STORY EXCERPT

“Out of the way,” a panicking middle-aged man shouted as he shoved Kyle against a car.

Kyle fell over but made sure not to drop his new watch. If something were to happen, that would be his memento. He looked at the tires of the car. His eyes widened as the car was lifted up and one of the invaders came into view. She had some kind of armor made of red, smooth, bright scales. It nearly covered her from head to toe, going all the way underneath her long, flowing robes. What the hell was going on? Was this the apocalypse?

He ran right before she threw the car in his direction. When he crossed the street, he stopped abruptly. Thousands of those people, if not more, continued to come through what seemed to be their portal. He looked around and realized no one was paying any attention to him. They were too busy dealing with each other.

Kyle peeked through the portal and saw light at the end. Were they from another dimension? He stayed close to the black, glass-like wall and began to slowly walk through the portal. With so many people coming through it, he’d have time to see what was on the other side and come back.

He had to walk for a few minutes, but finally made it. Just when he reached the other end, the stream of people stopped. He adjusted his eyes to the light and stepped to the other outside. “What…?” His body froze involuntarily. What was this place?

Two strangely close moons were side by side on the light green sky. There were a few white clouds, and the air smelled extremely clean. However, when he looked down, it was a different matter entirely—a bloodbath. Bodies with and without armor were scattered on the ground. Bits and pieces were also nearby, some of the smooth, colorful armor scales still attached. His legs shook and were about to give out.

Those people had to run away.

Kyle turned around to return, but all he could see was the continuation of this new dimension. The bag slipped from his sweaty hand. Wait, was he trapped in this place?

He heard a few people talking in that strange language behind him. Before he could hide, someone gripped his shoulder. Kyle looked back, shaking with fear. He was just about to burst into tears and beg for his life.

The person behind him looked completely human, except for the flowing robes of pastel colors. He had bright green eyes and short black hair. The man patted Kyle’s head while speaking in that strange language.

“I don’t understand,” Kyle said quietly.

“English?” the man asked with his head tilted.

Kyle lit up. “Can you speak English? I’m not from here. Can you please help me?”

Another tall man approached him. “I learned some English on my free time. That is why we wasn’t a part of war. My people been preparing to go to your world. We had big war with two half of our world. One half needed to escape, but both sides went. Only some of us stayed.”

So they’d been planning to go? Kyle had many questions, but first he needed to find a way home. “Can you open the portal again? I need to go back. My family is on the other side.”

The one with his hand still on Kyle’s head looked down. “Lians that open the portal are in your world now. They do not know you are here. Only when we exchange information, they will know.”

“When?” Kyle asked hesitantly, fearing the answer.

“Do not know,” the other man answered. “We should leave here. Still bad Lians here.” He held Kyle’s hand to lead him somewhere.

Kyle grabbed his watch quickly. He tried to stop, but his shoes dragged on the dry dirt. These people weren’t normal. Well, if they had armor that came out of their skin, it was no surprise. He followed reluctantly when they entered the woods. Everything was different in their world. Many trees had strange, blue fruits that weighed them down to the point of curving the whole trunk. The top almost touched the ground.

“Do not touch,” one of them said, resting his hand on a tree for a second.

Kyle stared when sharp spikes grew out slowly, blue liquid dripping through the tips. If that wasn’t poison, he didn’t know what else it could be. He came to a stop, causing the two men to stop as well. “W–what’s that?”

What was a bright yellow centipede the size of a Chihuahua doing passing by them like it was nothing?

“Insect from our world,” the other man answered. “We listened that humans kill animals to eat. We do not need to kill. We have plants and fruits. It is illegal to kill animals here.”

“Heard,” Kyle said.

The man raised a brow at him. “Heard?”

Kyle nodded. “You hear about something, you don’t listen about something,” he tried to explain with simple words.

“Human, while you wait, you teach us more English?”

“Wait?” Kyle clenched his jaw. How long would that be? And why were they getting further away from the portal’s location?

ADULT EXCERPT

“Kyle,” Rowan whispered.

Surprised, Kyle turned his eyes to his right. “What the hell are you doing here? If Lucas sees you, he’ll kill you.”

“If you tell him not to, he’ll listen,” Rowan said. “Kyle, if we agreed to do things to get your attention, I have to join the game. Demons keep their word. There will be no fights.”

Kyle opened his mouth to retort, but he winced when something bony crushed his foot on top of the covers. “Hey—”

“What are you doing here?” Lucas shouted. “Get out, demon!”

“Like hell I will,” Rowan shot back.

Kyle scooted closer to the edge of the bed as the demons kept shoving at each other and arguing. “You—” He got cut off again as one of them run him over with his massive body. He tried to move away, but instead was pushed off of the bed, and fell on his side with a loud thud. Silence fell in the room.

“Are you okay?” Lucas asked, resting his hand on Kyle’s shoulder.

“Do I look okay to you?” Kyle shouted. He got up slowly, massaging his aching shoulder. “I’m done.” He counted his steps to the door, and patted around in search of the handle. His anger boiled as he couldn’t find it. “I’m so sick of this!” He punched the door several times, breathing heavily. He couldn’t care less if his fist hurt. A tight knot formed in his throat. He’d accepted the fact that he was blind, but now he was so tired of it. No matter if it happened today, he still couldn’t accept it. How did other blind people cope with not seeing the world around them? And he’d had the chance to see, while it was impossible for them.

Someone hugged Kyle from behind. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” Lucas said close to Kyle’s ear.

Kyle’s heart thumped in his chest. Lucas actually apologized. His eyes widened as he was taken toward the bed. “Don’t think you’ll be forgiven just like that. I already told you two to stop. You never listen.” He felt Lucas passing him to Rowan and onto the bed, as if he was as light as a feather. Rowan sat him between his thighs and hugged him against his strong torso. “What are you doing? Since when are both of you buddies?”

“We’re just going to help you relieve some stress. That’s all,” Lucas said. He slid his fingers into the hem of Kyle’s pants and peeled them off.

Kyle covered his groin with his hands. His heart pounded in his chest. “How is this helping with stress? You’re just doing whatever you want,” he said, half serious. He sucked in a breath when Lucas licked his hands. A jolt of pleasant electricity gathered in his twitching cock. “Don’t play with me, Lucas.” Just great. Now his feelings were conflicted. They needed to solve this matter. However, just like the demons that they were, their determination could change easily.

“I’m not playing with you, I’m playing with this,” Lucas said, slowly moving Kyle’s thumb aside with his finger. “If you really don’t want me to continue, just tell me.”

It was obvious Lucas wanted to do this, especially when they’d known each other for a day. It didn’t surprise Kyle that he’d been getting ready to make a move. He nibbled on his bottom lip as he felt the strong heartbeat against his back. Rowan seemed eager as well. “If you can convince me, I might let you,” Kyle said quietly. If so far they only cared about their feelings, he would care about his own as well. He breathed in Lucas’s fresh scent. Warmth emanated from him. Lucas was just inches away from him.

“I’ve told you before that you’re the cutest guy I’ve seen, right?” Lucas said. He caressed Kyle’s cheek. “I just thought you would choose Rowan because there’s a possibility he can cure your blindness. Even if I’m as strong as I am now, I’m not sure I can help you with that. I thought of trying, but if it didn’t work, you would definitely pay more attention to Rowan.”

Kyle sighed. “It’s not as if I’ll suddenly jump into the arms of the one that can do it. This and that are different things,” he said. “You’re not the ones who blinded me. You and Rowan owe me nothing, and don’t think for a second that favors are what makes me fall for someone.” It was strange to be half naked while having a serious conversation.

“What does?” Rowan asked.

“Someone being themselves and expressing how they feel,” Kyle answered. Lucas suddenly hugged him tightly, causing him to exhale deeply. “At least let me breathe.”

Lucas pulled away. “I need to touch you more, Kyle,” he said, his deep voice seductive. “I’ve been wanting to do that since the first moment I saw you. Like I said before, you’re my mate and I’ll treat you as such. As hard as this may be to believe, especially coming from me, you can trust me.”

Should he let Lucas do it? They were mates, there would be no reason to refuse. Was not wanting to give in to a big baby a good excuse?