With a war brewing in the east and no guarantee of surviving another brutal winter, Gib's life is plagued with uncertainty. To make matters worse, he suddenly finds himself uprooted from his home and drafted into the army. Forced to leave his siblings behind, Gib reports to Silver City, where he enrolls in the legendary Academy of Arden. An outsider and misfit, Gib struggles to fit in among the highborn city folk. His charming candor eventually wins him a handful of friends—an enigmatic mage trainee with a secret, a young girl who has defied tradition by joining the military, and a prince looking to escape his stifling, royal life. But his new-found comrades may not be able to help when Gib alone overhears a traitorous plot—a scheme so horrible that if seen to fruition, all of Arden will suffer for it. It's up to Gib to convince the High Council of Arden to act, to stop the terrible danger before it's too late.

    He has everything he wants, but what he needs is an extra hand or two to help him with his business and home. He decides to go to the slave market to purchase a blacksmith and a housekeeper, and instead buys a mysterious young man out of pity. He is not prepared for the consequences.----------This story is COMPLETEApprox. Word Count: 80,978

    Like the Vargr wolves. All Matt knows of his dad is that he was Danish and that he’d died in a motorcycle accident ten years earlier. When Matt’s sixteen and a half, his mother declares it important that he at least knows the other half of his heritage, so she sends him from the States to Denmark as an exchange student for a year.Matt’s not overly excited. Matt’s a loner who doesn’t connect with people. Going to a foreign country was never a part of his plans, but he’d do it for her. He’d go to where she’d loved the only man in her life. The love that gave her Matt. Everything he’s heard from his mom and read about Denmark and the area he’s going to live in did not prepare him for what he finds, though—a heritage that has an old Norse god on the family tree.

    Since this book isn’t an integral part of either series, it can be read as a standalone. If you’d like to get to know some of the characters mentioned in this story, then you’ll want to read the Asphalt Bay and Venetian Hills books. Reading order for those can be found inside this book) Bruno Marrz -no not the singer- is a wolf shifter and single father to three boys. After separating from his cheating ex-wife and gaining custody, Bruno took his three boys and moved cross country, returning to the pack he was born in. Bruno does his best, but he’s struggling to make ends meet and now, a year after leaving, his ex-wife wants custody of their boys. Unsure if he can afford to fight, Bruno seeks the help of the pack’s lawyer. Idris Vaughn is the top trauma surgeon at Venetian Hills Medical and a dragon shifter originally from Wales. He’s also the youngest surgeon to reach his level. Idris has a big house and lots of money, but those things don’t keep him warm at night. Idris longs for the love of a fated mate and the joy of a family but, he hasn’t had any luck finding the one person destined to be his. Neither man expected to meet their fated mate at the scene of an accident, but that’s what happens. Between the custody battle, navigating a new relationship, and trying to figure out Bruno’s ex-wife’s motives, these two men will have their work cut out for them when it comes to their happily ever after. Can they achieve it, or will they fail? (Warning: Contains sexual content, Mpreg elements, and explicit language. Not recommended for those under the age of 18.)

    Should anyone pick up on the vibrations of his royal bloodline, it will be the end of him. Ordered to the court of King Fain, monarch to all large cat shifters, the assignment leaves a bad taste in Dami’s mouth. The last thing he ever wanted or needed was the scrutiny that will come while serving as Paladin Primero, the king’s champion and most fearsome warrior knight. To top it all off, Dami is greeted by none other than his mate, someone he’d hoped never to meet. Paget Jureaux, the panther who runs King Fain’s household, has been serving the monarch for nearly five years after the coup which resulted in the execution of the former king, Pasha Raab. He’s made lots of acquaintances and a few friends, but he’s never had any romantic entanglements. With no other gay cats around, there hasn’t been much chance for Paget to fall in love. When his mate arrives in the form of the king’s new paladin, he curses his fate. Not only does the man come with a vicious and cruel reputation, but a stunning face and an incredibly sexy body. Thrown together by destiny, the two realize they must avoid each other at all costs and face the biggest challenge of their lives… trying to stay alive long enough… to walk away with broken hearts.

    He’s not a werewolf, either. He doesn’t talk to ghosts, though he thinks he might like to see one some day. Matt’s just an ordinary, everyday kind of guy. So why is the oldest and meanest vampire in town suddenly gunning—or should that be ‘fanging’?—for him?Maybe it’s his social skills, or lack thereof—but it wasn’t his fault he lost his pants in the middle of the mall. Perhaps it’s because he’s on nickname basis with the ghoul in a local cemetery. Then there’s the outside chance it’s the fact Matt’s one half of the vampire slaying team that is Night Call.His partner is Mercy, a pint sized fighting machine with a killer wardrobe—and she’s the only tame vampire in existence.Still, none of that explains why tenacious PI Erin McRea is digging through all the nastiest moments of his history in an effort to find him.And somehow Matt has to find the time to see his therapist about that little temper problem he has…

    Though a dangerous venture--as Northerners are usually welcomed with the end of a sharp sword--it’s worth the risk for a night of true liberation ... and to vex his father. After losing half his men in a violent battle at the border of the North and South kingdoms, Sir Axle of the South seeks to drown his sorrows at the bottom of a Tankard of beer. He hates Northerners for their cruel and obnoxious ways, hates them for taking his people as slaves to work the mines, hates them for the murderers they are.His motto: Meet a Northerner, and unsheathe your sword. And when a cloaked Northerner enters his tavern, unsheathe his sword Axle does ...

    Five years ago, she helped the magic-rich island of Grace Loray overthrow its oppressor, Argrid, a country ruled by religion. But adjusting to postwar life has not been easy. When an Argridian delegate vanishes during peace talks with Grace Loray’s new Council, Argrid demands brutal justice—but Lu suspects something more dangerous is at work.Devereux is a pirate. As one of the outlaws called stream raiders who run rampant on Grace Loray, he pirates the island’s magic plants and sells them on the black market. But after Argrid accuses raiders of the diplomat’s abduction, Vex becomes a target. An expert navigator, he agrees to help Lu find the Argridian—but the truth they uncover could be deadlier than any war.Benat is a heretic. The crown prince of Argrid, he harbors a secret obsession with Grace Loray’s forbidden magic. When Ben’s father, the king, gives him the shocking task of reversing Argrid’s fear of magic, Ben has to decide if one prince can change a devout country—or if he’s building his own pyre.As conspiracies arise, Lu, Vex, and Ben will have to decide who they really are . . . and what they are willing to become for peace.

    An infamous pirate, Merric is known as much for stealing his victims’ hearts as their jewels. Daniel’s world is about to be turned upside down when he recognises Captain Merric as none other than Edward Merriston, someone he thought he'd never see again.Edward can’t believe Daniel Horton is aboard his ship. While Edward is willing to do anything he can to get a second chance at their happy ending, Daniel isn’t interested in digging up the past. But Daniel is one priceless treasure Captain Merric isn’t about to let go of without a fight.Captain Merric first appeared as short story in a pirate-themed anthology. Now completely rewritten and extended he is ready to set sail again.Word Count: 55 600.

    L. Polk arrives on the scene with Witchmark, a stunning, addictive fantasy that combines intrigue, magic, betrayal, and romance.In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own.Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn’t leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after faking his own death and reinventing himself as a doctor at a cash-strapped veterans' hospital, Miles can’t hide what he truly is.When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles’ healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient’s murder. To find the truth he’ll need to rely on the family he despises, and on the kindness of the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.

    Rain and Aiden James! Gabriel Radu isn’t your average 'thirtyish' detective... that’s because he's a three-hundred-year-old warlock. Residing in the quaint but quirky town of Denmark, Tennessee, the semi-immortal 'Gabe' is called upon from time to time to assist local law enforcement in solving unusual crimes that often end in murder. And, by unusual, the crimes always involve something he's quite familiar with: Magic. When Sheriff Billy McCain comes calling for help in solving the brutal slayings of a pair of homeless men, whose corpses have been marked by a dark snake and scythe symbol beneath the napes of their necks, Gabriel eagerly accepts the challenge to help solve the case and bring the killer, or killers, to justice. But the assignment comes with a terrifying caveat... the mark left upon both victims points to an ancient entity that rarely visits our world. Known in Gabe’s Romanian homeland as the Sufletul, or Soul Taker, in the previous centuries this immortal fiend has arisen, it has left widespread death and destruction in its wake. The initial killings soon begin to multiply, and the mysterious reasons behind why this ancient menace has chosen the tiny town of Denmark begin to come into focus for Gabriel. Relying on his investigative instincts and courage, as well as precious insights from trusted friends and his family of witches and warlocks, the quest to stop the growing body count before it erupts into uncontrolled carnage brings Gabriel closer and closer to a confrontation with... The Soul Taker.

    Without mana, there could be no studying at the sky-piercing Pinnacle Towers, there could be no great monster hunts, and there could be no following in his father’s legendary footsteps.He’d be a cripple.But when a terrible accident forces him to flee, Declan learns the true nature of his mana. Just because it doesn’t resonate at any known frequency, doesn’t mean it isn’t magic. Just because he can’t cast the same spells as everyone else doesn’t mean he isn’t a mage. And just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

    When the new gladiator brought to the arena proves to be a beastman captive with magic of his own, Aedan's secret is put in jeopardy – as is his life.Complete, approx. 125,713 words

    That is, he hates that he loves it. His last case was a success, but it turned his life upside down and taught him some things he wishes he could forget. The best way to move on is to close yourself off and pretend it never happened, right? So when he’s called to the beach for a body they can’t trace to any of the Three Courts with a cause of death no one can explain, Niko thinks he’s set. An impossible case to disappear into. Only then Cobalt Sincloud shows up. Appearing out of the ocean, Cobalt is gorgeous, powerful, and mysterious. He claims to know the victim and identifies himself as a Selkie. Which is weird because as far as any Fae know, Selkies aren’t real. Cobalt is exactly the kind of guy Niko knows can give him the pain he craves. He’s also determined to find the killer and gets himself assigned to the case. Now Niko’s got a politically charged murder to solve and a distracting partner who’s more than a little interested in him. To make matters worse, the investigation drives them back into Niko’s past, this case inextricably linked to his last. Questions pile up, and if Niko wants answers, he’s going to have to face down demons he thought he’d buried. And as the tension mounts, Niko starts to wonder if he should stop punishing himself and let Cobalt do it instead. The stakes are high; the unsteady peace of the Three Courts is on the line. Can Niko and Cobalt trust each other enough to solve the mystery? Or will the reality of the investigation bring more pain than even Niko can handle? Out of the Blue is a 160,000 word erotic, mystery romance in a fantasy setting. It focuses on an m/m relationship with explicit sexual scenes (and glimpses of f/f, m/f, moresomes, etc). This novel features BDSM scenes, violence, coarse language, and relationships that are not always entirely healthy. For trigger warnings, see below. It is the first novel in a series and follows the events of the Worth Series and the Three Courts series. You do not, however, need to have read those books to enjoy this one. It has a bittersweet HFN ending with a sequel to come. Trigger warnings and possible spoilers: Blood, edgeplay including knifeplay and erotic asphyxiation, discussions of sexual and physical abuse, sex trafficking, and issues of consent.

    He’s trying to get answers about a person he’s desperately searching for—an old love who had been attacked and turned while Jonah was imprisoned. But instead, he finds himself alone with her in a dark alley with her. fangs in his neck. Seconds later, she’s dying on the ground at his feet, poisoned by his toxic blood, and her followers are chasing him all over the city. The vampire's venom burns much of his memory away, though they're tantalizingly close. His mind is a blank as far as most of his personal history is concerned, so questions like, what are you, have to remain unanswered. Jonah's stripped naked and brought before a handsome, powerful vampire lord whose blood instantly calls to him, while deliciously erotic images of the two of them flash through his mind. This is the man he’s been seeking, which is unfortunate on many levels, since he only wants Jonah dead.What do you do when the love of your life demands answers—and you don’t have any? Do you meekly accept your fate, or do you fight like hell to cleanse the bitter taste of life without him from your soul? A complicated web of lies threatens both Jonah’s and his vampire lover’s lives, and they must fight their way to happiness through a confusing maze of intrigue and deception. Can Jonah’s vampire lord put aside his bitterness so they can save themselves? Or do they both go down fighting?