"Detective Sparrow, we have Waylon waiting in interrogation for you." Officer Hollis hands over the biolog, and I swipe and tap on the information I need on our suspect. The case we've been working has hit a dead end, and our only hope is Waylon. But the thief is a smug bastard who refuses to talk. So they've allowed me to get the information we need. This isn't my first run in with Waylon, but he always walks free with nothing more than a warning. This is the first time I'v

Maria took a deep steadying breath, bracing herself as the door across from her opened. She was sitting in a small, private room in the restaurant. Royce had reserved it for them alone thanks to their status as famous musicians. This was their first real date and she found herself nervous as a chicken facing a fox. She shook herself, annoyed at the feeling.   Royce stood there in the open door for a moment, before a grin stole across his face. He closed the door behind him an

We both have some exciting news for you all! The Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) Applications are now open for both of us! Keep reading to find out more! Fire Magic by Leona Urbansky A veteran of the Mage War, Brenna Hunter vanished from the magical community so she could live a magic-free life and raise her daughter in peace. When her daughter is kidnapped by Kirra, a mage bent on vengeance, Brenna has to draw on her long-dormant magical skills to rescue her. Now, Brenna finds he

Melissa sat on the front porch swing, her legs tucked under her as it swayed gently. Her hands were curled around her mug of hot tea, the steam still rising from it. The air was a little colder today and she could see the leaves starting to fall. They'd turned a few weeks ago, making the forest around her a riot of colors. Samhain was soon, she realized. Shifting slightly, she tugged at the hem of her pants, pulling it down to cover her ankle from the slight chill. As she too

Gasp! Cold sweat clings to my skin, making my clothes stick uncomfortably. My heart thrashes in my chest as I awaken from the same nightmare I've had for the last six months. It always starts the same, terror grips me, my breathing comes rapidly, and I'm standing outside the dilapidated haunted house. It's an old Victorian home, with shutters hanging off the hinges, and vines have taken over. The essence of this house is enough to be a nightmare alone, until a shadowy hand sn

The rain pelted her bare skin, slicing like tiny daggers and hurting almost as much as the ropes binding her wrists. Meredith fought to free her hands, desperate to escape the fate that had been placed on her since birth. They had always said she was promised to the gods, but it had been framed as metaphorical. Meredith thought that she would become a priestess, dedicating her life to the god of the tides, not a sacrifice. They pushed her forward relentlessly, the sand crunch

The kettle behind me hisses, pulling my attention away from sorting and refilling apothecary jars. I pour the hot water over my special autumnal tea blend just as the bell above the door chimes to my cozy shop. The autumn breeze blows in loose leaves that cover the ground outside. "Welcome in. How can I help you?" I ask. "Morning." A man dressed in jeans and an unbuttoned flannel with a t-shirt underneath rubs his neck and looks over his shoulder nervously, like he isn't sure

Lucy ran her fingers through her horse's mane, untangling the slight knots that had appeared since this morning when she combed it. Finishing with a pat on the neck, Lucy sat back and settled deeper into her seat. The mare dipped her head, rubbing her eye on her knee before looking up again, her ears flicking as she surveyed the other horses around her. Lucy glanced at her mother who stood off to the side. The older woman nodded with a smile, encouraging her. It was a race, b

Wind flips me head over heels, my wings doing nothing to stop my fall. Slowly, the luxurious feathers go from a heavenly white to the darkest of blacks. "No," I cry out, tears streaming down my face as I plummet towards Earth. Feathers suddenly fly loose around me, and I try to move, but it's no use. I am disgraced and banished from heaven. My noble job as a guardian is over. My body collides with the earth, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs, and my body aches, but

A Short Story By Leona Urbansky Nyx tore into her chambers like a whirlwind, ripping the tiara out of her elaborate hairstyle and throwing it on the bed, ignoring the pulled-out hair that went with it. It landed with a soft thump amidst the many scrolls and books piled on the bed, testament to her intense studying before the court session in what she knew now was a futile attempt at understanding her kingdom. Her hands clenched and unclenched as she fought to control her ange

A Short Story by Nicole Autumn The rowdy tavern crowd is making my palms itch. I hate being in crowded enclosed spaces. It's too easy to slip a dagger, stab someone, and move away without being seen, but one of my contacts said they had a job for me. "The crowd seems merry, so why are you so glum?" Alaric slips next to me, and I give him a dead stare. "You know I hate taverns, but you insist this is where we should meet." I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in my chai