The Mentor's ShadowChapter 1: New BloodThe Miami-Dade forensics lab hummed with its usual controlled chaos as Dexter Morgan bent over the blood spatter analysis on his desk. Three drops, medium velocity, arterial spray consistent with a defensive wound. The killer had been sloppy—emotio...
Read MoreThe Northern Wolf's GambitChapter 1: An Unlikely AllianceThe smoke from burning villages darkened the autumn sky as Uhtred of Bebbanburg rode hard toward Winchester. His horse's hooves thundered against the Roman road, each beat matching the urgency pounding in his chest. Behind him, thre...
Read MoreThe first time Maya saw him, he was standing at the edge of the forest where the hiking trail curved toward the lake. Tall and broad-shouldered, with russet hair that caught the late afternoon sunlight and dark eyes that seemed to see straight through her. When their gazes met across the clearing...
Read MoreThe Nine-Tailed LanternsLong ago, before shinobi built their villages, the world was wilder, softer, and stranger. Forests whispered secrets to the wind, mountains held grudges, and rivers sometimes got up and walked away for a while. In those days, the great Tailed Beasts roamed free — col...
Read MoreIt had been three years since the molten cheese eruption of Mount Doom, and life in the Shire was peaceful. Sam was mayor, Frodo was writing a cookbook called There and Snack Again, and Pippin had started a band called The Second Breakfast Club.But one day, a strange announcement appear...
Read MoreIt began, as these things often do, with a perfectly harmless mistake.Pippin was in the Shire, looking for second breakfast, when he stumbled upon an unfamiliar recipe in the back of the Green Dragon Inn’s kitchen:“The One Ring Batter — crispier than the fires of Mount Doo...
Read MoreIt was a perfect day for Quidditch. The stands were full, the air was crisp, and Lee Jordan was already narrating the match with a level of enthusiasm normally reserved for lottery winners and people who’ve just discovered free cake.“AND HERE COME THE GRYFFINDORS!” he yelled. &l...
Read MoreIt was an unusually sunny morning at Hogwarts, which usually meant only one thing: something deeply ridiculous was about to happen.Harry was eating toast in the Great Hall when Dobby the house-elf suddenly appeared beside him, looking more panicked than usual.“Harry Potter, sir! You must&nb...
Read MoreIt was a perfectly ordinary Tuesday in the Gryffindor common room—by which I mean there were three exploding cauldrons, Neville’s plant had eaten a chessboard, and someone had charmed Ron’s hair to constantly change color like a magical mood ring.“Has anyone seen my wand?&...
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