To tease, or not to tease?

You guys! It’s almost here! I’m so excited, and nervous, and excited, and… well, you get the idea. My nerves are jumpy and jittery just writing this. My heart’s all a’pitter-patter thinking about putting this out there into the world to be loved, judged, disliked, compared or otherwise. It’s been a bumpy, exciting, frustrating ride.

Oh man, I can’t tell you how many times I scrapped and rewrote parts of this second novel.

And pulled my hair as my characters ran willy nilly, unable to give definitive answers as to how their life, their future, was going to play out.

Seriously. I developed the very annoying habit of staring into space whilst tapping a pen in that way that annoys everyone within hearing range.

Yeah.

And sometimes during those spacey moments, I’d laugh to myself as I imagined one of the characters saying something. Or make generally weird, quirky faces. Ya know, because in my mind I’m thinking of how these people are interacting with each other.

I only found out about these facial expressions because apparently my husband is a bit of a creeper, and often pointed this out.

“Why do you look like that?” he would ask, usually followed by snickering.

“Like what?” I’d reply, thinking ‘this is just my face!’

He’s a jerk. A great jerk that I love, though.

Now, since we’re so close to the release, and I love/hate reading excerpts or book teasers… I thought I’d share one with you all. Just a tiny one! I promise it doesn’t give away a TON of information, and it won’t spoil the book for you. I’ve tried my hardest to not give away anything going on in book two thus far.

So hard to do!

I mean, the book two synopsis does give you the, well, synopsis. So I suppose you already know the direction of “Home World”.

Anyway, you definitely don’t have to read this excerpt. If you need a little time to debate the pros and cons of reading beyond this point, go ahead. I’ll wait. I do it too, you’re not alone. It’s a serious love/hate relationship, reading excerpts and teasers. Totally understand.

Still with me? Okayyyy, so without any more dilly-dallying, the excerpt!

(Pssst, please excuse the lack of indentation. Goodreads HTML doesn't seem to like it!)

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“What’s the proper greeting when meeting the king and queen?” Lucia was instantly reminded of her mother. Nova would probably already know, since she was adept at all things proper.

“To bow from the waist down and always address them formally as Queen Gi’Moy, and King Val’Qa,” Val’Zun instructed. “Only their progeny may address them informally in public as ‘mother’ or ‘father’. In private, you may call them whatever they allow you to.”

Lucia wiped her brow as she gave up trying to not look at the yellow mash because she was positive she was going to screw something up. She continued to stir it for no reason, and exhaled. “How am I to address your siblings or, you? Prince Val’Zun? Prince Gi’Ren?”

“That has a nice ring to it.” The smug look on Zun’s face made Lucia narrow her eyes and her fingers took over control, flinging a spoonful of the slop at him.

It splattered against his cheek and lazily dripped onto the table. Zun blinked slowly, his pupils blowing up as he continued to stare at her.

“See!” Lucia tried to explain and shake out her hands. “I can’t control myself.” She covered her face with her wicked fingers and moaned. “I’m going to offend the queen and she’s going to have me killed. Lenny will grow up without me and-”

“Loo-Sha,” Soren humorously soothed, tossing a cloth at Val’Zun. “You are worrying too much. Our people will not expect you to know proper Melierun etiquette.”

“Once again, that isn’t making me feel any better,” she whined, breathing faster as she felt panic set in. “You two are terrible at consoling. No offense.” Lucia clutched at her chest.

“Some taken,” Soren said before he coached her calming mantra and rubbed his warm, large hands up and down her arms soothingly. “Breathe slowly, Loo-Sha. You are safe. We will not let anyone harm you.”

Lucia tried her damnedest to calm down and breathe slowly, as Soren instructed. Closing her eyes, she inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth.

I can do this. I’m Lucia Herana. Mother, survivor, and I’m amazing.

Yes, mostly amazing.

Not helping.

Woosahhhh.

Her breathing went back to normal and she opened her eyes. She had to remember, five years ago when she hopped that ship with Mima to join Raz’s crew, she was looking for adventure and to help people. She had to remember to look at this like an adventure. She’d be meeting new people, a new species, seeing a new planet and helping bring two worlds together that may never otherwise.

Lucia had this.

“Okay,” she sagged in the chair, nodding once and then sitting up straight with renewed determination. “I’m better now. I apologize, Val’Zun.” Lucia did truly mean it, and she tried to convey that sincerity through her gaze.

Zun’s pupils slowly went back to normal and he relaxed in his chair once more, accepting her apology.

“I still have more questions.”

He waved a hand, giving her permission to continue. Lucia opened her mouth, but before she could utter a word, Gi’Ren slid a wide box across the table toward her. When she wrinkled her brow in confusion, he gestured for her to open it.

Her heart squeezed a little that he got her a gift… until she opened it.

“Um…” Her eyes roved over the black velvet inside. Upon the cushioned interior sat a full set of… finger gauntlets? They were similar, but their tips looked too sharp, and each one was connected to a very tiny, delicate silver chain attached to a thin ring that fit around the base of the finger. “Thank you?”

“It is for marking,” Gi’Ren grunted, like Lucia should know this. Then he looked to Soren, who was rubbing a hand along the back of his own neck. “You did not tell her.”

“Tell me what?”


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Have safe and happy holidays you guys! -Poppy