An Early Version of 'Heart's Desire'

In honor of my #1 and #2 bestsellers at Fictionwise, I thought I'd post a snippet of an early version of Gabriel and the Hunt. They're a lot different now, and if you buy Budget Cuts or The Secret of Redemption or read Binding the Hunt, you'll see why.

Gabriel looked very out of place on Sarah's battered denim couch with his riding boots, black leather pants, and what looked like a cashmere sweater underneath the trench coat. He sipped the tea for a moment, seemed to savor the taste, then stood.

"I should go."

"Are the other Hounds outside?" Sarah asked.

"They are." Gabriel cocked his head, as if he couldn't imagine why she would ask. "They're standing outside at the bus stop, awaiting my return."

Sarah stood, crossed to the window, and had to push aside the branches of a ficus tree to peer out at the bus stop. Five identically dressed men stood near it, and all five stared up at her with identical expressions of watchfulness. If she didn't know they were the Council's Hounds, Sarah would have guessed them to be some sort of shadowy government agents. They looked like refugees from a goth band, but without the piercings and makeup.

She glanced back at Gabriel. "Do you think they might want some tea? You can invite them up and I'll put a fresh pot on..."

Gabriel blinked. He seemed to be frozen, as if he couldn't quite believe what she had asked. Then he carefully set the teacup down on the table and looked at Lucas, who had a very peculiar expression on his face.

Sarah narrowed her eyes. If she had to guess, she would have said Lucas was trying not to laugh.

"You would invite all of us into your home?" Gabriel finally asked, amazed.

Sarah glanced at Lucas, daring him to protest, but he only shook his head and gave her a little shrug.

"If you think they would want some tea before you report back, you're welcome to fetch them," she said.

Lucas muffled what sounded to be laughter in another fit of coughing. Gabriel glared at him for a moment, then inclined his head.

"Very well. I will 'fetch' them." It took him a moment to open the door and let himself out. As soon as he was gone, Sarah filled the teapot again and put it on the stove to boil.

She heard no sound from Lucas in the living room, but the kitten padded into the kitchen and gave her an incredulous look.

"Did I do something wrong?" When she rejoined Lucas, he had managed to regain his composure.

"Oh, no, you did nothing wrong," he finally said. "You've just raised yourself to godlike status in Gabriel's eyes. Most of the Council is afraid of the Hunt."

"The Hunt?" Sarah asked as a warning bell rang in the back of her mind. "I thought you said they were the Hounds?"

"Properly, together they're the Hunt. Separate, the Hounds," Lucas explained. "They've been in the Council's employ for hundreds of years, for better or for worse."

"Wait a second," Sarah had read enough folklore to know exactly what he meant. "Are we talking about the Wild Hunt?" She fluttered her hands in the air. "Like, harbringers of death? That Hunt?"

"The very same," Lucas said.

"I invited the Wild Hunt into my house?"

"You did." Lucas seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

Sarah buried her head in her hands. "And I told Gabriel to fetch..."


copyright 1997 Jennifer St. Clair