Sneak Preview of Venture Unbroken!
It’s almost here! Venture Unbroken officially releases in just a few days, on September 15. Some of you have been waiting for months, or, as my son so patiently put it, “FOREVER.”
I had fun writing this novel, especially exploring Jade’s side of the story. So many people told me she needed her own book that I just had to give her more say. While I didn’t write her an entire story of her own—yet—some of Venture Unbroken is told from her point of view, and some from Venture’s. Scroll down for a sneak preview of the opening of Venture Unbroken, and a taste of Jade’s point of view!
I’d love to hear what you think in the comments here, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
If you’re just discovering the Venture books, you can read more about the series here, or read the opening of Venture Untamed, the first novel in the series.
Twin Rivers, Richland,
Spring’s First Month, 660 After the Founding
Jade crept down the hall, boots in hand. She lowered her foot onto the step, shifting her weight slowly, willing her father and grandmother not to wake. She slipped through the kitchen and into the washroom, then out through the servants’ door in the adjoining courtyard. The cool black of the night greeted her, and her breath caught.
The last time she’d stepped out this door and into the moonlight, the last time she’d sneaked out in the middle of the night, it had been to meet Venture. Sweet Vent. Jade’s throat ached to form a cry, but she forced it back. She didn’t have time to dwell on the past, to cry over something that might never be. Dasher was waiting for her.
Footsteps padded beside her, and Lightning’s cold, wet nose rubbed against her palm. After they took Venture away, Father had tried to give Lightning to Justice. Lightning always was really Venture’s dog. But Justice had looked at Jade, not with blame, but with a different sorrow added to his own. Compassion for her, for what she and Venture once had together. What they’d wanted together. Justice insisted Jade should have Lightning nearby, looking after her. “It’s what Vent would want,” he’d said.
“There’s my good girl,” Jade whispered to Lightning as she pulled on her boots. “Want to go for a ride with me? A lady shouldn’t ride alone. It’s dangerous.”
Lightning’s ears perked up. Instead of doing her usual dance at the prospect of being included in one of Jade and Sunrise’s rides, she cocked her head at Jade skeptically. Even the goodnatured retriever knew that neither of her masters—Grant Fieldstone by right, or Venture Delving, the master of her heart—would approve.
Jade knew the right things to murmur to the horses as she opened the stable doors. She knew how to keep them whickering soft greetings. She saddled up Sunrise and led her out of the stable and onto the grass. She didn’t steer her horse onto the road and mount until they were partway down the hillside that led to Twin Rivers Town, in the valley below.
Lightning bounded alongside Sunrise. She circled the horse as Jade slowed and dismounted. Jade tethered Sunrise to a tree on the outskirts of town. Riding was faster, but hooves on cobblestone would draw too much attention. She tried to stay in the shadows of the buildings’ eaves until she reached the yard. A few trees in the yard offered some cover, but eventually she had to sprint through the open grass.
Just as she neared the front steps, Jade froze. Were those footsteps? Her heart was beating so fast, she couldn’t be sure. She glanced around her anxiously. Where was Lightning?
“Lightning?” she called softly, coaxingly.
She sensed a flurry of movement behind her. Too big to be Lightning. Just as Jade’s mouth opened to form a scream, a hand clamped over it.
“Hush.” Dasher’s voice was ever smooth, even in a breathless whisper. His arm wrapped around her, pulling her to his chest. “It’s just me.”
Jade relaxed, and Dasher lowered his hand, but her heart was still thudding. Dasher’s arm held her tight. A part of her wanted to turn her face to his chest and hide there, safe in his arms, and pretend none of the events of the past several months had ever happened.
She pulled away. Nowhere was safe anymore, and she could never forget Venture.
Dasher took her hand and led her to the door with a couple of swift strides. “We don’t have much time.” He let go her hand and fished the key out of his pocket. Sensing her hesitation, he paused. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” she lied.
Dasher frowned, not entirely believing her. Venture wouldn’t have believed her at all.
“No one saw you?”
She shook her head.
Dasher turned the key in the old lock. The click was so loud in the stillness of the night. Jade cringed, but Dasher didn’t seem to notice. “We will be careful. We will be quick. No one will know.”
Venture would know, eventually. And if he found out about Dasher’s part in it, he’d kill him. Jade followed Dasher into Beamer’s Center. She was going to learn everything she could, and she was going to get Venture back, no matter what the cost.
