Happy Birthday Amber Kell!

Happy Birthday Amber!

Thank you for inviting me to participate in your November Birthday Bash! It's a pleasure to be here and spread the love and lust for all things paranormal and male.

It's always hard finding just the right gift. There's always the cute teddy bear and champagne...

But knowing you, I think you'd appreciate something more like this...

So here's to wishing you another wonderful year of balloons, cake and frosting. Oh, um... the pin is in the mail. 

Surprisingly enough, the couple I get the most comments on is Evan and Adel from Adel's Purr, my Elements of Love series. I have to admit, I really enjoy this couple. Evan is a very strong character and Adel, well being a gargoyle gives him a unique view of the world. 

Birthday Balloons

Adel sat perched on the balcony at Doc's residence and hospital. It was the wee hours of morning and Evan slept in one of the guest rooms maintained by the daemon. The warehouse assault that had freed many of the people now filling the hospice rooms Doc maintained had not saved everyone. Many had died both in the conflict, some from injuries that Doc was unable to cure and others like his friend and fellow gargoyle, Finn was still missing. The archbishop having escaped through the black blood spells and sacrifice of the lives of his priests had left them few clues as to where he could have disappeared. 

But these weren't Adel's current worries. It had begun a couple weeks back while they were sitting in a restaurant in Rome. It had been a rather strange meal. Evan had refused to enter the Vatican proper, but upon Jude's prompting they had journeyed from Paris to Rome to meet with the Pope. The man had been much younger than either he or Evan had expected. They had been seated at a table outdoors, enjoying the day, with the Pope's personal guard surrounding them, protecting their leader. It had been so surreal because in that moment, regardless of his abilities, he'd realized if the Pope had wished them ill, he could have done as there was no way for him to extract Evan from all those men.

"I'm so glad you agreed to come to Rome." His Holiness said after some awkward introductions and the pontiff had requested they be seated at the table. His certain members of his staff entered the restaurant, emptying it of customers and staff except for the cook. Then his staff took over the duties of waiting on them and making sure the meal wasn't tampered with. "I apologize for all this, but as you are aware, someone is trying to kill me. So my staff takes my security rather extreme."

"No, that's quite alright, your Holiness." Evan frowned slightly and peering at the man who sat with them dressed from head to toe in a white suit, instead of the usual cassock.

"You're wondering about my attire?" The Pope chuckled. "It's an attempt to disguise myself and blend in. But surrounded as we are, I doubt very much it will dissuade anyone as to who I am."  

"Well if you had come without the guards or maybe with one or two, and not taken over the entire downtown area in order to do so, I'd have said you might have been somewhat successful." Evan grinned at the man, who appeared to be only a few years his elder.    

"I guess my days of slipping around unnoticed are past." The Pope said with a certain amount of chagrin.

"If you don't mind my asking, sir, how old are you?" Adel inquired from his standing position over Evan's right shoulder. The entire situation made him uncomfortable and so he remained on guard, ready to grab Evan and launch himself into the air at the first sign of deceit.

"I am 28 years old." The pope flapped his hands a bit at Evan's gasp and Adel's dropped jaw. "I know, its rather unheard of for one my age to become pontiff. But the church is not the same as it once was. I was raised knowing I would become pope and I was inducted into the roll when I turned 21. Much as my counterpart in India, the Dahli Lama, once his reincarnation is found, the child is raised with the knowledge that he is ruler of his people, I have been raised with the knowledge and education of our people."

"I had no idea." Evan frowned. "I just assumed you were chosen by the cardinals."

"I was, in a manner of speaking. I was a child among thousands seeking to enter the seminary in Rome. I tested highest among my peers for aptitude, was multilingual and one of my tutors later told me I have a peaceful countenance about myself. I'm not sure what he means, but somehow it aided in their decision and I was chosen at the age of 7 to become who I am today."

"I would never have considered the cardinals taking such a drastic change from the usual method." Adel stared out over the crowd as he spoke. "Not that it negates who you are in any fashion, it is just surprising."

"I believe it may be part of the reason I am being targeted. Even among the Cardinals, there is ambition and in making me pontiff, they circumvented the aspirations of many." The Pontiff sighed. "How about you, how old are you Evan?" he asked, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

"Twenty five, soon to be twenty six." Evan chuckled.

"Ah well if you are still in Rome, you will have to invite me to your birthday celebration. Although I suspect circumstances will have you back in the America's by that time."

"As you ..."   

Adel ran a hand over his face and sighed, staring up at the clear star filled night sky. The day had come and gone, amid all the turmoil of Jude's disappearance and then his need for assistance and Finn's kidnapping... he'd simply forgotten and missed Evan's birthday. There had been no celebration of his heart's birth into the world, not that he would know what to do for a birthday celebration, in any event. 

Skye twittered and rubbed against his thigh, the young griffin gargoyle seeking his attention like any youthful creature, with a desire to play. Of courses, where Skye could be found, Gabe was never far away. The griffin shifter seemed to find solace in the company of the hatchling gargoyle simply because of his form. Griffins weren't solitary creatures, usually found in large prides.

"What has you out here moping around by yourself while your mate sleeps?" Gabe asked. 

"I'm not a very good mate." Adel grumbled and glanced over his shoulder at the large muscular blonde man behind him.

"That's not true. I've seen the two of you together and you dote on Evan. That man wants for nothing and seems supremely happy. Are you fighting?"

"No, but..." Adel wondered if he could talk to Gabe about his failing. If he didn't do something soon to fix things, Evan would notice his melancholy and realize it was more than just the fact Finn was missing. "Evan turned twenty six recently and I forgot his birthday celebration. I didn't even mention it on the day of his birth or wish him well."

"Yep that's a crime." Gabe chuckled sitting down cross legged alongside Adel. "But its not too late. It's never too late, especially when its someone you love."

"Are you sure? I mean the day is past. Don't I have to wait until next year?"

"No. Birthdays are a celebration of the people we love. The day on which we choose to celebrate that person's life and show them what they mean to us is truly insignificant to the celebration itself." Gabe grinned at the gargoyle.

Adel fluffed his wings and resettled them about himself as he considered, "But how does one celebrate a birthday?"

"It is different for each culture, and it was generally a celebration for children. A time when a parent would give toys, games or books to the child. Once past the age of adulthood, many no longer celebrate, or if they do, its necessities that a parent may gift to their offspring. At least those were the celebrations of the past. In this time where most children are raised by people other than their own relatives, may never even meet their mothers, few actually even adhere to the old ways of celebrating birthdays."

"But His Holiness made it sound like a birthday celebration was an automatic thing." Adel grumbled as he tried to understand.

"The Pope is a monarch and as such it probably is an automatic thing and has been for his entire life. The rest of humanity, I would guess it isn't something that is done anymore. If you don't have parents because your mother was a breeder in the temple and your father a sperm donor, who will care if you turn another year older."

"Yes, I can see that. Evan was raised by his uncle." Adel rubbed his chin.

"He may have grown up celebrating his birthday. You would have to ask him." Gabe smiled as Skye curled up in his lap, and he scratched the small griffin behind his feather tufted ears.

"So what is customary at these celebrations?" Adel asked. If the day wasn't overly important, but the acknowledgement was the important part, maybe he could still show Evan how much he loved him. How much it mean to him that his mate and rescued him from his own death.

"There was usually cake, presents and balloons." Gabe chuckled. He hadn't participated in many birthday parties as he'd lived his life as a loner for a long time before being accepted into Nico's family of paranormal's. 

"I have seen cake. I've never eaten one. Evan tried to teach me to cook. Our oven has never been the same as I didn't know what a timer alarm was and attacked the stove when it went off. Evan cooks and I watch or help if I can." Adel snickered. 

"I can just see that, you smacking the hell out of an oven while Evan comes running into the room upon hearing the crunch of metal and glass." Gabe broke into belly laughs that had him wiping tears from his eyes.

"I have nothing for him, no present."

"Although it has been a number of years, I think if we go down to the market, we might still be able to purchase balloons." Gabe grinned. "They use them for weather predictions and to test the winds for balloon travel.

"Lets go." Adel stood, picked up Gabe and Skye in one swoop and launched himself off the balcony.

"I can fly myself." Gabe growled, grasping onto Adel's shoulders as Skye squawked indignantly and launched himself into the air.

"Then you would have had to get undressed and redressed to enter the market. This way at least you will be able to enter the store." Adel knew he made sense, but didn't think Gabe liked flying when he wasn't in control of the action.

"Just land already!" Gabe shouted as Adel hovered well above the large well lit store, keeping to the shadows.

"Keep your voice down. I'm just looking for a dark place nearby." Adel tsked banking slightly to the right and setting down in the alley.

"Never again. When we go back, I'm flying myself." Gabe groaned, holding his stomach. "I never knew people who flew with me got that kind of ride. I will never make fun of them again."

"Oh come on. It wasn't even a bumpy ride." Adel crossed his arms over his chest, his frustration with Gabe extremely evident.

"Just give me a second." Gabe complained as he straightened. He took a few deep breaths, obviously needing to regain his composure. He shook his head and stepped out of the alley into the light of the street in front of the market.

****

Bang!

"Shhh!"

THhhhhhbbbbbbbbpppt

"Why did you let go?

"I thought you had it."  

Bang!

Evan sat up in bed. It was barely dawn. He was still exhausted, but something was definitely going on.  He could hear voices and the occasional bang was disconcerting, especially since his mate was missing. 

"Damn it!" 

"Shhh!"

At first he'd thought it was just someone dropping something. With all the wounded and sick that were being cared for by Doc, there were a lot of people in the building. 

Bang!

"I give up." 

Evan got up and walked over to where his clothes were laid over a chair off to one side. He pulled on his jeans and t-shirt, forgoing his socks and shoes as the voices were obviously out in the main living quarters of this suit.

"What's going on out here." Evan said as he stood rubbing sleep from his eyes. Adel stood gingerly holding a red heart shaped balloon to his lips, still in the process of blowing it up.

"Umm... Happy Birthday! Bye!" Gabe hollered and then quickly ducked out the door. 

Shards of colored rubber from the obviously popped balloons covered the armchair and coffee table. Evan watched Adel purse his lip, and pinch the end of the balloon. 

"Its a birthday balloon. But every time I try to tie it shut, the pressure on my fingers causes my claws to come out and... Bang." Adel frowned. "Gabe had the same problem."

"I didn't know he had retractile claws." Evan shrugged his shoulders and held out his hand. Adel gave him the balloon and he knotted the end. "Very nice, who's birthday is it?"

"It is for you. I... I missed your day, but Gabe assures me that it is the thought that counts."

"For me. I haven't had something like this since I was a child." Evan grinned and stepped into Adel's embrace. "Thank you!"

"I don't have any presents for you. I'm sorry." Adel rubbed his face on the top of Evan's black dreadlocks. "You already have my heart, my strength and you know you are my life."

"Then I already have everything I need." Evan tipped his head back and pursed his lips expectantly. Adel didn't leave him wanting, but lowered kissing him gently.

Evan let go of the balloon, wrapping both arms around Adel's shoulders. A hissing sound followed by anxious chittering and more hissing interrupted their ardor. Adel released his mate just before...

Bang!

"Skye!" Adel snarled and Evan laughed. The little griffin gargoyle looked like he'd pounced on the balloon. He and Cela, Evan's little dragon gargoyle were standing staring startled at each other with bits of red rubber covering feathers, fur and scales of both gargoyles. 

"Best birthday ever." Evan clung to Adel and pulled him down for another kiss before whispering against his lips. "Now come back to bed. I want my present." Evan abruptly let Adel go and turned away from him, walking back towards the bedroom, putting a suggestive sway in his hips.

The End!

****

I hope you've enjoyed this little birthday interlude. Keep an eye out for the next book in the Elements of Love series, Gabe's Song. Coming in 2015.

Happy Birthday Amber!!

Stone Heart Releasing with Extasy Books!

Greetings Loved Ones!

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to be announcing my first release with Extasy Books.

It is so exciting to have found a new home for my work and the people at Extasy Books have been very welcoming and wonderful to work with. With that said, I am happy to announce that Stone Heart has re-release with Extasy Books and has a beautiful new cover. It has been re-edited and I can't say how great the editors have been to work with, it's been a complete pleasure.

Blurb: 

Love comes wrapped in leathery wings…

With renovations of his old Gothic church almost complete, Justin prepares for the grand opening of his gallery. Justin feels safer than he has in a long time, but it’s shattered when he’s attacked and beaten in his own home. David finds Justin and leaves him unwanted gifts, tormenting him, Justin’s no longer safe, day or night. His dreams of warm strong arms and dark wings are his only comfort, offering him an illogical security through the night.

Gargoyle Cullen sits his post as he has for centuries, guarding the souls of those who enter the church. Awake for the first time in this age of technology, he notices the new owner with curiosity and a possessiveness he’s never known before.

Will Justin finally find peace, wrapped in dark wings and the beating of a Stone Heart?

Excerpt:

Justin didn't hear her leave, but he knew she couldn't stay. Her husband didn't like the fact that she’d decided to work for him, knowing she risked becoming a target for David’s wrath. Whenever she came to work, she ran the risk of facing the lunatic. So far, he’d left her alone. She’d never actually had a run in with him, but she’d come close today.

Before he’d agreed to let her work in the gallery, Justin had made a deal with her. If she ever came upon David there, no matter what he was doing to Justin, she needed to run, get away, and call the police. In that order. He’d never been so happy that she’d kept her part of the bargain and stayed safe. He’d never have forgiven himself if she’d gotten hurt.

Justin stopped at the top of the stairs and struggled to catch his breath, clutching his painful ribs. He stumbled into the bedroom, to his dresser. He pulled his prescription out of his pocket, took out a couple of pills, swallowed them without water and pulled his pajama bottoms from the top drawer. He ever so slowly forced himself to go to the bathroom and painfully relieved himself, not surprised when he saw blood in the toilet, the result of his bruised kidneys. “Damn.” He groaned and closed his eyes. He sat there for a few minutes, resting his head on his hands against the sink vanity beside the toilet. His ribs hurt so much it was an effort just to breathe, but the pain meds were starting to kick in so he willed himself to make it back to his bedroom and to his bed.

The sun slowly set outside his window and the shadows had lengthened along the wall. He stood uncertainly in the center of the room, as exhaustion finally overcame him; he couldn't force his body to take one more step. The medication was making him feel lightheaded and loopy. He realized he wouldn't make it.

“Should’ve let Tracy help me to bed,” Justin mumbled to himself.

Something in his mind told him to hold on, just a little longer, and everything would be okay. As the last rays of the sun gave way to twilight, his body began to sway and his knees buckled. His eyes closed and he felt himself falling to the floor, thinking, Oh, this is gonna hurt.

To his surprise, he never hit the floor. Warm arms wrapped around him. For a second his mind shrieked, fearing David had hidden here from the police. But the arms holding him were tender and kind, they held him protectively. David was incapable of being gentle or caring. Justin’s mind had already passed the point of no return and it was too much trouble to force coherent logical thought. Someone picked him up and carried him to his bed.

“What happened to you? Who did this to you?” A deep rich voice, with just a touch of anger, questioned.

Justin frowned slightly, he didn't want that soft voice to have such a deadly edge. He wanted and needed to feel wrapped in strong loving arms—cared for and protected, not afraid.

“It doesn't matter. You’re here. I’m safe now.” Justin tried to smile, but winced instead and tears flowed from his closed eyes. Tentative fingers carefully caressed the bruises on his face, gently outlining the swollen purple discoloration around his eyes and stroked his hair.

“You have a fever. Are you in pain?” the voice asked gently.

“Nope. No more pain—good meds. I’m just hallucinating, but you’re a nice delusion.” Justin snuggled deeper into the velvety arms. “What’s your name?”

“I don’t know. You haven’t named me yet,” the voice purred softly.

“Oh, then you’re my handsome gargoyle, watching out for me and protecting me. I see. I thought of a name for you earlier today.” Justin yawned and whimpered as the deep breath forced his ribs to move.

“What’s my name then, little one?” The gargoyle stroked Justin’s hair. It seemed to be the only place on him that wasn't bruised.

“I’ll call you Cullen.” Justin struggled to finish his thought, his head rocking a bit as he nuzzled into the chest of the gargoyle that held him. “Means handsome, which you are.” Justin drifted off, his mind finally fading into unconsciousness.

* * * *

“Who attacked him?” Bob asked, climbing in the window, his cloven hooves clacking on the hardwood.

“He passed out before he could tell me. There are so many scents. I can’t tell which to hunt.” Cullen snarled and wrapped his wings around Justin, completely hiding them both from sight.

“Is he going to be okay?” Bob put a comforting hand on Cullen’s shoulder.

“I don’t know. His body’s pretty beaten up and he’s running a fever. He thinks I’m a hallucination.”

“He’s strong. He’ll pull through.” Bob sighed, hoping he was right. He didn't know how much damage a man could take and still heal. They watched people all the time but didn't normally have a real relationship with them. Humans were usually blind to their kind. They’d see them but not really believe they were real, living beings.

“I’ll go down and search the rest of the building. Maybe if the fight took place here, I can get a scent to follow.” Bob trotted out the door. The sound of his hooves faded as he moved down the hallway.

Bob found the rooms downstairs disrupted; they’d yet to be cleaned since the attack. In both the gallery and the kitchen, chairs had been toppled, blood spatters crisscrossed the floor and along the wall, as well as the footprints of many different people coming and going, filling the rooms with their unknown scents. There were so many that Bob could barely differentiate Justin’s scent from all the others. He sighed and headed back up to the bedroom.

“The fight took place downstairs, but there are so many scents down there. I've no idea who all those people were. I could probably make a couple of good guesses. Maybe I can get Draco and Snout to follow the most likely ones, and then we can check them out when Justin’s stronger?”

“Fine, you deal with it. I’m not moving from his side tonight.” Cullen growled. “I can’t, he needs someone here to watch over him in case he gets worse. He shouldn't be alone like this.”

“Okay. We’ll be back soon.”

“Good hunting, my friend.” Cullen peeked at him over his wing and then tucked his head back beneath to nuzzle Justin’s hair.

Bob went downstairs. He opened the side door and whistled. Two enormous beasts bounded into the room. They were about the size of small horses. Both had rows of vicious looking teeth, but Snout’s large tongue lolled out of his mouth like that of a big puppy. Draco had spikes on his tail, which he held curled over his back. “Tonight we hunt, boys. Someone hurt Justin. Can you find who did it?”

Draco and Snout began sniffing around the floor and walls, moving first from the gallery into the kitchen and then back to the gallery, repeating their actions a couple of times before returning to the kitchen. Draco caught a scent first; he snarled and bounded out the door. Within seconds he was airborne and had disappeared into the night. Snout snuffled around a bit more, concentrating on the wall and the floor before he let out a hunting howl. Then, with his nose to the ground, he dashed out the door into the shadows of the night. Bob ran after Snout, his little legs amazingly able to keep up with the large dog-like creature, both of them disappearing into the darkness.

****

Wishing you Love and Butterflies!

Sui Lynn~~

Gabe's Song - In Rough Draft

Greetings Loved Ones,

Okay okay, I'm telling. Yes the next book in the Elements of Love series is going to be about Sammy and Gabe. No, I won't tell you which element we are dealing with... it's a secret. XD

I gotta say that this book is a pivotal book in this series. A lot is going to happen here, as well as there will be some heavy emotions for Sammy to deal with. I'm sure if you are reading this series you know that Sammy is a very tortured character. The man has so much baggage he should be opening a luggage store. He also has no clue who or what he is. There are some background characters that will step forward and support our rather abused young man as he struggles to discover where he belongs in this world of magic, mayhem and hypocrisy. 

Because of the emotional tension and heavy issues that are going on in this book, I am taking a bit more time working on getting this story just right. There will be some passages that some readers may not be completely comfortable with as Sammy does need to deal with the betrayal in his life before he can move forward. Then of course there is the church, the merging of the magical and human world and ... oops!  Can't give away everything here. 

Truly I just wanted to let everyone know that I am working on the book. It is happening and coming together and when its finished I hope you will deem it worth the wait. 

Wishing you Love and Butterflies!

Sui Lynn~~

Nico's Fire Releasing Today!

Greetings Loved Ones!

Today's the day! Nico's Fire, The Elements of Love #2 is released with Silver Publishing! I hope you all enjoy it. Nico and Jude were so much fun to write and their story is full of love and angst.  

This series is taking me through the elements of nature and I'm loving each one. They are so unique and the range of mythical creatures unveiling with each element is proving to be much more of a challenge than I'd ever expected. Some of these creatures will require stories of their own, and probably separate from this series but I can't tell you how much fun I've been having diving into books of old mythology. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. 

Blurb:

Jude Jamison is a Jesuit Inquisitor, part of the pope’s force of special investigators. He suspects his cover has been blown as he’s been under constant attack. Without the gargoyles his friend Evan sent along as his guardians, and a strange ability to start fires, he’d already be dead.

Nicolai sees a gargoyle circling a smoldering building. He investigates the rare creature and is totally unprepared for the discovery of his human mate, lying amid the rubble. After waiting two millennia to find his mate, fate must be laughing. A human will never survive in his world. Yet he’s unable to leave the beautiful man behind.

Together can the two find a way to survive? Is this love’s first fire?

Excerpt:

Prologue

March 22, 2216—Café courtyard Paris, France. Mid-morning.

"Are you sure you have to go?" Evan picked up his croissant and bit into the flakey pastry.

"He's my boss. When he calls, I go. He did say you and Adel weren't required to come to Rome, in fact it almost sounded like he'd prefer you to remain in France." Jude sipped his espresso. There was nothing quite like a spring morning in Paris to calm the nerves.

"He doesn't like it that I refused to come to Rome. Now he's taking it out on you by making you go to him. Should I be wary of being attacked when you leave?" Evan glanced about the courtyard. There were a few shoppers, but mainly the morning was pleasant and quiet.

"No more than usual. Besides, even he knows with Adel and all the gargoyles of Notre Dame surrounding you, there isn't a safer person in this world," Jude teased.

"I want you to take Fin with you. Regardless of what you think, you need a keeper, Judas Jamison. If nothing else, do it for me so I know you are safe. Take Skye too, because I know he won't be happy if you are gone and he has to stay with us," Evan chuckled at Jude's grimace. "Pout all you want, you can even say no if you like. I'm still sending them with you, so deal with it."

"Fine… whatever you want, oh mighty Elemental. Your word is my command." Jude rolled his eyes, grumbled and sipped more espresso. Although he wanted to be mad at Evan for insisting, he really did like Fin and would appreciate the company.

"Just keep an eye on them while in Rome. I don't want to hear that they were crushed while you were in a meeting with your boss."

"I get it, keep the gargoyles safe. I won't let you down, Evan."

"Really, it's not the gargoyles I'm worried about. I want you to stay safe. You're my friend, this fire thing is unnerving, and nobody seems to know what's going on with you. I want you to be careful and come back."

"I will." Jude looked down at the table.

"I'm serious. Promise me you'll contact us if you need anything," Evan insisted, reaching over and taking Jude's hand.

Jude looked up, plastering a confident smile on his face. "I promise. If there's anything you can help with, I'll contact you right away. Besides, it's probably going to be a quick trip and I'll be back bugging you about croissants and peanut butter before you know it."

"I like putting peanut butter on my croissants. Especially when they're hot, the peanut butter just melts all over." Evan grinned, allowing him the subject change even though he must have known Jude's issues were far from settled.

"But you get all sticky," Jude complained. "How can you eat that and still not get all messy?"

"Practice." Evan laughed as Jude just shook his head.

Chapter 1

Elemental Lore

As written by the scribes and entombed in the Church Archives:

To date, the Church has recognized 5 types of Elemental beings:

1)     Earth, being the rarest and least-often born. Only two known in all of Church history.

2)     Air, being the second rarest.

3)     Spirit

4)     Water

5)     Fire, being the most prevalent, most destructive and volatile of all the beings.

No other information is contained in the archive as to their purpose or powers.

* * * *

July 12, 2216—Present

The distant crunch of tires on gravel should've been alarming, but it wasn't. They'd been on the run practically from the moment they'd left Evan and Adel in France. I hope they're all right. Jude was the eternal worrier. He hadn't had a chance to contact them, to see if they were being hunted as well. At first there just wasn't time, they'd needed to stay ahead of their pursuers—now time had run out. As he lay, broken and bleeding, he prayed that Evan was okay, but exhaustion overrode everything else, and he felt too tired to really care.

Jude's mind wandered aimlessly in a numb, painless haze; he'd expended way too much energy in order to destroy the demons. He thought of Finton—last time he'd seen him, the little sprite had swung his sword and decapitated a vile looking creature, that'd kept coming even without its head. It must've been some sort of zombie. Fin had been defending the entrance, but he'd eventually fallen to their greater numbers. Usually there were just a couple of them, but this time they just kept on coming. Jude couldn't remember where Skye had gotten to; he just prayed the little gargoyle was okay. Evan would have his hide if either one of them had been hurt. So tired. It was becoming a mantra, going round and round in his weary mind.

If only I could pass out. Jude felt as though he was waiting for something—maybe death. That particular entity must be having a busy night since he hasn't come to collect my soul yet. Jude closed his eyes and groaned as something sharp poked him in the back, from the rubble beneath him. His senses registered the pain yet he was so far beyond mere sensation that Jude's mind could barely acknowledge it.

A decidedly masculine voice floated through the fog of Jude's thoughts. It was deep and warm. It made him want to curl up into it and sleep for an eternity. Is this the voice of death? The sound of flapping wings accompanied the voice and a familiar sing-song warble made him want to smile. Ah my Skye, good, he's okay. Jude would know Skye's song anywhere; he was still alive and obviously close by.

"Come on you beautiful bird, this place isn't safe for a gargoyle. You're too young to be on your own." The voice crooned softly. Even in his less than stellar condition, the velvety sound of it touched something deep inside Jude.

"Oh God!" The voice shouted. Jude would've winced if he could've moved. He felt a hand touch his arm and forehead. "What happened?" That touch so—warm and gentle, he felt bathed in the heat of it.

The urge, the desire was primal. A basic instinctual part of himself reached for this other blindly. He wanted to whimper and rub himself against those fingers, but that would take too much effort, although the aching need to do so hurt almost more than his battered body. Jude wanted to answer the voice, but instead he forced open his eyes. He wanted to see the face that belonged to such a melodic voice. His gaze latched onto the most beautiful brown-black eyes Jude had ever seen. He reached up with one hand and touched the man before him; he sighed as peace overwhelmed him for but the fleetest second, before darkness closed around him.

* * * *

"No!" Nicolas Daemarkus screamed to the demolished room. The gryphon screeched, rising up on his haunches, flapping his wings furiously.

Fate was truly a bitch. How could that fickle woman play with him like this? Nico had questioned the urge to follow the gargoyle when he'd first seen it circling the abandoned building, but gargoyles were so rare these days and this creature was way too young to be on his own. Now he couldn't be happier or more distraught at the same time.

The man he knelt beside was a mess of wounds and infection, blood and dirt. For all that… he looked incredibly beautiful and fragile to Nico. The man's temperature was cool to the touch, but then all humans tended to feel cool to Nico and his brother. Still, for a human, he's too warm, almost feverish. He brushed the long red hair out of the man's face, wishing those beautiful green eyes would open again.

"My poor little human, what's happened to you?" Nico practically whimpered with distress. Something he hadn't done in centuries, as nothing touched his heart anymore.

Nico knew he needed to get the man to safety. To call the burnt out building hazardous was an understatement; the structure barely held itself together, still smoldering in places. He didn't know if he dared pick up his beautiful human—he might have broken bones or internal injuries, which could be made worse by his interference. He trembled with indecision, but he saw no other way to do it. He had to get help for him and there'd be none if they remained here. He carefully ran his hands along thin arms and legs. Nothing was obviously broken.

Nico growled, decision made. He gently slid his arms beneath the man and drew him against his chest, finding him far too light for a human his size. He could feel the bones poking from under practically translucent skin—far too thin, but again his mind registered that the bones weren't broken. Thin—Nico knew how to fix. Now, if he could just get the man to safety and get him to open his eyes. The steady fluttering heartbeat reassured him that his prize was very much alive and Nico intended him to stay that way.

The gryphon flew out of what had once been a third story window after glancing out, seeing no one below. Nico followed, clutching his precious cargo securely in his grasp, tight against his chest to keep from jostling him. He landed on the ground, three stories below, with the gentle grace and ease of a dancer stepping from one room into the next. He sprinted to the car, where he strapped the guy into the passenger's seat. Nico couldn't resist the urge to nuzzle his passenger's neck as he secured the seatbelt across him. He smelled wonderful: like burning cedar in a fireplace, and spice, overlaid with strong male musk. This scent spoke to Nico, confirming what he'd known on sight. This man belonged to him—well, he did, if he survived.

"Easy, little one," Nico whispered more to himself than to his unconscious passenger. His instincts were screaming to take him and claim him, but the beautiful redhead was in no condition to satisfy the flaming lust flowing through Nico's veins like molten lava. He adjusted himself, trying to relieve the strain on his raging erection that pressed against the zipper of his black dress pants. His protective instinct was the only thing keeping him from ravaging the guy on the spot. He'd protect this human, even from himself.

"Don't give up on me," he whispered and couldn't resist the briefest brushing of his mouth against plush red lips. His human was beautiful, his skin soft and pale as alabaster, with just a smattering of freckles across his high cheekbones and nose. Nico straightened and closed the car door, then ran around to the driver's side.

Pulling out into the street and heading as quickly toward home as he could, Nico was never so glad that traffic became nearly non-existent after dark, thanks to the mandates of the Church. Even here in the heart of New York City, people were careful about moving around after the sun went down—not that the night would ever hold any dangers for him. He hit a button on the dashboard of the car and called his brother.

"Doc."

"Hey Nico, what's up?"

"I need a favor. A friend has gotten hurt. I'm taking him home. Can you meet us there?"

"Sure Nico, but maybe a hospital would be a better choice?"

"No!" Nico growled. "This is personal, Doc. Please—"

"Okay, Nico. I'm on my way."

"Thanks, Doc. I owe ya."

"Yeah—so what else is new, Bro."

Nico hung up and glanced at his passenger, reaching out and touching his face with a shaking hand. "Please—hold on."

Stone Heart - Releasing March 31, 2012 in it's entirety

Greetings Loved Ones,

Stone Heart is releasing Saturday and I'm so excited. Stone Heart was written in the Elements of Love world, but it is not part of that story line. It was written in current time, where Adel's Purr and book 2 Nico's Fire which is releasing in May, were both written in the future.

Stone Heart is a separate stand alone story of gargoyle love. Adel's Purr just wasn't enough for me to get my fill of gargoyles and they will probably appear in more of my works as time goes on. As a little explored paranormal character, gargoyles are an unknown quality and although I love my vampires and shifters, I really enjoy writing for some of the lesser known creatures that go bump in the night as well.

So those of you who are part of Silver Publishing's VIP program will be able to down load your copy in advance of its release, while the rest of us wait until Saturday. As always, you can download your Kindle and Nook copies, as well as other ereader formats directly from the Silver website without waiting for them to appear on Amazon or B&N. I hope you all enjoy the story and I look forward to hearing your comments.

Blurb:

Justin Anderson is running from a past that refuses to let go. He finds refuge in the renovations of an old gothic church. But the church has its own secrets, Gargoyles. Living stone, they protect those within from evil. It's been a century since they've been seen. But Justin sees them.

Cullen sits his post as he has for centuries, guarding the souls of those who enter the church. But the church, old ad rundown, has been sold to a private investor. A man he finds he's drawn to and feels incredibly protective of.

Justin dreams, of warm arms and dark wings, are his only comfort when he's attacked by a stalker, offering him an illogical sense of security through the night, accompanied by the beating of a Stone Heart.


Excerpt:

Chapter 1: Renovations

April 12, 2010

Justin Anderson stared up at the large stone church. The For Sale sign pounded into the grass of the front lawn proclaimed the Gothic structure to be vacant; it provided a phone number for interested parties to contact the realtor representing the property.

“Tracy, isn’t she magnificent?” Justin beamed at his sister. Tracy was his twin, although you wouldn’t know it to look at them. Where he had a slight build, often called willowy, and was fair complected with his short dark golden blond hair and blue eyes, his sister’s long tresses were dark brown almost black with eyes to match. She had a heavier body, after the birth of her son, but they both stood five foot eight inches tall. She often called him her big brother, which he acknowledged he was, although he’d only been born ten minutes ahead of her. Despite their differences, they were as close as any pair of twins, and inseparable when together.

Tracy frowned up at the dark structure. “It’s creepy, Justin.”

“Well, now maybe—but there’s sooooo much potential!” Justin trotted up the stone stairs to the Gothic arched entry, grabbing the wrought iron handle on the heavy oak door—it was locked.

“What are you doing?” Tracy ran up and grabbed her brother’s arm, dragging him back down to the sidewalk.

“I’m going to buy her. I think she’s perfect! Look, there’s plenty of room. I could have everything all in one place—my studio, my gallery and my apartment. Can’t you just see how it’d all fit together?”

Tracy pulled on Justin’s arm, trying to get him to move on past the roughhewn stone, down along the side of a walled-in garden behind the church.

“No! Justin, this place is—well, it’s going to need too much work. Surely there are other places to consider that would be more appropriate?” Tracy frowned as Justin jumped alongside, trying to see over the six-foot wall into the garden.

“Nothing nearly as perfect as this place would be. I really love it.”

“You buy this place and you’re crazier than I thought, big brother.” Tracy chuckled and rolled her eyes, despite her obvious misgivings, amused at her brother’s excitement. “Are you sure? Don’t you think living in a church would be creepy?”

“Of course not. Why, I think she’s perfect. I just hope I can afford to buy her.”

“Why do you keep calling the church a ‘her’?”

“Because she’s a beautiful old lady and she deserves to be treated kindly. Everything about her structure is ornate and Gothic. The architect who designed her—he did so with loving care and artistry. What better place for an art gallery than a building so carefully created?”

“Okay, so I see a rundown old church and you see a piece of fine art. Figures.”

“No, really. The main level can be divided between the gallery and my studio. The kitchen can stay where it is and I can put the laundry room in there, as well as a mudroom going out to the garden. My private living area can be upstairs.” Justin practically oozed excitement as he pointed to the pictures of the inside of the church he’d printed from the realtor’s online site.

Taking his arm and giving it a tug, she pulled him back down the sidewalk toward their parked cars. “I can’t even begin to think how much updating this money pit is going to need. You realize a building this old will have to be completely rewired to handle the load of the lighting you’ll need for the art, as well as your computer system. Who even knows what shape the kitchen and plumbing are in or if the place even has a working bathroom?”

Justin grinned, “You worry too much. She’s perfect and what’s not perfect I can fix.” Justin only had eyes for the artistry before him and ignored Tracy’s attempts at common sense.

“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Tracy threw up her arms in surrender.

Justin put his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “I’m going to make this the most fabulous art gallery. Now I just need a name… maybe… Stone—something.”

“It used to be called ‘Sacred Heart’.” Tracy started walking down the sidewalk towards her car.

“Well, there you have it. ‘Stone Heart Gallery’. Perfect.”

“You’re simply crazy. But I love you anyway.” Tracy groaned.

****

Wishing you Love and Butterflies,

Sui Lynn~~

Stone Heart - Coming Soon!

Greetings Loved Ones,

I just got my artwork for Stone Heart and had to share. I know some of you have really been waiting for this book, and now it will be releasing in it's entirety on March 31, 2012.

Reese Dante did an excellent job! I love it.

Blurb:

Justin Anderson is running from a past that refuses to let go. He finds refuge in the renovations of an old gothic church. But the church has its own secrets, Gargoyles. Living stone, they protect those within from evil. It's been a century since they've been seen. But Justin sees them.

Cullen sits his post as he has for centuries, guarding the souls of those who enter the church. But the church, old ad rundown, has been sold to a private investor. A man he finds he's drawn to and feels incredibly protective of.

Justin dreams, of warm arms and dark wings, are his only comfort when he's attacked by a stalker, offering him an illogical sense of security through the night, accompanied by the beating of a Stone Heart.

****
Wishing you Love and Butterflies,

Sui Lynn~~

Element's of Love 2 - Nico's Fire

Greetings Loved ones,

I've been getting such a wonderful response to Adel's Purr. I'm glad everyone is enjoying it. I decided I wanted to give you a taste of what's to come in Nico's Fire, book 2 in my Element's of Love series. If you are wondering, there are currently 5 books to this series.

Nico's Fire is about our beautiful Jesuit Inquisitor Jude Jamison and his budding issues with fire. Jude's power was awakened in Adel's Purr when Evan fought Father Michael. To say Jude's having control issues is putting it mildly.

We meet more of our villians in this book and find out just how far the corruption of the church has become. We make a few friends along the way and a few personal discoveries for Jude as well.

Here's an unofficial excerpt, now realize here, this is a piece from the rough draft, it is unedited, so there will be errors. I just wanted you to see a bit of the future.  I hope you enjoy it.

Excerpt:

The distant crunch of tires on gravel should’ve been alarming, but it wasn’t. They’d been on the run practically from the moment they’d left Evan and Adel in France. ‘I hope they’re alright.’ Jude was the eternal worrier. He hadn’t had a chance to contact them, to see if they were being hunted as well. At first there just wasn’t time, they’d needed to stay ahead of their pursuers—now time had run out. As he lay, broken and bleeding, he prayed that Evan was okay, but exhaustion overrode everything else, and he felt too tired to really care.

Jude’s mind wandered aimlessly in a numb painless haze; he’d expended way too much energy in order to destroy the demons. He thought of Finton—last time he’d seen him, the little sprite had swung his sword and decapitated a vile looking creature, that’d kept coming even without its head. It must’ve been some sort of zombie. Fin had been defending the entrance, but he’d eventually fallen to their greater numbers. Usually there were just a couple of them, but this time they just kept on coming. Jude couldn’t remember where Skye had gotten to; he just prayed the little gargoyle was okay. Evan would have his hide if either one of them had been hurt. ‘So tired,’ Jude thought. It was becoming a mantra, going round and round in his weary mind.

‘If only I could pass out.’ Jude felt as though he was waiting for something—maybe death. ‘That particular entity must be having a busy night since he hasn’t come to collect my soul yet.’ Jude closed his eyes and groaned as something sharp poked him in the back, from the rubble beneath him. His senses registered the pain yet he was so far beyond mere sensation that Jude’s mind could barely acknowledge it.

A decidedly masculine voice floated through the fog of Jude’s thoughts. It was deep and warm. It made him want to curl up into it and sleep for an eternity. ‘Is this the voice of death?’ The sound of flapping wings accompanied the voice and a familiar sing-song warble made him want to smile. ‘Ah my Skye, good, he’s okay.’ Jude would know Skye’s song anywhere; he was still alive and obviously close by.

“Come on you beautiful bird, this place isn’t safe for a gargoyle. You’re too young to be on your own.” The voice crooned softly. Even in his less than stellar condition, the velvety sound of it touched something deep inside Jude.

“Oh God!” The voice shouted. Jude would’ve winced if he could’ve moved. He felt a hand touch his arm and forehead. “What happened!” That touch so—warm and gentle, he felt bathed in the heat of it.

The urge, the desire was primal. A basic instinctual part of himself reached for this other blindly. He wanted to whimper and rub himself against those fingers, but that would take too much effort, although the aching need to do so hurt almost more than his battered body. Jude wanted to answer the voice, but instead he forced open his eyes. He wanted to see the face that belonged to such a melodic voice. His gaze latched onto the most beautiful brown-black eyes Jude had ever seen. He reached up with one hand and touched the face of the man before him; he sighed as peace overwhelmed him for but the fleetest second, before darkness closed around him.

****

“No!” Nicolas Daemarkus screamed to the demolished room. The gryphon screeched, rising up on his haunches, flapping his wings furiously.

Fate was truly a bitch, how could that fickle woman play with him like this. Nico had questioned the urge to follow the gargoyle when he’d first seen it circling the abandoned building, but gargoyles were so rare these days and this creature was way too young to be on his own. Now he couldn’t be happier or more distraught at the same time.

The man he knelt beside was a mess of wounds and infection, blood and dirt. For all that… he looked incredibly beautiful and fragile to Nico. The man’s temperature was cool to the touch, but then all humans tended to feel cool to Nico and his brother. Still for a human, Nico thought, he’s too warm, feverish. He brushed the long red hair out of the man’s face, wishing those beautiful green eyes would open again.

“My poor little human, what’s happened to you?” Nico practically whimpered with distress. Something he hadn’t done in centuries, as nothing touched his heart anymore.

Nico knew he needed to get the man to safety. To call the burnt out building hazardous was an understatement; the structure barely held itself together, still smoldering in places. He didn’t know if he dared pick up his beautiful human—he could have broken bones or internal injuries, which could be made worse by his interference. He trembled with indecision. Problem was he saw no other way to do it. He had to get help for this man and there’d be no help if they remained here. He carefully ran his hands down the man’s arms and legs. Nothing was obviously broken.

Nico growled, decision made. He gently slid his arms beneath the man and drew him against his chest. The man was far too light for a human his size. He could feel the bones under the man’s skin—far too thin, but again his mind registered that the bones weren’t broken. Thin—Nico knew how to fix. Now, if he could just get the man to safety and get him to open his eyes. The fluttering beat of the man’s heart reassured him that his prize was very much alive and Nico intended him to stay that way.

The gryphon flew out of what had once been a third story window after glancing out, seeing no one below. Nico followed, the unconscious man held securely in his grasp, tight against his chest. He landed on the ground, three stories below, with the ease of stepping from one room into the next, without jostling his precious cargo. He sprinted to the car, where he strapped the man into the passenger’s seat. Nico couldn’t resist the urge to nuzzle the man’s neck as he secured the seatbelt across him. The man smelled wonderful: burning cedar in a fireplace and spice overlaid with strong male musk. This scent spoke to Nico, confirming what he’d known on sight. This man belonged to him—well, he did, if he lived.

“Easy, little one,” Nico whispered more to himself than to the unconscious man. His instincts were screaming to take him and claim him, but the little man was in no condition to satisfy the lust flowing through Nico’s veins. He adjusted himself, trying to relieve the strain on his raging erection that pressed against the zipper of his black dress pants. His protection instinct was the only thing keeping the man from being ravaged on the spot. He would protect this human, even from himself.

“Don’t give up on me, little one,” he whispered and couldn’t resist the briefest brushing of his mouth against his man’s plush red lips. His human was beautiful, his skin soft and pale as alabaster, with just a smattering of freckles across his high cheeks and nose. Nico straightened and closed the car door, then ran around to the driver’s side.

Pulling out into the street and heading as quickly towards home as he could, Nico was never so glad that traffic became nearly non-existent after dark, thanks to the mandates of the Church. Even here in the heart of New York City, people were careful about moving around after the sun went down—not that the night would ever hold any dangers for him. He hit a button on the dashboard of the car and called his brother.

“Doc”

“Hey Nico, what’s up?”

“I need a favor. A friend has gotten hurt. I’m taking him home. Can you meet us there?”

“Sure Nico, but maybe a hospital would be a better choice?”

“No!” Nico growled. “This is personal, Doc. Please—”

“Okay, Nico. I’m on my way.”

“Thanks, Doc. I owe ya.”

“Yeah—so what else is new, Bro.”

Nico hung up and looked at his little man, touching his face with a shaking hand. “Please—hold on, baby.”

*****

Wishing you Love and Butterflies,

Sui Lynn~~