Prologue
“Where is she?” Jora Brynhild, leader of the Valkyries, strode through the halls of Valhalla, her feathered cape slapping against her legs.   
“She was in her room–.”
Jora pushed past the Valkyrie who’d been charged with keeping an eye on Jora’s sister–to stop her from doing something foolhardy. Rune stones covered the small bedside table. […]

Michel stared out into the endless empty space. With the Halian War behind them, the future seemed bright, fruitful — boring. Sighing, he glanced over his shoulder. Even the hologram of his homeland of Sega-Ma failed to cheer him today.
“Commander Giat?” Central Control hailed him.
Pressing his wrist communicator, he answered. “What is it?”
“The Lady is […]

 Devin quickly gathered his gear and headed for their best shuttle. The Moira was powering up as he tossed his pack behind the pilot’s seat and strapped in. Greg Roland didn’t bother to acknowledge him, just flipped a few switches to bring the pilot’s boards active. Devin ran the sequence checks then ordered the bay […]

The first time we met was in his hotel room in Callea. Big suite, big soundproof walls. It’s a good thing.
I think he thought I was more experienced, but he knew a hell of a lot more than me, and had a lot more nerve. Which is ironic, considering I’m the prostitute.
I walked in the […]

Mike Crane liked the pretty redhead the first time he looked into her dancing green eyes. The restaurant’s rule of ‘no hitting on customers’ prevented him from acting on his attraction. Now, here she is at the same vacation resort and the rules don’t apply.
Rissa Oaks and her friends have wondered if Mike, the hot […]

“You’ve been driving me insane all day.” He sank to his knees before her with one purpose in mind. The diamond stud in her belly button. He hadn’t forgotten about it, not by a long shot. Leaning into her, he put his mouth over it, tugged with his teeth.“Hank…” she cried out, pumping her hips […]

The antiquities shop looked like every other little storefront along the colorful, busy marketplace. It was a bit worn, the paint starting to fade and the front picture window a little dusty and smudged with fingerprints. The once dark green canopy over the open doorway was a paler shade of moss, frayed at the edges. […]

“This region has many…ancient spirits.  They…feed upon the weaknesses that all people possess.  Most do little harm, but some are dangerous, even deadly.  It is my task to drive these spirits from the injured and ill.” He snorted and his gaze turned away from her.  Manara’s heart cracked at that motion, and knew her future was […]

Dawn’s first light shone through the sheers in the dining room. Even though Mike had been gone for almost five years, his place setting remained as always—including the beveled glass into which Consuela always poured his tomato juice at breakfast time.
I forced my eyelids open wide and snapped on the kitchen light. Tuesday morning already. […]

Shadow lurked under the stairwell. She caught sight of herself in the hall mirror, and blushed a deep red at her reflection. She wore a too small pearly green atrocity with ridiculous ruffles sewn in awkward places. Her hair had been left to dangle in silly curls about her face and, worst of all, she […]

Ainsley had a way of making the idea of kissing a major event, instead of a prelude to the wedding night they had yet to share. Desmond folded his hand around her neck. He didn’t forget where they were. Instead, he chose to ignore the music and chatter outside the pantry. 
He wanted to touch her […]

It was the fear he smelled first, a pheromone-laden scent almost irresistible to the hell hound within him. She was here–somewhere.   
Risk Leidolf spun on one worn boot heel, searching the dim interior of the bar for his latest assignment. He didn’t have much information: young and pretty, Lusse had said. She hadn’t bothered to […]

“I don’t shoot men in cold blood.”
She lifted her head and looked at him, finding a focus for her anger and frustration. “But you do shoot them, don’t you.”
“They can leave. I’ll give them the choice.”
A choice. He would give them a choice. Meanwhile, he gave her no choice whatsoever. She shook her head at […]

“I am not some prize awarded upon my father’s demise, my lord. I will not bend to his tyranny or yours so easily,” she said. But Lord help her, she would not mind bending if bending meant that his hand, which was presently stroking her hip, would continue its path toward the apex of her […]

Garon laid his sleeping mate down on his bed and stood back to drink her in. Her short copper hair waved carelessly across her forehead gleaming with shadows of deep gold. Little brown spots humans called freckles, dotted her alabaster skin. He ached to press his lips to each one. Her full pink lips and […]