Teaser

 People have asked so here you go. Chapter one of The Storm's Whisper. Hope you enjoy.

Also--a caveat--this has not been put through the proof reader's yet so there may be typos.

Chapter One

Eva's hands paused as a furtive rustling came from the tall grasses not far from where she stood.

One truth she'd come to understand in the months since joining the Trateri, a conquering group of clans who had united the Lowlands and Highlands for the first time in living memory—the Highlands were never quiet.

There was always something. Some noise or sound to keep you company. Even if you were totally alone, not another human for hundreds of miles, there would never be true silence. You only had to listen to hear the wind ripping down from the mountain tops to play in the valleys and ravines. There'd be the call of birds or the song of insects. Small animals rooting for food in the grasses and trees.

Eva had long become used to it. To the point she barely noticed anymore, unless a discordant note was introduced into the harmony.

Like now.

Whatever was out there was determined. If not for the way the sounds abruptly stopped every time she looked in its direction, as if fearing discovery, she'd say it wanted her attention.

But that would be ridiculous.

Except, not really.

For some reason, the thought felt right. True. As if there was a little voice in the back of her mind influencing her perception.

Just like every time before, the movement abruptly stopped as soon as Eva started paying attention.

Moments ticked by, the sudden silence loud. As if the world held its breath.

The dappled gray mare Eva was in the middle of brushing aimed a disgruntled look at her when she paused once again. Caia reached back, lipping Eva's hands in silent demand.

"Fine, fine, your highness. I won't slack off anymore. My bad," Eva murmured to the mare, still preoccupied by their hidden watcher as she resumed brushing, her strokes slower than before.

Caia shook her head, her mane flying in a wordless rebuke before she leaned further into Eva's hands. Even under the best of circumstances, the mare could be demanding, acting every bit the queen Eva sometimes thought of her as. She was even worse when it came time for grooming. Never satisfied until Eva felt like her hands would fall off her wrists from exhaustion.

Sure enough, as soon as Eva took her attention off their watcher, the rustling resumed. The creature's caution forgotten in the face of its goal.

Eva smirked. That didn't take long.

Then again, patience wasn't exactly the creature's strong suit.

At the renewed sounds, a man poked his head over the horse he'd been tending. Unlike many Trateri, he was fair skinned with dirty blond hair and green eyes, a sign that he had Lowlander somewhere in his ancestry.

Not surprising. The Trateri had a long tradition of co-opting others into their clans. A nice way of saying they kidnapped people they took a liking to. Strange thing was, a lot of those people ended up joining the very clans, who they had every right to view as their enemy.

That was the Trateri for you, though. They had a way of getting under your skin. Making you see things in a different light. Next thing you knew, you were going out of your way to prove yourself. Fighting for a place among them and accepting tents you had no idea how to erect.

Jason leaned one arm on the horse's back and quirked an eyebrow at Eva in question.

Eva shook her head and rolled her eyes to the sky. She didn't know either.

A soft huff of amusement escaped him. It wasn't the first time strange things had happened around Eva, nor would it be the last.

At least their watcher didn't pose a threat. At least not to their lives. Their sanity and peace of mind? That was an entirely different story.

Eva checked on her guard for the afternoon. One of the Anateri, specially assigned to protect her. He was one of an elite group of warriors whose main responsibility was the protection of Fallon Hawkvale, warlord and leader of the Trateri clans, along with his interests.

Somehow, Eva had managed to become one of those interests.

She was a Caller. The first in centuries. A title that had slowly faded from memory for all except a select few.

Her ability allowed her to hear the thoughts and desires of mythologicals, a group of beings with the same intelligence and cunning as a human who were long thought gone from the Broken Lands. It was only recently they'd been freed from their imprisonment in the Badlands.

With them, they brought the potential for a new status quo—and the need for alliances.

That was where Eva came in. She and her newfound ability were the linchpin expected to hold this whole, chaotic mess together.

No one had exactly explained just how that was supposed to happen yet. It left her to feel her way blind.

Her elevation in status brought rewards—but also risk. She'd become the target for every one of the Hawkvale's enemies both internal and external.

Control her, and you gained the potential for leverage over a powerful group of mythologicals. Kill her, and the chances of an alliance went into the abyss alongside her.

Hence the need for the Anateri.

Drake was the easier going of the two, happy to keep his distance when the threat level was low.

It was why he'd chosen a position on top of a tall boulder that would allow him a perfect vantage point of the valley. Currently, he was lying on his back, hands clasped behind his head as he studied the clouds.

Feeling her eyes on him, Drake swept an idle glance over the meadow. Nothing changed in his posture, his body remaining relaxed.

It was all the confirmation Eva needed. Whatever was out there wasn't a threat.

Not that she'd really been in doubt. As a prey animal, whose senses were highly tuned to the environment around her, Caia would have alerted Eva to danger far in advance.

Eva peeked at the grasses out of the corner of her eye.

Three orange tails tipped in black slipped into view, waving merrily. Eva paused in her brushing again.

Jason slapped his horse's flank in dismissal. The horse moved away slowly, finding another grazing spot as Jason advanced toward Eva.

"What is he doing?" Jason asked, not taking his eyes from the tails.

Eva shook her head. That was a very good question. One she'd like to know the answer to. Preferably before the tails owner did something that would come back to bite her in the ass.

The tails froze, going stock still. Seconds passed, tension building subtly in the air.

Eva drew a sharp breath as the fire fox exploded out of the grass in a graceful leap, drawing a perfect arc in the air as he descended head first.

There was a squeak and then a crunch before happy growling reached them.

Jason winced. "He did all this to get our attention just to catch a field mouse?"

"Look at it this way. At least someone else was his victim this time."

They both knew that wasn't always the case. Over the past month and a half they'd been in this out-of-the-way valley in an isolated stretch of the Highlands where few humans, if any, had ever explored, the fire fox had played more than one prank.

To call the creature mischievous was kind.

In truth, he was a terror. His tyranny similar to that of a toddler, only far more mobile and way more intelligent. Not to mention vindictive.

Threats of bodily harm didn't work. Outsmarting him was a fanciful wish, and a more concentrated interest on his part.

Most ended up regretting tangling with the fire fox. As both Roscoe and Ghost, two of Eva's friends, could attest. They were still discovering prickle thorns, a plant native to the Highlands known for causing rashes and a prickling sensation when it came into contact with skin, in their clothing and bedding.

No one knew how the fire fox managed to get the thorns into their belongings. Only that he did.

Since then, most gave the fire fox a wide berth.

"Do you think he arranged his hunt simply so we could admire his prowess?"

A thoughtful look crossed Eva's face. "It's possible."

The crunching in the bushes stopped.

Jason's eyes widened in dismay as he mouthed a curse. One Eva seconded.

Idiot. He should have known better than to draw the fox's attention.

Golden eyes landed on Eva and Jason, studying them with an intelligence and cunning far greater than any animal.

Not much bigger than a cat, the fire fox resembled the fox he took his name from. His face was triangular and in daylight his coat held the same coloring as his vulpine cousins. With one notable exception—the three tails that were once again waving madly above the grass.

"What are you doing over there?" Eva called.

The grass rustled as the fire fox trotted toward Eva, carrying a kill nearly as long as him.

"Is that—?" Jason pointed uncertainly at the fire fox's victim.

"You're not seeing things. It's a wheezer."

Eva recognized it from the beast pamphlet the pathfinder who'd accompanied them to this valley had left before he'd made his return journey to Wayfarer's Keep, the stronghold of the pathfinders and the place where the rest of the Trateri army was camped.

Often mistaken as the largest entry into the rodent family, the wheezer had beady eyes and overly large front teeth. Looking like a mix between a possum and a weasel, its light brown fur allowed it to blend into most environments.

Eva would be tempted to call the creatures cute if not for the fact they were extremely aggressive and territorial. They preferred to stalk their prey and didn't care if that prey was twice their size. Human, bandisox, or other, the wheezer saw them in the same light. As enemies and food.

It wasn't their attack power where the real danger lay. Though admittedly, they'd been known to shred a grown man's leg in seconds before waddling off, looking pleased with themselves.

What was truly worrying about them was the fact that a single bite or scratch from their claws more often than not ended in infection and eventually death.

It was a slow, agonizing way to go.

Drake straightened at the sight of the wheezer in the fire fox's jaws, the playful look on his face turning serious.

A cold feeling moved through Eva.

Their oversight could have easily cost lives. There was no healer in the small party that had accompanied Eva all the way up here in hopes of strengthening their alliance with the mythologicals. No one to treat them if things went wrong. Not for hundreds of miles. Several weeks of hard journey separated them from any form of help.

It was a grim realization that highlighted how drastically they had underestimated their surroundings.

Drake hopped down from his boulder, jogging in Eva's direction.

To Eva's surprise, the fire fox turned, trotting toward the far side of the valley where fallen boulders from a long-ago avalanche dotted the landscape. The places where stone met dirt were overgrown with grass, some of which climbed halfway up their sides.

Solitary trees stretched their arms to the sky. In the distance steep hills that transitioned to rugged mountains framed either side of the wide valley floor.

To Eva's rear, Caia and the rest of the small herd of mounts grazed in the pretty meadow.

Beyond them was the small camp they'd set up upon arrival. In the distance, at the opposite end of the valley, were the ruins of a long-ago settlement. The stone walls that made up the houses long fallen into disrepair.

The fire fox slowed and then stopped when he realized Eva and Jason hadn't moved. He aimed an expectant look at Eva over his shoulder.

"Does he want us to follow?"

Eva released a resigned breath. "Probably."

"That's not sinister or anything," Jason complained, trailing Eva as she started after the fire fox. "Follow the mysterious mythological to an equally mysterious destination. What could go wrong?"

Eva smothered her smile, privately agreeing with the sentiment.

Unfortunately, ignoring the fire fox wasn't an option. Even if he wasn't being painfully obvious in his desire, she'd still follow. If for no other reason than self-preservation. It was easier to anticipate the fire fox's actions when you knew what he was up to.

The fire fox trotted happily through the meadow, bypassing the hulking silhouettes of boulders before heading for a tree standing alone in the midst of the field. A creature peered around it with a shy face. His massive form huddling behind the small tree as if it would protect him from them should have been a comical sight. 

And maybe it would have if he hadn't gone unnoticed until that exact moment.

Eva squashed her alarm, knowing the fire fox wouldn't have endangered her without reason. She took a moment to study the creature.

His skin was mottled with grays, browns and greens. A moss-like plant covered his back and hands. White flowers similar to daisies sprouted from his head.

From a distance he would resemble a slow-moving boulder, ambling across the valley floor. It was perfect camouflage. No one would even notice unless they mentally marked his location and then compared it to his new one.

Which Eva doubted many would do.

Despite his large size, his features were kind. Gentle even. This wasn't a creature who would do harm. Eva got a sense of peace from him. A bottomless well of serenity and warmth.

It would be tempting to linger and soak up his tranquility.

Eva took a step toward him only to stop as Drake blocked her with his arm. He watched the creature with a frown, viewing the other as a potential threat he needed to protect her from.

The fire fox trotted up to the creature and stopped. He laid his kill down at the base of the tree and sat before wrapping his tails around his feet.

The fox's gaze was knowing as he watched Eva in silent demand.

"What is that?" Jason breathed.

Eva held a finger to her lips, signaling for quiet. There was something about this moment that felt important. As if their entire future in this valley hung in the balance.

The fire fox was acting as if they needed to pay tribute to the rock creature. It was Eva's job to find out why.

Jason nodded to show he understood.  

Eva pushed Drake's arm out of her way and stepped around him.

"Eva!" Drake hissed.

Eva paused, knowing if Drake felt she was placing herself in danger he was liable to act. And not necessarily in ways she would agree with. She wouldn't put it past him to grab her and make a run for it.

In the Broken Lands where even a rodent could pose a threat to your life, it was easy to view anything strange or unexpected as an enemy.

This was the drawback to having elite warriors shadow your every move. Explanations were needed lest they take matters into their own hands.

Better for everyone if she spent a few short seconds to head such actions off at the pass.

"He's a mythological. I can feel it."

She wasn't quite sure how but the creature gave off the same feeling as the fire fox. Like there was more to them if you simply looked beneath the surface. A deep well of possibility lurking. It felt different than what she felt around beasts, though she'd be hard pressed to explain exactly how. Just that it was.

It was a feeling in her bones. A knowing, if you will.

Mythologicals were kind of in the realm of her expertise now—which wasn't exactly saying much considering how little was actually known about them.

It meant the fire fox's strange behavior and this creature's appearance in the valley were her responsibility—and she took her responsibilities seriously.

Drake held her gaze, his stubborn need to protect warring with his frustration over knowing she was right. Moments passed before he relented.

Drake stepped aside, allowing her to continue unhindered.

"Be careful," Jason whispered.

"Afraid you'll have to deal with Caia on your own?"

Jason snorted. "Damn right I am. That mare is a devil."

As if sensing they were talking about her, Caia butted Jason in the back, making him stumble forward a few steps. He swatted her head away with an irritated look on his face.

"When did you get over here?" Jason whisper yelled.

"She's been following us since we started," Drake said in a low voice, not taking his eyes off the creature.

Eva crept forward, careful to keep each movement slow and non-threatening. In one sense, Drake was absolutely right. This was dangerous. It always was when approaching unknown mythologicals. You never knew if they'd be accepting of human presence or seek to destroy.

Human/mythological relations was a relatively new concept and there was a long history of the two not getting along. Some might even say they were natural born enemies. Imprisonment for centuries in the Badlands tended to do that.

Still, Eva didn't think the fire fox would put her in a situation that endangered her life.

Eva stopped when she sensed Drake's tension increase to a level that suggested he'd act if she went any closer. She didn't look away from the rock creature, crouching to make herself smaller and seem like less of a threat before aiming a gentle smile in his direction.

He shrunk behind his tree, only his eyes peering out at her, the rest of his face hidden by the trunk, even as his lower body and torso stuck out the other side.

Eva didn't move. Sometimes, with wild creatures, patience went further than anything else. Letting them come to you was always better than forcing an interaction.

Long seconds passed before the fox looked up at the gentle creature.

The two stared at each other, holding a conversation Eva could almost sense. She concentrated but only caught a low-level buzz in the back of her mind. So faint that she almost thought she'd imagined it.

As if coming to a decision, the rock creature reached up and plucked one of the white flowers from the top of his head and held it out to Eva.

"For me?" She pointed at her chest.

A low rumbling came from the mythological's throat. It put her in mind of boulders being pushed across the land, inch by slow inch. The passage of centuries encompassed in that one sound, carrying with them an invisible weight.

As if afraid she wouldn't understand, the mythological tucked his chin in a slow nod.

Eva glanced at the tiny flower, made even smaller by the massive hand wrapped around it. A hand that could easily have palmed Eva's skull and crushed it.

Yet the mythological handled that flower like a precious treasure. Inexplicably gentle as he offered it to Eva.

Conscious of the way Drake tensed as she reached out to take it, Eva gave the mythological a bright smile. "Thank you. I'll cherish it."

Another slow rumble came, like that of titans clashing.

Eva didn't know what he said, not in words at least. It was more of a feeling she got. A sense that he was welcoming her to the valley. That as long as he was here this place would be blessed.

People in the Highlands often liked to say that the land had a mind and will of its own. It could embrace your presence, but it also could decide you weren't welcome. There was many a cautionary tale of what happened in such cases. Usually, those involved died in grisly ways.

Until right this moment, Eva, like many Trateri, thought that was merely an excuse those in the Highlands gave for not being willing to leave the safety of their villages.

What she was picking up from the mythological suggested otherwise. Maybe there was some truth in those stories and not everything was superstition.

It was a thought to examine later—when she wasn't in the presence of an entity she was beginning to suspect was more than just a mythological.

There was a connection she could feel. As if he was the land in some abstract fashion.

A silly thought—except this was the Highlands and much stranger things had happened.

Eva tilted the flower in her hand, attracted to the strange petals. She was almost mesmerized at the faint shimmer she caught in their depths. As if a pollen made of diamonds had been scattered along its silky surface.

Exquisite.

Eva came back to herself with a jolt. "Where are my manners? You gave me a gift. It's only right I give you one in return."

Eva dug in her pockets, her fingers touching against the smooth woven surface of the decorative pattern she'd been working on for Caia.

It wasn't much. Just a little thing she'd seen on other Trateri saddles. Often tied to the front or side and left to hang free. They were usually gifts from family, friends, or lovers and came in a variety of colors and patterns.

This pattern was a tad more complicated than any she'd tried before. Made from multiple strands, it had an interesting red pattern running down its center while the outside edges were made from white thread.

It didn't look half bad, if Eva was being entirely honest.

Perhaps that was why she didn't dismiss it as a possibility. Though created with Caia in mind, it carried her sincerity. It wasn't too much to say it was a physical expression of the love and respect she had for Caia. Most importantly, it was something she'd created with her own hands.

That made it the perfect gift.

Either way, Eva wasn't sure how likely it was for her to meet this mythological again. Once this moment passed, chances were it wouldn't come again.

Impressions, good or bad, tended to last much longer than the moments that created them. As the people she'd claimed as her own, she wanted the Trateri to start off on a good foot—especially with unknown mythologicals who may or may not have been dangerous.

Making her decision, Eva withdrew the weaving from her pocket and held it out on the flat of her hand.

"For you," she said before she could change her mind.

The mythological's gaze caught hers, the rest of the world falling away.

Emotions that weren't hers, feelings and thoughts that came from a place outside of herself, swept through her. She caught gratitude and surprise. Pleasure and fascination.

Along with those emotions came the press of years. She knew in her bones that the mythological in front of her was old. As old as the valley she stood in, the more fanciful part of her wanted to claim.

For a mind as young as hers it was too much. Too heavy a weight to carry.

Beads of sweat popped up on her forehead as her hand trembled under the onslaught.

As abruptly as it had come, the pressure of the mythological's mind withdrew, the stress abating.

The last thing she caught was an apology and a welcome. Beneath it all was also a promise to live in peace with the humans as long as they respected the land.

Eva came back to herself, blinking in surprise at the solitary tree trunk. The mythological was gone.  

Puzzled, she studied the ground, only to find the carcass of the wheezer gone. Not even a spot of blood to mark where it had been.

"What was that?" Eva asked in a soft voice.

She felt off balance. Uncertain whether she'd actually experienced what she thought she had. It felt fantastical. Like a dream, if not for the flower still clutched in her hand.

A crafty look slid across the fire fox's face before it was gone, leaving only innocence behind.

Eva narrowed her eyes, ignoring the clop of hooves from behind her. Did he really think she believed that expression?

One thing she knew—the fire fox was almost never innocent.

"Did you accomplish what you wanted?" Eva asked him with a pointed look.

His only response was a foxy smile before he scampered away, his tails bouncing behind him as he disappeared amid the boulders.

Eva didn't have long to ponder what scheme the fox was involved in now as Caia and Jason started for her.

"What was that?" Jason asked, unknowingly echoing her question from before as he stared past the tree to the boulder field beyond.

Eva followed his gaze, her attention fastening on a moss-covered boulder she was sure hadn't been there before her encounter with the mythological.

Her eyes sharpened as the boulder shifted. Not much. Barely a foot, which from this distance was nearly imperceptible. Before, she would have thought she was imagining things. Her mind taking a flight of fancy inspired by the unbelievable tales she'd heard about this place.

"That's why," she whispered to herself.

She'd thought it strange no one had mentioned this being. If there had been even a whisper of his existence, there was no way the Trateri would have taken a chance and settled here.

It was because the mythological was nearly impossible to spot. His camouflage damn near perfect.

"We need to tell the others," Drake said, joining them. His gaze was direct as he focused on Eva. "Should we be worried?"

She shook her head. "I didn't get the sense that he was a danger."

If anything, it was the opposite. That he would help up to a certain point.

She kept that part to herself, not wanting to sound crazy.

After a lifetime of pretending to be normal, she wasn't quite used to people knowing about her strange gifts. She struggled to accept that they wouldn't turn on her if they knew the true extent.

It was why she held part of herself back—even with those she'd come to call friends.

"Is that what the mythological gave you?" Jason asked as all three of their gazes landed on the flower.

Eva held it in front of her eyes. "It seemed important to him."

"Never seen anyone grow flowers on their head. Let alone pluck one and give it to someone else." Drake's gaze moved from the flower to Eva's face.

"What do you suppose it means?" Jason asked.

Eva rubbed the flower's stem between her fingers, twirling the shaft and watching the petals rotate. "I think it's a symbol of friendship."

That's how it felt to her, anyway. A token exchanged with pure intentions.

Taking advantage of their preoccupation, Caia extended her neck. Her teeth chomped closed on the flower before Eva or anyone else could react.

Caia chewed loudly, smacking her lips as if to say the flower was delicious.

Eva sputtered, her gaze going from the pitifully empty stem in her hands to her too-stupid-to-live horse.

A choked sound escaped Jason as his shoulders trembled suspiciously. "Well, it appears Caia just ate your token of friendship."

Drake leaned toward Jason, staring at the horse like she'd committed an unspeakable act. "You don't think she'll die from this, do you?"

"From a flower?"

"It is the Highlands."

Jason made a little nod as if to concede the point. They all knew the Highlands reputation—though usually it wasn't the flora that was likely to do you in. No, that honor went to the many dangerous beasts lurking around every corner.

"I'm more afraid the mythological will come back. How do you think he'd feel if he knew the horse ate his head flower?" Jason muttered.

Drake touched the sword at his side in reassurance.

Eva threw the now bare stem on the ground, crossing to Caia and grabbing the horse's jaw.

"Spit it out, you daft thing. Spit. It. Out. Right. Now."

Caia tried to tug her face out of Eva's grip, but the human was far more stubborn than the horse expected.

Eva forced Caia's head down, not caring when the horse's eyes rolled, showing the whites around them, or the way her lips peeled back to reveal teeth that were clamped stubbornly together. They didn't budge no matter what tricks Eva tried to get them to part.

All that mattered was the fact Caia had eaten an unknown flower. A flower that Eva could tell held some type of strange power that could KILL her STUPID horse.

That was to say nothing about the fact that Jason was right. How would the mythological feel if he knew that the flower, something that was quite literally a part of him, was consumed so presumptuously?

None of which Eva could bring herself to care about if her friend, the sister of a different species, was harmed.

"Caia!" Eva shouted, losing patience.

Caia half spun, knocking into Eva and nearly toppling her to the ground. The force of the blow loosened her grip on Caia's head as the horse jerked out of reach.

Caia backed away and stopped, her legs splayed, a wild look of defiance on her face that Eva recognized. One that meant no amount of bargaining or threatening would force Caia into compliance.

It was the look that said she'd dug in and blood would spill before she gave up.

Caia's tail whipped back and forth behind her, showing her fury as horse and horse mistress engaged in a standoff.

Finally, Eva relented, letting out a huff. "Fine, but don't think I'll shed a tear when you keel over. You're on your own, my dear. Completely and totally."

That was a lie.

Eva had no doubt she'd be utterly and totally devastated if anything were to happen to the daft creature.

Especially something as preventable as eating questionable flora that originated from a powerful creature's head.

As the horse responsible for finding Eva and subsequently leading her to the Trateri, they shared a bond. One totally unique to the two.

Some might even say they shared a fate. An inexplicable thread binding them together that neither wished to sever.

With Caia had come Ollie, a herd master who'd been responsible for the mare. When he'd offered to take her with him, Eva had accepted. In her mind, people who treated a runaway mount as gently as they did Caia couldn't be all bad. No matter what rumor and stories claimed.

Eva believed that encounter had saved her life. Chances were, she'd be long dead if she'd remained in that forest. Alone and vulnerable to those that hunted there.

They'd been inseparable ever since. The horse acting more like an overzealous guard dog than a mount.

Which was why if something ever happened to Caia, Eva was sure the resulting fallout would be catastrophic. She fully expected there to be tears. Rivers of them. Enough to fill a thousand lakes.

Not that her horse seemed to appreciate that, if the bored expression on the idiot equine's face was anything to judge by.

The sound of hoof beats drew her attention from Caia's poor judgment. Drake stiffened for a moment, before relaxing at the sight of the rider and horse thundering across the meadow toward them.

Eva squinted, recognizing the mount long before she did the woman.

While not unique, the pretty bay with her black mane and tail were distinctive enough for Eva to know the rider, even at this distance.

Fiona. Someone Eva considered a friend—though how that happened was still a mystery to her.

Fiona's expression was guarded as her gaze went from the three of them to their surroundings, taking note of the lack of other horses and the fact they were far from where they'd said they would be.

"Anything wrong?" Fiona's hand hovered near the hilt of her blade.

"All is well," Drake replied.

Fiona grunted, not looking entirely convinced as she scanned their surroundings.

Her jaw flexed, making the three parallel scars that ran along it more prominent. Surprisingly, those old battle marks did nothing to detract from her appeal. Rather they enhanced it, promising an interesting experience for any brave enough to tempt the rapids.

Finding nothing, Fiona focused amber colored eyes on Eva, her expression fierce.

"You're needed."

Eva straightened, sending the other woman a questioning look.

The bay tried to sidestep, picking up on her rider's heightened emotions. Fiona soothed her with a pat on her neck.

"Our sentries spotted a large element heading in our direction. Caden wants you present when we meet them."

A hushed silence sunk in after Fiona's words.

"How is that possible?" Jason burst out. "No one was supposed to be up here except us."

Drake stirred, appearing interested. "Trateri?"

Fiona hesitated, shooting a glance at Eva before reluctantly nodding. "It looks that way."

"Then the treaty—" Jason trailed off as he glanced at Eva in dismay.

"Is over," Drake finished, putting into words what they all thinking.

Aileen 5 Small Teaser

Edits are still ongoing in Aileen 5, but here is a small teaser of what's coming.

“Don’t die, Aileen. You’re a source of endless entertainment for the flock.” Natalia sprang into the air, winging her way back to the rest.

I scowled at her retreating back. “What does that mean?”

She lifted a hand over her shoulder in a wave.

“Natalia? You and your sisters aren’t sitting around watching me, are you?”

No answer.

Damn it. They were.

“We’ll revisit this conversation at a later time,” I muttered under my breath as I stood, facing the woods. For now, I had a stalker to deter.

Age of Deception Small Teaser

To celebrate the completed proofing and formatting of Age of Deception, I've decided to give you a small teaser of what's coming.

Enjoy!

13 days until the book goes live!!

Teaser

Kira's smile was hard. "As I said before, this is a private party. We'd appreciate you leaving."

The leader settled a heavy hand on Kira's shoulder. "How about you be the one to leave?"

"Uh oh," Raider said, alarm snaking through his expression.

He had a right to be concerned. Kira had a thing about uninvited touching, and this Tuann had crossed her invisible bubble in a big way.

"If I were you, I'd take your hand off my shoulder before I break it." Kira was no longer as concerned with playing diplomat. Quickly she calculated the possible consequences of starting a fight, for once wishing Jin would chime in with his thoughts and opinions. He'd studied Tuann law. He'd likely know the possible repercussions.

Quiet fell, spreading throughout the bar as the patrons focused on the unexpected drama. Kira spotted Rheya and Devon among those present and stuffed down the part of her that would like nothing more than to start a bar fight.

"I'd watch your mouth, mongrel. You and your humans are a travesty. They should have put the lot of you down. It would be a mercy." He raised his voice so the rest could hear. "I question Roake's strength if they accept one such as you within their ranks."

Tension filled the air as no one moved.

Kira's lips quirked. "Raider, do you hear yapping?"

He stuck one finger in his ear and jiggled it around. "Yeah, it's kind of high pitched. Sounds like one of those little toy dogs—or maybe a puppy. It's hard to be sure."

Dragon 4 Teaser Part One

I meant to get this up Friday, but an unexpected visitor in the form of my sister called to tell me she was five hours out. She and her husband decided to surprise my mom for Mother's Day. I spent most of Friday rushing around getting things semi presentable since we still are not totally unpacked. The rest of the day was spent getting the ingredients I needed to make Korean barbecue since her husband had never had it.

It was a great visit, but it did mean plans for writing and books stuff got delayed. It's Monday again so it's back to my regularly scheduled programming.

It seems everyone was split right down the middle of what they wanted. I am going to post the first half of the teaser now, with the second half to follow once the cover comes out. I've also included the blurb as a few have been asking for it.

Note: This hasn't finished it's round with the proof reader so there will be minor grammatical errors.

Enjoy!

Dragon 4 Blurb

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.


Chapter One Part One

Deep breath. Patience. There was no reason to lose her head over someone else's stubborn stupidity. For one thing, it'd undo all the progress she'd made on her reputation. Worse, it wouldn't reflect well on Night, her companion for this little excursion and the entire reason they were here.

Tate tapped her foot while chanting to herself. I am nice. I am kind. I don't want to throw this woman out of a perfectly good window to see if she can fly.

Tate had done that once and it had been impressed upon her by several individuals that tossing people off high objects wasn't an appropriate reaction to any circumstance. She disagreed. She could think of at least three situations off the top of her head necessitating such drastic measures.

Tate gave the woman in front of her a stiff smile, quelling the frustration, anxiety and touch of fear knotting up her insides.

A deep breath later and she felt no more relaxed, just slightly light headed. She pressed her back harder into the chair behind her as she tried to project confidence and control.

Night was more successful than Tate, the epitome of regal remoteness as he stared unblinking at the person across from them. The only hint at his inner turmoil was the barbed tail flicking back and forth behind him in agitation.

For a being whose body looked like a cross between a barbed tail cat and a sunbear, a creature designed for war and destruction, he appeared deceptively cuddly.

Only, Tate had seen him crush a person's skull in his jaws after ripping out another's throat. Any thoughts of how adorable he was had died after that.

A golden ring of fur surrounded amber eyes perched above a broad, flat nose. His front legs were covered in black rosettes which gradually transitioned to brown and black gold stripes along his back.

His ears flicked, the tuft of fur sticking out of them inviting Tate to touch. A mistake she'd only made once. Night might allow children to paw and tug, but adults were a different story. They knew better and touching without permission was a good way to have your hand taken off.

He yawned, displaying the incredibly sharp teeth of a carnivore.

“Night,” Tate warned. If she had to behave, so did he.

Those who didn't know him wouldn't have guessed his yawn was anything but a sign of tiredness. Tate knew better. Night didn't show his teeth unless he was serious.

The last thing she needed was for her friend to attack the magister who'd been appointed by the Emperor to help him with his application for sentient rights.

The woman across from them flicked a glance at her friend before focusing on Tate. She was tall and projected a no-nonsense attitude. Her hair was pulled back into a chignon. Her clothing was expensive and well-tailored, draping over her figure perfectly. She'd spent a lot of money to get that kind of quality. Tate had begun to understand such things since she'd formed a friendship with a women's clothes designer.

"We're at an impasse if he can't speak," Lisa said crisply.

Tate shifted in her seat, uncomfortable at the way Lisa had ignored her friend since they'd stepped into the room, addressing all questions and comments to her instead of talking to Night.

She glanced at the bearcat out of the corner of her eye, noting the way his mouth was partially open as he stared at Lisa with half lidded eyes.

"You should really be talking to him," Tate started. It was the third time she'd had to direct the woman's attention back to Night. Frustration at having to repeat herself was beginning to make her snappish.

The sound Lisa made was half scorn, half frustration. "You do realize the opposing side will want to question him."

"I told you I could act as interpreter."

"Not good enough," Lisa returned. "They'll claim you're faking the answers to help the creature. Your friendship with the emperor won't help you in this situation. We have these laws for a reason and not even he can circumvent them. Not without losing considerable support in his own government and angering a lot of powerful people."

Tate didn't know where Lisa had gotten her information, but she wasn't friends with the emperor. She'd only met him twice and both times had left her deeply unsettled and slightly confused

Night rumbled as his attention left the magister for the first time since they'd entered the room. He looked up at Tate, his mouth parted as his whiskers twitched forward in his version of a laugh.

"Oh, shut up," Tate said waspishly. She focused back on Lisa. "I'm not sure what you think you know, but I barely know the emperor."

Lisa folded her arms and sat back in her chair, lifting an eyebrow. "I suppose you're going to claim you have no connection with Lord Ryuji either."

"No, he's definitely an acquaintance," Tate admitted. It was actually a little more complicated than that. Ryu was dragon-ridden like her, capable of taking on the form of the dragon residing in his soul. He'd also made it quite clear he wanted something more from her.

"You realize the emperor considers him family," Lisa asked, her tone arch.

Tate pulled a face. Yes, she was aware. It was a recent discovery that she still hadn’t quite processed.

Lisa lost patience. "The emperor asked me as a personal favor to take on this case, Lady Fisher. I don't appreciate having my time wasted on your whims."

"You think I'm lying," Tate stated, the situation and Lisa's brusque manner finally making sense. "You don't think Night is sentient or can communicate."

"That is an animal, Lady Fisher," Lisa said, stabbing her finger at the animal in question. "They might communicate but they're incapable of higher thought."

"You may not eat her," Tate said calmly as the muscles in Night's shoulders bunched. As an afterthought, Tate tacked on, "Don't scare her either."

He settled back down with a grumble.

Assured Night wasn't going to start trouble, Tate fixed Lisa with a hard stare, some of her previous anxiety falling away. This was a problem she could solve; something she could fix. That steadied her in a way her previous feeling of helplessness hadn't.

Lisa rolled her eyes, unimpressed with Tate's posturing.

It made Tate revise her previous assumption of the emperor recommending Lisa as a favor. She was getting the feeling he hadn't bothered to give Lisa many details, or shared much of Night's situation at all.

She wondered if the other woman even knew Tate was dragon-ridden. Her lack of fear would certainly support that theory. Most tended to treat Tate with extreme caution once they learned about the dragon she shared her body with.

Ilith inspired many reactions in people, fear being primary among them.

No, not a favor, she decided. More likely a punishment, but for who? Tate or Lisa?

Tate sighed. There was an easy solution to all this. One glance at Night told her he was unlikely to cooperate. His entire tail was now whacking the carpet, shouting his mood for anyone paying attention. Unlike dogs, an active tail wasn't necessarily a good sign in felines. While he might have bear in him somewhere, Night definitely favored the feline half of his ancestors.

While Night could communicate mentally, it often took time for the connection to develop. The first time he'd started talking in her, his voice had been broken and disjointed, only every other word making it through. Couple that with the fact some people were naturally resistant to mind speak and her makeshift family had decided it would be best for him to take an interpreter just in case.

Now he’d decided to be difficult because the magister was being deliberately rude and insulting. This entire situation had disaster in the making written all over it.

At least she was here and not Dewdrop, their other friend. Dewdrop and Night together would have probably alienated the poor woman so badly she would not only have refused to help them, but she would have made it her mission to have them blacklisted among her peers.

"There are many different levels of communication beyond verbal," Tate tried, still trying to salvage the meeting. Night's appointment for his hearing was coming up and it had been impressed upon her by several individuals how important it was to have someone who knew the intricacies of the empire's law on their side.

"Would you call a child incapable of speech an animal?" she asked.

"No, I wouldn't, but humans have long been accepted as part of the accords," Lisa returned. "One or two exceptions will not affect their status. Your friend is different. He has a much more challenging road ahead of him. It's harder to prove sentience than it is to disprove it once it has already been established."

Tate sat back. Much as she hated to admit it, Lisa had a point. Perception was everything, and most people upon seeing Night for the first time, automatically assumed he had no more intelligence than your average animal. To them he was simply a beast the Creators had designed for one of their endless wars, a rarity, sure, but no more than that.

"If we're done, I have important matters in need of my attention." Lisa's smile was wintry, the dismissal clear.

Tate leaned forward and slapped her hand on the desk over the papers Lisa had been reaching for. "I'm sorry my friend’s situation isn't important to you, but it's pretty damn life threatening for him. I'd appreciate you giving it your full attention."

There. Diplomacy. Dewdrop would be so proud. She hadn't threatened the woman or done anything else that could be considered unfit for polite society.

Lisa's expression didn't shift from her cool look of dismissal as she continued to tug on the sheets.

Tate didn't make it easy for her, keeping up the pressure as they slid ever so slowly out from under Tate's hand. She was left with the choice of pressing harder and watching the sheets rip or letting Lisa have them.

She lifted her hand, keeping her smug delight to herself when Lisa nearly hit herself in the face with the suddenly free papers.

"You can show yourself out," Lisa said, already focusing her attention on her next task.

"Come on, Night. We'll find someone else to help us," Tate said. "I guess the Emperor was wrong. She's not as skilled as he said."

There was the faintest stiffening in Lisa's shoulders as Tate's jab landed. Good. The woman was as closed minded as some of those in the Black Order.

Night stood, his shoulders as tall as Lisa's desk. The other woman stilled, caution tightening her lips as Night stared at her for several long seconds before padding after Tate.

She held the door for him before following.

That could have gone better, Night told her once they were out.

Tate sighed. "You think I handled it wrong?"

He shook himself all over, his coat sliding before settling. Tate took that as a no.

"We still have choices. I'll talk to Ryu, see if he knows any other magisters who can help us," Tate said, trying to inject a little optimism in her voice. It was hard. Lisa was the third they'd tried.

Maybe we should just give up, Night said, his mental voice crisp and deep. Nobody will hunt us while we're part of your household. Our situation is stable right now. There's no need to upset the balance.

"No, we're not giving up. This is just a setback." Tate automatically rejected his suggestion as she had several times before. Letting the rest of the world reduce Night to an animal was wrong. He deserved the same rights and privileges as any of the three main sentient species of the empire. She'd settle for nothing less. "Remember, we're not just doing this for you. Willa and Pax may wish to explore the world when they're grown. They may want to own land or have a family. They'll have more opportunities as fully recognized citizens of the empire."

Not to mention as the most recent member of the dragon corps and the only female member, Tate's position wasn't as stable as she would like. Recent events had shown her how politics might serve to take everything from her. If the worst should happen, she wanted Night and the others protected outside of herself.

He made a small sound, whether of agreement or boredom, she couldn't tell.

Their footsteps echoed against the marble floor of the vast hallway as they made their way through the palace.

Tate's hopes for this meeting had been high due to its location in the emperor's home. The fact Lisa had an office in the palace and hadn't been relegated to the basement with the rest of the clerks told Tate she was good at her job. A fact, which coupled with the emperor's recommendation, had given Tate hope. It should have made this a done deal.

Instead, they were leaving defeated.

Frustration and failure left a bitter taste in her mouth, but Tate refused to give up.

The murmur of conversation grew to a dull roar as they approached the rotunda where several vaulted corridors joined. It was the central hub for this section of the palace, set aside primarily for government officials and their staff. If you wanted to leave the palace, you'd eventually have to walk under its dome.

As a result, it impressed an emphatic statement on all those who passed through. This was the seat of Aurelian power. Behold its grandeur. It was meant to humble and compel admiration, both of which it did successfully.

Everything in the palace was beautiful, even something as simple as a hallway, the ceiling vaulted, the floors made of pale marble. Each piece of its architecture was crafted by master artisans, priceless art overlooking everything. It held a timeless elegance. No matter how much time passed, this palace would stand testament to the ingenuity and expertise of those who built her.

Tate and Night traveled under one last arch, exiting the hall and stepping into the wide-open area of the rotunda. To their left, stone stairs wound up the side of the circular space to the three floors above, all of which had balconies overlooking the ground floor. The stairs framed the dome high overhead, the stained green glass creating slight patterns on the walls and stairs as the sun shone through it.

Clusters of people were interspersed throughout, some in the distinctive uniform of government officials. Others were dressed simply but with dignified precision. Not nobles, but not common folk either.

A trio in the midst of it all caught Tate's attention. They held themselves with eerie stillness, their predatory focus locked on the hallway Tate and Night were exiting. No emotions moved across their faces; their gazes dark and blank. They were three lifelike statues that hadn’t been there on Tate and Night’s way to the meeting with Lisa.

The trio was dressed all in black and looked like triplets, their coloring and features identical. They stood so close to each other their shoulders touched. With their long, black cloaks, it gave the illusion they shared a body.

"Tate Fisher," they said in unison.

Tate didn't pause. "You've got the wrong person."

Night prowled to her left, putting space between them. It was a move designed to force the trio in front of them to split their focus. If they attacked, they'd have to separate to go after both of them.

The faintest sign of confusion touched their faces. Her denial had thrown them off balance. Good.

Tate kept moving, keeping one eye on them to see how they'd react. The trio had become the focus of the atrium, conversations sliding into silence as those present began to take notice.

"You are Tatum Allegra Winters," the one in the middle stated.

Alertness jolted through Tate. There were only a few people who knew her real name. These three weren't among them. None of her friends would have told them either. Which meant they were sent by an enemy.

She paid a little closer attention to the three. They were dressed so people would assume they were from the Black Order, a guild of thugs ostensibly meant to protect the populace from threats, but only if someone had the money to pay them for their work.

While the all black outfit was right, it lacked the military precision the Black Order was known for. The cloaks lacked the bright silver buttons or the crest the Order normally wore. Their unnaturally placid expressions and uncanny stillness made her think perhaps their appearance was meant to deceive not just her but their audience as well.

"I think you may be confused," Tate said, still trying to find a way to deescalate the situation. She didn't want violence if she could help it. There were too many civilians around to risk a confrontation.

She scanned the space for the emperor's guards. A few of them would come in handy if her suspicions about these three proved correct.

"It doesn't matter," the one on the right intoned. "She is the one. Her companion confirms it."

The sound of high heels against marble alerted Tate to someone approaching from the rear.

"What is going on here?" Lisa asked.

There was no time to answer. The trio moved, their cloaks rustling, several small dark objects flying at Tate’s face. She dodged, her heart in her throat.

Lisa squawked as several oblong thorns hit the stone next to her.

Careful Tate. There is something wrong with their smell, Night cautioned.

"Protect her," Tate said, not taking her gaze from the three in front of her.

Ilith shook awake inside her, Tate's adrenaline alerting her to danger. She crouched in the back of Tate's mind, silently watching.

"You will die here," the one on the left said. For the first time, some hint of emotion touched the three's faces. They yearned for her death, the more painful and bloody, the more exciting.

"Someone needs to get the palace's guards," Tate said, raising her voice so those listening could hear. No one moved, remaining motionless as they gawked at the spectacle taking place.

She didn't take her gaze from the three in front of her, knowing their attack had been just an opening salvo—a test to draw her out.

Cloaks ripped as the creature they'd been hiding came out to play. A large, massive body rose in front of her, its muscled torso attached to powerful legs. A spiky tail uncurled from around its waist, lowering until it swept the ground.

The most disturbing thing about it was the heads. What Tate had taken as three people was in fact one monster with three heads perched across its massive shoulders.

Tate couldn't tell if the monster was one being or if three people had been given one body.

"You don't want to do this," Tate cautioned as the creature rose and rose. It was at least nine feet tall.

In response its three mouths dropped, a piercing scream echoing off all the marble. Tate's stomach dipped.

"I've heard better," she told it.

"You will hear nothing soon," the creature promised, its three heads speaking in tandem.

"Prove it," Tate challenged.

Is antagonizing it really your best move right now? Night asked.

Yes, it was. She needed to keep whatever this thing was focused on her and ignoring the bystanders. None of whom had moved. This time it was horror coating their faces and keeping them motionless.

The idiots needed to run, Tate thought sourly. They were just going to get in the way once it started its attack.

Its tail whipped, spikes flying toward her. Tate grabbed Lisa’s arm and dragged her out of the way. She wasn't quite fast enough. Two of the spikes embedded in her shoulder and chest, a few inches under her collar bone. Numbness spread from the wounds, followed by the feeling of burning before shifting to a cold so deep it felt like it dove straight into her very bones.

Tate fell to her knees, her head suddenly heavy.

Poison. The spikes had poison.

"Night," she tried to say. Her effort was weak, the words barely audible.

There were screams from all around her as Tate collapsed to her side.

Night roared, the sound a challenge answered by the horrendous shriek of the creature.

Coldness invaded. She was dying, Tate realized. So careless.

A woman sobbed in the distance.

Tate blinked once, the sun against the windows in the dome distractingly blinding as the color danced in it. So pretty.

Pain bloomed along her shoulder and chest, chasing the cold away. Tate screamed as the thorns sank deeper into her skin, sending out little veins of wrongness. Black lines spread across her skin.

A presence rustled inside her. Ilith's mind brushed against her, the dragon hissing as it sensed Tate's pain.

Stupid mistake, Ilith said.

Tate couldn't respond, paralysis locking her in place. Even her thoughts felt weak and sluggish. She could feel herself slipping away and no matter how she fought or struggled to stay, she was losing the battle.

Sorry, my friend, Tate thought at her other half. The dragon whose soul resided in hers. Her mistake came at the cost of two lives instead of one.

She sank into the deep black of night.

Short Snippet

Because Mist's Edge releases one week from today and because some of you asked for it, here is a short snippet.

Snippet

“You are diabolical,” Trenton remarked after Shea left a false trail pointing into a nest of stinging thistles. The flower’s petals would leave welts and rashes on any unsuspecting victim that chose to brush against them.

Shea shared a smile with him as she backed away from the nest, careful not to brush up against any of the yellowish, green petals.

“I learned from the best.”

“This may end up backfiring on you,” Trenton said with a skeptical glance at the stinging flowers. 

“He will not be happy when he catches up to you if he has welts and a rash all over. He might even find a nest to throw you into.”

She shot Trenton a grin. “If he’s arrogant enough to get caught in this, he deserves what he gets.”

She’d decided she liked this game. Liked outwitting Fallon and making him chase false trails. The only way it would be better is if she could ditch Trenton and do this alone. He made their trail a little too easy to spot.

She stared at him in thought.

“Oh no, don’t even think it. You’re not ditching me.”

She sighed. Such a stickler for the rules.

Midnight's Emissary Teaser

A little over two weeks until the release of Midnight's Emissary. Here is a short teaser to tide you over until it comes out. Happy Reading!

“He will see you now.”

Jerry was seated behind a mammoth desk, twice the size of Beatrix’s. If you put the two desks beside one another, hers would look like something built for a child whereas Jerry’s was built for a man-sized giant.

When a person saw Jerry for the first time, they were often struck dumb at his size. His muscles had muscles and one oversized hand could engulf my skull and probably crush it with barely a thought. He couldn’t walk more than a few feet down the street without getting asked what football team he played for. People gave him crazy eyes when he acted like he’d never heard of the sport before.

His face and body weren’t the type you’d want to meet in an alley after dark or in the day or pretty much anywhere for that matter. Despite a face that said he could rip out your spleen and feed it to you without ever losing a minute of sleep, he was attractive enough in an intense, could kill you by breathing on you, kind of way. His brown hair never looked brushed and stuck out in weird tufts from his head.

For all that he could kill with one frown, he was a good boss. Probably the best I’d ever had. I owed him, even if he didn’t give me this job out of the goodness of his heart but as a favor to someone he owed. The result was the same. Protection from what would have been even more monumental changes to an already upended life and a paycheck, that while it wasn’t going to have me rolling in luxury, at least allowed me to be independent and take care of myself. What more could you ask for?

“Sit,” his deep voice rumbled.

I sat without saying anything. Jerry was a little intimidating at the best of times and judging from the tense set of his shoulder’s this wasn’t going to be one of them. It would be wise to walk softly until I knew a little more of what was going on.

He continued reading the papers in front of him, turning the page and carefully reading the next. My lips quirked at the sight of a pair of black framed glasses perching on his nose.

I practiced the patience I learned standing in countless formations while in the military. I held still, thinking about nothing in particular. That was the trick to waiting. You didn’t focus, not on the time, the frustration or that itch that was nagging at the middle of your back. You just existed. The alternative was to compose mental lists of ways to escape your mom’s attention on your failed career prospects. They both accomplished the task of taking you out of the endless tedium of waiting.

“I have a job for you,” Jerry said, without looking up from his papers.

I figured. It’s not like we got together outside of work and went looking for teenagers to mug.

When he didn’t seem inclined to continue, I prodded. “And that job is?”

“I took a big risk when I pulled you into my company.”

I digested that statement. It didn’t tell me what he wanted from me. It also didn’t give me warm fuzzies about this job, with him starting the conversation by mentioning the risks he’d taken to shelter me from the vampires finding out about my existence. That’s the sort of statement you usually made when you were planning to call in a favor. Especially since I was supposed to stay off the radar. That went topsy turvy last fall.

We’d both been waiting with baited breath to see what the vampires would do once they found out a vampire who hadn’t been through the one hundred years of indentured service to a clan was running around free and unrestrained. It definitely didn’t help that they now knew I’d never received any training in how to curb my appetite for blood or deal with all the other challenges being of the fanged variety presented.

Liam, the enforcer who’d run across me in an investigation, had nearly blown a gasket when he discovered my existence. Evidently, the bite and run was frowned upon. My sire was in a lot of trouble if Sir Cranky Pants, the name I gave Liam, ever caught up to him. Or so I’m assured. Not sure how much I believe that, but I’m willing to keep an open mind until it happens.

“I’m aware,” I finally said.

“Now that the vampires know of your existence, it changes things.”

Hold up a minute. Was he firing me? That couldn’t happen. That could NOT happen. I’ve never been fired before. Never. Not once. I wasn’t prepared to be fired now. I needed this job to survive.

“Jerry, you know I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and if it’s the vampires you’re worried about, I’ve got the sorcerer’s mark to protect me.”

“Only you would think a sorcerer’s mark is there to protect you.” He gave me a put out look from beneath his bushy eyebrows.

I gave a mental shrug, conceding his point. It might not have been placed there to protect me per se but I’d managed to manipulate events enough that the effect was the same.

“You may be protected, but everyone who gave shelter to you or hid your existence is not. The vampires could decide to claim recompense from myself and the Captain.”

Yes, I could see how that would be worrisome to him. At the same time, he’d known the risks. Better than I did even.

This also still didn’t tell me why he was bringing this all up now. Months after my run in with Liam.

He took a deep breath and slid a square piece of paper to me. “I have a job for you.”

Puzzled, I took the post-it size piece of paper and glanced at the name and address on it.

Sunshine Diner

9:00 p.m. tomorrow night, third booth from the back.

Don’t be late.

I didn’t get it. What was all the seriousness about if this was just another job? There had to be something more.

“This run will require a little bit more from you. It’s not the average pick up and drop off.”

“What does that mean?”

He was silent, his face creased with lines. He seemed almost worried, which was a little scary. Jerry didn’t get worried. For the most part he was as calm and steady as a rock. Nothing fazed him.

“You’ll see when you get there.”

Teaser

The cover for Shadow's Messenger is taking a little longer than I anticipated. I'd originally planned to preview it this weekend along with the book blurb and the first chapter. I'm still going back and forth with my graphic designer trying to get it to a place we both think is spectacular.

That being said, I wanted to offer a short teaser in the meantime. When the cover is finished, I'll post the rest, but for now happy reading on this lovely Saturday afternoon.

Late. And I fucking hated being late.

Even if this job hadn’t been reliant on me delivering the goods on time, I’d still be pissed about missing the deadline.

Damn the accident on Fifth. When would people learn texting and driving just don’t mix? The resulting fender bender backed everything up for miles. If I hadn’t been on my bike, there would have been no hope of me making the destination on time.

I leaned forward and pedaled harder. Three years in the military had reinforced the habits of a lifetime. Fifteen minutes early; you’re on time. You’re on time, you’re late. And if you’re late, well, you might as well just start pushing.

These days being late carried worse consequences than muscle failure. That’s why even with my thighs burning in protest and my chest heaving, I stood and pedaled faster.

A right and then a left and I’d be there. I could make it. No reason to tarnish a perfect record.

I veered around a stopped vehicle and narrowly missed an oncoming car before jumping the curb and making the last turn. I braked hard, hopping off at the same time. No doubt I left several drivers in my wake, cursing my existence.

No time to put a lock on the bike. Not my first choice when in the Short North. Though a trendy, upscale destination just outside the Columbus downtown, bikes were still a popular target for kids and vagrants looking to make a quick buck. In high school, my boyfriend and his friends used to come down here and egg cars. Why, was anybody’s guess.

I was rushed for time so I had to pray that my beat up old bike would escape attention. I yanked the seat off the bike. Hopefully, that would delay a would-be thief long enough for me to complete my business.

Adjusting my messenger bag, I checked the name of the store against the one in my notes. Right where I was supposed to be.

Located in an old brick building off High Street, the name ‘Elements’ was etched in silver lettering complete with one of those flourish things at the end. The shop window had an attractive display of a skeleton in a top hat, holding a glass titled ‘Potions’ while sitting on a funky patterned sofa.

The brief ding of a bell announced my arrival as I stepped into a maze of touristy candles, gothic necklaces and other paraphernalia I didn’t recognize. The small aisle was narrow and overgrown with items just waiting to be knocked over. I clasped my bag tightly. It would not be a good idea to break anything in this place.

A witch owned Elements. Getting on her bad side was something I’d prefer to avoid.

I made my way over to the woman next to a cash register. A skull candle sat next to the change tray. It was actually pretty cool. I wondered how it would look in my kitchen.

The girl wore all black and her face was coated in way too much makeup. Her blond hair was plastered to her head and pin-straight with a severe part in the middle. She didn’t look up as I stopped before her.

“Delivery for Miriam,” I said.

The girl flipped another page in her magazine, not acknowledging me. I didn’t have time for this. There was less than a minute to get the package into its owner’s hands.

As the girl turned the next page, my hand darted forward, stopping the page from completing its movement.

Slowly and precisely, I said, “Delivery for Miriam.”

A pair of washed out blue eyes, rimmed in bright blue eyeliner, lifted to mine. With the disdain only the young could summon, she nodded at a door hidden behind a purple curtain embroidered with black and silver beads.

“Thanks.”

I didn’t know why I bothered. The girl had already returned to her magazine.

I moved as quickly as I could, without running, through the store. I’d learned on my first job for Hermes Courier Service that running would not be tolerated. Appearing rushed was a good way to get fired. I needed this job a lot more than it needed me so I was stuck moving at a snail’s pace when every ounce of me screamed for speed.

The curtain led to a staff room complete with fridge, microwave and laminate table. Even with the time constraint I couldn’t help blinking dumbly at the blond seated at the table calmly flipping cards.

Not what I had expected of a store owned by someone belonging to the Coven.

It was even less expected to find the proprietor playing what looked to be Solitaire.

“Miriam?”

“Yes?”

“I have a delivery for you.” I stepped forward and pulled my phone from my pocket.

With a swipe of my fingers, I pulled up the delivery verification app and held the device out to her. She rested her forefinger lightly on the screen until it beeped. Before sliding it back in my pocket, I glanced down to make sure it said confirmed. Even more important, the words still showed green. It meant I’d made it in under deadline. If I hadn’t, it would have turned red, and I’d have been screwed.

“You cut it close,” Miriam said, already turning back to her game.

Pausing in the act of pulling the package out of my bag, I grimaced. No kidding.

“Another minute and I could have solved my ingredient shortage,” Miriam said, eyeing my body with an appraising eye.

Oh. That would have been unfortunate. And probably painful.

I’d never had that as a consequence.

Hermes Courier Service was special. Its owner guaranteed satisfaction of service. Things like merchandise reaching its intended destination in one piece, and more importantly, on time. Failure resulted in a penalty clause kicking in, usually at the client’s discretion. This was normally something simple, like working as unpaid help for a predetermined length of time, but the penalty could be anything the employer wanted. The more expensive the job, the nastier the penalty.

I’d never been late so I hadn’t bothered to inquire about this job’s penalty clause. I may have also been more interested in the money.

“Right,” I eventually said, handing over the small package. It was no bigger than a deck of cards and wrapped in brown paper and tied with red twine.

As always, I had no idea what was in it.

The witch set down her cards and took the package from me. Dressed in jeans and a bright yellow shirt, Miriam was different in almost every way from the girl watching the front counter. Except the color of her hair. Miriam’s makeup was done with a light hand and flattered her large green eyes. If I met her at a bar one evening, I would have assumed she was a young professional only a couple of years out of college with a normal job, something like a graphic designer. Of the two, the girl out front seemed more likely to be a witch.