Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 139

Hunters: Declan and Tori

2011...revised & reissued

 
Looking for it in print?  See this post.
 

ARe | Smashwords

will update once Kindle and Nook have it added

revised...to release shortly

Book 1

Tori McAdams was a sensible woman. She didn't believe in hocus-pocus, she didn't believe in ghosts, and she definitely didn't believe in vampires…not until the night she was attacked by one. Alone, starving and afraid, she doesn't know what's happening but at least she had somebody to turn to…

Declan Reilly was normally the last person she'd go to for help, but now he was the first on her list. He can help; she knows he can. She never could have planned on what happens next, though…the sexy detective is so much more than he appears.

Warning: This book contains violence, sex, more violence, a maniacal murderer, sex, more violence, and a menage or two thrown in for good measure.

**Please note this work has been previously published. While it's been edited, no new material has been added.

Hunters: Declan and Tori

 Tori McAdams was a sensible woman. She didn't believe in hocus-pocus, she didn't believe that crossing a black cat's path was bad luck. She had broken more mirrors than she cared to count and couldn't remember ever wishing on a star.

And she didn't believe in vampires.

But the petite little blonde in front of her obviously did. Her eyes were wide and frightened, and from time to time, got that oddly unfocused look of true fear. As a private investigator, Tori had learned to smell bullshit a mile away. And this girl truly believed somebody was stalking her, trying to turn her into a vampire.

Some sick fuck had done a real number on her. No telling what the back-story was, because the girl was getting more incoherent by the second. Jeez, what was she—all of nineteen?

Twenty-eight-year-old Tori suddenly felt very old.

And it wasn't getting any better as she sat up and took a closer look at the mark on the girl's neck—revealed as her head fell forward—her pixie-like hair falling away from the ragged gash.

Gash? Or teeth marks? Shit, now she was losing her mind.

But they really did look like teeth marks.

Tori knew she couldn't turn this poor kid out onto the streets—and young Dani Mitchell was too scared to go home. "He can get me there," she whispered, over and over again, when Tori had offered to take her.

So, reluctantly, knowing she had no other choice, she made up the little sofa bed in the small room beyond her office. God knew she had spent enough nights here after a late night stake out.

And she doubted the little thing in front of her was a danger. Dani looked about as dangerous as a wet kitten. It took a lot of soothing and hand holding before the girl would stretch out on the bed, but finally she fell asleep.

Tori collapsed into her chair with a sigh and rubbed her eyes with her fingertips. She yearned for a tall, cold margarita, her bed, and some aspirin.

Instead she sat up, reached for the phone, and started making calls.

The last one on her list should have been her first.

But Declan Reilly was somebody she tried to avoid whenever possible.

He made her itchy.

In the worst possible way. Hearing his voice was enough to harden her nipples, dampen her panties and have her verging on the edge of orgasm. He was sex incarnate—sexy as a god, smart as a whip, and just the tiniest bit arrogant. He had wide shoulders, rounded with muscle, a powerful chest that tapered down to a flat, carved belly and narrow hips, strong legs that he covered with denim which encased them so well, showing him to perfection—especially that ass…Tori shook her head, forcing herself to concentrate.

But when Declan was in her thoughts, it was difficult.

A sexy Irish accent remained from the years he had spent growing up in Dublin, and looking into his misty green eyes was almost enough to make Tori believe in leprechauns and faeries.

Almost, but not quite.

He had gone out of his way to make it clear that he found her very appealing. He flirted, he teased, he asked, he seduced. It didn't take much though; Declan was a seduction—with thick, wavy, blond hair that grew a little too long over his collar, seductive green eyes, a clever mouth, hands with wide palms, and long narrow fingers.

But Tori refused to give in.

She was tempted. Thinking of his hands, his mouth, the way he smelled, damnation, was she tempted.

But there was a flaw.

Only one that she could think of, but it was a doozy.

He was a cop.

No way, no how was she getting involved with a cop. No matter how mouth watering he was.

He wasn't home. Tori blew out a breath as his lyrical voice floated over the line from his answering machine. She left a simple message, "Call me."

He was one of the few cops she could count on to get a fair shake. If her man had any similar crimes out there, she would know. She'd also find out if Miss Dani Mitchell was a fake.

And she'd get teased and tormented until she had to relieve her frustrations with her showerhead before she went to bed.

A girl had to do what a girl had to do.

She called the office, hoping maybe he had been called in or delayed. But his cheerful partner, Cy Grady, informed her that Declan was out of town for a few days. She politely refused his offer of help and whirled in her chair to study the sleeping girl lying just beyond the doorway.

With a sigh, she rose and slid her holster back on.

Might as well see if he was haunting the strip joint where Dani worked.

* * * * *

Agreeing to help Dani Mitchell was a choice that Tori was certain she'd live to regret. Oh, the girl was the real deal. Her manager, well, ex-manager, had fired her a few nights earlier when she wigged out in the middle of a lap dance, screaming that the patron had bitten her, his eyes glowed, and he was a monster.

And since said patron had paid very well for that lap dance, the manager, being the gentlemen he was, had been pissed that Dani had gone stark raving mad in front of other customers.

And now, story confirmed, Tori was cornered in an alley by a man who moved faster than greased lightning.

"Where is my little dancer, won't you tell me?" he purred, crossing the alley like some giant slinking cat, his pale blue eyes seeming to pin her in place.

A cat? she wondered fuzzily.

Not a cat. A snake, a cobra—the kind that could freeze their prey with dread and devour them on the spot, fear holding them prisoner.

And Tori was afraid.

Deeply, mortally afraid. Some thick fog seemed to cloud her brain, the way it did when you were put under at the dentist's office. But laughing gas never made you feel so frightened or so scared.

Tori didn't get scared easily, but she was now—for no obvious reason.

She reached up, pressed her fingers to her temples, shaking her head. The slight fog faded, and with it, the fear. All that remained was the slightly edgy feeling caused by nerves.

"I'm not sure what you mean," she lied easily, shifting her body so that she could draw her gun without it being quite so obvious.

"My little dancer," he repeated. "I know you've seen her. I can smell her on you. I want her back." He spoke slowly, politely, with just the wisp of an accent in his voice…Spanish?

Smell her? "Can't help you," she said flatly. And even though the description she had gotten out of Dani had been basically worthless, she knew she was talking to the man who had been scaring her. "I really don't know any dancers."

"Do not lie to me," he whispered. It sounded like snakes. Like a snake hissing, like snakes slithering against other snakes.

"Not lying." She didn't really know Dani. Just because she was trying to help her out didn't mean she knew her.

He moved—from fifteen feet away to less than five—so quickly, in a blink. Her head was going foggy again. Fortunately, her reflexes weren't. She stepped back—one step, two—while lifting her gun and pointing it straight at the man's nose.

"Don't come any closer," she warned.

"Do you really think that silly gun can hurt me? Didn't she warn you? Tell you what I am?"

"A bullet that will rip your head from your shoulders will hurt you, I promise."

"Rip my head from my shoulders?" he repeated, sounding amused.

His voice sounded like honey now, sweet, addictive. He moved another gliding step closer, and she wanted it. Wanted him to touch her, to taste her. Wanted to hear his voice.

"Yes," he purred.

The honey was poisoned. She heard it and she narrowed her eyes. Concentrated. Focused.

The man's eyes narrowed and he cocked his head, studying her—puzzled.

"Get away from me," she said softly. "Now."

"No." He said it just as softly, an evil smile curling his mouth. "I think I've changed my mind. I don't want that silly little dancer now. I want you."

A sick ball of fear curled in her belly but she only arched an eyebrow. "Sorry. Charming as the offer is, I'll have to pass." Her arm was starting to shake. She couldn't keep that gun aimed at his angelic looking face much longer.

"It'll be fun," he promised, as if she hadn't spoken. "You will be a fun toy, not just an appetizing snack. I bet you're a good fuck, as well. I bet you've got a tight, wet little pussy. I'm going to enjoy finding out."

Color heated her cheeks and she fell back another step.

He laughed and lunged.

The bullet tore through his nasal bones, through his brain and out the back of his skull. He fell backward.

And lay on the ground, still breathing, still bleeding. Still living—and cursing her.

Tori ran.

FYI... these books are older.  They aren't as smoothly written as the stuff I write now.  And they are hotter.  Much, much hotter.  Please don't email me and complain about the hot-they come with warnings for a reason.

 

Excerpt from Locked in Silence

just a bit of a note...Silence is mute. He communicates through sign, or in Vanya's case...(the heroine) through pyschic communication.

Dying is hard enough. Coming back to life is brutal.

Grimm's Circle, Book 5

Vanya has been hunting and killing demons ever since one of them scarred her face and killed her sister. Correction—since she was forced to kill the demon possessing her sister.

Then some sort of angel offers her a deal she can't refuse—that if she becomes one of them, she gets to kill even more demons. Tonight, she's made that choice. The death she smells on the air will be her own—and she welcomes it.

Silence feels a darkness is looming. Change—something he has every reason not to welcome. The deeply hidden memories that robbed him of his past, of his own name, render him unfit to teach anyone the ways of the Grimm. Yet here he is in the dankest sex club in town, waiting to assume his charge—after he stands by and watches her die.

When Vanya awakes, their complicated, dangerous dance begins. And so does something else—a searing need that blisters along their unexpected mental connection. Silence shouldn't be drawn to his student, but once they touch, he can't think of a reason to stop. Even though acting out their darkest desires puts them in more danger than they realize.

I'm such a tramp. A hopeless, lovesick tramp.

Almost an hour had passed. She was back on a barstool. Alone.

Not for long, though.

Morosely, Vanya watched as Silence walked across the bar's dance floor.

Here she was in the middle of a sex club, her body still buzzing from the arousal from earlier. In the back of her mind, she was aware of a discordant cadence—succubae, incubae…demons. They'd have to deal with them tonight—after all, that was why they were here, to see how she could handle one on her own now that she was one of the Grimm.

But all she could think was, Damn, he looks hot, and if those bitches don't quit staring at him, I'm going to hurt them.

Some of those bitches were demons.

But most of them were human, and hell, she couldn't blame them for staring at Silence.

He was damn well worth staring at. He was so damned beautiful—angelically beautiful, even. She smirked as she thought it. Then she thought about what he'd said, what he'd offered.

That dark, disturbing fantasy.

Her belly turned into a hot, nervous tangle and she needed a drink even thinking about it.

"The job," she told herself. "Think about the damn job."

It wasn't like that wasn't enough to keep her mind occupied right now.

She was getting ready to actually engage with the enemy.

She'd been moved from the basic part of training to the actual fighting-with-demons part.

He hadn't given it a fancy name—just told her a week ago she'd be engaging with demons soon.

After two months of being pummeled by him during the nights and spending the dawn hours under him and a few hours of the day wrapped around him, she was moving from punching bag to demon fodder.

Yay.

Of course, he hadn't told her she was going to be demon fodder.

She just felt that way.

There were more demons here than she was used to dealing with. She could feel them. Feel them in a way she hadn't felt them before. She'd all but started shaking when he'd led her in here, and only his hand on her back had kept her from bolting.

His hand…and the low, soothing rumble of his voice in her mind. You'll be fine. This is nothing you haven't done before, remember that. You've fought succubae and incubae—when you were human, and you did fine. You are ready for this. I wouldn't bring you here if you weren't ready, and I'll never be too far from your side, I promise.

He'd kept that promise too.

Save for when he left to get her a drink, he'd hardly left her side at all.

They'd danced, they'd necked in the corner, they'd watched the couple act out a rape fantasy, and then he'd used his very talented hands to give her several delightful orgasms.

And now…

He was coming back to her with a glint in his eye and a man in tow.

Except the man behind him wasn't a man.

It was an incubae, and Vanya knew she'd dealt with his kind before—there was no reason to be so scared—none. She'd killed these things before, on her own, and she wasn't alone now.

But something felt…different. Off.

Hell. Maybe it was just her.

She'd been on edge ever since she'd stepped into the club, and it wasn't just because she'd watched the hottest damn sexual act ever, and it wasn't just from what Silence had offered.

Nerves, she told herself. Just nerves and she needed to get over it.

Now. Because the incubae was only five feet away and he was staring at her like she was a piece of candy and he was starving for a taste.

Demon…

Vanya saw it in his eyes.

"He thinks we're looking for a third," Silence said to her. "And he already thinks you're nervous, so we don't need to worry about that."

Briefly she wondered how he'd managed to communicate with the guy, but five seconds later, she figured it out.

The guy was already trying to crawl all over her, his hands coming to rest on her outer thighs while he nuzzled her neck. "Fuck, you're hot. I've been watching you two since you came in, baby, and I've been hoping you were looking for some more action. Lucky me…"

Obviously Silence hadn't needed to speak—the man had done all the speaking for him.

She stared over his shoulder at Silence, well aware that her eyes were too wide, that she probably looked a little too panicked. Damn it, she couldn't do this—couldn't do it…

A hand touched her shoulder. Warm, hard, scarred—she knew that touch. Turning her head, she stared into Silence's blue eyes. He cupped her chin, angled her head back. As his mouth covered hers, he murmured into her mind, "He can't stop talking any easier than I can talk, it seems. Relax…he's new, unused to being in the mortal world, I suspect. All we need to do is get him outside. He already thinks I've talked you into this, so that's why you're nervous."

Nervous?

Shit.

Vanya wasn't nervous.

She was terrified.

The man currently rubbing his crotch against her leg was a demon. She was used to demons, yeah. But she wasn't used to being quite so surrounded by them, and Silence had already told her they were going to do the kill here—not away from the rest of the others, but here. And if more came, she was supposed to deal with it.

Deal with more than a couple of them at a time.

His tongue teased her lips, and his voice, that teasing, rough rumble in her mind said, "Open for me…relax. Ah, you're sweet, Vanya…"

The ridged scars on his palms rasped over her flesh as he stroked a hand up over her arm, her shoulder, cupping her neck.

"Y'all want go into the back? Find one of the rooms?" their new companion asked, right when she'd thought maybe she could relax.

This was better, though.

Because the sooner they got moving, the sooner she could either try to kill this guy or screw up so Silence could step in.

And shit, how pathetic was that? She'd killed these things before. A lot. Without Silence's help, on her own, back when she'd been a human. Just because she'd lured them away and acted on a one-on-one or two-on-one basis didn't change things much.

She was more than human now.

She could handle this.

Pulling her mouth away from Silence, she looked at the incubae.

Well, he was a good-looking bastard, she'd give him that.

They usually were, though.

His eyes ran over her with appreciation, never once pausing at her scarred face. No, he was too interested in staring at her tits, which were very much on display in the corset she wore in lieu of a top. Her clothing consisted of that and a microscopic skirt. The boots covered more flesh than the skirt did, for crying out loud, coming up to her knees. Fortunately, there was no heel to the boot, and she knew she'd be able to move in them—she'd already checked that out.

She also had her knives stashed inside them.

Suddenly, eager hands were gripping her waist, pulling her from the stool where she was sitting. Realizing the guy had taken her silence for consent, she stiffened.

"We need him outside," Silence said into her mind, his voice hard and flat. "I will not risk you getting cornered with this many of the possessed. You're too new."

Even as he said it, he slipped an arm around her waist, nuzzling her neck—maybe to look as though he were encouraging her.

Stiffening her legs, she gave the demon tugging on her hand a nervous look and shook her head. "How about outside?" she shouted, raising her voice, even though she knew she didn't need to.

She leaned against Silence, not having to feign her nervousness or the shyness as the guy looked at her. The indulgent smile curling his lips made her want to pop him, though.

Silence's hand, resting on her waist, tightened. "Breathe, dear one…don't let him know you're angered. He can sense it as well as I can."

Turning her face into Silence's chest, she took a deep, steady breath, forced the tight muscles in her back to relax. Then she pushed back and gave Silence a tight smile. She couldn't get rid of the anger altogether, or the nervousness. Rising up on her toes, she curled a hand around his neck and tugged him down. She didn't have to talk loud—the demon would hear her, and that was the point. "Do you have any idea just how big you're going to owe me for this, baby? Sooooo big. I'm thinking oral sex and breakfast in bed every day for a month."

As she settled back down in front of him, Silence flashed her a wide grin, and in her mind, she felt the warm blast of approval.

No, she couldn't hide her discomfort. Might as well roll with it, right?

As the demon came up behind her and started to rub his cock against her ass, she clenched her jaw.

Silence caught her face in his hands just as the demon cupped her breasts and teased, "Come on, angel…relax. You got no idea how much fun we can show you."

She blushed a brilliant shade of red, shooting a look around the club. Yeah, people were looking at them, but it wasn't in shock.

Hell, it was a fucking sex club.

Of course people were looking at them.

But she had to get away from their stares before she cracked.

"Take me outside," she said, her voice strained even to her own ears.

Silence tugged her away from the other man, his arm curling around her. Tucked against his leather-clad side, she relaxed a little, even as the demon came up next to them, his hand settling low on her back, his fingers toying with the laces of her corset.

"You're doing fine," Silence assured her as they broke through the crowd.

Out in the cool darkness of the evening, she managed, finally, to breathe. The itching, tight sensation along her spine relaxed and she let him guide them around the building. He'd already scoped it out, picked out the exact area he wanted to use.

Smart, prepared…so much more equipped to handle this than she was.

Damn it, was what she doing—

A hand clamped over her ass.

She stiffened but managed not to pull away. Barely. Just barely.

In the darkness, Silence came to a stop.

They were at the very far edges of the parking lot where, handily, lights were out. Handily—she'd watched as he took care of them. Not too many mortals would come to this area because of the darkness, and as she leaned against him, she watched as the darkness thickened.

"Dude, it's fucking dark over here," the demon muttered, his voice oddly strained. "Why not go back inside, beautiful? I want to see that pretty mouth of yours…"

"He's used to being able to see in the dark and he can't see past my illusions," Silence said. Because she was touching him, the shadows weren't affecting her and she could see the way the other guy's dark eyes were darting around nervously.

Swallowing, she stepped away from Silence, relying on her ears to guide her to the other man, because once she wasn't touching Silence, the darkness was complete, like being wrapped in black cotton and thrown in a cave with no exit, no natural light, nothing.

She could hear him, faintly.

Reaching out, she touched him. Her fingers brushed against a hard, flat stomach. Trailing them lower, she curled her hand around the front of his leather pants, tugged him forward. "I like it better out here," she said softly. "It's quieter…and I'm already nervous. Besides…" she had to force the breathy little giggle, but it sounded legit enough. "I've got a thing for doing it outside."

The incubae relaxed as she touched him, giving in to the nature that ruled him. His mouth came down, finding hers easily enough, despite the dark. "Do you, angel?"

Angel—

She coyly tugged her head aside, guided his mouth to her neck and wiggled around in his arms so that she was facing Silence again.

Knowing he'd see her, even if she couldn't see him, she signed, Now?

"It's your move, Vanya. I'm just the backup."

Excerpt

BN

 Amazon

Samhain

Signing in Atlanta…

I'll be signing in Atlanta next week...I'm attending the Moonlight and Magnolias Conference and on Saturday, there's a booksigning...it's open to the public.

From the M&M post I've received...

Check out this list of fabulous authors who are signing at M&M from 4:00-5:30 pm on Saturday: Mark All, Elizabeth Amber, D. Renee Bagby, Kate Brady, Anna DeStefano, Debby Giusti, Karen Hall, Traci Hall, Maureen Hardegree, Eloisa James, Debbie Kaufman, Megan Kelly, Vanessa Kelly, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Emery Lee, Dianna Love, Donna MacMeans, Hildie McQueen, Leigh Michaels, Tanya Michaels, Trish Milburn, Barbara Monajem, Kerri Nelson, Belinda Peterson, Anne Rayburn, Elizabeth Sinclair, Haywood Smith, Gillian Summers, Leslie Tentler, Missy Tippens, Shiloh Walker, Wendy Wax, Marybeth Whalen, Karen White

This will be at the Decatur Hotel and Conference Center in Historic Downtown Decatur. You can read more about it at the website.

Now available…LOCKED IN SILENCE…

(The Grimm Giveaway contest winners will be posted by the end of the month.)

)

Silence's mouth quirked in a smile. He put his glass down and signed, We all get the identities we need to move in this world. You'll get one. Will probably already has one in place for you.

"Hmmm. And I noticed that wasn't an answer." She shrugged. Sliding off the couch, she said, "That's okay. I kind of like Silence better than Eustache anyway. Still, I wouldn't mind knowing your real name."

"I don't know my real name." He turned away from her.

She froze, staring at him. She knew her mouth had fallen open, was vaguely aware that she was staring at him in numb, horrified shock. But she couldn't help it.

Any more than she could help the pain ripping through her.

"You…" She stopped, licked her lips. Tried again. "You don't know your name?"

He looked back over his shoulder at her. With a jerky shrug, he spoke quietly into her mind. "There is a name I was given at birth, but whatever it was, I've long forgotten it. Eustache is simply one of the names I go by when I must give a name. To those who matter, I am simply Silence."

To those who matter, Vanya thought.

With a tiny smile, she murmured, "So, does that mean I'm one who matters?"

"Of course," he said, his voice soft, quiet.

She started across the carpet, her feet sinking into it.

"After all, you're my student. You matter very much."

Those words slashed across her heart.

She almost stumbled. Almost faltered.

Student… Vanya stilled, staring at him as she repeated that word silently to herself. She was a student. His student.

Yeah, his lover too. But mostly, he just saw her as his student.

His responsibility.

Fuck.

She couldn't do this.

BN | Amazon | Samhain

Dying is hard enough... coming back to life is brutal.

read more... 

Locked in Silence…Random Snippets

There was something Will was not telling him. Secrets. He saw them lurking in those silvery eyes.

"Once you are with these men, you will have to make your own choice."

He shook his head and signed, I will not be used. I will not use this…this evil for others.

"It's not evil, son," Will said, sighing. "And I know you will not. Just as I know what will become of you when you refuse."

He reached down and touched Eustache's hands. "They will try to convince you. They will beat you. They will torture you. Eventually, they are going to kill you."

He flinched. Shoving to his feet, he started to pace. As he did, his thoughts spun in dizzying circles. Finally, he stopped and faced Will. Slowly, he signed, This is the choice you speak of? Either do something I know is wrong or die?

"No. The choice is this…I can see to it that you die quickly, painlessly—it will end for you before they come. You will be spared what they intend to do, and you will go on to what awaits you beyond this life." Will gave him a reassuring smile. "And I promise you, that's not a bad thing.

"Or…" Will's eyes started to glow. "You can meet your destiny with them. Take what they give you. It will be painful, it will be brutal. And they will kill you. When your life is taken, it will be returned. You'll rise anew…and become something more."

He stared at Will and wondered if the man had gone mad.

"There you have it. That is your choice. What do you choose?"

BN | Amazon | Samhain

Dying is hard enough... coming back to life is brutal.

read more... 

Grimm Guest…Thea Harrison

Today's Grimm Guest...Thea Harrison

Blurb:

He's a wyr warrior, a god of storms. She's the heir to the Dark Fae throne. But desire will bring both to their knees in this all-new Novel of the Elder Races.

During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle "Tricks" Periwinkle found sanctuary among the wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle's death, there are those who don't want to see her ascend to the throne…

Able to wield thunder and lightning, wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the wyr's best weapons. And he's sent to protect Tricks when she's almost assassinated in Chicago.

Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them—a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds…

EXCERPT: Chapter One STORM'S HEART

 

*   *   *

He had gotten used to her infectious grin and that sexy wriggle she did with her cute little ass when she was flirting either with the camera or with someone in person. Anger burned that someone would dare try to harm her. She was so small and delicate, maybe all of five-foot-nothing and a hundred pounds, soaking wet. And now she was missing.

His hands fisted.

Dragos grunted and pushed a button. "There."

Tiago looked back at the flat-screen along with everybody else.

The female reporter came back, speaking more news babble. Blah-fucking-blah. More sexy footage of Niniane, winking at the camera and blowing a kiss. Damn, that mouth of hers was made for Playboy TV. He clamped down on the thought and concentrated on being relevant.

She had arrived in Chicago with an escort of Dark Fae that had been made up of some second cousin or other and assorted guards. She had met with a small delegation that was headed by one of the Dark Fae's most powerful governmental figures, Chancellor Aubrey Riordan. She and the delegation stayed in the penthouse suite at the Regent, preparatory to crossing over to the Dark Fae Other land for her coronation. She had, by all accounts, left the hotel last night for dinner with her cousin and a small escort.

The usual swarm of paparazzi had bayed in pursuit. The Dark Fae lost the paparazzi after a high-speed chase. What happened for the next couple of hours was unknown.

Tiago gritted his teeth as he glared at the screen. Get to the fucking point already.

And there it was, the fucking point, sprayed all over a fifty-six-inch plasma flat-screen, and apparently all over the Internet as well. One million, seven hundred and fifty thousand hits and counting, as of 1:30 am.

The grainy, badly shot footage showed a dirty alley that could have been anywhere, in any city in the world. The scene jerked. Whoever had recorded the footage couldn't have done a worse job if they'd tried.

Still, Niniane was unmistakable in a red halter dress that accentuated her compact hourglass figure. Two Dark Fae were already on the ground. She was locked in some sort of struggle with the third.

The Dark Fae struck her hard in the ribs. The breath left Tiago in a growl as if he had been the one who had taken the blow. The asshole with the cell phone kept filming this shit and did nothing to help her? The scene jostled. Shit!

Then it came clear again. The last Dark Fae was down.

Niniane stood over her attacker, gasping and disheveled, one hand pressed to her side. She started to kick the body. "I hate my family!" she shouted. "I hate my family! I hate my family!"

*   *   *

Thea is giving away three signed books (this is limited to US & Canada only).  

To enter, just leave a comment below.  

Remember, all comments left during the daily Grimm Giveaway are entered for the big giveaway...info here.  Make sure you've read my disclaimer-all winners will be posted to my blog and that's your notification.  If you don't check back...you don't know if you've won.  More info on the Grimm giveaway link.

Dying is hard enough... coming back to life is brutal.

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Locked in Silence…Random Snippets

She hurt.

Vanya thought the pain would choke her—either the pain or the blood.

Fear dominated her mind, swamped her.

I'm here, somebody whispered through her mind.

A hand touched her brow.

Strong, gentle.

Then it was gone—

No, she thought desperately. Please don't leave…

"I won't leave you alone. I'm here, Vanya."

Who was he? She needed something to cling through during the dark, but she didn't know how to ask, couldn't find her voice to save her life.

And then, as though he'd sensed her need, she heard it again, a vague whisper of thought.

"I am Silence—"

Silence…what a strange name.

Her last conscious thought was that he knew her name…and she hadn't been alone, after all.

BN | Amazon | Samhain

Dying is hard enough... coming back to life is brutal.

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Grimm Guest…Allison Pang…

Today's Grimm Guest...Allison Pang

Even though I don't specifically write or rewrite fairy tales (yet, although I really am itching to do a retelling of The Little Mermaid. With robots.) I was a huge fan of reading them as a child. I had a massive Grimm's Fairy Tales book that was about 500 pages or so, and several of the My Book House series and the various colored fairy books. (The Blue Fairy book, the Green Fairy book, etc.) so you might say I was pretty well rounded in the overall lore and mythology. Children are sometimes a bit naturally bloodthirsty in some ways, so being exposed to the original tales was a bit eye-opening, because they showed the real consequences of one's actions before Disney got a hold of them and made them "wholesome."

There are certain elements in most fairy tales that tend to speak to us on a deeper level. Whether it's the archetypical tropes that seem to pop up again and again (i.e. the terrible mother, the good mother, the wise old man, etc.) or the overall journey that the characters tend to face, these tales have been with us for a very long time.

That being said, although A Brush of Darkness isn't specifically based on a traditional fairy tale, there are certainly fairy tale elements in it. (Small pervy unicorns notwithstanding). The entire world-building foundation of the CrossRoads was based on a poem called Thomas the Rhymer, a sort of Scottish Fairy Tale written by the poet/prophet True Thomas about his adventures with the Faery Queen:

And see not ye that braid braid road,

That lies across that lily leven?

That is the path to wickedness,

Tho some call it the road to heaven.

And see not ye that bonny road,

That winds about the fernie brae?

That is the road to fair Elfland,

Where thou and I this night maun gae.

From here I developed the three Paths of OtherFolk – essentially the creatures of Hell, Heaven and Faerie. (Not that everything fits quite that neatly, but for a storybook scaffolding it makes a good jumping point.) In the meantime I do manage to weave in bits and pieces of other fairy tales as I go (goats hanging out with trolls, that sort of thing). It's partially a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it also allows me to enrich the overall lore based on common things that a lot of people know or maybe remember from their own childhood.

In A Brush of Darkness, there are obviously Fae involved in the world, but the forthcoming sequel A Sliver of Shadow actually has Abby and the rest of her friends entering the realm of Faerie proper. (And dealing with all the fun and nasty things therin).

And here's a little preview:

"The Queen has sealed the entryway," Talivar said, his voice soft. "A sacrifice is required to pass."

"That sounds reassuring," I muttered, getting awfully tired at the Fae woman's paranoia. Maybe it was unfair considering her kingdom was about to be invaded, but all these little trials seemed like a big waste of time given our own situation.

Moira gave me a wan smile. "It requires a drop of blood from each person who passes." Her eyes flicked to where Brystion stood. "Although it would normally not allow the passage of daemons—"

"My blood has already been tasted by the gate," the incubus said brusquely. "It knows who I am."

"Of course." To me and Melanie, she gestured at a tiny thorn midway up the first branch, very much like where a lock might be on a normal door. "Simply place a finger here and the gate will allow you to pass."

"If I fall asleep for a thousand years, I'm counting on one of you to come to the rescue." I'd intended it as a joke, but the elves merely stared at me as though it might very well be an option.

Allison is giving away winner's choice...either a copy of A Brush of Darkness of A Sliver of Shadow when it comes out in Feb/March.  (FYI, if the winner selects A Sliver of Shadow, it will not be mailed until it's release next year!)

Remember, all comments left during the daily Grimm Giveaway are entered for the big giveaway...info here.  Make sure you've read my disclaimer-all winners will be posted to my blog and that's your notification.  If you don't check back...you don't know if you've won.  More info on the Grimm giveaway link.

Dying is hard enough... coming back to life is brutal.

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The earlier Hunter books…

This fall, the rights on the earlier Hunter books, Hunters Declan & Tori, Eli & Sarel, Jonathan & Lori, Byron & Kit, etc begin reverting back to me.

I plan on releasing them all, probably monthly or every other month, depending on time, etc. through the various digital platforms out there.

I'm going through and doing quick read throughs on them, but I don't plan on changing these stories.  No new content will be added, so if you've read the original versions, the only thing you'd get with these versions is a new cover.

But if you haven't read them, I do plan on selling them a fairly low price.  More info to be posted as I have it.  Right now, I don't know when I'll be uploading the first one. I'll post that info as I have it as well.

And because a couple of people already asked... O.o  Nooooo... nothing happened and I didn't pull these books.  The rights have just reverted back to me.   At this time, these are the only books I plan on doing this with.

Also, there is still stock at EC and at various print/online stores for the print books, but that is limited.  Once those are gone, they may well stay that way.  I dunno if I'm going to attempt to release these in print or not.  So if you want them in print, you might want to get them now.

Saturday Snippets…an important date…

 

Today's snippet is from Locked in Silence. the theme is an important date…the heroine has a date with destiny…I figure that counts.  :-)

And maybe she could let Robbi live another day or two—who knows, the idiot could always grow a brain cell or two.

With an internal sigh, she made a choice and sauntered toward the succubae.

She knew how to appeal to this kind of demon.

After all, she'd been killing them on the sly for years.

But always one-on-one, which required luring them away from the rest.

And there was more than one demon in this club…Vanya could feel them.

With a silent prayer, she made her choice.

She'd been told a few years ago, when the time was right, she wouldn't be alone.

Didn't seem like there would be a better time than now.

Oddly enough, she felt pretty damn alone.

read more…(due out 9/20)

Other authors participating in the Saturday Snippets

Anne Rainey

TJ Michaels

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Myla Jackson

Taige Crenshaw

Lauren Dane

Vivian Arend

Shelli Stevens