Ryssa Edwards's Blog, page 3
September 13, 2011
*Silver Flash* Assassin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part IX
Knock, Knock.
Who's there?
It's the Silver Flash!
This week's Prompt Diva is . . . me. Again. It's my last time for a while. Next week, the Prompt Diva is Her Awesomeness Reese Dante . . . Silver Publishing's cover artist. She drew my angels!
This week's prompts are:
"Well, I don't know about you, but I like to know what I'm getting into."
OR
Use the following elements in your story: key, paper, raw meat
Here's the next installment in Nisha and Valak's story. . .
Assasin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part IX
The worst thing a man could suffer when he was alone with Valak was his silence. After Nisha shut the door quietly behind him, Valak let the silence between him and Arjin stretch until the air was thick with the peddler's fear.
Arjin finally broke. He smoothed his short, straw-like hair away from his face. His fingers were shaking. "There's nothing more I can do to help you, Valak. As it is, my worthless hide might as well be hanging out yonder window."
"How long's it been, Arjin?"
Not taking his eyes off Valak's knives, Arjin said, "I've had the privilege of knowing you nearly eight seasons now."
"In all that time, did I ever lie to you?"
"Never."
"You ever see me lie to anyone about what I'd do?" Valak said.
"No." A fleeting look of panic came and went on Arjin's slightly round face. "Why would I come here—the Rock, of all places—and risk being on the sharp end of your knives?"
"Because you thought I'd fall for whatever game you're running," Valak said. "How many sides are you playing this time?"
At that, Arjin's temper seemed to snap. He threw off the warming furs and collapsed into the chair by the fire. "How many? From all appearances, only one—the losing side."
For one of his kind, Arjin was honorable. Valak had never seen the peddler tell a lie he didn't have to. He didn't want to hurt Arjin. Not unless he had to. "Don't make me use my knives on you. All I want is a name."
A drop of sweat rolled down Arjin's temple. "I've already told you – - "
Valak breathed through his mouth, a trick he'd learned to calm himself. "Listen to me," he said. "On the other side of that door is a human I'd do anything for."
Arjin let his head fall into his hands. His muffled voice came through his fingers. "How does an honest man such as I am fall into predicaments like this?"
Valak drew his short-knife. "You can tell me who brought the scroll or you can spend a few hours screaming."
"Well, I don't know about you, but I like to know what I'm getting into," Arjin said, trying to hide his fear. "Why would I be screaming?"
Valak drew his long-knife. "Try again."
"You assassin types really are insufferable," Arjin said. "There's no need to draw a second knife. I see my coming death well enough in your eyes with only one blade between me and the Paradise that surely awaits me."
"A name."
"It wouldn't do you any good."
"Maybe not, but it'll keep you alive."
A darkly calculating look came over Arjin's face, the true man he hid behind the helpless, honest peddler mask. "I'll take you to him."
The small hairs on the back of Valak's neck bristled. Arjin did nothing for free. "Why?"
"The storm won't let us leave for at least a day. You'll have to let me live that long." He glanced down at the knives in Valak's hands. "And considering the state you're in, that's a bargain."
"Why not give me a name?"
"You would call me a liar and kill me where I stand." He spread his hands, the humble peddler again. "Is one day so much to ask?"
"Don't try to leave, Arjin." Valak sheathed his knives. "As of right now, there's a Dead or Dead on you. My novices will kill you on sight."
****************
Valak nearly tripped over Nisha. He had waited just outside the door and fallen asleep. Someone, probably a novice, had covered him with a fur. Valak picked him up, trying not to wake Nisha. The warm weight of the human who was his mate in every way except for Scroll Law made the old doubts rise. Only seventeen seasons had passed since his ascension to Master Assassin. His work demanded that he carry out Warrants, but he'd avoided that duty since he'd found Nisha.
Pushing the door to his rooms open, Valak laid Nisha in soft furs. "Is Arjin alive?" he said, turning over to look up.
Valak wanted nothing more than to lie down and curl his body around Nisha, but he sensed Thalen just beyond the door, waiting.
"For at least another day." Stroking his fingers through Nisha's hair, Valak said, "I have to give orders for the night then I'll be back. Get some sleep."
"No." Nisha shot up. "I'll wait for you."
The old fear of letting Valak out of his sight was back in Nisha's eyes. There was no blinding flash, no voice of the gods, but still, Valak saw his destiny written in Nisha's guarded eyes. "If you swear you won't wander off, you can come with me," he said.
"I swear."
As soon as Valak hit the corridor with Nisha beside him, Thalen eased out of the dark. "Dagon wants to see you."
A human would have clenched his jaw, curled his hands into fists. But the only sign of Valak's irritation was his eyes glowing warm yellow. "Arjin doesn't leave the Rock without me," he said.
"Dead or Dead?" Thalen asked.
"On sight," Valak said. "Make sure all the novices know."
Thalen inclined his head. "Anything else, sir?"
"Keep them from getting in each other's fur," Valak said. "They're not used to being locked up like this."
"I've already told them about your orders for night-long practice drills at the first sign of trouble," Thalen said.
"I didn't say that."
"No," Thalen said, returning Valak's smile, "but I've never heard that much quiet among them."
Thalen faded into the dark and went to give Valak's orders.
"What does Dagon want with you?" Nisha said.
He wanted to keep Valak on the Rock and in his Master Assassin robes. "Nothing I'm willing to give him," Valak said, leading Nisha down stone steps.
Flashers Onstage This Week
September 6, 2011
**Silver Flash** Assassin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part VIII
It's Wednesday, and that bright light is the Silver Flash!
This week's Prompt Diva is . . . me. Again.
But . . . shhhh . . . don't tell anyone—I've been trolling around Silver Publishing, and pretty soon we'll have Guest Prompt Divas. Ever wonder what a cover artist would write as a prompt? Or how about an acquisitions editor? A what? They send out those nice acceptance letters for stories.
We've got Guest Prompt Divas coming up over the next few months, so stay tuned.
This week the prompts are:
#1 Which one do you like better?"
OR
#2: Use the following elements in your story: star, speaker, candle
Here's part VIII of Nisha and Valak
Assassin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part VIII
Nisha didn't think he'd ever get used to the tunnels that ran between the Rock's towers.. There wasn't enough light to see a finger in front of your eye. And there were pits. Valak said anyone who needed to be down in the tunnels knew where they were. A while back, he'd let Nisha drop a rock down one of the pits. It had fallen for a long, long time before it hit bottom with a terrifyingly distant sound.
The pits were far apart and stretched from one tunnel wall to the other. There was no way to go around them. If you didn't know they were there, you'd be falling for so long, the fear would probably kill you before you smashed into to the bottom.
"Nisha?"
"Yeah?"
The dark was so complete it seemed to swallow even the sound of their voices, as if they were in a giant crypt.
"Want me to show you the bottom of a pit?"
It was an old joke between them. But Nisha couldn't bring himself to laugh. Not on a night like this. "You're not going to kill him, are you?"
"No," Valak said with a resigned sigh. "You won't let me."
Thinking he had the power to stop a Master Assassin from doing anything made Nisha smile in the dark. "I have to draw a line in the rocks somewhere," he said.
"You already drew a line," Valak said, stopping and putting his arms around Nisha. "It goes through my heart."
"Poetry sounds good on you." Nisha brushed his lips over Valak's. 
"Nisha," Valak said in a voice that was barely a whisper. "I'll try. For you, I'd try anything. But I'm a Wulf. And you're mine. If there's no other way, Koren's dead."
Even in the darkness of the tunnels, the whispered words were a chilling, unforgiving reminder that Valak was a Master Assassin and no one took what belonged to him.
***
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Arjin said, shivering inside the fur he had around him. "Must you keep it so miserably cold on this Rock?"
"We're really high up, Arjin," Valak said.
Nisha could tell Valak was running out of patience. He'd been at Arjin since they came back from seeing Isaac. But the peddler had told Valak nothing.
"I trust you're far too honorable for that to be a threat," Arjin said.
"Who's been telling you tales about me?" Valak said, eyeing the window. "Nisha, you been telling Arjin I'm honorable?"
"No," Nisha said, "but if you throw him out the window, I'd be really mad at you."
Valak went to the window and stood with his back to the room. His shoulders were too tense. His hands were too close to his knives. "I need to find the Wulf who delivered the scroll," he said. "You can tell me up here, Arjin, or I can take you down to the dungeon."
"I can't tell you what I don't know." Arjin was almost pleading. "After all I've told you, why would I hide that?"
"Because for enough gold, you keep all the secrets you have to." Valak turned around, his glowing yellow eyes falling on Arjin. "But I wonder how loud I have to make you scream before you think you didn't get enough gold to lie to me?"
Arjin's face went pale. Nisha had never heard of a Master Assassin torturing a human, but the Rock kept its secrets.
"I know what Temple's robes he was wearing," Arjin said.
Valak took a step toward him. "Nisha, wait for me outside the door."
The effect of Valak's words on Arjin was brutal. He turned even paler and jumped as if he'd been bitten with acid-coated fangs. "It won't do you any good to paint the walls with my entrails, Valak," he said.
Valak seemed to think about it. "Maybe not. But with the storm blowing like it is, I don't have a whole lot to do. I can either paint the walls or bite you and hang you upside down and let your blood paint the floors. Which one do you like better?"
Nisha backed away because Valak, the Wulf who held him at night and who soothed his nightmares, was gone. He was sharing the room with the Rock's Master Assassin and a terrified peddler. The stone walls seemed to close in.
Not taking his eyes off Arjin, Valak said, "Nisha, go wait for me."
******
Flashers Onstage This Week
Official countdown for Hunter Angel, Midnight Gamble is on . . . just 17 more days. . . check out a preview . . . 
August 30, 2011
Assasin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part VII
It's that time again. . . the Silver Flash!
This week's Prompt Diva was . . .Sui Lynn
She asked us to write something steampunkish (I know. . it's not a word) with these three elements:
a zeppelin, a pocket watch, a pair of binoculars and a parasol
The alternative prompt was . . . "Any minute now. . . ."
I couldn't fit a parasol into my world. . . I really tried. . . so. . . .
Here's the continuation of Nisha and Valak . . .
Assassin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part VII
Nisha made himself unwrap his fingers from Valak's arm. "If Brother Isaac could light more candles, I'll sit by the fire," he said.
Isaac was the Brother who signed all the Warrants and made sure law-givers like Valak didn't break Temple law. Nisha watched him go around the small chamber lighting candles, moving with the quiet ease of a warrior.
"Let me talk to Nisha a while," Valak said, "then I'll come in your audience chamber."
Brother Isaac made a strange little bow, hands clasped in front of him, eyes closed. "Of course. I wait to serve."
As soon as Isaac melted into the darkness beyond the farthest archway, Nisha said, "Are you here to get a Warrant?"
A god statue hung over the hearth, carved out of the stone around it. His mouth was open in a snarl, caught between human and Wulf. His fangs were sharp and thin—skin rippers. Valak shifted on his feet, restless, looking up at the statue.
Nisha had known Valak long enough to see a lie coming even before he even opened his mouth. "Don't break your promise to me." Nisha said it softly, but even to him it sounded like a command. "I never lied to you."
In the beginning, just after Valak found him hiding in a back alley, they'd promised each other no lies.
Valak's back straightened. His broad shoulders tensed. "I came here to ask him something I don't want you to hear."
Not a lie, but not an answer. "Why can't I hear it?"
"Because Koren put you through enough." Valak's words were like islands, isolated, detached, as if he could barely stand to hold back what he was thinking.
"You'd put me through worse if you kill him, Valak. Can't you understand that?"
"There's things on the face of the world I don't understand," Valak said, his voice tight, a leather leash stretched to breaking. "But I know this. You're mine. And nothing's changing that."
Nisha knew what Valak did, what all the Wulfs on the Rock did. But he couldn't stand being the cause of it. "What if I just say I'll go with him?"
Valak tore his eyes away from the god statue and turned a glaring yellow-eyed gaze on Nisha. "No." It came out in a low growl. The Change was almost on him.
"No?" Nisha said, standing nose to nose with Valak. The baking heat of his Change warmed Nisha's cheeks. "How would you stop me? Chain me to your furs?"
"If I have to." This time the throaty growl was barely shaped into words. Shutting his eyes, Valak backed away two steps, his hands clenched into fists. "I'm a Wulf, Nisha. A law-giver. You think I'll just let you go to him?"
"A Wulf's not dying because of me," Nisha said, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. He couldn't let Valak get a Warrant because of him. "Think of another way. Use me somehow. Use the law. Use Arjin."
"Arjin would sell his own scalp if he got a good enough offer," Valak said, anger, not rage driving his words. His eyes were fading to dark brown. His fangs had receded. But his muscled body was rigid, carved in dangerous lines.
Fire light danced over the god statue. Small sounds came from the dark beyond the archways.
Nisha knew that for Wulfs, honor counted above all things. When it came to protecting what belonged to them, death was no obstacle. The answer came to Nisha. "If you kill Koren, I won't be protected," he said. "His shadow would haunt me."
He didn't know if that was true or not, but Wulfs believed an unjust kill left a spirit to wander the face of the world.
"I don't know if his shadow will wander," Isaac said, emerging from an archway, "but I cannot issue a Warrant for this act."
"You don't even know what I'm asking for," Valak said.
"I know enough," Isaac said. "You are caught in the passion of anger. No Warrant will be granted."
A Law Giver brings no passion to his work of justice. Nisha remembered the wisdom-saying from the novice training room where Valak taught novices how to kill. Now Valak was trapped. He couldn't deny his anger. It was in his clenched fingers, his stiff jaw, his still body.
"Then think of a way to keep Nisha on the Rock," Valak said, "or Koren's dead." He glanced at Nisha. "I'll help you sleep if his shadow comes for you."
With Valak's threat out in the open, Isaac seemed to have what he wanted. An expression of mild satisfaction came over his face. "Nisha has set the truth before you," he said. "The peddler is an aid."
"How?" Valak asked, suspicion heavy in just that one word.
"What is it that peddlers do best?" Isaac asked.
The look of impatience that came over Valak's face made Nisha feel like any minute now, Valak would give up the fight against his Wulf side and go for Isaac's throat.
"I'm not a novice," Valak said. "Answer me."
"We are all novices of life," Isaac said with a deep bow. Then he was gone.
"How did he disappear like that?" Nisha said.
"Practice." Valak wrapped Nisha's furs closer around him. "We're going back. He's done talking to me."
"But he didn't tell you anything."
"He told me enough. Where did you leave Arjin?"
Flashers on Stage this week . . .
Enjoy!
August 23, 2011
*Silver Flash* Assassin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part VI
This week's Prompt Diva was . . . me!
My offerings are:
"We can't let this continue."
OR
Use the following elements in your story: a rainy day, an all you can eat cheeseburger buffet, a bulletin board with only two words on it
Here's Part VI of Assassin's Heart, the story of Nisha and Valak
Assassin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part VI
As soon as the door swung shut behind Nisha, Valak leaned over the hearth, head down, eyes closed. "One more moon, Ghost," he said. "And this wouldn't have mattered." He kicked a fallen log. Ashes sprayed up and fell, black snow.
"Can't you wait him out?" Ghost asked. "We can keep him off the Rock. No one gets through the gates unless we let it happen."
"Won't matter." Valak walked over to the window. "Koren got the Temple involved. It's not a just a challenge. It's a claim."
"Good for how long?"
Valak turned to his friend. He'd known Ghost long enough to recognize the grim set to his face, his relaxed hands—too close to his knives—and his unyielding clenched jaw. Ghost would hack his way through any law ever written to keep Valak from losing his robes. "Seven years," Valak said.
It took Ghost only a moment to ask, "Where is he?" Death was in his eyes.
"Probably waiting for the storm to blow over so he can come up here and claim Nisha in person."
"He didn't want him." Now that Nisha and Kiri were both gone and it was just the two warriors, Ghost let his fury show. "He beat Nisha like a stray dog then threw him away like he was old garbage. When that boy got here, you couldn't even whisper without him cringing."
Fire crackled. Wind-blown snow tapped the window. Footsteps hurried past the kitchen door.
"I know," Valak said into the sudden quiet. "But that won't keep Koren from using a claim to get him back."
"What does Koren even want with Nisha?" Ghost said.
"It doesn't make sense," Valak said, thinking back to when he'd found Nisha huddled behind a tavern. "Why now?"
"Taxes," Nisha said from the door.
Neither Wulf had heard him push the door open. "How did you get past the – - " Valak stopped when he saw the uncertainty in Nisha, the way his shoulders slumped. When Nisha first came to the Rock, he'd followed Valak everywhere, afraid he'd disappear, afraid things were too good to last. Valak held his arms out to Nisha. "Come here."
Nisha came close and let Valak kiss him softly.
"What taxes?" Ghost asked.
"Temple," Nisha said, sliding his fingers through Valak's. "If he has an even five boys, he doesn't have to pay. He's inempt or something."
"Exempt," Valak said.
"I'll exempt him from living," Ghost said.
"Then the Temple could take Nisha and sell him for Koren's taxes." Nisha tensed like a crossbow too tightly strung. Deep in his gut, Valak felt the churning, rising fury that would bring on his Wulf change if he didn't calm down. "Is Isaac on the Rock?"
"Yeah," Ghost said. "Got in last night. Why? You don't think I can – -" He glanced at Nisha and tried again. "You don't think I can make this problem go away?"
"I don't want anyone to die because of me," Nisha said in a bare whisper. "Not even Koren."
"No one's dying," Valak said.
A tiny smile played over Nisha's face. "You're a Law Giver. Wulfs drop dead just saying your name."
"Then I'll change my name." Valak was itching to shift into his Wulf form and run to Black Tower and find Isaac, the Temple Brother assigned to the Rock. But wherever he left Nisha tonight, one thing was certain, he'd walk through walls to find Valak. "We're going down in the tunnels," he said to Nisha. "Let's find you something warm to put on."
*****
Black Tower housed the only Temple on the Rock. Isaac tended the candles and statues and kept Law Givers like Valak from violating Temple Law. His counsel chamber, where he talked to Wulfs who came for advice, had no windows. Unsteady light came from three fat candles on a stone ledge. A hearth with a fireplace even bigger than the one in the kitchen pushed back the chill of the stone walls.
Even though Valak had used underground tunnels so they wouldn't have to walk out in the storm, Nisha was over by the fire shivering inside his furs. After Isaac greeted them he'd said, "We can't let this continue", and slipped off into one of the archways that led deeper into Temple, and Gods only knew where else.
Valak noticed the Brother came back through a different archway than the one he'd left through. He had a heap of thick furs and wrapped one around Nisha's shoulders. It made Valak's beast snarl to see Nisha shrink from Isaac's touch. It was as if the scroll with Koren's name on it had undone all the moons Valak had spent easing Nisha's fears.
"If you can't grow fur," Isaac said, "it's cold in here. I can't let a guest shiver his way through his stay." His soft voice seemed to relax Nisha a tiny bit.
Valak said, "I came to ask you – -"
"Perhaps it would be better if we went to my inner chamber," Isaac said. "Nisha can stay here and – - "
Nisha whipped around, letting the fur slip from his shoulders. "No," he said. "I go with you."
Fury stole through Valak. He felt reason slipping away. He ached to give in to his Wulf instincts. Nisha belonged to him, and no one took what was his. Koren would pay for the fear on Nisha's face. He would pay for Nisha's trembling grip on his arm. Bordertown's Alpha would die screaming. He would beg for death.
***Warning! Free Read Zone***
Check out "Spinner" my free read on GoodReads Hot Summer Days event . . .
When this guy gets out of the military, he's ready to stay out of trouble, but how can he do that when CJ's making him think all kinds of dangerous thoughts?
Azriel is a Hunter angel. His status is Unforgiven. In the mortal realm, he is a relentless Hunter who rids the world of angelic beings who have broken their vows. Until he met Zane, Azriel's life was a long eternity without hope. But, now that he's met Zane, he wants more, he wants to have something he never thought he'd have: love. But for an Unforgiven Hunter, there's only one way to have a mate: he must earn his way out of his Unforgiven status. Azriel's instincts lead him to a battle that will be the ultimate midnight gamble, winner takes all. But will he win? Or will he lose Zane forever? Find out in Hunter Angel, Midnight Gamble, part 3 of my Immortal Pleasures series.
***Flashers on Stage This Week***
Enjoy!
August 16, 2011
*Silver Flash* Assassin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part V
How's it going intrepid Flash followers?
Glad you're back for another round of the Silver Flash!
This week's Prompt Diva is Pender Mackie . . .and she brings us. . .
"I can't believe I didn't know that about you." OR
"Anyone ever tell you you're a Grade A _____?" Fill in the blank. OR
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Alternative Prompt this week was:
He/she was so tired he/she could have . . . .
Ready for more adventures on Blood Rock?
Here we go . . .
Assassin's Heart, A Black Rock Story, Part V
"A battle to the death?" Nisha said. "Who's the Bordertown Alpha?"
For a heart-wrenching second, Valak wished he could lock Nisha in Red Tower. It was the safest place on the Rock. "No one you need to worry about," he said.
"If I may offer my humble opinion," Arjin said, "if the beauty next to you is who I think he is, it may be he has much to worry about."
"You talk too much, Arjin," Valak said. "And your memory's getting bad. You've never seen Nisha. Starting right now."
"Of course." Arjin spun around to the fire.
It was a sign of Valak's distraction that the scroll slid halfway from his hand before he noticed. "No," he said, twisting out of Nisha's grip. "Go find Arjin a room. Get him past the novices." He looked down at Nisha. "You're good at getting past them, right?"
"Where do you want him?" Nisha said, a shameless grin lighting his face.
"Locked inside a room even you couldn't get out of," Valak said. "I don't want him running out on me when the storm blows over."
"I would never leave a generous host such as yourself without saying my goodbyes." Arjin gave a fretful look around the kitchen. "You wouldn't have a bit to eat for a weary traveler, would you? It's an arduous climb up to this rock you live on."
Valak suddenly remembered what Ghost had said about Arjin being alone. "How did you get up here?"
The way Arjin's hands dropped too quickly to pull his robes around him told Valak a lie was coming. "I was given gold," he said. "I'm an honest man. I kept my part of the bargain."
Nisha had gone into the cold room to bring Arjin a plate of meats and cheese. He set it on the table. Arjin lifted a thick slice of meat to his lips. Valak moved at a speed no human could have followed and snatched the meat and the plate away. "How?" he said.
They all heard Ghost's voice just beyond the kitchen door, giving orders.
At the sound of Ghost's voice, Arjin whipped a glance over his shoulder just in time to see Ghost push through the door.
As he came in, all eyes were on him, as if he'd walked onstage in front of an eager audience. "Well?" he said. "Do I get to carve him up and toss his carcass to the crows?"
"He was a Wulf," Arjin said, his words tumbling over each as if they couldn't get out of his mouth fast enough. "I never saw him change. He was fur all the way up here."
"Here," Valak gave him the plate and tossed the slice of meat on it. "Fatten up. Ghost likes it when a target's too big to miss. Saves knives."
Arjin gave Valak a wounded look. "I didn't have to tell you anything. I did it because – -"
"I know," Valak said. "You're an honest man." 
"And I'm a hog with wings," Ghost said.
Leaning slightly to his right, and going up on his toes, Arjin said, "I thought I saw a tail back there."
Before Ghost could pull his knife, Valak was between the assassin and Arjin. "Nisha, take him up to Red Tower. High as you can."
Not moving, Nisha said, "No."
In the eight moons they'd been together, Nisha had said that to Valak only a handful of times. He pushed back the fear the scroll had raised in his Wulf instincts. He should have expected this. "I'll show you the scroll when you get back."
"Show it to me now," Nisha said. "Before you tell Ghost whatever you don't want me to hear."
"What's on it?" Ghost asked.
"It's something about a battle to the death," Nisha said. "He won't tell me."
"Who challenged you?" Ghost asked Valak.
Arjin made a move toward the kitchen door. "I'm sure I can find my way to a room, Valak. I'll be on my way."
"Don't, Arjin," Valak said. "The Rock's on full alert. If the novices spot a stranger, you'll be dead before we can stop them."
Ghost turned to Arjin. "What does the scroll say, peddler?"
"I'm sure I don't know," Arjin said. "I'm an honest – -"
Ghost moved so fast, Valak didn't have a chance to stop him. In less than a heartbeat, Ghost's thick arm was around Arjin's throat, squeezing.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Valak said.
But Ghost ignored him and pressed the flat of his blade to Arjin's cheek. "First, I'll count to five. Then I'll see how loud I can make you scream before you give up and die."
"Really, Valak," Arjin said in a strangled voice. "Must I endure this?"
"Let him go," Valak said.
"What's on the scroll?" Ghost said. "Because you're not leaving the Rock to go lose your robes."
By the laws of Blood Rock, Valak couldn't fight in a Death Challenge. The other Wulf had no chance to survive against a blooded assassin. But even facing the threat of exile and being disrobed, only one thing mattered to him. Nisha would be forced to stay on the Rock. Valak would never see him again.
Arjin made a desperate gurgling sound.
"Ghost," Valak said. "Get off him."
With a reluctant sigh, Ghost let go Arjin, who fell to his knees, gasping for every breath.
"The Alpha of the pack Nisha belonged to sent out a challenge," Valak said and saw Nisha go pale.
"Bordertown," Nisha said. "I forgot. That's the Wulf name for Clawton."
"He's not getting near you," Valak said, and took Nisha into his arms. "Go on. Find Arjin a room in Red Tower."
"Promise you'll be here when I get back," Nisha said.
"I'll always be here for you," Valak said, knowing he'd kill a hundred Wulf packs to keep his promise.
**WARNING: FREE READ ZONE**
Check out my free read, "Spinner" on GoodReads' Hot Summer Days . . .
Winton just took off his uniform for the last time, but what happens when CJ gives him a reason to believe he can fall in love?
**Flashers on Stage This Week**
Julie Hayes (m/m)
Victoria Blisse (m/f)
West Thornhill (m/m)
Lily Sawyer (m/m)
Lindsay Klug (m/f)
Pender Mackie (m/m)
Heather Lin (m/f)
Freddie MacKay (m/m) <<>>
July 19, 2011
Ryssa’s Angels and Bad Boys . . .
You’ve found the home of romance writer Ryssa Edwards . . . and this is where the bad boys hang out
He’s Michael, Archangel of War, and he’s in love. Just be glad he’s one of the good guys.
He’s Lucifer and he’s the ultimate seducer, but now . . he’s found his soulmate. What will the Lord of Hell do for love?
Two Archangels in one volume, Michael and Lucifer’s stories of love, seduction and . . . a little war.
When Rafe goes looking for the antidote to save his mom from a worldwide flu pandemic, he finds Kayne, a Wulf assassin in training, and he’s never gone after something he didn’t get.
Jace is far away from home and not sure where he’s going. But when he meets Sampson, a carnival strong man, he’s ready to try for his dreams.
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