Sunday Snippet: Belle of the Underground

October 18, 2015

I can't quite believe half of October is over. Yeesh, time flies in a big way. LOL

My usual television ramblings will get underway after a brief pause to let everyone know I'm still not feeling this season of Doctor Who. The reason behind the 'repeat' face, so far, is beyond lame. I'll have to watch the conclusion to see if I still feel the same way.

I finally watched the last two episodes *ever!* of Strike Back. I can safely say I'm thrilled with how Stonebridge and Scott's story ended. YAY!!! Now I'll have to start a rewatch of the entire series. LOL

Arrow and The Flash are keeping me glued to the screen. I love both shows so much. And Agents of SHIELD isn't doing too bad either. I like where things are going there.

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow are maintaining solid episodes. Looking forward to seeing where Gotham takes the Bruce in Training story. I'm also really excited to see how Gordon keeps all the plates spinning in his life. On a side note, I am a little sick of Barbara but I have a feeling her story might pay off in a big way. I'll keep watching.

Got caught up on Haven. I'm really going to miss this show when it's gone. I love the every quirky thing about it. The same goes with Lost Girl. I'm dying to see how Bo's story ends, but I'm savoring every moment I get to watch.

And that's the TV wrap up this week.

Tonight's post is from Belle of the Underground, the opening book to the First Breed series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Raven Malone doesn't have an easy job, but she's a mix of freak and geek so both groups are willing to work with her. She meets her match when regular guy, Gio Roberts, starts poking around in her cover up of an unexplained murder. Sparks fly, especially when she lets him in on the underground community she's established. They forge a bond and work side by side, trying to keep everything together.

And a preview snippet…

Gio stared at Raven. "You can't mete out justice on your own terms." Was the woman insane?

Raven's mouth turned up. "Oh, you couldn't be more wrong." She walked slowly down the alley, toward the manhole cover. She glanced up at him and crooked her finger. "Come with me."

She lifted up the cover and pointed down the shaft. Gio made his way over and looked into the hole. "You want me to crawl around the sewer with you?"

Raven chuckled. "This doesn't go to the sewer system." She nodded toward the hole. "I promise."

Gio let out an exasperated breath. "Fine. But if you try to kill me, the cops'll find out about it."

Her laugh rang out and echoed in the dark alley. "I'm not going to kill you. But I will show you how and why I can dole out justice. Go on."

Gio lowered himself down underneath the streets. Raven followed and replaced the cover then met him on the paved surface.

"Follow me."

She hadn't lied. This was definitely not part of the sewer system. He followed her as she made about seven turns at different intersections leading him deeper into the bowels of the city. She finally came to a halt outside a reinforced door.

"We're here." Pulling out a set of keys, she unlocked the door and pushed it open.

The sight that met his eyes stunned him for a moment. A small community existed down here, one no one knew about. People and… creatures… for lack of a better definition, milled about in the brightly lit area.

"What the hell is this place?"

Raven stepped in and shrugged. "Home." She shut the door behind him and locked it up then strode down the center of the long corridor, rooms jutting off either side.

Gio followed along behind, mindful of the strange looks firing in his direction.

"Is it safe? This place?"

Raven glanced over her shoulder. "As long as you're with me it is."

This is such a fun story to write, with so many different directions to go. Can't wait to see how many new stories spin off the first one.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Feeding the Fury

Okay… getting right to the television part of my post.

The Flash and Arrow premiered!!! Both had excellent season openers. I kind of love where everything is headed and can't wait for this week's episodes. *EEP*

And I'm totally NOT freaking out over whose graveside Oliver and Barry were standing beside. Nope. I'm not. I know who I'd kind of like it to be, but I'll hold off and not speculate too much. LOL

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow had terrific episodes, too. I missed the opener for Sleepy Hollow and still need to watch, but the second ep has me intrigued already.

I also need to watch the double dose of Haven so I'm caught up on that one, too. I've started watching the final episodes of Lost Girl and Strike Back. Two shows I wish didn't have to end. *sniffles*

The conclusion to Doctor Who's two-parter didn't exactly cement the show as awesome for me, so we'll see how things continue. It's still good television so I'll still watch.

But… the best thing of the week? The Walking Dead premieres!!! So looking forward to tonight's episode!!

And that's it for TV. I thought I might do a rambly post about Arrow and The Flash, but you know, they would get a little too spoilery if I attempted to do so.

Tonight's post is from Feeding the Fury, a novella where my main characters stage a coup.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Larue and Wade displease the Fury and she orders them to battle each other in the pyre. But the two top mages decide they won't kill each other for her pleasure, instead they'll invoke the Rite of Phoenix and if they survive, the Fury will have to abdicate her throne.

And a preview snippet…

Helena Ogden strode through her domain in search of a very elusive man. One who wielded his power with finesse and fortitude and remained unmatched by the other male preceptors in the realm. Helena wanted a taste of his depths. She could feast for days on his alluring magick. The strongest mage in her province, the most incredible specimen of manhood, and soon to be her consort prime, if he followed her most recent directive.

She rounded a corner, her voluminous robes spreading out then swirling around her naked body. "He'd better have a damned good reason for ignoring my summons."

Wade Brogan had yet to report to her bed and she'd issued the order after dinner the previous evening. The fact she'd fallen asleep waiting for his arrival didn't rest well and strolling through her domain at the crack of dawn pissed her off. Her generosity toward the sexy preceptor had reached its limit. She wanted him—hard, hot, and ready—now.

A lower adept practiced levitation in a small chamber and Helena snapped her fingers to break his concentration. "Brogan? Where is he?" She squared her shoulders and thrust her breasts forward, the diaphanous fabric of her robes giving the young man a lovely view of her assets.

She hadn't risen to become the Fury without knowing how to manipulate her minions to do her bidding. Appealing to the baser instincts usually proved to be the easiest way to get what she wanted. The adept licked his lips, his eyes riveted to her taut nipples, straining against the sheer material. The scent of arousal filled her nostrils and she deeply inhaled, drawing energy from the young man. Her succubus ancestry came in handy and helped keep her in power.

Helena abruptly cut her connection with the mage and he blinked, shaking his head.

She repeated her question. "Brogan? Do you know where he is?"

The lower adept moved toward the door and stepped out into the corridor, pointing further down the hallway. "Two doors down. Private training room." He gave a small bow.

Helena gave him a smile. "Return to your practice." She didn't thank him—why would she?

She ruled absolutely and completely. Refusing her request would result in a round on the pyre, and with his limited ability, he wouldn't have lasted long.

Moving past several groups in various stages of training and exercise, Helena cast an appreciative eye over the physiques of the men and women, many of them nude. Her blood hummed and she decided a pyre event should be scheduled soon.

Pausing outside the designated door, she took a moment. "If Wade isn't in here, he'll be the top draw in a blood sport match." Twisting the knob, Helena entered the private alcove.

And sucked in a harsh breath.

The sight greeting her would make any woman weak in the knees. Naked and fully erect, Wade worked through a series of complicated moves and incantations, using an ancient form of meditative combat preparation. The muscles and sinews under his skin rippled and bulged with each controlled movement he made. His hard cock jutted outward, rigid and engorged, bobbing with the ebb and flow of his exercise.

Helena's mouth watered, her juices flowed, and she got very hot and bothered when she observed the sensual feast for her senses. Her nipples reacted, the tips tightening into harder nubs. The desire to have Wade's big, hard dick plunging into her three orifices sent a shudder from her head to her toes. A full-bodied response didn't happen to her very often and she resisted the urge to kneel before him, take his long shaft between her lips, and suck the hard cock to the back of her throat.

But Helena kneeled before no one—man or woman. As the Fury, her people bowed to her.

Except Wade. But he would soon.

If his life mattered to him.

Wade's life matters very much to him, but Helena will be sorely disappointed. She's not the match for him and never can be, regardless of her status as Fury.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fancy Meeting You Here

Happy October!

So, after going off on a tangent last week about my 'blah' feeling for the new season of Doctor Who, I can't say my impression has changed, but I did enjoy this week's episode better. So there's that. *grin*

Gotham is kicking some big time butt so far. I like the rather darker edge it opened with and actually can't wait to see this week's episode. I missed the Sleepy Hollow premiere, so I need to catch up on that one ASAP.

And the best news! The Flash and Arrow are back this week!! And I truly hope nothing tries to get in the way of me and my TV those two night. LOL

So… probably a long ramble about television next week. But on to tonight's post.

Fancy Meeting You Here is a novella where my hero and heroine are like oil and water, they should mix.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Jonni Mars and Val Janison are enforcers for two opposing mage families and have a friendly rivalry. When Val, a member of the ruling house, shows up at Jonni's favorite underground dive, she's both infuriated and intrigued, and more than a little surprised to meet him under almost normal circumstances.

And a preview snippet…

Val Janison stood outside the stately study his grandfather held all important meetings in. When Wallace Janison summoned someone, the unwritten rule would inevitably lead them to the huge estate, through the main house, and down the hallway to the double teak doors, inlaid with cork and bamboo. Val ran a hand over the polished surface, remembering a time when he played in the traditionally furnished room filled with gleaming wood, burnished leather, and richly woven tapestries. He'd wanted to sit behind the huge mahogany desk and dispatch members of the Janis clan to do his bidding.

Just like his grandfather.

Now… he'd much rather be anywhere but standing outside, waiting on whatever command request the old man would make. The doors opened and Anton Benoit, his grandfather's manservant, gestured for Val to enter. When Val stepped into the room, Anton exited and quietly closed the doors.

Val strode to the desk and waited, keeping his stance relaxed. The chair Val used to sit in as a child faced away from him, the black leather still supple and smooth. He didn't address Wallace. The old man spoke when he wanted and not before.

After several long moments, the elder Janison swiveled around and placed his hands on the desk, folding one palm over the other. "Valero." He always used Val's full name when opening a conversation.

Because Val hated the reminder of his father, who had used the full pronunciation before his death ten years ago.

Val nodded. "Grandfather. You summoned me?" He'd skip any form of small talk and hope the old man got right to the point.

Wallace narrowed his eyes, just a touch. "I asked to see you, yes. I have a delicate matter I need handled and you're the only person I trust to see it through." His shoulders squared and he sat up straighter.

Val quirked an eyebrow. "Your use of a vague pronoun already makes me want to say no. Spit out the task, old man, or be ready to test the bonds on trust you like to bind me with." Val lamented the bitterness residing in his heart, but Wallace would consider either feeling weak.

A bony finger pointed in Val's direction. "The Vellas clan is trying to tip the scales toward the black and the ruling families have decided Philan has to go." Wallace glanced away. "I want you to take care of this concern." His grandfather met Val's gaze again. "It's the last thing I'll ever ask of you."

A huge concession, but Val didn't give two shits about a promise that wouldn't be kept.

He folded his arms across his chest. "By take care of the concern, you mean eliminate Philan, the head of the Vellas clan. You'll never be able to ask anything else of me, Grandfather, because the blowback from this will be the end of your line." He waited a beat. "Because if they don't retaliate and kill me, I'll be cutting myself loose and laying low for about the next three decades." Which might not be a bad thing.

Wallace gave a terse nod. "There's a way to do this so it's not traceable back to you. But I figured you'd sever ties regardless. You've made your feelings perfectly clear. The family connection means nothing to you."

Val fought the urge to roll his eyes. "You're wrong, Grandfather. The politics mean nothing, you'll always be family." Why couldn't Wallace wrap his head around a simple concept?

His grandfather stood up and motioned Val forward. "Here's how you can take Philan out without making a big ruckus." He pointed to the seat opposite the desk.

Val settled in and listened, the constant struggle to live up to the Janis clan standards and his big desire to be a normal guy kicking into high gear.

As usual.

Val's family drama takes a backseat when he runs into Jonni, but it'll kick into high gear again not long after. Fun times.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fan the Flames

September 27, 2015

*sigh*

Sit back and get a little comfy. I'm going to blather on about my disappointment in the new season of Doctor Who, which feels almost sacrilegious, but necessary. Maybe if I purge myself, I'll enjoy the show more.

So… as mentioned before, I'm not a huge fan of Capaldi as the Doctor. This has nothing to do with his acting. I enjoy his work. But… here's the thing… I just can't get past the fact he's been two other characters besides the Doctor in the Whoverse—Caecilius in The Fires of Pompeii and John Frobisher in Torchwood: Children of Earth. But wait! What about Eve Myles? She played a character in Doctor Who before being in Torchwood. Why doesn't that bother me?

One simple reason. The character she played in The Unquiet Dead, Gwyneth, by rights, could have been an ancestor of Torchwood's Gwen, so… my brain has no problem wrapping around the idea. But Capaldi's characters? Not so much. Wanna know why?

Because THE DOCTOR doesn't have ancestors on earth. Even if I bought the idea Caecilius could be John Frobisher's ancestor, I can't buy the idea they're somehow related to the Doctor. EVER. It's just a big, fat NOPE.

Do I take this Whoverse stuff way too seriously? Oh, hell yes, I do. LOL But… I miss the continuity of the earlier Davies seasons. The sweeping emotional arcs we got in even a single episode. And Moffat is more than capable of writing that way. I mean Blink is one of the most emotional roller coaster episodes I've EVER watched on TV, so he's got the chops to connect with me on that emotional level… when he's not trying to be too quirky or clever or whatever the hell he's trying to be with the gimmicky shtick he's been throwing out lately, especially with the two opening episodes of this season. They were disjointed and messy and I'm honestly not sure what I was watching, but it's not the Doctor Who I love.

And no worries if anyone vehemently disagrees with me. I'm totally okay with the rest of the planet loving the Doctor as much as they always have. I'm just not quite there yet—maybe I never will be—but I'm hoping Moffat rises to the challenge of keeping me as a viewer.

Whew. I feel WAY better now. Thanks for letting me vent. LOL I think I'll rant a little more on my sister blog, or you know, copy this and post it there, too. :D

I could go on about having new episodes of Lost Girl to watch, but I'll save it for a later post.

Moving on… Tonight's post is from Fan the Flames, a novella with a very dapper cupid who has his work cut out getting the hero and heroine together.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A modern day cupid discovers a couple with matching auras and thinks he'll have an easy time matching them up. Right... not so much. While Jamie and Alix definitely have the hots for each other, one big obstacle stands in their way—Jamie's job.

And a preview snippet…

Alixandra Golden pulled into the parking lot of Station Ninety-Five and cut the engine of her brand new, previously-owned vehicle. Only three years old, it still had warranty left on it, but a price tag she could afford.

Especially if she left the design firm she'd taken a vacation from.

She exhaled slowly. "Here goes nothing and everything."

Popping the trunk, she slid out of the car and walked around to retrieve the portfolio that held her storyboards. She shouldn't be as nervous as she was. She'd worked on this project in her free time for several months and knew the design inside and out. The exterior of the new station house, situated behind the current one, only had to pass inspection before the work could begin on the interior living and working space.

The presentation didn't worry her. The outcome did. If she landed this, she'd be able to work for herself—one of her life goals—almost two full years sooner than she'd planned. 

Her dad, a battalion chief—though not with this station—could've probably paved the way for the job with a simple recommendation. The regular bidding process through the city didn't come into play for the project. The funds had been earmarked with an endowment from a very grateful citizen whose house had been saved by the department.

It didn't hurt he happened to be the fourth wealthiest person in the entire state.

Alix specifically asked her father to take a giant step back and keep his yap shut. Two of her four brothers, three of her dozen plus cousins, an uncle, a godfather and one of her best friends had all been sworn to secrecy as well. Thankfully not all of them worked for the city, but all were employed by the service.

Alix already had an inside track, growing up in and around the fire service. She spent her childhood crawling through and hanging out at station houses. The firsthand experience would be reflected in her design for the residential rooms.

Grabbing her oversized case and the wooden folding easel, she propped both against the bumper of the car and pulled out a small mirror from her handbag. She checked her makeup, smoothed on a bit of lip gloss, and made sure her mascara hadn't smeared. Then she slid her feet into a pair of mid-heel pumps, tossed her beloved flip-flops in the trunk and closed it.

One of the reasons she wanted to start her own design business? To shed the need to wear professional garments all the time. Of course she'd dress appropriately when dealing with clients, but while doing the actual design work, she favored casual, comfortable clothing.

She checked her linen skirt for wrinkles, took a deep breath, grabbed her stuff, and entered the building, a full thirty minutes early for the meeting. Her best friend, Joe, one of ninety-five's firefighters, met her at the door.

Alix gave him a quick smile. "Did you get it?" She hoped he remembered.

Joe nodded. "Of course I did. Five gallons of rocky road, stashed in the freezer, waiting for your grand gesture." He grabbed her easel and carried it into the conference room.

Alix hugged him with her free arm. "Thank you. You're the best." She wanted to follow custom and since she had the first spot for the presentation, she knew the drill… ice cream all around.

She might be cheating just a little, but showing the committee she had a strong grasp of how the firefighters and paramedics lived while on shift, should give her a leg up. Breaking the ice by using one of many traditions also boosted her confidence, which she'd take.

Joe flashed his lopsided grin. "You'll blow them all away, Alix." He gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. "I'm gonna go guard the freezer until after you're done."

Alix chuckled and waved him off, looking forward to some quiet time to run through her plans one last time.

I've had so much fun writing this one. It's almost ready for beta readers!

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Events in Motion

Hmmm. As much as I love Doctor Who, I have to admit to being underwhelmed by the season premiere. I'm not a huge fan of Missy in any way, shape, or form. I love the concept of a female Master, but eh, not thrilled with the storylines she's been featured in. We'll see how the rest of the season goes.

I have been enjoying the new season of Longmire. I like to move to Netflix and, so far, all the episodes have been pretty solid. I think I have two left before I'm done.

I wish I had more excited for the new fall season but nothing is really sparking my interest with the new slate of shows. I am looking forward to my faves returning so at least I'll have something to rave about each week. LOL

Tonight's post is from Events in Motion, a novella where my characters try to fight fate and don't have the best results.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Fate has a plan for Drury, one she's not all that certain she wants to follow. Porter doesn't believe in destiny, but when Drury sets a chain of events in motion, he has to change his perspective or risk losing her to chance.

And a preview snippet…

Drury Amanze tossed and turned, in the grip of a dream she had full cognizance of but no control over. She floated above the planet, weightless and serene, but the imagery cast frightening disasters—hurricane floods, blazing wildfires, raging blizzards—all covering the rock in the universe she called home. The devastation and destruction made her arms wrap around her midsection. Horror clogged her throat until she couldn't breathe. She gasped for air and a strangled scream tore through the quiet of space and she plummeted, free-falling through the atmosphere, picking up speed the charred earth rushing upward to greet her.

"Dru! Wake up!"

A pair of hands shook her roughly and she jerked awake on another scream. Strong arms went around her, hauling her up against a solid cest.

A soothing voice whispered against her ear. "I've got you, Dru. You're okay."

Porter.

She sank into his warm embrace, curling her arms around him. Tears flowed down her cheeks. When did I start crying? And his fingers brushed the droplets away.

 He tilted her chin up towards him. "You had a dream, Dru. A nightmare. But I'm here. You're safe." His lips pressed against her forehead.

She nodded, but couldn't speak yet. The horrific obliteration of their planet still spun through her head, but the images were fading, going gray and hazy around the edges. Porter braced his back against the headboard and tucked her head in the crook of his shoulder. He didn't say anything, but the inhale and exhale of his breathing soothed her further. The terrible dream faded, but a constant buzzing hummed in her head.

Dru chalked the sound up to being shaken and exhausted. Closing her eyes, she burrowed closer to Porter. He tugged a lightweight throw up and over them.

He stroked his palm over her hair. "I'll stay through the night. Get some rest."

At least he didn't tell her to sleep. She didn't think she could handle another nightmare tonight. But she'd take the comfort Porter offered… especially since she didn't have a claim on his nighttime hours anymore. Hell, she didn't even know why he'd shown up, but thank the universe he had.

She gave his midsection a squeeze. "Thank you. For being here."

Porter rested his chin on her head. "You're welcome, Dru. Anytime."

Her lips curved, just a little. The man never failed to come through for her.

Even when they weren't a couple anymore.

Another one of my favorite stories to write… the couple who finds their way back to each other.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Dawn of the Son

September 13, 2015

So… The Last Ship? Probably one of the best season finales I've seen in a long time. I love this show! Now I have a whole year to wait for new episodes. *sigh*

Not much else on the television front. I'm patiently waiting for my superhero shows to return and watching a lot of new stuff on Netflix. The new season of Longmire is now streaming and I'm two episodes in. I love where things are going so far… stay tuned to see if that changes. LOL

New Doctor Who episodes start the weekend. Can't say I'm super excited to have a new season, but I'll watch and hopefully be surprised. After investing so much time, I'll have to keep current with what's happening.

I also started a beta read on a great story for an author friend. Looking forward to finishing it up this week.

Tonight's post is from Dawn of the Son, a novella where my main characters are imbued with the spirits of Apollo and Aurora.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Apollo and Aurora aren't supposed to get together, but the Universe has other ideas. When everything starts to go sideways, two mortals personify the ancient deities and balance is restored.

And a preview snippet…

Alston Saddington paced outside the medical triage area. "She can't die." Not when his last words to her were so harsh.

Yet Aleina Foyle hovered between life and death. She'd collapsed after a particularly nasty argument and he took full blame. She'd been tired lately, hadn't been getting the rest she needed.

Getting a group of unwilling and reluctant group of people to sit down and talk options took a great toll, not only on sleep but also on a relationship.

Frank Bollen rounded the corner to the medical alcove. "Are you going to go sit with Aleina until they move her or pace a hole in the floor?" He quirked an eyebrow.

Alston paused mid-step. "I can't go in there. It's my fault she's not responding." He didn't care what the doctors and healer said.

Frank snorted. "Alston, you're an idiot. If she dies and you didn't bother to see her, or sit with her, or hell, even just apologize for being a pain in the ass, you'll regret it." He shot Alston a stern glare. "For the rest of your life."

Frank had a point. If Aleina came around, she wouldn't have to know he'd even been there. But if he didn't at least see her, even if he didn't say anything, he'd be exactly what she accused him of being—an unhelpful student of the past. The very thing that started their argument in the first place. And wouldn't she be pissed if he ignored the urge to make amends, probably enough to…

Alston lips quirked. "Yeah, because she'll come to haunt me." He met Frank's gaze. "Yeah, yeah. I'll go sit with her until she's moved."

Frank clapped Alston on the shoulder. "Good man. I'll stop by with dinner in about an hour, yeah?" He started back toward the main base hub.

Alston called out. "Bring some coffee. It's gonna be a long night."

Frank acknowledged the request and Alston dragged in a deep breath. Aleina could wake up in the next few seconds or drift into a deep coma. Whatever happened, he'd stay by her side. He owed her nothing less.

Ducking into the room, he grabbed a chair and placed it close to the bed.

Sitting down, he took her hand and laced their fingers together. "Hey, Laney, I'm here." He squeezed gently. "And I'm not going anywhere."

I'm kind of enjoying the mystical qualities and playing around with them. Alston and Aleina may not have as much fun. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Lost in Translation (Crystal Shard Brotherhood, book one)

Great news! Killjoys and Dark Matter will both have a second season. I'm doing my happy chair dance right now. LOL

The Last Ship appears to have delivered my greatest wish, but… I may have hoped too soon. I have a feeling a different foe will prove more formidable than those who will remain nameless for now. LOL I can't wait for tonight's episode!

I got to watch the season four trailer for Arrow and ohhhh… can't wait for October to get here. Looking forward to The Flash and Agent Carter, also.

Syfy has a couple of shows I'm going to try, but eh, their slate isn't what I'd hoped it would be. Maybe I'll be surprised, who knows.

Tonight's post is from Lost in Translation, the opening book to The Crystal Shard Brotherhood series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A body dumped outside a fortress. A scroll located in twelve different locations. A trap sprung. But the Brethren are too smart to take the bait. Jackson Alexander and Jacey Durham have to turn the tables on the nemesis trying to dismantle the Crystal Shard Brotherhood.

And a preview snippet…

Cold.

No.

Frigid. Effing. Cold.

She couldn't seem to get warm.

Everything hazy, Jacey Durham instinctively knew it would hurt to move. Hell, it hurt to inhale right now. The cold air burned, stealing her breath.

Outside.

But where? How? And why?

She tried to draw air into her lungs and choked on it.

Keep it shallow, Jace. Gotta have air… just nice and slow.

Taking mental stock, she quickly surmised she'd have to move, find shelter or freeze to death.

But, holy goddess it would hurt like a bitch. Her muscles felt taut, tight, battered and bruised. Her insides ached. Her head throbbed and pounded… even her eyelids hurt.

Had she been beaten? Or worse?

What the hell had happened?

At least she lay on her side. But of course, the wind whipped along her spine, making the snow swirl and sting against the exposed skin along her waistband. But she wouldn't have as far to move to stand.

Good goddess, she didn't want to attempt it.

She could lay there a little longer, right?

Maybe until she could remember something?

Phone call.

She recalled the ringing but couldn't remember if she'd answered or not. And it hurt to think. Intensified the rapid fire drum beat staccatoing in her head.

Too much. Jacey felt the pull, the call of bliss unconsciousness would bring.

Dammit. She just couldn't fight it.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this one plays out. The first book is close to being complete, but I have to plot out the others and get started on them. Can't wait!

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye