Welcome to #Rainbowsnippets*! This one is uniquely mine, but there are lots of other great snippets to read so after you finish here click the FB link at the bottom of the post to discover other great LGBTQIA authors and their works. This week I’m sharing from Keeping House, novel two in the Appalachian Elementals series. It’s set for a July release, and I couldn’t be happier. Right now, the manuscript is with the proofreader, but when it’ll available for preorder pretty dang quickly or so I’m told.
I’ll update you when I know more.
This week I’m skipping a few paragraphs ahead in Chapter Three of Keeping House so we can see exactly what’s to become of Kenzie and his wandering eye.
Notes:
- Yes, this is over the six sentence limit, but this content needs to remain together to make sense.
- Remember that we’re seeing this through Cent’s POV.
- Stowne, an Earth elemental, is Cent’s spouse, and they’re leading the Brigid’s circle.
- Brigid (also called Imbolc) is a Celtic pagan holiday that occurs on February 1st. It marks the midpoint in the dark half of the year. That said, In the Appalachian Elementals series, Brigid is also a celebration of… well, read.
Stowne rose from their stack-stone throne to face the crowd. “This is a celebration to welcome the upcoming spring, of renewal, and of possibilities. Brigid is the virgin form of our Blessed Mother Earth and often referred to in modern times as Saint Brigid. This is a celebration of her, of the practical arts, of healing.”
Stowne moved their eyes to Aubrey, who blushed. “Of the hearth and home, of evening stories, and of smithcraft.” Stowne nodded to Dane who crossed her arms and grinned from ear to ear. “I will now cast the circle. All those with good intentions will be allowed inside, but those harboring ill intent will be pushed out by the positive magic.” They called to the corners. North. South. East. But when they called to the West, the lesser water elementals drew up, forming a collective wave centered on Kenzie, pushing him from the circle sands.
“Told you to cool it.” Dane scowled as Stowne closed the circle. “Go home and wait ’til I get there. We’re gonna talk ’bout your impulsivities.” She drew the last word out in a slow Southern Appalachian drawl, putting heavy emphasis on the second syllable.
Yeah, Kenzie’s in trouble. The one thing you don’t want to do is embarrass your kin or, in Dane’s case, the king. Yes, even the Hunters have social expectations. They’re not totally without rules, though those rules often seem random in their application, especially to an outsider. But that’s what happens when you’re dealing with fey or are fey yourself, as Cent is soon to find out.
*RainbowSnippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!
I almost feel a little sorry for Kenzie, even if he spoiled the rhythm of the ritual…
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Kenzie gets what he deserves, and he knew exactly what he was doing the entire time so no sympathies there.
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We’re gonna talk ’bout your impulsivities. … Ha…that will be an interesting chat! ❤️
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Every discussion with King Dane is, um, interesting, even the more private ones.
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Sounds like a much more interesting Imbolc than I had.
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Yeah, mine too.
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Could have been worse — the Fire Elementals could have been the ones to do it.
But then, it sounds like Kenzie’s gonna be in hot water anyhow…
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Kenzie’s in definite trouble. Dane does not like being embarrassed by her own people.
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Oh no, now what is Kenzie going to do?
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Kenzie’s dug his own grave here, so to speak. Dane will take care of the problem in the next chapter or two.
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That’s really interesting… and says a lot that for all their ‘weight-throwing’ Dane and the other hunters held good intentions at heart?
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Oh, wow, someone finally saw through all the Hunter BS to see what’s really happening here. Nice job of reading between the lines! I’m impressed. 👏👏👏
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Kenzie seems to be in trouble now. I’d wondered what would happen to Dane, but it looks like her intentions are good.
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You’re the second one to pull from the subtext here. I applaud you both! Yes, Dane didn’t get in trouble, but that doesn’t make her a saint by any means. For all her boasting, she has no ill will to anyone there, except maybe Kenzie, but he’s soon to leave.
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