Off Duty
Page 5
She scoffed and shook her head. “You really do think you can just do everything on your own and that the rules don’t apply to you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve done just fine. No one closes more cases than I do in the entire agency.”
“I pity whoever eventually gets stuck working with you.”
“Great. I think it’s obvious you’re feeling alright. I won’t bother you again.” I tipped an imaginary hat at her and turned around, stalking off into the night and leaving all the chaos behind. She didn’t need me here, and the Mage’s Guild was handling the rest of it. There was no point in sticking around where I wasn’t wanted.
I unlocked the door to my apartment and walked inside, glaring at my katana like it had abandoned me and not the other way around. I threw the suit jacket straight in the trash. It was damaged badly enough that it wasn’t worth having fixed. I could afford a new one anyhow.
It had been almost midnight back in New York City when I left, but it was the middle of the day in Tokyo. It was still disconcerting to go from one to the other so quickly no matter how many times I rode the Rune Rail.
Pulling open my cabinets I found my package of Oreos and a bottle of sake. It was an expensive bottle I’d planned on sharing with Beckett if things went well, which looking back, was disgustingly sentimental. I barely even knew the woman, as made clear by tonight’s fiasco.
I yanked open the packaging on the Oreos and stuffed one in my mouth as I poured myself a small cup of sake.
I held up the cup, toasting the midday sun shining through my window. “To never dating anyone ever again. Kanpai.”
Want more?
Want to know more about the world? Or see what happens when Logan Blackwell is forced to work with a partner?
Keep reading in Book 1 of the Chaos Mages Series - Stolen Trinkets.
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Notes from the Author
I had a blast writing this short story. It’s only a teaser of a big, crazy, magical world. It’s super hard to balance a good short story with lots of world building, so here is a little bit of an explanation of what to expect:
The Chaos Mages universe is set in the present day…but with a few differences. For one, the supernatural is known, as you could tell from this short story. Mages, shifters, humans, and all the rest of them live side by side and deal with all the issues that creates.
Magic and technology are also combined into what we call runetech. The Rune Rail, while not discussed much here, is a big part of the series, and is also one of my favorite parts of the world. It is a magical transportation system that leads to and from Moira, a city only accessible by magical races that isn’t exactly on earth. Book 3, Valhalla Beckons, is going to dig into what exactly Moira is, something I’m looking forward to sharing very much.
Blackwell works with the IMIB, a sort of magical police force, that deals with cases the human police can’t handle. His job is his life, and he is their most effective detective.
I hope you’ll join us in reading as Blackwell destroys more cities saves the day, over and over again! All in the line of duty, of course.
A mage’s work is never done. ;)
You can read the first three chapters of Stolen Trinkets on my website at https://alexsteele.net/home/stolen-trinkets-preview/
Make a Difference
Reviews are very important and sometimes hard for an independently published author to get. A big publisher has a massive advertising budget and can send out hundreds of review copies.
Leaving an honest review helps me tremendously. It shows other readers why they should give me a try. It also helps motivate me to write the next book even faster!
If you’ve enjoyed reading this book, I would appreciate, very much, if you took the time to leave a review. Whether you write one sentence, or three paragraphs, it’s equally helpful.
Thank you! :)
P.S. Join the Facebook group and chat all about the Chaos Mages. I really enjoy the conversations, and sometimes it sparks new ideas/ ways to put Blackwell in peril.
P.S.S. Check out my recommendations at the back of the book for more awesome stories.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thechaosmages
The True Chaos Mages
A big thank you to my ART (Advanced Reader Team) AKA Berserker Reader Team. I love these people! They continue to be so very helpful in providing quality, and helpful advice.
Denise King, Karen Hollyhead, Larry Diaz “Deathtini” Tushman, Laura Cadger Rogers, Liz Christensen, Rob Hill, Samantha Rooney, Tami Cowles, Terri Adkisson
Follow Me
Thank you so much for buying my book. I really hope you have enjoyed reading the story as much as I did writing it. Being an author is not an easy task, so your support means a lot to me. I do my best to make sure books come out error free. However, if you found any errors, please feel free to reach out to me so I can correct them!
If you loved this book, the best way to find out about new releases and updates is to join my Facebook group, The Chaos Mages. Retailers do a very poor job about notifying readers of new book releases. Joining the group can be an alternative to newsletters if you feel your inbox is getting a little crowded. Both options, and Goodreads, are linked below. :)
Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thechaosmages
Newsletter:
https://alexsteele.net/#Follow-Me
Goodreads:
http://goodreads.com/alex_steele
About the Author
Alex Steele is the brainchild of husband and wife team Alex and Stephanie. The persona you see online from Alex Steele is all Alex, but you can find his wife on social media as Stephanie Foxe.
Alex got his itch for writing after Stephanie began to write and publish her series. Previously, he’d never read books (I know crazy, right?). He immersed himself in countless hours of research to better help his wife succeed. It was during that time that he began reading dozens of books and thought, “Hey! Maybe I can do this writing thing too.” It turns out writing is hard (who knew?).
What he did learn is that he could outline stories reasonably well and that Stephanie enjoyed writing his ideas. So, Alex Steele was born: Alex comes up with the overall concept, and Stephanie writes it. Alex then reviews it and makes edits. We pass that work on to an editor, then finally to ART (Advanced Reader Team).
We hope you enjoy reading the stories as much as we enjoyed writing them.
Recommendations from Alex
Misfit Pack is the first book in a new series by Stephanie Foxe. Who, if you don’t know, is Alex’s wife. She is also basically the one that writes The Chaos Mages, it’s just Alex’s idea and she works super closely with him on it.–
A redhead with a drawl, a lawyer with pink hair, and a homeless seventeen year old have no business forming a pack.
In a world where magic is commonplace, and your neighbor is just as likely to be an elf as a troll, three humans are unwillingly changed into werewolves.
Unprepared and unwanted.
The pack may have chosen Amber as their Alpha, but that’s not a title she is supposed to have. In order to be legally recognized as an Alpha she must pass the Trials, and it won’t be easy. If she fails, her pack will be disbanded and forced into a halfway house for bitten werewolves, aka The System.
But the pack needs a sponsor in order to even enter the Trials.
With everything to lose, the brand new pack must learn to work together before it’s too late.
The Witch’s Bite Series is a complete series by Stephanie that follows Olivia Carter –
We all have our secrets. Mine involves a felony record, illegal potions, and magi–well...the last one could get me killed.
I've been living in a small town working for the vampires for the last six months. All I want is to save up enough to open an apothecary, so I don't have to heal the neckers anymore.
>
Of course, nothing in my life can be that simple.
Two detectives show up at my door asking questions about a dead girl and trying to pin the murder on my employer. Next thing I know, I'm dodging fireballs in parking lots.
The police and the witches want me to roll over on the vampires. The only problem is, I'm almost certain they didn't kill the girl. Although, my best friend and favorite vampire has been missing and won't answer my calls.
Time is running out for me to save my paycheck... and do the right thing or whatever.
www.AlexSteele.net
www.StephanieFoxe.com