The Dragon Eater by J. Scott Coatsworth #YA #SciFi #Giveaway

J. Scott Coatsworth has a new queer YA/Crossover Sci-Fantasy book out - The Dragon Eater, Tharassas Cycle book one. There's a giveaway, and a free book with purchase too!

Raven's a thief who just swallowed a dragon. A small one, sure, but now his arms are growing scales, the local wildlife is acting up, and his snarky AI familiar is no help whatsoever.

Raven's best friend Aik is a guardsman carrying a torch for the thief. A pickpocket and a guard? Never going to happen. And Aik’s ex-fiancé Silya, an initiate priestess in the midst of a magical crisis, hates Raven with the heat of a thousand suns.

This unlikely team must work together to face strange beasts, alien artifacts, and a world-altering threat. If they don’t figure out what to do soon, it might just be the end of everything.

Things are about to get messy.

About the Series:

The Tharassas Cycle is a four book sci-fantasy series set on the recently colonized world of Tharassas. When humans first arrived on planet, they thought they were alone until the hencha mind made itself known. But now a new threat has arisen to challenge both humankind and their new allies on this alien world.

Order and Get the Prequel Free:

 

I’m giving away the prequel, Tales From Tharassas, with all orders – it contains The Last Run, The Emp Test, and a brand new short story the Fallen Angel. Just order the book and email me a proof of purchase at scott@jscottcoatsworth.com, and I’ll send you the eBook.

Universal Buy Link

---

Giveaway

Scott is giving away a $20 book gift card with this reveal – your choice of Amazon, B&N, Kobo or Smashwords. Enter for a chance to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47276/?

---

Excerpt

Spin’s voice echoed in his ear. “This is a bad idea, boss.”

“Shush,” Raven whispered to his familiar.

He needed to concentrate. Cheek and jowl against the smooth cobblestones, he held his breath and prayed to the gods that no one had seen him duck under the sea master’s ornate carriage. The setting sun cast long shadows from a pair of boots so close to his face that the dust and leather made him want to sneeze. Their owner was deep in conversation with the sea master, the hem of her fine mur silk trousers barely visible. The two women’s voices were hushed, and he could only make out the occasional word.

Raven rubbed the old burn scar on his cheek absently, wishing they would go away.

“Seriously, boss. I’m not from this world, and even I know it’s a bad idea to steal from the sea master.”

Though only he could hear Spin’s voice, Raven wished the little silver ay-eye would just shut up.

The hencha cloth-wrapped package in the carriage above was calling to him. He’d wanted it since he’d first seen it through the open door. No, needed it. Like he needed air, even though he had no idea what was inside. He scratched the back of his hand hard to distract himself from its disturbing pull.

An inthym popped its head out of the sewer grate in front of him, sniffing the air. Raven glared at the little white rodent, willing it to go away. Instead, the cursed thing nibbled at his nose.

Raven sneezed, then covered his mouth. He held his breath, staring at the boots. Don’t let them hear me.

A shiny silver feeler poked out of his shirt pocket, emitting a golden glow that illuminated the cobblestones underneath him. “Boss, you all right?” Spin’s whisper had that sarcastic edge he often used when he was annoyed. “Your heart rate is elevated.”

“Be. Quiet.” Raven gritted his teeth. Spin had the worst sense of timing.

The woman — one of the guard, maybe? — and the sea master stepped away, their voices fading into the distance.

Raven said a quick prayer of thanks to Jor’Oss, the goddess of wild luck, and flicked the inthym back into the sewer. “Shoo!”

He popped his head out from under the carriage to take a quick look around. There was no one between him and the squat gray Sea Guild headquarters. It was time. Grab it and go.

He reached into the luxurious carriage — a host of mur beetles must have spent years spinning all the red silk that lined the interior — and snagged the package. He hoped it was the treasury payment for the week. If so, it should hold enough coin to feed an orphanage for a month, and he knew just the one. “Got it.”

“Good. Now get us out of here.”

A strange tingling surged through his hand. Raven frowned.

Must have pinched a nerve or something.

Ignoring it, he stuck the package under his arm, slipped around the carriage, and set off down Gullton’s main thoroughfare. He walked as casually as he could, hoping no one would notice the missing package until he was long gone.

“We clear?”

Spin’s feeler blinked red. “No. Run! They’ve seen you.”

Raven ran.

---

Author Bio

Scott lives with his husband Mark in a yellow bungalow in Sacramento. He was indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine. He devoured her library, but as he grew up, he wondered where all the people like him were.

He decided that if there weren’t queer characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends.

A Rainbow Award winning author, he runs Queer Sci Fi, QueeRomance Ink, and Other Worlds Ink with Mark, sites that celebrate fiction reflecting queer reality, and is the committee chair for the Indie Authors Committee at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

Author Website: https://www.jscottcoatsworth.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/jscottcoatsworth/

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/jscottcoatsworthauthor

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/jscoatsworth

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jscottcoatsworth/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8392709.J_Scott_Coatsworth

Author Mastodon: https://mastodon.otherworldsink.com/@jscottcoatsworth

Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/j-scott-coatsworth/

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/j-scott-coatsworth/

Author Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/J.-Scott-Coatsworth/e/B011AFO4OQ

ALAN by Harley Wylde & Jessica Coulter Smith #MC #Romance @ChangelingPress

(Devoted Guardians MC 3)

A Dixie Reapers Shifter MC Romance

 

Paranormal / MC Romance

Date Published: ‎ March 24, 2023

Publisher: ‎ Changeling Press LLC

 

Jolene – My life wasn’t perfect, but I didn’t have any real complaints -- until something went horribly wrong and one of my potions blew up, killing my husband. Raising our son on my own hasn’t been easy. Grief and guilt keep getting in my way. But a certain biker keeps stopping by to lend a helping hand. Is it wrong I wish he’d do more than fix my porch steps?

Alan – I knew Jolene was mine, even when she belonged to someone else. Now that she’s single, I might have a chance. I can’t rush this, though. Not after what she’s been through. Not till I’m sure she's ready. I’ll take my time, build a friendship with her, then lay all my cards on the table. Only one problem. I didn’t count on traffickers hitting our little town. Everything’s gone sideways. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my new family safe, even if I have to get my hands dirty.

 

WARNING: This is a Dixie Reapers Shifter MC story and contains bad language, violence, and adult situations. Recommended for adult readers 18+.

 

 

 

EXCERPT

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2023 Harley Wylde & Jessica Coulter Smith

 

I clutched Rhett’s hand and stared at Alan. “Are you sure about this? I don’t really know anyone there. What if they don’t want us around?”

“I asked the Pres, and he said it was fine.” Alan shoved his hands into his pockets. I’d noticed he did it a lot, and wondered if it was a nervous habit or something else. “But if you don’t want to go…”

“No! We want to,” I assured him. “I didn’t want them thinking we were trying to intrude. We aren’t part of the club, and it seems like it’s just the Devoted Guardians and their families.”

“It’s fine, Jolene. Come on. I brought the truck.”

We followed him out to the driveway, and I stood back and watched as he buckled Rhett into his car seat. Alan came around so much these days, he’d bought one for his truck. I didn’t know many men who would do something like that. Not when it wasn’t their own child. All the little things he did for us made me like him even more.

I still remembered when I’d thought he was a decade older than me. Knowing he was over one hundred still blew my mind. Then again, shifters lived a long time, like witches. Compared to him, I was still a baby at only twenty-six. My little Rhett was only six. As far as I knew, Alan didn’t have children, and hadn’t ever had a mate. Of course, none of it mattered. Our relationship wasn’t the romantic sort -- something I reminded myself of every single day. It didn’t stop my heart from racing every time he came near, or wishing there could be more between us.

Alan helped me into the truck, then reached over for the seatbelt and buckled me in. He’s just being nice. If I said it enough times, maybe I could make myself believe it. Not even Robby had done such a thing for me. I’d never met anyone like Alan before. Sure, I’d interacted with shifters, but none had taken care of us the way he did. He made me feel special, and I knew Rhett adored him. He constantly asked when we’d see Alan.

With Wolf Creek being so small, it didn’t take long to reach the park. I noticed the motorcycles right away, and Alan pulled into a spot nearby. He helped us from the truck, and Rhett took off. He might not have played with the other kids before, but it didn’t make him hesitate even a little. My hands trembled as I smoothed my clothes. Had I made the right decision? What if the women didn’t want me here? Just because Axe said it was okay didn’t mean I was actually welcome.

“Come on,” Alan said, holding out his hand. I took it and let him lead me over to the group. He released my hand near the women and went to join the other men in his club. He always referred to them as his brothers, even though he wasn’t related to any of them. I’d asked a few questions the last couple of months, wanting to know more about him and the Devoted Guardians, but I still didn’t understand everything.

I glanced at the women and gave them a smile. “Hi! I’m Jolene.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Emma,” one of them said, holding out her hand. I shook it and retreated, still not feeling comfortable.

“I’m Raya,” the other said.

“I’m so glad Alan invited us. Rhett can always use more friends,” I said. “Since Cody and Tanner are older, they aren’t in the same class at school. I know they’ve seen each other around town, but this is the first time they’ve been able to play.”

“How do you know Alan?” Emma asked.

“He helped us not too long ago. Actually, he’s been really great. Things have been hard the last few years. Alan seems to know what we need even before I do. He’s fixed my porch steps, replaced an outlet that no longer worked, and done so much more.” I smiled softly as I looked at the man in question. “And he’s so sweet to Rhett.”

“Has he asked you out on a date?” Emma asked.

“Oh, it’s not like that. I’m so much younger than him.”

“Axe is over one hundred fifty years old, and I’m only twenty-six,” Emma said. “It can’t be worse than that, can it?”

“No, it’s not,” I said. “Maybe it would work. I’m a little scared to find out. What if I’m wrong? Rhett already loves Alan so much. If we dated, then everything went wrong, it would devastate my little boy.”

Part of me wanted to hold back and not open up to these women so much. They were strangers, yet I started to feel at ease around them. Alan had told me about Axe and Emma, and I knew their relationship was still new. He hadn’t said much about Raya, other than Henry had recently found her. At least they hadn’t been with their men for years. We were all rather new when it came to the Devoted Guardians. Of course, they were actually with someone in the club. Alan and I were only friends.

“Henry hated me on sight,” Raya said. “He thought I was a dark mage. Then we had a chance to talk. He listened to what I’d been through, and when he bit me later that night, it felt… right. Sounds crazy, right?”

Emma shook her head. “Part of you sensed it. The same happened with me and Axe. Although, he was sweet from the beginning. From the moment we met, I felt drawn to him. It was unlike anything I’d experienced before, and quite honestly, I found it a little scary. Not Axe but my reaction to him.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “That’s how it feels when Alan is around. I want to get closer to him, and when I catch his scent, my body lights up and I want to crawl into his lap. Instead, I end up putting more space between us.”

“Maybe you’re his mate,” Emma said. “Axe said I was destined to be his. I heard it was the same with Henry. Once he got past the smell of black magick, he realized Raya was his.”

Raya nodded.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” I said. “I’m not sure he really feels like that about me though. He’s never flirted with me or asked me out. I think he just feels sorry for us and is such a sweet man he can’t help but try and ease our burden a little.”

Emma snorted. “Keep telling yourself that. I have a feeling you’ll be eating those words soon enough.”

 

About the Author

Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil's Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series. When Harley's writing, her motto is the hotter the better -- off-the-charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can't deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you've come to the right place. She doesn't shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.

 

Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child writing her first stories in crayon. Today she's a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and she firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world.

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter: @changelingpress

Harley Wylde on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

 

Pre-Order Today

 

The Rock at the Bottom by Cynthia Hilston #historical #romance

Lorna & Tristan #3

 

20th Century Historical Fiction / Romance

Date Published: 03-21-2023

 

 

Stephen feels he is marked from day one to lose the ones he loves. His mother dies giving birth to him, and his alcoholic father makes sure Stephen never forgets it. To block out his father’s hate, fists, and belt, young Stephen loses himself in his imagination. Stories become his closest companions and barricades against a family that never wanted him. Once he can look his father in the eye, Stephen swears he will never be the monster his old man is. He vows he will become a published author, if for no other reason than to prove his father wrong.

While his dreams of being a bestselling novelist and falling in love come true, Stephen has much to prove to himself before he can write his own happy ending. Set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era Cleveland, Stephen fights the same alcoholic demons that plagued his father as he tries to begin a life free from his family. He meets equally headstrong Julie and is smitten, but their marriage is as fractured as his career is solid. He can find ten ways to write about being in love, but he has a hard time translating love on the page to love in real life. Julie slips between his fingers like sand, and Stephen sees his father staring back when he looks in the mirror.

Try as he might to rewrite his life, even going so far as to change his name, he has to wonder if he is the author or the killer of love.

 

About the Author

Cynthia Hilston is a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, happily married, and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Writing has always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the world of fan fiction, she stepped away to do her debut dance with original works of fiction, although she still dabbles in fan fiction.

In her spare time – what spare time? – she devours books, shamelessly watches Hallmark movies and When Calls the Heart, pets her orange and black kitties, looks at the stars, drinks wine or coffee with good friends, and dreams of what other stories she wishes to tell.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Goodreads

Instagram

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OUT NOW—Love You Now (Love You, Maine, Book 4) by Julia Kent (@jkentauthor) #romcom

 

Ana DaSilva is looking for a palate cleanser. A one night stand. A reboot.

 

Instead, she got fireworks, sparks, chemistry, and the perfect guy. No one wants to meet Mr. Right when he should just be Mr. Rebound, but Mr. Right is so, so right.

 

But then he went from Mr. Right to Mr. Never, because when she learns she’s pregnant three days after that wonderful night with Dennis, she realizes her sleazy drug dealing ex not only left her with the legal mess she knew about, he gave her a life-long present.

 

One that means ignoring Dennis’ texts and phone calls, no matter how much she wants to answer.

 

Dennis Luview wants to escape his pain. Coming back to his hometown of Luview, Maine - the cheesy tourist trap where every day was Valentine’s Day - means facing a past he left behind twenty-four years ago. Yes, his family is loving, and sure, he has roots that go bone-deep in the small town community where people step up for each other.

 

But the naive eighteen-year-old who left to serve his country is now a retired Special Ops vet with a heavy entourage of ghosts and PTSD. No woman deserves all the baggage he’s lugging around.

 

Including Ana, who clearly wants nothing to do with him, no matter how intense their one haunting encounter really was.

 

Which is why six months after that hot night, he’s stunned to find her in his hometown, at a bridal shower, her ripe, pregnant belly swelling under a gorgeous yellow sundress.

 

A public confrontation turns into a very private reunion, and as Dennis pursues Ana she opens up, but is he crazy to want her — and what turns out to be another man’s baby — to settle down and find stability and love?

 

Or is he deluding himself that he’s remotely worth the happiness an instant family could offer, after his terrible past?

 

If you’re looking for a secret(ish) baby, one-night stand, strangers-to-lovers romance set in a town where every day is Valentine’s Day, with a veteran with PTSD who volunteers at an animal-rescue sanctuary and a therapist who keeps picking the wrong men (until now), then settle in with a cup of coffee to read the final book in the Love You, Maine series that features the Luview family.

 

One-night stand

Strangers to lovers

Secret(ish) baby

… and a sugar glider named Magic

 

 

Buy Links: 

 

Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XVL9JCZ

 

Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09XVL9JCZ

 

Amazon AU:  https://www.amazon.com.au/Love-You-Now-Maine-Book-ebook/dp/B09XVL9JCZ/

 

Amazon CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/Love-You-Now-Maine-Book-ebook/dp/B09XVL9JCZ/

 

Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/love-you-now/id1616553123

 

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-now-2

 

Nook:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-now-julia-kent/1142639342?ean=2940186429272

 

Google Play:  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Julia_Kent_Love_You_Now?id=KgVsEAAAQBAJ

 

Print:  https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Now-Julia-Kent/dp/1638801096/

 

Website:  https://jkentauthor.com/books/love-you-maine/love-you-now/

 

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/love-you-now-love-you-maine-book-4-by-julia-kent

 

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59694735-love-you-now

 

Audible:  Coming Soon

 

Amazon Audio:  Coming Soon

 

iTunes:  Coming Soon

 

Author Bio:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.

 

From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).

 

She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.

 

She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com, on Twitter @jkentauthor, on Facebook at @jkentauthor, and on Instagram @jkentauthor. Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com

 

Social Media Links:

 

Website:  http://jkentauthor.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jkentauthor

Newsletter:  http://bit.ly/2PIBi9n

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jkentauthor/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-kent

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3238619.Julia_Kent

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/

EXCERPT

Oh.

 

Oh.

 

Oh, my goodness.

 

“Brie,” she said, her knees going weak, her body starting to tremble like that teen boy’s hands. “It’s–help.”

 

“Help? What’s wrong? Is it the baby?”

 

Sharp as a tack, Lucinda left the boy hanging and turned to her.

 

“Ana? What’s wrong? Do you need to sit? Is something wrong with the baby?”

 

Time changed.

 

Each second skipped like a stone on water, like a hummingbird’s wings, like there was all the time in the world yet every bit of it was gone.

 

She took a step backward. Then another, her belly going heavy, her heart completely confused in her chest, trying to decide whether to jump for joy…

 

…or flee screaming.

 

The group of people was moving closer, step by step, each one more final than the last.

 

Each one clearer than the last.

 

The big man in the navy t-shirt, wearing sunglasses he was now slowly removing as he looked at her like an assassin peering through a rifle sight was, indeed, Dennis.

 

Her Dennis.

 

Dennis from their one night stand.

 

“ANA!” Brie said loudly. “What’s going on?”

 

At Brie’s words, Dennis’s sunglasses dropped to the ground, his legs faster than she ever imagined something so thick could be. He ran around his group, startling the lumberjack dude, making the fashionable woman wobble on her high heels.

 

“Hey!” the guy called out, but Dennis ran, coming to an abrupt halt, his eyes on her belly.

 

Her big, ripe belly, as round as the sun.

 

Then he looked at her eyes.

 

Her belly.

 

Her eyes.

 

“Ana?” His face reflected her own yearning, her desperate wish, her desire, her–

 

“Dennis, I can explain–”

 

 Release blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.

Embracing the Demon by AJ Graham #paranormal @changelingpress

 

Date to be Published: March 17, 2023

 

 

Love is always a gamble, but when you bargain with a demon the deck’s stacked in his favor.

 

Demon’s Bargain (Embracing the Demon 1): Ella is desperate. A vicious dragon stalks her people. The only man strong enough to defeat it is Vaz, the half-demon outcast -- banished long ago for his tainted blood. Ella soon learns just how potent a demon’s touch can be.

Living with a Demon (Embracing the Demon 2): When Nate answered a personals ad, he wasn’t looking for romance. But now he knows Pierce is the man for him… even when he finds out Pierce is something more than human.

Playing Games (Embracing the Demon 3): Nate adores his demon lover, Pierce. But lately, Pierce has been distant and preoccupied, and it’s driving Nate crazy. Awakening Pierce’s possessive instincts is a dangerous game to play… but to Nate, the danger just makes it more tempting.

Escaping Darkside (Embracing the Demon 4): After he’s killed in a hit and run accident, Christian wakes up in Darkside -- the demon-infested world between life and death. If he can reach door back to Earth, Christian will have a second chance at life. But going back will mean leaving Seth behind forever… and Christian is falling in love with his demon.

Publisher's Note: Embracing the Demon (Box Set) contains the previously published novellas Demon's Bargain, Living with a Demon, Playing Games, and Escaping Darkside.

 

 

EXCERPT

 

Copyright ©2023 AJ Graham

Excerpt from Escaping Darkside

 

Christian woke face down on the ground, head throbbing. A smell like garbage and sewer water filled his nose, and hard, gritty pavement pressed against his cheek. He opened his eyes to find himself lying in a narrow alley between two brick buildings, next to a row of overflowing trashcans.

Christian stood, staggered, and leaned against the nearby wall. What had happened? Had he been mugged? A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he swayed. He must have hit his head. Maybe that was why he couldn't remember anything. When the world finally stopped spinning, he began to walk.

Run-down, brick buildings lined the narrow street, and fragments of broken glass glittered on the pavement. It looked like one of the bad parts of Chicago, but it wasn't a neighborhood he recognized.

He heard a low, faint moan, like distant wind, and froze. The back of his neck prickled and he slowly turned.

Four red-cloaked figures stood in the street, motionless. Hoods covered their heads and shadow hid their faces. Goose bumps rose on Christian's flesh. "Um… hello."

No reply. One figure stretched out an arm and curled a long, bony finger in beckoning.

Christian swallowed, hard. His heart rose into his throat as fear slammed into his gut like a fist. He took a shaky step backward, then turned and ran, feet pounding the pavement, breath coming in frantic gulps. He looked over his shoulder and saw them following -- not running, but floating several inches above the road, their red cloaks billowing behind them.

What the hell was going on?

He kept running, but he could sense the things getting closer, closing in on him. An icy hand curled around his arm, the fingers brittle and thin, yet strong as iron. Cold filled his chest, as if that skeletal hand had reached into his body to grip his heart. He looked into the darkness beneath the thing's hood and saw the glint of eyes. A weird clicking, chattering noise drifted from that darkness.

Christian twisted away. "Let me go!" He yanked his arm free. His skin still burned where the thing had touched him.

He ran, ignoring the throbbing stitch in his side and the burn in his lungs. There was nothing left in his mind but the desperate need to get away. He ran until his legs gave out, and he sank to his hands and knees, gulping air, each breath like nettles scraping his raw lungs. He looked over his shoulder, shaking. The red-cloaked figures were nowhere in sight. Somehow, he'd lost them.

He crawled to the side of the street and hid behind a Dumpster, hugging his knees to his chest. He looked down at his arm, where the thing had grabbed him. Its grip had left ugly, black burn marks on his skin, and the marks writhed like something alive. Just looking at them made him nauseous. He pulled his sleeve over the burn, hiding it, then leaned back against the brick wall and closed his eyes. His muscles felt like overcooked noodles, but somehow, he managed to drag himself to his feet and resume walking.

Ahead, a row of motorcycles stood next to a low, windowless building with black cement walls. Even from a distance, Christian could hear the pulse of a bass-beat. A dance club?

Whatever it was, he needed to get inside. He ran toward the building, flung open the door, and entered. A blast of warm air and sound hit him. After the eerie silence of the street, the sudden din of music and voices was overwhelming. The club was dimly lit, smoky, and packed. Music thumped in his ears. Christian squeezed through the crush of bodies, his gaze darting back and forth. Sweaty shirts surrounded him wherever he turned.

"Ow! Watch where you're going!"

"Sorry. I --" Christian looked up and his jaw dropped. The thing staring down at him had the body of a weightlifter, but from the neck up, it resembled a cross between a bull and a lion, with curved black horns, a shaggy mane, and sharp fangs. "What are you staring at?" growled a deep, rough voice.

"S-sorry," Christian stammered and backed away.

Had he stumbled into some sort of costume party? No, that hadn't been a mask. He'd seen its mouth move.

He stepped on something that felt like a rope and heard a snarl. He looked down to see a long, furry tail pull away, and something with three horns and four eyes glared at him. Christian stumbled backward.

Breathing hard, he made his way through the crowd. He spotted a silver-haired girl in black leather. Relieved to see someone relatively normal-looking, Christian grabbed her arm. She looked at him. Her eyes were huge, almond-shaped, and completely black, without whites or irises. "Excuse me, Miss, I'm sorry, but could you tell me…"

She opened her mouth, revealing inch-long fangs where her canine teeth should have been, and hissed like a cat. He backed off. His head swiveled back and forth. Everywhere he looked was a creature out of a nightmare. There stood a man with a wriggling mass of tentacles where his mouth should have been. Across from him loomed another man with the head of a hawk and four feathery arms.

A hand grabbed his arm and twisted him around. He found himself staring up into a face that was almost human, except it was black -- not brown, but licorice black -- and topped by a pair of small, spiral horns protruding from crimson hair. The man dragged Christian through the crowd, out the door, into the cool night. He shoved his face into Christian's, eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here? You're not from Darkside."

"I don't even know how I got here. What is this place?"

His lip curled in an unpleasant expression that was half-grin, half-sneer, revealing tiny, sharp fangs. "You're from Earth, huh?"

"Earth? You mean we're not on Earth?"

"Oh boy, are you in for a rude awakening." Sharp claws dug into the meat of Christian's arm, making him squirm. "There's bound to be a fat reward on your head. The Council doesn't like it when souls slip through their grasp."

Breathing hard, Christian tried to pry the sausage-thick, dark fingers from his arm. "Let go!"

"Oh no. You're not getting away so easily."

 

About the Author

AJ Graham has a passion for cold weather, unusual beers, and anything otherworldly.  Dragons, demons, shapeshifters and psychics have always populated their imagination, but sometimes the real world can be just as fascinating and mysterious.  And no matter the genre, AJ has always loved stories about soulmates connecting.  Whether it's instant, explosive passion or a slow burn, the power of two (or more) minds and bodies coming together to form a greater whole is always a story worth telling.  AJ lives in the Chicago suburbs with their husband.

 

Follow the Publisher on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @changelingpress

 

Purchase Link

Preorder Now