Can you believe October is already half gone? One of my former coworkers made a social media post a couple days ago asking, "Why haven't the fall colors started yet???"

And I have to agree. The majority of the leaves in South Carolina haven't released their grip on life just yet, aside from the super basic yellow-browns. Like the tulip trees on my property. Pretty sure they've dropped half their leaves without bothering to turn them any sort of fiery shade in the process. 😒

Luckily, my husband and I did catch a glimpse of early autumn colors during our short vacation to Blowing Rock two weeks ago, so I'll drop a fiery tree photo below in honor of everyone who hasn't gotten to appreciate the beauty of nature's seasonal decline. But before we get to that...do I really have a snippet to share from Gift of Wind?

Yes, yes I do! 🥳

Let's join up with the heroine of my forthcoming Teutonic Fantasy Realm adventure—Skye Stern, a witch of wintry wind—and her good friend Teya, who's giving Skye a ride from the airport to her new apartment in Wildertal, Austria.

Where Skye not-so-secretly hopes to reconnect with an icy priest from her past.

Gift of Wind — Snippet #1

“How’s it feel to be back?”

Teya posited the question as we traveled on A12 west toward Landeck, her umber fingers controlling the car with ease despite the light snowfall. It was the last Sunday in January, and I had arrived at the Innsbruck airport two hours ago. After a long night of huddling anxiously in a seat between two strangers, downing multiple glasses of liquor in an effort to cloud out my fear of planes, I just wanted to crash and forget everything until tomorrow.

But I needed to fight my exhaustion a little longer. Explain my situation to Teya and ask for her—and her husband’s—help. Leaning my head against the glass of the passenger window, I closed my eyes as a portion of my magic reached out to capture the icy air enveloping the car. A comforting breath of home.

“It’s nice to see signs in German,” I answered after too long a delay. “I mean, not that I have trouble with English, but—I don’t know. It’s like a hug.”

“I get that. Last time I saw signs in just English was when we dropped you and Brenna off in Asheville. Almost six years ago now.” Teya exhaled, wistfulness evident in her tone.

“We can talk in English if you want,” I said, switching to her native language. “Might help keep me alert. Couldn’t sleep on the plane and now I’m zoning out.”

“Right. I forgot you’re scared of flying.” I reopened my eyes, and Teya cast me a concerned glance. “Did you take anything to help you stay calm?”

I chewed on my bottom lip for a second, hesitant to admit the dark reality. “Not exactly,” I muttered.

“You drank, didn’t you?”

My eyes widened, and I straightened in my seat. “Is it on my breath?” I had chewed three Mentos after exiting the plane. Not enough? I frowned toward where my purse lay beside my feet.

“You’ve looked out of it since you plodded through that door lugging three suitcases. But I smelled it on you when we hugged.”

“I’m sorry. I should do better than this.” I ran my hands through my hair, freshly trimmed and brightened into a vibrant purple.

“My husband said this might happen.” Teya tapped the steering wheel with her fingers, a look of antipathy crossing her face. “After what Rohde did to you, my husband said you’d probably struggle to stay clean, especially with your heart being so delicate.”

“At first I thought I could manage it. Everything was so different in North Carolina, so new. I didn’t want to start drinking again. Once I have too much, I can’t conjure my magic to protect myself. Just like Rohde wanted.” I grimaced and touched my chest, wishing I could undo those years that terrible elder had abused me. My heart throbbed pitifully beneath my coat, my lonely spirit weeping for a genuine connection. Love. Acceptance. Forgiveness.

“But then we went to a show at the casino a month after we got settled into our house,” I went on, slumping against the seat. “Everybody was drinking. Who doesn’t drink at a rock show? I ordered one cocktail and my sobriety went out the window. Brenna had to drag me back to her car.”

“Have you tried to stop?” Teya asked as I stuffed my hands beneath my thighs, wispy tears collecting in the corners of my eyes.

“I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve tried. But it’s so hard not to order a drink when that’s what everyone’s doing. The U.S. is bad, but it’s worse here. Who goes out with friends and orders a soda? Or tea?”

“Me,” Teya supplied with a quiet snicker. “Apfelschorle is my go-to. How did you survive without it for so long? It’s literally the one thing keeping me in Austria.”

I started laughing at my friend’s attempt to lighten the mood. “Sometimes World Market has it. Mezzo Mix and Almdudler too. The prices for the candy though.” I clutched my throat and gagged, prompting Teya to snort.

“My husband’s stocking your pantry with Kinder chocolate bars right now. And the ones from Haag in Landeck. Plus some containers of home-cooked meals. No alcohol whatsoever.”

“You got yourself a good one.” I crossed my legs and reached down to root through my purse in search of more mints. Now that I knew I would meet Teya’s partner once we reached my apartment, I resolved to cleanse the scent of liquor from my breath as much as possible. Even though his heightened senses would doubtless inform him of each drink I downed in midair.

“You know what? I appreciate you telling me that. The only person I know who doesn’t think my husband’s sway has warped my brain is Wilda.”

“Wilda’s in love with him.” I dug out a mint and offered another to Teya.

“I’m good. But I think I might stop at McDonald’s before we head south so we can both get some caffeine. That might help with the hangover.” She grinned as she took the exit just outside Landeck.

“No hangover yet. Still buzzed. Coke would be good though. You can use my card.” I set the pack of Mentos back in my purse and dug for my wallet. Cozy homes and apartments on the outskirts of town emerged from the winter landscape.

“Wilda’s building herself a harem of Teuton priests. You’d better get your hooks into Karl before she develops a taste for ice.” Teya smirked at me and pulled into the drive-thru. “Want to split a large fries?”

Warmth bloomed in my cheeks at the thought of Karl. He had moved back to Wildertal right at Christmas. According to Teya, he was staying with his parents and helping them with their construction business. And forging a relationship with his daughter Nixie. Teya had given me his email, but I had not yet dared to message him. He might not be looking for anything romantic in the midst of a major change in his life. I doubted an accomplished priest would settle for an alcoholic.

Teya chatted a little more about Wilda’s life with Rolf and their two sons, a pleasant topic, until she collected our drinks and fries and handed me one of the cups. “If you can manage not to spill, that’d be great. This car’s a rental, in case you didn’t figure that out. Have to take it back to Innsbruck tonight.”

“Since no roads lead up your mountain, that makes sense.” I unwrapped my straw and took a refreshing sip of Coke, its carbonation perking me up a bit. Teya unearthed the fries from the bag, along with a handful of napkins. In the meantime I shoved my nervousness deep into my gut and managed to ask, “Does Karl know about me? That I’m moving to Wildertal?”

“He has been made aware.” Teya handed me the fries before turning the car back toward the interchange for the southbound tunnel. “I didn’t give him your email though. If you haven’t reached out to him yet, the ball’s in his court now that you’re here.”

Not particularly reassuring. I forced myself to chew on a salty fry and gazed at the snow-coated mountains surrounding us. “I’m scared he won’t want me. Since I’m a drunk. Drunks don’t make good mothers. Or step-mothers. Whatever.”

“My husband can help you get sober. If you want his help. He’s got enough experience forcing people through withdrawals of various sorts.” Teya’s tone took on a caustic edge as she referenced her husband’s ghastly mandate—to sacrifice a human being on Wuotan’s altar twice per year to ensure the demon did not stanch his river of Teuton blood. In millennia past, all Teuton priests sacrificed humans and animals to their demon lord, but in the modern era only Cursed Ones upheld such unholy rites.

Teya remained apart from his profane activities, but she lived in his lair and shared his bed. And sported the pink scar of Teutonic matrimony on her left wrist, her heart protected in the spiritual hands of a damned wraith. Which was why she appreciated my acknowledgement of her husband’s decency. No matter what the people of Wildertal thought of the specter in the mountains, I knew he had a good heart. He had saved me from enslavement, along with Brenna and Wilda. Granted Teya a home free of judgment, free of societal norms.

Love, acceptance, forgiveness.

But could I trust her Black Priest to watch over me too?

“I might take you up on that,” I admitted after several minutes of silence, during which I ate exactly six fries. “Brenna doesn’t want me to go cold turkey all by myself.”

“He can get you some stuff to help your body handle it,” Teya assured me. “I can probably convince him to stay with you in person, or at least in spirit form. He doesn’t like being apart from me, but sometimes it’s necessary.”

“Like today. I’m surprised his spirit’s not sitting in the back seat in all his violet-black glory, eavesdropping on our conversation.” I snickered around a final fry, then offered Teya the rest. The box was still mostly full. Turning my attention back to my Coke, I took a fortifying sip.

“He’d probably be doing just that if he wasn’t putting the final touches on your apartment. Also, he kind of has help. The sort of help he can’t exactly leave alone.” Teya munched a fry and turned left onto a tight road leading into the forest on the eastern side of the Inn River. Her car’s tires crunched on salt, the asphalt in worse shape than that of the highways.

“Help?” I raised an eyebrow at my friend, wondering why she seemed to be talking around the subject. Teya rarely did that.

“I’ve kind of been keeping a huge secret from you and Brenna,” she said at length, and a moment later we caught up to a salt truck. Teya slowed the car, and we followed the truck as the road wound its way through the woodland. I moved my straw up and down through the lid of my cup, at a loss regarding Teya’s secret.

“So I changed my mind about wanting kids. We have a daughter now.”

Teya’s fiery spirit coiled around her body, the chill of my element growing more dominant inside the car. I stared at her and parted my lips, struggling to find an appropriate response. “Who—who did you screw?”

Hardly appropriate.

Teya gave a shout of laughter. “I didn’t. Not for that, anyway.”

Reality seemed to blur around me. “So you and your Black Priest have a daughter?”

***

Who else is super excited to learn more about that mysterious Black Priest who played rather intriguing roles in Gift of Darkness and Gift of Water? Despite the fatal danger his anger poses to mortals like us, I might need to confess that he's very nearly unseated Augustin as my favorite Black Priest. 😱

But if you've already read Gift of Darkness, then you know the enigmatic undead specter prefers only ONE woman. Teya. 😔

If you're a dude, though, things might be different....

Aaaaaand maybe I should quit while I'm ahead. 🙃 At least we know the Black Priest of the Austrian Alps has had a daughter with the witch he loves. Just how did he and Teya manage that, anyway?

Tree time!

Autumn Colors

As I said in the intro to this newsletter, my husband and I were able to admire some early autumn colors during our quick trip to Blowing Rock, North Carolina at the start of October. While I spent most of our vacation (poorly) photographing waterfalls as usual, I did snap a couple pix of vibrant autumn leaves.

Had to capture a shot of this tree because its yellow looks so amazing against the bright blue sky! Now part of me wants to live on that balcony in the bottom section of the picture. Great place to let loose your inner fairy! 🧚‍♀

🔮 Fantasy Romance Freebies 🔮

The lovely indie author who runs the FaRoFeb promotions has stuffed her website with 250 entrancing fantasy romance stories! This one-day event has got all sorts of tales crafted by your favorite indie authors, plus some you may not yet know. High fantasy romance for dragon lovers, gaslamp fantasy romance for readers longing for ages past, monster romance for those interested in unusual—ahem—body parts...and the broad brush of paranormal romance that we all know well.

Yes, a novella set in the Teutonic Fantasy Realm is involved in the event, and NO, this time it's not Gift of Air. 👀 So be sure to take a peek by clicking the graphic above or the first link below. Then check out all the other bookish events going on this month.

Free Fantasy Romance - Oct 18th only!

LoveBite Books - 4 new freebies for October

Wide World of Sci-fi and Fantasy

Romantasy

Other Books You Might Like

Both of the indie books I've got for you today involve the mysterious Fae. And we all know that can create a whole lot of drama! Whether you're more of an urban fantasy Fae-type person or prefer other-world kingdom Fae, one—or both—of these books should keep your reader heart occupied. Take a look!

Wilhelmina of the Second House of Dragoncrest, Guardians to the mystical land of Arcadia, needs to get married. Except everyone she betroths keeps winding up dead.

Four years after the rightful Dragon Heir returns, a union is prophesied as the only way to heal the land ravaged by the Curse of the Spheres. Resigned with her charge, Mina ends up on a wayward mission that brings about a chance encounter in the desert. Will the impossibly handsome, not-charming-at-all stranger she meets change her fate?

Estranged Fae warrior, Callan of the Priori clan has been running from his past. A drifter rogue for hire across the realms, he never expected accidentally rescuing an enchanting but stubborn dragon would lead him to a reunion with an old friend who happens to be the new queen of Dragoncrest.

And the Queen needs a favor. Callan must pretend to be betrothed to the dragon, thus making him the next target for murder.

Can they uncover the nefarious forces determined to once more destabilize the realms before the reign of the Dragon Heir ends in peril?

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When an attempted kidnapping leads me to be rescued by a dark and sexy Fae, I assume life can’t be any stranger… Until I discover I’m his fated mate, and that he needs my help to stop a ruthless enemy from kidnapping his kind.

If someone doesn’t stop the brutal attacks, it could lead to earth’s ultimate destruction, so if I want to survive, I have to join the Fae Bureau of Investigation, with Damien as my superior.

But while Damien may be both hot as hell and my one-time hero, my unearthly ability to sense things through my hair is telling me to run: Damien can’t be trusted, and I would hate him as my boss.

With the enemy closing in, though, time is running out for me to make my choice: join the Bureau…or return home to my death.

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I hope you can find some enchanting stories to keep your muses occupied while I keep motoring along with Gift of Wind. Still haven't had a chance to get the pre-order on the retailers yet, but by next week I'm hoping to have it available on my book shop if nothing else. If you haven't browsed through all of the crazy novels & novellas in the Teutonic Fantasy Realm, my shop is the best place to do it!

Heads up that I'll be sending an extra newsletter on Friday this week, thanks to another unusual event I've joined. This one's Kobo-related.

But for now, I wish you a wonderfully weird week full of mystical magic and autumn colors (or spring flowers if you're down under)! 💖

Talk to you soon,

C.L. Carhart

Get Gift of Air, a free series prequel:

https://books2read.com/ebgiftofair

Elemental Bloodlines series:

https://clcarhart.com/collections/elemental-bloodlines-series-ebooks

His Name Was Augustin series:

https://clcarhart.com/collections/hnwa-series-ebooks

One Day of Free Fantasy Romance:

https://farofeb.com/freebooks/