Urban Short Stories

Black clouds of xenophobia gather over Radvadur, the western province of the Empire. The political climate is strained and fragile. A surge of Nymph refugees has stirred widespread hostility towards non-humans. When the investigation of a gruesome triple murder linked to the refugee camp ensues, it takes Inspector Käyru Skaer and his lover, Count Ellydhar Finn-Jánn, along an unusual path, at the end of which a precious gift awaits. Käyru and Elly are worlds apart in social standing, but they have found common ground in the bedroom - up against the wall and the stable doors, too.

Victor McCain is used to fighting demons, satanists, and even fallen angels. But when God's bounty hunter travels to the Windy City to take on one of Chicago's most notorious mob bosses, he is confronted by an assassin the likes the world has never seen. Literally.

This short story combines the multiverse concept of changing one’s fate with a new-adult level of mystery. Animator-style printing and colorful illustrations give this quick audiobook a real adult-swim, comic book store feel. When Eva studies quantum physics in a seedy bar, she finds some unwelcome attention, and Killian...the best transdimensional research subject she could ask for. Eva is fascinated, and invites him for a drink. In return, he explains how he can trek through different dimensions to find other versions of his life.

At puberty, they’d called it. I, Naz Beauchene, was the first, official family dud. Born into a long line of illustrious shifters of the feline variety, my family fully expected me to blossom into a panther or maybe even a cherished lioness. They got neither. Not even one spark of magic stirred my blood. But then one day, a handsome Nether Reach Keeper crashed through the door where I worked as an imp trainer...and everything changed.

Iraq - The Americans are fighting a drawn out war against ISIS. With public support for the war draining, they find themselves under pressure to discover new ways of waging war against the enemy. At an isolated American air base, one scientist has come up with an ingenious idea - use zombies to defeat the Islamic State. The only problem is, the virus isn't ready and top brass are running out of patience. How can they deliver "the package" to where it's needed - straight to ISIS leadership? And meanwhile, at the air base, who is the mysterious man under the hood?

What happens when a man starts life as a corpse? Two hundred years ago, Frank Victorsson awoke as a semi-dead, monstrous abomination reanimated by his hubris-ridden father, Victor Frankenstein. But Frank refused to become the infernal hate his father spewed at the world. He walked away from his origins - and into a small, Minnesota town overflowing with magic.

What ancient evils live beneath the waters of the great Lakes of North America? During a massive snow storm in a small diner, we get a glimpse of the terror below.

A short story written and narrated by a master of horror, multi-award-winning writer, Ken Stark. The Branchards are a perfectly ordinary family living a perfectly ordinary rural life. Things aren't always easy, but they get by. Young Andy Branchard wishes his older brother and sister wouldn't pick on him so much, but he does his best to ignore them. He has his forest friends, and he has his creek where he can watch the fish swim up and down all day, so he's happy enough. Really, the only part about growing up in the Branchard house he hates are Friday nights.

The Power of Luck. Your luck can change in an instant. A flip of a coin can ruin a life, or change it for the better. But is luck real? A random blip in the space time continuum? The wrath or favor of a higher power? Is it magic? Is it just a matter of numbers and probability? Can it be controlled? Luck is elusive, a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Luck is Relative. Good luck. Bad luck. Hard luck. Your luck can run out, or you can luck out. Is luck truly a lady?

"The Departed" by Clive Barker: On All Hallows' Eve, a dead and disembodied mother yearns to touch her young son one last time. But will making contact destroy them both? "Creature Feature" by Heather Graham: What could be better publicity for a horror convention than an honest-to-goodness curse? It's only after lights out that the hype - and the Jack the Ripper mannequin - starts to feel a little too real.

Werewolves, vampires, witches, voodoo, Elvis - and weddings An "ordinary" wedding can get crazy enough, so can you imagine what happens when otherworldly creatures are involved? Nine of the hottest authors of paranormal fiction answer that question in this delightful collection of supernatural wedding stories.

He's touching the front of his coat, feeling the shape of the gun. Should have got rid of it. On any other night, any other job, he would. This isn't any other job. This, he intends, will be his last... It begins with two deaths: a money-man and a grass. Deaths that offer a unique opportunity to a man like Calum MacLean. A man who has finally had enough of killing. Meanwhile two of Glasgow's biggest criminal organisations are at quiet, deadly war with one another. And as Detective Michael Fisher knows, the biggest - and bloodiest - manoeuvres are yet to come...

New York Times best-selling author Angela Knight revisits the world of Guardian and genetically engineered Temporal Enforcers Dona and Alerio, who combine their talents - and fight their passions - as they investigate a time-travel murder spree. USA Today best-selling author Jennifer Ashley continues her Shifters Unbound series as Bear Shifter Cormac is determined to take single mom Nell as his mate, despite her objections - until her sons are endangered and she desperately needs help.

Trixie is a feline of a unique sort. She's hustled the streets of the Big Easy many times but never quite like this. Trixie finds that when in New Orleans, hoodoo is much more than a tourist shop full of souvenirs. Reality has never been stranger and the stakes are much higher than ever before. See how this sexy feline takes on every challenge thrown at her and in the process discovers that there's more to life than meets the eye. This is a short story in a new series by Karli Rush.

What is pleasure?

Everyone will think about this question only for a few minutes. It is easier to ask than to explain, right? The world is ruled by sex, drugs, and imaginary family values. These are the three main pleasures that people experience in the City of Angels. Amongst this, there is a separate caste of people as well—escorts. Over here they are the best, the largest collection for every taste with over ninety percent coming from far away countries.

A promise given with great love cannot be broken, even by death. This is the third audibook in the AngelStories short story collection from award-winning author Michael Lynes.

In Billionaire Romance, Sarah is trying to settle in better into her new life and pregnancy is looking good on her. She, however, is beginning to have a few doubts in her mind about the whole arrangement that they have with Nick, and she feels like he is distracted and distant from her. Nick provides and cares for her, but she hardly sees him, the story takes a whole different turn when Tracy, her former workmate reveals to her that she is also pregnant but will not tell her who the father of the child is.

An Unsung Man is a brief, riveting exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the nature of power. Jonah and Yeah have been friends since childhood, through school playground schemes, youthful misadventures, and questionable business endeavours that got them noticed. Handsome Yeah had effortless charm and sharp wit, while Jonah had both the brain and the mind.

A Gift of Ghosts: Akira has secrets. But so does the town of Tassamara. A Gift of Thought: Sylvie Blair swore she’d never go back to Tassamara. She was wrong. The Spirits of Christmas: Akira's plans are simple: Write wedding invitations, bake Christmas cookies, and eat red meat. (The last surprises her, too.) But when Rose, the ghost who haunts her house, asks for a favor, Akira can't say no. A Gift of Time: Natalya thought she knew everything. Time is proving her wrong.

When a client claims her house is being haunted, Ivy tries to keep her mind open and her weapons handy. If her psychic gifts and recent cases have taught her anything, it's that you're better off arming yourself for the unexpected.