Page 4 of The Interdimensional Lord's Earthly Delight

Her aunties had always teased her (with a note of truth as sharp as cheap press-on nails) that it was a race whether her smart mouth or her smart brainwould get her into trouble first. She’d liked to sass back and say both wouldsaveher. None of them would’ve guessed it would be her not-so-smart visit to Sunset Falls, Montana—former outpost of the Intergalactic Dating Agency and hunting ground of Blackworm’s mercenary minions—that would be her downfall.

Upfall? Sidefall? Direction didn’t matter in space, any more than daytime/nighttime did.Everything was just…out there, floating isolated from each other, tiny motes of fading life in the dark…

Another sound whispered behind her.

With a huff of silvery breath that hung for a heartbeat in the cold air, she whirled to face down the corridor behind her. “Hello?”

No one, of course. No one was ever behind the girl who yelled “hello”.

She stomped one slippered foot, as if she couldjar loose the inexplicable unease, and winced at the impact shocking up her spine. Oh, lord almighty, someone stop her before she said… “Who’s there?”

Dammit.

“I have a blaster,” she lied.

For some inexplicable reason,thatdidn’t convince her stalker to show himself.

From a recessed doorway halfway down the corridor, a shadow emerged.

Lishelle screamed…