Poison, Lies, and
No Win Choices
Bride Ball, Part II
A Grimm Revisited Story by
BRENNA LYONS
Published by Phaze Books
Also by Brenna Lyons
We Shall Live Again
Last Chance for Love
Rites of Mating
In Her Ladyship’s Service
Matchmaker’s Misery
Animal Instincts
Night Warriors
Will of the Stone
Bearing Armen
Veriel’s Tales: Crossbearer Turned
Veriel’s Tales II: Losing Regana
Marked
and many more…
This is an explicit and erotic novel
intended for the enjoyment
of adult readers. Please keep
out of the hands of children.
www.Phaze.com
Poison, Lies, and No-Win Choices copyright 2010 by Brenna Lyons
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
A Phaze Production
Phaze Books
6470A Glenway Avenue, #109
Cincinnati, OH 45211-5222
Phaze is an imprint of Mundania Press, LLC.
To order additional copies of this book, contact:
books@phaze.com
www.Phaze.com
Cover art © 2010 Deborah Lewis
eBook ISBN-13: 978-1-60659-983-9
First Phaze Edition – March, 2010
Created in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Dedicated to...
Grimm, the first love of my fantasy life, as it is for so many fantasy authors.
Tamer, the love that was meant to be.
Chapter One
Benjamin’s cock came up at the feeling of Alana on his lap, her laughing body vibrating against his.
It had to be soon, appearances be damned. The game of decision was amusing enough and a social nicety, but he’d long ago decided that only Alana would do.
Her face dipped close to his, and he captured her lips in a kiss that released his frustration and need...at least, a modicum of them. It left them both ragged, and sweat coated his bare chest, most likely from clenching his muscles in restraint.
Mora’s chattering broke the moment, and Alana levered herself onto the arm of his chair, giving the other contender room to sit on the opposite arm. Her smile faltered at the sight of the noblewoman, with her fine clothes and augmented body. Alana recovered quickly, smoothing the simple blouse and skirt most of the lowborn in attendance wore.
Another reason it has to be soon. Alana was becoming disheartened by his failure to choose formally, unsure of her appeal.
Mora offered the cup in her hand. “It’s warm in here, don’t you think? I thought you might like a drink.”
Before he could take it, Alana did so. “My thanks,” she breathed. “I’m frightfully parched.”
“But that—”
It was too late. Alana had tipped her head back, baring her graceful neck, draining the contents of the cup in a few hearty swallows. That accomplished, she handed the cup back to a horrified Mora. It was a bold move, riding the edges of uncouth, but contending to a prince was thinly-veiled civility, at its finest.
Benjamin bit back a laugh at the tactical prowess that had won Alana this round of the chase for his attentions. How could he choose another, when such a witty and inventive woman had captured his heart? The words to dismiss Mora were on the tip of his tongue when one of the other ladies saved him the trouble by drawing her away.