In the opulent halls of the palace, Prince Connor, a man of sharp wit and cunning, turned to his trusted assistant, Grayson. Grayson, a man of unassuming appearance but keen intellect, was dressed in a crisp business suit. "Grayson, enlighten me on what you've discovered about Consort Alex. I intend to use her to thwart Princess Helena's ascent to the throne," Connor said, his voice laced with a mix of determination and intrigue.

CHAPTER 31
Vic stared hard at me for a few seconds, before his gaze dropped to his plate. He pushed a few bits of chicken around with his fork before looking back up.

“Did Dafi really say he was frightened of us?”

Slowly, Rhodes.

Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on StockSnap

It happens when you're an old fart. You just sort of doodle along, until one day you open your dresser drawer and there is only one pair of shorts left in there and when you put them on they sort of droop and barely hang on, the elastic shot from too many washings. Back when I was married such things just wouldn't have happened, my wife would have replaced my worn underwear as part of her wifely duties. Seriously, that's how she thought of such things – wifely duties.

Reborn a Maiden
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

I don’t think that it is necessary to go into all the details of what I did at Pennsic 2022. It is all irrelevant now anyway. But what I do need to do is explain some of the background as to why I could not stay away from Pennsic 2023.

I sat in silence during dinner, not wanting to bring up anything up to my parents, since the other parents had not told them anything about the past few days. I imagined a small mob of pitchforks and torches slowly advancing upon our house and I would have to talk about everything. We were just about to have dessert when there was a loud knock on the front door.

A Grumpy Old Man’s Tale 55 Just Three Longer Tales

“Yes. I’m interested. You said you wanted a wife and were honest as to why. I’ll be just as honest. I’d be grateful of the care and protection of a decent man, but I’ve a son to protect. I’m no whore, but the exchange of bed comforts and a well kept dwelling for the protection of herself and her children is an exchange so ancient it’s decent way beyond decency, so my price is marriage. When do we get married? because till then I’m not prepared to offer you the opportunity to father my second child.”

Diva in Disguise Chapter 6

Seeing Ryan again? That hadn’t been the plan. Despairingly I shook my head and broke free to run for the door. Once outside I saw that Karen was already in her car and reversing out of the parking space. Oblivious to my presence, she nearly ran into me as I hastened to the door on the passenger side. I had to hammer on the windshield before she turned and saw me. She sure was taking her part in our role play seriously!

Chapter 23

“Thanks, Agnes, see you later.”

I went to where David was trying to answer fifteen questions at once.

“David, we have a security screen. They’ll help us get out to the cars. I don’t think that we’re going to be able to answer everyone, or to make the fans happy, but we have to get out.”

He nodded so I went over to the leader of a very fierce looking group of guys.

“I believe that you’re going to help us get to our cars, lads. Can we do it without blood on the floor?”

“Hey. You wanna talk?” Pansy asked as I walked into our room.

“So you heard?” I asked as I started disrobing.

“Honey, the whole school has heard by now. But I thought you two were happy.”

Sam has hid from the world for most of his life but a chance encounter has burst everything open. Sam meets Tracy at the park and they begin their training.

It was around 8 am the next morning that I ferried Jackson downstairs in search of breakfast. He'd already been up for thirty minutes at that point but I'd been up thirty minutes prior trying to decide what he and I were going to wear for the celebration.

Deciding on Jackson's outfit had been simple enough. I'd chosen a button-down shirt and khakis, a timeless choice for any event. Dressing a young boy was easy, if a bit boring.

A bit more difficult though was choosing an outfit for myself.

Valin couldn’t help but let out a scream as half of his room was reduced to rubble. Luckily, whoever or whatever had cast the spell was concerned for the safety of the occupants, for there was another spell being cast; Some kind of absorption/portal type of thing. Even as he watched his clothing, his computer, his television and half his books sucked into oblivion, he couldn’t help but be impressed; To coordinate and cast such powerful spells in succession took incredible skill.

“This is good. Thanks,” said David as he wiped the last of the Lasagne sauce from his plate with a piece of bread.

“Only ‘good’?”