Skye Ritchey's Blog, page 18

Sunday Snippet: Price Paid

Crazy week with projects finishing up and new ones starting. I love the variety of editing work I have right now.

Pretty decent week of television. I got caught up and back on my regular schedule for the most part. I have a few new recommendations and I have to decide if I'm going to work those shows into my weekly viewing calendar.

To start things off this week, I caught an episode of The Ready Room with a recap of season two, episode nine. This was such a great one. I always love when the interviewee is a huge fan of the franchise.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med. I'm a little disgusted by Nat's storyline even if I'm thrilled to bits that she kicked Philip to the curb. I'm so glad Maggie finally told the others what's going on with her. Nice to see Noah kind of stepping up and growing in his role as a resident. I love this show.

Enjoyed an episode of The Snoopy Show. I kind of like it when they let Snoopy act like a dog and enjoy things like head scratches. So much fun.

Caught the bonus episode of Signora Volpe with behind the scenes cast interviews. I'm hoping there will be another season of this show because I really love the characters.

Watched a well-done first-parter of Silent Witness. This arc is very twisty and turny. I have a solid idea of who the killer is and why they're trying to set up Nicki. Can't wait to find out if I'm right.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Who. Ace is rather fun and I like how she handled the betrayal. This is another episode kind of set in the fifties and that always interests me because it was such a thing in the late seventies and early eighties.

Started season three (because there is no season two) of Most Terrifying Places in America. This one focused on haunted road trips and I liked the change in the format. I'll finish the series out before starting something new.

Finished the first season of The Mandalorian. I truly loved it! Now I have to decide if I'm going to dive right into the next season or start a new show and wait until it's closer to season three. Stay tuned.

Caught an episode of Harrow and, whoo boy, the walls are closing in. James is a big, fat liar—about everything. Nichols is completely in the know and it kind of breaks my heart because Harrow needs friends and he might have burned a bridge here. I still completely dislike the boss person even though they tried to soften her up by giving her a kid. Sorry, not buying it.

Watched an episode of Blue Heelers and loved it. A very young Sullivan Stapleton guest starred and the storyline rocked. Good stuff.

Enjoyed another MasterClass with Roxane Gay. She discussed the writing process in this lesson and I took away some good information.

Also caught two more episodes of Classic Rugrats and took another trip down memory lane. This show played such a huge role in my kids' childhoods. Makes me happy to reminisce.

That's pretty much it for this week's life update. Tonight's post is from Price Paid, a novella that explores the cost of a perceived betrayal and the weight of guilt between a couple who isn't supposed to be together.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Reva Bane's actions lead Mitch Vanderman to a lot of harm, but seeking atonement shouldn't cause so much pain. Then again, betrayal sometimes demands a price paid in blood, and Reva is willing to shed some if he'll finally forgive her.

And a preview snippet…

Reva ran to the bathroom and heaved, barely making it to the toilet. Alonzo followed along behind her, handing over a cold washcloth when she finished.

Reva wiped her mouth then turned and punched Alonzo in the face. "Get out. Right now." She pointed to the door. "And don't come back for at least a week."

Alonzo rubbed his jaw. "Barax isn't gonna like you going ghost."

Reva snarled an obscenity. "Barax can haul his ass here if he's got a problem with me." She pinned Alonzo with her gaze. "But be forewarned. He won't leave here alive if he decides to drop by. I'd be doing us all a favor and you know it."

Alonzo shrugged. "Not gonna argue. And he's not stupid enough to test your resolve. But … he can and will make everything in your life shit until one of you either dies or gives in."

Reva lifted her chin. "He already shit on the one good thing in my life." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And there's no coming back from it." The utter hatred on Mitch's face would haunt her.

Probably forever.

Alonzo blinked, the truth finally hitting him. "Vanderman meant that much to you." His jaw flexed, but not from pain this time. "Shit, Reva. I didn't know. I really didn't."

Reva didn't want to talk about Mitch. "No, you didn't. And you still don't." She nodded toward the door again. "I won't ask a second time. Five second rule before I kick your ass out of my sanctuary. I don't give a flying fuck what you tell Barax or if you tell him anything at all." She exited the bathroom and went back to the window. "But if anyone shows up in the next seven days, no one will ever find their bodies." She shot him a sideways glance. "That includes you." As much as she counted on Alonzo, he'd let her down with this situation.

Alonzo held up his hands. "I got the message. Loud and clear." He paused at the door. "But if you need anything, reach out. You don't think so right now, but I do have your back." He moved forward again, his booted feet clomping down the steps.

Reva pressed her face against the cool glass. "Too little, too late." Tears spilled over her lashes and she dashed them away.

Crying wouldn't absolve her sin.

Only Mitch could do that.

And her gut said they weren't finished yet.

Reva has a hard road ahead and she'll be very careful with giving her trust to anyone—even after Alonzo vows to have her back.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Prank Police

Wow. June flew by in a wild blur. Half the year is gone and I'm kind of wondering where it went. July and August are going to be fairly busy with some time off in each month that I'm not quite ready for but probably need to recharge.

Didn't get as much television watched this week. I struggled to get through a new-to-me show and probably won't finish it.

I watched an episode of The Snoopy Show and finished the first season. All in all, an enjoyable watch. I'll start the second season this week.

The show I struggled with is Resort to Murder. I think because it got a somewhat slow start and the pacing is slower than I like. I might revisit this one at a later date.

Watched another episode of Silent Witness and liked where it ended up. The story took a somewhat expected twist and I loved it.

Caught another episode of Classic Who. The daleks are up to their usual insane plots and I kind of like Ace as the new companion.

Finished the first season of Most Terrifying Places in America. Oddly, the next season is three and I can't find a second season … so there's that weird twist.

Almost finished with the first season of The Mandalorian. This show makes me happy. I haven't decided if I'm going to go right into the second season or if I'll wait until the third one is ready to launch. Stay tuned.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys and enjoyed it a lot. Things are getting very twisty and turny and I'm here for it. Looking forward to the next episode.

Thought I finished the first season of The Babysitter's Club, but I have two more episodes to watch. I started episode nine and look forward to seeing what Camp Moosehead has in store for the group.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from The Prank Police, a novella that puts the main characters in the hot seat and has them paying back a long-overdue debt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

The mage academy is rife with pranksters and Zenna Doyle and Kyrk Rydercroft must corral the new recruits when they all test their new found powers. And to top it off, the couple pulls duty at the worst time—the night of the blue moon when magic is at its strongest.

And a preview snippet…

Kyrk met Zenna in the quad. "How did the meeting with campus security go?" He fell into step beside her.

Zenna rolled her eyes. "Basically, he's less than thrilled. But he'll have his people on standby if they're needed." She took a left and headed for the school of alchemy. "Did you cover everything with the healing center?"

Kyrk gave a nod. "I gave them the list of supplies to have on hand." Usually that included a lot of salves, poultices, and warming stations for when the adepts decided to freeze the lake. "The healers are on alert. They're also less than excited about finals week during a blue moon." He trotted up the steps of the building and pulled the door open. "Once we get this place warded, we should put a protective shield around the healing centers, just in case." He waited for Zenna to enter then let the heavy oak swing shut behind them.

Zenna made her way down the darkened corridor. "I wish someone would've had the foresight to ward this place during our finals week." Her lips curved. "But then we would've missed the look on Max's face when he had to wade through the sea of foam to get to the second floor." She made a stop by the alchemist lab and placed a series of runes on the threshold then sealed them.

Kyrk chuckled. "Personally, I admired his creative language when he realized the foam turned his skin green … and wouldn't wear off for two days." Geez, they'd been lucky he didn't expel them for that prank.

Zenna bit back a laugh. "He's got a flair for making compound words." She jogged up to the second floor.

Kyrk took his time, his mind filled with memories of the crazy stunts they got away with. He stopped outside another lab and used runes to ward the space. Zenna took care of shielding a supply room. She turned and met him at the top of the steps.

On the way down, she snapped her fingers. "Damn. We should stop by and give the head greenskeeper a crash course in countering some of the weird shit he'll be dealing with." She snorted. "Or just give him our number and tell him to hit us up with anything he can't handle."

Kyrk frowned. "You think he'll need to?" He exited the building started down the steps.

Zenna snagged his arm. "He'll need to. Remember how we decided the quad needed gigantic lollipops and the hiking trail should have a glass path?" She shook her head. "What the hell were we thinking with that one?"

Kyrk groaned. "I regret the glass path." The super slippery trail caused quite a few injuries. "But the lollipops were cool."

Zenna started back toward the quad. "Yeah, they were." She grinned. "We were so stressed out after finishing our exams we got a little power-drunk."

He flashed a smile. "Too true." He sobered. "Can you imagine if there'd been a blue moon when we ruled hell week?"

Zenna met his gaze. "Uh-uh. Probably good there wasn't one. Max would've lost his mind." She grabbed Kyrk's hand. "And it's possible we might have blown up the entire academy."

Kyrk hauled her close. "I refuse to believe that. We kept each other in check even when we were wreaking havoc." His lips brushed over hers.

She wrapped her arms around him. "Okay, we did. But I don't think we'll be as lucky." Tilting her head back, she pulled a face. "We'd be smart to get some rest now. It's gonna be a long-ass week."

Kyrk grunted. "Point made. Let's go." Easing away, he twined his fingers with hers.

Let the games begin…

I'm having a lot of fun with this story. Kyrk and Zenna are going to have their hands full even after trying to protect everything.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Place of Honor

Had a much calmer week and got caught up on almost everything—including laundry. I can honestly say that hasn't happened for a long time. Multiple work projects are churning along and I'm also getting some writing and creative endeavors accomplished. I've been sleeping a lot better and I'm pretty sure that's playing a big role in lighting the spark.

Or the planets are aligned in a specific pattern and helping me along. Either is possible.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. I got two MasterClasswith Roxane Gay lessons viewed and I really like listening to her. She's got some terrific things to say.

Finished up the first season of the Babysitter's Club and thoroughly enjoyed watching. I'm glad there's another season to dive into.

Caught another episode of the Ready Room. Ethan Peck had some great things to say about playing Spock and I'm excited to see him on the new Trek.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med and hope to finish watching a crossover episode to find out what happens.

Enjoyed another episode of The Snoopy Show. I think I have one more for the first season and then I'll start on the second.

Finished Signora Volpe and loved the first season. I really hope there's more of this show. If not, at least I like where they left things.

Watched the beginning of a Silent Witness two-parter. Loved the setup on this one. Looking forward to finishing up the second half.

Started season twenty-five of Classic Who. The daleks are back and we'll see how things play out in this arc.

Caught another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. Weirdly, I'm not horrified by any of those locations after this week. Living in my own house is scary at the moment.

Watched another episode of The Mandalorian. I loved this one. Smart heroes make me happy and Mando is very smart. I also enjoyed a few laugh out loud moments and that's a bonus.

Harrow had an interesting episode and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet. I hate that Harrow has been betraying Nichols and it's going to bite him on the ass. I really like the growth they've had over the past two seasons and I'm not going to be thrilled if they trash that.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers and finished up a two-parter. I liked the conclusion and the way they resolved the hostage situation.

Also enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats, both had moments I'd forgotten and I loved catching little details.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Place of Honor, a paranormal romance that sends the characters in opposite directions for a while.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A band of bounty hunters go after urban legends, bagging, tagging, and removing the threat from cities, towns, villages, and sprawling rural landscapes. Wiley Star has a score to settle and Hex Harrigan can't deny her quest for vengeance—but when Wiley lands on the wrong end of a double cross, it's up to Hex to track her whereabouts and save the day, which proves difficult because his personal feelings keep getting in the way.

And a preview snippet…

Two days later and his lips still tingled from Wiley's parting kiss. "How can something that barely lasted three seconds linger so long?" Maybe because she'd packed a heavy promise in that brief window of time.

They could have a future … if she didn't let the past pull her under.

Hex sighed. "Vengeance can cut both ways, Wiley. You never remember that." Then again, he didn't have a sibling who'd had his back when it mattered.

Vella Star might have been the younger sister, but she took on the role of protector and put herself in harm's way to safeguard Wiley after she stirred up a nest of trouble with the Reavers. Finding Vella sprawled on the side of the road, dead, sent Wiley into a tailspin. She immediately wanted every Reaver on a pike.

Hex shook his head. "Except they didn't claim responsibility." They usually left their calling card in plain sight for everyone to see.

Reputations and cred were prime commodities on the street, especially when competition turned fierce.

Drumming his fingers on the table, he mentally sifted through what they had on Vella's grisly death. She'd been beaten. Probably abused and violated. Strangulation ended her life.

But … she hadn't been marked by a blade or ink. Her face hadn't been touched, meaning all the damage had been from her throat down to her toes. The Reavers being behind the killing didn't make sense. Their MO to date included some kind of branding—either by a knife or an iron. The keepers—men and women trafficked into servitude—were tatted up with ownership clearly laid out in bold black ink.

Hex got up and paced back and forth. "I don't like this. Don't like it all." He didn't trust the intel.

"You don't like what?" Jace Savitch pushed away from the door jamb and entered the office. "The hole you're wearing in the floor?"

Hex narrowed his gaze. "I'm not wearing anything in the floor. I think better on my feet." He paused then sat back down. "But not right now."

Jace turned a chair around and settled onto it. "Look, Seth's coming in soon for night watch. Let's go patrol for a while. Maybe you'll uncover some new leads." His lips quirked. "Or kick some ass. Ass-kicking can help you think, too."

Hex snorted. "That's not a bad idea." He met Jace's gaze. "You're cool with being out late? Mona's not gonna chew you out for not being home?" He wouldn't step on toes if he could help it.

But patrolling might give him the outlet he needed to work through his unease. And Jace would keep him in check. His day watch leader read Hex's moods well. Especially considering Hex didn't have to explain what had his gut twisted in knots. Jace caught the lowdown the vibe in the room.

Jace shook his head. "Nah, man. Mona's spending the next three weeks working a couple of ren faires. Said she'd make contact if she hustled any information out of anybody." He stood up. "Gonna get Meat to cover for me in the morning. We can hunt all night if you want."

Hex got to his feet. "That's a plan. Meet me at Monk's Tavern when you're ready. I've got an informant that could use a shake-up."

Jace gave a two-fingered salute and left to find Mike Brandish—Meat. Hex stocked up on a few tricks of the trade and made his way through the clubhouse. Most of the hunters greeted him with head nods or chin lifts. No one asked him about Wiley or the Reavers. Hex had no doubt Jace and his counterpart on night watch, Seth Montgomery, had a hand in keeping the others in check.

Once outside, Hex breathed a little easier. The place seemed too quiet, especially when the others were keeping their mouths shut about Wiley's absence. Hell, Wiley lit the place up on a regular basis, stirring shit up to keep things interesting.

Swinging a leg over his motorcycle, he owned how much he liked having her be a huge pain in his ass.

Then he hoped like mad he'd get to have that experience again…

This story goes a little darker than usual for me. Wiley and Hex are very clear on how they want things to play out and I'm settling in for the ride.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Pit and the Pyre

Geez, what a week. Starting late Monday night, a super-cell storm blew through Ohio. Around 11:30 pm, the tornado sirens went off in my little village. We took cover in our bathroom, mainly because our two doggos will not go down the basement steps and the bathroom is the most protected interior room in the house. By 12:15 am, we got the all clear, but the power went out around 12:05 … and didn't come back on until Thursday at 5:30 pm. It's been … a wild week.

Thankfully, we were able to borrow a generator to keep our AC (temps in the mid to high 90s), fridge and freezers going. We had one light in our living room and a charging station to keep our devices charged up. Not that it mattered much. The storm damaged a cell tower and we barely had a signal. I literally had one spot in the house where I could get one. The joys of living in a rural area.

Spent most of my time keeping the generator full, checking on my neighbors, and checking out my dad's house—luckily for him, he'd left early Tuesday morning for a vacation—after rerouting to get to the airport. Downed trees were everywhere. All in all, though, we were very lucky that we didn't have a lot of damage. Unfortunately, my cousin had a tree fall on their house. Weirdly, we had another storm blow through on Thursday that caused three fires from lightning strikes. Mother Nature isn't messing around right now.

So … I had a very minimal viewing week. And I'm playing catch-up on my work projects. I don't mind being a little bit behind, mainly because I'm happy and grateful we still have a house and didn't lose our fully stocked freezers. A huge hat-tip to the linemen and workers who still have their hands full trying to restore power to other locations.

I did get an episode of The Snoopy Show in. I'm almost finished with the first season and I'll be checking out the second one after I'm done.

I caught the cast interviews for Loch Ness and enjoyed getting some insight into the characters and the actors portraying them. I'll be finishing up with behind the scenes sometime next week.

Finished up a Silent Witness two-parter and quite enjoyed the twisty turns the episode took. I'm very much liking the later seasons of this show.

Ended up completing season 24 of Classic Who. Mel is going off on her own adventure and it looks like Ace is going to be the new companion. I'll start season 25 this week.

Caught another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. A focus on historical locations ended up being pretty interesting.

Watched another episode of The Mandalorian. Again, I love the pacing of this show. There are a lot of little moments that stack up to add great impact.

Got another episode of The Hardy Boys in and the plot is getting deeper. There's a lot of cat and mouse stuff going on and I kind of like it. The pacing is a little weird but I'm happy to overlook a few glitches.

Also caught another episode of Peak Practice to round out the week. Not sure if I'll be caught back up by my next post, but I'm only a little behind and can live with that.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from The Pit and the Pyre, a novella that puts the characters on the path to a reunion but the obstacles are many along the way.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Virgo Sohn walks through five years of hellfire to get back to Gunn Gladstone, but she finds him married to Glynne Allmore. Accepting the hand dealt, Virgo refuses to explain the circumstances of her return until Glynne succumbs to a raging virus and Gunn feels he should join her on the pyre.

And a preview snippet…

Gunn paused outside the maze. "Why? Why couldn't she trust me?" Did it matter?

At the moment, not one damn bit. Even if she did trust him, she'd convinced herself she had to go. To leave him and the assembly in the dust.

He started for the quorum hall. "I'll never forgive her for that." How could he, especially after laying everything on the line for her?

Entering the huge building, steeped with magick and wisdom along with storied history, he headed for the assembly chambers where he'd have to start putting a game plan together so he didn't lose any ground after backing Virgo earlier.

He'd almost made it to his office when Vausch Minslow poked his head out of a conference room. Gunn kept his grimace inside; Minslow led the opposition and spearheaded the campaign to send Virgo to exile. Gunn didn't need a confrontation right now.

He greeted his colleague. "Minslow. You're here late." He crossed the corridor and twisted the knob of his office door.

Vausch darted out of the darkened room and followed. "Been waiting on you. That was quite a speech you gave earlier. Virgo should be groveling at your feet." He stepped inside Gunn's space uninvited.

Gunn went behind his desk, needing some distance away from Minslow. "What the hell for? Being the lone voice of dissent?" He snorted. "Didn't do her any good." And it didn't matter now.

Vausch shook his head. "You'd be wrong there. The quorum convened a special session and took another vote." He made a sour face. "You changed enough minds to have a majority. The decision to banish her has been reversed."

Gunn swallowed his shock. And then his anger. She'd left for nothing. Entered the pit of hellfire, sacrificing herself for her family's sins … for no damned reason.

Gunn's fingers curled into his palms to avoid letting his magick loose on Vausch. "Doesn't matter." He met the other man's gaze, carefully keeping his rage in check. "You got your wish. Virgo's gone."

Minslow's eyebrows arched. "She didn't waste any time." He shrugged. "I'm sure you can reach out. Let her know she's got a reprieve."

Gunn lifted his chin. "You'd be wrong there." He directed Minslow's words back to him. "She didn't leave the assembly." He paused, taking a moment to suppress the bile rising in his throat. "Virgo entered the pit."

Vausch's face took on a sickly green pallor. "She did what? But that means—"

Gunn cut Minslow off. "Yeah, it does. It means she's executing a trial by hellfire."

And no one in the history of the assembly had ever survived once they'd been consumed by the flames.

I love how much Gunn dislikes Vausch. He can't quite put his finger on the why—with the exception of Vausch leading the charge to get rid of Virgo—but Gunn really loathes the guy.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Picture Perfect

We had some rain that gave us mild temperatures, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I don't mind hot weather but there's something about being able to be outside with a nice breeze and sunshine that makes me happy.

Solid work week. Had a few small projects that I cleared off my desk and had a new one arrive in my inbox. My plates seem to be spinning nicely at the moment.

Good week of viewing. I did the same thing as last week and only tried for one round of my usual streaming services. I might be adding one more to the list after talking to my sibling. He made some good recommendations.

Watched another episode of The Snoopy Show. This one had a vignette on using the library and happiness being a good book. I feel that sentiment all the way to my toes.

Caught another episode of Signora Volpe. I love this show. I truly hope there will be another series because there's only one episode left.

Viewed the first of a two-part Silent Witness and ended up being very intrigued. Very much looking forward to the second part of this one.

Enjoyed the second part of a Classic Who arc. It's nice to see a familiar face from a previous incarnation. The third part will be the end of this season, I think. I'm not sure if there's another one after this. If not, I'll be starting a new show before I dive into New Who.

Watched another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. I'm fascinated by the legend and lore revealed in the sequences. I'm not sure I'd be cool with trying to stay somewhere that's known for being haunted but I love hearing about the stories.

Caught another episode of The Mandalorian. Gotta say I'm thoroughly enjoying this show. The pacing is excellent and I'm excited to see what happens next.

Viewed another episode of Harrow and I truly dislike the new boss. I'm also not thrilled with Grace's ex being in town. If there's another season and things get really convoluted, I'm done. As much as I love the cases, I don't want the other drama.

Enjoyed another episode of Blue Heelers. I liked seeing how another country handles the wildfires that tend to rage at the worst possible time. Not really into the whole taking the hospital hostage thing, mainly because the two characters are a little too over the top for me. We'll see how the second part goes this week.

Started a new MasterClass with Roxane Gay. I'm very much looking forward to her lessons.

Watched another Babysitter's Club and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. It's nice to see more of the sibling relationships and the way the parents interact.

Viewed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. One was a favorite and the other was one I thoroughly enjoy.

Caught another episode of Chicago Med and discovered something I didn't know about one of the Chicago Fire characters. Good information. Also can't wait for Nat to discover she's being completely gaslit by her new fiancé. Here's hoping the fallout from that doesn't do too much damage.

Started the PassionFlix movie Tangled and I'm having fun watching it. I didn't know if I'd like this one but I'm so glad I'm watching.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Picture Perfect, a novella that mixes a little metaphysical intrigue with romance for the characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Faeryn Carnes, a fire elemental, crossed through the Shroud, leaving the mortal plane. But when she returned, an unheard of occurrence, Seth Jacobson, an air elemental, is the only person she can count on, which seems impossible because Faeryn believes air and fire can't mix.

And a preview snippet…

Seth tilted his head a studied Faeryn for a long moment. "You're not. Happy to be back that is." His bruised heart ached a little at the thought.

She frowned. "It's not that exactly. I'm a little lost and it shows … to everyone I come into contact with. They have questions. I don't have answers." She tucked her feet under her thighs. "I have zero clue what the hell happened to me while I was gone. I only know I'm back and I have a purpose…" She sighed and clammed up.

Seth filled in the blanks. "Okay. You want to know what happened and you need to know why you're here. We can figure both of these things out." He'd already gathered the books he'd need.

She grimaced. "You make it sound easy. And it might be…" She stopped again and let her head fall back on the cushions.

Seth leaned forward. "But … what? What's got you tied up in knots?" He could make a stab at guessing but that rarely worked out well.

She straightened. "What if I don't like the answers? What if I can't do whatever I've been sent back to do? What if I don't know the reason because I'm too broken and mentally fragile to have kept the answer with me when I returned? What if—"

He held up a hand. "Hold up. There's a lot to unpack there and you're going to drive yourself mad if you keep piling on." He got up and moved to kneel in front of her. "If you don't like the answers, it won't be the first time you've had to adjust your expectations. If you can't do what you've been sent back to do, you'll get help. As for being too broken or fragile to know the reason why, you're the first and only fae to have ever returned from beyond the shroud. There's no rule book for that. Who's to say anyone would have a memory of being on the other side?" He leaned back, placing his palms on her legs. "I'm not trying to discount your feelings here. But you're not alone. If you trust me, I'll do my best to guide you and find answers." He eased away, the contact and nearness giving ideas better left alone for now.

Faeryn met and held his gaze. "Trust isn't easy for me—not after Tarn—but I'd be lying if I said I don't want to trust you. I do." She glanced away. "I don't deserve the help, but I'll take you up on the offer."

Seth grasped her hands. "I'm glad." He got to his feet and tugged her up off the couch. "Come on. Let's head to the study."

She balked a little. "You mean right now?" Her hesitation didn't stop her from twining their fingers together.

Seth arched a brow. "No time like the present … especially if we don't know how long you might be here." He kept a steady tone, but his heart kicked hard against his ribs.

Faeryn paled and gave a jerky nod. "Yeah. True. Okay." She followed him into his study and cracked a smile when she noticed the books on the desk. "You're already prepared."

He motioned for her to have a seat by the fireplace. "I did some soul-searching earlier and wanted to do some digging around in the reference books." He grabbed two thick tomes and settled into the chair next to hers.

She reached out and took the lighter one. "No hardship there." Her lips curved. "Might take a while to find anything."

Seth flashed a quick grin. "You're welcome to stay as long as it takes. Let's see where we are in a couple of hours then figure things out from there." He flipped the book open and hid another smile when she did the same.

Faeryn would get her answers and he'd have her back no matter what they were.

I love the dynamic between Faeryn and Seth. They've got a messy history and their future is murky, but the present is fresh and new.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Physical Therapy

Welcome June! Seriously, I feel like I'm still floating around back in March. The months are flying by right now.

Had a weird week of struggling to focus and I couldn't tell you why I ended up being so distracted. That drives me insane.

Decent viewing week. I only went through one round of my usual streaming services again and I'm actually kind of okay with that. Sometimes I need a bit of a break and can use the quiet time.

I did get another episode of The Snoopy Show watched and enjoyed it. I like to think the whole Peanuts gang has a special place in the hearts of GenX. At least it does for me.

I finished up Loch Ness and actually quite enjoyed the series. The twists and turns ended up panning out better than I'd hoped. Definitely glad I watched this one.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness and loved the twistiness of this two-parter. I also love that there wasn't a shiny bow on the end. Good stuff.

Started a new arc of Classic Who and I'm kind of interested in how this one plays out. Again, I notice how much Mel ends up screaming. It's a thing.

Watched another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. At some point, I'd love to see a series where the ghosts and ghouls are actually friendly and helpful. That said, I love seeing the interviews with people who experienced the creepy creatures. Pure gold.

Enjoyed another episode of The Mandalorian. I love the pacing and the little bits of information that turn up and reveal themselves. Good stuff.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. Gotta say Joe is beginning to annoy me but I'm hoping there's a reason he's being such a prat. Fenton's storyline is getting interesting and I love that the grown-ups get some random fleshing out.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed the storylines. It feels like some groundwork is being laid for future seasons and I'm liking that.

Finished up a MasterClass series with Neil deGrasse Tyson. While it wasn't as in depth as I thought it would be, I did get a lot of his lessons. Not sure what I'll start next, but I'm leaning toward Roxane Gay's series.

Caught another The Babysitter's Club and thoroughly enjoyed. I'm glad they're adding another sitter to the club and I really like how they're featuring the members.

Watched another episode of the Ready Room and liked the interview with James Frain. I like his character and it's nice to get some insight into the complicated relationships he has with his family.

Started season five of Chicago Med and I'm sad to say good-bye to Connor. I do love how they sent him off, especially the farewells he had with Goodwin and his mentor. The Will and Nat storyline is one I'm a little on the fence with. I'm really not down with the interloper making conflict, but I'll reserve judgment. Maggie is breaking my heart.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Physical Therapy, a novella that has an injured paranormal sports star falling for her therapist who is a huge fan.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Flint Hollywell, a talented physical therapist, loves nothing more than watching arena ball player Tappen Bligh work her magic on the playing field. But when a career ending injury sidelines Tappen, Flint is determined to get her back on the grass where she thrives on the action.

And a preview snippet…

"Here comes the winning score."

Tappen maneuvered into position for her signature combo—a flying leap where she levitated with the ball before spiraling down to land within inches of the goalkeeper, usually scoring a double. She made it to the corkscrew portion of her play when something went horribly wrong. A shock of magick hit her—absolutely illegal during game time—and Tappen catapulted into the stands, colliding with the opposing team's fans.

"Son of a bitch!"

The ball went airborne and Tappen reached up to retrieve it for the save, but the spectators grabbed hold and piled on top of her.

She struggled under the weight of a dozen people. "Shit. This is insane." The shrill blare of the whistle should've stopped the onslaught.

Instead, the fans let loose with violent punches, kicks, and blows. Tappen fought back, striving to get upright or in the air. Her knee buckled and twisted from a particularly vicious wrenching. Tappen hissed against the pain shooting up her thigh then winced when another foot found her midsection.

Her teammates rushed forward, knocking several Dogs out of the way. Gilda had a hand in this bit of mayhem. Tappen would bet her next salary bump on that fact.

Trying to focus on getting out from under the frenzied opposing side, Tappen got in a few good licks of her own. But … she didn't stand a chance against at least twelve human battering rams. And her crew had their hands full on the field with their attempts to get to Tappen.

She couldn't wait any longer and finally took retaliatory action.

She cast a blowback spell. "Make a circle and spread it wide. Swing the windmill; let no one hide." She barely uttered the words before her head connected with the concrete bleachers.

Stars swam behind her eyelids, but the incantation worked, clearing the area. Tappen slowly got to her feet and blinked to clear her vision, but the haziness didn't dissipate.

A loud roar echoed in her ears. "Damn. Not good." Everything went gray and dark.

To the collective gasp of the home team fans, she tumbled forward and lost consciousness.

I'm making steady progress on this one. I love writing the magickal aspects and Tappen will appreciate Flint's ability in the very near future.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Passion's Gate

Crap. I can't believe May is almost over. It's been a crazy month. We're finally getting through the Covid crud. Thankfully, I'm still negative and I'm crossing my fingers I stay that way.

Had a solid week of work projects and got some extra writing in also. My oracle cards this week had a majority of work-life balance advice this week and I'm trying to pay heed and take time to do fun stuff along with the work.

Had a semi-decent week of viewing. Made a full round of my regular streaming services and played a little catch up with some small things I'd been saving up for a while.

Caught another episode of The Snoopy Show and laughed out loud several times. Pitty Snoopy against Lucy is always fun.

Started Signora Volpe because two of my favorite actors are in it and it's a mystery series. Really enjoyed the first episode and I'm looking forward to more.

Watched the first part of Silent Witness. Very interesting episode and a bit of a departure from the way cases are usually presented. I'm looking forward to the second part.

Finished up a Classic Who arc and actually kind of enjoyed it. This is an odd season and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about Mel as a companion.

Enjoyed another episode of The Mandalorian. I love the pacing and the small reveals and the humor. This is a fun show even if it not necessarily supposed to be.

Caught another episode of Harrow and loved it. Putting Farley, Harrow, and Daniels in the wild ended up being hilarious. Not sure how I feel about Grace and her ex—I'm not really that interested and I don't like being jerked around. I do know I'm not a fan of James and I'm going to be interested to see if they end up making him as awful as I think they will.

Watched another episode of Blue Heelers and enjoyed it. It's always cool to see how the southern hemisphere celebrates a holiday like Christmas when it's the middle of summer for them.

Enjoyed another MasterClass lesson with Neil deGrasse Tyson. I liked the focus on inspiring curiosity in your audience. There were a couple of great takeaways from that.

Caught another episode of The Babysitter's Club and, again, I totally get why so many people loved this show. I'll savor the two seasons available.

Watched two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. I love the trip down memory lane and how much fun the show has with classic pop culture references.

Finished season four of Chicago Med and, wow, ending on a cliffhanger for sure. I'm glad I can start season five right away.

Last but not least, I caught up on a few things I've had on hold. I watched several Passionflix options. Dirty, Sweet Valentine, Wicked bloopers, and I finally finished up Seduction and Snacks, which I ended up enjoying so much. The laugh out loud funny moments were exactly what I needed to end the week. I hope they do more with sexy romcoms.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Passion's Gate, a follow-up to Kindred Spirits where Kirby gets to take a stab at an HEA.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Kirby Selwig meets Passion Gates and she rocks his world. She's a force to be reckoned with and a little out of control. Kirby is tasked with tempering her wild spirit—something she has no interest in taming. Too bad she doesn't know Kirby never fails to get results.

And a preview snippet…

Kirby cut the mental conversation with his dick—about the inappropriateness of being rock hard under the circumstances—short.

He dashed to the bar the doorway. "Whoa, hold up a moment here." He held up both hands and urged calming vibes toward the gorgeous Passion. "You don't want to take on the entire board without at least presenting your case."

Passion's brow furrowed. "Why the hell not?" She planted her hands on her hips and hit him with a dead-on stare.

Kirby refused to wilt under the onslaught … or to haul the woman over his shoulder so he could find the nearest flat surface to ravage her on. "First, you'll be ostracized by the entire population, which would be a damn shame and—"

She cut him off with a hand wave. "I've been ignored and shunned most of my life. Nothing new there." Her gaze didn't waver but a note of something sad crept into her irises.

His heart hurt a little for her but, he lifted a shoulder. "Fine. Consider this then. You obviously have an agenda whether it's directed toward family." His gaze lingered on Dean Hargrove. "Atherton's…" He swept the board with his line of sight. "Or both, is that correct?"

She gave a nod.

Kirby focused solely on Passion. "More importantly, unless your goal is complete obscurity, if you walk out now and continue thumbing your nose at this council, you'll never achieve whatever it is you're seeking." His curiosity burned with wanting to know exactly what she sought from the university.

Passion cocked her head to one side. "You raise a valid point." She met her uncle's gaze. "Be prepared for my return in one week. But know this … I'll not be subject to the arcane power of this board. It's my choice to come here next week and it'll be my choice to stay or not." She lowered her voice and growled. "You're not going to treat me the way you treated Nina."

A second round of gasps and shocked expressions filled the room. Pieces started falling into place. Kirby blinked. Well, fuck. That's why her name is so familiar.

He shot a quick glance toward Vaughn and breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't react. At least not outwardly. On the inside, his best friend would be a swirl of malevolent emotions.

And didn't that fucking bode well … for exactly no one.

I'm slowing working out the small details on this one, but Kirby and Passion are impatiently waiting for me to get to the good stuff…

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Order of Aggression

What a week. We've been very lucky to this point and have avoided anyone coming down with Covid. That ended on Tuesday. Luckily, out of the four living at home, only one tested positive and the others are, so far, negative. I'm crossing my fingers that holds.

Had a decent week and a little more balance on my work projects. I'm trying to more even paced and mindful about my work-life time.

Ended up getting a good amount of television watched this week. I started a new show and picked out a new one to begin next week.

I caught the first of a two-part Blue Heelers and ended up enjoying it a lot. Kind of sad to see Chris and Adam part ways, but I'm interested to see how that plays out.

Ended up enjoying two MasterClass lessons with Neil deGrasse Tyson. The second one ended up being fairly lengthy so maybe my note from last week was premature.

Watched two more episodes of the Babysitters Club and I'm completely charmed by this show. I can see why everyone kind of fell in love with it. Good stuff.

Caught two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Both ended up taking me back to when my oldest was still a toddler and watched the show daily. Two of his favorite episodes were in the group I watched.

Got two episodes of Chicago Med in and, wow, season four kind of went in a few crazy directions. I'm on one of the last episodes of the season and I'm kind of wondering where they'll go with five.

Enjoyed another episode of The Snoopy Show. This is such a fun and lighthearted half hour. Highly recommend if you need something low-key to watch.

Watched another episode of Loch Ness. I'm close to the end and I'm pretty sure I've got a good idea of who the killer is. There have been a lot of red herrings and I'm on the fence between two theories. Can't wait to find out if I'm right.

Got another Classic Who episode in. I'm into an arc I haven't seen, which is good because that distracts me from the low-budget everything about this season of the show.

Caught another episode of Most Terrifying Places in America. Honestly, I kind of enjoy hearing about all the weird, haunted, scary places that abound in the US.

Started The Mandalorian and loved the low-key dry humor. Looking forward to watching more for sure.

Watched an episode of The Hardy Boys. Have to admit, I'm getting annoyed by Joe. He was a lot of quirky fun in the first season but not so much in the second. He's still got good snark, but he's lost a lot of his good nature. I hope that gets explained. We'll see.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice. This one ended up being really good with great plot lines. Nice to Alice back in her home and trying to deal with the scary flashbacks of the robbery. I actually hope they pick up with that and find the guy.

Last but not least, I caught another episode of the Ready Room. Doug Jones was the guest and it fun to get insight into his character and the Kelpian race.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Order of Aggression, a novella that puts the characters in a tricky situation and a bit at odds with each other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Ames Braddock is ordered to take out an enemy outpost with possible civilian casualties, he calls on Parker Hart to be his second, but Parker balks at the idea. Ames isn't thrilled with the mission, but he needs Parker and he's not above using aggression to bring her in line, which gets the job done, but also backfires when she demands satisfaction.

And a preview snippet…

Parker shoved the prints aside and cursed her parents for the millionth time. Her blood debt still outweighed the credits in her book. And this job will no doubt cancel out any good karma I have spinning around out there.

She met Ames's gaze. "We're gonna have civilian casualties. There's no way around it." She pointed to the alley behind the saloon. "This area will be hex-wired to harm humans and avoid anyone with charmed blood." She moved to the building on the left. "This building will be clear until we get close to the perimeter, then it's all bets off and my guess is they'll use layers of curse-laden traps designed to slow anyone down coming in and to keep anyone trying to get out stuck behind the veil." Sitting back, she heaved a sigh.

Ames leaned forward. "What about the old store on the right?" He pointed to the abandoned toy palace.

She shrugged. "Similar setup. This one is closer to the main drag so it'll be reinforced from the main and rear entrances. We do not want to mess with attempting to get in through the toy store." Her fingers traced the huge box factory across the street. "The factory will have fire and flame traps. Quick to go up in smoke and easy to use as a distraction." She got up and paced back and forth. "The roof will be full of triggered hex traps that will give advance warning to the black mages and they'll do everything in their power to use their normals as shields." Dropping back down onto the chair, she suppressed a shudder at the images running through her mind.

Ames made a low growling sound. "How the hell do we get in then?"

She huffed out a breath and pointed to the one and only location they could enter from. "We'll go in through here." Her gaze met his. "And it's gonna suck huge hairy balls to do it."

But … if they kept the element of surprise, they might have minimal civilian casualties and, well, not die in the process.

I like having internal conflict as a driving force in a story. Parker has a past that keeps on giving and she'd really like to see a future where she's free and clear.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Oracle's Prayer

I'm still working on keeping all the plates spinning in the air. Finished up a few work projects and started more. I'm definitely not complaining even if I wouldn't mind things slowing down a wee bit.

Had a light week for television. I've pretty much decided that getting through one round of my rotation is doing well at the moment. I have some home projects that need attention and that cuts into screen time.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I like how the trauma with Alice is still prevalent. And the surgeon guy is an interesting addition to the cast.

Watched another MasterClass lesson with Neil deGrasse Tyson. I've noticed he has a number of fairly short lessons and I'm not sure why they're not a little longer. They do have some great information.

Started The Babysitters Club and liked the first episode. I've heard rave reviews about this show and I'm looking forward to getting into the storyline.

Enjoyed another episode of the Ready Room for Star Trek: Discovery. I like the interviews but the format could use a little work. I'm keeping in mind that these were more than likely filmed during the Covid shutdown.

Watched an episode of Chicago Med. Ended up being pretty tense and gnarly for the entire ED. I'm a little bummed there wasn't an end scene with Ethan and April.

Caught another episode of The Snoopy Show. I love this for quick breaks when my eyes need something different to focus on instead of words on a page.

Finished up the first season of Cuffs. Have to admit the finale ended up being terrific. I wouldn't mind seeing more of this group of characters.

Watched an episode of Silent Witness and honestly, I have no clue what's going on. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I hope some pieces fall into place in the conclusion.

Started a new arc of Classic Who. So far, it's kind of lame but I think this one will get better as it goes along. Here's hoping.

Began a new-to-me series with Most Terrifying Places in America. The first episode featured a haunted prison in Ohio. I actually had a friend who went for one of the weekend excursions not long after it opened for tours. I can't remember if they enjoyed it or not.

Finished up the first season of Hawkeye by watching the deleted scenes and gag reel. I truly enjoyed this show. If they have a second season, I'm in.

Last but not least, I started another episode of Harrowand I'm liking how things are coming together for this season. Not sure how much I'll like the whole long, lost son angle, but I'm interested for now.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Oracle's Prayer, a novella that explores being undercover to catch a killer.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Nason Forn, the daughter of an oracle, goes undercover to trap a wicked mage preying on young apprentices and thinks she's found her man when she discovers Lane Garganess standing over the body of the latest victim. But Lane has a covert identity, too, which puts him in a bad spot and on the wrong end of Nason's wrath.

And a preview snippet…

Lane rapped twice on the study door then entered the room. "Dad. Thanks for seeing me."

Lawrence glanced over his shoulder. "Could've picked a less ungodly hour, but haven't heard from you in months. Thought I'd better see what this is all about." He went back to staring out the large pane of glass.

Lane gave his parent props. He only appeared slightly disheveled. His hair stuck up in several places, but he'd managed to get into a pair of silk pajamas and a robe that had the sheen of satin. Considering the two p.m. appointment time—early for his dad—Lane considered the attire as a peace offering. Usually, Lawrence lacked modesty on a normal day.

Strolling further into the wood-paneled space, Lane stopped by the ornate desk—strictly for show—and propped a hip on the surface. "You're not in trouble, if that has you worried." Unwilling to make small talk, he launched directly into his appeal. "I need your help with something." Stroking his dad's ego should help get cooperation.

Lawrence angled around. "You're kidding?" Genuine shock filled his voice.

Lane shook his head. "Nope. I need your general opinion on a group of people. An honest assessment, if you're willing."

Lawrence moved to the desk and pulled out the chair. "All right. But I expect to be compensated. After all, this is akin to consulting and I should receive a fee."

Lane almost rolled his eyes, but he'd anticipated his dad's response. "I had this amount in mind…" He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a slip of paper.

Lawrence eyed the numbers and gave a nod. "This is fine. Who's on your list?"

Lane spent the next thirty minutes slyly pulling information from his dad. The nefarious contacts the man had boggled Lane's mind … even if he shouldn't be surprised.

Tucking his list back into a pocket, Lane stood up. "I appreciate the help. Funds will be transferred by the end of the day into your account." He started for the door to take his leave.

Lawrence stood up. "Should I know what this is about?"

Lane paused. "At this point, no. If that changes, I'll contact you right away."

His dad gave a grunt of dismissal and Lane made his exit.

On the way out of the house, he bumped into a woman coming up the walkway. He recognized her as one of the enforcers. Namon something. No … Nason Forn. But … she wore oracle robes.

Lane stopped her when she neared the main entryway. "I'm sorry, but the master of the house won't be needing your services today."

She arched a brow then quickly schooled her features. "I'm here at the appointed time." She showed him her schedule.

Lane frowned. His dad didn't usually put stock in the soothsayers of their clan. More likely, Ms. Forn created a very good cover story for visiting his father. Which wouldn't be a good thing at the moment.

Giving a nod, he grasped her elbow. "Sorry for the confusion. My dad's a little under the weather today. If you wouldn't mind giving him a call tomorrow, I'm sure he'll be happy to reschedule."

Her eyes widened slightly when he revealed his relationship to Lawrence, and she definitely didn't like to be sidetracked.

But she inclined her chin before lowering her head. "I'll do that. I hope he's feeling better soon." After a brief pause, she turned and headed back to her vehicle.

Lane studied her departure. She played the role of oracle well. But she carried herself with the confidence of an enforcer. He made a note to ask his geppa about her possible reason for showing up at his dad's house.

The last thing Lane needed would be interference before he got started on his investigation.

This one starts out with some cat and mouse maneuvers between the characters and I'm having a lot of fun writing their back and forth.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Only When They Blink

What a crazy week of weather. We had rain, rain, rain, which is probably great for the gardens—as long as the plants are hardy. We also had some close to freezing temps in the wee hours of the morning.

Another super-busy work week. Started a few new projects and I'm humming along on some others. I like having a variety of work and I definitely have that right now.

Another slower week for television. I got started again on doing some clearing out and sorting of stuff I've put off way too long. The good news is I've discovered a ton of missing socks, which makes me very happy.

I watched the second episode of Harrow's third season. So far, I really, really dislike the new boss. But … I kind of love the dynamic between Harrow and Fairley. Discovering Grace is married is something I'm on the fence with, but we'll see what happens there.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers. I'm a little disappointed to find out I won't be able to watch the bulk of the series now. It seems to have been removed from the streaming service I've been watching it on. Maybe it'll pop back up again. I still have the season to finish then I'll see what happens.

Enjoyed another lesson of MasterClass with Neil deGrasse Tyson. This one talked about systems of beliefs.

Finished up Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow and it did not disappoint. I hope there's another season of this show.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. I enjoy having this show on in the background when I'm reading emails.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and, wow, I'm starting to wonder a little if this is Conor's last season. Things seem to be ramping up quickly.

Enjoyed another episode of The Snoopy Show. This one had a bunch of spring-like vignettes.

Watched another episode of Loch Ness and there didn't seem to be a lot of forward momentum on the case, but little revelations popped up and into the storyline. I'm excited for the next episode.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness. I'm kind of happy Thomas didn't do something sketchy with the information he had on the ex's new boyfriend. Even though she pretty much deserves anything he hands out. She's a piece of work.

Managed to finish an arc of Classic Who. I'll be starting a new one this week. I'm still on the fence with Mel as a companion. She does a lot of screaming.

Also watched the last episode of The Laundry Guy. I actually hope he does another round of episodes. I thoroughly enjoyed the six available.

Watched the Marvel Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye. Honestly, I really loved the first season and I'm kind of hoping there will be another, even if it's primarily Clint-free. Some great groundwork is out there if they continue this.

Started a new episode of The Hardy Boys. I love the mystery of this season and I can't wait to finish this episode.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Only When They Blink, a novella that puts a bit of a spin on The Princess and the Pea.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hale Easterson has fae blood running in his veins, but he won't follow the family old school traditions and mate by the designated age. He escapes to his private lake house to find an unconscious Winter Sorn, a beautiful woman, sprawled on his doorstep and realizes he may not be able to avoid what destiny has in store.

And a preview snippet…

Winter Sorn lifted her chin in defiance. "I told you if you wanted me to continue reading people, I needed to speak with your boss." She glanced around the nearly empty room, strewn with bar stools, a battered old counter, and empty liquor bottles—her prison for the last ninety days. "Since he's not here, you can forget about any more help from me." She'd been cooperative for three months … that ended now.

Even confined, she'd heard her keepers talking about the elimination of disloyal subjects and the bodily harm to numerous others. Because of her unwillingly provided information. The knowledge rested heavy in her heart.

One of her captors—the semi-intelligent one named Martin—shook his head. "You'll regret that. Boss Man calls the shots … not you." He got up and edged his way in her direction. "No need to keep you around if you're not gonna play by the rules."

The second captor, Butchie, smirked. "She'll fall in. Haven't met a female yet who didn't cave when her beauty is threatened." His fist hit the palm of his hand. "I'm real good at bringing on the ugly."

Winter didn't flinch even though Butchie spoke the truth. He liked to damage things, especially people. Winter wouldn't contribute to helping him harm anyone else.

Martin reached her side. "You're going out to the bar floor in five minutes and you will point out anyone who isn't being loyal to the boss. That's how this works. When he's ready to meet you, we'll let you know." His fingers grabbed her hair and yanked hard, pulling her head back. "You don't wanna push your luck."

Winter winced when he tugged harder. "Too bad. I'm pushing." She struggled to get free. "I'm not going out there."

Martin's gaze flicked to Butchie. A sneer spread across the beefy man's face. Martin let go of her hair but the relief didn't last long.

Butchie's meaty fist came flying toward her from the right and connected with her chin. Her head snapped back and hit the edge of the bar. Stars exploded behind her eyes and she crumpled to the floor.

She blinked from the pain but also welcomed the discomfort. At least she wouldn't have to use her ability for being able to read a person's intentions to help a nameless, faceless figure anymore. After three months of being held against her will, any momentum in a different direction counted as progress—even if it hurt like hell.

When two sets of booted feet started kicking at her back and torso, she curled inward, trying to protect herself from the onslaught. She'd already decided to make this her last stand. If she ended up dead, so be it.

She would absolutely give her life to never have another death on her head. Or blood on her hands.

Struggling to stay conscious, she repeated the mantra that spurred her resolve to go down this path.

"Seven lives lost, not one more. Unless it's me knocking on death's door."

Losing the battle to protect herself, she succumbed to the blessed darkness pulling her into the ether.

Winter isn't going to like what comes next, but it does get her out of the back room she's been in.

That's it for this week.

 

Cheers!

Skye