It’s round 2 time!!  Yes, Writing With The Stars, Round 2! This time, you get to vote for the best hero and heroine.  All of the finalists have posted their information on the Romantic Times site.  And, of course, I have to give a special shout to my mentee, Dale Mayer!  I’m very proud of Dale and the work that she has done. All of the finalists have amazing talent, and I wish them all well.

First, my apologies for being so quiet this week. Awesome person that I am–well, I awesomely poured my Fruit Loops and a ton of milk on my laptop at the beginning of the week. Guess what happened? Fried laptop. So I’ve been jumping online whenever someone else’s computer is available. My email has been crazy, but I’m getting back on track now. Really!  And I’ve learned a very important lesson: Fruit Loops and laptops don’t mix.  🙁

But on to other news…

On Saturday, I’ll be  driving up to Birmingham, Alabama, for the Southern Magic Reader’s Luncheon.  If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there!  The luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. in the Homewood Public Library.  Looking forward to the fun!

Before I go, I’ve got one more thing to share:

(Thanks to the fantastic folks to Kensington!)

I’m over at Magical Musings today. Talking about holidays, books, and why I am one of THOSE people…

Have you ever thought about writing a novel? Or, have you started a novel before, but you just didn’t finish it? Then November is the month for you. November is National Novel Writing Month.   Here’s the basic goal of NaNoWriMo:  Write one 50,000 word novel in a month.  Think you’re up for the challenge? Then check out the NaNoWriMo website–and good luck!

Happy Halloween!  I hope you have a wonderful day full of lovely treats and not-so-bad tricks.  Thanks so much for checking out the Halloween Round Robin. Today’s installment is from my Brava buddy Rebecca Zanetti (look for her book FATED in early 2011).

(BAD MOON RISING, Part 1 by Cynthia Eden)

(BAD MOON RISING, Part 2 by Shelli Stevens)

(BAD MOON RISING, Part 3 by Juliana Stone)

(BAD MOON RISING, Part 4 by Shelli Stevens)

And here we go with BAD MOON RISING, Part 5 by Rebecca Zanetti:

“Screwed this up?”  Karen gasped, her hand going to the bite mark on her neck.  The bite mark that suddenly throbbed along with her entire head.  “You know him?”  Her voice waivered.  Damn it.  Her voice never wavered.

Jon stalked closer, his eyes a pissed green, his scent of spiced pine filling her senses.  “Not as well as you do, sweetheart.”

A shiver wound down her spine.  Desire, fear, anger.  Karen shifted, pressing her back against the wall, keeping them both in her sights.  “Grandma?”

A blue glow surrounded her grandma as the fairy reached out and slapped Jon on the back of the head.  “I told you not to approach her yet, you dumb dog.”

Karen pivoted, muscles bunching to defend the elderly fairy and then she stopped, dumbfounded, as Jon dropped his head.  “Sorry, ma’am.”  He lifted up, his gaze cutting to Karen.  “But she’s mine.  I’m done waiting.”

“Yours?”  Fire swept through Karen until temper made her ears ring.  “No fucking way.”

“Ah, darlin’,” he reached out and ran one calloused finger over the mark on her neck.  “Don’t make me bite you again.” Before she could react, an arrow crashed through the window aimed at her head.  Jon yanked her to the side, emitting a low growl when it pierced his chest.

He dropped to his knees.

Oh god.  She rushed forward and eased him back against the wall.  The arrowhead was buried in his flesh.  Blue rings began to cascade out.  “The tip is silver.”  Dread and fear slammed into her so hard her mind fuzzed.  She measured the single inch from the wound to his heart, glancing up at the slight smile playing on his full lips.  “What’s so funny?”

“You like me.”  While his words remained light, his jaw clenched hard.  The wolf was pissed.

No, she loved him.  Damn it.  “You’re not going to like me in a minute.”  She grasped the vibrating wood and planted one boot against his solar plexus.  “So.  How do you know my grandmother?”  She yanked, falling on her ass as the arrow sprang free.

“Holy mother f—” Jon bellowed, grabbing his chest and throwing his head back, the cords of his neck turning purple.  Shimmers filled the air as his wolf stretched to life beneath his skin.  He took several deep breaths until his shoulders relaxed and his head lowered.  His gaze pierced hers.  The hole in his broad chest slowly closed.  The blue rings lightened.  They’d remain for a week or so.  “You enjoyed that.”

She smiled.  “Maybe a little.”

Her grandmother grabbed a bow from the bedroom, lighting an arrow tip on fire with a butane lighter.  She took aim outside the now broken window and let the projectile loose.  A furious howl filled the night.  “Got the blood sucking vulture.”  She cocked another arrow, glancing over her tiny shoulder.  “You two going to help or what?”

Karen crept toward the window to peer into the darkness.  “It’s dawn.”

Her grandmother pointed at angry thunderclouds rushing across the desert sky.  “Bad storm.  Should last hours.  The vampires are safe from sunlight, for now.”

A whistle pierced the air outside.  “Come on out, folks.  Don’t make me huff and puff,” a low male voice bellowed.

“It’s Degatto.”  Jon leapt toward the window with a deep growl.  “I’m the wolf, you asshole.  Get your legends straight.”

“You’re a damn traitor,” Degatto yelled back.  “Do you really think I didn’t know about the alliance?  The peace declared last spring?”

Karen gasped, her gaze shifting to her grandmother.  “Peace?  You declared peace with the werewolves?”  What the hell was going on?  “Wait a minute.  Last spring we sent you on that singles cruise for three months.  When did you have time to broker peace?”

Her grandmother cleared her throat, a fine pink spreading under her pale skin.  “Well, I mean, I met Jordan on the ship.”

“Jordan Sirius?  The fucking Alpha?”

“Watch your mouth, dear.”  Her grandmother lit another arrow, squinted into the darkness and took aim.  A shriek filled the abyss.  “Jordan is retired.  We’re going on a year-long cruise next month.”  She cocked another arrow.  “You mated the current Alpha.”

Holy freaking crap.  “I don’t believe this.”  She was a hunter.  Not a wolf mate.

Jon edged toward the door.  “The war is stupid and began with a lover’s quarrel three centuries ago.  Werewolves and fairies are meant to mate; we’re both stronger for it.  And we need an alliance against the damn blood suckers, who are making a move.”  He leaned against the wall, settling his stance, his gaze on the oak.  “I love you.  We’re meant to be together.”

The words sent a rush of pleasure through her to thump her heart.  Hard.  “So why the secrecy?  Why not just tell me?”

Her grandmother sighed.  “Well, dear…you’re a dedicated hunter.  And rather stubborn.  We sent Jon undercover with Degatto to figure out the vamp’s strategy, and then Jonny was supposed to contact you for help.”  She glared at the wolf.  “Not mate and marry you.”  She sniffed.  “At least right away.”

Karen exhaled her gaze on her husband.  “But you tried to take me to Degatto yesterday.”

Jon shook his head, keeping his focus on the closed door.  “Yeah.  I figured you’d be enough of a distraction that I could kill him and be done with this.”  A low growl emerged from the wolf.  “Then you shot me.”

Before Karen could respond, the front door shattered and a seven foot vampire rushed inside.  Degatto.  Jon lowered his lead and leapt forward to tackle the monster to the floor.  The entire house rocked on its foundation.   A blaze of silver glinted as Jon’s blade slashed into the vampire’s neck.  Jon twisted his wrist, and Degatto’s head rolled off his body.  Poof.  Only a fine sheen of dust remained.

Jon stood, wiping particles off his face.  “I knew he’d come in the front door.  Obvious bastard.”

Three more vamps rushed inside.  Karen leapt for one, jumping on his back and digging her knife into his jugular.  Two hard pulls and she decapitated the creature, landing on her feet to assist with the others as it disintegrated.  Only Jon and Grandma remained, both covered in light dust.

Sunlight began to filter through the clouds outside.  She replaced her knife in her boot.  “So what now?”

Her grandmother shrugged, sidling toward the bedroom.  “Now?  I’m going to take a nap and when I awaken, I’m going to live my life.  I suggest you do the same.”  The door shut with a smart snap.

Karen took a deep breath, her gaze traveling up the hard thighs, flat stomach and massive chest to her lover’s face.  Her mate.  “Well?”

He smiled, slow and sure.  “First we nap.”  The glint in his eye promised there would be no sleeping.  “Then, I’m thinking a honeymoon.  A real one on the beach with no clothes and lots of sex.”  He grasped her arms and tugged her toward him.  “I love you.”

Acceptance settled on her shoulders as warmth spread around her heart.  A honeymoon sounded perfect.  “I love you, too.”  She yelped as he swept her off the ground.  “My.  What large muscles you have.”

He chuckled.  “All the better…”

Damn but she loved her big bad wolf.

***

Thanks for checking out the round robin! Thanks to Shelli, Juliana, Jess, and Rebecca for writing such great segments! Happy Halloween!