By Isabo.Kelly On Oct 25 2009, 1:00 pm

Yes that’s right, THE PROMISE OF KIERNA’RHOAN has been in and out of print for more than 10 years now, but this is the first time it’s appeared in paperback and I’m just thrilled. Especially since Samhain gave me such a lovely cover—it looks gorgeous in a bookstore The book has been updated and added to for this version, and I’m really pleased with the outcome. I hope readers are too!

Below is a little excerpt. This starts where the excerpt on the book’s Samhain page (http://samhainpublishing.com/excerpt/the-promise-of-kiernarhoan) leaves off (with a little cross over). Here you’ll get to meet Kira Farseaker’s ex-husband (he’s the bad guy). Enjoy!

THE PROMISE OF KIERNA’RHOAN
Copyright © 2008 Isabo Kelly
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication

Kira snorted and met his gaze. “It doesn’t matter whether I know you or not. You work for Ennoren.”

A movement to her left caught her attention, and she turned away from David’s narrowed eyes. She reached down for the cigarette without taking her eyes off the man walking toward the van. When she’d taken another drag, she said, “Your boss is on his way over. Better let me finish this.”

David slid out of the van, unhooked a thin, foot-long cylindrical device from his belt and began running it over the interior of the van without another word. Her gaze flicked to the device, then back to the approaching commander. The steady beep of the detector echoed in Kira’s pulse as she watched Ennoren step up to her open window.

He was tall and thin, with a face Kira had once found interesting, if not attractive. All lines and angles, sharp nose, hard mouth, heavy-lidded blue eyes; his face was imposing, commanding and often intimidating. But Kira had long since stopped being intimidated by Ennoren.

He looked at the cigarette in her hand, then into her eyes. “I thought you didn’t smoke.”

She set the cigarette against her lips, inhaled deeply and blew smoke in his face. “I don’t.”

He waved the smoke away, a sneer forming in place of a smile. For a long moment he studied her, his gaze running over her faded, ripped jeans and cotton flannel shirt. Then he turned to study her van, pointedly staring at the cracked dash, battered steering wheel and worn imitation leather upholstery. “New van?”

Kira nodded.

“I didn’t think you’d be into this late twentieth-century Earth fad.” He frowned. “But then, you always were a fashionable socialite, weren’t you? And since you have the money to afford this mock-up of an Earth car…” He let the sentence trail off as he held her gaze. “You’re looking good, Kira.”

She returned his stare, taking another pull on the cigarette so she didn’t have to answer.

When she remained silent, Ennoren shifted his attention to David. “Find anything, Officer Cario?”

David snapped to attention. “No, sir. Appears clean.”

“Well,” Ennoren said, turning a contemptuous glare on Kira, “appearances can lie.”

“Was that a dig, Eain?” Kira kept her tone mild, even as she used his first name in front of another Guard—something she did only to annoy him. His mother had been a poet and fond of alliteration. Ennoren went out of his way to keep his full name, Eain Edward Evander Ennoren, from his subordinates.

He covered his indignation well, but the slight narrowing of his eyes and the flare of his nostrils gave him away. “Take from it what you will.” He paused, studying her again. When he spoke, his voice was low. “The ring will collapse out from under you, Kira. It won’t be long now. Do you know what will happen to you when you’re found guilty of treason and conspiracy to commit treason against the planetary government?”

“They’ll throw me into a hole?”

“They’ll throw you into space without a suit,” he hissed. Dropping his voice again, he leaned into the car, putting his face only inches from hers. “End this now, Kira. End it. Tell me where they hide. I’ll make sure you get off with a light sentence.” A slight smile curled his lips. “I might even arrange to serve as your paroler. Just like old times, eh?”

Kira turned her head to take one final puff off the cigarette, giving herself time to gain control over both her revulsion and her anger, before confronting his leer. “There’s a reason those times are old, Eain. I wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble of divorcing you if I’d wanted to end up right back under your thumb. Besides—” she half-smiled, half-snarled at him, “—how would I know where they hide?”

She watched with satisfaction as his leer transformed into a lip-trembling scowl. Flicking the cigarette past his shoulder, she turned back to David. He was standing at attention, a silent, emotionless witness to the scene. “Forgive my ex. He seems to think I’m some sort of underground anti-government terrorist leader.”

David raised an eyebrow. “Are you?”

She smiled. Then she laughed.

The side door to the van opened and her friends climbed up to the padded bench along the side of the van. Kira kept her gaze on David, enjoying the twinkle of amusement in his eyes that didn’t filter into any other part of his expression. When the side door slammed into place, she leaned across the passenger seat and pulled that door shut.

“It really is too bad we didn’t meet under different circumstances, officer,” she said when David leaned into the open window.

His crooked grin made his scar jump. His knowing stare set her pulse dancing. She chuckled and moved back behind the wheel. Without another glance at her ex-husband, she put the van into gear and returned to the line of traffic hurrying away from the blockade.

David watched her go, feeling like he’d been kicked in the gut and strangely liking the sensation. Kira was interesting. Beautiful, yes. Enough so that his pulse sped just remembering her golden brown eyes and the sound of her sultry chuckle. But there was something else about her, under that smile and sharp attitude, that he wanted to get to know better. Something that was almost familiar.

He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had caught his attention, or his lust, this way. He wasn’t even sure if another woman had before, and that was pretty damned terrifying. But anyone who could make Commander Ennoren lose control was worth getting to know. Whether she scared David or not, Ennoren’s ex-wife could prove to be quite valuable.

His heart stopped for a single beat when the commander cleared his throat from right beside him. Out of the corner of his eye, David saw Ennoren staring after the rapidly retreating van too.

“Don’t let her pretty face fool you, Officer Cario,” Ennoren said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “She’s not as sweet as she appears. A viper lives beneath that silky skin.”

Knowing it best to keep his opinions to himself, David studied his commander’s profile. His nostrils flared, but other than that, his sharp features were now composed and emotionless. Before David could look away, Ennoren turned, catching and holding his gaze.

“You don’t believe me?”

“I have no opinion on the matter, Commander.”

Ennoren smiled. “Yes, you do.”

He cocked his head to one side, watching David with a sharp, perceptive gaze. The stare was disconcerting, but David had hidden from it before.

“Doesn’t matter,” the commander finally said. “Because I think I can use this situation to our benefit.” He turned toward the temporary command post. “In my office, Cario,” Ennoren ordered. “We’ve got a few things to discuss.”

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