, she smiled.
“I’m so happy I will have another sister.”
“Oh,” Rena said as tears filled her eyes.
“You’re crying again, Rena,” Anice said with a laugh, albeit a watery one. She’d been dabbing her eyes also.
“Since I lost my family, I have only had two siblings, Maggie and Meghan. Now I will have you and Phoebe, along with all your cousins. It is so wonderful.”
Anice nodded.
Fletcher stepped up.
“What do you have to say, sister?”
She let go of Rena’s hand to hug him.
“I’m so happy for you. I knew she was the one for you.”
“That explains why you gave me so much shite for the last few months.”
She giggled as she pulled back. “Well, you did need to be pushed, but not that hard.”
She turned to Rena again to hug her. “Welcome to the family, sister.”
“You’re next, sister. Believe and it will happen.”
Anice was still smiling when she pulled back. “I’m ready.”
“And now that we have announced it, I believe we should go celebrate by ourselves,” Fletcher said.
“You can wait a little bit, Fletcher,” Serena said.
Anice shook her head. “Go on. These yahoos will be up for hours blathering on about the quest. Go, be together.”
“Thank you,” her brother said as he started pulling Rena away from the family.
“Fletcher,” she said.
He stopped and cupped her face. “I want to celebrate. Alone. With you. We’ll have enough time to catch up with all of those idiots later.”
She was laughing when he kissed her. She never thought to have this man, his family…any of it. But she did and now she wouldn’t ever think of giving any of it up.
* * *
Brody let himself into the back door of the mansion. His bastard cousin never allowed them to come through the front. He was the king and they were the peasants. At least, that is the way Brody’s cousin viewed his family. The truth was, they had always been treated like this. Being a hybrid made it easier to be treated as if they didn’t belong. That was going to change.
“Finally,” said the dark voice from the top of the stairs.
“I’m bloody sick of coming in the servant’s entrance.”
“Is that a fact?” his cousin asked. “Come on, I don’t have a lot of time.”
Irritation had his hackles rising, but he ignored it. No reason to fight the issue now. Instead, Brody jogged up the stairs.
“So, you’ve made contact.”
Jesus, how did this part of their family control everything? They were so blasted dense.
“Yes. I’ve been working there for months.”
“And you’ve made contact?”
“I just said I did.”
He nodded as Brody followed him into the library. He hated this damned room. Too many memories made the entire house painful to deal with, but he would for this. To save his family, he would do anything.
“And?”
“We had a date.”
“Did you bed the slut yet?”
Inwardly, he growled, but he kept his anger at bay. Barely. It went against his nature for any man to speak about a woman that way—especially Anice.
“I said we had a date. Just one.”
“So, you didn’t get her into bed.”
“No. Anice McLennan isn’t a woman who sleeps with a man on the first date.”
“Well hurry, or things could go very badly for your family.”
“Are you threatening us further?” he asked.
Gavin McWalton turned around, his eyes turning almost black. “You do as I say, or I will wipe out your entire family. You know I have the ability to do it.”
And Gavin knew Brody would do anything to protect them, even put his soulmate at risk. His family was all that mattered.
A Note from Mel
Thank you so much for reading FLETCHER. It is the fourth book in the CURSED CLAN series with only one more book to go, ANICE. The final book will release 12/18/2018. It is now on preorder everywhere!
If you like paranormal romance, I have several books and series to check out!
First off is my Victorian vampire series, BY BLOOD. An entire class of vampires operates within the glittering Victorian ton. Two books, DESIRE BY BLOOD and SEDUCTION BY BLOOD, are now out with more coming in 2019.
If you like magic in your books, check out THE SWEET SHOPPE STORIES. Magical treats make your erotic fantasies come to life. Three couples have to believe in their happily ever after to achieve it.
If you like your paranormal books with a futuristic setting, I have several to choose from. First off is my TELEPATHIC CRAVINGS series which includes VOICES CARRY, LOST IN EMOTION, and HARD HABIT TO BREAK. In this futuristic series, telepathic abilities are outlawed, and those who have them are hunted and jailed. Filled with suspense and action, these three novellas can be bought separately or together in THE ANTHOLOGY.
Like space operas filled with aliens, danger, and hot sex? Check out my SAINTS AND SINNERS series which includes SEDUCING THE SAINT and HUNTING MILA.
You can check out all my PARANORMAL books on my site!
Anice
The thrilling conclusion to the Cursed Clan series is coming 12/18/18!
Preorder today!
A woman destined to save her family.
Anice has always felt left out. Granted, not on purpose, but when the only female who spent two centuries with her cousins and brother, it’s hard not to. Now that all of them have found their mates, she is ready for her happy ending. When she falls for Brody Stewart, Anice is thrilled he is interested.
A man who hides his true self.
Brody has spent his entire life hiding his true self from the world. When his sadistic cousin gives him a chance at freedom, he takes it. He has no issues seducing a woman–until he meets her. Anice is his mate, there is no doubt, and he cannot imagine a life without her. Now he has to play a careful balancing act protecting both her and his family.
A love that cannot be denied.
When Brody’s deception is uncovered, Anice wants nothing more to do with him. Unfortunately for her, it’s revealed he is essential to the last quest. As dark forces close in on the Mclennans, Anice and Brody will have to learn to trust each other, or lose everything they hold dear.
* * *
Enjoy this unedited prologue!
Anice lay in the field, looking up at the starry night. It was late, later than a lass like her should be out, but she didn’t care. Her brother and her cousins could galavant all over the countryside at all hours of the day, but it was frowned upon when she did it. She was sick of playing by the rules.
She couldn’t fight the pull of the night. It always seemed to grab hold of her, especially when the moon was full. She could stare up at it for hours.
She heard a twig snap and stilled. She did as her cousin Callum had taught her and listened. More rustling. Not the wind and definitely bigger than most of the nocturnal animals in the area. Her instinct told her to run as fast as she could, but a voice stopped her.
“Lady Anice, do not fret,” an older, weary voice called out to her. When the person came into view, she realized that she knew her. T
he witch who told fortunes and saved lives.
“I wasn’t fretting,” she lied. “What are you doing out and about this late?”
“I could ask the same of you, but I know why you are here.” She sighed. “Frederica had a baby tonight, and I attended the birthing.”
She nodded but said nothing else. She wanted to ask the woman more, to know everything about her future, but she controlled the urge, barely.
“I should get home before I am missed,” she said, brushing the grass and twigs from her plaid. “Good evening.”
She only got three steps away before the witch called out to her, “Don’t you want to know your future, Lady Anice?”
Anice hated the fact that she did. More than anything in the world right now. She turned to face the witch. “I doona think that is a good idea.”
“Why is that?”
“Knowing what has been foretold might hinder my true nature.”
There was a long pause then she threw back her head and cackled.
“Stop that,” Anice said, trying to ignore how embarrassed she was. “I said, stop it.”
The witch finally calmed herself. “Please, do not take offense, my lady. I was only enjoying your spirit. Too many women don’t have the courage that you do. Tis good, since you will be needing it.”
Unable to resist, she stepped closer. “So you do know my future?”
“No. Not completely. The Fates do not always reveal their ways to me.”
“But you know something?”
The older woman’s smile faded, and her expression grew troubled. “Yes. For all of us in the Highlands. We will be forced to endure some of the worst times we have seen in centuries. But for you, your mate…he will not be easy.”
She snorted. “I would not want an easy man. They are usually lazy.”
“You are as wise as I thought. Tis good because this man in your future is just like you.”
“Like me, how?”
“Tell me, my lady. Why do you like to come outside at night?”
“Tis quiet. I like that everything seems so serene at night.”
She nodded. “But I guess you especially come out during the cycle that features a full moon.”
“Maybe,” but it was true. It was always this night that called to her.
“Yes. Well, your mate will need you by his side, and he will need a woman who understands.”
“Understand that he traipses across the fields at night?” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “What are you blathering on about?”
Another quick smile then it faded. “Oh, how I would want to see you fall in love, but I fear it will be long after I am gone from this earth.”
Intrigued even more, she stepped closer. “How long?”
“I cannae tell you that.”
“Then what good are you?” she asked, frustration threading her tone. Anice knew it was unladylike to be so blunt, but she didn’t care.
For a long moment, the witch said nothing. The silence filled the night, and Anice suddenly felt as if Nanny had caught her stealing biscuits.
She opened her mouth to apologize, but the witch held up her hand.
“No, you need that attitude, my lady. You are the key, and it will test you.”
“The key?”
“They link between families. You are the one who will save the clans, the only one who can unite them.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Doona think lightly of your role. You and your mate will have a tough time of it. He will be true to you, Anice. A man that might not seem to be, but he is. Believe in him, and you can have a happy life.”
“But if I don’t?”
“Destruction of everything you hold dear.”
About the Author
From an early age, USA Today Bestselling author Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book.
Since her first published book, Grace Under Pressure, Mel has had over 60 short stories, novellas, and novels published. She has written in genres ranging from historical to contemporary to futuristic and has worked with 8 publishers although she handles most of her publishing herself. She is best known for her Harmless and Santini series.
After years of following her military husband around the country and world, Mel happily lives with her family in horse and wine country in Northern Virginia.
Keep up with Mel, her releases, and her appearances by subscribing to her NEWSLETTER or join in the fun with her Harmless Addicts!
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Also by Melissa Schroeder
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Anice
Fletcher: The Cursed Clan: Book 4 Page 16
