But in front of me are my men. All three of them. Just standing there and looking at me with open arms.
“We love you,” says Niall. “We all fucking love you.”
“It’s not a spell, it’s real,” adds Kaden. “I should know, I’m the warlock.”
Jerome takes a step forward. “Come home with us. Make a life with us.”
“The man who’s never been in love,” says Niall.
“The man who never had time for it,” says Kaden.
“And the woman who needs the love of all three in order to keep up with her. To fulfill her. To fill her,” says Jerome.
I shake my head.
“Why not try?” asks Niall. “We’re willing to.”
I cross my arms and the door to Miss Cheryl’s office opens. Maggie steps out.
“Syd!” She throws her arms around me from behind. “You’re going to stay, aren’t you?”
“Maggie, I fucked up. I don’t deserve your friendship or their love.” I motion toward the entourage.
“Oh but you do,” she whispers in my ear, loosening her grasp.
I spin around to face her. “What about you? What about Jerome?”
She shakes her head. “We weren’t happy, Syd, not the kind of happiness that we both deserve to have. Something between us broke a long time ago and I was hiding from it. I didn’t want my mother to say I told you so. But all I’ve ever wanted was for him to be happy. And I know he’s happy with you.” She shrugs. “Weird, I know, but I’ve always been a little unconventional too. Maybe after I help you find another job, you can help me find another man.”
My nose twitches and I blink over and over, willing myself not to burst into tears. Maggie throws her arms around me again and the men crowd in behind, adding their arms to the mix.
I struggle free. “Okay, everyone, enough with the lovefest.”
“Call me when you get back home.” Maggie kisses my cheek, nods to the men and leaves.
“Will you give us a chance?” asks Kaden. He takes one of my hands and Jerome takes the other. Niall stares at me, his smoldering eyes appearing two shades darker.
What the hell. “If I say no, none of you will ever leave me the fuck alone, right?”
A smile breaks out on their lips and they crash in on me like a tsunami. Kaden puts a hand under one of my arms and Jerome puts a hand under the other. Niall bends down and grabs my ankles. The three of them hoist me up in the air and carry me, giggling, out of Ichor together.
The End
Learn more about Distant Edge and the other inhabitants here – www.ChloeAdler.com
There are several completed series. The Vectum Chronicles will continue in 2019.
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About the Author
Chloe Adler is a Californian through and through. She spends an inordinate amount of time researching healthy snacks but rarely eats them. Chloe likes to face her fears head-on. She’s terrified of heights so she spends time at the circus swinging from a high trapeze. She’s afraid of flying so she travels around the country as often as possible. She’s terrified of worms so she got a composting worm bin where she gets to dig and in and personally handle the slippery slugs. When she’s not facing her fears, she’s writing and creating fears for her characters to face. She fell in love with books at an early age when her family encouraged her and the rest of her siblings to read library books every night by tossing the TV out of a second story window. The neighbors complained but the family simply took to the pages. If you want a peek into crazy, pick up one of her books and let them blow your mind.
Read More From Chloe Adler
www.ChloeAdler.com
On The Edge Of Forever
Fangers, Furries, and Fruit Flies Prequel
AJ ANDERS & Amanda Perry
On The Edge Of Forever
Fangers, Furries, and Fruit Flies Prequel
Fangers, Furries, and Fruit Flies, Oh My!
The world has been segregated for years. Supernatural beings and humans don't mix. With an uneasy truce in place, both sides have allowed their fear of the unknown to morph into an uncompromising hatred for all those who are different. Each species police their own, and territorial boundaries are never crossed. Now, for the first time in history, the three ruling houses of the most powerful supernatural nations have become united.
When the possibility of one ruling Council becomes a reality, a new prophecy comes to light. In order for the Council to succeed, humans must have representation in the council.
Reid Matthews, the Alpha of the North American shifter territory and his new chosen brothers, Elijah Thornhill and Noah LeRoi, aren’t willing to tempt fate by ignoring the prophecy. They issue an invitation for humans to join the council.
College student, Remy Stevens, has lived her whole life in one town. Now, thanks to her father’s new job, Remy Stevens is about become one of the first humans to cross the boundary in over one hundred and fifty years. Forced to make the journey with her family, what happens when she’s thrown into life on supernatural territory? Will her short temper and unrelenting wit be her downfall? Or will secret prophecies, both old and new, shape a new path for her?
Find out where it all started in this prequel with Remy, Reid, Elijah, and Noah.
Prologue
One hundred and forty-nine years ago, supernaturals grew tired of hiding in the shadows and emerged from the dark, demanding equal rights. The revelation they were not alone tore the human world apart overnight. Hysteria and mass panic broke out. Neighbor no longer trusted neighbor, friends turned to enemies. The resulting war almost decimated the world; humans on one side, supernaturals on the other. While the supernatural communities controlled incomparable magic, humans had the numbers. Five hundred to one. For ten years, the two sides battled, one never claiming victory over the other.
With the dead lying in mass graves, families forever devastated, and cities still burning, it became apparent neither side would win. Both sides came together, negotiating a ceasefire and the human-supernatural coalition was born from the flames of the dying pyres.
Working in co-op, the coalition divided each continent into new regions, areas segregated by species. In North America, the south and northeast remained in control of the human population. The northwest became home to the Vampire and Fae populous. The middle states from North Dakota down through Texas became Lycanthropes or Shifter territory.
These new regions were independent. Two laws reigned supreme in the world: those that pertained to humans and those that pertained to all supernatural species.
While crossing borders wasn’t strictly forbidden by either law, it was highly frowned upon unless a direct invitation was issued. Crossing borders without consent from the residents could easily lead to death.
1
Remy
The sun shone brightly over the approaching horizon. The glare bounced off a sheen of dust that accumulated during the long ride, the small microscopic pebbles glistening like diamonds. Remy pushed the sunglasses up higher on her face, trying to keep the light from blinding her. Being late afternoon, the temperature outside remained a constant ninety-eight degrees. The air conditioning worked overtime, trying to cool the dry desert heat as it wafted through her overtaxed vents. Remy squinted further against the brightness, trying to make out the details of the SUV far ahead of her, hoping it was her dad’s car.
The life she knew disappeared slowly behind her, one agonizing mile at a time. Her dreams and aspirations, gone, her whole life uprooted all thanks to her dad’s new job. A junior in college, one moment she’d been enjoying the last few days of the semester with all her friends, every adventure being committed to memory. The next, her father came home with the news of his new position. Her last week of school was spent helping
her family pack up the house while her friends partied each night.
Maybe destiny wanted her to find her best friend and boyfriend in bed together. Maybe the fickle bitch wanted to uproot Remy’s life, causing turmoil just as Remy was getting a solid foundation under her feet. With the news of the impending move breathing in her ears, she begged to be left behind, wanting nothing more than to pursue her own path. She was twenty-one, legally an adult for over three years. But the news about her dad’s position spread. Society labeled him a traitor against humanity, and the whole family suffered for his decision. Without provocation, the University revoked her scholarship.
Of course, Remy and her father protested the decision, demanding a hearing. When the dean of the school mockingly referred to her dad as a furry lover, Remy lost it. Her arm swung out, nailing the nasty man right in the lower jaw. Caught off guard, the obnoxious jerk tripped over the leg of a nearby chair as the force of Remy’s punch propelled him back a step.
The stupid shit ended up with a broken arm as well as a sore jaw. Remy’s father had grabbed her up before her carefully orchestrated kick could connect with the dean’s private parts. Kicking and screaming, her father hauled her out of the university office, laughing joyously at his baby girl’s actions.
In her tight knit family, Remy’s temper was legendary. Her sweet demeanor often mistaken for submissive or demure, people were quite shocked when her true colors came to light. Granted, Remy was shy and quiet for the most part but mess with anyone she loved or piss her off, she lit off like a rocket, always swinging first, damning the consequences.
Shockingly, after the altercation, her father’s new bosses had pulled strings to ensure charges weren’t brought against Remy. This spoke volumes of the desperation his new employers faced, needing her dad’s services. When Remy once again balked at moving, a new opportunity was presented; another full ride scholarship. The school coincidentally, happened to be located in the same town her family planned on moving to and Remy would have to move with them to take advantage of it. Like a debutante with a diamond dangled in front of her, Remy relented.
Two weeks later, she drove behind her family’s SUV in her beat up old truck with her music blaring out of the speakers, her small backpack of favored personal items next to her.
Remy groaned. She needed to make a pit stop. If she didn’t, the seats were in jeopardy of getting wet. Her dad’s relentless need to get them to their destination had them only stopping when absolutely necessary. Knowing she couldn’t hold out much longer, she reached for the cell phone lying in the center console. Keeping an eye on the road in front of her, she used her thumb to press the home button. When Siri dinged at her, she responded tightly, “Call Dickhead.”
An eternity went by before the ringing stopped and an annoyed voice yelled, “What?”
Remy ignored the snark. “Tell Dad I need to stop.”
“Holy crap. You just went an hour ago. What the hell? You on your period or something?” Her sixteen-year-old brother, Todd, had no filter. And apparently, couldn’t tell time either.
“It was three hours ago, you dipshit. Tell Dad I need to stop. Otherwise, I’m stopping on my own and I’ll catch up with you.” Remy jiggled around in her seat, trying to relieve some of the pressure on her bladder.
Her brother’s loud complaining came through the phone but her father’s response was muffled.
“Dad said we’re almost at the border crossing. Once we pass into furry territory, he says there’s a rest stop.”
“You shouldn’t call them that. It’s derogatory,” Remy lectured for the hundredth time.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s what you say all the time. Give it a rest, why don’t cha?”
Remy gritted her teeth, biting back her retort. She waited until she reined in her temper before responding. “Fine, but if you open your mouth and one of them takes offense, don’t expect me to bail your dumb ass out.”
Her little brother’s attitude annoyed her but he was only repeating words he’d heard before. Most humans held the same prejudices. Lycanthropes would forever be known as furries, Vampires as fangers, and Fae as fruit flies.
Remy hung up the phone and said a silent prayer that her bladder would hold out.
Thirty minutes later, they finally crossed the border. Remy followed her dad’s car into the parking lot of a small convenience store just a half mile in from the border. Without waiting for anyone else, Remy leapt from her car and rushed into the building, cursing every god she could think of when she discovered the unisex bathroom locked. Her eyes drifted up to the hanging sign reading, “Patrons must obtain the key from the attendant at the counter. – Management.”
Stomping her way back to the front of the store, Remy gave the cashier her best glare. “I need the bathroom key, now.” She squirmed in place for a moment before adding, “please.”
The older man behind the counter widened his eyes even as he reached under the counter and pulled out the requested item. Remy faltered at the sight of the key ring attached to the little silver piece of metal. “Are you freakin’ kidding me? You tied the key to a full sized stuffed animal. Who does that crap?”
The man simply shrugged and held the giant bear with a tiny silver key around his neck over to Remy.
She didn’t waste any more time. She ran for the restroom and unlocked the door. After her urgent need was tended to, she exited the spotless restroom, only to find her dad on the other side of the door waiting for her. Her brother, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found. Probably too busy raiding the snack aisle.
“My turn.” Her dad waited for her to step to the side before going into the bathroom.
Not wanting to stand around in the hallway by herself, she went in search of the drink coolers. Passing through the aisles, she made eye contact with another customer moving towards her. Somewhere in his early thirties, the man’s behemoth height would make most leery. Remy’s head barely came to his chest. She realized she stood staring when the man shot a cheeky grin her way. A second later, that grin faltered when someone ran into his side, forcing him to take a step back.
“Watch where you're going, Furby!”
Remy cringed, recognizing her brother’s voice. She rushed around the man to scold Todd, but she was too late. The man growled down at her brother and fear raced up Remy’s spine. “If you want to keep that tongue of yours in your little human head, you’d better watch what the fuck you say to us shifters. You’re on our territory now, little boy. You play by our rules or you get hurt.”
Remy watched as Todd took multiple steps away from the scary shifter, though he still tried to hold onto his bravado. Stupidly, he lifted his chin with a small bit of defiance. “Whatever.”
Ready to step in and save the asshat’s life, Remy stopped short when the shifter glanced at Remy over Todd’s head, sending her a subtle wink.
“Why don’t we take this conversation outside?” The shifters voice lowered in volume, the threatening tone amplified.
Todd turned tail and scampered off, wide eyed and in way over his head. As soon as he was out of sight, the shifter turned his attention back to her. “You might want to keep an eye on him. If he’d said that shit to someone less understanding, he’d have lost a limb.”
“He’s just a stupid teenager,” Remy shrugged. “Reasoning with him is like trying to have a conversation with a brick wall.”
“Young shifters run hot,” the man explained seriously. “Most wouldn’t just scare the kid. They would’ve attacked in the heat of the moment. If I were you, I’d keep him on a tight leash. Otherwise, someone might use him as a chew toy.” The shifter moved passed Remy, turning on his heel as he left so that he walked backwards while continuing to smile at her. “Nice bear, by the way.”
Remy glanced down at her hand, suddenly remembering the stupid stuffed bear she held. She groaned and rolled her eyes. Of course, she’d been seen carrying around a stuffed bear in shifter territory. Her whole family was making such a great first
impression.
2
Remy
The pack house loomed at the end of a long gravel driveway off the main road on the outskirts of the town of Cedarsmill. Located in the heart of what used to be known as Texas, Remy expected the landscape to be more dry and dusty. Instead, she gawked at the lush greenery adjacent to the entire area. Deep wooded forests and blue-green grass gave her the feeling of peaceful isolation. In reality, hundreds of houses and cabins neighbored the large community building. Scattered in small developments and standalone homesteads, those buildings housed all who worked for the Alpha or those who held businesses in Cedarsmill.
Next to the pack house was a parking lot that allowed residents to park their vehicles. From that point on, vehicles were prohibited. Occupants had two choices: either walk to their homes or use an ATV. Remy pulled into an empty spot next to her father’s much larger and newer SUV. She had christened her truck Samson, in honor of her grandfather Samson Stevens. He’d gifted it to her on her sixteenth birthday, days before he passed away peacefully in the night.
Turning off Samson’s engine, Remy stepped outside, leaving the cool confines of the cab with wistful regret. The dry summer air felt oppressive, heavy and uncomfortable. Sweat immediately pebbled along her forehead. Being the beginning of summer, Remy imagined it would only get more miserable in July and August, the hottest months of the year.
“Leave everything here for now. We need to check in with the Alpha and then we can figure out the best way to get our boxes to the cabin. The Alpha mentioned something about an ATV coming with the cabin.” Her dad stepped out of the SUV, stretching his muscles as he spoke.
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