Kelly Apple's Blog, page 29

A Sci-Fi Surprise

A funny thing happened earlier this week. I was looking through my writing folder and I found the sci-fi trilogy I wrote early in 2017. So I started reading it. AND I TOTALLY REMEMBER WHY I STARTED WRITING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Guuuuys. I love sci-fi romance. LOVE IT. If you wave a sci-fi romance with a half-interesting premise under my nose, I WILL READ IT.

While there are a few sticky little things I need to smooth out in the books, overall, I’m very pleased with them. VERY. PLEASED. It has space ships and abandoned space stations and distant planets. ALL THINGS I ADORE. Part of me is dying to share it RIGHT NOW, but I refuse to tease you by publishing a new series until I get Grimwood finished.

(Psst, only one book to go with those wacky Grimms!)

I can, however, share a piece of it. A visual piece. My Omega Point Pinterest board gives a few hints on what you’ll find in the books. A few. For one, you now know the name of the series. Omega Point.

Enjoy!

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Anderson High Wolves Short – The Haunted House

The Haunted House

Anderson High Wolves

Jenny and Evan

 

Jenny didn’t remember the last time she went to the fair. In fact, other than vague memories of her mom coaxing her to try the kiddie roller coaster, she remembered nothing.

Breaking off from the others on the midway—Natalie looking terrified as one of Mason’s little sisters ended up in the goat pen—Jenny took it all in.

It smelled like popcorn and bodies. Too many people packed into too small a place. Jenny wanted to tug Evan off to the side and take a minute to grow accustomed to it, but her darling man had a destination in mind and he kept pulling them forward through the crowd. Not wanting to ruin his fun, she shelved the idea of finding a quiet spot and went along for the ride.

When he finally stopped in front of one of the rides, Jenny blinked a couple times to make sure she was seeing things right.

“The haunted house? You want to go through the haunted house?” Cringing a little at how shrewish she sounded, Jenny drew in a deep breath and mentally reminded herself it was only a ride. Not real.

“Yeah. It’s my favorite.”

Evan sounded so adorably excited Jenny didn’t have the heart to tell him going into the creepy structure was the last thing she wanted to do. “Should we get in line?” she asked instead of running the opposite way.

There wasn’t a line. Which probably said a lot about the quality of the ride, but Jenny smiled gamely at her love when he took her hand and led her to the bored attendant standing beside the door.

Handing over their tickets, Evan tucked Jenny into the curve of his body and guided her in.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the sudden gloom. Evan waited patiently beside her until she could make out the dusty, ragged room they’d entered into.

“Okay,” she said, trying to sound positive. “Where to?”

Instead of leading her into the heart of the house, Evan tipped Jenny’s chin up and kissed her sweetly on the lips. “You know what I love about the haunted house?” he asked as she blinked up at him.

“What?”

“How there are all these nice, dark corners for two people to get lost in.”

Of course Evan would think that. He loved dragging her off into dark closets and kissing her senseless while everyone outside was completely clueless to what they were doing.

Her wolf had a bit of an exhibitionist streak in him. He liked the idea of almost being caught.

“Dark corners, you say?”

“Lots of them.”

Jenny didn’t bother to stop her smile. She’d spend the rest of her life giving Evan every last one of her smiles. Because they made him happy.

It might be dim and gloomy in the room, but she could still see the way Evan’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he grinned down at her.

“My goal,” he said, his voice solemn despite the mischief dancing in his eyes, “is to kiss you in every dark corner we can find.”

That was a very nice goal. Achievable.

Jenny certainly liked the idea of helping him reach it.

“Between kisses,” he went on, “I’m going to show you some of the tricks they used to make this otherwise normally unscary place creepy as hell.”

That didn’t sound nearly as fun as the kissing part, but Jenny didn’t mind. Not if kisses were her reward for listening to Evan deconstruct how something was put together.

“Sounds like a solid plan.” One she could get behind, at least. When Evan leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose, Jenny started laughing. “I hope I get better kisses than that.”

“We’ll see.”

Her wolf was a flirt and a tease. He’d spent every waking moment since that terrible day he’d smelled old blood on her showing her how much she meant to him. He’d cuddled her and coddled her and lavished all his love on her without restrictions.

She was the luckiest girl on the planet.

Full stop.

If Evan wanted to spend the rest of this ride kissing her nose or forehead, she wouldn’t stop him.

As long as it made him happy, she’d support him. She’d walk through these dark hallways and try not to scream when people jumped out at them.

Knowing he could see perfectly well with his enhanced senses, Jenny pursed her lips and waited. Her patience was rewarded when Evan took her mouth in a blistering kiss. One that probably fogged up the lenses of any cameras that were watching.

Right on cue, a speaker crackled. “Please proceed through to the room to the next stage of the ride.”

Laughing, Evan made Jenny was securely tucked against him before doing as they’d been asked.

And he did, indeed, kiss her in every dark corner they found.

The End

Want to see how Jenny and Evan fell in love? Grab Buried Bodies or Anderson High Wolves: The Complete Novella Collection.

Missed any of the other shorts? Check out the Series Shorts page and get caught up.

The post Anderson High Wolves Short – The Haunted House appeared first on Kelly Apple.

A Monstrous Frame of Mind

I’ve had Ari on the mind lately. Mostly because I’m DETERMINED to get the Monstrous Revelations series written soon.

I might have mentioned this before, but I have a REALLY hard time letting go of a series. REALLY hard. Like, writing the final book in a series is a little like torture and I usually have to remind myself, repeatedly, that I can always step back into this world even after I’ve said The End.

While Monstrous Revelations will be broken into several different parts, the thought that this is the end of an arc is kinda leaving me in knots.

What? When you live with a character in your head for several years, they’re hard to say goodbye to.

That said, this series is the next on my list of books to write. It WILL get done. Soon. Because I have plans and I plan on sticking to those plans. Plus, Ari and Liam and the rest of the crew deserve their happily ever afters.

So, let’s do this!

(Thus ends my pep talk to myself.)

 

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Anderson High Wolves Short – The Wheel Turns

The Wheel Turns

Anderson High Wolves

Natalie and Mason

 

“Trust me, Nat. You’ll have fun. Just try to relax a little, okay?”

Natalie did trust Mason. Absolutely. But she didn’t know if this type of outing was something she’d enjoy. As for relaxing, it wasn’t like she wasn’t trying, but keeping an eye on the horde of Mason’s younger brothers and sisters was hard.

Those little wolves could run fast when they saw something they wanted.

Heart in her throat, she watched as Mia, the youngest of the girls, scaled a small fence and dropped into the goat enclosure.

Before she could open her mouth to point out what Mia had done, one of Mason’s other siblings was there to pluck her out. Natalie could hear the scolding Mia was getting from where they stood and she blew out a long breath before plastering a smile on her face and sliding her hand into her boyfriend’s.

Mason had asked her to come to the county fair and she was darn well going to have a good time. Even if it killed her.

They were on a date. A date at a dusty, loud venue, surrounded by the entire clan of Armstrongs and she wasn’t going to let her nerves ruin it.

Mason tugged her away from the chaos of the front gate and angled them toward the line of people waiting to get on the Ferris wheel. “You look like you’re preparing for battle.”

Going out into non-enclosed spaces with Mason’s brothers and sisters sometimes felt like that.

Natalie loved the entire Armstrong horde to pieces, but watching over them when they were free to get into trouble frayed her nerves. Mia could have been hurt, for goodness sake.

“Natalie. Relax.”

She was trying.

Okay. She wasn’t trying nearly as hard as she could be. Natalie liked people and crowds and being in the middle of things, but the controlled chaos of the midway was a little overwhelming. She could do better.

“I’m fine.” She’d fake it until it became the truth for her beloved wolf. “I think I’m in sensory overload at the moment.”

Without a word, Mason tucked her against his side and that little white lie she’d told him just moments ago edged closer to being the truth.

Being with Mason did make things fine. Having his big body curved around hers made her feel safe. Protected. Anchored.

If enduring a little chaos made her wolf happy, she’d endure a little. Hell, she’d endure a lot. And she’d put on a happy face while doing it.

Warm lips brushed over her forehead. “You ready?”

They’d made it to the front of the line and Natalie nodded. Sure. She’d get in a swinging death trap for her man. Love made people do stupid things sometimes.

Stupid or not, she was going in.

The cage creaked when Mason settled onto the seat. Natalie told herself the attendant hadn’t glanced up at the support struts in concern. Still, she took Mason’s hand in her own as soon as he was seated. If something happened to this thing, he was the one who was going to save her. Holding onto him made sense.

The cage jerked and rose in the air. Natalie wondered how many more cages had to be unloaded and loaded before the ride could start.

“It’ll be okay.” Mason pried her fingernails out of his hand and gave her a calm smile. “Trust me.”

Easy for him to say. He had super healing and probably wouldn’t die if they—

Mason’s mouth stopped her grim thoughts in their tracks. His kiss soothed away her fear and had her turning toward him with an eager moan.

“See?” he whispered when they parted. “Everything’s okay.”

It was. It really was.

With a smile, he turned her face so she was looking out at the scenery instead of him. For a moment, Natalie couldn’t breathe. They weren’t at the apex of their climb yet, and the city was already laid out before them like a glowing map.

Streetlights stretched down the roads. Stoplights cycled through their colors. The sun had just dipped below the horizon and their little town looked like it was coming to life.

“It’s beautiful,” she choked out.

The wheel shuddered and began to turn and, for a moment, Natalie wanted to cry. She hadn’t gotten enough of it. A few more seconds was all she was asking.

At the lowest point of the ride, she could smell popcorn and something sweet. Her stomach rumbled and she mentally reminded herself to ask Mason to track down whatever that outstanding smell was.

Then they were rising again and she forgot all about food.

Something about the straight line of lights marching down the streets and the cars zipping between them captivated her. She loved it.

With a delighted laugh, Natalie turned toward the love of her life and smacked a kiss against his lips. “Thank you,” she said, her smile making her cheeks hurt. “Thank you for showing me this, you beautiful, perfect man.”

Mason’s smile might not have been as bright as hers, but Natalie felt it down to her toes. The man was downright lethal when he smiled. And if he smiled while taking down his hair? Hoo-boy! Or while taking off his shirt? Well, Natalie Lombard wasn’t one to swoon, but she’d very nearly done just that a time or two when her man flashed his pearly whites and some skin.

“I like that look in your eye, baby.”

Holy shit, they needed to get out of this cage before they gave the people on the midway a show of the X-rated variety.

Instead of listening to herself, Natalie leaned in and smacked another kiss against her wolf’s tempting mouth.

“How long do we have to stay at the fair, Mason?”

Her big wolf’s massive chest expanded as he sucked in a deep breath. “Nat—”

“Just curious.”

He swallowed. “Just a little while. Not long.”

He sounded like he was being tortured. Poor guy.

Whether they stayed for hours or left as soon as they got off the ride, Natalie didn’t care. As long as she was with Mason Armstrong, she’d be happy.

Settling back into her seat, Natalie smiled as she watched the city blossom before them again and again.

The End

Want to see how Natalie and Mason found their way together? Pick up All the Reasons Why or Anderson High Wolves: The Complete Novella Collection.

Missed any of the other shorts? Check out the Series Shorts page and get caught up.

The post Anderson High Wolves Short – The Wheel Turns appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Grimwood #5 is NOW AVAILABLE!

I am ABSOLUTELY GIDDY to be able to announce that Cursed Lives, the fifth Grimwood book, is NOW LIVE. Not everywhere, unfortunately, because apparently Super Bowl weekend isn’t the best time to release a book, but HEY. I HAVE A NEW BOOK OUT. (and I’ll update the book page with purchase links as soon as I get them!)

Seriously, my excitement is through the roof. Fen is my grouchy, grumbly boo and Gretchen is his sunny opposite. THEY’RE SO CUTE TOGETHER!

SO. FREAKING. CUTE.

Also, Fen’s story is one I’ve been itching to tell since he was first introduced.

Fact known only to myself: Fen wasn’t originally supposed to be the hero of this book. In fact, while I knew what fairy tale book 5 would be based on, I had no idea how it fit into the overall storyline until Fen’s introduction in…book 3? Eep. I’m, like, 98% certain that was the book he was first mentioned in. Anyway. Fen slid into the story and suddenly book 5 unfolded in my head.

By the by, Fen in complicated. He’s tortured by the past and doesn’t want to imagine a future after everything he’s been through. THE GUY KILLS ME. Good thing he has Gretchen to pull him out of his rut.

And…AND AND AND book 6 is *flaily hands and unintelligible sounds* Let’s just say everything the Grimms have been working toward pays off in the final book. Is that a spoiler? Well, spoiler, I write books with happy endings, so my characters will all walk away happy once this series ends. *more flaily hands*

But book 6 is in the future. Fen and Gretchen’s story is now. Grab it! Get caught up. Because the end is coming!

Cursed Lives

(Grimwood #5)

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo

Add on Goodreads

Release Date: February 3, 2018

Pages: 192

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Twisted Fairytale

Growing up wild in Grimwood, Gretchen Malloy knows her corner of the woods like the back of her hand. Stumbling over a previously undiscovered cabin to explore is the highlight of her lazy summer days.

Only, the cabin she found isn’t empty and the brooding, angry man who chases her away is almost too much excitement for her tastes. For all she might not be wanted, Gretchen’s terminal curiosity sends her back again and again until an unexpected friendship blossoms.

Fen Grimm knows exactly what he is—the crusty old loner who’s given up on the world outside his cabin and who wants nothing to do with Grimwood or any of its many inhabitants. He’s already loved and lost enough and he has no need to watch another mortal age and die before his eyes.

If only Grimwood didn’t need him, he’d be content to live out the rest of his long days alone. But when the magic in the wood calls, a Grimm must answer.

<< Cursed Touch - Cursed Heart >>

{series page}

{all books}

Psst. Want some hints on what’s coming in the final book of the Grimwood saga? I’m not saying you should take a peek at my Grimwood board on Pinterest or anything, but you should really take a look at my Grimwood board on Pinterest.

The post Grimwood #5 is NOW AVAILABLE! appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Looking Back on January

Umm…What the heck, January? I barely got to know you and now you’re gone. (although, I know a few people who are THRILLED to be seeing January in the rear-view mirror, so maybe that’s just me.)

What did I do in this wintry month? That is an excellent question. *thinks* I wrote. Not a lot, but I certainly logged several hours of writing time in. Those zombies don’t kill themselves, you know!

I sent Cursed Lives off for edits (you’ll be seeing that soooooon. I can feel it!). I can’t wait for you guys to meet Fen. He’s grumpy and grouchy and he has no clue what to do with the sunny woman who shows up at his door. HA!

I did a lot of backend stuff on my website that you probably won’t notice on the surface, but it will make navigating a little easier. Or more fun. FUN AND EASIER. It’ll be a party.

The Series Shorts continue to go up every Tuesday. I’m having a BLAST getting to revisit old characters. so those are going to continue until I run out of ideas. January’s shorts focused on Evie and Bas from the Demonkind Chronicles and I ADORE those two. So hard. Bas is so snarly except with his broken little wolf.

And…that’s about it.

Watch for Fen’s book to be coming soon. Seriously soon. Like within the next week. HE’S COMING!

The post Looking Back on January appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Demonkind Chronicles Short – Comfort Zone

Comfort Zone

Demonkind Chronicles

Evie

 

To Evie’s immense regret, things were getting back to normal in the house. The winter storm that had kept them housebound had eased and Arix had arrived earlier in the day, hauling in fresh supplies to restock the root cellar.

As the men worked on getting everything put away, Evie had felt like a fifth wheel—useless and in the way. She’d finally retreated to her upstairs room when Arix nearly knocked her off her feet as she tried to slip behind him to help put some of the supplies on shelves.

The good news was that Bas’s growl of annoyance at the near collision hadn’t sent her into a bout of panic. The bad news was that Evie had seen quite clearly that the quiet time she and Bas had spent together over the last week had come to an end.

So she’d dared to pat her demon on the arm and give him a shaky smile before leaving them to their task and heading upstairs.

Alone, she felt restless. There was too much energy under her skin. Her head kept circling around the things she and Bas had done to fill the long, quiet hours while alone in the house.

Funny, she wouldn’t have figured being trapped would be so enjoyable.

The itch under her skin got stronger. It was a drive to move and do something she’d never felt before. She wasn’t sure she liked it.

Bypassing the small couch, Evie stepped to the window and looked out at the frozen countryside beyond. It looked like something out of a fairytale—beautiful and deadly all at the same time.

The trees glittered with the ice dripping from the branches. If she were to step beneath them, would she look up to see an enchanted chandelier of light?

The whimsical thought made her smile.

Just as quickly, her smile faded.

She wouldn’t get to see what it was like beneath the trees. Her body might long to run and push itself to see what was out there, but her head wasn’t ready.

Not yet.

Bas would take her, but how long could she use him as a crutch before he grew tired of it.

Forever, came the soft whisper of her heart. He is yours.

True. But was that fair to him?

Bas was big and strong and he deserved someone who could at least show some bravery. Right now, she wasn’t that person. She was small and afraid. At times, her nightmares held more sway over her than the reality of the demon beside her.

She would change that. She’d made that decision and she was determined.

Day by day, piece by piece, she was rebuilding herself. She might never be the bright, brave girl her mother had praised her as, but she wasn’t the broken wolf her father had despised either.

She was something else.

Something between what she could have been and what she would be.

Evie might not be brave or strong or any number of things a demoness was, but Bas had chosen her all the same. He’d put his mark on her and he treasured her.

That was reason enough to keep pushing forward.

Pressing her fingers to the glass, Evie studied the frozen landscape laid out like a painting beneath her. The only thing holding her back from going out there was herself. She could find some warm clothes and bundle herself up and just do it.

Swallowing, she turned that idea over in her head.

Yes. She could do that.

She would do that.

Bas and Arix were still in the kitchen, their voices echoing through the house and making Evie’s heart swell with something bigger than her. She listened to them as she put on extra layers. They spoke of mundane things—how much firewood they had on hand, whether they should check the coop that corralled their chickens—and their easy camaraderie gave her pleasure.

Once dressed, she followed the sound of their voices until she hovered at the doorway, suddenly uncertain. She could go out. She would. But would Bas be hurt if she said she’d like to do it alone?

The demon in question watched her from where he stood by the monstrosity of a stove, one eyebrow quirked up. He knew. She could see it in his eyes.

“I’m going outside for a bit,” she blurted out before she lost her nerve.

Bas nodded even as Arix straightened and gave her a funny look. She probably looked ridiculous in all her layers, but that was the least of her worries.

“I won’t go far.” She was stalling. She knew that. Before Bas could offer to come with her and she’d have to turn him down, Evie darted for the door.

“Have fun,” was all he said and that tight place in Evie’s chest loosened.

Reckless momentum kept her moving forward until she was outside. As the door slammed shut behind her, Evie came to a halt and sucked in a shocked breath. Cold. So unbelievably cold. It was like someone had ripped the air from her lungs and it took a second for her to manage to breath properly again.

Once that was under control, she looked at the world and felt the deadly beauty of it seep into her.

Her garden was buried, the trees looked like sad giants struggling under a great burden.

But it was lovely. More so than she’d imagined when she looked down on it from above.

Feeling brave, Evie stepped away from the house and took a few hesitant steps into the untouched snow beyond the stoop. Wetness seeped into her shoes and she knew that would send her inside soon enough, but for now she enjoyed it.

The world was…beautiful. Strange and deadly and beautiful.

Just like her demon. The only difference between them was that Bas wasn’t cold.

Smiling, Evie turned in a circle and took it all in.

She’d been brave. She’d stepped outside her comfort zone all on her own and found something wondrous.

She’d climbed a hurdle that had felt impossible just a few months before and she was stronger for it.

When the door opened behind her and a hard body fitted itself to her back, Evie’s smile grew. She was cold and a little damp around the edges and she felt good.

Her protective demon had given her the few minutes she needed to prove to herself she could do this and that was enough.

She was enough.

She was enough. 

The End

Want to see how Evie and Bas first met? Grab Demon Restrained for the beginning of their story.

Missed any of the other shorts? Check out the Series Shorts page and get caught up.

The post Demonkind Chronicles Short – Comfort Zone appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Next Steps…

I have a bunch of random things I want to talk about and absolutely NO idea how to organize these thoughts. I guess that means I’ll just dive on in!

This week has been good. I’ve been writing (always nice), I’ve been planning (say what!?!), and my next release is in my editor’s hands as I type (figuratively speaking). All that’s great (REALLY GREAT!), but I also feel weirdly unfocused.

Like, there are things I should be doing, but aren’t.

I took most of the month of December off from writing and other authorly things (which was needed, I think) and now I feel like I should be further along in getting shit done for 2018. Finding my rhythm again isn’t easy. Which is why I always say if you have momentum, keep going. Because once that momentum is lost, it’s hard to pick it up again.

Okay. This is starting to feel like a downer of a post, so I’m going to switch tracks and remind myself of the other side of things.

Things like, I have A TON of ideas for new books. A TON. My short story ideas board on Pinterest got a work out this week. The only question I have is when will I have time to write the things percolating in my head? IDEAS! YAY!

I’ve been reading (and rereading) so many excellent books. As a writer, I think it’s crazy important to read read read because every book you pick up (both good, bad, and in-between) helps you refine your own writing. And when the books are page-turners that make you get lost in them? GLORIOUS!

So, yeah, I feel unfocused. But not for long. I have plans. Plaaaaaans!

Time to get shit done!

The post Next Steps… appeared first on Kelly Apple.

Demonkind Chronicles Short – Storm Warnings

Storm Warnings

Demonkind Chronicles

Evie and Bas

 

Exhaustion weighed Evie down and she blinked at the fire crackling in the fireplace, confused.

Hadn’t Bas been carrying her upstairs earlier? This was the parlor, though. Which was clearly downstairs.

And she was on the couch, her favorite blanket tucked around her.

Sitting up, Evie tried not to let panic get the best of her.

No matter what was going on, she was safe. Bas wouldn’t let anything happen to her in his house.

Unless…unless something had happened to him.

Instinct nearly had her scrambling off the couch to run shrieking through the house to find him.

But she was more than instinct.

Think. She’d woken with the fire fully stoked and her blanket covering her. The house was quiet, no sounds of a struggle or fighting coming from any direction.

There was only the incessant howl of the wind as the winter storm battered the countryside.

Okay. Use your brain, idiot.

Bas wasn’t hurt. He hadn’t left her.

A curl of steam caught her eye. A mug. There was a mug sitting on the side table, still hot enough to send up steam.

Wherever Bas was, he hadn’t been gone long.

A slow breath in and then out.

She was fine. Bas was fine. She couldn’t let her fear shatter her.

All she had to do was pull the blanket off her legs and swing her feet to the floor. She could stand up and go find her beloved demon.

She could do this.

Her body refused to cooperate.

Instead of bounding up, she sat there like the useless waste of space she was. She was the idiot who couldn’t—

No. That was her father talking.

Blocking out the cruel words she’d heard more than once, Evie pulled up the memory of Bas’s voice. The first day of the storm, they’d been up in the little room she’d claimed as her own. Her demon’s voice had rumbled in her ear when she’d been curled on his lap.

She liked the way his massive chest vibrated slightly when he spoke. It soothed her. When she tucked her head into his shoulder, her forehead against the side of his neck, it let her feel his words throughout her body.

That was what she needed to focus on.

Bas. His voice. His wicked smile. The words he growled in her ear when they were tangled up in bed.

The tightness in her chest eased and Evie felt like she could breathe again.

He wouldn’t leave her. Not him.

He was here. Somewhere. Likely making her food since he’d made it his mission to soften some of the sharp edges starvation and fear had given her under her father’s—

No. Her father wasn’t allowed here.

Not again.

Another slow deep breath, in and out.

“My little kitten’s finally awake, I see.”

There. That was the only voice she wanted to hear today. The only face she wanted to see.

Her demon was beautiful. Strong and proud, his horns a majestic sweep off his brow. There was a dark mark at the junction of his throat, right over the scars she’d given him when they mated, and it took a moment of hard staring for Evie to figure out what it was.

She’d marked him.

She remembered latching onto that spot during the height of their love play earlier. Part of her wishing she could bite him again and part of her not wanting to cause him any pain.

Instead she’d left a love bite behind. Not quite the bite she’d wanted to give him, but a stark reminder of the hours they’d spent together.

She knew she was blushing. She could feel the heat in her cheeks, making them burn brighter than the fire. Sweat blossomed at the small of her back and she ducked her head so Bas wouldn’t know how much that small mark affected her.

But he knew.

Her demon could read her so well.

“Like that, do you?” he murmured.

Evie squirmed. She did. It scared her and aroused her and made her very glad they were the only two locked in the house right now.

“Maybe,” he went on, his voice the low rumble she loved, “you need a matching mark.”

A shiver worked its way down her spine.

Bas gave a low, wicked laugh. “That sounds like a fun way to spend the afternoon.”

It sounded like the best kind of torture.

Daring to be bold, Evie raised her head and focused on his beautiful mouth. Words failed her, but when she reached for Bas, he understood.

And Bas did, indeed, spend the rest of the afternoon leaving his mark on her.

The End

Want to see how Evie and Bas first met? Grab Demon Restrained for the beginning of their story.

The post Demonkind Chronicles Short – Storm Warnings appeared first on Kelly Apple.

What I’m Reading

I spent the last week-ish on a reread of two different series. AND I’M LOVING THEM SO HARD.

Reread #1: Gemini by Hailey Edwards

Set in the Black Dog universe, Gemini follows Camille Ellis as she hunts down a supernatural serial killer who has a taste for little girls. Sounds terrible, right? It is. Mostly because every death has a meaning in the grand scheme of things. Plus, Cam is dealing with some serious survivor’s guilt from the childhood accident that killed her twin and is skating on the edge of a massive breakdown.

Oh, and she has a totally hunk-a-licious warg hanging around. The fact Graeson makes a mess of things between them when they first meet makes their eventual coming together even sweeter.

I’ve reread the first 3 books plus a couple of short stories already and I’m in love love love with this world all over again. Book 4 is queued up and it starts the second arc that ties up a WHOLE lot of loose ends and totally upends the fae/supernatural world.

*squealy noises*

Reread #3: Hidden Legacy by Ilona Andrews

HOLY.WOW. I love Nevada and Rogan so very, very much. Nevada is strong and determined and knows her own worth. What she doesn’t realize is the magical talent she’s been concealing is so much more than she ever thought it was. Meanwhile, Rogan’s the most dangerous man alive (I might be exaggerating a tiny bit on that) and Nevada’s willingness to go toe-to-toe with him shakes his world to its very foundation.

I SERIOUSLY adore these two. They’re snarky and snarly and HAWT together. The bad guys are appropriately awful and the good guys sometimes go off the rails.

There you have it. Two series, both urban fantasy, both FANTASTIC in different ways.

The post What I’m Reading appeared first on Kelly Apple.