Just a Dream by Aliyah Burke

Caden buckled herself in as her savior tossed his coat into the backseat and did the same. The charcoal gray cable knit sweater didn’t mask the rippling muscles of his upper body. The light blue jeans did a wonderful job of outlining his rock-hard quads. Add to that the way he smelled; like a culmination of fresh waterfalls, warm amber, and smoky sandalwood. A scent with no boundaries. Her throat grew dry and she forced her attention back to her side of the warm vehicle.

It doesn’t matter how hot he is. Or seemingly perfect, he’s military. She recognized the DoD stickers on the front windshield and the cut of his hair screamed military to her He could be retired. Marines, if she had to take a guess at which branch. Her heart clenched with remorse as her husband’s image flashed before her. She felt she was doing something wrong by enjoying the way her companion looked. Still, her gaze drifted back over to where his strong hands gripped the steering wheel. Long powerful fingers with clean square nails, even after he checked out her vehicle.

“I’m Liam.” His voice jolted her out of her mesmerized state.

“Excuse me?”

He looked at her as they drove up the road and he smiled. The sight of his green eyes created a knot in the pit of her stomach, a knot of the sexual kind. “My name…it’s Liam. Liam Quinn.”

Caden returned his smile briefly before licking her lips. “Nice to meet you. I’m Caden Bradshaw. Thank you for helping me out.” One foot touched the briefcase between her shoes, making her breathe a bit easier.

She saw a flash of white teeth against bronze skin in the lights from the dash. “I’m sorry I couldn’t fix it for you there on the spot.”

“Stopping to help is more than enough. It isn’t done so much anymore.” She relaxed back against the seat as she followed the near-hypnotic beat of the wipers against the windshield. The snow was still falling. Feeling safe and warm, Caden felt exhaustion pour over her. Stifling a yawn, she did her best to stay awake.

“Caden.” The deep sexy voice broke through her dreams.

She was so warm and cozy the idea of being woken and disturbed didn’t sit well. Refusing to open her eyes, she groaned her frustration and tried to burrow back into the heat.

“Caden.” The single word shattered through the veil and she dragged her eyes open.

A windshield. She was looking out of a windshield. Brows furrowing, she turned her head toward the door and the direction the voice had come from. Liam leaned into the vehicle through the passenger side door and she knew they’d reached their destination. A deep emerald gaze stared back at her, filled with humor and another emotion she wasn’t ready to begin to acknowledge. In a flash, comprehension flooded her and jerked her wide awake.

“Welcome back,” he teased, backing up so she could get out. She noticed her suitcase behind him.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so embarrassed. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you like that.” She could feel the rush of blood to her neck and face.

“Not a problem. Come on in and I’ll show you where the phone is.”

Liam turned and walked toward a door, stopping to grab her suitcase. For a brief second, Caden watched the swagger in his stride. His ass, although partially hidden by the sweater he wore, was worth dropping to her knees and thanking the Almighty for. Grabbing her briefcase, she hurried after him, barely taking time to look around the garage they were in. He opened a door and stepped through before glancing at her over his shoulder. With only a slight hesitation, Caden stepped into his home.

She remained silent as she followed him through a short hallway and into the main part of the house. A silent gasp escaped her as she took in the stark whiteness of the decor. High ceilings, white carpet everywhere. It was beautiful, with its Native American artifacts and spaciousness, and yet it looked unlived in. Sterile.

“You have a lovely home,” she said as he led her past a kitchen with hardwood floors and through the living area. He stopped before an open door leading to a bedroom done in slate blue. It looked very welcoming. Liam placed her bag in the door and looked at her.

“Thank you. You can get cleaned up if you wish. There is a phone in the living room, feel free to use it and make yourself at home.” With a military spin, he left her alone, disappearing without a look back.

Dragon's Lust by Savannah Reardon

Kiana awoke the morning after her capture and rose from the bearskin rug to pad quietly down the stone corridor. As she walked down the massive hall, she noticed doors that had escaped her detection the night before when she staggered wearily to the room the dragon indicated. They looked too small for the dragon to pass through. Each door she tried was locked tight. She wondered what purpose they could possibly serve.

The dragon was nowhere in sight. She sat in front of the fire and ate heartily from a tin platter resting on heated rocks. After filling her stomach, she decided to explore the cave. Her wanderings found nothing exciting, only a few meandering passageways. Each passage held more of the locked doors, and Kiana wondered if the cave had previously been home to a human.

When the dragon still hadn’t appeared after her foray into the stone dwelling, Kiana peeked outside. A sickening feeling crept over her when she realized her horse was missing. It took a few deep breaths to keep her breakfast from coming up. Surely not? She wiped sudden tears from her cheek. Even he couldn’t be that cruel.

Listening carefully, Kiana stepped out of the cave. She heard only the sound of the small creatures living in the forest. This might be her only chance at escape. Disregarding her nakedness, she sprinted from the mouth of the cavern and took off down the path. It was a two-day ride back to her home. It would take twice that on foot. She didn’t care. She was going home.

Kiana felt no after effects of the warmth which had filled her sex the night before. Convinced the tale about his saliva was just that, she pushed any thought of consequence from her mind. Mostly, she kept to the path, veering into the dense blanket of trees only once when she heard the approaching sound of horse’s hooves. The rider flew by her, the colors of the King marking him as a courier. Kiana remained hidden until he passed. Her nakedness kept her from seeking out help.

When the sun shone high overhead, Kiana searched the area close to the path and found several bushes heavy with ripe red berries. Sitting upon the lush grass, she ate until she felt she would burst. Such a full stomach made her drowsy, so she lay down for a nap, confident the canopy of leaves would hide her from sight if the dragon flew overhead while she slept.

Images of the night before flooded her dreams. Pleasure-laden cries echoed through her mind as memories of his tongue sliding inside her ran like a river through her dream. As she reached climax, she woke suddenly. Her pussy felt swollen and hot. At first, she thought it only the effects of the dream. However, as she resumed walking, the warmth grew stronger.

“It’s not real. It’s just my imagination.” Despite her denial, heat flamed in her pussy, which throbbed with hungry need. The day dragged on, the sun beating down upon her bare skin. Kiana barely noticed the kiss of sunlight upon her body as the blazing inferno within her pussy burned hotter than any fire she’d ever known. Her nipples hardened and ached as the pulsing of her sex shot tendrils of heat through her body.

Her hands strayed to her breasts, fingers worrying her nipples, pinching and pulling them. She stumbled on a rock and fell, her body lurching to the side and landing upon the floor of the forest. Instead of getting up, she curled into a ball and whimpered as need coursed through her. On instinct, her hand moved between her trembling thighs and vigorously rubbed her pussy lips.

Desire made them swollen and wet as her fingers delved between them. She cried out when she brushed against the hard button. She stroked it, remembering how she felt when the dragon used his tongue there. Her body shook as pleasure coursed through her, the aroused state of her pussy sending her crashing over the edge almost immediately.

Tears of frustration flowed down her sun-kissed cheeks as the fire in her pussy raged, the orgasm doing nothing to stem the tide of heat. The need for relief ruled her, and she continued pleasuring herself. The heat would not abate. Her thoughts grew incoherent, and her body eventually gave out in exhaustion after multiple explosions. Even in sleep, her fingers rubbed against her pussy.

In the dark of the night, Kiana was vaguely aware of the sound of hoof beats and mumbled unintelligibly as strong arms plucked her from the ground and laid her over the smooth back of a horse. She returned to fitful dreams as the fluid movements of the animal lulled her back to sleep.

The Craft of the Wise: Divination by Dee Carney

Jenna Whiteman threw her hands into the air as if praying for divine intervention during her conversation with the stubborn, arrogant werewolf.

She tried again. “We need to get the Book of Shadows back. It doesn’t matter how much protection we provide Ava if she doesn’t have the means with which to defend herself. And us, I might add!”

Frosty blue eyes did their level best to bore a hole into her forehead. She simply glared back. No way she’d let the lieutenant intimidate her in any shape or form. No matter how good looking he might be.

He slammed his fist against the table, then winced as the noise echoed in the large room. The growl that followed was low and contained. “My pack leader is upstairs recovering from severe injuries after trying to save the princess. From another witch, I might add. We are pledged to protect her. I will not break that pledge!”

Just to get him to stop talking, she wanted to scream her frustration at him.

If Ava Valentine’s cousin, Dina, didn’t possess the Book of Shadows, they wouldn’t be in this mess. But no, the thirteenth daughter of the coven had a relative who wanted the power the book and related tools could provide. Never mind she joined forces with the demons to do so. If they could get the book back, Ava might be able to permanently banish the demons from their realm. Until now, the werewolves’ protection was supposed to be a boon, not a hindrance, to that mission.

Jenna had no problems standing toe to toe with the pack’s lieutenant, Vince Albright, who wanted no part in trying to retrieve the book. He wouldn’t be budged without further instruction from his pack’s leader. Unfortunately for everyone, Aaron was still recovering in bed upstairs. Ava would not allow anyone to seek his guidance for their next steps in defending the witches from demons. Not, at least, until he had regained his full strength. That could take days. The longer Dina had the book, the more Jenna feared.

Jenna’s hands formed a mock strangling position. If An’ it harm none, do what thy will didn’t guide her life’s principles, she could have wrapped them around his thick neck and throttled to her heart’s content. The conversation–argument–had long since taken her past the tipping point.

What made matters so much worse was simply how irritatingly good looking Vince was. Long red hair tied in a ponytail, shocking blue eyes and a firm, muscled body were only a few of the attributes that held her attention when she talked–argued–with him. An intricate tattoo flexed over a meaty bicep. He walked with a hunter’s grace and carried himself in a manner that could intimidate lesser men. All of it made her heart thump louder.

She’d drown out the thumping by yelling at him if that’s what it took.

How could she get him to understand what her dreams foretold? Each hour they delayed, Dina strengthened her position within the demon community. As the days passed, she would seek other witches to join her cause. Congregate a coven of her own. Solo practitioners, dark arts idolizers, and any banned from covens would be quick to buy her twisted philosophies. The Craft would never be the same.

Jenna had already cost her coven by not interpreting the signs quickly enough. She might have been able to prevent the injuries already caused if she had done more. Guilt preyed on her mind every hour that passed. Dark circles under her eyes grew darker with each morning. Nights found her enveloped in black dreams.

She looked towards the High Priestess, who sat with a bemused expression on her face. Why didn’t she say something? “High Priestess, we need your guidance here. Please?”

Mayda Valentine waved absently and then leaned forward in her chair. “I suspect you object so vehemently because you know more than you’re telling us.” She arched her eyebrows. “Am I correct?”

Jenna stared into the soft green eyes. The older Valentine could always read her like a book. She fell back into her chair in a slump. Chewing on her bottom lip for a moment, she opened her mouth to reply but then caught a glimpse of Vince waiting expectantly for her answer. His expression made her snap her mouth shut.

Stupid, arrogant werewolf. He’d probably ridicule her or dismiss the unclear warnings if she voiced them out loud.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head. She didn’t know. Not for certain. Just fleeting images and feelings.

“See? There’s no rush. No need to move forward without a plan,” Vince sneered. He took his seat again and pointed a finger at Jenna. “Not until we hear from Aaron.”

She chanced a glance at Mayda only to feel a blush creep over her cheeks. The white-haired woman kept her gaze on Jenna. She probably knew full well there was more to the story. But she wasn’t ready to share it. Not yet, at least.

She couldn’t share with the group that she knew without a doubt waiting would be a mistake that would cost them dearly.

A huge mistake.

Surrender to the Night by Jae Knight

In the dark realm of Tenebrae…



Evonn awaited her guests in the unoccupied throne room. Giving her orders in Davriel’s throne room would shed some credibility on the lie she would tell the small army she was about to send into Tellus, the human world. If Davriel knew what she was up to…but then he was so focused on persuading the Guardians not to seek the help of the Changeling vampires. He’d most likely never even notice a few of his warriors were missing.

Evonn paced the dais, her fingers running over the two thrones that sat proudly upon it. One day she would grace one of those prestigious seats as Queen. Soon…

The seven demons she had ordered to see walked gracefully into the room. Their stance was defiant, and she resented them for it. Evonn calmed her rising temper with the soothing thought that they would be punished for their insolence when she became Davriel’s queen. She smiled widely at them and watched them form rank around her before the dais.

“Mistress Evonn has asked for us?” the leader of the small group asked. He was called Beast. He had once been one of the few demons Davriel had trusted by his side to lead his armies. But Beast had become nigh uncontrollable. His blood-thirst was great and unquenchable. He ravaged hordes of humans. This was not his crime. His carelessness was what had made Davriel so angry that Beast was stripped of his rank and was now the leader of this small band of brigands.

And so the two brothers barely got along.

But Beast did have one weakness…lust. Evonn could twist a male’s lust for her own benefits. Mikhail, even, was not strong enough to resist her.

“Yes, Beast. I have asked specifically for the seven of you. You are all strong…brutal, actually…and I need your services. There is a vampire I need you to find. She is the key to finding a certain Halfling I must bring back here. You will find her and question her of the whereabouts of the vampire who changed her,” she explained. Evonn stepped down from the dais and walked around the warriors. She stopped to stand behind Beast, her fingers trailing up his back and into his long black hair. She smiled with satisfaction when she felt his muscles tense.

She continued. “The Changeling you seek is named Korinna MacDougal. She is a second generation vampire of Scottish origin and currently hunting our kind in New York. The vampire she is following will be moving on to New Orleans. Search for her there. The vampire who made her goes by the name Siobhan O’Conghaile, a first generation vampire of Irish descent. Her whereabouts are unknown. Siobhan was made by the Halfling I seek. She is the one most likely to help me find him. You must find Korinna and make her tell you where Siobhan is. If she is…difficult…find a way to bring her to me and we will question her together.”

Walking sedately back up to the dais, Evonn glanced at the group over her shoulder and grazed Beast with a smoldering stare. His eyes narrowed briefly but then traveled down her body and came to rest on her bare feet where the shadows swirled around her slender ankles.

“And the Halfling?” Beast prompted, his eyes coming back to rest on her face.

“Oh…we’ll worry about the Halfling when we know where we can find him. Just find the Changelings and question them. That is all you must do. If you succeed, maybe I can put in a few complimentary words to Davriel for the lot of you. Oh, and you can do what you will with the Changelings,” she added as an afterthought.

“Does Davriel know of this plan of yours, Mistress? I fail to see why a Halfling should concern you,” one of the demons asked. His name was Kevarr and had once been an elite warrior before he dared to question Davriel. He had lost an eye for his defiance. And he was questioning her now…

“Dear, dear Kevarr…how foolhardy you are! Questions will not do you any good. Care to lose the other pretty blue? I didn’t think so. Anyone else care to question Davriel’s Head Mistress? No? Good. Obey me and you will be rewarded,” Evonn promised them and saw the eager gleam in their eyes…or eye, in Kevarr’s case.

“And exactly how will we be rewarded, Mistress Evonn?” Beast asked, and she was not surprised by the question. She knew what he wanted.

“A higher position in Davriel’s army, for one. And for you, Beast, oh, I have something more in mind for you if you can lead your demons successfully in this task of mine,” she answered. He did not misunderstand her, and his eyes devoured her again.

Satisfied that she had delivered her orders clearly, Evonn waved them out with a few parting words. “You may go now. Do not draw attention to yourselves, I beg you. You will be sorry if you do.”

Beast bowed sarcastically to her, a lusty smirk etched on his beautiful face, which was marred only by the two rough stumps of horn where Davriel had snapped them off when Beast had been stripped of his ranking as a Prince of Tenebrae and followed the others out of the throne room. Evonn was left alone with the shadows of the deceased undulating around her. The fire blazed cold and black in the braziers around the throne room. Yet she smiled.

Oren would give her such sway with Davriel, she was sure. The Halfling son of her King was the surest way to get herself on the throne. Davriel kept his family close and his Halfling son would be no different. She would be the one responsible for giving him his son and for uniting the demons with their Halfling children. Think of the alliance, the power it would bring to join forces and double their numbers! Evonn would be praised. Davriel would soon be her mate, and she would give him strong children to fight beside him.

She needed to work fast. Her mating cycle was fast approaching, and Davriel was too careful not to sire any children with a mistress. He had made only one mistake with a human female, whose cycles were nothing like a demon female’s cycle. Evonn was the only one to hold that secret close.

She would find a way to dispose of Mikhail for he would always be standing in her way. He was the son of the King and the only Queen that Tenebrae had ever known. But the Queen had died long ago with a little help from Evonn and no one knew her terrible secret.

Evonn had thought Mikhail would be easy to control. She had been so wrong. He was the only one who had seen through her. So he must go. Oren, the first child of Davriel, would be there to take Mikhail’s place. Oren would be completely loyal to her. After all, she would be the one to give Oren his father when he had never known what it was to have a family.

Nothing and no one would stop her from becoming the new Queen.

After all these years of waiting for the perfect opportunity, Evonn finally had a plan. And it would work. No one could withstand Beast. Soon, she would have all the answers she needed to find Davriel’s estranged son.

Wouldn’t Davriel be surprised to find he had another child?