Reader's Edyn: Blitz: Shadow's Lyric (Crossing Daggers #1) by C.A Worley + GIVEAWAY & FULL CHAPTER EXCERPT

**Shadow’s Lyric by C. A. Worley**

Good Morning, Everyone! So thrilled to see you all today! Not too long ago, I had this author on the blog talking about this very book with the cover release! Today she is back and speaking about the fact that the book is now available. Yay! Please allow me to re-introduce to the blog, C. A. Worley and her release SHADOW’S LYRIC … Plus a GIVEAWAY and a FULL Chapter excerpt. All I can say is … Hell to the yeah! You’re going to love it! And I will be reading this book next!

**C. A. WORLEY**

**BIO**

C.A. Worley is the alter-ego of Romance Author Cass Alexander. Where Cass tends to focus on humor in her publications, C.A. loves to write fantasy. She chose to write under the two different monikers so as to not confuse (or tick off) her readers.

C.A. currently resides in the Midwest, but was born and raised in the South. She spends her days working from home and her evenings are spent shuttling her kids to and fro. Her dinners are subpar, but she makes a mean dessert.

When she's tired of living her sons' travel sports schedules, C.A. enjoys a glass (or four) of wine. She needs the liquid courage to click the publish button for her fantasy romance novels.

Her motto is, "Be Brave," and she tries to live it every day. It takes a healthy dose of courage to get through this thing we call life.

To find out more about Ms. Worley, please visit:

**SHADOW’S LYRIC**

Publication date: June 1, 2020

Series: Crossing Daggers #1
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

**BLURB**

It began with a blood oath.
It ended in bloodshed.

When twenty-one-year-old Lyric is told by her father, Gabrian, she will be crossing into the Otherland as payment for a favor he owes the Shadow Lord, she thinks her life is over. In truth, it is just beginning. Years of training as a soldier and an uncanny ability to learn pretty much anything give Lyric the tools she needs to survive her new reality—and it totally helps that her new lord and master is sex incarnate.

Draven has long awaited Lyric’s arrival, and not just because he needs her to track a powerful weapon stolen by an unknown adversary. He believes he has everything firmly in hand, despite the subterfuge he foolishly agreed to some twenty years back. When Draven’s enemies and lies of omission both threaten the fragile bond he and Lyric are forming, he refuses to allow anything to stand in the way, not even the razor-sharp blade of Lyric’s favorite sword.

**EXCERPT **

“Define ride,” I ordered, taking one step back, closer to the shade of the nearby trees.

“You’re not scared, are you?”

“Of course not,” I lied.

Draven’s slow, sexy grin had warning bells blaring in my ears. He held out his hand, his smile daring me to take it.

Cycling through memories of his behavior over the past two days, I couldn’t come up with a reason he’d cause me any true harm. I did, however, come up with all sorts of images of him trying other things—things I’d probably enjoy.

Before I lost my nerve, I reached for his proffered hand. Electricity zapped up my arm and I stiffened. Once he had a firm grasp on me, he tugged me to his frame. Sister Soul Slut was right there under the surface, begging to make closer contact.

There weren’t too many things more intimate than brushing spirits. Most demons refrained from doing so repetitively. It could potentially start a bond between two Others, and mating bonds were hard as hell to break.

“This will be easier if you relax, Lyric.”

“Maybe I could relax if I knew what you were going to do, Mr. Overlord.”

Draven reached for my other hand, rubbing across both sets of knuckles with his thumbs. He released a small amount of magic, warming my skin. It might have felt soothing had I not been suspicious of whatever he had planned. It didn’t help that I was also trying to keep my most base urges in check.

“I have an ability not many other Shadows can manage. Only a handful stationed at Embour share this ability.”

“And?” I dug, uneasy with his delay of details.

“I can ghost others, take them with me.”

“Define take.”

“I can pull you into Shadow form.”

Suddenly I was a statue, unable to blink or move. It took a few seconds for my systems to jump back online.

“Why would you want to do that?”

“So we can travel faster around the Shadowlands. I can also hide you, if necessary.”

“Oh. Makes sense.” I wasn’t thrilled, but it was certainly advantageous.

“I have no issue with being camouflaged. What’s the downside?” I’d bet it was a doozy.

“How do you know there’s a downside?”

“You cleared the area, most likely in an effort to evacuate before the bomb dropped. You either think I’m going to react poorly, or someone’s going to get hurt. Maybe both.”

“Smart female,” he commended. “Alright, full disclosure, I’m not exactly sure how your body will handle it.”

“What, I’ll reform out of order or something?”

I’d meant it as a joke, but after it passed my lips, I felt a little sick. I did not want body parts in the wrong places.

No amount of magical healing would make me feel better if I ended up with an arm growing out of my back. Admittedly, I was deranged enough to laugh if such a thing happened to someone else.

“No. Nothing like that. The non-Shadows I’ve tried it with have had varied reactions. A couple had their energies drained, though I think that was because they were fighting it. To some, the feeling is too much and they panic. The one who didn’t fight it had an overload of energy.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Sexual energy, Lyric. Something about our forms breaking apart and bouncing around together as shadows energizes pretty much every cell in our bodies, especially the ones designed to procreate. You’ll be firing on all cylinders, if you catch my drift.”

Not what I was expecting. No siree Bob. Not even close. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not.”

Ugh, like I needed more sexual energy around the walking and talking lord of all things carnal. I hardly had any restraint as it was, which was evidenced by me having to tell myself to concentrate on his face and not his parts, the ones lower on his body.

“How do you know I won’t get drained?” I quickly asked, trying to focus on something else.

“The beings who fought it were male. I only tried it with one female. I wasn’t interested in trying it again with her, not after her abundantly enthusiastic response. It was a lot, even for me, and I’m not positive if it was a one-off or something that would happen every time.”

I couldn’t sort through his words. I was too busy imagining the female and Draven and all that sexual energy and what they might have done with it. Electric sparks shot out of my fingers.

What the fuck?!

Draven released my hands like they were on fire, because, hey, they freakin’ were.

“What the hell is this?!” I screeched, waving my hands between us, hands that were now impersonating Fourth of July sparklers. Small wisps of swirling white smoke accompanied the sparks.

Something passed across his features then disappeared. “Seems your powers are manifesting, faster than we anticipated.”

“This is not a power I possess, Draven. I’m half Fortis. Fortis demons don’t catch fire! I was told I’d have added strength. I considered being able to pull off a furatus or throwing someone twice my size over a tree. Nothing in my lineage makes sparklers shoot out of fingertips!”

Said fingertips were now pointed directly at his chest, the tiny embers landing on his shirt. He’d for sure have tiny holes to match. Why wasn’t he freaking out? This was not normal. This was not okay.

“Obviously, somewhere in your ancestry lies an Other with whatever magic this is. It’s nothing to fear, Angel.”

“Easy for you to say. Your digits didn’t just turn into Roman candles!”

I’d never contemplated the possibility of being anything other than half human and half demon. I’d always assumed Gabrian was pure Fortis and my mother was solely human. It was feasible somewhere in history a witch or fairy mated into the line. Surely, if my father knew, he’d have told me.

Yeah, because sweet Daddy Gabe had always been so forthcoming. The dickhead.

Draven reached up and closed his large hands around mine.

“Be careful.” Despite my panic, my instinct was to protect him. And didn’t that just scream stupid?

“I can hardly feel it.”

“Great. I can make fire with my fingers but it’s useless. I can’t wait to use it against your enemies. Beware thieves! I have the power of sparklers at my fingertips!”

Draven’s chest shook. I hated him for laughing even if it was a good look on him.

“Technically, Lyric, it’s not fire, nor are they children’s firecrackers. It’s the emergence of hidden magic within your blood. You should be happy about it.”

I gave him a withering look and he shrugged. “Any power is better than none.”

Warm hands massaged mine gently. Eventually, I relaxed and the pyrotechnics show fizzled out. Without warning, Draven’s form darkened until it morphed into a transparent film. I could still feel his hands on mine, kneading my palms.

Slowly, cool vitalities seeped into my hands. I watched in wonder as my skin began to dissolve into the same shadowy configuration. First up my arms, then down my trunk.

Draven pushed his magics out gradually until every part of me was encompassed in his power. Though we now appeared intangible, I could feel his firm grip on my hands.

“I’m going to shift you so we can travel. I’m only trying to get you used to it.”

The ghostly being slid so my back was to his front. My soul, the sly bitch, brushed lightly with his and I shivered, ignoring the desire burning between our spirits. Surprised Draven hadn’t reprimanded me for it, I reeled it in.

Looking down, all I saw was ground. I could feel my legs, but not truly see them. I could hardly see our shapes in the shade where we were standing. It was the ultimate camouflage.

“This is the weirdest shit I’ve ever experienced,” I admitted.

“Yes, well, wait until I release you.”

“Why?”

“That’s when your special energies will surge. We’ll see how you react.”

“Please don’t release me in front of your army. Or anyone else, for that matter.”

I was already susceptible to his advances, unable to resist him. An audience didn’t need to see my neediness.

“You’re safe with me, Lyric.”

“Says the big bad wolf right before he gobbles you up.”

Draven’s lips pressed to the skin under my ear. “I’m looking forward to gobbling you up. But I’d never do it in front of an audience. Your pleasure is for my eyes only.”

Before I could come up with a snarky response, we fell forward. Draven positioned us so we were parallel with the ground. In Shadow form, gravity didn’t pull at me. It allowed me to relax my arms and legs, secured to the male behind me by his sturdy arms. We were like an invisible Superman and Lois Lane.

He maneuvered us at blinding speeds, dodging the trees and obstacles of the forest. Though I could feel my body, I felt nothing odd with how he bent or twisted us through the foliage.

We slowed once we reached a small clearing, miles from the fortress. The sun was dipping across the sky, partially hidden by a distant mountain range. The trees cast long shadows over the tiny meadow.

Our feet touched grass, but Draven kept his hold around my midsection.

“I’m going to release you. You’ll become solid quickly and it can be a tad disorienting.”

“Okay,” I exhaled. “What if …”

“What if you want to jump my bones right here in the wild?” He chuckled, kissing that same, sensitive spot under my ear.

I closed my eyes, pressing my backside into him. The verdict was in: Lyric Petrov was guilty of being easy. I wanted to blame it on the sexual energy thing, but I honestly hadn’t felt an increase in it. Maybe I was simply stuck in a perpetual state of depravity whenever Draven was near.

“We’ll find out how much you’re affected, but I’m going to help with that,” he pledged.

I shook my head. “I am not having sex out here.”

This time he laughed outright. “Not what I meant. Be ready to use your weapons, if need be.”

“What? Why?”

He answered by letting go, then kicking me forward so hard I tumbled to the ground, shoulder rolled, and exploded up onto my feet. If I hadn’t reacted fast enough, my wrist would have been broken when I went down.

My shoulder was bruising rapidly. I could already feel the blood as it pooled under my flesh. I probably had a boot print on my kidney, as well. Reaching behind my head for my favorite sword was going to hurt.

My adrenaline kicked in, anger mixing with the lust slamming home in my cells. Fuck. He’d been right. I was hot and bothered. I was also ready to beat his ass. I couldn’t believe he actually kicked me.

Was throat punching one’s partner during sex frowned upon in the Otherland?

During sex, Lyric? Really?

Where the hell was my willpower? I shook my head, disappointed I’d already accepted we were going to be playing hide the carrot in the very near future.

Hoping to get off in a far different manner, I drew out both katanas. I didn’t bother hiding my wince. Pain was good. It would help me to keep my clothes on.

Draven solidified and my soul jerked so hard towards him I took a step forward. We were two like magnets. Too bad I couldn’t flip direction and repel the jackass.

“Mmm. I can smell your need, Lyric. I can’t wait to taste it.”

“Not helping, jerkface!”

I swore there were burning charcoals in my panties. Blinding need tore through me so hard my hands shook. Was this a test? If it was, I was failing miserably. I reached deep for my anger over his cheap shot from behind.

Kidney kick. Kidney kick. Kidney kick. I mutely chanted it over and over, allowing the mantra to fuel my ire. Incredibly, it helped take the edge off my lecherous appetite.

Draven stood there, watchful.

“Were you planning to fight me or fuck me, Shadow Lord?”

His silver eyes flared and I swallowed hard. He didn’t have to say it aloud. The answer was both.

“Many beings out here have dirty tricks up their sleeves, Lyric. Shadows aren’t the only ones who have special powers. There are some in the Otherland who can teleport, who can become invisible, or take on other forms. I brought you here to see how you could handle yourself when you were up against the unfamiliar. I also wanted to try to get you used to ghosting.”

I didn’t doubt I could handle anything. I was adept at learning. The problem lied in the fact I usually had to make a mistake first in order to never repeat it.

Learn or die.

Draven hadn’t wanted me harmed too badly to track. I was going to get roughed up, but he wasn’t going to kill me. I could work with that.

“What are you waiting for?” I goaded, trying my best to steady my hands. My core was throbbing so hard I could feel the pulse in my limbs. I should have asked how long the sexual haze had lasted the last time he’d tried this and how they went about subduing it.

Sparks started flying from my hands again when I thought of Draven with that faceless female. The handles of my katanas heated. My grip tightened, refusing to drop them.

Señor Grande over there narrowed his eyes. “What were you thinking about just now, Lyric?”

“About kicking your ass.” Also, maybe licking him head to toe. He didn’t need to know that last little tidbit.

“Pull your weapon,” I spat.

“I am a weapon.”

With that, he ghosted, whizzing around the clearing in a wide arc.

I couldn’t hurt him when he was intangible. Not that I wanted to slice him. Leaving a few marks was fine, but I wasn’t interested in spilling his guts, cheap shot or not. Without my anger, there was a good chance I’d be peeling his clothes off.

“I can’t do anything while you’re in that form.”

“Can’t you?”

“Can’t you?” I mocked in irritation.

Draven smacked my ass as he flew behind me. “Watch your tone.”

I bristled. How was I going to fight him when he was like this? Think, Lyric.

He’d touched me while in Shadow form. He had abilities while ghosting. It was how he’d been able to kill his father’s murderer.

I tipped my blades up, catching the tail end of the spectral figure flying by. Nothing happened.

Sheathing my swords, I followed his movement as it came back around. Time for some trial and error. He came straight for me this time. I crouched, reaching up with my glowing left hand as he flew over.

The second I felt contact, I punched up with my right fist. Draven grunted, his body becoming solid and flipping ass over head through the air. He hit the ground and tumbled gracefully to a standing position.

Of course he did. Even when someone got a leg up on him, he was smooth and made it look like he’d done it on purpose. My ovaries shouted dibs!

I held my hands up, watching the dancing lights fizzle out. Thin strands of smoke drifted off. Huh.

Draven stalked forward, grabbing one of my hands and inspecting it. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

“I shouldn’t have landed a punch to your gut?” I bragged more than asked.

“No, you shouldn’t be able to force me out of my Shadow form. I didn’t shift purposefully. Your magic forced it. You nearly caught me in the nuts, by the way.”

“Not my fault. I couldn’t exactly see you very well, now could I?”

When the last of my fireworks display was gone, Draven let go. “I’m going to ghost again. Don’t do anything until I say.”

I waited for Draven to dissolve, staring at the space where he’d been standing a moment ago. I could see the faint outline of his body. If he’d been in the shaded area, or if it was all the way dark out, I wouldn’t be able to find him.

“Reach forward—gently,” he quickly amended.

My arm extended slowly, my fingers flexing. I touched air. I could pick up the cool energy of his magic, but he was totally intangible.

“Do you feel anything?” he asked.

“Your magic, or maybe your energy signature? In this form it’s chilly to the touch. Different than the Shadow Heart, but I can feel it.”

“Hmm. Go ahead and call forth your power to your hands again.”

“I don’t know how to do that.”

“What were you thinking of the two times it appeared?”

No way was I confessing those sins of irrational jealousy. He’d have to beat it out of me.

“Lyric?”

“I was picturing myself kicking your ass,” I lied.

“You can either tell me the truth or I’ll dig it out of your head.”

“The hell you will. I’m not lowering my shield.”

Draven drew closer, solidifying as he moved. I wanted to tackle him and divest him of his pants. I might have, but I didn’t appreciate his glare.

“Your shield prevents your thoughts from projecting. It won’t keep me out if I want in. When I want inside of you, Angel, I’ll get inside of you.”

Ooh, that was sooo the wrong thing to say to me, even if Lady Vajayjay was ready and willing to knight Sir Wood.

“Back off, Lurch.”

I was now heaving for air. Snapping at him wasn’t enough. Arguing only enhanced my craving. My reaction to him was pissing me off more than his threat of burrowing around my brain.

Priorities, Lyric!

“Make me,” he whispered threateningly.

My body reacted before my brain, gods love her. Two swift jabs to his abs bowled Draven enough for me to bring a knee to his face. He ghosted before it landed.

Shit!

He smacked my ass again and I growled. Draven did it twice more, then solidified behind me. Before he could get his arm around my neck, I elbowed him hard in the ribs. He grunted but still got me in his clutches.

I stomped on his foot then quickly punched behind my hip, aiming for his dick. He jerked right and I hit his thigh.

“That wasn’t nice, my little Angel.”

“I’m not your Angel,” I rasped.

“Yes, you are,” he asserted dangerously, brushing his nose to the shell of my ear while tightening his hold.

His arm was cutting off my oxygen. I needed to do something fast. The fact my soul was rubbing up against his like a crack whore in need of a fix wasn’t helping.

I went limp and Draven scooped me up, cradling me against his frame. He dropped to his knees, hands moving to my cheeks and tapping lightly.

As endearing as I found his concern, I wouldn’t tap out.

“Lyric? Are you—”

Draven sucked in a breath, staring down at the blade pressed to the artery of his groin.

“Playing dead is the oldest trick in the book,” I grinned.

His irises pulsated, like moonbeams on water. “More like the dirtiest,” he grumbled.

Movement came through the brush and we both leapt to our feet. A small group of female Shadows dressed in black leathers stepped into the meadow.

Three had swords drawn. Two had their bows cocked, aimed right at me. One, a supermodel on steroids, had her hands loose at her sides like she didn’t have a care in the world. She was the one to watch.

“Lower your weapons,” Draven snapped. The group immediately complied.

“Good evening, Lord Draven. Is everything alright?” the gorgeous Amazon inquired, focused on the dagger in my hand.

Hey, at least the tip wasn’t poking her leader in the pants any longer. Still, I’d leave it out until I could get a read on these ladies.

“Everything’s fine, Leeta. Lyric, this is Leeta, one of the Shadow Army’s captains. She trains many of the warriors to track.”

“Hey,” I greeted lamely, lifting my dagger and waving with it. Smooth. Real smooth.

Leeta inclined her head in return. No one introduced the others on her team and I wasn’t about to give it a go.

“What are you doing here?” Draven asked her.

“Making our way back. We weren’t expecting you to be out here with your …” she left it hanging.

“Guest?” I tried to help.

Leeta appeared to be fighting a smile.

“As I’m sure you’ve guessed, this is Gabrian’s daughter,” Draven told them.

No one appeared to be surprised. It was further confirmation everyone other than me was in on my father’s relocation plan.

“She’s tracking tomorrow,” he continued. “We’ve been testing her, making sure she’s acclimating to the changes in her powers.”

“This far out?”

I wondered exactly how far from the fortress we were. I knew it had to be miles, but I’d guessed only two or three.

“We tried ghosting,” he admitted with a hint of reluctance.

The female’s mouth made an ‘O’ shape. Guess it wasn’t a secret what happened when a Shadow ghosted with a non-Shadow.

“After what happened with Kree?” Leeta asked.

“Who is Kree?” my mouth demanded before my brain could make it stop.

It was a stupid question. It was unmistakably the name of the female Draven had gotten his ghost on with, and it wasn’t the first time I’d heard the name. My stomach cramped with jealousy and I felt like hitting something. I had no right or reason to feel this way, but there it was.

Unwillingly, sparks, big ones this time, jumped from my hands. They crackled, heating so fast I was forced to drop my knife.

The all-female squad took a step back in unison. I couldn’t blame them. It was scary as hell and twice as weird.

I looked to Draven for help on what to do. His devilish eyes gleamed in the white light. He was enjoying this.

“Looks like I don’t need to pick your brain to know what’s setting you off after all,” the perceptive bastard declared.

Mother. Trucker.

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