Shaman A Talisman Series Standalone by Tam DeRudder Jackson

 

 

Two people are brought together by a force they never saw coming . . .

Shaman

A Talisman Series Standalone

by Tam DeRudder Jackson

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romantasy

A druid straddles the line between light and darkness . . .

Renleigh Rogan keeps to herself in her remote Montana cabin, tending her plants and honing her protection spells. Only occasionally does she indulge her shape-shifting abilities… Called to Scotland in the middle of the night to help heal a rogue warrior, her first instinct is to ignore the summons, but danger lies in disobeying a powerful goddess.

A rogue is caught in a celestial tug-o-war . . .

Jamie Lennox gave up the warrior community long ago, voluntarily fighting in the Morrigan’s rogue army. Cocky, and one of the most accomplished swordsman in the community, he’s the perfect weapon for taking the warriors the Morrigan covets most. Yet when he loses a pivotal battle, she turns on him, leaving him injured and lost in a no-man’s land between good and evil, a place no warrior or rogue can exist for long. Luckily for him, a beautiful druid has come to his rescue, even if she’s saving him against her will.

Two people are brought together by a force they never saw coming . . .

The fact Jaime Lennox looks like a fallen angel has nothing to do with Renleigh’s decision to come to his aid. His sexy come-ons do not intrigue her either—not even a little bit. Nor does the mysterious past he hides. While the two of them spar inside an enchanted cottage in the Highlands, overhead, a celestial storm is brewing, one that will require each of them to decide what truly matters—their beliefs about themselves and each other or the truth that will set their love free.

 

⚔️enemies to lovers
💕fated mates
🐉shape-shifting FMC
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿set in the Scottish Highlands
♥️stand alone HEA

 

“Jackson works this admittedly familiar supernatural romance/urban fantasy terrain (readers of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, for instance, will feel right at home) with winning energy, a good ear for dialogue, and a sharp sense of pacing.” Kirkus Reviews for Rogue

 

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Renleigh blinked awake, angled her head to check on the patient from her uncomfortable spot on the chair next to the bed, and stopped breathing. 

The man was staring at her through a pair of eyes an almost surreal shade of sea green. Nothing she’d ever seen was as beautiful as those eyes. 

“Hello, not Party’s girlfriend.” It sounded like it had been years, not days, since he’d last used his voice. But the expression in those arresting eyes was pure flirtation. 

“Excuse me. What did you say?” 

“Water,” he croaked. 

Tam DeRudder Jackson's love of all things Celtic led her to write the Talisman Series. Steeped in Celtic mythology, these steamy, fated mates, paranormal romance adventures are set in the mountains of Tam’s native Montana and the Highlands of Scotland. Rogue, the most recent book in the series, was named a best romance of 2022 by the Independent Book Review.

An avid fan of rock music, Tam never misses a chance to see a live show, especially if it’s Shinedown, one of her favorite bands. Her love of rock music inspired her contemporary rock star Balefire Series, a sexy fun ride following the lives and loves of the members of a fictional mega-band. Readers of this series consistently give the books five-star reviews.

Tam earned her BA in English from Montana State University and her M.Ed. in literacy from Lesley University. After a short teaching stint in Bath, England, she settled in the wilds of Wyoming where she taught adolescents all about the Celts and a bit about writing before she stepped out of the classroom to pursue her writing career full time.

When she’s not writing, you can find her working her way through her mountainous TBR piles, alpine skiing, or traveling to some new place on her ever-expanding bucket list. To stay up to date on her adventures, connect with Tam on her website www.tamderudderjackson where you can subscribe to her newsletter.

 

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Stone of Doubt by Margaret Izard

 

 

In the absence of doubt, only faith is found.

Stone of Doubt

Stones of Iona Book 5

by Margaret Izard

Genre: Time Travel, Paranormal Romance

A human with Fae powers living like an oddball has its ups and downs until Evie MacDougall’s dream Fae boy pops back into her life after she thought another was “the one.” One dark and devilish, the other her long-lost love. Evil forces trap her for a magic Fae stone, but which man can she trust?

As a teen prophesied to be Fae king, Aodhán viewed the girl of his dreams through an Eye of Ra. Once, he risked all to help Evie MacDougall find a magic Fae stone, only to end up imprisoned. Kept from his true love for years, he finds her at risk from an evil Fae hunting a magic stone.

Is a single vow strong enough to save true love, to save the human and Fae realms?

 

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Evie threw open Kat’s door, allowing it to bang against the wall.  

Kat rolled over. “Kind of early, even for ye, Evie.” 

Evie strode to Kat’s closet, flipping through each item. She didn’t say a word, fearful she’d give away something, anything that told her best friend she’d visited the Fae realm. 

Kat sat up. “What are ye wearing? Yer hair’s lighter. I like it!” 

Evie glanced down, forgetting the Fae gown, and shrugged. “Something for a play.” She cringed inside at lying to her friend but couldn’t tell anyone she was the one the Fae fable referred to. Not yet, at least.  

Evie flipped back and forth between a crop top and a skirt. Kat’s chest was like her ma’s, larger than Evie’s, but Evie’s hips were bigger. Her clothes had to fit. Evie didn’t have time to go shopping. She wasn’t ready for the idea of selecting new clothing that she’d never bothered to glance at, let alone try on. 

Grabbing the pink crop top and gray pencil skirt, Evie felt comfortable with it being long enough to cover her knees. She had to start somewhere. If she wore a miniskirt to work, ha! Evie envisioned falling, carrying ale, and flashing her personals to all of Maggie’s Bar. That’d be a hoot. 

As Kat called after her, she strode from the room. “Sure, ye can borrow some of my clothes. Thanks for asking!” 

In her room, Evie stripped the Fae gown and hung it, carefully placing it in the back of her closet. She slipped on a bra and undies and donned the crop top lifting her arms to ensure her boobs stayed covered. With the skirt on, she examined herself in the mirror. 

“Nice. Not yer usual colors.” Kat leaned on the frame, yawning. “The form-fitting cotton looks good.”  

Evie turned right, then left, checking her reflection. It needed something more. She moved to her closet, examining her belts. The skinny suspenders, that’s what it needed. Attaching those, she turned before the mirror and nodded.  

As she sat to put on her black boots, Kat collapsed on her bed. “Why the change?” She rolled over. “Not that I’m complaining, but pink with light gray and form-fitting cotton isn’t yer norm.” 

Kat sat up. “Manix! It has to be. Ye have the hots for Manix!” 

Evie shrugged as she brushed her long hair out. This was good. If they thought she spent her time with Manix, they wouldn’t figure out she’d spent most of the evening in the Fae realm with Aodhán. 

She placed her hair in pigtails and began braiding each one. She had to keep her hair up for her waitressing, but after work, when she went out with Manix, the braids would make her hair wavy when she let it out. Perfect. 

Speaking of Fae realms, “Where’s Ewan and Doug?” 

Kat stood and went to the door. “In bed as usual. They come back later and later each trip.” She sighed. “They should be careful.” 

Evie checked the clock. Dash, it’s almost eleven am. Her shift started at noon, and Manix said he’d pick her up at nine when her shift ended.  

She grabbed her leather jacket and went past Kat, who held her arm. “Do ye know what ye are doing with Manix? Ewan mentioned that some say he has a temper he can’t control.” 

Evie pulled her arm away. “It’s nothing. I’m sure exaggeration.” 

Evie ran to the door as Kat called after her, “Sure, don’t mind me, yer BFF. I only just arrived, and ye are off every evening with a man.” She sighed dramatically. “I’ll stay in with a movie again.” 

Evie stopped at the opened door. “Soon, ye and I will go bar hopping. Introduce ye around.” 

Kat chuckled, “Hold ye to it.” 

Evie wasn’t certain what this day held. She’d not dated many men as none seemed to appeal to her. Ewan said it was because she compared them all to her Fae boy, and maybe she had. A human could never beat out the attraction a Fae held. It wasn’t a mere myth but the total truth. 

**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

Previous books in the series, Stone of Love, book 1, Brielle and Colin’s 18^th century Scottish story. Stone of Fear, Book 2, Marie and John’s 13^th century Scottish story. Stone of Lust, Book 3, Ainslie and Rannick’s Viking tale. Thistle in the Mistletoe featuring a couple in the past from Stone of Love.

Next in the series:  Holly and Ivy, a Christmas companion book. Stone of Faith, book 6. Stone of Destiny, book 7. Evergreen Evermore, a Christmas companion book.

This series leads into another connected series, Dragons of Tantallon, a dragon-shapeshifter series revolving around the magic Iona Stones.

 

 Find them HERE!  

Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

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- 1 winner each!

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A Merry Murderous Midwinter by Dahlia Donovan

 

 

Welcome back to the Skeleton Crew. 

Bring your knitting needles, a good strong brew, and plenty of snacks. 

You’re going to need them.

A Merry Murderous Midwinter

The Skeleton Crew Paranormal Cozy Series Book 3

by Dahlia Donovan

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Cozy Mystery

Welcome back to the Skeleton Crew. Bring your knitting needles, a good strong brew, and plenty of snacks. You’re going to need them.

Gender-fluid, autistic vampire Hyde Snodgrass is living their best life with their bookshop, cats, and witch girlfriend, Teresa Vega. The colours of autumn are beginning to blend into winter. An ordinarily joyous midwinter is spoiled by the arrival of their estranged family.

When their murderous uncle is found dead in front of their shop, Hyde finds themselves unwillingly dragged into the investigation. Accusations swirl around South Myrddin. It takes a village to untangle the mystery.

Can the true killer be unmasked in time to save them?

Will there be anything to celebrate in the coming Yuletide season?

 

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A Fatal Autumnal Stew

The Skeleton Crew Paranormal Cozy Series Book 2 

Welcome back to the Skeleton Crew. Keep your knitting needles sharp and have a strong brew in hand for their next adventure.

Life for gender-fluid, autistic vampire Hyde Snodgrass has never been better. Her cosy village bookshop is thriving as is their new relationship with witch and taco bus owner, Teresa Vega. Autumn is in full magical tilt in their corner of the Scottish Highlands.

Everything is beautifully perfect right up until a tainted meal ends with Hyde sick and someone dead.

The police immediately suspect the restaurant owners. Hyde and Teresa find themselves drawn into yet another investigation, trying to save their friends from arrest and themselves from a murderer. The situation becomes even more complex when family feuds become tangled in the midst.

Can they find the killer?

Or will everything Hyde loves go up in flames?

 

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A Curse for Samhain

The Skeleton Crew Paranormal Cozy Series Book 1

Welcome to the Skeleton Crew. Bring your knitting needles and a good, strong brew.

Gender fluid, autistic vampire Hyde Snodgrass runs Between the Leaves—a cosy village book store. Their life revolves around books, all things autumnal, and the two cats who rule their world. The shop also plays host to a weekly knitting group called the Skeleton Crew.

When one of the leaders of the village coven fails to show up for the weekly knitting meeting, Hyde finds themselves investigating a horrific murder side by side with their long-term crush, Teresa Vega.

Suspicion immediately falls on other members of their group. Hyde and Teresa struggle to find answers to the growing list of questions. It’s made all the more difficult when the killer has them in their sights.

Can working together spark the romantic flame within them?

Will they solve the mystery before death comes too close?

 

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Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress.  She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters.  An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games. 

 

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Stone of Hope by Margaret Izard

 

 

He’d fight mystic forces to be with her. She sees her future in his love.

Stone of Hope

Stones of Iona Book 4

by Margaret Izard

Genre: Time Travel, Paranormal Romance 

In a twist of fate, Dominic DeVolt is shown archeologist Moira Joanna White’s beauty through the Eye of Ra. Trying to save his niece and nephew from evil Fae powers, he’s sucked into the past and dumped in the middle of her Egyptian archaeology dig.

Moira fears the attractive man who appears at her dig is partnering with her archnemesis. That is until the bold fighter distracts her with a kiss. His duty as uncle tugs her heart, but is he only after her precious artifacts?

He’d fight mystic forces to be with her. She sees her future in his love.

 

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“Pierre Lenoir accused Moira of stealing his notes and discovering the tombs using his research, which put her discovery in a long legal battle. He demanded the Egyptian courts turn over the discovery to his team, saying that a lone woman with a meager team of village riffraff could not have discovered such riches.” He took a deep breath. “Tossing the situation into further turmoil, Miss White mysteriously disappeared shortly after the filing. The case remains unsolved, but they credited this finding to her alone.” 

“Moira Joanna White. She sure is pretty. Too bad she’s dead.”  

Dominic turned toward the exit as Evie spoke. “Wanna see her in real life?”  

He stopped and turned to Evie. “What?” 

Evie looked at Dominic, then at the Eye of Ra. Ewan stepped toward his sister as Dominic shot his hand out to stop him.  

Ewan grabbed her shoulder. “Evie, don’t.” Evie raised her hands. His ears buzzed, and the room filled with an electrified energy. He’d felt something like this on another assignment where he flew a unique craft. The “out of this world” one he couldn’t tell anyone about. The overcharged sensation overwhelmed Dominic in the same way. Evie shifted her hands, and the pupil of the Eye of Ra turned a little then rotated. It spun faster and faster, swirling into a gray mass. As the gray of the center faded, a picture appeared as he stared and the image moved.  

Dominic stood transfixed. Before him was a movie of Moira White bent over a sarcophagus, cleaning it with a large brush. Her thick auburn hair caught the torchlight as dust particles flickered around her head. So, it was red. She turned as if someone had called her, making Dominic’s breath escape in a whoosh. Before him was a full-color live version of the photo. The stunning beauty from the past, alive before his eyes.  

 As she gave him a full smile, he moved forward, tilting his head. He returned the grin, completing the connection. The picture rotated off-center, and the air traveled around him. The ringing came back to his ears, louder. 

A kid’s gasp came from behind as Ewan screamed, “Evie, what’s wrong? What’s happening?”  

Dominic turned. Ewan held Evie's shoulders as she gasped for air and held her hands out to the eye. The wind picked up and swirled around them as the picture inside the eye’s pupil rotated faster.  

Evie yelled over the wind, “I can’t control it, Ewan! It’s got a hold of me! I can’t stop it!” The churning wind dragged Evie toward the eye as Ewan grasped her shoulders, trying to push her away. A gust of wind pressed the twins, and they slid fast toward Dominic. When they slammed into him, his reflexes took over, and he grabbed them. He held both teenagers in his arms, trying to push them away from the eye.  

Dominic searched for Doug and Kat and found they’d taken cover behind the chariot. Thank God he’s got only two to worry over.  

He yelled over the wind, “Doug, keep Kat safe. Stay there.”  

Ewan cried out, “Evie, ye have to stop it! Close yer eyes! Shut it off!” 

Tears streamed down Evie’s face. “I can’t. I’m frozen!” This can’t be! The eye dragged them toward it. The energized force pulled as Dominic tried to push away. Whatever this was, Dominic feared it was not good. 

Dominic yelled over the wind, “Hold on, kids. I've got you!” He gathered them both in his arms as he fought to keep them from the eye. The wind hit them with a forceful blow, and all three flew into the Eye of Ra.  

**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

Stone of Love, book 1, Brielle and Colin’s 18^th century Scottish story. 

Stone of Fear, Book 2, Marie and John’s 13^th century Scottish story. 

Stone of Lust, Book 3, Ainslie and Rannick’s Viking tale. 

Thistle in the Mistletoe featuring a couple in the past from Stone of Love.

Next in the series:  

Stone of Doubt, book 5 coming 2025, 

Holly and Ivy, a Christmas companion book. 

Stone of Faith, book 6. 

Stone of Destiny, book 7. 

Evergreen Evermore, a Christmas companion book.

This series leads into another connected series, Dragons of Tantallon, a dragon-shapeshifter series revolving around the magic Iona Stones.

Find them on Amazon! 

 

 

 

Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.

  

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Stone of Hope Swag Pack (US only),

$30 Amazon giftcard (WW)

- 1 winner each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stone of Lust by Margaret Izard

 

 

She finds true love in the past, but is his love worth risking her future?

Stone of Lust

Stones of Iona Book 3

by Margaret Izard

Genre: Time Travel, Paranormal Romance

  

She finds true love in the past, but is his love worth risking her future?

 She dreams of a Viking warrior with Fae-blue eyes and a God-like body that makes her heart pound like no other. Trying to save her kidnapped sister-in-law, Ainslie follows her back to the Vikings of Scotland, where she faces the very man who has haunted her dreams.

 When Jarl, Rannick MacRaghnaill meets the alluring Warrior Woman who helped steal his warship, she dresses in clothing so strange that every curve teases his senses. But is she, as she claims, a woman from the future or an irresistible lying thief?

 She’d risk her life to save her sister-in-law. He’d risk his honor to win her heart. Can both hardened warriors save the realms from the evilest of Fae’s minds combined with the most dangerous of humans?

  

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She placed her sword at his throat. “Yield?” The warriors gasped, then cheered for her.  

Rannick’s eyebrows rose as Ainslie helped the youth to his feet and patted him on the back. Rannick rubbed his neck and looked over his warriors. He called upon another warrior. “Gunnar, come fight the She Warrior.”  

A large older warrior moved from the crowd, a grin on his face. As Gunnar passed, Rannick patted his back and whispered something, but Ainslie couldn’t hear what was said. The warrior nodded as he moved toward her. No matter. She’d fight anyone. 

Both took their ready stance, and Rannick signaled for them to begin.  

They circled, weighing their opponent waiting on who would take the offensive first. 

It was Gunnar, with a slice of his blade on her shoulder. Ainslie blocked him well, but he stepped forward and slammed his shoulder into her knocking her down. Ainslie somersaulted backward to stand, her blade out and ready to defend the next block.  

Gunnar glanced at Rannick, who nodded toward Ainslie. 

They circled again, waiting to see who would advance.  

Ainslie led the next attack with an overhead slash. Gunnar blocked it, pushing her back. He was more substantial, but she was small, agile, and smart.  

They circled, and Ainslie went for his middle.  

Gunnar blocked and spun, coming around overhead.  

She stopped it with her blade and allowed him to slide down hers knowing she could quickly push it aside with his forward momentum. When his sword came to the hand guard, she moved with all her might. He stumbled on a sidestep at the unexpected shift. As he flew past her, Ainslie whacked his rear with the side of her blade. The warriors laughed, and Gunnar came for her in an off-balance rage. She sidestepped and hit his rear end again.  

Gunnar leveled his eyes on her and advanced with his blade. Side-to-side attacks came at her fast, backing her into the mainmast, trapping her, obviously trying to end the fight. Knowing sailing and the rigging, Ainslie reached up and grabbed the tack line holding the sail in place and swung herself onto the keelson box beneath the main mast. She landed surefooted and, in her follow-through, swung her sword connecting with Gunnar’s disarming him. His sword flew out of his hand and clattered against the hull. He stood staring at his empty hand, then tilted his head back and laughed loudly.  

He bowed to Ainslie. “Ye are Freyja, the war goddess. Her spirit lives in ye. I have never seen a woman fight. A Valkyrie, and I’m honored to fight with ye.”   

Gunnar strode to Rannick whose eyebrows remained raised. “She has earned her coin. She has won the contest.”  

The surrounding warriors cheered as Ainslie stood over them, proud of her accomplishment. She’d battled and won against a trained, skilled Viking warrior. Her da would be so proud. Some warriors grumbled as they settled on the bets made, bringing her out of her musings. Ainslie jumped down and approached Rannick. She grinned at him and held out her hand. “Time to settle up.” 

Rannick dropped a gold coin in it, then glanced behind her. “Disarm her. She is still our guest.” Her guard Ivor must be back. The sword pulled in her hand, and she let him take it. He wasn’t who she focused on. 

She stared at Rannick, her being so tall that they stood almost eye to eye. “I bested yer best. Admit it. A woman can fight.”  

Rannick’s smile grew. “Oh, my sweet, he wasn’t my best. He was the one who wouldn’t hurt ye.”  

Ainslie gripped the coin and raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take on yer best any day, anytime, and I’d still win.”  

She flipped the coin and caught it. “I’d even wager the gold coin on it.”  

She flipped the coin again, and Rannick stepped toward her, catching the coin. They stood close as their breaths mingled. His sweet woodsy scent wafted over her, sandalwood and citrus. He glanced over her face and hair, then trailed to her chest.  

His eyes returned to her eyes, and she raised an eyebrow as he spoke. “Warrior woman from another time or another land, my best would do ye harm. I have vowed never to harm a woman.”  

Ainslie gazed back into his eyes. “That’s all right. Ye’d never get close enough with yer sword to harm me. But I may harm ye.”  

Rannick stood there a moment, staring into her eyes. She glowered back with the glare of a challenge. She held out her hand for the coin. He took it in his, the rough callouses brushing her skin, sending goose bumps up her arm. He placed her coin in her palm and closed his hands over hers, holding her hand in an embrace.  

Without taking his eyes off her, he said, “Ivor, find a second guard. The She Warrior might need more than one.”  

He winked at her, released her hand, and turned, moving away.  

**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

Find them on Amazon!

Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.

  

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Stone of Lust Swag Pack (US only),

$20 Amazon giftcard (WW)

- 1 winner each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Witches of Claw and Fang by Zach Stivers

 

 

A hard-edged werewolf crashes into the life of an isolated witch who has temporarily given up her magic. They must overcome their differences and learn to harness their dangerous powers to stop a supernatural evil from corrupting their small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains.

 

The Witches of Claw and Fang

by Zach Stivers

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Thriller

Welcome to the cozy mountain town of Pineville, Virginia. It’s autumn, the leaves are gold and orange, the apples are crisp and sweet, town residents are going missing, and a bloodthirsty monster with ten-inch claws is loose in the forest.

Morgan Reaves tries her damndest NOT to use magic. That’s why she hid in Pineville, after all. But now, Morgan needs to dust off her spell-casting skills, ASAP. Problem is, she may have lost her touch.

She has another problem, too, and it smells like wet dog.

Max: AKA the naked man with rip-cord tight muscles that stumbled out of the woods near Morgan’s house, ranting about curses and conspiracies and a coven of witches.

Is he a werewolf? Well, yes. But he’s also the only one who can help her defeat whatever evil is threatening her adopted hometown. That is, if they manage to not kill each other first...

  

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The truck stayed on his tail the whole time. Didn’t try to hide it at all. At first, Max thought he’d just give the truck a run all the way over to the far side of the next mountain, but eventually Max would have to stop to get gas, so he decided he might as well get to it. His drill sergeant, lifetimes ago, had told him, “Ain’t nothing got easier by waiting around worrying about it.”  

He circled all the way back to the gas station where he’d first come across the red pickup truck. He pulled in, stopped at the one lonely pump, and got out. He was onto his fourth beer at this point, and he swirled it in his hand as he pumped gas and watched the old truck pull in behind him. Max felt closer to Grim and farther from Maximillian with four beers in him. He shouldn’t be drinking this much, out here in the middle of nowhere, and he knew it. Especially this time of the month.  

But knowing you got a problem is a hell of a lot different than managing that problem. 

Right after he heard the pump handle click, the gas station lobby lights went dark, followed quickly by the neon ‘Open’ sign. It flickered, then went out. 

The red truck inched uncomfortably close to Max’s bumper before the hillbilly brought it to a complete stop and shifted into park. The big man got out, still slow moving, and stared at Max. 

Max stared right back. 

The breeze had picked up, the wind gusting down off the mountain. The flagpole chain was dangling loose, and the metal clanged loudly against metal.  

Clang. Clang. Clang. 

“I was worried you might get lost out on the roads this time a night. Wondering if you needed directions?” 

Max raised a single eyebrow. “You were following me around for thirty minutes to make sure I didn’t need directions?” 

Clang. 

“We do that sort of thing out here: help take care of folks. Even city folks that don’t shake hands and have a ten o’clock shadow, dark eyes, and a bad attitude.” 

In the distance, an eerie howl carried down the mountain with the wind. It was the same howl Max had heard lifetimes ago, on another continent. 

Clang. 

Clang. 

The hairs on the back of Max’s neck stood upright. His ears tingled. He couldn’t help but cast a furtive glance toward the moon. He swallowed hard and clenched his fists.  

Clang.  

Clang. 

He did not expect that trigger, not here, not now.  

Keep it together, Grim. 

—Let me out, Maximillian. It’s been so long.— 

Goosfraba. 

Max looked at the beer in his hand and tipped out the remaining third.  

Lose it now, the career’s gone. The bank accounts. This identity. Everything.  

—Let me out, Maximillian. You know its time.— 

He hadn’t prepared. He was nowhere near any of his hideouts. 

Clang. Clang.  

Clang. Clang. 

Vic chuckled. “Take ‘er easy, I’m not the cops. Don’t have to dump your beer.” 

Max wasn’t listening; he was concentrating on his own mind.  

The wind gusted. The pole chain clanged even louder. 

Clang, clang, clang! 

Clang, clang, clang! 

What were the odds of running into another one, way out here?  

Don’t give in. 

—Let me out!— 

“You look sick, city boy. Want to hop in my truck? I can take you somewhere safe.” 

Goosfraba. 

The wind whistled now, pushing trash and debris across the parking lot, sending the metal chain into a frenzy, knocking again and again against the pole.  

Clang! Clang! Clang! 

Clang! Clang! Clang! 

Max could barely think straight. 

“Goosfraba,” he said out loud, holding his hands up and pressing them against his ears. He felt a magnetism from overhead, pulling on his eyes, begging for him to turn and look up.  

Clang! Clang! Clang! 

“Boy, you need a real man to protect you from the big bad wolves?”  

—LET ME EAT HIM, MAXIMILLIAN!— 

Fuck it. 

Max craned his neck, stared at the moon, felt the cold primal iron rippling below the surface. This time of the month, it was always so easy. Just sitting there in the sky, beaming down an intoxicating, hypnotic ray of pure lunar ecstasy. Max could slip right into Grim, no effort at all. He didn’t really even have to try to turn. He just had to stop resisting.  

So, he stopped resisting. 

It hurt whenever it happened, but despite the pain, shedding his human flesh felt sublime. 

The bones snapped in his fingers, bigger bones splintered in his hands; his wrists dislocated as larger, thicker muscles exploded across his forearms. Jet black fur pushed out like barbwire across his skin. His mouth tore open, stretching wide, the skin at his lips splitting, a bloody gash slicing along his cheek lines to allow his mouth to continue to gape larger and larger. 

From the tips of his fingers steel-sharp claws emerged, pushing off his human nails like old, dried skin. His eyes stung and his face felt pinched and a spasm shot down his spine. His calves trembled and his legs gave out and he crumpled toward the ground, head banging off the car door on the way down.  

A moment later he stood back up, over nine-feet-tall, all pain forgotten.  

Zach Stivers lives with his wife in Virginia, at the foot of the Shenandoah National Park. He loves to tell people they do lots of hiking in their free time, but usually they just go for a short stroll in the woods with their dogs and then stop off for a drink or two at the local brewery. That still counts as hiking, right? He has a degree in English Literature from Florida State University, runs really slow half-marathons, and leads an overly-competitive book club that reads a book a week … or else.

  

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