DRB1stChp Changeling Spotlight (08 July)

DRB1stChp hosted Changeling Press new release spotlight. Full first chapters online. Check them out:

** No Shame by Amanda Steiger
(Erotic BDSM Contemporary Romance, MM)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/07/no-shame-by-amanda-steiger/

** Justice Served Hot by Sarah Barimen
(Erotic Paranormal Romance, MF)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/07/justice-served-hot-by-sarah-barimen/

** Cyber Fantasy by Ashlynn Monroe
(Erotic SciFi/Futuristic Romance, MFM)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/07/cyber-fantasy-by-ashlynn-monroe/

** Redemption by Shelby Morgen
(Erotic Contemporary Suspense Romance, MF)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/07/redemption-by-shelby-morgen/

--
Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://about.me/zenobiarenquist
Caveat Emptor Series :: Three couples caught in a war have only one solution -- peace. Si vis pacem, para bellum. :: http://zenobiarenquist.com/bookshelf/caveat-emptor-series

New Releases at Changeling -- Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! 4th Of July Sale at http://ChangelingPress.com all weekend. Discount Code Fireworks2013 -- 10% off any order -- Unrestricted

New Releases at Changeling:
No Shame by Amanda Steiger $3.99
Paul's never been a risk-taker... until the night he meets Kade -- the Dom who wants to make his...
Genre(s): Guilty Pleasures (Contemporary), BDSM, Erotic Romance
Theme(s): Gay
http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2073

Cyber Fantasy (S.I.N.) by Ashlynn Monroe $3.99
In the future, everyone has the internet in their heads, and "Big Brother" is always watching.
Genre(s): Futuristic, Erotic Romance
Theme(s): Menage
http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2074

Justice Served Hot by Sarah Barimen $3.49
When Tansy meets a fallen angel, holy chastity is the very last thing on her mind!
Genre(s): Paranormal, Dark Fantasy, Erotic Romance
http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2075

Redemption by Shelby Morgen $5.99
Will Drew and Charlie's pasts come back to destroy them? Or will their love be their redemption?
Genre(s): Action Adventure/ Suspense, Erotic Romance
http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2084

Margaret Riley
Publisher
http://ChangelingPress.com
http://changelingpress.blogspot.com
http://RazorsEdgePress.com
Romance with Fiction Burns...

DRB1stChp Changeling Press Sundays (14 April)

DRB1stChp Changeling Press Sundays (14 April):
(full first chapters online)


Forever 2: Nights Sins by B.J. McCall
(Erotic Vampire Romance, MF)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/04/night-sins-by-b-j-mccall/

Outpost 1: Willing Captive by Ashlynn Monroe
(Erotic SciFi BDSM Romance, MMF)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/04/willing-captive-by-ashlynn-monroe/

Dante Burning by Amanda Steiger
(Erotic Shifter Romance, MM)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/04/dante-burning-by-amanda-steiger/

In the Company of Strangers by Stephanie Burke
(Erotic SciFi Romance, MM)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/04/in-the-company-of-strangers-by-stephanie-burke/


And revisit the new releases of 15 November 2012 on The Log Line Blog:

** Razor's Edge: Office Work by Ayla Ruse
(Erotica Voyeurism/Exhibitionism Multi-Partner Contemporary)
http://theloglineblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/office-work.html

** Protect and Serve: Speed Demon by Cynthia Sax
(Erotic MM Futuristic Paranormal Suspense Romance)
http://theloglineblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/speed-demon.html

** Memphis Heat 1: Stakeout by Shelby Morgen and Marteeka Karland
(Erotic MF Shifter Voyeurism/Exhibitionism Romance)
http://theloglineblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/stakeout.html

** Broken Wings Part One by Stephanie Burke
(Erotic MM Dark Fantasy Romance)
http://theloglineblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/broken-wings-part-one.html

--
Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://about.me/zenobiarenquist
Caveat Emptor Series :: Three couples caught in a war have only one solution -- peace. Si vis pacem, para bellum. :: http://zenobiarenquist.com/bookshelf/caveat-emptor-series

New Releases 11 April 2013

Night Sins (Forever) by B.J. McCall $4.49

Night is made for sin and vampires rule the dark.

 

Willing Captive (Outpost) by Ashlynn Monroe $3.49

Learning aliens exist is bad enough, but knowing they plan to sell her as a sex slave is far worse!

 

Dante Burning by Amanda Steiger $4.49

Love between humans and shifters is complicated... and wild.

 

In The Company of Strangers by Stephanie Burke $2.99

When Cosimo helps a cute alien bunny, he's lost in the company of strangers of the most erotic kind.

 

Now Available at http://ChangelingPress.com

This Month's New Release Discount Code: TaxRelief2013 -- 10% off any order at Changeling

Weekly Flash Fiction Challenge -- stop by the Changeling Bar and Grill every Friday for our latest Flash Fiction Challenge! Readers, authors, reviewers -- anyone over 18 is welcome to come out and play!

Challenge:
- Write a quickie with the above theme
- 100 to 150 words
- any authors or readers can come out and play
- Post at the Changeling Bar and Grill
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChangelingPress

 

Margaret RileyPublisher
http://ChangelingPress.com
http://changelingpress.blogspot.com
http://RazorsEdgePress.com
Romance with Fiction Burns

Half Blood by Amanda Steiger

Half-Blood


by Amanda Steiger

Cover art: Marteeka Karland

ISBN: 978-1-60521-608-9

Genre(s): Paranormal

Theme(s): Werewolves, Gay and Lesbian

Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1573

Blurb:
Haden is half-human and half-Folk -- a breed of wolf shifters who must find a bondmate when they reach adulthood... or die of bond deprivation sickness. But after a lifetime of being bullied by his pack and ostracized for his heritage, Haden's not ready to open his heart to anyone. Then he crashes his motorcycle and finds himself in the care of a powerful Folk male who stirs his blood like no other.


Excerpt:
Half-Blood


Amanda Steiger

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2011 Amanda Steiger

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.



Haden rolled over in bed and buried his face against the pillow. Cold wind whistled through his open window, billowing through the curtains and caressing his naked, sweat-dampened skin. It was thirty degrees outside -- a cold, dark Maine night. The heater in his bedroom barely worked, but in spite of that and the open window, he was drowning in sweat. It poured out of every pore and drenched the sheets. He rolled over again, panting, his brow burning dully with fever.



He knew what it was, of course. The fevers and headaches, though agonizing, were the least serious symptom of bond deprivation sickness. There was worse to come. He was twenty-three -- still young, but past the age when most of his kind had already taken a bondmate.



His jaw clenched, and his hands fisted on the sheets. He'd hoped that he might avoid this. He was half human after all, and God knew his heritage had caused him enough trouble growing up among the Folk. His human blood should be good for something, shouldn't it?



So he'd thought... but it seemed that his genes weren't doing anything to cushion the effects of bond deprivation.



"Damn it," he said through clenched teeth. Claws sprouted from his fingertips, puncturing his pillow. He took a deep breath and retracted them.



He was never going to get to sleep like this. He flung the sheets aside, walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. He chugged it, hoping it would take the edge off his anxiety, but the knot of tension remained lodged in his gut.



His skin tingled, every nerve-ending hypersensitive. His fingers tightened on the bottle and it shattered, glass shards slicing through skin. He cursed and sucked the blood from his fingers. Despite the pain and the cold, sick fear squirming in his stomach, he had a raging hard-on. And he knew from experience that jerking off would only take the edge off for a short while. Then the need would be back, deeper and stronger than before, as if every orgasm fed it -- like trying to slake his thirst with saltwater.



These days, it was always like this. Feelings bombarded him, and he was swept up like a leaf in a river, powerless.



Haden crouched, picked up the bloody glass shards and tossed them into the trash. As he straightened, wooziness hit him like a slap, making him sway on his feet.



He'd long since given up the hope that it was just a persistent flu bug. His body was trying to push him to mate. But for those born of the Folk, the act of mating was binding. And there was no one he trusted that much. Hell, no one he trusted, period.



He couldn't take this anymore. He had to get out. Where, he didn't know -- just out.



He threw on a faded leather jacket and a pair of jeans and walked out of the house, into the cool, dark night. Pine trees surrounded his mountain home, spicing the air with their fresh, sharp scent. Through gaps in the trees, he could see the gleam of moonlight on water: the ocean. He'd always found the sound of its waves comforting, but tonight, nothing soothed his jangled nerves.



The house was on his pack's ancestral land. It had belonged to his mother while she was alive. He'd grown up here, with her trying her best to shield him from his packmates' aggression.



There were some Folk who didn't frown on mating with humans and bore no resentment toward half-bloods... or so he'd heard. But they were the rare exceptions to the rule, and his pack's attitude was much more traditional. The typical way of dealing with half-bloods was to kill them immediately after their birth. Only his mother's fierce devotion had saved him from that fate.



Haden stared out at the ocean. His nostrils twitched, sampling the hint of salt on the breeze.



For an instant he thought he glimpsed a shadow moving through the trees and a faint musty scent reached his nose. The hairs on the back of his neck tingled and stood up. "Who's out there?" he called, making his voice as deep and rough as he could. No response. The scent was gone. A wind sighed through the trees, swaying their branches.



These days he often had the feeling that something or someone was watching him, but it always turned out to be nothing -- a moon-shadow or a bush stirring in the wind. Probably, it was just nerves. But knowing that didn't quiet the restless, itchy, caged feeling crawling around under his skin. And he knew there was only one thing he could do to make that feeling go away.



Haden shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself, suddenly cold.



Mom had always told him that he would one day have to take a mate. That it was the way of the Folk. Her own bondmate had been a human -- one who'd abandoned her and left her to slowly die of bond deprivation. After watching the bond kill the only person he loved, was Haden supposed to accept his fate? Was he supposed to bind himself to one of his packmates, one of those who hated him and would have crushed his infant skull, given the chance? Even if he could find someone willing to accept a half-blood, the thought of being so vulnerable to another person made his survival instincts scream in protest. Surviving meant keeping to himself, keeping out of sight.



His bike was parked in the yard. He started up the engine and sped down the street, his headlight cutting through the fog. Below the road, to the east, the sea lay vast and dark under the starry sky. To the west lay dark forests.



He rode, cold wind stinging his face, not knowing where he was going -- just that he had to get away. Even when it began to rain in icy, stinging pellets, he didn't slow.



Too late, he saw the patch of ice gleaming on the pavement. He hit it, skidded, and spun off the road. Ground and sky flashed past his vision. Then there was a sickening jolt, a blinding flash of pain, and everything went black.


http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1573

Wolf's Promise by Amanda Steiger

Wolf's Promise


by Amanda Steiger

Cover art: Angela Knight

ISBN: 978-1-60521-573-0

Genre(s): Paranormal, Dark Fantasy

Theme(s): Werewolves, Shapeshifters

Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1526

Blurb:
Ashrin, an immortal wolf-shifter, is astonished when he recognizes the reincarnated soul of his mate in Shana -- a human woman. But Shana, the daughter of a noblewoman, is already betrothed.

Shana doesn't know whether to believe Ashrin's claim that he is her true mate, that their souls are already bound together.

Ashrin is determined to claim his mate, no matter what it takes.

Excerpt:
Wolf's Promise


Amanda Steiger

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2010 Amanda Steiger

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Shana peered into the stone cell, where a black wolf lay on the floor. Two penetrating yellow-gold eyes stared out through the iron bars. A chill prickled up Shana's spine. The intelligence in those eyes was unmistakable.

Slowly, the wolf rose to its feet, rattling the chains that held it. Dark lips wrinkled back from long, white fangs, and Shana took a step back.

"Don't worry, milady," said Brun. He stood beside her, large and solid, his familiar presence reassuring in the darkness of the dungeon. "It can't get through those bars. Just don't look in its eyes, or it'll try to mesmerize you."

The wolf was almost as big as a pony. Thick, shaggy fur covered its body, not quite hiding the ragged wound in its side. Blood dripped to the stone floor. "Hasn't that wound been treated?" Shana asked.

Brun raised an eyebrow. "Would you want to go in there? Anyone who sets foot in that cell risks a messy death. We've tried giving the beast drugged meat, but it won't eat, so we're just waiting for it to weaken. We figure a few days without food will take the fight out of it."

"What then? What are they going to do with him?"

He combed his fingers through his thick, reddish beard. "Let the alchemists vivisect it, I imagine."

Shana shuddered. The wolf's eyes were still on her. "Is it true that they can assume human form?"

"Oh, yes. That's what makes these wolf demons so dangerous. They can pass for human, live among us undetected." Brun held up his lantern, illuminating the wolf's face. Light shone on the golden irises. "You can recognize them if you know the signs, though. They all have those yellow eyes, even in man-form. And a dog can smell the difference. That's how your mother's hunters caught this one." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Quite a struggle, I'm told. The hunters had to fill him with arrows before he even slowed down."

A low growl rose from the wolf's throat. Shana's gaze drifted back to the wound in its side. "Why does he have to stay locked up like this? He hasn't hurt anyone, has he?"

"Demons kill folk all the time."

"But surely they aren't all bad."

He frowned. "I know you've a soft heart, milady, but your compassion is wasted on this creature. Demons are demons."

Shana bit her lower lip, staring at the wolf. Its eyes locked with hers and widened. Pointed ears twitched and swiveled forward as the wolf stared at her intently. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Her heart pounded in her throat as her skin warmed and tingled.

A deep, male voice spoke in her head. Can you hear me?

She gave a start.

The wolf's gaze never left hers. You can, can't you? Do you know who I am?

"Milady?"

She barely heard Brun's voice. She couldn't look away from those eyes. Nothing else existed. Goose bumps rose on her arms and breasts, and her nipples stiffened until they felt sharp enough to cut paper. That voice sounded so familiar. Where had she heard it before? It made her think of dreams she'd had as a child -- dreams of running free through the forest, far from the confining walls of her home, with wind in her hair and soft, cool grass under her bare feet. Those dreams had grown less and less frequent as she grew older, but now she ached for that sense of freedom. Her tongue crept out to moisten her lips, and she took a step toward the bars.

"Shana!" Rough hands gripped her shoulders and turned her sharply away from the cell.

She blinked up at Brun's face as her eyes slowly regained focus. "What?"

He peered into her eyes. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine," she said, surprised at how normal her voice sounded. Her heart galloped, and her skin still tingled with a strange warmth.

He frowned. "I think you'd best go. The dungeon's no place for a young lady."

She nodded, dazed. As the guard led her down the dimly lit hall, away from the cell, she cast one last look over her shoulder, at the demon. Its eyes still watched her, unblinking and golden.

Brun led her up a twisting stone staircase, to a huge oaken door, and pushed it open. Shana blinked at the sudden bright sunlight.

"Are you sure you're all right, milady? You're pale."

She managed a slight smile. "I'm just a little shaken, that's all. It's the first time I've ever seen a demon up close. I'll be fine."

He frowned. "Would you like me to walk you back to the main house?"

"No, thank you." She stepped through the open door, into the grassy field outside the windowless stone building that housed the dungeons. The door creaked shut behind her, and the lock clicked.

Shana crossed the grassy lawn and slipped in through the mansion's main doors. She looked around, then crept inside. The hall was silent, sunlight spilling in through the tall, arched windows. Her boots clicked softly against the stone floor as she made her way toward the stairs.

A sharp voice stopped her in her tracks. "Shana."

She turned slowly.

Lady Olivia stood behind her, a tall, thin form in a dark gray dress, her long, brown hair tied back in a tight braid. Her moon-pale face was expressionless and cool, as always. Shana couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her smile. "Yes, Mother?"

"I saw you leave the dungeons. What were you doing in that place?"

Shana tensed. "I was just curious. Everyone was talking about the demon, but no one would tell me anything. I don't see anything wrong with just wanting a quick look."

She knew immediately that she'd made a mistake. Olivia's eyes widened. "You saw the demon?"

Shana bit her tongue.

"By the gods, Shana, do you have any idea how dangerous those creatures are?"

"They had it locked up," she said, but her voice was more subdued now. Her cheeks burned. "There was no danger."

"Of course there was danger!" Olivia clenched her fists, inhaling slowly, as if to bring her emotions under control. Her face flushed brick red. "Shana, demons are not natural creatures. Some of them can read minds, or enter a person's dreams, or even..."

"Even what?"

"There have been stories of possession. Of demons inhabiting a person's body."

Shana blinked. "Surely you don't think I'm possessed."

"Demons are extremely clever. He might have slipped into your mind and hidden himself. He may be lying in wait for the proper moment to seize control. You had better report to Alchemist Sedric and have him examine you."

Shana bowed her head, feeling subdued and a little frightened. Perhaps she had been foolish to visit the dungeon, after all. "Yes, Mother," she said quietly.

"One more thing," Olivia said, and withdrew a small black velvet box from her pocket. "A messenger brought it this morning. It's from Alan."

Shana winced, took the box, and opened it. A gold bracelet glittered inside. "It's lovely."

Beneath it lay a note.

To my betrothed.

How cold. But at least he was honest. Calling her darling or beloved would have been a lie.

"He also left a message. The date of the wedding has been set. It will take place in two weeks."

"Two weeks?" Shana's eyes widened. "So soon?" She heard the fear in her voice, but couldn't hide it.

"Alan is a good man," Olivia said, her expression neutral. "He will keep you comfortable and provide for your children."

Shana stared at the floor. Alan of Fyrden was a dour man with bushy, scowling gray eyebrows and a voice like the growl of a sleepy dragon. He was old enough to be her father, or even her grandfather. Shana's fingers tightened on the bracelet. "It's just -- I hardly know him. Do you really think this is necessary?"

Her mother sighed. "You must be realistic, Shana. Our family fortune has dwindled considerably, and noble blood doesn't put food on the table. You and Alan will grow to care for each other. That was how it was with your father and I, may his soul rest peacefully."

"But I'm not attracted to Alan," she blurted out.

"There are more important things in this world than passion." She laid a hand on Shana's shoulder and smiled, though her eyes held a shadow of sadness. "You'll come to understand that as you grow older."

Shana lowered her gaze. She knew there was no handsome stranger on a white horse coming to carry her away. Only silly little girls believed in such things. She was twenty, too old for fairy tales. Yet a deep and bitter ache filled her heart. "I understand, Mother." She turned away to hide the tears in her eyes.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1526

Bound by Blood by Amanda Steiger

Bound by Blood

by Amanda Steiger

Cover art: Marteeka Karland

ISBN: 978-1-59596-860-9

Genre(s): Paranormal, Dark Fantasy

Theme(s): Vampires, Gay and Lesbian

Length: Novella
http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1457

Blurb:
For centuries, the sacrificial offerings have kept the peace between humans and the immortal Kin who feed on their blood. Every few years, a young human is taken from the village and given to the Kin. When Daniel's beloved sister is chosen, he offers himself in her place. Like most humans, Daniel has grown up believing the Kin to be heartless monsters. He never imagined that Vale -- the Kin Lord appointed to train him -- would treat him with compassion... or that his touch would stir Daniel's body and heart, would make him crave the very thing he'd always feared: the sweet, sharp burn of fangs in his neck.

Excerpt:

Bound by Blood


Amanda Steiger

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2010 Amanda Steiger



This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Daniel sat upright in the saddle, wrists bound, as his horse plodded forward. The coarse ropes chafed his skin, and fear twisted his guts into knots, but he kept his face calm and expressionless. He would hold onto his dignity, he promised himself, no matter what happened. It was all he had left.



Moonlight silvered the leaves of the forest as the procession rode single file down the narrow path. A guard rode behind him, and another in front to keep him from running away. They needn't have worried. He did not intend to escape. If he did, his sister would suffer in his place.



He tried not to think of what awaited him at the end of the path. Instead, he thought of Sara safe and alive, baking bread with their mother, riding her favorite mare through the fields, picking wildflowers.



The procession stopped in a large, round clearing. Daniel's two escorts dismounted. They were both men from the village, men he knew. They wouldn't look him in the eye. Tom -- the village baker -- looked around, the whites of his eyes flashing like those of a frightened horse. His tongue darted out to wet his lips. "They'll be here any minute," he muttered.



"Aye," replied Ben, the other escort. He glanced over his shoulder at Daniel, looked down, shook his head, and dropped his voice to a whisper. "I tell you, Tom, I hate this arrangement. It ain't right, offering our young men and women to these blood-suckers. Sometimes I think it was better in the old days, when we hunted --"



"Shhh! You want them to hear you?"



"They can't hear us," he said, irritation creeping into his voice. "They aren't here yet."



"You don't know that," Tom shot back. "One of 'em could be standing right next to you, and you wouldn't know it unless he spoke." He glared at Ben. "None of us like this arrangement, but it's the only way. In the old days, people died. The offerings keep things peaceful. Keeps the blood-suckers from our village. As for the offerings... well, it's the price we pay. It's not like they kill them."



"No." Ben lowered his voice even more, but Daniel could still make out the words. "But what they do to them is probably worse."



"Hush!"



Daniel's hands clenched, nails pressing into his palms. "It's all right," he said. Despite his efforts to keep his voice steady, it trembled. "I'm not afraid." It was a lie, and they all knew it. Ben and Tom exchanged guilty glances.



They waited. Daniel's ears caught the thump of approaching hoof beats. He tensed.



At the edge of the clearing, a black horse emerged from the shadows. It was huge, muscular; its coat sleek and glossy. The rider wore dark, close-fitting trousers, which showed off his long, lean legs, and his black cloak billowed in the wind. Beneath it was a tight shirt of black leather, molded to the contours of his body. He was slender but hard, all sculpted muscle, his abdomen flat and trim. His skin was white, as if it had never seen sunlight... and he was stunningly, unnervingly beautiful, as beautiful as a woman, though it was impossible to mistake him for one. A breeze ruffled his short hair, which gleamed a pale silver, like moonlight on water. And his eyes...



Daniel's heartbeat quickened as he stared into those ruby eyes. He had never seen one of the Kin face to face. That pale face was as cold and expressionless as a statue's. There was no trace of feeling in those blood-red eyes. They flicked over the two cowering escorts, then focused on Daniel.



"Is this the offering?" The Kin lord's voice was deep and full. It seemed to reverberate in the pit of Daniel's stomach, in the marrow of his bones.



Tom took a deep breath and straightened. "Yes, my lord."



"I was told that the offering this year would be a young woman."



Tom glanced at Daniel and cleared his throat. "Aye, that was the intent. But this young man -- Daniel -- volunteered to take the place of his sister."



Silver brows lifted. He looked at Daniel. "Is this true?"



Daniel swallowed. "Yes." His voice sounded very small.



"How old are you, Daniel?"



"Twenty."



For a long moment, the Kin lord stared at him. That ruby gaze held him immobile. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. He felt as though those eyes could see straight into his head, as if they were examining every particle of his soul, weighing and measuring unseen qualities. At last, the man nodded. "Very well. Unbind his hands and let him dismount."



With shaking hands, Tom unbound Daniel's wrists. Daniel dismounted. His heart knocked like a fist against his chest as he walked toward the huge, black horse and the silver-haired man. He looked over his shoulder, but Tom and Ben would not meet his gaze.



"You two may go," the silver-haired man said. "Take his horse with you. He won't need it."



Still avoiding Daniel's gaze, they turned their horses and walked them out of the clearing. Daniel's mare followed. He took a deep breath and approached the Kin lord.



Ruby eyes stared down at him. The man stretched out a hand. Daniel took it -- the skin was smooth as marble -- and the Kin lord pulled him onto the horse. Daniel gasped. There was no saddle. He gripped the horse with his thighs.



"Hold on to me," said the Kin lord.



Daniel hesitated, then placed his hands gingerly on the man's shoulders.



"Not like that." There was a touch of gentle amusement in his voice. "Put your arms around my waist."



Daniel bit his lower lip. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around that dagger-slim waist. His chest pressed against the man's hard back. The Kin lord gave his mount a light tap with his heels. The horse snorted, tossed its head, and began to walk.



"My name is Vale, but you may address me as Master."



"Yes, Master," Daniel said quietly.



Vale looked over his shoulder. His crimson eyes reflected Daniel's face. There were no discernable pupils, just two solid, ruby disks that seemed to burn with their own inner light. "You volunteered to take your sister's place, didn't you?"



"Yes."



"Why?"



Daniel hesitated. "She's younger than me by four years. She's in love with a man whom she's planning to marry one day. And my parents adore her. The whole village adores her. So do I. She's always treated me with more kindness than anyone else. When she was chosen as the offering, everyone was devastated. I could not bear to think of her being taken away from all those who love her." He remembered the moment of sinking dread as a village elder had read Sara's name from the scrap of paper he'd drawn, blindfolded, from a wooden box.



"And you? Will they not be devastated by your loss, as well?"



Self-conscious, Daniel dropped his gaze. "I..."



"Look at me."



Daniel looked up and met those cool, expressionless eyes. "No, Master, they won't miss me much."



http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1457

Living with a Demon by Amanda Steiger

Read an excerpt

Living with a Demon

by Amanda Steiger cover art by Reneé George

ISBN: 978-1-60521-451-1

Genre(s): Paranormal, BDSM

Theme(s): Dark Desire, Gay and Lesbian

Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1411

Blurb:
When Nate Bird impulsively answers a personals ad, he's just looking for a break in the routine, something to shake him out of the funk he's been in since Brian left him. He's not looking for romance. But when he meets Pierce Collins, he knows a one-night stand won't satisfy him. Pierce's amber eyes hold a hypnotic power over him, and his deep voice wraps around Nate like velvet and grips him like steel cuffs. Nate knows that Pierce is the man for him... even when he finds out that Pierce is something more than human.

Excerpt:
Living with a Demon
Amanda Steiger
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2010 Amanda Steiger

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

"Sadist seeks masochist?" Daphne set the paper down on the kitchen table. She pursed her lips and shook her head in disapproval, tapping one manicured nail against a personals ad. "I can't believe they even printed this. I mean, really." She sipped her coffee. "I swear, this world is going nuts."
Nate stared across the table at his older sister, then down at the newspaper personals. Thirty-two-year-old male sadist seeks male masochist. Must be willing to take orders. One night only. The only other information listed was a phone number. Pretty bare bones, as personals went. "I didn't think you had a problem with that sort of thing," Nate said, keeping his tone carefully neutral. Daphne had never been as conservative as their parents -- hell, without her support, he probably never would have found the nerve to come out to them -- but there were certain things he didn't feel quite comfortable talking with her about. "I mean, S&M. You've always said that what turns people on is their own business."
"I don't mind what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms. They can wear frog masks and pee on each other's feet for all I care. But putting an ad like this in the paper?" She grimaced. "Some little kid could see this. 'Mommy, what's a masochist?' How is a parent supposed to explain that?"
"Kids don't look at the personals."
"Yeah, but they could still see it by accident."
Nate glanced at the ad again. The phone number started with the same three digits as his. Someone in the area, then.
Daphne leafed through the paper. "By the way, are you free this evening?" A smile curved her lips. "There's someone I want you to meet. He's from my graphic design class."
Nate winced. Daphne meant well, but ever since he'd broken up with Brian, she'd been relentless in her efforts to set him up with someone. And the men she tried to foist on him were usually good-looking but painfully dull. "Honestly, I don't think I'm ready for a relationship. I'm enjoying being single again."
"I'd buy that if you were actually going out and doing stuff, but ever since Brian left, you don't do anything except sit in your apartment and play those online RPGs. That's not healthy. And it's not you, either."
Nate knew she was right. In the past few months, he'd stopped going to clubs and dancing and just hanging out with people in general. It all seemed like too much to deal with. But Brian leaving him was only part of it. In truth, that relationship had had its problems from the start. On a deeper level, Nate had begun to wonder if there was something wrong with him, if having a truly satisfying sexual relationship was even possible.
Daphne laid a hand on his arm. "You need to get out and start interacting with people again," she said. "And your coworkers at Mr. Sushi don't count."
Nate figured that now would probably be a bad time to tell her he'd been fired last week. "I know," he said. "I just need a little time."
"If you say so." She got up to refill her coffee mug.
His gaze darted to the personals ad again. As she mixed in her cream and sugar, he grabbed a pen and quickly wrote the number on his palm.
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Congratulations! New Reviews for Changeling Press

 

New Reviews for Changeling Press 05/17/2010

 

Congratulations to Belinda McBride, Anne Kane, Cynthia Sax, Marie Treanor, Amanda Steiger, Emma Ray Garrett and Kate Hill!

BAD ANGELS: HEAVEN (Belinda McBride)

Four & ½ Cherries from Whipped Cream Reviews

The twists and turns in this one are absolutely marvelous.the sex is steamy and delightfully plentiful.

http://whippedcream 2.blogspot. com/2010/ 05/bad-angels- heaven-by- belinda-mcbride. html

DRAGON KIN: CAPTIVE HEART (Anne Kane)

Four Cherries from Whipped Cream Reviews

...steaming passion, heart-touching compassion and genuine friendship that is truly a delight to read.

http://whippedcream 2.blogspot. com/2010/ 05/dragon- kin-captive- heart-by- anne-kane. html

DRAGON LORD'S PRIZE (Cynthia Sax)

Four Cherries from Whipped Cream Reviews

This was an engaging story that held my attention from page one. I am definitely adding Cynthia Sax to my list of must read authors.

http://whippedcream 2.blogspot. com/2010/ 05/dragon- lords-prize- by-cynthia- sax.html

DRAGUL RISING (Marie Treanor)

Reviewed by Joyfully Reviewed

A passionate triad of stories bursting with sexual tension, political angst and intrigue, and engaging characters that will keep and ignite your interest.

http://www.joyfully reviewed. com/reviews/ May10/dragulrisi ng.mt.html

EYES OF THE WOLF (Amanda Steiger)

Four Roses from A Romance Review

[This] may be a short story, but it's not short on plot, character, and heat. This spicy read has the "ahhh..." factor readers want in their books.

http://www.aromance review.com/ reviews/index. php?app_state= show_event&bookid=19073

HEAVEN AND HELL (Emma Ray Garrett)

Five Cherries from Whipped Cream Reviews

...great sex scenes that left my mouth watering, as well as a great love story. The author's imagination really impressed me throughout this entire series.

http://whippedcream 2.blogspot. com/2010/ 05/heaven- and-hell- by-emma-ray- garrett.html

IMPASSIONED (Kate Hill)

Four & ½ Roses from A Romance Review

...some dazzlingly good erotica. Juan and Tonia are engaging characters with sizzling chemistry. Well worth a read.

http://www.aromance review.com/ reviews/index. php?app_state= show_event&bookid=19649

Bound by Desire by Amanda Steiger

Bound by Desire
by Amanda Steiger cover art by Kassie Thrace
ISBN: 978-1-60521-377-4
Genre(s): Futuristic, Paranormal
Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1307

Blurb:

Keelie al'Trega marries Lord Kalen Ashler to secure peace between their two home planets. On their wedding night, Kalen sends her away from his bed, despite his obvious arousal. Then Keelie learns the terrible truth -- becoming his mate will create an unbreakable psychic bond between them, a bond so intense and powerful that it can drive a person insane.
Is Kalen worth the risk?

Excerpt:
This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

"Don't look so grim, Keelie. You're getting married, not being executed."

Keelie sighed and leaned back in her seat. She stared out the tiny, round window at the star-scattered blackness of space. "I've never even met him. I feel like I'm gambling with my future. I only agreed to this because if I don't, it could jeopardize the peace between Ria and Tarva. 'A marriage between two ruling families cements the bonds of friendship,' or however my father put it."

"How bad can he be?" Meg smiled. "You know, Ashler House is very powerful. And Ashler, as the only surviving member of the family, owns half the mines on Ria."

"So?"

"So that makes him one of the wealthiest men in the galaxy."

"That doesn't say anything about what he's like as a person."

"But an element of surprise makes this all the more romantic, doesn't it? He's handsome too. Did you see him in that newscast? Such eyes!"

Keelie sighed. She knew Meg was just trying to lift her spirits, but Keelie wasn't fooled. She might as well have signed away her entire future. A cold, heavy lump of dread sat in her stomach.

"At the very least, you'll have more luxury than you know what to do with. I'll bet there are thousands of women all over the galaxy who'd love to be in your shoes right now. And here you sit sighing and making faces like you just bit into a piece of rotten fruit."

A faint smile tugged at Keelie's lips. "I shouldn't tolerate such insolence from you, you know. Father says I'm too lenient with servants. But honestly, I think I'd be bored out of my skull if everyone around me was quiet and respectful. It's nice to have someone who'll actually talk to me."

Meg chuckled. "I do my best."

"At least you don't treat me like a treasure to be hoarded or bartered away."

"You're not being bartered away."

"What do you call it, then? This marriage is purely political, after all. And yet I'll have to give my body to him... and be subservient to his will." She placed a hand on the window's cool plastic as she stared out. Her home world, Tarva, had become a faint blue speck. She could scarcely recognize it among the stars. "I've been given so many lectures about how I'm supposed to act around him and what I'm supposed to say. Our culture is so backward and male-dominated I'm not even permitted to be myself with the man who'll become my husband. I wish I'd been born on one of the more enlightened planets." She rubbed her temple, where a headache was beginning to flare up.

Meg squeezed her hand. "You never know. He may be just what you want."

"Or he could be a deranged, syphilis-riddled rapist who can't get excited unless he slaps me around a little first."

"Stars above! Lord Ashler isn't a monster. Do you really think your father would hand you over to someone like that?"

"I don't know. Does anyone really know what Lord Ashler is like? He's so reclusive; I don't think anyone except his servants ever sees him. That newscast doesn't count... especially since he hardly said two words throughout the interview. Who knows what's going on behind that stony expression?"

Meg looked nervous for a moment, then hid it behind another smile. "Have a little faith."

"I wish I could." Keelie sighed and leaned back in her seat. It had been a long trip, but it would be over soon. In a few days, they would land on her new home -- on Ria. Keelie's heartbeat quickened, more with fear than excitement.

Overhead, she heard a beep, and a clear female voice intoned, "Shifting to hyperspace."

Keelie took a deep breath, braced herself, and hoped she wouldn't throw up. Hyperspace travel never agreed with her.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1307

Eyes of the Wolf by Amanda Steiger

Eyes of the Wolf
by Amanda Steiger

Cover art by Sahara Kelly
ISBN: 978-1-60521-310-1
Genre(s): Paranormal
Theme(s): Werewolves, Shapeshifters, Dark Desire
Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1256

Blurb:

Kaila is a princess, bound to a life of duty. She would do anything to save her people, even give herself to the barbarian leader of the Wolf Clan -- the fearsome half-demon wolf-shifter, Garou -- in exchange for the promise that he will leave her kingdom in peace. What she doesn't expect is to find passion and tenderness in his embrace, and to discover that inside the beast is a very human man.

Excerpt:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Kaila's heart raced, and her knees trembled as she approached the barbarians' camp. Cook fires flickered amidst the deer hide tents. Men sat around them, roaring with laughter, eating bloody haunches of roast meat and slopping ale from tankards.
The sliver of moon overhead shed only scarce light on the grassy plains. None of the men had spotted her yet. She had the sudden urge to turn and bolt... but she suppressed it and willed her shaking limbs to be steady. She'd made up her mind. She could not allow her people to suffer any longer. If her father would not give Chief Garou what he demanded, then Kaila would take matters into her own hands.
She took another step closer, and a twig popped under her foot.
The men fell silent and turned to look at her. They were huge and muscular, wearing the skins of wolves or bobcats, and most had thick, bushy beards. Hunger glinted in their eyes as they realized what they were seeing. She felt like a rabbit waltzing into a convention of foxes, and in spite of her efforts to stay calm, she quivered beneath her heavy, fur lined cloak.
These men were brutes. For the past few months, they had been attacking the city, carrying off plunder. They lived like scavengers, striking, thieving, and vanishing into the night. "Where is your chief?" she called, with as much authority as she could muster. "I demand that you take me to him at once. I will speak to no one else."
One man wiped grease from his beard with the back of one hand, then stood, grinning. "Bold little thing, aren't you?"
He started forward, but was stopped by a sharp, "Don't touch her!" from the largest tent.
The man froze as the chief pushed the tent flap aside and stepped out. He was tall, and surprisingly young. He was also one of the few men in camp without a beard. Three scars, like claw marks, marred each cheek. He wore a dark wolf hide, the wolf's head perched over his own, and black leather gloves and boots. At his belt was a glittering sword, no doubt stolen, like all their weapons. He drew the blade from its gem encrusted scabbard and pressed the tip to the man's stomach. The man gulped, his eyes widening. "No one is to touch her, save me," said the chief. "If anyone lays a hand on her, I'll cut off his sac and hang it out to dry in the sun."
Kaila stood frozen, heart knocking against her ribs, as the chief approached. He moved like the wolf for which he was named, his strides smooth and graceful. Well defined muscles shifted beneath the bronze skin in his arms and legs. With a gloved hand, he gripped her chin and turned her face from side to side, studying her. She noticed, with a shock, that his eyes were yellow gold, like a wolf's. "Strange, that you come here alone, without a carriage or guards," he remarked. His gloved thumb traced her chin, and then ran lightly over her full lips. "One would think your father would send that much, at least, to see off his beloved daughter. I wonder... did your father send you at all, or did you come of your own free will?"
She swallowed, keeping her eyes downcast. "My father sent me." Garou might not consider it a gift if he knew she'd come on her own. "He is willing to make the sacrifice for his people."
"Very wise of him." He smiled, showing a glint of white teeth. With the tip of his sword, he pulled her cloak open to reveal the soft, pink silk dress beneath. He studied the pearly buttons, then slid his sword tip beneath one and popped it off, so delicately that he didn't even graze the skin beneath. A few of his men hooted, but he paid no attention. His eyes were fixed on her heaving chest. He popped off another button, then another, exposing her white, lacy chemise.
Kaila gritted her teeth, cheeks burning. Would he have her out in the open, in front of all these leering pigs? She straightened her back and schooled her face into a neutral expression. No matter what happened, she was determined to endure it stoically. It was the only honor left to her.
The cold tip of the sword touched her breast, almost gently, and her breath caught in her throat. She watched, stone still, as it circled her nipple, which quickly hardened at the coldness of the steel. He did the same to the other nipple, then returned to the first, until both jutted, achingly hard and tight, straining against the thin silk of her chemise. Then, with the tip of his sword, he lifted her dress. One hand reached beneath it.
Kaila swatted his hand away.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1256

Escaping Darkside by Amanda Steiger

Escaping Darkside
by Amanda Steiger

Cover art by Zuri
ISBN: 978-1-59596-581-3
Genre(s): Paranormal, Dark Fantasy
Theme(s): The Dark Side, Gay and Lesbian
Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1131

Blurb:

Death is just the beginning of Christian’s problems. After he’s killed in a hit and run accident, he wakes up in Darkside -- the demon-infested world between life and death -- and learns that he’s being hunted by the merciless Council.
Then he meets Seth, an inhumanly beautiful man with silver hair and golden eyes. He offers Christian his protection, and a glimmer of hope. At the far end of Darkside is a door to Earth. If Christian can reach it, he’ll have a second chance at life.
There is only one problem. Going back to Earth will mean leaving Seth behind forever… and Christian is falling in love with him.

Excerpt:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Christian woke face down on the ground, head throbbing. A smell like garbage and sewer water filled his nose, and hard, gritty pavement pressed against his cheek. He opened his eyes to find himself lying in a narrow alley between two brick buildings, next to a row of overflowing trashcans.
Christian stood, staggered, and leaned against the nearby wall. What had happened? Had he been mugged? A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he swayed. He must have hit his head. Maybe that was why he couldn't remember anything. When the world finally stopped spinning, he began to walk.
Run-down, brick buildings lined the narrow street, and fragments of broken glass glittered on the pavement. It looked like one of the bad parts of Chicago, but it wasn't a neighborhood he recognized.
He heard a low, faint moan, like distant wind, and froze. The back of his neck prickled and he slowly turned.
Four red-cloaked figures stood in the street, motionless. Hoods covered their heads and shadow hid their faces. Goose bumps rose on Christian's flesh. "Um… hello."
No reply. One figure stretched out an arm and curled a long, bony finger in beckoning.
Christian swallowed, hard. His heart rose into his throat as fear slammed into his gut like a fist. He took a shaky step backward, then turned and ran, feet pounding the pavement, breath coming in frantic gulps. He looked over his shoulder and saw them following -- not running, but floating several inches above the road, their red cloaks billowing behind them.
What the hell was going on?
He kept running, but he could sense the things getting closer, closing in on him. An icy hand curled around his arm, the fingers brittle and thin, yet strong as iron. Cold filled his chest, as if that skeletal hand had reached into his body to grip his heart. He looked into the darkness beneath the thing's hood and saw the glint of eyes. A weird clicking, chattering noise drifted from that darkness.
Christian twisted away. "Let me go!" He yanked his arm free. His skin still burned where the thing had touched him.
He ran, ignoring the throbbing stitch in his side and the burn in his lungs. There was nothing left in his mind but the desperate need to get away. He ran until his legs gave out, and he sank to his hands and knees, gulping air, each breath like nettles scraping his raw lungs. He looked over his shoulder, shaking. The red-cloaked figures were nowhere in sight. Somehow, he'd lost them.
He crawled to the side of the street and hid behind a Dumpster, hugging his knees to his chest. He looked down at his arm, where the thing had grabbed him. Its grip had left ugly, black burn marks on his skin, and the marks writhed like something alive. Just looking at them made him nauseous. He pulled his sleeve over the burn, hiding it, then leaned back against the brick wall and closed his eyes. His muscles felt like overcooked noodles, but somehow, he managed to drag himself to his feet and resume walking.
Ahead, a row of motorcycles stood next to a low, windowless building with black cement walls. Even from a distance, Christian could hear the pulse of a bass-beat. A dance club?
Whatever it was, he needed to get inside. He ran toward the building, flung open the door, and entered. A blast of warm air and sound hit him. After the eerie silence of the street, the sudden din of music and voices was overwhelming. The club was dimly lit, smoky, and packed. Music thumped in his ears. Christian squeezed through the crush of bodies, his gaze darting back and forth. Sweaty shirts surrounded him wherever he turned.
"Ow! Watch where you're going!"
"Sorry. I --" Christian looked up and his jaw dropped. The thing staring down at him had the body of a weightlifter, but from the neck up, it resembled a cross between a bull and a lion, with curved black horns, a shaggy mane, and sharp fangs. "What are you staring at?" growled a deep, rough voice.
"S-sorry," Christian stammered and backed away.
Had he stumbled into some sort of costume party? No, that hadn't been a mask. He'd seen its mouth move.
He stepped on something that felt like a rope and heard a snarl. He looked down to see a long, furry tail pull away, and something with three horns and four eyes glared at him. Christian stumbled backward.
Breathing hard, he made his way through the crowd. He spotted a silver-haired girl in black leather. Relieved to see someone relatively normal-looking, Christian grabbed her arm. She looked at him. Her eyes were huge, almond-shaped, and completely black, without whites or irises. "Excuse me, Miss, I'm sorry, but could you tell me…"
She opened her mouth, revealing inch-long fangs where her canine teeth should have been, and hissed like a cat. He backed off. His head swiveled back and forth. Everywhere he looked was a creature out of a nightmare. There stood a man with a wriggling mass of tentacles where his mouth should have been. Across from him loomed another man with the head of a hawk and four feathery arms.
A hand grabbed his arm and twisted him around. He found himself staring up into a face that was almost human, except it was black -- not brown, but licorice black -- and topped by a pair of small, spiral horns protruding from crimson hair. The man dragged Christian through the crowd, out the door, into the cool night. He shoved his face into Christian's, eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here? You're not from Darkside."
"I don't even know how I got here. What is this place?"
His lip curled in an unpleasant expression that was half-grin, half-sneer, revealing tiny, sharp fangs. "You're from Earth, huh?"
"Earth? You mean we're not on Earth?"
"Oh boy, are you in for a rude awakening." Sharp claws dug into the meat of Christian's arm, making him squirm. "There's bound to be a fat reward on your head. The Council doesn't like it when souls slip through their grasp."
Breathing hard, Christian tried to pry the sausage-thick, dark fingers from his arm. "Let go!"
"Oh no. You're not getting away so easily."

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Runaway by Amanda Steiger

Runaway
by Amanda Steiger
Cover art by Reneé George
ISBN (13): 978-1-59596-855-5
Genre(s): Paranormal
Theme(s): Werewolves, Gay and Lesbian
Length: Novella




http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1066





Blurb:
Keith is a werewolf on the run. Several years ago, he fled his pack and its cruel alpha and has been moving from place to place ever since: a lone drifter. Then he meets Taylor, a recently infected lycanthrope. As Keith helps Taylor come to terms with his nature, a powerful attraction grows between them… but Keith’s past comes back to haunt him in the form of Lucas, his vindictive ex-alpha. Now, Keith and Taylor must fight for their lives and freedom.





Excerpt:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.
It was the smell that had first caught his attention -- the sharp, musky, unmistakable smell of wolf.
The man sat alone in a corner of the diner, wearing an oversized sweatshirt. His brown hair hung disheveled and wild around his face, and his eyes held a faraway, haunted look. As Keith watched, his fingers tightened on the handle of his coffee cup and a patch of dark fur sprouted on the back of his wrist. The man shut his eyes. Sweat gleamed on his brow as he breathed in deeply, and a moment later, the fur receded back into his skin.
Keith sipped his coffee. There wasn’t a pack anywhere within a hundred miles. The presence of another werewolf here, now, could only mean one of two things. Either the young man was new -- recently infected -- or he was a stray, like Keith.
When the young man left the diner, Keith followed him down the street to the bridge at the edge of town. Thunder growled, and lightning split the dark sky. Below, the rain-swollen river frothed and churned. Clouds of muddy foam, like chocolate mousse, swirled over the surface. The young man stared at the water, gripping the cement rail with both hands.
“Hey!” Keith called.
The man tensed and turned to face him. His lips pulled back from sharp teeth and his eyes flared a bright yellow. “Stay back!” he shouted.
Keith held up both hands, palms out. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just wanted to ask you a few questions. How long have you been a werewolf?”
His eyes widened. “You’re crazy. There’s no such thing as werewolves.”
“There’s no use denying. I can smell it.”
The young man turned to run. Keith lunged and grabbed his wrist.
“Let go!”
“Listen to me. I can help you.”
“No one can help me.”
Keith’s grip tightened. The young man’s pulse drummed under his fingers. “At least give me a chance.”
The man looked up, and Keith saw something change in those eyes. The fear was still there, but there was a flicker of hope, as well -- a desperate desire to believe the truth in his words.
“What’s your name?” asked Keith.
“Taylor. Taylor Brandon.”
“How long have you been a werewolf?”
“A few months.”
“Does anyone else know?”
“No.” Taylor hesitated. “You said you could help me. Does that mean there’s a cure?”
“No, but I can teach you how to control the changes, how to live with what you are. I’m like you. I’m a werewolf.”
“You?”
“That’s right. We’re the same. Let me help you. Please.”
Taylor looked down at the river, then back at Keith. With his wet hair and clothes plastered to his body, he looked smaller than he was and vulnerable. Lost. “I have nowhere to go. No home. No money.”
Keith placed his hands on Taylor’s shoulders and felt him shivering. “I’ll take you to my place. Once you warm up and get some dry clothes, we can talk.”

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1066

Demon's Bargain by Amanda Steiger

Demon's Bargain
by Amanda Steiger

cover art by Karen Fox
ISBN (13): 978-1-60521-111-4
Genre(s): Paranormal, Daemonum
Theme(s): Elves, Dragons & Magical Creatures, The Dark Side
Length: Novella

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1048

Blurb:

Ella is desperate. A vicious dragon stalks her people, killing and devouring. The only man strong enough to defeat it is Vaz, the half-demon outcast -- banished long ago for his tainted blood.
Ella has always been told that demons are cruel and dangerous, but she swallows her fear, journeys alone to Vaz’s castle, and asks him to save her people. He agrees on one condition: that she spends a night in his bed.
The demon’s huge, powerful form and penetrating ruby eyes send tremors of unexpected desire through Ella’s body. Despite her trepidation, she agrees to his bargain, and soon learns just how potent a demon’s touch can be.




Excerpt:

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

A human approached his castle from the east. Vaz felt the light of its soul, a small, fragile spark in the darkness. Opening his eyes, he rose from his chair. A fire crackled in the hearth, but did little to illuminate the vast, stone hall. Neither the dark nor the cold bothered him. He was accustomed to both.
It had been some time since he’d seen another person. Most humans feared him and gave his castle a wide berth. Who was this lone traveler approaching his home?
Vaz reached out with his mind. His thoughts swept outward, like a vast web of invisible tendrils, touching everything within a mile of his castle. He felt the mind of a sea-hawk as it wheeled over the foamy, gray water, its keen eyes searching for the silver flash of a fish. Looking through the hawk’s eyes, he scanned the shore.
There.
Vaz saw a small, human form, walking near the water’s edge, head bent against the wind. Young and female. He sampled her mind as his consciousness flowed into her, tasting fear and determination. Vaz felt the chill of wet clothes against her skin, the hunger gnawing her belly, the ache of fatigue in her muscles. He looked through her eyes and saw his own castle, dark against the gray sky.
Vaz withdrew back into his own mind and stood, thinking.
For nearly twenty years, he had lived here alone, feeling nothing save the old ache of bitterness and the empty indifference growing like a cancer in his soul. Now, he felt a rare flicker of curiosity, like a tiny candle flame in the dark catacombs of his heart.
Who was she, this girl?

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1048

Excerpt: Invisible Love by Amanda Steiger

Invisible Love
by Amanda Steiger
Cover art by Reneé George
ISBN (13): 978-1-60521-061-2

Excerpt #1

Gregory floated above New York City. He stared through the patchy clouds, at the tiny skyscrapers and high rises below. At night, the city glowed with a thousand points of light, like a mirror image of the starry sky. Cars crawled through the maze of streets like ants through tunnels. How faraway, how unimportant everything seemed from this distance.
Wind howled around him. A few fat snowflakes spiraled down from the sky. Gregory felt no cold. He had felt nothing for hundreds of years. He wondered—for the thousandth, the millionth time—if he would ever escape this empty, gray half-life, or if he was doomed to wander the Earth as a spirit for all eternity, unseen, unheard. Alone.
He drifted down toward the city, like a feather on the wind. His feet touched the ground. He walked down the sidewalk. People hurried past, talking loudly, cell-phones glued to their ears.
It was that time of year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when the whole of America seemed caught in a frenzy of commerce. People clutched brightly colored shopping bags filled with toys and the latest electronic gadgets. Store windows glowed with warm light. Signs boasted low, low prices to entice consumers. Passers-by walked through Gregory’s dim, translucent form as though passing through a cloud of smoke. Their thoughts and memories swirled through his mind, like leaves on the wind. He took no notice. The thoughts of the living were dull and repetitive, centered around the details of their hectic careers and their confused love lives.
He stopped outside an apartment building and looked up.
On the third floor, a window glowed with lamp-light. He stared at the window, wondering why it held his attention. He felt a peculiar tug in the core of his being. Something drew him toward that square of warm, yellow light. He floated off the ground, hovered outside the window, and peered in.
A young woman sat upright in bed, legs tucked beneath her, an open book in her lap. Long, wavy hair spilled over her slim, pale shoulders, hair so dark a brown it was almost black. It shone with a soft luster in the lamplight as she twined a lock around two fingers. Her full lips were parted, relaxed, as her eyes moved over the lines on the page. She wore only a sleeveless, white cotton nightshirt and a pair of white panties.
Gregory stared. An ache of longing pierced his soul, so deep and sharp it was almost pain. How long had it been since he had touched a woman?

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