by R. J. Blain
The laugh I’d been attempting to smother escaped, and Kennedy elbowed me in the ribs. I wasn’t the only one to laugh, and my father’s chuckles rang out loudest of all.
“Humans,” Samantha muttered.
“Taxes are a critical factor,” I whispered, careful to keep my voice down. “She’s worth good credits.”
“Reed,” Kennedy complained. “You’re impossible.”
I smiled at her, and since we’d already abandoned our traditional wedding, I leaned towards her and kissed her cheek. Not to be undone, Kitten, Destroyer of Worlds crawled over my head and batted at Kennedy’s hair. We both laughed, and I retrieved my cat and returned her to my shoulder.
Eros cleared his throat. “Love comes in many forms. For some, it is blind. For others, it is found in an unusual clarity of vision. It can be easily won but also lost, such as a mother’s love for her child.”
I resisted the urge to glance in the direction of my mother, the target of Eros’s jab.
“Your journey is just beginning, but your love is old and tested, proven true beyond expectation.” Eros held out his hand and several sheets of paper popped into existence along with a white quill. “In the eyes of men, I declare you husband and wife, and may those who find themselves displeased with this cross swords with an elf. You may kiss your bride, but please restrain yourself from any further activities in public.” Eros scowled. “The elf made me say that.”
I laughed, lifted Kennedy’s hand to my lips, and gave her a gentle kiss. “You’re worth the wait.”
She always had been.
About the Author
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RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.
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When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter.
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In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
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RJ also writes as Susan Copperfield and Trillian Anderson.
If you enjoy using bookbub, you can follow RJ and her alter ego Susan there.
http://thesneakykittycritic.com
Magical Romantic Comedies (with a body count)
Playing with Fire
Hoofin’ It
Hearth, Home, and Havoc
Whatever for Hire
Serial Killer Princess
Owl Be Yours
Fowl Play
No Kitten Around
Blending In (Nov 2018)
Cheetahs Never Win (Dec 2018)
Saddle Up (2019)
Grave Humor (May 2019)
Dragon Her Heels (2019)
From Witch & Wolf World
Series: Witch & Wolf
Inquisitor
Winter Wolf
Blood Diamond
Silver Bullet
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Series: Wolf Hunt
Wolf Hunt
Wild Wolf (2019)
The Edge of Midnight (2020)
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Series: Nature of the Beast
Pack Justice
Dual Nature (TBD)
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Series: Balancing the Scales
Karma
License to Kill (TBD)
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Standalones
Beneath a Blood Moon
Shadowed Flame
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Tales of the Winter Wolf
(Short Story/Novella Collections)
Omnibus - Volumes One-Five
Volume Six (Aftermath to Winter Wolf.)
Other Stories by RJ Blain
Jesse Alexander Novels
Water Viper
Steel Heart (late 2018/early 2019)
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Requiem for the Rift King (Epic Fantasy)
Storm Without End
Storm Surge
The Tides of War (TBD)
Witch & Wolf World Reading Order
The Witch & Wolf world is all over the place. I’m sorry about that—really. I’m worse than a gnat sometimes, flitting from project to project, excited to write my next story. Here’s my preferred reading order of these books. While I wrote Inquisitor first, it actually happens after Winter Wolf.
Note: You can jump in on any series with the exception of Blood Diamond, Silver Bullet, and later volumes—they are dependent on events that happen prior in the series.
Winter Wolf (W&W #2)
Tales of the Winter Wolf Vol. 6
Tales of the Winter Wolf Vol. 1-5
Inquisitor (W&W #1)
Beneath a Blood Moon (Standalone)
Blood Diamond (W&W #3)
Silver Bullet (W&W #4)
Wolf Hunt (WH #1, W&W #5)
Wild Wolf (WH #2, W&W #6)
The Edge of Midnight (WH #3, W&W #7)
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The following books can be read at any time:
Nature of the Beast
Pack Justice
Dual Nature (TBD)
Balancing the Scales
Karma
License to Kill (TBD)
Standalone
Shadowed Flame