He blinked rapidly, but quickly recovered. Sanjay was many things, but shy was not one of them. Why, again, had she thought bringing him up here was a good idea? A lock from his artfully disheveled black hair swept across his forehead, causing Tempest’s stomach to do a little flip-flop.ĭamn. “In spite of your attempt to kill me,” Sanjay said, “I’m glad we have this time to ourselves.” He took a step toward her. No matter how dire the immediate circumstances, how much heartbreak and destruction surrounded her, and how frustrating it was to have moved back home into her childhood bedroom after losing her own house, the sight of her very own magical secret staircases appearing before her eyes never failed to lift her spirits. After moving back into her childhood bedroom last summer after her world had collapsed, it was a welcome retreat.
In reality, the turret hid a cozy spot for Tempest to think while unencumbered by the world below. She also didn’t want to admit to herself the not insubstantial grain of truth in his assumption.įrom the yard, the turret looked like an ornamental spire on a quirky house built by Secret Staircase Construction as an experiment, as Tempest’s parents tried out their ideas on themselves before bringing their unique brand of renovation to the homes of other people. Rice and sugar were much better antidotes to spice-induced suffering than water. “Is that what you think of me?” She couldn’t tell if his shrug of a reply was directed at her or was an expression of his relief. “I thought you didn’t want me to have Ash’s donuts so you could have them all to yourself.” He scooped a heaping spoonful of the rice pudding into his mouth and gave a contented sigh. Sanjay’s face was bright red when she reached him, out of breath. Not pausing to make sure she’d closed the fridge door behind her, she lifted the wing of the dragon sconce in the hallway and the hidden door slid open once more. Three seconds later she reached the kitchen, where she found sweet coconut-milk rice pudding in the fridge. Once she reached the second and proper secret staircase, lights clicked on every few steps as she passed hidden sensors. Instead, with her hands on the smooth larch wood handrails, she was nearly flying as she skidded downward. If Tempest hadn’t climbed those steps thousands of times, she would have carefully backed out. It was crude and narrow, with steps more like a slanted ladder than real stairs. “Back in a sec.” Tempest ran down the first of her two secret staircases.
COVER DESK EDGE TO KEEP FROM RUBBING OFF FINISH HOW TO
He didn’t cough- he’d been a stage performer long enough to know how to suppress a cough-yet his hands flew to his neck and he gasped for air.
she was curious by nature, much to her detriment. “I warned you.” Tempest looked away, shifting her gaze to the window slit of the secret tower. Then, had the audacity to smile as he moved his hand closer to his lips. For three seconds, he didn’t move at all. Her companion didn’t drop the item he held tightly. High in her hidden turret, concealed by oak trees on the steep hillside and disguised by its improbability on top of a supposedly normal house, the conversation was not going the direction Tempest had hoped. Scroll to view an exclusive reveal of the new book's cover. The following is an exclusive excerpt from The Raven Thief, by Gigi Pandian, the second book to feature her magician heroine Tempest, who has left the stage to work for her family business, Secret Staircase Constructions.