Severed Ties by Angie Skelhorn - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Angie will be awarding a Bronze Tone charm bracelet with a pentagram charm and witch riding a broom to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, a second prize of a key chain with pentagram and witch riding a broom to another randomly drawn commenter and a third prize of a free copy of Severed Ties will be awarded to another randomly drawn commenter during the tour (Canada, U.S.A. and the United Kingdom). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Severed Ties is a story of close friendships, addiction and magic.

Severed Ties - By the use of divination and magic, some ties can never be severed

Consulting tarot, ordinary playing cards, astrology, and spell-casting—Frankie and Sandra set forth to free Candice from the dangerous situation she is in.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

Frankie sat on the stoop and looked around. Across the street, a woman only a couple of years older than her had two infants in a playpen and was chain-smoking. An old man, his lined face showing the evidence of his hard life, pushed a shopping cart full of empty beer bottles past her. Kids too young to be on their own played out front, in the streets.

“I’m Calvin. Who are you?” a young man asked, walking past her down the stairs. She gave a quick glance in his direction before turning away.

He had medium brown hair cut close to his scalp, brown puppy-dog eyes, a stocky build, and a sweet smile. The tattoos around his neck, arms, and hands surprised her. She read “love” on one set of his knuckles and “hate” on the other.

“Doesn’t that say it all,” she said.

“This one I fight with,” the young man explained his hand in a fist. “This one, I love with.”

She smiled at his answer.

“Are you moving in?”

“I’m Frankie. I think so. I’m waiting here for my friend,” she said, pointing to the front door. “She’s inside, making the arrangements.”

“I live here on the second floor. Have now for a couple of years. You’ll like it here. The tenants mind their own business. Well, they mostly keep to themselves. Do you have a job, yet?”

“No, I’m going to start looking tomorrow. I think Sandra wants to spend tonight settling in.”

Calvin lit a cigarette. He blew the smoke out of his nostrils.

“I’ve got to go. I’m in room 203 if you need anything. Just knock.”

“Okay,” she giggled, giving him a quick once over without being obvious. She found him quite interesting. She hoped to know him better. She didn’t know why, but she did.

Calvin disappeared down the street and rounded the corner before Sandra reappeared.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  My name is Angie Skelhorn and I live in Canada. My interests include tarot, and other forms of divination, astrology, spirituality, mythology and harness racing. I gear my writing toward Witchcraft and Spiritualism. I've been published in Circle Sanctuary Magazine and online at Witchvox, WitchesandPagans.com and GlobalGoddess.org.

http://DamnationBooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615728206

http://Facebook.com/pages/Author-Angie-Skelhorn-Witchskel/106332176093960

http://AngieSkelhorn.com

http://Witchskel.com

http://amazon.com/author/angieskelhorn

http://BarnesandNoble.com/s/severed-ties-by+Angie+Skelhorn+store=book

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Book Covers

Today's top ten is...Top Ten Book Covers...that I would frame as works of art.

 

So, let the games begin!

 

10. Rotters by Daniel Kraus 

 

9. Hidden by M. Lathan

 

8. The Fallen Novels by Lauren Kate

 

 

7. Halo  and Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

 

 

6. Shine by Lauren Myracle

 

5. Willful Impropriety by Leanna Renee Hieber, Karen Healey, Stephanie Burgis, and more...

 

4. Crewel by Gennifer Albin

 

3. Flitter by Melissa Andrea

  

 

2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

 

 

1. Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh

Revelation by Rayna Noire - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Bewitching Book Tours. Rayna will be awarding a $60 Amazon Gift Card - Tour Wide Giveaway!

Revelation
Pagan Eyes
Book Two
Rayna Noire
Genre: Paranormal YA

Nora’s impending college graduation is a triumph over the dark incident in her past that changed her life and stopped her best friend’s. Balancing school, work and her demented admirer at the diner is tough. All she has is six more months, but it similar to walking a tightrope blindfolded.

Life-like dreams pull her into the 19th century world of Clayton. A man who declares he’s her soul mate. Even though, she’s decided against romance, the young witch finds hers elf drawn to the Irish healer, even hearing his voice in her head.

This would make most people question their sanity. Nora needs to find out if Clayton is real and if she’s crossing over into another w orld in her sleep. If she is, will she end up stuck in the past? Can magick bring them to gether?

Enjoy an Excerpt:

Brandon, the night cook, came in around seven to hang out a nd eat before his shift. The bald- headed cook was a former Marine, sporting several patri otic tattoos. Nora imagined if someone made the mistake of sneaking in the back door when Brandon w as working, he’d leave quickly once he saw the muscle-bound man.

Business had slowed enough that after she fixed him food, she left the kitchen to talk to him.

Oddly, she felt at ease with the intimidating man. Ther e was no aura of evil around him.

“Thanks for the omelet.” Brandon delivered the praise af ter his first bite. “You have a nice light hand with the eggs. Know when to fold before it br owns too much.”

Her face flushed a little. People didn’t normally com pliment her cooking. They only griped when they thought it wasn’t fast enough. “Thanks. It’s just eggs, ya know.”

He shoveled in another mouthful, chewed then swallowed be fore speaking. “Yeah, but you’d be surprised how the average person can’t make a decent egg. Either they break the yolk or end up burning it.”

Nora found herself smiling at his simple praise. In anothe r man, she might have thought he was flirting with her, but this was Brandon. She felt s he’d known him forever, as opposed to just the last three years. “I think you’re just saying it to make me feel good.”

He grinned. The simple gesture made him look younger. How ol d was he? Maybe in his thirties, hard to know with his shaved head. He’s not for you.

Blinking, Nora looked around to see if anyone else had enter ed the diner. Nope, it was still just her, Brandon, and Bonnie. That meant the voice had be en in her head.

About the Author:

 

Rayna Noire is an author and a historian. The desire to uncover the truth behind the original fear of witches led her to the surprising discovery that people believed in magick in some form up to 150 year s ago. A world that believed the impossible could hap pen and often did must have been amazing. With this in mind, Ms. Noire taps into this dimension, shapes it into stories about Pagan families who really aren’t that different from most people. They do go on the occasional time travel adventures and magick happens.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorRaynaNoire
Twitter: www.twitter.com/raynanoire
Website: www.raynanoire.weebly.com
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rayna-Noire/e/B00J8XP14A/ref
Youtube Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWNT-FbyvvA
Smashwords (E-book): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/422243
Amazon (Paperback): http://amzn.to/P2vwMm
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1koL5YF

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Careful by Randy Anderson - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Randy will be awarding an eCopy of Careful and a $25 Starbucks GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

For two decades Tyler Gibbons has been keeping a secret from his family. At the tender age of sixteen, Tyler embarks on a student exchange program. Sent to the Andean city of Ambato, Ecuador, he finds daily adventure as he tries to fit in at school, connect with his host family, and navigate through a world of beaches, volcanoes, and jungles. But tucked deep inside this year are events so profound, so unexpected, they forever shape the man he will become.

Now, 25 years later, his mother pulls these soaring tales from her son, exposing, for the first time, the source of a deep unhappiness. While these memories contain the wounds of an unresolved past, they also possess the power to heal his painful present.

Thoughtfully crafted and boldly told, Tyler’s journey takes the reader on a wild South American adventure, while illuminating a mother’s unyielding power to heal her child.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

The boat came to a stop at a shallow riverbank. We were greeted by an olive-skinned man in his forties with shoulder-length hair and an unruly beard. He resembled a castaway, but with more muscle.

“Welcome to the Amazon,” he said, helping the ladies off the boat. “My name is Xavier. I will be your guide for the next two days. Please take only what you need for one night and leave the rest with the boatsman. He will take your things to camp by boat.”

“From here we will hike two hours to camp. There you can relax in the hammock, go swimming, and enjoy a nice dinner in the evening.” Xavier was very welcoming with his choppy English. We’d learn later that he was born in Bolivia and educated in Germany. His love for the study of biology would take him to exotic places all around the world. He was a charismatic free spirit.

“First thing first,” Xavier said. “Everyone needs to put on these boots.” He pointed to a line of knee-high rubber boots. “They are not the most ideal for hiking, but it’s been very wet, so the ground is soft. Do not be surprised if you sink one half . . . maybe one meter into the earth.” We were looking around in disbelief. “If this happens, do not panic. Just relax. Don’t wiggle. Signal for my attention. I will come and help you free.”

“Help us free?” I whispered to Peter.

“Yes, help you free.” Xavier’s ears were keen. “It is sometimes very difficult to free yourself from this earth, so use caution. Now we go.” He began walking up the bank and suddenly stopped.

“Also, you will see me eat things. Do not eat things unless I give them. If you do, you may die. I’m very sorry for this but it is your own fault. Don’t eat anything unless I give you,” he repeated. “I won’t give you everything I eat. Why? Because not all are good. Eating plant is not about good plant and bad plant. It is about good plant at good time. Not good plant at bad time. And there is never good time to eat bad plant. So no eating unless I give it. Okay? Now we go.” We all nodded and started following him up the hill. Once again he suddenly stopped.

“Also, do not touch things. Sometimes, plants have defenses that will make you very sick, or will make you die. Sometimes plants have insects on them that will sting or bite you. This can also make you very sick or die. Sometimes plant isn’t plant but insect. These are very cool and most won’t sting or bite you. If you see this, do not touch but alert me so that I can show you. Okay?” I was relieved that at least one thing wasn’t going to kill me.

“It’s like we’re marching into certain death,” Peter said as we laughed.

“Also,” Xavier said, “one last thing, and then we go. Sometimes, plants or bug touch you. This happens. Plants grow over trail, bugs fly through air and hit you. This will happen. Mostly you’ll be okay. Maybe, once in a while, this makes you sick or kills you. It’s very sad and I’m sorry. This is not your fault.” He paused for a second. “Oh, the animals. I almost forgot the animals! The jungle is full of many animals. Do not touch the animals. Some are very dangerous. Not as dangerous as the plants and bugs, but there is still danger. Watch where you step. The snakes and rodents will sometimes use our trail. The snakes are dangerous. The rodents are unpleasant. Either way, try not to step on them. Sometimes a snake will drop from the tree. This is bad. But not very often. If you feel pee, don’t look up. Monkey pee stings the eyes. Very bad. Okay, now we go.”

Finally Xavier’s disclaimer was over and we were off on our certain-death march. Whatever fear of the forest he’d put into our hearts vanished under the beauty of the canopy. The sounds of life we’d been hearing beneath the rumble of the bus amplified tenfold. The jungle was electrifying. Sunlight filtered down to the ground in ever-changing locations, spotlighting endless shades of green.

Randy Anderson is a novelist and playwright. His first book was published in 2011. On Making Off recounted his adventures running The Beggars Group, a downtown theater company that produced over two dozen productions at the turn of the millennium. He is also the author of several plays including; Kill the President, The Dwelling, and Yippie! Randy currently lives in Brooklyn where he writes, reasons, and reacts. You can contact him at www.onmakingoff.com, or on twitter @onmakingoff.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/careful-novel-Randy-Anderson-ebook/dp/B00K08TXHS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1398937082&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/careful-a-novel-randy-anderson/1119365488?ean=2940149550463

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/422477

The Aerenden Series by Kristin Taber - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kristen will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn grand prize winner via the Rafflecopter at the end of this post, and audiobook will be issued to 10 runner-up winners. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Book One: The Child Returns

Seventeen-year-old Meaghan has no idea her perfect life has been a lie — until she witnesses her parents’ brutal murders at the hands of red-eyed creatures.

After nearly sharing their fate, she escapes with her best friend, Nick, who tells her the creatures are called Mardróch. They come from another world, and so does she. Now that the Mardróch have found her, she must return to her homeland of Ærenden or face death.

Left with little choice, she follows Nick into a strange world both similar to Earth and drastically different. Vines have the ability to attack. Monkeys freeze their victims with a glare. Men create bombs from thin air. Even Meaghan’s newly discovered empath power turns into a danger she cannot control.

But control becomes the least of her worries once the Mardróch begin targeting her. When Nick confesses he knows the reason they want her, she learns the truth behind the kingdom's fifteen-year civil war — a long-buried secret that could cost Meaghan her life.

Enjoy an excerpt:

THE WALLS fell in first. A flash of light and smoke came next. Or could it have been the other way around? It happened so fast, she could not remember. The air smelled funny, like when Papa put out the fire before bed. It filled her mouth and her nose. It stuffed her lungs and clogged her breathing. Then it turned thick and black so she could not see. She coughed. She tried to stand, to run, but her legs sagged beneath her. Tugging on a curtain, she pulled three times before she grew tired of toppling over, and crawled toward her bedroom. She called for her mama, but heard only the sound of distant screams through the smoke. None of them was Mama.

“Mama? Mama?” she cried again, feeling her way along the floor. Her fingers brushed a rug, soft and cool compared to the stone floor. A glowing fire consumed part of the room, heating the stone. It crept toward her. Fires hurt. Papa had told her she should not touch them. Sometimes she thought about trying to see if he was right, but she did not want to try with this one. It seemed angry. Its flames popped and snarled.

The couch began to glow, and then disappeared as the fire swept over it. It folded in half, crashing to the floor with a loud bang. She yelped. Tears stung her eyes and wet her cheeks. Her arms shook. Her legs trembled. She backed away, and found the table that usually stood in the middle of the living room. It must have toppled over too. It lay on its side next to a body that looked like Mama.

*****

Book Two: The Gildonae Alliance

Several months after Meaghan’s return to Ærenden, the kingdom’s war has taken a turn for the worse. The Mardróch army hunts the new King and Queen, destroying villages in its wake. And Meaghan and Nick, training for battle in their remote section of wilderness, are far from safe. Danger hides in shadows and behind innocent faces. Allies become foes. Each day is a fight to survive. But in the end, only one threat matters. And it’s a threat they never see coming.

Enjoy an excerpt:

THE WORLD streaked past, brown bark and evergreen mixed with the dirty sludge of winter. Meaghan leaped over the remains of a fallen spruce, and then dodged around a thorn bush. Her stride never broke. An ice patch appeared in front of her, pressing red and orange leaves into the ground, and she veered left to avoid it. She had almost missed this one, though heightened adrenaline had saved her at the last moment. She could not fall. She could not slow. Her life depended on it.

Wind burned her cheeks and whipped her hair behind her. She ignored it. She also ignored the way her breath seared her lungs. She pushed harder, further than she had before. And she focused, straining her ears and eyes. An attack would come soon. She expected it, though she wished she had Nick’s sensing power to warn her when it neared. Without it, she had to rely on her training alone. She hoped it would be enough.

Up ahead, vines hung motionless across her path. They could be harmless, but she could not take the chance. Without changing her pace, she grabbed a stick from the ground and threw it into the curtain of green stretching in front of her. The vines reacted, snapping and curling around the branch until it crumbled into splinters. She swerved off the path, circled around the creeper vines, and then hurdled when she realized a log blocked her path. An inch shy of clearing it, she caught her foot on a protruding branch.

She hit the ground and rolled before springing back to her feet and pushing forward once more. Her ankle ached where she had broken it months before. Cold weather often brought a familiar pang to her old injury and tripping had increased that ache, but she could not allow it to stop her. She tightened her arms at her sides, increased her speed, and set her eyes on her goal—a white flag. Safety.

*****

Book Three: The Zeiihbu Master

Separated and on opposite sides of the kingdom, Nick and Meaghan face different pursuits which could change the balance of power in Ærenden forever.

While Nick trains the villagers to be soldiers, Meaghan and a small rescue party venture into Zeiihbu to find Faillen's young son, before Garon can use the boy's power to destroy those still fighting against his rule.

Everyone knows Meaghan could be on a suicide mission, but when Nick stumbles upon a secret concealed in one of the southern villages, he realizes that Garon might not be Meaghan's greatest foe. The enemy most likely to kill her is someone who has also promised to keep her safe.

Kristen spent her childhood at the feet of an Irish storytelling grandfather, learning to blend fact with fiction and imagination with reality. She lived within the realm of the tales that captivated her, breathing life into characters and crafting stories even before she could read. Those stories have since turned into over a hundred poems, several short tales, and five manuscripts in both the Young Adult and Adult genres. Currently, Kristen is completing the five-part Ærenden series from her home office in the suburbs of Washington D.C.

Website ~ Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Google+ ~ Pinterest

Buy Links for Book 1

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Buy Links for Book 2

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
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The Hazel Tree by Julia Debski - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Bewitching Book Tours. There is a giveaway for two print books (US/Canada only) and 5 ebooks via the Rafflecopter at the end of the post.

The Hazel Tree by Julia Debski
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Available at Amazon and BN

Book Description:

The Hazel Tree revisits a classic Cinderella tale of abuse and sought after freedom from the confines of a cruel life.

Ivy Lune is not your ordinary girl for within her blood flows the secrets of an ancient species of werewolf; a secret that also foretells of a great war and a struggle for ultimate supremacy.

Ivy lives a life of isolation torment at the hands of her aunt and cousins for the majority of her life. Mistreated and neglected, she longs to escape the shackles of her prison-like life. And in that longing, she learns the truth of her identity. She learns her place in a long line of events that were set into motion many years ago. She finds intimacy and belonging in a much larger family.

All the while, unknown to her, there are dangerous forces are at work; old blood ties and murderous plots threaten her chance at happiness beyond her current life.

The Hazel Tree is a tale of mystery and romance set against a supernatural backdrop of terrifying and awesome power.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/a6y2fro8eG8

Now enjoy an excerpt:

Prologue

Nestled deep within the dark mountains that neighbor the Black Sea lay an ancient castle in a valley, forever hooded by a swirl of thunderous clouds. It looked as though some god or deity had taken an inkbottle and poured the contents into the dip between the mountains. It cloaked the ground, the water, the stone, and even the air. To each molecule of oxygen clung a droplet of shadow, tinting the air so black no torch could pierce it. The air hung heavy, masking Waelwulf Castle and its residents. Any sign of Mother Nature’s beauty had long escaped this land, all vegetation long gone. In its place resided an evil force, something far more vicious and deadly than any visitor could imagine. It belonged to the family who lived within the impenetrable stonewalls: the royal family of Wulf, the head of the Black Sea Pack, the sole survivor of the Great Wars, the most ancient and powerful pack on planet Earth.

In front of their home was a vast plain, stretching deep into the darkness. Two massive wolves emerged from the shadows simultaneously. Upon catching sight of each other’s glittering eyes in the blackness, their hackles rose and growls erupted from deep within their chests. Circling slowly with teeth bared, each step was calculated, measured, carefully placed. Wolves crossing paths on the barren grounds that surrounded the castle were rare. A direct challenge such as this was always met with death for the offending party. Both wolves had this in mind as they faced each other off.

A howling wind brushed across them then, curling around their paws and tails and the hills of their tense raised shoulders before sweeping into the darkness. With it though the wolves caught each other’s scents and relaxed with recognition. They moved in unison towards the castle.

They reached the scarred metal gates that stood a few dozen paces from the castle’s front door. For centuries all that had stood between the foe in battles and the castle had been these gates, somehow untouchable by the enemy. Warriors believed it was protected by magic.

The wolves shifted into their human forms. "Axel," one said, nodding. His appearance was much like his wolf: black hair, confident brown eyes, square jaw, long legs and a tall frame. Even his gait was like his wolf’s, the slow cadence of a predator.

"Robinson," Axel said in return. He was short with a brush of red hair across his head and jaw, and small, nervous eyes. He didn’t have any of the grace his comrade had, due to his short stature.

After the brief exchange, they took the time to make themselves presentable, straightening the rumples in their clothing. The old gate creaked open, allowing them to pass and approach the castle’s front doors. Robinson stepped forward then and knocked evenly three times.

After a long pause, one of the doors slowly creaked open, revealing a thin young man dressed in plain black clothing with royal red embroidering, leaning heavily on a wooden cane. Recognizing the two men, he quickly hobbled aside. They strode past him without any acknowledgement. It was later, after they had moved out of earshot of the handicapped porter, that Axel said something.

"Learn a lesson from Dane, Robinson. Never ever question your superiors. Look at him, once one of the kingdom’s finest warriors. And now condemned to a life of servitude, and with a damaged leg! He doesn’t even have the option of marrying, poor fellow."

Robinson merely nodded. There was not much too be said, in any case, as he knew more about Dane’s offense than Axel thought or knew himself.

Any chance to continue the conversation was ended as they reached the end of the cold corridor. Axel reached out almost hesitantly, and knocked a specific beat on the plain little door. A peephole was opened, revealing a menacing eye staring down upon the two men.

“I am here to see King Cronan. He is expecting me,” Robinson said confidently, silently challenging the eye to deny him.

“I am also here to see His Majesty,” Axel added, a slight quaver to his voice.

The eye flickered from one spy to the other several times before taking a few slow, long blinks. After a long minute, the eye finally withdrew itself and the peephole slammed shut. Then the door opened to reveal the owner of the eye, a large man, taller than Robinson and thicker than Axel’s height, with an array of battle scars that shone in the light as he grunted at them and led them down a narrow hallway.

It eventually opened into a large, majestic room. The walls were covered in looted swords, shields, heads of enemies, and other treasures; priceless paintings of the kings who had ruled over Waelwulf Castle long ago were hung over the multiple crackling fireplaces. Yet even with the candlelight and the fires burning, the room was still dark, darker than much of the castle Robinson and Axel had traveled through.

The most ornate chandelier hung over a painting of a bearded man standing beside a dark brown wolf, their shoulders touching. In the center of the room was almost an exact replica of the portrait, minus the wolf, who had simply been the same man posing in his other form. In fact, it appeared as if the King had barely aged a day since the portrait was finished over sixty years ago.

"Axel. Robinson. I trust you bring news?" King Cronan asked, sipping wine from a silver goblet.

"Yes, Your Highness. I have returned with information of the Orarius Pack, as you requested," Axel announced puffing his chest out grandly.

"And you, Robinson? What do you return with?"

"I return with good news, Your Highness," Robinson replied with a shadow of a smirk. Cronan chuckled slightly, mildly impressed by Robinson’s word choice. Axel didn't find it amusing.

"Your Highness, the descendant we have been watching—his mate is with child," Axel said, disgruntled.

The King’s expression grew somber once more and he focused a penetrating gaze on Axel. "And do you know the sex of the child?"

Axel hesitated before bowing his head. "I do not, Your Highness. My deepest apologies."

"Your apologies will not tell us the gender of the offspring, Axel, no matter how deep they may be," the King said in a cold, detached voice. Axel swallowed audibly.

Suddenly the King snapped his fingers and a dozen wolves emerged from the shadows of the room. They prowled forward, snarls erupting from them one by one as they closed in on Axel.

"It will be a she-wolf, Your Highness," Robinson said calmly, as if the proceedings around him didn't bother him in the slightest—which, knowing Robinson, actually didn’t. He knew that in light of Axel’s disappointing performance, he would be rewarded for the morsel of information.

King Cronan held up a hand, signaling the wolves to halt and return to their designated spots. "And do we know anything about the garden?" he asked, looking thoroughly pleased at the vague wording of his question.

But Robinson understood perfectly. "The tree has sprouted, but it can barely be distinguished from the weeds," Robinson replied.

"So we will have to wait," said the King, making it sound more like a statement than a question. He locked his eyes onto his spy’s. Robinson did not waver, holding his gaze calmly as the atmosphere in the room grew tense until, finally the King began to chuckle and they both looked away at once.

With a flick of his wrist, King Cronan dismissed the two men. Axel was the fastest to bow and turn his back on the king. Eager to leave the room, he didn’t notice the change of his superior’s expression.

Robinson had been slower, and paused at the subtle shift in the air. “You must be wondering why I told both of you to report to me at the same time.” While the question was directed at both of them, the king’s gaze did not waver from Axel’s back. The ginger man had frozen, eyes closed, still facing the door, though there was no denying the fear that trembled through his body. Cronan continued as if he had not noticed. “You see, I suspected that one of you was, perhaps, a spy. An infiltrator.”

Robinson froze as well, despite his best efforts. No, surely no…

Another snap of Cronan’s fingers and the wolves re-emerged, more aggressive and terrifying than before. Half moved towards Axel, the others towards Robinson. Axel turned to his king. “Your Highness—please—I don’t understand.” The words slipped from his tongue and into the room before he had a chance to stop them.

That was a mistake.

Cronan’s nostrils flared and a hand twitched towards the goblet. “How can I be more clear, Axel?”

“Yes Axel, what has His Majesty said that you find so difficult to understand?” Robinson said, against his better judgment. The king’s eyes snapped to Robinson, growing ever more black but still holding a sparkle of amusement. What boring company he must keep for Robinson’s words to hold such humor.

Axel looked at Robinson, eyes full of betrayal and fear. In return Robinson looked back with remorse.

A second snap of fingers signaled two wolves to grab each of Axel’s arms. The cries echoed around the room as sharp teeth sunk into tender flesh. “You see, I think that you know more than you are revealing to me. If Robinson was able to discover the gender of the child and find the tree, surely you would be able to as well. So why not tell me? Ah, yes. Because you had something to protect. Because your loyalties lie elsewhere—with the Orarius Pack, the Coastal Pack,” Cronan spat at Axel.

“You are mistaken, Y-your Highness.” Axel’s voice hitched as the wolf holding his right arm tightened his grip, sinking his teeth deeper into the muscle. Axel’s knees gave out, and his face paled.

“I am not mistaken, Axel. You are. You pledged allegiance to the wrong pack,” the King deadpanned before drinking the rest of the liquid in his goblet. He smacked his lips a couple of times before returning his gaze to the man on his knees, now quietly sobbing. Robinson discreetly bowed his head, but turned it at a slight angle so he could catch Axel’s eye. Through the tears, the doomed man watched as Robinson mouthed sacred words to him: Father Moon, may you carry my brother’s spirit and his wolf safely to the Sacred Land and may you-

Robinson stopped and turned his head away as droplets of blood splattered across his face and screams pierced the air. The sound of tearing flesh was not unfamiliar, but it still made Robinson feel a deep, inconsolable sadness. He finished the prayer in his head, hoping it caught onto Axel’s spirit in time. Soon the screams stopped and silence fell, except for the quiet drip-drop of blood. Robinson slowly raised one hand and wiped away the red stain on his cheek. It smeared instead.

“Well then, I suppose we will just have to pay them a visit. Go find Prince Naples and tell him to get ready,” Cronan, said, continuing the conversation as if nothing had happened. And indeed, it appeared as if nothing had, the wolves having returned to the shadows while King Cronan and Robinson stood facing one another. The stench of death was easy to ignore if you tried hard enough. The sound of dripping blood, however, still echoed.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Robinson said. He stowed away his remorse and grief for Axel. They had only known each other briefly and compassion was not welcome in the Mara Negra’s court. Turning his head away, Robinson allowed himself a small triumphant smile. Everything was going according to plan.

The king rose from his seat, empty goblet in hand. He approached Axel’s torn and mangled body and lowered the goblet into one of the deeper pools of blood, making sure to fill it as much as he could before he took a sip. So perhaps it had not been wine.

Julia Debski was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1996. Her family moved around a lot during her childhood before finally settling down in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It wasn't until the 8th grade that she found her passion for writing. It was thanks to a particularly inspiring English teacher and a story that needed to be told. So she began to write, and she never stopped.

Four years later she found herself with nearly a dozen started novels and short stories. As junior in high school she was introduced to Greg Wilkey, a self-published independent author of four novels. He soon became a mentor to her as she worked to write and self-publish her own novel. After two years of hard work, and a nearly a year of mentorship The Hazel Tree was published in October 2013.

Website: http://juliadebski.weebly.com

Blog: http://spotofinkandstory.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliadebski (@juliadebski)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjuliadebski

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7351439.Julia_Debski

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/julponey/

http://www.pinterest.com/julponey/the-hazel-tree/

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What Books Made You Cry?

I have STRONG EMOTIONAL BONDS with my books. There has been many a time where I will be reading and I will throw the book against the wall, or slam it down, or drop it on my face...the run over and pick it up and hug it. Then I'll spend a considerable amount of time talking to friends who are reading along with me while posting and blogging on Facebook and Tumblr all the pain I went through.

However, there weren't too many books that made me cry. Only four, really.

The first? Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare. (I am such a TID and TMI fangirl. Ugh.)
THAT ENDING WAS NOT OKAY. NOT. OKAY. I suppose it was meant to come, and the epilogue only added to my damaged feels (it sort of patched them up) but I was bawling like a little girl.

Second? Allegiant by Veronica Roth.
See what I said above? Ditto that. Only it was twenty times WORSE. (I threw that book clear across the room. After reading the last few chapters about eight hundred times to make sure I was seeing correctly.)

Here's how I see the cover: Once choice will break you. "Heart Snapper" by EVIL TROLL who wishes to eat your heart out *cue evil laughter*

Third? The Fault in our Stars by John Green.
Ugh UGH UGH EVIL HEARTBREAKER TROLL AUTHOR STRIKES AGAIN. Not only did he get me so undeniably attached to these people but HE BROKE MY FEELS to the point where I was like..................................for three days. *sobs uncontrollably* NOT OKAY it will NEVER be okay EVER.

Fourth? A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
I don't usually read classics for this exact reason....someone ALWAYS DIES and it DOESN'T PLEASE ME.  Oh wait...that happens anyways. *buys all the classics in the world* READ THEM ALL! Hahaha :D

This time, while I was reading, I was banging the book down on the table chanting "Please don't do what I think you're going to do!" until I got to the end where I burst into tears and ran away from the book. ( I LOVE IT THOUGH :D )

I do usually end up getting really annoyed or a little violent with my books, but few really made me cry. So, if there's an author out there who wrote one of these books reading this right now, good job. You broke me. You broke my feels.  You  broke my heart. You broke EVERYTHING. Permanently. Are you happy now?

Feel free to let me know what books made YOU cry. I might just go out and read them. :)