Unholy Cause
PortalsBook 5
P.L. Blair
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Police Procedural/
Light Romance
Publisher: Studio See Publishing LLC
Date of Publication: Sept. 30, 2017
ASIN: B0763FMV4S
Number of pages: 220
Word Count: 78,670
Cover Artist: Ron and Sarah Richter
Book Description:
Corpus Christi, Texas, police detective Tevis McLeod, an elf, must make an impossible choice: aid the evil Queen of the Unseelie Court in a quest that will allow her to become ruler over two worlds … or watch Kat Morales, his Human partner, and lifemate, die.
Excerpt:
Kat
Morales felt a tingle of nerves between her shoulders as she and her partner
entered Miguelito's. Something watched them – not some one, not anyone in the
knot of uniformed police and civilians gathered at the doors into the
restaurant's kitchen. What burned at the nape of Kat's neck, and turned the
greenblack amulet around her neck into ice so cold it almost burned, came from
some … thing. A creature, definitely not Human. Kat stopped a couple of steps
past the entrance, scanning her surroundings. Miguelito's had gone lavish in
Christmas decorations: arrangements of poinsettias on every Spanish-tiled table
in sight, bright-colored pinatas around the bar at the far end of the room, a
six-pointed star of Magic-enhanced light strands hanging from the ceiling in
the room's center, with more light strands radiating outward toward the walls
in a simulation of starlight.
Morales felt a tingle of nerves between her shoulders as she and her partner
entered Miguelito's. Something watched them – not some one, not anyone in the
knot of uniformed police and civilians gathered at the doors into the
restaurant's kitchen. What burned at the nape of Kat's neck, and turned the
greenblack amulet around her neck into ice so cold it almost burned, came from
some … thing. A creature, definitely not Human. Kat stopped a couple of steps
past the entrance, scanning her surroundings. Miguelito's had gone lavish in
Christmas decorations: arrangements of poinsettias on every Spanish-tiled table
in sight, bright-colored pinatas around the bar at the far end of the room, a
six-pointed star of Magic-enhanced light strands hanging from the ceiling in
the room's center, with more light strands radiating outward toward the walls
in a simulation of starlight.
And
overriding everything, the decorations, murals on the walls – everything –
overriding everything, the decorations, murals on the walls – everything –
That
sensation prickling at the nape of Kat's neck, that feeling of being watched by
something dark and malevolent.
sensation prickling at the nape of Kat's neck, that feeling of being watched by
something dark and malevolent.
“Invisible,”
Tevis murmured, his gaze meeting hers.
Tevis murmured, his gaze meeting hers.
Not
her imagination then. He felt it too.
her imagination then. He felt it too.
He
nodded, as though in response to her thoughts. A couple of inches taller than
Kat's own five-feet-six, hair a pale gold in color, eyes the most incredible
shade of blue Kat had ever seen, Tevis Mac Leod at first glance could pass for
a late-twenty-something Human. But then you noticed the ears, pointed as those
of a fox, that identified him as an Elf – an Aalfar. One of those beings that
Humans had long dismissed as “fairy tales” and fantasy until more than four
years ago when Portals had opened between the world of Humans and … the Other
Side … the world ruled by Magic and inhabited by all of humankind's ancient
fantasies and worst nightmares …
nodded, as though in response to her thoughts. A couple of inches taller than
Kat's own five-feet-six, hair a pale gold in color, eyes the most incredible
shade of blue Kat had ever seen, Tevis Mac Leod at first glance could pass for
a late-twenty-something Human. But then you noticed the ears, pointed as those
of a fox, that identified him as an Elf – an Aalfar. One of those beings that
Humans had long dismissed as “fairy tales” and fantasy until more than four
years ago when Portals had opened between the world of Humans and … the Other
Side … the world ruled by Magic and inhabited by all of humankind's ancient
fantasies and worst nightmares …
Tevis
had been Kat's partner on the Corpus Christi Police Department's detective
squad for nearly a year now, and more recently – her lifemate. Although they
were keeping that part secret for a while yet. The CCPD officially frowned on
its officers … “fraternizing.” A corner of Kat's mouth twitched a smile that
quickly disappeared as she re-focused her attention on the business at hand.
All the restaurant's tables were empty, all but one. She moved toward it, Tevis
close at her side.
had been Kat's partner on the Corpus Christi Police Department's detective
squad for nearly a year now, and more recently – her lifemate. Although they
were keeping that part secret for a while yet. The CCPD officially frowned on
its officers … “fraternizing.” A corner of Kat's mouth twitched a smile that
quickly disappeared as she re-focused her attention on the business at hand.
All the restaurant's tables were empty, all but one. She moved toward it, Tevis
close at her side.
The
two men standing beside the table straightened at the detectives' approach. The
third man, the one slumped over his unfinished lunch, was beyond any kind of
movement.
two men standing beside the table straightened at the detectives' approach. The
third man, the one slumped over his unfinished lunch, was beyond any kind of
movement.
“Morales.”
Corpus Christi Police Captain James Harley nodded to her, then to her partner.
“Mac Leod.” He pronounced Tevis' name “Leed” instead of the way Tevis himself
said it: “Lee-ud.” The other – living – Human at the table, Nueces County's
Deputy Coroner Roger Branson, gave Kat and her partner a curt nod. Kat had
fewer dealings with Branson than with his boss, Paul Herrera. But Paul was on
vacation this week.
Corpus Christi Police Captain James Harley nodded to her, then to her partner.
“Mac Leod.” He pronounced Tevis' name “Leed” instead of the way Tevis himself
said it: “Lee-ud.” The other – living – Human at the table, Nueces County's
Deputy Coroner Roger Branson, gave Kat and her partner a curt nod. Kat had
fewer dealings with Branson than with his boss, Paul Herrera. But Paul was on
vacation this week.
Kat
would've bet her next paycheck that Roger was wishing his and Paul's positions
were reversed.
would've bet her next paycheck that Roger was wishing his and Paul's positions
were reversed.
About the Author:
A native of Tyler, Texas, Pat Blair lived for a few years on the Texas coast, in the Rockport and Corpus Christi area, before moving to Sheridan, Wyoming, since 1986. Writing as P.L. Blair, she finished her first book in her Portals series – Shadow Path – in 2008 while still employed as a reporter at The Sheridan Press newspaper. After taking a short semi-retirement, she resumed working as a reporter for Sheridan Media, a company that boasts nine radio stations and a website, sheridanmedia.com, in 2013. Blair's writing career was briefly disrupted by a – fortunately small – heart attack in January 2016, but with medications and a change in diet, she's recovered and back on track. She shares her life with three dogs – a basset hound, dachshund/cocker mix and a “Jack Russell terror” – and a cat. All are rescues.
https://twitter.com/plblairportals
Interview with P.L. Blair
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
My books are based on the concept that there is a world separate from, but adjacent to, our own human world, where magic has always existed. The two worlds are connected by gateways – the Portals – that in ancient times stood open. The Portals at some point were forced closed, but now they're open again, and the inhabitants of the Realms of Magic again have free access to the world of humans.
My inspiration comes from our own legends and folklore, tales of elves, wizards, dragons and other creatures of our fantasies (and nightmares).
How did you do research for your book?
I've been a lifelong student, and reader, of folklore and fantasy. So the raw material for my stories is always with me. I also do a lot of online searches and reading in library books on the subjects of fantasy, folklore and mythology, plus I have a few books in my personal library on creatures of myth and folklore.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
I don't – but I do have another career in writing. I'm a reporter, currently working for Sheridan Media, which is a news outlet in Sheridan, WY, that operates 10 radio stations and a website. Also for Sheridan Media, I write stories for Sheridan Chronicles, a summer publication dealing with the history of Sheridan and Sheridan County.
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
Tough question – because there are so many places I'd love to visit. Ancient Ireland … Scotland … Independence, Mo., during the time when people were moving West to Oregon and, later, California. The Colonies during the years of the American Revolution. England at the time that Stonehenge was first being built, because I'd love to know the real story of why, and how, that place was built.
What is your next project?
I'm currently working on Doomblade, Book 7 in my Portals series. Book 6, A Plague of Leprechauns, is finished and with my publisher.
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