EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Guardian of the Angels Series
by Anyta Sunday
The Guardian of the Angels series currently consists of two books: Veined (only $0.99) and Lethed. Coming soon: Phoenixed. This book tour is brought to you by Bewitching Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt from each book and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Veined
(Guardian of the Angels Book 1)
(Guardian of the Angels Book 1)
by Anyta Sunday
Description
It could be worse for Sylva Lark. She could be dead. A coma was nothing to that. Or her family moving across country for the treatment, leaving her with a big blue mark on her back.
She can handle it.
Mostly.
Except the mark glows and tingles, especially whenever transition helper Atticus Plot (Attic) is close by. She suspects he’s hiding something, and when she stumbles across a torn body bearing the same spiral marking as her own, that suspicion is confirmed.
After a few shaves with death, the truth finally comes out and the battles begin.
But not all her fights are external; her biggest one is the decision she has to make between doing the right thing for the world and giving up her beloved family for good.
Excerpt
“You’re coming with us.” Marcus gave a grunt that said he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “You’ve been hiding in a shell for the last three weeks, and now that you’re out of it, we’re damn well not going to let you crawl back inside.” He flashed me a large smile. “And another thing, not to be judgmental or anything,” he paused, “actually, fuck being PC, totally to be judgmental, you have got to liven up that closet of yours. You’ve been wearing that blue T-shirt three days in a row. Maddy? Did you bring the spare?”
I took a step back and rested my nose against my shoulder, trying to sniff without being too obvious. Gosh. How did I still have friends smelling like I did? I had new respect for anyone who stood or sat within a ten-foot radius of me.
Maddy handed me a lovely green top, trimmed with a floral lace. “There you go, Sylva. And wear your hair out. It’s so lovely when it falls over your shoulders.” She let out a sigh. “I wish I had long wavy red hair.”
Marcus ruffled Maddy’s hair. “You always want what you don’t have. But you suit your short dark hair.” He faced me. “Now go change.”
I undid my hair as Maddy suggested, the dark green top complementing it nicely. With a touch of eyeliner and a brush through my greasy hair, I was ready, and rather than the hefferlump I’d been the past three weeks, I felt nice. A pity Jason had to work, though it would be nice just hanging with friends.
When I came out of the girl’s lavatory Maddy hugged me. “Much better.”
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Where you can peck to your heart’s content, little Lark.” The answer came from behind me and I jumped. I twisted and my hair followed after me, tumbling over my left shoulder. Attic’s blue eyes met mine. He grinned.
He knows about my mark. I pushed the thought away. I wouldn’t let it affect me. Not today. I needed to relish the fact I was back.
I forced myself to smile, to look at him without questions popping into my head. Casually, I checked out today’s adornment. Laura’s caramel skin and dark hair combined with her long legs made her model material. She was also one of the smartest girls in the senior class. Although she was on par with Attic in terms of looks—even more so since Attic’s hair was the same shade today—I would have deemed her too smart to involve herself with him.
“Laura, I’m not sure your friends are doing their job. If they had, they would have warned you about him.” My gaze landed heavily on Attic.
He shook his head and chuckled. “It’s good to see your tongue wasn’t damaged.” I poked my tongue at him and he laughed harder. “And to answer your earlier question, we’re going to the steakhouse.”
My tummy rumbled. Attic winked and, not wanting him to see my face redden, I turned and linked arms with Maddy. “Let’s go then.”
The idea of fries and steak made my mouth water. I had a feeling I was about to make up for my lack of appetite in a big way.
“Marcus,” I hissed under my breath as we piled into Attic’s Porsche. “Why are we even going with them?” I motioned to Attic and Laura. The idea of crashing their date didn’t settle well with me. I’d been trying hard not to think about the strange happenings of my life, but seeing him and talking to him made that impossible. Ideally, I didn’t want to be around Attic again until he gave me answers. Yet, a small part of me wanted to be around him today. What was that about?
Marcus looked at me blankly, like I’d asked him what two plus two equaled. But I really didn’t understand it. He rolled his eyes and whispered in my ear. “If the guy of your dreams asks if you want to grab a bite with friends, you go. We just got chatting today, and he suggested we all go out. He’s too hot to say no to.” He drew away and then came back. “He kept asking about you, though. As sad as it makes me, I think he may have a thing for you.”
The seatbelt whipped against me as Attic hit the brakes. When I looked up to comment on his reversing, my breath caught. He stared straight at me in the rearview mirror, a little golden angel figure swinging madly from it. As soon as our eyes met, he looked away. “It’s darn near impossible to see past your heads,” he muttered, and put the gear in drive.
Featured Review
By mareenz
I love this story. It's so fantastic to see a heroine that is passionate, intelligent, kind, ambitious, and just selfish enough to be real. I love Sylva's independence and her focus, how she values her family and friends. Through her eyes we are gradually introduced into another world - like Sylva, we have it revealed to us piece by piece. And like Sylva, I feel at the end of this novel that I still have a lot to learn. I can't wait for the sequel.
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Lethed
(Guardian of the Angels Book 2)
(Guardian of the Angels Book 2)
by Anyta Sunday
Description
Sylva Lark made her choice.
Now she has to adjust to Guardian life. Training. Killing demons. Controlling her powers.
If only giving up her family wouldn’t hurt so damn much, . . . and if there wasn’t a strange attraction to the betrothed Prince Atticus she just met . . .
Amongst murder and mayhem, and toeing an unclear line between right and wrong, Sylva and her fellow Guardians must find a way to secure Eirene.
But it’s not easy going up against underworld Queen Furie when those on Sylva’s side are hiding secrets . . .
Will they succeed in protecting the home of the angels? Or will they fail, submitting the heavens to the fate of Furie?
And will Sylva and Attic ever remember what they mean to each other?
Or will they stay forever Lethed?
Excerpt
I walked to the door and knocked. When no one answered a second time, my vein hummed. Something wasn’t right.
I breathed in slow and deep.
A shudder rolled through me. How did I not sense it before now? Was I desensitized to the smell of blood already?
The thought chilled me, and I yanked the door handle, ready to boulder my way inside and help the Guardian if he needed it. It swung in easily. A bit too easily, and I toppled gracelessly into the room, just catching myself before face-planting into the carpet.
In that stumbling moment, the whole scene flashed before me. Across the room, sprawled on the twin bed was a corpse. A Guardian corpse. His neck had been sliced and his blood pooled over the white pillow and sheets.
A demon dressed in black from his boots to his gloves bent over the body, searching the inside of the Guardian’s jacket. His head jerked up as I entered and brilliant blue eyes snapped to mine. Beautiful and cold.
“Get your hands off of him.” I emphasized my words by shooting lightning at him.
He cursed and moved before it smashed into his chest but I aimed another at him. He disappeared for a second, reappearing to my right.
I’d never seen a demon do that before. “What are you? Keres?” I whipped out a knife from my boot, swallowing a sudden lump of fear—it wouldn’t do well for him to smell that. I hoped he was just a Keres or I was so screwed.
Why hadn’t I waited for Alyse?
Because you thought you had a fleeting chance to save someone.
But dammit, he was already dead. Looked like I’d just missed helping him.
“Keres?” The guy paused a moment, his lip curled up on one side. I took my advantage and swung the blade like Alyse had taught me in trainings. I almost hit him too, but his speed once again defied anything I’d ever seen a demon do. The only damage I inflicted on him was a slice to one of his gloves.
He swore again. “Put that bloody knife down.”
“Are you delusional? You think I’d follow orders from you?” I lunged to stab his heart but he vanished.
“You would if you knew what was good for you,” the demon said from across the room. “And Keres? Seriously? How new are you?”
As if I represented the threat level of a gnat, he stood with his back to me, searching the small desk in the corner of the room. Yanking out drawers, he pilfered through them. “They couldn’t have taken it,” he muttered. “Maybe Dylan . . .”
I quietly aimed another bolt at him but he casually side-stepped, letting the desk take the impact.
The desk, paper, pens and glass exploded, and shards of wood burst in all directions. Something stung my neck—a splinter, I guessed. I hoped the explosion impaled the demon with wood but he just looked pissed. “Look, Chestnut, could we have this little brawl you’re so intent on having after I find what I’m looking for?”
“What is this?” I stammered, thrown off by the demon’s laid-back attitude. “Of course not. I don’t negotiate with devil spawn.”
He laughed. “I really need to keep looking. Any other time, a duel would be welcomed.”
Unhitching my throwing knives, I launched them. One sailed past his ear, the other he caught by the hilt. He threw it back at me, but it hit the wall above the door a good few feet away.
“Leave the knife throwing to me,” Alyse said as she entered the room.
At first I thought she was talking to me and preparing to kill the demon herself. But she didn’t go for her knives. Instead, she smiled. “Long time no see, friend.”
He looked from her to the knife to me. He said, “I’d have destroyed her if I wanted. I didn’t.” He tilted his head to the side as if pondering his decision. “I was close to changing my mind, though.”
Friend? Friend? Alyse’s words crashed through my head. Why would Alyse—oh crap. Was that demon a Guardian?
I must have spoken my last thought aloud—that, or I hadn’t shielded my thoughts—because Alyse groaned.
“That’s the demon,” the friend said, pointing to the man on the bed. “Not me.” . . .
Featured Review
By Ashley
Sylva Lark made her choice. She decided to join the Guardians and leave her family behind. Now she joins the fight against demons to protect the gates of Eirene. When she comes across Prince Atticus she feels an instant connection but he is engaged to be married. They both have strong feelings for each other but don't know why. Will their memories stay locked away forever or will love find a way before death destroys them both?
This is one of the best books I've read. It had me on the edge of my seat through the whole story. Lethed pulled me in and had me holding my breath till the end. Now I'm left begging for more. I tried to put this book down to draw it out but I couldn't stop reading. The whirlwind of emotions were killing me, I felt my heart break and then pick up and back down again. The characters and the feelings they go through grip you as if they were your own. Every character was real and genuine. I loved how the author added a bit from Attic's perspective at the end. I wanted more. I can honestly say I hate the way things ended and left me biting my nails waiting for the next installment.
I recommend this book for any lovers of YA paranormal romance who are looking for a real emotional story.
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About the Author
A born and raised New Zealander, Anyta Sunday has been exploring the literary world since she started reading Roald Dahl as a kid. Inspired, stories have been piling up in her head ever since. Fast forward to her mid-twenties and jump a few countries (Germany, America, and back again), and she started putting pen to paper. When she’s not writing or chasing her kid around, she’s reading, hiking, watching a Joss Whedon series, attempting pilates, or curling up with her two cats.
Author Links
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes.
Plus, everyone can download a FREE copy of Dragons of Drupes from B&N or Smashwords and a FREE copy of 500 Kisses to Steal a Heart from the author's website.
