Tatterdemalion

“Because the people who are after me will kill me, you and those who helped me, like my friends.”

Paole narrowed his eyes at the boy. “After you? Have you committed a crime?”

“Only to be born.” He said it with such bitterness, Paole could not believe it was fake. “I’m heir to property someone else wants. If they kill me, nothing stands in their way.”

“But then you could go to the law. The sheriffs or whatever you have in Sardelsa.”

“Not that simple. I really wish I could tell you, but Karvis is…well, the person after me has ties here.”

That made no sense. How much power could one person have? “Now you’re making it up again.”

“No, I’m not. But this is why it’s pointless to talk to you. I have trouble believing it sometimes. I’m

not surprised you do.”

Paole’s determination to rid himself of this boy wavered again. What if he was telling the truth? “If I

set you free, where would you go?”

“To Horches. My friend has relatives there. I’d be safe.”

“I only want the truth, Gaelin. All of it.”

“I know. If I gave you my word to work for you for three years, would you let me go after that?”

Why three years? “Not exactly a bargain for me.”

“I’m sorry, but if I don’t return home then, my sisters will be left to suffer.”

Paole shook his head. “I gave you the deal. It’s more than most masters would offer.”

The boy grimaced. “You’re not being fair.”

“Fairer than anyone treated me at your age. Move back and keep quiet. I have things to do.”

The only way to break free is to let go.

Lynx

© 2010 Joely Skye

In order to protect his shifter kin, FBI agent Trey Walters hides his ability from his employers. For

him, a vacation means a whole midwinter month in the Canadian wilderness, free to live in his wolf skin.

When he happens upon a rare lynx shifter, he’s fascinated. And his protective instincts kick into

overdrive. The young man needs to be shielded from werewolves and humans alike, whether he likes it or

not.

Jonah can hardly wrap his head around the fact that other shifters exist, much less endure the presence

of a stranger in his lonely sanctuary. Blaming himself for his brother’s death, he lives in self-imposed

isolation. Trust? Forget it. Yet Trey’s patience penetrates Jonah’s fear, and it doesn’t take long for him to fall like a rock for the wolf.

Trey hadn’t pla

after his next undercover mission is over. As months stretch into years, however, Jonah fears that Trey has broken faith with him—or is dead. There’s only one way to find out. Leave the safety of his lair and

venture into a dangerous, deadly world…

Warning: violence, explicit sex.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Lynx:

Jonah had spent a hellish night lying awake, too wound up to sleep and worried that if he did, he’d

have a wet dream with Trey in the same room. Gawd, he and his body’s urges were making himself sick.

“You’re looking a little peaked,” Trey observed.

“I’m fine.” He could barely force his breakfast down, and he was going to have to get out of here,

away from Trey again. Jonah had never seen such a dubious expression on Trey’s face. He tried harder to

pass off his bizarre behavior. “I’m tired, that’s all. Didn’t sleep all that well.”

“Any reason why not?”

“No.” He hunched at the tone of that no, which sounded surly, like he was twelve years old. But God, he wasn’t prepared to explain why. He had no ability to handle this gracefully.

“I think we need to have a talk.”

Jonah’s head shot up, and he stared at Trey, heart begi

Trey could read his mind.

“Because,” Trey continued, “I’ll be gone in a week, and you’ll still be here. On your own.”

Jonah had been studiously ignoring anything to do with the fact Trey might be departing. He didn’t

see what he could do about it and he didn’t want to think about it. But he said, “Okay.” It came out hoarser

than he would have liked.

“So, I thought we should talk about strategies that could make you a little more comfortable with your

life.”

Jonah nodded. What the fuck was he supposed to say? There was silence, Jonah stared at his fists.

Maybe it would be better when Trey was gone. At least he’d get away from this stupid tension gripping

him.

“All right.” Jonah pulled in a breath and met Trey’s too-sharp gaze. “But I don’t see what I can say

about you leaving.”

“This isn’t about my leaving, it’s about you.” Trey pulled up the bench so he faced Jonah sitting on

the cot, their knees close but not touching. “First off, I’d like to come back here.”

“When?” Jonah said too quickly.

But Trey didn’t smile at his eagerness or his, let’s face it, desperation. In fact he looked more serious.

“That’s the problem. I don’t know when. It could be months, it could be more than a year. Longer, if I’m

unlucky.”

When Jonah didn’t respond—his heart was sinking over that amount of time, even if a part of him was

gratified that Trey wanted to come back—Trey reached over, wrapped a hand around Jonah’s knee and

gave it a shake, as if he was encouraging Jonah. He felt the warmth of Trey’s palm through his long johns.

He had kept on a long fla

starting again.

“Jonah, I’d like you to actually tell me a little about what’s going on inside your head.”

“Well, Trey,” began Jonah, irritated by the tone Trey was taking and irritated by himself for

responding so sexually to what was a friendly gesture. “I’m thinking a year is a fucking long time. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Sure.”

“Sure?”

“It’s great to hear anything when you’re trying to get a conversation going.” Trey dipped his head

slightly so Jonah had to meet his gaze. He didn’t want to meet that gaze which saw too much, but he

couldn’t resist. Trey continued, “Of course it’s a long time. Too long. I’m concerned about it. If I don’t get back before the summer, you need to go down to the town where you buy supplies and mingle a little

more.”

“Mingle,” Jonah repeated in disbelief.

“It’s not healthy for you to stay alone up here all the time. You’ve done great for three years, but you

can’t keep pushing it.”

“Mingle?” The anger was building and he set his jaw when he looked at Trey. “That’s unsafe. I need

to get in and I need to get out.”

“That’s your mother talking and I understand why—”

“You understand nothing,” Jonah seethed. “You come in here, live with me for a few days, and before

you take off you think you can tell me what I need to do to stay healthy?”

Trey looked a

“Grow up and learn to listen to someone who has something useful to tell you.”

That’s it. Jonah stood, partly to get away from Trey who was too close and too warm and too intent.

“You’re a tourist, passing by and impressed by my woodsman-style life, and then you’re gone. I don’t need

your advice. And I’d like to end this less-than-helpful conversation.”

Trey stood too, stepped towards him, when Jonah wanted more of his own space. But he would not

back up, give way. Trey, however, had gone all earnest again, not intimidating, and that made it worse