Manfred was used to being a cat and shifting to his human form whenever he wanted, until he crossed paths with a vindictive witch, who cursed him. Now, he finds the man of his dreams in Conrad, but before he can claim Conrad as his own, the curse must be broken for good...

    As New York explodes with dangerous creatures, their passion goes nuclear.After a terrible magical accident at Berkeley created unpredictable holes between realities—all manner of non-human creatures started popping into our world. These displacements, called RARE—Random Anomalous Reality Events—have taken magic out of fiction and relocated it firmly in reality, resulting in a great deal of chaos and confusion. Displaced elf Valerian works with AURA—the Agency of Unnatural Resettlement and Assimilation—to intercept these beings as they appear in the human world, helping the peaceful ones and subduing the violent, malevolent ones. It’s good, satisfying work, and Val would be happy if he wasn’t so lonely.Quinten is a young mage just trying to get by, but New York isn't the easiest city to make a living. If his methods are sometimes morally dubious, his heart is still in the right place. Of course for Quinn, the right place means firmly locked away, protected at all costs. Living by his wits and sometimes magically-induced luck, he works as a ‘free-lance magic user’, or unregistered mage and small time con—according to the authorities. The last thing Quinn wants is to draw the cops’ attention, but when an Event happens right on top of him, he’s forced to turn to AURA for help. Valerian isn’t at all what he’d expected in an AURA cop, and he certainly wasn't expecting to join forces with the sexy elf, a snarky drow and a bitter incubus when certain individuals in power try to stop the RARE by any means necessary.Things are not all what they seem at AURA headquarters, and a greater evil lurks at the top than anyone could have imagined.

    He is rescued as an infrant by a Guardian's guide, Daira, who stows him away safely hidden within a valley hidden from the depravity and misconceptions of man and shrouded by mists. In the valley far from humans and among others of different breeds, Tyrian learns that even in the sanctuary with the Guardians, Fate continues to rule his life.Jaral, loyal Guardian and warrior of his race, accepts the duty of Tyrian's protection. Only, he crosses the forbidden barrier and falls in love with his ward. Although he fights his attraction and love for his charge, Jaral is unable to withstand the desire Tyrian stirs within him. Desperate to ensure Tyrian remains untainted, he faces his Elders and the punishment he is sure to receive.As Tyrian’s and Jaral’s lives become perilously entwined only the bond of love and an eternity spent within the mist shrouded valley could keep their world from shattering apart. As Jaral's fate as a Guardian hangs in the balance, danger presents itself in the form of two vampires intent on Tyrian's death. Will Fate intervene and grant them a life in the Mists?

    But Pete quickly learns that there's something funny going on at this site. For one, Pete's the only laborer Mike hired, and from what Pete can see, this place needs a bulldozer, not a Dumpster. Mike doesn't so much as hand Pete a shovel, either-he seems to be hinting that the place is haunted. Pete doesn't feel any goosebumps, and he sure as hell doesn't see any ghosts. He's dying, though, to know what all the gashes in the walls are about.Mike can't see the gashes, and he's frustrated that Pete can't see the ghost standing right beside him, because the whole point of bringing Pete here was to release the trapped spirit in this place, a spirit that by rights Pete should be able to see better than anyone. Maybe, Mike thinks, he's made a mistake. But before he can nudge Pete a little harder, the front door disappears, the walls begin to heave, and the ghost which has always been nothing more than a shade is suddenly aggressive flesh and blood-and Mike doesn't think he's made a mistake anymore. He knows he has.

    James Donovan, shipwrecked on a strange, alien planet, must fight for his life in the arena against an alien twice his size. The Tyger shifter is gorgeous, powerful, and set on killing him. When Donovan shows reckless courage, the alien spares his life and takes him to be his submissive captive against his will.The young Alliance pilot tries to accept his fate, and against all odds he falls in love with his captor, Ragan. Yet on this planet, mating with a fierce and beautiful Tyger male means having to prove your ingenuity and bravery by participating in a deadly game of cat and mouse with his Tyger mate, while thousands watch on closed-circuit television. In his bestial form, Tyger won’t recognize his mate and will try his best to kill him.Can Donovan outwit the game, survive the contest, and find happiness, or will the challenge prove to be too great?

    Unfortunately, his beloved dog Tinky passed away unexpectedly, causing his world to come crashing down. Losing Tinky resurfaced everything he’d tried to bury, and now Justin was grieving on his own.His toys offered no solace for him. Even surviving as a little in secret was not working anymore although he had no other option since he lived in a small-minded community and befriended no one by choice to avoid getting caught. The unimaginable hurt due to his loss of Tinky, in conjunction with working as an artist and trying to pay bills were getting on top of him. The notion of ‘adulting’ was not going to be his first choice.Dan was convinced that he was living the dream with the bonus of living in a small town. His only concern was that no one would want to get involved with him, considering his lack of experience as a Daddy Dom. It troubled him that he might never find his submissive little to pamper and love. Good fortune smiled on him when one day, he received a call that would change his life in ways he’d never expected. Upon arriving at the client’s address to attend to a plumbing problem, he experienced a surprise encounter with a potential little submissive.Dan’s mind is sent in a spin as he realizes that he may not need to grow old without his special little to adore. It’s going to take all his skills to help his boy heal and develop the confidence to learn to trust him.

    Genetic flaws are taboo, and Adam soon discovers there’s a thin line between rising star and starving outcast.Stripped of wealth and position, stricken with a mysterious, worsening illness, Adam resorts to stealing credits to survive. Moments from capture by the Protectorate, help arrives in the form of Lochlan, a brash, cocksure Bideshi fighter.Now the Bideshi, a people long shunned by the Protectorate, are the only ones who will offer him shelter. As Adam learns the truth about the mysterious, nomadic people he was taught to fear, Lochlan offers him not just shelter—but a temptation Adam can only resist for so long.Struggling to adapt to his new life, Adam discovers his illness hides a terrible secret, one that the Protectorate will stop at nothing to conceal. Time is growing short, and he must find the strength to close a centuries-old rift, accept a new identity—and hold on to a love that could cost him everything.

    Sweet, quiet, and with the ability to sense the emotions of others, he's destined to join the seers at the Priory and be cloistered. At least he is until his brother, the Crown Prince Towan, disappears. Desperate to recover his heir, the King sends Tynde to the planet of Kion to chase a rumor that Towan has been kidnapped and taken there. Kion is everything that Alaquis isn't: crowded, urban, with denizens far more ruthless than anything Tynde has experienced before. Lucky for him, he's taken under the wing of Koss, an important businessman who is drawn to Tynde from the moment he meets the young man. Koss believes he's found a real treasure in sensitive Tynde, but will his needs and desires ruin everything that Tynde is?

    When the pathway opened, I followed the stone walkway through to his world, disregarding the rules that had been taught to me from childhood. I knew I was supposed to let one of the Court advisors know, but the magic called to me.The priest who summoned me ran when I appeared; I don’t think he expected his ritual to work. I followed the scent of his magic until I bounced off his wards. His home is protected against all spirits, including me, keeping me away from the warmth of his hearth. He leaves each morning and returns in the late afternoon, often staring into the woods where he must feel my presence. I’m stuck here, sitting on a branch, counting the hours until he comes home again and praying that today is the day he’ll offer an invitation of hospitality after demanding my presence. Until he dismisses the call, I am bound to him. His voice though—I’ve heard it before in my dreams. I think I’ve always been bound to him.Photo Description: A lonely fairy sitting on a tree-branch in a dark forest.This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.Download the story, read it online or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 2.

    

    In a city where super heroes and villains can level a city block in a moment, it's a good day when nothing is destroyed, especially for the man who sells super hero insurance.After yet another date stands him up, Karl heads home for another night spent reading with only his cats for company. But a strange sound at the bus stop leads him to a shocking discovery: Trick of the Light, a notorious villain in possession of an impossible power, and currently the intense focus of a man hunt by the Grand Order of Defenders.But Karl has never had much respect for the Order and its arrogant, cavalier super heroes. Whatever the risks, he'd much rather spend the night helping a villain, especially since once Trick is well enough to move Karl will probably never see him again…

    He works as a double agent within the Council's most notorious prison as Commanding Interrogator, with one special purpose: to keep the secrets of the rebellion safe. When he discovers that his ex-lover, Ravi Jai, has been arrested, Armen wants to help him. But he can't risk compromising his position. Now, more than ever, he must stay the course; for the Council has captured the man who has the one weapon needed to end the war, and Armen must find him. But his newfound power over Ravi proves too much of a temptation. Armen can't resist the lure of Ravi's body, shackled and at his mercy... [Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices, strong violence.]

    One last hurrah before the responsibilities of adulthood draw these littermates apart. Galacticaching their way through star systems they encounter more than they bargained for during their stopover at Space Portal Vector 7Z-218. This unassuming station at the edge of the galaxy holds a key, and the space hijinks and absurdities exponentially increase as they try to find the elusive token and solve its mystery. Ajax has always counted on Igor and vice versa, but he never imagined what he discovers. Will either of their futures ever be the same after the games?

    When the chance to meet the illustrator comes up he accepts his friends help to dress as his favourite character, space pirate female Kixie.Little does he know that Jenn not only prefers men but is looking for the mate of his dreams to take back to his home world. Will Billy be able to show his true self and capture the man of his not-so-pure dreams.Reader Advisory: This story has been previously released as part of the Unconventional At Best Anthology by Total-E-Bound

    While making a late delivery to a client, he runs into Taz. A man on a disastrous date… When Taz agreed to come to Earth on a date, he didn’t expect to be dumped and left with no way home. Then he falls into Reed’s arms—literally. A coffee date soon becomes a trip back to Reed’s apartment. But when Taz’s stripes begin to show, Reed discovers Taz comes from a planet far, far away. Reed never believed aliens existed, but he’s facing one now. What in the world is he going to do?