Hello everyone! Today I am pleased to welcome author M.D. Grimm here to share with us an excerpt from Ruby: Lost and Found. M.D. has also brought a copy of the book to give away to one lucky winner. Welcome M.D.!

Excerpt

The revenai fixed its hundred eyes on me, and I gulped, wishing my mentor was here, or at least Enfernlo. I’ve never fought a demon before, and I honestly didn’t know where to begin. Their hides were tough, almost magick-proof, and they had excellent range with their poisonous spit and their venomous spikes.

It lunged at me, and one of its heads spat drool at me. I flung myself to the side and rolled, trying to kick-start my brain and body into battle mode. I had wished for something to unleash my pent-up frustration on… I really should be more careful what I wished for.

The revenai turned toward me, and an arrow went flying at it and stuck in one of its eyes. It roared, and four arms swung around toward Aishe, but the dialen was quicker and dodged out of the way, another arrow already singing through the air and puncturing another eye.

“Get up, Morgorth!” Aishe roared. “I can’t do this alone!”

I shook myself and prepared to unleash everything I had at the monster. I sucked in a breath and ran forward as the revenai tore at the arrows, its other hands tearing at the trees, sending them crashing around us. I weaved around them, flinging some out of my way with force, and others I sent right at the revenai’s feet. I had to find a weakness; every monster or creature had a weak spot. For payshthas like Enfernlo, it was the soft flesh of their stomach; the rest of their bodies were scaled. For truls it was their armpits because, again, the flesh was soft, and if punctured at the right angle, the blade could stab their heart.

The revenai had to have one as well.

Their eyes were a good start; I gave Aishe points for that. Thick blood dripped from its two ruined eyes, and I shot a lance of fire at one of its heads. The head jerked back and drool was flung everywhere, eating through everything it touched, like acid. I snarled and aimed for the eyes as well but those arms were a problem. It swung its claws at me, and I jumped and ducked before one hit me and sent me straight into a tree. I slammed hard and the air was knocked out of me. But I managed to duck as it came back and attempted to rip my head off. I rolled away and gasped for breath, flinging up a protective shield as a fist came down. I was slammed to the ground under the sheer strength and felt my bones creak, threatening to snap.

Someone roared, and the weight lifted. As the stars before my eyes faded, I looked over to see Aishe straddling the revenai’s wrist, stabbing it with a short sword and causing black, viscous blood to gush. I sucked in a breath and struggled to my feet just as Aishe leapt off of the revenai. Another hand came to grab him. He ducked away and rolled, and I kept on the opposite side of him, trying to divide the demon’s attention. Five heads were enough to deal with.

Aishe and I couldn’t keep this up, and I tore through my brain, trying to find a way that would end this conflict as fast and as bloodlessly as possible.

Before I’d found a satisfying idea, the demon got a hold of Aishe and proceeded to squeeze the life from his body. Fury, so intense I wondered why I didn’t explode, whirled through me as I created a blade of pure force and flung it at the revenai’s arm, cutting it cleanly in half. The monster roared, Aishe fell, and more blood gushed.

The dialen didn’t move.

“Hey! Demon shit!” I bellowed, my magick amplifying my voice. The revenai turned to me, the lust for death in its eyes.

“Follow me, if you have the guts!” I ran deeper into the forest, hearing the lumbering beast close behind me. Fury gave me power and focus, and I used it. I gasped for breath, my muscles burning, as I emerged at the river where only minutes before I had seen Aishe naked. I ran along the bank, the revenai emerging seconds later, lumbering awkwardly, ripping up trees as it went. I swung around and churned the water, lifting it into the air and flinging it at the charging revenai. I continued to lash the monster with water, and it swung its hands around uselessly, becoming more enraged. When I had enough water whirling around the revenai, I took a deep breath and blew it out, causing the water to freeze.

The revenai’s thrashing ceased, and the drool froze on its lips. I knew it wouldn’t hold, but maybe it would contain the thing long enough for me to find out what to do with it –and to find out if Aishe was even still alive. I ran around the large, frozen demon and nearly collided with the dialen as he emerged, whole, from the trashed forest.

I skidded to a halt, and my heart was drumming in my chest, relief making me dizzy.

“Thank the Mother,” I gasped and before I could think better of it, I flung my arms around the dialen and hugged him hard. It lasted for about a second before I jerked back as if electrocuted. I grimaced, and Aishe looked shocked.


Blurb

ruby: lost and FoundMorgorth is a mage on the planet Karishian. There is little he hates more than the Stones of Power — gemstones infused with magick by the first seven mages ever born. So when a sorcerer gets hold of a major stone, a ruby, Morgorth has no choice but to go after him. But, to his irritation, he is not alone. Aishe is a dialen whose tribe was massacred by the sorcerer, and is now on a mission of vengeance. The attraction is instant between them, but Morgorth keeps his distance. Because of a traumatic childhood and a deadly destiny, he has no desire for emotional complications. But Aishe’s very presence challenges Morgorth’s resolve.

Not only does Morgorth begin to admire Aishe’s strength and intelligence, but he begins to see Aishe as a friend. As their hunt continues and their time together lengthens, their bond deepens, as does Morgorth’s fear. If he becomes the monster that destiny claims he will, will he hurt Aishe? Will he harm the one person who sees right through him? Who accepts him wholeheartedly? Determined to not let that happen, Morgorth keeps Aishe at a distance, but when Aishe is kidnapped by the sorcerer, what will Morgorth do to get him back?


Giveaway

M.D. has brought along a copy of Ruby: Lost and Found to give away to one lucky winner. The contest will close on Thursday, August 1st at 11:59 pm EST.  Leave a comment below to enter.  

  • By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
  • If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
  • Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
  • Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
  • By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
  • Readers may only enter once for each contest.  Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
  • Void where prohibited by law.
FILED UNDER: Excerpt, Giveaway
TAGGED: ,