The Scarlett Mark

Book excerpt: The first novel in Abby Lane’s Reign of Blood and Magic series "reprises beauty-and-the-beast themes with feisty characters and richly intriguing witchery." —Kirkus Reviews A Lord cursed for sixteen years. A Princess manipulated by sorcery. One enchanted evening is their only deliverance. Seeking justice, Princess Scarlett challenges her stepbrother with a serpentine ordeal, unaware that her treasonous act will endanger her father the king, threaten her two royal sisters, and assist the premeditated plans of her step-mother—the queen. A wicked sorceress, the scheming sovereign has an agenda of her own to steal the throne and rid the castle of her stepchildren. Soon condemned to death, a risk saves the princess from execution, but forces the queen to banish her from the kingdom, delivering her to certain death. Cursed by the same spiteful witch, Lord Nicolai is most dangerous when transformed. Feared by everyone, he can’t see an end to his beastly life until the princess arrives at his ghostly manor. When a chase ensues to break the curse, the princess risks everything to save Lord Nicolai. Will a remedy be found in time, and how might the solution impact an evil queen, should The Scarlett Mark prevail?