 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
GOBLIN'S BRIDE
Elgar left his home in the Grimfer Mountains to start a new
life away from goblinkind. In the village of Fairbrook he finds
a steady market for his wares, a fine burrow in the woods
nearby, and something he never counted on: a bride. After
meeting her, he wakes the next day with a peculiar fever
that worsens day by day. He suffers taunting dreams and
can’t stop thinking of her. She’s human; he’s a goblin, but
his condition can’t be denied. He’s found his mate. A bond
between them can’t work, or can it?
Elgar left his home in the Grimfer Mountains to start a new
life away from goblinkind. In the village of Fairbrook he finds
a steady market for his wares, a fine burrow in the woods
nearby, and something he never counted on: a bride. After
meeting her, he wakes the next day with a peculiar fever
that worsens day by day. He suffers taunting dreams and
can’t stop thinking of her. She’s human; he’s a goblin, but
his condition can’t be denied. He’s found his mate. A bond
between them can’t work, or can it?
| Dark Fantasy Sensual Romance |
| "...Ms. Rabiyah is an amazingly talented author. She writes with a voice that is clear, strong, and real. Her characters are well thought out, and seem as though they could be people living next door to you. They are believable, and though misfits among their kind; fit together like two halves of a whole..." -Alyna Awarded 5 Ribbons Romance Junkies |
| "...Elgar and Isabella are inexplicably drawn to one another even though this seems like a doomed match from the beginning. If they can just survive the bad guys and their plots to use Isabella for their own gain they might have a chance. The attraction is there but is that enough to base a relationship on?...If you enjoy Fairly Tales, even the dark ones, like I do then you will like Goblin’s Bride! " -Steph B. The Romance Studio |
| Goblin’s Bride is a “charming” tale of opposites attracting. In this funny and fast paced story you learn that ugliness is only skin deep and beauty is where you see it..." -Valrie ManicReaders |
EXCERPT:
“I don’t like him at all,” she explained. “I would be miserable for the rest of my years if I had to
marry him.”
Elgar scratched his thick mane of hair before tucking a lock behind one pointed ear. He
pondered the easiest method to dispose of the oncoming suitor. Lowering his gaze to the
ground, he spied a fine round rock and grinned a cunning goblin’s grin. Bending, he took hold of
it and tested its weight in his hand. Thinking this all too easy, he took aim, reared his throwing
arm back, and chucked the rock at the man’s head. Goblins were known for their
marksmanship, at least the ones from his cave.
The stricken rider fell backward, landing in a heap on his back. The cape fluttered up, billowed,
and slowly settled to the road.
“There. All done,” Elgar announced, wiping his hands together. “Be on your way now. I’m sure
your father is worried.”
Isabella stared at the man in the road before turning her attention to the goblin. “Oh my. This is .
. . well, it’s . . .” Pushing her hair back from her shoulder, she took a step toward Elgar. “Thank
you . . . I think.”
“You’re welcome,” he said and made ready to get back on the road. He strode to his mount,
unlaced the bound reins, and tossed them over his horse’s head. A heat had set in across his
skin and a swim in a river sounded much finer than chatting here with the bride. He patted the
horse and was about to set one booted foot in the stirrup when the young woman latched onto
him again. The heat prickled now, as if he’d stood too close to a bonfire.
Elgar cleared his throat. Thinking her quite the puzzle, he reached down and pushed her hair
away from her face. “Lady, I think it best you save your affections for your own kind. Even
among goblins, I am no catch.”
She smiled in a small way and his cold heart lurched. If he thought her beautiful to look upon
when she wept, her joy made her radiant. He didn’t want to think of what she might be if she
laughed. It melted his coldness a bit and his smile echoed hers.
Her small fingers traced his lips, and he pursed them lest she fear his pointed teeth.
“Soft,” she said in awe, “though your smile is dangerous. Your lips are soft as the finest silk.”
He knew he ought to be on his way. Her father’s voice had grown distant but continued to echo
in the woods. She explored his face farther, her palms cupping his chin, his cheeks, and
running over his forehead. She delved her fingers into his hair, combing through the black
mass. Her face reflected a prudent curiosity. “I have never seen anything like you.”
His brows furled. “Nor I you. You’re a peculiar female.”
“Yes. Father says I’m unusual. That’s why he wants to be rid of me.”
Bending toward her, he closed his eyes. The feel of her nails grazing his scalp was relaxing.
Once more, she surprised him, pressing her mouth against his. This time he bolted, bumping
into his horse and escaping her.
Turning his back on the maiden, he climbed atop his mount and rode away, leaving her to fend
for herself. The warmth her lips left behind dwindled but was not forgotten.
“I don’t like him at all,” she explained. “I would be miserable for the rest of my years if I had to
marry him.”
Elgar scratched his thick mane of hair before tucking a lock behind one pointed ear. He
pondered the easiest method to dispose of the oncoming suitor. Lowering his gaze to the
ground, he spied a fine round rock and grinned a cunning goblin’s grin. Bending, he took hold of
it and tested its weight in his hand. Thinking this all too easy, he took aim, reared his throwing
arm back, and chucked the rock at the man’s head. Goblins were known for their
marksmanship, at least the ones from his cave.
The stricken rider fell backward, landing in a heap on his back. The cape fluttered up, billowed,
and slowly settled to the road.
“There. All done,” Elgar announced, wiping his hands together. “Be on your way now. I’m sure
your father is worried.”
Isabella stared at the man in the road before turning her attention to the goblin. “Oh my. This is .
. . well, it’s . . .” Pushing her hair back from her shoulder, she took a step toward Elgar. “Thank
you . . . I think.”
“You’re welcome,” he said and made ready to get back on the road. He strode to his mount,
unlaced the bound reins, and tossed them over his horse’s head. A heat had set in across his
skin and a swim in a river sounded much finer than chatting here with the bride. He patted the
horse and was about to set one booted foot in the stirrup when the young woman latched onto
him again. The heat prickled now, as if he’d stood too close to a bonfire.
Elgar cleared his throat. Thinking her quite the puzzle, he reached down and pushed her hair
away from her face. “Lady, I think it best you save your affections for your own kind. Even
among goblins, I am no catch.”
She smiled in a small way and his cold heart lurched. If he thought her beautiful to look upon
when she wept, her joy made her radiant. He didn’t want to think of what she might be if she
laughed. It melted his coldness a bit and his smile echoed hers.
Her small fingers traced his lips, and he pursed them lest she fear his pointed teeth.
“Soft,” she said in awe, “though your smile is dangerous. Your lips are soft as the finest silk.”
He knew he ought to be on his way. Her father’s voice had grown distant but continued to echo
in the woods. She explored his face farther, her palms cupping his chin, his cheeks, and
running over his forehead. She delved her fingers into his hair, combing through the black
mass. Her face reflected a prudent curiosity. “I have never seen anything like you.”
His brows furled. “Nor I you. You’re a peculiar female.”
“Yes. Father says I’m unusual. That’s why he wants to be rid of me.”
Bending toward her, he closed his eyes. The feel of her nails grazing his scalp was relaxing.
Once more, she surprised him, pressing her mouth against his. This time he bolted, bumping
into his horse and escaping her.
Turning his back on the maiden, he climbed atop his mount and rode away, leaving her to fend
for herself. The warmth her lips left behind dwindled but was not forgotten.
Available at:
Amira Press
Fictionwise
AllRomanceEbooks
Amira Press
Fictionwise
AllRomanceEbooks