Aldrea Alien's Blog, page 7

Rainbow Snippets: Isolated

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

The day drifted on much the same as yesterday. Silence lingered over the group, what had been awkward quiet now tensing with each passing hour. Authril led the way, although there wasn’t any chance of anyone getting lost with a solid route stretched before them.

He wished the road carried more than themselves to their destination, but they encountered not a soul. He’d grown used to the bustle of others, the carts that trundled along, others on foot trudging just as earnestly as they, the few on horseback who looked down upon the rest. He supposed there wasn’t much call for farmers or merchants out in the middle of nowhere.

That was where his home had stood. Isolated. He recognised that now. Remote in a way that people could forget the spellsters who had once walked amongst them.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

The Merch Shop Opens!

I’ve been busy over the past few months gathering up the ideas I’ve had over the years for merch and, finally, opening a little shop with them all. When did it open? Today! It’s my birthday, after all, and choosing today as the grand opening was the perfect little present for me!

There’s a bunch of different items all pertaining to the spellster universe. My favourite so far has been the little badges with terms of endearment “written” in the character’s handwriting. The tee I also have is nice and I’m eyeing a couple of the notebooks even though I don’t use the ones I have. The shoe mug would be nice to have, too. And the crest… but in magnet form or sticker? Hmm.

I may need to get myself a few more prezzies.

You can peruse the items on the store here or through the menu up top.

Rainbow Snippets: Just another ruin…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

The others turned at the sound. Both the hound and the warrior regarded the way with grim faces. Marin looked less stoic, but held her composure. It was the hedgewitch who clapped a hand over her mouth.

Steeling himself, he faced the sight.

He had looked back the once since leaving the tower to burn, just before they left the road yesterday evening. It had sat high above the tree tops, tendrils of smoke drifting alongside the clouds.

Now, that same sky sat empty of its silhouette. Fresh smoke billowed up to fill the space, the unburnt supports from the upper levels having fallen into the fire he started. The shell of what had been all he’d known of the world for almost three decades finally succumbing to its fate as another of Demarn’s ruins.

Dylan turned his back on it. He didn’t need more horror to fuel his nightmares.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: A rumble from the tower…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

Dylan gathered his things and readied himself for their journey whilst everyone else moved through their tasks shrouded in awkward silence. Not even Authril insisted he do anything whilst the tents were swiftly dismantled and stowed, the fire doused and buried to ensure nothing whipped up an ember. Food was either shoved into packs or people’s mouths.

By the time they were done, their mark on this little section of the forest was barely noticeable. Dylan couldn’t understand why the rest were being so thorough, they hadn’t on their northward journey.

They forged their way back through the undergrowth, reaching the road the same time a deafening rumble rolled across the ground. The source unmistakably coming from the direction of the tower.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Unbelieved

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

Concern moulded Tracker’s brow. He took a step closer.

“I’m fine,” he blurted.

The hound halted, albeit with visible reluctance. His lips pursed in disbelief, the usually unflattering expression oddly endearing. “As you say.”

Marin laid a hand on Dylan’s shoulder, squeezing slightly. She looked just as unconvinced as Tracker.

“Let’s break camp and move on,” Authril declared, stomping towards the tent she had shared with the other women.

The remaining trio shared a meaningful look that Dylan didn’t understand. Then, Tracker shrugged and followed the example, prompting the other two women to do the same.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Punishment of the outed.

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

Authril remained silent, but her stare remained unforgiving and distant. Her earlier sourness seemed to have etched itself into her face, even as she struggled to smooth her features and make her observation of him less noticeable. He’d seen such looks before, whenever the guardians thought someone was overstepping their freedoms.

Did she actually know what had happened between him and the hound? Had she heard Tracker’s brazen mention of it last night? No, not then. Or at any other time, otherwise she would’ve been ranting about that, demanding she spend every second at Dylan’s side.

Nowhere alone. Constantly watched. His movements scrutinised. Each social interaction judged for the hidden meaning. Every smile. Every look. The punishment of the outed. It taunted him, even out here. He couldn’t run from it. Couldn’t rest for one moment without the threat of its clawed fingers wrapping around his neck.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Reasonably…

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

Dylan flung back the tent flap, the act startling Marin and drawing everyone’s attention. He winced, an apology stuttering from his lips. He’d forgotten her closeness to the tent.

She waved off his words with a good-natured smile.

“My dear spellster,” Tracker said. “It is a pleasure to see you up and about. You look…” The man’s piercing gaze ran over him. Could he somehow tell Dylan had used magic within the tent? Even something as simple as a shield? Did he wonder why? Suspect? Know? “…reasonably rested.”

“Reasonably,” he echoed despite feeling nothing of the sort.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Silence… good or bad?

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

The warrior wouldn’t allow anyone to use him like that. She had barely tolerated him being in the brothel where he’d done nothing beyond looking. And being almost kissed. She’d spoken at great lengths regarding her opinion on Tracker’s actions there.

If he was to be leashed, to have a warden overseeing his every move, he would vastly prefer it was her.

Certain the threat of vomiting had given up tormenting his gut, he wrapped his arms around his knees and squeezed until his breathing finally calmed. Only then, did he let his shield dissipate.

The arguing had stopped. With the tension lingering in the air like the smoke clinging to his robes, he wasn’t sure the silence was a good thing.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: Safe?

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

Liquid collected in the back of his mouth, burning his throat. He clapped his hands over his lips in an effort to keep himself from spewing the contents across his blankets. His innate healing rushed to mend the affected area, its constant soothing leaving a tingling patch. His breath fought for release, shuddering out his nose in burbling puffs.

The crude, shimmering shape of his shield enclosed him, muffling the arguing voices that continued outside.

He closed his eyes, blocking out the light. He was safe here. He’d a hound to watch over him, a hedgewitch that few people would risk, a concerned friend in Marin and…

Authril.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!

Rainbow Snippets: An unaccountable warden

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week and share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation.

Being a sequel, In Love and Death is set directly after In Pain and Blood. Some snippets will contain spoilers of those events.

Following on from last week’s snippet…

Dylan sagged, the tent flap slithering back into place and obscuring the arguing duo. He hadn’t fully accepted what awaited him at Wintervale, but the hound’s words had brought the stark reality of it crashing down. He would be leashed, he knew that.

But to be placed under another warden?

With only one spellster available, whoever became his warden would undoubtedly be granted a lot of prestige. They’d be untouchable. Unaccountable for anything done to him beyond his own death. And if it wasn’t someone he knew, someone he could trust…

The hollowness in his fellow spellster’s eyes. The abuse heaped upon them. No beatings, nothing that would leave a mark and make those higher in command look twice, but forced into sexual acts they’d no say in performing. The utter glee in his warden’s laughter as he bragged about past conquests, promising that Dylan would do his own share of servicing.

I’ll be back with more from In Love and Death next weekend. In the meantime, check out these other snippets.

If you’re looking for more news of my books, be sure to “Like” my Facebook page and/or join me in my Facebook group!