Musings & more….
Okay (if you saw me freaking out about this over on Facebook) the quiz app/software had an update available this morning, and miraculously the quiz that I spent far too much time putting together a few weeks ago now works!! YAY!
Click here to take the quiz (and warning, it is fairly difficult!)
I’ll do more quizzes for the other series if you all like this one.
😊
Pearl Godfrey crossed to greet us, raising her hand to meet Aiden’s handshake without a moment of hesitation. He flashed her a charming grin that just slid right off the elder witch.
Now that was impressive.
But then I pretty much melted whenever Aiden even glanced my way, even after all these months of the minutiae of spending every waking moment together. And the sleeping moments as well.
Pearl kept hold of Aiden’s hand, her head tilted thoughtfully. “Pearl Godfrey. You must be Aiden Myers.”
“Aiden Azar,” he replied smoothly.
That gave me pause. Though I hoped my surprise hadn’t shown on my face. I hadn’t known that Aiden had decided to resume using his father’s name. But then, it wasn’t at all surprising that he’d want to distance himself from his mother, and the Myers coven.
Pearl smiled at him knowingly. “Dramatic reveals usually come after dessert, sorcerer.”
Aiden chuckled. “My apologies. I figured my presence was enough of a disturbance that I should just dive in.”
– Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5), chapter three, first draft
Here is a great example of how I completely fail at marketing. I should be sharing pretty memes and quotes or reviews from either of my two newest releases, Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2) or Moments of the Adept Universe 1, but instead, I’m sharing half-baked new words because they amused me (and my attention span is just that insanely short). 😆
“Witches,” Aiden sneered. “Nosy and self-righteous. I believe I shall come to dinner with you.” He returned his attention to his book, ignoring the pointed look I gave him.
Paisley pressed her shoulder to my knee.
“Sorry,” I said. “The sorcerer I’ll be able to pass off as an overprotective, controlling asshole, but the witches aren’t going to believe that my pit bull needs to come to a buffet.”
Aiden snorted, amused.
Paisley narrowed her eyes — at the offending sorcerer, not me.
– Instincts and Imposters (Amplifier 5), first draft
Note: April 28, 3pm PST: I have added EIGHT final (for the nearish future) sets of Oracle cards to my ‘store’ but please see all my caveats in the note below.
CLICK TO BUY THE AMPLIFIER ORACLE CARDS
$32 CDN + oversized letter mail
[You are all insane – in the best way – I can see orders coming in even as I write this blog post to announce that the cards are available 😂 ].
As promised, I’ve made another 50 sets [as of Feb 23] of Christopher’s Oracle Cards from the Amplifier Series available in my store. $32 CDN + oversized letter mail. Click the previous link for more info and/or to purchase.
The cards first appear in Close To Home (Amplifier 1.5) which is bundled with the Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0).
Note: same caveats as always: please remember I’m not a store. I’ve simplified the shipping, etc, as much as possible. For example: set shipping rates, no tracking, no extra sets, no special orders. Please remember I’m trying to write as much as possible and these are just meant to be fun extras. The prices are set in Canadian currency (which means some of you are getting a great deal!) so a different charge might show up on your credit card statement. Also, I believe there is a 5.5%+ $0.30 charge for certain payment methods.
Fun! Fun!
GIVEAWAY CLOSED! LUCKY #32 HAS BEEN EMAILED.
Happy Friday! In lieu of doing some sort of ‘marketing’ post because I’m really not in the mood to figure anything out, I thought I’d finally post an autographed Archivist 2 paperback giveaway! And! When I got the limited-edition Archivist giclee prints printed, the printers randomly printed extras of Ravine’s illustration, so that is up for grabs as well. Whoot!
There are a few of the (numbered) full sets of illustrations still available in my store. Just FYI.
Are you interested in winning an autographed paperback of Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2), a giclee print of Ravine’s illustration by Nicole Deal, and an MCD bookplate?
Yes?
To enter please comment below with your favourite character or scene or quote (and WHY it is your fav) from any of the Archivist Series books.
Yes, that means you need to have read at least one of the Archivist series books to enter. But since I gave the first one away for free (on numerous occasions) and all the books are available through your local online library that should be an easy requirement to fulfill. And that should also mean that a true fan – aka readers who would actually want the limited edition print, etc – will win the giveaway. Yay!
Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. One entry per person. One winner will be selected by random number generator. Only entries that follow the stated requirements will be valid. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than to contact the winner. No purchase necessary – all my books are available for free via your local library. The comments are moderated. I will approve your entry just as soon as I have a moment to do so.
Giveaway closes SUNDAY, FEB 6, 2022 at 8pm PST.
Are you new to the Archivist Series? The first book is the prequel, Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0).
Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1). Click here for the full reading order.
Guess who just realized that she’d never shared Nicole Deal‘s amazing illustration of Ravine on her blog and therefore couldn’t link to it under Extras and Freebies? Me. That’s who. *shakes head at self* Thankfully the illustration also appears in the book!
Ravine’s bright-blue gaze was riveted to me. Then she smirked. “I can be powerful too, Dusk.” She tightened her grip on the crown.
I caught Prince’s frown from the corner of my eye.
The metal mage raised the crown, deliberately holding it over her head.
“No!” Prince shouted. “You aren’t powerful enough.”
He lunged for her, though I was already certain he couldn’t actually take the crown from Ravine without permission. That was why he’d released her from his beguilement. Magic had rules, in all dimensions.
Ravine placed the crown on her head.
– Excerpt from Compelling Infinity (Archivist 2)
Are you new to the Archivist Series? The first book is Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0). Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1) or click here for the full reading order.
Lillie of Lillie’s Literary Services maintains an ever-evolving bible for my Adept Universe books, from which I occasionally pull info and flesh out the bios that I’ve already shared (paired with Memo’s character sketches). As part of the bible, Lillie maintains (continually tweaking) the timeline of the Adept Universe. She just finished adding in all the new shorts from Moments of the Adept Universe 1, and I thought you all might think it fun to see all the story beats arrayed in proper order before I start messing with it all again.
Note: I have/know actual dates of birth, etc, but only events in canon are noted below.
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ EVERY STORY IN THE ADEPT UNIVERSE THIS POST IS RIFE WITH SPOILERS. DO NOT PROCEED!! OR SKIP THE BOOKS YOU HAVEN’T READ!!
Timeline of the Adept Universe
(including all books/stories published as of Jan 27, 2022)
*Book titles in bold. Purchase links/more information can be found under Novels (and Reading Order). Character bios and sketches can be found under Extras and Freebies (scroll to the bottom).
1988
Kandy is born (August 8)
1989
Wisteria is born (September 9)
Emma is born (October)
1990
Jade is born (late February)
1995
Rochelle is born (January 27)
1996
Dusk is born
1998
Mory is born (February)
2000
Sienna moves in with Jade and Pearl
Drake is born (January 25)
2004
Wisteria leaves the coven (autumn equinox)
2007
IN BUT A MOMENT (January)
Kandy has sex with Dedra
2008
IN LESS THAN A MOMENT (March)
Justin is murdered and Kandy injured
Kandy leaves the pack
2011
JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT (February)
Gabby and crew escape Charlotte
Henry helps find their families/new families
THE AMPLIFIER PROTOCOL (spring)
Emma and team fight a greater demon (March)
(67 days later)
The Five escape
FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT (May)
Desmond talks to Kandy and Hudson about his Portland plan
Kandy refuses Hudson
2013
CUPCAKES, TRINKETS, AND OTHER DEADLY MAGIC (mid-April, 4 days)
Jade sees the vampire outside her store
They go dancing and meet the werewolves
Hudson is killed
Zombie werewolf
Rusty is killed
Sienna goes into the portal
Kandy moves in next door
ANCHORED IN THE MOMENT (June)
Audrey joins Desmond’s pack
TRINKETS, TREASURES AND OTHER BLOODY MAGIC (end of July, 5 days)
They meet the skin walkers
She takes Mory to Rusty’s ghost
They travel to Portland
Jade battles Sienna after music festival
Mory and Jeremy are kidnapped
Jade meets the dragons
TREASURES, DEMONS, AND OTHER BLACK MAGIC (November 8-11)
Jade goes to Blackwell’s castle
Jade fights Sienna, Kett dies temporarily
Desmond kills Sienna
2014
I SEE ME (January-late)
Rochelle turns 19
She meets Beau
She is introduced to Jade and the pack
Rochelle makes a deal with Blackwell
SHADOWS, MAPS, AND OTHER ANCIENT MAGIC (Sept 19-)
They celebrate Kandy’s birthday
Warner shows up
They retrieve the ribbon bracelet (one of the instruments of assassination)
Jade leaves Kandy with her pack
2015
MAPS, ARTIFACTS, AND OTHER ARCANE MAGIC (Jan)
Shailaja attacks the bakery
Jade hires a brownie
They travel to Peru
Warner vanishes
Yazi takes Shailaja
Warner returns
Jade takes the centipedes (aka the second instrument of assassination) to the nexus
Jade sees the oracle drawings that Chi Wen has collected from Rochelle.
I SEE YOU (mid July)
Rochelle, Beau, and Kandy go to Mississippi
Rochelle texts Blackwell for help
Kandy bites Calhoun
Cy and Ettie are killed
2016
ARTIFACTS, DRAGONS, AND OTHER LETHAL MAGIC (Jan-Feb)
Warner gives Jade the betrothal rings (01/21)
Shailaja hurts Pulou and Yazi, then escapes with Chi Wen (01/22)
Jade and crew visits Rochelle
Warner and Jade are engaged (01/25)
Jade kills Shailaja
I SEE US (June, 5 days)
Ember arrives at the farm
Win arrives
Rochelle binds the demon to her
Rochelle defeats her grandmother
Rochelle and Beau are engaged
Tess and Gary adopt them
THE GRAVEYARD KISS (Oct)
Luci stakes Colby
CATCHING ECHOES (early Oct)
Wisteria reconstructs Colby’s death
She agrees to work with Kett
Jade magics her bracelet
Jasmine arrives
They fight zombies
Ben is fully turned
2 weeks later
Kett gives Wisteria the contract about becoming a vampire
DAWN BYTES (Dec)
Jasmine tells Kett the bunny story in NY
2017
TANGLED ECHOES (Jan 11-13)
Declan calls Wisteria
They confront the elders of their family
They rescue Jasmine
Wisteria binds them to the land
Jasper walks
(weeks later…)
AN UNCUT KEY
Copper tries to give Declan a house
UNLEASHING ECHOES (May, 4 weeks)
Jasper takes back the land
Wisteria and Jasmine investigate a kidnapping in Chicago
Copper arrives while they investigate in LA
In NY, Yale admits to working with Jasper
Copper and Declan break up
The three confront and kill Jasper
Dying, Jasmine signs the contract with Kett
Wisteria becomes coven leader
Three weeks later
They find out Jasmine has survived
Rochelle is pregnant, off page (June)
CHAMPAGNE, MISFITS, AND OTHER SHADY MAGIC (Sept 19-21)
Jade anchors the grid
The charges against Jade are dropped
Jade meets most of the Talbot family
Jade and Warner’s engagement party
Burgundy re-anchors the grid
Jade kills the elf and finds the prison
Emma’s job goes wrong in SF (Oct)
Emma and Christopher move to Lake Cowichan (Nov)
MISFITS, GEMSTONES, AND OTHER SHATTERED MAGIC (Dec 16-17)
Grand opening of Cake in a Cap Too (Dec 16)
Jade sees Mira
Bachelorette party (Dec 17)
Mira is killed
The warriors fall
GRAVEYARDS, VISIONS, AND OTHER THINGS THAT BYTE (Dec 18-21)
Rochelle asks Mory to find her mom (Dec 18)
Mory finds Jane and she releases the visions (Dec 19)
Rochelle summons her demon (Dec 20)
Fight at Pearl’s house
Jasmine sacrifices the elf
They plan (Dec 21)
GEMSTONES, ELVES, AND OTHER INSIDIOUS MAGIC (Dec 21-Feb)
Jade removes the gemstone (Dec 21)
Jade wakes up in Yazi’s room in the nexus (Dec 29)
They fight the elves (Dec 30)
2018
Pearl tells Jade what day it is (Jan 30)
Alivia visits the bakery (Jan 31)
Jade and Warner marry (Feb?)
Mory leaves for the Academy
CLOSE TO HOME (Feb-April)
Emma and Christopher find Hannah (Feb)
Emma pays a visit to Tyler (April)
DEMONS AND DNA (mid Sept, 8 days)
Aiden shows up at the diner
They fight the demons
Daniel returns
Emma meets with “Magenta”
They fight Silver
Aiden leaves
2019
BONDS AND BROKEN DREAMS (Feb, 4 days)
Isa and Ruwa come to town
Aiden returns
They all meet at the diner
Opal finds them at the farm
Emma, Opal, and Jenni are kidnapped
Ruwa is killed
Amplifier Protocol happens
Lani is amplified
Aiden is rescued
Emma asks Aiden to stay
3 days later…
MYSTICS AND MENTAL BLOCKS (Feb, 4+ days)
Ember and Capri arrive
Zans arrives
Chenda follows Zans
Christopher betrays them all
Emma sends Opal away
Emma fights Chenda
3 days later
Emma wakes up
The guardianship papers are signed
IDOLS AND ENEMIES (May)
The Azars arrive
The Myers arrive
Opal and friends open the box
Aiden proposes to Emma
They fight the Hallowed
THE MUSIC BOX (May)
The kids meet Mory
MISPLACED SOULS (Oct-Nov)
Mory returns to Vancouver (Oct 28)
She discovers the blank spots in the cemetery
Liam hires her
Mory and Ben defeat the succubus (Oct 31)
3 days later
Mory wakes up
3 more days later
Mory meets with Liam
2020
A MOMENTARY MISUNDERSTANDING (early Sept)
Burgandy and Kandy encounter Athelians
Jade and Warner arrive
Burgandy heals Feo
2021
AWAKENING INFINTY (Oct)
Dusk connects Infinity to the internet
She is promoted by the guardians (2 weeks in the nexus)
One week later
Dusk and Sisu move to Dublin (Oct. 21)
INVOKING INFINITY (early Nov, 6 days)
Dusk starts her new job
The imp is murdered
Dusk meets Kellan
Rook is possessed by the book
Dusk discovers the missing artifact
They fight the celestial wolves
The children are taken
Kellan kills Ayre
Dusk negotiates with Morgan
A MOMENTARY RETRIEVAL (November)
Dusk and Brady retrieve Corrie Byrne’s belongings
COMPELLING INFINTY (Dec 20-24)
Gala, Dusk meets Prince
Drake arrives for training
Ravine makes a copy of the crown piece
Winter Solstice party, giant octopus
Dusk frees the brownie
Dusk goes to Evenfall and kills Prince
Kellan and Sisu go after her, the wyvern hatches
Dusk seals the door
Dusk and Sisu’s party
Two books to follow in the Amplifier Series (will take place in the summer of 2019). Multiple books to follow in the Misfits series (including Kandy’s POV set in Dec 2019). Mulitple books to follow in the Archivist Series (2021 onwards) – MCD
Moments of the Adept Universe 1 is now available on all retailers! YAY! The collection includes a short story set in the Archivist series and narrated by Dusk. Aka Archivist 1.5, which some of you missed reading in my Nov 2021 newsletter.
In her illustration (below and in the eBook), Memo captured Dusk in the process of unlocking a super cool brick wall puzzle box.
Click here for the full reading order of the Adept Universe, including a downloadable PDF.
“We can talk about it, you know,” Brady said. “Whatever is bothering you. It’s not like … I’m not reporting on you. To the pack. Or the archive.”
I glanced at him.
He smiled tightly, mostly keeping his gaze on the wet stretch of road before us. The traffic was thickening as we neared the city center. Brady had been letting his beard grow in, so it didn’t just line his jaw. Perhaps in response to the encroaching winter? “I know that’s what you think. That the pack has me keeping tabs on you, because I escort you to and from work.”
Not answering, I leaned forward to input the address in the GPS, following the prompts slowly. I’d seen Ravine do the same in her tiny car, though with a slightly different system.
I settled back in my seat, casting my gaze out the side window again. We were driving through what looked like a residential area now, with wide lots and smaller houses, and still more and more greenery.
Brady glanced my way twice more.
“I’m just still figuring things out,” I said finally.
He bobbed his head. “Talking about things, asking questions, doesn’t make you weak, you know.”
“I’m not worried about looking weak.” The exact opposite, actually. Though Brady wasn’t referring to physical or magical strength.
“Bad word choice,” he said, smirking.
Yeah, I wasn’t hiding much from the wolves. At least not Brady and Kellan. And I had a feeling Ravine had figured me out almost right away as well.
Not to say that any of them actually knew the truth about me. They just understood that I wasn’t a regular witch.
“Some new playthings will please you,” Brady said.
“Artifacts and books aren’t playthings,” I retorted. But then I broke into a grin. “But maybe something hidden among the witch’s things will try to kill us. That’s always fun.”
The werewolf enforcer chuckled, a gleefully wicked sound.
At least we had that in common.
No lying necessary.
– Excerpt from A Momentary Retrieval (Archivist 1.5)
Excerpt from Moments of the Adept Universe 1. A Momentary Misunderstanding is a brand new (as in I didn’t share an early draft with my newsletter) novelette from Burgundy‘s POV (click the link for bio/sketches).
When I was drafting the story I put up a poll in my reader-run fan group and asked them what characters they’d been dying to catch a glimpse of, then I tried to incorporate as many of those characters into this sweet, fun romp as possible (while still telling the story I wanted to tell). Burgundy’s tale is set after the events of Misfits 1 but before Archivist 0. And yes, there are a TON of cameos in it.
And … spoiler alert, those of you with an eye for detail might also notice the subtle setup for a new series that I’m working on (a long-term multiverse project).
In her illustration (below and in the eBook), Memo has captured Burgundy in the process of wielding her healing powers.
Click here for the full reading order of the Adept Universe, including a downloadable PDF.
A Momentary Misunderstanding
Moments of the Adept Universe 0.6
(Aka Burgundy 0.5)
I set the final stone into place for my outer circle as Kandy prowled out of the densely packed old-growth forest to my far right. Grumbling to herself. Again. We were currently in a natural clearing somewhere in the middle of woods nestled at the base of two gigantic mountains, having spent three-plus hours following the pull of the ley line until I’d settled on a perfect location for my multitiered casting.
And yes, even in human form and wearing hiking boots, the werewolf prowled.
Kandy. Aka the wielder’s wolf. Enforcer for the West Coast North American Pack. The bearer of the wolf’s bracers.
Aka my babysitter.
A babysitter who would have preferred to be helping hone the survival skills of the two others we’d dragged along on the day hike with us — the Talbot twins — instead of waiting for me to set up my circle.
Kandy’s hair was dyed shockingly fluorescent pink, and though she often kept it cropped short and spiked, it was currently long enough to tuck behind her ears and be considered fashionably tousled — except I would never dare use that term within her earshot, let alone to her face. Mory, aka my necromancer best friend, had tried to add some purple streaks to the bright pink last night at the cabin, and the werewolf had threatened to twist her head off her ‘pretty little shoulders.’
I had happily let Mory weave some purple through my own basically boring brown mop, which I was currently wearing in two braids that barely skimmed my shoulders. The day was hot, at least for me. I liked the outdoors. I just preferred to be sitting in the shade sipping a mocha frappuccino while gazing out at some large body of water anytime the temperature even neared twenty-one degrees Celsius.
I had already removed my hiking boots — casting barefoot was much, much easier — which I’d paired with a short stretchy skirt with Lycra shorts underneath to minimize chafing. My subtle floral-print T-shirt clung in all the right places and let all the wrong places sort of … disappear.
Usually, at least. When I wasn’t all sweaty from the aforementioned day hike.
The power I’d be able to gather from the ley line was worth the effort, though.
Having no need to distract the eye from any part of her body, Kandy was wearing the tiniest, tightest shorts I’d ever seen on an actual person, and a T-back tank top over a sports bra, all in various shades of bright green. Matched with her hair and the gold-runed bracers that encased her wrists — and in strong contrast to the hiking boots — the effect was … visually overwhelming.
Literally stunning.
But then, the thirty-something was tiny, lithe, and epically ripped. So she could wear whatever she wanted and look insanely great.
“This is a dry riverbed, you know,” Kandy grumbled as she skirted the edge of my outer circle.
A creek, maybe. But I wasn’t going to correct her. “Just the center part,” I said mildly. I had opted for the largest circle the space between the thick, close-set trees would allow — probably about twelve feet across. Though normally, I kept my circles tight and much, much easier to cast.
Kandy threw me a look indicating that even the mildest of sarcasm wasn’t going to be tolerated.
This trip marked the longest time I’d spent with the enforcer werewolf in … well, ever. And neither of us was having a fantastic time of it. The two-hour ridiculously early-morning drive, then the three-hour-plus hike hadn’t helped. And I doubted I was going to get as much done as I wanted before exhausting myself magically, as well as physically, so I was going to need to come back tomorrow. And possibly the day after.
“I’m just saying,” the werewolf grumbled, pacing around my circle a second time. “If there’s a flash flood, it’s going to be hilarious.” She hit me with a gleeful-edged grin.
“It’s the beginning of September,” I said. “In, like, the Okanagan.” Though in the aftermath of the drive and the hike, it was possible we weren’t technically in the Okanagan anymore. “They aren’t going to see rain here for a couple more weeks. If they’re lucky. And it takes melting snowpack to truly flood.”
Kandy cast a cunning, narrowed gaze around, then overhead. She was now grinning rather manically. “Maybe lightning will strike and spark a forest fire. Then you’ll have to pick up your pace.”
Yes, apparently I walked too slowly. But then, I wasn’t one of the high-powered individuals that we all knew and loved. To be clear, I cared for a couple of such individuals. Massively. Those particular Adepts, aka people with magic, also just so happened to be the ones least likely to kill me. Though having a necromancer for a best friend meant hanging out with death. A lot. And I didn’t just mean Benjamin Garrick.
I chuckled, but not out loud. Though Kandy would probably enjoy any joke involving the youngest vampire who called Vancouver home.
The enforcer, on the other hand, didn’t like being so far away from Jade, her BFF — Kandy’s term, not mine. And yeah, they were ‘older,’ so I had to forgive the ancient acronym. Jade’s official titles were so numerous that at this point, everyone pretty much just called her ‘dowser’ and let those foolish enough to be distracted by the blond curls, the voluptuous figure, and the near-obsessive cupcake baking fend for themselves.
Of course, Jade’s husband, Warner, was usually around to freeze any true idiots in place with a mere glower. Even if they didn’t know he was a dragon disguised as a human, Warner was so intimidating that I’d seen Jade’s human customers flee the bakery at his entrance.
Still, my skill set might not have been as flashy as all the other Adepts who were part of the Godfrey coven, but I was invaluable. Irreplaceable. Because all the others had a terrible habit of running gleefully into danger and getting seriously hurt.
And I was a healer.
– A Momentary Misunderstanding (Moments of the Adept Universe 0.6)
Excerpt. Anchored in the Moment is the first-ever Audrey prequel story. Set between Dowser 1 and Dowser 2 in the Adept Universe timeline, the short is available in Moments of the Adept Universe 1. In her illustration (below and in the eBook), Memo has captured the moment right before the pack princess claims the position she wants … in more than one way. 😉
Click here for the full reading order of the Adept Universe, including a downloadable PDF.
Anchored in the Moment
Moments of the Adept Universe 0.5
(Aka Audrey 0.5 )
June 2014.
Portland pack house.
Desmond Charles Llewelyn — Alpha of the West Coast North American Pack, and a cat shifter — was making me wait. Granted, I didn’t exactly have an appointment. But neither could he actually refuse to see me.
I was equal to Desmond in birth rank. But I’d also passed a letter of introduction to him via his enforcer Lara, who had greeted me upon my arrival. The letter was from his father. Lord Charles Llewelyn. And technically unnecessary by virtue of the fact that Desmond and I had grown up in the same circles, though I was on the East Coast and he on the West. When our parents intermingled at official Assembly gatherings and whatnot, so had we. Though I doubted whether we’d ever actually had a single one-on-one conversation.
I paced the living room section of the house’s central great room for the umpteenth time. Like most alphas, including my own father, Desmond conducted business out of his residence. As such, the current pack house for the West Coast North American Pack was a sprawling, austerely furnished mansion perched over Portland, with a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree view of the wide river and its multiple bridges below. Wood dominated throughout, from the flooring to numerous built-ins, including the kitchen cupboards. Gray granite tile and countertops were the only contrast, with nary a casing or baseboard in sight.
The furniture was all oversized, including a thick-planked fir trestle dining room table situated between the kitchen area and the large leather couches and glass coffee table that I was currently pacing between. It all felt very male. And all very new. Completely contrary to the centuries of history contained in my family home.
Centuries of history that had been smothering me since my younger brother Justin had been killed.
The intent behind his murder had never been resolved. Not to my satisfaction, at least. And even as all that unfolded, my mother had been forced to choose between the pack’s beta position and her seat in the Assembly, in line with the Assembly’s recently changed rules. She had stepped down as beta.
My father had refused, as he had each year since, to let me step up.
I had just turned twenty-eight.
I was an adored, sheltered, pampered pack princess.
And I’d never felt so ungrounded, so unneeded, in my life.
– Excerpt from Anchored in the Moment (Moments of the Adept Universe 0.5)