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One Last Note:
Some of those on my list I have read, reread, & even listened/re-listened so I've included the review posted in my latest read/listen. Also, those that are read/re-read as a series the latest review may be an overall series review. If any of the purchase links included here don't work be sure and check the authors' websites/social media for the most recent links as they can change over time for a variety of reasons.
Tooth & Claw #1
How to Save a Life by Eli Easton
Original Review September 2017:
Rav is new to Mad Creek but he opens a rescue shelter and is quickly accepted by most but not all. Sammy is newly quickened but the emotional and verbal abuse he experienced as a dog has followed him when he shifts. Will they help Mad Creek? Will these two find happiness in Mad Creek? Will the town higher ups let them?
I'm going to start by saying that I have not read the first three in the Howl at the Moon series and I wish I had. I think the little things would have flowed better and there were a few things that didn't really quite make sense but I can't say I was really lost either or that I couldn't figure it out.
Now on to the story, one thing I found intriguing about this shifter tale(no pun intended) is the concept of being "quickened". So often shifter stories are about humans who shift into an animal of some kind but the "quickened" are animals who shift into humans. For those who don't read shifters stories are probably thinking: what's the difference? Probably not a lot when it comes right down to it but for those of us who read shifters, it adds an intriguing angle and an interesting concept to explore. Its pretty obvious Miss Easton has done her homework when it comes to the dog world, which adds an extra special dose of "reality" to this original story.
Rav and Sammy really sucked me in and are definitely a perfect fit. Sammy has trust issues, don't get wrong they are completely understandable, but I can't imagine there exists a more compassionate fit for him than Rav. How to Save a Life might be a fun, sweet read but that doesn't mean there isn't obstacles for the pair. Eli Easton has given us a lovely read that made a perfect jump start to my reading list as we inch closer to October and all it's Halloween goodness but if you don't really have the time right now it will make great reading whenever you are ready.
As I said above, I don't know that it's mandatory to read in order but I highly recommend it. After reading a few other reviews I would definitely suggest checking out book 1: How to Howl at the Moon to understand some of the ins and outs of dog shifting and Mad Creek itself. I know I look forward to going back and giving this series a read.
RATING:
Being called upon to pull Santa’s sleigh is an honour for any reindeer shifter, but for Dashiel the timing couldn’t be worse.
Stuart was looking forward to his Christmas Eve date with Dashiel, only to have him cancel at the last minute. He puts his disappointment aside and instead focuses on making his younger brother’s Christmas as wonderful as it can be, despite the loss of their parents the previous winter.
While flying over his home town, Dashiel spots a young boy on the streets, and he knows he has to help. When the young runaway turns out to be his date’s little brother, he brings him on board the sleigh, determined to see him safely home to Stuart.
Can a reindeer shifter pull Santa’s sleigh, reunite two brothers, and find love this Christmas?
Original Review December 2019:
This is just an amazingly cute sweet holiday tale. I always love it when authors play around with known legends and give it their own little fresh spin. In Sleigh Duty, we find Dashiel having finally asked out his workplace crush on a date only to find out he's been called to the North Pole for sleigh duty. Throw in a badly timed background statement from a fellow reindeer shifter and his crush, Stuart, suddenly thinks he's off having some fun-fun time instead of going on that date. Stuart thought this one was different but then he heard otherwise, or at least he jumped to the conclusion without inquiring(something his grandparents call him on later). I can't forget Stuart's little brother, Sammy because he absolutely adorable. Sammy's probably well on his way to being like his brother and jumping to conclusions one day but his late night adventure changes everyone.
Sleigh Duty is a short novella about faith in others, believing in what you don't see, and family that will open your heart to all the joys of the season. That makes it sound incredibly deep, well maybe parts are a bit but in a good way, but mostly this is just fun and it certainly ticked all my #ChristmasReads boxes. Definitely one not to be missed this holiday season and if your list is already too long then be sure you mark it for later when you need to be reminded of the magic that is all around at Christmastime.
Love Nest by Kiki Burrelli
RATING:
The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard by Charlie Cochet
LA Witt
Eli Easton
Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.
Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.
In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.
LM Brown
Kiki Burrelli
Charlie Cochet
Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.
Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
Love Nest by Kiki Burrelli
The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard by Charlie Cochet
Here at Padme's Library I feature all genres but followers have probably noticed that 95% of the posts and 99% of my reviews fall under the LGBT genres, so for this year's Pride Month I am showcasing 20 of my favorite M/M shifter reads in no particular order. All fall under paranormal but have a perfect blend of romance, drama, healing, and heart, creating unforgettable reads.
One Last Note:
Some of those on my list I have read, reread, & even listened/re-listened so I've included the review posted in my latest read/listen. Also, those that are read/re-read as a series the latest review may be an overall series review. If any of the purchase links included here don't work be sure and check the authors' websites/social media for the most recent links as they can change over time for a variety of reasons.
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The Given and The Taken by LA Witt
Summary:Tooth & Claw #1
Levi finally persuaded his wolf clan to allow him to bond to Ian instead of his predestined female mate. The catch? They have to spend a year apart after the bonding ritual. Then Ian must—using only their newly-forged spiritual connection—seek Levi out, proving the bond actually worked despite Ian being human.
Now the year is over, and Levi is desperate to have Ian back in his arms, but there’s one problem—Ian’s changed. In a moment of weakness during that agonizing year apart, Ian cheated… with a vampire. Now Ian himself is a vampire, and a devastated, furious Levi wants nothing to do with him.
That is until he learns his clan wants Ian brought to justice for desecrating their most sacred ritual. If they find him, they’ll learn he’s a vampire, and kill him. Afraid for Ian’s safety, Levi rushes to find him.
Darius, the vampire who converted Ian, tries to take him someplace safe, but when Levi catches up, all hell breaks loose. Now Ian’s on the run with a dead wolf’s blood on his hands, and the only way Levi or Darius are going to get near him is to work together.
They need to get to him before the rest of the clan… assuming they don’t kill each other first.
Original Review May 2018:
When Levi and Ian agreed the year separation after the bonding ceremony they knew it would be difficult but they had no idea it would be as difficult and life-changing as it was. Upon reuniting, Levi finds Ian changed. Ian is now a vampire and Levi wants nothing to do with him. When he returns to his pack and learns what their plan for Ian is, Levi rushes to reach him first . When Levi finds himself having to work with Darius, the vampire who changed Ian, to save Ian's life will they reach him before they kill each other or will the attraction they feel win out? And where will that leave Ian when they find him?
WOW! There is no other word that will better describe the awesomeness of The Given and the Taken. Just brilliantly WOW! One of the things that I appreciated the most was that these men live in a world where people know about vampires and werewolves, where they are more than just myth and legend. It probably occurs more than I think but not nearly enough for my liking so when I realized that humans knew about the vamps and wolves I loved this story even more.
As for the characters, I love them all, well not the pack elders but the four main characters were just awesome. Sure I wanted to kick Levi's butt for awhile but let's be honest if we were in his shoes you know you'd be quick to judge Ian too and then have to spend the rest of the time fixing your mistake, so I can forgive him for that😉 Ian makes some mistakes but he was human after all, was being the operative word. Darius may be a deadly vampire but I found him absolutely lovely and adorable. Selena, Levi's best friend and would-be-mate if Ian hadn't come along, was honest and in-your-face, not letting Levi get away with his shoddy treatment of Ian not to mention making sure Levi and Darius don't kill each other. What a great cast of characters.
I don't do spoilers but I have to say that I found Levi's faith in the pack laws evolving from trust to despising to be very believable. Unfortunately, at some point we all lose faith in something or see what everyone else has been telling us so I was able to really connect with Levi in that instance. Just brilliantly done from beginning to end and I can't wait to read parts 2 & 3 of the Tooth & Claw trilogy.
RATING:
Now the year is over, and Levi is desperate to have Ian back in his arms, but there’s one problem—Ian’s changed. In a moment of weakness during that agonizing year apart, Ian cheated… with a vampire. Now Ian himself is a vampire, and a devastated, furious Levi wants nothing to do with him.
That is until he learns his clan wants Ian brought to justice for desecrating their most sacred ritual. If they find him, they’ll learn he’s a vampire, and kill him. Afraid for Ian’s safety, Levi rushes to find him.
Darius, the vampire who converted Ian, tries to take him someplace safe, but when Levi catches up, all hell breaks loose. Now Ian’s on the run with a dead wolf’s blood on his hands, and the only way Levi or Darius are going to get near him is to work together.
They need to get to him before the rest of the clan… assuming they don’t kill each other first.
When Levi and Ian agreed the year separation after the bonding ceremony they knew it would be difficult but they had no idea it would be as difficult and life-changing as it was. Upon reuniting, Levi finds Ian changed. Ian is now a vampire and Levi wants nothing to do with him. When he returns to his pack and learns what their plan for Ian is, Levi rushes to reach him first . When Levi finds himself having to work with Darius, the vampire who changed Ian, to save Ian's life will they reach him before they kill each other or will the attraction they feel win out? And where will that leave Ian when they find him?
WOW! There is no other word that will better describe the awesomeness of The Given and the Taken. Just brilliantly WOW! One of the things that I appreciated the most was that these men live in a world where people know about vampires and werewolves, where they are more than just myth and legend. It probably occurs more than I think but not nearly enough for my liking so when I realized that humans knew about the vamps and wolves I loved this story even more.
As for the characters, I love them all, well not the pack elders but the four main characters were just awesome. Sure I wanted to kick Levi's butt for awhile but let's be honest if we were in his shoes you know you'd be quick to judge Ian too and then have to spend the rest of the time fixing your mistake, so I can forgive him for that😉 Ian makes some mistakes but he was human after all, was being the operative word. Darius may be a deadly vampire but I found him absolutely lovely and adorable. Selena, Levi's best friend and would-be-mate if Ian hadn't come along, was honest and in-your-face, not letting Levi get away with his shoddy treatment of Ian not to mention making sure Levi and Darius don't kill each other. What a great cast of characters.
I don't do spoilers but I have to say that I found Levi's faith in the pack laws evolving from trust to despising to be very believable. Unfortunately, at some point we all lose faith in something or see what everyone else has been telling us so I was able to really connect with Levi in that instance. Just brilliantly done from beginning to end and I can't wait to read parts 2 & 3 of the Tooth & Claw trilogy.
RATING:
Summary:
How to Howl at the Moon #4
Rav Miller looked into the terrified, intelligent eyes of the chocolate Labrador on death row, and knew he’d do anything to save him. When the dog, Sammy, escapes and heads to Mad Creek, Rav follows. Mad Creek. The town had become legendary in Rav’s mind after he’d met that bizarre group last year. Rav dismissed his crazy suspicions back then, but when he arrives in Mad Creek, he knows it’s true. Dog shifters exist, and apparently they all live in the California mountains. It’s enough to blow a bad boy’s mind.
Sammy has something in common with Rav—neither one of them trusts people. After Sammy’s abuse as a dog, he particularly dislikes tough-looking men like Rav. But when Sammy gets a chance to work with rescued dogs at the new Mad Creek shelter, his deep compulsion to help others overcomes his fear. Rav and Sammy bond over saving strays. If they can each find the courage to let someone else in, they might find their way to love.
Sheriff Lance Beaufort doesn’t like humans moving into Mad Creek, especially not the tattooed and defiant Rav. When Rav starts a rescue shelter, the town thinks he’s wonderful! But Lance isn’t fooled. He doesn’t buy Rav’s innocent act for one second. How much does Rav know about the quickened? What is his game? And why did he have to show up now, when Lance and the other town leaders are overwhelmed by all the new quickened pouring in?
Rav knows how to save a life. But can he save an entire town? Can he rescue Mad Creek?
This is an 80,000 word novel, book #4 in the "Howl at the Moon" series. It features a new couple and can be read as a standalone, but we recommend reading the series in order.
Rav is new to Mad Creek but he opens a rescue shelter and is quickly accepted by most but not all. Sammy is newly quickened but the emotional and verbal abuse he experienced as a dog has followed him when he shifts. Will they help Mad Creek? Will these two find happiness in Mad Creek? Will the town higher ups let them?
I'm going to start by saying that I have not read the first three in the Howl at the Moon series and I wish I had. I think the little things would have flowed better and there were a few things that didn't really quite make sense but I can't say I was really lost either or that I couldn't figure it out.
Now on to the story, one thing I found intriguing about this shifter tale(no pun intended) is the concept of being "quickened". So often shifter stories are about humans who shift into an animal of some kind but the "quickened" are animals who shift into humans. For those who don't read shifters stories are probably thinking: what's the difference? Probably not a lot when it comes right down to it but for those of us who read shifters, it adds an intriguing angle and an interesting concept to explore. Its pretty obvious Miss Easton has done her homework when it comes to the dog world, which adds an extra special dose of "reality" to this original story.
Rav and Sammy really sucked me in and are definitely a perfect fit. Sammy has trust issues, don't get wrong they are completely understandable, but I can't imagine there exists a more compassionate fit for him than Rav. How to Save a Life might be a fun, sweet read but that doesn't mean there isn't obstacles for the pair. Eli Easton has given us a lovely read that made a perfect jump start to my reading list as we inch closer to October and all it's Halloween goodness but if you don't really have the time right now it will make great reading whenever you are ready.
As I said above, I don't know that it's mandatory to read in order but I highly recommend it. After reading a few other reviews I would definitely suggest checking out book 1: How to Howl at the Moon to understand some of the ins and outs of dog shifting and Mad Creek itself. I know I look forward to going back and giving this series a read.
RATING:
Sleigh Duty by LM Brown
Summary:Being called upon to pull Santa’s sleigh is an honour for any reindeer shifter, but for Dashiel the timing couldn’t be worse.
Stuart was looking forward to his Christmas Eve date with Dashiel, only to have him cancel at the last minute. He puts his disappointment aside and instead focuses on making his younger brother’s Christmas as wonderful as it can be, despite the loss of their parents the previous winter.
While flying over his home town, Dashiel spots a young boy on the streets, and he knows he has to help. When the young runaway turns out to be his date’s little brother, he brings him on board the sleigh, determined to see him safely home to Stuart.
Can a reindeer shifter pull Santa’s sleigh, reunite two brothers, and find love this Christmas?
This is just an amazingly cute sweet holiday tale. I always love it when authors play around with known legends and give it their own little fresh spin. In Sleigh Duty, we find Dashiel having finally asked out his workplace crush on a date only to find out he's been called to the North Pole for sleigh duty. Throw in a badly timed background statement from a fellow reindeer shifter and his crush, Stuart, suddenly thinks he's off having some fun-fun time instead of going on that date. Stuart thought this one was different but then he heard otherwise, or at least he jumped to the conclusion without inquiring(something his grandparents call him on later). I can't forget Stuart's little brother, Sammy because he absolutely adorable. Sammy's probably well on his way to being like his brother and jumping to conclusions one day but his late night adventure changes everyone.
Sleigh Duty is a short novella about faith in others, believing in what you don't see, and family that will open your heart to all the joys of the season. That makes it sound incredibly deep, well maybe parts are a bit but in a good way, but mostly this is just fun and it certainly ticked all my #ChristmasReads boxes. Definitely one not to be missed this holiday season and if your list is already too long then be sure you mark it for later when you need to be reminded of the magic that is all around at Christmastime.
RATING: 
Summary:
Welcome to Morningwood #8
A classic tale of hawk meets mouse…and falls in love.
Last summer, Gus and Blaze were just life-long best friends. They made the leap from friends to lovers and now, several months later, Gus loves Blaze more than ever. Recently, he’s wondered if Blaze still feels the same way. Gus thought their honeymoon phase would last forever.
Blaze is on cloud nine. He has his best friend and his mate. He always knew Gus was his, and now that his best friend has realized that too, Blaze’s life is perfect. He can’t wait to spend eternity with Gus, but recently, his little mouse has been acting strange. Like something has changed in him.
A sudden mission with the Elite Force comes at the worst time, separating the two when they need to talk the most. Blaze waited too long to have Gus in his arms. He’ll deal with the human hunters encroaching on shifter land and he’ll do it quickly enough to make it home in time for the big Easter barbecue—and to convince Gus that they’re mates now and forever.
Love Nest is a Welcome to Morningwood novella that continues the love story of Gus and Blaze. and contains all the steam and laughs you expect from Morningwood and can be read and fully enjoyed as a standalone.
Original Review March 2024:
When I saw Kiki Burrelli had another Easter-y themed entry in Welcome to Morningwood I had to read it now which means I jumped ahead a couple of entries(again something I rarely do, as in 99.999% never do). I don't think I missed out on anything that I can't go back and catch up on in the coming months but time will tell😉.
On to Love Nest. Unlike the two I have read, Sack of Gold and Hop On, there really is no darkness here other than relationship drama that yes, mostly comes from non-communicating but as I often feel, without drama you can't enjoy the happy. Personally, sometimes not talking things out happens, it's just human nature to keep things tight to one's chest once in a while for a variety of reasons. For Gus and Blaze, those reasons I think is fear of disappointment in each other's decision to leap from friends to lovers, very understandable.
In their shifter form, hawk and mouse, they couldn't be more opposites attract but as we know, in non-shifter they have been BFFs most of their life so friends to lovers it is and there is no denying their chemistry and passion for each other. Sometimes no amount of chemistry and passion can allay those fears of crossing the friends/lovers line. I get it, it is frustrating and more than once I wanted to shake the pair yelling "TALK TO EACH OTHER!" but it's that frustrating that sucked me in so thoroughly that before I knew it, the last page was swiped.
Whether you're like me and went looking for Easter themed stories are are just on the hunt for a fun read, Love Nest is definitely worth the read. There is a brief mentions of Arthur and Aries from Hop On the biggest being the Easter BBQ is at their home so it was nice that I read that entry first and knew what that pair went through to get their HEA but it's not essential reading to fall in love with Gus and Blaze's journey. Another great holiday gem.
Summary:
Paranormal Princes #1
Prince Owin
Being a fierce predator—not at all adorable, despite my graceful stature—the last thing I needed was a bodyguard. Especially a wolf shifter, whose presence alone was an insult to my princely principles. As Prince of the Ocelot Shifters, I prided myself on my infallible feline instincts, uncompromisable dignity, and flawless fashion sense. If having a canine follow me around at all times wasn’t bad enough, I now faced the most important moment of my entire life. The time had come to prove I was worthy of my crown. If only I could find a way to get rid of the pesky bodyguard.
Grimmwolf
When the King of All Shifters asked me to guard Prince Owin, I admit I had no idea what to expect. Cat shifters tend to be a little intense, not to mention kinda cranky. Owin was no exception, though he seemed crankier than most. Being his bodyguard was proving to be one of the greatest challenges of my life—but not nearly as great as convincing him there was something special between us. When Owin is faced with a perilous quest to prove his worth, I was determined to keep him safe, even if the same couldn’t be said of my heart.
Original Review October 2019:
Charlie Cochet has done it again! Are there authors who might do the whole scary side of shifter stories better? Sure, but personally I have not a read an author who is better at blending paranormal, romance, AND humor than Cochet. The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard is an A-Freakin'-Mazing introduction to her new series, Paranormal Princes. The danger and angsty levels are pretty low but the meshing of paranormal and rom-com is . . . well . . . heavenly, I can't think of a better word other than perhaps old fashion fun!
Owin and Grimmwolf are about as mismatched as you can get: a spoiled prince cat shifter and a dedicated but carefree bodyguard wolf and yet you know where the pair will end up(and that's not a spoiler because this story is about the journey getting there not the destination😉). Knowing where they'll end up doesn't make you not want to whack Owin upside the head a time or two though or better yet throw a bucket of water on him(we all know how much cats hate getting wet despite how much time they spend cleaning themselves😉). How Grimmwolf can be so positive and smiley when he's around Owin all the time is beyond me, I guess he's better than I. Are they enemies? No but I certainly wouldn't call them friends in the beginning, at least from Owin's viewpoint. Watching them together is magical though and for a story that made me laugh so much I just couldn't put it down any more than I could a heart-pounding nailbiter, that's how addictive this pair is and I look forward to seeing more of the Paranormal Princes and what makes them all tick.
As I stated above The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard is a beautifully scripted paranormal rom-com, okay you might not find it on the Hallmark channel but if it was I can promise you I would be watching the channel a lot more. Humor isn't exactly the first thing that comes to mind when talking paranormal shifter stories but it definitely fits here. Shifting, romance, fantasy, humor, fairytale, friendship - it's all here making this gem an all around heartwarming fun experience.
Being a fierce predator—not at all adorable, despite my graceful stature—the last thing I needed was a bodyguard. Especially a wolf shifter, whose presence alone was an insult to my princely principles. As Prince of the Ocelot Shifters, I prided myself on my infallible feline instincts, uncompromisable dignity, and flawless fashion sense. If having a canine follow me around at all times wasn’t bad enough, I now faced the most important moment of my entire life. The time had come to prove I was worthy of my crown. If only I could find a way to get rid of the pesky bodyguard.
Grimmwolf
When the King of All Shifters asked me to guard Prince Owin, I admit I had no idea what to expect. Cat shifters tend to be a little intense, not to mention kinda cranky. Owin was no exception, though he seemed crankier than most. Being his bodyguard was proving to be one of the greatest challenges of my life—but not nearly as great as convincing him there was something special between us. When Owin is faced with a perilous quest to prove his worth, I was determined to keep him safe, even if the same couldn’t be said of my heart.
Charlie Cochet has done it again! Are there authors who might do the whole scary side of shifter stories better? Sure, but personally I have not a read an author who is better at blending paranormal, romance, AND humor than Cochet. The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard is an A-Freakin'-Mazing introduction to her new series, Paranormal Princes. The danger and angsty levels are pretty low but the meshing of paranormal and rom-com is . . . well . . . heavenly, I can't think of a better word other than perhaps old fashion fun!
Owin and Grimmwolf are about as mismatched as you can get: a spoiled prince cat shifter and a dedicated but carefree bodyguard wolf and yet you know where the pair will end up(and that's not a spoiler because this story is about the journey getting there not the destination😉). Knowing where they'll end up doesn't make you not want to whack Owin upside the head a time or two though or better yet throw a bucket of water on him(we all know how much cats hate getting wet despite how much time they spend cleaning themselves😉). How Grimmwolf can be so positive and smiley when he's around Owin all the time is beyond me, I guess he's better than I. Are they enemies? No but I certainly wouldn't call them friends in the beginning, at least from Owin's viewpoint. Watching them together is magical though and for a story that made me laugh so much I just couldn't put it down any more than I could a heart-pounding nailbiter, that's how addictive this pair is and I look forward to seeing more of the Paranormal Princes and what makes them all tick.
As I stated above The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard is a beautifully scripted paranormal rom-com, okay you might not find it on the Hallmark channel but if it was I can promise you I would be watching the channel a lot more. Humor isn't exactly the first thing that comes to mind when talking paranormal shifter stories but it definitely fits here. Shifting, romance, fantasy, humor, fairytale, friendship - it's all here making this gem an all around heartwarming fun experience.
Audiobook Review February 2020:
I really don't think I can say anymore than I did in my original ebook review to the story itself. Even only a few months since that original read and I still loved the book just as much. The adrenaline rush I get from reading a book the first time may not have been there having only been a few months but knowing what was coming didn't take away from the awesomeness either. I still want to whack Owin upside the head a few times and I still marvel at Grimmwolf's knack for positivity considering he's dealing with Owin. The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard is still simply put: old fashioned fun and that's not an easy thing to do in a shifter tale so I tip my hat to Charlie Cochet's ability for meshing paranormal, romance, and humor.
As for the narration, well Greg Boudreaux just makes the world of Paranormal Princes come alive. As I said above, I still wanted to whack Owin upside the head and Greg's narration made me feel if I had a frying pan handy I could just reach out and swing😉. His portrayals may not have exactly matched what was in my head when I originally read the story last fall but honestly I can't imagine anyone doing a better job.
RATING:
I really don't think I can say anymore than I did in my original ebook review to the story itself. Even only a few months since that original read and I still loved the book just as much. The adrenaline rush I get from reading a book the first time may not have been there having only been a few months but knowing what was coming didn't take away from the awesomeness either. I still want to whack Owin upside the head a few times and I still marvel at Grimmwolf's knack for positivity considering he's dealing with Owin. The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard is still simply put: old fashioned fun and that's not an easy thing to do in a shifter tale so I tip my hat to Charlie Cochet's ability for meshing paranormal, romance, and humor.
As for the narration, well Greg Boudreaux just makes the world of Paranormal Princes come alive. As I said above, I still wanted to whack Owin upside the head and Greg's narration made me feel if I had a frying pan handy I could just reach out and swing😉. His portrayals may not have exactly matched what was in my head when I originally read the story last fall but honestly I can't imagine anyone doing a better job.
RATING:
The Given & the Taken by LA Witt
It was unusual, to say the least, for wolves and humans to be as compatible as we were, but Ian and I were perfect for each other. Absolutely perfect. He’d seen me in my wolf form, but unlike other men I’d dated, he never batted an eye at being physically intimate in my human form. Nothing had changed between us the day I told him what I was.
The rest of the pack said Ian was a distraction. He kept me from being around the other wolves as much as I used to. He was the reason I’d leave the pack’s farm for days at a time. They were all convinced we were just a couple of sex-obsessed lovers who’d eventually get it out of our systems.
They didn’t have a clue. It would have stunned them to learn we spent hours on end just lying in bed and talking. Of course we had a scorching-hot sex life, but it was the long, intimate conversations that kept me in his bed until all hours of the night. I loved his dry sense of humor. I loved the way he couldn’t keep his hands off me while we talked—fingers in my hair, along my arm, across my cheek. I loved everything about him.
But maybe that wasn’t enough.
Please, Ian, don’t leave me out here.
An hour passed. Another.
My pants legs hissed against the three-inch snowdrifts on either side of the path I’d tramped down, brushing powder free and adding a whisper to the rhythm of my boots on the frozen ground as I continued pacing. I considered going somewhere else, somewhere I could warm the feeling back into my hands and feet, but I stayed put. If Ian did try to track me down, it’d be easier for him if I stayed in one place. Following such a sense had to be alien for him, and if I moved beyond just wandering around this clearing, it would only disorient him. Humans weren’t as accustomed to following senses besides sight and hearing, navigating based on a nebulous “feeling” must have been confusing as hell.
I stopped pacing. The base of my spine tingled as that sense of Ian grew stronger. Holding my breath, certain it was my imagination, I homed in on that pull. On him. It was indeed stronger now than it had been earlier, so he must have been closer. And moving. Drawing closer by the minute.
Relief warmed my veins. Maybe he would show up after all.
My heart pounded. Restlessness and the need for warmth got my feet moving again, and I resumed pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth. Minute after minute, step by step. Back and forth. Another hour inched past as Ian inched closer to me, and all the while, I searched the air, tasting it for the first hint of him.
There. Relief turned to anticipation. Closing my eyes, I drew in a deep breath, savoring that scent that had been lost to me for one long, long year. I opened my eyes and paced even faster, desperate to ease this nervous energy, this tension that had me tempted to break into a run. He’d be here soon. Very soon. I’d waited this long; I could wait a few more minutes. He had to find me. Then this would all be over.
Stronger. Closer. It was all I could do not to start toward him, dragged like a powerful magnet by an unseen and undeniable force. My nerve endings tingled, as if electricity crackled across my skin, ready to arc from me to him as soon as the distance—
I stopped in my tracks, one foot suspended mid-step. My blood turned colder than the wind around me. Something in the air was off. Wasn’t right.
I wasn’t alone. Ian was closer than before, much closer, but there was someone else.
I took another deep breath, and my hackles went up.
A vampire.
The scent was unmistakable. Not like death or decay like many would expect, perhaps not even an actual smell. It was more of a disturbance. Like an itch. An irritation. The tickle in the back of the throat that demanded a cough, the sting in the nose that warranted a sneeze.
What I didn’t smell was blood. Not even the faintest hint, which meant it probably hadn’t fed recently, and there were few things more dangerous than a hungry vampire.
Panic surged through me. Wolves could sense vampires from a safe enough distance to avoid them. Humans couldn’t. Ian wouldn’t know it was there until he could see or hear it.
And nothing outran a vampire.
Fuck the ritual. I didn’t lead Ian out into the middle of nowhere to be hunted.
I lunged out of the clearing, sprinting across the slick ground with practiced agility, cursing the snow that crunched loudly beneath my boots and the ice that threatened to send me to the ground. I was faster and stealthier as a wolf, but the transition took precious seconds I couldn’t afford to waste.
Every breath of cold air I dragged in burned my nose and lungs. My boot caught on a snow-covered root, and I stumbled, then slid on the snow before grabbing a tree to right myself. I paused, eyes darting around in the darkness until I was doubly sure I’d oriented myself to him; then I was off and running again.
My every sense thrummed with Ian’s presence as it drew me toward him, but even that powerful, electric pull couldn’t stop my skin from crawling beneath this intensifying itch. My eyes stung, but I couldn’t tell if it was from the wind or the vampire. Either way, I wasn’t stopping until I got to Ian, and come hell or high water, I’d get to him before that bloodsucking creature did.
Slipping and sliding on icy leaves and moss, I rounded another bend. A silhouette stood out against a gray backdrop of moonlit snow, and we both stopped, facing each other.
“Ian?” I whispered.
“Levi,” he breathed.
“Oh, thank God.” I hurried to him, threw my arms around him and held him to me. Closing my eyes tight, I forced myself to stop panting and freaking out long enough to draw in a deep breath of him through my nose and—
I opened my eyes. Released my breath. Drew another.
Shoving myself off him, I staggered back and stared at him, narrowing my burning eyes so I could make him out in the darkness.
“You didn’t.” Panic laced my voice. “Ian, tell me you didn’t. Tell me you aren’t.”
He dropped his gaze.
Oh, no. No. Please, no.
But too many pieces fell too easily into place. The sudden disappearance and reappearance on my radar. The change in the way I sensed him. The fact that he hadn’t come to me until after sundown. The burning in my eyes and nose.
I finally found enough breath to whisper, “Why?”
He shifted, the frozen ground crackling beneath his feet. “It wasn’t…” Rubbing the back of his neck with both hands, he turned away.
My heart dropped. Curling and uncurling my hands at my sides, I was torn between reaching for my lover—my bonded soulmate, for God’s sake—and refusing to touch the creature he’d become.
“Who did this?” I asked.
He lowered his hands but didn’t turn around. “A…friend.”
The world listed beneath my feet. Forcing back the lump in my throat, I said, “A friend did this to you?” My heart sank deeper. “You let him convert you, when you wouldn’t let me?”
Ian faced me now, and though he was mostly eclipsed by shadows, the light from the moon and off the snow illuminated just enough to reveal his set jaw, his gaunt cheeks, his exhausted eyes. Looking him up and down, I realized he’d lost weight. Even the heavy jacket couldn’t mask that, and when he reached up to sweep some of his long hair out of his face, his hand was bonier than I remembered.
Becoming a vampire hadn’t done that to him. If anything, most people looked rejuvenated after they converted. They were the very picture of robust health; appearances were certainly deceiving when it came to these vile creatures. It took years for anything to take a noticeable toll on a vampire, but Ian looked a decade older than when I last saw him. Thin. Exhausted. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he was pale too.
What’s happened to you?
I inclined my head. “Ian…?”
“He was a friend.” He pushed his shoulders back and looked me in the eye. “I didn’t ask for this.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. “He converted you against your will?”
How to Save a Life by Eli Easton
Chapter 1: Sammy and the bad man
February, 2017
Flagstaff, Arizona
Sammy cowered under the bed in the guest room and covered his ears with his paws. His body shook with stress. He hated it when the Bad Man yelled. Sammy had never liked loud noises, but the Bad Man's shouting was the worst loud noise of all.
"I swear to God, if you don't shut your damn mouth—"
Because Sammy was supposed to make it stop. That was his job, to protect Mom Marie. But he was too afraid. Sammy trembled. His insides churned with fear, worry, and deep-down doggie guilt.
When the Bad Man was angry, his breath smelled sharp and his face got so ugly. He was hurting Mom Marie with his bad words and probably also with push, strike, pinch.
Mom Marie was Mom Charlotte's sister. She'd taken Sammy in after Mom Charlotte died. Sammy didn't love Mom Marie as much as he'd loved Charlotte. When he met Mom Charlotte, he was just a little pup, and he'd loved her with his whole heart and being and soul and stomach and everything. But Mom Marie was a nice human. She stroked his fur and gave him good things to eat. She talked sweet to him. It was Sammy's job to take care of Mom Marie now that he lived with her. But the first time he tried to stand between her and the Bad Man, the Bad Man had yelled and struck Sammy again and again with a big metal tool he'd grabbed from the counter. It hurt. A lot. Sammy's insides had hurt for days. It had hurt to breathe. It had hurt to pee. But the Bad Man's hate hurt the worst of all. Sammy didn't know why the Bad Man hated him so much, but he was the strongest in the pack, so he could do whatever he liked.
Now Sammy was overcome with fear whenever the Bad Man got close. He no longer tried to protect Mom Marie. Instead, Sammy hid under the bed and cowered. He felt shame for his fear and his failure. He was not a good dog at all. He hadn't saved Mom Charlotte the day she'd fallen down the stairs. He'd stood at the bottom of the stairs and watched, not understanding what was happening until it was too late.
Could he have saved her? What if he had leaped forward and let her land on his soft body? He should have tried. If only he had tried!
And now he couldn't save Mom Marie either. He was useless.
"I saw you! You flashed your leg to that guy."
"I did not, Hank! You just make this stuff up in your head."
"Don't you dare say that to me!"
Sammy shut his eyes. To calm himself, he went somewhere else in his mind. He thought about Mom Charlotte, of her soft gray hair, her twinkling eyes, and the love in her smile. He thought of the way she hugged him on the couch at night while she watched TV, about their long walks together. He loved it when she took him to the mountains to hike. His favorite thing, though, was the comforting weight of her against his back as Sammy snuggled up next to her in bed. That lovely, comfy bed! If only—
"There you are, you stupid dog!"
Sammy's eyes flew open. The Bad Man's face was hard and twisted as he looked under the bed. His beard was full and bristly, his eyes small and mean. He reached in and grabbed Sammy's collar, dragging him out. The collar choked Sammy and the dragging was so swift, one of his back legs got tangled. Sammy yelped.
As soon as he was out, he tried to get to his feet and run, but the man held his collar fast.
"Outside! Outside now!" He dragged Sammy toward the kitchen.
Sammy yelped again. He was in trouble. It was going to hurt.
"Hank, leave him alone, please!" Mom Marie's eyes were red, and Sammy sensed the bad feelings pouring off her.
"You want to be a bitch to me? Then your precious dog is not welcome in my house!"
"Hank, come on! I said I was sorry! Please!"
The Bad Man opened the back door and dragged Sammy into the yard.
Mommy. Mommy. Help me, Sammy thought, picturing Mom Charlotte. But she was gone and couldn't help him now.
It had snowed all day and the ground was covered with a heavy pelt of the white, cold stuff. It stuck to Sammy's fur as he was dragged through on his four paws.
The Bad Man snapped Sammy's collar to a chain on a tree. He often put Sammy out in the yard on the chain. Sammy loved the outside. He loved the soft, fragrant grass and the way the tall trees softened the sun. He loved trying to bite the wind. He loved watching birds and spiders and all sorts of wild things. He even loved the snow when it came down in thick, fluffy pads. But he loathed the chain. The chain pinned him in place and it was so boring. It was bad enough when the day was warm and gentle. But in the cold…
No, please. I'm sorry. I will stay under the bed. I promise. You won't even see me. Just please don't leave me here!
Mom Marie pleaded, but the Bad Man shoved her inside and shut the door.
Sammy was alone.
He shook all over, both from the cold outside and from a deeper cold inside. He wished to be back home with Mom Charlotte where every day was fun and safe and he was so so loved. He hadn't known then how lucky he was. He hadn't known then that life could be scary. And lonely. And sad. But worse of all was the guilt, the way his doggy heart beat with longing to help those he loved—in vain. He couldn't help anyone. He was a coward.
When it was clear no one was going to come out to let Sammy back into the house, he dug a hole in the snow with his paws, making a place to lie down. The chain didn't stretch far enough to let him crawl under the porch or huddle next the fence. At least here under the tree, the snow was less deep. He lay in the spot he'd made and tried to sleep, but he was too cold. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he got up and ran around the tree, around and around, first one way and then the other to unwrap the chain. When he got tired of that, he would lay back down again.
Inside him, in the space where his grief and guilt over Mom Charlotte lived, he still felt love, love, love. Love for Mom Charlotte, for Mom Marie, for the world. It was a love that was pure, and it shone hot despite everything. That stew of emotions created waves and currents, highs and lows, chemicals that washed through every cell of his body.
Sammy was getting smarter.
He could sense that he understood more and more of what the Bad Man and Mom Marie said, both the words and the meaning behind the words. Sammy's view was shifting, but he didn't know what to do with these new thoughts and feelings.
Get away, a calm voice in his head said. Run away. The next chance you get, watch for it and run. It isn't safe here. You can't stay.
But Mom Marie would be alone and in danger.
You can't help her. He's too strong. Run away. She wants you to. She hates it when Hank hurts you. Mom Charlotte would want you to run away too.
But even if Sammy could leave Mom Marie, where could he go? What would he do? Who would feed him? And how would he live being outside all the time when he hated being outside in the snow right now?
It was hopeless. Helplessness mixed with the stew of emotions down deep in his core. He lay on the frozen ground, or he paced. He thought. The cold grew worse, his body wracked with shivers. The night was endless.
But no one ever came.
Dawn took forever to arrive. Finally, the sky cracked open a pink eye, and there was movement inside the house. The Bad Man left early for work most days. Weekdays, supplied that new voice in Sammy's brain. They call them weekdays, and there are five in a row when he goes to work. This is a weekday, so he'll leave soon.
Sammy knew Mom Marie was up too. She always made the Bad Man food in the mornings. Sammy listened and waited. He'd gone numb, and his muscles had given up shivering. His head hung low.
The Bad Man's truck started up on the other side of the house and drove away. Mom Marie came rushing out the back door. She had an expression Sammy had never seen before. She took the chain off Sammy's collar, and when his legs could barely move, she picked him up and carried him inside.
On the kitchen rug, she rubbed Sammy with a big towel, waking up his frozen muscles. She gave him warm water to drink. He was so thirsty! She told him, her voice funny and choked, how sorry she was and how she wouldn't let Hank hurt him again. Gratitude swamped Sammy. He licked her face over and over.
Thank you for letting me inside. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I wasn't brave enough to protect you. Sorry I couldn't stand up to him last night, didn't guard you but only hid. So sorry.
Mom Marie buried her face in Sammy's brown fur and cried deep, wrenching sobs. He didn't know what to do. He pawed at her side and licked her ear. He shuddered closer to her, offering his cold body as comfort. It was so lovely to be held. They sat that way for a while. As the warmth of the house sank into him, Sammy almost fell asleep.
Mom Marie pushed away and wiped at her face, her expression going hard. "Okay, Sammy. Okay."
She gave him a huge bowl of food—dog food with bits of steak and potatoes and bread on top. He never got such good food! While he ate she took a shower.
When she came back in the kitchen, she was dressed and held his leash. "Let's go, love."
There was something wrong with her voice, but Sammy didn't care. He was happy to go anywhere.
She put him in the car and drove him to a big gray building. Sammy didn't know what it was at first. He could see wire fences out back and there were the sounds and smells of lots of dogs. It wasn't a good smell. It was a desperate smell. And the building looked stark and unfriendly in the still, cold air.
Sammy didn't want to go inside. Mom Marie had to make him get out of the car and pull his leash to get him to the front door.
Before they went in, she knelt down in front of Sammy. She held his face and looked him right in the eyes. He licked her wet, salty face. Sorrow rolled off her in waves.
"I'm so sorry, baby, but you can't stay with me. He'll hurt you. And I promised Char I'd take care of you. You'll find a new home, one where you're pampered and get all the wonderful things you deserve. Okay, buddy? I'm so, so sorry. I love you, Sammy."
She wiped her face, almost angrily, and took Sammy inside.
***
Ninety Days.
That was how long they kept dogs at the pound. If, at the end of ninety days, Sammy had not been adopted, he would be "put to sleep." They meant forever-sleep, like Mom Charlotte after she'd fallen down the stairs. The body was left behind, but there was nothing in it. The idea scared him so much he couldn't think about it for long.
Sammy figured out about the ninety days from conversation he overheard and from the pity and sadness in the shelter workers when they came to take a dog out of its cage for the last time. Sammy was in a long row of cages. Each one had an inside part and a flap to a small outside part. The wire link walls were tall and strong. He had a pair of blankets for a bed, laid out on cold concrete. There were so many dogs, and so much noise, Sammy wished for a place to retreat, someplace like under-the-bed, where he could hide, but there was no place like that.
They gave him food and water twice a day, and they took him out on leash three times into a grassy area so he could pee and poop and walk a little. Otherwise, he was alone.
At first, Sammy didn't want to believe they put dogs to sleep. Mom Marie was trying to save him. She would never have brought him here to die! But Sammy's quickening brain wouldn't allow him to stay in denial for long. He couldn't pretend when he heard the staff talk about who was "going down" that day, when he saw the way the older dogs steadily disappeared. Mom Marie didn't know they did that here. I'm sure she didn't know. It was a cold comfort.
He had eighty days.
He had seventy days.
One day, a pretty girl came to get Sammy. She took him on leash to a room where he and five other dogs were looked over by a couple. The woman was about the same age as Mom Marie. She had yellow hair and was very thin. The man wore a cap in bright red that was turned backward on his head. He was big and strong, and his heavy boots reminded Sammy of the Bad Man.
Sammy was terrified and wouldn't go near the man in the red cap. The man tried to touch him a few times, talking in a soothing voice, but Sammy wanted nothing to do with him. No, no, no!
The couple took another dog home with them. Sammy was put back in his cage.
The new, smarter, voice in his head was upset. Why couldn't you act friendly? If you'd been nice and cute and playful, they might have picked you. If you stay here, you'll be put to sleep.
Sammy knew it was true. But when the fear overcame him, he couldn't control himself. He didn't want to go home with that man in the red cap. No!
Fifty days.
Forty days.
Twice more, the shelter workers led Sammy out into a room to be looked over. And twice more, Sammy couldn't hide his fear of the men in the room. Twice more, he was put back in his cage. After that, they stopped coming for him.
Thirty days.
Twenty days.
One day, they brought a new dog down the aisle and put him in the cage across from Sammy. The new dog was about Sammy's height but fatter. He had long fur that was white and tan and black. He was full of energy and barked at the shelter handlers in an annoyed voice. Once the workers left, the dog paced the cage. Then he looked around and his gaze landed on Sammy.
Sammy went from mildly curious to alert in a heartbeat. He sat up, whined. There was something different in the dog's eyes, in the way he tilted his head. He looked so… so smart. Sammy pressed his nose against the wire, trying to smell. He caught a whiff of something—something new. Human-dog. Both at once.
Sammy barked excitedly.
The strange dog narrowed his eyes at Sammy and then… then he did something Sammy had never seen a dog to. Very deliberately, the strange dog shook his head. No. Not now. He winked at Sammy with one eye—winked—then went out to explore the outside part of his cage.
That night, Sammy was awoken by an urgent whisper. "Psst. Hey. Hey you, dog!"
Sammy opened his eyes. In the cage across from him was a man. A naked man. He was crouched inside the kennel in a way that was almost funny except that Sammy knew it meant something important. He was squatting down, his big human feet flat on the cage floor, his knees against the front cage wires, head almost at the top of the cage. And he was looking right at Sammy.
"That's right. Wake up!" the man said in a soft but urgent voice.
Sammy sat up at once. He barked.
"No, no!" The man motioned down with his hands. "Shhh! Be quiet!"
Sammy stopped barking, but he couldn't hold in an anxious whine.
"Okay." The man licked his lips and scratched at one ear. "You're quick, huh?"
Sammy panted. He didn't understand.
"You're like me. You can do this. Change into a man." He waved a hand at his body.
Sammy felt a flood of wonder and fear. The dog in the cage next door had turned into a man. It was crazy, yet it was exactly what Sammy had been feeling, wasn't it? The urge in his throat to speak, the overwhelming need to stretch his spine up and up, the need to stand! He put both paws on the cage door and whined.
"Ah. You're new, huh?" The man's face softened. "It's okay. We've all been there. Welp, if you can understand what I’m saying—and if my nose hasn’t lost its mojo yet—" He tapped the very large nose on his face. "—then you are like me."
He looked around as if to make sure no one was listening. But it was the middle of the night and there were only the other dogs. "It's called 'getting the spark.' Quickening. You're a quick. That means you can change from dog to man. And back again too. Cool, huh?"
His eyes were kind and bright. Sammy looked him over, studying every inch. He looked so real! So manlike! His hair was brown with white streaks, and it fell in messy waves to his shoulders. His eyes were bright blue, and he had a lot of hair on his chest and legs. But still, if Sammy didn't know better, he would think the strange dog-man was like any other human. And he talked and gestured and everything. It was amazing!
What would Sammy look like as a man? What would he feel like?
The thought was like grease on the stuck gears of his brain, and suddenly all his anxiety of the past few weeks, his fear, his nameless yearning, made sense. He wanted that. He wanted to do that, to be that so badly! His skin itched and his muscles trembled with tiny sparks of lightning. He shut his eyes, letting the sensations fall upon him, reached for them—
"No! Psst. Hey. Stop that. Stop it! For cripes’ sake."
Reluctantly, and with great effort, Sammy pushed the feelings down. It was like trying to hold back a sneeze, but he managed. He opened his eyes.
"Not here!" The dog-man looked around anxiously. "Sheesh! Not a good idea, my friend. Your first time will be hard and… and loud. We'd be discovered for sure! Rule number one: we can never let the humans know about us. Never. No matter what. We have to protect the pack. Understand?"
The dog-man's whisper was so fierce, so urgent, it made Sammy stop and think. If humans knew the dog they'd put in that cage opposite could become a man, what would they do? Sammy instinctively knew it wouldn't be good. Protect the pack. It was an ancestral memory as old as time, leading predators away from a nest of pups. Being willing to die to save them.
Sammy bent his head and whined submissively.
The dog-man nodded. "Good. Now listen, nod once for 'yes,' like this." He moved his head up and down. "And like this for 'no.'" He moved his head side to side. "Got it?"
With some effort, Sammy made his head nod.
"Okay." The dog-man let out a long sigh. "My name is Rex. That's spelled with an X! And you and me, we need to get out of here. Right?"
Sammy nodded with force. Yes! The dog-man, Rex, would know how to get out. This was great! Sammy was saved!
"Yeah, no sweat. I've been traveling around, trying to find new quicks like you. So I'm glad to meet you!" Rex's eyes brightened. "We'll get outta here and go north. Sound like a plan?"
Sammy pawed at the front of the cage. He wanted to leave right now.
"But first I gotta figure out how to open these doors." Rex's human fingers felt around the steel box on the door of his cage. "Damn thing needs a key, I think."
Sammy had seen the shelter workers open the cage doors lots of times. They used a card they wore around their neck. But Rex didn't have a card. Sammy watched him jiggle and press and feel around the box, but the door didn't open.
Sammy began to feel anxious. He whined.
"Nah, it's cool," Rex said. "We'll just, uh, wait for an opportunity. Right? They gotta open the doors sometime. Maybe when they come feed us. Or take us outside. I'll figure it out. No sweaterino. None at all."
Sammy growled low in his throat. He wanted to tell the dog-man he didn't have much time left!
"Don't be scared, bud. I've got your back." Rex smiled a toothy grin, but it didn't calm the fear spreading its wings again in Sammy's heart.
Rex settled back against the wall of the cage, his body going relaxed and limp. "Yeah, yeah. It'll be great! You'll see. It's the best thing ever, being quick. We'll head northwest to Mad Creek. That's a town in California. There's lots of us there. It's the greatest place to live in the whole world! There're trees and mountains and rabbits and a park with places to lie in the sun…. There's a diner that serves the best hamburger and french fries you can imagine—no joke! And everyone is so nice! They'll give you a place to live for free. You'll love it so hard. It's great, great, great! We'll go there soon as we get out. But just in case we get separated, here's how you can find it. Okay?"
Rex told Sammy how to find Mad Creek—about where the sun was in the mornings over big rivers and how the blue-green mountains would glow. He told Sammy about the smells you could follow on the way. Mad Creek was near a big park called Yo-sem-inny, and if Sammy got lost, he could use his human voice to ask directions. The very idea!
The town sounded like Heaven. Sammy wondered if such a place could really exist, but he wanted to believe it did. He fell asleep listening to Rex's word pictures of this special place, a place for dogs just like him, a place where he'd be safe and loved.
But when Sammy opened his eyes in the morning, Rex's cage was empty.
Sleigh Duty by LM Brown
“Dashiel, you’re up next,” the elf in charge of fittings called. “Get your hooves moving, you’re holding everyone up.”
Dashiel wondered who had first depicted Santa’s elves as cheerful little toy makers. He had yet to see one smile. They seemed even more miserable than he was right now. Of course, he hadn’t met many, and it was the most stressful time of year for them. Not to mention they hadn’t seen daylight in three months. That would make him grumpy too. Still, there was no need for them to prod him in the rear quite so hard to get him moving.
The next few hours were spent being trained in how to respond to the reins. Dashiel didn’t mind learning how to pull the sleigh, he just wished they could leave off the bells until they were in the air. The constant jingling was driving him up the wall.
Then came the flying lessons. Yuri must have seen Dumbo recently, because he was giving them a loud rendition of the song about elephants flying, but substituting reindeer instead. Apparently teasing the first timers like Dashiel was the highlight of his night. There were three shifters who had never been summoned before, Dashiel being the youngest of the trio.
The first time Dashiel’s hooves left the ground he almost panicked. Thoughts of flying off into space nearly had him hyperventilating, even though the others assured him that no matter how hard he tried, he would never even reach the height of a plane.
Finally, they were as prepared as they could be. Dashiel took his place beside Fred. Yuri and wife were in front of them, the couple taking the lead.
Everyone went quiet when Santa arrived. He was just as Dashiel had pictured him, though he had never seen him in person. Unlike the couple in front of him, Dashiel’s parents had never been summoned on the same night, so he had never been brought to the North Pole with them.
As they took off into the sky, Dashiel glanced below and saw how large the toy factory truly was. It was so much more than a single building. There was an entire village, with every house decorated for Christmas.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” he said to Fred.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Fred replied.
“You’re not scared of heights are you?”
“I’ll be fine as long as I don’t look down.”
Dashiel snorted. “I’d rather look down at the ground, than at Yuri’s arse all night.”
“I heard that,” Yuri replied. “I’ll have you know, my arse is the envy of reindeer the world over.”
Dashiel couldn’t laugh properly in his reindeer form, but he was starting to feel the Christmas spirit now. Chances were, he would be required to do sleigh duty again in the coming years, but there were those who were only summoned once in their life, and since he didn’t know if he would be called again, he intended to make the most of tonight.
Dashiel wondered who had first depicted Santa’s elves as cheerful little toy makers. He had yet to see one smile. They seemed even more miserable than he was right now. Of course, he hadn’t met many, and it was the most stressful time of year for them. Not to mention they hadn’t seen daylight in three months. That would make him grumpy too. Still, there was no need for them to prod him in the rear quite so hard to get him moving.
The next few hours were spent being trained in how to respond to the reins. Dashiel didn’t mind learning how to pull the sleigh, he just wished they could leave off the bells until they were in the air. The constant jingling was driving him up the wall.
Then came the flying lessons. Yuri must have seen Dumbo recently, because he was giving them a loud rendition of the song about elephants flying, but substituting reindeer instead. Apparently teasing the first timers like Dashiel was the highlight of his night. There were three shifters who had never been summoned before, Dashiel being the youngest of the trio.
The first time Dashiel’s hooves left the ground he almost panicked. Thoughts of flying off into space nearly had him hyperventilating, even though the others assured him that no matter how hard he tried, he would never even reach the height of a plane.
Finally, they were as prepared as they could be. Dashiel took his place beside Fred. Yuri and wife were in front of them, the couple taking the lead.
Everyone went quiet when Santa arrived. He was just as Dashiel had pictured him, though he had never seen him in person. Unlike the couple in front of him, Dashiel’s parents had never been summoned on the same night, so he had never been brought to the North Pole with them.
As they took off into the sky, Dashiel glanced below and saw how large the toy factory truly was. It was so much more than a single building. There was an entire village, with every house decorated for Christmas.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” he said to Fred.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Fred replied.
“You’re not scared of heights are you?”
“I’ll be fine as long as I don’t look down.”
Dashiel snorted. “I’d rather look down at the ground, than at Yuri’s arse all night.”
“I heard that,” Yuri replied. “I’ll have you know, my arse is the envy of reindeer the world over.”
Dashiel couldn’t laugh properly in his reindeer form, but he was starting to feel the Christmas spirit now. Chances were, he would be required to do sleigh duty again in the coming years, but there were those who were only summoned once in their life, and since he didn’t know if he would be called again, he intended to make the most of tonight.
Love Nest by Kiki Burrelli
Chapter One
Gus
The warm spray washed away the aches of the night. With my eyes still halfway shut from sleep, I reached for my moisturizing conditioner. My fingers knocked into the navy-blue bottle. I'd been expecting it to be heavier than it was, and my miscalculation sent the container flying.
The corner of the lid landed hard against my big toe, and I growled—even though such a thing wouldn't have been possible for me in my mouse form. My lip curled.
"Blaze!" I howled. He wasn't home. He'd earned early PT for mouthing off while in the field on our last mission. "I'm going to pluck you and stuff you into a pillow!"
He couldn't hear me. Not even Blaze's hawk hearing was sharp enough to pick up my voice from across town, but threatening him made me feel better all the same. If this had been the first time he'd used my product, I wouldn't be so angry, but Blaze had been making a habit out of using my deep moisturizing hair mask as body wash for weeks now.
Yes, standing in the shower for ten minutes while the cream soaked was excessive, but I liked to spend that time thinking or jerking off. Now I'd have to go my whole day minus my think time and without my stress reliever—all of this while I had frizzy hair.
At the moment, nothing was actually keeping me from masturbating. I glanced down at mini-Gus. He was especially mini at the moment thanks to my annoyance, and I sighed. I'd use this time to enjoy a second cup of coffee before I left instead and save myself from the glop they served down at the station.
Rinsing quickly, I reached outside the shower curtain for my towel, grasping an empty towel rack instead. I wrenched the shower curtain open. My towel lay crumpled—soaking wet—on the floor. I must have missed that when I'd climbed into the shower half asleep. And yep, there were no more towels in the bathroom cupboard. Why would there be? It was Blaze's turn to do the laundry.
It had been months since I'd agreed to move into Blaze's place. Before that, my entire life had been spent pining for the man. When a bizarre accident blew away the barriers between us, I discovered he felt the same way I did. At least, I'd thought he had. Blaze was my boyfriend and my roommate, but before he was either of those things, he'd been my best friend.
I stepped from the tub to the door, shaking like a dog to knock off the excess water. I'd have to air dry today. The only one who would be upset by the water droplets I left on the floor behind me was me. And I decided to forgive myself as I padded, buck naked, into our kitchen—stopping in my tracks.
The kitchen had been spotless last night. Now, coffee grounds were strewn across the counter. A small pile sat in a puddle of milk, turning it a light tan, while the milk dried to a flaky finish. Sighing, I grabbed a paper towel and wiped up the mess. I opened the cupboard under the sink to throw the paper towel away and discovered the trash can as overflowing as it had been last night when I'd asked Blaze to take it out.
When we'd first moved in, things had been perfect. Blaze's roommate, Kyle, had been our biggest hurdle, and it hadn't taken long before Kyle begged to move out, claiming our lovey-dovey behavior made him ill. I'd smugly helped him pack and carry furniture, all the while assuming that the stage we'd been in was how Blaze and I would be forever.
I didn't understand what had happened. I still loved him as much as ever. When I looked at Blaze, my stomach fluttered the same as it used to. But I was beginning to fear the same couldn't be said for him. I didn't know what had happened. Had I changed? Maybe I wasn't taking the changes in our living situation as stoically as I thought.
I tied up the garbage and set it outside the front door, planning to take it to the can on my way to the car.
The state of the kitchen had looked like Blaze had tried to make coffee. Tried and failed, if the amount of grounds on the counter was anything to go by. During mornings when we got ready together, making the coffee was one of my tasks.
I sipped my first cup, the nutty, earthy flavor waking me up in a way the shower had been unable to. I looked around the kitchen with new eyes. My relationship with Blaze wasn't in such a bad shape; it was mostly my lack of caffeine that had made me so morose. I took another sip, doing a spin on the tile to judge my dryness.
I caught my reflection in the living room mirror and posed. Nothing had changed in my looks. Lifting my arms over my head, I flexed like one of those oiled-up body builders. My lips turned down in a frown. Maybe my body had looked a little more… put together.
As a mouse shifter, my metabolism ran at a level most people would have to make a deal with the devil to achieve, but maybe my age was finally catching up to me. Blaze had been teasing me about how I liked caramel sauce in my coffee instead of sugar or honey. Maybe the teasing had been a cover, and he was actually annoyed. And unhappy.
My fingers were slow and unsteady when I dressed in my Elite Force uniform. I winced, my pants feeling just a little tighter than they normally did. Ignoring my finished reflection, I went back into the kitchen and brewed myself and Blaze a fresh cup, placing them both in our travel mugs. I'd bought them our first weekend together, smiling as I imagined all the things we'd do together while sipping on our matching mugs. This way, when I saw him at the office, he'd be relieved to see me.
The drive through town was short, and it was only minutes before I'd parked and walked down the sidewalk to the joint building that the Morningwood Elite Force shared with City Hall, the police department and the morgue.
"Good morning, Gus," Arthur greeted me outside on the path in. He had an Elite Force hat shoved over his blond curls and a leather satchel draped over his shoulder. Captain Aries must have had to go into the office early because he was absent from Arthur's side. Captain always went in when one of us had to go in early, saying he'd never asked one of us to do something he wasn't willing to do.
"Morning, Arthur. How's the little one?" I asked.
Arthur and the captain had enrolled Harlow, their daughter, in T-ball in the hopes that the sport would help her keep climbing out of her shell.
"You should've seen it," Arthur said, already smiling. "Aries bought her the entire outfit, pads, and helmet, and she refused to take any of it off all weekend. I didn't mind. Less bumps and bruises that way—ouch." Arthur rubbed his elbow after accidentally knocking it against the building wall.
"Maybe you should've gotten your own pair," I teased, reaching for the door to pull it open.
"Did you guys make a decision about Easter yet?" Arthur asked, going through the entrance I held open.
I frowned. "Easter?" The holiday was coming up this week.
"For our Easter barbecue this weekend? We wanted to throw a shindig where everyone could enjoy themselves. I know the town comes together, but that's mostly for the kids, and some of you guys have yet to settle down and pop any out. "
My face burned red. Arthur spoke like I should know what he was talking about. Clearly, he'd asked Blaze, but Blaze hadn't mentioned a word of the party to me. Why? Because we hadn't settled down and popped any out? "Blaze and I just… we hadn't made plans to…"
Arthur's eyes widened. "No! I didn't mean you two specifically. Oh, man, that was rude of me, wasn't it?"
I hurried to respond. "No, no, it's fine. I know what you meant. So, anyway, you're throwing an Easter barbecue?"
"I gave Blaze the invitation. He said he wasn't sure but would ask you. It's Easter, starting anytime you want to come over in the afternoon. We'll be at the parade and the gold hunt before then. You don't have to bring anything. Aries and I want to treat all of you. I don't think we ever officially thanked you as a team for just how amazing you all were when Aries was going through his stuff and then with accepting me so warmly as part of the team."
I shrugged, uncomfortable with his praise. He made the way we'd all been decent humans sound like we'd done something special. "We're more than coworkers in the Elite Force, Arthur. We're a team only as strong as our weakest link." I gasped, thinking about what I'd just implied. It felt like we just kept taking turns sticking our feet into our respective mouths. "Not that you were our weakest link."
"Uh-oh," Bruno said when the two of us reached the Elite Force lobby. He was a giant of a man with a wiry beard that covered a blocky, square-shaped face and short dark hair. "Someone let Arthur and Gus alone together. They're socially awkwarding themselves into a hole." Bruno's voice boomed as loudly as his laugh.
Arthur blushed a deep red while I flashed Bruno the finger. That only made him laugh harder.
"Mouse has a bite?" he bellowed.
Blaze walked through the lobby, coming from the other side. He'd changed out of his PT clothes into his uniform, and, as I always did, I took a second to simply stare. He wore the Elite Force uniform like a second skin. His dark hair, streaked with blond from hours out in the sun, was half dry but styled neatly. He looked up at me with amber eyes—like twin pools of whiskey. I wanted to drink him dry.
"Hey there," I purred, forgetting all the little annoyances that had clung to my back, weighing me down on the drive over. This was probably why nothing ever changed between us. The moment I stood within talking distance of the man, I became a formless puddle of goo. "I brought you a coffee."
Though I'd done the same thing hundreds of times, even before we'd started dating, I still felt shy, like someone would recognize I liked him. And after hiding my love for Blaze for so many years, it was ingrained in me. His fingers brushed over mine as he grabbed the travel mug, and our eyes met. I waited for that glorious moment where the rest of the world would fall away, and the only two things that existed were him and me. Blaze and Gus.
"Thanks," Blaze murmured. "But the coffee I had this morning gave me the shits. I think it's those fancy beans you insist on. Bruno, you want it?"
"Sure, I don't mind the shits. Gives my day some excitement," he guffawed. He took the mug from Blaze, popped off the lid, and proceeded to dump in an ungodly number of sugar packets from the small coffee station.
I glared at him. Those were my home beans! I had to have them specially delivered to Morningwood. Blaze knew that. Blaze knew everything about me. The fact that we'd been best friends since birth meant he'd seen me in every state of life: sad, happy, goofy. We'd had farting competitions and had been entirely too open with our bathroom behavior.
Dread made my gut uneasy. Was that what was wrong here? Most couples took years before they knew so much about each other. We'd jumped into a relationship already aware of the other's most embarrassing moments because we'd been there when it had happened. Before dating me, Blaze had no shortage of men and women willing to give up the chance for forever in exchange for a mind-blowing night of sex with him.
Our relationship had popped up so quickly. At the time, we'd also been fighting for our lives. Had enough time passed since then that Blaze now realized he'd made a mistake?
"How come you didn't tell me about Captain's barbecue?" I asked, the question sounding random and angry since no one else was in my head, and they hadn't been there for the mental lead-up.
Blaze's smile faltered. "The what?"
Captain poked his head out of his office. "Good morning, love," he said to Arthur before his tone hardened to address the rest of us. "Morning briefing, thirty minutes. Don't be late."
I pushed my wet hair back, tucking the strands behind my ear. Embarrassment made my cheeks burn. I should have waited until it was just us two before asking about the barbecue. Maybe Blaze hadn't wanted to go and not asking me was just a cover. One that I'd ruined.
"Uh-oh, trouble in paradise?" Bruno looked between Blaze and me like we were two players in a tennis match. "That didn't last long. Is your old apartment even cold yet?"
Any second, Blaze would correct our coworker. He'd tell him there was nothing wrong with us. No trouble.
Except Blaze didn't say anything. He looked at me. "Do we need to step outside?" he asked warily.
I lifted my chin, both as a reflexive and defensive movement. "Maybe we do."
"Oooo," Bruno howled.
I spun away, facing the door so I wouldn't have to see Bruno's annoying smiling face. Blaze charged ahead of me, and we walked outside together in silence until we lingered at the side of the building.
"Did something happen at home?" Blaze leaned with his shoulder balanced against the building, managing to keep his distance but also shield me from anyone walking behind him.
I sighed loudly, wondering how we'd gotten to this point so quickly. "No, nothing happened. I'm just wondering why you didn't bring up the party at Arthur and Captain's? Do you not want to go? Is that why?"
"Of course I want to go, Gus."
I folded my arms. "Oh so you just don't want me to go."
"That isn't what I said at all, Gus. What the heck? What is wrong?"
I didn't know how to verbalize what I felt. Individually, my complaints felt so petty. If I said them out loud, I'd only see how silly I was being. But they didn't feel petty. My anger simmered just hot enough to keep steaming while never exploding into a full boil.
"Are you upset because I wasn't there this morning?" Blaze asked, his tone turning deep and husky. "You know that wasn't my choice. Captain's orders. I prefer waking up with you."
My stomach clenched as my dick twitched. I was no closer to controlling my sexual reactions around Blaze now as I was able to fly without his help. Blaze and I had sex. Lots. It wasn't like our last time together was all that long ago, but my body reacted like we hadn't had sex in months. I slumped back against the wall, my arms dropping to my sides. "Maybe that's it. I don't like mornings where we don't get up together."
Blaze leaned in, his face free of the stress wrinkles that had been there moments ago. "Then I know just what to do." He kissed my nose. "Shift."
He shifted first, wiggling from his uniform and flapping his wings as he blinked expectantly.
I was wary, unsure of what his plan was. I shifted, scurrying down the sleeve of my uniform to peer up at him. Blaze swooped down, reenacting the scary part of a nature documentary as he secured me in his talons. We'd been flying together for years; it had been our favorite thing to do once we were both mature enough to shift. I still squeaked because even though it was exhilarating and amazing to soar up into the clouds, it was really freaking scary.
Though the ground quickly grew too far away, I knew I was safe in Blaze's talons. He might try to eat me later, but we'd both enjoy that.
Blaze didn't take us back to his house on the bluffs, though; he flew us to the very edge of the Morningwood city limits, over the park and forest to the boundary line where we'd constructed our top secret tree fort when the two of us had been ten. He flapped his wings, soaring in through the open window, where he released me on to a pile of cedar shavings.
I shifted and caught my footing quickly. "I didn't know you meant here, Blaze. We're gonna be late for the briefing."
Blaze surged forward, pushing my back to the wall, his front pressing against mine. "A quickie." His lips massaged my neck as he spoke, kissed, and nibbled his way down my chest.
I looked over his head at the familiar four walls. How many hours had we spent in this space as children, dreaming about the type of people we'd become? Blaze had always wanted to work in law enforcement, but in his younger years, he switched between wanting to work for Morningwood Police or the Elite Force. I'd only ever wanted to be where he was, by his side.
I sighed, wishing I could talk to the younger version of me who used to beat himself up.
"What is it?" Blaze asked, pulling back to allow a few inches between our faces. "Where are you in that head?"
Our gazes collided, my blue eyes clashing with his amber ones. "I'm here, Blaze. I think… sometimes… this is all a little surreal, you know? How many times did I imagine being with you like this, while I sat in this treehouse with you?"
Blaze smiled and kissed my nose. "I'm sorry I wasn't more confident back then. We could've been together the way we were meant to be for so long by now." He dropped to his knees and looked up from under my erection. We hadn't brought our clothes with us, so we were both still completely naked. "I'm still not finished catching up for all that lost time, though." He parted his lips and slid the head of my cock into his mouth, suckling just the tip while tiny explosions of pleasure went off over my body.
I didn't know how Blaze made other parts of me feel so good when he was really only touching my penis, but he knew every trick and tip to make sure I felt each lick and suckle everywhere. He could lick my elbow and make my big toe shiver with pleasure. The sounds of his mouth on my cock alone were nearly enough to bring me to orgasm. Lewd, sloppy, and wet, my moans were like the melody to his erotic percussion.
He took me deeper, his nose brushing my groin as his chin collided with my balls. He gripped my ass cheeks, pulling them apart with a growl that was as possessive as it was seductive. I wasn't in heat, so we didn't need to worry about protection.
Blaze withdrew, letting my dick fall out of his mouth with a sharp pop. "Grab the branch," he ordered, and my hands flew to the tree branch overhead that grew out of the window.
The tree creaked, but it was sturdy enough for me to hang my weight from, and I did as Blaze rose to his feet, lifting me with my legs around his waist.
"I promise I'll be on my best behavior from here on," he said as he lined our bodies up.
"Your what?" I frowned.
"So I don't get morning PT. You're always grumpy when I have morning PT."
That wasn't one hundred percent accurate, but Blaze thrust inside me in the next moment, stealing my breath and my concentration. Sometimes, he took hours lovingly preparing my body to accept him. Other times, our lovemaking was more primal. I loved both types, but right now, I needed his dominating strength. It was possible that he was more correct than I gave him credit for. Maybe it really was just his absence that got to me. I closed my eyes and pushed the thoughts out of my mind. While my alpha's cock was inside me—giving me a good dicking, as Blaze would call it—I would think only of him and now. Of us.
He kept one hand gripped tightly over my nape, holding me in place while his other hand held my hip. My feet were off the ground as I remained suspended, helpless. I couldn't control the rate of his thrusts or the speed. All I could do was hang on and let my alpha fuck me in the exact manner that he desired.
In our old childhood treehouse.
"You're milking my cock," Blaze growled. "So tight and hot. You're my hole, my perfect hole."
Fuck, that shouldn't have thrilled me as much as it did, but when Blaze started talking like that, I was lost. It felt like something else inside of me took over, like Gus had taken a break, and some other version, one that was needy and wanton, took over. I squeezed my legs around his hips, earning me another low growl. "I can't hold it back," I gasped. I'd done all I could to keep my orgasm from crashing. I'd hung suspended on the precipice for so long that it didn't take long to plunge me into pleasure.
"Don't," Blaze commanded. "Don't ever hold back, my omega."
There was no one around to hear us, and that was a very good thing. The noises I made had likely cleared our section of the forest, spooking small and large animals alike. My vision blurred, going dark before snapping back into perfect clarity. Seeing Blaze fuck me was almost as much fun as being fucked, and I didn't want to miss a single moment, not even while I was coming so hard I'd feel the aftershocks all day long.
Blaze continued to buck and thrust, drawing out both of our orgasms until I could do nothing but collapse against him, sweaty, panting, and satisfied.
"I'm gonna need a second shower," I groaned.
"Don't worry, sweet cheeks. I have that covered," Blaze said, jumping to his feet with an exuberance I wasn't capable of right just then. "Shift. I'll get us washed up and bring us back."
There wasn't any time to argue; we were likely late as it was. But the ridicule we'd get for returning sweaty-faced and smelling like sex would be unbearable. I shifted and waited.
I was still me as a mouse, but my thoughts were clearer, more focused. It was almost like as I shrunk, so did the world, my problems and worries, all of it, shrinking right along with me. But Blaze was still big. He grabbed hold of me with his sharp, brown talons and then took off.
My tiny mouse stomach flew into my throat, and I squeaked but kept my eyes open. The ground below zoomed away before rapidly growing close again. I looked up, but I couldn't see Blaze's face in this position. His beak was pointed down, in the same direction we were flying. When he said he'd handle the problem, I thought he'd fly us home really quickly, but that wasn't the direction we were going. We went down, through the canopy of trees.
The blue of Morningwood Lake grew larger and larger. I squeaked loudly, realizing what Blaze had planned. He screeched as if to tell me to calm down and that he had it all under control. At the last moment, I sucked in a breath and then nearly lost it the moment we plunged beneath the ice-cold water. My heart pounded rapidly, and my lungs stretched tight, demanding I inhale.
Blaze took us back up, using his wet wings to get distance between us and the water. If he tried to dip us a second time, I already decided I would bite his foot and take my chances falling. His wings lifted us higher. The wind whipping by was cold, but it also helped dry my fur so that by the time I spotted the Elite Force building below, I was nearly dry.
That had been my second shower for the day, and I couldn't help but compare the two. I much preferred this one, even if there still wasn't a towel waiting for me after.
The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard by Charlie Cochet
“What the—” Grimm dropped the orb, and we both jumped back. To my utter disbelief, it spread upward and sideways until it was roughly the size of a large doorway, a forest appearing inside. “Hmm. What do you know? A portal that will take us where we want to go.”
How cross would the king be with me if I accidentally pushed Grimm off a cliff? Or left him with the Cù Sìth? Not like he didn’t have plenty of wolf shifters. What was one less in the grand scheme of things?
Grimm narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re not leaving me behind.”
How did he do that? “Are you sure you’re not a seer wolf?”
Grimm didn’t look impressed. “You’re right. I’m a seer. My curse is that I’m limited to visions of you being a jerk.”
I opened my mouth to respond, then thought better of it. “Can we just go?”
“As you wish, Your Highness.” He bowed and motioned for me to go ahead. Clearly, he thought I was an idiot.
“What if it’s a trap and I step through and burst into flames? You go first.”
“Your generosity knows no bounds, my liege. Fine. I’ll go first, but if I meet my demise, my blood is on your hands.”
I shrugged. “I’ll get over it.”
“So mean.” He shook his head at me and stepped through. On the other side, he turned and held his arms out. “See? All good. Wait….” He gasped and clutched at his chest. “What’s happening to me? It burns!”
“Grimm?” My heart lurched in my chest, and I stepped up to the portal.
“I can’t,” he gasped, falling to his knees. “I can’t….”
“Can’t what!” Oh my Goddess, oh my Goddess. I never expected him to actually burst into flames! I flailed around feeling utterly helpless. “What do I do? Is it flames? Are you bursting into flames?” I frantically looked around. “I don’t see a fire extinguisher!” Not that I knew how to use one. I’d just have to toss it at him and hope he could do it himself.
“I can’t….” He gasped for breath. “I can’t… believe you fell for that,” he said with a laugh.
“I’m going to kill you!” I darted into the portal, ignoring his laughter as he took off, his long legs putting him out of my reach in a heartbeat. “I hate you!”
“Admit it! You were worried about me,” he called out from across the field.
“Worried you’d die and I wouldn’t be able to pry the magic purse off your cold, dead, dog-smelling corpse!”
“It’s a satchel!”
How cross would the king be with me if I accidentally pushed Grimm off a cliff? Or left him with the Cù Sìth? Not like he didn’t have plenty of wolf shifters. What was one less in the grand scheme of things?
Grimm narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re not leaving me behind.”
How did he do that? “Are you sure you’re not a seer wolf?”
Grimm didn’t look impressed. “You’re right. I’m a seer. My curse is that I’m limited to visions of you being a jerk.”
I opened my mouth to respond, then thought better of it. “Can we just go?”
“As you wish, Your Highness.” He bowed and motioned for me to go ahead. Clearly, he thought I was an idiot.
“What if it’s a trap and I step through and burst into flames? You go first.”
“Your generosity knows no bounds, my liege. Fine. I’ll go first, but if I meet my demise, my blood is on your hands.”
I shrugged. “I’ll get over it.”
“So mean.” He shook his head at me and stepped through. On the other side, he turned and held his arms out. “See? All good. Wait….” He gasped and clutched at his chest. “What’s happening to me? It burns!”
“Grimm?” My heart lurched in my chest, and I stepped up to the portal.
“I can’t,” he gasped, falling to his knees. “I can’t….”
“Can’t what!” Oh my Goddess, oh my Goddess. I never expected him to actually burst into flames! I flailed around feeling utterly helpless. “What do I do? Is it flames? Are you bursting into flames?” I frantically looked around. “I don’t see a fire extinguisher!” Not that I knew how to use one. I’d just have to toss it at him and hope he could do it himself.
“I can’t….” He gasped for breath. “I can’t… believe you fell for that,” he said with a laugh.
“I’m going to kill you!” I darted into the portal, ignoring his laughter as he took off, his long legs putting him out of my reach in a heartbeat. “I hate you!”
“Admit it! You were worried about me,” he called out from across the field.
“Worried you’d die and I wouldn’t be able to pry the magic purse off your cold, dead, dog-smelling corpse!”
“It’s a satchel!”
LA WittL.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters. Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Eli EastonHaving been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.
Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.
In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.
L.M. Brown is an English writer of gay romances. She believes mermen live in the undiscovered areas of the ocean. She believes life exists on other planets. She believes in fairy tales, magic, and dreams. Most of all, she believes in love.
When L.M. Brown isn’t bribing her fur babies for control of the laptop, she can usually be found with her nose in a book.
When L.M. Brown isn’t bribing her fur babies for control of the laptop, she can usually be found with her nose in a book.
Kiki Burrelli lives in the Pacific Northwest with the bears and raccoons. She dreams of owning a pack of goats that she can cuddle and dress in form-fitting sweaters. Kiki loves writing and reading and is always chasing that next character that will make her insides shiver. Consider getting to know Kiki at her website, on Facebook, or send her an email: kikiburrelli@gmail.com.
Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.
Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
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LA Witt
INSTAGRAM / SMASHWORDS / B&N
EMAIL : gallagherwitt@gmail.com
Eli Easton
LM Brown
EMAIL: lmbrownauthor@gmail.com
Kiki Burrelli
The Given & the Taken by LA Witt
Love Nest by Kiki Burrelli
The Prince and His Bedeviled Bodyguard by Charlie Cochet
