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DOC Teaser

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(Dixie Reapers MC)

Motorcycle Club Romance, Age Gap, Suspense

Date Published: October 24, 2025

 

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When a fierce heroine collides with a hardened outlaw, secrets ignite
and sparks fly.

 

Nova — I was never a part of my uncle Bats’ outlaw MC world. He kept me
far from the Dixie Reapers, convinced distance meant safety. But when my
parents died in a crash I know wasn’t an accident, I walk straight into
the world I’ve been shielded from, where every secret carries blood,
betrayal, and danger. Each step puts a bigger target on my back, but I
can’t stop. Not when the conspiracy reached higher than I ever imagined.
And then there’s Doc. He’s a risk I can’t afford, no matter
how much I want him.

Doc — I patched into the Dixie Reapers for a fresh start, not to guard the 19
year old niece of a fallen brother. As a veteran and the club’s medic, I
know how to fight, save lives, and bury temptation. But Nova’s stubborn,
reckless, and too tempting to resist. I fell fast, and hard. Once I’ve
set eyes on her, I’m not letting go. Protecting her tests me more than
any battlefield ever has, but losing her isn’t an option.

Enemies circle like vultures — dirty cops, corrupt judges, men willing to
kill to silence us. Together we uncover a deadly web of human trafficking and
murder. But in the outlaw world, justice comes at a cost. Nova is mine, and
I’ll burn the world down before I let anyone take her.


If you like possessive alpha males, gritty MC romance, heart-pounding
suspense, and age gap romances, you’re going to love Doc and
Nova’s story!


WARNING: This book contains mature themes, government corruption, human
trafficking, violence, and adult content. Reader discretion advised.

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

Nova

 

My little Honda looked pathetic among the gleaming motorcycles, like a child
who’d accidentally wandered into an adult party. I gripped the steering
wheel, knuckles white, as I scanned the Dixie Reapers clubhouse. Uncle Bats
had always warned me to stay away from this place, from his world. But Uncle
Bats was dead, and I needed answers that only his brothers might have.

The folder and notebook on my passenger seat contained everything I had left
of my mother — her research notes, newspaper clippings, and a lifetime of
suspicions that had probably gotten her killed. I picked them up, clutching
them to my chest like armor.

“You can do this, Nova,” I whispered to myself. “For Mom and
Dad.”

I took three deep breaths, counting each one the way my therapist had taught
me after the accident. Except it wasn’t an accident. I knew it
wasn’t, no matter what the police report said.

Outside, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the parking lot. Men
in leather cuts moved between motorcycles, their laughter and conversations a
low rumble that stopped abruptly when they noticed my car. I felt their gazes
on me, assessing, suspicious.

Uncle Bats had kept me secret from them, and while I knew of the Dixie
Reapers, I’d never been allowed to meet them. Now I was about to shatter
that barrier. The thought sent a tremor through my hands, but I shoved the
fear down deep where it couldn’t reach my face.

I stepped out of the car, my sensible flats crunching on the gravel. Five feet
tall in my best shoes, I’d never felt smaller than I did walking toward
that building. The folder and notebook clutched to my chest were my only
shield against their stares.

“Hey, darlin’, you lost?” called one man, his tone somewhere
between amused and suspicious. Tattoos covered his arms and disappeared
beneath the leather vest emblazoned with the Dixie Reapers patch.

I kept walking, eyes forward, spine straight the way my mother had taught me.
“Look them in the eye, Nova,” she’d say. “Don’t
let them think you’re afraid, even when you are.”

The surrounding conversations died one by one, replaced by silence and the
weight of two dozen stares. I could feel them taking in my brown hair, my
hazel eyes, my five-foot-nothing frame that had never intimidated anyone. I
probably looked like a strong wind could blow me over, but they didn’t
know about the steel underneath. They didn’t know I was
Mary-Jane’s daughter.

The clubhouse door loomed ahead, guarded by a mountain of a man with a graying
beard and hands the size of dinner plates. His cut identified him as a full
member, not just a hang-around. He stepped directly into my path, forcing me
to stop or walk straight into his chest.

“Clubhouse is members only, sweetheart,” he said, voice like
gravel. “Whatever you’re selling, we ain’t buying.”

Tiling my chin up, I met his gaze. “I’m not selling anything. I
need to speak with whoever’s in charge.”

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “That so? And what business
would a little thing like you have with the Dixie Reapers?”

The men behind me had moved closer, forming a loose semicircle. I could feel
them at my back, curiosity and suspicion rolling off them in waves.

“My name is Nova Treemont. I’m Bats’ niece.”

The effect was immediate. The doorman’s expression shifted from
dismissive to shocked in an instant. A murmur rippled through the men behind
me.

“Bullshit,” someone whispered.

“Bats never had family,” said another.

“He had a sister,” another voice said.

The doorman’s eyes narrowed, searching my face. “Bats never
mentioned no niece.”

“He wouldn’t have.” I met his gaze. “He kept me out
of… all this. For protection.” I gestured at the clubhouse with
my free hand. “But he’s gone now, and I need help. The kind only
the Dixie Reapers can provide.”

The doorman studied me for what felt like an eternity, his gaze moving from my
face to the items I clutched and back again. I could almost see the gears
turning behind his eyes, weighing the possibility I was telling the truth
against the risk of letting a stranger into their sanctuary.

“Wait here.” He turned to enter the clubhouse.

I stood rooted to the spot, aware of the bikers still watching me. I could
feel the curiosity and hostility aimed my way. I kept my breathing even,
pretending I couldn’t feel their stares boring into my back.

The doorman returned a minute later, holding the door open. “Come
on,” he said gruffly.

I stepped past him into a world my uncle had spent his life shielding me from.
The air was thick with cigarette smoke that clung to the furniture and walls.
The smell of beer and whiskey undercut everything, along with something else
— something distinctly male and dangerous.

Pool balls clacked on a table where a game paused mid-shot as players turned
to stare. Behind a long bar, bottles gleamed under dim lights. Motorcycle
memorabilia covered the walls — license plates, photos.

It should have felt alien, this place my blood relation had called home.
Instead, deep inside me, something whispered recognition. As if some part of
me had been waiting to find this place my whole life.

The doorman nudged me forward with a hand that could have wrapped around my
entire upper arm. “This way.” He guided me deeper into the
clubhouse. “They’re waiting.”

I followed, clutching my mother’s research to my chest, aware that I was
crossing a threshold I could never uncross. Behind me, I heard someone say
softly, “Mary-Jane’s kid? Jesus Christ.”

They’d known my mother then. At least some of them had known, and
they’d stayed away all these years. Just as Bats had intended.

The thought steadied me as I walked toward whatever waited ahead. I
wasn’t just Nova Treemont anymore. I was Mary-Jane’s daughter,
Bats’ niece. And I had questions that needed answering, no matter how
dangerous the answers might be.

The back room was darker than the main area. Five men sat around a table,
their faces half in shadow, their cuts marking them as the officers of the
Dixie Reapers. I stood before them, a girl in jeans and a cardigan, feeling
like I was facing a firing squad. But I’d come too far to falter now.

The doorman who’d escorted me in gave a brief nod to the man at the head
of the table before stepping back, positioning himself in front of the closed
door. Message received: I wasn’t leaving until they decided I could.

“So,” said the man at the head of the table. His neatly trimmed
gray beard and dark eyes seemed sharp beneath heavy brows. The patches on his
cut read, “President — Savior.” “You claim to be
Bats’ niece.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “I am Bats’
niece. My mother was Mary-Jane Treemont, his younger sister.”

A muscle in the President’s jaw twitched. “Bats was a brother to
us for a long ass time. Never once mentioned a niece.”

“He was protecting me. Keeping his family separate from… this
life.”

One of the other men — younger, with a Vice President patch — snorted.
“Convenient story, sweetheart. Got any proof?”

I unzipped my bag and pulled out a small photo album, sliding it across the
table. “Page three. That’s my mother and uncle at her college
graduation.”

I watched as the President flipped to the page, his expression unchanging as
he studied the photo of a much younger Bats with his arm around my mother.

“Could be anyone.” The VP’s tone lacked conviction.

“Check the next page,” I said. “That’s from my
parents’ wedding. My mother, my father, and uncle.”

The President studied the photo longer this time before passing the album to
the man next to him. It made its way around the table, each man taking a
moment to examine the proof of a side of Bats they’d never known.

“So you’re his niece.” The President slid the album back
across the table. “What do you want from us?”

I took a deep breath and placed my folder on the table. “My parents died
several weeks ago in what was ruled a car accident. Their car went off the
road. Police said my father lost control.”

“And you don’t believe that.” The VP watched me with
narrowed eyes.

“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t. My mother was an
investigative journalist. She was working on a story.” I opened the
folder, spreading out newspaper clippings and photocopied notes across the
scarred wood. “She was investigating connections between Magnolia County
officials and organized crime. Money laundering, illegal gambling, possibly
human trafficking.”

The men exchanged glances, their expressions giving nothing away. I’d
honestly expected some sort of reaction, especially since this was happening
in their territory. My uncle had always been clear that while he may be an
outlaw, some things weren’t tolerated.

“Three days before she died, she called me,” I continued.
“She said she’d found something big. Something that would blow the
whole thing wide open. She wouldn’t tell me details over the phone, said
she’d show me everything when they came to visit that weekend.” My
voice cracked slightly. “They never made it.”

I pulled out a copy of the police report, pointing to highlighted sections.
“The accident report says the car was traveling at high speed, that my
father lost control. But my father never drove fast. He was cautious,
meticulous. And the witness statements are vague. No one actually saw the car
go off the road.”

“Accidents happen.” An older member with a gray ponytail watched
me intently. “Doesn’t mean someone killed your parents.”

I met his gaze directly. “After the funeral, our house was broken into.
Nothing valuable was taken, but my mother’s home office was ransacked.
Her computer was gone. All her files.”

That got their attention. The men straightened, exchanging glances that spoke
volumes.

“I managed to salvage these.” I gestured to the documents on the
table. “She kept backups in a safety deposit box. But it’s not
everything. There are references to evidence she had that I can’t
find.”

The President leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “And
what exactly do you expect us to do about this, Ms. Treemont?”

“I’ve tried the legal route,” I said. “I’ve been
to the police, the FBI, even a private investigator. No one will touch it. The
case is closed.” I swallowed hard. “My uncle –Bats — once
told my mother that if she ever needed help, real help, she should come to his
brothers. That you take care of your own.”

“Bats said that?” The VP’s eyebrows raised.

“He did,” I confirmed. “And with him gone, you’re all
I have left.”

The President’s eyes were unreadable as he studied my face. “You
understand what you’re asking? If what you’re saying is true,
you’re talking about going up against powerful people. The kind that can
make a car accident happen.”

“I know.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “But they
killed my parents. They’ve been watching me too. Cars following me home.
Strange calls. Last week someone broke into my apartment.” I pulled up
my sleeve, revealing a jagged raw wound on my forearm. “I surprised him.
He had a knife.”

That drew a low curse from one of the men who hadn’t spoken yet.

“Before she died, my mother dug into something dangerous — something
big enough to get her killed. These bastards still tried to bury it, but I
swore I’d drag the truth into the light and make them pay.” My
gaze cut across the table, meeting each man’s eyes in turn.
“Justice for my parents is the only thing that matters.”

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the distant sounds of the
main room beyond the door.

Finally, the President gathered up my mother’s papers, tapping them into
a neat stack. “Wait outside.”

The doorman stepped forward, opening the door for me. I hesitated, reluctant
to leave my mother’s research behind.

“We’ll return these,” the President said, seeing my
hesitation. “Go on now.”

I had no choice but to comply. The doorman escorted me back to the main room,
indicating a worn leather couch against the wall. “Sit tight.”

I perched on the edge of the couch, feeling the weight of curious stares from
the men scattered around the room. No one approached me, but I could hear the
whispers.

“… Bats’ niece…”

“… Mary-Jane’s kid…”

“… looks just like her mother…”

That last comment made me look up sharply, trying to identify who had spoken.
An older member nodded at me from the bar, raising his beer bottle slightly.
“Knew your mama when she was younger than you. Bats always said she was
the smart one in the family. Said she could sniff out a lie from a mile
away.”

A lump formed in my throat. I’d never heard anyone talk about my mother
like that, like they’d known her personally. “Did you know her
well?”

The man shrugged. “Well enough. Your uncle always spoke highly of her
investigative skills. Said she could’ve been FBI if she hadn’t
been so damn stubborn about working outside the system.”

That sounded like my mother. And it sounded like something Uncle Bats would
say.

I sat straighter, hope kindling in my chest for the first time since I’d
arrived. Maybe they would help me after all. Maybe I’d finally get the
answers I’d been seeking for several weeks.

I just had to convince them I was worth the risk.

I traced the edge of my mother’s notebook with my fingertip, counting
the seconds that stretched into minutes. The leather couch beneath me had seen
better days, cracked and worn by years of men larger than me shifting their
weight. Around the room, bikers pretended not to watch me while doing exactly
that. I wondered if Uncle Bats had sat here, on this very couch, planning runs
or celebrating victories I’d never know about.

My gaze drifted to a wall of photos near the bar — men in Dixie Reapers cuts,
arms slung around each other’s shoulders, grins splitting their bearded
faces. I rose slowly, drawn to search for my uncle’s face among them. A
few members tensed as I moved, but none stopped me.

There he was. Younger, with fewer lines around his eyes, his arm thrown around
another member, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen him during his
rare visits to our home. He’d always been on edge around us, as if
expecting trouble to follow him through our door.

Now I understood why.

“He was a good man,” said a voice behind me.

I turned to find the older member who’d spoken to me earlier, the one
who’d known my mother.

“One of our best,” he continued. “Loyal to the bone.”

“But not loyal enough to tell you about his family,” I said
softly.

The old biker’s mouth quirked in a half-smile. “That was his
loyalty to you, girl. Keeping you separate. Safe.” He nodded toward the
back room. “Not many of us manage that trick.”

Before I could respond, the door to the back room opened. The President
emerged, followed by the others. The room fell silent as they approached.

“Ms. Treemont,” the President said, his voice carrying across the
now-quiet clubhouse. “We’ve discussed your situation.”

I returned to the couch, perching on its edge, hands folded in my lap to hide
their trembling. “And?”

“Bats was our brother.” The President spoke in a measured voice,
choosing each word with care. “That carries weight. But what
you’re asking involves the club in what appears to be a personal
vendetta against powerful people, based on circumstantial evidence.”

My heart sank. “It’s not just –”

He held up a hand, cutting me off. “I didn’t say we wouldn’t
help. I said you’re asking a lot.”

Hope flickered back to life in my chest.

“We’ll hear you out,” he continued. “Review what
you’ve brought us. But I can’t promise involvement beyond that.
Understand?”

I nodded quickly. “Yes. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” His expression remained stern.
“This isn’t a democracy. I make decisions based on what’s
best for the club, not for outsiders — even ones with Bats’
blood.”

 

About the Author

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances.
With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her
readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works
exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a
satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new
plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book.
She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies.
Visit Wylde’s website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and
don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and
other exciting perks.

Author on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok: @harleywylde

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15

 

 

 

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Pintsized Pioneers at Play Blitz

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Homemade Frontier Fun and Danger written by Preston Lewis and Harriet
Kocher Lewis

 

Young Adult Nonfiction

 

Date Published: 11-04-2025

Publisher: Bariso Press

 

 

Pintsized Pioneers at Play: Homemade Frontier Fun and Danger explores
the forgotten world of how kids lived, laughed—and sometimes
limped—through their childhood years in the Old West.

While their parents settled the land, these pintsized pioneers explored it,
creating their own adventures with homemade toys, daring games, wild animal
encounters, and risky escapades. This engaging sequel to the award-winning
Pintsized Pioneers: Taming the Frontier, One Chore at a Time shines a
spotlight on the joys and perils of play in a land still being tamed.

From exploring the prairie and wrangling critters to celebrating frontier
holidays and watching traveling circuses, this book reveals how children
carved out fun and entertainment in a rough-and-tumble world. Learn how
railroads and mail-order catalogs brought new toys, how schools and churches
doubled as social hubs, and how a simple game could end in laughter—or
injury.

Written for young adults but fascinating for readers of all ages, Pintsized
Pioneers at Play is packed with history, heart, and a hint of danger. Written
at a tenth-grade reading level perfect for curious minds, Pintsized Pioneers
at Play includes a glossary of related terms.

Perfect for fans of Western history, educators, homeschoolers, and lovers of
untold American stories!

Excerpt

Not even Christmas Day could rouse John Taylor Waldorf from his bed at two
o’clock in the morning, but the annual arrival of the circus train in
Virginia City, Nevada, was a different matter altogether. Waldorf and his
friends arose early and willingly on circus day when on any other morning it
“would require at least three calls and the threat of a ‘dose of
strap oil’ to make me crawl out from under the covers.”
And why not? The circus provided an entertaining escape from daily hardships,
much like the frontier theater, but much more exciting, as it combined the
elements of an art exhibit, a traveling zoo, a professional band, a parade, a
sideshow with oddities, a gymnastic meet with acrobats and aerialists, an
equestrian show, a fashion show with performers and animals in exotic
costumes, an occasional history lesson, and a three-ring environment awhirl
with amazing activities and prankish clowns.
“Several thousand people are in the city from neighboring towns and from
the country,” proclaimed the Evening Kansan of Newton in May 1897.
“Circus day is equal to any legal holiday of the year, and today might
have been a legal holiday so far as appearances were concerned. Nothing is
quite of so much interest to everybody as a circus.”
The spectacle offered children a brief glimpse of the world beyond the
boundaries of their farms or small communities. A circus was a childhood
delight, allowing frontier youngsters to see exotic animals like elephants,
lions, tigers, camels, zebras, monkeys, and even an occasional rhinoceros,
giraffe, or hippopotamus.

 

About the Author

Preston Lewis

 Preston Lewis is the award-winning author of more than sixty western,
historical, juvenile, and nonfiction works. In 2021 he was inducted into the
Texas Institute of Letters for his literary achievements. The Will Rogers
Medallion Awards named him the 2025 recipient of the organization’s
Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the literature of the
American West.

Western Writers of America (WWA) has honored Lewis with three Spur Awards, one
for best article, a second for best western novel and a third one for YA
nonfiction in 2025. He has received eleven Will Rogers Medallion Awards (seven
gold, two silver and two bronze) for written western humor, short stories, YA
nonfiction, short nonfiction, and traditional Western novel.

Harriet Kocher Lewis is a retired physical therapist and PT educator. As an
assistant clinical professor of physical therapy at Angelo State University,
she taught documentation and scientific writing among other topics as the
department’s coordinator of clinical education.

After retirement she became the publisher of Bariso Press and in that capacity
an award-winning author and editor. Books she has edited have earned a Spur
Award, Will Rogers Gold and Bronze Medallions for YA nonfiction and western
humor, a Literary Global Book Award for cookbooks, and an Independent Author
Award for western nonfiction. Other books she has edited have been finalists
for Spur Awards in juvenile nonfiction and for Independent Author Awards for
both memoirs and humor.

Kocher Lewis is co-author with her husband of the Spur Award-winning Pintsized
Pioneers: Taming the Frontier, One Chore at a Time and three books on
artificial Intelligence, all published by Bariso Press. They live in San
Angelo, Texas.

Contact Links

Website

Publisher

Facebook

Twitter: @prestonlewisaut

Goodreads

Instagram: @barisopress

 

Purchase Links

 


https://mybook.to/PinsizedPioneersatPlay

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

 

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Chains Teaser

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Kiss of Death MC

Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense, Age Gap

Date Published: October 17, 2025

 

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Three black cats. One grumpy biker. Fate’s about to get witchy. And
wickedly hot.

 

Elvira – Halloween’s my favorite holiday, until one teeny mishap
with my practice spell. Suddenly I’m homeless, stinking of swamp gas,
and dragging three black cats into a biker compound… Where I meet
Chains. Big, broody, and superstitious as hell, he glares at my “demon
spawn” like they’re plotting his death. But the way he looks at
me? Let’s just say my spell isn’t the only thing that’s
likely to combust. He’s all hard muscle and harder attitude, and I
can’t tell if he wants to banish me… or bend me over the couch
and have his wicked way with me. I would definitely approve of option number
two!

Chains — I don’t fear much after nine years inside, but Ellie is chaos.
She’s a walking disaster. Loud, messy, and makes Halloween look like a
lifestyle, not a holiday. And her damn cats have me spooked. I tell myself
she’s trouble. Too naïve. Too good. Then she kisses me, and
suddenly I’m ready to sell my soul for another taste. My MC brothers
think it’s funny. Screw em. Elvira’s mine. And if anyone touches
her, I’ll burn this place to the ground.


WARNING: Chains contains memories of domestic abuse and manipulation. However,
there is a happy-ever-after ending that will make you feel warm and fuzzy.

Chains paperback

 

EXCERPT

 

Elvira

I stood in the center of my apartment, surveying the disaster zone that used
to be my living room. The cauldron, which was actually just my favorite stock
pot, lay on its side on the stove. Dark green liquid dripped steadily from the
countertop by the stove onto the cheap linoleum floor. My witches’ brew
experiment had gone spectacularly wrong, again, filling the air with a stench
so foul it made my eyes water. I’d only wanted to create a love potion.
Instead, I’d concocted what smelled like a demonic skunk had mated with
rotting eggs in a garbage fire.

“It’s okay, babies,” I cooed to the three black cats,
who’d retreated to their carriers the moment the pot bubbled over.
“Mommy just had a tiny magical mishap.”

Lucifer hissed from behind his carrier door, his yellow eyes narrowed in
judgment. Binx paced in tight circles, while Salem had his paws pressed
against his nose. Even my familiars couldn’t stand the smell.

“I know, I know. I should have followed the recipe.” I pulled my
tank top over my nose, breathing through the fabric. “But who has time
to find owl feathers and moonwater on a Tuesday night?”

I flung open every window in my apartment, the October air rushing in but
barely making a dent in the stench. The smoke detector, which had been
screaming for ten minutes, finally quieted. Green sludge dripped from the
ceiling above the stove where the potion had splattered during its violent
eruption. My carefully arranged Halloween decorations were now coated in
something that looked like radioactive snot.

“We can fix this,” I muttered to myself, only half convinced.
“Just need some bleach, maybe an exorcism, definitely a new
carpet…”

The pounding on my door made me jump. “Miss Blackheart!” Yeah. He
didn’t sound happy. “Open the door right now!”

“Coming, Mr. Peterson!” I sang out in my cheeriest voice,
frantically attempting to right the fallen cauldron. Green goo sloshed over my
fingers, burning slightly. “Just freshening up!”

I wiped my hands on my black jeans and pulled my long hair back into a heavy
ponytail. Taking a deep breath, I immediately regretted it as the fumes hit my
lungs, I opened the door with my most innocent smile even as my eyes watered.

Mr. Peterson stood there, his face the color of an overripe tomato. The vein
in his forehead throbbed with such intensity I worried it might burst. His
nostrils flared before he clamped a hand over his nose as the wall of stink
hit him.

“What in God’s name –” He choked, stumbling backward.
“The entire building smells like… like…”

“Aromatherapy!” I offered brightly. “It’s a, um, rare
Eastern technique for cleansing negative energy.”

His eyes bulged as he peered past me into the apartment. “Your ceiling
is green! There’s smoke everywhere!”

“That’s part of the process?” My voice lifted higher with
each word, betraying my desperation.

“The Johnsons in 3B are throwing up. Mrs. Wittlesby’s cat fainted.
The Andersons’ dog is howling like it’s seen a ghost.” He
thrust a piece of paper at me. “This is an eviction notice. You’re
out, Miss Blackheart.”

I took the paper with trembling fingers. “But Mr. Peterson, I’ve
always paid my rent on time, and –”

“I don’t care if you paid your rent in gold bars! You’ve
violated every health code in existence. People are evacuating the damn
building!” The longer he spoke, the louder he got. And he’d been
pretty damned loud to start with.

Behind me, one of my cats let out a mournful yowl. “Those damn black
cats of yours,” he muttered, making the sign of the cross. “I knew
they were bad news.”

I felt my cheeks flush. “Don’t blame my cats for this.
They’re innocent.”

“You have until tonight to get out,” he bellowed, gesturing wildly
at my smoke-stained ceiling. “Eight hours! After that, I’m calling
animal control for those beasts and the hazmat team for… whatever
hellbrew you’ve cooked up in here.”

“But where am I supposed to go?” My voice cracked, the reality of
my situation finally sinking in. “You can’t kick me out with no
notice!”

“Not my problem. And it’s my damn building; I’ll do whatever
the hell I want. Take it to court if you want. Don’t care. But until you
get a court date, I want you out of here!” He stepped back, pulling a
handkerchief over his nose. “I’ve put up with the stink for the
last time. Eight hours, Miss Blackheart. Not a minute more.”

The door slammed in my face. I stood there, clutching the eviction notice,
feeling the edges of panic creeping in. Sure, I could take him to court.
He’d have to call the police to force me to leave and they
wouldn’t make me unless there was a court order. But, honestly, I knew
it was time to move on. I wasn’t ready to leave yet. I’d hoped to
save a little more money before then. But maybe this was a sign.

My hands shook as I turned to face my ruined apartment. The clock on the wall
shaped like a grinning skull showed it was already noon.

“Well, shit,” I whispered to no one in particular.

I sank down onto my potion-spattered couch, the eviction notice crumpling in
my grip. My eyes burned, and not just from the fumes. I really wasn’t
sure where I was going to go. I had a couple thousand dollars in my savings
account, and a hundred in my checking to do me until payday. If I could find a
new place that wasn’t too expensive, I might have enough for a security
deposit and first month’s rent. If I was really lucky. And that was
assuming I could find something in the next eight hours. Right. Not a
snowball’s chance in hell.

I glanced at my phone, scrolling through the pitiful list of contacts until I
came to Carrie’s number and took a deep breath. We weren’t exactly
close friends, but she’d always been kind to me at the coffee shop where
I worked weekends. She seemed like a really nice person. She’d offered
me a place to crash the last time my landlord threatened to kick me out. I
hadn’t taken her up on the offer then since I only knew her from the
coffee shop, but I wasn’t sure I had many options at the moment.

The phone rang three times before she picked up. “Ellie! Hey!” She
sounded excited. To hear from me?

“Hey.” I tried to keep my voice steady, but it wavered.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, but I’m having a bit of an
emergency.”

“Oh no, Ellie! What kind of emergency? Are you all right?” Carrie
sounded distressed. She was such a sweet person I had no doubt she genuinely
was distressed.

“I… um… may have accidentally created a biohazard in my
apartment and gotten evicted?” I laughed, the sound hollow and
desperate. “I need to be out by eight tonight, and I have nowhere to go,
and I have my cats, and –” My voice broke, tears threatening.

There was a muffled commotion in the background. I could hear Carrie talking
and other people responding, but it was like she had her hand over the speaker
or something. I closed my eyes, bracing for rejection.

“Now drop me a pin and we’ll get over there.” Carrie sounded
determined and, I thought, authoritative? Like she was the one giving the
orders and everyone else was doing her bidding. So, I did as she instructed.
“We’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Relief flooded through me so fast I nearly dropped the phone.
“We?” My voice came out a squeak. I knew Carrie’s man was a
member of a local motorcycle club called Kiss of Death. Which I kind of liked
the sound of, but it was still a motorcycle club. Honestly, though, I kind of
thought the guys I’d met at the coffee shop were much safer than some of
the people living in this building.

“Oh yeah! The girls are gonna get you a room ready while Hannah and I
are bringing Knuckles and Hawk. We’ll get you packed up and out of there
in no time.”

“I don’t want to cause anyone any trouble, Carrie. It’s bad
enough I’m asking you guys for a place to stay.”

“Nonsense! We all want to help!” There was more racket in the
background, then Carrie was back. “We’re bringing boxes and some
big contractor bags. Anything you want to keep that’s soiled or smells
too bad we can put in there and wash later. Be on the lookout for a blue
Bronco.”

 

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double
life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated housewife
by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes pleasure in
spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited, vulnerable
heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a blissful
ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her writings are
speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning delight entwined
with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying conclusions that elicit a
sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband
with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for
preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts
(which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with
Marteeka’s latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her
website. Don’t forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you
with a potpourri of Teeka’s beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph
events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland

Author on Facebook

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

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Vendetta Teaser

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Vendetta cover

 

Motorcycle Club Romance, Suspense

Date Published: October 10, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

 

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They betrayed me. They tried to sell my woman. But I’m the man
they couldn’t kill. Now I’m the darkness coming for them.

 

Dylan — I thought I could handle my uncle’s world. I thought if I kept
my head down and stayed quiet, I could survive with the help of the mysterious
man who’d slipped into my bed like a secret I didn’t want to
question. But one night everything shattered. My uncle Eli handed me off to a
trafficker like I was nothing, and the man I trusted turned out to be the
ghost Eli thought he’d left hanging in the woods — the man who would
kill to keep me safe.

Vendetta — I used to be Tank, proud to wear the Cottonmouth patch, until I
spoke out against the rot our so-called leaders let poison our MC. They hung
me for it. I crawled out of my grave and took a new name. Now I’m back
to burn the criminal empire infecting Oak Grove, and the Cottonmouths that
invited it in, to the ground.

Dylan was never supposed to be part of the plan. Hell, she’s the niece
of the man who betrayed me. But I’ll die before I let him hurt her
again. And when Eli and his men try to finish what they started, they’ll
see I’m not the same man they tried to bury.


Warning: Vendetta is intended for readers 18+ due to explicit adult content,
violence, and bad language. There’s no cliffhanger, no cheating, and a
guaranteed HEA.

 

Vendetta paperback

 

EXCERPT

 

Dylan


Ned’s Sundown Lounge
looked rougher in the light of day than it ever did
at night.

Dylan Crizer waited across the street with her keys clenched in her hand,
taking it all in. The building looked old, dressed in faded black brick. The
same flickering neon sign that barely spelled the word “Open” was
still there. She remembered it from passing by that building as a child. The
tinted windows smeared with fingerprints and smoke stains were new. While the
building wasn’t falling apart just yet, it had clearly seen better days.
Maybe better decades.

Yeah, it was as bad as her Uncle Eli had said it was. It blew her mind that he
was now co-owner of the bar that had been there most of her life. Eli Crizer
was a big bad biker, president of the Cottonmouths and all that, but
he’d never been well-off before. How did a biker get that kind of money?
Did he dip into his retirement account? Did he even have one of those?

Not long after she returned to Oak Grove, she found out her uncle had bought
the place with a “business associate.” How did he get a business
associate? The place had always fascinated her, so when she saw the
‘help wanted’ sign in the window, she marched herself in and
applied right away. Not surprisingly, her uncle, who hadn’t made time to
reach out to her so far, called her the same day about her application.

“It’s not the place for you, Dylan,” he said right off the
bat. When she asked why, he countered with, “It’s gonna be full of
drunks, ex-cons, and worse.”

She thought the fact that she’d been a waitress for years would
guarantee her the job. She had bartender experience too, although she
wasn’t the best at making drinks consistently good in a rough
environment. Her uncle didn’t agree. “You’re a Crizer.
You’re better than serving drinks to scummy people.”

But here she was anyway. Not just because she had something to prove. She now
had something to rebuild. Her entire life basically. Maybe she wouldn’t
be starting a new job today; Eli as a co-owner could cut her off. But she had
to try.

Dylan spent five years with a man who couldn’t commit and didn’t
want her to grow. Five years pretending she was happy in a dead-end
relationship in Richmond. When she left him and the city, she made up her mind
that she’d come back to Oak Grove and figure it out from the ground up.
She’d start over. Hell, she was only twenty-five. She had time.

She was starting over right here at Ned’s Sundown Lounge.

Pushing through the front door, Dylan blinked as her eyes adjusted to the low
light inside the bar. The entire place smelled of old leather, cheap whiskey,
and stale beer. It appeared to be well stocked and mostly clean despite all
the scuff marks and the sticky spots along the floor. The tables were roomy
and spaced out well around its central dance floor. A narrow hallway led off
in the direction of the restrooms and the back offices. Ned’s Sundown
Lounge had its own unique charm. If you squinted.

“Good afternoon,” came a voice from behind the bar. A tall, older
woman with a sharp jaw and leopard-print eyeglasses worked at polishing
glasses, watching Dylan with a smile. “You must be Eli’s
niece.”

“Dylan,” she said, stepping up to the bar. “Here for my
first day.”

At least she hoped she was. If Eli told them she couldn’t work there,
what would she do? She really needed the job and had already told him that.

“I’m Peggy,” the woman said in the way of introduction as
she gave her a once-over and nodded like she approved of what she saw.
“You got the job. Just stay aware and don’t take shit from anyone.
Even the regulars. You’ll be fine.”

Dylan didn’t hesitate. “Wasn’t planning on it.”

“Come on.” Peggy put the last glass she polished on the bar and
motioned for Dylan to follow her.

Down that narrow hallway and to the left was a line of really old lockers
outside the business offices. All of them had huge padlocks, protecting the
personal items the employees wanted to tuck away. Just one, at the far end,
had a small key stuck in the bottom of its padlock. Peggy pointed to that one.

“There’s only one key,” Peggy warned. “If you lose it,
you’re responsible for getting a new lock, okay?”

Dylan nodded, tucking her purse into the locker and securing it with the
padlock before sliding its tiny silver key into the front pocket of her jeans.

Peggy jerked a thumb in the opposite direction. “The kitchen is that
way. There’s not a lot of menu options to memorize. Burgers, fries,
nachos. I think they have chili a couple of times a week. None of it is that
great.”

Good to know. Pulling the hair tie from her wrist, she pulled her hair up into
a ponytail as she followed the woman back through the bar, taking in every
corner as she went. Dylan was many things but naive wasn’t one of them.

Her Uncle Eli had influence here and he led a shady biker club. And now he was
a co-owner of this place. People didn’t just “run bars”
these days. Bars were often covers for other things. More shady shit.
She’d left a couple of bars after learning they were running drugs out
of them. The second one had a full police raid one night and it took hours for
it to be cleared up so everyone could go home. She never returned because
drugs were dangerous and brought dangerous people. No job was worth putting
herself in the line of fire.

But until she had proof that something wasn’t right here at her
uncle’s bar, she was going to do the damn job. Unfortunately, she needed
the money to get back on her feet.


Smile. Hustle. Listen
. It had been her mantra since her first job in a bar.

Peggy looked to be somewhere in her forties. She had a no-nonsense attitude
that had to come in handy in a place as rough as this. “House rules.
Keep the regulars’ drinks full and staff are not allowed to talk
politics. Or religion. People don’t want to think about religion when
they’re drinking and partying, you know? The jukebox plays when it
fucking wants to, so no beating it or kicking it. If Ned’s here and he
sees you do it, he’ll lose his mind.”

“Who’s Ned?” Dylan asked.

“The other co-owner,” Peggy replied. “Try not to piss him
off, even if you are Eli’s family.”

“Understood,” Dylan said.

“Now, if a fight breaks out and there’s usually one each fucking
week,” Peggy explained, “don’t be a hero. Just try and get
clear and wave down one of the bouncers. We usually have at least two of them
scheduled each night. It’s not a bad idea to check the schedule.
It’s on the whiteboard with the lockers. See who’s on duty each
night so you know who you’re looking for.” She jerked her chin in
the direction of the far end of the bar.

Dylan followed her gaze to the two huge guys leaning against the back wall
near the hallway, perfectly still and silent. One of them was built like a
refrigerator with tattoos creeping up both sides of his neck. The other looked
mean even though he wasn’t actively trying to at that moment. He was
leaner with an angular face and a body you could only get from hours each week
in the gym. The gym rats were hit-or-miss as bouncers. Dylan would be willing
to bet money that the fridge was the one to flag down in a fight.

“They don’t talk much, but they move fast, let me tell you. If
some shit goes down, make eye contact, give a nod, and then get out of the
way. Got it?”

“Got it,” Dylan said, scanning the room as Peggy handed her an
apron and a notepad. “Is there a panic button or something? I’ve
worked in other places that had them.”

Peggy snorted. “This ain’t Applebee’s, sweetheart. You see
something coming, you move. Fast.

It wasn’t the serious lack of formal safety protocols that raised
Dylan’s eyebrows. It was the way Peggy said it, like fights
weren’t just a possibility, they were expected. Like there was a rhythm
to them and they were allowed. She nodded and kept listening, but something
about that rubbed her wrong.

“Most of our business is on the weekends, of course, but the VIPs come
in all during the week,” Peggy went on, already moving back to the bar
to stock napkins in old-fashioned metal boxes. “You’ll know them
when you see them. They don’t tip, but don’t piss them off. Eli
likes to keep them happy.”

Dylan paused, notebook in hand. “VIPs?”

“Locals. Out-of-towners. Some are from his MC. Doesn’t
matter,” Peggy said, without looking up. “You serve what they
order and stay out of their conversations. That’s not me being rude.
That’s me keeping you employed.”

The words hit her like a warning. Something about all of it, the emphasis, the
look in Peggy’s eyes, the way she didn’t offer names made
Dylan’s stomach tighten as she kept listening, wondering what else she
was going to hear. Nodding, she filed it all away and forced a smile.

“Thanks for showing me the ropes,” Dylan said. “I appreciate
it.”

Peggy finally looked at her, a long, assessing stare. Then she shrugged.
“You’ve got the eyes for this place. You watch everything.
That’s good. Just make sure you don’t watch too closely,
yeah?”

Dylan didn’t answer. But she was definitely paying attention.

“One last thing.” Peggy spoke quietly. “You’re one of
the owner’s family members which probably means you’d have to
really fuck up to get fired. But just keep in mind, you’re still
expendable.”

“I’ll do my best to remember that.”

The evening crowd was light, just as Peggy explained it would be. It was
Thursday night, and Ned’s Sundown Lounge always did look better at
night. The dim lighting and the fact that the sun had already set, covered the
bar’s many imperfections better than paint ever could. The jukebox was
working tonight, playing songs that were moody and lazy, and they filled the
space without drawing attention.

The regulars were easy to spot, planted on barstools like fixtures, beers in
front of them. Some of them talked to each other in low voices, some were
there on their own. Dylan had just finished clearing one of her tables when
the cool night air blew a newcomer through the front doors.

Dylan glanced up and paused.

The newest patron was tall and built. She didn’t think she’d seen
him before. That didn’t necessarily mean anything. She was just back in
town after having been gone several years.

The man who just walked in didn’t look like a local. Six-four, easy,
with broad shoulders under a worn jean jacket and a dark hoodie that had
definitely seen better days. His long dark hair was pulled back low at the
neck, and a beat-up baseball cap shadowed most of his face. Not that it helped
much. He was fine and pretty hard to miss.

Dark eyes scanned the room once, slow and deliberate. He didn’t come
across as cocky, just aware. Like he was used to being in places where trouble
could find him in a hurry. When his gaze finally landed on her, it lingered
for half a second longer than it needed to. Not creepy or flirty. Maybe
interested.

Dylan straightened and stepped behind the bar, already reaching for a clean
glass. But the new guy didn’t sit at the bar like most of them. No, he
picked out a booth near the back, one that gave him the best line of sight on
both the bar’s exits.

Shit, they really must have fights often here.

Dylan clocked that and noticed how relaxed his movements were. Like someone
trained not to draw attention but fully capable of handling it if he had to.

She walked over with a notepad in hand, smiling when his gaze met hers.
“You look like a bourbon guy,” she said by way of greeting.

“It depends on who’s pouring,” he said, voice deep and
gravel smooth.

 

About the Author

Jamie Targaet is the author of the Hounds of Hell MC. She’s anxious to
introduce you to this club of gorgeous, dominant men and the lucky women who
surrender to them. The ride is going to get wild at times, not going to lie.
But there’s thrilling action, scorching hot sex scenes, and all the feels.

Jamie writes erotic romance for Changeling Press, a little fanfiction on the
side, and she’s an aspiring horror writer in another life. She enjoys time
with her family (including the fur babies). She likes good horror movies and
shows, emo metal and classic rock, and time spent in other worlds writing and
reading. She loves hearing from readers and is looking forward to hearing from
you.

 

Author on Amazon

Author’s Website

 

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

 

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Taken by the Sorcerer Teaser

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Taken by the Sorcerer cover

 

Paranormal Women’s Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Date Published: October 3, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press

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She’s never been taken seriously. He’s seen as a geek.
Together, they could be unstoppable.

 

Skylar Graves is a synth — she can shift into anything. She’s also
known all around the world as a billionaire playgirl fool. Parties?
She’s had them. Money? Bucketloads. Brains… Well, there’s
the rub. No one’s ever believed she had the brains to make the money. No
one’s ever believed in her at all.

Enter Brody and a reason to use those brains.

Brody isn’t the best sorcerer. He knows his spells and how to create
them, but he’s still learning to control his magic. When he finds his
perfect mate, he’ll be set. But is she out there? The trouble is,
he’s been tasked with helping other paras find Eerie and he can’t
do that alone.

The mome he meets Skylar, he knows he’s found his match, but the problem
lies in convincing her she’s more than she ever believed.

Not impossible… right?

Taken by the Sorcerer tablet

 

 
EXCERPT

“I am getting into this party.” Brody Teague drove up the winding
road to the gravel area at the base of the Skylar Graves property. The music
blared and vibrated the ground, even this far out. He hated loud noise and
didn’t really want to be here, but he needed to speak to Skylar.

He just knew she was a para and could help him. He knew it.

Still, he couldn’t hide his irritation. How did one woman have so much
ridiculous wealth? This wasn’t just opulence, but obnoxious opulence.
He’d bet the people attending this party spent more on one pair of shoes
than he did on his rent for the month.

Right now, he needed to speak to her. What would she say if she knew she was
meeting a true sorcerer who wanted her help? She’d probably laugh. If
she helped him, he could develop his potion to allow paras to move in regular
society, and also concoct the signal to help paras who didn’t even know
they were para to find refuge in Eerie. He knew there were more people out
there who could come to the town and find a place to exist and understand
their abilities, if they had the signal to get there.

He left his car and trudged the last few hundred yards up the road to the main
gate. The number of cars parked every which way in his path amazed him. How
were these people going to leave? They’d need choreography or a cop to
help them.

Didn’t matter to him. He wasn’t going to be there when they left.
He’d get in, give his pitch, hope for the best, and get the hell out of
there. He walked up to the gate and admired the wrought iron. The doors swung
loose, allowing him onto the property. He’d bet this gate was locked up
tight any other time. He touched the iron and the chill settled in his bones.
The gate was spooky, really. It looked like a cartoony alien in the middle.

Aliens… He knew they existed, but they didn’t look like the
Roswellian versions. They were much more like humans than the actual humans
believed. But aliens were good at morphing and shifting to fit their
environment.

As he walked among the people having conversations and dancing, he realized he
shouldn’t be there. He wasn’t dressed for the occasion. He’d
never seen so much purple in his life. People danced by the pool, swaying and
gyrating. The men tended to be dressed in suits and tuxedos. The women wore
evening gowns. The plethora of sequins caught the light. Glasses clinked and
laughter rang out. The music blared even louder and the water seemed to thrum
with the beat.

Would anyone notice him? Somehow, he doubted it.

He spied the buffet of food. Every fruit and veggie possible for a tray were
spread out on the table, along with a chocolate fountain and a stack of
glasses, no doubt filled with champagne. He’d bet it was the most
expensive bubbly, at that.

There were people at the side table with powder that might or might not be
drugs. He forced himself away from that area. He’d never had a problem
with drugs or wanted to try them but didn’t judge anyone who did.

He fought the urge to cover his ears. The noise bothered him. He was a
scientist and sorcerer. He needed to concentrate. This place didn’t
allow him to do that. He could barely focus.

He scanned the various people at the party and shook his head. She
wasn’t there. He’d know Skylar in a heartbeat. Then again, she was
about the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Silky blonde hair,
willowy and tall, a few curves, and kissable lips. He wanted to look into her
brown eyes and get lost.

He balled his hand and gritted his teeth. Damn it. He wasn’t there to
drool over her. He was there to ask a question.

Brody focused on the money spent to not only throw the party, but to have this
house and lifestyle. The paintings weren’t photos or pictures printed on
canvas, but actual works of art. Was that a Picasso? Nah. He tipped his head.
Well, maybe. She had the money to buy whatever she wanted, so it was
plausible.

He couldn’t imagine having that much cash. He’d barely scraped by
all his life. But by being poor, he’d learned how to use what he had and
make it stretch to work for his needs. It taught him to be humble, too.

A woman in a blood red body-hugging gown grabbed him. “Look at you. Are
you one of the dancers?” She yanked him close and kissed him right on
the mouth. “You sure taste good.”

He wriggled in her grasp. “I’m not a dancer.” He had two
left feet. “Sorry.”

“Then stay with me.” She tugged him across the expanse of lawn
toward the pool. “She brought a few newbs. This one’s right off
the farm.”

He managed to disengage himself from her and darted back to the safety of the
bigger crowd on the veranda. Why anyone thought they had the right to force
themselves on someone else was beyond him. She’d touched him without his
permission. Gross.

He didn’t know that woman and was sure she wasn’t a para. Hell,
she’d probably slash his ass if she found out he was one. Would they
turn on Skylar when they found out she was one? If she was one…

He rested his hands on his hips and surveyed the crowd again. If she’d
used some of her money to help paras and not buy another sports car,
she’d be a folk hero. There were plenty of paras who needed a hand in
getting to Eerie and more who could use help in figuring out what their magic
might be.

But she’d chosen to be decadent.

He moved through the people again, looking for her. Nope, she wasn’t
there. He’d never forget her hair or smile.

A woman with bright red hair bumped into him, but he doubted she knew he was
there.

“I hear she’s a para,” the woman said. “I don’t
know how. She’s so normal.”

What a reductive thing to say. He kept his back to her but continued to
listen.

“Doesn’t surprise me,” the woman with her said.
“She’s a freak. I mean, how else could she have this kind of money
and do absolutely nothing? It’s supposed to be her father’s money,
but has anyone ever seen him? No. He doesn’t exist. I bet she stole it
or it’s created money.”

Judgmental much? He rolled his eyes, then resumed looking through the crowd.

“Think she really is manufacturing the money?” the first woman
said.

“Nah,” the other woman replied. “It’s just a way for
her to get attention. She’s probably got a dead husband or ex that she
bled dry financially.”

“She is an attention-grabber.”

He hated that these people who’d been invited to the party — or maybe
they’d crashed it like he had — so openly dismissed her. Like she
didn’t have feelings or didn’t matter and wasn’t a person.
So rude.

Still, he wasn’t so thrilled with Skylar. He wished she’d donate
her money or time back to Eerie to help the para community. Paras were dying
from harm coming to them via the human and outside world. Vampires were staked
for being different. Faeries slaughtered for making magic. Trolls and gnomes
killed for being perceived as ugly. It wasn’t right.

A golden eagle soared into the space and flew right past him. The bird seemed
to keep circling him.

“Go,” he muttered. “I’m not dinner. Shoo.” Why
was this eagle focusing on him? He wobbled. Shit. Was it trained to find the
crashers? Could be. He wanted to use a spell to get the fuck out of there, but
he’d have to return to get his car. Goddamn it.

The bird flew around him again, then soared across the expanse and landed on
the upright next to the DJ stand.

The DJ stopped the music. “And there is Skylar Graves’ famous pet
eagle. Who else but Skylar would have an eagle as a pet? So majestic and
graceful. But watch out. She has a nasty bite! Let’s give it up for
Audra, her eagle!”

The crowd cheered and the eagle soared out of the way, behind the second floor
of the mansion.

He groaned. What a ridiculous show of extravagance. It displayed her wealth,
sure, but it was a waste of money. The bird should be in the wild or a zoo,
where it could be appreciated and admired. Not stuck in a damn mansion with a
woman who had more money than brains.

He snorted to himself. Good God, he was being harsh and judgmental.

“Is she here?” someone asked.

“She’s having a party and doesn’t care to show up,”
another said. “She’s probably out of the country. She’s
never here.”

“I bet we could rob this place blind and she’d never know,”
a third person said.

“Except she’s got the best security system. This place is
protected better than government vaults,” another voice said.
“Don’t try it. This joint will scream and lock down in
seconds.”

Brody gritted his teeth again. She had to be there. He had no choice. People
were discussing robbing her and belittling her… just like he had. Damn
it.

He bowed his head. He had to think about her as a person and para, not a
source of money. That’s how they all saw her — a reflection of her
disposable income. She lived her life like nothing mattered. It was all a big
party. She didn’t command respect.

Then again, he didn’t exactly command it, either. He did better behind
the scenes. Let him stay in his lab with his medicines and potions. There he
was fine. All he wanted to do was help his fellow paras.

“Excuse me.” A woman tugged his arm and yanked him out of the main
space and behind a curtain.

“What the?” He stared at her. He’d never seen anyone with
golden brown eyes. They were transfixing. But she’d grabbed him.
“What do you want?”

“You.”

He couldn’t look away from her. Most of her face was concealed behind a
black, feathery mask. He could swear he knew her, but he couldn’t place
her.

“I need to speak to you.” She held onto him. “Do you know
Skylar?”

 

About the Author

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of
more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since
2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and
paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works
are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a
second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at
the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and
Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on various
e-tailer sites.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as
well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but
football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends
of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

Author on Twitter

Author on Instagram

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress

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