ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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Tiny snippet

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We are working hard on Emerald Blaze and we are on a very pressing deadline. This is a bribe for the radio silence.

An outraged honk tore through the silence behind us. We both turned. A green Mini Cooper sped up the road and slid to a dramatic stop before the security booth. The driver’s window rolled down and Runa Etterson stuck her red-haired head out of it.

“Catalina! Step away from the dickhead!”

A strangled sound came from the booth’s speakers. It sounded suspiciously like laughter.

“I thought the Etterson matter was settled,” Alessandro murmured.

“It was.”

“Then what is she doing here?”

“She came for moral support. She’s my best friend.”

Runa passed the security test and was marching toward us, her car abandoned. Her face promised war. I had kept things from my family, because I didn’t want them to worry, but I told Runa everything.

“You should run,” I told Alessandro. “You’re vastly outnumbered. It’s not too late to give up and go home.”

 “You! Don’t you walk away. I have things to say to you.” Runa caught up with us. “Catalina, have you lost your mind?”

Probably. “How did you even know he was here?” I asked.

“Intuition,” she said and turned bright red.

Bern. Had to be.

Runa stared at Alessandro.  “You saved my brother.  I owe you a debt.  If you need a favor, I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“Catalina is my best friend. I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t get any ideas. She’s too good for you.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“If you hurt her again, I’ll find you and then I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

“Okay.”  I grabbed her by the shoulders and steered her toward the door.  “Thank you for your input, Prime Etterson.”

“Dead!” Runa called out over her shoulder.

“I’m so glad for you,” Alessandro said behind me.  “You’re loved by many people.”

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Comments

  2. Smell test? Do they have a dog/dogs because of Illusionary mages (Augustine)?

    Also, Runa is the best! Everyone should have a friend like her. ^^

      • The HL Prine society logic got to us – we are already worrying about prime children O.o no need for them to be primes and they can be duds as long as they like computers and have startling red hair 😀

      • I’d guess better than fair, considering Penelope’s family is a rising vector. Bern and Leon are both significant or higher and I’m pretty sure their grandparents were no higher than Notable.

  7. Oh Alessandro. What a Heartbreaking response.

    But Runa! I love that girl. Is there a Bern / Runa novella anywhere?!?!

  15. Thank you for keeping us in the loop. I recently dropped an author because she hasn’t written anything in two years and all we here about are her vacations and her grandchildren instead of her writing. It’s helpful and makes me able to exercise patience while I wait for the next blockbuster from you guys.

  20. Thank you for the snippet, even though we know you are busy! You never forget us even when you have so much to do! Much appreciated.

  22. Your dead!! ???????? every girl should have a best friend that will do this for them!! Thank y’all for the snippet can’t wait for the book!!

    • Ahhh, having a best friend like that would be absolutely awesome. I also ship Runa and Bern, but she’s a prime venetta, Bern is magus exemplar….

      • So… kids with the skill of seeing instantly what pattern/combo of poison that will work the best? 😉

  25. Now I’ve got that “radio silence” earworm in my head.

    Still, worth it for the Runa encounter.

    Thx muchly.

  27. Runa is awesome!! It’s so wonderful that Catarina has a BFF! Thanks for the snippet to brighten our week!

  33. Thank you so much for the snippet! This made my dreary, gray Monday quite a bit brighter! Good luck with the deadlines, may everything go smoothly.

  36. Runa could use her powers to give him boils in uncomfortable places. I’d think that would get a little more respect as an adversary.

  39. love love love this.
    Also echo all the love for Bern and Runa!! Such a great couple, cannot wait to read more about them and hope hope hope they are the next trilogy. Although honesty, I really want more of the animal mages – my favorite read of any of your books has to be when the ferrets invaded the mansion and Rogan and Augustine eye roll “I’m in a Disney movie” and then immediately had to call and get their house security upgraded. I still love to read this part. Second favorite? “Smile, Bunny”

    • Yes I loved those parts also. I am very grateful for any snippets but an curious about Augustine @ who you have for him. Keep writing & CONGRATULATIONS on being published in Russia ????.

    • I always figured that Augustine was emailing, not security, but MII HR to look into hiring animal mages.

  43. Thank you thank you Team Andrews. Even in the face of a deadline you snip for us.

    And Runa is a wonderful best friend. She would definitely help Catalina bury the body if necessary

  45. I love this. Also, I love Runa and Bern. Do I think they could carry a whole book? No, but no one asked me either. I still adore them.

  49. Love the snippet and the picture! Waiting patiently (okay, that’s a lie) for Emerald Blaze. Take time out to just breathe and live your lives, though. I want IA to be writing for a long, long time and not burn out from the pressure. Hope this year is going better for you than the last one.

  57. Thank you for the bribe, other wise known as the snippet.
    And now radio station House Andrews is off the air due to other important commitments. ????

    • Yeah, didn’t find an emoji to show how I was whilst reading this snippet…… I probably resembled an owl, my eyes were so wide…….

      On a slightly unrelated note, am re-re-re-re-reading Kate Daniels again. Will Derek and Julie continue their own series? Curran is wow….but the boy-wonder is wower……..

  65. Oh this is going to be fun. So much to look forward to. You-completion, Me-fun, fun, fun. Thank you for the snippets and in advance for the books.

  71. I adore Runa. Best friends are almost as good as siblings. The image is just as I imagined her.
    Thanks for the snippet.

  72. Perfect. I bet she’d do it with an undetectable poison so no one but her would know. And the thought would keep her warm on cold nights.

  74. Such a lovely sentiment, someone being glad that you’re loved by many people. Reminds me of a line from the movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, where Fred Rodgers asks the journalist to “Just take a minute to think of the people who loved us into being”.

  75. All I can say is thank you for giving us a treat when you’re clearly busting a gut. Don’t worry about any radio silence, we can take it since we know you’re on a deadline.

  76. Thank you! Work in peace, don’t worry about us, we will manage just fine, on another note, my husband read sweep with me just now and the first thing he said was “I forgot how easy are they to reed” and then he said why the f… did I read the first chapter so early, it starts so good and it will be so long till August.” Just so you know he is fan of sifi and war/soldier fiction and do not likes at all the classic fantasy let alone the romence part of the genre, it is not saying much per se, but for me is a huge bravo for your writing and a happy thing to be able to discuss books with him.

  77. So far, Catalina is my favorite character in this series. She started out as a sheltered teenager, started slowly using her magic and then, through necessity, became head of her house. The growth and change in her is truly remarkable, and I can’t wait to see what she and those in House Baylor do next. Thanks for the snippet. Both of you have such a great sense of humor in your writing. I know it’s a lot of work, but you must have a lot of fun with some of these scenes. And, great picture of Runa. I have a better visual of her now.

  84. Ahh! Now I have to wait for more! But it was a great snippet. You know how to dangle the carrots in front of our noses!

  91. Y’know, Catalina IS lived by many people. Genuinely loved. Alessandro may be a famous international hottie, but loved?

    It makes the last line sound oddly sincere. I love it.

  98. Oh heartbreak from Alessandro! Your HEA will find you loved by the clan.

    Hope for a Runa/Bern novella!

    Thanks for the snippet!

  100. Thank you, I love all of your books. I am one of those people that when the new book comes out I read it then read the series again from start to finish. You have made me laugh … I have Acute undifferentiated leukemia and your writing has allowed me to escape into a better place.

  101. Thank you. I was starting to jones for an Ilone Andrews book. The snippet means there is one coming soon.

  108. Thank you for continuing the series (maybe with more continuing Arabella, Bern?)

    Also, hoping life lets you do more of the Iron Convenant.

    Thanks for sharing you wonderful stories.

  109. I’m very excited for this book (I always am for your work). I can’t wait to see more of Runa too! I liked her before, but I’m living for her sass here!

    • Leon is still young. There is time for him. If I’ve done the math right, he’s 19, and Arabella is 18.

  112. Yaz!!!!!!!
    I like Runa in a little green car, it fits her. Bestie backup, whoot whoot!
    Thank you for the snippet 🙂

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