The Bride and the Brute (13 page)

Christian stood before the toppled train, unmoving. His muscles clenched tight, ready to explode. He wanted to topple a building. He wanted to rip apart a jet. And he knew it still wouldn’t be enough to banish the feelings whirling inside of him. God, he loved Aurora. How could she say she didn’t love him?

“Wow,” Samantha murmured coming up behind him. “A train sure pales in comparison to a doll. That’s impressive.”

“You have to understand, Christian, that whatever happened, whatever you heard, was not your child,” Ben added.

“What the hell are you talking about? It sure looked like her,” he said bitterly.

Neither replied and Christian straightened, turning to face them. “Tell me. I want to know.

Tell me what you’re talking about.”

“The Changed need our energy. Only the strongest ones, the ones that have gathered the most energy can achieve the Jump,” Ben said patiently.

“The Jump?”

Ben nodded. “They gather this energy and store it. And man, you need a ton. A ton. It takes centuries to build up.”

“The Changed that had been following you around, the one that attacked you in the street, was old,” Samantha added. “Very old.”

“It was probably ready for the Jump.”

“What the hell is the Jump?” Christian demanded, not liking the sound of this at all.

“Possession. They take over human bodies.”

Reviews for Laurel O’Donnell books

“This extraordinary tale offers non-stop action, unforgettable characters and a sensuous
romance, the likes of which ballads are written. This romance will capture your heart and your
imagination.”

- Rendezvous Magazine on
The Angel and the Prince

“Captivating from the very first page, readers will have a hard time putting Champion of
the Heart down. The characters emotional turmoil coupled with the sensuality and delightful
cast of characters adds a special, unique depth… and elevated this to another level.”

- RT Book Reviews on
Champion of the Heart

“Immortal Death is a unique and passionate tale of destined love with a suspenseful plot
that captures your attention from page one and continues to intrigue until the very end.”

– J.E. Hopkins, author of “We Shall Rise” on
Immortal Death

“It’s quickly become one of my favorite books and I highly recommend it to anyone looking
for romance and action.”

- Sony ReaderStore review on
A Knight of Honor

“Medieval readers will find The Lady and the Falconer a highly satisfying, well crafted
story that fills their craving for a tale of medieval intrigue and passion.”

- Romantic Times Magazine on
The Lady and the Falconer

“There’s nothing like a wonderfully written romance that includes everything from
excitement and intrigue to despair and triumph. Such a novel discourages readers from putting
the book down, lest we miss new adventures waiting around the next corner. Laurel O’Donnell
has managed to do just that and so much more in the Midnight Shadow.”

- The Romance Reader on
Midnight Shadow

“My most beloved rainy day book.”

- Amazon review on
The Angel and the Prince

Cover Gallery

Below you will find the covers for all of the books written by Laurel O’Donnell that are currently available.

The Angel and the Prince

Champion of the Heart

A Knight of Honor

Midnight Shadow

The Lady and the Falconer

Immortal Death

Lost Souls: Resurrection - Episode 1

The Bride and the Brute

The Angel and the Prince

Champion of the Heart

A Knight of Honor

Midnight Shadow

The Lady and the Falconer

Immortal Death

Lost Souls: Resurrection - Episode 1

The Bride and the Brute

More about the Author

Laurel O’Donnell
has won numerous awards for her works, including the Holt Medallion for
A Knight of Honor
, the Happily Ever After contest for
The Angel’s Assassin
, and the Indiana’s Golden Opportunity contest for
Immortal Death
.
The Angel and the Prince
was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award.

You can read more about Laurel and her books on the various sites listed below. You can find full sample chapters, reviews, video trailers and much more: Website:
www.laurel-odonnell.com

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Laurel-ODonnell/150078331715261

Twitter:
twitter.com/laurelodonnell

Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/laurel-odonnell

Wattpad:
wattpad.com/laurelodonnell

Thanks for reading! Keep going to find some full chapter Bonus Previews!

The Angel and the Prince Bonus Preview

The Angel and the Prince - Prologue

France, 1410

The choir of voices ascended to the far corners of the cathedral, where sculptured angels listened with somber faces to the Latin words. Shining white marble pillars spiraled down to the steps of the great altar. At the top stair stood King Charles VI. Behind him stood eight small boys dressed in immaculate white robes, each holding a red velvet pillow with golden tassels at each corner. Upon every silky velvet pillow there rested a resplendent sword. Above and behind the boys, golden statues of saints stretched out their cold arms in welcome and forgiveness with unseeing eyes.

The king shifted his regal stance, his gaze locked on the tall wooden doors at the back of the church. He knew eight young men waited anxiously outside, their breath tight in their chests, their palms slick with nervous sweat. Each one would enter as a squire filled with a boy’s apprehension, and each one would leave as a knight of the realm filled with a warrior’s pride.

One of the banners caught his eye. It was for Ryen De Bouriez, the third son of Baron Jean Claude De Bouriez. King Charles scanned the mass of people before him until they came to rest on two men – the elder De Bouriez brothers. They were tall, even by knightly standards. Lucien was fair; his honeyed hair, blue eyes, and boyish looks were rumored to have cost more than one maiden her virtue. Andre was dark, with chestnut eyes and a heart of gold. Both were skilled warriors, and this pleased the king, for he knew Ryen would make an excellent addition to his troops. He studied the brothers closely. They shifted from foot to foot nervously; even Andre, who was usually so calm, seemed unsettled. The king frowned. Perhaps the two giants were uncomfortable with the civil surroundings and were eager to be out of the church. King Charles sympathized. The De Bouriezes were, after all, known for their prowess in battle, not their sociability.