Photo by Mohamed Nohassi

Too long I sat and spoke with him, but his face in the firelight, the purr of his voice, his laugh–his attention all on me–drew me and held me. He stayed up with me until daybreak, hours after the last thunder had blown beyond the sea, and seemed to sleep the moment his eyes closed.

 

Exhausted and ecstatic, I stared at him to remember just how he looked. Arms drawn to his chest, his shoulders hunched like he was hugging himself, he seemed younger than I’d realized–his skin flawless except for the scar, deeply grooved and puckered, from his left cheek nearly to his chin. I wanted to touch it and know its history.

Excerpt from THE TAKING

Leoric of Rensweald develops as a central character in The Taking. It was critical that he develop a powerful relationship with Amarys from the onset of the story. I wanted there to be an heir of mystery about him, a mystery that Amarys would desire to unravel. Although their relationship has its definite ups and downs throughout the story, it is founded on humor and respect that they share for one another.

What mysteries does Leorics’ past hold and what will Amarys do to uncover all of them?