Sunday Snippet: Kindred Spirits

Whew. What a week of television. The Walking Dead had another terrific episode. Thoroughly enjoyed the hijinks with Rick and Daryl. Something tells me it's the calm before the storm.

Well, the X-Files disappointed many fans, but I actually loved having it back for its limited run. That said, what a craptastic cliffhanger. Geez. But, my other shows amped up the goods. The Magicians is truly becoming a quick favorite. And Lost Girl will be so missed, which I say all the time. Then there's Bitten, another favorite I wish would continue onward. *sigh*

The Flash revealed something I totally didn't expect. Now I can't wait to see what happens. I'm totally loving the shared universe with characters popping up on other shows. More on that later. Agent Carter has one more episode, which is awesome! I thought last week was the finale. Sadly, I'm not holding much hope we'll get another season, but fingers are crossed anyway.

Arrow keeps blowing my mind. And it's in a great way. That said, I'm looking forward to Malcolm getting his comeuppance. If that doesn't happen, I'll be sorely disappointed. And, well, other things need to happen, too. Just saying.

Legends of Tomorrow, again, changed things up. I thought it was very cool to see future Star City, even in crazy disarray. Shades of things to come perhaps? Eh, who knows? Arrow may only get one more season after this one.

I watched the Blindspot marathon Saturday. Really like the show. Too bad it's on NBC, my most hated network ever. I pretty much refuse to watch anything on the channel. So, looks like I'll be watching Blindspot when it's on another channel or via Netflix or Amazon Prime.

And that's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Kindred Spirits, a novella that got its start by the sages dropping a plot bomb in a dream. LOL

Here's the mini-blurb:

Merrit Rhodes accepts a teaching position at the Athena Academy of Magic and Semblance to earn her rites. Vaughn Gregorvich and Kirby Selwig are best friends and fellow instructors who fall hard for the newest addition to the campus. Sparks literally fly when the trio decides to test the power of three after a night of drinking a powerfully potent new cocktail called Elixir.

And the preview snippet…

Merrit Rhodes sat in silent contemplation. She hated interviews. With a passion.

The double doors to the dean's chambers opened and Merrit stood, waiting for the summons to enter. A tiny, wizened man motioned her forward with a wave of his hand. His small stature would probably fool many applicants into a false sense of security, but Merrit didn't happen to be one of them.

She paused at the edge of the desk and met his gaze. "Dean Hargrove, it's nice to meet you." She bowed her head in respectful deference.

Hargrove clapped his hands and chortled. "Merrit Rhodes. You may have graduated from the street school of hard spells and conjuring, but you're the first person to address me properly." He pushed his chair back and slid down, his head barely visible above the huge monstrosity of a desk when he made his way around.

Merrit took his outstretched palm when he offered it in greeting and shook firmly, unwilling to make a possible misstep by easing up on her grip. "It's nice to meet you, sir."

Hargrove smiled again and directed her to sit in one of the chairs facing the desk. He flicked his fingers and a small platform nudged out from under the other wingback and he stepped up to take a seat.

He folded his hands in his lap. "I'm inclined to accept you based solely on your greeting, but let's muddle through some of the traditional questions." Her file materialized on the table between the chairs, the folder opened and a feathered scribe hovered over the page.

Merrit bit back a grin. She liked Hargrove's flair. And the man didn't dwell on her less than stellar education and instead peppered her with questions about her parents' occupations. Her mother practiced as an oracle with an uncanny accuracy rate. Her dad made conjuring an art form. Literally. His work routinely landed in museums, galleries, and garnered private commissions. Sadly, her father's income amounted to practically nothing, his salary being tied up in trust accounts unattainable until his death.

Hence her lack of a quality formal education, which didn't appear to faze Dean Hargrove.

The little man flashed a knowing smile. "You're very intuitive, a trait shared with your mother." He scooted forward, his face aglow. "And your skill with manipulative magick is impressive, if uncontrolled." Tapping the file on the table, he met her gaze. "You've passed all the qualification exams, meaning as far as the board of mages is concerned you lack only one criterion to earn your full rites." He paused and tilted his head to one side.

Merrit nodded. "Monitored experience."

Hargrove sobered. "Yes. Your scores indicate an inherent ability, but your lack of control is a concern." He brought his hand up to rub his chin. "But I have a solution, if you're willing to consider something a little unorthodox." His gaze slid sideways toward her.

Merrit's lips twitched. "Well, sir, unorthodox is kind of my normal. What do you have in mind?" Hope soared and, for once, she didn't fight to contain the feeling.

The dean rubbed his hands together. "I'd like you to consider teaching a novice class for at least two semesters. You have the knowledge and ability to merit guiding students while they learn the simple building blocks we base all magick foundations on." He paused and watched her carefully.

Heart sinking a little, Merrit forged ahead. "As you're well aware of my financial situation, I'll be happy for the work." She stopped there, unwilling to ask for more.

Hargrove gave a barely perceptible nod. "While you're in residence teaching, I'm going to have you work with two of our premier adepts to learn control using your mind and body." He snapped his fingers and the double doors snicked open.

Merrit's eyes widened when two gorgeous men entered the room and she struggled to keep her mouth from dropping open. Tall, handsome, one dark, one light, both built by the gods to visually please the senses. And the dean wanted her to glean knowledge from them? Hell, yes.

She angled her head and met the dean's gaze. "Thank you."

His sly little smirk had her brain spinning in directions it shouldn't go, but Merrit wisely said nothing else.

Hargrove shuffled off the chair. "Welcome to Atherton's, Merrit. I think introductions are in order."

Merrit hit the jackpot with her tutors and she'll take full advantage of their presence.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Kill Switch

Well… The Walking Dead returned with a killer episode. Holy zombies, so much happened. LOL I didn't know what to really expect and lowered my expectations but color me surprised by how incredible the episode ended up being. Although, why is no one talking about how Carol is pretty much responsible for wiping out a whole family? *grins* Not quite how it went down, of course, but something to ponder.

Forgot to mention The X-Files last week for my Monday night lineup. I, for one, have really been enjoying the six-episode run. Final ep airs tomorrow and I actually rather hope we'll see another six or eight episode arc in the future. Wouldn't mind seeing a few more familiar faces either.

The other Monday shows were suitably excellent. I'm staying interested in The Magicians and kind of love the various sides we're seeing. Also thrilled to see Lost Girl and Bitten. But I watch with sadness, knowing they're each in their final seasons.

Tuesday's The Flash ended up being terrific. I'm kind of amazed the earth two turned out so well. Looking forward to seeing more from that verse, if there is more. Also really want to see what the whole deal with Jay is. Agent Carter's final episode airs this week and the lead up to the finale turned out awesome. I really hope Peggy gets to punch Vernon in the face at least once. Twice would totally make the entire wait for a season three (if there is one) worth it.

Arrow continues to blow my mind. The whole tease at the beginning of the season with Oliver standing by a grave now has so many possibilities my brain hurts from thinking about them. LOL

Legends of Tomorrow keeps getting better and better. I'm thrilled with how the cast is being utilized and the way the teams are always mixed. Snart (or Snark as I like to call him) is a favorite and he keeps growing on me more and more.

Gotham and Agents of SHIELD return soon and I'm looking forward to both being back on my screen.

And, whew, that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Kill Switch, a novella originating from the prompt—beaten up, jealousy; the character(s) have the sudden and undeniable urge to let it out. Again,  a fun prompt I wanted to run with.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Karsen Hill and Theo Gordon live in a modern world full of magic and mayhem. Torn apart by their circumstances, they still share a powerful attraction and it will take a kill switch to keep their feelings at bay. When a bar of the same name opens, the duo can't resist meeting to explore their options.

And a preview snippet…

Theo stood before the fire, blazing in the hearth, his gaze focused on the flickering tendrils of orange and yellow. With his arms crossed over his chest, his shoulders taut with tension, he gave up trying to let the dancing flames bring some peace and warmth to his frozen heart.

A throat cleared. "You going out tonight?" Toric moved to stand next to Theo, fixing his gaze on the inferno in front of him instead of on the one standing less than a foot away.

Theo lifted a shoulder, the leather of his coat creaking with the motion. "Don't know yet." He wanted to escape, get away from his mother's prodding and talk of upcoming nuptials. "Depends." On whether she'd back off or not.

Toric nodded. "She figures she's found a loophole since you said you wouldn't marry until Teller left the mortal coil. But setting a date gives her something to plan for, talk about, and you know—"

Theo cut in. "Gloat and brag to anyone who'll listen." Bitter bile threatened to choke him.

His dad cocked his head in acknowledgment. "Well, yes. She wouldn't be who she is without sharing her grand illusions." Toric folded his arms around his middle.

Theo snorted. "More like grand delusions. Deandra barely tolerates my presence. If she shudders one more time when I walk into a room, I'm going to lose the tenuous thread I have on propriety and call her out." Why his mother thought he and Deandra would ever achieve wedded bliss confounded him.

Toric shook his head. "She means well, Theo. But she's single-minded and determined to get her way." He paused for several long moments. "She's in for a pretty big wake-up call."

Theo finally looked away from the flames and glanced in his dad's direction. "How so?" If things didn't go the way Meara Gordon wanted, she bulldozed her way through any obstacle.

 Toric met Theo's gaze. "Look, son, your grandpap isn't long for the world. Change is nigh. Your mother's machinations continue or you can tell her to kiss your ass and get over it."

Right. As if.

Theo narrowed his eyes. "What aren't you telling me?" There had to be a reason his dad would risk intervening and basically advising against Meara's fondest wish—Theo shackled to the darling Deandra.

Toric shook his head. "A lot. But I'm bound to silence." He glanced over Theo's shoulder and lowered his voice. "Your mother won't have much sway over your life once Teller's gone. Think about what you want for your future and act accordingly." Reaching out, he grasped Theo's shoulder then exited the room.

Theo turned back toward the fire and blinked several times, letting his dad's words sink in. He couldn't think clearly about life after his grandpap died. Not here. Heaving a sigh, he spun around and headed out of the study, crossing through the entry hall to the main doors. A ride through the night and a stop at Kill Switch might shake the cobwebs loose.

He had the door halfway open when his mother's voice cracked behind him. "Where do you think you're going?" The rifle-shot delivery had his teeth gritting and grinding.

He didn't spare her a glance. "Out. You can call my cell if anything happens with grandpap." Striding forward, he slammed the heavy oak shut, drowning out her sputtering anger.

Inhaling deeply, he cracked a grin. He walked to his bike and swung a leg over the frame before kick starting the engine. No doubt he'd pay later, but the price for freedom didn't always come cheap.

When he roared up the winding drive to the main road, he decided he could live with the toll.

Kind of a longish preview, but I'm happy with how this scene came together.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Kidnapped

Happy Valentine's Day and Singles Awareness Day to everyone! My husband and I don't do a big celebration, but we do try to make the day special in little ways. And it's been a truly rough week so we're appreciating the small moments of support.

What a terrific week for television! Monday is becoming one of my favorite nights with The Magicians and Lost Girl, and starting this week, Bitten. I watched the first episode and it rocked. So sad it's the final season of this show.

Tuesday is jammed up with The Flash and Agent Carter, both of which are terrific. Loved the journey to Earth 2 and seeing the counterparts. I'm very curious about who Zoom is, but I have a theory that probably won't shock anyone. LOL Agent Carter doesn't have long to finish up this storyline and I'm kind of excited to see where things go.

Wednesday is still my favorite and Arrow keeps dropping crazy twists into the storyline. I have so many potential theories of who's buried in the grave and who Oliver has to take out, it's not even funny. But I love it! Kudos to the showrunners for keeping me on my toes.

Legends of Tomorrow also makes me happy. I like how the group is coming together and starting to gel as a unit. And they're mixed up enough to keep things interesting. Almost every week a new grouping is featured and I'm totally down with that.

On Friday, I caught up with Teen Wolf and not a bad episode. Gotta say I'm rather thrilled the psycho doctor is no longer of this earth, meaning I won't be shocked if he makes another appearance somewhere down the road. I am going to be slightly disappointed if the beast turns out to be one of Theo's pack because there would have to be a huge bait and switch to make that plausible, in my opinion. I'm also caught up on Murdoch Mysteries, but still behind on X Company. *sigh* Seriously, the past week got completely crazy. LOL

And that's it for the random TV update. The Walking Dead premieres tonight and I'm hoping I fall right back into the show. J

Tonight's post is from Kidnapped, a novella that got started with a prompt requesting a story that had a French Revolution feel with a focus on a commoner and a noble. As usual, I'm creating my own spin by not setting the tale in France and giving it a magical flair. LOL

Here's the mini-blurb:

Jaina Wraith discovers Seb Morrison is a member of the nobility and she kidnaps him, fully intent on having him executed. When Seb reminds her how many times he's come to her aid, she has to decide whether to help him escape or leave him to a tragic fate.

And a preview snippet…

What do we need to do?

What a great question. Seb didn't need to do anything… yet. But she had a split-second decision to make. Revealing her preternatural talent would give him leverage he could use later. But under the circumstances, she had to take the risk.

Thundering footsteps sounded above them and Seb flattened against the wall. "Jaina. What should I do?" To his credit, he kept his tone low and calm.

She flicked her gaze toward him. "Nothing yet. The first part is up to me." She raised an arm and rotated her wrist. "Tenebris." The ancient power surged from within and the torches went dark.

Seb sucked in a harsh breath, but said nothing.

Jaina closed her eyes and focused inward, drawing upon her inner wellspring of magick. "Noctis visio." The uttered words gave her the ability to see through the inky blackness surrounding them.

They wouldn't have much time, but she could get them through the tunnel and out to the shoreline. From there… well, she hadn't thought that far ahead.

She reached out, grasping Seb's hand in hers. "Stick close and don't let go. Stay quiet." Creeping forward, she followed the illumination only she could see.

Seb, thankfully, remained silent, but his warm palm sent a tingle of awareness up her arm. Jaina didn't need the strong pull right now, or a trip down memory lane. But he exuded calm and she'd take all the serenity she could get right now.

Senses on high alert, Jaina resisted the urge to run. The noise would create echoes that could be followed. Once the tunnel blended into the maze of caves, they could hot foot it to the outside and head for the shore.

She'd misjudged Seb and the guilt weighed heavily. Had she really fallen so far? How could she allow her hatred to reign over her common sense? Because a golden childhood spent among the nobility couldn't strip away the persecution so many lived with on a daily basis.

The corridor curved to the right and Seb stumbled when Jaina made the adjustment. He squeezed her hand in apology and despite the cold trickle of apprehension fleeing gave her, she cracked a smile. She tightened her fingers around his for a moment then turned her attention back to guiding them closer to freedom.

The wooden floor finally gave way to rough stone and Jaina relaxed a little. The draw of power for continued vision fatigued her, but she pushed forward. Seb stuck close and must have sensed her weariness because he wrapped an arm around her, bolstering her flagging steps.

When they reached the soft dirt close to the exit of the cavern, Jaina finally broke the silence. "Thank you, Seb. We're close now." She caught a scent of salty air and the temperature warmed.

Seb tightened his grip on her shoulders. "We're going to need to talk, Jaina. About a lot of things." He didn't elaborate.

But he didn't need to. She had some serious explaining to do, which she didn't look forward to.

She caught sight of the cavern opening and released her hold on the magick. "Ordinarius visio." The dissipation drained her strength and she sagged against Seb.

They stumbled out of the cave and he propped her up against the rocky outcropping. She dragged in lungsful of air, buying some much needed time. But not much. Glancing up, she spied Seb, arms crossed over his chest and a determined glint in his blue irises.

Straightening, she slowly exhaled then met his gaze. "I don't know where to start."

Seb's lips twisted into a wry curve. "How about the day after you left the estate?" He reached out, his palm turned up.

Jaina hesitated a moment, but placed her hand in his. "Can it wait until we're across the channel? Swimming is going to be our best bet." And it would buy her a small reprieve, because Seb wouldn't like what she had to say.

He gave a terse nod and took charge, leading her down the scraggly path to the shoreline. Pausing at the edge of the beach, the inky expanse of sea stretched out before them. Seb tilted his head to one side, listening to the gentle lapping of the water.

He turned toward her, his fingers holding hers tightly. "You don't leave my sight. We go together or we don't go."

Jaina nodded. At this point, she had no other option. She'd sealed her fate when she freed Seb.

Both sides would now love to see her dangling from the end of a rope.

Jaina truly stepped in quagmire, but I'm having a ton of fun writing this one and trying to get the perfect blend of tension between the characters and the resistance movement they're supposed to be helping.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Juvenile Behavior

Well, the big super bowl game is on tonight and I’m watching a Star Trek Next Gen marathon instead. LOL Don't get me wrong, we still have all the food and trimmings, like WAY more than we need, but with several televisions in the house, the game can be merrily playing in the kitchen and living room while I hunker down in my writing cave and watch something totally different. If anything really exciting happens, the family will let me know. :D

So, next week The Walking Dead returns and I'm not sure if I'm super-excited or not. I think I am, but won't know until I see the new episode. And Bitten is coming soon, February 15 on Syfy. Definitely excited for more of that show.

My usual shows all had great episodes. I completely forgot to mention The Magicians in last week's post, but I'm seriously liking that show. And Lost Girl is in its final run of episodes. I've seen the way it ends and I'm definitely watching the last hurrah. I hope another show with fae-releated characters turns up sometime.

The Flash ended up surprising me, which I'm always thrilled to have happen. Arrow also threw in an interesting reveal and I'm speculating like mad now. Legends of Tomorrow mixed up the teams and I'm down with them doing that on a regular basis.

Agent Carter has such a great mix of humor and tension. I almost wish there could be a longer season, but I'm also kind of happy with the brevity, mainly because the writing stays pretty focused and doesn't dart off on too many tangents.

Last but not least, The X-Files had one of those instant classic episodes that I could watch over and over again. I can't wait to talk to my brother about it. Teen Wolf, again, feels rather choppy, but I've been thinking about that and have come to the conclusion it's supposed to feel that way, especially since the creepy doctors can warp time, or whatever it is they do. So yeah, I just needed to have that last little piece click into place. LOL

And that's it for television this week.

Tonight's post is from Juvenile Behavior, a novella that started with a wild hair idea and has blossomed into an old family feud that needs to be settled by my main characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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 the preview snippet…

Orville Parker glared in his son's direction. Owen tried to muster up an appropriate response… but hell, he'd had too much fun to even try and deny the charges his father made. Cooling his heels in the maze with Freddie had been worth finishing off the bottle of Amberlane, even though the potent alcohol had been banned since the elder Parker's days at the Mage Academy. The stuff went down smooth but packed quite a punch, and sometimes the amber liquid induced hallucinations and could also trigger a dormant ability. Still, nothing his dad could say would change Owen's mind.

"You're both barred from classes."

Except that. Owen wouldn't stand to have something he'd achieved taken away because he'd actually gone and had fun for once. He opened his mouth to protest.

Freddie beat him to the punch. "Are you insane? You can't lose your two best instructors."

Ha, best argument yet. "Yeah, what she said." Owen held his dad's gaze. "Who else do you have on the roster that can teach new cadets how to master the gyroscope with their minds?" Exactly no one.

Orville shrugged. "We'll get by. You two aren't getting back into a study room until you've cleaned up your acts."

Freddie snorted. "What's to clean up? We have the highest percentage of cadets who make it through. No one else is even close."

Orville acknowledged her words with a brief nod. "True. But…" He paused. "When my top two Adepts are acting like recalcitrant teenagers, something must be done about it. And treating you like the age group in question seems a good place to start."

Owen didn't like the inference. "Since when does blowing off steam get lumped in with juvenile behavior?" Geez, his dad needed to relax a little.

The elder Parker lifted a brow. "Invisible shaving cream in the west corridor…" He held up a finger. "Levitating candelabras in the chapel." He added a second. "Exploding confetti balloons in the main bathing suite. Cheap parlor tricks are beneath Adepts at your level." His hand slammed down onto the heavy oak of the desk. "You're supposed to set the example. The cadets follow your lead. You're the grown-ups." He growled. "Act like it, dammit."

Owen didn't have an argument, except… "Look, Dad, no one got hurt. That should count for something."

Freddie chimed in again. "Damn straight. Do you have any idea how much skill it takes to pull off half the stuff we did without putting anyone in the healing chambers?"

Orville shot her a blistering look.

She lifted a shoulder. "Okay, stupid question. Of course, you do." She met his gaze. "What do you want from us here?"

Orville rose from the edge of the desk. "Sixty days probation where you two have to refrain from doing any kind of spell casting or conjuring." He held up a hand to stop any protests. "If you refuse, that's it. You lose all privileges and any tenure you've gained."

Freddie gasped. Owen didn't blame her, the punishment didn't quite seem to fit juvenile role his dad had cast them in. But… the man had a point, even if Owen hated to admit it.

He stood. "Fine. What do you suggest Freddie and I do to alleviate stress and tension?"

Orville lifted a brow. "You've got sixty days to figure it out. And I if I have to explain the myriad of methods you can use to bust boredom, you can't be my kid."

Freddie chuckled then laughed outright. Owen blinked and looked at his dad a little closer. The man couldn't be serious. Except… yes, he could.

Well, hell's bells. He'd be happy to oblige his old man.

Shrugging, Owen reached out and grabbed Freddie's hand, hauling her out of the chair. "Let's go, Freddie. I'm pretty sure we can figure out some grown up stuff to do."

Freddie smirked. "Sixty days, right? Yeah, plenty of time to get and be creative." Turning, she gave Orville a backhanded wave. "Just remember, you're the one who made this rather grand suggestion."

Oh, if only having fun would be that easy. LOL But Freddie and Owen have an uphill battle to wage.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Justified

Ugh… we're going to hit the fifties this week, meaning my sinuses are going to go on a full scale revolt. LOL

So, I enjoyed the first two episodes of The X-Files and look forward to the remaining four. :D I could totally get behind short-term revivals of my favorite shows.

My general rundown of my weekly must-sees starts now. Skip ahead if you're not interested. The Flash turned in a great episode. Looking forward to seeing if I'm right on a few things. I do wish Harrison wouldn't turn out to be a bad guy this time around, but I have a feeling I'll be disappointed.

Arrow had a terrific show with Felicity battling her old self. I love the subtle nuances in this show sometimes and having her let go of the angry, young woman she once was and accept her current incarnation juxtaposed so well with the underlying theme of accepting her current circumstances and it did it without getting completely maudlin. I love this show!

Legends of Tomorrow amped up the repercussions of traveling through time, but still delivered on the witty banter between the characters. I do have concerns about the show devolving into gimmicky shtick when they're in a different era, but so far, I'm loving what they do.

Agent Carter… Love this show! I have so many theories and ideas of how things will play out. I really, really want Jack to get his head out of his ass and see how easily he's being manipulated. I think it's going to happen, but who knows. I love how much Peggy doesn't hesitate to call Jack on his shit. Seriously, good stuff there.

Even though Teen Wolf feels so discombobulated, I like where everything seems to be headed. I don't know, the flow is choppy and maybe that's being done on purpose, but I'm a little cranky about it. I do love having some familiar faces popping up again though.

I have a new show I've started to binge watch, X Company, a Canadian offering which I'm thoroughly enjoying. I might not rank it up there with Murdoch Mysteries, but I'm only three episodes in. LOL

And that's it for my viewing pleasure rundown this week. The Walking Dead returns soon and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Tonight's post is from Justified, a novella where my characters have some superhuman abilities. They shouldn't be together, but where's the fun in that?

Here's the mini-blurb:

Electra Cage and Nix Naught should 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…

Nix walked into the Raven's Nest and immediately caught sight of new blood. The cool blonde, sitting at the bar commanded attention. He knew her. Okay… knew of her. Electra Cage. Anyone in his line of work had a serious need to be aware of her uncanny ability to find the smallest shred of evidence to nail down cases for the DA. Her work with the civil and private sectors made her an in-demand entity.

So what the hell brought her to a dive like the Nest?

The need to find out compelled him in her direction. Signaling to Bart, the beefy man behind the bar, he ordered his usual by tapping two fingers on the oak surface. After the shit night he'd had, a double wouldn't do much to remove the knife from his back, but it might go a long way toward soothing the bite of betrayal.

Bart slid the glass in front of Nix and poured. "Rough night?" He set the bottle on the counter, next to another one already there.

Nix snorted. "Nothing I can't handle." He drank the liquor, savoring the hot trail it burned to his gut.

Electra angled her head, giving him a sideways glance.

Nix took the opportunity to open a conversation with her. "This place is a little downscale for you, isn't it?" Hell, the Raven's Nest barely qualified as a place he wanted to hang out.

But if she started parking her ass on a stool, he'd make it his number one stop on a regular basis.

Electra quirked an eyebrow. "Do I know you?" The cultured tone of her voice caught him by surprise.

He propped his butt on the stool beside her. "We haven't met, no, Ms. Cage, but I'm familiar with your work." Tapping the bar again, he ordered another shot.

She scooted around, almost facing him. "Cop or corporate?" Her finger traced the rim of her glass.

Nix's lips twitched. "Er… both. Name's Nix—"

Recognition dawned in her gaze. "Naught. The man who amounts to and leaves nothing behind." One side of her mouth curved. "You've got quite the reputation, Mr. Naught." A spark of interest lit within her blue eyes.

She had no idea his name reflected his innate ability, inherited from his mother's family, to alter his DNA, making detection damned near impossible. And he intended to make sure she didn't find out.

He boldly perused her. "As do you, hence the observation. The Nest is way below your standard." Then again, maybe not.

He only knew what he'd heard through the grapevine.

Electra smoothly downed her shot. "Really? How do you know what my standards are?" The alcohol gave her voice a smoky quality.

Nix didn't miss the fact the bartender automatically refilled her glass nor the frank appraisal in her gaze when she directed it his way. The way she looked like she could gobble him up combined with the raspy tone she used proved to be a heady cocktail better than any shot of bourbon. He wanted to taste and savor her.

Slow down, Nix. She's a dangerous woman.

He snorted. "I don't. But the lowlifes who start brawls in here might ruin the designer duds you're wearing." And wouldn't that be a shame?

Electra's eyebrow arched. "Do I look like I give a damn?" She quickly tossed back the liquid.

Nix narrowed his eyes. She actually didn't look like she cared. Bart dutifully replenished her drink again.

He propped an elbow on the bar. "No, you don't. So, what? Come to see how the rough boys live? Because you'll get your wish if you stick around another hour or so." He pitched his voice low so only she could hear.

Electra smirked and leaned forward. "The only reason I'm here is to find a dick hard enough to keep up with me tonight." Her gaze dropped to his crotch. "Think you might qualify?"

Hell, yes. He should've been shocked, but instead, she'd intrigued him. His cock responded to the rasp of her voice, becoming a hard ridge under his fly. The slow, satisfied twist of her lips kicked his blood flow into overdrive and he decided to push and see how far she'd go.

Nix grabbed her hand, guiding it to his growing erection. "You tell me." He flattened his palm over hers, making sure she got a good feel for what he had on offer.

Electra made a low, purring sound. "Mmmm. I think you'll do." She gave his dick a firm squeeze then met his gaze. "My place?" She made the breathy question sound like sex.

Jesus. He'd do her right there in the bar if she gave the go.

Nix growled. "Anywhere you want it, sweetness. I'm good to go all night." Lust oozed from every pore and he fought the urge to immediately strip her naked.

Electra smiled and drained her glass again before rising, her hand pressing against his groin. "Then follow me, hot stuff. I'm parked right outside." She sauntered to the door, glancing over her shoulder.

The promise in her eyes of seriously hot sex had him striding to catch up. When she hit her key fob to unlock the car, he crowded close to her, nuzzling her neck before she could open the door. Grabbing her shoulders, he spun her around, clamping his mouth over hers, his tongue pushing past her lips to get a steamy preview of what would come later.

She made a sexy hum, low in her throat, before she planted her hands on his chest and lightly shoved him away. "Down, boy. As much as I want that hard slab between your legs, I like a little anticipation." Reaching behind her she popped the door open and slid inside, then scooted across the seat.

The move surprised him, especially when she patted the driver's seat. Wordlessly, he slid behind the wheel and pressed the automatic starter. The engine fired up and he slid his gaze toward her. Her coat gaped open, giving him a view of her nipples straining against thin almost sheer fabric of her blouse. She didn't have a bra on and the sexy sight made his fingers itch to pinch and tweak the pebbled tips.

She put her hand on his crotch and angled in close. "I'm wet and ready for you, big guy. I'm going to keep your lovely dick all primed and ready while you drive to us to the Wentworth Towers." Her palm massaged his hard length. "Then we're going to see if you're good to go all night."

Biting back a groan, he put the car in drive, eased out into traffic, and took the shortest route possible for the Wentworth.

This one is super steamy and Electra is totally going for what she wants, even if Nix isn't normally on the side of being a lawful citizen.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Judge a Book by Its Cover

Well… Winter Storm Jonah, or whatever its name is, missed my part of Ohio. I'm not complaining in the least. For everyone else dealing with the massive snow dump, I hope you're all safe, warm, and enjoying the blizzard as much as possible. J

One thing though… why are we naming winter storms now? I mean I was alive for the Blizzard of '78 and referring to it the Blizzard of '78 works just fine for me. Is there a reason we have to give names to snowstorms? I get naming hurricanes and tropical storms, typhoons, etc., but eh, giving monikers to snowstorms seems like something a bored Weather Channel employee decided to cook up to brighten their day. Just saying. LOL

Let's see… big X-Files revival premieres tonight. I'm super-excited! One of my all-time favorite shows is coming back and I don't even care if it sucks huge ones. LOL I'm watching a marathon on Chiller right now, so my day is going really great. J

The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow had kick ass episodes. I kind of love Legends, the snarky banter makes me happy. I could watch an hour of nothing but the characters trying to out snark each other. That said, the jury's out on how well this group with mesh together, but I'm all in to see what happens.

Agent Carter's two episode premiere didn't disappoint. I've got some hopes for what happens with the New York contingent. I also loved meeting Jarvis's Mrs. Very cool and awesome character. J

Last, but not least, Teen Wolf's episode entertained, as usual. It might just be me, but the last few episodes have something of a choppy feeling, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just a little confusing.

That's it for television this week…

Tonight's post is from Judge a Book by Its Cover, a novella that came about from a theme prompt of cheating scandal. I love my writing groups!

Here's the mini-blurb:

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 left Zeth's alcove armed with a plan of action and a date for coffee. How the hell did that happen? Okay, she knew how they came up with the idea bringing down the person making money off the novices. They'd spent the last hour going over the best possible methods.

The coffee part tripped her up though.

Why did she say yes? Because he'd asked her, of course. But, no, that made zero sense. She didn't do coffee and she definitely didn't do anything with magistrates. But you're working with him on the cheating thing. Right. Didn't explain why her brain took a vacation and all of a sudden went to crazytown.

But he looked so damned hot, glancing up from the notes he'd taken, and she'd blurted out a yes before thinking. The magistrate and the queen of mayhem. Wouldn't their being together set tongue wagging? Why would he want to tarnish his stellar reputation by hanging out with her, especially since she had a habit of ignoring the rules? He couldn't possibly really want to get involved with her.

Unless… Coorah smacked her forehead. Of course, Zeth had a reason for asking her out. They couldn't very well meet in his alcove all the time. Grabbing coffee made a great cover so they could discuss their covert activities. She'd been so… stunned… over his invitation and her response, she'd made a mad dash for the door. Could she be more of an idiot?

Figuring out his reason should have made her feel way better. But… her stomach churned. She shouldn't be upset, right? How stupid could she be to think he actually found her attractive and wanted to spend time with her? Especially when she didn't want to date the guy.

Shaking her head, she made her way out of the building and started for her small suite of rooms. "Come on, Coorah. You don't really want to get tangled up with Hard Ass Herrickson, do you?" No, totally a bad idea.

Except… she kind of had the insane notion she wouldn't mind getting involved with Zeth. And bad ideas were her forte.

I'm having a blast writing this one. I love characters that start out on the opposite end of the spectrum and find common ground that leads to something more.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: The Jade Claw

Ugh. Got hit hard with a nasty cold / flu something. It's been a miserable week trying to hit editing deadlines and maintain my sanity at the same time. LOL

This week's Teen Wolf brought back an old, well… I can't really call the character a favorite, so let's say a familiar face instead. I like having some old school peeps back on my screen. Nothing wrong with the new crew, but eh, I think a lot can be said for taking care of the roots, too. Hopefully, I'm not being too spoilery.

My shows are back this week. The Flash, Arrow, the premiere of Legends of Tomorrow, and maybe even Agent Carter. Not sure about the premiere date for X-Files, but I'll be checking to make sure I don't miss it.

And that's it for this week on the TV front.

Tonight's post is from The Jade Claw, a novella with paranormal intrigue and a dash of humor where my main characters jump through flaming hoops to accomplish their goals.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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…

Cantor Defense Agent Clay Wellstone surveyed the wrecked and damaged area of the Tauric Antiquities room with a critically discerning eye. He noted the presence of the curator, an Art History professor at Cantor University. Her agitated state suggested impatience to restore order. Not that he blamed her. Whoever pulled off the heist of the museum did so with precision, leaving a path of destruction behind to muddy the waters and slow things down.

"Excuse me, Ms. Yule." Clay pulled the curator of the Museum of Cantor History off to the side of the crime scene. "Can you give me basics of what happened here?"

The harassed but seriously beautiful blond stared at the ugly scene before her, broken glass, overturned display cases and empty stands. Her devastated eyes blinked several times, as if that might make the carnage go away. No such luck.

"Ms. Yule?"

She focused her gaze on him. "What? Oh, the basics. Right."

Turning, she scanned the area with different eyes. This time they were keenly intelligent and sharp, and just a little pissed off. Exactly what he’d been going for.

Her lips thinned into a straight line. "I got here late, my class ran over."

Clay had already run a background check, following protocol. "You're a professor at Cantor U?" He asked the question for confirmation.

A quick nod and she continued. "I entered the back way. I always come in from the employee parking area."

She ran the steps she'd taken, walked him through her discovery, providing a solid amount of detail. His respect level raised another notch. She’d make a good agent if she ever wanted a career change.

He flashed a rueful smile. "I appreciate the information and I'm sorry to ask, but we'll need you to come down and make a full statement when you're up for it."

She looked around the display area again. "Now's good. Everything's fresh in my mind."

Clay smiled. "Great. I can give you a ride and drop you back here after we're through." He admired her tenacity and get it done now attitude.

As if he needed more to add to the list of things he liked about her.

Skyrah nodded. "Yeah, that works." She picked her way toward the door, careful not to disturb anything.

Clay watched closely, as much to figure out the intriguing puzzle she appeared to be as to enjoy the determined set of her shoulders.

He had a feeling Skyrah Yule would be quite a challenge.

This one may end up being a full novel by the time it's all written. And it's been so much fun I can't wait to finish and get it polished up and ready to publish!

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye