 On a good day, Declan felt he was taking his life into his hands when he was a passenger in Lucas’s Jeep. When Lucas had the siren attached and on, Declan could only pray crash bars really did work. They took a corner at a speed most NASCAR drivers wouldn’t think of traveling, and Declan grabbed the armrest with one hand and shoved his other hand against the dash. Lucas shot him a look. “You know I’ve actually taken classes in this kind of driving. You don’t have to hang on, and you’re a damn vampire. The crash won’t kill you anyway.” “Uh-huh.” Siren and flashing light on the top of the Jeep aside, Declan was not feeling impressed or safe. “There could be lives at stake. I have to get to the hospital before the ambulances do.” “Lucas, we’ll get to the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland before the ambulances get to the hospital here in Boggslake. The life that could be saved is mine!” “Don’t be so dramatic.” Lucas sped up, and they crossed train tracks, the Jeep going airborne for a split second. Declan was delighted when they arrived at the hospital. He was out of the Jeep before Lucas had the engine off. There were large bay doors open in the area the ambulances would pull into. Now there were men and women standing by with stretchers and gurneys. Declan picked out a mix of human and werewolf and a few vampires, like the police department and local college. Two ambulances arrived with the words Coate Family on the side. Anita, Lucas’s sister, and an older man Declan remembered as also being a doctor by the name of Williard Moran climbed down from the first one. A woman with a clipboard approached them. Lucas strode over to her as well. “Drs. Coate, Dr. Moran, thank you for coming to help.” The woman pointed a pen at Lucas. “We’ll have you and Dr. Moran handle the initial triage.” She handed both of them a stack of colored cards and turned toward Anita. “We’d appreciate your help in treatment. If you head inside, someone will get you set up.” Anita nodded. “These vehicles are at your disposal if you need extras. They’re not fully equipped, but they’ll suffice and leave yours and the EMTs freed up for the critical cases.” The woman thanked Anita and rushed off as ambulances began to arrive. Hillary Lassiter and Daphne Waterhouse were among the first to be unloaded. While Hillary was human, Daphne was a vampire, and they were both on the city council. Declan heard heartbeats from them both, however, each of them was seriously wounded. Even a vampire could be killed if hit with enough bullets. It would take longer and be an excruciating death Declan wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy. Daphne would live only if the bullets were removed. Lucas’s words about how serious injury to vital organs could outpace healing ability if extensive enough echoed through Declan’s head. Jonas had probably lunged right into the middle of the gunfire once he’d arrived at city hall. He heard someone say Daphne had thrown herself into the gunfire to save Mayor Lassiter, and it was a miracle she was alive. Declan knew it was no miracle. Anita stepped up to him and Lucas and took Lucas’s arm. “This hospital can’t treat werewolves and vampires,” she said. Before either Declan or Lucas could say anything, Jasper and Simon arrived. They gave one another suspicious looks and ran, along with Blair, to where Declan and Lucas stood. “Uh, a building full of bleeding humans probably isn’t the best place for me to be,” Simon said. “Yeah,” Lucas said. When his Uncle Jasper joined them, Lucas clamped his lips shut. Jasper spoke to Williard Moran and Anita. “How much help will you be?” “I haven’t opened anyone up since the first few years after medical school,” Williard said. Declan guessed he was over a hundred years old. “I think I can do a lot here,” Anita said. Jasper barked at one of the uniformed cops Declan knew was a werewolf. “Gower, get over here.” “Yes, sir?” she asked, ignoring the rest of them. “Get the injured werewolves and vampires to our compound clinic. Dr. Moran will coordinate the triage there.” He pulled out his phone. “We have doctors that I’m sure can deal with the injured vampires very well.” Gower stiffened and pulled in a breath. “Us and vampires?” Jasper turned on her. “Are you deaf? Yes. Some are seriously hurt, and they aren’t going to get proper treatment in this hospital.” He started talking into his phone. “Jacob, open the gates. We’ve got injured people coming. We need to let them into the clinic.” Jasper’s eyes glowed gold for a split second. “Get your head out of your ass. It’s city council and our Council, who cares if some of the injured are vampires? Now open the goddamn gates or I’ll drive through them myself!” Shifting Chaos is available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited.    
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NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: Road to a Cowboy Author and Publisher: Amy Aislin Cover Artist: Morningstar Ashley Designs Release Date: August 6, 2024 (audio coming early September) Genre: Contemporary M/M romance Tropes: Childhood friends to lovers, small town, cowboys Themes: Family, friendship Series: Windsor, Wyoming 2 Heat Rating: 3 flames Length: 57 000 words It’s book two in the Windsor, Wyoming trilogy, but can be read as a standalone and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links Book one in the trilogy, Home for a Cowboy, will be on sale for $0.99 until Aug 15 
Blurb Detour Excerpt Austin’s heart did a sideways flip when Cal stopped next to him, his broad shoulders as intimidating as the Rockies to anyone who didn’t know him. “Welcome back,” Cal said in a slow drawl that dragged along Austin’s senses. “How was Montana?” “Beats me,” Austin said with a grin, keeping his eyes on the image on his camera’s display. “But Kootenai National Forest was gorgeous. You should see some of the shots I got. The night sky there is spectacular.” “Doesn’t it look the same as everywhere else?” Austin gave him the stink eye. “Don’t sass me, Calvin.” Cal didn’t smile—his smiles were as rare as a sighting of Halley’s Comet—but his lips twitched. “And no, it doesn’t look the same everywhere.” “If you say so.” Cal looked off to the right. “What’s with the second camera?” Austin jerked his gaze to where he’d set up an additional tripod several feet away. “That one’s recording so I can make a time-lapse video.” Cal grunted. His presence was nonintrusive as the sun sank and the stars began to emerge, yet Austin was always aware of him. He was as aware of Cal as he was of the location of the moon or the image in his camera’s viewfinder. A few minutes later, shadows bathing the landscape, Austin began packing up his equipment under a sky quickly turning to dusk. The mountains had turned nearly invisible—when it got dark out here, it got dark—and Cal was almost a silhouette against the sky. Something about him standing silently with his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, gazing out into the distance, screamed of both contentment and loneliness, making Austin’s heart clench. The first memory Austin had of Cal at Windsor Ranch was of him falling into a puddle near the corral on a rainy summer day when they’d been seven or eight. Now, as the foreman of that same ranch, Cal was basically running the place. The juxtaposition between kid-Cal, covered in rain and mud as he’d blinked up at Austin with big gray eyes as though wondering how he’d fallen into the puddle, and adult-Cal, tall, strong, coolly confident, and carrying the weight of the entire ranch on his shoulders, was sometimes jarring in that strange twist-of-fate kind of way. Austin brought the camera up to his eyes, adjusted the settings, and snapped a photo, framing Cal in the right third of the shot while he gazed off to the left, making the viewer wonder what he was looking at. Austin would call it Cowboy Against the Night. He might even put it up for sale in his gallery instead of keeping it for himself. Maybe. Cal must’ve heard the shutter, because he turned with a raised eyebrow. “Smile,” Austin said, aiming his camera at him again. Cal did the exact opposite, making Austin laugh as he took the picture anyway. 
About the Author Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit. An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter. Social Media Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Instagram Newsletter Sign-up | Facebook Group Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a signed paperback of Road to a Cowboy 
  Mason turned Riece to face him and used two fingers to ease his shirt up. He breathed a huge sigh of relief when Riece’s skin tone was normal. “We’ll want to check each other for bruising, especially abdominal, which could mean internal bleeding,” Mason explained. Riece’s eyes widened more, and Mason thought they would pop straight out of their sockets like some bizarre cartoon character’s. “Do a sit-up for me.” Again Riece complied. “Feels fine. Like a sit-up. I don’t like doing sit-ups.” “I needed just the one,” Mason said and chuckled. “Now, you look me over—back, neck, head—for open wounds.” He turned around and smiled when he felt Riece’s fingertips start at the base of his skull and brush lightly down to his belt. “You should wiggle your toes and pull up your shirt,” Riece said softly. Mason mimicked Riece’s actions and bent his knees, turned his feet in a small circle, and told him, “My toes wiggle too.” He stood up and offered Riece his hand, pulling him to his feet. Then Mason lifted his shirt. “Anything.” “Lots.” Riece took a deep breath and smirked. “But it’s all supposed to be there.” He looked up at Mason. The few seconds of normal, relaxed behavior vanished, and Riece’s face crumpled. He took two steps forward, slipped both arms around Mason’s waist, and pressed against him, shuddering. “My fault. I’m sorry. This is my fault.” Read more diverse snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Gone Away is available in eBook, paperback and through KoboPlus.  NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: Hunt In The Night (Blood and Bonds series #3) Author: S. J. Coles Publisher: Pride Publishing Release Date: August 6, 2024 Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Mystery/Cop Tropes: Bi Awakening, Vampire, Men In Uniform, Gay For You Themes: Coming out, forgiveness Length: 71 136 words/282 pages Heat Rating: 4 flames It is book 3 of 3. It does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links 
Hunting killers is Mason’s job. But falling for a vampire is the scariest thing he’s ever done. Blurb Detective Inspector Mason Walker is good at his job. He has never focused on much else in his life. Women come and go. Friends take time he doesn’t have to spare. The job is constant. He works hard and has built a reputation for determination and integrity. Now his skills are needed more than ever. The level of violence in York has risen, involving both the haemophile and human communities. These are unexplored waters for Mason, with both political and professional implications, and Mason is afraid to lose his way. But there’s been a murder—a haemophile—and Mason’s facing the question of not only who committed the dreadful crime but how? Nothing seems to be adding up. And being assigned a haemophile partner, Special Officer Cai Bracken, a freelance detective working for the Met Police, only increases his tension. What’s really unnerving is that Cai is not only making Mason question his professional convictions, but his personal preferences, too…his most personal preferences. With so much at stake, can Mason really cope with overhauling his police work and his personal life all at once? Excerpt Sunset was still an hour away when Mason pulled in at Oswald House, but the day already felt like it had lasted twice as long as any other he had lived through. Fatigue from the sleepless night was like an undertow tugging at his brain. But his heart was skipping about when he pressed the doorbell. Jesse Truelove opened the door. He blinked when he recognized Mason. “Any news?” he asked as he stepped back to allow Mason inside. “Not yet I’m afraid,” he said, glancing up the stairs. “I’m here to see SO Bracken.” Truelove raised his eyebrows. “No one’s supposed to know he’s here…not even you.” “I am a detective, you know. And I have a matter of some urgency to discuss with him.” “Well, you’re a little early, mate,” Truelove drawled, glancing at his watch. “I know,” Mason said awkwardly. “If there’s just somewhere I could maybe wait? I don’t want to be in the way.” “Detective Inspector Walker?” Mason turned. Tom Addams was there. His face was strained. There were shadows under his eyes. “Anything?” “I’m sorry…no, not yet,” Mason said with sincere regret. “He’s here to see Cai,” Truelove said. “There is one thing I wanted to ask you about, actually, Mr. Truelove.” “Mate, please,” Truelove said, opening the door to the same sitting room as before. “Call me Jesse. I’m changing my name soon anyway.” “Jesse,” Mason said, taking a seat on the sofa as Tom took the armchair and Jesse perched on the sofa arm. “It was that that I wanted to talk to you about. I don’t want to sound insensitive, but have you and the Baron considered postponing your wedding?” Jesse exchanged glances with Tom. “Yes. We considered it. I did more than consider it, if I’m honest.” “I heard their shouting match from the other end of the house,” Tom said with a smile. Jesse made a noisy sigh. “We’re not postponing.” “Jesse,” Mason started, but Tom interrupted him. “Darragh fought very long and hard for Emory and Jesse’s wedding to be allowed to happen,” he said. “He would want it to go ahead. Otherwise, there’s no point to any of it.” “Okay,” Mason said. “I understand. I just wanted to make sure someone had mentioned the idea.” “They’ve both mentioned it,” Tom said. “And I told them the same thing I told you. The wedding is going ahead.” “You’re a stubborn asshole, you know that?” Jesse said to Tom, but he was smiling. “Darragh would never forgive me if we just gave up.” “It’s not giving up,” Jesse argued. “It’s just looking at the bigger picture.” “And what did Emory say when you said that to him?” Jesse rolled his eyes. “Let’s not have this argument again.” “Okay, we won’t,” Tom said with a shaky smile and stood. “Now, if you don’t need anything else, I have a security sweep to run.” Tom left and Jesse stared after him with a haunted expression. “I’m very sorry you’re having to go through all this.” “Not your fault,” Jesse murmured. “Just catch the bastard. That’s all we want.” Mason nodded, even though Jesse wasn’t looking at him. Jesse stood. “You can wait here if you want. Get you anything? Coffee? Something stronger?” “I’m fine, thank you,” Mason said. “I’ll just wait here, if that’s okay.” “Knock yourself out,” Jesse said, and left. The room was warm. The sofa was comfortable. The light grew dimmer, and Mason’s eyes began to droop. A touch on Mason’s hand brought him out of a soft, pleasant dream. He blinked groggily. Bracken was sitting in the armchair. “You should get some proper sleep.” Mason sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have nodded off.” He blinked at Bracken, all the feelings he’d told himself he’d keep suppressed rushing to the surface. “You didn’t call back.” Bracken’s expression closed. He stood. “Not here.” Mason followed Bracken along a corridor, down some stairs and through a series of locked doors to a comfortably furnished room. There was a wardrobe, a sofa, a desk covered in papers and an open laptop. There were minimalist paintings on the walls, several shelves of books and a large TV. It was airy and comfortable, but with no windows. No bed. “This is where you sleep?” Bracken indicated an inner door locked with a numbered keypad. “I have a secure sleeping cell through there, completely up to grade.” Bracken gave him a pained look. “Walker, no one’s supposed to know I’m here.” “Why not?” “It’s not exactly neutral ground, is it? But it’s not like I can check into the nearest hotel, either.” “I think you’re capable of keeping your sleeping arrangements separate from your professional duties.” Bracken lifted an eyebrow. “Well, that’s loaded.” Mason sank onto the sofa. “I’m sorry. I…I didn’t sleep last night.” About the Author S.J. Coles is a Romance writer originally from Shropshire, UK. She has been writing stories for as long as she has been able to read them. Her biggest passion is exploring narratives through character relationships. She finds writing LGBT/paranormal romance provides many unique and fulfilling opportunities to explore many (often neglected or under-represented) aspects of human experience, expectation, emotion and sexuality. Among her biggest influences are LGBT Romance authors K J Charles and Josh Lanyon and Vampire Chronicles author Anne Rice. Author Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter 
NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: Phoenix Rising (An M/M/M Romance) Author and Publisher: Valerie Ullmer Cover Artist: Valerie Ullmer Release Date: August 6, 2024 Genre: Contemporary M/M/M Romance Tropes: Best friends to lovers, bisexual awakening, best friends in love with the same man, and hot sexy times Themes: Moving past childhood trauma Length: 57 000 words/ 209 pages Heat Rating: 5 flames It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited 
Two best friends want the same man. Will all three be able to fall in love and make their relationship work? Blurb Phoenix Aalto had everything he wanted in life. There was nothing more he could ask for after escaping the life his father wanted for him. Or that’s the lie he told himself each time the two men of his dreams walked into his bakery, looking every bit a happy couple. He wasn’t delusional enough to believe it was more than a one-sided attraction, but it didn’t stop him from daydreaming of something more. Luka Kavka lived with his best friend, and they ran a successful landscaping business together. He’d come out during college, but like his friend, no one lasted more than a date. But a routine meeting in an out of way bakery with a real estate developer changed his fate. Burton Horváth loved life. Working with his best friend while living with him was everything he thought needed. Luka and Burton agreed they would ease into letting Phoenix know they were interested, which included months of daily visits. But change for all three men came when Luka charged in, giving Luka and Burton the opening they needed. But as they navigate their newfound relationship, will the obstacles from Phoenix’s father allow them to find their happiness? Excerpt Get it together, Phoenix! “Don’t touch him.” My mouth dropped open as breathing became difficult. A shiver of pleasure fluttered over my body at the sound of his deep, commanding voice. A scant ‘sorry’ was all I heard, since I couldn’t take my eyes off the giant of a man, even when I noted movement in my peripheral and the sound of my poor, old-fashioned shopkeeper’s bell being abused. “Woo! That was one of the… nope, the hottest thing I’ve witnessed in ages. For a second there, I wondered if you were going to rip his arms off, big guy, all because he dared to grab our Phoenix here,” Arthur said as he fanned himself. “It’s Luka.” There was a pulse of desire in my lower stomach, and I stifled a gasp when my cock swelled underneath my jeans. Grateful I had the area covered with an apron. I wanted to join my friend in fanning myself because the temperature climbed in the minute since Luka stepped in to help me. “And I’m Burton. It’s nice to meet you, Phoenix.” The blond adonis held out his hand. Reason fled as the eagerness of the situation presented to me overrode self-preservation. I placed my hand in Burton’s stronger, calloused one and sucked on my bottom lip as the tingle from his touch radiated up my arm and spread throughout. Images of me splayed out on a bed as Burton teased me with his warm hands while Luka’s voice washed over me until I erupted in an intense... Fuck! Okay! Not nice to fantasize about two men who were a couple standing right in front of me. “It’s also nice to meet you, Burton. Luka.” “I’ve never seen you blush that shade of peach before, honey. I’m gonna call Jude and tell him.” Leave it up to my best friend to embarrass me. “It’s lovely,” Luka said as he ran the back of his finger down my cheek before he cupped my face. In that moment, I considered the possibility of my entire body igniting into flames, all from Luka’s tiny gesture that, for the first time in my life, didn’t make me recoil. In a weak moment, I wanted to know the touch of the man cupping my cheek and burrowed into his hand. Then I remembered he wasn’t available and leaned away. “Sorry, I should’ve asked you before I touched you,” Luka said. I shook my head back and forth before I found the words, “No, it’s okay. You can. I’m not used to it.” “What about me? Can I touch you?” Burton asked. My eyes widened, and I nodded, staring at the bewitching man, who was even more stunning up close. “If… if you want to?” Arthur chuckled. “Give it up for Phoenix, ladies and gentlemen. He attracts two specimens of male perfection without a clue they’re flirting with him.” He mumbled as he moved around the counter to clean the tables, leaving me alone with the two gorgeous men. Or at least I believed no one was around. There was no dragging my attention away from them. “Uh…” I sounded daft as I looked back and forth between the two, confusion swamping me because I was a mess; the decorated apron with green vines and leaves along with depictions of pastries and the logo of my shop, Phoenix Rising, had chocolate stains and other food items I couldn’t identify. My hair stood up in all directions, and I’m pretty sure my fingers were sticky with frosting. As my synapses fired back up, I swallowed around the dryness in my throat and said, “Just ignore him. He’s still in the honeymoon phase, despite being married for years, and sees romance everywhere.” Until this conversation, I hadn’t spoken more than a word or two to either of these men. But now they were in front of me, both holding expressions of faint amusement as they stared at me, and I felt faint. And in order to cover my ineptitude in social situations, out came the verbal onslaught. “Is it hot in here? It’s hot, right? I mean… um, what were we talking about? Oh, right? My deluded best friend thinks, well, stupid things that are out of the realm of possibility because whatever he’s imagining doesn’t happen in real life and as far as I can tell, I’m awake and working. Are you two together? Shit, I did not mean for that to escape my mouth because nosy much, Phoenix? It’s not my business. Over the past several months, I couldn’t miss observing that you two make an exquisite couple. And on that note, I’ll stop talking now,” ending on a groan. Burton glanced at Luka, who kept his eyes on me the entire time, and beamed at the taller man. About the Author Valerie writes romances. 
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Book Title: The Amphitheater of Souls Author: Patrick Bryce Wright Publisher: JMS Books, LLC Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs Release Date: July 13, 2024 Genres: M/M Romance, Dark Fantasy Tropes: Found family, soul mates, gay male virgin, sexy elf lover, human and elf lovers Themes: initiation into adulthood Heat Rating: 3 flames Length: 56 000 words/104 pages It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links - Sale Price - 50% off Amazon US | Amazon UK | JMS Books 
When a plague hits his village, the shaman Cian travels to dwarves and centaurs for a cure. He allies with Thanyan, a lovely male elf, falling in love. Can they save the village and their own lives? Blurb When a plague ravages his village, the shaman Cian sails to the land of the dwarves for a cure. During the voyage, he meets and allies with Thanyan, a beautiful male elf who is a bard. Upon reaching the dwarven cleric whom Cian has been tasked with consulting, they uncover a dangerous secret: the plague resulted from blood magic. To undo this forbidden magic, they must travel to the island nation of the centaurs and visit The Amphitheater of Souls, the ancient temple where the blood magic was cast. Cian and Thanyan hire a female dwarven warrior, Loquin, as a bodyguard for protection against the instigator of the plague. However, they still find themselves stalked, assaulted with magic, and tangled in secrets. On the voyage to the island, a sea serpent attacks, nearly destroying their ship, and when they arrive at the island, the spellcaster launches further attempts to kill them so they can’t lift the blood curse causing the plague. With the help of centaur priestesses, the group fights to untangle a dark affair that is revealed to span decades. As Cian and Thanyan become embroiled in this dangerous mission to capture the rogue spellcaster, they grow to love each other. But with their lives at risk, can they save the village and live out their lives together in love? Excerpt In the morning, Cian and Thanyan ate a hearty dwarven breakfast and walked back to the Five Abbeys. Rokemak awaited them. He opened the door as soon as Cian knocked. Cian bowed. “Good morning, Esteemed Cleric Rokemak.” “Yes, a good morning indeed. Do come in.” Rokemak swerved through the stakes of books and the three cats, each of which tried to trip him as he walked. Cian and Thanyan followed Rokemak inside. “Does this mean you’ve discovered something more about our quest?” Thanyan asked. “I have information, yes.” Rokemak picked up two letters from his desk, both with a wax seal. He handed them to Cian. “The first letter is to Etena, Priestess of the Western Temple of Equatusa. The Western Temple is where you’ll need to go to access the Amphitheater of Souls. I’ve met and spoken with her before. She’s even-tempered—for a centaur, anyway—and will hear you out.” Cian glanced at the first letter. “Will the city guards permit us to enter if I show them this letter?” The outside was addressed to Etena from Rokemak. Rokemak snorted. “They will test your strength first. Typically, centaurs are like the stereotypical night elves: They hate tourists, and they hate weaklings.” “Great. So I’ll have to practice fighting with Loquin, or I’m doomed.” Cian wished now he’d kept up his skills after his elder sister had trained him. He held up his arms, which were slender, not muscular. “I’m a druid and an apprentice shaman. I have no interest in fighting.” “Centaurs prefer physical strength,” Rokemak said, “but they accept there is more than one kind of power.” “Druidic power?” Cian raised an eyebrow. “The skills of a shaman?” “Think about what you can do that others cannot,” Rokemak said. “I don’t know of another person besides my gran and Shaman Shaeya who has visions,” Thanyan said. “That is a rare gift from the deities. I don’t suppose you can have visions deliberately?” Cian cringed and let his gaze hover on Rokemak’s longhaired white cat napping in the sunlight pouring through a window. “Shaeya and Adeen have both mastered inducing visions at will, but I have not. I am able to scry for information using water or fire. If centaurs find divination useful, it’s one of my top skills. That and healing spells.” “Healing spells are useful everywhere,” Rokemak said. “In fact, among the night elves, healers have the most respect afforded them of any magic user.” Surprised by Rokemak’s even tone of voice when discussing night elves, Cian glanced back at him. Humans usually hate and fear night elves. Apparently dwarves do not. Thanyan glowered at the mention of the night elves. “Above all, centaurs prize honor.” Rokemak stooped to pet the zebra-coated cat swiping his legs. “Don’t forget that.” “Very well.” Cian knew little about centaurs, so he took the priest’s word at face value. “Above all else, dwarves are honorable, and Cian is a most honorable human,” Thanyan said. “He is willing to sacrifice himself for his village. If anything, Cian could use slightly less honor.” He slanted Cian a look. “However, if this impresses upon the centaurs the dire importance of the quest, then all is well.” Cian held up the second envelope. “And this letter?” “That is to the high priestess Gordina.” Rokemak straightened. “You need to ask Etena to take you to see Gordina. She’ll first bite your head off, but if you persist, she’ll agree to be interviewed. From there, convince her to do the spell you need.” “And do you know which spell we need?” Cian asked. “Not precisely. Only that it must reverse the blood magic spell.” Rokemak’s brow furrowed. “Only Gordina will know which one will work. She can deduce which spell was cast, or, if you are lucky, she’ll have a record of the spell.” Cian stowed both letters in his bag. “Thank you for the invaluable advice. You honor Shaeya with your friendship, and I am deeply grateful.” “Oh, none of that.” Rokemak flushed lightly. “This is my final piece of advice. Equatusa is a goddess of the centaurs. Her statues are obvious because she’s portrayed as a centaur with wings. Each time you see a statue of her, incline your head, bow, or otherwise salute her. The centaurs will take it as a sign of respect to them and their culture. Now off to the docks with you! The daily ship to Valcalla leaves soon.” “I will pen you into my epic about our quest favorably,” Thanyan said with a grin. Offering a final bow, Cian allowed Rokemak to usher them away. About the Author I’m a quirky English professor with tattoos, piercings, and an addiction to supernatural thriller, horror, fantasy, and science fiction. I'm proudly neurodivergent, third gender, and a trauma survivor, all things often reflected in my novels. I have degrees in both English and psychology, both of which inform my writing. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, off-road biking, and pyrography. 
Author Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter Instagram | Pinterest | Medium.com Newsletter Sign-up/Substack | TikTok | YouTube Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of three copies of A Night’s Celebration 
 Linden smiled as he typed on his phone, presumably replying to the e-mails he’d read earlier. “We’ve been friends since college, were assigned to the same dorm room as freshmen and were roomies the whole time. It was a coincidence, of course, but we’re both gay, and it worked out well. He’s an investigative reporter—pretty good too. Randy sells stories to publications all over the world.” He put the phone down and studied Tyler. “However, we’ve never been anything but friends. Don’t light each other’s fires. There are things people will tell a reporter they won’t tell an FBI agent, or any law enforcement, so he gives me some help sometimes, and I give him a story sometimes.” That fact made Tyler happier and more relieved than it probably should have. “I really am happy you’re here. I guess I’m not a very suspicious person and wouldn’t have thought much of seeing those drapes open.” “That’s not a bad thing. Not at all.” Linden sat at the table while Tyler made coffee. “Do you know who Jeremy DeCompos is?” He turned his phone and showed Tyler a picture of a young, nice-looking black man. “He was transferred into my program a week or two before I… left. I remember the name, wouldn’t have put a face to it without that photo, and don’t really know anything about him. Why? Who is he?” Tyler was pretty sure he already knew the answer. “There was a body found in a burned-out abandoned building a few blocks from Hernandez’s apartment. Originally it looked like a vagrant. The fire was started in a makeshift pit, probably for cooking and heat. It’s still unclear which of them died first. Examination of DeCompos’s body will take longer due to the condition.” “Do you think it’s another murder meant to look like something else?” Linden nodded. “Yes. I do.” He got up and crossed to the pullout couch and his laptop briefcase. While Tyler poured large mugs of coffee and filled the small space with a rich aroma, Linden booted up his computer. “Let me show you a few things.” Tyler sat at the table, and Linden moved the other chair so they were close enough together that their knees brushed. He turned the laptop so Tyler could see the screen. A picture of a bathroom, the counter littered with beer bottles, a pint whiskey bottle, and medicine packets. “Is this from Julius’s apartment?” “Yes. He had enough alcohol in his system to be drunk, which is pretty easily guessed by the bottles.” Linden used one finger to point out the empty bottles. “He also had a high level of diphenhydramine.” “Antihistamine. Benadryl?” Tyler asked. Linden nodded. “Yes.” “You shouldn’t mix the two.” “No, you sure shouldn’t,” Linden agreed. “He was face down in his bathtub, which was about half-filled with water, with clothes on.” “Reasonable if you’re going to kill yourself that way. Booze and diphenhydramine will make you groggy, possibly cause you to pass out, and the clothes so you’re not found naked.” “You’d also leave your clothes on so you don’t get cold enough to wake up before you’re dead.” Linden sat back, took a sip of his coffee and held up one finger. “Here’s the thing, those diphenhydramine packets had no fingerprints on them. None.” Tyler frowned. “Those things are a bitch to get into. I slobber all over them using my teeth and trying to pinch the pill out of those little foil packets, cut my finger, and usually end up getting scissors!” “Exactly. Who opens a foil medicine packet without leaving a lot of evidence—fingerprints, saliva, blood, and therefore DNA? They make a mess, and no one is neat about it without a reason.” “That’s why you think it wasn’t suicide, or at least that he had help?” “Body number two, in a burned-out building. Fire destroys evidence and does so very effectively. The kicker is, there were empty beer bottles all over. The investigators were able to pull some prints and found DeCompos’s, but no one else’s. A search of his apartment turned up—” “Let me guess. Empty diphenhydramine foil packets without a fingerprint or anything else on them?” Linden stood up, picked up his mug and Tyler’s, and moved to the counter. “And that earns you a refill.” Bait is available in eBook, paperback and through KoboPlus.    My snippet this week is from Shifting Chaos, book 4 of The Sleepless City (series cowritten with Anne Barwell).  Three more werewolves appeared out of nowhere. Two were completely changed and one was still human enough for Forge to recognize him as Jasper Coate. Jasper grinned at Forge, then shifted completely and jumped into the fray. Assured that Jasper and his friends could overpower the other two, Forge turned and ran to the dumpster and started flinging garbage to the side. Blair’s hand was waving at him. He grabbed hold and pulled Blair to his feet. “C’mon, Oscar, out of the garbage can you go. Are you all right?” He put his other hand on Blair’s chest and held him at arm’s length. “Eww, ripe.” Blair looked like a kicked puppy, with glop and goo and things Forge didn’t want to guess the origin of sticking to his shirt and dripping off his head. Forge stifled a laugh when Blair lifted one hand to wipe something green that probably shouldn’t have been green from his face. He merely succeeded in smearing more of it across his skin. “The connection broke again,” Blair said, “but only for a few seconds.” Read more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Shifting Chaos is available in eBook, paperback
and through Kindle Unlimited.   Blair watched Forge and Lucas leave. He turned away abruptly, avoiding Ben and Simon, knowing they scrutinized him. Blair held up the jeans in his hand and laughed nervously. “I guess I’d better go and change.” “How old are you?” Simon asked. “Huh?” Blair asked. Simon sighed, set his paper down, and folded it on the table in front of him. “It’s a fairly simple question. How old are you?” “I… uh… I’ll be thirty in a few weeks.” “How long have you been a vampire?” Simon asked. “Five years.” “Who have you lived with during that time?” “I… what does this have to do with anything?” Blair snapped. Simon leaned forward. “Forge was thirty-one when he was turned. That makes him two hundred thirty-nine, give or take a few months. Do you have any idea what it requires for someone to live that long and survive all the changes society goes through?” The pain under Blair’s heart, which had been mild when Forge left, increased and felt like it thudded for a few breaths, then eased off. He shook his head. “People have no idea what the average person’s life was like even fifty years ago. Things change radically, including attitudes and beliefs, to the point you have to almost reinvent yourself to fit in with each generation. Most of your family, your friends, aren’t going to live that long. Our bodies might live for what seems like forever, but our minds sometimes don’t fare as well. It’s a basic need, to be with others who are like you and share your past. Declan and Forge have lived as long as they have, and not become raving psychopaths, because they had each other. You certainly do not maintain any sort of good relationship that long without loving the other person.” “I never thought of that,” Blair said. He couldn’t look at Simon or Ben, so focused on the tabletop. Simon sighed. “While you’re thinking about that, think about this as well. You, Ben, and Lucas are lucky to have grown up when you did. Yes, there is a lot on the news about marriage equality and gay bashing, but at the time I realized I was attracted to men, not women, it was a crime. If I’d been caught, I would have been imprisoned and sentenced to two years hard labor. If they’d caught Forge and he was lucky, he’d only have been castrated. There was no closet back then, only a deep, dark abyss.” Blair winced and saw Ben do the same. “It was more likely he and Declan would have been executed. I’m sure that’s why Declan left France in the first place. It’s partially why we’ve all stuck together. Lucas has also told me it’s a necessity for creatures to live with those who are their kind and have similar needs. We’re not just vampires, we’re homosexual vampires.” Simon looked from Blair to Ben, then continued. “Don’t be so hard on him, either of them. I, for one, am grateful to know there are others who’ve lived much longer than me and did it well. Not perfectly maybe, but well.” “Guess I was so busy being pissed off at Jonas being with another guy, I didn’t think about how much this whole screwed up thing would hurt him,” Blair said quietly. “Don’t do that,” Ben said. “What? Think about someone else’s feelings? Isn’t that what Simon was just telling me to do?” “Don’t call him Jonas,” Ben and Simon said at the same time. Ben added, “I think if his mother were alive, she’d call him Forge. It’s better you forget the first name altogether.” Simon nodded his agreement enthusiastically. “Why?” Ben looked at Simon who shrugged. “That’s been the rule for as long as I’ve known him,” Simon said. “Thanks.” Blair left, and as he climbed the steps to the guest floor, he mumbled, “Nuts, they’re all nuts.” Simon called after him. “It’s part of our charm!” “So is the Vulcan hearing,” Ben shouted. An hour later, Blair was dressed and was armed with directions provided by Ben and Simon to decent clothing stores. He drove Lucas’s Jeep to the part of town where the shops were located. The stores Simon recommended, while nice, were pricier, with more formal clothes Blair wasn’t comfortable wearing. Ben had suggested a few other stores more to Blair’s tastes, and budget. He took his time, wandering leisurely from store to store. They were all located within the same few blocks, and it was easier to park in a city lot and do his shopping on foot. If—and right then the thought was still an if—he moved there, he’d need warmer clothes. What was considered a pleasant autumn day in Ohio would have had people in New Mexico shivering. For now, T-shirts, a few long-sleeved Henleys, and some lightweight pullover sweaters and jeans would suffice nicely. Blair walked through a store with clothes that appealed to him, looking over the selection. He glanced up from the racks when he had the unsettling sensation of being watched. There were a few other shoppers, none of them noteworthy. A woman with two small children, an older couple, and two other guys casually moved among rows of khakis and jeans, dress and everyday shirts. None of them paid any attention to Blair. If he was honest with himself, he was the guy most out of place, dressed all in black. He decided to find clothing in lighter colors. Blair caught sight of a man standing out on the sidewalk. At first glance, it seemed he was simply window-shopping. Until Blair moved through the store again and realized the guy was watching him, keeping track of Blair’s path through the store. Blair decided to experiment. Crisscrossing the store, he covertly glanced at the man every few seconds. With each of Blair’s movements, the man shifted his weight or turned his head, clearly keeping Blair in his sights. Blair tried to memorize the stranger’s features without being obvious. He had sandy reddish hair—a much lighter version of Forge’s very dark mahogany—that was neatly trimmed with a stylish cut. Thanks to vampire vision, he could see the guy’s eyes were dark blue, very unlike the bright, vibrant blue of Forge’s eyes. Blair pulled a shirt off the rack and pretended to scrutinize it by holding it out toward the light from the window. The guy was taller than Blair, but not as tall as Forge. He looked in healthy shape, but not overly athletic, and wore glasses with brushed pewter frames. A month ago, Blair would have found this man very attractive. Now all he could do was compare the man to Forge and wasn’t surprised when Forge’s features were much more preferable. He returned the shirt and moved across the store, rifling through packages of socks, then picked out a pair of sunglasses. A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed the man was still watching him like a hawk. Blair made his purchases, putting the sunglasses on as he left the store, hurrying past the man and making sure not to look at him. Two doors down was an outdoor apparel store. Blair ducked in and again, the man loitered outside. This store was two floors, so after spending a few minutes browsing the first floor, Blair proceeded up the steps. The man stepped inside and stayed on the first floor, where he would likely have a good view of the second floor. Blair picked out a denim jacket. On a table near the stairs was a locked display of hunting knives. Blair considered buying one of them. “Now I’m nuts,” he mumbled. “What do I need a knife for? I’m a damn vampire.” After purchasing the jacket, Blair decided to go to the local electronics store. Being followed and not having a phone was freaking him out. Good selection or not, Blair needed a phone. As he walked, he kept glancing around but didn’t spot his follower. The store, though small, was well stocked. Blair got caught up in examining his options and started when he felt someone behind him. Blair turned, expecting a salesperson. Instead, it was the man who’d been following him. “Are you knowledgeable about these things?” the man asked, a smooth smile warming his face. “I… yeah,” Blair said. The guy looked geeky, but he wasn’t or he wouldn’t have to ask a stranger in a store about a smartphone. Human bodies make a lot of noise. Forge’s off-the-cuff statement screamed in Blair’s head. Pay attention to what a body does. There was the distinct sound of fluid rushing through the man, but no heartbeat. He gave off none of the heat a vampire, human, or werewolf would have, though it varied from creature to creature. Moose was hotter than them all. “I think these people work on commission. Ask them.” Blair pushed past the man. He’d need ID to get a phone activated anyway. Blair was at the store exit when the thought hit him that the man hadn’t drawn a breath. Or exhaled. He hurried from the store to the parking lot. Blair unlocked and scrambled into Lucas’s Jeep. He saw the man sitting on a bench not too far from the lot. Ben had written down directions to the police station. Blair glanced at the paper as he drove. Half a mile from the electronics store, the man was standing at a street corner, watching the Jeep. Blair’s heart was racing in his chest by the time he reached the police station. The enclosed garage had a big sign over the entrance informing him authorized personnel only. Blair doubted having sex with a detective gave him authorization, even if he was said detective’s soulmate. The visitor’s lot was out in the open, between the main building and the employee parking garage. There were security cameras everywhere, and Blair wondered if he was tense enough to show up. He spotted the man on the sidewalk in front of the station. Blair hurried up the steps and into the building. Once inside he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. There was a desk with thick glass separating it from the room Blair stood in. He stepped up to it and smiled at the officer on the other side. He hadn’t done anything wrong, or broken any laws, and still he was nervous when he asked, “Is Detective Forge here? Or Dr. Coate? I’m a friend, Dr. Coate lent me his Jeep. Sorry to bother them at work.” Blair would clearly never make a good criminal, he blathered out everything. The officer, an older man with a wide, grayish mustache, smiled broadly. “Dr. Coate is like that. Good guy. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. They were out on a call. I’m not sure if they’re back, but you can wait here, and I’ll check. What’s your name?” “Blair Turner.” “Got some ID?” Blair’s heart sank, and his panic ramped. “My wallet was stolen. Detective Forge knows about it.” The cop nodded and tapped his hand against the counter. “Coffee’s free if you want some, there’s bottled water, too.” He motioned to a spot on the opposite side of the waiting area. “You sit tight, and I’ll find one of them. Let us know if you need anything.” Blair sat on one of the chairs and glanced out the door. He was in a police station. Certainly, whatever it was that had followed him wouldn’t do anything in a building occupied by trained people armed with many weapons.  |
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