 My snippet this week is from Force Majeure, a Pain and Pleasure story Kevin smiled, and Ian got the distinct impression that he enjoyed throwing Ian off balance. He stood with hands in his pants pockets, watching as Ian went to his desk, grabbing keys and a security card, pocketing those as he turned to face Kevin. Holding out one arm to the door, he said, “Let’s go. We’ll look at the hotel first, then I can show you one of the cabins. Unless your needs have changed?” “Nope. Still, the same as we discussed last week.” No matter how Ian tried to make sure they were walking together, Kevin managed to stay half a step behind. His skin crawled knowing Kevin was watching Ian’s every move. Ian silently recited this was his hotel and resort. He was in charge here. Dozens of people answered to him. He was the CEO, not a sub and Kevin was a client, not a Dom. Yet, Ian felt exposed and controlled.  Force Majeure is available in eBook and through Kindle Unlimited. Ask for the eBook at your local library. Find more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group.     SERIES TOUR 
The Song of the Lost Series by Liv Savell and Sterling D’Este Publisher: L&S Fables Genre: Queer Epic Fantasy Best read in order Overall Heat Rating for the series: 2 - 3 flames Available in Kindle Unlimited Amazon US Series Link | Amazon UK Series Link BOOK DETAILS BOOK 1 Book Title: The Last Contender Cover Artist: Merilliza Chan Length: 669 pages Release Date: November 27, 2022 Tropes: Forbidden love Themes: Becoming who you truly are, found family, fighting for what is right 
“What would you pay for freedom?” Blurb Your body? Wynn is a carpenter in a small town in Northern Rhosan, but after he is torn from his family by ruthless Victors, he'll have to learn to survive beneath their rule. When he is forced to hunt with the silent, stoic Dyfan, the two men forge a bond that might be enough to shelter them from a life of violence and cruelty. Your people? Basia and Danae are the children of nobles in the elegant, educated Phecean Confederacy. When Basia starts to discover just how horrifying the lives of slaves in her country are, she’s faced with a terrible choice: does she step up to reshape her home at the risk of losing her closest friend, or does she keep quiet and let nothing change? Dealing with the difficulties of her budding gender identity would be hard enough without the lives of millions on her shoulders. Your mind? Deep in the Tundra’s frozen heart, the daughter of a medicine woman learns to make poison. The dreams it gives her are full of blood, war, and terrible purpose, but when Iniabi’s village is raided by foreign soldiers, it’s all she can do to stay alive. Iniabi will have to use all the Tundra has taught her as destiny pulls her across the continent, but when it comes to the fate of her people, it’s not enough just to survive. BOOK 2 Book Title: Emissary to the Frost Wolf Cover Artist: Virginia Laird Length: 849 pages Release Date: July 23, 2024 Tropes: Friends to Lovers, forbidden love Themes: Found family, fighting for what is right, forced separation 
What would you trade for Love? Blurb Your dreams? Wynn and Dyfan have escaped the pits of Cwm Or, but there is no safety in their homeland, Rhosan. When a desperate flight leaves them stranded on the other side of the world, they'll be forced to choose between fighting for something they don't believe in or being outcasts again. Your future? Danae and Basia have vowed to end slavery in Phecea, but vast forces stand between them and their goals, and they risk their lives and careers when their fight is complicated by a violent organization claiming to have the same vision. They'll need to stand together to see this through, even when feelings drive a wedge between them. Your purpose? There is a spy among the Emai. It's Iniabi's job to protect her people even as she wages an impossible war against two stronger nations, but the spy is far closer than she knows and wrapping ever tighter around Iniabi's frozen heart. Content Warnings: Blood, Gore, Violence, War, Death, Explicit Sex, Rape (Mentioned, Not Depicted), Domestic Abuse, Child Abuse (Mentioned, Not Depicted) BOOK 3 Book Title: The Warrior Dasan Length: 937 Pages Release Date: December 28, 2024 Tropes: Forced proximity, Enemies to Lovers Themes: Fighting for what is right, found family 
What would you sacrifice to end this war? Blurb Your power? Iniabi has known all her life that she would marry Danae, but that doesn’t make their new partnership any easier. It’s only complicated by past lovers and enemy attempts to tear them apart. They will need to come together before Iniabi’s final challenge is laid before her. Will all the power of Phecea and the Emaian Tundra be enough to end the Emaian peoples’ oppression? Your heart? Dyfan is lost in the wake of Wynn’s absence, struggling to find a purpose while his lover teaches old magic to Liria’s enemies. He longs only to reunite—however he can— but both foreigners have a part to play in the battles to come. Your honor? General Lucilius Nonus always serves his Imperator without question, but he feels the stain on Lirian honor caused by the Imperator’s newest acquisition—a mage from the distant land of Ingola. Master Mage Mors Dernier is much more than he seems, but even he is unable to predict the chaos Basia Mavros will make of all their careful plans. Content Warnings: Blood, Gore, Violence, War, Death, Abduction, Explicit Sex, Addiction, Physical Punishment (in the form of public whipping), Child Abuse (mentioned, not depicted) About the Authors Liv and Sterling are queer Indie authors focused on creating inclusive, diverse worlds that deliver on plot, emotional payout, and character development. Author Links Website and Newsletter sign-up Facebook @L&SFables | Instagram @LSFables 
 Iva rolled her eyes and sighed. Raul reverted to human form but didn’t back away from their prisoner until Iva gave him another gentle push. “Back off, or you’re leaving,” Iva said in a low, level voice. Raul took one step back. “Brandon is a scintilla. He knows me, so you need me. Go busting in there could be dangerous if he panics.” “Know him or not, if you lose control again you’ll be sitting outside,” Iva warned. Raul believed her. More importantly their prisoner appeared to believe Iva was protecting him from Raul. Janey uncuffed their perp while the Marshal kept his gun on him. There were two more of Iva’s officers, plus Raul and Fahim. They surrounded the man while he entered the door’s code. The minute the door was open the man was re-cuffed and taken away. Iva went in first, Raul on her heels. Raul wasn’t sure what he expected, but the sight greeting them made his skin crawl. Fahim’s description had been watered down, that much was clear. There were five teens, three girls and two boys. They were all naked and huddled in a corner. One of the boys tried to pull a filthy mattress over them. Brandon was standing between them and the door. Bruises were scattered over his chest and a larger, fresher one bloomed across his hip. His hair was matted and greasy. Raul’s nose told him none of them had taken a bath or shower recently. Sparks cascaded through the air from a wave of electricity that rippled between Brandon and the cops. His eyes weren’t focused, he shivered, and Raul could see he didn’t recognize the fact he and the kids were safe. “Don’t go near them!” Brandon shouted. He spread his arms wide and the little sparks turned to longer, more powerful bolts of static. The wave separating Brandon from the cops changed from a bluish hue to whiter. The power he wielded was building. A freaked out, utterly panic-stricken scintilla was dangerous and without the right equipment a physical confrontation could prove deadly to the attacker. Maybe to others nearby as well. Raul darted forward so he was between Brandon and the others. Holding out both hands he spoke in a rush. “Whoa, easy, Brandon, remember me? Raul. It’s Raul. We spent a week together last year, been writing each other since.” He took a tentative step forward. “Sparky, remember that?” “You’re done stealing children,” Brandon screamed and leaned toward Raul. The electric wave brightened and rippled faster. Behind Raul Janey said in a soft voice, “I’ll get a rubberized blanket.” He heard her leave the room. Raul nodded, keeping his eyes on Brandon. “I just want to get them home, to their parents. Safe. I want you safe.” He swallowed hard and continued. “I don’t want to get fried, but I’m not leaving you or these kids here.” He bit his lip and took another step toward Brandon. Brandon didn’t lower his hands, but he didn’t power up the wave more than it was. He gulped and slowly looked at the other people. Raul took another tentative step to Brandon. “You gotta power down, dude, or we aren’t getting anymore pitchers of sangria.” He was close enough to the wave the hair on his body stood up and he felt tingling. “Don’t move!” One of the younger officers barked from behind Raul. He must have returned to assist with what was inside the building and probably hadn’t heard Raul’s statement about Brandon being a scintilla. Now he’d stepped into a tense scene. Brandon glared at the Taser and his hands sparked. He pointed his Taser at Brandon. “Stand down,” Iva ordered. “Crap!” Raul spat. He snatched the blanket from Janey the second she re-entered the room and holding it out like a toreador’s cape he went from a standstill to full speed in two strides. Brandon’s demeanor changed in a split second. He’d been sliding toward placid, but that was gone. The Taser’s prongs shot through the air straight toward Brandon’s chest. As they were about to make contact he swatted at them. The back of his hand connected with the charged weapon causing tiny bolts of electricity to explode outward and ricochet around the room. There were people diving to the floor, the kids started screaming and the air all around them popped and snapped as if they were inside a thundercloud. Raul tackled Brandon, breaking his contact with the Taser. He wrapped the blanket around Brandon and forced him to the floor, covering Brandon with his own body. It was all over in a few seconds. The young cop stood, shaking, and babbling out apologies. Janey grabbed the Taser. When Raul hauled Brandon up, still holding him tightly, he sputtered, “Jesus Christ, don’t they teach you at the academy not to Taser a scintilla?”      Ian put a pleasant, neutral smile on his face and opened the door. “Good afternoon.” He looked around. “I was expecting more people.” “Yeah,” Kevin ambled into Ian’s office. “I was making a few stops not too far from here. Thought I’d pop in and see if you were free to show me around. I hope that’s okay?” “S-sure.” Kevin smiled, and Ian got the distinct impression that he enjoyed throwing Ian off balance. He stood with hands in his pants pockets, watching as Ian went to his desk, grabbing keys and a security card, pocketing those as he turned to face Kevin. Holding out one arm to the door, he said, “Let’s go. We’ll look at the hotel first, then I can show you one of the cabins. Unless your needs have changed?” “Nope. Still, the same as we discussed last week.” No matter how Ian tried to make sure they were walking together, Kevin managed to stay half a step behind. His skin crawled knowing Kevin was watching Ian’s every move. Ian silently recited this was his hotel and resort. He was in charge here. Dozens of people answered to him. He was the CEO, not a sub and Kevin was a client, not a Dom. Yet, Ian felt exposed and controlled. Another deep, steadying, breath, and Ian pushed the button to the elevator. When the door opened, he put one hand on it, holding it open, and nodded for Kevin to step inside. Kevin leaned on the opposite door and brushed one hand down Ian’s arm. “After you.” Ian almost controlled the shiver that worked down his spine. He stepped over the threshold and into the elevator, cursing himself for following Kevin’s order. By the time the elevator door opened, Ian had regained much of his composure. “That way,” he said and motioned Kevin to the right. “You first, I insist.” Kevin smirked and shrugged. “Whatever you say.” It was sexy and alluring and maddening and frightening all at once. A short hall led to the main part of the room. Ian opened the closets. “Plenty of room for two people to hang their clothes.” He moved beyond the hallway. “Bathroom is over here,” he said as he turned on the light. Kevin grabbed the door jamb and leaned into the bathroom, filling most of the doorway and blocking Ian from leaving at the same time. “This is very nice.” “Thank you,” Ian said softly. “We have handicapped-accessible rooms, of course, if you need them.” In order to leave the bathroom, Ian had to slip by Kevin, brushing against the man’s chest and feeling how his ribcage expanded in a quick breath. He gazed directly at Ian until Ian looked down at the floor. Ian inwardly swore at himself for dropping into sub mode for someone other than Taren, and at a totally inappropriate time. “The rooms come with a king or two queen-sized beds,” Ian said in a rush. “The sofa in the sitting area opens into a full-sized bed as well. There’re ample outlets for devices, and the nightstands have charging stations.” He turned in a circle, gestured to the television, dressers, the sitting area, and round table and chairs. Kevin walked around the room. “This is nice.” The compliment was genuine. “Thank you.” Ian smiled. “We did an update a few years ago. I’m incredibly pleased with how it all turned out. We have a restaurant and bar, open till ten every evening. Room service is available from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.” “Is that the same for the cabins?” Ian shook his head. The urge to put more distance between Kevin and he was almost overwhelming but stood his ground. “No. Cabin service stops at 9 p.m., but guests can order take-out from the restaurant while it’s open.” He walked to the door and held it open. “We can look at one of the cabins if you’d like.” “I would. I promised to check everything thoroughly.” Kevin’s gaze raked over Ian again as he sauntered into the hall. Feeling his neck flush, Ian fumbled with the card lock before saying, “We’ll take my car.” He set a brisk pace to his car. If Kevin was going to insist on walking behind, Ian decided he didn’t have to go at Kevin’s speed. Ian remembered to turn the seat heaters off when he started the car. Kevin glanced at Ian’s hand and raised his eyebrows. Ian shrugged. “Something Taren and I do. I figured you wouldn’t like it. And it’s our thing.” “Understood.” Kevin shrugged. “Might be fun to try sometime. You might remember I switch.” “I do.” Ian smiled. Force Majeure is available in eBook and through Kindle Unlimited.     My snippet this week is from Scintilla. Brandon shuddered and tried to hunch farther in on himself to conserve body heat. It was useless. He was yanked back so he sat straight, and a man’s voice snarled, “Get into that system, now.” Brandon tried to duck the blow to the back of his head he knew was coming, but it was impossible. Never in his life had Brandon used his magic to hurt another living thing. His current situation had him completely prepared to break that rule. Icy water was dumped over Brandon, making him shiver even more. Raul’s half joke about swimming with him came to mind. Brandon rammed his palms against the table, shoving his chair back and twisted to his feet so fast that Bill—they all had names like Bill, Bob and Tom—was splattered with water droplets. Holding his hands slightly apart, Brandon arched a charge of blue electricity between his fingers and lunged at Bill. He had no idea if the guy had enough water on him to do damage when he was hit with Brandon’s electricity, but it was all he had right now.  There are more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Scintilla is available in eBook, paperback,
through your local library and Kindle Unlimited.  James Siewert has a new MM sci-fantasy romance out, Oarthecan Star Saga book 3: Captains of Oartheca.
Welcome to Oartheca—a world of shattered beauty and stolen futures. Where noble Barons rule with ironclad grace, and loyal drones unquestionably obey. A wounded world, rich with history and pride, struggling to heal... while war still smoulders at its edges. Hoping to change the fate of all Oarthecans, Captain Rowland Hale II and Toar Grithrawrscion embark on a mission as herculean as it is perilous: to bring Oartheca under the aegis of the Coalition of Allied Planets, and in doing so, usher in a new era of strength, stability, and peace. But nothing on Oartheca is so easily won. Not peace. Not unity. And certainly not the truth. In Captains of Oartheca, James Siewert sees our heroes challenge empires, defy impossible odds, and confront the terrible cost of hope. But when victory demands everything they are—and all they have—can they pay the price? Warnings: Explicit sex scenes between consenting adult males About the Series An action-oriented, sci-fi extravaganza staring heroes who battle vicious foes, overcome galactic obstacles, find true love, all while just happening to be men-who-love-men. For adults only, the Oarthecan Star Saga will thrill readers with cinematic battles, daring romances and authentic, one-of-a-kind characters that rise to face challenges through bravery, courage and loyalty. Amazon | Universal Buy LinkExcerpt
Get the hell off me!’ I shout angrily, futilely pushing at the rhino of a man smothering me. Goddamn he’s heavy but I’m giving it everything I’ve got, trying to wriggle free. I manage to get my head out from under the behemoth and turn to try and see what the hell is going on. ‘Stay down, Baron!’ the security guard overtop of me orders, his voice hard and urgent. There’s another bright green flash, and this time I see a plasma shot streak harmlessly into the skies, followed soon by more yelling and the sounds of intense struggle. Annoyingly, cyan telemetry floods my cybernetic ocular display—suit’s integrity is down to ninety-two percent, but no injuries, and my shields are regenerating. That shot was a point-blank, direct hit. Thank God for top-tier CAPS engineering—anything less, and I’d be dead. ‘No!’ I hear a man yell. ‘No, he killed my brother!’ What? ‘Evacuate, evacuate!’ a stronger voice booms, and the man over top of me begins to ease up slightly; I immediately scoot out from under him and try to get a decent look around. There’s a pile of security guards clustered together—it looks like there are three of them surrounding a fourth, having driven him to his knees. One is wrenching the kneeling man’s rifle from his hands, but the man is not letting go anytime soon. It takes the butt of another security guard’s rifle being driven into the side of his head before his grip finally weakens, and the gun is wrenched free. The rhino then steps in front of me, blocking my view of the struggling men. I scowl and try to push him out of the way, but this guy’s a stormcoat, maybe a snowcoat, and I don’t even budge him a centimetre. ‘This way, Baron. Now,’ He pushes into me, using his superior bulk to knock me back. With one hand on my shoulder, he spins me around so that I’m facing away from the scene. ‘Where is Ton?’ I demand, trying to slip this guy’s grasp but his grip on my shoulder is firm—not painful, thanks to my exosuit’s kinetic absorption—but I’m not getting free unless I put up a serious struggle, which I don’t think is the wisest of things to do right now. ‘We’ll meet at the safe-point. Hurry, Baron, straight ahead,’ the rhino orders, and I follow as he steers me deeper into the docking bay. He sets a brisk pace—nearly a jog—we’re moving fast. A tug on my shoulder turns me left toward an open corridor, where two guards stand ready, rifles raised and scanning. ‘Inside, Baron.’ I’m not used to being manhandled like this, but I know if this dude wanted to, he could pick me up like an infant. He’s at least letting me move under my own power, so I do as I’m told, and head into the corridor. We head down a gently sloping, well-lit cement tunnel—hopefully toward the safe-point rhino-guy mentioned. He’s stopped steering me, but with only one path ahead, we keep moving. After about thirty seconds, a circular portal sealed by sliding doors appears and opens as we approach. ‘Through the doors, Baron,’ my escort says. I step into the next tunnel, and he follows, tapping commands into a wall-mounted keypad. The doors slide shut behind us, leaving me to figure out what comes next. The security guard then turns to face me, placing his hand over his heart, his fingers splayed, and gives me a deep bow. ‘We are secured now, Baron. The safe-point is just down this hall.’ ‘Thank you,’ I reply genuinely. ‘I prefer Captain Hale, however. What’s your name, officer?’ ‘Second Lieutenant Crahlstran Grithrawrclan, OSS Navy, Captain Hale,’ the man answers. ‘I’ve been assigned to you as your personal security representative. Are you injured?’ I immediately shake my head. ‘No, my suit took the damage. I’m fine. Where is m’Ton? Or the High Baron Grithrawr?’ ‘At or en route to the safe-point. Please, if you will follow me, Captain,’ Crahl offers, extending his hand down the new corridor. With him leading the way, I follow as we descend further, until we reach another set of closed sliding doors. Crahl enters a command on the keypad, and they open. He stands aside to allow me to enter first. Author Bio
James and his husband live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Part-time office drone, part-time storyteller, full-time sci-fi and fantasy enthusiast (and some spooky ghost tales), James couldn't find enough stories involving guys like him and his hubby are: big men with big hearts, full of big ideas! Taking matters into his own hand, James seeks to share high adventure, low-angst stories where the heroes are solid blokes who take centre stage. Come join the adventure and explore bold new worlds full of authentic characters, gripping scenes, lush imagination and a touch of mushy stuff - there's a whole galaxy waiting for you to discover! Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21531168.James_Siewert Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/james-siewert/ Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Siewert/author/B095T25ZSB 
 Lucas nodded. “I know that area.” He knelt in front of Bronwen. “I won’t hurt you. The werewolves around here have a certain…set of traditions. When one of us breaks the law, we—other werewolves—deal with them. It’s safer all around for us and humans. No human jail would be able to hold one of us for long. I’m a doctor, graduated top of my class, and I work for the police department. I’m a scientist, same as you.” “Werewolves are like everyone else,” Blair added. “There’re nice ones and not so nice ones.” He turned and put one hand over his forehead to shield his eyes. “Forge.” Blair stood up fast, the boat rocked gently and he grabbed at the seat back. Forge leaned down and took hold of the side of the boat, steadying it. He looked up at them and grinned sheepishly. “Sorry we took so long,” Declan said and took advantage of Forge holding the boat still to hop down into it from the dock. Shrugging and shaking his head, Forge stepped in after him. “You’re welcome.” He gave Declan a shove with his elbow. Bronwen looked from one to the other. “What are you two?” “French,” Declan said, raising his eyebrows. “Detective.” Forge held up his badge. Blair took hold of Forge’s arm. He held up his hand, showing her his ring, and pointed between them. “Me and him, we—” “We’re married,” Forge said and smiled, adding, “Jonas Forge. Everyone calls me Forge.” “This thing doesn’t have seat belts,” Blair said. Forge sighed and put one hand on Blair’s shoulder, squeezed, then pushed him back down to sit. “We’re going here,” Lucas said and put his finger on the map. “Shouldn’t take us too long.” He started the boat. “Y’all might want to sit down.” After guiding the boat away from the dock and into open water, he gunned the engine. “This thing transmits an ultrasonic signal of some kind,” Blair said, holding up the transmitter. “Grier would take it on his dives.” “Really?” Declan asked and took the transmitter. He turned it over, examining it. “Yeah, you might want to be careful with that.” Blair took the device with one hand and scratched his ear with the other. Declan nodded. “How far are we going?” “Couple miles,” Lucas said. “There is a series of caves, natural and man-made. We were near there when our boat overturned,” Bronwen said. “A transmitter like this was accidentally activated just prior to the boat being hit,” Lucas said. “What was Grier using the transmitter for?” Declan asked. Bronwen smiled softly. “I need you to see for yourselves. It’s nothing short of amazing, I promise.” “This should be the right area,” Lucas said and cut the boat’s engine. He turned and crossed both arms over his chest. “Now what?” Lucas had brought the boat to a stop at a part of the lake that didn’t have a beach. Instead, there was a sharp cliff that went straight down to the water. The water here was deeper than that near a beach. The land shelf dropped steeply and suddenly in this area. It could be a very dangerous section of Lake Erie. Bronwen held her palm out. “May I have the transmitter?” Blair handed it over. She spent a minute searching through her tote, finally pulling out fishing line. She wound it around the transmitter, stood up, switched the device on, and lobbed it into the water. “That should keep us from getting rammed.” “Rammed by—” Forge reached out and grabbed Blair’s arm when the boat lurched to one side. “It didn’t hit us,” Bronwen said. Smiling, she pointed at the water. There was a swell and a ripple, and the boat swung to one side. “There is a transmitter attached to that creature. Grier did that too, and I’m sure he wasn’t gentle about it.” “There!” Lucas moved down the length of the boat and leaned over the rail. “Did you see that?” A long form sliced through the water. As it breached the surface for a split second, it shone in the sunlight, a shimmering blue that changed to gray as it moved. Then it disappeared. Lucas could see by the way the water moved that at least part of the animal was still above water. “Whoa!” Blair exclaimed, the fact he was on a boat apparently forgotten. He darted across the deck and stood beside Lucas. Declan went to the bow and leaned over. Forge took up a position partway between him and Blair. “There it goes.” Lucas pointed out the path the creature took. “I don’t see it,” Blair said. “It’s right there. It’s huge.” Lucas moved along the rail. “You can’t see it?” “No.” Declan shook his head. “Mr. Grier could see them through the water too,” Bronwen said. “It must be something with the refraction of the water.” Lucas pulled his shirt and shorts off. “I’ve got to get a better look at this.” He turned to Declan. “You can handle this boat if you have to?” “No mainsail, but I’m sure I can figure it out,” Declan said. Lucas saw Forge grin. There was a time Declan had been a real-life pirate and sailed from Europe to the New World. “Oh, you sail?” Bronwen turned to Declan. Declan shrugged. “I’ve dabbled.” He turned toward Lucas. “What are you doing?” “Getting the transmitter off that animal.” Before anyone could stop him, Lucas transformed and dove into the water. Using long, powerful strokes, he propelled himself along. He estimated the creature was at least twenty-five feet long. It had a fanned tail and forward and rear flippers. Now that he was more werewolf than human, he could see it perfectly, no matter how it twisted and turned. Its color changing as it reflected the light differently. Without warning, the creature circled around and came at him. Backstroking, Lucas repositioned himself so he was upright and stationary. It spiraled around him a few times, then moved off into a hole in the land shelf below the surface of the lake. Lucas surfaced, filled his lungs, and followed. After a few minutes, his lungs began to burn, and he had to clench his teeth to keep his mouth shut. He was beginning to think he’d have to turn back. The narrow tunnel he’d followed the creature through opened into a bigger cavern. Emerging, Lucas gasped for air. There was maybe a foot of space between the cavern roof and the water. Treading water, Lucas turned around slowly. The creature climbed onto a rock, about a third of it out of the water. Lucas watched. The creature studied him, turning its head to one side and rubbing its long neck against the rocks. Changing form to human, he moved closer. “What’s stuck to your neck?” He swam forward slowly. “Don’t get nervous. I’ll get rid of it.” The creature’s head was oblong and at least four feet long. It had small ears placed closed together along the top of its skull and large, round eyes at the front of its face. Features that signified to Lucas this was a predator. “Okay, I bet you have a pretty impressive set of teeth. Let’s just keep them to yourself.” He inched forward until he could touch the beast. Reaching out he ran one hand lightly over the creature’s neck. Its skin rippled and twitched and it rolled into his touch. Lucas laughed. “You like that.” He moved even closer and, using two fingers, worked them between the creature’s scaled skin and the device attached to its neck. “That bastard stuck a transmitter into you.” Lucas took a deep breath. “This might pinch.” He yanked the metal box away from the creature. It snapped, made a sound much like a growling tiger, and rolled against the rocks. Lying on its side, it smacked at the tiny wounds left by the device with one flipper that had small, clawed “fingers.” Lucas pushed away as fast as possible, but the creature didn’t follow him. It used its claws to scratch its neck where the transmitter had been. There were four holes on the creature’s neck; minuscule drops of blood seeped from them. Lucas turned the transmitter over and found four matching prongs. “That shouldn’t make you bleed out. I hope it doesn’t get infected. Don’t worry. No one will do this to you again. Not as long as I’m alive.” He swam backward. As much as he wanted to see more, Lucas knew it was time to go. “Your secret is safe with me.” Taking a deep breath and morphing into his werewolf form, Lucas dove under the water and made his way through the tunnel. Just before reaching the boat, he changed to his human form and tossed the transmitter onto the deck before hoisting himself back into the boat, stark naked. “Ah…um….” Bronwen mumbled and ducked her head. Blair heaved a sigh and threw Lucas’s shorts at him. “Werewolves don’t possess a drop of modesty.” Lucas grinned, pulled the shorts on, and ran his hands through his hair, spraying water everywhere. He moved Bronwen’s tote aside and dropped onto the seat beside her. “You have got to tell me everything!”   NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: The Missing Sentinel (D’Vaire, Book 45) Author and Publisher: Jessamyn Kingley Cover Artist: LJ Anderson of Mayhem Cover Creations Release Date: November 6, 2025 Genre: MM Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Trope: Fated mates Themes: Love Heat Rating: 3 flames Length: 86 500 words It is a standalone story. It does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited 
Ducarius is determined to find the missing sentinel. When he succeeds, both men are stunned to discover they are mates. Blurb Skeleton Lord Ducarius Daray lives in a beautiful home with his loving family. Formerly a sentinel who had been stripped of his humanity, Ducarius does not dwell on his past. He finds fulfillment in his job, training with his daggers, and spending time with the Darays. But a mystery plagues his people, and Ducarius often searches for the lone missing sentinel. In a realm far removed from the Council, Drexley dwells in a peaceful castle alongside the necromancer who was once tied to his soul. His days are spent ensconced in a library, refining his mind with a myriad of books. But his life is no longer idyllic, and Drexley fears the future. The land is crumbling. And his only family member is dying. On yet another hunt for Drexley, Ducarius notices a magical anomaly and promptly falls into a decaying realm where he discovers his prey—who happens to be his mate. The attraction is strong, but they have little in common. Drexley is unlike other sentinels, and proud of his differences. However, his memory is poor, and there are things he cannot explain. Like why neither man can leave. Together, they traverse a perilous path—one with secrets waiting to be revealed. Love is a noble goal, but it will take more than determination for these men to embrace Fate’s promise of a happy mate-bond. Excerpt “Did I mention that I love you?” Ducarius asked. “Yes, in the kitchen. It was not the charming scene I imagined I would have when you first declared your heart.” “An expert on love could argue that it did not matter where it happened so long as it did.” Drexley shifted and lifted his chin, so his eyes met Ducarius’s satisfied gaze. “Tell me about modern matebonds. In my romances, it is a small, quick ceremony celebrated with family.” “I cannot speak for everyone, but the ones in my extended family are long affairs that include many traditions from different communities. While I applaud any couple eager to combine their lives, they take forever. Everyone is dressed up, and we must sit through floral wreaths, rings, at least one gift, speeches with explanations of why things are happening as if we have not gone to every damn previous one, necklaces, and mating marks as a usual minimum. Each part has people assigned to assist, and if you exclude someone, they could feel slighted. It must be stressful for the couple involved. Someday, you and I will slap smiles on our faces and likely be forced to endure it. I love you, but I am not excited about the ceremony.” Drexley bit his lip to hold in his laughter at the consternation on Ducarius’s handsome face. The Skeleton Lord clearly had not enjoyed the ceremonies he had attended. “What if we chose something different for ourselves?” “What do you mean, love?” Scooting up to kiss Ducarius, Drexley took a gamble. “I want to know that I can speak to you no matter where you are. When we are in a room together, I want to feel your emotions. I am not against following the traditions of your family, but must we wait to bind our souls? I welcome the chance to belong to you now.” “Drexley, if you are asking me if I want to bind myself to you now, the answer is yes.” Drexley grinned as relief and love filled him. “I want to be your fully bonded mate.” Tugging on the covers, Drexley scrambled up so he was seated. “Grab your daggers; do you have to remove the green poison to ensure we can be cut?” To his delight, Ducarius mirrored his position. But instead of getting his weapons, he rubbed Ducarius’s thigh through the covers. “I know your feelings about weapons, but I have a suggestion. If we use your daggers, it would turn them from weapons into athames. Many in my family display their athames as a reminder of that important moment in their lives. We could do the same with your daggers.” It made Drexley sad that he could not honor the request, because Ducarius’s idea was lovely. “I wish we could, but I do not have my weapons any longer.” “Where are they?” “I do not know. My memory does not stretch that far back. I cannot recall the last time I trained or what happened to them. But my belongings are not so numerous that I could lose two curved daggers among them. They are not in my trunks, and Adney would not allow weapons to be stored anywhere else in the house. I must assume that I rid myself of them somehow. Perhaps Adney aided me.” “I see.” “Do you think it was wrong of me to destroy them?” Ducarius caressed Drexley’s cheek. “That is not up to me to decide. They were your property, not mine. I already know you have no interest in training, so it makes sense that you would not want to keep blades lying around.” “I wish I had kept them; having them as athames would have been nice.” “We could wait and have an athame made if you want.” Drexley shook his head. “No, I think it will please me to use your weapons, knowing they are always with you. It will be almost like a piece of us goes with you too.” “You are right. I hope it does not make it harder to attack others knowing that my blades have bound us together for eternity. That would be horrible.” Given how diligent Ducarius was about his training, Drexley had no fear that his other half would hesitate in battle no matter what important events including his daggers. “Get your weapons, Ducarius, and let us be about our business.” About the Author 
Jessamyn Kingley has published over forty titles and refuses to pick a favorite among them. With an extraordinary passion for her characters, Jessamyn eagerly crafts new tales and avidly re-reads them whenever her schedule allows. Jessamyn shares a home in Nevada with her husband and their three spoiled cats. When she is not writing or adding new ideas to her thick stack of beloved notebooks, she is gaming with family and friends. Join her Facebook group, Jessamyn's Ruffian's 
 Now in Kindle Unlimited! The man he greeted was at least ten plus years older than Raul, putting him easily in his fifties, maybe early sixties. He was a good-looking guy, gray hair, nice build, and a familiarity about him Raul couldn’t put his finger on. Raul took in the well-tailored suit, manicured nails and expensive, tasteful few pieces of jewelry he wore. The man had money, probably a lot of it and he’d had it for some time, possibly born into it. A large, leather, laptop bag hung off his shoulder. Raul extended one hand, “Raul Fierro. Have seat, please.” He motioned to one of the two chairs in front of his desk. A firm, sure handshake and the man finally revealed his full name. “William Lynch.” He said it almost as a challenge. His body language was tense, so maybe it was a challenge. Or he was here on a bet. Brandon’s last name was Lynch. Okay, common enough a name, it didn’t have to mean anything. This man was plenty old enough to be Brandon’s father. Had he come here to experience the same thing his son had? That would be weird and creepy and… no. “Raul translates to wise wolf, Fierro means iron,” William Lynch said. “Yeah,” Raul said slowly, drawing the word out. “What is it I can do for you, Mr. Lynch?” It was an enormous effort to lean back against his desk and appear casual. William Lynch stood between the chairs, not taking the offered seat. “You know my son Brandon.” Really weird and creepy. “That’s confidential.” Regardless of how William Lynch thought Raul knew Brandon he was going to protect Brandon’s privacy. A smile spread across Lynch’s face and damn if it didn’t make Raul want to shift to full werewolf and dive out a window. “Right answer,” Lynch said. Raul frowned but had no real reply. He felt this was some sort of test, but he didn’t have a clue as to over what, or why. “I’ll get right to the point,” Lynch continued. “Good.” “Brandon is missing and I need you to find him. I know you work here, in this place.” He glanced around the small office and his distaste over Raul’s family business was palatable. “But you’re also a bounty hunter.” “Uh huh. What do you mean missing?” Raul asked. Didn’t that piece of information make him feel like the worst possible pond scum? Regular e-mails from Brandon had stopped and Raul didn’t even think to try to make sure nothing bad had happened. “When?” “Ten days ago, though to be honest I didn’t realize it until a couple of days later. Brandon is very introverted and a loner, so not hearing from him when he’s not at work isn’t uncommon.” Lynch’s voice was steady, no hint of fear for Brandon, or any other emotion. There was nothing about his body language or scent to lead Raul to think he was masking his emotions. Asshole. Your kid went missing and you didn’t even know about it right away. The Brandon Raul knew didn’t seem very introverted, not to that extent. If someone in Raul’s family was missing, even for a few hours, many people would know something wasn’t right. Raul didn’t have to think much about his next two questions. “How do you know he hasn’t taken a trip? How did you know to come to me?” “There have been no charges on his credit cards. I couldn’t open the e-mails, but I’ve seen proof of communications between the two of you and I know he was in this area last November for a week. His motorcycle hasn’t left the parking garage in two weeks. Weather up north doesn’t allow for much riding at this time of year, but he’d trailer it somewhere he can use it if he were on a simple trip. Brandon doesn’t take impromptu trips, he’s an extensive planner.” Lynch counted off on his fingers as he listed his reasons. “I did some research on you. Your fugitive recovery rate is excellent. You know my son—intimately, I presume—and you demonstrated you know how to be discreet.” Brandon had dropped out of sight ten days ago. His last e-mail to Raul had been eleven days ago. Lower than pond scum. “Whatever your fee, I’ll double it,” Lynch added. He probably took Raul’s lack of immediate response as a no. Raul would do it for free, but he decided Brandon’s father needed to pay for being such a douche. “It would be helpful if you could provide me with information on his friends, who he associates with for business and what exactly does he do? I know he works for your company, that’s it.” “You understand what Brandon is, correct?” A sweet, kind young man with a dick of a father? Raul nodded. “I know he’s a magical. A scintilla.” Lynch nodded. “One of my business ventures is Seafind. It’s my main business and has been for years.” “Crowd sourcing, cyber security, search engine, financial projections, that Seafind?” Raul asked. That explained how a twenty-something kid could afford what Brandon paid for his visit to El Corazon. “Yes. For generations my family has been in the furniture business. When Brandon’s… talent was discovered I made sure he had the proper education and training in accordance with business in the cyber world. My wife’s family business is heavily into electronics and gaming, it seemed like a good idea and they had the connections. Brandon was able to help build Seafind when he was still in middle school.” Raul started to put some pieces together. “Is Brandon your only child?” “No. I have four others, he’s the only magical, however.” Lynch slipped the computer bag off his shoulder. “Your wife isn’t Brandon’s mother,” Raul said. Lynch shook his head. “My marriage was more of a merger.” “Furniture and electronics, they do go together.” “I like my wife, she likes me, and we’ve had an understanding since the beginning,” Lynch said. “You must appreciate that sort of life, I hear werewolf packs often have such unions.” “Packs are an invention of Hollywood, we have families.” Not unlike the Mafia has families. Raul didn’t address the part about arranged unions for profit not fun. “But, back to you. You broke the rules and got one of your flings knocked up. But Brandon had the potential for special skills both you and your wife and by extension your families could put to good use. So, your wife let it slide in return for a sparkly new billion-dollar creation,” Raul sniped. He was lining up the dots. Brandon was an indiscretion who turned into the goose who laid the electronic golden egg. Mr. Lynch, douche would be a step up for you. “Does Brandon’s mother have contact with him?” Lynch’s eyebrows went up and Raul snorted. “Please, Mr. Lynch, he’s not the first rich kid I’ve had to track down. Putting jigsaw pieces together is what I do. Did you pay her off to never contact him again, or did she have visitation?” “As far as the rest of the world knows, Brandon is the son of my wife and myself. Brandon knows he’s adopted, not why,” Lynch said. He at least had the decency to not meet Raul’s eyes and to appear slightly ashamed. He held out the laptop bag.    |
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