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Threat Assessment Sneaky Treat

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Hi Devouring Horde!

Because you have been a most lovely, patient and fine and fluffy horde lately, behold, I have stolen you a treat from the equally lovely House Andrews!

Don’t ask me if there will be more, when will there be more and how will there be more. This never happened. ::Mod R melts in the shadows of Unicorn Lane::

Which Wilmington?

Ms. Vigue adjusted her bright red glasses and peered at me from her perch on the sofa in our second living room.  We were in the middle of renovations, and the second living room was one of the only functional rooms in the place. 

Ms. Vigue was in her early fifties, with a lightly tanned skin and ash-blonde hair cropped short and brushed back from her face.  Her eyes behind the lenses were either gray or pale blue. She wore a silky green blouse with a light gray skirt.

I wore a pair of old shorts and a paint-stained tank top over a sports bra, because I had been painting one of the spare bedrooms when Ms. Vigue arrived unannounced. I’d pulled my brown hair into a bun and pinned it in place with an old bandana to minimize the paint exposure, and since that side of the house had neither fans nor any either way of cooling, I smelled like a lumberjack after a long day at work. Making a great first impression on a school administrator – check.

We smiled at each other. Ms. Vigue was doing her best to appear approachable and welcoming, while I did my best to appear normal. We were both lying as hard as we could.

Making small talk was not among my few virtues. “I was under the impression that we were already done with the admissions.  You sent us the acceptance letter.”

Which was part of the reason we moved here and got stuck in the renovation hell.

“You are correct.” Ms. Vigue offered me a quick humorless smile. “Our school is unique.”

You could say that again.  It was so unique, it cost an arm and a leg, but they came highly recommended.

“We like to think of our body as being truly representative of the diverse world we live in. It is a special place where students of different backgrounds come together. This interview will help us to better understand your child’s needs and enable us to ensure their safety and help them thrive in our vibrant community.”

Aha.  This wasn’t a get-to-know-you visit, this was a threat assessment.

I smiled. Think normal suburban thoughts.  How hard could this be, right?

“Of course, my husband and I will do everything in our power to assist you.  Please feel free to ask us anything.”

She took out a leather folder, unzipped it, and checked the contents. “You’ve been recommended by one of our patrons. How do you know Dr. Cole?”

“He was our family doctor. He delivered my son and has treated him frequently over the years. We consider him a family friend.”

 Ms. Vigue nodded and made a note in her folder.  “Your son’s assessment scores are quite remarkable.”

Was this a compliment?  If I took it as a compliment, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. “Thank you.”

“Our school’s reputation ensures that we get the most outstanding applicants. Your son will be among his intellectual peers.”

That would be a tall order, but I didn’t need him to find his intellectual equals. I just needed him to learn to act like a person and interact with other children.

“It’s my understanding that your child is a shapeshifter.”

Here we go. “Yes.”

“What is the nature of his beast?”

I smiled even sweeter.  “That’s a highly illegal question, Ms. Vigue. The nature of one’s beast is confidential and cannot be used as basis for discrimination by any educational institution in this country.”

I knew this because my husband had dumped a massive amount of money and effort into lobbying for those laws to be passed.

Ms. Vigue pushed her glasses up her nose with her middle finger.

Aha. Fuck you too. “Would you like me to cite the relevant federal and state statutes protecting shapeshifter rights, or can we skip the formalities?”

“Of course, we cannot compel you to release that information.  However…”

“Your next words will determine what I’ll tell Dr. Cole tonight when he calls to check how we are settling in. And he will call. He is very thoughtful and thorough. I’m sure he and his seven thousand associates will take a dim view of your school attempting to discriminate against a shapeshifter child.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re going to be difficult, aren’t you?”

You have no idea.  “I don’t know what you mean, Ms. Vigue.  Did you have any other questions?”

“I will come straight to the point.”

“I wish you would.”

“Can you guarantee that your child will not snap and attack his classmates?”

“Absolutely.  He is very much like his father. It’s important to him that his resorting to violence is viewed as a deliberate choice rather than a loss of control on his part.”

She blinked at me.

I leaned forward and fixed her with my stare. I’ve had a lot of practice and years of experience to back it up. Ms. Vigue flinched a bit.

“Since we’ve decided to be blunt, if my child decides to go on a rampage, the combined security of your school won’t be able to stop him. If something alarming happens, which it won’t, you will call us, and either I or his father will come and take care of it.”

“Are you suggesting that we make no effort to contain him?”

“He won’t attack you if you don’t present a threat. Your best strategy is to sit still and look down. Don’t run because he will chase you and he is very fast. Cringing and urinating on yourself will also remove you from his target list.”  I smiled.  “I’m so glad we had this chat, Ms. Vigue. Would you like some iced tea for the road?”

Three minutes later, I watched Ms. Vigue get into her Chevrolet Malibu and roll down the road west. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  The air smelled like sea and sun. It should’ve been calming, but it wasn’t.  The past few days brought one minor calamity after another, starting with the floor in the utility room caving in and getting worse from there.  Ms. Vigue’s visit was just a rotten cherry on top of this cake of woe.

I needed to vent some steam in the worst way.

The sound of footsteps made me turn. Our general contractor, Paul Oak, was walking toward me with an older man in tow.

Around me the walls of Fort Kure loomed against the sunshine, blocking the view of the beach.  Conceived by a hare-brained multimillionaire as a privately owned ‘companion attraction” to the historic Fort Fisher, the structure had been only 2/3 complete when the owner bailed. Once finished, it would look like a hybrid of a medieval castle and a modern fort.  My husband took one look at the absurdly thick stone walls and fell in love. His grey eyes got this crazy light, he took my hands in his, and said, “Baby, we would be crazy to not do this.”

I said yes because I loved him. And now Paul was coming to tell me that something else was broken.

Paul stopped a few feet away from me, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Something was wrong.  He was typically an optimistic guy who looked at a collapsed wall with an attitude of “I can fix it” and frequently did. The man behind him looked about fifteen years older than Paul, which put him in his late forties or early fifties. They had to be related – both had the same bronze skin, dark curly hair, and aquiline noses.

“I hate to ask,” Paul said, “But is there any way I could get an advance on the next month’s pay?”

“Why?”

Paul opened his mouth, thought about it, and sighed.  “Look, it’s complicated.”

“Paul, you’re asking for ten thousand dollars.”  We paid him, and he doled the money out to his employees and subcontractors.  “For this amount of money, I need to know why.”

 He opened his mouth again, closed it, thought about it, and finally said, “This is my uncle, Thomas. Someone took my cousin. We scraped together what we had to buy him back, but it’s not enough.”

We lived in unsafe times.  Kidnappings weren’t uncommon, especially if the victim was, in Ms. Vigue’s words, “vibrant enough.” 

“Do you know who took him?”

Thomas nodded.

“Are they holding him for ransom?”

“No,” Paul said.

“Have you tried the cops?”

“These are dangerous people,” Thomas said.  “The cops won’t bother them unless there is evidence. I don’t have evidence.”

“Then how do you know who took him?”

“Because Darin’s best friend saw them take him.  If I go to the police, bad things will happen to that boy.”

Right.  This would do. 

I pulled the rag off my head.  “Wait here.  I’m going to change, and we’ll go and get your son back.”

“You don’t understand,” Thomas said. “They are…”

“Bad people.  I got it.  Don’t worry, I’m worse.”

The two men looked skeptical.  It was probably my winning ensemble of stained tank top and torn shorts.

My husband walked out of the north tower and jogged over to us. He was almost six feet tall, with blond hair and grey eyes, and he was built like a champion grappler in his prime. The two men instinctively stepped aside to make room for him.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” I told him.

“What’s going on?”

“Paul’s cousin has been kidnapped.  I’m going to get him back.”

“Oh good.  Will you be home in time for dinner?”

Paul and Thomas looked at him like he had lost his mind.

“Nah.  Eat without me.”  I stretched my shoulders a bit, gave him a quick hug, and headed to my bedroom.

“Don’t forget,” he called.

“Low profile,” I called out over my shoulder.  “I remember.”

We had agreed before moving that keeping a low profile was best, and we’d both religiously stuck to it, so far.

Five minutes later I walked out wearing my work clothes: a pair of jeans lose enough to kick someone taller than me in the face, a grey T-shirt, and a pair of soft boots.  I wore a utility belt on my waist and a sword sheath on my back.  The handle of my sword protruded over my shoulder. I’d braided my hair, and there were two throwing knives and a bowie in the sheath on my thigh.

“Let’s go,” I told Thomas.

The older man looked at Paul. Paul spread his arms and shrugged. Thomas looked at him, looked at me, and fell in step. 

“Did you bring a car?”

“I rode a horse.”

“Good.  I like horses best.” They always worked.

The world skipped a bit.  Technology coughed and died, and magic flooded us in an invisible wave.  The colors grew a little brighter, the sounds turned a little louder, and the things came into focus with a new sharpness. For as long as the magic held, the guns would not fire, the electric bulbs would remain dark, and monsters would spawn in the darkness.  I looked up at the horizon

“I still think this is a terrible idea, Mrs…”

“Don’t worry,” I told him.  “I need the exercise. And, please, call me Kate.”

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. I did not know I needed Kate And Curran’s Not So Low Profile Suburban Adventures until now. thank you Mod R, and thanks to House Andrews!

  5. Thank you! Glad to see Kate can find someway to work out the anger even in retirement.
    And historic Fort Fisher is about 45 mins from me. I havent hit Kure beach yet but I heard its nice too.

  6. Kate has become my model for “how to deal with assholes who think they can push me around”, although I’m not nearly as successful at it.

    More practice needed, I guess.

    • Lin,

      If you aren’t in post-Shift Atlanta, saber driven problem solving directed at assholes usually isn’t worth the paperwork it generates.

  7. OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG MOD R!!!!!!! MOD R!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST.

    Ok, I am done screaming now.

    That was fabulous. These little glimpses here and there are so much fun

    Thank you

    • Seconded! I’m sure y’all could hear my SQUEEEEEEEEEE in San Francisco, no matter where you are in the world! Thank you Mod R and House Andrews, you are too, too good to your adoring BDH.

      • my squeee was soo loud and long that my hubby called from the other side of the house to see what was going on. he heard me though 3 doors and zoom call.

  8. Love it!! I’m going to be imagining the fight to get the nephew back all day… a quick, but firm stare. Bad guys running away? A free repair for a job well done?

  9. Aaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

    I can’t breathe!!!!!

    Dammit why can’t I find emojis that show me screaming in joy, doing a happy dance and leaping around like a lunatic!!!

    Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou

  10. I want more Kate in my life! I NEED more Kate in my life! And I knew should couldn’t keep that low profile.

    Thankyouthankyouthankyou!

  11. LOVE LOVE!
    Thank you!

    “We smiled at each other. Ms. Vigue was doing her best to appear approachable and welcoming, while I did my best to appear normal. We were both lying as hard as we could.”

    Genius. Pure genius.

      • That’s a tall order for BDH Mod R, especially when it comes to Kate ⚔️ Especially after such an AWESOME glimpse into Kate’s HEA ❤️
        I remember the post of Kid 1 or 2 asking Ilona why KD fans were so extra, which led to the hilarious (and accurate) description of the fandoms, with some enjoying afternoon tea or giggling and puns, and KD fandom kicking down the door screaming AMEHE amongst other ????
        Actually, I could do with a re-read of that post, can you help me re-find it? (The original, not the one with the illustration, I have tried previously to go back in old posts)

          • Can we have a throwback Thursday style post of some really fun or most asked for posts not sure if you’d do on regular but I love some of the old silly things from a decade ago…yeesh I’ve been on blog/site since book 4/5 released. I remember this tea party post I’d love to reread again too!? Please and thank you xoxo!!

        • @VibekeR, as per Moderator R, the Fandom Tea Party is archived in the website. There is another way to access it. Do you receive email alerts (subscription) when Ilona Andrews posts in this blog? I do. I keep most of these alerts for a few years before deleting it. If you have not deleted yours, you can find The Fandom Tea Party that was emailed on 09Dec2020. It’s all there IN the email.

      • You say that, and I’m trying (cuz cool horde gets cookies)… But I think it looks more like “Cool” from West Side Story after that snippet. POW!

        Boy, boy, crazy boy…

  20. Love! love Love! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Snippets help SO MUCH. THANK YOU

  21. Omg…loving this snippet! Can’t wait to see what the future will bring. Hope HA are havibg fun and relaxing on their well deserved vacation.

  22. Oh gosh, oh gosh! *curls into a ball virtually holding precious scrap of KD world* I’ll be rereading this for days.

    Silly, silly citizens of Wilmington.

    Thank you oh so much ????

    • House Andrews is lovely
      Mod R is lovely
      BDH is lovely
      And a snippet has brought much joy

  30. Mod R! Mod R! Stay out of Unicorn Lane! Haven’t you learned anything from reading all of Kate’s books? Heaven knows who/what you might meet up with there! Really, who knows?

    • Yeah, maybe even a volhv in a dark crown…Oh dear, I really hope not, and me in these very slippery shoes, I might trip or something straight into his arms!

      • No! Not with those two cups of coffee in your hands. Why, one would go to waste if he didn’t take it as thanks for the save. The one with your phone number on it.

  31. This snippet just made my day. I can’t wait to read about Kate kicking butt in her new locale. Thanks for the sneak peak!

  32. Squeeeeee!!!!
    This is the only place I allow myself to squee with such abandon.
    Thank you for this.
    It made my day!

  33. Of course this was found in the recesses of Unicorn Lane. Magical snips from books that were never written, only dreamed. My heart will be skipping along next to an imaginary Kate all day long. Thank you Mod R!

  34. Thank you for you theft. I hope this is an early indication of kleptomania. We promise to remain a fluffy horde in anticipation of treats.

    Conlan at school now that would be a fun series to read. Even the few tidbits of him we’ve seen in the past are amusing.

    I also love how laid-back Curran gotten about Kate running into danger. Will you be home for dinner? ????????????

    • Gotta admit: When I clicked to who the first person narrator was, I got chills! Wow.

  43. This was unexpected and amazing as usual. You should release a book titled Parenting. The Kate Daniels technique.
    1.Know your rights.
    2.Perfect your menacing look.
    3. Become a badass at sass.
    4. Learn how to get your points across while looking innocent.

    After reading Conlan’s first shift scenes and reading more about him in Blood heir , I always suspected his upbringing will be interesting. That healthy confidence isn’t just genetics.

    Every line and interaction just reminded of the reason why I love the Kate Daniels world. As if I could ever forget. Kate doesn’t do low profile but I have faith that Curran can help and it’ll be nothing short of entertaining for me. Thank you .

  44. Nice surprise. Thanks. Looks like the adventures of Kate Daniels are not quite finished.

  45. I just finished watching a French Canadian murder series called (English subtitles) The Wall. It us set in Fremont, which is in Labrador. The town’s main structure is a wall of buildings that serves as a wind break for the rest of the smaller buildings. Amazing structure and a good series as well

  47. Oh dear GOD!!!!! Now I want that book tooooooooooooo!!!!!

    I must know more ,please!! Pretty, pretty please!!

  48. I made the unhuman screech for half a minute and I might continue doing it for some time. Ohh Kate and Curran, I love it.

  49. I will never, ever tire of these most wonderful characters. Gold star for sharing, Moderator R!!

  50. I want… I want… I want… more… the fluffy BDH … hungry.
    Fasting is good for body and soul, but want…………..more

  51. Happy Dance!! Happy Dance!! Jumping, squealing and dancing all over the place!! Thank you Mod R and the ever generous House Andrews!!

  55. This was THE BEST THING EVEERRRRR!!!! (yep 100% yelling) I love you Mod R and clan IA ❤️❤️❤️

  58. Literally LOL. That was SO MUCH FUN!!!

    I hate home renovation projects, so I get it. You can’t vent your frustrations on your GC.

    • NO, It is a very very bad idea to piss of the GC who is working on your project. Really, I know this from real life. They can make your project sloooow down like a drop of ever dropping never splatting honey. Caught in mid air, mid project forever, mid chaos moment to be lived through endlessly with no end in sight. The very definition of hell.

  60. Ahhhh Crap!!!! Just enough of a tease to make you NEED to turn the page and read on, but NOOOoooooo… Oh Well.. We were warned..
    Thank You Mod R! (and curse you Mod R) for this outstanding tidbit.

  61. Love it! So very many possibilities! Nostalgia at it’s best! Slap my hands, no asking for more.

  64. AHHHHHHHH OMG OMG OMG Red Alert! KD snippet!! *attempts to catch breath*

    We love you Mod R and House Andrews <3

  68. *fangirl screaming* Thank you mod R!!! Even if we never get anything else from this, I LOVE it!

  76. Dr. Cole, who was present at Kate’s son’s birth. Would his first name be Darren? I can easily see Doolittle as a pseudonym, since he works mainly with shapeshifters.

    • Ahh, when I first saw Dr. Cole, I was like…”wait… Did they have another kid in Wilmington? Is there another one?!” This makes more sense, but now I’m a little disappointed there’s not a surprise baby.

      • The witch oracle says there will be another kid – a girl if I remember correctly – that’s how she knows Aurelia has changed the future.
        We have no idea when her vision happens, however.

    • Thanks, i was trying to think who Dr Cole was, i knew the 3 witches were at the birth, and grandma and was trying to think who else was in the cave with them (besides Curran)

  78. Thank you! I just started rereading Blood Heir and I am so happy to get a peek at what Kate was up to after Magic Triumphs. ❤️❤️❤️

    • I just re-read Blood Heir for the umpteenth time and it is just as good. And if you have already, also try to read Magic Stars which gives you another view into Julie/Derek

  79. suhweet!!!!!!

    Love how Kate and Curran have this as a couple. Poor bad guys. They have no idea what is coming for them.

    Kate, however, will get to work out her frustration at the money pit.

  81. That was absolutely perfect. And a little mean. Now I have to think of the ways Kate will get the boy back…????????

  82. Wilmington, North Carolina since they mentioned Fort Fisher. I wonder if that is far enough from Atlanta that people will not recognize them?

    • Julie says NC in Blood Heir. And Barabas calls Curran a “beach bum” in the scene at the Merc’s Guild.

  85. Oh my God, thank you!!!! Oh please oh please oh please may we have another??? I needed this!!

  88. I have involuntary sympathy for Ms. Vigue here. Doesn’t seem an unreasonable line of questioning even if she ought to have approached it in a different, not illegal manner. Safety of the other students is important!

    • No sympathy from me! Having dealt with many of that officious and irritating breed, I can only say “Go, Kate!”

      • Me either, i’d think Conlan has more control than most of the special teenagers at that school.

  89. SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! *Hyperventilates till swoons in sheer delight* Thank you, Mod R!????????????

  90. That was so wonderful! I miss Kate and Curran so much. These little snippets make my day.

    Thank you House Andrews!

  91. Ahhh!!!

    Now I need to know what happens next!! Does that make this a blessing or a curse?

    I’m giddy from reading it though, so I guess a blessing. Thank you for sharing!

    (Or totally not sharing, because this didn’t happen and it’s just afever dream)

  92. Where is, as Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story”?

    Loved it. Would love more.

    • What story? I see no story. ????

      Horde…we gotta work on sneakiness. Drills in the Keep all week!

      • Mysteriously and magically, “Kate And Curran’s Not So Low Profile Suburban Adventures” (h/t to one of the posters above whose name I already don’t remember) gets posted and you expected SNEAKINESS by the BDH? I’m pretty sure the ???? shook from all the squeeeeing and happy dancing!
        I’ll report to the drills….

      • I was already delighted to find I was among the ‘fine and fluffy horde’, and now we get to drill in the Keep?!
        Life is good.

  97. I needed this today. I am so happy that this story just *fell off of the truck* or out of the work in progress saved file, however it decided to appear. It was magic. So excited to read any story but a snippet of Kate is amazing. She just needed an avenue to vent her frustrations. Those kidnappers will regret their life choices very quickly, though I imagine they will not have the chance to reflect on their regret for very long. Took me a second to realize Dr. Cole would be Dr. Doolittle. Whenever, however, or how often Unicorn Lane magics a story for the BDH I am grateful.

  100. This was so beautiful, unexpected and I thought I couldn’t love the author more. I was wrong. Thank you!!!

  101. Took me a bit to figure out what this was a part of (so many universes, so little time), but when they started talking about a prodigy shapeshifter son, it clicked.

  104. Love it!! It’s just like putting on an old pair of jeans so comfy and fit just right. Dropping into Kate and Currans world like you’ve never left

    • +1000 !!! So many Thanks to Ilona and Gordon!!!!

      I totally needed this today! What a horrible day! My elderly car’s coolant system died (third time…), and it had to be towed (again) … and I can’t afford a new car …
      so really hoping it can be fixed …

      I was at a deeply stressful and frustrating meeting until well after 1 am this morning (since yesterday afternoon … and after 3 days of prep …)

      I was woken after 3 hours of sleep by a friend calling from barn, who said:

      “Your horse misses you!! Where are you?! We’re all here and we’ve ridden already! Your horse misses you!!!”
      This would be my beloved horse with many (expensive) medical issues, who is my main reason for working like this …

      So the heart attack of seeing a call from horse “daycare” softened to a painful guilt trip … and then the car trouble … and then the rental company had no cars …
      and work head-aches …
      after two days of piercing actual head-aches …

      I bought a tub of ice cream with plans to eat the whole thing.

      So tired I fell asleep instead. Then I woke and found this snippet.

      Deepest gratitude.
      Starting to recover my sense of resilience … Kate is always good for that. 🙂

      • Knew it was Kate right away! Right from

        “… old shorts and a paint-stained tank top over a sports bra …”

        I love how she flies under the radar … looks so innocuous … 😉

        And knew for sure (!) with her smart-ass comment re: authority:
        “… Making a great first impression on a school administrator – check.”

        Clinched it with:
        “… Making small talk was not among my few virtues. ” [chortling]

        Does everyone remember:
        “… Intimidation is one of my few social skills. …”

        That always makes me laugh!

        • It’s funny because we were drilled with endless rules of decorum and etiquette …
          endless dictates of how we needed to make other people comfortable, and smooth the social situation, and be good and gracious …
          with immaculate manners …

          Kate is refreshing and a lot of fun 🙂

          She behaves the way we secretly (sometimes) wish we could …

  108. Oh, evil, evil Mod R! You are the best and worst. We have no idea if this is something being worked on, or a companion scene, or deleted scene.

    All we know is that it is fantastic and we want more.

    Thank you!

  109. Aaaaah! So good to meet again! Thank you HA and Mod R! ????
    I grinned the whole time!

  111. Woo!

    Also, I hope this means House IA are having a very good, very relaxing vacation.

  112. THANK YOU!!!!!

    When I’m reading this kind of snippet, I feel like a junkie who just had his fix 😉

  114. Oh. My. Gawd….
    Mod R, I love you and would absolutely bake you an apple pie (with normal apple, not the immorality type) for that!

    You’ve just made my Monday so much better

  119. ::sputters:: Could this possibly mean that… OMG! Squeals and scares the dog.. Are we getting a Novella/Novel in the Kate universe? With more of Connor!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

    • Repeat after me: nothing is confirmed unless and until it’s on the Release Schedule! 😛

      • We have ways of making things appear on the release schedule!

        But the only IA approved method is ….

        “Shut up and take my money!”

        Pretty please ???? ????

        • Hah.. I’m waving my cash around, hoping to catch their attention as I bounce up and down like a 5 year old in line for a Sno cone on a hot day.

  121. Oh my. I am in heaven. Thank you. The school won’t know what hit them. I am actually chuckling a bit. I love Kate.

  125. Eeee! Love it!
    Unfortunately, I do not have great faith in Kate’s ability to maintain a low profile.
    Although she has definitely gotten better at it, judging by the short story with Teddy Jo and the harpies…

  127. That’s going to be a struggle to be subtle.

    That’s was awesome! Thanks for the treat!

  128. Mod R, you are the absolute best!! What an incredible snippet! LOVE IT!!! You have made my day! Thank you so much!

  129. Even if there’s no more to this story (hand wards against evil), this has such a movement-in-life vibe: KD “because it’s Monday”.

    Thank you!

  130. Thank You HA!!!
    Thank You, oh ModR The SnippetBringer 😉

    And now I’ m going to reread My Precioussss ????

  134. Ahhhhhh! This was so good, hoping for more lol. I guess Curran didn’t keep his height if he’s back to being under 6ft. That’s good, I loved that Curran wasn’t a super tall main lead.

    • Me too. I am really tired of all the 6’4″ MC’s squeeze/heroes. I am 5’7″ and I dated a guy who is 6’4″. I also dated a guy who is 6’6″. It’s a hell of a stretch. 5’10” – 6’1″ is great. 😀

  135. Wahoo!!!! Thank you! A great way to start the week, even though it never happened! Love meeting old friends

  142. Thanks ModR!

    We will try to remain a fine and fluffy BDH in response to so awesome a treat . . . which never happened. 🙂

  143. Hehehehe (chortles and runs hands together) “keep a low profile” she says….. Thankyou for the Kate snippet!!

  144. I am betting this will get you a handy dandy new covered porch or added weight room area thrown in! Just think of the deals you can get if you do small favors for you contractors. I’m thinking of an outdoor grill/seating area with a below counter fridge, a smoker with one of those brick pizza ovens. You know that they will use it when company comes. You also need a flat hibachi grill area to make the veggies tasty.

  145. Let me be the first to tell you.This is incomplete.So what happen with the rest of the story?Wink,wink.
    See,didnt ask for more.

  148. Doubling down on patient and fluffy here. Extra fluffy means two cookies for snack time.

  152. Thank you Mod R, I will keep your secret that you stole this Wonderful Treat. Helps me get thru a Mad Hot Monday!

  154. Oh My *lol*. Initially I thought it might be Hugh’s kid, but then I realized it had to be none other than Kate/Curren and their kid. And trademark Kate, loved ‘or pee yourself and fall over’.

  156. Lovely surprise! I wasn’t thinking Kate world, so didn’t get it until the description of Curran joining them. A little slow, but so happy!

  161. SQUEEEEEEE!!!!!!

    I love it, I love it!! thank you, Mod R! Thank you, House Andrews!

  163. *fist pump* Yes! Yes! Yes!

    All hail sneaky Mod R!

    What a great surprise… but now, you baited the horde in the worst way… we want MORE!!!

    (Insert picture of a zombies clamoring for… books.)

  164. She’s in a bad mood so to get the catharsis she needs she’s planning to attack what sounds like a group of violent criminals (how many there are as yet to be determined). Oh God, how I have missed Kate. But I’m wondering – a short story, novella, novel (hope! hope! hope!).

  166. I feel sorry for the kidnappers.

    On the other hand the contractors won’t try to cheat Kate or do a crappy renovation.

  168. This was so good. House Andrews is brilliant, and it’s great to revisit Kate & Co again! Thank you.

  169. KATE!!! AND CURRAN!!!! Surprise of the day, and made me so happy!!! It’s like meeting old good friends after a long time and not realizing how much you missed them ❤️ On a side note “He was almost six feet tall….” I guess Curran did end up losing that extra height ????

    • Almost 6 feet tall could also mean 6 foot 5 inches, because that’s less than half and would round down to 6. This is my height math. My 5 foot 3. 5 inches gets rounded to 5 foot 4 inches because half round up. ????????

  172. Ahh so wonderful to read about Kate again. I miss them so much.
    Thank you for this

  175. After a week straight out of hell, this was the best surprise. Thank you House Andrews for a beloved snippet desperately needed <3

  178. Squeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

    That was an unexpected and fabulous treat, many thanks. Very happy.

  180. OMG, this is absolutely great and had me wondering who it was for a minute. I am incredibly excited. Thank for interrupting vacation with a teaser.

  183. SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! and YAAAAAAAYYYYY!!! and Thank you Thank you sneaky treat-doler-outer!!!! Also Thank You House Andrews for writing the sneaky treat!!

  185. I’m sitting here,typing this with a smile on my face but inwardly,I’m squealing like a little girl…I am not in fact a little girl but a very big one. I am also not squealing out loud because I am surrounded by people! I’ve missed Kate so much!!

  189. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Today is my thirty fifth wedding anniversary, and this is my favorite gift so far! THANK YOU!! ????????????????????

      • My parents have been married now for 67 years. Pretty sure they’ve stuck it out this long because neither was willing to give the other the satisfaction. Oh, that and they love each when they’re not arguing.

        My brother and I are both single.

  192. Oh My Atlanta!!!!… no longer. I’m so excited! This scenario of parenthood and as someone going through home renovations right now just really hits home. Following and growing up with Kate Daniels and getting to read more of her as she tackles day by day in passing is just so much fun!!

  194. Kate!!!! I’ve missed you!!!! Need the exercise? Que idiotic kidnappers! Yay!

    Thanks for the treat!

  195. Ahhhhhh. Omg omg ???? not sure what else to day. Going to have to sit on my hands so I don’t ask any questions. So many thoughts. Just have to wait for more.

  197. About two paragraphs in I’m like “It’s Kate!!!” And the rest of me is “Don’t jump to conclusions” see this is what happens when Mod doesn’t confirm there are not any new stories in KD. KD is back!!!!!

  198. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  204. Oh my!!!
    Sooo cool to have a look into Kate´s and Curran´s lives! Miss it so much!
    Thank you so much!

  205. Wonderful snippet – love the way you know it’s Kate if you’ve read KD, but if not you get the confirmation at the end!

    —

    On another note – what a beautiful picture! Looking at Google Earth is Fort Fisher on something like a spit or a sandbank then with a river estuary behind spotted with islands?

    • It is beautiful! The area is a barrier island so parts of the original Fort Fisher fortifications have eroded and are underwater. I think the reference to opposite Fort Fisher must mean Fort Kure is toward the SW/Aquarium (smell of the sea) rather than N/toward the NC Guard training center (inlet side, though the CF river is still saltwater there.) If it hadn’t mentioned Kure I would have thought it was near the Fort Anderson area on the opposite side of the Cape Fear river so Curran’s castle could have the size and fortifications of the original Fort Fisher (1 mile along the sea and about 200 acres.)

      And, yes, I absolutely intend to take the treat out to Fort Fisher this weekend and try to place where Fort Kure would be! Thank you so much for confirming Wilmington, NC!!

      • Thanks for the information – another place to put on my list of ‘spots to visit’ when I finally get across the Pond!

  206. Hooray! That was a wonderful treat ????❤️ Thanks Mod R for being a stealthy ninja and thanks House Andrew for letting us visit some of our favourite people.

  207. Hehehehe. Kate changes completely and simultaneously never changes. I’m so glad she survived to have a family and community and continue to be a menace to uptight people.

  208. Glad to see I’m not the only one yelling “SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” about this! Quietly. Deep inside.

  213. I love you, HA and Mod R. Thank you!
    Kate, Kate, Kate…
    Can never get enough of this world which, for me, also includes Julie and Derek stories.

  217. I. Love. It.

    Thank you mod R!

    Also, if it helps, I would absolutely buy a new KD book in triplicate (audio, kindle and dead tree)…. just throwing that out there.

  220. OMG, love it, love it, love it!! Please tell me this will be a short story or novella at some point. Pleeeaaaassse. Not too proud to beg.

  222. And look how subtly and tactfully Kate threatened Ms. Vigue with Dr. Cole’s “seven thousand associates” if she didn’t lose this line of inquiry, fast. Kate? Subtle? Tactful? The mind boggles.

    “Seven thousand associates”. Heh. And no other lawyer is as vicious as a Pack (or previously Pack) lawyer…

    • She was subtle and tactful right up to the point where she recommended pre-emptive urination.

      Side note: Autocorrect does not believe pre-emptive is a word, and offers “pre-emotive” instead. Autocorrect needs to get out more.

  224. SQUEEEEEEE!!! Love it and I accept this teaser because this means there is more of it out there (even if only in the minds of the AuthorLords). I swear that their writing gets better and better with each book. How they are able to create such different worlds/characters/plots and still be amazing is just another reason to love them and their creative process!

  226. Thanks BTW.

    Question: Why did HA place Kate Daniels in Atlanta?

    Did anyone ever make a detailed map of various locations? I am rereading the series and every time there’s a name of a street or area I go to a map app and locate it.

    • At the time, both Ilona and Gordon drove into Atlanta for work ????. They were inspired by their surroundings.

      There is a map for the main series, but it needs updating for the changes that Blood Heir brought. I’ll look for the old one for you ????

  227. Wow, even when fluffy we, the BDH, just can’t keep a secret! But then, KATE! Hahaha!

  229. OMG this totally made my Monday…. I am re-reading these books she makes me so happy. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANKYOU

  233. What a wonderful gift to your fan base! This has the makings of a new book (perhaps). So the youngster is going to finishing school. (I thought there would be a daughter by now.) So some nefarious people will get the chance to meet the daughter of Roland. My brother and I love it! Please, pretty please give us some more?

      • Yeah, they said they moved here for the school and in Blood Heir or a dropped snippet said they were in Wilmington because of Conlan’s school, so I placed this with Conlan approaching kindergarten or first grade.

  235. I’m woefully slow.::sad face::
    I was wondering who Dr. Cole was. It needed me getting to the end of the snippet to understand that it’s Dolittle. Even with the 7000 associate clue, it flew over my head.
    Did Curran’s height recede the same year he lost his godhood or was it gradual over the years? I noticed it says here he is almost 6 feet.
    I miss Grendel. Did they take him with them?

    • Can you imagine what Grendel could get into / try to eat on a construction site?
      I’m guessing he’s vacationing with somebody until the house is inhabitable.

      Personally, I’d love to read *that* snippet, though I might hurt myself before I stopped laughing…

  236. Aaaaahhhh! I love this, I want to read more (whenever you feel like writing it), this is amazing and tantalizing and so good!

  239. I immerse myself in the KD world about once a year. Just finished Blood Heir, again and it is so wonderful seeing snippets of their life in NC. Squeee

  240. When I was a child, I would go outside and spin around until I fell and then lay there with my eyes closed. It was as if I were flying. It was so fun. Reading this was just like that. Thank you!

  242. I smiled the whole way through! Hit me in the best way … I miss Kate and her world. Thank you for all you share!

  245. Somehow House Andrews knows when I really need something! Thank you so much for this.

  246. Like a phone call from old friends who are letting me know they’re soon coming to visit.
    Thank you

  253. Squeeee! Loved every word. Puzzling over the uncle’s child & Paul’s nephew bit. The child of my uncle is my first cousin, not my nephew. Perhaps there are more convolutions in this family than have been revealed here.????????‍♀️

  254. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

    Thank you thee who shall not be named and hides in or on the corner of ????lane

  257. OMG thank you for this!! I miss these characters like they are friends long gone! So enjoy updates on their lives!

  261. I‘m dreaming. This was just a dream, right? A very very very good dream.

    … thank you so much!

  265. Thank you! I wish I could buy you both a drink for a treat on your vacay. Have a blast and Thanks again.

  267. Thrilled! I have really enjoyed glimpses of Conlan, and hope to see more, and love seeing Kate and Curran!

  269. Y’all are such excellent wordsmiths. The movie that plays in my head as I read is always so clear and colorful as your world sucks me in. Thank you for the pleasure.

  270. ???????????? Kate!!
    Looks like Wilmington NC to me (who lives in Eastern NC)

    Don’t know how you do it! You have such distinctive “voices” for your characters. Wasn’t more than 2 sentences into when I thought “Kate – that’s Kate”.

  272. Ahhhhh! Kate! It’s Kate and Curran!
    He finally got another fort. Does it have a moat yet? I’ve missed them in a way re-reading doesn’t help! Thank you! Is this going to be book length? I know, you don’t know, this never happened, but is it? They usually run long even when intending to write novellas, so chances are good, right?

  273. After 2 canceled flights and sick kids, thanks for taking me to my happy place.

    Hoping fervently HA is having a better vacation than mine.

  276. Thank you!!

    I hope they are enjoying their break, getting the rest, relaxation and rejuvenation needed.

  277. A special treat! I love special treats and I especially love unexpected super special treats from HA! *happy sigh*
    Thank you!

  278. I love it!! Thank you so much for your thievery, Mod R! *ahem* I mean, mysterious stranger.

  279. I usually dislike Mondays but this will have me doing my happy dance all week! This was soooooo freaking awesome!????????????

  281. Awesomeness!!! My heart and inner beast is soothed…I have heard a snippet about my beloved Kate.

  285. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! House Andrews and Mod R are the best!!! What an awesome Monday this turned out to be :: happy dance::

  289. I want to say the BDH will wait in fluffy quiet but I am fairly sure I would join those who lie hard(;

  290. “And, please, call me Kate.” :All the shivers:

    What a lovely gift!

    I just finished listening to the KD series for the umpteenth time, and this was the perfect cherry on top.

  293. You guys are such a tease! Already salivate uncontrollably about any pending new release and not probably have to wait years for this…

  295. Kate decides low profile and incognito needed a time out and oh, lookee, here comes a reason for flexing. After a minor skirmish with a principal, Kate has the opportunity for being Kate.
    The snippet and clippet I needed this morning! Blessed be from Tuesday morning in Oz

  299. That just made me absurdly happy. I didn’t realize how much I missed Kate. And after working in schools for years in the business/accounting side, I have horror stories about admin and teachers if the AuthorLords ever need it 🙂

  304. I was studiously doing my work when i heard the echo of a squeeee!

    Ah, the horde alert has sounded! This can only mean a new snippet or story update!

    Mod R, ” I has cookies”
    The Horde, pretending their hardest to be cute, fluffy, polite and patient gazes at the cookies while preparing to pounce.

    Cookies are gone now. More cookies promised? Should we invade and hunt for the rest of the story? Do rampaging hordes get fed? ????
    Horde agrees we will be patient. Patient and sneaky… there is a story to hunt. Walk softly horde, think fluffy thoughts… we will search every bookcase, investigate hard drives, haunt vlogs and find story. Listen for the Squeeeeeeee

  309. OMG!!! This reads sooooo exciting! I love how Curran said “cool, will you be home for dinner?” Like she was just going out to see a friend! lol

  313. I am dead!!!!! ????????????❤️????????????❤️????????????????????????????????????????????❤️????????????. This is the best day ever.

  315. Ahhhhhhhhh and you say don’t ask for more!! Evil thy name is Mod R????????????

      • Seriously amazing they still have thoughts and dreams of this series so many years after they started it. It’s probably a gift and a curse. Especially with the fluffy BDH perched on top of their slippers while they type at the desk…and I’m pretty sure there’s a few more poking their noses from between the books on the shelves behind them..???? thanks for sharing & hope u all enjoy your week!! Hope Reno went well!!

  316. All I want is more Kate in my life. KD will always be my favorite series. It’s my GOAT.

  317. Absolutely lovely. I’ve missed Kate so much. I’ve been wondering about the move away from Atlanta!

    • Well, there was supposed to be a big SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE between the chevrons but apparently I violated a blog coding something-or-other. Oops!

  319. Call me Kate. This is the tag line to all of the KD world. This is merchandise. This is paradise to the eyes. I read it and just felt as full as after having a full stroopwafel. Squuuueeeeeeeeer

  320. What a wonderful surprise as I sit here, sweltering in the TX heat. A slight breeze, bird song, deer at the feeder below and THIS YUMMY THING!

    Mod R is my favorite Mod EVER!

  322. Ohhh, why didn’t I read the blog earlier?!! My day would have been so much better.
    Then again maybe I should have saved it for tomorrow when I’ll be stuck in the mega strike action travel zone. Or I can just reread it. Or better still reread the series!

  323. OHOHOH
    The best. Authors. Ever.
    And the Best. Moderator. Ever.

    I really, really, really needed this. Like, there is a Lifetime movie-the kind where someone could really, truly be murdered–happening in my children’s father’s life. I am beyond stressed and really appreciate this break from an unbelievable reality.

  324. AHHHHAHAHHHH
    And, please, call me Kate:)

    So good – this snippet will get me through the week and allow me to run wild(in my head)

  325. Thank you so much! I excited to think that the next Sneaky Treat might explain how Kate, in a deliberate, controled, and low profile way, rescued the kid and took her bad day out on someone who richly deserved it.

  333. Loving this so much! What better distraction from home remodeling than taking care of kidnappers? Will I be banished to the outer realms if I whisper softly, “Will there be more?” Don’t worry, I won’t scream or shout if there isn’t. I promise I won’t even whimper or look pitiful. But I’m delighted to see a chance of Conlan getting some space of his own.

  335. I was so angry about something earlier and now I can’t stop smiling ???????????????? LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

  336. AHHHHHHHH I KNEW IT HAD TO BE HER A COUPLE PARAGRAPHS IN!! THATS MY BEST GIRL ????????????????????????????

  339. Love Love Love! Mod R you just made my day!

    It like slipping into your favorite worn t-shirt.

  340. Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh….. I love this so much. Thank you for slipping it to us mod R.
    Exactly what I needed today. Reading about their world, is like slipping on a favorite old jumper and drinking hot chocolate.

  345. Made me soooo happy to hang out with Kate again! If there were actually something to thank you for, Mod R, I definitely would. But since there isn’t, I won’t! ????

  348. I love Wilmington! It’s truly one of my favorite places. And Kate. And the snippet. Thank you!!!! You are a wonderful Mod R and should be showered in gifts and jewels and delicious food and drink.

    (I will note that I didn’t get an email re this post like I normally do)

  350. Internal screaming with reserved hope when I started to suspect it was kate. Louder and louder as curran was described. And then full-on aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!! Waaaaaahhhhh!!!! Weeeeee!!!!!

  351. !!!!!
    As soon as I read a bit about the walls and gray eyes I thought “that sounds like Curran” 🙂 I love this so much.

  354. Thanks Mod R! This is so appreciated! Had a bad day in what is guaranteed to be a worse week and what do I see when I finally get to unwind? An amazing snippet! In KD universe no less! Woo hoo!

  355. Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Thank you House Andrews! Where is Mod R? I can’t hug her when she disappears into Unicorn Lane… I’m not equipped for it.

    I so needed to hear from Kate and Curran again. It was a bit of a day.

  361. Ermagerd, derhmahelemisshkajaisjhwhwj! Common brain think of things, common brain think of things, common brain be so smart.
    Words cannot describe how good this was!

  362. Absolutely amazing treat!!! Thank you Mod R for your sneaky powers & thank you HA for your wonderful talent.

    I’m channeling my fluffiness right now while Squeeeeeeing internally!

    Hope the vacay is going slowly for you HA, as they always seem to go at double time. And hope the reno is fabulous.

  363. As I was reading, I’m thinking could it be.. . Yes! What a wonderful return to my favorite literary couple. Thank you!

  365. That was amazing, thank you very much. I read it while on a coffee break at work and the moment was glorious.

  366. OMG! This was the pick me up I needed today. Thank you, Mod R. Bless House Andrews.

  369. Omg! OMG!! What does this mean? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN!? Ok, ok – no questions. Another book? Another short story? Just this tease? OMG, what does this mean?
    Loved being back in Kate’s world even for a nano-second.

  371. Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!! I am sooooooo excited for this!! So happy. Thank you guys.

    Lots of love from Malaysia <3

  372. Yay, thank you! I also absolutely love the opening, with all the lovely BDH compliments.

  373. For a second I thought these were some other characters in KD world, it took me a second to realize this was about Kate and Curran trying to start a new incognito life in North Carolina while trying to find a school for their prodigy/freak of nature son. ????

    The way their house was described made me think of the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, KY. My friend got married there and I was a guest at her wedding in 2017, it was quite the affair. Some rich couple in the 1960s decided they wanted a home that looked like a European and started building one in Versailles (pronounced Versales) in Kentucky but the castle got bigger and bigger and the couple divorced in the 1970s. Construction stopped and the castle sat abandoned on the side of the road for about 30 years. The original owner would ignore calls about the castle despite a for sale sign with a phone number next to it. When the owner finally died, another guy bought it and finished the construction and made it into a bed and breakfast/event space. He then sold it and now it’s officially called the Kentucky Castle. It looks like a Medieval Times from the road lol and Curran would probably be a fan: https://www.visitlex.com/guides/post/from-mysterious-to-magical/amp/

  377. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!

    Beyond wonderful, those moment as you realize it’s Kate, you made everyone very happy today!

    My biggest problem has become the fact that I don’t enjoy reading stories by other authors nearly as much as House Andrews.

    Thanks for the wonderful treat!

  379. I cannot wait for more!! What an unexpected and absolute delight!! Thank you so much!

  381. Thank you. This is a wonderful peek into the HEA for KD. She deserves it as well as Curran. I was rereading Magic Bites and in it Curran was an a$$^%#.

    But the amazing HA managed to turn that around…looking forward to any and all snippets or teasers into KD world and other multiverses in HA stories.

  382. This made me smile after a long day! Thank you for a peak into the world that introduced me to the magic that is Ilona Andrews!

  383. Er mah gawd I love you guys. I was gone camping and came back to this. So awesome. Thanks.

  386. I feel like a Kate junkie! I’ve gone back and reread this three times! I miss Kate and her world.

  387. That was wonderful!

    These two lines made my day:
    “Bad people. I got it. Don’t worry, I’m worse.”
    &
    “Oh good. Will you be home in time for dinner?”

  389. I wanted to write “Ahhhhhh” because that was exactly what I was thinking after reading this gem. Then I thought I couldn’t write just Ahhhhhh, consider me surprised after reading the first comments ????

  392. Ok. I know we’ve had ten books. And the story is complete. But getting even tiny tidbits of Kate’s HEA makes me me all warm and fuzzy on the inside…

  393. This is oddly like waking up Sunday morning wearing your favorite fuzziest robe in your fuzziest socks enjoying a perfect cup of warm tea.

    Only thing that would make this better is if it were actually Sunday.

    Or there was MOAR story ????

  400. Love these little snippets of K&C’s life after the series. I didn’t know how much I missed them until this little treat put my world to rights for a few mins. xx

  401. I’m down with the Covid but nothing can erase the grin off my face like knowing Kate is about to do some damage whilst mouthing off some bad guys. So glad to hear from the mother of all badass heroines. Happy Days!

  403. Eeeeeeeks!!! So fantastic! ????

    Took my mind right off the fact that I’m in my Chiro’s waiting room and just realised I can’t find my purse and don’t remember when I saw it last ????????

  405. Sometimes I forget how much I love Kate (mostly because I’m focused on another awesome character by Ilona Andrews), but then I read a little snippet about her and I fall right back in love

  407. yippeeee!!! i knew it. from the moment brown hair was mentioned. i knew it.
    thank you so much for this snippet, Mod R.
    Kate will and always be welcome.

  409. I totally needed this and there was a loud Squee when I discovered this lovely post.
    Thank you ModR for (not) sneaking through Unicorn Lane and thanks to House Andrews – we are a spoiled fluffy horde and very thankful for such gems.

    ‘Think normal suburban thoughts.’ Just loved this, and the whole suburban setting with renovation hell and casual threats. Very much loved Kate and Curran together, their ideas of a low profile too. Wondering now if they have a moat?

  410. All the wonderful ‘I love this’ comments everyone before me just said. Thank you so much!!! 🙂

  412. Oh!
    This developed when Ilona said she missed Kate!
    House fixing Kate!
    Wonderful snippet, thank you.
    I’m going to go reread a Kate book.

  415. That was amazing. I dont know what I needed today because everything I read has been so boring and this hit the spot!!

    Thank you

  419. Oh my gosh!! Almost cried (from happiness) reading this!!! Love Kate and Curran!! I hope this means a new book for them is in the works. Please, please, puleeeease!

  423. Thank you so much, always so happy to hear anything with Kate and Curran….hoping theres more but greatful for this snippet into their life.

    Definitely need another re-read!

  424. Omg!!!! I would literally pay 100 bucks for another Kate book. Or 10 of them! ❤️❤️❤️

  425. Squueeee!!!
    I scared my son because I scream when I realize the story end there….. He run to me and stared like I was doing something weird.
    Still, thank you so much.

  426. OMG!!! So awesome!! Thank you Mod R for being sneaky and House Andrews for writing it!!!

  429. Bahahahahahaha booooooyah!!!! Thank you!!!

    P. S. I didnt realize how much i missed kate until i just read this!

    • I know! This was like running into friends you haven’t seen in a long time.

      P.S. Thank you Mod R–You’re the Best!

  430. Thank you, Mod R.
    I missed this yesterday, but really appreciate what you for the BDH.

    I spent the first paragraph or so figuring which world we were in, but then said “Whoo-hoo! Kate!”and read as fast as I could.

    I do hope your summer goes well. The treat was very enjoyable.

  431. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
    LOVE YOU MOD R. ! Thank you for getting this for us ????????????
    And obviously thank you House Andrews, have a nice holiday ????????

  432. Moderator R, i have a question, i increase the text size to read the post (always) but then have to decrease to right the comments . is there a way to make both post and comments the same chat size? cause If i dont change the post size i strain to read it, but the comments are fine , if i do change the post size the comment size fills the whole screen.

  434. Thank you so very much..:) for the treat and for the comments (I love watching/reading folks go down the same tangents and “Squee!!!” excitement I have)…

  435. I honestly found this comforting.

    Thank you HA and Mod R for kindly feeding the BDH. Hoping HA enjoys the rest of their very well earned vacation.

  436. I hope the bad guys are smart enough that it actually lasts a while so she can really get some good stress relief. ????????????

  441. You are the best Moderator ever in the history of Moderators!!! In fact, you are The Moderator. What a lovely surprise. Love the glimpse of Kate and Curran’s move to the coast. Kate dealing with any bureaucrat is always one of my favorite things. Hope the vacationing for HA is going very well. Thank you again for all you do!!!

  447. Oh, sweet! Did Kate and Curran left Atlanta for Conlan’s education sake? This little rescue job seems like something that could spin spiral of very interesting consequences…
    The question when will be full book/novella released? My book devouring brain is very hungry…

  448. I cried while reading this….ooh oh Kate, it was so nice to see you. Had such a sucky day, this was like a hug from the universe. Thank you Mod R and especially House Andrews

  449. Thank you, Mod R and House Andrews! I needed that! Kate and Curran 4-ever! Conlan 4-ever! Julie and Derek 4-ever!

  456. Me: grumpy, grumpy, grumpy, work, work, work.
    Email: Ilona Andrews post!
    Click, read…
    Me: light, joy, happiness!
    Me: slay, slay, slay

  459. Seriously I missed Kate and her ass kicking. Her awesome verbal sparring and “cute” alpha stare. Thank you for this. ????✨

  462. Ahhh!!! Reading Kate is like coming home. Thank you so much, I forgot how desperate I was for something else from her perspective! 🙂

    • ““What about that smaller blue-green area in the southeast?”

      Nick grimaced. “That’s the Lennart-Daniels gated community.”

      Really? “Gated community?”

      “Yes. It’s very exclusive”
      […]
      ““They have issues with the Pack and EIN, and they are not receptive to outsiders. The entire neighborhood consists of shapeshifter families that left the Pack with them. Imagine three streets full of werebears and former Pack heavy hitters fanatically loyal to Lennart and Daniels. If you trespass, I may not be able to get you out.””

      Andrews, Ilona. Blood Heir, Aurelia Ryder 1. NYLA 2021. Kindle edition, Chapter 3

  465. Thank you!!! I promise to be part of a very well-behaved BDH if it means lovely treats like these.

  466. I love this. I know the actual getting the cousin back would have been really great too. But this, this is everyday Kate, this is the Kate that I feel in love with. The one that is slightly homicidal, and goes and beats up asshole monsters to destress.

    I missed you KD Kate. But I’m so glad you’re doing well post MT.

  472. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a way to start the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ????????????????????

  474. Thank you. Thank you. I really miss Kate and Curran and crew so much. This was just a wonderful treat.

  475. “Cringing and urinating on yourself will also remove you from his target list.”
    Kate you are such an awesome mother!

  476. Yaaaassssss!!! I am so happy write now! What a great treat that never happened ???? but ???? it keeps “not happening” and we get more!

  478. “How do I love thee?
    Let me count the ways….”

    You gave me Kate and Curran,
    And Aurelia fair,
    A darkly dashing Derek,
    To Ascanio’s despair.

    Rogan might demolish cities,
    But Nevada destroys corrupt minds
    Catalina rarely loses her calm,
    While in Arabella the Beast bides it’s time.

    Though Elara be a theophage,
    It is Hugh who captures our heart,
    You may flash as brightly as you can,
    Between Rose and Cerise to pick is hard.

    Days spent in devouring these works,
    Our hunger for more overwhelms,
    We know Ilona Andrews love us,
    Oh! Just let this wait end!!

  479. And such a lovely tease!!! Now we all sit around and just imagine what hell Kate rained down. Thank you!

  481. *sneaky, quiet voice* Thank you for posting Mod R.

    I had to think for a moment about Dr. Cole, until Kate mentioned the phone call they would get from him and how disappointed he and his seven thousand associates would be. Then it hit me that she was talking about Doolittle.

    Of course Curran wanted another castle. A moat is forthcoming if he can get away with it. The conversation between Curran and Kate was hilarious. Kidnapped family members…the cure for Kate’s restlessness with renovations.

    If possible keep the snippets coming… 🙂

    *fading back to the exclusive community that is the Lennart-Daniels compound in Atlanta*

  485. These men and their castles. How much will the moat cost? Is this a fortification contest with Hugh?

    • Okay. Had to do some deep breathing. Thank you sooooooo much! Hearing a KD snippet is like hearing from a best friend you unintentionally lost touch with and finding you picked up right where you left off! Best gift EVER!!!!

  491. OMG yes! Just right for lunchtime today. Now I eat then return to the post holiday library hordes. I feel ready for them

  495. Squuuuuueeeeeeeee!!! Happy Dance!! Thank you Mod R. We are eternally grateful, you are awesome.

  498. Both amazing and torture at the same time. Pretty please write a new Kate book! Thanks for the snippet ????

  499. Wow! Love this story snipet. I love that HA has not abandoned Kate and her family. So many authors walk away from couples after they marry and I have never understood it. Surely there are great stories to be written after coupling (hehe no pun intended) as proven by the ongoing KD world. Thanks for sharing

  503. Yea!!! I MISS Kate & Co. so glad for the snippet. I think her son will have many wonderful adventures.

  504. Even I had forgotten how much I needed Kate and Curren in my life! Can’t wait for this project to be completed. I will absolutely devour it.

  505. Aaaaaaaah ???????????? just rereading Kate’s Story and out of my mind of this awesome snippet!! I looove Kate and Curran and thr whole Crew ❤️ thank you So much!

  508. (Just Re-read for the third time, and this was so good I just have to post my appreciation again!!)

    Mod R and HA, you are the best!!! ????????????????????????????????????????????????????

    Also, let it be known that my offspring (who has never even read any IA books!!???!!!) has no clue: as I was reading for the first time and kept making comments like “Kate?””maybe Kate?!” and “Kate!!!!” I kept hearing off-spring comments like “nah, too obvious” and “that’s just what they want you to think” etc.

    After confirming “Kate!!!!!!!!” I posted my excited approval, and then all I heard was “nobody writes squeeeee on the internet any more.”

    To which I replied “THE BDH DOES!!!!!!!!”

    Long live the SQUEEEEEE and all hail HA and the most wonderful Mod R!!!!!!!!!!!! ????

  509. I’M SCREAMINGGGGG!!!! AHHHHH!!!

    So many reveals, it’s just a matter of Conlan’s age to figure out how far into the future we are.

    Also… will we get more babies? I wonder if they’ll name her Alice after Curran’s little sister.

  510. I’m dying!!! I could’ve kept on reading until tomorrow morning… I want more of Kate and Curran and their world. I miss them!!!

  511. Love the references to Wilmington, NC! When I am at CB next week, I will look for Fort Kure!

  512. OMG!!! Such a treat as well as a tease…..*grins* Now I need to reread the whole series again.

  514. Wilmington didn’t register at first, then it hit me halfway through – Kate! Thank you Mod R. This was lovely. I’m smiling after just having cleaned up all the glass shards from having knocked the new glass teapot that I ordered to replace the one I broke getting it out of the dishwasher off the island. It had arrived 5 minutes before this. I was fighting with the box. The pot smashed spectacularly. This sneak peek made me smile. I loved it. I’d always wondered about the move to Wilmington.

    • I broke my very favorite teapot. The replacement is just not the same. I feel your pain

      • Thank you. You are correct. I loved my old teapot. I shouldn’t empty the dishwasher until I’m really awake.

  518. What a treat!!! Thank you! Makes me want to do a series reread. I miss those guys!

  520. This is just great. I hope HA will continue in the KD World. Thank you so much!!!! By the way, who is Dr. Cole? I thought Dolittle helped with the birth of Conlan.

    Thank you again.

    • He did ????. So that means Dr Cole who helped with Conlan’s birth and has 7000 associates is no other than our beloved honey badger.

  537. This looks extremely interesting.
    Am going thru withdrawal due to lack of more.
    Will not beg, threaten, guilt, nor coerce.
    Want to though.

  538. That thing that never happened…was wonderful.
    Thank you to that lovely anonymous /unseen entity that provided it….

  540. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I am incoherent with glee!! Thank you a million times a million!!! Kate and her family have such a special place in my heart and it’s always a good day when we get to see more of her ????????????????????????

  541. This was the BEST present you could have offered today! Thank you so much for this visit from our friends. I loved the bit, can’t wait for the rest. Seriously, this cheered me up more than you know.

  542. I will not ask any of the questions above, but it’s awesome, I love it and would buy it the moment it’s finished.
    Thank you so much, although it isn’t nice to tease us like this ????

  543. Mod R, thank you so much for that hypothetical thing that never happened. It hasn’t been a bad day, but it is now so much better! You are our favorite mod-witch and a constant source of inspiration. We have so much to learn from you about stealth happiness!!!

  545. Thank you, I am like a junkie getting a fix, grinning ear to ear. I have missed them terribly. More please!

  547. Curran totally deserves a mote to go with his castle… ????
    And cudos to that writer of the serenade! Wow! I’m super impressed, it was lovely! ????

  548. I normally just lurk and read and enjoy silently. After reading this, I can’t stay silent. YESSSSS!!!! I suspected about 1/3 of the way through and was sure at about 2/3. The wall lines were genius. Now I just want more. (Thank you for improving my day)

  550. I have had a couple of stressful weeks. This has had me smiling for the last couple hours. I came back and read it again. So Happy! Mod R- you are amazing.

  553. We want more …. Thank you for this. We hope it becomes a multi-book obsession like all the rest of your writing.

  557. Oh my god, we must be given details! I can fill in the big pieces such as Kate goes to the location of the kidnappers, says some smart comments that piss them off, they come running to fight her, she gets bloody, the bad guys get dead, and the good guys go home happy and safe. Kate will have ended up hurt and Curran will unleash an unsuspecting (or very tired) medmage onto her when she gets home. End of battle. But we must have details!!! Thank you Mod R!

  563. Are we getting more Kate and Curran??!!!!! Even that little bit is exciting. I do miss them and thank you for today’s treat!

  565. Have I died and gone to heaven? It must be true. Love it! Thx so much for this treat 🙂

  566. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!!! *Deep sigh*! That was wonderful!! Such a delightful surprise. As always, anything Kate Daniels is good reading. I sincerely hope this means maybe more of Kate – detailing Connor’s (sp?) rearing years. There is room for much mayhem and many high jinx, and would be received with great and wild rejoicing by the BDH and all the Kate Daniel’s series readers. Oh the possibilities!! * Wicked grin and gleeful rubbing of hands together* ????????????

    Thank you for this Mod R!! You are the BEST!!!!????????

  568. I recognized her voice almost instantaneously. I miss her, Curran and Conlan so much !!
    It is indescribable what this make me feel. It’s impossible to express the feelings those characters bring to me… Thank you very much.

  570. This is great, but…wasn’t Doolittle the one who delivered the baby? Is “Cole” a pseudonym, or is there a new pediatrician? Hmm…

    • Cole is his real surname ????. “Dr Doolittle” is a comedy reference nickname.

  572. I can’t decide if you are loving and kind or if you are cruelly tormenting us…

    I have greedily devoured my treat and now it’s gooooooone! Woe is me! ::sniff::

    Thank you, I think. LOL

  577. Ok, BDH, let’s be fluffy ALL OF THE TIME! I am sure everyone agrees it is worth it for such a tasty tidbit as this!

    Thanks, Mod R!

  579. Wheeeeeeee! (Just like the little piggy in the Geico commercial ????)

    That was so much fun!

  584. *Wiggles in BDH glee* Mod R you have just become one of my most favorite people.
    GO GET EM KATE!!!
    CHARGE!!!
    *pots and pans armor clink madly*

  587. So. Dang. Good!
    Thank you. I am doing a re- read of Kate and Curran’s books now. Again, So. Dang. Great!

  588. You are the best mod ever. But remember…. Some of us are crazy enough about the Lennarts to follow you into Unicorn Lane just to ask questions. Thanks – you made my evening.

  589. LOVE!!!!

    Thank you so much for this thing that never appeared on my screen, Mod R. It’s like a gift for having survived some especially agitating few days.

  590. Ya van más de 700 comentarios!!! Jajaja se pasan. Y fíjense que llego este snippet mientras vuelvo a leer el mundo de kd. Y me di cuenta que en mi Kindle faltaban algunos libros y arregle esa situación. MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!

  591. Today is Kate’s and Curran’s wedding anniversary (June 21st). Happy anniversary!

    Thank-you so much for this tidbit, I very much enjoyed it

  592. I didn’t know how badly I needed to read a new story about Kate until I read that. Thank you so much. Please write more.

  593. My girl is about to go kick some @$$ and I’m feel like I had a scoop of vanilla ice cream with dry coffee sprinkled on top… more! More! MORE!

  599. Ahhhhh…wheeee! This is awesome!! Thank you thank you thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

  601. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I’m in NC! Woot! Also I can’t, I died. I didn’t know how much I missed Kate. Why won’t my words work!

    Fingers crossed for more, not gonna lie. But grateful.

    The BDH is always hungry….lol.

    Thanks House Andrews!

  604. OMG OMG OMG! Incognito Kate and Curran ???? wonder why they moved?

    I really want to see a cameo by the lawn orphan mafia in this lol

  609. Loved this reveal! They are so wholesome and threatening and they’re just so cute. New people reacting to Kate is always a fun time.

  613. Ahh …sweet!

    Sending Jr to school
    Hehehe ????

    Can’t wait for parent teacher conference time

  614. I love you. Wait, no, I hate you. Nah, I really do love you!

    I’m gonna follow the lead of my smallest dog and wag my whole body until I’m a happy exhausted horder – hordest.

  622. Not me piecing together all the clues while reading to determine if Kate is the narrator or not … so glad I was right!
    I loved this and very much hope it’s only the beginning of something bigger!!!

  624. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to this until now as I am having a tough week. This totally made my entire week. ❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️

    Mod R you went above and beyond for us and I have to say I think you like us. You really, really like us! ????

    A big hug to HA for this snippet that fell out of Unicorn Lane and wishing you rest, relaxation and fun on your much needed vacation. ????

  627. This snippet encompasses My favorite types of scenes from the Kate books.

    when someone underestimates her and then she goes and kicks some ass and saves the day.

    And Kate and her family trying to blend in and being normal. So much fun!

  630. Loved seeing suburban Kate and Family. The authors have already committed to so many books, Hugh, Julie, Innkeeper etc. Even some short stories about our beloved charecters would be so so yummy. More Kate et al and I would love to learn about the parenting of Barabas and Christopher, Raphael and Andrea, Desandra and Nick, George and Eduardo, and Nevada and Connor, etc. Oh, I almost forgot George and Sophie. Greed is a minor sin-right?

  632. Eeeeeeeek! Lovely

    Also: Did Kate officially/technically feed Curran first, with that bowl of milk she bought and had sent to him via the waitstaff at Fernando’s? They did the eye-lock stare when he drank it…

  635. Thank you so much for this snippet! I loved it! I also loved that I wasn’t sure who it was and I kept trying to figure it out the whole time I was reading it. Then “call me Kate.” Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

    • I thought it was going to be a new series. The location threw me. And then, and then, KATE!

  638. Ahhhhhhh! I have goosebumps. GOOSEBUMPS! This makes me so happy. I love Kate with the power of a 1000 suns.

  641. Thank you, I don’t know how many times I have read it. I just realized how much I missed Kate. Good. I will reread the series and that will take up my time until August.

  644. This. Is. Everything!!! I’ve read it and reread it a dozen times. I’ve missed Kate and her world so much! Thank you for this gift. I sincerely hope this will be a new book; I’m eager to buy it!

  646. Oh I love love love this.. but what happened next ???(..this falls under the category of cruel and unusual punishment/treat .. I need more!!!!!!)

    • What do you mean “what happens next”?
      Kate accompanies contractor to hideout of very important kidnappers
      Bashes aforementioned very important kidnappers
      They prob’ly have a monster they try to sic on Kate….
      Frees kidnappee
      Adopts monster

      As for details…I am not allowed to speculate past the steadfast belief that we will all giggle hysterically!

  647. Was there any doubt….in the mind of even ONE reader, as to who we were walking beside?

    • I guess the comment about her husband falling in love with the stone walls should have been a big clue, but I’m slow on the uptake. It was such a wonderful, happy surprise at the end

  653. Squeee! I just finished a KD re-read and this snippet came at the perfect time! I love Kate and Curran and all that they do! Please give us more glimpses or books into their life in Wilmington! I can’t wait to learn more about Conlan and hopefully future baby girl!

  654. WOW… Ok I’ll take whatever punishment you mete out…Can I have some more please?

  655. My heart fills with joy. I love this world. It only leaves me wanting more, but I will be satisfied with this wonderful snip. Love Love Love.

    Thank you House Andrews and ModR!!!!

  659. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I mean, uh, rawr. Yeah. That.

    Thank you! I am home from work sick and needed this so much.

  660. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me…this made me so happy that I’m crying (well holding back anyway). Yes, it is past time I start my….I don’t know… Probably my 6th reread of the series. God I miss her (here comes the tears again) and Curran, Conan and also Aunt Erra.

  662. Love love love love love ❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️it!
    Thank you for this absolutely delightful snippet ????????????!

  663. Squeeeeeeee!!! ????????????
    Also: „this cake of woe“ ???????????? and “Bad people. I got it. Don’t worry, I’m worse.”????????????
    She’s just the best.

  664. “Oh good. Will you be home in time for dinner?”
    Fell off the chair laughing! I love it ????

  670. Teeheeheeheeheeheehee!

    This was the perfect antidote the headache I woke up with this morning! The day has improved enormously and it’s only 7:21am!!!

  671. Greed may be a minor sin but patience has to be a virtue because I’m so bad at it. Thank you Mod R for that thing that didn’t drop out of Unicorn Lane.

  676. Thank you for sharing this! Ahhhh, that was fun. A welcome distraction.

    (Yes, I’m very late to the Kate party.)

  681. ROFL! This was so…special! We get a glimpse of what Julie is trying to protect, and a sense of how Kate and Curran define “normal”

    I. Love. These. Guys!

  683. Oh my God. I was waiting to hear her name. Once I saw the knives knew it was the love of my life kate.

    Love you guys soooooo much. I have read all your books( trust me, every single one of them including the short stories)

    • Chronologically, this takes place before Blood Heir. We see Curran at the Guild in Blood Heir, and Uncle Stupidhead says that they still own a chunk of it ????

  686. OMG- I just realized how much I have missed KD! Off to read Magic Bites again. Thank you for sharing!

  687. My first thought when the house description was started was how characters in the different worlds would handle this. First up was Grandma Freda in Hidden Legacy with voices in the background going “No Weapons Grandma”.

    Then Maud overseeing the space station construction. “What do you mean there is only one type of chair in the station.”

    I thought Kate would get creative to motivate contractors to finish. Totally different kind of motivation. Squeee!

  689. *giddy jumping up and down squealing jumping – * on repeat
    Thank you Thank you Thank you

  696. Yes! Yes! YES!!! (Gleeful anticipatory smile.) Thank you. Kate and her world are family and sorely missed.

    …I did my best to appear normal. Stone walls. I’m worse. Call me Kate (sigh).

  697. I just can’t read it enough times. I wasn’t ready for it to end. I’m so happy for this, but now I simply can’t stop thinking about more! ❤️❤️❤️

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