Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.
Boys of Belsmeade: Chapter 23 by Kazy Reed
Fumaro raced through the woods, crossing the neutral territory and onto the Belanni estate. When he reached the house, he forced the door open and let it slam against the wall, shattering a vase that sat on the entry table.
Lilianna Becker hurried out from the living room, rage painting her face, but when she saw the vampire, she gasped. The viscount passed by without a word and kicked in the door to Becker’s study. Becker shot to his feet. “Corleanni! What the hell—”
Fumaro’s eyes went black and he hissed. “Listen to me!”
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Love Across Time: Recovering Lost Traditions by Jim Dunaway
As the days and months passed, Ethan and Chris settled into their new lives, both men looking forward to the day when Alicia could be brought forward. Something started bothering them that neither could put their finger on. At last it dawned on Chris what was missing. “Eth, have you noticed the lack of Christmas decorations around?”
“Now that you mention it, yeah.” Ethan suddenly snapped his fingers, “That’s what’s been bothering me. No Christmas. No Hanukkah either. When Ryan gets back from his annual physical I’ll ask him about it. I wonder why there aren’t any decorations up.
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A Thieves Solstice by Tali Spencer
“Madd’s behaving strangely,” Vorgell confided to his friend Reannry.
The big blond barbarian fell into step beside the dainty gray-cloaked witch. Reannry had just emerged onto the street by way of a little known gate beside a laundry. The laundry abutted a wall leading into the Nightingale Quarter and so served as a secret passage into and out of the restricted neighborhood. Even at this early hour, the Street of Bellmakers was lined with merchants and vendors.
Reannry’s brown eyes flicked at him from within her raised hood. “Madd behaving strangely is nothing new.”
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In Enemy Hands: #3.5 by M.A. Church
It didn’t affect the bulky animal in the least. Scrambling to its feet, it lowered its horn and charged. Dar danced out of the way. As the emat passed, Dar raked its long claws alongside the other animal’s side. Bellowing, the emat continued on its way, crashing through the jungle as it escaped. Snarling, Dar took a step in the direction the emat had fled.
“Dar!” Adlar yelled.
Dar stopped and looked at Adlar.
“Stay, please.” Adlar glanced down at Varo then back up at the feline. “Please?”
Turning, Dar stalked back to where Adlar sprawled on top of Varo. He flopped down next to the two males, complaining.
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Buried Treasure: Part 21 By Carol Pedroso
At Craig’s signal I flipped the switch and watched in awe as the main lights went out and left the room lit by the multi colored lights on the tree.
I wrapped my arms around him from behind and leant in near his ear, “It’s beautiful love, just like you.”
Craig huffed at the corny line but leant back against me to return the hug.
“I’m so glad we decided to stay here,” Craig said, “Chapmistres is a much better place for you to settle in than a community with other psychics always trying to read each other’s minds or feelings.”
A Marshall and Lee Christmas: Part I by Julie Lynn Hayes
Christmas in Texas wasn’t white. And it wasn’t all that cold. But it was sure as hell better than being in Fargo, freezing his ass off. Most important, Christmas in Texas was with Lee, and that made all the difference in the world to Marshall.
Christmas in Texas was warmth and love, and being loved by Lee. And it was filled with traditions begun when Marshall and Lee began their new life together in Burnham. Beginning with the cutting down of the Christmas tree.
This year’s tree, a six foot Virginia pine, stood in a corner of the living room, waiting to be decorated. They’d brought it home the night before, cut it themselves at a Christmas tree farm that was less than an hour away. The same place they went every year since Marshall had joined Lee in Burnham.
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A Shaman’s Gift: Part 5 by Johayan
Normally, while in the Lodge, Maikyl was lightly guarded. An attack on
him would require passing through several layers of security as well as
not raising the suspicions of the Royal Court but watching the Wolf
Lodge burn, he was surrounded by his First Phalanx. It had originally
appeared to have been an accident caused by Lodge staff rushing the
preparations of the Royal Baths. During his evacuation, a message
arrived which read: With no warning, we have struck at the heart of your
lands and of your lodge. Surrender or die. – The War Council.
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Dear Santa by Cia Nordwell
“Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” I sent the cookie in a little jig, much to the delight of my niece and nephew.
“Again!” they cried.
I started the rhyme over, making my little gingerbread man dance.
“Oh yeah. Shake that booty!”
Startled, I dropped the cookie and straightened up. The lights from the Christmas tree probably weren’t hiding the fact my face was flushed. “Uh….”
“Hi, I’m Sydney. We moved in next door last month.”
“Sydney!” the twins shrieked as they raced around the table and jumped on him.
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The lights were the first thing Herman noticed. They glowed from the windows of the crumbling castle, and more hung in multi-colored, flashing drapes across the stone.
“Pretty, right?” Blaze pointed, a cold breeze ruffling his red hair. “Do you know what its for?”
“Of course not,” Herman said, voice gruff. He hadn’t even been among the King’s men a year. He had grown up on a space station, and fought on ships all his life. How was he supposed to know what strings of lights meant on Earth?
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Let It Snow by Taylin Clavelli
T’was the night before Christmas,
And, all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a mouse,
The poem was my all-time favorite; though, it wasn’t the night before Christmas, and I most certainly wasn’t in the house. Instead of the quiet of a winter’s evening before the fire, I was walking through the woods on my horse, Samson. The air around us was still as if in anticipation of the day to come.
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Flood: Chapter 11 by Caraway Carter
Hurley stopped, turned, slid his hand through my hair…
Wednesday Briefs 