Eileen Lepetit

CHAPTER 5 We manage to make it through dinner without anyone embarrassing me in front of Lucas either by telling him ridiculous stories about my antics or staring at him suspiciously looking for an aura. Graham and his posh British manners keep up most of the conversation - until Miranda decides it’s time for him to pay attention to her. He bids us good night and the two of them head off, followed closely by Nana who says she’s tired. She winks at me on the way to her room, though, so I assume that’s supposed to mean she wants me to interrogate Lucas and get to the bottom of this no aura thing. I would love to do just that, but I’ve only been paying half attention to what everyone is talking about. I’m a lot more interested in figuring out who this charming monster was in the shop, what he was talking about, and when he’s going to pop out of a corner again. Everytime I think about the feelings he conjured up, the way his aura wrapped me in a cloak of darkness, my heart starts poundin...

CHAPTER 4 It’s near closing time at the shop and the place is mostly deserted. I park Lucas at the counter and pull him my favorite, a Black Magic. “It’s not real black magic,” I explain when he raises an eyebrow. I leave off the part where I admit I am perfectly capable of filling it full to the brim with such magic. “It’s a double shot of espresso with sweetened condensed milk. The caffeine and sugar rush are enough to make your head spin, so eat this,” I push an orange-cranberry scone at him. “And now, I’m off to face my family.” I back away toward the kitchen door. “If you hear screaming, just turn up the music.” Nana and Miranda and Hector are going over some inventory on my aunt’s iPad. “How did it go? You return the wallet?” Miranda asks. “Yup.” “I’m sure he appreciated it.” Nana is smiling at me but I can feel that she knows I have more to say. “And then what?” “What, what?” I ask, stalling. Miranda looks up from the screen. “Jesus; what have you done now?” I fold my arms acros...

CHAPTER 2 Which is impossible. I blink hard once, twice, shake out my hands and reassess. Maybe whatever - whoever - that just was, knocked me off my game. Still. I’ve never actually had to try to picture someone’s aura before; it just happens, pops up like the person is waving a sign shouting their feelings. I focus, concentrate, actually frown at the guy. Nothing. He is completely blank. And I do not like it. Guy Without an Aura reaches into his pocket for something and I jump back. His eyebrows go up and his pulls out a crumpled sheet of pink paper. “I need to pick this up.” He slowly raises the paper so I can take it, holding it out like I’m a rabid animal. “This?” I don’t move. He shakes the paper at me just the slightest bit. “Cupcakes? It’s for my sister’s birthday.” “Right. Cupcakes. We make cupcakes.” I check behind him one more time but whatever was out there is gone and this guy, without an aura, doesn’t seem capable of having produced that level of emotion. I take a minute...

So it begins... Blood Aura, Chapter One for you! CHAPTER 1 Against my better judgment, I hand the plate across the counter. Nick, my oldest and closest friend, grips it with both hands. His deep brown eyes blink a thousand unspoken thanks before he turns and heads back to his table where Antonio, the guy he thinks he can’t live without, sits staring out at the snow beyond the shop window. I should probably show some discretion and look away, but someone needs to protect my overly emotional friend. Nick slides back into his seat and pushes the plate across the table, the almost fluorescent pink frosting on the cupcake practically glowing. He starts bouncing his knee up and down beneath the table, a sheen of sweat breaking out across his forehead. I don’t need that to tell me how Nick feels, of course, not with his aura screaming his emotions loud and clear to anyone who can read it. A bright pink cloud of deep affection shimmers around his entire body. It’s mingled with a streak o...

Hi all! If you follow me over on Twitter, you know that my hobbies are generally reading, writing, baking, taking pictures of my dog, and dispensing old lady advice. I'm a wife of 35 years to my French husband, a mom of two amazing kids, a middle school ELA teacher and school administrator, and a volunteer EMT (please note: I love blood). I also recently finished writing my second YA book, an urban fantasy set in Astoria, NY - part of Queens. I would really like to get this second book published, have it turn into a blockbuster series - maybe with a movie deal - and retire to write on our upstate NY property, but for now, I figured I might share it with you in the hopes that we will all get a little enjoyment from it. I will get back to trying to find a literary agent when we are all done quarantining and hoarding flour and toilet paper. In real life, I am pretty conservative - super well behaved and, as some people have said, wholesome. My character is none of these things. ...