X has never been sexier

Check out a teaser at Untethered Realms from the third book in the 13th Floor series, The Dragonslayer.

X is one of the most difficult letters to come up with a post for during the A to Z Challenge. Find out what other clever participants are sharing today by clicking here.

You vote for the creature with the most X Factor!

  Today is the X post of the 2014 A to Z Challenge!

Lots of people usually have trouble with X, but I've read so many clever ones over the past couple of years. I can't wait to see what your posts are about this year!

  Today at Untethered Realms, we're inviting you to vote for the creature with the most X Factor. We have some fearsome beasts and a certain snarky stuffed hippo. Come on over and have some fun with this UR group post!

The UR blog is also nearing 100 followers. Woo-hoo!

When we hit 100, we'll be having a massive giveaway. This is one you don't want to miss out on.

A to Z Challenge 2013 - X is for Xanax

I'm posting snippets from a story for this year's Challenge.

If you'd like to read the whole tale, please start with A.

 X IS FOR XANAX

How fascinating. A monster born from an adult's fears. Fenn mused.

"What? It's not possible!" Danielle yelled, ignoring the blood streaming down her arm as she stood and readied herself for the next attack.

The monster was more wary this time. It curled up and watched her, clearly weighing its options. All the while, it shook that infernal rattle.

"It is! It is!" Libby sobbed and hugged her father's arm. "I like snakes. I'm not scared of them!"

I believe her. Fenn stated. Erik's fear for his daughter is powerful.

Danielle shook her head. She didn't want to believe Erik had created these nightmares. The man might need some Xanax sometimes, but no adult could be that terrified.

Images of Erik flashed through her mind. Him smiling, slow and sexy. His easy laugh. The glassy-eyed look he got when watching the news. Always with the news.

The bonnet and rattle. The baby store that had gotten robbed. Then the squirrel with the shotgun for the school shooting in Kentucky. The gangster mummy for the murder at the museum.

Damn.

I think the only answer to saving the child may be to kill Erik.

A to Z Challenge - X is for Xenophobic

This is part of an ongoing story throughout the Challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

X IS FOR XENOPHOBIC

The world seemed to shatter around her, but it was only Abby's heart. She fell to her knees, shaking her head as the tears streamed down her cheeks. It was her fault Demetrius was dead. She knew honor meant much to him, but she knew the real reason he stayed. He protected her because he fell in love with her. And she had let him stay because she loved him too.

"Now I have the mighty warrior on her knees before me." Burrows chortled and walked over the fae's body toward Abby. "Brought down not by my fighting prowess, but by her own fear of loss. This is better than when I killed my first Fearless. She was pathetic compared to you."

Abby didn't move. She couldn't take her eyes off Demetrius. She'd never feel his lips on hers again nor hear his sexy, gravelly laugh.

"Soon the rest of the Fearless will fall just as you did. Warriors you might be, but you're all so pitifully human." Burrows spat onto the floor. "Then I will rule. The big bad wolf wins in this story."

"What?" Abby wasn't sure she had heard the beast's mad ramblings, but it was slowly sinking into her head. "All the Fearless?"

"Oh yes." Burrows clapped her hands with an excited little hop and stopped five feet in front of Abby. "Why do you think I wrote all those books? Do you honestly think I have aspirations to be an author?" She snorted. "No, no. I want to rid the world of you Fearless and then the monsters can roam free. I'm seeding the minds of children. Not every one of them will be special enough, but there are more and more out there with imaginations fertile enough to create magnificent creatures like me. Children are not as xenophobic as adults. They will live with us and we will live off them."

The children.

No one in this town had protected the children. And if this beast had its way, there would be no one left in the world to protect them.

Abby's hands grew brighter and the glow slowly worked its way up her arms.

"Powering up for one last desperate attack?" Burrows smirked, rolling her eyes. "Ah, how you amuse me."

The glow picked up speed. It went past Abby's shoulders across her chest and back. The empty ache within her dulled and determination replaced it. Her whole body glowed as she raised her head.

"This your imitation of a nightlight?" Burrows' snark wasn't as confident as it had been a few seconds ago.

"The big bad wolf never wins." Abby rose to her feet. Her purpose had never been more clear. "You will never harm another child."

"I've rewritten the ending." Burrows hissed and struck out at Abby. The first tendril that hit her sizzled and melted with no effect. The monster screeched and lashed out with several tendrils. Each one withered if it didn't retract.

"You're not one of the Fearless. I broke you." Burrows shuddered with rage. "I took from you what you feared most to lose. I will take your pathetic life!"

"I've never feared death. And now you've taken away those I care about." Abby stepped forward, feeling lighter than she ever had. "There's nothing left I fear. You didn't break me. You made me truly one of the Fearless."