Group Meeting:
Demetria comes walking into the meeting room where she spots eleven other pregnant women sitting in a circle in comfortable chairs. Among the group of women, she was the youngest. She couldn’t believe how many of them had been forced or raped by people they trusted. She didn’t have that problem, she wanted to become a woman and became pregnant on purpose.

Fucking brute.

That was the only thing Jim could think as his Dad pontificated on all matters of life and love while he drove them both in his beaten-up white van to the job site.

His dad cleaned septic tanks for a living, and Jim was home on summer break for college, so he had been roped (read: forced) into accompanying him to today’s job, while his Dad’s regular guy, Simon, was out sick with a stomach bug, the product of some bad beef empanadas he had had for dinner the night before.

Akari, driven by her unyielding determination and the dragon’s hearthstone in her possession, was acutely aware that her journey was far from its conclusion. The next phase in her quest to craft the divine artifact was to locate the rare pyresteel, a metal forged in the most scorching of volcanoes. She foresaw this leg of the journey to be as treacherous as the previous ones, but her resolve remained steadfast.

An unexpected day of puzzles for many. Ketko confuses Ursula again, no-one knows if Lars can marry Nethra, and both Ursula and Eriana have received unexpected letters from King Robanar! The day ends with an ominous sighting.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

95 - Letters from Palarand

Helena and Alex stood side by side in the dim corridor of the mag-train, the low hum of its engines reverberating beneath their feet. They had just received word that the warning had come through in time. Morgan’s message, decoded by the Empress Consort, confirmed that an attempt to harm Alex was imminent. Connor’s plot had been laid bare.

Now, it was their turn to respond, a testament to their unwavering courage in the face of danger, their determination shining through every action they took.

This story is a scene set in Manchester England. A man comes home from work and finds his wife cooking dinner. This story is told from both points of view.

" Hi Michelle luv, I'm back! What's for dinner?"

Tony's back. I only hope he's not feeling too horny. I'm standing at the sink, washing up.

"There's a casserole in the oven. it should be ready in about ten minutes."

I can feel his eyes on me. I better turn the oven down.

Tony

The New Girl at Uskweirs Manor

a pastoral romance by Miriam Robern

The Posture of a Lady

Monmouthshire, July 1812

“You’re the one saying that I walk like a man,” Amelia pouted, careful about her enunciation and also squinting into the sunlight and balancing a stack of books on her head.

The Last Sleepover

Part Two

At a sleepover with his childhood best friends, Elliot hears them making fun of a transgender celebrity. Elliot has always felt different and an outsider. He works to discover his true identity and when he does it's hard to accept. Elliot struggles between staying silent and standing up for himself. Will he reveal his secret or pretend to be someone he’s not?

Blake Medical Recovery Center, Napa Valley, Northern California:
Cindy and Sara’s Office:
Dakota was sitting at a little table that Sara had bought for her to color and play on her tablet while she worked. Sara knew Dakota sometimes didn’t like being alone and felt better if she was nearby. She looked over towards Dakota and could tell she was happy.

When Akari returned to Gale Haven Academy, the atmosphere had shifted. Word of the king’s summons had spread quickly, and the students and faculty alike were abuzz with speculation. Her walk through the academy halls was met with hushed whispers and furtive glances, and the once familiar surroundings now felt tense and uncertain.

Kitchen Area:
Shelly and Clair were busy making pumpkin muffins and banana nut muffins for the buffet line. They had already made over forty muffins and were glad they were selling like hotcakes. Shelly looks at the Clair standing next to her.

“You're really good at cooking, Clair. Do you have formal training as a cook?” Shelly was curious because it was like Clair knew how to do everything without a lot of explanation. It took her several tries under Pamela’s tutelage to learn the proper way to read a measuring cup and such.

A summons from the king arrived just days after the battle with the dragon, delivered by a royal messenger with an air of urgency. Akari’s parents, the Duke and Duchess of Maylor, received the message with solemn expressions, understanding the gravity of the situation. The king was not someone who issued summons lightly, and to be called to the throne room with all of his advisors present meant that this was more than just a simple meeting.