Hi, everyone! To Take Up the Sword:  Elemental Magic Book Two released Monday, so if you haven’t got your copy, you can do that here. http://www.lyricalpress.com/brynna_curry

Please let me know your thoughts on the book. I treasure them. The release party yesterday was a huge success. At one time TRS had 373 guests online, not including authors! If you couldn’t make, it isn’t too late to go over and read all the excerpts and posts. http://www.theromancestudio.com/party

Just because Tamsyn commented on the previous post asking so nicely for an excerpt of Wait for the Wind:  Elemental Magic Book Three, I’m posting one for you here. Please note this book is still in the line editing stage and therefore while partially edited, I’m calling this an unedited excerpt which may or may not be the final version you’ll read. Wind is scheduled for release on 1-17-2011. Enjoy!

Blessings,

Brynna

* * * *

“Doc’s got a point. You should follow her advice. Born with magic. Die with magic. Whether you cleave to the power like a lover, or toss it away, it’s always with you, waiting until you need it, Ryan.”

Spinning around toward the sea, Ryan tried to find the source of the voice. Devin McLoch sat on a boulder close to the shore. Foamy water splashed against the rock and then rolled back out to sea on the gentle waves. He was still tall, broad shouldered but lean. He looked like some sort of wild predatory cat trying to spy under the water’s surface for mischief without getting wet.

“What the h*ll are you doing here? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Teaching magic. Trying to give you some advice.”

“Teaching magic to who?”

“Allaina, your–well that’s for another time. Kate is an amazing woman, an excellent doctor. She still loves you. You should give it another try.”

“Butt out. You don’t know anything about this.”

Devin tapped his temple. “Don’t I? My magic’s weaker than it was before, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“You read her mind? How can you just invade someone’s privacy like that?”

Ryan held his ground, but the way Devin’s eyes were flashing made him consider the wisdom of continuing the conversation. As easygoing as the wizard was, Devin could kill him with a look if so inclined.

“Didn’t have to. I’ve changed a great deal over the last few months. Our family had a lot to do with that. I would not betray their trust in such a way.”

His gift, Ryan thought. Could he really find it again? Did he even want that? He had turned away from it long ago, when he couldn’t heal his mother’s broken heart or his own. Did Kate really still have feelings for him? And why was Devin acting like a lion protecting his pride?

“Kate calls out your name in her sleep.”

Devin’s words slapped him in the face, forcing him to make a choice. Try to repair whatever he and Kate may have had together, or walk away. An unwelcome image flitted through his mind.

“You and Kate? My Kate? I’ll kill you if you ever touch her again, wizard!” Ryan sprinted across the sand and swung at Devin. He caught the tiniest movement of Devin’s hand and his fist was stopped mid-air three inches away from Devin’s handsome face.

“It would be wise if you remembered, while weak, I can still destroy you if I choose. Control yourself.” Devin released Ryan’s fist. “Your Kate, hmm? I wonder what she’d have to say about that. No. We aren’t lovers, though I do love her and Allaina a great deal. They’re my family, as you are, cousin. Let this be a warning to you. Hurt either of them in any way again and it’s me you’ll be dealing with. I protect what is mine.”

“Stay out of my business.”

“That might be difficult to do. My family is my business now.”

“What? Give up your illustrious career as a jewel thief, Christophe Lefleur?”

“Mostly. I had forgotten how impressionable children are. I wouldn’t want my Allie cat doing the things I have done. Though there isn’t a prison in this world that could hold her unless she wished to stay.”

“Noble. I have one question. I keep feeling like I’m missing this vital piece of information. Something I should know. Tell me who Allaina is?”

Devin stretched and stood. A slow, wicked smile crossed his face, as if he knew what he was about to say would start all sorts of trouble and he was going to enjoy it.

Ryan braced himself.

“Allaina is my apprentice. She has a great deal of raw talent for all the elements, especially fire, very powerful for a twelve-year-old young lady.”

“And what does she have to do with all this?”

“She is Kate’s daughter.” With a snap of his fingers, Devin vanished.