M.A. Church's Blog, page 118

Awesome fan art for Behind the Eight Ball!

Looking for the Halloween blog hop? No problem! Go HERE


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How awesome is this?!? Karrie Jax made this for Behind the Eight Ball. If you click on her name, it'll take you to the review too. :)  

LGBT Halloween Blog Hop Oct 30 to Nov 2

Happy HalloweenAll Hallows EveSamhain,Everyone!



Thank you for dropping by and welcome to the hop! We have 25 prizes to give away, donated by some talented, generous people who write LGBT characters:

Any book in Tara Lain’s backlist
Duce by Kai Tyler
Cruise Control by Kerry Adrienne
Safety in Numbers by Jessie G (Sizzling Miami Series)
Trouble Comes in Threes by M.A. Church
Discovery by Thianna Durston
Rescuing Kyle by Eva Lefoy
Gay for Pay by TM Smith (All Cocks Series)
Spooky Tales One by Stephen del Mar (Short story collection)
The entire Moonlit Wolves Series by Bronwyn Heeley (7 books)
Coming Back Home by April Kelley (Pickleville Series)
Any ebook in Draven St. James’s backlist
The Russian Boy by Neil Plakcy
Any book in Annabeth Albert’s backlist
Shades of Sepia by Anne Barwell
Any book in Amanda Young’s backlist
Any book in Lynley Wayne’s backlist
Electric Candle or Jewel Cave by Elizabeth Noble
Soul Sick by Kendall McKenna
When All Else Fails by J.M. Dabney (Sappho's Kiss Series)
More Than What They See by J.M. Dabney (Sappho’s Kiss Series)
On the Run by Michael Mandrake
Ivan vs Ivan by Princess S.O. (Teddy Bear Collection)
Blue by DP Denman (Blue Series - 2 copies)
And check out Bookworm Bridgette’s book blog.


The grand prize is a $50 Amazon gift card

Enter today and spread the word!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want more Behind the Eight Ball? Check out my Halloween short for DsP: Costumes, Creatures, and Candy.

As soon as it goes live on DsP's blog I'll add the link for ya. :)



“You can’t be serious.”“Why not? It’ll be fun!” I threw the empty Coke can Marshell left on the counter into the trash. “I’m going as a doctor, but I’ll be in scrubs.”“You’re going as a doctor, Lawson? You? The person who can’t stand the sight of blood?” Marshell smirked as he sipped his drink. “Shut up. And you’re going as yourself.”The glass froze halfway to his mouth. “Come again?”“You’re going as a Vetala.”Marshell slowly placed his drink back on the counter, then picked up my glass and sniffed it. “How much you had to drink already?”“Ha-ha. It’s just Coke. Look, you’ve told me you smelled other paranormals there. And it’s a gay bar, so we don’t have to worry about offending some Bible-thumping redneck. Plus, since it’s Halloween night, they’re having a costume contest.” “Jeez. Costumes? What are you? Seven?”“It’s a costume contest at a gay bar.” I handed Marshell the advertisement. “It says there will be ‘costumes, creatures, and candy—eye candy, that is’,” he read. “Okay, it does sound interesting.”“I promise you, there’s going to be more skin than costumes. The contest winner gets two hundred dollars.”“Well hell, man. Why didn’t you say so? I’m in.”“What part persuaded you?”“The possibilities.” Marshell waggled his eyebrows. “It’s bad enough Janelle does that. Don’t you start too.” I’d invited Marshell’s twin sister, Janelle, to go tonight, but she had other plans. “You’re such a horn dog.”“You say that like it’s something new.” Marshell closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I stayed silent as Marshell concentrated on bringing forth the Vetala side of his nature. I didn’t fear him and his sister, but it always made my heart beat faster when they changed. They were horrifyingly beautiful.Marshell opened his eyes. The whites of his eyes were a bright sky blue and the pupil, now elliptical, was black. The top two central incisors were long and pointy, and so were his canines. He grinned at me. “Help me pick out what to wear?” “I swear to God, those are some the scariest fangs I’ve ever seen. And what do you mean help you pick something to wear? What are you? Thirteen?” “No, not thirteen. But a solid nine—inches, that is.”“Oh my God, seriously?”“That’s what he said.” Marshell winked.“I’m going to need a shovel to dig my way out of all the crap piling up in here.” I punched Marshell in the arm, even though I knew he wouldn’t feel it. “Come on, let’s go look in your closet. Do you still have those black leather pants?”Marshell followed me down the hallway and into his bedroom. “Yeah, why?”“I figure the goal for the night is getting you laid and win the prize money. So, let’s go with the black leather pants, a black muscle shirt, and black motorcycle boots. Don’t tie your hair back either.”Marshall normally kept his long hair tied back in cornrows during the way. “No prob. But I’ll probably ditch the shirt. You know that, right?”“I figured as much.” I hunted around Marshall’s closet until I found the black leather pants. Honestly, it didn’t really matter what he wore. Once that shirt came off and the twinks saw Marshell’s broad, muscular chest and smooth, black skin… they’d lose their minds.I laid the clothes on his bed. “There you go. I’m going to go get dressed now. Think can handle it on your own?”“I got it, brah.” Marshell whipped off his shirt and flexed his pecs.“Good grief. Show-off. Give me about forty-five minutes, and I’ll be ready.” I shut the door behind me and hurried to my bedroom. I shouldn’t have waited until the last minute to talk Marshell into going out with me, but this had literally been a last-minute decision on my part. The only reason I had a costume was because I’d stopped by Walmart on my way home. Fortunately they had scrubs. Otherwise I’d have been scrounging around in my closet too. Trouble was, Marshell had much cooler clothes than me. He hung out in the bars every weekend. Me? Not so much. I wasn’t into one-night stands. I wanted a relationship, but so far, no one had flipped my switch. Once we were both dressed, we left in Marshell’s SUV. By the time we got to the bar, it was jumping. It didn’t take long for the crowd to swallow Marshell up, but I was having a good time too. I swayed to the music, the bass pounding as hands caressed my body.* * * * Smells surrounded him as he danced, and he breathed deeply. Oh, such lovely scents. Everywhere he turned, he was bathed by the humans’ various desires. Thick in the air was his favorite scent: lust. But the clean aroma of sweaty male called to him too. He sniffed the air, and his head snapped up. What was that scent? So dark. So dangerous. It wrapped around him, and the smell of his own bitter need rose. It wasn’t a mate scent, but he didn’t care. A wicked grin crossed his face as he scanned the crowd. He would find the owner of that scent. Oh, there. He saw a tall black man dressed all in black. Vetala, his mind said. Shoving people out of his path, he made his way to where his dark god danced. Oh yes, this was the one. Mine! With a smile his Vetala pulled him close. Yes!This was where he belonged. As they moved together he caught another smell. His Vetala carried the scent of another male. A human.His eyes flashed red and he growled, his wolf pressing to get out. The acrid odor of jealousy surrounded him, but was quickly lost in all the other scents. This was not allowable. His dark god should only smell like him.
The threat to his claiming his Vetala would have to die.

Behind the Eight Ball release and exclusive excerpt!

Blurb:

A cool morning, a yard full of birds, and a kitty on a mission. What more could a werecat want? Beta Heller Wirth has it all, except a mate—a shifter mate, that is. The last thing he wants is one of those dangerous humans who kill without remorse. Heller knows about that firsthand. So what does the goddess Bast do? She gives Heller exactly what he does not want—a human: business owner Lawson Dupre.

Lawson hasn’t a clue what just happened in his car detail shop. One minute a cute client is about to pass out, then he perks up and starts flirting. Next thing, he runs out the door like the hounds of hell are after him. Learning that Heller is a werecat doesn’t freak out Lawson. He happens to be one of those rare humans who knows paranormals exists. He even lives with one. Watch the fur fly as Heller and Lawson battle hurt feelings, misguided beliefs, and a power shift in Heller’s clowder.



Excerpt: “Hey! Man, slow down.” Marshell hurried out of the building, waving frantically at me. “Jeez, where’s the fire?”Well, hell. I paused by my truck, waiting for him to catch up. Luckily the streetlight was nearby, so it was well lit behind the building where we parked. “No fire, just ready to go.”“Uh-huh.” Marshell stopped next to me. “You practically ran out of there.”“Did not.”“Oh yeah, you did. What’s up? You’re acting odd.”Marshell leaned against my car, his arm resting on the roof. His gray polo shirt strained across his massive chest. The man was built like a brick shithouse. Good Lord, his arms were muscular and his skin glistened in the moonlight.His black hair was in cornrows he’d tied back. They hung down the middle of his back. I could see the concern in his hazel eyes. He really was a gorgeous man, with that strong jaw, goatee, and high forehead. At six three and two forty, there was a lot of man to drool over.“Lawson? Did you hear me?” Marshell narrowed his eyes at me. “What’s the deal? You’ve been spacey all week.”Damn. “Yeah, yeah, I heard you. Sorry, just had things on my mind.”“Uh-huh. These things, do they have anything to do with why you and Janelle were in your office the other day with the door shut?”Double damn. “Well….”“Thought so. Come on.” Marshell grabbed my arm and tugged me along behind him.“What are you…? Would you stop yanking on me, already?”“Please, that was a tug, not a yank. As much hand action you’ve had going on lately, I’d think you’d know the difference.”I finally knew what folks meant when they said they sputtered. “Oh my God, you did not just go there.”Marshell glanced back at me and tapped his head. “Yeah, I did. Good hearing, remember? You might be at the other end of the house, but I can still hear you slapping the monkey.”I swear the blush started at my toes and the heat of it barreled upward toward my face. Jesus, could I get any redder? “Just kill me now.”“Nope, not before dinner.”I eyed his hair, wondering how he’d feel if I grabbed a handful and yanked. Hard.“Whatever you’re plotting, just stop,” he threw over his shoulder. “I’m buying you dinner, so no contemplating my demise.”“You do know this is Friday night, right? We’ll be lucky to get in anywhere.”Marshell snorted. “It’s not too late yet. We’ll get in. Trying to distract me isn’t going to work either. You’re telling me what’s up.”“Look, it’s nothing. Really.”Finally we stopped by his SUV, and he turned to me. “Right. You’re distracted and Janelle’s been smirking behind your back all week. Don’t tell me nothing’s up. You can tell me or—”“I’d sooner run naked down Main Street—”“As entertaining as that would be, you still haven’t answered my question. Running out of time here, bro.” He crossed those massive arms over his chest. “Do you me want to ask her? You know I will.”Closing my eyes, I massaged my temples. Great, the first stirrings of a headache were brewing. Why was I dragging this out? I told them everything and had for years. They were my family. Actually they were the only family I had. My parents turned their backs on me ten years ago. Being gay left our relationship strained, but dating a black man apparently pushed them right over the edge. They were no great loss, as far as I was concerned.“Lawson?”I looked at him, seeing the concern in his eyes. I knew he’d do what he threatened and ask Janelle. I didn’t want to think about how much fun she’d have telling him. “Fine. Janelle seems to think I met my mate last Friday.”Marshell blinked at me. He opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again. His eyes bulged.I glared at him. “That’s a fine imitation of a guppy you got going there.”Marshell snapped his mouth closed. His glare was much more impressive than mine. “I can’t believe you compared me to some teeny tiny fish. A guppy. A flipping guppy. And what the fuck, man? Why are you standing here? Why aren’t you flat on your back with your—”I leaned up against the SUV, watching the show. Look at the outrage. “You know I prefer to top.”



Buy links:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Eight-Ball-Fangs-Felines-ebook/dp/B016HDBVOC/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-behindtheeightball-1904995-145.html
DsP: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7022

Trouble Comes in Threes is marked down to 99 cents!

Trouble Comes in Threes: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5884

This is for today (10/30/15) only, so hurry! This is a great chance to get the first book in the series!

Paranormal titles on sale at DsP for $3.00

~Trouble Comes in Threes

~Shadows in the Night, To Touch the Sky (those are the Leap of Faith series),

~Inestimable, and Unbezahlbar (those are my translated titles for Priceless)


Holy paranormal markdown, Batman!!  All of those books are on sale for $3.00 from Dreamspinner. Just click HERE to take you to my author page if you're interested! :) Sale is now until the 31.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Trouble Comes in Threes

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Trouble Comes in Threes by M.A. Church




Hey everyone! I'm happy to announce Trouble won Honorable Mention in the Rainbow Awards! :) 

Blurb:
A snowstorm in the South—on New Year’s Eve—is a perfect recipe for a catastrophe. After two soul-crushing bad breaks, Kirk’s waiting for disaster number three to strike when, naturally, two stray cats arrive on his doorstep during the storm and decide to make themselves at home. Tenderhearted Kirk lets them stay even though there’s something decidedly odd about his overly friendly felines.

Out of the punishing weather and full of tuna, Dolf and Tal are happy to be snug in Kirk’s house. But then their human goes outside for firewood and suffers a nasty fall that leaves him unconscious. Now the two cats have no choice but to reveal themselves.

Kirk wakes up to find the two kitties are actually Dolf and Tal. They’re cat shifters—and his destined mates. Being part of a feline threesome is enough for Kirk to grapple with, but soon he learns they come from a clowder that doesn’t believe humans and shifters should mix. Kirk knew those two cats would be trouble. Little does he know the real trouble lies ahead.




One of the judges said:
This was a cute story that included fun moments as well as action. The characters were all well fleshed out and likeable and I liked that the shifters in this story were house cats. The writing was easy to read and flowed well. It looks like it is a single story but I would be happy if it turned into a series.

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Wish I could let them know Behind the Eight Ball releases in a couple of days lol. ;)

Cover Reveal - Beautiful boy by Grace Duncan

Link @ Dreamspinner:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7068Beautiful boy
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary, M/M
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover artist: Aaron Anderson
104,000 words
Release date: 11/20 If Kyle can get past his fears, he could see what his beloved Master Mal does: a beautiful boy that deserves his collar--and heart.
Blurb:Malcolm Tate hung up his flogger when his submissive sought out another Dom and landed in the hands of a serial killer. Convinced his lack of dominance sent his sub away, Mal has spent two years blaming himself for what happened. But when his best friend finally convinces him to go back to the local dungeon, Mal’s grateful. Especially when he wins beautiful, submissive, firmly-closeted Kyle Bingham in a charity slave auction.College grad Kyle hasn’t earned enough to move out of the loft his conservative, homophobic parents bought, much less to buy any of the other things still in their name. When he’s won at auction by the hot, amazing Mal, he’s shocked that anyone would want him. No one else seemed to—not his parents, his former Doms, or any of his disastrous dates.But Mal does want him and Kyle lets his guard down, only to be outed to his parents. With his world crashing down, he must find a way to trust Mal—and their developing relationship—or risk losing everything.
Author bio:Grace Duncan grew up with a wild imagination.  She told stories from an early age – many of which got her into trouble.  Eventually, she learned to channel that imagination into less troublesome areas, including fanfiction, which is what has led her to writing male/male erotica.A gypsy in her own right, Grace has lived all over the United States.  She has currently set up camp in East Texas with her husband and children – both the human and furry kind.As one of those rare creatures who loves research, Grace can get lost for hours on the internet, reading up on any number of strange and different topics.  She can also be found writing fanfiction, reading fantasy, crime, suspense, romance and other erotica or even dabbling in art.
Find Grace here:
Website  ◊ Facebook ◊ Twitter ◊ Youtube ◊ Goodreads

All Soul's Day Chapter 3

Chapter Three“On the bed, babe.” I stood, and crawled onto the bed, lying on my back. Lifting my knees to my chest, I offered him my body. I wanted him, and I wanted him now.“Take that off.” I gestured at his shirt.“I can’t because of the wings.” “Then rip the fucking thing, I want to see you.” I whined.He grasped the collar of the shirt, and ripped it down the middle. Watching him do that flipped the final switch in me.“In me… need you in me!” I gasped, his finger teasing a hard nipple. My cock jumped on my belly.“Lube?” He growled.“Bedside drawer.”I heard the drawer open, and a few seconds later I heard the top of the lube snap open. Warming it in his hands, he spread it on my aching hole, then his shaft. I felt the head of his cock pressing against my entrance.“Yes, oh God…” My head thrashed back and forth on the bed.A small burst of pain, then he slid slowly in me. I relaxed my body as he gently moved in and out of me, using short shorts. He brushed against my prostate and my whole body shook with pleasure. My shaft filled, and twitched.“Ready for more?” “Ah, ah… yes. Go faster.” I was building toward another orgasm, again.Faster he moved in me, rubbing my hot spot each time. I dropped my legs so I could wrap them around his back. I was sweating, my hair stuck to my temples as he thrust harder into me. I braced my hands against the headboard as he rode me hard. My drifted closed as he moved above me.A sudden breeze in the room helped to cool my overheated body. I opened my eyes, wondering where the breeze was coming from, when I saw those beautiful wings moving slowly back and forth, stirring the air. Those beautiful, glossy wing that were moving on their own!His wings are moving and they SHOULD NOT BE my lust-inebriated mind screamed at me. Holly hell, you think I don’t know that! I answered.“What…what…” I gasped as his hand wrapped around my cock, jerking me in time to his thrusts. “Come for me, Beloved.” He panted.My orgasm swept through me as I watched those wing spread to their full span as he yelled, flooding me deep inside. Fear and pleasure muddled my mind as I watched, his head thrown back, as we orgasm together. “Get… get off me!” I screeched. I struggled under his body, as common sense returned, bringing a good dose of reality with it. He moved enough that I could wiggle out from under him, rolling to the side of the bed, and falling to the floor. Lurching to my feet I stumbled toward the door, my body a confusing mass of sensations. I skidded to a stop, my feet flying out from under me, as he stood in the doorway. Shit, how did he get from there to here so damn fast?“What the fuck are you!” I yelled as I sat down hard on my ass.“Grey please, I’m not going to hurt you.” Azrael reached out to me. “Please calm down.”“Fuck calming down!” I yelled, crawling backwards away from him. “What are you?”“I’m the Angel of Death.” He stood proudly in the door, magnificent in his naked glory.I froze on the spot. “I don’t… I’m not ready to die.” I whimpered.“Oh babe, I’m not here to take your soul to Judgment.” Azrael promised. “I’m here, with you, because I love you… I have since the beginning of time.”“Huh?” I croaked. Oh yeah… snappy response that was, you moron.“The first time I saw you, Man was just in its infancy. I watched you, found you interesting. You have always been a healer, all through your many lives.” He explained. “But your mind was young, and new. I’ve never been human, Grey. And I made mistakes with you.”“Huh?” I shook my head, hoping something would knock loose in there. “What happened?”“I approached you, and showed you what I am. You ran from me, in fear. Your tribe tossed you out when you started telling them about me…you starved to death. The next time you booked passage on a ship bound to what is now known as America, and died at Plymouth Rock. The next time you were burned at the stake in Salem because they thought you were possessed by the devil, the next time…“Whoa!” I interrupted. “Did I die each and every time?”“Yes. And it was my fault each and every time. I didn’t understand human emotions, and I scared you, unbelievably so. I grieved every time I had to escort your soul to Judgment.”“As time went on, you begin to resent Death… me. Many times in many different lives I’ve heard you ask me to stay away. I tried to make you understand that I didn’t have a choice, it wasn’t my decision who lived and who died.” Azrael raised sad eyes to me. “This is a job I do, just like being a doctor is a job you do.”“Oh man.” I cringed as I recalled all the times I told Death to stay out of my damn ER. I hadn’t understood. The more he talked, the more things from the past closed in on me. My head began to pound as memories of past lives swept through me, the love, the fear, the anguish. Our making love together, then my running from him. Me never giving him a chance to explain. His sorrow once I was dead. His waiting for me as time traveled on.“I’m so, so sorry.” I whispered.I watched as he lowered himself to the floor and waited. Waited for me to come to grips with all the information swirling around in my head. Only one thing mattered to me… I love him, always have.“I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.” He gestured at the bed. “I did plan to tell you tonight, since its Halloween or All Souls’ Day. It just seemed right, but not like this, not while I was making love to you. I didn’t want to frighten you.”I stared at him.“That’s why I went as myself tonight. I was hoping it would stir your memories, maybe make things easier when I told you who I am. Each time in the past when I found you, I always told you immediately. This time I waited, and still managed to mess it up.” “It’s been hard on you, waiting to tell me, hasn’t it?” I asked.“I learned to put my own selfish desires aside and give you the time you needed to get to know me. Please don’t run, Grey. I don’t think I can handle watching you die again, then trying to find you in another life.”I stood up and walked over to where he sat on the floor. I lowered myself onto his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. Gently I kissed his surprised mouth.“I love you.” I whispered. “No more running, no more dying.”His wings pulsed around us, moving the air, shaking in their joy. My hair fluttered around my face as I kissed him again. “This ends now, and ends how it should have ended long ago.” I moaned as his hands caressed my back.“I’ve waited an eternity for you, Grey.” Azrael nibbled on my neck. “Be sure this is what you want, because once you accept me, I’ll never let you go. I can’t.”“No more running.” I smiled at him. “I’m done with running.”“Praise God.”“So, how do we make this work? You’re not human, and I am.” I snuggled in his embrace.Azrael close his eyes, and seemed to be listening to something or someone I couldn’t hear.“You live your life, and do what you do so well…help those heal whose time hasn’t come.” Azrael answered. “And when yourtime finally comes, I’ll escort you to Judgment for the last time. You’ll be reborn an Angel of Death, my mate till time ends.”“You’ll be able to handle that? My dying again?” I asked.“Yes.” He smiled at me. “It will be hard, but this time I’ll know how it ends.”Azrael stood up with me cradled in his arms, carrying me back to bed.“I love you…you are the light to my dark, the joy to my sorrow, the life to my death. You are the other half of my soul, Beloved.” I felt his big body tremble with joy as he lowered me back on the bed.“And I love you, my Angle of Death." 
The End
The new Halloween short will post in full the 31st. 
Do you believe in things that go bump in the night?

Nighttime Promises is up for pre-order at ARe!

Pre-order link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nighttimepromises-1908642-340.html



Nighttime Promises -book 2 in the Make A Wish seriesNOTE: This is a previously published work. The title, author, and/or publisher may have changed.

*When you wish upon a star… it comes true in ways you never expected.



Blurb:

Things have gone downhill since Sheriff Bryan Coltrane got involved in the FBI’s investigation of a recent UFO crash. Not only is a homophobic agent pushing his buttons, but he’s made contact with one of the aliens…who wants him for a mate!

Daroshi, a warrior with tentacles from the planet Maz’Rar, monitored the rescue of his captain, Ziang. Impressed by the courageous and brawny human male, he wants Bryan for his own despite knowing little about the race. Neither man is prepared for the problems arising from Daroshi’s desires, or the passion exploding between them.

What’s an alien to do when his mate harps on his civil rights and makes demands? He makes the wishes come true.



Excerpt:

“Gods,” Daroshi whispered as Bryan fired the strange-looking device.

When he and Ziang had transported down into Bryan’s backyard he hadn’t thought this could happen. The night was pitch black, the moon behind layers of fluffy clouds. Branches in the trees danced soothingly to gentle breezes.

An abundance of shrubs moved silently in the quietly swirling wind. Bryan’s small house was set away from the main road and deep in the woods, alone and isolated. Much like the owner. They crept around the house, moving carefully though the darkness.

Both activated their face shields for night vision. They blended with the night, silent hunters that became one with the darkness and shadows—predators with a mission. The prey was inside, unaware of what was closing in on him. Ziang opened his wrist weapon and pinpointed Bryan in the house by his body heat.

He motioned for Daroshi to follow him to the back of the house. They’d enter through the back door in the kitchen. As they passed the open window, Daroshi came to a stop when he heard Bryan’s comment about his hand and a big red dildo. His body came alive, and his tentacles jerked against his back.

A low growl of desire slipped out. Ziang immediately sliced his hand through the air, calling for silence. Daroshi couldn’t help himself. The very image of Bryan working a dildo up his ass inflamed him and sent his desire for the human spinning out of control.

Daroshi respected this human’s bravery and his dedication to an often thankless job, but now there was more. He could scent Bryan’s arousal. The scent was unlike anything he’d ever smelled—sharp and musky.

From the depths of his soul the word mine exploded in his head. He wanted Bryan with a passion he hadn’t felt, ever, and he’d do whatever it took to ease him into his new life. In his excitement, he made a rookie mistake. As he passed the window, he didn’t bend down low enough to conceal himself, and Bryan had seen him. Stupid, stupid, stupid of him.

Unsure of what the thing Bryan held was, he raced toward Bryan. The stricken look on Bryan’s face disturbed Daroshi—fear and horror coated his human’s face in heavy layers. Was that look aimed at them?

When Bryan yelled he hadn’t betrayed them, Daroshi’s heart stuttered in his chest. Without words, there was no way he could communicate to Bryan they knew this and that wasn’t the reason they were there.

Of course, if Bryan had known the real reason, he still may have acted as he did. When Bryan pointed the gun at Ziang, he’d been impressed with Bryan’s calmness and bravery. Coming through the window wasn’t ideal, and he’d frightened Bryan, but there was no other way into the kitchen.

“Are you okay?” Daroshi hissed at Ziang, and then lifted his arm. He didn’t want to have to do this, he really didn’t. Shawn warned them Bryan wouldn’t come without a fight, but Daroshi hadn’t believed him. He should have listened. Why hadn’t he listened, dammit?

Now the human had a weapon, and he was unsure what harm the thing could actually do. With regret he fired, and a beam of light came from his weapon unit. Bryan dropped to the ground.

“Ziang!” Daroshi hissed again.

“I’m fine.” Ziang shook his head. “Ego is more hurt than anything. Damn primitive device packed a punch. My head is still spinning.”

“What was that thing?” Daroshi rushed over to Bryan, who lay on the ground.

“A very primitive stun type weapon, I would guess. I believe they call it a ‘taser.’” Ziang moved next to Daroshi. Both stood over Bryan.

“Not the best way to start things off,” Daroshi mumbled.