Brazenly Daray #22
Summary:For one sentinel, tradition is everything until he meets a pointy-eared photographer who is no elf.
Teverild is a man who refuses to allow anyone to call him an elf, despite his pointy ears. Having left his tribe behind centuries ago, Teverild is now a successful photographer. Although his phone contains the numbers of powerful people within the Council of Sorcery and Shifters, and they endeavor to include him in family and other important events, he rebuffs friendship. The concept of mates eludes him, and he doesn’t want that connection either.
As a sentinel, Skeleton Lord Cassius Daray strives for perfection. His purpose is to aid his people, and he works diligently to further the goals of the Sentinel Brotherhood. At home, Cassius enjoys being with his family and throws himself into his hobbies, but there is something missing. What Cassius wants most is to find a mate.
With a penchant for trouble, Teverild winds up on the wrong side of the law. His penance is to teach a group of sentinels the basics of his craft. Teverild wants to get the class over with, but his life changes forever when he meets Cassius. Drawn together immediately, they must overcome their ghosts if they want to forge a future and build a love that will sustain them both.
Triple Affinity #23
Summary:With the odds stacked against them, can three men find love?
Joining the Council of Sorcery and Shifters was a simple decision for the ruler of the brown bears. Two centuries later, Artair Ursus Arctos is a successful leader with a loving family, and the only thing he wants is his mate. Artair is fascinated by magic and secretly hopes to find forever with a sorcerer.
As a child, Lochlan Airle had privilege and wealth but lacked any control. He walked away from his prominent family at eighteen, only to get fired from countless jobs. Behind the scenes, his mother uses all her connections to break his spirit, but she will not deter him. After finally landing a job at the Circle of Mages, a matebond is the last thing on his mind.
Twenty-six-year-old Riker McKenna has a hard-earned doctorate and enough magic to guarantee immortality. Although his brother’s decision to stay with their wastrel parents broke his heart, Riker is determined to make the most of everything. When he qualifies for employment at the Circle of Mages, he does not know it will lead him to his mates.
Within a week, the three men meet and must confront the poor odds of triple matebonds in the Council. To reach the affinity they desire, they will have to rapidly adjust to each other and all the surprises life has in store.
Summary:
Defining a legacy is never easy.
Beta Donnell Ursus Arctos devotes his life to protecting his leader and defending every bear in his clan. Some call him overprotective, but Donnell prioritizes safety. When he’s not working, Donnell has simple hobbies that others consider boring. Although Donnell is surrounded by family, wealth, and prestige, the bear shifter pines for Fate to pair him with the other half of his soul.
For Joshua Brenton, little is going right. On the same day, Josh loses his job and his run-down apartment. But there is a bright light on the horizon—the annual retreat for mages. As an aqua mage, Josh has been disrespected since birth, but Fate has recently selected new leaders. After sweeping changes are made, Josh is randomly selected to prove his worth in the newly instituted mage testing.
Josh is stunned when he meets the mage rulers and is invited to their home. Upon ringing the doorbell to the mansion, Josh meets Donnell, and they discover that they are mates. Although the pair are instantly drawn to each other, Josh learns he is more than a mage and must unravel a past he’d prefer to forget. It will be up to Josh and Donnell to chart a future while dealing with the surprises they encounter along the way.
For one vampire, finding his mate is far easier than convincing him Fate is real.
A shrewd business owner, Vampyr Lord Nikolai Volkov has one of the most powerful companies on the planet. Besides success, Nikolai has a loving family that leads the vampires, but he aches to find his mate. Although Nikolai is proud to be a vampire, he begs Fate to bring him someone to adore—someone who can quench his need for blood. Nikolai believes his other half will be a human, and he’ll stop at nothing to find him.
James Chase swore off love, marriage, and any romantic entanglements at twenty-two when he discovered his boyfriend cheating on him. His father tried to dictate his future, so James left him behind too. Over a decade later, James is a hard-working and successful man who allows no one to impact his feelings. Like every human he knows, James prefers to ignore the Council of Sorcery and Shifters.
At a party James attends to satisfy his sister, he meets a vampire who insists they are mates. James knows little and cares nothing about the people in the Council. Despite Nikolai’s best efforts, James refuses to be swept off his feet. Torn between their two vastly different worlds, Nikolai must convince James that Fate is real if they are to honor her. But first, the vampire will need to persuade the other half of his soul to give their relationship a chance.
Brazenly Daray #22
“Hi, again,” Teverild offered.
“Your class was wonderful; I learned a lot,” Cassius remarked as everyone teleported away.
“Thanks, I don’t even know half of what I said,” Teverild confessed, again surprising himself with his candidness.
“I’m so glad we finally met and that you’re my mate. Did you want to come and meet my family now?”
Teverild didn’t want to disappoint the smiling man in front of him, but his entire being recoiled at the word family. It was nothing personal against Cassius—in fact, Teverild already knew at least one member of his family. Arch Lich Chander Daray had saved Teverild by allowing him to join the Council, and he and Drystan had offered help in countless ways.
It was their attention that had inspired him to ink his skin with images of skulls that most people found macabre. To Teverild, they represented second chances, and he wondered, as he stared into the hopeful face of a man who had once been a skeleton, if Fate had kept him fascinated by such images because of Cassius. While that might’ve been a hopeful or fanciful thought, Teverild was too deeply rooted in grim reality to let it flourish.
“I can’t. I have an appointment to keep,” Teverild lied. Cassius’s crestfallen expression caused words to continue to sputter out. “Some other time maybe.”
“Are you free tomorrow?”
“I’d have to check my calendar,” said Teverild, sneaking in a step toward the door.
“I guess you must be really busy.”
“I prefer to be.”
Cassius’s grinned, making Teverild want to melt at his giant boots. “Which makes it that much more awesome that we finally met. I could kick myself for not going to Elf’s first shift now. We could’ve been together for years.”
“That was a spectacular day.”
“You took really great photos of Elf.”
“Thanks,” Teverild responded, edging closer to the hallway.
“Where are you going?”
Teverild blinked heavily. “I told you. I have an appointment.”
“I mean, do you have a car or are you using Dérive? I could walk you to the parking garage or to the teleporting station.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“You didn’t answer my question, and I want to,” Cassius argued.
His mind filling with images of being stalked by a cloaked assassin, Teverild wondered how in the world he was supposed to get out of this mess he’d stumbled into. “I can walk on my own. It’s no big deal.”
The big shoulders slumped again, and Teverild acknowledged that he was already learning how easy it was to disappoint his mate.
“Okay, if that’s what you want, then I won’t keep pestering you. Can I text you later?”
“Sure…if you want.”
“Can I ask you one last question before you go?”
Teverild had a hand on the door, and he was somehow unsurprised that his attempt at an easy escape hadn’t succeeded. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Are you interested in trying to be mates, or would you prefer it if I didn’t bother you again?”
Triple Affinity #23
“Well, gentlemen, what did you have in mind to while away the hours of our Friday night?” Riker asked, stacking his hands behind his head.
“I didn’t realize this was such a formal occasion. Should I change into fancier clothes?” Lochlan teased.
“You’re already wearing too much, Gorgeous,” Artair responded.
A blush swept over his skin, and Artair’s blood flowed south. Lochlan’s shyness beckoned him with the same strength as Riker’s blunt sexiness.
“Damn, but you look good,” Riker said. “I bet you get flushed like that when you come.”
Instead of being embarrassed, Lochlan grinned. “I don’t have a mirror around when that happens.”
“Pity,” Artair remarked.
“You’re an aqua mage, manipulate your element so there’s a curtain of water that reflects,” Riker suggested.
“Perhaps he’s a little too busy to worry about magic,” Artair said. “Or his partners in the past have objected.”
“I haven’t had any partners in the past,” Lochlan muttered.
“Perhaps partner isn’t a good word,” Artair remarked. “It suggests a level of intimacy that doesn’t exist between two people getting together to fuck.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever referred to the guys in my past as partners,” Riker commented.
“I’ve never had sex before,” Lochlan blurted out.
Riker sat up straight. “You haven’t?”
“No. It’s a rather long story, but I tried once. I couldn’t find any takers,” Lochlan explained.
Lochlan’s gaze hit the bed, and he shrugged. “Perhaps as my mate you see me in a way others don’t.”
“While I disagree with the notion that it’s something to do with our matebond that makes us attracted to you, the important part of this discussion is for you to understand that we do want you and we think you’re gorgeous,” Artair explained.
“I don’t really care what anyone besides you two thinks, anyway. I find you both attractive too.”
“Have you kissed anyone?” Riker asked.
With a shake of his head, Lochlan continued to stare at his lap. “No.”
“Do you want to?” Artair asked.
The aqua mage’s eyes met Artair’s, and there was no mistaking the need in the pale depths. “I’d like that very much.”
“Artair, you should kiss him first,” Riker ordered.
“Why?”
“You met him first.”
“It’s not that easy. It’s Lochlan’s first kiss ever. Not only is it important to him personally, but to us as a trio. We need to move forward making sure no one is slighted or left out,” Artair said. “This warrants discussion.”
“I’ll kiss him right after you do…unless we should kiss second.”
“I told you it was complicated.”
“It’s not,” Lochlan replied. “We can share a simple kiss three-ways. I want my first kiss to be with both of you.”
“Clearly, he’s the brains and beauty in this relationship,” Riker crowed.
Artair grinned in full agreement. “Shall we?”
To keep Lochlan from overthinking, Artair cupped his neck in his hand and did the same to Riker, bringing them both forward slowly. After closing his eyes, Artair gently pressed his lips to both his mates at the same time. It was chaste, simple, and perfect. A sense of beauty swept through Artair, and he vowed to move whatever mountains or cross any river to make sure they were together.
Lockmage Legacy #24
Instead of knocking, Josh strode backward to take in the giant house done in brick and wood. It was lovely—too nice for someone like Josh—which had him wondering for the millionth time what the hell he’d done to himself by agreeing to venture there.
Sucking in a deep breath, Josh stalked over and rang the bell. There was no need to continue repeating the same nonsense. Josh had made a promise. He might not have shit, but that didn’t mean he lacked honor. Within seconds, the door whipped open, and Josh gaped. The blood rushed to his groin and his dick hardened as the smell of the beach hit Josh’s nose. A ridiculously handsome man with dark hair and light brown eyes stared at him with as much shock as Josh felt.
All his eagerness to leave deserted him, and although the bear gawking at him was far above his level, Josh was keeping him. The shifter was Josh’s gift from Fate, and even if he didn’t deserve him, they were meant to be. Or perhaps the goddess wanted to make up for some of the shit he’d endured. While Josh didn’t have a clue how to handle a relationship, he was excited to learn. Collecting his scattered thoughts, Josh grinned up at him.
“Hey there, Handsome, I’m Josh.”
“Joshua Brenton?”
“Yep, that’s me. Your mate.”
Some of the astonishment left his face, and Josh cataloged the strong jaw, straight nose, and masculine beauty. Josh decided it was a countenance he’d never tire of appreciating.
“Believe it or not, I figured out the mate thing,” the man replied.
“Yeah, your dick is probably as hard as mine. What do I smell like?”
The bear cocked his head. “Like the seashells on your temple.”
“You smell like the beach too. Cool,” Josh said, his hand coming up to trace the tiny tattoos that went up his temple and over part of his forehead. “So, what’s your name?”
“Donnell.”
“Can I call you Donnie?”
“Absolutely not. Come inside.”
“Come inside where?” Josh asked cheekily. “I mean, we just met, so maybe it’s a bit early to discuss preferences or whatever, but I’m down if you are.”
“Get in the house,” Donnell demanded with a chuckle.
“I’m happy to follow you anywhere.”
“You probably just want to check out my ass.”
“Duh,” Josh said.
With a shrug, Donnell turned and walked away. Josh wasn’t the least bit offended, because the man’s backside was perfect. At nearly a foot taller than Josh, the shifter had a muscular build that was showcased beautifully in his tailored shirt and trousers.
“Enjoying the view?” Donnell asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Are you ready to get in here, or are you going to stand on the porch gawking all night?”
“Yeah, I guess I could come in,” Josh muttered. The moment Josh stepped in the house, his gaze was ripped from Donnell long enough to appreciate the glorious fountain that represented the four elements that comprised the Circle of Mages. “That’s fanfuckulous.”
The Vampyr's Husband #25
A strange excitement coursed through him that James couldn’t explain. Lifting his head, his gaze locked with the most handsome man James had ever seen. His raven hair fell in loose layers nearly to his collar, and his face was a study of elegance with high cheekbones and a firm jaw. The smile he was wearing was almost intimate, as if they were lovers, but James didn’t even know his name.
When Vivian wrapped herself around his arm, James had an overwhelming urge to push her off the man. His sister was chatting, but the stranger never stopping staring at James. As he drew closer, James saw warmth in his pale blue gaze and nearly returned his grin. Then, James noticed the fangs.
Disappointment coursed through him, and he wanted to dismiss the man completely. Although it was technically against the law for a vampire to be on human land, James was like everyone else he knew and didn’t bother alerting the authorities on the extremely rare occasions when he encountered one.
Perhaps the vampire understood no one would dare cross a woman like Vivian, who was so connected in DC circles, by phoning the police when he showed up, or maybe the man was arrogant enough to flaunt his rebellion of the treaty.
“Vampyr Lord Nikolai Volkov, this is my brother, James Chase,” Vivian said, stopping a few feet from James with a vampire at her side.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Chase,” Nikolai remarked, holding out his hand.
Although there was a war going on inside him over whether it was smart to touch the vampire, James greeted him with a handshake. “The pleasure is mine, Vampyr Lord.”
“Please, call me Nikolai.”
Something about the Vampyr Lord made James want to smile at him, but he clenched his jaw instead and yanked his hand away. The vampire was stunningly gorgeous, and while James’s hormones were screaming at him to ogle the man, he refused to give in to his baser instincts. James also refused to be enticed by him, no matter how badly he might yearn to touch and taste him.
“Play nice, gentlemen,” Vivian murmured. “The caterer needs me. I’ll be right back.”
The second Vivian scurried off, James scowled and took a gulp of his wine while he willed his errant body to get itself under control. There weren’t even any roses in sight, so James had no clue why the scent wouldn’t leave, but at least his cock was no longer tenting his trousers to the same extent.
“There are plenty of people eager to meet you, Vampyr Lord,” James said. “I won’t keep you.”
“I suppose I must mingle,” Nikolai mused. “Will you give me your phone number?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, Vampyr Lord.”
“I disagree. I would like to see you again in a more private setting. I’d like to get to know you.”
The vampire’s arrogance was no longer in question, and James lifted a brow at his audacity. “You run a large company and are probably used to getting what you want, Vampyr Lord, but I’m not interested.”
“Are you sure?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“At least you stopped called me Vampyr Lord,” Nikolai muttered. “I can explain everything, but it’s rather difficult to do it at a party.”
“I can’t decide if you’re overconfident or so used to bending people to your will that you think if you repeat yourself enough, I’ll comply. This is my sister’s party. I’m here under duress. The last thing I’m looking for is to hook up with a vampire. My blood is not for sale, Vampyr Lord.”
It irritated James that Nikolai’s confidence was infinitely attractive. Why arrogance was suddenly a trait that appealed was a mystery to James, but he gave nothing away.
Nikolai’s sensuous mouth pursed, but he offered no other outward clue that James’s rudeness perturbed him. “Mr. Chase, I beg you not to ignore the odd feelings you’re experiencing. I know it must be overwhelming and strange. I’m not trying to bend you to my will. On the contrary, I want to make you happy.”
“Make me happy? You don’t even know me, Vampyr Lord,” James said with a laugh. “I want nothing to do with you. Enjoy the party.”
Saturday's Series Spotlight
Monday's Mystical Magic
Jessamyn Kingley has published over thirty titles and refuses to pick a favorite among them. With an extraordinary passion for her characters, Jessamyn eagerly adds new tales to her D’Vaire series and avidly re-reads them whenever her schedule allows. Jessamyn shares a home in Nevada with her husband and their three spoiled cats. When she is not writing or adding new ideas to her thick stack of beloved notebooks, she is gaming with family and friends.
Brazenly Daray #22
Triple Affinity #23
Lockmage Legacy #24
The Vampyr's Husband #25
