Etched on Your Skin Blog Tour Materials
Thank you for taking part in Etched on Your Skin Blog Tour!
Below you'll find:
Please let us know when you post and send us a link at [email protected] so we can add it to our blog tour and, more importantly, share the heck out of it!
Wishing you all the best!
Echo Shea and Mindy Mymudes
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- A blog tour Schedule
- A Potential Twitter Post with a Twitter-sized graphic.
- A Potential Instagram Post with an Instagram-sized graphic.
- A Potential TikTok tag with video.
- A Potential Facebook Post with an Facebook-sized graphic.
- A Potential Blog Post.
- An HTML Blog post to Copy and Paste when you'd love to share, but you're in a hurry. (We've all been there.)
- A listing of: buy links, blogger run giveaway, rafflecopter, Blurb, about author, and excerpts. Please only use the excerpt assigned to you. (If you'd like an excerpt, get in contact with Echo at [email protected] and we'll see about getting you something for your blog--the more the merrier!)
Please let us know when you post and send us a link at [email protected] so we can add it to our blog tour and, more importantly, share the heck out of it!
Wishing you all the best!
Echo Shea and Mindy Mymudes
Let's Talk Promotions
Psst...Promotions
Know someone not part of our blogger list, that might be interested? Click here!
Blog Tour Schedule:
April 21
Ilovebooksandstuff
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog
April 24
Monster Complex
Slippery Words
Kat Reads Romance
April 25
I Smell Sheep
Always Loved Books
April 26
Books Glorious Books
April 27
All Things Dark and Dirty
April 28
The Romance Reporter
Janet Walden-West
May 1
Books to Curl Up With
May 2
Distinct Authors
May 3
May 4
May 5
Ilovebooksandstuff
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog
April 24
Monster Complex
Slippery Words
Kat Reads Romance
April 25
I Smell Sheep
Always Loved Books
April 26
Books Glorious Books
April 27
All Things Dark and Dirty
April 28
The Romance Reporter
Janet Walden-West
May 1
Books to Curl Up With
May 2
Distinct Authors
May 3
May 4
May 5
A tortured lead singer with a howl in his voice--fights with the past and future with his werewolf lover.
Etched On Your Skin by Brienne Lee Carter #MMromance #urbanfantasy #BookBoost #booktwt #BookTwitter #BookRecommendations #booklove #fantasybooks #rt #retweet
@BreeLeeCarter https://mybook.to/EtchedOnSkin
Etched On Your Skin by Brienne Lee Carter #MMromance #urbanfantasy #BookBoost #booktwt #BookTwitter #BookRecommendations #booklove #fantasybooks #rt #retweet
@BreeLeeCarter https://mybook.to/EtchedOnSkin
PITTSBURGH, 2016. Up-and-coming indie rock band The Lunar Contagions has just hit the road on their first domestic tour. While reveling in their success after their sold-out show, however, their drummer Elias Kersley flees the venue, distraught and alone.
LONDON, 1971. After decades of wandering Europe and trying to make sense of what he is, Rowan Walsh lands in England for the first time since his Turning. What starts as a late-night run turns into a chance encounter that shows him he's not the only werewolf around - and sparks a lifelong romance with the most unlikely of partners.
As the night drags on and a snowstorm looms over Pittsburgh, Rowan chases Elias through the city streets and the memories of their tumultuous four decades together. Old memories have come back to haunt them both, and Rowan knows that only he can stop the night from coming to a catastrophic end.
Can he prevent the worst from happening?
Or has his and Elias's time together finally run out?
LONDON, 1971. After decades of wandering Europe and trying to make sense of what he is, Rowan Walsh lands in England for the first time since his Turning. What starts as a late-night run turns into a chance encounter that shows him he's not the only werewolf around - and sparks a lifelong romance with the most unlikely of partners.
As the night drags on and a snowstorm looms over Pittsburgh, Rowan chases Elias through the city streets and the memories of their tumultuous four decades together. Old memories have come back to haunt them both, and Rowan knows that only he can stop the night from coming to a catastrophic end.
Can he prevent the worst from happening?
Or has his and Elias's time together finally run out?
- ASIN : B0C2FHTK2K
- Publisher : Chaos Publications; 1st edition (April 21, 2023)
- Publication date : April 21, 2023
- Language : English
- Print length : 154 pages
- Buy Link : https://mybook.to/EtchedOnSkin
Want to keep up with the latest from Brienne Lee Carter? Follow her on Amazon, Bookbub, Facebook and check out her website https://brienneleebooks.com/
PITTSBURGH, 2016. Up-and-coming indie rock band The Lunar Contagions has just hit the road on their first domestic tour. While reveling in their success after their sold-out show, however, their drummer Elias Kersley flees the venue, distraught and alone.
LONDON, 1971. After decades of wandering Europe and trying to make sense of what he is, Rowan Walsh lands in England for the first time since his Turning. What starts as a late-night run turns into a chance encounter that shows him he's not the only werewolf around - and sparks a lifelong romance with the most unlikely of partners.
As the night drags on and a snowstorm looms over Pittsburgh, Rowan chases Elias through the city streets and the memories of their tumultuous four decades together. Old memories have come back to haunt them both, and Rowan knows that only he can stop the night from coming to a catastrophic end.
Can he prevent the worst from happening?
Or has his and Elias's time together finally run out?
#MMrecs #mmromance #fantasybooks #bookstagram #fantasyrecs #fantasyreads #NewRelease #bookrelease #newrelease2023 #kindlereads #mustread #urbanfantasy #booklovers #booklove #bookrecs #indiebookstores #bookrecommendations
LONDON, 1971. After decades of wandering Europe and trying to make sense of what he is, Rowan Walsh lands in England for the first time since his Turning. What starts as a late-night run turns into a chance encounter that shows him he's not the only werewolf around - and sparks a lifelong romance with the most unlikely of partners.
As the night drags on and a snowstorm looms over Pittsburgh, Rowan chases Elias through the city streets and the memories of their tumultuous four decades together. Old memories have come back to haunt them both, and Rowan knows that only he can stop the night from coming to a catastrophic end.
Can he prevent the worst from happening?
Or has his and Elias's time together finally run out?
- ASIN : B0C2FHTK2K
- Publisher : Chaos Publications; 1st edition (April 21, 2023)
- Publication date : April 21, 2023
- Language : English
- Print length : 154 pages
- Buy Link : https://mybook.to/EtchedOnSkin
Want to keep up with the latest from Brienne Lee Carter? Follow her on Amazon, Bookbub, Facebook and check out her website https://brienneleebooks.com/
#MMrecs #mmromance #fantasybooks #bookstagram #fantasyrecs #fantasyreads #NewRelease #bookrelease #newrelease2023 #kindlereads #mustread #urbanfantasy #booklovers #booklove #bookrecs #indiebookstores #bookrecommendations
PITTSBURGH, 2016. Up-and-coming indie rock band The Lunar Contagions has just hit the road on their first domestic tour. While reveling in their success after their sold-out show, however, their drummer Elias Kersley flees the venue, distraught and alone.
LONDON, 1971. After decades of wandering Europe and trying to make sense of what he is, Rowan Walsh lands in England for the first time since his Turning. What starts as a late-night run turns into a chance encounter that shows him he's not the only werewolf around - and sparks a lifelong romance with the most unlikely of partners.
As the night drags on and a snowstorm looms over Pittsburgh, Rowan chases Elias through the city streets and the memories of their tumultuous four decades together. Old memories have come back to haunt them both, and Rowan knows that only he can stop the night from coming to a catastrophic end.
Can he prevent the worst from happening?
Or has his and Elias's time together finally run out?
LONDON, 1971. After decades of wandering Europe and trying to make sense of what he is, Rowan Walsh lands in England for the first time since his Turning. What starts as a late-night run turns into a chance encounter that shows him he's not the only werewolf around - and sparks a lifelong romance with the most unlikely of partners.
As the night drags on and a snowstorm looms over Pittsburgh, Rowan chases Elias through the city streets and the memories of their tumultuous four decades together. Old memories have come back to haunt them both, and Rowan knows that only he can stop the night from coming to a catastrophic end.
Can he prevent the worst from happening?
Or has his and Elias's time together finally run out?
- ASIN : B0C2FHTK2K
- Publisher : Chaos Publications; 1st edition (April 21, 2023)
- Publication date : April 21, 2023
- Language : English
- Print length : 154 pages
- Buy Link : https://mybook.to/EtchedOnSkin
Want to keep up with the latest from Brienne Lee Carter? Follow her on Amazon, Bookbub, Facebook and check out her website https://brienneleebooks.com/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brienne Lee (or Bree, for the reader in a hurry) is a lifelong writer and aspiring novelist. Voted “Most Likely to Become the Next Bestselling Author” by her 8th grade class, she loves writing whatever comes to her mind. There’s a special place in her heart, however, for the tales of the fantastical and the absurd. Her works have previously appeared in various online forums, as well as in the anthology Obscura and in the published Voltron fan zine Orion. This is her debut published work.
When not creating impossible worlds, Brienne is a wrangler of chaos both at her day job as a middle school teacher and at home as a mom of two rescue cats. She’s an avid tabletop gamer, a collector of dolls and Funko Pops, a lover of the annual Renaissance festival, and a master of plush doll making.
You can keep in touch with Brienne by visiting her website (http://breeleebooks.com). You can also follow her on Facebook (Brienne Lee Carter), Twitter (@BreeLeeCarter), or Instagram (@breecarterbooks).
Brienne Lee (or Bree, for the reader in a hurry) is a lifelong writer and aspiring novelist. Voted “Most Likely to Become the Next Bestselling Author” by her 8th grade class, she loves writing whatever comes to her mind. There’s a special place in her heart, however, for the tales of the fantastical and the absurd. Her works have previously appeared in various online forums, as well as in the anthology Obscura and in the published Voltron fan zine Orion. This is her debut published work.
When not creating impossible worlds, Brienne is a wrangler of chaos both at her day job as a middle school teacher and at home as a mom of two rescue cats. She’s an avid tabletop gamer, a collector of dolls and Funko Pops, a lover of the annual Renaissance festival, and a master of plush doll making.
You can keep in touch with Brienne by visiting her website (http://breeleebooks.com). You can also follow her on Facebook (Brienne Lee Carter), Twitter (@BreeLeeCarter), or Instagram (@breecarterbooks).
Blogger Run Giveaway:
For those that selected giveaway on the form, you're authorized to giveaway one e-copy of Etched on Your Skin by Brienne Lee Carter to one of your blog readers. This is a giveaway outside of the Rafflecopter, just for your readers.
Buy Links:
Buy Link: https://mybook.to/EtchedOnSkin
Shop Indie: https://bookshop.org/p/books/etched-on-your-skin-brienne-lee-carter/19994309
Follow Brienne on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brienne-Lee-Carter/author/B0C4MKS5FK
Follow Brienne on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brienne-lee-carter
Follow Brienne on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31395122.Brienne_Lee_Carter
Shop Indie: https://bookshop.org/p/books/etched-on-your-skin-brienne-lee-carter/19994309
Follow Brienne on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brienne-Lee-Carter/author/B0C4MKS5FK
Follow Brienne on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brienne-lee-carter
Follow Brienne on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31395122.Brienne_Lee_Carter
Book Blurb:
PITTSBURGH, 2016. Up-and-coming indie rock band The Lunar Contagions has just hit the road on their first domestic tour. While reveling in their success after their sold-out show, however, their drummer Elias Kersley flees the venue, distraught and alone.
LONDON, 1971. After decades of wandering Europe and trying to make sense of what he is, Rowan Walsh lands in England for the first time since his Turning. What starts as a late-night run turns into a chance encounter that shows him he's not the only werewolf around - and sparks a lifelong romance with the most unlikely of partners.
As the night drags on and a snowstorm looms over Pittsburgh, Rowan chases Elias through the city streets and the memories of their tumultuous four decades together. Old memories have come back to haunt them both, and Rowan knows that only he can stop the night from coming to a catastrophic end.
Can he prevent the worst from happening?
Or has his and Elias's time together finally run out?
LONDON, 1971. After decades of wandering Europe and trying to make sense of what he is, Rowan Walsh lands in England for the first time since his Turning. What starts as a late-night run turns into a chance encounter that shows him he's not the only werewolf around - and sparks a lifelong romance with the most unlikely of partners.
As the night drags on and a snowstorm looms over Pittsburgh, Rowan chases Elias through the city streets and the memories of their tumultuous four decades together. Old memories have come back to haunt them both, and Rowan knows that only he can stop the night from coming to a catastrophic end.
Can he prevent the worst from happening?
Or has his and Elias's time together finally run out?
- ASIN : B0C2FHTK2K
- Publisher : Chaos Publications; 1st edition (April 21, 2023)
- Publication date : April 21, 2023
- Language : English
- Print length : 154 pages
- Buy Link : https://mybook.to/EtchedOnSkin
Want to keep up with the latest from Brienne Lee Carter? Follow her on Amazon, Bookbub, Facebook and check out her website https://brienneleebooks.com/
Author Bio:
Brienne Lee (or Bree, for the reader in a hurry) is a lifelong writer and aspiring novelist. Voted “Most Likely to Become the Next Bestselling Author” by her 8th grade class, she loves writing whatever comes to her mind. There’s a special place in her heart, however, for the tales of the fantastical and the absurd. Her works have previously appeared in various online forums, as well as in the anthology Obscura and in the published Voltron fan zine Orion. This is her debut published work.
When not creating impossible worlds, Brienne is a wrangler of chaos both at her day job as a middle school teacher and at home as a mom of two rescue cats. She’s an avid tabletop gamer, a collector of dolls and Funko Pops, a lover of the annual Renaissance festival, and a master of plush doll making.
You can keep in touch with Brienne by visiting her website (http://breeleebooks.com). You can also follow her on Facebook (Brienne Lee Carter), Twitter (@BreeLeeCarter), or Instagram (@breecarterbooks).
When not creating impossible worlds, Brienne is a wrangler of chaos both at her day job as a middle school teacher and at home as a mom of two rescue cats. She’s an avid tabletop gamer, a collector of dolls and Funko Pops, a lover of the annual Renaissance festival, and a master of plush doll making.
You can keep in touch with Brienne by visiting her website (http://breeleebooks.com). You can also follow her on Facebook (Brienne Lee Carter), Twitter (@BreeLeeCarter), or Instagram (@breecarterbooks).
Tags:
#MMromance #booktok #bookrec #newrelease2023 #bookrelease #fantasyrecs #fantasyrecommendations @BreeLeeCarter
#MMromance #booktok #bookrec #newrelease2023 #bookrelease #fantasyrecs #fantasyrecommendations @BreeLeeCarter
Excerpts:
Excerpt One
Excerpt Two
“What is that?” Tondra demanded. She looked down into the hole to see the flat
stone that took so much attention. Only part of it showed, the rest still firmly set into the
moist earth.
“A Grove Stone, general,” the soldier replied. “An old one, but it still radiates.”
“Are there others?” Tondra frowned, squatting down to get a closer look. Time
had worn some runes away and pocked the stone with holes as if acid had eaten it
away. But if it still radiated, that meant it still worked.
“At least one more, general. It’s… old. It would take ages to regrow a Grove here.”
“But that gives me an idea of where that fool brat has gone.”
“Where, general?”
“Tierra Vida.”
“From here, ma’am?”
“That brat pulls off the impossible like a roach."
“What is that?” Tondra demanded. She looked down into the hole to see the flat
stone that took so much attention. Only part of it showed, the rest still firmly set into the
moist earth.
“A Grove Stone, general,” the soldier replied. “An old one, but it still radiates.”
“Are there others?” Tondra frowned, squatting down to get a closer look. Time
had worn some runes away and pocked the stone with holes as if acid had eaten it
away. But if it still radiated, that meant it still worked.
“At least one more, general. It’s… old. It would take ages to regrow a Grove here.”
“But that gives me an idea of where that fool brat has gone.”
“Where, general?”
“Tierra Vida.”
“From here, ma’am?”
“That brat pulls off the impossible like a roach."
Excerpt Three:
Kaleo Oenel sat outside Reven’s tent. Serai was inside with the bard. Kaleo had argued with the woman for the last three days since their arrival to Tierra Vida that
clothing was required, that they were not home, that she could not walk around nude. It was like speaking to a child sometimes; a very Powerful child. He often forgot how much Power the woman had, tempering his annoyance only after he noticed her Power radiated off her like heat from an oven.
Lara sat beside him, idly plucking at blades of grass. The runeli thief kept her opinions to herself, mostly, but they still found their way to Kaleo’s mind. Everyone’s opinions did. Three days since their arrival in Tierra Vida was a lot of time to think about how stupid he had been, how reckless. Whether he’d intended to or not, he’d stepped into a hornet’s nest of politics and warfare against an enemy he couldn’t see.
Kaleo Oenel sat outside Reven’s tent. Serai was inside with the bard. Kaleo had argued with the woman for the last three days since their arrival to Tierra Vida that
clothing was required, that they were not home, that she could not walk around nude. It was like speaking to a child sometimes; a very Powerful child. He often forgot how much Power the woman had, tempering his annoyance only after he noticed her Power radiated off her like heat from an oven.
Lara sat beside him, idly plucking at blades of grass. The runeli thief kept her opinions to herself, mostly, but they still found their way to Kaleo’s mind. Everyone’s opinions did. Three days since their arrival in Tierra Vida was a lot of time to think about how stupid he had been, how reckless. Whether he’d intended to or not, he’d stepped into a hornet’s nest of politics and warfare against an enemy he couldn’t see.
Excerpt Four:
“Drink or somethin’, ya look … pathetic.”
Reven frowned, turning a slow glare up at Liam as the drawling duende plopped down beside him on the sand that evening with two bottles of liquor in hand. He handed one to the bard by way of apology and drank from the other without saying another word. Unwilling to start yet another argument with the thief-taker, Reven kept his mouth shut and drank. Half a bottle later, he looked at Liam and frowned again.
“How long have you known about me?” Reven asked. Liam didn’t answer. “Roe?”
“Day one,” Liam sighed, then drank. “Weren’t no question when I seen what ya got on yer chest. Anyone what’s paid even a hair’s attention t’what tha’ bloody nation
did woulda known it too. Ya just happened t’end up in a place what don’t care. Prolly fer th’best anyhow.”
Reven remained silent. He felt betrayed and angry all over again, yet oddly grateful. It was for the best. If he’d been found in the state he was in by anyone else,
he’d be dead or worse. But the knowledge that his so-called friend had known who he was, known even the smallest fragment of a life he’d been trying so hard to remember and kept it a secret hurt.
“Drink or somethin’, ya look … pathetic.”
Reven frowned, turning a slow glare up at Liam as the drawling duende plopped down beside him on the sand that evening with two bottles of liquor in hand. He handed one to the bard by way of apology and drank from the other without saying another word. Unwilling to start yet another argument with the thief-taker, Reven kept his mouth shut and drank. Half a bottle later, he looked at Liam and frowned again.
“How long have you known about me?” Reven asked. Liam didn’t answer. “Roe?”
“Day one,” Liam sighed, then drank. “Weren’t no question when I seen what ya got on yer chest. Anyone what’s paid even a hair’s attention t’what tha’ bloody nation
did woulda known it too. Ya just happened t’end up in a place what don’t care. Prolly fer th’best anyhow.”
Reven remained silent. He felt betrayed and angry all over again, yet oddly grateful. It was for the best. If he’d been found in the state he was in by anyone else,
he’d be dead or worse. But the knowledge that his so-called friend had known who he was, known even the smallest fragment of a life he’d been trying so hard to remember and kept it a secret hurt.
Excerpt Five:
“Gonna catch flies leavin’ yer mouth hangin’ open. Wouldn’ta mattered if I said nothin’ or not. Still woulda been all fogged up. Not even Serai can fix it, can she?”
Reven looked at Liam, but finally looked back at the sand and shook his head. She could not give him his memories, only guide him through the turbulent things he
saw. So Reven looked back down at the sand instead, the bottle nestled in the natural divots and grooves within the grain. He wanted to be angry, but the anger leaked into something else, something closer to despair. He wanted to know who he’d been, to remember it, not just see it in flashes or know that it existed. The people in the Grove all looked at him with a silent plea to remember; Kaleo did too.
“Gonna catch flies leavin’ yer mouth hangin’ open. Wouldn’ta mattered if I said nothin’ or not. Still woulda been all fogged up. Not even Serai can fix it, can she?”
Reven looked at Liam, but finally looked back at the sand and shook his head. She could not give him his memories, only guide him through the turbulent things he
saw. So Reven looked back down at the sand instead, the bottle nestled in the natural divots and grooves within the grain. He wanted to be angry, but the anger leaked into something else, something closer to despair. He wanted to know who he’d been, to remember it, not just see it in flashes or know that it existed. The people in the Grove all looked at him with a silent plea to remember; Kaleo did too.
Excerpt Six:
“He has a point, my love,” Ajana said as she glided down to the sand beside Liam, looking over the thief-taker to the bard. “Perhaps it is best that you simply move forward with what is presented instead of trying to dig for what has been lost. Some acquisitions are simply not worth the payout.”
Both men looked at the radiantly flawed cantari woman sitting there in the dwindling sunlight. The bangles she wore on her wrists and neck, on her ears and in her nose caught glints of light when she moved. How Reven loved her. He loved listening to her voice, her oddly clipped accent. Looking at her, listening to her words, made the despair fade. It didn’t matter who he had been, only who he chose to be in the future and in the present.
“He has a point, my love,” Ajana said as she glided down to the sand beside Liam, looking over the thief-taker to the bard. “Perhaps it is best that you simply move forward with what is presented instead of trying to dig for what has been lost. Some acquisitions are simply not worth the payout.”
Both men looked at the radiantly flawed cantari woman sitting there in the dwindling sunlight. The bangles she wore on her wrists and neck, on her ears and in her nose caught glints of light when she moved. How Reven loved her. He loved listening to her voice, her oddly clipped accent. Looking at her, listening to her words, made the despair fade. It didn’t matter who he had been, only who he chose to be in the future and in the present.
Excerpt Seven:
“That’s mine,” the bard said, taking another deep swig of the dark liquid inside. Olven rum. It had a stronger kick to it than normal rum, made from specially grown sugars and heady spices found in the roots of the sephirot trees where the duende made their homes. It was exactly what the bard needed. Serai flopped herself down on the sand beside him, grabbed the bottle from his hand and drank deeply. Reven blinked at her, watching with an arched brow. He saw the same reaction from Ajana and Liam out of the corner of his eye and just waited.
“Everything alright?” Reven dared. Serai frowned at him, her freckled face scrunching into something very close to an angry pout blended with a wrinkle of disgust.
The wild mop of red, frizzy curls on her head was pulled back into a crest of intricate knots that still did not tame everything. Fly-away strands blew into her face or fell around her neck and shoulders, breaking free of the crest that fell to her mid-back.
Having her beside him made Reven feel almost complete. It was he who braided her hair earlier, letting the act soothe his aching soul and bring them a moment of much-needed intimacy. He knew things were missing and broken, but Serai filled most of those holes and put a smile on his face.
“That’s mine,” the bard said, taking another deep swig of the dark liquid inside. Olven rum. It had a stronger kick to it than normal rum, made from specially grown sugars and heady spices found in the roots of the sephirot trees where the duende made their homes. It was exactly what the bard needed. Serai flopped herself down on the sand beside him, grabbed the bottle from his hand and drank deeply. Reven blinked at her, watching with an arched brow. He saw the same reaction from Ajana and Liam out of the corner of his eye and just waited.
“Everything alright?” Reven dared. Serai frowned at him, her freckled face scrunching into something very close to an angry pout blended with a wrinkle of disgust.
The wild mop of red, frizzy curls on her head was pulled back into a crest of intricate knots that still did not tame everything. Fly-away strands blew into her face or fell around her neck and shoulders, breaking free of the crest that fell to her mid-back.
Having her beside him made Reven feel almost complete. It was he who braided her hair earlier, letting the act soothe his aching soul and bring them a moment of much-needed intimacy. He knew things were missing and broken, but Serai filled most of those holes and put a smile on his face.
Excerpt Eight:
“You do not understand, do you?” she huffed. Reven’s eye squinted slightly in a face of confusion and apathy that she apparently did not care for. Instead of saying anything, she took his hand and mentally fed him some of the atrocities she’d seen in Xandrix’s mind or the minds of the refugees; of Jaysen, and Nadya - both witnesses to the horrors wrought by the Red and his demons. The pain was excruciating. He yanked his hand away from her and rubbed his head. “Now do you see This is wrong!”
“You couldn’t’ve used your bloody words instead!” Reven barked through a whimper, rocking slightly to focus on anything but what Serai showed him.
“I do not know that many of your words!” she argued. She didn’t. Serai spoke many languages, but sometimes the word was not quite right or entirely different from what everyone else knew. She spoke a language that Reven had never heard, something as ancient as she was from a time no one remembered anymore.
“You do not understand, do you?” she huffed. Reven’s eye squinted slightly in a face of confusion and apathy that she apparently did not care for. Instead of saying anything, she took his hand and mentally fed him some of the atrocities she’d seen in Xandrix’s mind or the minds of the refugees; of Jaysen, and Nadya - both witnesses to the horrors wrought by the Red and his demons. The pain was excruciating. He yanked his hand away from her and rubbed his head. “Now do you see This is wrong!”
“You couldn’t’ve used your bloody words instead!” Reven barked through a whimper, rocking slightly to focus on anything but what Serai showed him.
“I do not know that many of your words!” she argued. She didn’t. Serai spoke many languages, but sometimes the word was not quite right or entirely different from what everyone else knew. She spoke a language that Reven had never heard, something as ancient as she was from a time no one remembered anymore.
Excerpt Nine:
Serai slammed the bottle of liquor back against Reven’s middle, making him grunt. Some of it sloshed out over his chest and lap as she got up again, moving away from the group as quickly as she’d come.
“What in the… Serai!” Reven called, absently handing Liam the bottle as he got
up to follow the red-haired woman who’d wormed her way into his heart as quickly as
Kaleo had. Quicker.
People watched and whispered, but Reven ignored them and continued to follow
Serai until the Grove became sand and the fires diminished to tiny spots on the horizon.
The only thing he heard was the ocean lapping up against the shore at high tide.
Serai slammed the bottle of liquor back against Reven’s middle, making him grunt. Some of it sloshed out over his chest and lap as she got up again, moving away from the group as quickly as she’d come.
“What in the… Serai!” Reven called, absently handing Liam the bottle as he got
up to follow the red-haired woman who’d wormed her way into his heart as quickly as
Kaleo had. Quicker.
People watched and whispered, but Reven ignored them and continued to follow
Serai until the Grove became sand and the fires diminished to tiny spots on the horizon.
The only thing he heard was the ocean lapping up against the shore at high tide.
Excerpt Ten:
“Serai, please, slow down,” Reven continued as he followed her just outside the boundaries of the Grove, coming up short when Malek snarled at him. He stood near her, a fixture that was easily forgotten until he hissed or snapped. Azure claimed it was a drake thing. “Will you please talk to me? Preferably away from the overprotective lizard.”
“I cannot fix you,” she sighed, on the verge of tears. “I see horrible things of what has been done to your people. If I cannot fix anything, then why am I here? What
purpose do I serve if I cannot be the healer I am meant to be?” Tears rolled down her cheeks. Reven was not accustomed to seeing her so vulnerable. She was always so strong, even when she was first found. She was curious, cautious, but never vulnerable or afraid like she was now. That was his role in things - afraid of his own shadow, of what his mind hid in the dark.
“Serai, please, slow down,” Reven continued as he followed her just outside the boundaries of the Grove, coming up short when Malek snarled at him. He stood near her, a fixture that was easily forgotten until he hissed or snapped. Azure claimed it was a drake thing. “Will you please talk to me? Preferably away from the overprotective lizard.”
“I cannot fix you,” she sighed, on the verge of tears. “I see horrible things of what has been done to your people. If I cannot fix anything, then why am I here? What
purpose do I serve if I cannot be the healer I am meant to be?” Tears rolled down her cheeks. Reven was not accustomed to seeing her so vulnerable. She was always so strong, even when she was first found. She was curious, cautious, but never vulnerable or afraid like she was now. That was his role in things - afraid of his own shadow, of what his mind hid in the dark.
Excerpt Eleven:
He stepped forward, ignoring the low growls of warning from Malek until he could lift her chin carefully. Her eyes glistened with tears in a way that was not at all beautiful.
Legends and stories always described the heroines with glistening tears in beautiful moonlight against stunning, pale skin. Except that wasn’t how reality worked. Reven smiled, seeing the blotchy red on her freckled face, eyes swollen. Any confusion or annoyance from earlier lifted away.
“I don’t need you to fix me,” he began, brushing away her tears with his hands. “I need you to teach me. I need you to be there when I fall apart, so I can be right here when you fall apart. You’re the only thing in my life that’s honest and true. Not even Kaleo does that. He still won’t admit to being my son, like he’s afraid it’ll shatter me all over again. I’m not that delicate.”
Serai laughed and gave him a look that made him sigh. He was that fragile. Liam pointed it out on the hour.
He stepped forward, ignoring the low growls of warning from Malek until he could lift her chin carefully. Her eyes glistened with tears in a way that was not at all beautiful.
Legends and stories always described the heroines with glistening tears in beautiful moonlight against stunning, pale skin. Except that wasn’t how reality worked. Reven smiled, seeing the blotchy red on her freckled face, eyes swollen. Any confusion or annoyance from earlier lifted away.
“I don’t need you to fix me,” he began, brushing away her tears with his hands. “I need you to teach me. I need you to be there when I fall apart, so I can be right here when you fall apart. You’re the only thing in my life that’s honest and true. Not even Kaleo does that. He still won’t admit to being my son, like he’s afraid it’ll shatter me all over again. I’m not that delicate.”
Serai laughed and gave him a look that made him sigh. He was that fragile. Liam pointed it out on the hour.
Excerpt Twelve
“Liam thinks we should leave.”
“Liam is an idiot,” Serai replied into his chest. Reven chortled, squeezing her tighter. “This is important for you and for Kaleo. These people need hope.”
“I’m no one’s hope, Serai.”
“You are,” she said, pushing back enough to look up at him. “You are Kaleo’s hope, and Liam’s. You are mine, too.”
He looked at her with an argument on the tip of his tongue that faded the longer he looked at her. Instead, he simply smiled and pulled her close again, kissing the top of her head. Perhaps he could try his hand at hope after all.
“Liam thinks we should leave.”
“Liam is an idiot,” Serai replied into his chest. Reven chortled, squeezing her tighter. “This is important for you and for Kaleo. These people need hope.”
“I’m no one’s hope, Serai.”
“You are,” she said, pushing back enough to look up at him. “You are Kaleo’s hope, and Liam’s. You are mine, too.”
He looked at her with an argument on the tip of his tongue that faded the longer he looked at her. Instead, he simply smiled and pulled her close again, kissing the top of her head. Perhaps he could try his hand at hope after all.