Dear Reader
So for the last week, I’ve been pounding out this newest fantasy YA that as usual, spiraled out of control. Already, the title has changed three times, the hero at least three. He started out as an angel, but now, he’d half angel…half fairy? *shakes my head* I don’t know, but I blame my crazy muse for this newest development.
The novel is called The Seraph’s Covenant. What’s it about? Well, that has changed every day since I started this novel one week ago today.
The book delves into a stumbled upon, budding love between Adrian and Arabella. How they discover each other. But before long, an old evil in the form of a demon named Diablo finds exactly what his kind the final blow to break the covenant between angels and demons. Should Diablo use this key, it will destroy every failsafe in the world keeping them two sides from war. That key? Is Arabella.
I’ve done a few covers, and my friends voted on which one it was going to be. I have no idea if this will be the final one, after I finish the book, but here goes nothing : )
Excerpt (UNEDITED):
Jaoel pressed his lips together, though the smile peeked through anyway. “Well, our mother was water sprite in the high court of Faerie, which meant she was powerful enough to gain and keep her position of courtesan to the king and queen. Her magic equaled our father, as a full-blood angel, just in different avenues. Anyway, enough of the background—our mother’s pure lineage gave us several benefits even a full blooded angel could only dream of.”
“Like what?”
“Travelling by water, for instance.”
“How?”
“It’s much easier to show you, than explain, since we barely comprehend how it works. Only that is does,” Adrian said.
The ocean stretched out before them, and it occurred to her that the one thing she’d wanted to see the most would be denied her. “Does this mean I don’t get to see your wings?”
Adrian cocked his head to one side and studied her. “Did you want to? They aren’t pretty and fluffy like Sam’s. Being a half-breed did give us some strange anomalies.”
“So?” Arabella replied.
The air fizzled around their heads, and she clued in to the haziness she caught around Adrian before. Arabella expected a gradual change, but in an instant, massive, fully formed wings appeared on Adrian’s back, blocking Jaoel from her sight. The wingspans had to be a good twenty, if not thirty feet across.
“Wow.” She stepped forward to examine these wonderful sails. When Sam had appeared with his own set of flight tools, she hadn’t been in her right mind to actually look at them. Her curiosity got the better of her. She didn’t ask Adrian if she could touch them. She just did.
With shaky hands, she caressed Adrian’s axillar, closest to his shoulder blades. While they appeared to be the texture of granite, but when she caressed his wings, they were soft and silky like gossamer. While the majority of the leading edge and lining feathers were a solid ivory, the tips of the primary and secondary feathers were a bright turquoise that matched his eyes and hair.
“Do you dye your hair to match these?” She continued to caress him, and it occurred to her, he’d stopped breathing. He trembled under her questing touch.
“My hair is naturally this way,” he whispered. “The black is a trait from my fathers. My mother’s hair is varying shades; from Caribbean blue-green, to a deep, rich sapphire. She is as pale as milk, which is why I don’t tan much, even though I’m in the sun more than I’m not.” He swallowed and wouldn’t look her in the eye. His insecurity reminded her of a child, who was scared of not being accepted. Specifically, by her.
Her hand slipped under his chin and made him face her. “You’re breathtaking, do you know that?”
He blushed, and Arabella forgot herself for a moment.
“How old are you?”
“Two hundred and forty seven—a mere child by comparison to my betters. Though I know that is far too advanced in age for your comprehension.”
“Umm, how old is Sam?”
His rose-colored lips quirked into a smile. “A lot older than that.”
His rose-colored lips quirked into a smile. “A lot older than that.”
Jaoel snapped a garbage bag to open up the edges. She blinked to take in his own wings, a blue cobalt blue through and though.
“What’s that for?”
“I figured you’d bring some of your belongs, and want to keep dry. The more we can cover up, the better.” Jaoel slid her backpack off her shoulders. After he filled the thick plastic bag, he tied the top in several knots. “Okay, kiddies, let’s get this show on the road. We should see Rosella before dawn.”
“Right.” Arabella had no idea what to do now, and Adrian realized that.
“Best way is to fly out over the sandbars, then we can then dive. No reason to tire out the human before we even get deep enough.” Jaoel sent her a mocking smirk.
She rolled her eyes, and flapped her arms up and down. “How do I fly. Because this just isn’t working.”
“Girl, do I have to think of everything for you? Hold on to your lover boy.” Jaoel’s wings swooped down, raising his body into the air. The bag daggled from his hands. “I’ll see you guys out there.”
Adrian chuckled as his brother moved further away. “Aww, you’ve been accepted. Jaoel is only this sarcastic with people he likes.”
“Awesome, just what I’ve always wanted!” She bounced with false enthusiasm.
“Keep it up, Ara, and you’ll fit right in.” Adrian debated her for a moment. “I’ve never allowed another being to fly along with me before.”
Arabella spurted with laughter. “What, would you get a horse complex?”
He waggled his eyebrows. “It seems, my ‘beautiful altar,’ that you have two choices. Either I hold onto your arms and you can dangle below me, or you can hang on like a koala baby.”
“Either way, you’re going to drop me.”
“I’m offended! Why would I drop you?”
“Your inexperience with cling-ons, of course!” Arabella took a step toward the surf. “Perhaps I should swim. Better than one badass belly flop.”
Before she knew what hit her, Adrian ran at her, grabbed her waist and his wings hoisted them into the air.
In a mad dash, she made like the aforementioned baby koala, and wrapped her legs around his thighs, and arms around his neck. “Have you lost your fairy mind!”
“What makes you think it’s not the angel half out of whack?”
“True.”
Adrian stayed so close to the water, half of her hair dragged across the surface. “Are you ready to go up?”
She swallowed her fear. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity! Despite the abrupt upheaval from the ground, Arabella was flying. “Up? Like how far?”
He tipped his head back. “The clouds are pretty low tonight. Are you afraid of heights?”
“I don’t think so, but don’t get mad if it turns out I am.”
“I would never get mad at you.” His tenderness touched her.
“You don’t know that,” she said.
“I learned anger is ineffectual emotion, only useful when it comes to fighting the demonic. And you, Arabella are the complete opposite of evil. You are everything good and light. I can feel it every time I’m near you.”
Their bodies shot upward toward the heavens. Air whooshed around them. Her body vibrated from the sheer speed. She was exhilarated. She felt free. Not even the feeling of swimming in the endless blue sea above beat this pure and tremendous sensation of being breaking away of every constraint living in this world placed on her.
“How are you doing?” Though Adrian yelled, his words were almost lost to the winds.
“I love this!” She cried.
“Want to go higher?”
She made a sound of agreement, but words were beyond her. She looked down and barely distinguished the Glenville community, or the beach. She was sure she could see Sophia’s from way up here. Above them was a sprawling midnight blue sky studded with radiant diamond studs, and the moon. If she looked hard enough, she could see the craters in a way she never could from the ground.
When she started to gasp for air, Adrian slowed. “I’d love to go higher, beautiful, but we need to lose some altitude quick. I’m sorry, I should’ve thought of that.” His cheeks reddened.
“No…worries.”
“Don’t speak, Ara. Just take slow deep breaths.” He jackknifed, and next she knew, they were upside down.
Not long after, her lungs didn’t labor as hard. Now this was fantastic! Arabella felt daring, and untangled her arms from Adrian’s neck and flung them out on either side.
“I have no idea how much your happiness gives me peace.” Adrian nuzzled her neck. “Are you ready?”
“For what?”
“The greatest swan dive you’ve ever done.”
“Yes!”
“Then get ready. We’ve about to go to places you’ve never been.”
They barreled closer and closer. She swung her arms above her head, just like she would if she’d dove into a pool.
“Take a really deep breath,” Adrian yelled.
They broke the surface, and her perception of the world changed forever.
****
More To Come!
Kinsey Knight
