Howdy folks! Hope y’all are having a terrific Tuesday! I have some exciting news to share today. On June 23rd, Prism Book Tours is hosting a Cover Reveal for the sequel to Craving Beauty! Besides giving everyone the chance to marvel at Najla Qamber Designs gorgeous cover artistry, there will be a giveaway included. Specific prizes will be given out for U.S. and International entries. Stay tuned for more to be posted on my Events page this upcoming week.
I’ve been hard at work on Scarred Beauty and don’t plan to let up any time soon. Thought I would share a piece from today’s writing session. (Note: It is so incredibly hard to share sequel scenes without giving too many spoilers. If you haven’t read Craving Beauty yet, you might want to stop reading here.)
Ceddrych’s heavy sigh pulled her out of her brooding and back to the present, to the warmth in his eyes. “Well, I wish I could say that was unexpected.”
“Do you mean the part where I attacked Baalor or threatened your village?”
Ceddrych rubbed his beard a moment as though contemplating her question, but his eyes betrayed his amusement. “I must confess, those were my favorite parts of the morning.” He leaned back into his chair and smiled. “I didn’t know you had it in you, little sister.”
Vynasha grimaced. “Mother always said, leave a bear where he lies.”
“True…you didn’t just poke the bear, or wolf in this case.” Laughter followed his words.
She scowled at him. “Fine for you to see the humor in this.”
He wagged his eyebrows at her and leaned forward over his knees, rubbing his hands together. “As much as it wounds my pride that my baby sister saved my hide, it was worth seeing Baalor’s face when you pounced him like that. I don’t think anyone has surprised that wolf in his long, miserable life.”
“You seem quite pleased with yourself, but what if the villagers decide I’m a real threat now and burn us in our sleep?” She longed to impress on him the obvious and could not understand why he wasn’t more upset with her. His first order to her in this village was to hide her claws and teeth. Early this morning she did the very opposite, and not by accident but in the worst glaring way. Baalor was an enigma and contradiction. While she could smell the desire on him, when she was still claws deep and tangled limbs with him, he seemed unpredictable.
Ceddrych laughed at her again, lightening the mood in an annoyingly familiar manner as he said, “Don’t worry, Ashes. I’ve got allies in this village too, lone wolf or not. Besides, no one acts without the elders approval, unless they want the same done to them twice over.”
Vynasha crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t trust any of them.”
“Good,” he replied with a slight downward turn of the mouth, “you’ll live longer if you don’t.”
A knock on the door interrupted Vynasha before she could press her brother further. She watched, with more than a little trepidation as her brother stood and crossed the room to answer.
“What are you two doing here so early?” Ceddrych said from the open doorway. Vynasha crouched lower in her seat and sniffed at the winter air breaking the blanket of warmth the fire provided. For a moment she feared it might be Baalor, the pack leader again, or more angry villagers. Her fingers slipped beneath her gown for the scabbard strapped to her calf. It was the first thing she put on after the events from this morning.
…
to be continued
Jennifer Silverwood 