Thursday, October 2, 2025

Readers Imbibing Peril Challenge 2025: Saving Wendy

 

https://tubitv.com/movies/100034547/tmz-presents-saving-wendy

I worked with elderly patients, many of whom had dementia, for approximately 25 years total.

Sadly, I witnessed both of my parents descend into dementia. My father had multiple transient ischemic attacks (small strokes) before having a major hemorrhagic cerebrovascular incident (large stroke). 

My brother speculates that my father may have had frontotemporal dementia, given his behavior patterns.

My mother died three days after having a massive CVA in the left occipital lobe. I suspect she had Lewy body dementia. 

There are certain behaviors one sees in patients with dementia. If Wendy had dementia, she would be repeating herself, asking questions she'd already asked, perhaps even forgetting who she was talking to. She clearly doesn't have aphasia. I would surmise that any seeming aphasia or appearance of dementia was due to alcohol addiction, from which she seems to have recovered successfully. 

Some of the things Wendy said on her show were shocking and offensive. However, this does not mean she deserves to be locked up and unable to function autonomously. 

Even if Wendy did have dementia, people with dementia do better when they are given activities to participate in, not being forced to remain locked in a room. 

Wendy is seven months older than I am. She is correct that people our age benefit from exercise to help us maintain our endurance and remain as strong and flexible as possible.

Wendy simply does not present like a person suffering from dementia. Her conversation is too coherent. This situation smells smelly. 



Free use image from Clker Free Vector Images

"There's something fishy about this situation, or my name isn't Hangry Wyrm. By the way, Ornery, those foil packets you cooked tonight were pretty good, except the potatoes were a little underdone."


Free Use Image from Open Clipart Vectors
Ornery Owl

"I know it. Blasted potatoes are the bane of my existence."




Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Insecure Writers Support Group 1 October 2025

 


 The image was generated by Pixlr. I'm not proud, but I am tired.

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why? 

I love my Dreamlands stories more than anything else I write. Nobody else gives a flying rat's ass about them and probably never will. I love them for the Found Family aspect. A quartet of complete oddballs confronts cosmic (and other) horrors as well as their own troubled pasts with the intent of saving the Universe from being drawn into a Horrible Black Void. 

I hardly ever have time to work on these stories, or anything else, really. 

 This has been a year of death and medical appointments. 

For an idea of how I feel about all the stories inside me that will either never be told or will be buried by time and dust, watch the scene in this video where David Bowie slumps over, exhausted by attempting to write out his ideas before it's too late (approximately 3:45).

 

Readers Imbibing Peril Release Day Review: My Ex Is A Vampire

 

 


Genre:

Fantasy Romance, Vampires, Young Adult    

Length: 431 pages

Buy Link:

https://amzn.to/4psQG7N

Publication Date:

October 1, 2025

Book Blurb:

Relationships bite!

Jane Dela Cruz's life is anything but normal. By day, she's your average honor student, the girl next door who's dating the guy on the football team. By night, she hunts vampires with her family. She hates what she's been called to do, the gifts she inherited from her family bloodline. At the same time, she craves revenge and closure for past emotional scars.
Andy Santiago is the new kid in the swanky suburb of Sugar Land, Texas. Haunted by nightmares of red eyes and fangs, he hunts down vampires and attracts his share of trouble along the way. He keeps his life of vampire hunting a secret from his mother and finds himself in hot water when he finds out his new girlfriend is a fangirl for romantic vampires, which only exist in fiction.

When Jane's boyfriend and Andy's girlfriend get taken by the local vampire court and turned into vampires, they have to team up and figure out how to take down their exes. What they don't realize is that they will unravel a darker conspiracy that will change their lives forever.
 

 Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors
 
 Ornery Owl's Review
 
Rating: Four out of Five Stars 

“Strength in numbers. Watch my back!”

The hunt is dangerous, but they’ll do it together.

This story should be on your shelf if you enjoy YA urban fantasy with a strong, capable female lead, 
a supportive found-family vibe, and a touch of romance and horror. It is a page-turner with a fun premise: a vampire watch party that becomes a real hunt in a college town with a secret vampire scene.

Jane is by no means a Mary Sue. She is a practical, competent, but flawed heroine with quirky allies (Susi, Mrs. Dela Cruz). She screws up, learns from her mistakes, and her actions have real consequences.

Fans of action sequences must not miss the fight scenes in chapters 2 and 4 and during the reveal in the
 bookstore (Ch. 5).The story has plenty of amusing moments. I laughed at lines like “You should be more worried about your game. That guy you just hit on is gone.” 


 The relationships are balanced. Jane and her mom are a solid team. Andy and Susi’s relationship is based on collaborative dynamics rather than toxic romance. Andy and Susi are good foils: Andy is earnest, awkwardly brave, and Susi is sharp and competent. Mrs. Dela Cruz is a delight as the competent parent/mentor. Gabby is sweet and energetic and Lenore adds her own special charm. The Vocati/fairy elements and the mom-as-sidekick subplot work nicely too. 

The character voices are mostly distinct, though Andy and Jane’s banter can blur at times. Overall the
stakes feel personal and immediate.

The central conflict is clear: a hunt to find and neutralize the Lieutenant. The plot progression is logical
and gives a sense of escalation. The family/dojo/fairy twist layers keep things interesting. 

Worldbuilding is a strong point: Vocati heritage, fairies with real power, and family-run vampire hunting. Settings are vivid: the watch party, the dojo, and the bookstore cafe all feel realistic.

The story smoothly blends snarky YA humor with tense action and a dash of horror. Some scenes 
incorporate both sit-com coziness and brutal monster fights. The overarching tone for YA urban fantasy is on target. Some transitions (end of watch party to outside fight) jump fast. Slowing them down a little could provide clarity as to who moves where and does what.

Favorite moments:

Jane's mom showing up with escrima sticks.

The dojo introduction and the kamiza shrine moment provides great atmosphere.

The reveal that there are other hunters (Susi & family) broadened the world in a satisfying way.

Connor’s jealousy occasionally read as possessive rather than protective or simply insecure. This risks 

sliding into toxic relationship dynamics.


The story’s conclusion is satisfying, although I did have a few lingering questions.


What are the limits of daylight/indoor vampire activity?

What is the Lieutenant’s background? 

Why target in daylight areas (theater, mall)?


In the end, I had a really good time and want to see where the Lieutenant subplot leads.

Teenage me would have been absolutely obsessed with this story.


 


 





The Adventures of Hairy Spinner Book Blitz #rabtbooktours


 


Children's Book

Date Published: 11-23-2024

Publisher: Bright Communications



Hairy Spinner lives in the canopy of the rainforest. He's different than his family as he craves adventure - more than just catching a large insect in his web. Suddenly, he is being whisked away on the back of a bat who hasn't earned her full pilot's wings. They set off on a harrowing adventure through the forest, meeting others along the way, while trying to return Hairy to his family.


About the Author

 

 Author Heidi Scarano resides in Berks County, PA. She is a avid lover of nature, science, and photography. She enjoys outings with her family and seeking new adventures via traveling, when she likes to experience local customs, cultures and foods.


Contact Links

Website

Instagram


Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble



RABT Book Tours & PR

Be Recognized Release Blitz #rabtbooktours




The AI Authority Engine for Experts Who Want to
Be Known, Be Profitable, and Be Published
 
Nonfiction, Business
Date Published: September 30, 2025
Publisher: Elite Online Publishing


Dominate your niche. Automate your growth. Become the authority.


In a world where AI is reshaping every industry at lightning speed, standing still is not an option. Be Recognized: The AI Authority Engine for Experts Who Want to Be Known, Be Profitable, and Be Published is the ultimate playbook for business owners, CEOs, consultants, and thought leaders ready to rise above the noise and lead with unstoppable momentum.


Authors Melanie Johnson and Jenn Foster, trailblazers in digital marketing and authority publishing, pull back the curtain on how high-level experts are using AI not just to survive, but to scale, sell, and succeed faster than ever before. This isn’t a book about future trends or theory. It’s a step-by-step execution plan to:


●     Position yourself as a Category King in your industry

●     Build an AI-powered content machine that never sleeps

●     Automate customer engagement, sales, and visibility

●     Turn a single book into a lead-generating empire

●     Launch high-ticket offers with authority and ease

●     Future-proof your brand with intelligent systems that scale


Whether you're just AI-curious or already experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, this book meets you where you are and takes you where you need to go. The strategies inside have already helped countless entrepreneurs go from overlooked to iconic.


If you're ready to stop dabbling and start dominating, Be Recognized is your blueprint to become the face of your field in the AI age.


The old game is over. It’s time to build your authority engine and own your future.



Excerpt

The Three Stages of AI Mastery

Throughout this book, we'll take you through what we call the Three Stages of AI Integration:

Stage 1: Automate - Where you use AI to do what you already do, just faster and more efficiently.

Stage 2: Augment - Where AI becomes your business partner, expanding what's possible and creating new revenue streams.

Stage 3: Amplify - Where you build AI-powered systems that scale your expertise and impact exponentially.

Most business owners get stuck in Stage 1, using AI like a fancy calculator. The entrepreneurs who will dominate the next decade are the ones who reach Stage 3, where AI becomes the engine that powers their entire business ecosystem.

About the Author

 

 Melanie Churella Johnson and Jenn Foster are the powerhouse duo behind Elite Online Publishing, a company that has published over 3,000 books, making all of its authors #1 bestsellers. Together, they bring decades of experience in media, digital marketing, and personal brand authority to entrepreneurs, CEOs, and thought leaders worldwide.

Melanie is a media mogul, a WSJ and USA Today bestselling author, a TEDx speaker, and a former TV station owner whose businesses have generated over $100 million in value. She began her career as a news anchor in Detroit after winning the title of Miss Michigan and later became a leader in luxury real estate and charitable fundraising, raising over $600,000 for various nonprofits.

Jenn is an award-winning web designer, international speaker, and digital marketing expert with a deep connection to entrepreneurial success. She is also a WSJ and USA Today bestselling author, as well as the founder of Biz Social Marketing Agency. Featured in the Dan Kennedy book Stand Apart, Jenn has helped hundreds of businesses rise to the top of search engines and dominate their niche.

Together, Melanie and Jenn co-host the Elite Expert Insider and Elite Publishing podcasts, where they interview industry disruptors and share tools for building brand authority. As single moms and trailblazing entrepreneurs, they know what it takes to build influence, create leverage, and turn expertise into an empire.

Contact Links
 

RABT Book Tours & PR

Giant Steps Release Blitz #rabtbooktours




Thriller

Date Published: September 29, 2025



One last mission…

One final stand...

The fate of freedom hangs in the balance…


Get ready for a heart-pounding ride through the dark underbelly of America in Patrick H. Moore’s latest Nick Crane thriller, Giant Steps.

As the third and final installment in Moore’s gripping Nick Crane versus The Principals trilogy, Giant Steps finds veteran LA PI Nick Crane locked in a life-or-death struggle with the ruthless Marguerite Ferguson and her cabal of aristocratic “super patriots.”

Nine years after he and his team liquidated Frank Constantine, a murderous military shrink and close personal friend of Marguerite Ferguson and The Principals, Nick Crane is hiding out on the edge of the Mojave Desert. He has been fighting for his life for a year now, barely escaping Marguerite’s vendetta at every turn. Now, he and FBI Special Agent Carrie North decide the time has come to turns the tables. They decide infiltrate to the very heart of Marguerite’s evil empire. Crane summons his crew of crackerjack operatives and together they devise a diabolically clever sting operation designed to bring Marguerite to her knees once and for all.

Set largely in current-day Southern California, Crane and his team of freedom fighters represent all common, decent Americans who truly believe in “liberty and justice for all.” Blessed with dry wit and unimpeachable courage, Crane and his crew embark on a relentless quest for truth in the face of corruption and betrayal, even as they fight for their life and freedom in a landscape where only the brave dare to challenge the powers striving to destroy America.

Packed with engaging characters, relentless action, and razor-sharp dialogue, Giant Steps is a scintillating sequel that builds on the momentum of its predecessors, Rogues & Patriots and 27 Days.

 

Are you ready to join the fight? Get your copy today and step into the shadows, face the danger, and take Giant Steps with Nick Crane.

 


Critical Acclaim for Giant Steps:

“In this third installment of the series, Nick Crane and his freedom fighters continue their battle against a group of so-called ‘super patriots’ known as The Principals. A story for our times, the book resonates in today’s political climate. Moore entertains with his clever prose, while giving us something to think about. A great addition to an excellent set of thrillers.” —Joel W. Barrows, bestselling author of the Deep Cover series

“L.A. PI Nick Crane is back, along with his partner, FBI Special Agent Carrie North, in Giant Steps, the final installment of their three-volume battle against the forces of evil, personified by the despicable Marguerite Ferguson and her lethal band of ‘super patriots’. Patrick H. Moore’s prose is electric, pulsing with rat-a-tat jack-hammer energy, that spits out words like bullets. Warning: hang on tight for the ride of your life!” —Charles Salzberg, Shamus Award nominated author of Canary in the Coal Mine and Second Story Man

“Giant Steps is the finale of Patrick H. Moore’s Nick-Crane-versus-The-Principals trilogy. Everything readers have anticipated about the dramatic final battle between Nick and Marguerite Ferguson—with long-suffering FBI SA Carrie North caught in the middle—comes to a thrilling head. Moore delivers, serving up a landscape where only Nick Crane dares challenge the powers intent on destroying America.” —Ken Funsten, CFA; Director, Sisters-in-Crime, L.A. and author of What’s Really Unforgettable

“Spilling over with investigative authority, in Giant Steps Patrick H. Moore weaves a modern PI thriller where freedom fighters and fake patriots wreak havoc across the dark landscape of a desolate yet familiar America. Moore writes with the addictive panache of Lee Child and Vince Flynn.” —John Nardizzi, Shamus award finalist and author of Telegraph Hill and The Burden of Innocence

 


The Full Nick Crane Thriller Series

 

27 Days

A Nick Crane Thriller, Book 1

 

Rogues & Patriots

A Nick Crane Thriller, Book 2

 

Giant Steps

A Nick Crane Thriller, Book 3

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTR1WLMS

 

 

About the Author

 

PATRICK H. MOORE writes thrillers and crime novels. He is a retired Los Angeles based investigator and sentencing mitigation specialist. Between 2003 and 2024, Patrick worked on over five hundred drug trafficking, sex crime, violent crime, and white-collar fraud cases.

Patrick studied English Literature and Creative Writing at San Francisco State University.

Patrick was one of the founders of All Things Crime Blog, which, in its heyday (2014 to 2017), was one of the most popular crime blogs in America.

In 2014, his first PI thriller, Cicero’s Dead, was indie published by US iNdIe Books. In February of 2023, Down & Out Books published Patrick's PI political thriller, 27 Days, and followed that up with the publication of Rogues and Patriots in April of 2024. Both Rogues & Patriots and 27 Days were finalists in the General Thriller category of the American Fiction Awards, and Rogues & Patriots was recently named a Judges' Top Pick in the Thriller category in this year's Killer Nashville Silver Falchion awards.

Down & Out will be publishing Giant Steps, the third book in the three-volume series in which LA PI Nick Crane fights The Principals, a violent cabal of right-wing extremists, in September of 2025. Down & Out also published Patrick's recent novella Setting the Record Straight.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook Author's Page

X --- PatrickHMoore1

Instagram --- patrickhmoore1

TikTok ---- @patrickhmoore

BookBuzz

 

Purchase Link

Amazon


RABT Book Tours & PR

Love, Camera, Action Release Blitz #rabtbooktours




Romantic Comedy
Date Published: 10-01-2025
Publisher: Literary Wanderlust


In the quaint Australian country town of Warbol, a faded B-grade actress, Faith Farmer, dares to dream again. With a heart full of passion and a pocketful of savings, she revives the local cinema, The Rex, and invites the community to fall in love with the Golden Age of Hollywood.


As the silver screen flickers to life, the townspeople find themselves swept up in a world of romance, drama, and laughter. Jock, a handsome country vet, finds the courage to leave his unhappy marriage and pursue his heart's desire. Charlotte, a former nun, discovers a new sense of purpose and love. And Faith, well, she finds a second chance at stardom–and love–in the unlikeliest of ways.


Join Faith and the lovable residents of Warbol as they laugh, cry, and fall in love. With its colorful cast of characters, charming small-town setting, and a healthy dose of old-school Hollywood glamor, this delightful romantic comedy will capture your heart and leave you smiling long after the credits roll.


About the Author



Before taking up fiction writing as a full-time career, Sarah worked as an actress, journalist, newspaper columnist, magazine editor and publicist. She headed her own Sydney PR company for fifteen years.
Love. Camera. Action is her third published novel. 


The Dilemma (Bloodhound Books UK, August 2022) garnered five-star reader reviews and reached #1 in WW1 fiction on Amazon USA and #2 in both British Historical Fiction and Historical Mystery on Amazon UK. It was shortlisted for the Grindstone International Novel Prize.


Her debut novel, A Voice In The Night – a twisty psychological thriller – set in New York, London and Sydney was published in July 2021 (Transit Lounge). It has been optioned for film.
She was nominated by Books+Publising in 2021 as one of Australia’s most promising new authors.

Contact Links

Purchase Links


RABT Book Tours & PR

Spellbound Preorder Blitz #rabtbooktours

 


LGBTQ Romance, Vampires

Date Published: October 3, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press



A ritual decades ago leads Beau to the one person he never expected to meet: his fated mate.

Detective Beau Kirkland has to work directly with the local vampire house to find a murderer, but that’s the easy part. The difficult part? His attraction to Garrett Dawson’s, one of House Saridan’s top hunters.

Garrett Dawson’s methods are brutal but very effective, even for a vampire. When a mortal detective begins working with House Saridan, Garrett finds himself unable to ignore the attraction between them. 

The following excerpt contains material suitable only for readers 18+. 

 


EXCERPT

Garrett

There were few things I truly loved in this world, and one was currently in my hand as I took the elevator up to the fifteenth floor of Saridan Tower. No one else shared my addiction to the most amazingly sweet coffee concoction currently sending copious amounts of caffeine through my system. I stepped off the elevator on the top floor and headed down the hall to the usual conference room. I didn’t get any farther than the doorway, though. I simply froze, body alternating between hot and cold.

Normally, these meetings were just the three of us lead Venari and Deacon.

Not today, apparently.

Beau Kirkland looked up at me, eyes wide for a moment. No one said a word -- not even Deacon. Somehow, I got my feet to move and sat opposite the omega cop. It took more effort than I really had this morning to focus on work and not the stupidly hot human across from me.

I didn’t go for twinks like the others. I liked my men older, more experienced. Beau fit that requirement with ease. His short brown hair bore a little bit of gray here and there, and his dark chocolate-colored eyes studied me whenever I glanced at his face. He was a few inches shorter than my own six-three, and unlike most omegas, he was a bit muscular due to his job. Dressed in his dark navy uniform, he presented the most fucking delectable package on the planet. I cursed silently and tore my gaze from his when all blood began rushing south.

Deacon cleared his throat and looked at each of us. “I’m sure you all know one another, but for protocol’s sake, I’d like to introduce Officer Beau Kirkland. He’s our liaison within the police department. He’s also the one handling this latest case on their end. Officer Kirkland, these are my head Venari: Nikolai Hart, Victor Pace, and Garrett Dawson.”

Beau nodded. “Good morning, gentlemen.”

We exchanged the usual pleasantries before Deacon continued. “I’m stepping back for now,” he said, glancing at me briefly, “but I’m here if needed. To that end, the table’s yours, Officer Kirkland.”

“Thank you,” Beau said. He handed each of us several folders. “Eight victims so far, all completely drained. Eyewitnesses have seen the perp in passing, but no one can agree on a description.”

“Could be a Lupyn,” Vic said as he flipped through the contents of one of the folders.

“That was my assumption, but you all know far better than we do if that’s the case.”

I went through the first folder in front of me. Crime scene photos, pics of the victims post-mortem, notes, and statements. I scanned over everything and couldn’t disagree with the shapeshifter idea. It would make sense.

“What do you need from us?” Nik asked Beau. “We’re more than happy to work with you and your folks.”

I’m not sure I would’ve gone that far, but we did need to get this monster off the streets. I might not have been particularly nuts about humans, but that didn’t mean I wished them dead. My methods were saved for my own kind.

Beau passed out papers to us. “These are the last few places he was sighted. He’s a vampire, so we humans are outgunned here. We can help corner him, but capture is a different story altogether.”

Nik nodded. “Agreed. Well, we’re here and ready to go hunting.”

I didn’t miss the slight grimace on Beau’s face before he managed to school it into something more neutral. Apparently, neither did Deacon, but the man just remained silent.

“Thank you,” Beau said. “Please keep me updated on everything. In the meantime, I’ll be at the station downtown, trying to narrow our possible location leads.”

“Thank you for coming to us,” Deacon said. “I guarantee we will be in touch. These guys are my best hunters, and I have no doubt they’ll find this son of a bitch.”

Despite the situation, Beau smiled. “Thank you very much.”

The others left the room, though Beau shot me a cryptic look before stepping out the door. I stayed seated, knowing Deacon had something to say. Sure enough, as soon as we were alone, he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

“Is this going to be an issue?”

I could’ve played dumb, but he already knew everything. There wasn’t any point. “No. I’m fully capable of working with him.”

Deacon raised one eyebrow. “Really? Because pheromones say otherwise.”

I managed to avoid scowling at him. Lupyns were more sensitive to things like that than Venari. “Unlike Nik, I’m perfectly capable of keeping my dick in my pants, Deacon.”

He didn’t say anything for a few seconds. He was far older than us, and being under his scrutiny made even me feel like a scolded kid sometimes. “Don’t let it get the best of you, Garrett. His job involves danger, and you can’t protect him from that unless you’re mated and bonded completely.”

“Who said I was --” I snapped my mouth shut at his glare.

“I’m old, not an idiot.” Deacon leaned forward and put his arms on the table. “Either fight this until the perp is in custody or fucking claim Beau. I can’t have you out there distracted. Understood?”

“Yes,” I replied, biting back a growl.

“Good. Dismissed.”

I stood abruptly, grabbed the folders and paper, and left the conference room. I made it halfway down the hall before Nik and Vic both cornered me. Fuck.

“That didn’t go well, did it?” Vic asked.

“No,” I snarled.

I continued walking, and they followed me to the elevator. I stabbed the DOWN button and had to unclench my fist before I gave into the urge to hit something. In the door’s reflection, I saw Nik and Vic exchange cautious glances.

We all stepped into the elevator and took it to the lobby. Without another word said, it was a given where we’d wind up. Colby’s was the city’s best diner with the most amazing coffee blends. Maybe the combination of carbs, sugar, and caffeine would calm me down because just the thought of claiming Beau sure as fuck wasn’t doing it.

Quite the opposite, actually.

I was hard as a fucking rock.

 


About the Author

Mychael Black has been writing professionally since 2005. He writes gay romance and erotica, but also het romance as Carys Seraphine and queer fantasy as Katherine Cook.

He's an avid PC gamer with a love for RPGs, a horror fanatic, and a fantasy nut. He also has a weakness for anything relating to skulls, dogs, and Spongebob Squarepants.

Mychael lives on the Eastern Shore of the US with his family. He loves to hear from readers, be it via email or Facebook.



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

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

 

Pre-Order Today


RABT Book Tours & PR

Taken By the Sorcerer Teaser #rabtbooktours

 


Paranormal Women’s Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Date Published: October 3, 2025

Publisher: Changeling Press



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 moment 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?




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.


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