Sunday Snippet: Veering Off Course

Whew! Busy week,which I love. My youngest kidlet got engaged last weekend and we've been ridingthat wave of excitement this week.

Finished up onework project and got another new one. It's a mystery and I love those! Alsoplugging along with an ongoing LitRPG manuscript that's also a sci-fi/fantasymash-up. I love the series!

Had an okay week oftelevision viewing. I didn't get through as much as I thought I would but I'mcool with that.

I finished up theepisode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I've got two episodes left andI'm bracing for impact because I know what's coming.

Caught the secondpart of Silent Witness and I'm happy to say I figured out the real culprit.It took some really twisty turns and I'm pretty sure there might have been adangling plot thread but, honestly, a great episode.

Enjoyed another episodeof Death in Paradise. I'm almost finished with the first season, andit's been terrific seeing the series in chronological order. Can't wait tostart the next season.

Continued myrewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Epiphanies." I'dforgotten how much this episode set up for the following seasons. And I'malways blown away by how incredibly good James Callis is the role of Baltar.

I also caughtanother episode of Fantasy Island. Really enjoyed this one. I'm very,very cautiously optimistic with the Javier and Elena storyline. I'm going to beso disappointed if it ends up being trashed for the sake of angst.

And that's prettymuch it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Veering OffCourse, a novella that separates a couple just when they're close to havinga future.

Here's theminiblurb:

Raine Shippley tends to go her own way, always veeringoff course. When her true path is revealed, Dalton Tucker thinks they'llfinally have a chance, but Raine disappears and he's left to follow the trailalone … or so he thinks.

And a preview snippet…

Raine brought a mug of coffee intoDalton's study. "Any luck with the research?" Considering he hadn'thad much sleep while keeping her under, she didn't know how his eyes weren't crossingwhile reading.

Dalton hid a yawn and accepted thecup. "Well, one name keeps coming up. But I'd like to do a little more sleuthingbefore I get your hopes up." He settled in a chair by the fire.

Raine dropped down in the matchingwingback. "Gonna be hard to raise them anyway." She met his gaze."But I appreciate the caution." Turning her attention to theflickering flames, she zoned out while Dalton sipped his hot java.

She startled when Dalton draped asoft throw over her.

He smiled and returned to his chair,picking up an open notebook. "You looked chilly." He flipped a pageover.

She snuggled into the blanket."I think I was. Sorry I fell asleep again." The lethargy drover hermad.

Dalton shrugged. "You need therest. And it gave me time to do some more research." He turned toward her."I think I found someone who might be able to help you."

She arched a brow. "The namethat keeps popping up?"

He nodded. "Faeryn Carnes. Shesurvived entering the shroud and returning. I'd think the experience would giveher extra insight about the inner workings of elementals." His fingertraced over the name on the paper.

Raine leaned forward. "Do youknow her? As in, have you ever met her?" Strangers could be squicked outby multiple wielders.

Hell, friends and acquaintances gotfreaked out around Raine.

Dalton shook his head. "Notpersonally. But I've got her contact information and, if you're willing, I cansee if she'll meet with us." He nodded toward his phone.

Raine lifted her chin. "Yeah.I mean, at this point, what can it hurt? The worst that can happen is she saysno." She turned her attention back to the flames.

Dalton got up and moved into thekitchen to make the call.

Raine stared at the flickeringorange and yellow of the snapping and popping wood in the grate. Her minddrifted and the fire dimmed then flared. She didn't consciously make thealteration. The element picked up on her mood and acted accordingly.

Clearing the cobwebs of slumberfrom her brain, she focused her gaze on the hearth and followed the dancingdips and dives of the tendrils drifting up toward the chimney flue. Her visionblurred and a vivid image filled her mind.

She stood in the center of a pentagramwith four points soaked in elemental magick with a shroud for each—earth, air,water, and fire. The fifth point, the top of the star, swirled with shadows andcloaked itself in darkness. The final part represented her. The self. Theblackness would remain until she got a handle on her abilities.

The vision shifted and fourcaricatures branched off from the center and made their way to each elementalshroud. Then, one by one, they merged and moved to the fifth, hidden point. Noone else entered the picture. Only she could make this happen, and she had tofollow her true path.

Her head snapped up. "I haveto walk alone." Her heart sank … because leaving Dalton behind wouldn't beeasy.

If she chose to follow the vision…

Dalton popped back into the room."Faeryn wants to meet you. If you're up for it, she'd like you to stop bytoday." He pocketed his phone and arched his brows.

Raine got up and folded theblanket. "Let's go. You don't mind coming with me, do you?" She'dmeet with Faeryn alone but hoped Dalton would at least be there for moralsupport.

A smile quirked his lips."Nope. She's about an hour north of us. Maybe we can stop for something toeat on our way back." He waggled his eyebrows with the suggestion of food.

Raine grinned. "Pretty surethat's a backhanded way of saying you'd rather I didn't cook." Sheretrieved her jacket from the peg shelf by the door.

Dalton gave her an innocent look."I would never imply anything of the sort." He chuckled. "But Iwill say it outright." He breezed past her and started down the sidewalk.

Raine laughed. Because she did suckat making meals. And not because she couldn't control her abilities … she trulydidn't enjoy cooking.

She sobered on her way to the car. Sheloved Dalton for bringing some humor to the day. But she also dreaded what theconversation with Faeryn might reveal…

I'm happy with howthis story is coming together. It's also great to revisit Faeryn.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye