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“Enemies may unite to eliminate a common threat, but never without a wary eye fixed on their ally.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“I let my sword slip to the ground, and for the second time I stood unarmed in the presence of werewolves.

Kresh put his lips to my forehead, and my skin burned beneath his kiss. When his hands repositioned to take me by the waist, my breathing—already shallow—ceased entirely. Then his lips fell on mine and I was suddenly everything he claimed me to be—his mate, his wife, his world.

The taste of him seemed mysteriously new and old at the same time. Every bit of tension eased as if internally I had come home again, and yet a sense of foreignness made our connection a sweet venture. My breast was afire as he continued to grasp my hips, keeping me close. I burned for him as if vampire venom were coursing through every inch of me.

The man was a constellation of suns in my desire, unlike Thaddeus who hardly equaled a speck of stardust. The thought of that coward reminded me of grim news. It took every bit of willpower I possessed to tear my lips away from what they craved, and yet I remained a submissive puddle in this werewolf’s arms.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“He gestured at me. “Do you like the blanket?â€�

I nodded. “It’s warm.�

“I made it. Well, actually, I didn’t skin the animal, but I did kill it�.after the others pinned it down. It’s werewolf skin.�

My heart faltered; I gripped at a wad of black fur.

“I slayed the beast for you, Catherine. I used your sword. It was your grandmother’s idea actually, a wedding present. You mentioned how chilly you get.�

“You didn’t slay a werewolf,� I breathed before repeating the words louder. “You did not slay a werewolf, Thaddeus.�

“Oh, but I did. I took a band of huntsman with me and we tracked one down. A smaller one, mind you, not far from the front gate…�

“You did not!� I contended more strongly. Why would one wolf have separated from the pack? Why outside our walls?

“Yes, Catherine, I did,� he insisted.

I shook my head disbelieving. “You’re not capable—�

“I am so.�

I wanted to cry. I wanted to protest, but to do so meant giving away my knowledge of the truth. Without knowing what else to do or say I changed the subject.

“The fire’s gone out.�

Thaddeus turned his head to check. “You’re right. I’ll see to it.�

He fed the barrel stove until a healthy blaze was roaring. Finding me no longer a decent conversationalist, Thaddeus left with a promise to return soon with food and water. Unobserved, I gathered up the fur hide of a lost soul and curled into a ball, hugging it close to my chest.

I cried silent tears and mourned for this unknown werewolf for days.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“My ears interpreted a mix of nearby voices as calm, friendly, ordinary chatter. With that as background noise, I enjoyed the silent attention of my mate. The way his hand brushed softly over every inch of my bare skin tempted my eyelids to close and my mind to wander, but I kept focused, not wanting to miss a moment of admiring this beautiful man and his seductive, wild look. I felt a flood of emotion set in, born from absolute, interminable love for him. I wished for the voices to cease, for time to halt, for the moment we were living to replay over and over and over again perpetually. The world could have its gain and glory, its vengeance and victories. All I wanted was the enduring love and attention of this man who most assuredly was my soulmate.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“Kresh kept silent beside me as Baron rehearsed his deadly plan. I listened with my eyes aimed at the horizon, witnessing the night consume a final red vein of daylight. It struck me that nightfall always drowned the sunset. Never did the sun resurface from where it sank, nor would it ever.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“Using the sword as an extension of my arm, I gestured with a flick of the wrist, signaling for the swine standing between me and freedom to move aside and clear the exit. He failed to comply.

“Where will you go?â€� he asked, allowing no time for an answer. “Anywhere but here is unsafe. There’s no other sanctuary in which you can hide. My mother will sense the awakening of her gemstone. She will seek it out the moment you exit these walls. And if she and her loyal gargoyles are not threat enough, then consider your cruel fairy godmother—the sorceress responsible for the violence that left you unconscious in a pool of your own blood. She will no doubt come after you again if you leave these shielding walls.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“I reached to feel at the side of his bearded face. It was warmed by life-sustaining blood pumping through his veins, moistened by beads of sweat formed from uncertainties. I had my love alive in front of me. How desperately I wanted to order him to stay behind, to guard the camp and keep clear of harm’s way. But remaining here amounted to hiding, which would torture the hero he was. Kresh never turned aside from danger. He was no coward. He would ignore my order and fight beside his fellow warriors—a right I could not deny him. Come whatever magic and chaos may, he would stand his ground. I needed him to survive it. Otherwise, our years of struggle and sacrifice would come to nothing. To have the Tarishe curse ended at long last and yet lose him in the processâ€� I could imagine no more agonizing curse than that.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse