Sunday Snippet: A Bright, Burning Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

Well, it's kind of fitting that my last blog post for 2023 is on the actual last day of the year. I'm taking that as a good vibe to carry into 2024.

Had a semidecent week. Finished up a couple of things that needed attention and started to get my website updated after a very long dry spell. I'm also very close to launching the new endeavor I've been working on for several months.

Did pretty much a full run-through of my usual slate of shows. I have a whole lineup of holiday stuff I want to watch also. I know it's weird to wait until after the holiday is over but I've been very Scrinch-like the past couple of weeks, mainly because of the yucky cold.

Started out with My Life Is Murder and enjoyed the episode. I will say I still get a little put off by how prickly Alexa can be. I'm sure that's by design, but it annoys me.

Agatha Raisin kind of crushed me a little. I love Agatha and James and having them kind of end things breaks my heart. But I do love they ended on a soft goodbye instead of a harsh one. Looking forward to the next episode.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and I'm kind of surprised how things played out. Did not expect the new guy to have such a dark secret. I love that he exposed it himself. Can't wait to see how this ends.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise and it's one I'd seen before. Meeting Humph's dad explains so much. I love how this episode played out. Looking forward to starting Beyond Paradise to see if there's more of Humph's family.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Loved diving into Joan's previous life a little. I'm very intrigued by her and having glimpses into her former profession is always fun.

Finally continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. This episode had some great moments even if it ended up being heavier on the cylon lore. Hoping to catch another episode in the near future. Also need to backtrack a little and watch the webisodes and movie.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman. I actually remembered this one because Alfred ended up being a lot of fun. I love it when he steps out of his comfort zone into his former life.

Caught an episode of Classic Rugrats. I have vague memories of this one, especially Angelica trying to be silent. In all fairness, she got robbed for once.

Watched another episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I have one more left for the first season. So far, I'm enjoying it, but I'm glad I have season two ready to go because I have feeling the first is going to end on a cliffhanger.

Finished up my episode of VIP from last week and started a new one. I forgot I didn't get all the way through the episode because I remembered how it ended.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from A Bright, Burning Yule, a holiday spirit short.

Here's the miniblurb:

Stella Silverbell, a holiday spirit, is tasked with bringing Nyssa Nameth, the ultra female werewolf, together with the Braddox Bennington, the prime hunter of all wolf shifters, during the Yule season. Their joining can end centuries of misconception, but they have to get over their preconceived notions first.

And a preview snippet…

Braddox Bennington paused with a towel to his head after a shower when someone burst through the front door.

"Braddox? Where the hell are you?" A cousin, Hank Hamel, shouted up the steps.

Braddox answered. "Gimme five. I'll be right down." He dragged some workout clothes on and flung the towel over his shoulder before descending the stairs to find Hank in the study. "What's up?" He draped the towel over the banister and dropped down onto the couch.

Hank paced back and forth in front of the fire. "Why haven't you organized a hunt? It's been months since we've patrolled for the wolves." He stopped and planted his hands on his hips.

Braddox frowned. "Have there been new reports? Are the packs running wild?" He should've been informed if there were.

Hank glanced away. "No, they're all quiet and barely poking their heads out to scent the wind." His face reddened.

Braddox bit back frustration. "Then what's the rush? Dad's only been gone for two months. And his death wasn't suspicious." If it had been, Braddox wouldn't hesitate to call for a hunt. "We knew he didn't have long once the diagnosis came through." An inoperable brain tumor could not be called into doubt.

Braddox didn't want the mantle of leadership, but he wouldn't walk away. His bloodthirsty relatives made sure of that. If anything, his brothers, cousins, and uncles hastened his father's demise.

And Braddox faced his first holiday without his dad and wanted a little time to adjust. "If you guys need something to do, why don't you catalog and update the book of kills? Dad only made it up to the 1950s." Maybe if they noted just how many of the packs they'd eliminated, they'd lose some of their bloodlust.

Hank snorted. "No way, man. That's the leader's job." He hand-waved the idea and sat in the chair closest to the sofa.

Braddox shook his head. "No, Hank. It's my job to make sure they're entered. There's nothing written about how to make that happen." Or who had to make it so.

Hank leaned forward. "Dude, you're gonna have a revolt on your hands if you think this will fly." He huffed out a rude snort.

Braddox shrugged. "So be it. Anyone who wants to challenge me for top-spot status can do so." He might welcome the challenge. "But let's get through our yule season first. I didn't get to take any time after Mom died five years ago, and I refuse to pull anyone else away from their families during the holidays." Even if some of them probably wanted an excuse to cut out.

Hank leaned back again. "Yeah, okay. But look, you've got to consider a full summit after the new year. If you don't, you will be challenged for top spot." He got up and headed for the door.

Braddox followed. "I'll let you know what I decide. Have a happy yule." He closed the door and headed back to the couch.

Braddox couldn't find fault with Hank's warning. He didn't doubt he'd face a pile of trouble if he didn't gather everyone and take a stab at being their leader. But he couldn't continue with business as usual. He would not rule the way his father had. Or at least not the way he had after his wife died.

And that would piss a lot of his relatives off.

Flopping down, his head hit the back of the cushions. "Bah, I don't want this conflict." He wanted something different.

A rustling outside the door drew his attention. Maybe Hank had returned to offer more unwanted advice. Rising, he crossed the room again and pulled the door open, ready to blast his cousin.

Instead, his mouth snapped shut when a hovering envelope greeted him.

Braddox snagged it and shut the cold out. Removing the seal, he retrieved a parchment folded in half.

 

You need some time and space to grieve, regroup, ponder, and adjust.

Why not spend the Yule holiday at the Goodacre Bed and Breakfast?

 

Directions were printed below along with an invitation to cross into the nether realm whenever he'd like.

Braddox huffed out a breath. "Why the hell not?" Maybe some time away would get his mind on the right track and help him decide what to do about the future.

And actually give me time to mourn my dad.

Braddox headed back upstairs to pack.

This one is complete and ready to launch into the universe. I'll be uploading the information in the next week or so.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Bright, Burning Yule

Okay, I've been on a cleaning spree again, which means I had a somewhat slow week with television. I haven't been in the mood and my attention span is limited right now.

I did get a new episode of Blue Heelers started. It's an interesting one and I'm enjoying it.

I also finished up the final chapter of the second episode of Queens of Mystery. I really like this show.

Caught the second part of a Silent Witness episode and quite liked the mystery this time. I also enjoyed getting to see the transition from Sam to Leo as professor. I've never seen how they handled that.

Other than my usual slate of Classic Perry Mason and The Saint along with the Ovation shows, I haven't caught much else. Ovation has a new-to-me show called King and I've seen a few of the episodes. Not bad. I'll see if my opinion holds.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Bright, Burning Yule, a Holiday Spirit short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Stella Silverbell, a holiday spirit, is tasked with bringing Nyssa Nameth, the ultra female werewolf, together with the Braddox Bennington, the prime hunter of all wolf shifters, during the Yule season. Their joining can end centuries of misconception but they have to get over their preconceived notions first.

And a preview snippet…

Nyssa Nameth came up out of the wing back chair. "You can't make me do this." She paced in front of the fire, giving her uncle a side eye.

Nance Nameth didn't flinch under her scrutiny. "Yes, Nyssa. I can." His tone indicated he would, too.

He'd make her mate with someone, whether she wanted to or not.

Nyssa sat back down. "Uncle Nance, please don't. I realize you're the alpha, but you don't have to do this." She didn't ask for the burden she carried.

Nance shook his head. "You're wrong, Nys. And you know it." He turned to face her. "You're an ultra. The first we've had in generations. If you don't choose a mate, we run the risk of dying out completely." His hand clenched into a fist. "The packs have been slaughtered to near unsustainable levels." He pinned her with a hard gaze. "Niece or not, you have until the day after yule to choose your mate." He got up and held his hands toward the fire.

Nyssa slumped. "I'm not ready." She couldn't go into why; her uncle wouldn't care.

Not because he didn't want to, but because the mantle of responsibility rested firmly on his shoulders to keep the packs healthy and whole. Something he couldn't do if she didn't reproduce. Being an ultra wolf sucked balls.

Nance angled his head around. "Too bad. I've given you almost five extra years. You should've chosen at twenty-five. But the responsibility is big; your bloodline will rule until the next ultra female is born." He returned to his chair. "And don't start in about how your bloodline already rules. You know that's not how it works. You have to mate and bond so your children and their children can carry on the lineage." Holding her gaze, he gave her an order. "Choose, Nyssa. Your only other option is exile and the packs will go to war if you decide to take that course." He exhaled slowly and leaned back. "I recommend choosing someone strong and capable of protection and defense."

She rolled her eyes, pissed off he'd picked now to deliver his ultimatum. "Fine. But don't expect to see me at the Yule gathering. If I have to settle and do this, I'm not going to be blasted with reasons why I should pick someone from every male member of the pack." She got up and walked to her door. "Please leave. I've got a lot of thinking to do."

Her uncle slowly rose and, to his credit, didn't sanction her for speaking with disrespect. "I'll expect an answer the day after Yule. We'll make the announcement on New Year's Eve." He exited and closed the door behind him.

Nyssa paced again, cursing her fate and wondering who the hell she might consider spending the rest of her life with. A knock sounded on her door and she bit back a snarl of irritation.

Fully expecting Uncle Nance to be back on her doorstep, she let out a squeak of surprise when an envelope hovered at eye level. "What the hell?" Snagging the missive, she unsealed the parchment and retrieved a folded card.

 

You are cordially invited to spend Yule holiday at Goodacre Bed and Breakfast.

Some much needed peace and solitude will settle your mind and aid in your quest.

 

A brief set of directions followed, noting she could cross into the nether realm whenever she made her decision.

Huffing out a breath, she didn't take really hesitate. "Okay, yeah. Take a few days to ponder my options. Why not?" If nothing else, she could maybe get into the mental headspace she'd need to be in to face the pack when she returned.

Her reluctance twisted in her stomach. She wanted someone to love and grow old with. Wanted to feel the true mating surge—not only produce heirs for the next generation.

Grabbing her bag, she started to pack. "Gonna be difficult no matter what, considering the hunters have significantly thinned the packs."

I have so much fun with the holiday spirit shorts. This one in particular is a favorite. Nyssa's dilemma is going to get worse before it gets better.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Bright, Burning Yule (A Holiday Spirit Short)

Holy crap. Where did January go? It's crazy how fast months fly by now.

So, The Flash is testing my patience. Not in a necessarily bad way, but having Barry zoom around and put all the inmates back in their cells had me eye-rolling. We'll see how long they keep him trapped in a cell. I need to rewatch the second episode of Black Lightning because I had too many distractions the first time around.

Riverdale… Oh, show. The Ram? Really? I don't know. It's either the best nickname ever or possibly the lamest one on the planet. Time will tell. Everything else about the episode hit high notes for me. It's going to be a wild ride and I'm totally strapped in to see where everything goes. One interesting development… now that I have a better understanding of Mama Alice I now need to know what the hell flavor of fresh hell Hal's been drinking.

Arrow keeps throwing twisty-turns into the mix and I love it. I'm actually hoping Vigilante is an actual double agent. And here's my fondest desire… he's working for ARGUS in exchange for immunity against all the bad guys he killed. Just saying, having him around for a while wouldn't be a bad thing. Now, after saying that, he did tell James he knows how to push every one of Dinah's buttons and having him on her side would be a great big red one. I won't be too shocked if his help is nothing but a ruse. But I will be disappointed, dammit.

Still loving my period dramas. Murdoch Mysteries and Frankie Drake Mysteries. Frankie Drake is terrific with keeping interesting cases rolling across the screen. Murdoch Mysteries never fails to be consistent with quality. Love both of these shows.

I'm burning through season three of Chicago Fire and still loving the show. I'm also enjoying the crossover episodes they have with other productions. Nice to have those on the DVDs.

I think that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Bright, Burning Yule, a Holiday Spirit sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Stella Silverbell, a holiday spirit, is tasked with bringing Nyssa Nameth, the ultra female werewolf, together with the Braddox Bennington, the prime hunter of all wolf shifters, during the Yule season. Their joining can end centuries of misconception but they have to get over their preconceived notions first.

And a preview snippet…

Stella Silverbell, holiday spirit extraordinaire, smoothed her hand down the skirt of her little red dress and flashed a smile at her reflection in the ornate mirror she'd inherited from her grandmother.

Turning to the side, she found nothing out of place. "Stella, you're gonna blow his mind." Tom Tinsel wouldn't know what hit him.

She'd looked forward to the upcoming date with a fellow spirit for ages. Nothing like the Yule season to make a wish come true.

She crossed to her vanity, selected her favorite scent—Ethereal Mist—and spritzed each of her pulse points. She placed the bottle in its spot when a zing of energy buzzed along her skin and a bell tinkled.

Stella groaned. "Noooooo. Not tonight." Maybe she'd get an easy match and she could be fashionably late for dinner…

The mission details appeared on her vanity.

Stella sank down onto the stool. "No such luck. Who did I piss off to land this ultimate challenge?" She dashed off a quick note and sent it via the shadow realm to Tom. "Here's hoping he'll take a rain check and be happy to ring in the new year with me instead.

Stella slipped off her killer red heels and grabbed the file the spirit master provided. Taking the folder, she retrieved a cup of tea from the shadows and settled on her bed to plan her course of action. "Bringing a female wolf shifter and a hunter together? Only the Yule season could maybe make that feasible." She shuffled through the several possible locations to attempt this crazy match. "A-ha! Goodacre Bed and Breakfast." Hollis Goldstar had excellent luck with ending a long-standing feud between sorcerers and wizards at the charming B and B.

The three-story manor house, nestled in an enchanted forest and only reachable by shadow manipulation or portal, had everything Stella could want for a romantic setup. And she'd need every last trick in her repertoire of magick to pull this mission off. Taking a sip of her tea, she read through her female charge's file. Nyssa Nameth, twenty-five, the first female ultra wolf in over a century.

Stella clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Girl, you've got special snowflake syndrome written all over you." No doubt a lot of pressure to live with.

And Braddox Bennington didn't have thing much easier. His family controlled the hunter population, which had thinned out the werewolves almost to the point of extinction. Stella shook her head. "It's not supposed to be like this. Hunters used to protect the werewolves from other predators." A tragic incident with a rabid wolf ended the long tradition.

Braddox turned twenty-nine recently and stood in line to take over leadership of the family. But he had some competition in the form of about a dozen siblings and cousins who wanted the job more than Braddox.

Stella blew out a breath. "Damn, Braddox. They don't make them small where you come from, do they?" He had the physique of an outdoorsman who used nature as his crossfit playground.

Of course, having some preternatural ability would only heighten the total experience of being one with the earth.

Huffing out a breath, Stella got to work crafting two invitations for her wayward charges. She sent them off via the shadow realm with instructions on when to deliver the missives. She then got up and changed into some traveling clothes. She'd need to do some preliminary groundwork to ready the manor house for her guests.

Her lips curved upward. "Definitely got my work cut out with this one. The spirit master better appreciate the scope of this request."

I have so much fun with the holiday spirit stories. Here's hoping I can finish this one up for release in late November.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye