Hello!

I've arrived home today from a wonderful short break with my hubby. We traveled to the nation's capital, Canberra, and played tourist. We walked around Lake Burley Griffin, visited the National Library and the National Art Gallery, did some wine tasting (of course!), and dined on some amazing gourmet meals. If you want to see some pics of the food, head over to my Instagram.

I did manage to sneak in some writing and editing time, finishing up The Ultimate Sacrifice ready for release later this month. All in all, it's been great holiday.

I have a couple of goodies for you this week. I'm excited to provide you with the prologue from The Ultimate Sacrifice, and to bring you a flash sale on book 1 in the series.

Now to tell you about the sale...

The Slow Death is on sale for only 99c. If you haven't read it yet, or you read it on Kindle Unlimited but would like to own the ebook, now's the perfect time to grab your copy. The sale is on until 28th April.

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The Ultimate Sacrifice is available for pre-order now, so grab your copy. It comes out on the 28th April.

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THE PROLOGUE...

4 months ago

Oh, shit! Grady groaned as he slowly came awake. The mattress dipped as he rolled onto his side with effort and opened an eye to find out the time. The green digital display showed it was just after six, the numerals wavering but large enough to be visible. He quickly closed his eyes against the light filtering into the room; it might have been early, but even the dawn light hurt his eyes.

Grady’s head throbbed. For that matter, his entire body ached. Today there was truth to the old expression—he definitely felt as if he’d been hit by a freight train.

He knew to expect the headache, but the blurring of his vision was new, as was the pain flaring in his hip. He tentatively stretched out a leg and flinched at the stab of pain in his knee. Fuck! It’s getting worse. Somehow Grady had thought he’d ward off the effects for longer, after all, it had only been four months. His heart ached as he wondered how long the recovery from this episode would take. Would it only take a matter of hours, or would the hours stretch into days or weeks?

The knock at the door pulled him from his reverie. “Yeah?”

His father opened the door and popped his head in the gap. “Is it okay if I come in?”

“Sure,” Grady said, grunting with the effort of hauling himself up in the bed to rest against the pillows.

“How are you feeling?” The concern was evident on his father’s face as he placed a mug of coffee on the bedside table and plonked himself down on the bed, next to Grady. “Is it like last time?”

Grady nodded. “Yes. Sort of. I think it’s a little worse. My joints are sore and everything’s a bit fuzzy.” His dad frowned so Grady smiled to reassure him. “It’s not that bad really. Give me an hour or two and I’m sure I’ll be right as rain.”

“But you heard what the doctor said. It will get worse—”

“Yes, but we don’t know how long before that happens. He said everyone is different and I could be fine for the next year or even longer.”

“But you’re not!” his dad snapped. “It’s already getting worse. I know you too well and I can tell. You’re pale and your hands are shaking.”

Grady looked down, surprised to see the movement in his hands. That was new. He wiggled his fingers and held his arms out. “It’s nothing,” he said despite the fact it scared the shit out of him. “I’m just a little tired. Like having a hangover, I guess. I’ve seen you get the shakes a time or two.”

His dad wiped the moisture from his eye. “That’s different and you know it.”

Grady placed his hand on his father’s knee. “I know, Dad. I just don’t want you to worry.”

“How can I not worry?” his dad said. “I’m your father. It’s my job to worry. Your mother too. We both love you and hate seeing our beautiful son like this.”

“I know it’s hard for you both and I’m asking a lot. But we can’t change what’s happened and I want to focus on the time I have left and enjoy myself. Not dwell on how I’ll waste away until… until there’s nothing more.”

“I don’t want you to talk like that!” his father said vehemently. 

“My point exactly.” Grady smiled. “Let’s just forget all the stupid sickness. Hey, tell me about the puppies we fostered before I got sick. I still can’t believe we were able to find all ten of them homes.”

His dad smiled and nodded, but Grady knew he’s done little to distract from the elephant in the room. No matter what they talked about, the disease and how it was slowly killing him would always be at the forefront.

***

2 months ago

The sound of a gasp in the otherwise silent room broke through Grady’s consciousness. Despite the heaviness of his eyelids, he turned his head toward the sound and forced his eyes open. It took a moment to adjust to the gloom, but the tall figure came into focus as he crossed the bedroom. Grady’s chest warmed at the sight of his good friend. The mattress dipped as Marrok sat on the edge of the bed and took Grady’s hand in his.

“Mar?” His voice croaked as he uttered the nickname.

“Yeah, Grady, I’m here.”

“I’m glad you came,” he whispered. And he was. It had been too long since he’d seen his friend and he wasn’t sure how many more opportunities he’d have to see him. It may have been a maudlin thought, but Grady was a realist. There was no point kidding himself that he was going to make a miraculous recovery, but what he promised himself was that he’d make the most of every last minute he had on this Earth.

“Me too, how are you doing?” Marrok asked, eyes suddenly widening as if he’d realized what a stupid question he’d asked.

“Eh, I’ve been better.” Grady attempted to insert some humor into his response, but the joke fell flat as he was racked with a spasm. He pulled his hand from Marrok’s and clenched his fists.

“Are you in pain?” Marrok’s gaze was fraught with worry, brows drawn tight.

“Not bad. I’m fighting my wolf. He wants to be set free, but I know if I let him, he’ll tear me apart from the inside.” He gritted his teeth as the spasms turned to shivers, and a cold sweat broke out on his brow. The effort required to keep his wolf at bay was tremendous and took so much out of him, but allowing himself to go through the transition would only weaken his body further and he couldn’t allow that—it was a death sentence. As if I’m not facing a death sentence already, I’m just prolonging it. But he wasn’t ready to let go, not just yet.

“Don’t give up,” Marrok pleaded. “I’ve learned a few more things about the disease. We’re so close to finding a cure, but for now I’m going to help them find you a donor. Why hasn’t your pack been able to find one?”

“Rare blood type,” Grady forced out.

“Yours? It can’t be that rare? Surely there’s someone in the registry that would do?”

Thankfully the spasms started to recede, and words came more easily to Grady. “The alpha has tried but can’t find anyone in our pack. We’re not as organized as you are in the North.”

Marrok turned up his lip in obvious distaste. “Maybe your alpha could use some help.” He obviously wasn’t impressed with the East Territory pack effort so far.

“Mar, please. Don’t make any trouble. The pack has done all they can.” Grady knew Marrok would do whatever he could to help. He was lucky to have a friend who’d move Heaven and Earth for him, but he also knew the leaders in his own pack had tried to find him a donor. It was just unfortunate his blood type was so unique that it was an impossible task.

Marrok opened his mouth to speak, but Grady’s father entered the room, cutting off whatever it was Marrok was about to say. He stood up and nodded at Grady’s dad before facing him again. “I’ve got to get back to Seattle. Don’t you dare give up. I’m going to find a donor for you. I won’t let you down.”

Grady nodded. It was easier to agree than to argue the pointlessness of such a task. As Marrok left the room, followed by his father, he allowed his eyes to slip closed. He drew the covers up to his chin and curled into a ball. So tired. So very, very tired.

***

1 month ago

“Zander,” Grady said, his voice a mere whisper.

He tried to pull himself up further against the pillows as Zander approached, not wanting to appear weak in front of the alpha’s son, but it was a struggle. He had his good days and his bad days and thankfully this was a good day—but a good day still meant he was as weak as a kitten and in pain.

Zander quickened his pace across the room and slipped an arm behind Grady’s back, assisting him into a more upright position and fluffing the pillows behind his back. Grady sat as upright as he could and focused on biting off the groan that threatened. He was aware of how much he’d deteriorated since he’d last seen Zander, and he hoped it didn’t show as much as he knew it did. Not that there was a lot he could do. He knew he’d lost weight, his shoulder blades now bony protrusions that Zander had no doubt felt as he’d manhandled him into a sitting position.

Zander sat on the edge of the bed; his movements stiff as he obviously tried not to disturb Grady. His blue eyes were full of concern, brows drawn together as he studied Grady.

Grady forced a smile. “Congratulations. How does it feel to reach maturity?”

Zander’s lips tipped upright, but the returning smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll let you know at the end of the month. But based on the first change, it’s going to be amazing. I’m still trying to get my head around everything that’s happened. To be honest, it’s overwhelming, but fantastic at the same time.”

“The most exciting of your life,” Grady responded automatically. In his case, his first transition had been the beginning of everything starting to slip away, but he could celebrate with Zander. After all, most shifters didn’t experience the horror Grady’s life had become. The Slow Death was a rare disorder, and the vast majority of shifters, even if afflicted, held the disease at bay by having regular blood transfusions. Grady was an outlier. Despite these thoughts, he smiled—widely—he really was happy for his friend. “I know how much I was looking forward to my first change so I can understand your excitement. Finally, one of the men of the pack. Although for you it has added significance. Maybe I should start addressing you as ‘Sir,’ hey?”

“What?” Zander said.

Zander had a faraway look. Grady could sense his guilt. He reached out and placed a gentle hand on Zander’s forearm. “There’s no need for you to feel sorry for me. It’s not the future I would have picked, but I’m at peace with it.”

The sorrow was evident on Zander’s features. “It would be easier to accept the TSD mutation if that was all you were facing. It’s a perfectly treatable condition. What you’re dealing with is so much more. I just wish we had more luck in finding you a donor match.”

“Hey. I know everything’s being done that can be done. The records have been double checked, and there’s even the call you put out to the other territories. Who knows? There might be some luck there.” Grady tried to be hopeful, but it was hard to feel positive.

“I hope so. But rest assured, Grady, I’m not giving up.”

A short while later, Zander left, and Grady collapsed into a heap. It had taken a lot out of him to even hold the simple conversation. He didn’t have the energy to reach for the pill bottle on the bedside table. Instead, he closed his eyes, and breathed slow and careful breaths in an effort to combat the pain. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. As he inhaled and exhaled in a steady rhythm, Zander’s words ran through his head. I’m not giving up. If Zander wasn’t giving up then maybe he shouldn’t either, but, damn, it was hard to stay strong.

A single tear ran down his cheek.

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Happy reading,

Nic xx