Kitty Thomas's Blog, page 12

December 22, 2022

Teaser Scene From Mafia Captive…

Here’s a Teaser Scene from my New Re-Release of Mafia Captive at 99 cent introductory offer (limited time!) with a NEW Bonus Epilogue you’ll love! (It’s below the first set of buy links!)

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Teaser Scene from MAFIA CAPTIVE:

Christmas Eve With The Raspallo Family
(c) Copyright Kitty Thomas. All Rights Reserved.

Leo returned his focus to his sister. “What interesting gossip have I missed?” His grip tightened on Faith with each syllable.

“That’s on a need-to-know basis. Like every fucking thing else in this twisted family,” Gemma retorted.

“Don’t test me,” Leo said. “What did you say to her?”

By now, family members had dropped their clumps of snow and drifted closer to hear the commotion, except for the few adults who’d herded the children away into their cars—sensing things were about to turn very mature.

“I don’t think you want to open that can right now,” Gemma said, “Not in front of the whole family.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Leo said. The warning in his tone was unmistakable.

“Let’s put it this way. You’re the only member of the family I’m a hundred percent sure is a murderer.”

There was a thud as a body hit the ground.

“Grammie!” Leo shouted.

“It’s okay,” Sal said when he reached Alba. “She just fainted.”

Gina crossed herself. “It can’t be true. My Leo’s such a good boy. He would never hurt a fly.”

“Fuck,” Leo muttered. “He broke Gemma’s jaw and one of her ribs. She was a mess the night she came to my house. And it wasn’t the first time. He would have killed her eventually, and none of you did a goddamn thing about it!”

“Language!” Uncle Sal said.

“Fuck language. Emilio deserved to die. Nobody touches any of my family. Being married in won’t keep you safe from me if you hurt someone I love. I don’t care if it’s not my business.” He let go of Faith and stalked toward the car.

Gemma stood in the middle of the snow like an abandoned angel with her mouth gaping open, unable to believe the truth had been spoken.

Everybody else went to their own cars. Maybe they were too jaded and used to pretending to behave any differently. They’d all probably reboot like a bunch of computers and forget all this unpleasantness in the morning. Suddenly the night felt colder, so cold that it could suck the soul out of each of them, leaving only frozen corpses behind.

“Seriously!?!” Gemma shrieked, her breath making large white puffs in the air as she spoke. “He kills my husband, and you’re all turning to get in your cars like it’s nothing?”

“Emilio was a vicious bastard,” Leo said. He’d stopped and turned back to the group.

“If Leo hadn’t done it, I would have,” Sal admitted.

“You’ll never know what it cost me to kill him,” Leo said, his voice cracking. “Never. I thought joining the priesthood would fix what’s broken inside me, but after Emilio… I couldn’t.”

“What did you have that needed to be fixed before killing my husband? What could you possibly have done in your perfect little life to give you a big enough complex to take holy orders? Because I know you didn’t have some big dream to become a priest.” Gemma turned to Faith. “Is this the family you want to marry into? Do you even know who the Raspallo family is?”

“Yes,” Faith whispered. “I know.”

Gina crossed herself again.

“You TOLD her?” Sal bellowed.

Leo turned at his uncle’s sharp voice. “Of course not. But it’s not like rumors don’t fly around about us. It’s the 21st century. It’s not as if she knows any incriminating details. No more than any of the other women in this family.” He glared daggers at Faith, as if this were her fault. Or maybe he was daring her to challenge the white lie he’d told to paint over the cracks and make things okay again.

What was she supposed to do? Pretend she hadn’t heard what Gemma said? Act too stupid to pick up on the innuendo?

“Well, hell, why don’t we take an ad out in the paper, if everybody’s gonna know everybody’s business? It wasn’t like this when I was young,” Sal said.

The ride back to the house was tense. Lily stared out the window while Gina quietly cried. Both women were trying—in their own way—to insulate themselves from the almost visible, demonic rage curling off Uncle Sal in the backseat.

“You’d better not become a liability to us,” Sal said.

“Sal!” Gina hissed. “Of course she’s not going to be a liability. She’s Leo’s fiancée. She’s family. How can you say such a thing?”

“We don’t know her from Adam. Leo, you better keep your girl in line.”

“If you’ve got a problem, you take it up with Gemma. She’s the one who opened her big mouth,” Leo said. “And you will leave Faith out of this. I wasn’t kidding back there. She’s my concern.”

“Are you threatening me, boy?”

Faith clenched and unclenched her hands in her lap. She wanted to scream. She wanted to blurt out the truth. Nothing would have felt better than to say: “No need to worry. I watched Angelo mow some poor guy down in an alley. Leo and I aren’t really together. I’m his prisoner to protect you assholes.” But she was too afraid of what Leo might do to her if she lost control and spoke her mind. And the situation was too dangerous with Sal at the moment. This wasn’t a family that made idle threats.

Want more?
Grab it now on sale:

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Thanks so much for reading!

Kitty ^.^

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Published on December 22, 2022 14:38

December 21, 2022

MAFIA CAPTIVE LIVE WITH BONUS EPILOGUE INTRODUCTORY OFFER: 99 CENTS

MAFIA CAPTIVE is now live for only 99 pennies for a limited time! This one was originally published in 2013. It’s been re-branded (new blurb, new cover) and re-released, and also contains a NEW BONUS EPILOGUE!

If you’ve read this one before, you’ll want to grab the new edition and not miss this update to Leo and Faith’s story!

This is also the perfect time to read MAFIA CAPTIVE if you’re new to this one (or even if it’s a re-read for you), because so much of this story happens around the holidays!

Grab Your Copy here:

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I just witnessed a mob hit. The lighter flicks like the sound of a gunshot. Smoke from his cigarette slips through the cracks of my hiding place. His dark chuckle haunts future nightmares I’ll never get to have.

Please walk away. Please.

The sound of a zipper…and then his voice: “Faith Jacobson. 580 Flatbush Avenue. Brooklyn.”

He’s got my wallet. My driver’s license. He knows who I am. It’s over for me. He flings open the lid of the dumpster. The nearby streetlight illuminates me, and suddenly he decides I’m not dying tonight.

No, I am now to become a gift… to his even deadlier brother.

I just became the property of Leo Raspallo.

This is a dark romance standalone with an HEA and no cliffhanger!

“Kitty Thomas takes one wealthy alpha male, adds a family of criminals & outlaws, and sprinkles in a fake wedding engagement in this emotional and deliciously dark mafia romance.” – Anna Zaires, New York Times Bestselling author of Twist Me

What Readers Are Saying

The perfect novel for anyone looking to dip a toe into the dark side.” – Bookie Nookie Reviews

Well it’s three in the morning for me and I’m so shocked by how much I love this book.” -Benevolent Bastard, Goodreads

There’s something that completely grips me with her stories, I lost sleep for this book and spent my waking hours thinking about it.” – Cariad, Goodreads

I don’t know why I keep coming back for more from Kitty Thomas….I am so entranced in this dark, oddly pleasing filth and house of horror.” -Sonya Tedesco, Goodreads

Kitty Thomas has done it again. She has created another book that I just adored, even when it made me mad at it. This woman is just a phenomenal writer.” -Liz at Fictional Candy, Goodreads

I could not put this book down once I started reading it! Even though this story has the usual darkly erotic themes found in Kitty’s other books, Mafia Captive actually has more of a love story than some of her other stories.” -Ellen, Amazon reviewer

First Time I’ve ever given five stars.
Why five stars? Flawless delivery, very good pacing and plot line, and unforgettable protagonists. Bad people made human yet still remained true to who they were. No milked-down suddenly see the light characters that make us go “Aw.” – Amazon reviewer, rnj1

I love how Kitty Thomas writes heroes capable of anything and heroines who are tested and pushed past the brink. The uncertainty, the unknown… the danger ever present… is thrilling. And terrifying. She makes you keep turning the pages, only blinking when absolutely necessary.” -Letitia, Amazon Reviewer

Mafia Captive held me captive from page one through to the end. I could not put this book down. Kitty Thomas understands how to engage her audience and keep their attention. She also knows how to accomplish a good mind f***. I did not expect this book to be a mind f***, but the twist at the end and the prologue… it really messes with your head.” – Leeza Vitalina, Amazon Reviewer

Get your copy now:

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Thanks so much for reading!

Kitty ^.^

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Published on December 21, 2022 13:28

December 17, 2022

Mafia Captive Cover Art Reveal

Mafia Captive is getting a face lift, a new blurb, and a bonus epilogue. It will be available at 99 cents sometime next week. Please stay tuned for links when they are live with the bonus epilogue at the sale price.

There will also be a paperback edition (print cover art below)

BLURB:

Please walk away. Please.

The sound of a zipper…and then his voice: “Faith Jacobson. 580 Flatbush Avenue. Brooklyn.”

No, I am now to become a gift… to his even deadlier brother.

I just became the property of Leo Raspallo.

This is a dark romance standalone with an HEA and no cliffhanger!

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Published on December 17, 2022 15:34

December 15, 2022

Thursday TikTok Roundup

Be sure to grab a copy of my latest if you haven’t already: Links Here

If you’ve seen a great TikTok of one of my books or if you made one yourself, please send me the link either via one of my social medias or on my website contact form (via the Licensing link)

Thank you so much to the BookTokkers!

Today’s TikTok Roundup:

This one is a hurt/comfort book. Heroine rescued from abusive master:

@allmybookboyfriends #TenderMercies by #KittyThomas is one of my all time favorite reads. #darkromance #noncon #k1nkybooks #romance #smut ♬ middle of the night – EX7STENCE

A dark PNR of mine:

@booktokashleyg #darkfantasy #darksmutasy #darkfantasyromance #helfyre #nikkistcrowebooks #amararae #kingoffleshandbone #kittythomasbooks ♬ original sound – Ben Kearns

I love seeing smiling faces getting my books in the mail!

@nosestuckinabook_ #Inverted #kittythomasbooks #darkromance #darkromancebooks #darkromancebooktok #booktok ♬ original sound – NoseStuckInaBook_

That’s it for today!

Thank you BookTokkers!

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Published on December 15, 2022 06:33

December 12, 2022

Featured Book: The Escape Artist

This week’s Featured Book is The Escape Artist. This one has several holiday scenes and feels like a holiday book in the way Die Hard is a holiday movie.

After years of living a half-life, Claire has tracked down a man who kept her captive and destroyed her life. And now she wants her revenge. The only trouble is… she’s got the wrong man. What happens when he turns the table on her after she’s spent weeks taking out her revenge? This is a dark, fucked-up enemies-to-lovers captive story.

If you’re familiar with my work, this book is like if Comfort Food and Tender Mercies had a baby.

This teaser scene is that turning point moment where he gets the upper hand…

Her light footsteps moved quickly over the concrete. She took one of his wrists to secure it. His eyes snapped open as he grabbed her wrist with his free hand, wrenching her off him.

The shock in her eyes was quickly followed by panic as she struggled and fought. She must know she didn’t have the ability to take him down without all these safeguards she’d put in place—safeguards that had finally failed her.

Her gaze darted to the spot behind where Ari had been lying to see all the food he’d pretended to eat with his back to the camera.

Frantically, she used her free hand to dig into her pocket for something. Ari felt a surge of adrenaline when he saw the syringe. She’d somehow gotten the cap off the needle as they struggled. She fought him like a wildcat. He couldn’t let her stick him with that thing. She might not be physically strong but she was fast and kept jerking and twisting and flailing so much that it was hard to hold her in place.

He was determined this small woman was not going to best him. She wouldn’t break him. She wouldn’t kill him. They were not going to continue this way. He shoved her back. She seemed surprised by this sudden turn in events as if she couldn’t process why he’d pushed her away instead of continuing to try to overpower her. As her back hit the wall, the syringe flew from her hand and skidded across the floor.

Her eyes widened, then they both lunged for it. He was faster. She tried to run from him, but he grabbed her by the ankle and pulled her down, flipping her, and straddling her small body beneath him. He breathed hard as he looked down at her. Goddammit, she was so beautiful.

It was so fucked-up that he still wanted her in spite of everything.

Her eyes filled with a look of absolute terror, tears streaming down her face as she looked at the syringe he held poised over the muscle in her arm.

“Please, please,” she whimpered. “That’s too much. It’ll kill me.”

“Good,” Ari bit out. But he knew it was too much, and he didn’t want her dead. Death was too good for her now. He was careful to only give her half the contents in the syringe. Enough to knock her out. Not enough to kill her.

She noticed he’d adjusted the dose, but suddenly the realization that he wasn’t killing her and what that meant, kicked in. Her eyes widened. “Oh god, please no, not again.” And then her eyes drifted closed, and she slumped helpless in his arms.

Find out what happens:

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AUDIOBOOK:

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Thanks so much for reading and supporting my work!

Kitty ^.^

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Published on December 12, 2022 15:01

Comfort Food… the OG Dark Romance… and not hiding anymore

I published Comfort Food in March 2010. When I released it there was no genre. No such thing as “dark romance.” No market. No audience. I didn’t write it to piss people off or be controversial or upset anyone. It was just a book of my heart I had to write. At the same time I surely didn’t write it because I thought it was going to have some big impact on people. I thought most people would hate it, but I just couldn’t leave this story inside me.

At the time I was writing paranormal romance under a different name, and I knew definitely a book like this wasn’t going to fly with a PNR audience. (much like my mythology based Valkyrie doesn’t fly with a dark audience. They’re just two very different reader groups. There is definitely some overlap but not a lot.)

So I published it secretly, so secretly that I made an AWFUL handmade cover. (And I’m a total cover snob, so it’s saying something that I was willing to let my words go into the world with a bad cover!) I didn’t even want my cover artist to know I’d written this book. What on earth would people think of me? I was in deep undercover hiding.

Look at that font! “Oh honey, no.” And the soup? Ugh too on the nose.

Then I edited it to this:
I mean it’s a TINY bit better. But thankfully I finally told my cover artist about it and she helped me!

But anyway… once I put the book out there… I did want people to read it. Why else publish it? So I started reaching out to book bloggers. Back then romance book blogging was a big thing. You could get a ton of sales and sometimes the comments section had hundreds of comments.

So I sent Comfort Food to some of these people (yes, even with the AWFUL cover I started with.) And they were gracious enough to give it a chance. And then something insane happened.

This became “THE” guilty secret book in many of the dark corners of the romance-reading internet. People were whispering about it, spreading it quietly among themselves. And that’s saying something since people were so ashamed to be “caught” having read it. They didn’t know who they could trust to tell that they read this book and that they loved it. They didn’t know who they could tell that might also love it and not judge them.

“You’ll never look at Chicken Soup the same way again.”

“OMG it’s a mindfuck!”

“Holy shit I’m so scared to read this.”

“I’m so mad at this author, but I couldn’t put it down.”

“I think this might be too much for me.”

“I was prepared to hate the author, but she surprised me!”

These were some of the things I “overheard” on blog comments and book groups. I put my head down and kept writing. It didn’t occur to me at the time that there was going to be a new romance subgenre springing out of this messed-up book.

Of course… there were also the people who wanted to buy a hardcover just to burn, the people who thought it was disgusting, evil, terrible, and that I should be ashamed for putting those words on paper.

I only occasionally witnessed these various opinions about the book, mostly I was keeping my head down and writing.

I kept writing more dark books, while also writing PNR on the other name. I had thought my PNR would be the one that had the chance to be a “commercial success”, and that the Kitty stuff was just these books of my heart that wouldn’t really go anywhere and that most of the world would never understand anyway. They’d misunderstand it and think I was spreading a retrograde message.

But readers responded more to my darker work, and so eventually I killed off the pen name to focus entirely on this brand.

In the meantime, a lot of other books like Comfort Food started to emerge. Many of these books hit USA Today or NYT Bestseller Lists. These authors were not in hiding. They were happy to succeed with books like this. Many of them told me they were directly inspired by Comfort Food. Others were likely inspired by those hits that were inspired by Comfort Food.

And it just kept growing. And growing. And suddenly dark romance was a genre every romance reader knew about. I started to feel a little resentful. Like… “I started this! How the hell do so many dark romance fans not even know where this all started? There’s a clear paper trail online!”

I got so tired of people reading Comfort Food, and saying “It was great but it was too much like X book” when “X book” came well after Comfort Food and was inspired directly by it.

But I can’t be mad about it. I hid. I CHOSE to hide. I didn’t market. I didn’t put myself out there. Things were mostly word of mouth and Bookbubs. To this day I still don’t do any advertising like Facebook Ads.

And the reason I hid? Because I knew… if dark romance got big enough… if it became something the normal public knew about, and not just a subculture on the internet, if they knew where it came from… If they knew the book that started the trend… well… that’s Comfort Food, and that makes me the witch to burn.

I know some of my books are inherently controversial. And I have always known that if I were truly willing to be seen and truly willing to take the credit for what I created, that it would only be a matter of time before the first match got lit.

But I decided. I’m willing to be seen. I’m willing to take credit for what I created. I’m willing to stand in “OG of Dark Romance” no matter what anybody thinks about it. Whether other authors decide to be big mad about it. Whether readers who hate this genre decide that I’m the witch to burn. Whether people think it makes me “arrogant” or a “narcissist” to claim and stand in what’s true.

I don’t care. I never said I was “the best”. I am in awe of some of the talent that has come into this still very new genre. I only say… I was the first. I’m the OG. Comfort Food is the original dark romance. It’s the book that lit the fuse and inspired this whole thing. This whole genre.

And I don’t care what anyone thinks about that, because so many have been inspired by Comfort Food or stood on the shoulders of this book. I don’t begrudge them their success, and I’ve loved so many of their books. But I still deserve to be seen for what I created.

Literally the DAY I decided and officially stated “out loud” that I was willing to face controversy if necessary, that I would stand in my own truth and that I was ready to be seen… I was contacted by a journalist from a pretty well-known media outlet, doing a story on dark romance.

That story hasn’t yet run. It could be any day. Or maybe she killed the story. Maybe I won’t be mentioned at all. But maybe I will. I don’t know how many authors will be mentioned. I don’t know if it’s a hit piece. I just don’t know. And I don’t care because the SECOND I was willing to be seen, this person showed up.

And even if it’s a hit piece, I’m still willing. Even though I know in the broader world where dark romance isn’t loved or celebrated or even known about yet, I would be hated as much as loved. And it just is what it is.

But I would hope people would read it first before judging it or me. Because whether I’m mentioned in this article or not, whether I’m featured or not, and whether it’s fair and balanced or a hit piece, the whole world won’t love dark romance.

And there may be no controversy at all. This time. But eventually there will be because I’ve decided I’m willing to be seen and willing to truly market and put myself out there. I can’t market and want to sell books, while also trying to keep it small enough to make me feel safe. Some books aren’t safe. But they can change the world. Maybe Comfort Food is one of those books. Maybe it isn’t. But I’m so proud of this book, and so grateful that people have both loved and hated it, that it made them feel something, that it made them think, and in some cases inspired them to write their own books.

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Published on December 12, 2022 12:38

December 8, 2022

Thursday TikTok Roundup

Be sure to grab a copy of my latest if you haven’t already: Links Here

If you’ve seen a great TikTok of one of my books or if you made one yourself, please send me the link either via one of my social medias or on my website contact form (via the Licensing link)

Thank you so much to the BookTokkers!

Today’s TikTok Roundup:

Love this Valkyrie one:

@maramy15 Masterpiece by Kitty Thomas #darkromance #darkromancebooktok #kittythomas #booktok #books #booknerd #freyaandodinstory ♬ In the Dark (Radio Edit) – Dance

BookMail…

@sexysophiestern I've been waiting for this book! #bookmail #kittythomas ♬ Snatched – Big Boss Vette

A great quote from Broken Dolls: (actually I think this quote is from The Easter Hunt which is a Brian and Mina novella. I was like… wait did I use that “air I breathe” line twice?? But I remember Broken Dolls was in third person so the cover is BD but the quote is from The Easter Hunt.)

@smutjunkieteacher A DARK romance between two very broken people. 18+ A MUST READ! Follow up with Brian and Mina’s “Holiday Hits” starting with “The Easter Hunt”. #kittythomas #authorkittythomas #kittythomasauthor #pleasurehouse #thepleasurehouse #brianandmina #brokendolls #theeasterhunt #darkromance #darkromancebooks #darkromancereads #darkromancebooktok #darkromancereaders #darkromancereader #darkromancereadersoftiktok #darkromancereadersofbooktok #hotromance #stepbrothertrope #hotromancebooks #mustread #booktok #audiblebooks #bookclub #favbooks #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #fyp #smut #smuttbook #spicy #spicybooktok #nourisheveryyou #spicybooktok #spicybooktok #bookclubtiktok #trope #broken #forbidden #forbiddenromance #bookrecommendations #booktok #booktoker #booktokers #booktokersunite #collarme ♬ original sound – lirikdumpp

That’s it for today!

Thank you to the BookTokkers!

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Published on December 08, 2022 06:33

December 5, 2022

Featured Book: The Sacrifice

This week’s featured book is The Sacrifice. It’s part of the Dark Wedding Duet. They are standalones so they can be read in either order, but This is Macy’s book (The best friend in The Proposal.)

Also, here are the reader shareable graphics if you’d like to share on any of your social medias or reader groups.

And here’s the Teaser Scene: (This is the first full day of Macy’s captivity with Colin. This scene is in Colin’s POV:)

Copyright (c) Kitty Thomas. All rights reserved.

She continues to focus on her food, avoiding my gaze. Then she does the strangest thing. She picks up the saucer and turns it over to inspect the bottom of it.

Is she looking for a brand name? A price label? Could I have a gold digger hostage of all things?

“I knew it. Bone,” she says as if satisfied by this knowledge.

“Excuse me?” I ask.

“Do you know the difference between fine china and bone china?”

I have no idea what to say to this so I just shake my head.

“Bone china has cow bone ash in it. It’s what gives it the softer warmer color and translucence. But it’s no stronger than fine china. That’s a misnomer. It’s just a way to alter the color.”

“And how do you know this?” I still can’t believe that the first non-terrified thing she’s decided to say to me is about the difference in fine and bone china. I didn’t know the difference—largely because I don’t care—but I’m fascinated she just opened her mouth to tell me this. Maybe I seem less scary in the daylight.

“Livia didn’t know when we were registering for her china for her wedding, and so I looked it up. I like bone better because it just looks more elegant to me. It’s not as harsh.”

Her face falls, and I know immediately what she’s thinking. She’s thinking she won’t get to register for a china pattern for the wedding that won’t be happening now. I don’t know why, but this crestfallen look on her face bothers me.

Jeffrey brings her tea, then disappears again. She seems to suddenly realize she’s been explaining the finer points of china content to her captor, and the discomfort and anxiety returns to her face as she distracts herself with her tea.

We finish eating in silence and Jeffrey takes the plates away. When the table has been cleared, she looks a bit awkward then starts to get up. I place my hand over hers, stopping her retreat.

“Sit. We have business to discuss.”

“W-what kind of business?”

It hasn’t escaped my notice that she hasn’t called me what I told her to call me, but I decide to leave that for the moment. I take the stack of papers from the nearby island and place it on the table in front of her.

“This little arrangement protects Soren’s stock prices from falling, and it also helps me. I need a Mrs. Black to make me look more normal and family-oriented. You will fulfill that role.”

Her eyes go wide. “I-is this a pre-nup?”

“No. I have no interest in getting into a threeway with the state. This is a private contract that is meant to protect you and provide for you should I at any point choose to discard you. It was Soren’s condition for giving you to me. It goes without saying that you won’t be initiating an end to our arrangement. And, as stipulated in the contract, you will of course be giving me heirs.”

She slides the papers across the table and crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not signing this.”

I’m surprised by this rebellion but I don’t let it show on my face. “Not today you aren’t. It’ll be several weeks before I can take you out in public, and then we’ll sign them properly at the attorney’s office. I’m just informing you.”

“No. You can keep me captive, but you can’t make me sign these papers pretending a relationship we don’t have.”

I can’t stop my eye roll. “Don’t be ridiculous. These papers protect you. And from what I hear from Soren, you don’t love the man you were going to be marrying anyway. So what difference does it make? My offer is better than his.”

“You can’t absolve your guilt by giving me the security of marriage. We’re not in the Victorian age.”

I place my palms flat on the table and lean forward so that I’m towering over her. “I don’t feel guilt. You are mine, and this is a gift. And I really do need a Mrs. Black.”

She shakes her head. “I’m not signing them.”

“You’ll sign them if I have to break you into a shell of your former self. You will sign them.” I don’t know what’s come over me. I don’t threaten women this way. I thought it was my one redeeming quality, but maybe it’s just that no one’s been brazen enough to challenge me.

“No.”

“What happened to the girl who begged me not to hurt her last night?”

“She got some sleep and some food.”

She’s actually glaring at me as she says this.

“Great. So I only need to starve and sleep deprive you, and you’ll be ready to sign? It’s not the best idea to reveal all your weaknesses to me. Don’t think I won’t use them to get what I want.”

A flicker of last night’s fear moves over her face, and I’m satisfied this is only a bluff and boundary testing. It’s her attempt to fight back, so she can say she tried and feel good about it. Fine. I’ll let her have it.

“When were you supposed to be marrying this other uninspiring joker?”

“M-March twenty-eighth.”

“March twenty-eighth,” I repeat. “We’ll be legally bound long before that, but I’ve got nothing planned that day if you want to have a wedding. Though you’ll have to break it off with the other guy first. It might be awkward if we both showed up.”

She stares at me like she can’t tell if I’m serious or f*cking with her. I can’t believe it, but I’m actually serious. I’m taking everything from this girl—the life she knew, her choices, even her choice in who to marry. If she wants a wedding, well it’s already partly planned, why not just trade out the groom?

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Kitty

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Published on December 05, 2022 09:07

December 1, 2022

Thursday TikTok Roundup

Be sure to grab a copy of my latest if you haven’t already: Links Here

Welcome to December! If you’ve seen a great TikTok of one of my books or if you made one yourself, please send me the link either via one of my social medias or on my website contact form (via the Licensing link)

Thank you so much to the BookTokkers!

Today’s TikTok Roundup:

November 30, 2022

Valkyrie Teaser Scene: When Odin Met Freyja…

Here’s a teaser scene from my newest release, Valkyrie, when Odin meets Freyja. This is chapter 3:

Copyright (c) 2022, Kitty Thomas. All Rights Reserved.

Not all that long ago in the grand scheme of things…

An old woman sits alone at a table away from the live music, a mug of hot liquid in her frail hands. Her head raises abruptly, and her gaze narrows on mine. Then one shriveled finger beckons me nearer.

I turn to look behind me, even though I know she means me. I consider just walking out. There’s something deeply unnerving about her, but against all my better judgment, I cross the room and sit in the chair she indicates.

“I know what’s coming for you,” she says cryptically. Leaning in she asks, “Do you want to know your fate?”

I just chuckle. “I don’t believe in fate. And I have no gold on me to pay you, witch.”

I start to get up, but she grips my wrist hard. “Sit. Down.” She closes her eyes for a moment as though waiting for information to be dropped into her mind, as though in a trance.

Finally, her eyes open and level on me—an eerie light blue. “Odin.”

Goosebumps prickle out over my arm under the heat of her hand at hearing my name on her lips.

Okay, I’m impressed. It’s not that no one knows who I am, but I wear many guises and can easily fade into any crowd.

“You like power,” she observes. “Power and knowledge. You can never get enough of it. You think knowledge is power, but sometimes it’s just the opposite.”

“Doesn’t everyone want power? Why even live if you only exist to serve the whims or values of others? Most creatures are slaves, and I’ve made great sacrifices to get to where I am.”

“Indeed, you have.”

Her gaze rakes over me. No matter what form I take, I can’t ever hide the lack of one eye or the scar around my throat from the rope that finally snapped after nine days hanging from a tree. I survived that, and in the end, the runes spilled all their secrets to me. What could ever possibly take me out after that?

I can’t imagine the arrogance of a fate that would think to come for me.

As if in answer to my internal question she says, “The wolves are very angry with you, Odin.”

This announcement jars me, but I school my features, revealing nothing. It’s just an old woman peering into a cup. What does she know?

The witch continues, “You will lose all your power to a giant wolf, a wolf larger than even the greatest dragon in all the realms. He is the keeper of all the memories of the wolves. And he knows, Odin. He knows what you did. His name is Fenrir. The great wolf spirit searches for you even now. Someday he will find what he seeks. In that time there will come a great battle. To you, it will seem to be the end of the world. And you’re right… it is the end of the world… for you. Let’s give it a name, shall we? All epic fights must have their own name.”

She looks into her cup, and I wonder if she’s reading tea leaves. I’d thought her to be drinking something stronger, but perhaps not. Every part of me wants to get up and flee this tavern, but I feel compelled to stay and wait and hear the rest of my supposed fate.

Finally she looks up and smiles. “I’ve got it… Ragnarok. It’s got a nice doom ring to it, don’t you think?”

“I never go into fights I can’t win,” I say. And it’s true. Every battle is won before I ever set foot on the battlefield. Every move and countermove laid out. By the time I go into a fight, I know exactly what my enemy will do. They’re always so transparent, their wills and desires, their hopes and fears all laid out before me, like vulnerable infants left in the woods to the wolves.

And I am that wolf.

“You’ll go into this one… and you’ll know you’ll lose.”

“Why would I ever do such a thing? It doesn’t sound anything like me.”

She shrugs. “The norns don’t exist at my beck and call. They tell me what they will, and the cup has now gone dark. I have nothing more to give you.”

“You’re wrong, witch. I never lose. I won’t lose. And I won’t die. Mark my words, I will stand the victor at the end of this supposed Ragnarok.”

“It’s fate. An unbreakable prophesy. It can’t be changed. I would get my affairs in order if I were you.”

“As I said, I don’t believe in fate.”

She rises from the table and levels a hard gaze at me for several seconds as though she’s not sure if she wants to tell me something. Finally, she decides.

“I once knew another king who tried to thwart his death. I was the fate that ended him. And he even had a provision to escape it, which you do not. Count yourself lucky that you don’t have such false hope. Now he’s only a bad memory. You’ll fare no better.”

With that pronouncement, she brushes past me to leave.

“Freyja,” I say, my voice soft.

I think she didn’t hear me, but the tension in her shoulders suggests otherwise. She stops. She heard me. She turns back to face me, the glamour falling off her like sheets of water to reveal her true form.

There’s a sharp intake of breath, and I realize it’s mine. I’d heard of her legendary beauty, but nothing could prepare me to encounter it face-to-face.

Painted over her exquisite loveliness is an expression of wariness. Is someone after her? Who would dare harm the fair Queen of the Vanir? And a volva of so much power? I felt her power at a distance well before I saw her crone form—the mask she draws up to conceal her beauty from the world.

Who else could it be but her?

I’m standing here, staring at her like an idiot, fantasizing about the better things we could be doing right now than discussing my untimely future fated death.

Finally, I break the silence.

“Even more beautiful than the skalds suggest.” I can’t decide if I want to ask her on a date or to help me fight this. Maybe we could discuss battle strategy over dinner.

She rolls her eyes. “How did you know it was me?”

In truth, I didn’t at first. This is the first time we’ve met in person, but she is known. And even her glamour can’t hide who she is for long.

I point to my eye patch. “I gave up a lot to see and know a lot. You’d be shocked by all I’ve learned from inside the well.”

“And yet… you couldn’t see the prophecy of your own demise. I’d get a refund.”

I wink at her, but that move never really comes off right. “Well, I do have the blind spot on this one side, you know.”

“Cute.”

But I have her. She smirked a little. She turns to leave, clearly done before the banter has even started.

I grab her arm, and she bristles. My hand immediately falls away. I’m not foolish enough to test a volva’s patience—certainly not one as powerful as this. “Freyja, help me. I know you have the power to save me.”

“I’m not in the business of fighting pointless battles with fate. Get your affairs in order and forget about it. Live your life while you have it. Goodnight, Odin.”

With this final pronouncement, she leaves the tavern. She may have decided that was the end of the discussion, but our conversation has only just begun.

Grab it here:

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Also here’s a fun Instagram Reel I made for this book. (sound on!):