The Passionate Delegate

by Sarah Noffke

  John seemed momentarily knocked off-guard by this. Then he looked at Pickles, who was almost eye to eye with him. The mortal didn’t appear shocked to be looking into the eyes of a lion he had previously thought was only his little terrier. Instead, he reached out and tousled the top of his head, the way he always did to Pickles. “When we have good friends, they make us feel healthier, younger, and like we can take on the world.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Talon was tired of living in the Black Void. He was ready to leave it, but the time wasn’t right. Father Time needed to be found. Killed. And Kayla had much work to do.

  “Master,” she said, striding through the dark space now lined with orbs of light. Her white hair glowed around her heart-shaped face.

  “Olivia Beaufont put the SandMan back to sleep,” he nearly yelled, his fury rocking the ground under their feet.

  “I know,” she said in a rush, kneeling before the God Magician. “When she killed my illusion of Spencer, it momentarily knocked me out. By the time I recovered, she had already gotten away with Zeno Dutillet.”

  Talon swept back and forth, his robe brushing the bones of rodents and larger animals. “If she awakes the Mortal Seven and brings them all into the House of Seven, everything I’ve worked for will be gone!”

  Kayla visibly shook. “I know, Grandfather. I’m willing to do whatever you ask to stop her.”

  “Gone!” he repeated. “Already, I feel part of me dying, which means she’s found one of the Mortal Seven.”

  “But master, you seem so much stronger,” Kayla argued.

  “Strength has nothing to do with life force,” he explained. “I stole my life from the ones I took, but when they come back, it will end my long reign. I can’t live while the Mortal Seven do.”

  “I’ll stop her,” Kayla said eagerly. “Just tell me what you’d have me do? Spencer is a pawn. Only an illusion. I can send him to do my bidding. The girl they know as Kayla isn’t real either. I can fool them. I know I can.”

  He nodded slowly. Adler had been a failure. Decar had only been an average magician. But Kayla? She was a grandchild he could be proud of. “You must track down the Mortal Seven families and destroy them before Olivia Beaufont does. Every second counts.”

  “I’ll do it, my lord. I promise.”

  The smile that spread across Talon’s face lacked joy. It was full of greed and fury. It was the thing that fueled wars. “Good, because, Kayla, you’re are my last hope. If you fail, I’ll have to resort to the most drastic measures.”

  Sarah’s Author Notes

  July 21, 2019

  Book 9! Wow! I’ve never written nine books in a series before. It is all thanks to you, the reader. Yes, you. The one reading these words right now. This word. And this one. Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll stop. But seriously, you’re the one who has read the 8 books before this. Has supported, reviewed, and cheered me on to keep writing the series. Without you, this wouldn’t be happening. Believe me. I’ve had series that didn’t go past a certain point because it just didn’t have the same steam as the Unstoppable Liv Beaufont. You like the series and for that, I’m exceptionally grateful. Thank you!

  I’m excited for this next arc. I’m going to dare to say I think it will be better than the first two. For one, this chimera thing has me silly excited. Michael and I came up with that idea over video com and I was so eager that I nearly dropped off the call so I could get started on writing. There’s a story that came out of that call that will come a little later (next Author’s Notes). Michael will regret ever telling me anything about his childhood. I get it though. I was a kid once and made mistakes. Nothing like this though. Anyway, when my friend, Michael, confided in me this story about something he did, I did what most would do and took notes and planned to put it into book 10. Later, I’ll further add insult to injury by highlighting it in the author notes. Stay tuned.

  As many of you know, Lydia, my daughter, helps me to craft storylines (usually over breakfast). In the original outline, Rooster wasn’t in the book. But then book 9 would have been way shorter. Anyway, we crafted the Rooster storyline one morning. Remember the chickens that her father got her that I had to watch? That’s where the inspiration for Alicia the chicken came from. Well, one of those chicks turned out to be a rooster, which got my exe in trouble with his neighborhood. Anyway, when I was looking for names for this character, Lydia threw out Rooster and I thought it was perfect for a musician.

  I used to live in Southern Oregon and have some really amazing readers there who I like to throw in Easter eggs for every now and then. One year, I hiked up to the top of Mount McLaughlin, one of the highest peaks in the Rogue Valley area. Places I’ve been are always great locations for stories. That’s one reason I decided to use that as the location for Rooster’s castle.

  And then Lydia wanted him to be a musician. I’ve talked about the beauty of inspiration before and how it surprises me all the time. This storyline was another instance of that. I got into writing those chapters and was blown away with how perfect a broken-hearted musician worked for this. And then the ending.

  Those familiar with the Rogue Valley know that one of the largest employers for a long time was a company called Musician’s Friend. My exe actually used to work there and I have a ton of friends that were connected with the company. A few dozen of us actually moved to the LA area together and have a bond because of that. Anyway, I was blown away when finishing up the Rooster chapter when he turned to Liv and said, “You’re a musician’s friend.” It gave me chills because I never even planned that but it couldn’t have been more perfect.

  Rooster’s band name is Moldy Oranges. When Lydia and I were coming up ideas and I said, “Well, what’s the band name going to be?” She answered, “Of course it has to be Moldy Oranges.” I was like, “Of course!”

  We have an orange tree in backyard. I’m too short to properly get the oranges before they go bad most of the time. Or the squirrels take a bite and throw them on the patio (because they want me to kill them. (MA can I borrow your bb gun?)).

  Anyway, often I can be found cleaning up moldy oranges in the backyard. And on many occasions, as I’m doing that and cursing at squirrels, I’ve said, “If I ever have a band, I’m calling it Moldy Oranges.” And that’s where ideas come from.

  Okay, I’m off to start book 10 and looking forward to inspiration lending me breath-taking moments. Thank you again for being awesome.

  Michael’s Author Notes

  July 22, 2019

  THANK YOU for not only reading this story but these Author Notes as well.

  (I think I’ve been good with always opening with “thank you.” If not, I need to edit the other Author Notes!)

  RANDOM (sometimes) THOUGHTS?

  Orange Trees and Moldy Oranges.

  Ok, for most of my life I have never had a fruit tree. I didn’t particularly mind not having a fruit tree because the only fruit I like is Lime Jello.

  (Wait, can I include Kool-Aid? Because I’ll drink the hell out of a lot of fruit-flavored Kool-Aid’s. Now, I’m almost embarrassed to admit at 51 years old I love Kool-Aid, but since I’m 51 years old I also don’t really care what people think, either.)

  Ok, back to fruit trees.

  Now I have a house that has three fruit trees (orange, fig, and lemon.) We have moldy oranges, and I hate them.

  Why can’t fruit trees grow fruit, and if no one eats them, they disappear?

  Ok, I realize the animals and need to propagate can’t allow this to be, but moldy oranges suck.

  Never Share Your Secrets.

  I know the story Sarah is talking about that she is going to share. I’m forever embarrassed about this story and so know it comes out I’ll hate it (cause I was an ass.)

  (Well, it won’t come out not now-now although I could just share it and mess with her - I won’t because it’s obvious she needs this Machiavellian emotional outlet - so I’ll wait for it to show up later.)

  Sometimes (as a kid) you sh
ouldn’t give in to your desire to prove your skills.

  AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

  One of the interesting (at least to me) aspects of my life is the ability to work from anywhere and at any time. In the future, I hope to re-read my own Author Notes and remember my life as a diary entry.

  605 Freeway heading to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

  Tippity-typing my way along in stop and go traffic listening to the driver speak with my wife about scammers causing crashes with professional drivers.

  Usually, I’m interested in listening to this type of information because it is a window into another person’s life. At the moment, I’m too sleepy to care.

  I’m about to close my eyes… I want to so bad.

  Maybe I’ll dream of a way to get Sarah back and I’ll snicker in my sleep.

  I doubt it. My dreams are too nice.

  Remind me (next time) that collaborating with Sarah is a two-edged sword.

  FAN PRICING

  $0.99 Saturdays (new LMBPN stuff) and $0.99 Wednesday (both LMBPN books and friends of LMBPN books.) Get great stuff from us and others at tantalizing prices.

  Go ahead, I bet you can’t read just one.

  Sign up here: http://lmbpn.com/email/.

  HOW TO MARKET FOR BOOKS YOU LOVE

  Review them so others have your thoughts, tell friends and the dogs of your enemies (because who wants to talk with enemies?)… Enough said ;-)

  Ad Aeternitatem,

  Michael Anderle

  Acknowledgments

  Sarah Noffke

  My favorite part of writing any book is creating the acknowledgements page. It reminds me that writing a book is not a solo task. I might sit alone and write, but the finished product is a result of the support and encouragement of a tribe of people.

  Thank you to the readers who buy the books, read them, review and recommend. YOU are the one who keeps us writing. I’m always inspired by the messages I receive from readers. Thank you supporting the books and offering so much richness to my life.

  Thank you to my LBMPN family for all the support. Steve, Michael, Lynne, Moonchild, Jennifer and so many others who help champion the book to publication and beyond.

  Thank you to the beta readers who offered so many valuable insights early on. Thank you to John, Chrisa, Kelly, Martin and Larry.

  Thank you to the JIT team for all the awesome feedback. A new series is always exciting and nerve-wracking. Michael and I thought we had a great idea for a new world, but we don’t really know until we get objective feedback. What would I do without all you awesome readers?

  Thank you to my friends and family. Writing is a strange profession. I work weird hours, talk to myself, have a strange diet, get antsy about deadlines. But the wonderful people in my life continue to show their encouragement and thoughtfulness no matter what. It is never lost on me because I know that I wouldn’t be doing what I love without all you amazing people, cheering me on.

  And as with all my books, the final thank you goes to my muse, Lydia. I wrote my first book so that I could make my daughter proud, and it’s never stopped. I write every book for you, my love.

  Books By Sarah Noffke

  Sarah Noffke writes YA and NA science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and urban fantasy. In addition to being an author, she is a mother, podcaster and professor. Noffke holds a Masters of Management and teaches college business/writing courses. Most of her students have no idea that she toils away her hours crafting fictional characters. www.sarahnoffke.com

  Check out other work by Sarah author here.

  Ghost Squadron:

  Formation #1:

  Kill the bad guys. Save the Galaxy. All in a hard day’s work.

  After ten years of wandering the outer rim of the galaxy, Eddie Teach is a man without a purpose. He was one of the toughest pilots in the Federation, but now he’s just a regular guy, getting into bar fights and making a difference wherever he can. It’s not the same as flying a ship and saving colonies, but it’ll have to do.

  That is, until General Lance Reynolds tracks Eddie down and offers him a job. There are bad people out there, plotting terrible things, killing innocent people, and destroying entire colonies. Someone has to stop them.

  Eddie, along with the genetically-enhanced combat pilot Julianna Fregin and her trusty E.I. named Pip, must recruit a diverse team of specialists, both human and alien. They’ll need to master their new Q-Ship, one of the most powerful strike ships ever constructed. And finally, they’ll have to stop a faceless enemy so powerful, it threatens to destroy the entire Federation.

  All in a day’s work, right?

  Experience this exciting military sci-fi saga and the latest addition to the expanded Kurtherian Gambit Universe. If you’re a fan of Mass Effect, Firefly, or Star Wars, you’ll love this riveting new space opera.

  *NOTE: If cursing is a problem, then this might not be for you.

  Check out the entire series here.

  The Precious Galaxy Series:

  Corruption #1

  A new evil lurks in the darkness.

  After an explosion, the crew of a battlecruiser mysteriously disappears.

  Bailey and Lewis, complete strangers, find themselves suddenly onboard the damaged ship. Lewis hasn’t worked a case in years, not since the final one broke his spirit and his bank account. The last thing Bailey remembers is preparing to take down a fugitive on Onyx Station.

  Mysteries are harder to solve when there’s no evidence left behind.

  Bailey and Lewis don’t know how they got onboard Ricky Bobby or why. However, they quickly learn that whatever was responsible for the explosion and disappearance of the crew is still on the ship.

  Monsters are real and what this one can do changes everything.

  The new team bands together to discover what happened and how to fight the monster lurking in the bottom of the battlecruiser.

  Will they find the missing crew? Or will the monster end them all?

  The Soul Stone Mage Series:

  House of Enchanted #1:

  The Kingdom of Virgo has lived in peace for thousands of years…until now.

  The humans from Terran have always been real assholes to the witches of Virgo. Now a silent war is brewing, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Princess Azure will soon be crowned queen of the Kingdom of Virgo.

  In the Dark Forest a powerful potion-maker has been murdered.

  Charmsgood was the only wizard who could stop a deadly virus plaguing Virgo. He also knew about the devastation the people from Terran had done to the forest.

  Azure must protect her people. Mend the Dark Forest. Create alliances with savage beasts. No biggie, right?

  But on coronation day everything changes. Princess Azure isn’t who she thought she was and that’s a big freaking problem.

  Welcome to The Revelations of Oriceran. Check out the entire series here.

  The Lucidites Series:

  Awoken, #1:

  Around the world humans are hallucinating after sleepless nights.

  In a sterile, underground institute the forecasters keep reporting the same events.

  And in the backwoods of Texas, a sixteen-year-old girl is about to be caught up in a fierce, ethereal battle.

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  Stunned, #2

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  The Reverians Series:

  Defects, #1:

  In the happy, clean community of Austin Valley, everything appears to be perfect. Seventeen-year-old Em Fuller, however, fears something is askew. Em is one of the new generation of Dream Travelers. For some reason, the gods have not seen fit to
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  Rebels, #2

  Warriors, #3

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