“For trying to be a gentleman when I know it goes against every part of your nature.”

He took the gun from her hand and threw it into the woods before he cupped her face in his hands. “For you, Esperetta, anything.”

She gave him a speculative look. “Anything?”

“Yes.”

“Then come and get naked with me. Right now.”

Velkan laughed before he kissed her lightly on the lips. And for the first time in his life, he gladly submitted to someone else’s orders. “As you wish, Princess.”

A Hard Day’s Night Searcher

A Hard Day’s Night Searcher

1

“Isn’t it great?”

Rafael Santiago wasn’t a religious man in any sense of the word, but as he read the short story Jeff Brinks had published in the SF magazine in his hands, he felt a deep need to cross himself.…

Or at the very least, club the college student over the head until he lost all consciousness.

Keeping his expression carefully blank, Rafael slowly closed the magazine and met his Squire’s eager look. At twenty-three, Jeff was tall and lean, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He’d only been a Squire to Rafael for the last couple of months, since Jeff’s father had retired. An eager young man, Jeff had been good enough at remembering to pay bills on time, run Rafael’s business, and help to protect his immortal status from the unknowing humans. But the one thing Jeff had wanted more than anything else was to publish one of the stories he was always scribbling on.

Now he had.…

Rafael tried to remember a time when he’d had dreams of grandeur, too. A time when he’d been human and had wanted to leave his mark on the world.

And just like him, Jeff’s dreams were about to get the boy killed. “Have you shown this to anyone else?”

Damn, but Jeff reminded Rafael of a cocker spaniel puppy wanting someone to pet his head even though he’d just unknowingly pissed all over his owner’s best shoes. “Not yet, why?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Rafael said, stretching the words out and trying to mitigate some of the sarcasm in his tone. “I’m thinking the Night-Searcher series you’re starting might be a really bad idea.”

Jeff’s face fell instantly. “You didn’t like the story?”

“Not a question of liking it really. More a question of getting your ass kicked for spilling our secrets.”

Jeff furrowed his brow, and by his baffled look it was obvious the boy had no idea what Rafael was talking about. “How do you mean?”