Em's Turn: For Gabrial Rantisi

4 songs for

My beautiful Ginger Ninja.

Enjoy, Gabby...

Em picked them out.

People she saw at Soundwave.

Galley Proof Done...

I've finally completed and returned the Galley Proof on The Lines of Marsden: Living in Shadows. The biggest mistake is I completely misspelled a character's name from book 1: Rules Are Meant To Be Broken to this one. Weirdly after re reading this book it makes me love Doyle & Michael so much more than I already did. They feature big time in book 3: You Make Me Die In Pieces. This series is my favourite to write at the moment. So hopefully I'll have book 3 subbed in a few months time. I want to see if I can get it released in January 2015.

In The Land Of Galley Proofing...

Today I'm going through more Galley on The Lines of Marsden: Living in Shadows. And for shits & giggles I sent my editor the original versions of the first 6 books and the start of the second line... so she can see how the story was going to be and where it was headed before I up and changed it all. I didn't get very much done yesterday because I got hit with a fricken unbelievably bad headache. I will be busy as for the next couple of days so I will talk to you all after the Galley is done.

Playing Catch-Up...

Rainbow Book Reviews

1) I just saw I got this awesome review so feel free to check it out if you want to.

2) As some of you know I've been out of action for nearly a month with fricken migraines--Not fun in any sense of the word... because I can't spend time sitting in front of the computer without the blinding-my head wants to explode-sort of way.

3) So instead, in moments of actually being to able think I've been working on The Lines of Marsden (all in long hand) so no back lit computer screen to annoy the shit out of me. 

4) I think  Sons Of Evenmore: Blood to Blood is either in proofing or have just been sent to formatting. To be honest I can't remember, but when I find out I will let you know.

5) I'm still working on the submissions for Rooster & Pig Publishing I hope to get them sent off in the next couple of weeks - the 3 chaps needed for submission are done. I'm just working on blurbs and synopsis.

6) I missed out on attending Soundwave because of my stupid headaches, but Em and her cousin had a blast... So jealous as I really wanted to see The Living End, Black Veil Brides, & Korn.

7) Decided I can't afford to go to GRL this year or to South Shields in England like I was planning to--Apparently the tax man would like my money more.

8) Hub's family has come and gone--nice visit. I haven't seen them in about two years the kids have grown up.

9) Just received Galley on The Lines of Marsden: Living in Shadows. So you all know what I'm working on at the moment.

10) I'm not sure what the hell's going on at Silver Publishing, but when I find out I'll  be able to give you an update on my works there.

Sentinels Of Varnuse: When The Walls Come Tumbling Down #8

#8.

Ingrid had left the guarding of the king and his consort to the warriors that were in attendance in the throne room. She quickly made her way through the halls until she came upon the one person she sought. “Javier, might I have a word with you?” Ingrid watched the young man place his book upon the table before he turned sightless eyes in her direction.

“Yes, Mistress Ingrid,” Javier said with a smile he always wore. His hand reaching out toward where he knew she would be standing. How he was so precise was an amazement to her.

Ingrid knew she was going to have to confide in Brayden and Quinlan that another of the Caldwell line was still alive. Ingrid’s own family had kept Javier a secret from the rest of the world for the past ten years. But if the seer was right, then not only could Brayden hold the shifting gene, maybe Javier did too. Or maybe, it was Javier who was born with the shifter gene and not Brayden at all. Quinlan was going to be pissed when he found out.

“Are you taking me to meet my brother now; I’ve been waiting a long time to be with him again.”

“Yes you have, little one.” Ingrid walked over and clasped his hand. “Come, we must prepare you for meeting with Brayden.”

“Do I look okay?” Javier ran his hands over the front of his shirt straightening out the wrinkles. “Do I match?”

“You look beautiful, my prince. Your brother will love you no matter what.” Ingrid was rewarded with a beautiful smile. It saddened Ingrid how for a young man who couldn’t see, Javier had the most stunning eyes Ingrid had ever seen. They were such a vibrant shade of blue. Made all the more striking because they were framed in dark lashes. They were also the spitting image of his brothers.

“Will he still want me knowing that I cannot see?” Uncertainty seemed to fill Javier’s words.

“You’re his blood kin, of course Brayden will want you. You will learn that for Brayden family is everything.”

“Then why hasn’t he sought me out before now? It has been ten years, Ingrid. Ten years, where he forgot about me completely. I lost our parents too that day. How could he just walk away and leave me? Am I so repulsive he no longer wishes to associate with me? Does he blame me for our parent’s deaths?”

Ingrid sighed heavily, “There were reasons why he couldn’t come to you, my prince. But you need to hear it from your brother.”

“I just...” he fidgeted nervously. “What if he thinks I’m broken now because I can’t see?”

“He won’t.” Ingrid smoothed a hand down over Javier’s back in comfort. “I promise Brayden will be excited to see you.”

“What if he doesn’t remember me? We were only children back then. I must have changed so much.”

Ingrid pulled Javier into her arms and hugged him gently. “I have no doubt your brother will know exactly who you are. You’re almost his mirror image.”

“Oh.” Javier’s lips formed a perfect ‘O’ in surprise.

“Come now, as you said you’ve waited long enough to be kept from Brayden any longer.”

“Will Quinlan be there?” Javier asked as he placed his hand in the crook of Ingrid’s arm.

“Yes. You remember he’s the king now. He and your brother have taken their vows this month past. I so wanted you to be in attendance, but father thought it unwise to reveal you existence. He never wanders far from Brayden’s side these days. They have been parted for too long.”

“Do you think one day I might find someone? Someone who will love me unconditionally.”

Ingrid patted his hand as they walked.  “Of course I do. Some young lady will catch your heart soon enough.”

“Man,” Javier corrected with a blush, “I would like to wed a man. I think.”

“You’re not sure?” Ingrid asked, this was the first she had heard of Javier’s preferences.

Javier’s blush deepened. “I think men smell better. There’s one who comes to my rooms and he smells so wonderful. He never speaks to me. He just sits there and holds my hand.”

Ingrid frowned and wondered just who was visiting the prince without permission. Who even knew Javier was here at the castle? “He doesn’t speak?”

Javier shook his head. “The first time I met him was out in the garden. Alexis had taken me out for a walk. The boys ran off playing. When she followed them he came and took my hand and led me to a bench. He just listened while I talked.” Javier smiled, “Every day since he has come to my rooms just to sit with me. Not always for a long time. He has never missed a day though.”

“Has he come today?”

“No, but he will. I’m sure of it.”

“Javier, this worries me. This man who comes to you and doesn’t talk. I think we need to find out who he is.”

“Do not be afraid,” Javier chuckled, “I know he’d never hurt me.”

“How do you know?” Ingrid asked.

“I just do.”

**~*~**

Brayden stared open mouthed at the person who walked into the room at Ingrid’s side. It took all of a moment for recognition to fall into place before he launched himself across the room.

“Javier! Javier! How are you here?” Tears streamed down Brayden’s face as he pulled his brother into his arms. He felt an instant bond, something he didn’t even know he’d been missing until this very moment.

Javier froze; unsure of what to do with the sobbing man in his arms. “It’s okay, brother, we’re together now.”

“How are you here alive? I thought…” his words trailed off as he hugged his brother tighter.

“My family has taken care of Javier for a very long time.” Ingrid answered for Javier. It also appeared to be the only explanation she was going to give.

“I’m blind.” Javier added. Brayden stood still as his brother’s hands came up to map the contours of his face. “I’ve missed you Bray.”

“I’ve missed you too.” Brayden cried hoarsely into his brother’s shoulder

“Where have you been? Why didn’t you come for me?” Javier demanded.

“Uncle Fane had me. I wasn’t allowed out of his estate. I would have found a way to be with you if I knew you were still alive.”

“You don’t think I’m broken. That I’m of no use because I’m blind?” Javier asked. His voice trembled.

“Never!” Brayden said in outrage. “You are of my blood. I will always want you at my side.”

Javier turned as a gasp sounded nearby. Taking a deep breath, he smiled, and turned. Somewhere in this room was his silent friend.

Em's Turn: Michael & Doyle Inspiration.

Four more inspirational songs.

That make me want to write.

The Lines of Marsden.

Michael & Doyle.

Enjoy! 

This song for me is just truly beautiful.

This has always been their song. 

Even before I did the rewrites.

This one is for Michael Marsden.

After Doyle loses his memory

Not only is this song a song for my boys.

 Paolo is also who I use as inspiration for Doyle Kerwin

Sentinels Of Varnuse ~ When The Walls Come Tumbling Down #7

#7.

Brayden looked toward Cleric Saskia, and Mylo, pondering of exactly what had just taken place. “Does either of you even like men?” He blurted out without thinking what he was going to say through.

Cleric Saskia shook his head. “I can honestly say I’ve never felt drawn to men before. Even though I’ve always known from what the seer told me my mate would be male. Though, the fact has never bothered me either. He’s my mate, and that’s all there is to it.”

Brayden turned his gaze to Mylo and waited for an answer.

“Yes, I’m attracted more to men than I am women. My mother told me from very early on I would grow up and marry a very important man one day. So I never fought against my attraction to men. Mother was a seer, if she said it would be so then that’s the way it would be.” Mylo ended with a shrug.

“So how do you...” Brayden let his words trail off, and blushed deeply as he remembered sometimes it wasn’t appropriate to enquire about someone else’s love life. Especially, when that person was the castle cleric. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean... I just...”

Quinlan chuckled beside him. By the time he got himself under control tears streamed down Quin’s face. “I’m sorry, but that was so funny.”

Ingrid patted his husband’s shoulder, “Sometimes, Quinlan, I wonder how we’re all going to survive with you as king. You find the most in appropriate things funny.”

“Well I am the king.” Quinlan sat up straighter. Brayden almost fell off his lap. “And don’t you forget it, young lady.” Quin burst out laughing again as Ingrid snorted and slapped him up the back of the head.

“I think everyone here knows I’ve never claimed to be a lady.” Ingrid declared with a straight face.

“No,” Quin sobered up. “You were born to be a warrior, my warrior, and it’s a job you do exceedingly well.”

Ingrid bowed formally, “Thank you, my liege, my king, my friend.”

Quinlan smiled, “I’ve entrusted to you not only my own safety, but the safety of those I love dearly.”

“And I won’t fail you again,” Ingrid said fiercely.

“You’ve never failed me.” Quin argued.

“Yes, I did. I let them take your heart away.” She whispered softly.

Brayden inhaled sharply, “Oh, Ingrid, you didn’t fail him, you were ten. No one could have stopped my uncle from taking me away. He thought whoever killed my family was coming after me next.”

“I could have done something.”

“You did. You took care of the piece of me I had to leave behind. You took care of my heart. It wasn’t your fault my uncle locked me away from the rest of the world. He had his own agenda for doing that. Whenever he got melancholy he’d come and talk to me. He told me I was special. That deep inside me I held all the answers. He said he was protecting me from everything set on hurting me.”

“Yet, he’s the one who hurt you the most.” Quinlan said coldly.

Brayden shook his head. “I think he honestly wanted to protect me—from what I’m not sure. But he had my best interests at heart. He just went about it the wrong way.”

“Did he ever...?” Quinlan’s voice vibrated with anger.

“No, never.” Brayden laid a gentle kiss on his husband’s forehead. “He never touched me that way, nor did he ever beat me. Whenever I was hurt it was by Ormond’s hand.”

“I thought you’re uncle kept you prisoner?” Ingrid asked

“What?” Quinlan roared.

“Lord Dalziel kept him confined to his rooms in his estate.” Ingrid informed her king, and Brayden frowned.

“I didn’t want you to tell him.” Brayden said softly.

Ingrid shrugged, “He needed to know.”

“Tell me!” Quinlan demanded.

“Even though I hated being locked away, I knew he was doing it to keep me safe.” Brayden bit his lower lip in thought. “I can’t figure out why he stood beside Ormond at the claiming, the closest I can think is my cousin forced him to be there. My uncle always told me you were my mate. I loved him for keeping me safe, and I hated him because he kept me away from you. Does that make sense?”

Ingrid rolled her eyes at the men standing around her. “This talk of evil uncles, and finding mates isn’t getting us any closer to finding out why a price had been put on Brayden’s head. And by whom. She then addressed Mylo, “You say your mother’s a seer. Did she by chance tell you anything else of importance before she sent you here?”

“Yes,” Mylo nodded, “Mother told me through my first mistake here I would find my heart.” His gaze flickered to Cleric Saskia for but a moment before he went on. “Mother also said I must take my place beside the consort. I’m destined to watch over what once was precious to us all. I’m destined to be the guardian of the Originals in their next rebirth.”

“What?” Brayden asked in confusion. “Why are you standing beside me if you’re to become a guardian, and what the hell is an Original?” Panic filled each and every word that passed his lips.

“The Originals,” Ingrid said softly, so it was only perceptible to those standing close, “are the beings who began our race. They’re recorded as being descended from the Gods themselves. We are not as we once were.”

“What do you mean?” Brayden asked.

“She means the shifter, which currently lays dormant in us all is about to be woken up.” Quin looked toward Ingrid, and she nodded. “Someone in our time has been born with the ability to shift.”

“Who?”

Quinlan quirked an eyebrow in his direction and smiled at him as though he was clueless. Brayden was confused until all the pieces suddenly clicked into place, and he understood what Quinlan was getting at. Cold seeped through him at the implications of this conversation being true.

“Uh-Uh, no way. I’m not shifting into a... a... whatever the hell they were.”

“Cats, love,” Qin rubbed his hand over Brayden’s stomach, “somewhere deep inside you there’s a big cuddly, fearsome, cat just waiting to come out.”

“Fuck me drunk.” Brayden exclaimed in shock.

Quinlan grinned, “That will come later, love. Though I prefer us both to be sober so we can enjoy it more.”