Tag Archives: mermen

NEW RELEASE: Mate to the Mermen by Ashlynn Monroe #Fantasy #PNR @ashlynn_monroe @changelingpress

Posted on by

Mate for the Mermen by Ashlynn Monroe
Published by Changeling Press
Cover Artist: Angela Knight

Daisy Daniels never expected her temp job cleaning for three hunks on a private island would lead to romance. She clearly hasn’t been watching enough reality TV. Falling in love with one, let alone all three of the Watersons, would be complicated enough without the burden of protecting their secret. Ocean, Bayou, and River aren’t just celebrity treasure hunters, they’re mermen.

Protecting the secret of her lovers is more challenging than Daisy ever imagined, almost as challenging as learning to cook without the help of the internet. Still, her life with the Triad would be perfect if River’s father, the King of Atlantis, didn’t hate her, and if Kai, the Prince of the Aegeans, wasn’t constantly causing trouble.

When karaoke night reveals Daisy has gift she has a lot more to think about than the laundry. Saving the world was never in the job description. How can she risk using her newfound gift when she could harm the three people she loves most?

Get it NOW at Changeling Press

Excerpt

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2023 Ashlynn Monroe

River swore under his breath. He hadn’t expected his father to show up. The old man’s timing couldn’t have been worse. In the upheaval of the last twenty-four hours, they’d missed an important call about a dive. That job couldn’t have come at a ghastlier time. They needed the footage, but the wreck wasn’t in Aegean-controlled currents. When they’d decided to dive it, they’d had no idea how complicated their lives would become. He turned to Daisy. “This is my father, King Delta, the ruler of Atlantis.” He returned his attention to his father. “Father, this is Daisy. She’s my Triad’s mate.”

Father snorted a rude, almost dismissive, sound. “A human?” Father spoke out loud, but in Atlantean. “Why are you so intent on destroying my faith that you’ll rule? I have given you time to come to your senses, but I’m starting to lose patience.”

River bristled. He replied in English. “I will not allow you to disrespect my mate.”

Daisy put her hand on River’s arm. “It’s okay.”

He could see the compassion in her beautiful brown eyes. “No, it’s not.” River put his arm around Daisy. Ocean and Bayou moved to stand at his side.

King Delta sighed. “I see you and your Triad are in agreement,” he continued in Atlantean, excluding Daisy.

“We are,” River said. “Triad always.”

“The seal must be found.” Father glared at Daisy a moment before turning his attention back to River. “I can’t believe you were so weak as to allow that pathetic excuse for a male to come into your home and take what belongs to our kingdom.” He glanced at Ocean and Bayou. “For all your talk of Triad, they’ve done nothing to help you protect our legacy.” He pinned River with an intense look filled with authority and anger. “River, you and you alone were entrusted with the seal as my way to ensure you remembered your responsibilities. Instead, you have mated with a human and let Prince Kai walk away with a national treasure. What do you have to say for yourself?”

River’s throat tightened. Even as ridiculous as his father looked standing on land in nothing but a cape, he still bore his position with an aura of power. He could still make River feel like nothing with a glance. If he tried to explain that Daisy would have died if he’d gone after the artifact, would his father relent? Probably not. “I’m sorry, Father.”

“Sorry will not get the seal back. Sorry will not change the fact you tied your soul to a frail human. What are you going to do, my son?” Father crossed his arms over his chest.

“We will help River get the seal back,” Ocean assured the king.

Father’s brow creased as he regarded Ocean with disgust. “I was not talking to you, traitor.”

River scowled. “Ocean would give his life for me and for our kingdom. He is not a traitor.”

King Delta turned to Bayou. “And did you want the human too, monster? Couldn’t you have talked sense into your prince? You know how easily the vulnerable are destroyed. You know how weak a human is, and yet you would allow your prince to tie you all to one female’s short life?”

Bayou glared at the king. “She has the strength of a Triad now.”

Few would have had the courage to do the same. River’s throat tightened.

“You are all pathetic!” The king growled, shaking his fist at River. “If the law allowed me to give the throne to your sister, I would. If you do not regain the seal, I’ll have my army drag those criminals you bonded with to the deepest, darkest prison in Atlantis. I’ll make sure they stay alive, but in hellish misery.”

Ocean and Bayou both stiffened. River looked away, unable to meet the anger and shame Father directed at him. “Father, please, don’t say such things. Daisy is human and you might disapprove of my decision to form our Triad but doing that would be beneath you. A king should never seek personal vengeance. You’ve told me that many times.”

His father took a step closer to him. He raised his fist. “You dare –”

Daisy stepped closer to the king. “I don’t know what you’re saying to them but chill out.”

King Delta turned his attention away from River to glare at Daisy. “Chill out?” he parroted in heavily accented English.

“Yes,” she said. “Chill. These are amazing men, and your tone is clear no matter what language you’re speaking. They don’t deserve a lecture. This is their home. If you can’t be respectful, maybe you should leave.”

River, Ocean, and Bayou inhaled sharply in unison. No one had ever dared tell King Delta to leave before now.

“I will not do this chill out! Fool human! You are of weak thoughts. You give yourself to these males, but they are little fish. Weak fish.” King Delta’s chin rose as he narrowed his eyes at Daisy.

“Let me assure you, there’s nothing little about these fish.” Daisy rolled her eyes and a small chuckle escaped. She looked to River, and he could see love in her gaze. “They are strong and brave.”

The king’s guard wore heavy tunics that fell to their knees. River was glad for Daisy’s sake that they were mostly covered as the large men approached her. Bayou was the first to make a protective move toward Daisy. The guards, knowing full well how easily Bayou could destroy their minds with gift, all stopped.

Daisy glared at the king of Atlantis, causing River to catch his breath in fear for her. “Who’s the little fish now? You need all these big guys to protect you from a human woman’s words?”

The king gave a derisive snort, but he held his hand up to stay his guard. In Atlantean he said, “Don’t bother with this unarmed human. She’s no threat to us.” Then he looked at Daisy and returned to speaking English. “Your tongue is sharp, female. But in water you have no protection from my wrath. Stay dry, woman of my son’s Triad, for under the waves my anger is great.” He turned, his cape billowing dramatically, then motioned for his guard to follow. His entourage tripped over themselves in their haste.

River was quiet as he watched them go. Bayou had moved to put his arm around Daisy. When they were gone Daisy turned to look at her Triad. She tilted her head to the side as her brow furrowed. “What? Why are you all so pale?”

Bayou stepped back to scowl at her. He started to pace. “That was fucking stupid. If you see River’s father again, keep your mouth shut.”

Daisy sucked in a sharp breath. Her lips pursed angrily, and her gaze shifted on Bayou with wrath. River put his arm around her, tugging her close. He picked up her long brown braid and tickled her nose with it. Her soft, sensual giggles broke the tension. When she looked up into his face, he had to kiss her. His lips caught hers and his kiss was hungry, needy.

No one else had ever spoken up for him like she had. She’d had no idea just how dangerous her actions were, but that blind need to protect his heart fed his need to be close to her. When he broke the kiss, he put his cheek on the top of her head. “Brave and foolish. You’re perfect for us.”

About the Author

Ashlynn Monroe is a busy working mom. She loves her kids and family. Her greatest joy is creating stories to entertain others, and she hopes they bring a little more romance into the world. She’s been writing since her teens for her own enjoyment but decided in her thirties to share her imagination with readers. Ashlynn enjoys biking, camping, reading, video games, and filling her home and life with love. If she’s not working or chasing children, you can find her daydreaming up her next tale of romance.

 Author Website/Blog |  Amazon Author Central |  Author Facebook  | Author Twitter

Perfect Rhythm by Megan Slayer #LGBTQ #UrbanFantasy @MeganSlayer @changelingpress

Posted on by

The moment the king passed down the curse, Minos knew he wasn’t getting his voice back. He’s caused enough heartache for two lifetimes, but when he sees a handsome man struggling in the lake, his innate desire to protect comes to the surface.

John Leed just wants to be loved. When he comes out to his friends, instead of embracing him, they throw him overboard — into the arms of a merman. Once together, he realizes he’s found the partner he’s always wanted.

Minos is determined to protect this human. Can they forge a relationship or will the secrets in Minos’s past disrupt their perfect rhythm?

Available Now at Changeling Press

preorder for February 5th at online booksellers

EXCERPT

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2021 Megan Slayer

I’ll never get my voice back. Minos swam through the lake with nowhere to go. He wished he had somewhere to be, but being banned, all he could do was linger.

He’d lost his purpose — working for the king — and his voice. Why? Because he’d trusted the wrong mer. Sure, he’d been partially to blame. He’d pursued Rian, the prince of the mers, a bit too heavily. In his defense, he’d thought Rian loved him.

He’d been so wrong.

He continued to swim and cursed the king’s decision to punish him. He didn’t deserve to be without a voice. No one could understand him, and he’d failed at expressing himself. His magic remained, but faded the longer he was punished. Where was this perfect being to complete him and fix the problem?

That being probably didn’t exist.

He couldn’t shake his anger. All he’d wanted was to be loved. He’d truly thought he had a connection with Rian, and that they could’ve even been partners.

Except he knew the truth. He and Rian would never be together. They weren’t couple material.

Fuck. He wished he had his voice back. His anger wasn’t going anywhere, but time made him realize he needed to apologize and be honest with not only Rian, but himself. He’d been terrible to Rian, and the guilt ate at him.

Minos surfaced. One thing he loved was the way the moon shimmered on the waves on the lake at night. The water was never calm, but the ripples reminded him of magic. Like the magic surrounded him. The glittery effect never lasted long, but was still dazzling.

He shook his hair out and surveyed the landscape. At night, the water and sky seemed to blend into endlessness.

The moonlight sparkled on the waves. He trailed his fingers through the dark water. The ripples mesmerized him. A sound filtered to him, and he tipped his head. The sound reminded him of a whistle or horn. A boat?

He glanced over his shoulder and spotted a vessel. He’d seen plenty of boats, and this one didn’t seem overly exciting. It was a bigger watercraft and had people lounging in the moonlight on the deck. They were partying and singing or playing music. One man appeared to have a drink in his hand.

Minos stayed out of sight from the boat and watched the humans. Two men stood at the railing. A woman reclined in a chair, and another one stepped out onto the deck. A third man held a big glass.

Minos hated playing the voyeur, but he couldn’t look away. He wanted a group of friends and a place to belong. Those people seemed carefree and happy.

Maybe he could approach them. One of these people could be his destiny. Was he supposed to talk to the humans? He wasn’t sure how without his voice, but he’d been wrong about the magic before.

He listened closer, but didn’t hear the music. His destiny would come with the specific song of his mate. If anyone in the boat could belong to him, then he would hear the unique tune.

Nothing.

The voices filtered to him again, though, and he honed in on the conversation.

“John wants to tell us something,” one of the women said. She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. “He says it’s important.”

“Nothing with John is important.” The dark-haired man swatted at one of the women. “He’d have to speak up first, and he’s so shy.”

“And too dramatic.” The blond man laughed. “He can’t say anything too exciting.”

“Now, it might be important,” the other girl said. “My brother wanted that promotion at work. He’s good at his job and would be a great building manager. He’s been shift manager for a long time and proving himself.”

Minos dipped under the water to breathe. He had no idea what a building manager might be and wondered what it looked like. Did that mean the man was in charge of the boxes the humans lived in? Worked in? He surfaced and listened to the humans talk.

“Well, whatever it is, he can get his ass out here any time now,” one of the guys said.

Minos couldn’t follow the conversation, but he enjoyed listening. The humans were so angry and pushy.

A fourth man ventured out to the deck. The other humans were dressed for night swimming and lounging on the boat, but this guy seemed out of place. He wore glasses and kept his inky black hair cut short. Instead of being dressed like the other men in shorts, he wore a button-down shirt and slacks.

Minos stared at him. He liked the way this man looked. He longed to touch him. A faint tune played in his ears. Was it music from the radio? He wasn’t sure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on various e-tailer sites.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

Perfect Cadence by Megan Slayer #NewRelease #Shifters @MeganSlayer

Posted on by

 Love with a mer-shifter isn’t impossible, but things could get tricky, unless there’s faith.

Cover Art by Karen Fox

Sam Rowlands wants a partner in his life. Someone who loves him through thick and thin. He knows what he wants — his roommate. Can he convince Gael to give him a chance?

Gael isn’t an average guy — he’s a mer-shifter. He’s got the ability to walk on land and swim in the sea with ease. He escaped life in the water and found solace with Sam. But Sam doesn’t know the truth. Will he get his man and the life he wants, or will he scare Sam away before they find the love they deserve?

Get it Today at Changeling Press

EXCERPT

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2020 Megan Slayer

“Andrew wanted to be with an influencer. He thought you would get him into a cool party or two and snag him free stuff. He wanted to use you — nothing else.”

“I know, and I did those things.” He cringed, thinking about the free shit he’d brought home to Andrew and the parties he’d allowed Andrew to attend as his plus one.

“And when the opportunities dried up?”

“He left with Stephen.”

“Exactly.”

Maurice didn’t have to be so correct. “Thanks.” Sam sagged in his office chair. “I feel so much better.”

“You should. You deserve better than that crumb.” Maurice shrugged. “I never liked Andrew.”

He fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Of course you hate him. You were in a great relationship with Lamar when I was with Andrew. You wanted to be the happy one — not me.”

“Wrong.” Maurice waved his hand. “Lamar isn’t a person, and he wasn’t a good match for me.” He stood. “I need to show you something.”

“What? I’ve seen your dick.” Sam remained seated. “What is it?”

“You loved seeing my cock, but no.” Maurice dragged Sam to his feet. “Keys?”

“Are we going somewhere?” He should get his column and blog posts done.

“Yes. Leave your phone and stuff. We won’t need them, and I’ve got the keys.” Maurice practically danced out of the room. “I’ve wanted to show you this for ages.”

“It’s not your dick?” He allowed Maurice to drag him out of his office, then through their shared condominium to the back patio. “Are we going to the beach?” He wasn’t dressed for an afternoon in the sun. “Maurice.”

“Just trust me. It’s the answer to your issues and the change you need.” Maurice hustled them down to the sandy shoreline. “Besides, you need to see this.”

“Okay.” Whatever. “What is it?”

Maurice tugged the green shell he always carried from his pocket and deposited the keys inside. He draped the shell around his neck. “So.” His green eyes glittered. “I always talk about La Mer. You think it’s Lamar, but it’s La. Mer. This is La Mer.” He gestured to Lake Erie. “The sea.”

“It’s the lake, not the sea.” Big deal. He’d seen Lake Erie every day from the kitchen window in the condo.

“Yeah, but to me it’s more.” Maurice whipped his shirt over his head. “I’m not just a musician or a drag queen.” He chucked his shorts and stepped up to the edge of the water. “Sam, I’m from La Mer.”

“I don’t know what you’re doing, but you’re going to get arrested if anyone sees you down here naked. Why are you acting like this?” He shook his head. “Maurice.”

“You don’t get it.” Maurice bowed his head and tumbled into the lake. The splash obscured Sam’s vision for a moment. When Maurice surfaced, he shook his head and sent water droplets in every direction. He paddled and grinned. “See?”

“I do. I didn’t know you wanted to go swimming.” He plopped down in the sand. “I’ll watch.”

“No.”

“I don’t want to swim.” Maurice usually didn’t act this thickheaded.

“Ugh.” Maurice crawled out of the water.

“Why aren’t you walking? Did you cut your foot on the rocks? I told you they’re jagged through here.” He hadn’t seen Maurice injure himself. “Hey.”

Maurice left the water and settled next to Sam. Instead of his legs, a fish tail and fins had taken their place. His lower half shimmered with deep green scales and sparkles. A thin trail of green hair trailed from his navel to the upper swell of his tail. His muscles seemed more defined, but his cock was obscured. Maurice beamed. “I’ve wanted to show you this for so long.”

“I’m confused. That’s a great costume, but how did you keep it on in the water?” He stared at Maurice. His hair had tinged green and his eyes glittered. Even his facial hair had a bit of green woven in.

“Feels good to be myself.” Maurice flopped his tail in the sand. “I needed to get back to the water.”

“Right. Everyone needs to be in the water.” Maurice was so matter-of-fact. He’d stunned Sam into the ridiculous reply, but what else was he supposed to say? “I’m sorry. What’s happening? You’re punking me, right? This is a huge joke.”

The genuine hurt in Maurice’s eyes bothered Sam. “Why would I joke about this?” Maurice asked.

Sam sagged in the sand. “I’m confused. What’s going on here?”

“I’m a merman.”

PLAYLIST

Rocketman – there’s something that feels under water to me about it (Plus that’s how it’s done for part of the song in the movie)

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – it’s one of my favorite Elton John songs and it fit the moods of the characters

The One by Elton John – there’s a part about dancing out the ocean and it reminded me of Sam watching Gael.

I’ve Been a Long Time Leavin’ (But I’ll Be a Long Time Gone)  by Waylon Jennings – reminded me of Gael getting out of his former life.

Other songs include: 

Will You Still Love Me? by Chicago

Act Naturally by Buck Owens

When Legends Rise by Godsmack

Your Song – the Taron Edgerton version

Amoreena – the Taron Edgerton version

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on various e-tailer sites.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

Find her online: Website | Facebook | Twitter