Sneak Peak

 I probably shouldn't do this. Especially since I'm not entirely sure this is staying, but I couldn't resist. Here is a small snippet from the current WIP. It made me smile so I'm sharing it with you. Hope it brightens your Monday.

Snippet

Reluctance showed on Raider’s face before his expression firmed. “You know you’re not the only one, right? We’re all killers. Every person in your orbit. Don’t forget that. Don’t let it crush you.”

Tears burned Kira’s eyes as she blinked back emotion.

Raider’s grin was easy. “Well, maybe not the squirt.”

Elena’s head popped out of her nook in the ceiling. “Not true, sperm donor.”

Any trace of humor disappeared from Raider’s face as his expression turned severe. A wolf looked out of his eyes. The killer he’d said he was.

Kira shook her head at him, knowing violence was imminent. “Not me. I would never allow her to do something like that at her age.”

And Selene wouldn’t either. She knew how important it was to let the children in her care be children. 

They both were intimately familiar with the consequences of taking a life at a young age and agreed that wasn’t a fate they wished on those they’d saved.

Or at least that was what Kira thought they’d agreed on.

Raider’s fury was still hot as Kira looked up at Elena.

“When?” Kira snapped.

Caution finally entered her niece’s expression. 

Good. Elena could use a little more of that. 

Elena became preoccupied with fiddling with of the screw bolts holding up the panel beside her. “On Almaluc.”

“What happened?” 

And where was Wren and Auralyn while it was happening?

Kira and Selene had been very careful with Elena, giving her the tools to defend herself should the worse ever happen. All the while ensuring her safety so that such actions never became necessary.

The fact she’d done so on Kira’s watch made this all the more appalling. 

Elena’s feet kicked. “A tsavitee war drone tried to stop the Wanderer from coming to save you. I crushed him with the ship.” 

Kira blinked at her niece.

Raider choked. He crouched as Kira stood there speechless, his body shaking harder has he buried his face in his knees. 

Secrets Bound By Sand

It has been a difficult week. For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you know I hurt my hands on Tuesday, which has made everything more difficult. I meant to have this book up for preorder on Wednesday. Unfortunately, having the use of only three fingers on either hand makes typing and using my mouse difficult.

For this reason, the arc will have to be postponed until I have the full use of my hands back.

Until then you can enjoy the cover, blurb and second parts of the first chapter. If you haven't read the first part of Chapter 1, go here.

I hope you enjoy. I had a lot of fun writing but Ilith and Tate's adventures.

When the past forms the future, how does a woman with few memories survive?

No longer nameless or alone, Tate has put down roots in the city of Aurelia. She’s found a home, friends and a misfit family. When an assassination attempt leads to a dangerous loss of control over her dragon, Tate is sent to the farthest reaches of the empire on a mission she can’t refuse.

It isn’t long before Tate stumbles into her usual brand of trouble. Kidnapped and separated from her closest allies, Tate will have to find a way to survive old enemies and new acquaintances.

Piecing together the tattered remnants of her past might be the only thing separating her from death. Enemies long thought dead are returning and they won’t be satisfied until they have Tate’s head.

Preorder from Amazon

Do not read if you haven't read part one. Go here for part one.

Chapter One Part Two

Ilith surged to ascendancy, muscling through the pain as her skin split and reshaped until a dragon crouched where Tate had once lain.

The shift was a blaze of agony, the wrongness from the poison blunting her thoughts while stripping her of reason and intellect, leaving behind nothing but rage.

She became a creature of instinct, driven by the need to survive.

Her gem-like eyes fixed on the creature who'd come close to ending them. She sprang forward, the motion one of endless grace.

Her jaws closed on one head. She ripped it from the monster's shoulders in the next moment. It lashed her with its tail, its needles striking her hide. She ignored it all, raking her claws along the monster's side. Blood hit her mouth and then the one known as Ilith was gone.

She became fire and death, ripping the creature apart as she gobbled down bits of its meat. Only when it lay in pieces around her did she lift her blood-stained snout and show her teeth.

The prey had mostly flown while she was occupied with her meal.

Her head swung around until she spotted one last prey still panting with fear in the corner.

Ilith pawed silently over the bloody marble, her scales rasping against stone.

She darted forward, her gaze fastened on the wounded prey.

A small furry creature landed between her and it.

The creature roared at her. It stood on its hind legs and swiped at her nose. Pain blossomed and Ilith reared back momentarily before roaring at the impudent creature.

She liked the sound so much she did it again.

The creature behind the smaller one bleated, distracting her from the beautiful sounds she was making.

She growled and snorted at it.

The small furry creature swiped at her again, making a pissed-off sound, different from a roar. It was an angry yowl.

Ilith cocked her head. She hesitated as the smell of family wafted up to her. Some of her rage receded—just a little.

Drawing her lips back, she exposed her fangs as her head lowered in threat. The small creature didn't back down, showing her his fangs as well.

Intelligent eyes gazed back at her as a slight pressure brushed her mind.

She hissed in displeasure as the pressure became more insistent. She shook her head fiercely.

The bright light from above distracted her again and she forgot the furry creature protecting the hairless one. She craned her head back, noting the endless patterns above as they framed the sky.

She snorted and stretched her wings. Flying would feel good after that meal.

She leapt, scrabbling for purchase on one landing before leaping for the next. Stone crunched under her weight and more than once something clattered as she knocked it over. She paid none of it any mind, focused on that dome high above and the sky beyond it.

Running footsteps and shouted words pulled her attention momentarily to below. Men poured into the room, stopping short at the sight of the slain creature on the marble. It didn't take them long to find Ilith where she clung high above, her tail dangling off her current precarious perch as she wedged herself against the wall.

She stared disdainfully down at them. They wore clothes with an image emblazoned on the front, that of a dragon wrapped around a sapphire-blue jewel.

Jealousy and covetousness tempted Ilith to descend, to rip that stone off their chests and keep it for her own.

She ignored the urge, a single scrap of reason whispering that the stone on their chests was a lie. It wasn't real.

She turned from the deceivers, waddling up the stairs, around and around, as she ignored the shouts and angry chatter below. She had sky to reach.

A force hit her side, ripping a roar out of her. She looked down just in time to see another rock levitate and zip toward her. She dodged out of the way, now bounding up the stairs several at a time.

Violent food. She should rip them apart.

Energy bolts zipped toward her, changing her mind. She wasn't in the mood for a hunt after just eating. This meat was too difficult. She'd wait.

The bolts hit her hide, causing little more than irritation. She wanted out and away from the violent creatures, to stretch her wings and leave the things threatening her behind.

Reason had begun to beat back some of the blinding rage, but the renewed attack was making the ability to reason gossamer thin as she descended into primal fury.

She reached the top of the stairs and launched herself at the wall, sinking her claws in for purchase.

She climbed toward the dome high above, moving faster as the sound of those below pursued her.

Her hind quarters bunched and her wings spread as she leapt, bursting through the window and onto the roof as glass shattered around her.

Once on the roof, she hesitated. The sky called to her, whispering of freedom.

A glint in a tower next to the roof she perched on distracted her, quieting all thoughts about the power and freedom in the sky.

Light bounced off something shiny. It was like the stone on the men's chest, only real.

Mine.

Ilith bounded across the rooftop toward the jewel, easily scaling the tower and wrapping herself around the stone perched in its casing.

She purred as she warmed it with her body.

She sat with her jewel for a long time until she became aware of the creatures massing on the rooftop below. She growled at them, warning them away from her prize. She'd found it. It was hers.

She tried to lift it from its setting, chattering at it when it refused to move. She dipped her head closer to peer at it. Small metal claws like dragon paws held it in place.

She snorted fire on them, softening the metal before inserting one claw between it and the stone. She carefully bent the prongs away.

She gently plucked the stone from its setting, almost dropping it when an alarm screeched through the air.

Fire flared, encircling the tower. Ilith fled down its side, attempting to duck into the nearest window, tearing a hole in the stone framing when it wasn't wide enough to accommodate her body.

Once inside, she found herself in a narrow room with stairs leading down. Within the room, gems rested on the shelves along with gold and other shiny things.

Her eyes widened in glee. Mine.

She carefully set down her gem in the center of the room, then moved through the room pulling treasures off their shelves and storing them next to her gem. She lifted a necklace from its bed of silk and set it over her head, preening at the sight of the large center jewel shining lusciously against her scales.

Once the shelves were stripped of their shinies—all of them placed in a pile in the center of the room—Ilith wrapped herself around them, purring, as her tail curled around her to complete the circle.

A short time later, there was a whisper of movement from the stairwell.

Ilith remained still, her head down, only the tip of her tail flicking as a man stepped into view, his attire as shiny and beautiful as the treasure she protected.

"Well, now. This is a surprising turn of events." He held out a hand as another man stepped up to join him. This one was as dark and forbidding as the shiny man was bright.

Ilith lifted her head, her gaze suddenly fastened on the crown on the first man's head. That would look very fine on her horns. She wanted it.

She forgot the other man, as her world spun down to that crown and all the jewels encrusting it.

She wanted it. It was hers.

She moved, snaking through the room. Power gathered at the shiny man's hands as the other man stepped forward to intercept her, a roar swelling from his chest.

Ilith was faster, leaping into the air and twisting at the last minute to avoid their attacks. One claw lashed out, snagging the crown and knocking it from the shiny man's head.

She caught it in the next second, retreating up the wall. She clung to the ceiling, her tail and wings drooping down to brush the floor before she scuttled back to her pile.

She dropped from the ceiling and lay down, flaring her wings to protect her treasure, before raising the crown to her head.

The two men regarded her with nonplussed expressions as she again wrapped herself around the treasure.

Another man pounded into the room, sliding to an abrupt stop. "Is that dragon wearing your crown?"

"Yes, she is," the shiny man said.

Ilith ignored her admirers, warming the jewels by blowing a small lick of fire over them. The third man made a strangled sound.

"This is going to be difficult to explain to the council," the shiny man said.

"Yes, the dragon making herself at home in the treasury is not going to go over well," the third man said, not taking his eyes off Ilith.

"Careful, Ryu, she doesn't seem to be in her right mind," the shiny man said as the dark man moved closer.

Ilith didn't do more than flick her tail at him. He was different than the other two. Dangerous. A threat.

If he tried to take her treasure, she'd have to hurt him. She couldn't let anyone take what was hers.

A small furry form dropped into the room between the two of them. The creature from before landed silently. He observed the room for several moments before padding toward Ilith. She tensed, then relaxed when he curled up by her side and put his head down.

The one called Ryu relaxed slightly, moving in a circle around her, careful not to get too close.

"I'll watch over her while you deal with the rest," he told the shiny one.

The shiny one sighed and shook his head. "This is going to be a headache from start to finish."

"You're the one who wanted to rule. Deal with it," Ryu said, with not an ounce of sympathy.

"Make sure she doesn't go anywhere," the shiny one said, pointing at Ilith. "And for Saviors’ sake make sure she doesn't add any more of my treasury to her horde."

Ilith lifted her head at that. More treasure? Where?

"No," Ryu told her in a firm voice.

She blew a cloud of smoke at him before putting her head back down. She didn't have plans to go anywhere anyway. She was entirely too comfortable right where she was.

Aileen 4 Preorder and Cover

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I know many people will be braving the crowds for Black Friday sales, but for those of you like me who are hibernating in a calm, quiet place, here is a little treat. 

Aileen 4 has a name, cover and blurb..... Oh, and it's is up for preorder!!!

A favor owed, a hunt like no other. 

A courier for the shadow world no more, Aileen’s former protection is gone. Alone but still defiant, she survives one night at a time. Sure, working a dead-end job isn’t part of every young vampire’s dreams, but it pays the bills. 

When the darkly seductive Liam calls in a favor, she’ll find her carefully constructed world tilting on its axis as he draws her into a dangerous game against a wily enemy. The High Fey—creatures as powerful and beautiful as they are deadly—have come to town, their motivations unclear as lines are drawn and shadowy alliances made. 

And with them, they bring their Wild Hunt where everyone is either predator or prey. Betrayed and marked as its quarry, Aileen will find surviving until dawn has never been this hard. 

The only thing that might save her—are the vampires she doesn’t trust.

Click for a sneak peak!

Preorder your copy on Amazon

Secret Project Sneak Peak

I've been getting a lot of questions about what I'm working on next. To start - Aileen 4 is due back from the editor at any moment. In the meantime, I've been working on a story that has taken up a lot of real estate in my head for the last few years. Don't know when I'll publish it since I plan at least three books in the series. I've been toying with the notion of publishing them back to back, but it could be a while since I want to write Dragon 4 and Broken Lands 4 before I write the second book.

Either way, I'm excited to be working on this project. Since it's Monday, I thought you guys might enjoy a sneak peak.

Standard Disclaimers Apply - This has not been fully edited and I may change it for the final product. Hope you guys enjoy.

Sneak Peak

The burnt out wreckage of the alien spaceship drifted in a halo of its own debris. Its end had been violent and full of fire and carnage. The scars of its last battle were still visible in the gaping wounds dotted throughout its carcass.

At least half of its body was missing, bits of it floating in a mass around it. What little remained intact was riddled with scorch marks as it tumbled slowly through space, the story of its end visible to all who neared.

Kira’s breath remained steady as she drifted closer to her target, the void of space pressing in all around her. The dead ship was just one of many in a debris field that spanned thousands of miles. A relic from a battle fought nearly twelve years ago, it was the perfect monetary opportunity for the very few who were brave and foolish enough to attempt salvaging it.

This particular ship was smack dab in the middle of the field, a priceless opportunity for those stupid enough to risk life and limb on it. Kira hoped the risk meant great reward. Most salvagers would keep to the edges of the debris field to avoid risk puncturing the outer hull of their ship.

“Stay alert, Kira. My calculations place the chances of a suit puncture at seventy six point four three percent,” a voice said over the comms.

“We’ve been over this, Jin. The upgrades to my suit mean I can withstand any debris smaller than my fist,” Kira responded. It wasn’t quite combat grade but it was better than anything her fellow salvagers might have. “The new radar we picked up will detect anything within ten meters.”

Jin sniffed, the sound insulted. “That thing is at most only ninety six percent accurate.”

Kira ignored the grumbling. Her friend had fought the radar’s purchase and had been a grumpy about its presence ever since. Kira didn’t care. The new radar would be a valuable tool, especially if they continued going after the more difficult ships that other salvagers were too afraid to attempt.

“We’ve been over this. The radar isn’t going to replace you. It simply frees you up to concentrate on more important tasks,” she told him in a soothing voice.

She flicked on the propulsion unit, grinning as the thrusters kicked online. She loved this feeling. The abrupt jolt that took her from drifting aimlessly to her being the guide and navigator.

She easily dodged the bigger pieces of debris as she wound her way closer to the misshapen hulk waiting for her.

“I still think we should have gone after the ship the Sweet sisters told us about. This one has disaster written all over it,” Jin groused.

“If we’d done that, we would have had to fight those same sisters off once we got through with the salvage. You know they like to snatch other people’s hard work,” Kira explained again. “Besides, I’m pretty sure this is warrior class. An elite or superior at the very least.”

“That makes me feel a lot better,” Jin said sarcastically. “It’s not like they don’t have a high mortality rate for salvagers.”

“This conversation is really boosting my confidence right now.” Kira’s voice was dry.

“It’s my job to notify you of the risk in any salvage operation.”

Yes and Jin was very scrupulous about doing his job. Even when you would prefer he didn’t. Like now, while she was drifting through the void, only a few thin layers between it and her.

Kira maneuvered around another set of space junk. Looked like a bulkhead, probably one of the reasons the lower half of the ship was gone.

“I’m approaching the main body,” Kira said, the banter of earlier falling away as her focus turned to the job.

“What do you see?”

“The control room looks to be intact. A few of the weapon chutes are still there.”

The main bridge would have been in the upper middle part of the ship, behind several bulk heads. She’d been right before. It was a Superior, definitely warrior class.

During the height of the war, it would have sent the human fleet scurrying. Nearly indestructible, it’s defensive and offensive capabilities were among the best their enemy, the tsavitee had. No doubt it’d been responsible for sending more than one of Earth’s ships to an early grave along with any unfortunates who were among the crew.

Size in space often had little impact on a ship’s capabilities. This one was considered midsize. Not quite a dreadnought. Next to her small form, it seemed massive.

She knew the specs for this ship, had studied them and others like it. The ship would have had a crew of about a hundred aboard when it was destroyed. A hundred of humanity’s enemies that went down with the ship in one of the bloodiest battles of a decades long war. 

Built from a dark metal, it nearly blended in with the black of space. Its shape was ominous and foreboding, the lines sharp and cutting. Kira didn’t know if that was because of her own perception and history or because it was essentially a graveyard.

“Any of the cannons look salvageable?”

Kira examined the ship. It was difficult since it continued to rotate along the same lines it would have when it died.

“No, they’re torn to bits. There are a few pieces here and there, the rest of the parts are likely floating around me,” she said.

“Do you think they’re worth salvaging?” he asked.

“Not on this ship. I’ll focus on the main body for now. We can mark the location and come back later for the rest.”

“Alright, I’m ready for you to begin your approach. Remember, these ships tend to have nasty defenses. Try not to trip them this time.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” she told him.

“You say that, and yet you always seem to find trouble.” His voice was tart. “I’m not coming to get you this time.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t expect you to. Just make sure to keep the Wanderer out of danger,” Kira said. Before he could respond, her voice turned businesslike. “Beginning my approach.”

“Your trajectory is good. You should reach the ship in four minutes and ten seconds,” he said.

Kira maneuvered closer, her heart rate remaining steady despite the danger. She’d only made it three meters when her proximity alert went off, the screen in her mask flashing red. She hit her thrusters, shooting left. A silver shape sailed past her.

Guess that meant the ship’s defenses were definitely intact. A grin took over her face.

When they did finally crack this nut, they were going to make a mint off it. Enough for that new food synthesizer that actually made food that tasted like food and not the chalky crap she was currently living off of.

“What was that?” Jin asked.

“Nothing,” she told him, her voice distracted.

The weapon chasing her through the wreckage looked like a long silvery ribbon. It looked and moved as if it was organic, darting around pieces of metal with a lithe sinuous glide as it followed Kira. It reminded her in many ways of Earth’s eels. She’d never seen one in person but she’d seen pictures in books and in video.

This thing moved in much the same way, as if it was swimming through space. If it caught her, it would wrap around her before yanking her apart. That was if it didn’t burn through her suit first.

“Is that a Strigmor Eel?” Jin’s outrage was clear even over the comms.

Kira didn’t bother denying it, too busy trying not to fly headfirst into any wreckage.

“How did you set off the ship’s defenses?” he cried.

“Little busy here,” Kira said. She shot down, the eel just missing her.

“Did you not cloak? I told you how important it was to cloak,” he wailed.

“I cloaked,” Kira said through gritted teeth. She veered to the ship. Maybe it wouldn’t follow her inside.

“Don’t go inside the ship. That’s a bad idea,” Jin lectured.

An instant later a second proximity alert went off, alerting Kira to another eel heading her way.

“Told you.” Jin’s voice was smug.

Kira ignored him, dipping down as she zig zagged at a breakneck speed through wreckage that would cut her to pieces if it impacted.

She rounded a piece of particularly large metal, the first eel right on her tail, the second peeling off to try to trap her from the other side. She flicked her eyes up and to the left, blinking twice to trigger her defensive flares. Hundreds of tiny lights, each one a metal ball bearing no bigger than a marble streaked out from her suit.

The eel flew into them, the balls attaching to its skin in a big clump. Seconds later they burst, splitting the eel in half.

Kira shot away from the wreckage, just in time for the second eel to come up from underneath. She darted through the deadly obstacle course, the eel no more than a few lengths behind her.

Her new suit with its upgrades was a blessing just then. It was its own miniature space craft, capable of the flexible maneuvering that a bigger craft would never have been able to do. She’d designed it to her specifications, sourced every piece of it. Now it was making all that time, effort and money worthwhile.

The view screen expanded and contracted as she searched through the wreckage for the perfect spot to take out the other eel.

There. Two long pieces of wreckage floated together, connected by a thin beam. That was perfect.
Kira veered for it, hitting her turbos and increasing her speed. The eel fell back, just slightly. Enough for her purposes.

She darted between the two sheets, brushing against one side and leaving several sticky charges on it before moving to the other side. This was done within seconds.

She hit a hard reverse on her thrusters, gritting her teeth as the suit shook around her as it ground to a stop. She turned on her back and waited.

The eel didn’t disappoint, sailing into the small space, its body slithering toward her as it spotted her.

She smiled at it. “Hello, beautiful.”

She lifted her arm, lining up the shot as it prepared to dart after her. She fired, a blue light streaking toward the eel. It easily dodged, moving to the side as the light missed it.

Her smile widened. She kicked her thrusters back online, using them to send her rocketing away from the eel, her eyes locked on it.

The light hit the sticky charges. A force punched Kira in the chest, then the metal around the eel imploded, warping around it and killing it.

Kira continued her backwards glide.

“The eels have been neutralized,” she said.

“Good, now that you’re done playing, maybe you can get back to salvaging this ship. You only have a few hours of air left and it’ll take you nearly that long to get close again,” Jin said.

“Roger that,” Kira said.

Something I Probably Shouldn't Share

I know I'm supposed to be concentrating on marketing for Dragon 3, but I couldn't resist sharing a small snippet of the current WIP. I think it's the first time I've been mostly happy with an opening sentence.

Small disclaimer: As always this is not a guarantee of the final product and there is every possibility that the below might not make it into the final draft.

P3

Pain blossomed along Shea’s side. She sucked in a sharp breath and gritted her teeth. She could already tell from the throbbing that a bruise was forming.

Sneak Peak

Only a few more weeks until Moonlight's Ambassador is released into the wild. I'm very excited for this book. A lot happens in Aileen's world. Things are revealed, people are betrayed, and vampires. So many vampires. I can't wait for you guys to read it.

In the meantime, here is chapter one for your reading pleasure. :-)

Chapter One