I slide my arms under her small frame and easily lift her from the snow. Her dead weight settles against my chest, and a gust of wind batters us with a blast of icy flakes.
Memories come with it…swirling in my head the way the snow does around us.
Another body in my arms.
A hopeless struggle to survive.
The look of death staring back at me.
Clenching my jaw, I shake away the visions and concentrate on the moment. I need to get her warmed up and settled in at the cabin and get back out here for the firewood before it’s too bad out here for me to come to get it. While I’m used to the unpleasant weather here, it doesn’t mean I want to get stuck outside during shit like this.
And while all I may want is to disappear out here and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist, it seems fate has other plans. There’s no one else to help her.
The very real weight of the situation rests heavily on my shoulders, and I glance down at the limp body in my arms.
Christ.
It’s been so long since I’ve seen a woman, I almost forgot how beautiful they are. Soft, pale skin, perfect bow lips, thick, dark lashes spread across her wind-reddened, high cheekbones. It almost makes me miss being part of the world.
Almost.
But the slightly blue tint to her lips and a big shake of my head bring me back to reality.
Get out of your fucking head and get moving, asshole.
The snow isn’t going to let up anytime soon, and it will only get worse the longer I stand here staring at this poor woman like a fucking idiot. That’s what happens when someone lives alone for as long as I have—I get lost in my own head too long with no way out.
I set out through the growing drifts toward the cabin, fighting the brutal wind and biting snow with each step. By the time it comes into view on the other side of the clearing, it’s practically a white-out. There’s no way she would have survived or been able to find the cabin if she hadn’t stumbled upon me.
It may already be too late.
All I can do now is try to warm her up and hope the sheriff can get up the mountain to bring her to the clinic in town for real treatment before we’re completely snowed in.
Gwyn McNamee is an attorney, writer, wife, and mother (to one human baby and two fur babies). Originally from the Midwest, Gwyn relocated to her husband’s home town of Las Vegas in 2015 and is enjoying her respite from the cold and snow. Gwyn has been writing down her crazy stories and ideas for years and finally decided to share them with the world. She loves to write stories with a bit of suspense and action mingled with romance and heat.
When she isn’t either writing or voraciously devouring any books she can get her hands on, Gwyn is busy adding to her tattoo collection, golfing, and stirring up trouble with her perfect mix of sweetness and sarcasm (usually while wearing heels).
Gwyn is the author of The Hawke Family series, The Slip Series, The Deadliest Sin Series, The Inland Seas Series, The Supernatural Love Stories in the Absurd (written as her alter-ego, DP Payne), and several stand-alone novels.
Title: Bonds of Discord Author: Alexa H. Michaels Genre: Fantasy Romance
This story is a fairy tale in the original sense–there is no “happily ever after” for me. Marella: As the daughter of the alpha, I’ve been taught to put the needs of the pack before my own. Yet, my father does the unthinkable and betroths me to a fae prince…but not the one I picked. How can I sit by and let Fate ignore my desires? But what can I do to fix this? Something so desperate it could break the laws of nature itself. If all goes well, I can be with the prince I want. If my plan fails, the repercussions will be felt for generations to come.
In fairy tales, the princess is supposed to ride off into the sunset with the love of her life. While it doesn’t seem like that future is in my cards, I’m going to do whatever I can to make it a reality. Let Fate be my judge, jury, and if need be…my executioner!
Bonds of Discord is a novella and a prequel to the Wolves of Denae trilogy. While some of the main characters from the trilogy are introduced here, Bonds of Discord focuses on the origin story of a young wolf-shifter and her tragic end. With the new adult content of the modern dark fantasy genre, this story brings to mind the classic formula found in the timeless tales of the Brothers Grimm, Andrew Lang, and Hans Christian Anderson. Lessons are learned the hard way and the hapless heroine endures a bittersweet nightmare.
When Alexa isn’t writing, she can be found with a book in her lap and a mug of coffee or glass of red wine within reach. A native of the North Woods, Alexa is an avid lake-jumper, beach lounger, and sunshine lover.
Alexa is living a happily ever after with her own steamy hero. Together they have an English Springer fur-baby and would love a few more!
Alexa loves any type of love story. So you can find her writing both contemporary romance and fantasy novels. Instead of making a separate pen name, Alexa just adds her middle initial to her fantasy genre books!
Their love could give him a second chance at life-or condemn her to an eternity of damnation.
Yanked from his tortured existence in Netherworld and dumped naked in the Louisiana Bayou, Lash could swear he’s died and gone to heaven. Except for the fact that a millennium ago he died a condemned soul, forever barred from Paradise. His new life feels like the next best thing, full of small miracles. Like silence. And ice water. And the company of a beautiful, compassionate woman.
Teva is a woman with a taste for heavy-metal music, an inherited talent for magic, and a trusting heart. She knows nothing about the mysterious stranger she’s taken in, only that he needs her help. And the fact that he’s gorgeous hasn’t escaped her attention. She can’t see Lash as anything other than a sexy, gentle man who soothes her nightmares away. Then Lash learns the real reason for his reprieve from Netherworld-he’s been sent to corrupt Teva’s soul with sinful pleasures. Starved for tenderness and aching with desire, Lash yearns to accept the loving embrace Teva offers. But he can’t give in to passion without tainting her, condemning her to the horrors of Netherworld.
The ultimate battle between good and evil is brewing, and Lash stands caught in the middle between Teva, who owns his heart-and Satan, who owns his soul.
The Prince sighed. “It seems many of my disciples believe I’ve chosen poorly.” A shiver ran up Lash’s body as the Prince clasped the side of his face and forced him to meet cruel demon eyes. “But I think not. And do you know why that is, slave?”
“No, my lord.” Lash swallowed, mesmerized by the fire blazing in the demon lord’s eyes.
“I’ll get far too much pleasure out of eating you and shitting you out.” A twisted smile crossed the Prince’s mouth. “Just to do it again.”
Lash’s heart hammered. The Prince’s words had been more than an idle threat. Never had he believed someone more.
“I’ll never let a soul due me escape. You will bring Teva to our side.” The Prince nuzzled Lash’s temple. “Fuck her. Get her to break any number of sins. Just remember, she mustn’t repent before her death. That doesn’t seem like too difficult a task for one with your masculine beauty.”
Lash forced a nod.
“Nicodemus, do you know why I singled you out?”
Again, the Prince forced him to meet his burning gaze.
“Because you never broke. You simply accepted your fate.”
Lash closed his eyes. Yes, he’d accepted his place in Netherworld.
“I think bringing you back home after you complete this for me… will be pure torture on your already lost soul. After all, I’m giving you all this… to remember.” The Prince’s twisted smile was back.
Lash’s chest constricted at the sickening thought of the inevitable.
“Now, I must go home and punish several for interfering with your task.” The Prince patted Lash’s cheek. “Slave, you have my word, you’ll have no more visits. You’ll be free to play house to your heart’s content.”
“Yes, my Prince.”
The Prince eased back a half of a step. “But remember, I do have the power to control you. In no time, I’ll hold Teva’s future in my hands. In Netherworld, I can offer her a life of leisure.” Then, without another word, he disappeared.
Life of leisure meant you winded up in the Prince’s harem. Sickness knotted his stomach. Teva didn’t belong in Netherworld at all, let alone at the feet of the Prince.
Turning the water hotter, Lash sat on the floor of the stall.
Melissa writes for herself and creates her worlds for her characters. She’s authored stories in several different genres of romance, including paranormal, contemporary, suspense, dark fantasy, historical, futuristic, as well as, horror. She’s also collaborated with Mechele Armstrong. She’s been interested in the human psyche and paranormal activities since she gained eyesight at the age of twenty-two. She’s earned dual MAs in English and creative writing and advocates for the blind.
