I have no content today, so here is a snippet.
I sat in a rocking chair on the top floor balcony and sipped my iced tea. On my left, Martin rested on a blanket in the Lotus pose. His eyes were closed. He said meditation helped him with the Bison rage.
It was the golden hour, that magical 60 minutes before sunset when the light turned soft and warm, and the first hints of red and yellow tinted the sky. The world was beautiful, and the tree line at the end of the kill zone turned lovely enough to frame, the tall pines spreading their fluffy branches as if trying to hold on to sunlight.
I glanced at the closest tower. The guard hunkering down under that metal roof was a teenager. A boy, with short dark hair and glasses. Sixteen tops. On the surface it seemed like an easy enough way to keep teens employed: sit on the wall, watch the woods, ring the bell if you see anything. Except when the trouble started, they would be on the front line.
The door to my left swung open and Troy padded out onto the balcony carrying a notebook and a small plastic cooler.
“Consort.”
“Did you escape?”
He nodded. “Went out the back door when I heard them coming.”
Troy sat into the other rocking chair and put the cooler by his feet. His left arm seemed to be functional, but he was moving it carefully.
“Did you eat?” I asked.
“Not yet.”
I got up, went inside, went downstairs to the kitchen, and grabbed a tray. Penderton generously provided barbeque, so I loaded a plate with brisket and smoked chicken, added a beef rib with about a pound of meat on it, a chunk of cheddar, and some fresh crusty bread, and carried it back up to Troy.
He stared at the tray.
“Pledge of loyalty not required,” I told him.
He looked even more uncomfortable. “Thank you. I didn’t mean to inconvenience you, Consort.”
Ah. It was the fact that an alpha got up and fetched the food that was the problem. “I won’t tell anyone about it if you eat your food.”
“Yes, Consort.”
He set his notebook down and tore into his dinner.
I sat back in my chair.
When shapeshifters ate, they focused on the food completely. They didn’t talk, they didn’t socialize. They ate. Even their formal dinners, like Pack Thanksgiving, went totally silent for the first few minutes.
It took Troy about a quarter of an hour to finish devouring the barbeque. Once his plate was empty, he sat back, a small, contented smile on his face.
“I know all this stuff is weird and exciting, but you have to take care of yourself,” I told him.
He nodded. “Yes, because if I die, nobody in Wilmington would have any idea how to treat a wounded shapeshifter.”
“No, because if you die, you will be dead. And all of us will be very sad.”
He blinked.
“Things just didn’t go your way today,” Martin rumbled from his blanket, his eyes still closed. “First, you’ve got your arm broken. Then the Consort had to bring you food. Now you are getting a lecture. It’s hard to be Troy today.”
“Don’t make me come over there,” Troy growled.
Martin opened his eyes. “And do what?”
Troy showed him his teeth.
“Stay where you are, and you’ll get to keep all of those.” Martin closed his eyes.
I needed this little gift today! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this great snippet, Move it! can’t wait to get your new book????
What a great line!! “Stay where you are, and you’ll get to keep all of those.” An all time awesome line!!
Thanks for the snippet!
And great BBQ is all about the rub, not the sauce. the rub is what flavors teh meat and the sauce is supposed to compliment the meat not be the reason to eat is..
Nice, thank you, thank you, I’m so glad we’re in “snippet season” again!
I was just thinking today, am rereading Magic Rises, that when I read about Hugh I see Vincent D’Onofrio.
I am currently rereading Magic Rises as well!!
thank you for putting a big grin on my face today!
WANT!
What kind of shifter is Troy? Did I miss it somewhere?
Troy is a werejackal :). He first appears in Magic Tides, Wilmington Years Book 1 https://ilona-andrews.com/upcoming-release/
Yay!! Thank you for the snippet! Made my day ????
Awesome. Thanks for this
Thank you for the snippet. Always enjoyable. Looking forward to the new book.
Don’t care why you gifted us with a snippet. Just grateful for any little bit.
March … April … May … June
I better go reread Magic Tides and Chapt 1 of Magic Clams (hehehe)
YAY! Squeeeeeee!
Hmmmm. Interesting to see them calling Kate “Consort” again. Especially since I’m in the middle of a reread of all the KD books, currently on Magic Rises (book 6).
I’ve gotten a good start on my Flax sweater since reading about Ilona starting one a couple of blog posts ago. And listening to KD goes extremely well with knitting.???? I’ve also just finished crocheting a Laura Top from Namaste And Crochet, for any crocheters out there.
Depression kicking my butt, so thank you very much for the snippet. Listening to Blood Heir and trying to keep all the details straight. I may have to take notes! I read it so long ago I don’t really remember much besides general plot… Oh well, rereads/listens are more fun that way!
Love it!
Really looking forward to reading the whole story!
Love a snippet! Fabulous word picture, one feels that they are “there”.????
I read “Troy” and, for one brief moment, thought we were back in Hidden Legacy! Then saw “Consort” and had to do a quick mental adjustment. haha! Looking forward to more!
I have a home made chili sauce recipe if Ilona is still looking for one.
Love it! I want to read more!
love the snippet and can’t wait for the book.
I notice Mod R does random comments which is awesome.
Mod R… could you just say Hi. It would make my day.
Thanks.
Hi Nancy! 🙂
How are you today?
Awesome. Thanks. Hope you had and have a great day.
Hmmm can a werebison be a render? That would be awesome. In warrior form will Martin be minatour-like or something else looking like the Goatmen from Diablo video game?
Thank you for the snippet. Awesome start to a week.
Woooo! Thank you for the snippet!!
Yay Snippet!!!!! Much needed after this past weekend – 80mph winds, trees down on fences, roof damage, no electricity until late Sunday, lost food – BUT we are very luck compared to others.
Thank you muchly! 🙂
THNAK YOU. I needed that
Martin seems like he’s not impressed by much. I think I’ll like him.
Love these snippets…cackling..and Mote cackling..
Lubię tę nową serię ????. Chyba tęskniłam za Kate … Wszystkie opowieści ze świata postzmiennej Atlanty mają swój urok, ale Kate to Kate.
I didn’t read through all the replies to see of anyone else asked; but wouldn’t there be a problem with Kate feeding another male? Does being Curran’s mate now, exempt her from that?
oooh I missed this one!!
thank you, I love Kate ❤️
Awesome I love, love, love it. Cant wait for the book