Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Cost of Magic [The Intrigue of Magic 02] by L.J. Evias!

Excerpt!

   Mavron grinned as he drew his blade. “Not so confident now, eh?”

   Grinding her teeth, Torvia moved into position. Despite the morning’s exercises, Mavron still seemed fresh, and had a massive height and reach advantage over her.

   “No magic,” Charla reminded them. “To be a royal guard, you must be able to fight on worlds without magic.”

   Torvia clenched her jaw. This was going to hurt. But she wasn’t going to let Mavron or Charla or anyone else stand in her way. She deserved to be a royal guard. Prince Ademir needed her, and she wasn’t going to be left behind every time he went away. Not anymore. She had to pass this challenge.

   With a scream, Mavron charged, his weapon raised.

   Swiftly pulling out her own slender sword, Torvia ducked out of the way and jabbed forward. Mavron easily intercepted and shoved her back, before hammering his sword down. Without the slightest amount of restraint, he slammed his sword against hers again and again. He wasn’t even trying to get past her guard.

   No matter how many times she dodged, he found a way to counteract her next move, forcing her to meet his blade. With every blow, he pushed her back, until he knocked her right over.

   Torvia cursed as the others cheered, even the girl amongst them. Throwing herself out of the way, she narrowly avoided a slash to the stomach, but for a moment, Mavron was off balance.

   She struck, but Mavron had anticipated her move, and swatted her away like a hapless locust. With one foot, he shoved her back into the ground.

   Struggling for breath, Torvia rolled away, and leapt to her feet. This fight wasn’t going well. Despite its slender size, her sword already weighed her down, and her limbs ached with the effort.

   Victory in his eyes, Mavron lunged, swiping down.

   Torvia leapt forward, bracing for the pain as she blocked his sword. Her arm shuddered with the impact and her shoulder throbbed in protest, but her other hand was already sliding inside her tunic to the blade hidden within.

   Malice twisted Mavron’s lips and he leaned into his sword, attempting to force her to the ground again. Until she slipped the dagger to his throat. “Do you yield?” she growled.

   Mavron stiffened, his eyes going wide. “No,” he muttered. “You didn’t. You can’t.”

   “Yield. My dagger is at your throat.”

   Full of hate, Mavron’s eyes moved to hers. After a moment, he relaxed his posture, bringing his sword down. “You cheat,” he spat.

   “A dagger is not magic.”

   Mavron switched his gaze to Charla. “She forfeits the challenge,” he said assertively.

   Unamused, Charla shook her head. “A guard thinks with her head as much as she uses her weapons.”

   His temper getting the better of him, Mavron threw down his sword and glared at Torvia. “You’re only here because Prince Ademir favours you.”

   Charla strode forward, her voice rising. “Torvia has just defeated you in spell and blade. She fully deserves to be here.”

She’s young, gifted, and desperate to prove she belongs. But some lessons come with a cost.

Torvia has one goal: to earn her place as a royal guard and repay the prince who saved her life. But despite her powerful magic, the prince refuses to send her into danger, and the princess wants her in court.

Everyone has a plan for Torvia’s future. None of them match her own.

So when a charming older boy offers secret lessons and a chance to escape her overprotective guardian, Torvia is tempted. He’s clever. He listens. And the magic he shows her is unlike anything she’s seen before.

But every step she takes draws her further from the path she planned – and one wrong move could cost her the mission, her future, and the prince who’s counting on her.

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Author bio:

L. J. Evias writes exclusively in the fantasy genre, infusing stories with a dash of adventure and mystery. In Evias’s worlds, moral absolutes do not exist, giving life to a diverse cast of intriguing characters.

The Intrigue of Magic is Evias’s debut series, featuring accessible world-building, intricate plots, and unforgettable heroes and villains. Released in 2024, The Discovery of Magic is the first book in this series.

When not immersed in the pages of a novel, Evias enjoys real-world adventures both in the UK and abroad. The enchanting settings of The Intrigue of Magic series draw inspiration from personal travels, notably the unique architecture and evocative landscapes of Morocco.

Bonus material and a sample short story are available from the author's website.

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