Halloween Character Costume Party with Lisa Kessler of Night Thief! (Character Post/Giveaway)

Well lovelies, all good things must come to an end and our Character Costume Party is winding down. Thank you ever so much for joining us! But before we go, every good Halloween party needs a masquerade and Lisa Kessler has provided just that with this special scene with Rita and Kane from her new release, Night Thief! So grab your sparkly, feathered or bejeweled mask and enjoy!

“Welcome to the Masquerade, Crystal.” Marguerite brushed a light kiss to each cheek of the book blogging goddess and smiled. “Kane is opening more wine at the bar… Enjoy!”

She watched Crystal walk away, her gaze connecting with her husband’s. Her pulse raced.

When they planned this Halloween Masquerade party, it had been her idea that they recreate the clothes they wore the first night they met in 1840. Seeing him now in the coat and vest, his formal shirt and tie hanging hopelessly open, and his blond mane tied back in a leather thong, she wanted nothing more than to go to him, to dance, and keep him to herself.

Although the year was now 2012, she never tired of his attention. Her gaze dropped lower and she noticed his gold pocket watch dangling from the vest pocket. The corner of her lips quirked up and she heard his voice in her mind.

You are a vision, Rita. His hand grazed the watch. I hoped this might catch your eye.

She smiled with a mental whisper, As if you needed a gold bauble to get my attention.

Her gaze swept through the room. Masks, feathers, make-up, wigs, and costumes mingled throughout their Paris penthouse.  Some faces she recognized, while others remained hidden. She lowered her shields protecting her mind and heard the thoughts of her party guests mingling around the room.

Halloween amused her. It was a time for magic. Anything seemed possible and no one was what they appeared to be.

Something caught her attention on the balcony. She frowned and crossed the room to the French doors. Outside, a tall man with dark auburn hair, red, leaned against the balcony railing. When had he come in?

She glanced over her shoulder. Kane poured more wine and chatted with a few guests. He could manage the crowd for a moment.  As she turned the knob on the door, she opened her mind, reaching for any clue about the lone guest.

A flash of lightning and the scent of hot rain filled her mind before he turned. She tried to connect again, but his mind shut and even with more concentration on her part, his mind remained closed. Strange. He turned toward her, wearing a simple black mask over his eyes, reminiscent of the mask that Zorro wore in the American movies.

“Forgive me for startling you.” She held out her hand. “I do not believe we have met. Are you and associate of Kane’s?”

The man took her hand with a playful grin. “The name is Colin.” The sound of his laughter warmed her, enticing a tentative smile. “And I suppose I am an associate of sorts.”

He shook her hand and stepped closer. “And you are…”

“I am Marguerite Bordeaux.” She stared up into his eyes and her chest tightened. This man wasn’t human. “Forgive me for not greeting you at the door. I am not certain how you escaped my notice.”

He released her hand. “I didn’t enter through the door, Lass.” She recognized an Irish lilt to his voice as his gaze wandered over her ball gown and back up to her face. “Ballix. You’re one of us. I don’t believe it. My brother made you his. A Night Walker.” He shook his head. “That impetuous bugger. I should have known.”

Us? Brother? Her mind spun with questions. This man knew what they were. Before she could open her mouth to question him, the door opened behind her.  Kane’s familiar touch caressed her bare shoulder. “Our guests would like us to make a toast…”

His voice drifted off as his gaze fell on the masked man. Both immortals stared at one another until the masked man finally reached up and pulled the mask free, revealing stunning eyes, as green as the forests.

Kane stepped around her. “Cauac? Is it really you?”

The red-haired man nodded, a grin spread across his lips, lighting up his face. “I go by Colin now.”

“You found me.” Kane embraced him. “In sukun. My brother.”

Marguerite smiled. Something about hearing her husband speak his native Mayan language made her heart melt. She’d never been to his homeland, but she knew the jungles haunted him. A painful part of himself he did his best to bury.

Kane pulled back and smiled at her. “Rita, this is the proud God of the South.” He clasped his brother’s shoulder. “How are the others?”

Colin shrugged. “I have not found them.” He gestured to the penthouse full of guests. “You, on the other hand, have not been hiding as well as the others.”

“This is Halloween, my brother. Tonight monsters do not need to hide.”

“I beg your pardon.” Marguerite gave her husband a playful elbow to the ribs. “I am no monster.”

Kane grinned at his brother. “Did you come all this way to lurk on my balcony, or did you want to join in the party?”

Colin chuckled and shook his head. “We have much to catch up on.” He smiled at Marguerite. “Like how this beautiful flower came to be one of us.”

A crooked smile warmed her husband’s face. “One of my favorite stories. It actually begins with this watch.”

Marguerite rolled her eyes as she stepped through the door and back into the Masquerade. “Do not believe him, Colin.  I did not steal his watch.”

Happy Halloween everyone!!!  Hope you enjoyed the masquerade ball in Paris with Kane and Rita.  If you’re curious about how they met, and how Rita came to be a Night Walker, then grab a copy of my new release, Night Thief. 

After the fall of the Mayan civilization, Kane, an immortal Night Walker, has taken refuge in France for over 800 years. The modern world holds little interest for him until the night he meets the Golden Thief and is robbed of much more than his pocket watch.

Marguerite Rousseau is living a double life. By day she is the assistant to an eccentric French artist, Antoine Berjon, and by night she dons elegant evening gowns to woo French dignitaries before lifting their wallets.

Sparks ignite when Kane captures the thief, but Marguerite harbors a dark secret that could ruin them both.

Kane, Rita, and Colin will all be back to save us all from the Night Demon in book 2 this Spring…

Thanks again to Crystal for sharing her blog with me and inviting Kane & Rita to her Masquerade party!

Happy Halloween!

Lisa

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