Sirous Smith has lived for centuries, long enough to grow tired of immortality itself. With no mate in sight and nothing left to keep him tethered to the world, he returns to Brew’s home for one final reunion—and a promised end at the hands of his friend Yosef. But Sirous never planned on Tabby.
Tabitha “Tabby” Williams is hiding from a ruthless mother who wants to exploit her powerful gift of sight. Taking shelter in the woods near Brew’s estate, she expects danger from her past…not from a brooding, stubborn vampire determined to die.
When Tabby bursts into the clearing moments before Sirous’s execution, everything changes. One scent—one electric spark—and fate binds them as true mates. Sirous wants none of it. Tabby wants even less. But destiny has other plans. Between vengeful family, ancient vampire politics, and a stubborn male who would rather argue than admit he cares, Sirous and Tabby will have to decide if they’ll keep running from fate…or run toward each other.
A reluctant bond. A powerful magic. And a love that arrives at the worst—and best—possible moment.
Some monsters are made. Others are born with a bank account, a bad attitude, and a centuries-old curse…
Brewster is ancient, powerful, and used to being alone. He’s content living in the shadows of Ohio, watching the world party while keeping his secrets buried deep—until a desperate phone call thrusts him into the life of a bruised and battered woman who sees more than just his fangs.
Calla Lily Marshall isn’t anyone’s damsel. She’s sarcastic, stubborn, and definitely not looking for a vampire with a savior complex. But when her abusive uncle pushes too far, it’s Brewster who steps in—fangs, fury, and all.
Now tangled in a bond neither of them expected, Brewster and Calla must navigate a world of vampire politics, ancient enemies, and the terrifying truth about her bloodline. She’s more than human. And he’s more than just her protector—he’s her mate.
Falling in love was never part of the plan. But some bites are worth the risk…
Paranormal passion, sharp wit, and a love that refuses to die—dive into Brewster, Book One of the Ohio Vampires series.
Newsletter winner Liz Winslow Signed Paperback Debbie Hudson Signed Paperback
Your package will be mailed out The week of Nov 17th, 2025 Winner’s 2025
Elizabeth Bardorf Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Shirley Coursey Signed Paperback Pauline Westberry Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Joyce Mirabello Signed Paperback Debbie Hudson Mystery Package Jennifer Fontana Mystery Package Julie Ann Swaney Signed Paperback Eva Millien Mystery Packaged Ann Ivey Mystery Packaged Kandra Burleson Little Juicy Purse Prize Pack Julia Bystedt Trinket Box & Guess Earrings Elizabeth Bardor Anne Kline Makeup Brush Set Anne Kline Lip Gloss, Anne Kline Hand Cream Carrie McConnell, Guess Necklace & Earring Set, Guess Cologne Set, Mary Blair Bath& Body Works Halloween single candle& & Ghost Salt & Pepper Shaker &Signed Paperback Tote bag &Swag Peggy Serour Gnome Snowman Ornament, home deco, sweatshirt size 1x signed Paperback, totebag and swag Liz Winslow Signed Paperback Debbie Hudson Signed Paperback
If you are a winner and have not gotten your prize yet, Please contact my PA, Denise, at denisek0319@gmail.com Happy Reading,
Raven Lanning has worked hard for every step forward in her life. After years of long hours at a fast-food job, she’s finally ready to leave and attend college to fulfill her dream of becoming an attorney. But her last day at work ends in horror when her manager’s temper explodes into violence—leaving her beaten, broken, and fighting for her life.
Cassian Savage never expected to find his destined mate lying bloodied in a restaurant’s parking lot. A dragon shifter from one of the most powerful families alive, he steps in to protect Raven and refuses to leave her side. As she heals, Cassian’s calm strength begins to melt her defenses—but the man who hurt her isn’t finished.
While Raven learns that magic and immortality come with being mated to a dragon, Cassian must keep her safe from a human monster who’s determined to reclaim control. In a world where faeries serve as guardians and dragons rule the skies, love may be the most powerful magic of all.
Savage has lived centuries with a name that feels more like a curse than an identity. As a dragon shifter burdened by his family’s tarnished legacy, he’s hardened himself against humans and emotions alike. That is, until he meets Kaida Loren, a fiery and fiercely independent human who challenges everything he believes about love, trust, and himself.
Thrown together by unexpected circumstances, Kaida finds herself caught between Savage’s gruff exterior and the undeniable pull of their growing connection. But danger lurks as past betrayals resurface and Savage’s enemies threaten to tear them apart. To protect his mate, Savage must embrace the vulnerability he’s always feared—before he loses her forever.
A tale of passion, magic, and the healing power of love, Savage will leave you breathless and longing for more.
He’s hot, dangerous, and breathes fire—literally.
Kingston “Kings” Savage never expected his next mission to involve a sharp-tongued, fiercely independent woman who wants nothing to do with him—or the truth about the danger stalking her. But when Skye crashes into his world, dragging along a brilliant boy with secrets worth killing for, Kings knows two things instantly: she’s his mate, and he’ll burn the world down to keep her safe.
Skye’s been on the run for years, surviving by her wits and trusting no one. The last thing she needs is a possessive dragon shifter insisting she belongs to him. But between Kings’ infuriating charm, his unshakable protection, and the heat that flares every time they’re near, resisting him is becoming impossible.
Skye must decide if she can put her faith in a dragon who swears she’s his forever. Because in Kings’ arms, she just might find the one thing she never thought she’d have again… home.
Kingston is a sizzling paranormal romance filled with danger, magic, family loyalty, and a love that roars as loud as any dragon.
Newsletter winner Liz Winslow Signed Paperback Debbie Hudson Signed Paperback
Your package will be mailed out The week of Nov 17th, 2025
Winner’s 2025
Elizabeth Bardorf Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Shirley Coursey Signed Paperback Pauline Westberry Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Joyce Mirabello Signed Paperback Debbie Hudson Mystery Package Jennifer Fontana Mystery Package Julie Ann Swaney Signed Paperback Eva Millien Mystery Packaged Ann Ivey Mystery Packaged Kandra Burleson Little Juicy Purse Prize Pack Julia Bystedt Trinket Box & Guess Earrings Elizabeth Bardor Anne Kline Makeup Brush Set Anne Kline Lip Gloss, Anne Kline Hand Cream Carrie McConnell, Guess Necklace & Earring Set, Guess Cologne Set, Mary Blair Bath& Body Works Halloween single candle& & Ghost Salt & Pepper Shaker &Signed Paperback Tote bag &Swag Peggy Serour Gnome Snowman Ornament, home deco, sweatshirt size 1x signed Paperback, totebag and swag Liz Winslow Signed Paperback Debbie Hudson Signed Paperback
If you are a winner and have not gotten your prize yet, Please contact my PA, Denise, at denisek0319@gmail.com Happy Reading,
Kingston “Kings” Savage never expected his next mission to involve a sharp-tongued, fiercely independent woman who wants nothing to do with him—or the truth about the danger stalking her. But when Skye crashes into his world, dragging along a brilliant boy with secrets worth killing for, Kings knows two things instantly: she’s his mate, and he’ll burn the world down to keep her safe.
Skye’s been on the run for years, surviving by her wits and trusting no one. The last thing she needs is a possessive dragon shifter insisting she belongs to him. But between Kings’ infuriating charm, his unshakable protection, and the heat that flares every time they’re near, resisting him is becoming impossible.
Skye must decide if she can put her faith in a dragon who swears she’s his forever. Because in Kings’ arms, she just might find the one thing she never thought she’d have again… home.
Kingston is a sizzling paranormal romance filled with danger, magic, family loyalty, and a love that roars as loud as any dragon.
Savage has lived centuries with a name that feels more like a curse than an identity. As a dragon shifter burdened by his family’s tarnished legacy, he’s hardened himself against humans and emotions alike. That is, until he meets Kaida Loren, a fiery and fiercely independent human who challenges everything he believes about love, trust, and himself.
Thrown together by unexpected circumstances, Kaida finds herself caught between Savage’s gruff exterior and the undeniable pull of their growing connection. But danger lurks as past betrayals resurface and Savage’s enemies threaten to tear them apart. To protect his mate, Savage must embrace the vulnerability he’s always feared—before he loses her forever.
A tale of passion, magic, and the healing power of love, Savage will leave you breathless and longing for more.
Bath& Body Works Halloween single candle& a Set of Halloween Hand towels & Ghost Salt & Pepper Shaker&Signed Paperback, Totebag &Swag Please make sure you put all the Info in for a chance at winning
Guess Necklace & Earring Set, Guess Cologne Set, Tote bag, Signed Paperback, and Swag Your package will be mailed out Monday, Aug 19th 2025
Winner’s 2025
Elizabeth Bardorf Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Shirley Coursey Signed Paperback Pauline Westberry Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Joyce Mirabello Signed Paperback Debbie Hudson Mystery Package Jennifer Fontana Mystery Package Julie Ann Swaney Signed Paperback Eva Millien Mystery Packaged Ann Ivey Mystery Packaged Kandra Burleson Little Juicy Purse Prize Pack Julia Bystedt Trinket Box & Guess Earrings Elizabeth Bardor Anne Kline Makeup Brush Set Anne Kline Lip Gloss, Anne Kline Hand Cream Carrie McConnell, Guess Necklace & Earring Set, Guess Cologne Set,
If you are a winner and have not gotten your prize yet, Please contact my PA, Denise, at denisek0319@gmail.com Happy Reading,
She’s got a warehouse to launch, a daughter to protect, and zero patience for arrogant men—even if they’re dragons.
Tabby Reader isn’t here for fairy tales. She’s building an empire, raising her daughter, and keeping her troublemaking brother, Tommy, in check. The last thing she needs is a possessive, growly stranger complicating things with talk of fated mates.
Edgar Walsh thought his biggest problem this week would be financial projections—not falling head over talons for a fierce, no-nonsense woman who makes him feel like the ground’s shifting beneath his feet. Literally.
When sparks fly and tempers clash, Edgar and Tabby find themselves battling more than just attraction. Tommy’s behavior is spiraling—and it might just drag their future down with it.
Sometimes, love doesn’t arrive with roses—it crash-lands with fire, fury, and one very stubborn dragon.
Fowler had no desire to take over as king of the dragons, at least not yet, anyway. His grandmother, the former queen, was pressuring him into taking a mate. He didn’t need a mate, and that was that.
Amy hated rich people with a passion. If she wasn’t forced into going into this lunch meeting with the Walshs, she wouldn’t. And she certainly wasn’t going to be forced into eating a hamburger she didn’t order by some handsome, arrogant prick. Enough was enough; she was out of there, and when he grabbed her arm, all bets were off…
Layla Marks had somehow been saddled with her family’s debts. Now that nearly everyone was gone, it was up to her to make things right. Even at a physician’s pay, it wasn’t nearly enough to do the things she needed to do, like put markers on their graves. Now, some idiot lawyers were ranting that she had some long-lost family because of some DNA test she didn’t even take. Oh, well, it was too late to claim the inheritance now anyway. She’d missed the deadline.
Madison thought Layla Marks was one of the most stubborn women he’d ever met, next to his Mom. Even if she was his mate, he’d buy her a house and let her live in it. He’d stay in his apartment. Stubborn or not, there was no way in hell he’d let her walk away from that much money…
A dragon who doesn’t believe in fate. A woman with secrets that could shatter his world.
Dyson Walsh has spent his life protecting his family and building his legacy, but love? That was never part of his plan. As a dragon shifter from a powerful bloodline, destiny may have its own ideas—but Dyson refuses to be bound by prophecy. Until he meets Emma Marshall.
Emma has spent years fighting for her independence, breaking free from a past filled with betrayal and heartache. The last thing she needs is a bossy, arrogant dragon who thinks she belongs to him. But when she’s framed for a crime she didn’t commit, Dyson is the only one who can protect her.
As danger closes in and an ancient enemy resurfaces, Emma and Dyson must decide: will they fight the pull between them or embrace a love powerful enough to rewrite destiny itself?
He doesn’t believe in fate. She doesn’t believe in love. But destiny doesn’t take no for an answer.
Anne Kline Makeup Brush Set Anne Kline Lip Gloss Anne Kline Hand Cream & Signed Paperback & Totebag & Swag Please make sure you put all the Info in for a chance at winning
Newsletter winner Julia Bystedt Trinket Box, Guess Earrings, Signed Paperback and swag Your package will be mailed out Monday, June 23rd,2025
Winner’s 2025
Elizabeth Bardorf Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Shirley Coursey Signed Paperback Pauline Westberry Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Joyce Mirabello Signed Paperback Debbie Hudson Mystery Package Jennifer Fontana Mystery Package Julie Ann Swaney Signed Paperback Eva Millien Mystery Packaged Ann Ivey Mystery Packaged Kandra Burleson Little Juicy Purse Prize Pack Julia Bystedt Trinket Box & Guess Earrings
If you are a winner and have not gotten your prize yet, Please contact my PA, Denise, at denisek0319@gmail.com Happy Reading,
Stone Griffin thrives on order and purpose, balancing his life as an elementary school teacher with his ancient legacy as a wolf shifter. But when a chance encounter hurls him into the orbit of Sage Tigner, a fiercely independent woman on a reluctant rescue mission, his iron control begins to crack.
Sage has no time for complications, especially ones that involve supernatural creatures and the secrets they keep. But as danger closes in and Stone’s protective instincts awaken, Sage discovers there’s more to life—and love—than she ever imagined.
Bound by fate, Stone and Sage must learn to trust each other and the fate that binds them. Can a lone wolf find his mate and the courage to embrace his destiny? And can a woman who’s always stood alone accept that sometimes fate knows best?
Edwin Griffin was looking forward to his retirement from the Army. But it seemed his superiors were having trouble letting go. As a wolf shifter and an immortal, Edwin’s senses were keen. He had no intention of “keeping in touch” or to continue working for them, for that matter. Something about them felt off, and Edwin had no intention of being a pawn in whatever scheme they were plotting. Storm was very protective of her sister, Rain. Their parents had somehow found them, and Rain was vulnerable to their influence. The sisters both possessed magical talents that were growing stronger daily. When Charlie Griffin offered to help, Storm jumped at the chance to protect her sister. Edwin was a bit surprised to find the feisty woman Storm to be his mate. She had a hard time with trust, but Edwin was determined to work on that, but he had his own issues to resolve. Although retired from the military as well, Storm would still take on an occasional assignment. But when the assignment from her superiors was to do something about her mate. Well, things just got a bit more personal….
Tony couldn’t believe what he was seeing on the security monitor. A woman and her kid were living in the alleyway next to his office, and they were in trouble. A man snuck up on her and snatched the kid. He had to do something….
Jana Cantrell wasn’t taking the news too well. She would have been dead and her son in the clutches of that maniac if it hadn’t been for her being Tony’s mate, and she was now immortal. She didn’t trust men. She had just escaped from the imprisonment of the maniac who had nearly killed her. No way in hell would she be enslaved by another….
Garfield watched the unconscious pretty woman thrashing on the bed. He had already determined that the woman, Sable, wasn’t his mate, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. When he grabbed her hand to keep her from hurting herself, his entire body seemed to be touched by an electrical wire. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t let go.
Just before Garfield passed out, he realized that not only was Sable his mate, but she was transferring an enormous amount of power to him….
Paige Dresher didn’t trust men. She had three little girls to raise, and life had been hard. The deadbeat who had fathered the girls denied his involvement, leaving Paige and the girls to make it on their own. It didn’t help that the only place Paige could afford was a dump, and her girls deserved better than that. They all did. When the landlord shot Paige and one of her daughters, she thought it was the end.
Jeffery Griffin knew about the new arrivals. He just wanted to come over and welcome them to the family when he found a strange man who smelled like the little girls roaming in the woods, spying on the little family. Jeffery shifted to his wolf and went to warn the little girl’s mother. When his wolf knocked Paige to the ground, he was surprised and happy to discover she was his mate. Paige, on the other hand, wasn’t the least bit happy at his revelation. She wasn’t happy at all….
Harman Griffin had had a bit of bad luck. Calling out a group of disgruntled women had him in the hospital recovering from a bash to the head. If he hadn’t been immortal, he wouldn’t have survived the ordeal.
He had gotten to know Carrie and Katie Donahue, cousins, while in the hospital. He had a feeling that one of them was his mate, but he wasn’t sure. Normally, her scent would be a dead giveaway, but Harman was born unable to smell or taste anything. There had to be some way to figure it out….
Please make sure you put all the Info in for a chance at winning
Ewing Cross never planned on becoming a dad to six kids, but when he found two little girls in desperate need, he couldn’t turn his back. Before he knew it, his home—and his heart—were full. Juggling diapers, bedtime stories, and the occasional kitchen disaster, Ewing is learning that being a single dad is the toughest job he’s ever loved. But just when things start to settle, trouble comes knocking, and Ewing finds himself fighting to keep his new family safe.
Then there’s Trinity—a fiery, no-nonsense attorney who’s used to doing things her way. She’s got a successful career, no interest in kids, and zero patience for the chaos Ewing’s life brings. But fate has other plans. As sparks fly and tempers flare, Ewing and Trinity might just discover that together, they can handle anything—even six kids, a vineyard, and a little danger.
Ewing is a touching finale about family, love, and the courage to take a chance on something you never saw coming.
Jamie Kemp was good at her job. Working for the FBI in search and rescue as a dog trainer and handler was fulfilling work. Never laying down many roots, Jamie was ready to head out on assignment with her dogs at a moment’s notice.
Mark Cross and his family had lived in the Smoky Mountains for ten generations, and he loved the land, but of late, he was feeling rather lonely. Mark and his entire family were bears, black bears that blended into the wooded areas better than any wild ones in the park.
Jamie and her dogs were called in to find a missing woman. Instead, Jamie found herself in the crosshairs of a serial killer. Mark showed her pictures of the women this maniac had killed, and she could be their twin. And to complicate things more, Mark was her mate….
Sunny Meadows wasn’t a people person. She had anger management issues, and most of the time, she didn’t even like herself. Working as a government agent, Sunny found herself in the Smoky Mountains tracking down a serial killer. A run-in with a park guest landed Sunny in the hospital and off the killer’s trail.
Dexter Cross and his family were black bears and lived in the Smoky Mountains, where he worked as a ranger for the park where they lived. He was to deliver a gun and a badge to the injured agent. He’d been told she was caustic, but he wasn’t prepared for her being his mate too.
When the killer discovered that Sunny was injured. She was making a move to end Sunny’s life, and anyone else’s that got in her way. Will Dexter and his family be able to protect her?
Amelia wasn’t too happy with her mother, the grand witch when she told her she had a mate out there, and if she didn’t act fast, the man would die before she could claim him. Amelia was fine with her life just the way it was. Men tended to mess things up. Before she could argue her case, her mother tricked her into taking her powers, making Amilia the new grand witch.
Frazier Cross, along with younger brother Ewing, was giving a tour of one of the park’s caves when chaos erupted. The walls and ceiling were caving in on them. There was nothing he could do. They were all going to die….
Maddy was on the run. She was a single mother raising a set of beautiful triplets—very gifted triplets. Her brother wanted the kids for their talents and would kill her to get them.
Gibb Cross fell in love with the kids even before he met their mother. He wanted to love her, too, but Maddy was having none of it. It took a lot to make Gibb angry, but Maddy seemed to know which buttons to push….
Barron Cross thought he’d found his mate in Caitlynn. She had come into his life when he was at a low point, and they seemed to click. But lately, he just wasn’t sure. Something about her was—off. Little things started to show up in her mannerisms and personality that was bringing out a true monster. She had to go.
Willow was raised by an Indian tribe in the mountains Barron called home. When Willow rescued Barron from a bear trap that would have maimed him for his entire immortal life, he realized this beautiful woman was his mate, and he couldn’t be happier.
Caitlynn just thought Barron was having a bad day. He couldn’t possibly mean all the nasty things he said to her. They were to be married, after all…
Newsletter winner Wendy Bricker Signed Paperback Ann Ivey Signed Paperback
your packages will be mailed out The Week Of Nov 18th, 2024
Debbie Hudson Prize Pack Julie Ann Swaney Signed Paperback Debbie Whitley Signed Paperback Julie Bystedt Signed Paperback Joyce Mirabello Signed Paperback Buffy Bourne Signed Paperback Brenda Lukas-Jone Signed Paperback Terri Bellville Signed Paperback Shirley Coursey Signed Paperback Heather Angalet Signed Paperback Trista Wagner Prize Pack Hena Rahman Signed Paperback Kristin Peterson Signed Paperback Nicole Morgan Prize Pack Elizabeth Bardorf Signed Paperback Pauline Westberry Singed Paperback Heather Angalet Prize Pack Jaunita James Prize Pack Lorrie Engelbrektson Signed Paperback Eve Millien Signed Paperback Liz Winslow Prize pack Julie Ann Swaney Prize Pack Cheryl Lopez Signed Paperback Terri Bellville Signed Paperback Tracy Kolberg Prize Pack Peggy Serour Signed paperback Lorrie Engelbrektson Signed paperback Debbie Whitley Prize Pack Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Carrie McConnell Signed Paperback Kristina Querol Signed Paperback Linda Brashears Signed Paperback Donna Steppig Signed Paperback Jessica Foufos Signed Paperback Wendy Bricker Signed Paperback Ann Ivey Signed Paperback
If you are a winner and have not gotten your prize yet, please contact my PA Denise at denisek0319@gmail.com Happy Reading,
Fowler had no desire to take over as king of the dragons, at least not yet, anyway. His grandmother, the former queen, was pressuring him into taking a mate. He didn’t need a mate, and that was that.
Amy hated rich people with a passion. If she wasn’t forced into going into this lunch meeting with the Walshs, she wouldn’t. And she certainly wasn’t going to be forced into eating a hamburger she didn’t order by some handsome, arrogant prick. Enough was enough; she was out of there, and when he grabbed her arm, all bets were off…
Newsletter winner prize pack is Julie Ann Swaney Signed Paperback Debbie Whitley Signed Paperback Julie Bystedt Signed Paperback
Your packages will be mailed out Week of Jan 29th, 2024
Debbie Hudson Prize Pack Julie Ann Swaney Signed Paperback Debbie Whitley Signed Paperback Julie Bystedt Signed Paperback
If you are a winner and have not gotten your prize yet, please contact my PA Denise at
denisek0319@gmail.com
Happy Reading,
The Gathering Storm The Peace of Being Without War Evenness of mind, temper, and composure Created by imagination, invention, and design storm walked around the little store listening to the gossip about one of the biggest disasters ever recorded—at least how these people were now witnessing it. She shook her head in amazement. How could humans be so insensitive? Not to mention stupid. That was one of the million and one reasons that she didn’t hang out with humans, too. The rumor mill was running full blast, it seemed today.
“They say that thousands of those bastards are dead. Whole place just split the roads and ate’em right up. Can’t you just imagine what they were thinking when they were being swallowed up like that? I can’t, I tell you what.” “Heard tell that them their houses just toppled over like the kid’s blocks. Smashing people while they slept in their beds.” The man speaking shook his head. “Mercy sakes alive. It sure did a nasty bit of business over there on that street.” “God is taking some sort of vengeance on them their foreigners. Sure as I’m a ‘sitting here, it’s God doing them people in.” She actually had to physically close her own mouth when the person made that statement. “They should have stayed in their own place, not here where we people are.”
Wondering what they’d say about her and her sister if they knew what they really were made her smile. She wasn’t going to speculate on it too much, but they’d have plenty to say. There was no doubt about that. Storm and her twin sister, Ember, were time adjusters for the world. They moved throughout time and made slight adjustments in the fabric of reality when and where it was needed, smoothing out the lines so that it looked untouched, perfect. They’d been doing it longer than any of the beings in this room had been alive. And they would continue to do so long after they were nothing more than dust in their graves.
To do their jobs, they and a great many others, like the two of them, would travel back and forth, sliding into whatever persona was needed to blend into the world they were in. It took great strength and lots of practice to even attempt what they did for the world. Sometimes, they were the only ones standing between the extinction of mankind and the world being populated at any given time. Storm caught a reflection of her face as she walked around the little odds and ends store. Tall, at just over six-foot, Storm was well-proportioned and athletic. Of course, no one would see that under her long dress and equally long sleeves. Her long dark hair, when not pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head as it was now, hung nearly to her waist in springy corkscrew ringlets.
Her skin, like her sister’s, was alabaster and smooth as velvet. The only mark that marred their skin was the tattoo of their kind. It was a dragon that curled around their back, clawed hands seemingly holding onto their shoulders while the tail trailed down their ribs and wrapped around their legs. Storm’s on her left leg, Ember’s to her right. Their wings spread and covered their arms from their shoulders to their wrists. Smiling at the men when they tipped their hats at her, she put her purchases on the counter and waited her turn to be waited on.
At the moment, Storm was in the year nineteen hundred and twenty-three in the body of a school teacher about to start “schooling” the area children in their reading, writing, and arithmetic. It was the closest body that fit her size when she popped into the time zone. The teacher would have no memories of her being Storm for a bit. There would be a slight accident, a small tumble that would alter her memories. Not that she’d remember Storm and what she had done, but the teacher would recover easily and never be the wiser of what she’d done for her world.
This time, working in this area, it had been a small fix. A mountain had come down on a family that was digging for clay and killed the youngest child. Storm had been tasked to save the child. Her future and that of a great many generations beyond her hadn’t been born when she’d been killed. Saving the family, simply making them go to the mountainside later than they had planned, had done the trick. Storm loved it when it was something like this had been. There were times when whole realities had to be altered. Generations needed to be moved ahead to save someone. Sometimes, it was to save a being or one of the descendants of a human who was needed in the future. Other times, it was to erase a horrific time in the lives of humans—mostly, it was natural disasters where many deaths occurred.
Humans, for the most part, would change up their entire lives, nothing to do with the ones that had been killed because they were witnesses to something so horrific that they had seen. Other times, the consequences of the disasters were too large and affected too many things when they rippled down through the ages and had to be removed. Something as simple as a house being crushed with their things inside. It could have been the witnessing of a family pet being killed. Any and all things that would alter everything, and it was up to them to repair the damage that had been done.
As Time Displacement Officers, they were there to insure that the shifts were smooth, with no overlapping lines after the time frame was removed or fixed. Storm would watch and event, something that she’d fixed a thousand times to make sure that things were normal. However, gifted humans or small children saw the flaws. It was easily explained as déjà vu. Or a dream, too. Storm was also there to capture another of their kind and bring him to justice. It was he who had moved the family to the mountain for the one to be killed. And he would have profited off the disaster had she not been there when it unfolded.
His name was Grail. He didn’t like being in this room. It wasn’t like the room wasn’t nice. It was, but when your benefactor summoned you, you did what you were told. Bowing before her when she entered the room—just to piss her off—he stood up when she told him to. “Do stop. Why must you be so annoying? Someday, you’ll be king, and I do hope that someone does the same to you.” He had been altering reality to suit his own personal gain and to profit for a while now, but no one could catch him. She was determined to find and make him pay before he could cause any more trouble. Altering a timeline too often would lead to sloppy work and time twitches that people would notice.
And that was something that she was afraid of more than anything that she’d encountered in the human world. Profit and notoriety from their jobs, both of which were laws that carried the sentence of death if broken, was what he had been doing today. Storm shuddered at the thought of the death he would endure when they took him back to Chilast, their magical realm. Death would not come easily or quickly for one like Grail. He had to know that. So why was he doing this when he knew it was only a matter of time before he was caught? They didn’t have the people to chase after him and keep the world and its people safe. As it was now, they were stretched to the limit. Working from sun up to sun down and all the between time too.
It had been so long since she’d had a day off that she wanted to just lie down, pull some leaves over her, and go to sleep for about a thousand years. Storm’s twin sister, Ember, had gone to Tokyo to study and gather names of their kind for the continuation of their race. So far, all she’d been able to find was the list of dead. All of the dragons that had come after her and a few others that had been killed. That wasn’t doing any of them a bit of good, and they all knew it. They were aging out, the lot of them, and there wasn’t anything that they could do about it.
It didn’t bother their kind when they would wind time backward. It was the moving of time forward that would harm them. Time, it would add, even if it was only a click of a second to their age. And having to look at something over and over, forward and back, it might well add as many as ten minutes onto their long lives. After a while and all those adding up, a dragon would age quicker, worn down by time and effort.