GODDESS (Runes Book 7): Coming 2017 #RunesSeries #Goddess #Echo #Cora

GODDESS Excerpt (unedited)

“Treat the house as yours, just stay out of my bedroom and closet. These are loaners.” He dropped the clothes on the bed and glanced at our joined hands, his eyes narrowing. “He doesn’t need you to change, does he?” Then he walked out.

I stared after him and sighed. The look on Dev’s face said he was going to have a thing or two to say to his brother before the week was over.

“Moron,” Rhys said.

“I second that.” Nara looked at me. “If you want me to kick his ass for you, let me know. He doesn’t like to hit girls, which puts him at a disadvantage.”

COVER COMING SOON

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GODDESS is book 7 in my award winning YA Paranormal series based on Norse Mythology. I'll have news about the series... something BIG... in the coming weeks. Stop by my website for some fun facts about the characters, fashion, interviews www.ednahwalters.com  

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Teaser Tuesday | Grimnirs #RunesSeries

Title: Grimnirs

Series: The Runes Series [Book 2.5]

Length: 286 Pages

Genre: YA Paranormal

TEASER

“Hey,” Raine said.

I wanted to ignore her again and even tried to leave, but her boyfriend blocked my path. I glared at him. Sighing, I turned and faced Raine. There was no point showing her how much she’d hurt me, and her whipped puppy look was getting tired. She’d never been good at hiding her emotions.

“Hi,” I said. “I like your hair.”

She blinked as though surprised. “Thanks. I know what you’ll say about this. I use a curling iron.”

I wasn’t ready to be that chummy with her. If she wanted to ruin her hair, I didn’t care.

“Uh, this is Torin St. James,” she said when she realized I wasn’t going to say anything else. “Torin, Cora Jemison, my best friend.”

Yeah, right. Some best friend.

Torin smiled and nodded, but he continued to watch me as though he expected me to, I don’t know, say something mean to Raine. What would he do?

I gave him a challenging glance and said, “I saw your pictures online.”

“It’s ridiculous how he always ends up on some girl’s page,” Raine said. “Alone. Shirtless.”

“Actually, the ones I saw were of the two of you,” I corrected.

“Oh.” She glanced at him and elbowed him when he grinned. She leaned against him and focused on me. “Uh, it’s nice to have you back, Cora.”

I shrugged. “It’s weird.”

She exchanged a look with Torin and frowned. “What do you mean?”

“It’s like I never left.” I waited for her to say something about my psych ward stay, or give me a clue about what she knew. I wasn’t sure what she’d told my mother a week ago or what Mom had told her. I hadn’t cared enough to ask.

An awkward silence followed.

“We stopped by your place on Friday after school,” Raine said. “I don’t know if your father told you.”

Teaser Tuesday | Immortals #RunesSeries

Title:  Immortals

Series:  Runes [Book 2]

Length:  343 Pages

Genre:  YA Paranormal

TEASER

“Where are you going?” Ingrid asked when I started for the door.

“Home. Goodnight.”

“But you heard Andris.”

“I sure did, but that doesn’t mean I have to do as he says.” I reached for the doorknob.

She moved so fast she was by the door before I opened it. “You’re going to get me in trouble. When Torin gives an order, we follow it to the letter. You can watch TV or read something. I’ve plenty of books on my Kindle.”

“You know something? Torin is not my keeper or whatever, so I don’t have to listen or agree with everything he says.” Annoyance flashed in her eyes, and I felt bad for putting her on the spot. “Why don’t you come over to my place instead?” I heard myself say.

Ingrid’s brow rose. “What?”

“Come and hang out at my house. I have homework packets I’m still working on, but I can take a break. We can get to know each other.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why would I want to do that?”

For one brief moment, something in her eyes reminded me of Maliina. She definitely hated me. Could she be the one vandalizing my locker? “I’m leaving. You can either follow me or stay here. That’s up to you. The invite is open.”

“Not interested. Oh, and Raine,” she added, stepping away from the door. “Just because you have everyone around here panting to turn you doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. You’re too emotional and juvenile to make a good Valkyrie. Maybe you should just do everyone a favor and tell them you’re not ready.”

Please, who did she think she was talking to?

She glared as though my face reflected my thoughts. “Don’t leave the cul-de-sac without telling me first.”

I waved and left. After her smug speech, I couldn’t wait to become an Immortal just to rub her nose in it.

Teaser Tuesday | Runes #RunesSeries

Title:  Runes

Series:  Runes [Book 1]

Length:  243 Pages

Genre:  YA Paranormal

TEASER

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“St. James is throwing a swim party tomorrow at his place and they,” he nodded toward the corner where Maliina and Ingrid were charming mostly guys, “are throwing one, too. They have a pool; he doesn’t.” Eirik grinned. “Can’t wait to see how this plays out.”

From the large group of girls surrounding Torin, Maliina and Ingrid didn’t have a chance of luring more students to their party. Guys tended to go where the girls were. Andris was still missing since the fight with Torin, so he’d be no help. Where had the silver-haired Immortal disappeared to anyway?

My eyes met Torin’s, and my stomach contracted. His expression was hard to read. I hadn’t spoken to him since the closet fiasco, and I felt like crap. It was as though a part of me was missing. As though someone had carved a hole inside my chest and every day it expanded.

He, on the hand, seemed to be enjoying himself with Jess. They were inseparable. He didn’t attend any of my other classes except math, but she always walked him to class. I had tried to keep from staring at them, especially during lunch, but like someone compelled, I always did. Each time, I’d find him staring at me. Part of me longed for him, wished I was with him, while another part knew it was better this way. I only hoped the pain would lessen with time.

I didn’t see him at home either anymore, except for the purr of his Harley as he came and went. Every time, I wondered whether he was going to Jess’ place or if he had been with her. At least he hadn’t taken her to his place. That would kill me.

As if dealing with the two of them that wasn’t bad enough, there was Maliina. Every time I turned around, she was watching me, waiting. Sometimes I wanted to yell at her to do her worst. Maybe then Torin would come to my rescue and my self-imposed exile would end.

Teaser Tuesday | Hunted #TheGuardianLegacy

Title:  Hunted

Series:  The Guardian Legacy [Book 3]

Length:  358 Pages

Genre:  YA Fantasy

TEASER

Frowning, I studied him. Would he say yes? Just because women did the asking didn’t necessarily mean men said yes. I’d never attended a pactus, the mating ceremony performed in the temple of Goddess Xenia in Xenith—the Guardians’ homeland. Nephlings weren’t allowed in Xenith, and since my grandmother was human, that meant Bran and I would not be mated there.

Not liking the direction of my thoughts, I glanced at Kim, who was sipping her slushy. “Thanks, Kim.”

She cocked her right brow. “For what?”

“Talking to me about Bran.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t say anything you don’t already know.”

“True.” We exchanged a smile. “But I’m happy you did anyway.”

She shrugged again.

“Well, I’m going to read in the cabana for a while.” I nodded toward the one set aside just for us Cardinals.

“Remember, we’re leaving in one hour,” she reminded me.

“I know.” I reached for the book in my tote bag, my hand brushing against the strap of my dagger’s belt. Even on vacation, we carried weapons just in case demons attacked. Not that they would dare come after us on The Island.

A shadow fell over me, the silhouette of the wings reaching Kim. Squinting, I looked up at Bran and fought a blush when he studied me with twinkling emerald eyes.

Water droplets glistened like diamonds on his tanned chest, the scar of the Guardian amulet light between his pecs. Funny, I once thought the scar marred the perfection of his golden skin. Now it was a reminder of how much he’d sacrificed to leave the demonic world and join us.

“Done showing off?” I asked, smiling.

Teaser Tuesday | Betrayed #TheGuardianLegacy

Title:  Betrayed

Series:  The Guardian Legacy [Book 2]

Length:  343 Pages

Genre:  YA Fantasy

TEASER

Five of Valafar’s men, dressed all in black except for the gleaming ruby stones on the pins holding their cloaks and on their belt buckles, entered the room. Behind them came Kenta; he carried a black leather bag with strange writings, clasps, and more rubies. It was the same bag Valafar had had, when I first retrieved the Kris Dagger from the cave on Coronis Isle.

“I told Valafar—if you want something done right, you do it yourself,” Solange bragged. She gestured to Kenta. “Remove their weapons.”

“Traitor,” I snarled at Kenta.

He winced, but emptied my pockets, then moved to my boots. As our former trainer, he knew everything—where we hid weapons, our weaknesses and strengths, our favorite weapons. He touched the knife I hid inside a pouch in my right boot, but didn’t remove it.

Our gazes met – his apologetic, mine probably puzzled. Maybe he was regretting his decision, now that he knew Valafar had used him and he wouldn’t be my trainer, after all, or this was his way of redeeming himself after his betrayal. He had trained me for months and knew me. He patted my boot, as though to tell me to use the dagger, then moved on.

Kim kicked him, but he caught her booted leg.

“Don’t judge me, Kim,” he snarled.

“Don’t tell me what to do, you evil backstabber,” she retorted.

“I hope you rot in Tartarus,” Izzy hissed.

“Enough!” Solange yelled. “Finish and give me the bag, Kenta. My father wants the weapons kept with the dagger in the vault. No chance in Tartarus any of you are getting your hands on them again,” she taunted. “Come, starting with you, Lilith.”

I ground my teeth and walked forward. The hated hollow feeling settled in my stomach, and my heartbeat went into overdrive. The cramp on my side wasn’t going away, either. Where were Dante and Kael?

Eye to eye with her, I paused. “I escaped before, and will again.”

“You got lucky,” she snarled, and shoved me out the door.

Teaser Tuesday | Awakened #TheGuardianLegacy

Title:  Awakened

Series:  The Guardian Legacy [Book1]

Length:  272 Pages

Genre:  YA Fantasy

TEASER

The door opened with a gentle whoosh to reveal a room with a round onyx table and numerous chairs around it presently occupied by the three Cardinals, a bunch of people I didn’t recognize but I assumed were members of the High Council, and of course, the trainees. The fluorescent lights in the ceiling illuminated their tense faces.

Janelle waved us over to two chairs by her side. We hurried over and sat.

“Did you see Ares and Moira, Bran?” Seth asked without delay.

“No, sir. Gavyn and I were being interrogated elsewhere.” Bran reached for my hand under the table and held it tight. “But I know the Cardinals are Valafar’s prisoners.”

My heart stopped. Silence, heavy and oppressive, hung in the air. Then everyone started talking at once.

“He plans to take them to Coronis Isle tonight,” Bran cut in, speaking louder to be heard.

“Where’s he keeping them?” Janelle asked.

“The Underground, a sub-ground facility at Bunker Hill in downtown L.A. It is owned by a dark lord,” Bran explained.

“We must rescue them now,” I said.

“Lil,” he warned.

I shook my head. “We must.”

“Of course,” Seth said snapped. “We now have Bran to take us to Coronis Isle, but it’s better to act now than later when they’re Coronis’ prisoners. Bran, start from the beginning, from when you left here. We want to know what happened, and don’t leave anything out.”

Bran frowned. “Sir, I don’t think we have time—”

“Then start talking. If we are to mount a successful operation, we must know everything.”

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Teaser Tuesday | Immortals #RunesSeries

Title:  Immortals

Series:  Runes [Book 2]

Length:  343 Pages

Genre:  YA Paranormal

TEASER

I studied the runes Torin had just sketched. Air filled the deflated tire, then the slashes sealed. I tried to catch his eyes, but he moved to the last tire. I followed, loving the fact that I could be this close to him. I wanted more. To touch him. Kiss him. Force him to look at me again. Really look.

I cleared my throat. “What runes are you using? Air-flow-into-the-tire runes or fix-a-flat runes?”

The corners of his lips lifted into a half-smile. “More like they’d-bloody-well-stay-inflated-forever-or-else runes.”

I laughed. His British accent became stronger when he was pissed. “Do I need to take the car to the shop after this?” I asked.

“Nah. This will hold until the treads wear thin and need changing. The next person who tries to slice your tires is in for a surprise.”

I frowned. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Oh yeah.” He still didn’t glance at me.

Short of grabbing his head and yanking it toward me, I had to wait. I hated the way he was acting. The old Torin had openly sought me out and got a kick out of shocking me. “They’ve already labeled me a witch. A tire that can’t deflate will only confirm it.”

“I don’t care what they think,” he snarled. “Your safety is more important.”

At least his instinct to protect me was still there. “I can’t afford to think like that, Torin. I want all this,” I indicated the car with a brief wave, “to go away.”

“It will. Mortals don’t mess with what they fear. They’ll leave you alone for a while, which is not bad.”

“Spoken like a loner.”

He grinned. “True. You should also charge more for your psychic readings for those brave enough to ask. A thousand bucks perhaps?”

“Oh, you sneaky… You eavesdropped on me?”

Teaser Tuesday | Runes #RunesSeries

Title:  Runes

Series:  Runes [Book 1]

Length:  243 Pages

Genre:  YA Paranormal

TEASER

“He’s good, isn’t he?” a voice said from behind me.

I recognized Andris’ voice, and my stomach clenched. “Who?”

“St. James.”

I shrugged. “He’s okay.”

“How do you know Torin, Andris?” Cora asked.

“He and I go way back,” he said mysteriously, giving her a brief dismissive smile before studying me. He didn’t even bother to try to hide his interest. I fidgeted even though there was nothing he could do to me in front of all these people and in broad daylight. Everything about him bothered me. He didn’t have a European accent even though Blaine claimed he came from Norway. In fact, I couldn’t detect an accent at all. He could be from anywhere.

“How well do you know St. James?” he asked, glancing at me.

I didn’t answer even though I knew he was talking to me. Cora prodded me sharply with her elbow. I glared at her.

“We just met him,” I mumbled.

“And Seville?”

This time, I studied Andris. I didn’t like his nosiness. “What about Eirik?”

“Are the two of you together?”

“Why do you want to know?” I asked rudely, and Cora sunk her elbow into my side again. I grabbed her arm, but Andris spoke.

“Just checking out the competition. So you and he…?”

“Are none of your business.” My team was on again. I practically dragged Cora away.

“What’s wrong with you? He likes you and you were so rude,” she wailed.

“I don’t like him.” I searched for Eirik. He was talking to a group of girls to our left. I recognized three of them. “Stay with Marj and Eirik and away from Andris.”

“Seriously, Raine.” She shook her head. “No wonder you never date. You have trust issues.”

“I don’t. I saw weird tats—”

Teaser Tuesday | Hunted #TheGuardianLegacy

Title:  Hunted

Series:  The Guardian Legacy [Book 3]

Length:  358 Pages

Genre:  YA Fantasy

TEASER

“What the hell is that?” Sykes mumbled.

“It looks like a plume from a volcano,” I said.

The problem was there were no active volcanoes on the entire continent or nearby islands. It looked like a Lazarus demon, but I’d thoroughly studied the demonic books and there was nothing about Lazari using their abilities while in smoke form.

“Okay, so it’s another new fiend,” Sykes murmured. “Big deal. Let’s nuke it.”

“Not so fast. I’ve never seen anything like it in demonic books,” Izzy added.

Kim shook her head. “You want to get up close and personal with it?”

Izzy made a face. “No, but I think we should identify him or her first.” She pulled out six crystals from her coat pocket. “I have trappers.”

The crystals, smooth and colorless, usually released light and formed a cage around a demon. Ever since we’d defeated the demon queen Coronis, demons of mixed breed kept blindsiding us. Some weren’t bad. Like the Souled Demons and Neutrals we knew and left alone, some had no interest in hurting humans or collecting souls. They just happened to be born to demon parents. This one was obviously one of the bad ones since it had attacked Jason Lee.

“Let’s finish then lure it away from the city,” Bran said. “There are way too many people around here. All it takes is one person seeing past the glamour without our knowledge and we’d be exposed.”

“Lure what?”

We all turned to glance at Jason Lee. We’d completely forgotten his presence until he spoke. He struggled to his feet, Sykes steadying him when he looked like he might keel over.

Teaser Tuesday | Betrayed #TheGuardianLegacy

Title:  Betrayed

Series:  The Guardian Legacy [Book 2]

Length:  343 Pages

Genre:  YA Fantasy

TEASER

“You are late,” Master Haziel barked when I entered the room.

Since I didn’t have an excuse for my tardiness, I kept my mouth shut. Instead, I squinted against the blazing light from the crystals in the ceiling and searched for him. He wasn’t alone in the middle of the room. Daisensei Kenta was with him. The two appeared to be arguing.

I closed the door behind me and entered the pit, a dome-shaped indoor arena with a high ceiling and a circular floor, dominated by a painting of the six-sided Cardinal Guardian star. The tiered seating was steeper than in most human stadiums, and was grouped into private boxes. The glass panels had made no sense the first time I’d seen them, but I later learned they shielded spectators from stray energy balls or weapons during a tournament. We were yet to have intramural games since the Academy had opened, but I couldn’t wait to watch students test their fighting techniques and powers.

“I do not wish to discuss this, Kenta,” Master Haziel snapped, drawing my attention. “The decision has been made. Live with it.”

“But I should be next in line,” Kenta insisted.

“Then you should have talked to me first, instead of complaining to the Council. Leave my training room.”

Daisensei Kenta looked ready to argue, then appeared to change his mind. He whipped around and hurried toward the door. I stepped out of his way and heard him snarl something that ended with, “…senile fool.”

Teaser Tuesday | Awakened #TheGuardianLegacy

Title:  Awakened

Series:  The Guardian Legacy [Book1]

Length:  272 Pages

Genre:  YA Fantasy

TEASER

I felt a presence behind me, then someone held my hair away from my face as I emptied the contents of my stomach. I shook with fear and anger. Everyone I ever loved always left me, taken by the same demon.

Why? Tears escaped past my eyelids and slid down my face.

I heard murmurs, recognized Kim’s voice, Izzy’s perfume. Someone pushed a wad of tissue in my hand. “How are you feeling?” Izzy whispered

“Pissed,” I snarled, wiping my eyes and mouth.

“Good,” she said. “We are, too.”

I blinked at them.

They nodded. “The old geezers out there can’t do this,” Izzy said.

“We won’t let them,” Kim added. “Between now and first period tomorrow, the six of us will have kicked some demon butts, rescued your grandfather and Moira and teleported home like the bad-ass heroes that we are.”

“Six?” I asked.

“Bran must lead us. How else will we know where to go, when to hit them while they’re vulnerable?”

Tears crested my eyes, again. Had I thought these girls were arrogant? I did, and they were. But the last few days showed me they were much more. I plopped on the bathroom floor, more tears flowing down my face.

“Hey. We said we were on your side,” Kim protested.

“I know. I’m happy to have you guys as my friends.”

They pulled me up and wrapped their arms around me in a group hug. I only cried harder. They didn’t let go until I calmed down.

Kim was the first to step back. “Come on. Let’s join the others. We have some planning to do.”

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