Mountain Springs Omega #3
Mason's hated Valentine's Day ever since his fiance broke off their engagement on that most romantic of holidays.
Ten years after his alpha ended their engagement, Mason still feels the hurt and does everything he can to not thing about his lost love or the holiday. But being Mountain Springs' only chocolatier, he doesn't have the luxury of hiding from the day like he'd prefer.
Devon just wants to protect his omega, even though he knows he hurt him.
Ending the engagement was the last thing Devon wanted to do, but he needed to protect his omega, and at the time he thought it was the only solution. Now there's an arsonist running around Mountain Springs, and Mason's shop is in the crosshairs. Devon realizes he'll have to hurt his love again in order to protect him.
When both men are frced to confront the past in prder to prevent calamity, will their history get in the way, or is a little heat just what it takes to bring them back together?
Recipe for Romance
One Protective Alpha
One Emotionally Scarred Omega
1 Failed Engagement
1 Chocolate Shop
1 Arsonist
Candy Kisses for the Omega is a 13K word , non-shifter, M/M, Mpreg romance, featuring two men afraid to confront their past, some knotty fun, and plenty of chocolate.
Original Review February 2023:
Over the years I've read a handful of mpregs in fanfiction and enjoyed them all but I'll admit I've only read a few in published works, which I too have enjoyed each time. It may not be a genre or trope I seek out but I don't shy away from either and have collected a fair number on my kindle and TBR list but haven't had the opportunity to discover yet. As for Lacey Daize? This is a new author to me, some find that scary but I find it adrenaline pumping almost as much as the rush I get waiting to discover the end of great book. Lacey Daize is definitely an author to go on my authors-to-watch list and I look forward to discovering more.
On to Candy Kisses. Being a short novella I won't go into much detail so not to spoil it for others who are also new to either the author or this story. Candy is the third entry in the author's Mountain Springs Omegas non-shifter mpreg series and as far as I can tell it is a series of standalones. Being a series-read-in-order kind of gal, it is unusual for me to start in the middle but as I was looking for Valentine stories, what can I say I took a chance😉.
I enjoyed every minute of this short tale of love, friendship, second chances, and it has just a hint of mystery that made it a winning gem. I want to wrap Mason in bubblewrap and though I wouldn't mind giving Devon a good solid shake(and possibly a whack to the back of the head) I understood his thought process wayback when. Can the pair work through the heartache of the past to find happiness in the future? You'll have to discover that for yourself, as it's a holiday that is all about love you can probably guess where the couple will end up but getting there is where all the entertaining discovery lies.
Candy Kisses for the Omega has definitely made me want to check out the rest of the Mountain Springs Omegas series.
Summary:
Irresistible Dragons #1
One dragon. One wolf. And they're both alphas. Surely Fate must’ve messed up.
After spending the last two hundred years locked up in the family castle with his three younger brothers, Erwan is climbing the walls. Literally. He’s a dragon who isn’t allowed to fly, forbidden to use his magic, all to stay hidden from the rest of the world. How will he ever find his mate like this?
But when he finds an injured omega in the woods around the castle and brings him home, the spell that kept them hidden is broken. Erwan’s father is furious—not that that’s anything new. The man has basically been angry all Erwan’s life, though why, he doesn’t know.
When wolf pack alpha Rhene comes a-knocking to demand the omega back, Erwan is shocked by what Fate whispers in his ear. Then again, the same is true for Rhene. Neither one of them imagined their mate quite like this.
Two alphas? A dragon and a wolf? How on earth could that possibly work?
But they have bigger problems. It turns out Erwan’s father is hiding more than a surly attitude. Much more. Like an old connection with the wolves and a betrayal that runs so deep, it could tear Erwan and Rhene apart.
Dragon’s Mate is the first book in the Irresistible Dragons series. This is a spin off from the Irresistible Omegas series, but you don’t need to have read that to enjoy these two as they find their way into love. The love story ends with an HEA but the suspense plot will continue in the next book.
Summary:
Honey Creek Den #3
Will Ryker be able to calm Arin enough to keep them from falling?
Ryker loves his job as a Park Ranger. It allows his bear the time he demands outside, even if it’s not always in bear form. When he gets offered the position of head ranger in Flathead National Forest, he’s hesitant at first, but his bear all but demands he go. He learned long ago to always listen to the cranky beast, so he agrees. Never did he expect that his Kodiak was telling him he’d find his fated mate there, but the cute little warlock smells like theirs.
Arin is the only unmated member of his family. Something he’s completely happy with. The last thing he wants is a mate or One, as warlocks call them. He has enough problems trying to master his magical powers that he’s been given and no matter how hard he tries, he can’t quite get it. Besides, warlocks almost never find their One until they’re around a century old. He’s only just turned twenty-nine so he has plenty of time, right?
When Ryker scents Arin, he and his bear know immediately that he’s their fated mate. But trying to get the stubborn warlock to agree is another battle altogether. What’s holding him back? Doesn’t he feel the pull as well? That’s how it’s supposed to work.
wins are crawling, triplets are still adorable, omegas are getting pissed, old Alpha’s are showing up and causing problems, warlocks are still “poofing” in and out at odd times, and Ryker’s behind may never recover from Arin’s teleporting. Will these two ever get mated?
Ryker’s Enchantment is book three in the Honey Creek Den Series. Each book contains a fated mate pair, Mpreg, lots and lots of knotting during growly sexy times and babies, lots of babies. These bears will do anything their mates ask, just read and see. The Honey Creek Den Series is meant to be read in order even though each book focuses on a different couple. This book is intended for adults only as these shifters tend to get growly and don’t watch their language. Story is approximately 42,500 words
Summary:
Torsere #1
Thrown together, forced to fake a relationship both their lives depend on…
To be a dragon rider is all Nykin ever wanted. Destined from birth, and forged by magic at the age of twenty-one, he earns his place in the king’s army. But it’s not the only thing he dreams of. Lusting after the king maybe be foolish, but that doesn’t stop Nykin’s pulse from racing whenever he’s near.
Ryneq always knew he’d rule Torsere one day, but never expected it to happen quite so soon. The death of his parents forced him into a role he wasn’t prepared for and a romantic attachment is low on his list of priorities. Yet still Nykin manages to catch his interested and hold it.
With his land under threat from the lowland armies, an alliance with the elves seems Ryneq’s only option to protect the kingdom. But seeing it to fruition is fraught with danger and even the best laid plans can be thwarted. With hope all but lost, Nykin embarks on a deadly mission, willing risk everything for his duty and his king.
Featuring forced proximity, fake relationships, all wrapped up in a romantic fantasy full of suspense and intrigue. Capture is the first book in the Torsere trilogy.
Previously published with Dreamspinner Press.
Summary:
Spaceman meets wolfman.
When his own world is destroyed, Aldiss and his crew barely manage to escape, leaving friends and lovers behind. What was meant to be an exploratory trip back to the home world becomes a mad dash for survival.
When they awaken from deep sleep on Earth, abandoned by humanity five centuries before, they must quickly learn about their new home. While exploring the region around the ship, Aldiss meets Hari, a human-wolf hybrid, whose people harbor secrets which just might cost the crew their lives.
Will Hari and Aldiss uncover the secrets of the past and find common ground? Or are Aldiss and his team doomed to failure?
This book was originally published by Less Than 3 Press. This is an updated edition with some additional content.
Candy Kisses by Lacey Daize
Chapter 1 - Mason
I sat at the kitchen counter and picked up the newest edition of Mountain Springs’ bi-weekly newspaper. Given the overall state of the print media industry, I was glad to support the town paper and they did good work. However, the headline on the front page made me scowl: Arsonist Continues to Elude Fire Investigators.
The news made me worry for two reasons. The first was that it meant there was still somebody out there setting fires with no clear motive. The other was my friend Liam. The first incident had been a stand of bears set aflame in front of his parents’ gift store, and though the arsonist hadn’t targeted any single place twice, it couldn’t be ruled out either. It was stressful enough already, but Liam was pregnant on top of that.
I skimmed the article, but wasn’t too hopeful about finding anything of use in it. The title seemed to sum it up pretty well.
I picked out a few more articles to read while I drank my coffee, then it was time to get ready for work. As the town’s chocolatier, one of my busiest seasons was upon me and I had orders to make.
Eleven months out of the year I loved my work. I got to be creative, making new shapes and flavors of treats for the various holidays. Rose and lavender infused chocolates for Mother’s Day, beer and whiskey for the dads. My white chocolate green caramel eyeballs were Halloween favorites, and I’d had lines before Christmas for my chocolate-coated gingerbread men.
But the next holiday was the one I wished I could shut down the store for. Each chocolate-dipped strawberry and heart-shaped confection was like a dagger in my soul. Every one a reminder of the betrayal I felt.
Maybe I’d hire and train a new employee over the summer so they’d be ready to take over the following February and allow me to go on vacation—preferably somewhere warm and where I could avoid all the couples kissing and being lovey-dovey.
I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth, and studied my beard in the mirror. I’d need to trim it soon or the health inspector would insist on a net for it. I liked the length, especially in winter, but the nets were uncomfortable and it was better to keep my facial hair neat than have to constantly be dealing with the net while trying to work.
I ran a comb through my beard to be safe, and made a mental note to book an appointment with my barber. Then I headed downstairs from my apartment to the kitchen of Mount Chocolate.
One of the nice things about running a candy store rather than a bakery was that I could keep slightly more normal hours than a baker would, at least most of the time. But today the sun had barely cleared the horizon when I walked in and flicked on the lights, which reflected off the stainless-steel work tables.
Even when I hated the holiday, I never hated the sight of my passion ready for me each morning. In a few hours those same tables would be filled with confections in various stages of making, the scent of chocolate filling the air.
I wandered over to my calendar and compared the schedule with pre-order quantities, trying to decide if I needed to shuffle anything. Chocolate-covered strawberries were flying off the shelf, but I couldn’t start on the bulk of the orders for them until the thirteenth so that the fruit remained fresh on the big day. Which meant it was other chocolate and gift basket prep with things that could last the week until February fourteenth.
Satisfied that my schedule was still fine, I started gathering my ingredients. First up was a big batch of red chile chocolates. They’d been popular the year before, and I decided to spruce things up with special boxes that read ‘Hot Stuff for my Hot Stuff.’ The special box meant that a number of people had ordered them, and as it would be shelf-stable longer it was a good choice to get a head start on.
Soon I was fully immersed in the work, tempering the chocolate to glossy perfection and mixing in the spicy chile. I then spread it to cool before breaking it into bark-style pieces.
I’d been so immersed in my work that I jolted when I heard the little bell over the front door chime.
“Mason?”
I breathed out a sigh, calming my nerves. It was just Andrew. He’d breezed into town the month prior, but had only been working for me a week, since a receptionist job fell through almost immediately after they’d told him he’d been hired. But he’d shown himself more than capable of the work and a trustworthy employee.
He’d also fit right into my circle of omega friends, and after a love-at-first-sight romance was mated to a local alpha and had announced his pregnancy a few days before.
“Back here,” I called.
Andrew came back and smiled. “Where do you need me today?”
“Hop on the register until Daniel comes in, then you can come back and start prepping the hot stuff boxes.”
“You got it,” Andrew said as he grabbed an apron and a little candyman hat. A minute later I heard the sound of bills being counted as he prepped the register.
I had to admit, the other omega had come in at just the right time. I’d steadily been getting busier and with the dreaded holiday only a week away it was time for all hands on deck to push through.
I just had to hope he’d be willing to stay after February. He’d mentioned that he preferred office jobs, and was considering going back to school, but having him even on a part-time basis would be great.
I got the second batch of chile chocolate cooling and started on another specialty, Love Bites, which were small chocolates with a hot cinnamon kick.
Soon the sounds of customers drifted in from the front: people placing orders for gift boxes, excited children squealing with delight, and the sweetest of them all was the compliments as people tasted my creations.
Daniel came in around noon, which gave me a chance to head to Glen’s Diner and grab lunch for the three of us. Then Andrew and I spent the afternoon filling boxes and bags of candy while Daniel sold it out the front almost faster than I could make it.
Finally it was closing time, and after Daniel cleaned up the front he joined Andrew and I in the back on the assembly line. Soon we had stacks of boxes and gift baskets ready for both orders and regular store stock.
We were wiping down the tables when we heard the blare of sirens, followed by the low blast of a fire engine’s horn. The three of us ran to the front and out the door, eyes tracing the direction of the emergency lights until we saw black smoke rising from the direction of the community center.
“Think it’s the arsonist again?” Andrew asked quietly.
I nodded. “It’s a reasonable bet.”
Dragon's Mate by Nora Phoenix
One second, Rhene had been asleep, and the next, he stared into the barrel of a .45 Magnum that looked awfully familiar, as did the man wielding it.
“One wrong move, wolf, and your brains will be splattered all over the bed,” Baoth sneered.
Ew. Not a pretty visual to wake up to. “To what do I owe this honor?”
“Check that sarcastic attitude as well while you’re at it. I’m already way too tempted to put a bullet in you and just end the whole thing right now.”
Someone had gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. Sheesh. But the man was crazy enough to make good on his threat, so Rhene kept quiet.
“Get up and get dressed. The king needs to see you.”
Most people would’ve asked him to stop by, Rhene wanted to say, but mindful of the man’s earlier warning about toning down his sarcasm, he kept that to himself. Instead, he rolled out of bed with slow, deliberate movements, not wanting to set off the crazy uncle. Two minutes later, he was dressed and ready to go.
“Grand Hall, I assume?” he asked Baoth as they left his room, the gun still trained on Rhene. Not that Rhene would’ve considered doing anything stupid otherwise. Not while Erwan was still here and they didn’t know what was going on. He would protect his mate at all costs.
“Courtyard.” Boath’s eyes gleamed. “We have something more public planned for you.”
He didn’t like the sound of that at all, but what could he do? What was the man up to, and more importantly, what had set him and the king off? It had to have been something he’d done. Or maybe something new they had learned. Had they discovered Rhene and Erwan had gotten access to the library?
His brain raced as Baoth led him to the courtyard, where the early-morning sun peeped over the tall walls. Ten guards stood in a half circle, raising their weapons as soon as Rhene walked up. It gave the appearance of a firing squad, and his stomach clenched. What the hell was going on? Knowing how little honor they had and how far they had gone to hide the shame of what they’d done made things only worse. After their betrayal, would they hesitate to harm or kill a wolf? He voted for no.
The king stepped into the half circle, his eyes glowing red with anger. Rhene swallowed. Shit. He’d definitely done something to piss off the king. Something big, by the looks of it.
The man didn’t make him wait for it long. “One of the servants saw you come out of my son’s room at midnight, barely dressed.”
Ryker's Enchantment by Taylor Rylan
1
Ryker
The last thing I wanted to do when asked if I’d be willing to leave Kodiak and move to Montana was actually do so. But my bear pushed me for some reason, so I gave in. After all, he’d never led me wrong in the past.
I enjoyed my life as a park ranger, but I didn’t want to leave my team that I had in Alaska. That was, until I arrived in Montana and discovered that I’d be working with only two other rangers, both shifters. Their alpha, War, was more than willing to accept me into his den, and for that I was grateful.
But my bear was driving me crazy. On more than one occasion while at Alpha War’s place, he’d smelled something that was alluring. I hoped it meant our mate was close by, but I wasn’t holding my breath. I was still fairly young, only one hundred thirty-nine. Yeah, I’d have loved to have met my mate by now, but at least I wasn’t well over two hundred like others. The few times I’d been to Alpha’s house, it had been hit or miss. Sometimes I smelled the amazing scent, others, nothing.
So who knew what I was going to encounter when I showed up for the celebration of Troy’s triplets having been born. I was ecstatic for the mated pair. Troy was an excellent ranger, and I was thankful I didn’t lose him because of his suddenly much-larger family. He worked shorter hours now that his mate, Elliot, had given birth to their boys, but I had no complaints. He was good at what he did, and when he was at work, he put in more than one hundred percent.
When I parked my truck and got out, my bear pushed at me to hurry around the house and get to the party. What was wrong with him? When I made it halfway around the house, I was suddenly hit with a scent that made my cock go instantly hard and my bear yell, Mate! Ours! I couldn’t stop the loud growl that escaped, nor would I have wanted to.
By the time I made it to the back of the house, my bear was ready to burst free and run up to our mate. I fought him back and convinced him to stay put. At least for now. There would be plenty of time for him to get to know our mate on a more personal level once I’d claimed him.
I zeroed in on the beautiful redhead that was talking to Wallace and a family of fox shifters. He looked almost exactly like Alpha Mate Arik, so I had to assume he was his twin that I hadn’t met, yet. And if memory recalled, Arik’s twin was a warlock, not a shifter. I could live with that. Elliot was a warlock, and Troy had mentioned that there were certainly benefits to it.
When I walked toward my mate, I saw nobody but him and couldn’t take my eyes off of the young man. Unfortunately, when I got within several feet of him and was about to introduce myself, he vanished. Shocked, I immediately looked to Wallace, but after he gave me an apologetic look, he too disappeared. I looked around the party, and when I found Troy walking to me, I had to wonder what was going on.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“I don’t think so. I was talking to Edison when it happened. He said Wallace called out through their bond for help, and then they went after Arin to see what the problem was.”
“Does he not want me for a mate? I realize I’m a shifter and not a warlock, but right now, my bear is tearing me apart wanting answers.”
“I understand, Ryker. And just as soon as they find out, I know they’ll be back and let you know.”
I was falling apart on the inside. My bear wanted to break free and run after our mate to find out what he could do to fix whatever was wrong. Did my growling scare him? Was he ashamed that his mate was a shifter? Did he already have a lover he preferred?
When Edison reappeared, he walked right to me and gave me a forced smile.
“Ryker. Perhaps it would be best if we went somewhere private to talk?”
“What? No. He doesn’t want me, does he?”
“I’m sorry, Ryker. Arin is young and he’s—”
My heart broke right then and there. My mate—after finally finding him—didn’t want me. I couldn’t contain the heart-wrenching bellow that escaped my throat before I took off toward the back of the property. I shifted mid-run, shredding my clothes along the way. By the time I reached the tree line, I was at a full-out run and didn’t stop until I was miles away from War’s house by a small creek.
I quickly drank my fill, lay down, and simply gave up. My bear was just as brokenhearted as I was. Our mate, our beautiful mate, didn’t want us. What was it about us that he found distasteful?
After I lay there for who knows how long, I got up and decided now was as good a time as any to start my trek back to my place. Since I lived in a cabin near the ranger station I worked at, it was several more miles before I smelled my territory. I detected no humans in the area, so when I arrived in my own backyard, I quickly shifted. After retrieving the spare key I had hidden on the back deck, I let myself inside.
Looking around, I realized that the happy home I’d made for myself here in Montana would all be a memory. There was no way I’d be able to stay here knowing my mate would be back and wasn’t interested. My bear would eventually go insane. After a long, hot shower, I put on a pair of sweatpants and went to my home office to write up my request for transfer. It was going to be hell waiting for a new assignment, but it was something both me and my bear would need.
After typing up the request, I went to hit Send, but my computer froze. Damn thing. Of course it did. Could anything else go wrong today? Really? I decided it was better to just go to bed and try resending the request tomorrow from my work computer.
I was momentarily sidetracked by loud banging on my door that could only be more bad news, and I chose to ignore it. Luckily, whoever was at the door eventually gave up and left. Or so I thought. Just as I was about to climb the stairs, Arin, my disappearing mate, fell from the middle of the room and landed in a heap right next to me.
“Are you okay?” I asked as I went to help him up off the floor.
“Yeah, I’ve had several reentries that were worse. Although, if you’d just answered your door, I could’ve walked in.”
“I wasn’t aware that it was you on the other side. You want to tell me what you’re doing here? I thought you weren’t interested in being my mate. You disappeared when I approached you.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. Can we maybe talk?”
I noticed Arin staring at my chest, and it was then that I remembered I hadn’t put on a shirt after my shower earlier. Hmm, interesting. Perhaps my little mate wasn’t quite as disinterested as I first thought? My bear was screaming at me to grab our mate and claim him before he could leave again, and I told him to shut up and have some patience. He huffed and growled at me, but I chose to ignore him.
“Yeah, we can talk. How about we go have a seat on the couch? Or would you be more comfortable at the table? Either works for me.”
“The couch is fine.”
“All right. Follow me.” I quickly turned and headed to my rarely used den, and after Arin plopped down on one end of the couch, I took the other. I made sure the entire length of the couch was between us. I didn’t want him to feel as if I was crowding him or pressuring him. I just sat there and stared at my beautiful mate. Even though he’d all but refused me, I couldn’t help it; he was simply stunning, and my bear and I still wanted him. Always would. No matter what happened, he would be it for me for the rest of my life. I looked at Arin and hoped like hell he didn’t reject me a second time. If he did, I knew I wouldn’t survive.
“I’m so sorry, Ryker. I get nervous easily, and when I do, I tend to just teleport away. I don’t want to hurt you, and I know if we claim each other, that’s what’ll happen because I’m so accident prone. I’m still working on mastering my powers, and I thought I had more time. It’s almost unheard of for a warlock to find their One when they’re as young as I am, but now, here you are. And I don’t want anything to happen to you. I could never live with myself if I hurt you, and that’s why I ran away. I didn’t want to cause you any kind of pain, and see, that’s what I ended up doing anyway.”
“Arin!” I sternly called my mate’s name, effectively cutting off his rambling. Thank fates for that. I didn’t know if he’d ever stop. I saw a shiver go through his body and promised myself that I’d address that later. But for now, I needed some answers.
“Are you okay?” I asked as I moved closer and gently placed a hand on his arm. He jerked and pulled away, and I did my best to not feel hurt, but I couldn’t. It hurt so much that I was almost positive he saw the hurt in my eyes before I could mask it. I quickly moved back to the other side of the couch.
“I’m okay, thank you for asking.”
“Do you always ramble nonstop?”
“Only when nervous.”
“Why do I make you nervous? You’re my mate, Arin. I could never hurt you. You should know that. Is it because I’m a bear and not a warlock?”
“What? No! I already told you. I don’t want to hurt you. And I already have, more than once.”
“Okay, let’s start from the beginning, okay? Hi, I’m Ryker. I’m very pleased to meet you.” I extended my hand and waited for Arin to either take it or simply disappear again. Thankfully, he gently placed his slim hand in mine, and I swear I felt a vibration go through me.
“Hi, Ryker. I’m Arin, as you know. I’m a warlock, but you know that too. I’m still trying to master something as basic as teleporting, and there’s so much more that I still need to learn besides that. I’m scared that I’m going to hurt you. I hurt everyone that I try teleporting somewhere.”
“Is that the only reason? Is there something else? If it’s just the fact that you can’t teleport…”
“I don’t want to hurt you! You don’t understand. No matter how much I practice, no matter how many times I’m talked through it, it doesn’t work. I seem to lose focus in the middle of it and we land in a heap somewhere. Sometimes, nowhere near the intended destination.”
“Okay. So do you want to wait until you master teleporting? Or longer? I need to know what’s going on in your head. I’m almost a hundred and forty. I’ve only ever teleported a couple times with your brother and Edison. Is it the only thing keeping us apart? As far as I’m concerned, it’s not necessary. At least, not for me. I’ve always traveled the old-fashioned ways: walking, driving, or flying. Are you really going to reject our mating simply because you’re afraid you’ll hurt me while teleporting us somewhere?”
“I don’t want to. Trust me, it hurt when I left you there without even saying hi. I cried so hard, Papa had to bring me here to your cabin. When you didn’t answer, I obviously took more drastic measures to get inside. But I never wanted to cause you pain.”
“Trust me, mate, you’re very much worth a little pain.”
“What if I land on you when we fall?”
“Mmm, I can think of worse things than you landing on me.”
Arin flushed bright red at that, and I loved that the idea of him being on top of me made him blush and squirm.
“You want to share with me what’s going through your mind right now, mate? I like that blush. It’s very cute.”
“Umm, nothing? Can we maybe just talk for a little longer? I’d really like to get to know you better.”
“I have to let you know, right now my bear is happy and content with just being near you. And the fact that you haven’t disappeared and are willing to talk to me makes us both happy. It hurt when you left so abruptly. No shifter likes to be rejected by their mate.”
The gasp and look of horror on Arin’s face had me both confused yet hopeful.
Capture by Annabelle Jacobs
Chapter 1
“Are you sure about this?” Ryneq handed the proposal back to his sister with a sigh and watched her carefully tuck it into the pocket of her cloak. Her long blonde hair fell forwards, obscuring her face slightly, but Ryneq still caught the resigned look.
“I am.” Shivering against the chill in the room, Cerylea pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and stepped up to join him at the window. Laying her hand on his arm, she spoke softly. “A union with the Hervathian elves is the only way.”
Ryneq closed his eyes for a moment. “Father would never have wanted this.” He’d likely be turning in his grave.
“Our parents are dead.” Cerylea snatched her hand back, expression hardening. “Or have you forgotten?”
“No, I’ve not forgotten.” With a heavy sigh, he let his head rest against the glass and looked down at their lands below. The view was breathtaking. KalethTor sat high in the mountains, built by the first king of Torsere and named after his young wife. Its thick walls had weathered over the years and now blended so easily with the surrounding mountains that it was more commonly known as the Stone Palace.
From here one could see past the villages in the south of Torsere, all the way down to the Nalvaq Sea. The dark-blue water shimmered in the distance as the early-morning sun danced off its surface. “I’m sorry.” Ryneq turned to face his sister and reached for her hand, tugging her into his side. “I don’t want you to leave.”
She laid her head on his shoulder, and he realised with a jolt how much he was going to miss her. A Rodethian raiding party had claimed the lives of their parents, forcing them into roles they weren’t ready to take, and for the last two years they’d ruled Torsere together.
Am I ready to rule this kingdom on my own?
He should be.
His father had been younger than Ryneq when he took the throne, but he’d always had his queen by his side. His confidant. His voice of reason.
Ryneq was about to lose his.
“It’s not as bad as you seem to think,” Cerylea said eventually, tilting her chin up to look at him. Her deep-blue eyes were so like their mother’s it made his breath catch. “I actually like Morkryn.” She smiled softly, and the tight feeling in Ryneq’s chest eased a little.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Is that so?”
“Yes. He’s intelligent, kind, and has a wicked sense of humour.” She nudged Ryneq in the ribs with her elbow. “Besides, you’ve seen him.” The teasing edge to her voice helped ease the sombre mood surrounding them. “He’s very easy on the eye.”
“Hmm . . .”
She wasn’t wrong. With his thick dark hair—short by elven standards—captivating brown eyes, and high cheekbones, the elven heir was beautiful. A little too perfect for Ryneq’s taste, but he couldn’t deny the prince was indeed very easy on the eye. “I suppose, if you like the pointy-eared look, that is.”
“Ryneq!”
He grinned down at his sister, laughing at her shocked expression and earning a slap on the arm in retaliation.
Cerylea narrowed her eyes. “I hope you show him a bit more respect when he arrives in two days’ time.”
“Of course, Sister.” He offered her an exaggerated bow. “I will be on my best behaviour.”
Expression sobering, she glanced out the window. “I know you think Father would never have made an alliance with Hervath this way, but I believe he’d have done whatever was needed to ensure the safety of Torsere.” She walked toward the fireplace on the far side of the room, her cloak brushing the floor with a soft swish. What had once been their father’s study was now their war room—the sturdy wooden desk replaced by a long oval table and chairs.
But the two armchairs in front of the fireplace held far too many memories to be replaced.
Ryneq followed his sister, taking the seat next to the fire, the sudden warmth of the flames more than welcome.
“You know they’ll never stop,” she whispered.
Leaning forwards, he let his elbows rest on his knees, hands clasped. “I know.”
Since the death of their parents, the Rodethian army’s repeated attempts to break through Torsere’s borders had tested them to their limits. Ryneq had shored up their defences, doubled the dragon rider patrols, and so far they’d kept them out.
Torsere had good trade relations with the cluster of small lands to the west, but none of them were large enough to offer any assistance against the lowland armies.
Cerylea’s voice was still quiet when she spoke again, her gaze focused back out through the window. “So far, their attempts have failed, but with Rodeth’s new alliance with Athisi, it’s only a matter of time before they manage to find a way through.”
“You think they’ve been together long enough for them to fight cohesively?” Ryneq ran a hand through his hair, waiting for Cerylea to face him.
“Maybe? I don’t know. But I’m not sure we can afford to underestimate them. Or their greed.”
The leaders of the lowland provinces had joined forces six months ago, their mutual distrust for one another temporarily put aside. Torsere had never attacked either Rodeth or Athisi, but it had something both leaders were prepared to kill for.
Dragons.
Cerylea pulled her knees up onto the chair, looking all at once like the little sister Ryneq used to tease before they were suddenly thrust into adulthood. “The treaty with the elves is the only way.”
Nykin stretched over the back of his dragon and unstrapped the thick leather harness holding the saddle in place. With Fimor settled low on the ground like this—the top of Fimor’s back coming an inch or two above Nykin’s shoulder—it was the only way he could reach it.
“There,” he said, sliding the saddle off. “Is that better?” They’d just come off border patrol, with a little detour out over the sea that hadn’t exactly gone as planned. He stroked his gloved hand over the rust-coloured scales on his dragon’s flank, then jumped back, cursing, when Fimor huffed a small jet of fire in Nykin’s direction. “Hey! You know it wasn’t my fault.”
Fimor swung his head around to regard Nykin with large obsidian-coloured eyes, and Nykin felt the pulse of the connection between them. The triangular-shaped fire mark on the inside of his left wrist glowed bright with magic. The intricate mark swirled with thick interwoven strands in the centre, the burnt-orange twisting outward to form three defined peaks. Nykin closed his eyes and focused on the dull throb under his skin as Fimor’s voice sounded in his head.
“You must be more careful, Nykin.”
Nykin sighed and leant against the hard wall of Fimor’s cave. “I know. But—” “It’s not just your life at stake! You know this. I would have survived the fall, but you would not. And while I might not die if your heart stops beating, it would take many years for me to recover. You cannot afford to be so reckless.”
“Okay, I admit that maybe I misjudged it slightly—”
Fimor’s long barbed tail snapped from side to side. “Slightly? You almost crashed us into the rocks.”
Nykin sighed and stepped closer, smiling softly as Fimor obligingly lowered his head. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you.” He ran his fingers over the hard ridges along either side of Fimor’s jaw. “I thought I knew better, and I was wrong.”
“We are bonded, Nykin, and as such, I am bound to follow your commands. You must learn to trust in me and know that I would never put you in harm’s way. Ever.”
The mark flared briefly before settling back down, the connection between them fizzling away. Nykin watched as Fimor shuffled backwards and then turned toward the mouth of the cave. He flexed his huge wings, the tips brushing the walls on either side, before launching into the sky beyond. Nykin continued to follow his progress. The sight of a dragon in flight never failed to take his breath away. He was a dragon rider, marked from birth and born to ride in the sky, but a dragon flying on its own was a sight to behold.
Soon enough, Fimor disappeared out of sight, up into the mountains. The landing caves were built into the east side of Mount Tors and connected to the main rooms of the Eyrie by a series of winding tunnels. Nykin hauled the leather harness and saddle onto his shoulder and carried it down toward the main storeroom.
“I thought I heard you fly in.”
Nykin looked up to see Selene already stowing her harness on one of the waiting racks. Her long hair, the trademark of a rider, trailed down her back in a thick black braid. “Yes, just a moment ago.”
“And you’re down here already?” she asked, turning to give him a curious look. After a ride together, it was customary for a dragon and its rider to spend time strengthening their bond and fine-tuning their techniques before the dragon retired to its lair farther up the mountain. “Is everything okay, Nykin?”
Nykin hefted his gear onto an empty rack and leant against it. “No. I made a mistake.” He scrubbed a hand over his eyes and sighed. “We were flying out over the sea. Fimor told me the angle was too steep and the wind too strong, but I ordered him into the dive anyway.”
“What happened then?” Selene’s voice had an edge to it.
Rider and dragon always worked together. Always. It was the first thing they were taught before bonding.
“We nearly crashed onto the rocks.” Nykin winced at the scowl on Selene’s face. “Nykin, you sh—”
He held up his hand to cut her off before she could chastise him further. “I know, Selene. I know.” He didn’t need anyone else telling him how badly he’d messed up.
She looked like she was ready to say more on the subject, but then Jaken came skidding into the storeroom, out of breath.
Hands braced on his knees, it took him a moment to get the words out. “Ryneq has ordered all dragon riders to the Great Hall.”
Nykin felt the familiar prickle of heat, low in his belly, at the mention of the king’s name, but he resolutely pushed it away. “Now?”
“Yes.” Jaken was already trying to usher them out the door. “Everyone else is there already. We’re just waiting on you and Selene.”
Nykin frowned and looked down at himself. He was covered in sweat and salty spray from the sea, and didn’t need a mirror to know that his dark-blond hair hung limp and matted around his shoulders. He looked a mess and had no intention of going to see the king without at least changing his clothes.
“I’ll meet you there.” He gestured at himself with a wave of his hand and grinned. “I need to clean up a little first.”
“Oh.” Jaken wrinkled his nose in distaste as if only just noticing Nykin’s dishevelled state. “Yes, okay.” He shooed Selene through the door before casting one last glance over at Nykin. “You need to hurry, though, Nykin. You know Ryneq hates to be kept waiting.”
Nykin was well aware of that fact and marched through the storeroom to the large changing areas at the back. The Eyrie itself was connected to the palace by steep steps cut into the rock. The walk to the lower town where most of the dragon riders lived was long and arduous, so they kept spare sets of clothes and other essentials at the Eyrie.
With a resigned sigh, Nykin stripped off his clothes, shivering in the cool air. This wasn’t going to be fun. The water for the wash areas came from high up in the mountain near the dragons’ lairs. Usually a rider could rely on their dragon to heat the icy water with their fiery breath, but judging by the way Fimor had left so abruptly, Nykin was in for the coldest of showers.
Worth a try, though.
Rubbing his thumb over the mark on his wrist, Nykin sought out his dragon, warmth flaring over his skin as the telepathic connection was made.
“Fimor?” Nykin tried.
Silence.
He waited a moment before trying again. “Fimor?”
Still nothing.
“I know you can hear me.” Nykin shivered again, aware that he was wasting time, but that water would be freezing. “And I know you’re mad at me.” An annoyed huff sounded in his head. “With good reason,” he added quickly. “But I need to go meet Ryneq, and I’m in a bit of a state. A little hot water would be much appreciated.”
The connection broke abruptly and Nykin resigned himself to a very fast and very cold wash. At least he’d be quick this way. With a deep breath, Nykin braced himself for the inevitable shock and stepped under the spray.
The water felt . . . warm. Not piping hot like it would have been if Fimor wasn’t upset with him, but not the freezing cold he’d expected either. Smiling to himself, he started to scrub at the dirt in his hair and on his body, rushing to get clean as quickly as was humanly possible.
The soft black leather of a dragon rider’s uniform hugged the body like a second skin, and Nykin wriggled into the trousers as fast as his damp legs would allow. He quickly tied the laces at the front before pulling on a cotton undershirt and then the matching jacket, followed by his boots. A quick glance in the mirror to straighten out his uniform and he was done.
It took longer than he would have liked to reach the entrance to the palace, and Nykin imagined Ryneq’s annoyed face as he paced up and down, waiting for Nykin to arrive. When he finally reached the Great Hall, he pulled open the heavy doors and slipped inside.
The doors opened silently enough, and Nykin managed to enter relatively unnoticed, but as he turned to push them closed, a horribly loud creak echoed around the room. Everyone turned to stare at him—all his fellow dragon riders, a handful of soldiers from the Torserian army, an amused-looking Princess Cerylea, and a not-so-amused-looking King Ryneq.
The king glared at him for what seemed like forever—Nykin tried hard not to blush or squirm under the intensity of it—before turning to address the lead rider. “As I was saying . . .” Nykin slunk to the back of the dragon riders and slid into line beside Selene and Jaken. “Prince Morkryn and a contingent of his elven guard will arrive tomorrow to discuss the terms of our proposed treaty.”
Ryneq walked to stand beside his sister, pausing a moment to smile softly at her. He didn’t often openly show affection in front of his subjects, and it transformed his usually handsome but cold face into something warm and wonderful. Nykin’s stomach fluttered.
But when Ryneq looked back at the people assembled before him, the hard edge returned. “Nysad and I, along with thirty of the guard, will meet them at the edge of the Forest of Hervath and provide an escort to the palace.” He leant in to talk quietly with Nysad—the captain of the guard and Ryneq’s second-in-command. Nysad nodded quickly before saluting and leading his men out of the room. “The armies of Rodeth and Athisi have been quiet of late, and our scouts report no movement near our borders.” Ryneq paced in front of the gathered riders. “This treaty is of paramount importance and we can’t afford to take any chances.”
His gaze landed on Nykin, and his eyes narrowed for just the barest of moments before sweeping over to Selene beside him. Nykin watched his every move. Ryneq cut a formidable figure—taller than almost all his guard, with short, dark hair and broad shoulders. Nykin wished for the hundredth time that he would be noticed in return. The dragon riders were held in high regard by the people of Torsere, but to the king, he was just another member of the royal army, and nothing more.
“Eldin.” The lead rider snapped to attention as Ryneq spoke his name. “Take ten of your best riders and follow Prince Morkryn’s escort from the sky. I want you to watch for any signs of trouble from the lowlands.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We leave the castle early. Have your riders ready to depart after breakfast.” Ryneq nodded once and turned toward Princess Cerylea, effectively dismissing everyone else.
“So,” Selene whispered as they filed out. “Do you think we’ll get to go?” She smiled, her eyes shining with excitement, and Nykin couldn’t help but return it.
“Maybe, if we’re lucky.”
They all made their way back up to the Eyrie, since Eldin would no doubt want to go through the plans for tomorrow and pick out his riders. To be chosen for the king’s escort was a great honour, but it also meant Nykin would be able to get back out on Fimor. He needed to prove that he trusted his dragon, and the only way to do that was to ride him.
As things stood, Nykin doubted Fimor would come now if he summoned him. He might be bound to follow Nykin’s commands, but only when their connection was made. Fimor could easily ignore him, and Nykin wouldn’t be surprised if it was at least a few days before he deigned to answer Nykin’s call.
But if the order came from the king, then Fimor would be much more likely to respond.
They followed the rest of the riders up the stone steps and into the wide entrance to the Eyrie itself. Once inside, Eldin stopped and turned to face them.
“It takes roughly a day and a half to reach the Forest of Hervath on horseback, so we’ll take turns to patrol and return to the Eyrie to rest. As I’ll be the lead rider tomorrow, that leaves nine places to fill. If I call your name, make your way to the storeroom and wait for me there.” Silence fell over the group of anxious riders as everyone waited to hear the list of names. “Selene,”—Nykin winced when she squealed in his ear before leaving for the storeroom—“Chaiss, Tirak, Hidor, Korad, Leyer, Nalec, Rakar, and . . .” He held his breath as he waited for Eldin to say the last name. Please. Please. Please. “. . . Nykin.”
“Yes!” Nykin hissed and headed for the storeroom to join the others.
THE PLAN for escorting the elven delegation was simple—circle the area and watch for signs of a possible attack from the lowlands. They had orders from Ryneq to deal with any incursions as they saw fit.
“Is everyone clear on what they need to do?” Eldin looked around at the nine riders in front of him. A chorus of yeses replied. “Good. I suggest you connect with your dragons and then turn in for the night. We all need to be alert tomorrow.”
They filed out and made their way through to the landing caves. Nykin entered the same one he’d been in earlier that day and pulled back the sleeve on his jacket. He closed his eyes and rubbed his thumb over the mark in slow, measured circles. He didn’t actually need to touch his rider’s sigil, but the steady contact helped him focus his mind.
“Fimor?”
As Nykin expected, he didn’t get an answer straightaway.
“I know you’re still upset with me, but I need to talk to you. We’re to be part of the escort tomorrow when Ryneq goes to meet the elven delegation.” Nykin knew Fimor would never refuse an order from the king, especially where Ryneq’s safety was concerned. But he still made Nykin wait.
Finally, Nykin felt the fire triangle pulse with the warmth of their connection.
“Congratulations, Nykin. It is a great honour to be chosen to escort Prince Morkryn.”
“Yes, I know.”
“What are our orders?”
Nykin told him, word for word, what Eldin had said.
“Hmmm . . . We will need to be vigilant in the skies and protect the king and his guests to the best of our ability. You know what I’m saying, Nykin, don’t you?”
Nykin sighed and leant back against the wall of the cave. “Yes. I need to trust you.”
“And I, you. You are my rider, bonded by blood, and I will do as you ask. But you must listen when I speak, for it will always be the truth. If I cannot trust you to do that, then our bond will be greatly weakened.”
“Really?” Nykin stroked his mark, looking down at his wrist. The bond between rider and dragon was forged by blood and magic. It was how they worked so well together. To ride without it would be dangerous for both of them. “I didn’t realise.”
“Magic can only do so much. My blood can heal you if you’re injured, but only if our bond is strong. And to keep it strong, we must trust each other without hesitation.”
Dragon’s blood was part of the reason the lowland armies attacked Torsere. Dragons were magical creatures, and their blood was believed by some to cure all illness and disease and, in some cases, even prolong life. As far as Nykin was aware, a dragon’s blood would only heal its rider, and even then, he didn’t think it could bring anyone back from the dead. But he was no expert.
“I will do better,” Nykin replied at last. “I promise.”
“Very well, then. Good night.”
The connection ended, and Nykin rubbed at his eyes, tired. As he made the long walk back to his home, Fimor’s words sat uncomfortably under his skin. He hated the thought of their bond being weakened, especially through his own doing. Nykin trusted Fimor, of course he did. He just had a hard time accepting the fact that he could be wrong sometimes.
That was something he needed to work on before his arrogance cost them both dearly. If Eldin found out they couldn’t trust one another, he would have every right to replace Nykin as Fimor’s rider. You only got one chance as a dragon rider. The very idea of losing his connection with Fimor made Nykin feel physically sick, and he resolved to keep his word.
He would do better.
Had to.
Breakfast was to be served early in the palace, so the five riders accompanying Ryneq out first were up earlier than usual. It took time to get the dragons down from the mountain and harnessed, and they needed to be ready by the time Ryneq and the palace guards were set to leave.
Nykin was in the first patrol. He collected his harness from the storeroom and made his way to the landing caves. He could see for miles from here, all the way out to the Nalvaq Sea. It was a long way down to the ground below, but Nykin had never been afraid of heights—which was just as well, considering what he was about to do.
Setting the harness against the cave wall, he walked to the edge of the cave and called for Fimor.
Their connection hummed, getting stronger and stronger until he heard the familiar sound of wings.
Nykin looked up, squinting in the early-morning sun, as Fimor came into view. Sunlight caught the red scales covering Fimor’s body, setting him aglow. Like he was on fire. Nykin was still awed that this magnificent beast allowed him to ride on his back.
“Good morning, Nykin.”
Nykin moved further back into the cave, giving Fimor room to fly in and land. “Fimor.” He grinned and reached out to run his hands over the tips of Fimor’s wings as the dragon settled into position. “Are you ready?” Even after a year of being bonded, his first instinct was to talk aloud rather than in his head.
“Always, Nykin. Are you?”
“More than.” He turned to grab the harness, and Fimor dipped his neck so Nykin could strap it around him. “Have you eaten?”
“Yes, Kalesh and I flew out over the sea earlier—the fish were abundant, if a little on the small side.”
“Maybe you can have some beef later when we return to the castle.” Although the Stone Palace was built high in the mountains, the surrounding flat lands were full of rich soil—perfect for growing crops and keeping livestock. The dragon’s main diet might be fish, but that was more from necessity than anything else. They never said no to a few cows from the king’s stock.
“Yes, perhaps I will.”
Nykin double-checked all the fastenings before hoisting himself up into the saddle. It had thigh straps on either side—dragons had a tendency to roll during battles—but Nykin hated them. They pinched. He eyed them, debating whether to use them or not. They were only doing reconnaissance, nothing extreme. Leaving them undone, he hunched low over Fimor’s back. “Let’s fly.”
“As you command.”
Fimor turned around to face the cave entrance and spread his wings wide as they neared the edge. Nykin’s heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Flying always affected him like this, the slight rush of fear as they prepared to leap out into the air, and Nykin would never tire of it. Gripping the leather harness tight, he yelled out his delight as they dived off the ledge and into the sky.
Homecoming by J Scott Coatsworth
Hari floats in the wolf dream, trapped halfway between sleep and wakefulness. The same images plague him once again. Destruction on an unimaginable scale. A vast, empty darkness spattered with stars, and a tall, slender man, his jet-black hair swept to one side, his eyes white-gray like the bark of a birch tree.
Something awakens him. He sits up, raising his white-furred ears in the dappled shadows beneath the great redwood tree that looms over the pack like a leafy god.
The forest is quiet all around him, the night undisturbed by anything other than the end-of-winter wind, which whistles a maudlin tune through the snow-laden boughs of the trees. A hint of warmth is threaded through her cold fingers, pregnant with the promise of spring.
Yet a shiver runs down Hari’s spine and his hackles rise. Something is coming.
He looks around at the other wolves of the Blackthorn Clan, asleep underneath the sheltering arms of the tree.
His mother, Simi, stirs lazily in her bed of snow beneath the branches of an outstretched fir, licking her russet fur which is graying with age. She looks up at him, as if sensing his gaze. She smells of curiosity.
Born the snow-white runt of the litter, he has grown strong and agile, and possesses the keenest senses of the pack, able to smell a rabbit in the brush at a hundred paces. The gift of the trickster, who was also as white as the snow. Hari is a far-thinker, one of the few among the clan who looks beyond the day-to-day needs of the hunt and the winter clouds. One who can shift at will, like his mother.
He smells it now too, a sharp tang in the air. He lays back down, nipping nervously at the snow, and buries his muzzle against his chest.
The wrongness won’t go away.
A sharp scream splits the air, like the falling of one of the tall redwoods, full of screech and protest and anguished wind. Hari leaps to his feet with the rest of the pack.
Then a flash like the sun lights up the sky. Hari yelps involuntarily, his ears flattening against his skull. The trees shake violently, as though the fatemaster himself had crossed their path, and Hari knows real fear, like black bile at the back of his throat, his stomach twisting in his gut.
A small incandescent light, like a snowflake, descends from the stars above. Hari traces its progress as it rapidly grows larger, lighting the snow with its ghostly glow. It plunges past them, disappearing behind the tree-line nearby.
Then the real noise comes—a long, rumbling crash that resonates in his bones, greater than the falling of a hundred trees, and all the clan is thrown to the ground.
Hari looks up and shakes his head, trying to stop the ringing in his ears.
His dam is at his side, nuzzling the fur of his neck, whispering Don’t be afraid. Simi licks him with motherly reassurance, but he knows it hides her fear.
Lacey lives in New Mexico with her four critters. She’s a Jill-of-all-trades by day, but loves writing in her spare time. She dabbles in a variety of pairings, but jumped feet-first into the deep end of omegaverse the first time she read it. She loves the play on social expectations and the different ways to express romance.
Nora Phoenix is a bestelling author of MM romance. She writes in various subgenres of gay romance, including contemporary, mpreg, and sci fi. Nora is known for a mix of steamy romance, usually a dash of kink, all the feels, and some suspense.
Proud single mom. Book addict. Eternal optimist. Unapologetic feminist. Ace. Panromantic.
The Men of Crooked Bend Series is what started it all for me and it was incredibly difficult to let those men go. It was originally supposed to be a trilogy but it ended up as a ten book series with a bonus book that's part of The Snow Globe Christmas Series. In the Men of Crooked Bend series, you get to know the cowboys and other men of Wild Creek Ranch in Crooked Bend, Wyoming (a totally fictitious town). The series is set in the foothills of the Grand Teton Mountains, a place I fell in love with as a teenager.
I have a closely related spin-off series called Sulfur Springs. In it you leave Wild Creek and go to the little neighbor town of Sulfur Springs and meet the sexy men of the Sulfur Springs Fire Depart, the sheriff's department, as well as quite a few US Marshals. You see some familiar faces but you also meet some very new ones. It’s finally finished and ended up being a nine book series.
I love to read, it’s always been one of my favorite things to do since I can remember. When I started writing, I couldn't decide if I wanted to write contemporary or paranormal as I love both. I chose contemporary but still, paranormal was talking to me and those darn shifters kept saying, “tell our story, it’ll be fun.” So I did. And it was. That’s how I started my Honey Creek Den series. Honey Creek is another totally fictitious town set on Flathead Lake (a real place) in Montana. I've never been there, but hope to get there at some point. Honey Creek Den is finished with the planned six books. The Timber Valley Wolf Pack is also finished with six books and now I've moved onto the Warlocks of Amherst Series. This series takes us away from the den and pack and we get to know Edison's warlocks in Amherst, Massachusetts.
When I'm not busy writing about cowboys, architects, sheriffs, firefighters, US Marshals, bears, tigers, or warlocks (to name just a few), I like to read (who doesn't?). Because of my limited free time, I’m fond of short stories and novellas. I can be found on Amazon, Book Bub, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They're usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.
Scott lives with his husband Mark in a little yellow bungalow with two pink flamingoes in Sacramento. He inhabits the space between the here and now and the what could be. Indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine, he devoured her library. But as he grew up, he wondered where the people like him were.
He decided it was time to create the kinds of stories he couldn’t find at Waldenbooks. If there weren’t queer characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends.
His friends say Scott’s brain works a little differently – he sees relationships between things that others miss, and gets more done in a day than most folks manage in a week. He seeks to transform traditional sci fi, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something unexpected.
A Rainbow Award winning author, he runs Queer Sci Fi, QueeRomance Ink, and Other Worlds Ink with Mark, sites that bring queer people together to promote and celebrate fiction reflecting their own reality. Scott is is the committee chair for the Indie Authors Committee at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
Nora Phoenix
iTUNES / AUDIOBOOKS / CHIRP
Taylor Rylan
EMAIL: AuthorTaylorRylan@gmail.com
Annabelle Jacobs
Dragon's Mate by Nora Phoenix
Ryker's Enchantment by Taylor Rylan
Capture by Annabelle Jacobs
Homecoming by J Scott Coatsworth
