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.”
R Coots says
Bwahahahaha! I love Runa!
Chris P says
+1
LauraR says
+1
Tara says
+2!!!! I hope she and Bern get together ????
Breann says
+1 ????
sarafina says
+597
njb says
+1! Bern deserves someone like Runa. And thanks for such an enticing snippet!
Sara T says
Ooh good call! +1 on that.
Jean says
Me too!
gail says
Me too! We all need a BFF like her.
Susan says
+1
Violet says
+1
Linda Trainor says
I knew it would be Been and Runa when’s their novella…..
Linda Trainor says
Bad autocorrect Bern
Jessica says
+1
Raffy says
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. ^^
Koaladi says
Ooo, Runa & Bern? I am shipping that SO HARD!!!
anainasia says
thinking the same wow..:-)
Jackie says
Didn’t get it. But, Yeah!
Wendy says
Ditto!! And he is a Significant, so chances of them having Prime children is still decent
Momo says
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 😀
Jen says
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.
Marcia Sundquist says
Yeah snippet!
Amy R says
YEAH!!!!
Best friends are a good thing to have. ????
Kat M. says
+1
Best friends are best.
Henry says
Runa is a walking subset of the World Killer. All she has to do is look at you.
EverythingShines says
Love this! It made me laugh too. 🙂
Lynn Stevenson says
Can’t wait for more
Va says
Oh Alessandro. What a Heartbreaking response.
But Runa! I love that girl. Is there a Bern / Runa novella anywhere?!?!
Kathleen says
1+
Bal says
I keep thinking the same thing. Very sad statement for Alessandro. Guess not many love him?! ????
trailing wife says
To be fair, he is an assassin. Not much love there.
Nina says
This left a grin on my face just reading this snippet. I can’t wait!!
Lissa says
Ahhhh thank you for the snippet!
Emily says
Thank you for the snippet!
Judy B says
Yes !!!!
Thank you
Amanda P says
Haha brilliant????
Thank you
Rose Noe says
I can’t wait till this book is published. Runa is awesome!
Danielle Chapman says
XOXOXO Love it!
Lady Kimberly says
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.
André says
Noooooo not Bern it must be Luna and Leon
André says
*Runa
akk says
I suspect Leon with Ale’s sister.
Celia says
I love it. That is a great example of best friend behavior.
Janelle says
Wooot!!! Run a is the best! Love her!
CyndiLooWho says
Runa is so awesome! Thanks for the bribe.
Pat Sciarini says
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.
Bal says
That boy has some grovelling and explaining to do!! Can’t wait.
Good luck with the deadline.
Natasha Johnson says
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!!
Harriet says
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….
Rob the Fiend says
So… kids with the skill of seeing instantly what pattern/combo of poison that will work the best? 😉
Anne-Marie Cyr says
aaaaaaaa i’m so happy. I love you guys. Thank you Thank you
wont says
At least we know Alessandro returned!
mz says
Now I’ve got that “radio silence” earworm in my head.
Still, worth it for the Runa encounter.
Thx muchly.
Ami says
???????????? I love Runa!
Veronica says
Runa is awesome!! It’s so wonderful that Catarina has a BFF! Thanks for the snippet to brighten our week!
Cassandra says
Runa is the best. Glad she’s back.
Cherylanne says
Lunchtime treat! Many thnx for the smiles.
Chelle says
????????????????????
RL says
Love the snippet picture! Thanks!
DianaInCa says
Thank you! Hope the writing goes smoothly
Smmoe1997 says
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.
Carol says
1. Hahaha!
2. Go Bern!
3. Runa is the kind of friend you want. Love her.
Carmen says
???????????? And things get better and better!
reeder says
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.
Nellie says
Thank you! Wasn’t expecting a treat but very grateful to have found it.
Bill G says
Bwa-hahaahahahaaaaaa!!! Glorious, and many thanks.
Denisetwin says
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”
Kay Maughs says
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 ????.
Deb says
I always figured that Augustine was emailing, not security, but MII HR to look into hiring animal mages.
Joyce Wilke says
Absolutely glorious. Thank you.
Sam says
Thanks for the tiny snippet!
Sarah says
Thank you very much
Ann says
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
Simone says
Great bribe! Thanks for the laugh. Good luck with the deadline 🙂
Olivia says
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.
Sechat says
Chhhhhhhiiiiiiiii!
Lynne B says
Awesome snippet! Love Runa, would like to hear more from her! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!
Gene says
Thank you!
I see a Runa + Bern matching! ????
Patti says
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.
Teresa says
Thank you. Love Catalina, Bern, Runa, and Alessandro.