Title: Ge-Mi: Part One
Author: Mell Eight
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: March 16, 2020
Heat Level: 2 – Fade to Black Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 33900
Genre: paranormal fantasy, LGBTQIA+, MM romance, opposites attract, genetically modified humans, law enforcement, restaurant server, men with pets, cat rescue
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Synopsis
A hundred years ago, evil scientists
spliced human genes with those of animals, creating a genetic mutation passed
on through the generations. Hated because of their differences, these Ge-Mis
live on the fringes of society where they scrounge and scrape to get by.
spliced human genes with those of animals, creating a genetic mutation passed
on through the generations. Hated because of their differences, these Ge-Mis
live on the fringes of society where they scrounge and scrape to get by.
Nevada is half Ge-Mi and hides that fact
behind baggy clothes and by keeping distance between himself and everyone
around him. One day, his peaceful life is shattered by an explosion and the
arrival of a pack of wolves to sniff out the culprit.
behind baggy clothes and by keeping distance between himself and everyone
around him. One day, his peaceful life is shattered by an explosion and the
arrival of a pack of wolves to sniff out the culprit.
Wolves have excellent noses and as
Alpha, Taylor can sniff out every one of Nevada’s secrets—and the harder Nevada
tries to resist, the more difficult staying away from Taylor becomes.
Alpha, Taylor can sniff out every one of Nevada’s secrets—and the harder Nevada
tries to resist, the more difficult staying away from Taylor becomes.
Excerpt
Ge-Mi: Part One
Mell Eight © 2020
All Rights Reserved
Prologue
In the waiting room, people milled about
restlessly. There weren’t any chairs provided for the supplicants, nor for the
onlookers who were only there to enjoy the show. Handing over a bribe wasn’t
supposed to be a comfortable experience, after all.
restlessly. There weren’t any chairs provided for the supplicants, nor for the
onlookers who were only there to enjoy the show. Handing over a bribe wasn’t
supposed to be a comfortable experience, after all.
Nevada stood in a corner, the backpack
containing the only thing he had that would suit as a bribe clutched carefully
in his arms. Rosto stood next to Nevada, one shoulder pressed indolently
against the wall. He was older than Nevada by at least twenty years, his hair
grayed at the temples, but his back still strong and unbent. Rosto had done
this before—brought a supplicant with his bribe—and he had a personal
connection with the lord of the city. Rosto wasn’t worried, but Nevada was.
containing the only thing he had that would suit as a bribe clutched carefully
in his arms. Rosto stood next to Nevada, one shoulder pressed indolently
against the wall. He was older than Nevada by at least twenty years, his hair
grayed at the temples, but his back still strong and unbent. Rosto had done
this before—brought a supplicant with his bribe—and he had a personal
connection with the lord of the city. Rosto wasn’t worried, but Nevada was.
It had only been six months since Mom
had died. They hadn’t had the money or the resources to get her proper health
care, and her cold had turned deadly far too quickly for Nevada’s three
part-time jobs to pay for a doctor’s bill. It wasn’t just that the doctor was
expensive, but payoff money for his silence was too much. Nevada would have
risked it for Mom’s sake, but Mom had put her shaking and weak foot down and
the matter was settled.
had died. They hadn’t had the money or the resources to get her proper health
care, and her cold had turned deadly far too quickly for Nevada’s three
part-time jobs to pay for a doctor’s bill. It wasn’t just that the doctor was
expensive, but payoff money for his silence was too much. Nevada would have
risked it for Mom’s sake, but Mom had put her shaking and weak foot down and
the matter was settled.
After that, Nevada hadn’t been able to
stay in that house or city. The hiding was a fact of life, but he hoped the
melancholy could be alleviated with a new home and a new start. Nevada had
arrived in Kensey three days ago and found an apartment whose owner didn’t mind
pets. The down payment had sapped the last of his hastily scraped-together
funds, so Nevada had gone job hunting.
stay in that house or city. The hiding was a fact of life, but he hoped the
melancholy could be alleviated with a new home and a new start. Nevada had
arrived in Kensey three days ago and found an apartment whose owner didn’t mind
pets. The down payment had sapped the last of his hastily scraped-together
funds, so Nevada had gone job hunting.
Rosto’s café was quaint and in need of a
full-time waiter. The pay was decent and the hours reasonable. But in Kensey,
things worked differently than Nevada’s old home. The lord in Kensey wanted a
direct bribe from every citizen; the previous lord didn’t pay any mind to peons
like Nevada. Had Nevada known he had to meet with the lord directly and provide
a bribe that, if accepted, was his ticket to having any sort of life in Kensey,
he might have chosen to settle in a different city with a different lord.
full-time waiter. The pay was decent and the hours reasonable. But in Kensey,
things worked differently than Nevada’s old home. The lord in Kensey wanted a
direct bribe from every citizen; the previous lord didn’t pay any mind to peons
like Nevada. Had Nevada known he had to meet with the lord directly and provide
a bribe that, if accepted, was his ticket to having any sort of life in Kensey,
he might have chosen to settle in a different city with a different lord.
The room fell silent quickly, almost
suddenly, as a side door opened. The man who stepped into the room first was
clearly a guard. He was wearing a light layer of armor, the bluish metal
vibrant against his dark skin, and a large laser gun at his hip. His hard eyes
surveyed the room once before he stepped aside. The second man who walked into
the room looked like he was Rosto’s age, somewhere in his late fifties. His
blond hair disguised whatever gray may have been present, but the crow’s feet
around his blue eyes revealed his true age.
suddenly, as a side door opened. The man who stepped into the room first was
clearly a guard. He was wearing a light layer of armor, the bluish metal
vibrant against his dark skin, and a large laser gun at his hip. His hard eyes
surveyed the room once before he stepped aside. The second man who walked into
the room looked like he was Rosto’s age, somewhere in his late fifties. His
blond hair disguised whatever gray may have been present, but the crow’s feet
around his blue eyes revealed his true age.
“Where is Taylor?” the lord asked his
guard. They both walked to the front of the room where a very large desk built
of thick, dark wood was positioned. It was intimidating, but that was probably
the point.
guard. They both walked to the front of the room where a very large desk built
of thick, dark wood was positioned. It was intimidating, but that was probably
the point.
“Off with his wolves,” the guard replied
stiffly.
stiffly.
“That boy,” the lord grumbled. “All
right, let’s get started.”
right, let’s get started.”
A third man stepped forward from where
he had been standing off to the side of the desk. He was holding a datapad from
which he read out the first name.
he had been standing off to the side of the desk. He was holding a datapad from
which he read out the first name.
A woman and her two young children
approached the foot of the desk. She needed help finding her layabout husband.
He owed her back wages for childcare, and she wanted him to pay up. Her bribe
was a gold necklace with a ruby in the center, which would have paid for the
childcare handsomely.
approached the foot of the desk. She needed help finding her layabout husband.
He owed her back wages for childcare, and she wanted him to pay up. Her bribe
was a gold necklace with a ruby in the center, which would have paid for the
childcare handsomely.
“She’s after revenge,” Rosto explained
under his breath. “Her husband was a cheat, and she wants what’s rightfully
owed to her because she knows he’ll suffer for it. Lord Reyes prefers
supplicants ask for something meaningful, instead of straight out asking for
something purely selfish. He’s a good man.”
under his breath. “Her husband was a cheat, and she wants what’s rightfully
owed to her because she knows he’ll suffer for it. Lord Reyes prefers
supplicants ask for something meaningful, instead of straight out asking for
something purely selfish. He’s a good man.”
Nevada hoped so because he didn’t have
anything nearly as nice as a ruby necklace in his bag.
anything nearly as nice as a ruby necklace in his bag.
For the next half hour, he watched as
fancy watches, jewelry, and other expensive items were offered to Lord Reyes in
return for favors. Some of them Lord Reyes agreed to, like the woman looking
for childcare money, but others he denied. He didn’t return the bribes either
way.
fancy watches, jewelry, and other expensive items were offered to Lord Reyes in
return for favors. Some of them Lord Reyes agreed to, like the woman looking
for childcare money, but others he denied. He didn’t return the bribes either
way.
“Rosto Gregorio,” the steward called.
“That’s us,” Rosto grunted as he pushed
off the wall. He strode forward, unconcerned, and Nevada hurried to follow.
off the wall. He strode forward, unconcerned, and Nevada hurried to follow.
They reached the desk and stopped a few
feet away. Rosto bowed, and Nevada copied him a beat too late.
feet away. Rosto bowed, and Nevada copied him a beat too late.
“How’s the café?” Lord Reyes asked, a
smile on his face. It was the first smile Nevada had seen from him. He
apparently was interested in what Rosto had to say.
smile on his face. It was the first smile Nevada had seen from him. He
apparently was interested in what Rosto had to say.
“We’re expanding the kitchen at the
moment,” Rosto immediately began to explain. “Putting in four ovens so we can
sell fresh-baked goods as well. We’re also adding outside tables for the
summer, which means I need additional waitstaff. I’m looking to hire Nevada
here.”
moment,” Rosto immediately began to explain. “Putting in four ovens so we can
sell fresh-baked goods as well. We’re also adding outside tables for the
summer, which means I need additional waitstaff. I’m looking to hire Nevada
here.”
Lord Reyes turned his attention to
Nevada, and Nevada fought not to squirm. He needed the job, which meant Lord
Reyes had to like him.
Nevada, and Nevada fought not to squirm. He needed the job, which meant Lord
Reyes had to like him.
“New to the area, too, I believe,” Lord
Reyes said. “Has all the appropriate paperwork been filed?”
Reyes said. “Has all the appropriate paperwork been filed?”
“As of last night,” Rosto replied. “All
it needs is your seal of approval.”
it needs is your seal of approval.”
Lord Reyes nodded. “You’ll have to come
over for dinner and tell me about your renovations,” he said to Rosto. His
attention switched back to Nevada. “What have you brought to entice me to allow
you to live and work in my city?”
over for dinner and tell me about your renovations,” he said to Rosto. His
attention switched back to Nevada. “What have you brought to entice me to allow
you to live and work in my city?”
Nevada gulped and reached into his bag.
He knew what he looked like. He had a ragged bandana tied tightly over his
head, his long-sleeve shirt was threadbare and unraveling at the cuffs, and his
loose jeans had a darned hole in one knee. The clothes were baggy, too, but
Nevada had to hide a pair of cat ears and a tail beneath his outfit. He looked poor,
but hopefully that meant Lord Reyes wouldn’t look any deeper at what Nevada was
hiding. Hopefully, it also meant he wasn’t expecting anything extravagant as
Nevada’s bribe.
He knew what he looked like. He had a ragged bandana tied tightly over his
head, his long-sleeve shirt was threadbare and unraveling at the cuffs, and his
loose jeans had a darned hole in one knee. The clothes were baggy, too, but
Nevada had to hide a pair of cat ears and a tail beneath his outfit. He looked poor,
but hopefully that meant Lord Reyes wouldn’t look any deeper at what Nevada was
hiding. Hopefully, it also meant he wasn’t expecting anything extravagant as
Nevada’s bribe.
Nevada pulled the fluffiest, whitest cat
he had ever fostered out of the bag and gently placed her on the desk.
he had ever fostered out of the bag and gently placed her on the desk.
“This is Princess Pea. She likes big
houses and lots of attention. She’s also very particular about what blankets
she sleeps on. I thought you might like to have her company.”
houses and lots of attention. She’s also very particular about what blankets
she sleeps on. I thought you might like to have her company.”
The waiting room had gone silent. It was
even quieter than when Lord Reyes had first walked into the room. Yes, it
wasn’t a ruby necklace, but surely a beautiful cat wasn’t so bad. Nevada fought
to keep from turning to look around the room.
even quieter than when Lord Reyes had first walked into the room. Yes, it
wasn’t a ruby necklace, but surely a beautiful cat wasn’t so bad. Nevada fought
to keep from turning to look around the room.
Lord Reyes’s eyes had frozen in a hard
glare. “Is this a joke?” he snapped.
glare. “Is this a joke?” he snapped.
Nevada bit his lip, wondering how to
answer that. Maybe live animals weren’t acceptable as a bribe? Before he could
formulate an answer, Princess Pea took over. She sauntered across the desk
toward Lord Reyes and hopped down into his lap where she promptly began to purr
furiously. One of Lord Reyes’s hands involuntarily drifted to his lap where he
began to pet her soft fur.
answer that. Maybe live animals weren’t acceptable as a bribe? Before he could
formulate an answer, Princess Pea took over. She sauntered across the desk
toward Lord Reyes and hopped down into his lap where she promptly began to purr
furiously. One of Lord Reyes’s hands involuntarily drifted to his lap where he
began to pet her soft fur.
“Fine,” Lord Reyes snapped. “Six months’
probation. Rosto will come report to me then, and I’ll decide whether to accept
you in my city. I’ll even make sure Princess here isn’t eaten,” he added
cryptically.
probation. Rosto will come report to me then, and I’ll decide whether to accept
you in my city. I’ll even make sure Princess here isn’t eaten,” he added
cryptically.
Rosto bowed, one of his hands pushing on
Nevada’s shoulder to force Nevada to bow also. Then that hand pushed Nevada
toward the door.
Nevada’s shoulder to force Nevada to bow also. Then that hand pushed Nevada
toward the door.
“I can’t believe you got away with
that!” Rosto breathed once they were out of the waiting room and headed toward
the building exit.
that!” Rosto breathed once they were out of the waiting room and headed toward
the building exit.
“Got away with what?” Nevada asked, glad
to be away from Lord Reyes.
to be away from Lord Reyes.
Rosto laughed, but he didn’t sound
amused. “You gave Lord Reyes a cat. That’s practically the ultimate insult.”
amused. “You gave Lord Reyes a cat. That’s practically the ultimate insult.”
“Oh,” Nevada mumbled, feeling his
shoulders droop. He had six months, at least, which was enough time to save up
before he had to move to another new city.
shoulders droop. He had six months, at least, which was enough time to save up
before he had to move to another new city.
“Where did you find that cat anyway?”
Rosto asked as they reached the main doors and headed out into the parking lot.
Rosto asked as they reached the main doors and headed out into the parking lot.
“I find cats everywhere,” Nevada replied
with a shrug. “I have a beautiful tortoiseshell looking for a new home, if
you’re interested.”
with a shrug. “I have a beautiful tortoiseshell looking for a new home, if
you’re interested.”
Rosto unlocked the car without
answering. Nevada got in and buckled his seat belt. The engine whirred to life,
and the hydraulics bounced them gently into the air. The car flew toward the
city down the hill, Rosto guiding them along in silence. They stopped a few
minutes later outside Nevada’s apartment building.
answering. Nevada got in and buckled his seat belt. The engine whirred to life,
and the hydraulics bounced them gently into the air. The car flew toward the
city down the hill, Rosto guiding them along in silence. They stopped a few
minutes later outside Nevada’s apartment building.
“No more cats where Lord Reyes is
concerned, okay?” Rosto said. The car idled in the air for a few seconds as the
hydraulics engaged and the car drifted to the ground. “You start on Monday,
9:00 a.m. sharp.”
concerned, okay?” Rosto said. The car idled in the air for a few seconds as the
hydraulics engaged and the car drifted to the ground. “You start on Monday,
9:00 a.m. sharp.”
Nevada got out of the car and stepped
onto the curb. Rosto waved goodbye before sending the car streaking upward
again.
onto the curb. Rosto waved goodbye before sending the car streaking upward
again.
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Meet the Author
When Mell Eight was in high school, she discovered dragons. Beautiful, wondrous creatures that took her on epic adventures both to faraway lands and on journeys of the heart. Mell wanted to create dragons of her own, so she put pen to paper. Mell Eight is now known for her own soaring dragons, as well as for other wonderful characters dancing across the pages of her books. While she mostly writes paranormal or fantasy stories, she has been seen exploring the real world once or twice.
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