Author Connie Suttle

Author Connie Suttle:
Urban Fantasy/ Young Adult

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Demon Revealed First Look

Here are the first couple of pages for Demon Revealed. Enjoy :)


"Reah and I talked about it—that's how I know." Gavril wanted to shout at the adults. Reah had tried to tell Lendill Schaff about Nods Whitlin, but he'd ignored her, sure that Nods was only an illegal immigrant on Tulgalan. "She said there was no water shortage on Mandil. They were growing citrus in the desert so there was plenty of water to grow drakus seed. We pieced it together—she said somebody called the High Commander could have been in on this." Gavril sat in front of his mother, his father, ASD Director Norian Keef and Vice-Director Lendill Schaff. "She didn't contact you a second time because she was embarrassed after the first time." Gavril knew that feeling all too well.

"Whitlin won't be able to talk for a few days—Tory nearly crushed his throat," Norian grumbled. "Those wizards are refusing to talk—we can't force them. They're older than that stupid boy—I'm hoping he'll get upset and frustrated enough to tell us all he knows. As soon as he can talk."

"The wizards won't say anything?" Queen Lissa asked.

"The most powerful of them keeps asking about Reah. He stopped talking when I told him she wasn't any of his business." Norian was angry about the entire incident. Lendill had ignored Reah's warning; she hadn't had enough courage to come to him again. Ry hadn't thought the information he'd gleaned was serious enough to call in agents and seven people died. Another eight were wounded.

"But how are they getting to Tulgalan?" Lendill knew he'd miscalculated—he should have gotten at least one agent to tail Nods. He might have learned a great deal from that. Instead, they were left to clean up bodies and attempt to explain to the Governor of the Realm of Tulgalan just why a wizard's battle had destroyed half of Taritha Village.

"I would have made the same mistake," Norian sighed. "She's only nineteen. We didn't give her enough credit."

* * *

"Reah, my darling, wake up. Please."

I ached. All over, I ached. The pain wasn't unbearable now, but it had been. I remembered waking up occasionally; the pain had been so bad. I only recalled cool fingers against my feverish forehead before blessed blackness came again. A voice, now, asking me to wake. Calling me darling. Not Aurelius—he never called me that. I was attempting to puzzle it out in my foggy brain. That hurt too, I think.

"Aurelius is out on assignment again. I am here, pretty one." I was afraid to open my eyes. Afraid of the reality that I might have to face when I did. Perhaps someone would come to send me back to unconsciousness.

"No, darling. They'll relieve the pain, but you must wake. You must move and eat and answer questions."

I moaned. I didn't want to answer questions. I didn't want to think. Didn't want to remember.

"Hush, now. We'll get you through this."

"Wylend, go away." That voice I'd heard before. I was trying to connect it to a face and a name.

"Karzac, if that order came from anyone else, I would turn them into a goat." I opened my eyes a crack to see Karzac the healer glaring at Wylend Arden, King of Karathia. Why was Wylend here? Surely he didn't want me to cook for him that badly.

"I will explain it to you very soon," Wylend rose from his seat beside my bed, returned Karzac's glare and disappeared.

"Reah," Karzac sighed heavily, "I know you are in pain. I will try to relieve as much of it as I can, but the one who calls himself the Director of the ASD is clamoring to speak with you. I did my best to hold him off, but he keeps insisting that the ASD owns you. That I find repugnant in every sense of the word, and have considered asking a Larentii to put him through the pain you have suffered, just so he will have some idea of what he is asking of you." Karzac's green-gold eyes were kind as he reached out to touch my shoulder. The pain lessened. He put his hands on my neck, then, causing the pain there to drop dramatically.

* * *

"What am I going to do?" Tory wanted to slam his body into a brick wall. Then back up and slam it into a brick wall again.

"Bro, I have no idea." Ry watched his taller sibling carefully. Lissa had asked Ry to watch Tory—he wouldn't be able to reconcile his feelings with what his Thifilathi had done. He should have realized the full moon was close on Tulgalan, and when he'd forced the Thifilathi to deal with the shooter, it had taken over completely.

"I've ruined everything," Tory moaned.

* * * * * 

Demon Revealed is coming along. Happy Wednesday, everybody!
CS

24 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It's coming along, and I'm doing a quick read-through of Demon's King (#3) today, for continuity. Things are looking very good :)
      cs

      Delete
  2. UGH!!! More.. I want More!! We were left with a major cliffhanger in Demon Lost, I am on pins and needles waiting for this book!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm loving this series more and more ... when's this next one due out?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm hoping for a date between the 10th and 15th of November :)
      cs

      Delete
  4. Look like reah got another admire in wylend? I can't wait until demon revealed come out.....Love it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! We'll see how all those potential relationships play out :D
      cs

      Delete
  5. Fascinating. Intriguing. Thanks for this sample, Connie.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ah, I didn't think of Wylend. Why didn't I think of Wylend??? Can't wait as usual!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All will be revealed in time :) Things are coming along nicely in High Demon land!
      cs

      Delete
  7. Wylend is calling her darling??? Arrghhh!!! I'll keep saying, "Just a few weeks more, just a few weeks more..." Does he want her for her cooking skills? They always the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach! We got some serious polyandry going on in these series. I have a hard time with one husband let alone the thought of having multiple husbands. Good job, Connie! Keep up the great series!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the teaser ... Happy Wednesday =)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't wait, I loved the first one and this one looks even better. This is now killing me to have to wait for the rest, I used to think I was patient!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Demon Revealed and Demon's King are my personal favorites in the series :) I know what you mean about patience, too--I'm sneaking away at times to furiously write on two or three other books, and the good news is that they're coming along, too!
      Hope your day is a happy one--
      cs

      Delete
  10. Are you still releasing the book next week?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I was prepared to not like this series since it is a departure from Lissa's POV, but I'm getting my Lissa fix and the writing is much tighter and faster paced. You've hit it out of the park again, and I can see myself biting my nails as I struggle to get through 28 days till the next installment. And don't think I'm not missing my Bumble. That's another series I wait on with bated breath! Connie, you are addictive. I'm glad there's no 12 step program for getting over you. Keep em coming...I'll keep buying.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Demon Revealed is almost ready, then it's on to Destroyer :)
      cs

      Delete
  12. I saw the cover on Facebook, very impressive. Thanks for posting it =).

    Larry

    ReplyDelete