Sunday Snippet: Keeping Life Real

Time to wrap up 2024 and send it on its happy way. For me, it's been a year of ups and downs and sometimes the downs packed a punch. That said, I try to focus on the ups and pull that energy into my realm.

Wild weather, per usual. We had sixty degrees yesterday, so my husband went golfing. He's been down with a nasty cold and wanted / needed the fresh air and exercise. Today it's raining and dreary outside.

Finished up a section of a developmental edit I've been working on. So excited to have it done, because we're almost to the finish line on this story. One more chunk of chapters then a full read through and we'll be ready to go.

A semi-decent week of viewing even with the holiday thrown in this week. I still need to pick a new show to watch on one of my streamers and I finished another show and will need to replace it also.

Started season three of Elementary. I'm not sure how I feel about Harsh Joan or New Watson working with Sherlock. Also feel a bit off by Gregson's backhanded bitchslap to Sherlock. I do love that Sherlock is seeing consequences for his actions, even if they were to preserve his sobriety. Season three could prove to be interesting.

I finished The Batman series and thoroughly enjoyed the rewatch. I feel like there's at least one episode I missed, but maybe I'm remembering a different series.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats and didn't remember either of the vignettes. Loved the babies thinking they were helping and the grown-ups getting locked in the playpen.

Enjoyed another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I think I have two more episodes left in this series. It's a fun show and I'm glad I watched from the beginning.

Finished up the second season of London Kills and I'm excited to start season three. The weaving of the plot lines is something I really like about this series. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. Really interested to see what happens with JP. I love his character and I'll be sad to see him go, if he does.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Keeping Life Real, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

After a fae glade is destroyed, Spencer Lucas is called to head up the rebuilding efforts, but he's not ready. Spencer has big shoes to fill—his dad is Overwatch of all fae creatures and Spencer fears letting him down. Bibi Ragland—well-known and well liked—would be a better choice but she doesn't want the job. Bibi does want Spencer to step up and she's not above pushing him to get him there.

And a preview snippet…

Spencer Lucas grasped the hips of the woman riding him. "Come on, Bibi, don't hold back." He flexed his thighs, thrusting upward when she rocked forward.

Her head fell back. "Gah! Spence, I'm so close." She added a twist to her backward motion.

Spencer sucked in a breath. Bibi Ragland always knew how to amp the temperature during sex. She leaned down and meshed her mouth with his.

Spencer skimmed his hands up her sides, using one to cup her nape so he could deepen the kiss. Bibi moaned and changed the pace, adding more pressure to the roll of her pelvis. Spencer held on by a thread. Her hot walls hugging his dick? No better feeling in the fae realms.

She broke the kiss and huffed out a harsh breath. "Almost there…" She rocked her hips again.

Two phones played different ringtones and vibrated on the nightstand.

Bibi's head snapped up and she glared at the offending devices.

Spencer shook his head. "Uh-uh. Whoever's calling can wait two minutes." His hands palmed her ass. "Let it go … come with me…" He couldn't hold on much longer.

Bibi's hands fisted in the sheet. "Gah … now, Spence." Her head dropped back and a shudder tore through her.

Spencer broke, a ball of pleasure spreading out from the base of his spine. He gasped her name, his hands grasping her waist. A kaleidoscope of color burst behind his eyelids.

Bibi collapsed atop his chest and caught her breath. He wrapped his arms around her and waited for his heart rate to return to normal. The zips and zings of his orgasm faded to a satisfied hum along his nerve endings.

Bibi reached over and grabbed their phones then shifted off to his side. Both showed a voice mail received. Spencer clicked on the phone icon and dialed to listen to his message.

His dad's voice spoke with urgency. "The Red Wood Glade has been destroyed. I need you and Bibi to come in for a briefing then go to assess the damage and report your findings directly to me. Overwatch only." The call ended abruptly.

Shit. Figured he blew off a call from his dad and the man called with catastrophic news. Stiles Lucas held the title of Overwatch and functioned as the premier leader over all the fae beings. And Spencer had a million questions rolling through his brain.

Bibi growled. "How the hell did anyone or anything destroy a glade?"

That question held the top spot on his list.

She followed up with another one. "And why Red Wood? It's a sacred sanctuary." She sat up and reached for her shirt.

Spencer grabbed his pants, jamming his feet through the legs. "Maybe Overwatch will have more information when we get briefed." He shrugged his shirt over his head.

Bibi stepped into her leggings. "He's gonna be pissed we didn't answer."

Yeah, he would. They should've known something happened when both phones rang at the same time. They didn't get all-calls very often.

Spencer grunted. "My guess is he'll pick his battle, and the destruction of the glade will take priority." He paused before heading for the door. "Probably shouldn't mention the reason we didn't answer."

Bibi arched her brows. "Yeah, no. Definitely not." She snapped her fingers. "We were outside and didn't have our phones with us." She gave a nod. "That'll work."

Spencer gave her a side-eye. "Right. We'll go with that." He tucked his phone in his pocket, a ball of dread rolling in his gut. "Better head out. Gonna be hard to wrap my head around this before we meet with Overwatch."

A glade. Destroyed.

Why…

I'm just getting started on this one and can't wait to see how everything unfolds.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Juvenile Behavior

Seasons' Greetings!

For whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope you have a joyous time filled with cheer and merriment. We'll be low key per usual with a trip to my dad's and hopefully some FaceTime with my brother in Arizona.

The weather is still playing back and forth. We have a bit of snow and it's pretty cold right now. The temps are supposed to warm up into the forties and fifties over the next few days.

Finished up two projects this week and have one on my plate. January looks to be shaping up with multiple projects and I'm so grateful for those. The short break gives me some time to finish getting my side project ready to launch and I hope to do that next week during the holiday.

Only a semi-good week of viewing. I had some big cleaning projects to work on and got a good bit of that completed. Still working on a few others and hope to have them finished before the end of the year.

Watched another episode of Mr and Mrs Murder. I remember parts of this one but hadn't seen the entire episode. Ended up being pretty good.

Also watched an episode of London Kills. The plot thickens regarding the disappearance of David's wife. Looking forward to seeing how that ends up being resolved. Also enjoying Billie so much on this show.

Enjoyed the one hundredth episode of Death in Paradise. So lovely to have Camille back for a brief stay. Also nice to see Spirit Richard. This also marks, in my opinion, when Catherine and Selwyn take on larger roles in the show. Looking forward to rounding out season ten with the last two episodes.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Juvenile Behavior, a novella that gives a couple an opportunity to see if they'd make a good match.

Here's the miniblurb:

Freddie and Owen, top adepts putting cadets through their paces at the Mage Academy, are very much in love but refuse to act on their attraction. But when the Mage Principal has enough of their antics, he strips them of their rank and tenure and pushes them to act like grown-ups instead of juvenile delinquents.

And a preview snippet…

Freddie entered the house through the servants' entrance and made her way to the kitchen. "Hi, Helen." She gave the older woman a hug.

Helen released her, leaning back to get a look at Freddie. "I suggest you go right in to see your uncle." Her lips twisted in a frown.

Freddie tilted her head to one side. "Has he been treating you poorly?" Stupid question, because of course he would.

Roderick treated everyone with terrible disregard.

Helen tsked. "No and we'll talk later." She shooed Freddie toward the main house.

Freddie knocked once and entered her uncle's suite. "What do you want, Uncle?" Her brows drew together at his appearance.

Debauched didn't quite cover the description. Roderick wore a pajama-and-robe set with leather slippers on his feet. His eyes were bloodshot, and stubble covered his face. Unlike Owen, who looked sexy with some scruff on his face, Roderick looked ill kept and disheveled.

Roderick sneered in her direction. "What did you think you'd accomplish by siccing your boy toy on me?" He growled the words.

Freddie's eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you talking about?" As if she'd willingly make anyone talk to her uncle.

Roderick snorted. "I'm talking about that Parker weanling barging in here and all but accusing me of neglect where you're concerned." He got up and paced back and forth. "Didn't take two seconds to figure out he's fucking you." His face twisted in a grimace. "Had the gall to suggest I look into setting the codicil aside." He barked out a laugh. "As if I'd ever do that."

Freddie blinked but otherwise hid her surprise and anger … at both men.

Owen had no right to confront her uncle behind her back. But … at least he gave enough of a damn to call Roderick out for the bullshit way he hoarded the fortune. And Roderick summoning her to the manor to give her shit about something Owen did pissed her off.

She widened her stance and folded her arms over her chest. "First of all, I didn't send Owen. He a grown-ass man and makes his own decisions." Even if said decisions were terrible. "Second, what he doesn't realize is how much of an asshat you are or how much you love the precious Rudd money." She dropped her arms and leaned forward, placing her hands on the desk. "Grandfather would lose his shit if he knew how much of his fortune you've already gone through." At the rate her uncle spent money, he'd be broke within a decade.

Roderick huffed out a breath. "Yeah? Well, Granddad would lose even more of his shit if he knew you were letting a Parker bang you." He made another grimace of distaste.

What she had with Owen amounted to so much more than banging. Even if she'd tried to only focus on the sex at first. She'd been engaged in a losing battle on that front.

Freddie shrugged, feigning indifference. "Maybe so, but I don't care about the family money. You're the one with that affliction." And he'd raise an unholy stink if his precious funds ended up going to charity.

Roderick gave her a cold smirk. "You're right. And since I do care, you'll end the farce with Parker now." He slapped his hand on the desk for emphasis.

Freddie made a bold statement. "It's not a farce. I love him. But your worry is moot. It won't be long before Owen and I go back to being nothing but work colleagues." She made to turn and leave, but Roderick gestured with his hands, using a binding spell on her.

I should have seen that coming.

He leaned forward. "Make sure that's how it plays out, dear niece. I don't mind playing dirty when I have to."

Freddie snarled. "Resorting to threats isn't necessary, dear uncle. I don't break my word." She tried to move, but the spell still held her. "Let me go or I'll make sure you never successfully get it up for the rest of your life." She could play just as dirty as her uncle.

He released her and she exited his study shaking with rage. She made her way to the kitchen and met Helen's hug. Blinking back tears, she accepted the comfort for a few moments. Then she eased back and exhaled slowly.

Helen's gaze went dark and stormy. "That went as well as I thought it would. But using a binding spell? That's lower than low." Helen didn't hide being livid over Roderick's treatment of Freddie. "One day that man will get his comeuppance." Placing a palm on Freddie's cheek, Helen's lips curved in a sad smile. "And I understand your anger at Owen, but I also think that Parker is a keeper."

Freddie's eyes widened. "You talked to him?"

Helen nodded. "I did. Such a charming man." She waited a beat. "He loves you, Freddie. It's obvious."

Freddie's shoulders slumped. "I love him, too. But he shouldn't have come here. The only thing he achieved is to stir up Roderick's ire and make him angry. Any thought I had of possibly living a quiet life with Owen is gone."

Helen hugged her again. "We'll see about that, Freddie. Just enjoy him for now." She squeezed Freddie's hand. "And don't be too hard on him."

This is a fun story even with some heavy family drama. Freddie and Owen are a cool couple to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Justified

Big cold snap with a little bit of snow this week in weather. I'm getting much better about making sure I have layers on even if it's just a quick trip outside with the doggos. I also haven't had a major cold yet this season and I hope I didn't just jinx that fact.

Semibusy work week with finishing a proofread and working on two copy edits. I'm hoping to have some projects to work on over the holiday break. I'm not great at having a week or two off then trying to gear back up into work mode.

Fairly decent week of viewing. I'm trying to decide what new show to add to my usual slate of viewing fare. I'm leaning toward Beyond Paradise, but I'm not completely sure yet.

Caught another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I hadn't seen much if any of this episode and I enjoyed it. I think I have a handful of episodes left before it'll be time to switch to another show.

Watched another episode of London Kills and tensions are running high. The case ended up being very interesting and Viv and Rob are pushing the line by investigating David. Looking forward to more of this one.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. Part one of a two-part arc and the lead-in to the show's one hundredth episode. Loved seeing Camille at the end and can't wait to watch the next episode. I've seen almost all of it and loved it.

Finished up season two of Elementary. I still think Mycroft is an ass even if I get why he did things the way he did. I'm a little on the fence about where Sherlock and Joan left things. I'll be interested to see where they pick up with season three.

Started the two-part series finale of The Batman. I don't remember if I actually watched this before or not but it was a good episode. I think I might move on to Batman Beyond after this.

Also watched another episode Classic Rugrats. I hadn't seen either of the vignettes and enjoyed both.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Justified, a novella that brings a couple with unique skills together to face a common enemy.

Here's the miniblurb:

Electra Cage and Nix Naught shouldn't be together. She's firmly on the side of law and order and he's on whatever side pays the most. They justify their liaison when they discover a common enemy—one they'll need their unique skill sets to destroy.

And a preview snippet…

Damn, she noticed everything. Maybe too much. No one else would've clocked to the fact Nix didn't actually use a key to enter the building. Her uncanny and spooky accurate ability to miss nothing piqued his curiosity. Definitely more to Electra than a smokin' hot body, steel-trap mind, and sexual energy.

Nix wanted to discover what else made her stand out.

And why Walton wanted her out of commission.

Nix led her to the middle of the open space where skylights let in rays from the moon. Electra scanned the room, her gaze missing nothing.

She glanced back at him. "Is your friend home?"

Nix's lips quirked. "At the moment, he's on a sabbatical somewhere no one else can get to." Kincaid didn't always reside on this plane of existence, something only a few were privy to.

Nix appreciated being one of the select group. The pagan master would approve of Nix's use of the sanctuary as neutral ground. Especially if he used it to find answers.

He settled down onto a pile of cushions. "Please, make yourself comfortable." He debated over how to start and how much to tell her.

Electra gracefully removed her jacket and sank down across from him.

Before he said anything, he wanted one simple point made clear. "Why are we here?"

Electra frowned. "Because you didn't want to talk in the bar."

Nix shot her a look. Playing obtuse didn't look good on her.

She sighed. "We're here because I'm close to discovering your secret."

Nix prompted her for more. "And?"

Electra kicked her shoes off and planted her feet in his lap, very close to his crotch. "Anything you tell me stays between you and me and won't be used against you." She paused a moment. "Unless you've committed murder. All bets are off if you've killed anyone."

Nix nodded. "Fair enough. But I'm not a hitman." Even if Walton wanted Nix to cross that line.

And Nix's gut said the fucker would want exactly that.

Electra waved a hand. "Fine. You're a boy scout. Now satisfy my curiosity about this…" Her foot slid upward, coming to rest on his dick.

Nix popped the button on his pants. "It might be easier to show you…"

I'm having so much fun with this story. Electra and Nix will end up making a great team in or out of bed.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Just One Moment (Paranormal)

Ohio is back to being contrary with its weather. Super cold days in the teens followed by a warmup of midfifties. My sinuses hate this kind of back and forth.

Had a fairly busy work week with a new project landing in my inbox. It's one of my favorite authors to edit and proofread for. Also spent a lot of time pulling my tax stuff together. I realized last week I hadn't filed for 2023 yet. Better late than never.

Not a bad week of viewing. I didn't make a full round of my usual slate of shows, but I got most of the way through. Again, my sleep schedule is playing havoc with my brain.

Watched another episode of Mr and Mrs Murder and thoroughly enjoyed it. A lot of familiar faces in this one, which is always fun.

Caught another episode of London Kills and I'm kind of excited about Rob and Vivienne teaming up to investigate David. Of course, there's more to the story and I can't wait to find out what's really going on.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. I'd seen most of this one but it's nice to follow the whole story from beginning to end instead of catching bits and pieces all the time.

Finished up season twenty-seven of Silent Witness. Gotta say, I really enjoyed the finale. Jack proposing to Nikki made my heart happy. And I'm interested to see what happens with Jack's place. Maybe Kara and Velvy will stay there.

Watched another episode of Elementary and enjoyed it. Still not a Mycroft fan even if he had extenuating reasons for being an ass. I am kind of glad Sherlock isn't going to throw his brother under the bus. At least I don't think he is. The next episode should reveal what will happen.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Just One Moment, a themed sexy short written in tandem with my other two alter egos.

Here's the miniblurb:

A life-threatening situation and a couple in love. Just one moment for Sygin and Boyd to say everything that needs to be said.

And a preview snippet…

Sygin stalked out of the meeting chambers barely hanging on to her temper. "I can't believe they're taking a wait-and-see approach." An attempt to invade the campus should warrant a response.

Boyd fell into step beside her. "Not sure why they think what happened over the solstice holiday is a one-off. Especially when they recommended the precautions." He tsked.

Sygin shook her head. "I'm not relying on the buddy system. Too many things can go wrong. Are we really going to let this play out until someone gets hurt?" Her blood boiled over the stupid bureaucracy.

Because even if their nemeses were only trying to test the boundaries of dark magick—as the council concluded during the meeting—the sinister aspect of using their campus should have them all worried a hell of a lot more than they were.

Boyd snorted. "You know better than that." He stopped at the edge of the corridor and tugged her into a testing alcove. "We're going to take chances with our students. We're gonna start preparing our quad to act as an early warning system." He flicked his gaze toward the clock on the wall. "Starting tonight."

Sygin's lips curved. "See. That right there is the reason we're together." He practically read her mind on the way to skate the line of being proactive while not outright thumbing their noses at the council.

Boyd narrowed his eyes. "I thought we were together because I make you scream my name during sex."

Sygin laughed. "Not gonna lie. That's a big part of it also." She sobered. "But you're the whole package, which is infinitely more appealing than your expertise in bed." Which actually said a lot because Boyd played her like a maestro between the sheets.

He grasped her hips and hauled her closer. "That's good to know." His fingers tilted her chin up and his mouth captured hers.

Sygin leaned into the kiss. Boyd's tongue swept against hers, dueling for dominance. The man had magick in his lips. And his hands. And, well, everywhere else. She wound her arms around his neck and let all of her anger go, relaxing into his embrace.

He eased back, tracing her thumb over her jawline. "I'd love nothing more than heading back to our place to finish what we started here, but…" He dropped a kiss on her nose.

Sygin sighed. "Right. It'll have to wait." Her palms slid down his chest. "We've got work to do and no time for the undeniably more fun option." Stepping back, she hooked a finger into his waistband. "But we're picking this back up after we make a plan with our quad."

Boyd gave her a wicked smile. "I'll hold you to that."

Sygin smirked. "You'd better."

I like writing in this universe. Boyd and Sygin have a couple more stories coming in the near future.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Jump

Welcome, December! I'm truly not sure what this month will bring. I'm at a weird place where I feel kind of stuck and a little buried under the weight of needing to get things done … but I have no idea where to start.

Work slowed down a little, which isn't a great thing. But it did give me some time to spend with my daughter when she came home for Thanksgiving break. I'm so grateful for that time. And December still looks to be booked with projects for the most part.

The temperature did drop but didn't quite dip into the teens. I'm really not ready for the arctic blast yet. But it does help get me in a mood for the holidays.

Had a semi-decent week of viewing. My sleep schedule is all over the place again and that doesn't always make for a good attention span.

Watched the season two premiere episode of London Kills. Nice to see Billie back in action. I'm interested in the ongoing arc from season one. This cast is stellar, and I love the changing dynamics between them.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm starting to find some redeeming value in Neville. I liked the way he kind of helped Florance. Really not sure about Marlon.

Enjoyed part one of Silent Witness. Loving some inside looks at Jack and Nikki and the mystery is kind of amazing. I have no idea where things are going and that's always fun.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Mycroft is an ass and maybe that's a good thing. He definitely has some explaining to do. I do give him kudos for being able to manipulate Sherlock even if I hate that he could. And I'm going to be really pissed if Sherlock decides Joan is his weakness and starts acting like a bigger ass than Mycroft.

Caught an episode of The Batman and it's one I don't remember watching previously. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Having a team that is completely opposite of Batman and Robin was fun.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I think it's the final one where the whole episode is one story. I kind of wish there were more of those.

And that's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Jump, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

A group of young adults comes into their mage power much later than usual. Sima Hood and Dario Burgos are the de facto leaders of the raw recruits when they're trapped and pinned down by a faction of dark sorcerers who want to groom them for their side, but Sima and Dario receive guidance from one of the elder mages who help them escape and lead them to safety.

And a preview snippet…

Sima Hood shook her head back and forth. "No way am I working with Dario Burgos. You've got to be testing the limits of my patience with this request." She certainly hoped the elder mage didn't really think putting her with Dario would be a good idea.

Marco Lambert gave her a steady look. "Sima, I don't have time to argue this point with you. Twelve raw recruits need a crash course in controlling their powers, and I don't have to tell you it's harder when they haven't been raised with the basics of mage wisdom." He sighed. "This is a huge undertaking, and you can't do it alone." His shoulders slumped.

Sima bit the inside of her lip. Marco didn't wear defeat well. She didn't want to let him down. But she also didn't want to spend the next who knew how many weeks butting heads or anything else with Dario. They did not get along. But the one thing they had in common—coming into their powers in late adolescence instead of the beginning of puberty—made her and Dario uniquely qualified to help this group transition into being proper mages.

Dammit.

She couldn't say no to the man who mentored her and helped her make the transition to becoming a functioning mage. He'd also done the same for Dario … which became part of the reason she struggled to get along with her fellow mage proctor. They didn't have an easy road, and they clashed frequently during their training.

Sima squared her shoulders. "Okay. This is going to be a complete shitshow, but you can count on me." A promise she might end up regretting.

Especially with Dario involved.

Marco's lips quirked in a wry smile. "Not sure this helps, but I heard the same thing from Dario." He chuckled. "Might be the first time you two have ever been on the same page. I consider that a good omen."

A slap might have stung less. But she didn't know if the idea Dario agreed they'd be dealing with a trainwreck bothered her or if the fact the elder mage consulted Dario first kicked harder. Because neither made her happy.

But she'd made a commitment, so Sima tempered her response. "I guess there's a first time for everything." Whether or not they stayed in sync might prove to be the bigger question.

She definitely had doubts.

I'm just getting started on this one and I love having a new story to sink into.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Judge a Book by Its Cover

It's been a wild week. Between work and other commitments, I've been frazzled. My sleep schedule is all over the map and I'm not enjoying the fits and starts of trying to get rest. But … I'll adjust. Hopefully soon.

Our weather has been all over the place. We had a sixty-degree day followed by snow and thirty-four degrees. The day after Thanksgiving is supposed to be in the upper teens for the high. I'm side-eyeing Mother Nature right now.

Work projects are coming in and I think I'm booked through the end of the year. I'm pleased because December can be a sketchy month sometimes. I don't mind downtime, but I'm definitely not prepared to have limited income this year.

Had a terrible week of viewing. Too many distractions and said lack of sleep kept me from getting much watched.

I did catch an episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder and kind of enjoyed it. Some familiar faces as guest stars this week. The mystery was a little lackluster but a good episode nonetheless.

I also caught some marathons of Midsomer Murders. I kind of love the streaming twenty-four hours of one show channels. It's fun to set a favorite and have a go-to comfort watch whenever I want.

I'm also looking at a few new shows but haven't decided which ones I want to pick up. I'm also hoping to get back to my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. My viewing partner will help determine if that's going to happen. So much more fun to watch with someone else who loves the show as much as I do.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Judge a Book by Its Cover, a novella that brings a couple together when they bust up a cheating ring.

Here's the miniblurb:

Zeth Herrickson has to catch the culprits in a cheating scandal at the academy. Coorah Blair normally sits at the top of his list when things aren't right—except she's the one who brings the matter to his attention. They work together to track down the participants and go after the ringleader, who is much closer to both than they'd believe.

And a preview snippet…

Coorah entered Black Satin Coffeehouse and sighed. "Of course, Zeth arrived early." She'd hoped to have a few minutes to collect her thoughts.

Zeth lifted his chin, acknowledging her arrival.

Whatever. I'm used to flying blind. Winging it had long ago become her default mode.

She ordered a coffee—black, one sweetener, no frou-frou crap—and carried it over to his table.

Settling across from him, she swung her legs under the surface and bumped her knees against his. "Sorry." She crossed her ankles under her chair and tried not to focus on the way their legs remained touching.

Zeth flashed a smile. "No problem. These tiny cafe tables are hell for normal-sized people." He swiveled on the chair slightly and stretched one leg out.

Coorah's lips curved. "Exactly." Considering the coffee shop originally served only fairies, the small furniture made sense…

But the place also made the best java on campus and finally caved in to pressure from the academy and lifted the ban on non-little folk. Didn't mean the management had to make any other accommodations, though. And they didn't.

Coorah popped the lid off her cup. "I did what we discussed. Made copies and returned the originals to the proper class folder." She took a long swallow of her drink. "I have the list of novices who participated, and I'll compare against the next set of tests." She had no doubt the names wouldn't change and figured she might end up adding more.

Zeth nodded. "Good. I've got some feelers out for who might be behind the whole deal." He named a few people.

Coorah grimaced. "I can eliminate one. Alistar McCabe. I went out with the guy." She held up a hand. "I know. What was I thinking?" Shaking her head, she shrugged. "Selling spells, yes, he'd totally try to make a buck that way. But he's not smart enough to come up with the test thing."

Zeth narrowed his eyes for a moment then bobbed his head up and down.

She rather liked he took her word for striking McCabe from the list.

Having a lot of fun with this one. Coorah's taste in men is going up a notch, and she's not sure that's a good thing.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Jigsaw Pieces

I'm still working on getting my side project ready to go. At this point, I have no idea how long it will last but I'm going to go like gangbusters until I can't anymore.

Had a solid week of work. Finished up a copy edit and started a new one. Also worked on a developmental edit that's been simmering on the back burner. I have three projects lined up and I'm waiting on deposits to get rolling on those. Hopefully, December is going to be a steady month of work.

Had a very good week of viewing. I made it through my usual round of shows and started looking for a former fave to rewatch but it's not readily available. Might have to dig out my ripped DVDs and hunt around for one of my old players.

I caught two episodes of The Batman this week. No Justice League cameos in these two. Strictly Robin and Batgirl, which I enjoyed.

Also watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Both were single episodes instead of the standard two or three vignettes. Preschool and Halloween featured and were a lot of fun to watch.

Enjoyed another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I'd seen most of this one and liked it the first time around. Very fun to get some background on the detective.

Finished out the first season of London Kills with an episode-length behind the scenes look at the series. Lots of fun to see the actors talk about their characters and see how the showrunners also make the city of London a character.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise. I liked the mystery in this one and enjoyed the crab cooking contest. Not completely sold on Marlon as the new police officer but I'll probably end up enjoying him.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness and, boy, there were a lot of twists in this one. Really loved Jack declaring his love for Nikki at the end. So nice to see them have a happy moment.

Watched an episode of Elementary and rather enjoyed it. Of course, it ended on a cliffhanger, and I have no doubt Mycroft is involved in something nefarious. I truly hope involving Joan blows up in his face.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Jigsaw Pieces, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

On a seemingly routine patrol, Nev Walter watched his partner and sometimes lover, Thea Chavis, burn in hellfire. Broken and unsure how to carry on, he dives back into work for the department of preternatural law enforcement where he runs a unit of officers. Unable to stop thinking about Thea, Nev takes a sharp turn for the worse when dreams of her invade his nights and memories linger during the day. When he starts seeing her in ethereal visions, he decides he's cracking up … but all isn't as it seems.

And a preview snippet…

Thea Chavis ducked through the arched gate leading to Thurston Woods. "I don't care what Nev says, this area needs a look." She stayed on the well-worn walking path and kept her eyes open.

Her partner in the department of preternatural law enforcement for the Greater Abernathy area, Nev Walter, would be pissed she ignored his warning. But … she didn't care at the moment. Because Nev also partnered with her off the job.

Usually.

She snorted. "Lately, not so much." Nev captained a team of eight and often played the role of mom, dad, and great confessor.

Sometimes all at once.

Stepping off the path, Thea entered a thicket of low bushes. The brambles and briars caught at her pantlegs, but she pushed through. Kind of how she clawed through the latest argument with Nev. He didn't want her patrolling alone.

Thea clicked her tongue against her teeth. "As if I'm incapable of staying aware and protected." Sometimes his lack of trust in her ability pissed her off.

Like tonight. The department had reports of fire flashes deep in the center of Thruston Woods. An extended drought made any kind of burning dangerous. The entire forest could go up in flames. The area needed to be checked out.

But Nev had other things to do. Like babysit two of their fellow officers that couldn't seem to keep their shit together. And he wanted Thea to cool her heels while he straightened out whatever issues Blaney and Morgan couldn't seem to handle themselves.

Thea rolled her eyes. "Maybe they should just spend a weekend together and get all that sexual tension out of the way." Worked for me and Nev.

Sort of.

Finally reaching a copse of dense trees, Thea weaved through the ancient timber, slowly working her way toward the center of the woodland area. Questions pinged in her mind. Were the flames from ritual fires? She could suggest an alternative place to conduct rites involving smoke, fire, or ashes.

Or … did something darker come into play here? Could someone be trying to damage the sacred woods? She couldn't wait for Nev to get it together long enough to check things out. Not if someone had evil intentions that could harm their protected glade.

The scent of burning wood hit first followed by orange and yellow crackling flares dancing in her line of vision. Crouching lower, she eased forward trying to stay aware of her surroundings. She wanted to catch whoever had lit the match by surprise.

Nev's voice echoed in her mind. No solitary patrols until we figure out what's going on.

She argued back under her breath. "We don't have the luxury of time if someone's out here lighting fires."

She should've been looking down instead of side to side. She crossed the salt barrier before she realized it. But she noticed it when she couldn't go further. Someone—or something—sealed the circle. Shoulders slumping, because she'd been trapped like a rookie fresh out of class, she ruthlessly shut out Nev's voice.

Then she slowly turned to face her captor, her eyes going wide with shock. "Well, damn. Kind of hoped and expected to never see you again."

But seeing them … explained a lot.

Just getting started on this story and I'm excited to see where it goes. The sages are chattering about Thea and Nev, which is always a good thing.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: The Jade Claw

It's been a wild week of big letdowns in my area of the universe. I'm not sure where things will land but I have decided to launch my side project sooner than expected. More details to follow in a separate blog post.

I started a new work project and picked up with one that's been on the back burner. I also tentatively scheduled three new projects for November. Here's hoping they all pan out.

Had a pretty good week of viewing. I got most of my current slate of shows watched. But … I also got distracted by *waves at everything going on right now*.

I caught an episode of The Batman and rather enjoyed the Green Lantern guest spot. Also enjoyed having one of Batman's rogues nose his way into the storyline.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats and it was the Rugrat's Kwanzaa. I'll have to find the other Rugrats holiday episodes and get ready to rewatch.

Enjoyed another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. It featured a behind-the-scenes look at a theater show, which is fun for me because my daughter majored in theater for undergrad.

Caught the first season finale of London Kills and, wow, some twisty-twists and big turns happened. Looking forward to a behind-the-scenes special this week.

Watched the season ten opener of Death in Paradise. I'm still annoyed by DI Parker and sad to see Ruby no longer with the team. Thrilled to bits to have Florance back. Looking forward to seeing more.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. Terrific guest stars in this episode. I'm very interested in seeing where this case goes.

Enjoyed most of an Elementary episode. I'll get it finished up today and start over with a new run of my current episodes.

That's pretty much it for this week's life update. Tonight's post is from The Jade Claw, a paranormal mystery that brings a couple together over a missing artifact.

Here's the miniblurb:

Skyrah Yule is caught in the middle of a paranormal mafia grab for power when several artifacts are stolen from the museum she works for. The agent investigating the break-in, Clay Wellstone, intrigues her, especially when she discovers he's got close familial ties with the suspected culprits.

And a preview snippet…

Agent Wellstone dropped Skyrah off by her car and she entered the museum through the rear entrance, passing the ident crew on its way out. She appreciated their attempt at discretion, but the break in and theft would be all over the wireless with the early news. She groaned. Good gods, when Glen Bench got a hold of the details, he'd have a field day. The man considered himself the primo source for bringing culture to the masses. Thinking of the fodder he'd get for his late-night chat fest made her head hurt. Didn't help she'd had a brief—very, very brief—hookup with the guy before seeing his true colors. The man enjoyed digging up sordid details and parading them all over the airwaves for others to see.

Too bad he rarely got to the actual truth. She got a little nauseous thinking about the damage he could do to the museum's reputation. She figured she'd better get everything cleaned up and back into a semblance of order then ready herself to field phone calls from the board before she left to teach her afternoon classes.

Almost dawn by the time she finished, Skyrah got pissed off all over again about the staggering loss. Most of the artifacts taken had a connection to the Herac conflict. An important time in the history of the Twelve Provinces, before true unification, she not only hated to lose the value of the objects but their significance.

She brewed a pot of strong coffee and grabbed a shower in the bath adjoining the office. Not the first all-nighter she'd pulled. Too bad it couldn't have been for more a pleasurable reason … like nonstop sex with a hot guy. An image of Clay Wellstone flashed in her head, and she shook it off. Figured her brain would go to him. The guy shut down and locked up tighter than a drum after she mentioned Helena Cassus. When something piqued her curiosity, her interest rose.

Shrugging into a clean shirt, she sat behind her desk and opened a browser. She could take a few minutes and see what the initial reports looked like. Going out into cyberspace, she scanned the headlines. Romero Lightkin's byline caught her eye. It didn't surprise her the guy would be right up in the story. The man had a serious hard-on for the truth and nothing but. It could be a huge benefit or a complete nightmare, depending on how the board reacted.

Gods … she did not want to think about the benefactors of the museum, especially since her diplomatic skills left a lot to be desired. She could play at tact and diplomacy, but hated how it used up every ounce of her patience. She'd much rather be left alone to do her work than meet with the six-person committee, especially under the crappy circumstances.

Shrugging off the thought, she started a search for information on the way too good-looking to be with the CDA, Agent Clay Wellstone. Waiting for the results, she poured a mug of coffee, thinking about the rapid way he shut down. Her gut said he had something to hide, and she had a powerful urge to find out what it could be. The contrast between the affable, open agent she started out with didn't match with the closed-mouth, wary man who dropped her off.

She might enjoy the challenge of figuring him out. Sipping her coffee, she scanned the search results. Her eyes narrowed when Clay's named popped in a Romero Lightkin exposé on the He'ra'cic mob. Skyrah clicked on the detail bar and read through the seven-part series, which chronicled the more visible, lower-level enforcers who liked to hang out in Little Heiro speakeasy joints.

The last article had her sitting up straight, a sick ball of dread in the pit of her stomach. She finally discovered the reason Agent Wellstone's name showed up in this particular story. And nowhere close to why she thought it would.

She shook her head. "Shit. It couldn't be something simple like he'd pulled in a bunch of the gangsters for questioning." Skyrah's mouth twisted. "Nope. Agent Clay Wellstone has a very intimate connection with organized crime in Cantor City."

Lightkin didn't go for sensationalistic journalism. Instead, he relied on using veiled references when the absolute truth could get him killed. And cold, hard fact made a bitter pill to swallow. The leader, big boss, man in charge of the He'ra'cic, known mainly as the Heras … happened to be none other than William Wellstone.

Agent Clay Wellstone's father.

"Son of a bitch."

And the avid collector full of questions about the antiquities, Helena Cassus? Lampkin's piece implied she belonged to the inner sanctum. Rarely seen, she apparently made things happen behind the scenes. Skyrah didn't need to know what that entailed, her mind supplied lots of vivid possibilities. No wonder Agent Wellstone shut down the interview as soon as Skyrah mentioned the name. The woman had probably been a presence in his life from an early age.

A dull throb started at the base of Skyrah's skull and bloomed into a full-blown headache. The board would go beyond insane when they figured out the connection. And they would. It took her all of thirty minutes with a basic web search. No wonder he'd shuffled her out and dropped her off in such a hurry.

Agent Wellstone had some big questions to answer. The biggest being where his loyalties would fall. She damned well wouldn't lose her job if he attempted to steer the case in any direction but directly at the mob. Skyrah wouldn't let him try.

Taking a gulp of the now cold coffee, she picked up the phone and dialed CDA headquarters. No time like the present to make her position clear.

Skyrah won't be happy because Clay isn't quite ready to play nice with her yet. But she'll make sure he comes around.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: It's Not What They Think

November is starting off with a wild trajectory. The election in the US is taking up a lot of air and space in my life and I'm okay with that. It does make it harder to focus on anything but the election, which isn't optimal for my work projects.

That said, I'm weirdly calm and very hopeful. Which is not to say I'm complacent because that would be stupid and reckless. There's going to be a lot of work to do regardless of who wins the presidency, senate, and house.

My tricky manuscript turned extremely challenging, but I finally got it finished up late last night. Now I can focus on a couple of projects that were simmering on the back burner and start two new ones that need attention.

Had an okay week of viewing. Trick or treat night took up some time and an unexpected accident involving my oldest and his fiancé needed my attention. Thankfully, both are okay and weren't injured in the crash.

I started the week with an episode of Elementary and I also ended the week with one. Both were enjoyable. I thoroughly enjoy the vibe when Sherlock tries to coordinate outfits for Joan. So far, it looks like she ditches those in favor of choosing her own.

Caught an episode of The Batman and enjoyed it. Nice to see Batgirl back in action. I'll be finished with this show at the end of this season and I'm not sure what I'll be replacing it with.

Also watched an episode of Classic Rugrats. The three vignettes were new to me again. I think I'm going to shift back to the new Rugrats once I'm through this season.

Enjoyed another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I'd seen most of this one before and really enjoyed the snappy and snarky dialog between the characters.

Caught another episode of London Kills and, whew, I got spoiled for what would happen and it still freaked me out. Really like this series.

Finished up season nine of Death in Paradise. Looking forward to season ten even with some of my misgivings with DI Parker. I love this show enough to give him time to grow on me.

Enjoyed the second half of Silent Witness. The show managed to surprise me, and I love it when that happens. One thing to note … I'm always curious about where Jack and Nikki live. Jack had such a cool house during the last season and now he seems to be in a townhouse of some sort. This is after he bought the fixer-upper that his dad and brother (for a while) shared with him. Weird stuff makes me curious.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from It's Not What They Think, a novella that puts a couple through the wringer when one of them can't control their power.

Here's the miniblurb:

Meaghan Wrath goes on the warpath, losing her hard-won control over her powers and wreaking havoc on unsuspecting clan members. She's setting a crappy example, but her husband, Vinnie Grayson, walks a fine line by not reprimanding her. Her need let off steam and be rebellious never lasts long—usually the week leading up to the full moon—and a demand to stop will only land her on the hot seat—almost literally.

And a preview snippet…

Vinnie faced the group of elders with a short leash on his temper. "For the last time, Meghan doesn't know what's going on or why it's happening." And he shouldn't be the one caught in the middle.

Master Mayhew pointed a long, bony finger at Vinnie. "You've got to get that woman under control." He gave a definitive nod when Elderman Vice grunted in agreement.

Vinnie arched his brows. "That woman is one of the most powerful mages we have. It's fine to use her when it suits your purposes, but when she's venting pent-up magick it's a problem." He got tired of the same old arguments.

Master Janson growled. "No one else is allowed to use their ability in the manner she's been using hers. Parlor tricks and light shows are beneath our level of achievement." He gave a derisive sniff.

Elderman Vice slowly nodded with another sound of agreement slipping from his lips.

Frustrated, Vinnie sighed. "No one wields the kind of power she does. So, there's a criterium for special circumstances." He shouldn't have to explain this. "And, hey, if any of you want to step up and help find some answers, you're welcome to do it." He paused a moment. "You are, after all, the elders, not to mention the ruling council. Isn't it your job to not only seek a solution but to assist in finding one?"

An uncomfortable silence followed his outburst, which bordered on a tirade. Perhaps he'd pushed too hard. Too effing bad. Meghan needed some room to figure out why she couldn't seem to keep her powers under control. The stodgy mages could either step up or shut up.

Or kiss his ass if they chose to do nothing.

He waited one more minute before he turned and started for the exit. If the old bastards weren't going to help, why waste time or act like their whipping post.

"Mr. Grayson, you haven't been dismissed yet," Elderman Vice, the head of council, called out.

Vinnie glanced over his shoulder. "I know. Yet here I am, still leaving." He pushed the doors open and sailed out of the room.

He barely contained the urge to flip the entire group off.

He and Meghan were on their own and Vinnie would stand by her until they got answers.

Vinnie is a great guy and he's done talking to the elders, especially if they're not going to help.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: It's Always the Same Show

The end of October is nigh and, man, it's been a month. Between work projects and personal life stuff, time flew by fast. Helped my oldest kidlet move some things from their old place to their new one and also took him for a job interview. Happy to say he got an offer and should start sometime soon. Also looking forward to trick or treat night and then gearing up for the holidays.

Happy to say the areas where I had my extractions are finally healed up enough that I can eat most types of food. I'm still careful with anything hard and crunchy but otherwise normal intake isn't a challenge anymore.

Stayed busy with work. Have a tricky manuscript that's kind of giving me fits with continuity and consistency concerns, which makes the edit slow way down. Sent off a couple of quotes for upcoming projects and look forward to getting started on those.

Had a decent week of viewing. I made it through a full round of my shows but kind of in backward order. Will probably have the same thing this week.

Started off with an episode of Elementary and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice to see Lastrade get back on track. Interesting twisty case also.

Caught an episode of The Batman and enjoyed it. Always like seeing the Flash in action. I remembered most of this episode also.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats and only remembered one of the vignettes. The other two were either new to me or memory holed.

Watched another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I do remember bits of this one and I’m glad I got to see the whole thing from start to finish.

Caught another episode of London Kills and I like how the new cases play into the overall case of the disappearance of David's wife. Looking forward to seeing how this season ends.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. Loved the case because it's fun to see a bit of Ruby's past mixed in with the present. I enjoy her interactions with Commission Patterson. Gotta say, I'm not sure I enjoy Neville Parker. I appreciate the fact he's very different from the previous three DIs but … the constant afflictions are, well, annoying.

On a side note, I discovered there's a second spinoff of this show that's set in Australia. I'm looking forward to seeing it when it's available in the US.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and it's terrific to see Jack's niece take a role in the Lylle. Looking forward to the second half of this episode.

Another side note … most of the cast from Battlestar Galactica is in Chicago for the twentieth anniversary of the show. I've been poking around all weekend to stay up to date on what's happening at the convention. My mind is completely blown that it's been twenty years since the premiere of the series. It's still probably my all-time favorite show.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from It's Always the Same Show, a novella that reunites a couple that can't help but push each other's buttons.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lanie Beck and Titus Berkley are tasked with whipping a new class of cadet mages into shape for the Academy of Light. The biggest problem they face is never agreeing on how to make it happen. The cadets quickly learn to tune in and enjoy the show.

And a preview snippet…

"Great mage. Could I be more of an idiot?" Lanie walked up the path to Titus's cottage.

She shouldn't have agreed to meet him. But she wanted to set the record straight between them. Standing outside his door, she pushed down the nervous tremble in her stomach down, then knocked.

Two seconds later, Titus's face greeted her, and she crossed the threshold into his home. Half a second later, her back hit the wall and her lips were caught in a steamy kiss. Oh … she'd missed his mouth. Not that she hadn't indulged in a few liaisons, but no one got her revved and going like Titus.

And, ugh, she didn't come here for reunion sex. She couldn't. Not when her whole future rode on getting her class prepared. She pushed against his chest, and he took the hint, stepping back to give her some breathing room.

Titus sighed. "Well, I would've said we answered the where-we-stand thing, but you'd disagree, wouldn't you?" He wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

Lanie shrugged. "I didn't come here to pick up where we left off, no. I just want to avoid a lot of awkwardness if we can." She willed her heartrate to slow down.

Titus snorted. "Lanie, we've never been awkward. Passionate, volatile, on opposite sides of too much stuff, but never awkward." He paused. "Why are you really here?" He folded his arms over his chest.

Lanie eased away from the wall. "To make sure you know I'm back to stay. I finally found my niche. Discovered something I'm very good at." She slowly walked into the living room then turned to face him. "The rest? You and me. Has to take a backseat until I get this semester out of the way." She couldn't do more at the moment. "And, even then, I have no idea if there can ever be an us." As much as she really wanted him.

Titus grunted. "So, basically, you're here to yank my chain."

She growled right back. "No, dammit, but if you need to see it that way, I won't try to change your mind." She dashed past him and pulled the door open. "Let's try to stay out of each other's way." Better yet, she'd completely avoid him if possible.

Titus followed her to the threshold when she exited the house. "Sure, we can try." He closed the door with a loud bang. "Not gonna be easy." His muffled response reached her ears.

Lanie stalked away from his cottage and walked toward the visiting-instructor residence—her home until she made the cut. Why on earth would Titus think they'd have a hard time avoiding each other? She'd go out of her way to give him wide berth. The less she let him distract her from her goal the better.

Unlocking the door, she stepped inside the warm interior of the house. She did her nightly ritual, then headed to bed. Room 322 would greet her early in the morning.

Hopefully she wouldn't have any sexy dreams about Titus…

I'm not much of an angst fan, but this story definitely has some between Lanie and Titus.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye