Shafira has always loved the peace and quiet of the forest. But now there’s something else to draw her back… — Shifra entered the forest. It calmed her, as it always did, the twittering of birds, the soft mossy carpet underfoot, the rich scent of green life. She was drawn back here, time and time and time again. She would have made it her home if modern society allowed such a…

Selena’s Dragon Lover has finally returned… — She’d been watching the creature for days now… rising above the mountain each morning, his sinewy body curving as he played in the thermals, his wingspan massive even from here, so far away. After too many months away he’d returned to his summer home in the mountains, and Selena had…

Beltane is the time for pleasure. — (A story for my fellow Southern Hemisphere people, who aren’t celebrating Halloween at this point in the year…) A low altar was set in the centre of the grassy clearing, a rough circled outlined by candles, each one in a different shaped jar to protect it from the breeze. …

Spending Halloween night in an old cemetery turns out to be easier than Stella imagined, when Parkin’s ghost turns up. — Stella had pitched her tent, unrolled her sleeping bag, and lit the fire. There was nothing else to do now but fill in time. A local radio station had set the task: spending the entire night of Halloween camping in a long-abandoned cemetery. The reward? $500. …

I know we’re meant to be… though his wife might not think so — There’s sound, before there’s video. His face appears, brow furrowed for a moment before the widest smile breaks across his face and I know the video on his end has finally loaded too. ‘Hello! How are you?’ There’s small talk, then silence as we gaze at each other — not…

…then his eyes, dark and full of joy. When he speaks his accent makes her stomach do somersaults, and when he listens she feels she’s the only one in the entire universe. They kiss, his lips soft against her own. His beard tickles her neck as his mouth moves along…

Eva’s man is away in the big city, catching up with family. But what if he decides to stay? — Eva glanced at the clock. 10pm. Finally. ‘Last drinks!’ she called, ringing the bell. As the patrons filed out the door, Clive came up to her. ‘You all right, love?’ She forced a smile, focusing all her attention on wiping down the bar so he wouldn’t see the tears in…