This scene takes place shortly before the events of Royal Decoy. There are no spoilers, but you'll probably enjoy it more if you've read Royal Decoy, because you'll know the characters.

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​             Mia set down the pencil, her fingers curling around the edges of her sketchbook. “All right. I’m ready.” She looked up from the open page that bore one word, her gaze colliding with Grayson’s.
            She was instantly captured by his intense gray eyes. They were cool in color, and she had seen them grow even colder when others were with them. Papa. Mama. Fletcher, her guard. But when Grayson looked at her, there was a warmth in those gray eyes that touched every part of her.
            He sat at the foot of her bed while she perched at the head. In the bright glow of the lanterns, she could see that the tension he’d carried when he’d entered the room was gone. After a day of enforcing King Henri’s merciless laws, Grayson was always tense. But they’d eaten dinner together, and then she had pulled out her sketchbook so she could distract him with a game.
            Grayson was winning. And judging by the half smile that pulled at his mouth, he was enjoying that fact.
            “Is it alive?” he asked. 
            “Yes.”
            “Is it a person?”
            She shook her head, brown curls brushing her shoulders. “No.”
            “Is it an animal?” he asked. 
            “Yes.”
           “Hmm . . .” He drew up a leg and draped an arm over his knee, his black gloved hand dangling. He made her bed feel small with the way he was sprawled along the base of it. One shoulder propped against the wall as he angled toward her, one leg hanging off the side of the bed.
            His black hair, a little too long, curled over his ears and brow. His skin was several shades lighter than hers, even though she was the one who hadn’t seen sunlight in years. Light scars nicked across his visible skin; his forehead, cheeks, jaw, throat. A testament to all he had survived in his seventeen years.
            She always got a little lost when she stared at him. His long nose, slightly crooked from being broken too many times, his strong and angular jaw. His cheekbones were high and prominent, his eyebrows dark and thick. And there was a small, barely-there freckle at the lower corner of his mouth that always managed to snag her attention.
            Broad shoulders bracketed a chest hard with muscle. She had never seen him without a shirt, but when they trained or she hugged him, she could feel the strength in his carefully toned body. His waist was trim, his hips narrow, and his legs so long he towered above her. Just being near him made her feel safe. He always had, even when he was a small, haunted boy. His presence calmed her. Steadied her. She could close her eyes and inhale his scent, and she immediately felt safe; leather, sunlight, and a slight spice that came from his soap.
            His sleeves were pushed up, baring strong forearms. Muscles and tendons flexed under his skin as he shifted to a more comfortable position. More scars traced faint lines over his arms. Sometimes, when they sat side by side, she would brush those marks with her fingertips. Each one hurt her.
            Staring at him right now, though, hurt was the furthest thing from her mind. Her stomach fluttered and heat filled her chest. The fates had stolen so much from her, but Grayson was a gift.
            “Mia?”
            Her eyes darted up, warmth flooding her cheeks. “Sorry, what?”
            The corner of his mouth hiked, his eyes intent on her. “Does it fly?”
            Oh. Yes. The game. Mia cleared her throat. “Yes.”
            Grayson’s throat flexed as he swallowed. “Hmm . . . Is it a falcon?”
            She blinked, and her jaw loosened. “How . . . How did you know?”
            He lifted one shoulder, and his widening smile showed a glimpse of a dimple. “Just a guess.”
            Mia stared. 
            She had known Grayson for years, but it had not taken that long to fall in love with him. It had only taken a moment. A second of meeting those cautious gray eyes. A pebble, tossed between them. A kindness she had not experienced in so long. A slow, crooked smile. She had been seven. He’d been eight. She’d fallen in love with him then, and she had been falling deeper in love with him every moment since.
            Not that she had told him. She couldn’t. 
            They were friends. Best friends. He was her light. Her strength. He taught her to fight, and she taught him to hope. She would do nothing to destroy what they had.
            Grayson was still grinning at her. "I have a confession," he said.
            Mia peeked up at him, her heart thumping hard in her chest. "What?" Fates, had he read her mind? Did he feel the same? Was he—?
            "I saw you drawing a falcon the other day. I made a guess that it might still be on your mind."
            Relief and disappointment swirled inside her. She found herself smiling, though. “You know me too well.” She passed him the book. “Your turn.”
            Grayson grabbed the book, his long gloved fingers brushing hers. He snatched up the pencil as well, deliberated a short moment, then scrawled something on the page. He tipped the book away from her, a soft smile on his face as he raised his head, locking eyes with her. “All right. Go.”
            Fates, she needed to focus. She pushed a hand through her loose curls and leaned back against the wall. “Is it a person?”
            “No.”
            “An animal?”
            “No.”
            Her brow wrinkled. “Is it a place?”
            “No.”
            “Is it alive?”
            “Yes.”
            She frowned, considering. “Is it an insect?”
            “No.”
            She stared at him. “I don’t know what to ask next.”
            “Do you concede?”
            She rolled her eyes. “Of course not, give me a moment . . .”
            Grayson’s eyes flashed with humor and he bit his lower lip to reign in his smile. It tugged at his freckle and something low in her belly knotted.
            She closed her eyes, forced herself to focus. Think . . . Alive, but not an animal, person, or insect . . . Her eyes snapped open. “Is it a plant?”
            He dipped his chin. “Yes.”
            “A flower?”
            “No.”
            “A tree?”
            “No. And I hate to point out the fact that you only have two questions remaining.”
            “If you hate it so much, don’t look so smug.”
            He only grinned.
            She tapped a finger off her chin. “Is it poisonous?”
            He considered that. “It can be, I suppose.”
            She shook her head slowly. “Fates, I hate this game . . . Why do I always agree to play this with you?”
            He lifted a dark eyebrow. “Is that your final question?”
            “No.” She sighed. “Is it a reed?”
            He frowned. “Are reeds poisonous?”
            “Maybe some of them are,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
            The corner of his mouth lifted. “I suppose you could be right. But in this case, you’re not.”
            She blew out her breath. “Fine. What was it?”
            “Sorry, you’re out of questions.” He snapped the book closed. 
            “Grayson!”
            He shrugged. “I don’t make the rules.”
            “Those aren’t the rules at all.” She grabbed for the book, but he held it over his head, grinning.
            She snatched his wrist and tugged, unable to stop the huffing laugh that escaped her. “Seriously, Grayson, what was it?”
            “Do you really want to know?”
            “Yes!”
            “Hmm…”
            Impatience won out. Her fingers attacked his side and he gasped and doubled over, laughing as she tickled him.
            The book lowered, and she snagged it. Flipping open to the page, she stared at what he’d written. “A leaf?”
            “What’s wrong with a leaf?”
            She tossed the book at him, and he snatched it from the air with one hand. His grin stretched wider. “Want to play again?”
            “Absolutely not. I think it’s time for a game of Assassins.”
            He groaned. “You’ll win.”
            “And I’ll relish every moment.”
            He chuckled, and the sound was so deep it reached all the way to her toes. “Fair enough.”

You can already tell by the blurb that Armentrout has a great writing style and that Katy, our main character, has a fun voice. Katy is obsessed with books, so we became friends almost instantly. Plus she is smart, real, and a heroine you root for. Plus she's dealing with a lot, including the loss of her dad, and that just pulls at me.

I have never read about an alien quite like Daemon Black. I LOVE HIM! Snarky, sarcastic, fiercely protective of those he loves, super powerful, attractive . . . Ok, he can be a jerk sometimes, but he has lots of layers :)

The world Armentrout has created in her Lux series sucks you in and doesn't let go. Each book in the series is better than the last, and the last couple books are sure to blow your mind. If you are looking for action, humor, romance, twists, and a wholly unique world, you need to grab this book!

​Even better news? The Lux world doesn't end after the Lux series. Because then you get to read the Origin series! That starts with The Darkest Star . . .but that's a post for another day :D Suffice it to say, I am DYING for book three in the Origin series. It comes out this October. And I need it. Why aren't you here yet, October?

​At least I have a lot of Lux and Origin books I can re-read until then!

As always, I like to let readers know a little about the content of the book I've just raved about so you can choose books that fit you best. Content in Obsidian includes kissing, some innuendo, suspense, and some language.

Let me know in the comments if you have read Obsidian, or if you've added it to your list :)

Happy reading!

​Bennick was in a late night meeting with the Winsel’s guards, so Wilf escorted Clare and Vera to the spare room that had been overrun with gifts. The Winsels said they’d begun arriving a week ago, offerings from nobles eager to send their congratulations on the upcoming marriage and alliance. 

Ivonne sat at a desk, apparently jotting down notes about a necklace that sat beside her. She spotted Vera and groaned, dropping the quill at once. “Thank the fates you’re back, my hand is cramped.”

  Vera moved to the desk, easily taking over the inventory while Ivonne shook out her fingers.

Clare scanned the room, marveling at all the paintings, boxes, bolts of fabric, and endless jewelry. “How are there so many?” Clare asked. 

  Ivonne snorted as she lifted a thin, narrow box. “Because there are too many nobles trying to outdo each other.”

  “And sometimes themselves,” Venn added. His arm was no longer in a sling, though he still moved gingerly. “I’ve found three gifts alone from Lady Finn. Apparently, each subsequent one was ‘better’.” 

  “How did you end up here?” Clare asked.

  He sighed. “Just eternally lucky, I suppose.”

  “Bennick won’t put him on rotation quite yet, so he might as well be useful,” Ivonne told Clare.

  Venn’s face broke into a smile. “You think I’m useful?”

  Ivonne just rolled her eyes.

  Clare approached the pile in the middle of the floor, spotting a stack of what must be rare books, and a trunk that was so decorated with gold, she thought it looked like a pirate’s chest. “I still don’t understand why people would send so much.”

  “It’s a royal wedding,” Ivonne said. “But more than that, I think people are worried they might be seen as unsupportive if they don’t give something truly magnificent.” She spoke over her shoulder to Vera. “Another gold necklace, this one with small rubies, from Lord and Lady Bent.”

  Vera noted it.

  “Sometimes there are amusing gifts,” Venn said. “That helps drive away the monotony.”

  Clare reached for a framed painting and found the attached card. “A painting from Lord Tripp. It appears to be a portrait of himself.” She double checked the card. “Done by himself.”

  Venn choked out a laugh, dropping the box he’d just lifted. “Let me see!”

  Everyone crowded around the less-than-masterfully-done painting, and even Wilf grunted in amusement. 

  Vera finally set it aside and made a note in the inventory. “That will definitely go to Iden.”

  “Can we please include a note that states it should be hung in the entrance hall?” Venn begged. “Please?”

  Clare returned to the pile and Wilf moved to the far corner of the room to sort through some cards that had been separated from their packages.

Ivonne found the next strange yet hilarious gift—a beloved dog’s ashes. “To sprinkle in the ocean and know that a beloved soul of Devendra is with you,” Ivonne read from the card, her eyes wide in disbelief. “Why? Why would anyone think their dog’s ashes would make a good wedding gift?”

  “Nobles are insane,” Venn said. “Haven’t you noticed?”

Venn: I’m very excited about this. Thanks for taking the time to sit down with us, Heather!

Heather: You’re welcome! I’m actually looking forward to this as well. I've never done anything like this before with my characters.

Venn: We’ll each ask you one question. I’ll go first. Why do you enjoy torturing your characters so much?

Heather: Oh. Wow. Well . . . I mean, I wouldn’t say I enjoy it. I really just write down the story as I discover it. And, you know, conflict sort of drives a story, and it gives depth and purpose to characters and their backstory.

Venn: No need to get defensive, I just wanted to start this session with a deep question. Clare, would you like to go next?

Clare: Yes, thank you. Heather, how did you come up with the idea of writing about a decoy?

Heather: I wanted to write a story with royals, but I wanted a unique perspective. So I thought, “Why not a decoy? And why not have the decoy be forced into it?” Sorry about that, Clare.

Serene: What qualifies you to write about royalty?

Heather: Aside from reading a lot of books and having a vast imagination? Absolutely nothing. Your Highness. *Belated Curtsy*

Venn: I have another question. Can I ask another?

Heather: Uh, sure. You're the moderator.

Venn: I am, aren't I? Who would you choose for a roommate: The Poison Queen, King Henri, or Prince Peter?

Heather: Hilarious, Venn. Well, let’s see . . . Queen Iris gives me the absolute creeps, and she’d poison me. So, no. Henri is pure evil, but so is Peter, and in the end, I feel like Henri is less volatile, so . . . If I had to choose one of them, I’d probably choose Henri. But I would be looking for new lodgings immediately.

Grayson: I think that would be wise.

Bennick: Can I go now, Venn?

Venn: Oh, by all means.

Bennick: Heather, what is--

Heather: Could you actually say that again? I’ve never heard you say my name, and I kind of love it.

Bennick: Um, sure. Heather, what is your favorite type of scene to write?

Heather: That’s a hard one! I enjoy any scene with dialogue. Especially witty banter. But I also love the romantic tension scenes; the fingers brushing, the deep looks, the easing in for a kiss . . . *sigh* Where was I? Oh! I also love writing the AH-HA moments. The scene in which the twist unfolds, and all the foreshadowing clicks into place. Those are super fun.

Mia: As you know, I’m quite artistic. I was just wondering if you are artistic as well?

Heather: I wish! But no. My creative talents lie in writing. Even my doodles are pretty sad looking. You and I both enjoy reading, though, so we have that in common!

Venn: I’ve got another question!

Bennick: Really, Venn?

Venn: *Grins* Heather, who would you pick for your bodyguard?

Heather: Hmm, that’s actually a great question. I think you all have different merits, but if I could only choose one--

Venn: You can’t pick Grayson. He’s a prince, not a bodyguard.

Heather: I was totally going to say Grayson.

Venn: I know. I could see it in your eyes.

Heather: Fine. If not Grayson, then I would pick Bennick.

Venn: But . . . why not me?

Bennick: Venn. Stop.

Venn: Fine. Grayson, do you have a question for Heather?

Grayson: Yes. How do you come up with all your character names? There are far too many people in your head . . .

Heather: I actually love naming characters. Sometimes a name just falls into place (like yours, Grayson) and sometimes I have a sense of the letter that name should start with, or a basic sound, and I start exploring names from there. (That’s what happened with you, Clare.) If I can’t find a name I like, I make one up (Bennick, I’m looking at you). And sometimes I try to take into account the meaning of the name. (Serene, your name is rather ironic, don’t you think?)

Venn: All right, Serjah Desfan.

Serene: Wait, he’s here? Where? I still haven’t met him, and I’m supposed to marry him.

Venn: We’re keeping you separated, to keep the storyline from becoming muddied.

Serene: Oh. That makes sense.

Desfan: My question is simple . . . Why wasn’t I in book one? I could have totally been in book one.

Heather: Actually, in earlier drafts, you were in book one. But the book was too long, and I felt it would be better to delay your entrance into the story. That way, readers could speculate about you and you could make a grand appearance.

Desfan: I suppose that makes sense. Thank you.

Venn: Well, I think that’s everyone. Oh, wait. Wilf! You've been so quiet, I forgot you were here.

Wilf: . . . You said Bennick mandated this.

Venn: I said I asked him to mandate this. 

Wilf: . . .

Venn: So. Wilf. Do you have a question for Heather?

Wilf: How many fates-blasted books will there be in this series?

Heather: Six.

Wilf: . . . Wonderful.

Venn: Well, I think that's everyone. Except I do have one last question.

Heather: I'm really not surprised by that.

Venn: If you could live in any of the four kingdoms, which would you choose?

Heather: Hmm…. I love the mountains in Ryden, but I love the culture in Mortise. And they don't have a creepy ruling family. No offense, Grayson.

Grayson: Absolutely none taken. 

Heather: Final answer for now: Mortise.

Venn: Thank you again for joining us, Heather!

Heather: It really was my pleasure. Thank you all, and see you in Royal Spy!

​Note: This interview was originally hosted by "Books Read By Tracy" as part of the Royal Spy Blog Tour.

- What is your full name?
     Clare Ellington

- What was it like to have to take care of your brothers by yourself from such a young age?
     It was difficult at times. My childhood ended when my parents died, and I had to raise Thomas and Mark. I had Eliot, my older brother, help, until he was old enough to join the city guard. It was a lot of work, and there were days I was just so tired. But taking care of my brothers was also very rewarding. I love them with my whole heart.
 
- What is your life motto? 
     Focus on what you can control. Sometimes that might not be much. It might only be your attitude. But if you focus your energy on what you can do, you will feel less overwhelmed and less helpless.

- Who do you love the most in the world? 
     My family. That includes my brothers, and also the family I’ve made more recently: Bennick, Vera, Venn, and the other guards.

- On a scale of 1 - 10 how much did you freak out when you first kissed Bennick ? ;)
     Definitely a 10! It was a complete shock. One moment, we were arguing, and I was feeling so many emotions. And then he grabbed me and we were kissing. It felt like my heart would pound out of my chest. It was exhilarating, beautiful, and perfect.

- What is it like to have guards around you all the time?  
     It was very strange at first, and a bit uncomfortable to always have people around me. In the beginning, it really felt like they were watching me—almost more like prison guards, as opposed to bodyguards. But as I spent time with them, I came to see them as friends. Sometimes I do long for a moment alone, though.

- What is your favorite hobby when you don't have to do duties?
     I’ve always enjoyed cooking, especially for my brothers. I miss doing that. I also love to sew, and seeing all of Serene’s dresses inspire me to make my own designs. 

- If you like reading, what is your favorite book? 
     As a kitchen maid, I didn’t have much time for reading, or great access to books. When I started training as Serene’s decoy, I mostly read histories and anything else my tutor told me to read. I love learning about other kingdoms, so my favorite book so far is probably one I read about Zennor’s jungles. The people who live there, the animals--it’s all so fascinating! . . . Of course, I also found a romantic novel in the library, and I’ve read it a couple of times now J

- What makes you happy?
     A day spent with friends and family. That is when I’m happiest.

- What stresses you out the most and how do you deal with it?
     What a great question! I feel a lot of stress when there is a last-minute change in plans, especially when I’m acting as the decoy. But I try to take a deep breath and remind myself that I can handle this. That I’ve trained for this. It really goes back to my motto: focus on what you can control.

- What is your greatest fear? 
     My greatest fear is losing the people I love. My brothers. Bennick. Losing them scares me more than anything that could happen to me personally.

- What is your biggest dream? 
     My biggest dream is to live away from all the politics and danger that surround me, and to have my brothers with me. And Bennick, of course.

- What is your favorite flower?
     I love daisies.

- Who is the person you despise the most? 
     I think I would have to say King Newlan. I hate that he put me into this position, forced me to become the decoy. I may have found some good things, met some people who have changed my life, but I can’t forget how he blackmailed me into this. I also hate the kind of ruler he is.

The world of Eyrinthia is a fun place for me to hang out, and I hope readers enjoy it, too! For this guest post, I thought I would share 5 fun facts about the series.

1. Once upon a time, Royal Decoy was a MUCH longer book. It basically combined Royal Decoy AND Royal Spy. It was far too long to publish, so I had to make some changes, and that was an interesting process, as I had to rethink story arcs and character development for two books. But I’m very pleased with how things turned out!

2. Grayson was a character I didn’t plan on. When I started writing Royal Decoy, the storyline was all about Clare. I still get chills when I remember the moment I started a new chapter...and I was not in Clare’s head. I had NO idea why I was suddenly standing in a corridor in a castle in Ryden, the enemy kingdom, but I went with my gut and wrote from the POV of a dark-haired teenage prince. I had no idea what I was about to discover, and I’m SO grateful that Grayson stepped up and let me tell his story. I later went back and integrated him into the story with some earlier chapters, but that first chapter I wrote from his POV is still in Royal Decoy. (It’s Chapter 10, if you want to check it out ;)

3. Fletcher, Mia’s guard, got his name from my own family tree! Fletcher comes from my maternal great-grandparents, who I actually had the great blessing to know. Adding their name into my story was a way to pay homage to them.

4. In Royal Spy, you’ll meet a character named Yahri. She is an old Mortisian noblewoman--but she wasn’t always! When I wrote the first draft, she was actually a middle-aged man. I made the change because it felt like the right thing to do, and I LOVE the result! It makes Yahri a much more interesting character.

5. Mortise is a fun mix of cultures. I took inspiration from middle eastern countries and India, and it has become my favorite kingdom to spend time in! I’m so excited for readers to see it . . . and for everyone to meet Desfan, the reluctant serjah and current regent to the throne. (He also stars on the cover of Royal Spy.) Let’s just say, I am VERY excited for you all to meet him!