As if on cue, Alex blinked and stared up at Alejandro through emerald green eyes. They flickered with multiple shades as he yawned, stretching his entire body and purring at the same time.
Alejandro let out a choked gasp as he stared at Deryn. “He sounds like me. His eyes. His hair is black.”
She snorted. “Honey, I don’t need you rubbing it in that our son looks exactly like you and nothing like me. I already know. Naming him Alejandro Vargas after his father was very fitting.”
Unable to help himself, Alejandro pulled on the back of Deryn’s head, bringing her closer to him. He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Eu te amo.”
A burning on his upper arms started. Alejandro hissed and stepped back, still holding Alex close to him. He glanced down at his arms and stood in shock as he watched Avatarian symbols appear in the form of bands, just below his tee shirt sleeves. They wrapped all the way around his upper arms.
Deryn’s brow furrowed as he looked at them. Suddenly, she let out a cry and covered her mouth. “Amador, look.”
His grandfather approached, staring at his arms. He smiled wide. “Ah, it would appear that Alex knows exactly who his father is and that you would come. He has branded you as you once did his mother. You are his father. A warrior of the night and son of the gods. Now, hand him to Ellery so he can do what he did with you and your brothers when you were little--keep you safe while we fight the bad guys.”
Alejandro gave Amador a puzzled look. “Wait? That thing used to protect me?”
“Used to?” Deryn snorted. “Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t he pegging you in the head with fruit to let you know danger was coming while you were an adult, too?”
Ellery smiled. “Sorry about that.”
“No you’re not.”
“You are right. I’m not.”
“Guys, fight later. Protect my son now.” Deryn took Alex from Alejandro and handed him to Ellery.
Alejandro took a deep breath in and leveled his gaze on Ellery. “Is it possible for you to take Deryn, too?”
“Yes but she never goes.”
“Deryn, for me, just this once, will you please go to safety? I will be here when you get back. I promise you.”
She winked. “Just this once, Colonel. And if you dare dream of leaving me again, I will hunt you down. Your son has tagged you now. Good luck getting away. I love you. Be careful.”
The End
About the Author, Michelle M. Pillow
Michelle M. Pillow, Author of All Things Romance™, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. Ever since she can remember, Michelle has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural and sci-fi. After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.
Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether it’s a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She’s addicted to movies and used to drive her mother crazy while quoting random scenes with her brother. Though it has yet to happen, her dream is to be in a horror movie as 1. A zombie or 2. The expendable screaming chick who gets it in the beginning credits. But for the most part she can be found writing in her office with a cup of coffee in pajama pants.
She has been on the Amazon bestseller list multiple times, nominated for the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award 2011, the winner of the 2006 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, nominated for the 2007 RT Award, a Brava Novella Contest Finalist and a PAN member of RWA.
Michelle has titles published with The Raven Books, Pocket Books, Random House, Virgin Books, Adam’s Media, Samhain Publishing, Running Press, and more.
She loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her website www.michellepillow.com
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Michelle M. Pillow, Online
Michelle loves hearing from readers and can be found interacting on social media.
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About the Author, Mandy M. Roth
Mandy M. Roth grew up fascinated by creatures that go bump in the night. From the very beginning, she showed signs of creativity—writing, painting, telling scary stories that left her little brother afraid to come out from under his bed. Combining her creativity with her passion for the paranormal has left her banging on the keyboard into the wee hours of the night.
She’s a self-proclaimed Goonie, loves 80s music and movies and wishes leg warmers would come back into fashion. She also thinks the movie The Breakfast Club should be mandatory viewing for...okay, everyone. When she’s not dancing around her office to the sounds of the 80s or writing books, she can be found designing book covers for New York publishers, small presses, and indie authors.
Mandy writes for The Raven Books, Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Harlequin Spice, Pocket Books and Random House/Virgin/Black Lace. Mandy also writes under the pen names Reagan Hawk, Mandy Balde, Rory Michaels and Kennedy Kovit.
To learn more about Mandy, please visit http://www.mandyroth.com or send an email to [email protected].
For latest news about Mandy’s newest releases subscribe to her newsletter
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Mandy M. Roth, Online
Mandy loves hearing from readers and can be found interacting on social media.
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About the Author, Jaycee Clark
Jaycee writes romantic suspense whether it’s in a contemporary setting, a historical setting or a paranormal one. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her family, enjoys snow skiing and just getting outside. You can visit her website at http://www.jayceeclark.com.
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Jaycee Clark, Online
Jaycee loves hearing from readers.
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The Playful Prince (Lords of the Var 2) by Michelle M. Pillow
Futuristic Catshifter Romance
To play…
Prince Quinn, royal Ambassador, isn’t looking for a serious relationship. In fact, he’s never even considered it. Hopping from lover to lover, he’s content to enjoy himself, never taking anything but his work seriously. However, when Dr. Tori Elliot is sent to the palace to test for biological weapons, he can’t seem to stay away from her.
Or not to play…
Tori Elliot has just finished her last assignment and is on her way to a much needed vacation. But when the Human Intelligence Agency stops her ship and demands she heads up a team on some remote planet, she knows it in her best interest not to refuse. Ever serious, she knows she’s there to do a job and no matter what, she’s going to act like a professional.
Meeting Prince Quinn, his body pressed against another
woman in the palace halls, she knows he’s not the man for her. Too bad he’s the Ambassador and too sexy for his own good. Fighting her desire, Tori must try to do her job while not succumbing to the playful Var prince.
The Playful Prince Excerpt
His sudden movement caught her attention and she realized he stepped toward her. He lifted his hand, as if to touch her. Tori flinched and took a step back.
“Sir,” Tori stammered. “I mean, my ... ah?”
“Quinn,” he supplied with a rakish smile.
“Yes, my Quinn... wait, no.” She took another step back as he moved aggressively forward. The look on his face made her heart flutter in excitement.
“Your Quinn?” he mused in a low tone that sent chills over her spine. “You wish for me to be your Quinn?”
“Stop!” she demanded holding out her hand. He paused in his quest to get to her and grinned, waiting. Tori swallowed, nervous and distracted. “Prince Quinn. I am Dr. Elliot with ESC ... well, actually the HIA, well, not really, technically with HIA or ESC except—”
Was she babbling? Tori was pretty sure it sounded like she was babbling. Scientists didn’t babble. It wasn’t appropriate. Her scowl deepened. Oh, why was he continuing to look at her like that?
“Well, Dr. Elliot not technically with the HIA or ESC,” Quinn said, lowering his jaw as he leaned forward. “I’m H O R N Y and you’re extremely pretty.”
“H O...? Oh! Really!” Tori gasped, dismayed. She shook her head in disapproval.
“What? You’re really so surprised? Can you really blame me, Dr. Elliot? You were staring quite intently at—” Quinn began to motion down, acting as of their conversation was an everyday topic.
Tori held up her hand and shook her head frantically to stop him. Taking a deep breath, she centered her thoughts and made a silent promise to never drink the night before a big assignment again. Surely that is why her heart was pounding so hard and why her limbs were shaking. Swallowing, she forced her voice to rigid calmness. “Is there someone I could talk to about gaining permission to search the cave systems that the biological weapons were discovered in? The HIA has requested that I clear the cave and surrounding area of any and all contamination threats.”
Someone other than you, she thought, not caring if he saw her distaste for his lewdness.
Quinn’s smile faded and to her surprise, he turned serious. “You think something else is up there?”
“I’m honestly not sure. The recovered weapon appears to be intact and contains enough chemical to wipe out at least five planets. From that bit of information, I would assume there was only the one, unless the caves were being used as a storage unit of some kind, which, given the political climate of your Kingdom, doesn’t seem to be the assumption. From what I understand, your father was fighting a war with...”
Tori stopped, realizing that she might be speaking too candidly. That’s why she hated being in political situations. Facts were facts and she was use to stating them, regardless of their popularity. In her job facts were all that mattered. In politics, a person was supposed to say things diplomatically, twisting the words into just the right phrase. It was a skill she lacked. She looked up at the Prince. His face hadn’t changed. She swallowed nervously. He motioned his hand slightly for her to continue, not looking at all offended by her words.
Weakly, Tori said, “My checking would simply be a wise safety precaution for everyone concerned, especially your people. It won’t cost you a thing, if that’s your concern. HIA is taking care of my and the other scientists’ salary.”
Quinn nodded, a motion she hoped was agreement.
“My team has nearly gotten through with the palace inhabitants and so far everyone has tested negative. I believe they’re about finished.” Tori looked at her clipboard and pretended to scan through the data. This man unnerved her. She couldn’t concentrate on what she was saying to him. Was she repeating herself? Was he even listening? Did she tell him yet that they were about done testing the palace inhabitants? She thought it, but did she say it? Damn, he had the most brilliant blue eyes she’d ever seen in her life. Delicately clearing her throat, she said, “But, we’d still like to do a thorough scan of the caves. There is no point in us leaving anything behind.”
Quinn seemed to contemplate her words. Tori lowered her voice and stepped closer. He didn’t move, except for those blue eyes. They followed her, keeping fixed on her face.
Getting excited, Tori forgot her nervousness as she admitted in a secretive whisper, “There was also something else. I took the liberty of analyzing the strange dark mud on the biological weapon’s crate. I believe it’s from your marshes, because I found some fresh moss that leads me to believe it wasn’t already on the crate when it was brought here. Anyway, there was an extremely high level of what appears to be DTH12 compound, which I’m sure isn’t indigenous to this particular planet, being as your swamp soil is classified as GR13H and not TDH14. What doesn’t make sense is that DTH12 is primarily found in the slime trail of northeastern yellow slugs on the planet of Fluk in the H ... what? Are you laughing at me?”
Quinn was indeed chuckling. Shaking his head, he said, “Woman, I have no idea what you just said.”
Tori frowned. She should have known. Sarcastically, she drawled, “Your mud is neat and I’d like to look at it.”
Okay, maybe that was a tad too condescending. Quinn grimaced but didn’t appear overly offended. Lucky for her, because he might just be the man she had to impress.
For a complete, up-to-date booklist, visit www.MichellePillow.com
Act of Mercy by Mandy M. Roth
Bestselling Paranormal Shifter Romance Series
Paranormal Security and Intelligence Operative Duke Marlow has a new mission: find, interrogate and possibly eliminate the target—Mercy Deluca. He knows looks can be deceiving, but it's hard to believe the beautifully quirky woman running around in a superhero t-shirt is a viable threat. The sexy little biomedical engineer quickly proves she is more than he bargained for and Intel has it all wrong—she’s not the enemy. Far from it. Intel also forgot to mention one vital piece of information—she’s Duke’s mate. This immortal alpha werewolf doesn’t take kindly to her being in danger.
When Mercy accepted a position within Donavon Dynamics Corporation, she thought it was to help cure disease and to make a difference for mankind. She had no idea what her new career path truly entailed—monsters masquerading under the guise of scientific research. Unable to stomach the atrocities she’s uncovered, she reaches out through what she hopes is the proper channels, asking for help. Mercy gets more than she bargained for when a team of paranormal hotties show up on her doorstep ready to take down the Corporation. One in particular is able to get under her skin, both aggravating and exciting her in ways she can’t explain.
Excerpt from Act of Mercy (PSI/Immortal Ops)
Duke didn’t need telling again. He stormed over to Mercy’s door and knocked with far more force than he’d intended, surprising even himself as the door flew inwards, crashing loudly. His adrenaline was on overdrive. He rushed in, expecting a screaming and frantic woman. He found none. The main living area was empty.
Shit.
“Dr. Deluca!” he shouted.
No response. He sniffed the air, catching a familiar scent instantly. It was the same one he’d smelled at the café. The scent that left him in a claiming mindset. The wolf in him woke, clawing to surface. It wanted out. It wanted to do something drastic.
Claim its mate.
Mine.
Duke had to stop to steady himself, the thought of potentially having a mate nearly taking him to his knees.
Get your shit together. Bad guys are coming and you’re thinking about marriage.
His body ignored his command. It knew that scent. The wolf confirmed what he suspected. She’d been in the café.
She’s yours.
It felt as if he were climbing through a haze of emotions. His cock picked then to act a fool, hardening, wan
ting what he smelled. He wanted to find her and fuck her senseless.
Down boy. We need to get her to safety.
His cock ignored him.
Figured.
Duke followed the scent and tapped much, much lighter this time on the bedroom door. Again, no response. He knew she was in there. He could smell her. Maybe she was afraid. After all, he did just throw her front door into her kitchen area.
He turned the handle and opened the door slightly. “Dr. Deluca?”
Duke couldn’t move. His entire body acted as if he’d been hit by something that froze him in place. There before him was the tiny doctor, dancing, of all things. She was shaking her backside as she packed mismatched clothing into a small bag. She sang a song about a string of some sort. He’d never heard it before but damn if it wasn’t adorable coming out of her.
Adorable?
What the fuck?
She didn’t seem to notice him there at all and she’d clearly not heard him break her door down.
How the hell could she miss that?
Shifter Fated Mates: Boxed Set Page 82