Page 88 of The Troll’s Summer Flame

“No! No, we’re not! Not yet!” Andrea calls, running after him. “Oh, my God. You don’t have a shotgun, do you, Gordon? Never mind. Daddy! I’m not pregnant!”

“This is my life now,” I tell Chopin.

“Mrp?” Chopin looks at me and rubs his nose against my chest.

I sigh, smile, and follow my brother and my future bride into the chaos that is now my cabin. “Yes, you’re right. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

We loved having you in Pine Ridge! If you’d like to read about another monster romance, keep reading for a sneak peek of Steel Wings, another monster romance standalone in the Pine Ridge Universe!

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Steel Wings

Marlow

My brother has always been the soft one, the sensitive one, the quiet one. I used to be mad at him for living his life in fear and hiding—and now he’s Mr. Suburbs, with a wife and a job, and a certified member of the gardening club. Maybe I envy him for that—even if I’m sure I don’t want it for myself. A cozy life in paranormal-friendly Pine Ridge isn’t for me.

Until Earl, a blind Vietnam Vet and my only friend, needs me to step up and take care of him in ways that a mothman living by his wits can’t manage. It looks like we’re Pine Ridge bound, and I resign myself to being stuck in plaid purgatory...until I see her.

Cathy

I fit the definition of “good girl.” I’ve always been the sweet, plump bookworm in my trio of besties. I like my flowy dresses and my pastel mug of tea while I grade papers and call my parents every day. If I grow into the caricature of the kindly old school marm with cats by her rocking chair, I guess that’s okay.

Until I see my bestie’s brother-in-law at the nursing home where my class is participating in an Adopt-A-Grandparent activity. Marlow is a cocky troublemaker who has given my friends grief for years—although he has been getting better. I see how he loves and protects his elderly friend, Earl, and Earl’s service dog, Tilly. I see the way he stares at me, too. I see all the fantasies I ever had about a bad boy in a leather jacket sweeping me off my feet suddenly coming true... If I let them.

Steel Wings

She’s too soft and pretty for someone like me. Too good for a literal monster with a sketchy past like me. So why does she make me so hard it hurts, and still turn my insides to mush? To survive in this world, I’ve always had to be the strong one, a beast with steel wings wrapped around Lennox and myself to shield us after our parents passed. Would Cathy ever be able to accept the armored appearance I show the world while keeping my secret about what a soft, gentle life I’d love to build for us?

Steel Wings is a steamy monster romance standalone set in the Pine Ridge Universe.

Marlow

November, 2025

“Did your brother call?”

Geez, it’s been months since I saw Lennox and Cindy in person. Weekly video chats help. I know my brother doesn’t hate my guts. Cindy actually likes me—somewhat. We both have a raunchy sense of humor and mouths like truckers.

Or Vietnam Vets.

I hold Earl’s hand as he moves around the room, his feet shuffling. He’s lost so much weight. At first, I thought it was healthy—but then it kept dropping.

The grizzled, blind man next to me is too thin, and his middle is swollen. When I help him to his chair, his skin looks tight, red and shiny through the gap between his socks and the worn leather vest that’s draped over his knees, covered in patches, the twin of mine.

“Yeah, he called. Doing good. Loves his job. Loves his wife. They have a nice little place. Still the same good bunch of pals.”

“Good. Good.” Earl’s voice is mumbly. He stares at Jeopardy on the television with unseeing eyes.

Earl hates Jeopardy—and he’s blind. He can’t see anything but shadows, and he’s staring so intently—or his eyes are glazing over. Fixed. He used to be able to see fuzzy outlines and shadows, and I’d catch his eyes moving towards the light, or he’d turn his head towards sounds. Not now.

“Earl, you’re scaring me.”

“Huh?”

I swallow down the panic rising in me. I don’t like feeling like this. Tilly whimpers in the corner and then runs in circles around our feet.

She knows I need to help him.