Coming Soon...Lost To The Night

Coming Soon…

The Bruja Ligera
By: Kayden McLeod

Found In: Lost To The Night Anthology, Presented by Denyse Bridger  

Genre: Paranormal Romance (Witches)

Rated: PG 13

Publisher: XOXO Publishing

Summary:

Sorabella is a white witch—in hiding. She is used to the idea if her true identity comes out, she’ll be shunned for being crazy, or worse. A risk she isn’t willing to take. Until now. Her relationship with her boyfriend has gotten more serious than she’s used to. They’ve moved in together, and Tyler still doesn’t know about what Sorabella can do. She fears it’s too late to tell him, and given he’s closed minded to the entire subject of magic, doesn’t make the situation any easier. But with an encounter with her old tormentor from high school—who happens to be Tyler’s sister—everything is revealed to the wrong people. Now, she has no choice but to come clean with Tyler, and face the music. Good or bad.

Excerpt:

Tears glittered in Sorabella’s eyes when she realized she had to tell Tyler everything. She had to get this over with, and see the disbelief in his eyes when she told him the truth until he demanded a demonstration that would seal his opinion once and for all.

It had always been like that.

Then he would have what he asked for, and then he would run as fast for the hills as he could.

The door opening made her jump, a ripple of pure hatred that was not her own teased her mind, a blackness so bitter her lip curled.

One look in the mirror told her exactly who had walked into the bathroom.

“Well, look whose hiding in the bathroom crying. Just the same baby you were back in junior high, aren’t you?” Kylie said in a singsong voice that went through Sorabella’s nerves like acid.

Over the last few years, Kylie had gained some weight, just about everywhere. Her stomach ballooned over her jeans that were too tight and cut too low, made for a body she had when she was seventeen, and not twenty-three.

“Look who came to gloat over something she knows absolutely nothing about.” The words escaped Sorabella’s mouth before she could pull them back, her tone biting and sarcastic.

“I know more than enough, Sory.” Kylie snapped. “I know you’re into black magic and stuff, summoning demons and all that. I have watched the movies, I know what witches do.”

Sorabella barely contained her bitter laughter. She was, for lack of a better term, since there really wasn’t one, a light witch. One that celebrated nature and used only energy from the earth, and simple vocal and herbal spells to power their magic.

Never had either she or her mama ever delved into the deeper, darker magicks. The power in the ancient tombs which held spells that was immoral, and made every part of Sorabella shudder in disgust.

Even in the extensive library in her mama’s home, no one would find such a book. Only the spells that didn’t require anything more than energy, stone and herb were displayed on those shelves.

“Like I said, you don’t know anything.” Sorabella snapped, feeling her anger flare, normally tampered down so well, but it was now flowing through her veins and heating everything it touched.

She hated Kylie in that moment, for rushing her into something that she wanted no part in yet. She wasn’t ready, but now the cat was out of the bag, she might as well see it to the end. To wait, would allow it to dull in Tyler’s mind, and she wanted an honest reaction.

“Well what do you do then?” Kylie demanded impatiently.

“Right now I really wish that mind control was in my repertoire.” Sorabella’s finger ran down the length of the counter, allowing the energy to flow into her body from the surface, and power her magic.

The electric current made her hair fly around her head, but she didn’t care. If Kylie wanted to know what she did, that was fine. It was time she came out of the closet to someone. Before, when she was younger, her tricks had been meaningless, but she hadn’t understood her magic then as she did now.

At least, now that Sora was grown up enough to take a mature interest in it.

The lights went out in the bathroom, the lock sliding into place. Kylie shrieked. Her voice was strangled in the absolute darkness of the windowless room.

“What are you doing?” Kylie asked in a small tone.

Sorabella whispered a small fire spell, the wickless flame appearing in her palm at her bidding.

“What is it that you fear most Kylie Green? It was snakes, wasn’t it?” Sorabella’s voice held a trance-like quality, as she focused on maintaining the spells she had set in motion, applying more energy, and stretching her concentration even more.

She was a strong witch, strong and almost as skilled as her mama. Sorabella had been learning her craft almost since the day she was born.

Kylie had practiced hatred just as long, but never fear.

A hiss sounded from the floor, the fire from Sorabella’s hand showing Kylie what she feared most. A black and white striped snake slithered from between the bases of the stalls, making Kylie fall back and shriek again.

“How are you doing this?” Kylie’s high-pitched voice vibrated through Sorabella’s skull like a bad guitar whine.

“I’m the darkest witch you know, remember? Since I cast black magic and all.”

It was too bad for Kylie, that she was the only one between them that knew the snake in front of her, and the three behind her that she hadn’t seen yet, were about as much danger to her as if they had been stuffed.

It was obvious from the terror on Kylie’s face that it was perfectly satisfactory, almost gratifying so.

Then Kylie turned. A coral snake slithered its way around the heel of Kylie’s shoe. She raised her foot to stomp on it, kicking it away from her, but it did no use.

To make the serpent react, he would need to feel pain. To feel pain, he would have to be real, alive.

The lock on the bathroom door slid open, but not by Sorabella’s doing. Who could have done that, with no key to get in?

The lights blazed overhead once more, revealing that the snakes were gone. The spells dispersed like they had never been, mist hovered in small area of the room as they dissolved quickly.

Kylie was pale, shaking in the corner and staring at her mother who walked into the room with a confident grace. Lynda had seen her own interpretations and impressions of what had happened seconds before Sorabella released the energy back into the atmosphere.

Sorabella wasn’t naïve, and she knew Lynda had seen something before the bathroom had resumed to its normal state.

“My dears, is everything all right in here?” Lynda asked quietly, no rightful suspicion on her guileless face.

Kylie said nothing to her mother, but ran out of the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind her.

“Sora, I think I would appreciate an explanation.” Lynda said sternly, hands on her hips as she waited.

“Umm…”

“And absolutely no lies,” Lynda responded immediately, her eyes going small. “You have never lied to Tyler or I before, and I don’t want you to start now. Err no that is wrong, you have never lied to us accept for this one thing.”

“What one thing?” Sorabella reeled, knowing she should tell Tyler before she told his mother. This didn’t seem right.

“That you’re a witch.” Lynda said calmly.

Tales Of Erosity, by Cindy Jacks, Kristin Manter and Kayden McLeod

Tales Of Erosity Blog

Tales Of Erosity Facebook Group

Offical Launch: May 10th 2010, (Monday)

There are places in this world where the otherworldly inhabitants are more abundant than others.

Erosity is one of them.

Welcome to a city, where sensuality meets the dark side of the paranormal, allowing the reader to slip into the world of vampires, witches, shifters, angels and demons. Leave your realm, and enter the underbelly of the farthest reaches of society; where not seen, heard or remembered takes on a whole new meaning.

See their real adventures, wherever they may take them.

Tales of Erosity will vary in heat ratings; anywhere from sweet to erotic, but will be given a rating with each posting. Follow the Tales of Erosity, to keep up on the latest drama or sexcapades that the otherworldly beings pursue.

Erosity Authors

Cindy Jacks

Kristin Manter

Kayden McLeod

Sample Story:


Title: The Demon Queen, Part I

By: Kayden McLeod

Rating: PG, with obscene language


A scream sounded from down one of the alleys I’d crossed, but paid no mind while setting my direct course to where I’d been bid.
Let the humans rot this night, I thought bitterly.
I walked down the darkened streets of Erosity, an hour past the twilight settling upon the horizon. I wasn’t in the mood to listen to their bitching and whining about inspiration, let alone their even more petty problems that had never concerned me.
My name was Liwet, the “angel” of inventions. However, I wasn’t pristine, as most thought me. I was shunned from the normal crowds, who knew what I was on sight.
I was a half-demon, half-angel; a dirty half-breed, to be pushed to the shadows, and forgotten.
But I had long since come to terms with it, tending to stay at the edges of society, and never really taking part. The angels shunned me, but the demons…
Well, most of them were arrogant assholes I could never stand. The unattached men liked to think me a different sort of notch on their bedposts. Though some were…acceptable to be around for short periods of platonic time.
I headed into a darkened alcove, toward the back entrance into the Willows, a bar that fronted the ocean cliffs. One a…dear friend owned; if I could call my brother that.
“Li,” Mastema said from the empty back of the kitchen. But I could hear the sounds of cooking food and clinking plates from around the corner, telling me it was a productive evening.
Mastema stared at me expectedly.
Of course he would know I was coming. He was a full demon, one who kept out of the lower realms by staying quiet, and running this bar. This surprised me, since his purpose was to tempt men toward sin. Yet he denied his most basic principles, to stay out of the hell realms I was almost always exempt from, unless I broke the sacred laws applying to being one of the Guides to humanity who resided on earth.
“Why have you called me here?”
“I need you to work tonight. We are unusually busy, and I do not like so many humans mixing with my people, without proper balance.”
In other words; he needed someone to kick ass, if his brethren stepped out of line. Someone, who wasn’t him. Great.
“Why me, Mast?” I asked, being “dumb” on purpose. Even though he didn’t let it show, it pissed him off.
And I was just in that kind of mood. Thankfully, half of my status put me almost on his playing field, almost. Plus, he had a millennia or two on me. Not that in the grand timeline of things, this mattered very much.
“You’re being unreasonably bitchy tonight,” he mused. His thick muscular body was covered in ritual blue-jeans and a t-shirt, just tight enough to show that he was ripped, but not enough to prove it. “In fact, a lot actually.”
I sighed, knowing even if I gave him the firm no currently on my mind, he would still “talk” me into it.
“What do you need?”
“You, on the bar,” Mastema muttered. “Nicor heard about a thunderstorm near to coast and…”
“Decided to go play in it?”
My brother nodded, but never with disgust. Those demons who chose to stay for a long time or live here, very rarely had the chance to act, or be who they really were while on this plane. But it was much the same for us half-breeds of different sorts, and then full-angels.
“I suspect the rush will only get worse the later it gets. But I do have to warn you… Oriax is here tonight with his friends.”
“What?” I asked slowly, what tiny bit of good-humour I’d possessed quickly fled me. “You expect me not to throw something at him in the course of an entire evening?”
My brother rolled his eyes at my mild dramatics, and then pushed his back off of the counter’s edge, a sleek roll of sinew.
I followed only somewhat dutifully. They emerged to the hustle and bustle of the busy portion of the kitchen, with ten or so bodies moving with fast precision, revealing not a one of human descent. Not that I expected less, from the last time I had been summoned here. It wasn’t like I came of my own free will. That was such a human ideal.
None looked up from what they were doing, their ligaments jostling this way and that, but their finished plates stunning as could be, for burgers and fries.
I’d grant that they were delicious and quite addicting, but there was only so far one could go to please this particular clientele. Demons didn’t care for their meat cooked, but the staff would barely sear it on the outside, so the humans who ventured in here couldn’t tell the difference.
I snagged a fry, and Mastema whirled, looking just behind me and glaring at whatever he saw that had displeased him so.
“What?”
“Have you fallen so low, that you walk among humankind with your wings exposed in such a fashion? Are you looking to get thrown back into the hell realms?”
“They cannot see them,” I replied coldly. “I will no longer be spurred under someone else’s terms, but only my own. Only full-bloods can see these black-feathered contraptions that condemned me from birth, and since they are such a disgrace to both heritages, I will be upfront about it. At least then, I can see their sneers upfront, and know what they think, before they even say a word.”
During my entire speech, all movement had stopped around me. Had my words been so very shocking?
“You are serious?”
“Just because I cannot see your wings nor horns, does not mean they are not there. You have modified the color of your skin, so it looks more tanned than burnt red, but it is only a secondary appearance to what you really look like.”
“And your point?”
I swore every set of lungs stopped breathing, awaiting for my answer. “This is what I look like.”
The lines of Mastema’s lips became cynical, falsely blue eyes hardening into ice-chips. Really, they were a pitiless black, stretching from lid to lid. He didn’t like my assessment, but he couldn’t find a way to reasonably argue the truth.
It was by this show of real emotion, which proved to me the seething rage on the inside was rapidly boiling. Would it burn me? Did I really care, if it did? It had been a low blow, and not a one inside the kitchen thought differently.
I was fast running out of patience for just about everyone, and anything, as dangerous as this was. We both knew it, but it was him that broke the rigid staring down contest that had developed.
“Let’s go then.” He ushered me past the swinging doors, into the ebb and flow of the bar.
Waitresses wandered around taking and giving orders from the customers, but I didn’t pay the inhabitants any mind at all, while I walked behind the bar, trying not to look for Oriax and crew sitting somewhere among the crowds.
Even with my heightened senses, I didn’t sense the much older astrology-obsessed demon. But I had no doubts in his own good time, he would find me.
I set about taking the first few orders, absorbing myself in the task, knowing the tips of my wings brushed against the bottles on the glass shelves behind me. When I was forced to catch a bottle of vodka before it hit the ground, I had to admit Mastema was right.
I hated to ever do such a thing! Without looking toward the doors where he still stood, the wings physically left my body, leaving me human-looking as I was going to get, short of losing my immortality.
A thick tendril of long black hair escaped being tucked behind my ear, falling past my line of vision and blocking the entire right-side of the front bar area. I wasn’t paying attention when a hand caught mine, the touch searing hot as only a demon’s could be.
“Hello, il mio dolce,” Oriax said in a heavily-accented voice, forcing me to cut off a sarcastic laugh.
He was always the pretender, making a life out of acting completely opposite to what he actually was, and taking pleasure in confusing the races. He had multiple personalities, the likes I’d never seen in another individual.
His friends stood around him like jackals they were; Berith, Cresil and Kobal. Demons. They were all testosterone and male arrogance. Not that he was any different, in fact making them all look far worse.
“Drop the act,” I demanded.
“Che cosa, bellezza mia, io ti offendono?” Oriax looked affronted himself, but I didn’t believe it for a single second!
“Sei davvero feccia. You are not Italian, Ori, you don’t even look as such!”I tugged my hand back, hating the reaction I always had around someone so absolutely vile.
“You know, I really love it when you call me that,” he responded without any harshness or reprimand. He was even harder to piss off than my brother.
“That you are scum?”
“No dear, that you think to shorten my name,” Oriax muttered, and his friends smiled maliciously, “like an endearment. Can we talk?”
“What for? I am working for my brother.”
“Yes, I know. I asked him to call you in. I knew you wouldn’t take it, if I phoned, let alone heed my proper summons, if you could help it.”
“He did what?” I whirled, my hair flying out and hitting him satisfyingly in the face, inducing the three stooges at his back into fits of unmanly giggles.
I couldn’t help but smirk, both at them and my brother, who stared back unrepentantly. Mastema shrugged, absolving himself of guilt as he ducked back into the kitchen.
Coward.
“Come outside with me for a moment. Kobal take the bar,” Oriax ordered, taking back my hand, pulling me down the length of bar and through the opening, toward the door.
“What is this about?”
“Just hold on to that thought,” he muttered, implying he wanted away from the many set of keen ears that had perked up at our swift moments.
I could almost hear them now; what was Oriax doing with the half-breed?
Fuck ‘em, I thought. And if any one of them thought to say a thing to me, I wouldn’t hesitate to say it aloud.
The moment the door closed behind us, a layer of power spread over the small patio-style balcony, with stairs leading down the rocky cliff, to emerge at the beach below, the ocean crashing upon the surrounding rocks with ferocious velocity.
The city ran up and down the ocean, spreading out into the secluded valley, keeping a rather large population of the underworld races that most places on earth would never see by the light of day.
It was a “hot” spot. The demons congregated around the strongest of the veils between the realms, and the angels were here to counteract them. Then sprinkle in the vampires, witches and God knew what else, and then you had a party at random moments. Most times, they had to be quickly dispatched, lest too much drama unfolded and all of us would suffer for it.
Deep in thought, I ignored the man at my side. I felt this had to mean something, but it was convoluted and driving me mad.
“Liwet?” Oriax asked with strain in his voice.
“What?”
“I need you to do something for me,” he asked softly. “Something very important, one I need you to think over very carefully.”
“I don’t want to know this, do I?”
“No, you really don’t. And I wouldn’t ask this of you, if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”
“Then spit it out, Ori. When we were…dating,” we both smirked at that, “you had no problem telling me anything on your mind.”
Yea, so, we had history. A lot of it.
“I need a wife,” he blurted out.
I blinked, not comprehending. “Excuse me? Why would you tell me this?”
“Because,” he admitted, his pupils bleeding out to the edges of his eyes, until they were completely black, “they chose you.”

***

Part II coming soon, along with many other fabulous stories from the Erosity Authors!

WIP; Death Of Innocence, Excerpt Two/ Rated: R

Hey Readers,

A Rated R excerpt from Death Of Innocence, Paranormal Romance.

Cheers,

Kayden


Excerpt:


Fierce, clawing need worked its way to dominance, and I began to fear I couldn’t control myself, feeling like an animal, savage and full of need. My muscles coiled under her timidly exploring hands.

I had to closely school my impatient impulses, curb the sexual desire that was too natural for me. We felt such things more acutely, much more often than humans seemed to. That and the entire experience was something more than what I’d read in my associates minds.

After seeing such things, I’d spoken with a few others about it, and we’d come to the conclusion that we took more care with this act because we enjoyed everything about it, and having the stamina to see it through.

The floodgate had opened, and it was all I could do not to throw her to the ground and…do everything I had dreamed of for so long.

I craved to finally put my considerable skill to some use. I’d stroked myself late at night when she was asleep and unaware, fantasizing about her.

Corbin had always wondered why I didn’t just take her, but that wasn’t what I’d wanted. The decision to not pursue her in any such fashion, until I could come to her honestly had been amazingly easy.

I widened my thighs and without breaking the kiss, I slipped my hands under her arms and pulled her onto the bed. I sprawled out onto the comforter, dragging her over my chest, and gently flipped her body over.

My skin was highly sensitized, so aware of every movement her muscles along my hard, pulsing body made. She pushed her hands beneath her to gain leverage, adjusting the angle of her body so she was comfortable. I dragged my thickened organ across her, making her shutter deliciously.

I felt my canines throb, preparing to descend whether I wanted them to or not. She is a vampire now…loose control.

Oh, how very tempting.

Her tongue touched the tip of one, and she went rigid, heart thudding harder, blood rushing so much faster through those veins.

I shifted so the centre of her body was flush with mine, feeling her inside my head, reading every dark and satisfying fantasy. Growling and impatient, I flipped her over again onto her back, crawling over her to taste her sweet skin. Soon enough we would be properly mated and she’d be branded as mine.

She laughed against my lips, and I swore she called me a Neanderthal in her mind, but I couldn’t be sure over the roar in my ears. To feel her beneath me so willing and needing finally broke whatever remained of my control.

My fingers gripped the edges of her blouse to tear it from her body, from throat to waist. I could’ve done it more civilized way, but I was tired of hiding. Tonight, I just wanted her.

“Are you…?” She wasn’t scared, just surprised.

“I’m fine,” I promised, nipping her collarbone.

I tugged the long skirt from her body, hungrily moving my gaze over every inch of bared flesh. Her tongue touched her swollen bottom lip, and it was only a matter of time before my statement would change.

I kissed her ribcage, nipping the skin along her stomach, loving how the muscles clenched beneath my eager mouth. I ran my tongue along the flat surface above her hipbone, so close to what I wanted now. My eyes were on her face as I pressed biting kisses across her thigh, coming to rest between her legs.

That unfathomable curiosity lit her gaze, honestly and much too innocently not understanding what was happening, though trusting me enough to only ask a mild question.

“What are you doing?” She dug for the information, but I could hide from her for the time being. When we mated I would lose a degree of privacy to her, until then, I would exploit it.

I didn’t allow her to see what was in mind, nor did I answer. This would be a titillating surprise for me.

I knew more than well enough Thomas had used her only for his own pleasure, and she honestly thought that was all there was. He had been a selfish lover, neglecting her every need.

Over the past few months, I’d had to refrain from laughter when she thought of sex, compared to how I believed it to be. Of course, she’d never known the extent of what I knew about her.
I laid a long, flat trail over her apex with my tongue, before finally touching her clit. Her hips automatically jerked, her mouth forming a small o.

Another satisfying pass of my tongue had her back arching, eyes molten sapphires. I waited as her hips moved restlessly. She bit her lower lip again in a too innocent gesture I couldn’t quite resist.

I closed my mouth over her, and liquid heat rushed to greet me, coaxing the cream until she soaked with it. I murmured a spell, to take care of any noise that would wake up the children. And I had every intention of making her scream, test every limit and push every restraint until they snapped.

My cock pulsed unbearably at the thought, the promise of her lovely flesh beneath mine driving me to insanity.

I lowered my body from the bed, dragging her hips towards the edge. She’d barely settled herself, before I continued my assault on her senses and succulent flesh. Her wide eyes stared at me, locking on mine, unable to look away as I watched her over her mound.

“Gregory,” she whispered, fingers pushing my blonde hair back from my face.

Her spine bowed, screams dragged from her throat, fingers tightening in my hair. I smiled against the silky flesh when the orgasm began to unfurl, riding her addicting body, distributing shocking sensations that she didn’t understand yet. But I’d ensure she would.

My shaft was so hard, aching while the blood rushed to my groin, constantly twitching as I rushed Canya into another orgasm, her throat raw from long, satisfying shrieks.

I growled, letting the vibrations work through her, finally satisfied that she was ready, slick, so wet. I couldn’t even think about it, and maintain sanity at the same time.

I whispered a few words, concentrating on letting my clothes disappear. She cocked her head, pleased to see me so easily naked for the first time, and curious on how I had come to be that way.

“Later there will be time for explanations. Right now I wish to teach you other, more pleasurable concepts.” My voice was so hoarse, it broke. Love crowded my mind, the need to show her any way possible how much I needed her, in ways that words could never covet.

“I don’t think I can move. You killed me.” Her eyes drifted shut, and a small grin touched her tempting mouth.

“Oh, come now. I am nowhere near finished with you. That was just the beginning.” I buried my lips against her throat, loving how her arms automatically came around me.

There was no way to be any harder, thicker, but her delicate fingers dragged that impossible reaction from me anyways.

Before I could stop her, she snapped her hips up, taking all of me in with enough friction I had to fight to retain my focus.

“You are so fucking tight.” I growled against the side of her face, pausing for a moment to relish the feeling.

“Mmm,” she murmured wordlessly, wickedly milking me.

I shared every fantasy ever dreamt of her; every little thing that turned me on; making slow, lazy passes over bunches of nerves deep inside of her.

I revered in her body, finding just the right rhythm. My balls grew heavy and tight as her core took me over with a scalding wave of pleasure. Hot jets accompanied the warm cream, calling out every last bit of sensation before her muscles gave out, going limp beneath me.

I rolled until her head was on my chest, wrapping my arms around her, waiting for my breath to even before I started this all over again. It would be a long, wondrous night that had no end in sight.

I was sated though, for the moment. Her scent, the feel of her skin blocked out the world’s troubles, even if only for a little while.

WIP; Death Of Innocence

Dear Reader,

For about the past week or so, a friend and I have been running through another one of my back-burner, almost completed WIP’s. I love this book, as it was the first book I ever ‘completed’, but that was my views on writing then, and not now. So it just has to be brought up to speed a bit! This is an excerpt from the first novel in Foxworth Series, Death Of Innocence, Paranormal Romance. Hope you like it :)

Cheers,

Kayden

EXCERPT:

“Am I different too. I am not even like you.” She thought about the fact that no matter what, she never blended in, never belonged.

I exploded with bitter laughter, reluctant to steal her very young views of the world.

“Canya, no matter what race you are, where you come from, belonging is just a matter of opinion. You belong with me, with my family. We love and cherish you, and will always be at your side, no matter what. You are special, not different. A new breed, with a new power structure.” I could see my heartfelt words were not as believed as I wanted them to be.

She was resigned to always being different, an outcast. If anyone dared make her feel that way, I would take personal interest in him or her, make them see everything my way. I was persuasive, so much that many feared my…attentions. I’d chosen not to be a Hunter, but it didn’t make me incapable of it.

My family had enough connections, that when our name was breathed into the night, vampires second-guessed their own actions. No one came up against us, and won…

Until yesterday, but there wasn’t a winner until it was over. And this fight was far from completion.

Canya fought her creeping depression, telling herself that my words were true, but it didn’t help. Her raging mind would not give her rest, and I sought a way to relieve the terrible ache.

“Come on, let’s go.”

I pulled her to her feet, letting her fall forward against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, ignoring the searing desire, the Curse that wanted its mate.

But she wasn’t quite ready for that yet. I pushed it back, and it settled into the depths. It seemed the longer I had Canya close, and didn’t bond with her, the more agitated the Curse became. It wasn’t done yet.

“Where are we going?”

“Outside,” I answered, dragging her through the back door that led to the garden before I did something I would regret. I tickled her ribcage, and she smacked my hands away playfully.

“And why are we outside?”

The sunlight shone over the light sprinkling of white snow. Her hair caught the surreal light, throwing blue highlights through the strands that stretched past her waist.

She’d always enjoyed the outdoors, everything about nature. It was one of the many things about her that had dragged my attention, and held it.

“I want you to realize just how important nature is to us. We draw our power from everything around us. We need blood to live, just as the land needs to be fertilized. But this is our world Canya, look around you.” I held my arms out to encompass everything from the trees, to the ground, to the sky.

I wiggled my fingers and the snowflakes on the ground rose into the air, dancing at my bidding. They swirled into a small tornado, moving over the flagstones to where she stood.

Her laughter flowed over the picturesque landscape when she plunged her hands into the snow, coming up with a lump that she’d packed hard with her hands. A wicked light entered her eyes as she strolled forward.

I was caught up in the swing of her hips, so sensually seductive. And then she threw her white orb at me, with deadly accuracy. It pelted me on the forehead while I had been staring at her body, like the haven it was meant to be.

Dancing away from me, and I gave chase when she caught up her skirts to take off into the middle of the yard.

“I am going to get you for that,” I called to her, knowing I could catch her at any time, but giving her the illusion of safety.

“I’m counting on it.”

Dark thoughts were forgotten as I flicked both hands and the snow fell from the evergreen branches above her head. White flakes rained down around her, creating a solid sheet in every direction. I watched her turn left and right, looking for me, amusement bright on her face.

“This isn’t fair, Greg! How can I compete with this?” Canya called into the snow. She moved forward, but never leaving the enclosure.

I stayed just far enough away, always behind her, that she never found me.

“You shouldn’t throw those orbs at me then,” I whispered in her ear, moving with inhuman speed when she whirled around, but I wasn’t there.

She giggled as she plopped down into the snow. I watched her curiously as she began to pack more snow.

“Snow-balls Greg, they are called snow balls. Get into this century.” I couldn’t contain my laughter at her snide comment.

Her head snapped up in to direction where I had been only a moment before. A snow ‘ball’ came flying, exactly where my head had been.

“I am in this century, here with you.” I moved behind her, quiet as a mouse. She sat there making a rather large pile of projectiles, completely oblivious.

“Actually you are not here with me. It would seem, for all intents and purposes, that you are hiding from your fiancé. I think you are scared of getting pelted again.” Her teeth flashed in the sunlight, the snow creating a safe cocoon for her.

I grabbed her around the middle and she shrieked in my ear, tossing her over my shoulder with snow still grasped in her hands.

Winner of Witch's Fire

Dear Readers,

And the winner of Tabitha Shay's Witch's Fire is....Tracey Dent!!

Congrats Tracey, and thank you for swinging by!

Cheers,

Kayden

Tabitha Shay Presents: The Winslow Witches Series

Dear Reader,

Book One

Book Two

Book Three

Book Four

Book Five

Thank you, Kayden, for inviting me to be your guest today. Although I don’t have a cover for it yet, I thought I’d post the blurb and an excerpt from my next Winslow Witches of Salem series, Witch’s Touch, book six, coming out later this year from Moongypsy Press. I hope you’ll enjoy the blurb and excerpt and look forward to reading about what happens to Nyra when she comes face to face with Death…literally.

BLURB/WITCH’S TOUCH/BOOK SIX/COMING SOON.

Death takes a holiday…

Giver of Life―Nyra Winters has two abilities that no witch before her has ever possessed―the power to heal and restore life. But her constant interference in Death’s plans makes her a target of the angry god King Titan, ruler of the Underworld.

Seeker of Death―Dym Satarius, Prince of Death, is sent to the magical realm of Ru-Noc to collect the witch Nyra Winters and bring her soul to the Underworld. Devoid of all emotion, Dym believes this assignment will be no different than any other. Reap the witch’s soul and return to hell…job done―but something goes terribly wrong and Death is stranded in Nyra’s world without his powers or the ability to return to his realm.

Witch’s Touch―Where life and Death collides…

***

EXCERPT FROM WITCH’S TOUCH/BOOK SIX/COMING SOON FROM MOONGYPSY PRESS.

Doubt, mixed with terror, crept over her. Nyra rested her forehead against the door, her legs too weak to support her. She didn’t know which was worse, facing the damning threat of the unknown or hiding like a spineless coward behind the door. Instead of opening the door, she should be sliding the deadbolt back into place.
Nyra trembled. Her heart bumped hard against her ribs. Her sweaty palm slipped on the brass doorknob. She unclenched her jaw, relieving the aching pressure.
Slowly, she inhaled and exhaled. Twice.
You’re not a coward. Open the door!
All right, she could do this. Besides, she was more curious than terrified, although common sense dictated she use caution. She would use caution. If whatever was on the other side of the door tried to harm her or Karma, she’d put a hex on it; turn it into a snowball or something.
She raised her head, squared her shoulders, and tore open the door. “Samhain!” She couldn’t suppress the alarmed gasp. The last thing she expected to see was a male lying upon the icy ground.
A naked, unconscious male.
“Oh, futz fuzzy!” Karma squeaked. “I told ya not to open the door. Now look what ya done gone and found.”
Nyra glanced at Karma. “What?”
“Trouble, honey, that be nuthin’ but two-hundred pounds of guaranteed trouble there. Ya want my advice? Shut the door. Pretend ya never saw him.”
“I can’t do that, Karma.”
“I can.” Karma kicked at the door.
“Stop that!” Nyra laughed at the Futhar’s antics. The adrenaline rushing through her bloodstream made her feel giddy. “He could be hurt.”
“Your point?”
Nyra looked down at the male and blinked twice. He didn’t go away. “He could die. I can’t just leave him in the freezing cold.”
“My ass.” Karma snorted. “That creature ain’t ‘fraid of the cold, else he’d have on clothes.”
“Maybe someone stole his clothes.”
Nyra slid her gaze over him. Stamping down the anxiety she felt, she leaned closer. Right now, he needed her help more than her curiosity or pointless fear of the unknown.
She slid her hands over his arms and legs, checking for injuries. For a second, her fingers rested on the sculpted ridges of his abdomen. Devil’s teeth! The man was at least six-four and his bare chest, stomach and calves were ridged with solid muscle. His hair lay thick and long and tangled across his face like skeins of black silk. All she could see were firm, chiseled lips, a strong chin and a wedge of stubborn jaw peeking through the strands of damp hair.

“What is that?” Karma asked, siding up beside Nyra.
“What?” Nyra’s gaze flickered up toward Karma, then back down to see where the Futhar’s avid gaze was fastened below the man’s waist. Her jaw dropped. “Oh!”
In spite of the extreme cold, it was obvious a certain part of his anatomy was awesome. She swallowed. Heat crawled up her throat and face. “Never mind what it is, Karma, if I don’t get him inside, he won’t have it. Frostbite will turn it black.”
Karma backed up a step. “Ya can’t bring him in here. He’s dangerous.”
Nyra stole a second glance at the man’s generous attributes. “Uh-huh.” Then feeling guilty at sneaking a peek, she looked away. “You’re not suggesting I leave him out in the cold all night?”
“Yeah, I am.” Karma sniffed and twitched her whiskers. “Leave him. He’s probably some waken who’s had too many wiskas. He might be violent when he wakes up. Let the wiska keep him warm.” She wrinkled her tiny pink nose. “Or he might even be one of those wakens who steal a witch’s soul.” Karma batted her long silky lashes at Nyra. “Ya know, like Talon.”
Nyra sighed. “You know very well Talon doesn’t do that sort of thing.”
“He thought about it. I’m telling ya, this…this thing looks just as dangerous as the prince.”
“I don’t know who or what he is, but I don’t think he’s a waken.” Nyra paused. “He looks…otherworldly.”
“We are otherworldly.”
“All right, Karma. I know we are…different from illumrofs, but he is-more than different. Look at that strange mark below his left ear. That’s not a symbol a waken would ever wear.”
“What is it?” Karma moved closer, squinting. “I can’t tell in the dark.”
“I can’t tell, either, the light’s too dim out here. There’s another one on his chest.” Nyra blinked, trying to see in the shadows. “It looks like a two-pronged fork. How curious.” She hesitated, then shaking off her curiosity, declared, “I think he might be a member of some kind of royalty.”

***

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read about my next book…For those who leave a comment, I’ll enter your name in a drawing for a free E-copy of Witch’s Fire, my latest release from Moongypsy Press…Drawing to be held around 8pm CST…so be sure and check back for Kayden to post the winner’s name.

You can find the first releases four books of the Winslow witches of Salem series, Witch’s Brew, Witch’s Heart, Witch’s Moon and Witch’s Magic at Fictionwise in E-format or in print at Amazon. Witch’s Fire is available at Moongypsy Press in E-format and in print.

http://www.moongypsypress.com

http://www.tabithashay.com

See you all soon on the loops….

Happy Reading,

Tabs