Sacrificed: Heart Beyond the Spires

Seven months ago, I sat exactly where I'm sitting now, on my old brown couch, and pressed submit (or... publish? or... whatever it says in Smashwords and KDP) and sent Caged into the world.

Then I walked away.

There was no cover reveal. No excerpt. No ARC reviews. Just a book published on a winter afternoon. It's only that evening that it occurred to me that I might actually want to tell people that I published a book. Maybe get some reviews. Create a site... Total newbie.

This time around, I'm a little more versed in the how-to. I couldn't have done it without the help of my fans and friends.

A big thank you to the bloggers who have supported me and helped me out! You guys are fantastic.

 

 Coming October 2014 

Available now for preorder at Amazon

 

 

 

Blurb

Reunited once more, the crew of Baal’s Heart must make the long and treacherous journey south to the towering spires of the Devil’s Isles. The path through the mountain range is fraught with peril; mayhem and tragedy plague the pirate ship, but what the men find beyond the spires is the most shocking of all.

In this sequel to the acclaimed Caged, the pirates are dragged into a dangerous new world by Captain Baltsaros’s all-consuming obsession. In the midst of terror and chaos, Jon learns that the captain and first mate have been keeping secrets from him. But will the truth tear them apart?

Excerpt

“How are your ribs?” asked Baltsaros, watching Polas descend the stairs.

Jon put a hand to his side.

“Sore as hell. But I’ll live,” he said with a small smile. “Why are you still awake?”

The captain’s brows pinched together, and he looked down at his hands, his lips parted in a slow exhale.

“I could not sleep, Jon,” said Baltsaros softly. “I tried, briefly. But I find my mind unable to rest. Polas woke up, and we came up here not to disturb you.” He raised his head, and Jon was alarmed to see that Baltsaros wore an expression he had never seen on the man before. The captain looked lost. “What have I done by bringing us here, Jon?”

Jon felt a sliver of fear pierce his heart at the captain’s uncertainty; it was disturbing to see the man’s confidence shaken. However, before he could answer Baltsaros, the moment had passed, and the crack in the captain’s mask closed.

“Ah… listen to me. Tonight is a dark night, isn’t it?” chuckled Baltsaros, reaching for Jon. “Come here, I have to take off that silk. You need to breathe deep for a while or else you’ll wind up with congested lungs.”

Jon held up his shirt while the captain swiftly unwound the silk from his ribs. His side hurt when he breathed, but the painkillers in his system dulled the ache. The breeze was cooler up on the quarterdeck, and he could hear it rustling the leaves of the trees on shore. Turning to watch the dark jungle, he wondered what dangers lay beyond for them on the morrow.

When Baltsaros’s hands glided softly up his back, Jon let out a startled gasp. The captain moved close behind him, his chest pressed to Jon’s back, arms wrapped gently around him.

I’m honestly not sure how far it would have gone otherwise.

Baltsaros’s words had hurt, but not as much as he had feared. Jon’s own weakness was that he forgave the man, again and again. He ran his fingers along the captain’s strong forearm as Baltsaros pressed his lips to Jon’s neck. There was a question he wanted to ask.

…only ask me questions you want to know the answers to.

Jon closed his eyes. He would ask it one day, but he feared that he already knew the answer. The captain was fond of him… but love?
Baltsaros murmured something against his skin.

“Min haeken,” whispered the older man, sliding his hands down to the waistband of Jon’s pants and pulling apart the knot on his belt. “I don’t want to hurt you when I take you, but take you I shall.”