QSFer Jess Mahler has a new queer paranormal romance/urban fantasy out (FFm MM, FMF): The Last Lady of Lună.
I was a child when enemies destroyed our clan.
My mother escaped and raised me in secret. Without my fathers’ blood, she aged and died. Now I am the last head of Clan Lună. My enemies think I am dead, my clan is scattered to the winds, and I am just coming into my powers. I will claim my birthright, rebuild my clan, and destroy our enemies. I’m just going to need a bit of help.
Luckily I know where to find it. A hot team of human mercenaries specializing in security is looking for their next job. They’re exactly what I need. Now I just need to convince them to believe me, keep my secrets, and rain hell on my enemies.
And if Lună is still watching out for me, maybe I’ll finally get laid.
The Last Lady of Lună is a slow burn paranormal romance and the first in a series about Natalia of the Lună vampires, her five mates, and the future they will build together. Contains FF, MM, and FMF relationships. No AI.
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Excerpt
Benj
Benj would never tell him, but God, he loved Marcus’ voice. Some days when he was giving a briefing, Benj’d close his eyes and just listen to that golden voice. Listening to the contrast between his bright tones and Ms Natalia’s husky croon? Benj nearly creamed his pants and to hell with what ever they were saying.
What was the point of negotiating a contract, anyway? What fucking court would be able to enforce a contract on a vampire? “Point of order, your honor: the contract said she was only allowed one pint of blood, but she took a pint and a half.” Yeah, right.
This was a leap of faith. Except Marcus wouldn’t be doing any leaping if Natalia kept cutting him off at the knees. As Benj was thinking that, she did it again.
“What do you mean, no salary?”
Natalia reached into a pocket and pulled out a stack of credit cards. She sorted through them a moment, then flipped one to Marcus. “Fine, give yourself a salary if you care so much. Your name is already on the account. I refuse to deal with the paperwork.”
Leyla snorted and shared a grin with Benj. Leyla understood, Benj thought. Victor might. Karen? Who knew. At least she’d stopped asking about Natalia’s knife collection.
Marcus?
Benj would die for that man. Might be about to give up his soul for that man. But damn, was Marcus missing the forest for the trees.
“That’s a hell of a lot of trust, ma’am,” Benj put in, “What happens if he decides to give himself a million dollar a week salary and clear you out?”
Natalia looked at him in surprise. “Why would he?”
Benj grinned, “He’s a greedy fucker sometimes.”
“Once we share blood, we will be bound. I don’t think any of you could do anything to harm me. It becomes… instinct, to take care of each other.”
“See, I thought it might be something like that. You being magic and all. But you got to spell these things out for us ignorant humans.”
“Marcus doesn’t read enough romance novels,” Karen put in. She’d gotten bored with tossing the knife and had switched testing the edge on her forearm. “He thinks this is a job offer and not a feudal thing. Obligation for obligation, right? Like old kings and knights. Not money for service.”
“Yes!” Natalia jumped on Karen’s explanation. “Well, not exactly but… much closer, yes.”
“So,” Karen continued. Benj watched as she eyed the knife and nodded. “It’s late, and I still need to look at your knives. We’re all going along with this way too easily. We should be freaking out, but instead, we’re signing on. I suppose that could be you using some magic whammy on us, but I don’t think so. You worked way too hard to give us a way out. Since we’re in urban fantasy territory, I’ll go with fate-thing.”
It took Benj a moment to catch up with what-all Karen was saying, but once he did, he nodded in agreement.
“Marcus,” she continued, “I get you are trying to protect us, but contracts aren’t protecting anyone from Dracu-lady. Let’s get this done so I can see the sharps, huh?”
And she drew the knife across her bicep, opening a shallow cut. Blood immediately began running down her arm.
Benj shook his head and laughed. That was Karen for you. She cut through enemies and bullshit with equal ease and saw the world in a way no one else ever would.
He glanced at Natalia. Her eyes were dilated, her tongue just peeking out of her lips… licking his own lips, Benj held out his hand for the knife. Karen gave him the sweetest smile and passed it over.
Natalia
Can you say you are staring if there are two things you can’t look away from, and your eyes keep flicking between them? It felt like I was staring.
Karen’s blood flowed down her arm to pool briefly in the crook of her elbow. A moment later, it overflowed and spilled onto the floor.
Benj held the knife over his own forearm, grinning at me.
I gripped the arms of my chair, felt the metal bend under my hands. Cheap aluminum.
“Be sure.”
I had seen blood before. Not often – people don’t go around bleeding all over town. But playground accidents, a bad car crash, that kind of thing.
But it had never called to me as Karen’s blood did. The scent of her blood reminded me of moonlight dancing on water, enticing me to come and play. I wanted to sink my teeth in and revel in her depths.
The knife in Benj’s hand, just dimpling his skin, teased and promised. It hinted at the red treasure hidden beneath it’s sharp edge and the promise that it would be spilled. I wanted that knife to sink into his skin. Wanted it to spill his life for me to lap up. I’d let it run down his arm to his fingers. Then I’d lick my way up his arm, pause to suck on that wound, and keep licking until I reached his neck and bit him. Fangs optional.
“Be sure,” I said again, my voice almost a growl.
“I’m ready to do this, ma’am. I expect I’ll regret it a bit later, but I’ll regret it more if I don’t.”
In spite of the blood and tension, I snorted at that. “I’ll certainly regret it more if you don’t, but it’s not my opinion that matters.”
Marcus opened his mouth, but Victor cut him off, “Get a move, Benj. My turn next.”
With a laugh, Benj sliced his arm open and tossed the knife across the room to Victor. Benj’s blood was dark on his white skin, reminding me of caramel syrup on vanilla ice cream, salty and sweet.
Author Bio
Jess’ weird fish-out-of-water life has left them with an enduring love/hate affair with common tropes. The relationship counselor recommended they break it off, but they just keep coming back to play with tropes (and fuck them up) some more.
In between their tropic indulgences, they write queer fantasy with aromantic, neurodivergent, and generally ‘weird’ characters, take care of their family, argue halakha, and try to do a bit of educational activism on the side.
They’re active on Tumblr, Mastodon, and a few other spots around the web.
| Universal Buy Link | https://books2read.com/u/m0LQYW |
|---|---|
| Author Website | www.jessmahler.com |
| Author Mastodon | https://indiepocalypse.social/deck/@JessMahler |