The Worlds of S.E. Smith E-Book

S.E. Smith

• Herausgeber: Montana Publishing LLC
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: The Worlds of S.E. Smith
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 145

Beschreibung

Embark on an exhilarating journey into the vibrant worlds of S.E. Smith, where seven captivating series await your exploration.

In "Skeeter's Halloween Treat," venture alongside Skeeter and Krac from the Zion Series as they, along with Skeeter’s dad, Bulldog, embark on a heartwarming mission that takes a surprising twist. Then, immerse yourself in the enchanting ambiance of the Alliance Series with "Date Night," where a romantic evening among the stars proves to be the perfect escapade amidst the chaos of interstellar parenthood.
Experience the cosmic romance of the Cosmos’ Gateway Series in "Second Chance at Love," as Lal, an alien Prime warrior, endeavors to win the heart of a grieving widow with the magic of Christmas and his unwavering love.
Journey into the fantastical realms of the Seven Kingdoms Series with Ashure, the King of the Pirates, in "Ashure's New Year's Wish." Join Ashure, Orion, Drago, and Koorgan as they find themselves entangled in mischief as the New Year approaches, leading to unexpected discoveries and wishes come true.
Delve into the unexpected connection between an alien AI and a human gamer in "Rena and the Gamer," where two disparate worlds collide, igniting sparks of intrigue and fascination.
Discover the unbreakable bonds forged in "Connections," as Dust, Sammy, Josie, and Todd embark on a quest to find Daciana, discovering along the way that family isn’t just about blood, but the ties we choose to create.
In "Krazy Kettles and Genies," a genie purchased on eBay finds himself thrust into the magical world of Magic, New Mexico, where he encounters more than just a kitchen full of enchanted creatures and a charming restaurant owner.
Finally, journey back to the Seven Kingdoms in "Roo and the Golden Coin," where Roo, daughter of Drago, King of the Dragons, embarks on a heartfelt quest to find a missing coin, only to discover that the true treasure lies in the bond between father and daughter.
Each story offers a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of the unforgettable characters created by NY Times and USA Today bestselling author S.E. Smith, woven together in a rich tapestry of love, adventure, and magic. Don't miss this captivating collection of short stories that will transport you to realms beyond imagination!

Leseprobe

THE WORLDS OF S.E. SMITH

VOLUME 1

S.E. SMITH

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my husband Steve for believing in me and being proud enough of me to give me the courage to follow my dream. I would also like to give a special thank you to my sister and best friend, Linda, who not only encouraged me to write, but who also read the manuscript. Also to my other friends who believe in me: Julie, Jackie, Christel, Sally, Jolanda, Lisa, Laurelle, Debbie, and Narelle. The girls that keep me going!

And a special thanks to Paul Heitsch, David Brenin, Samantha Cook, Suzanne Elise Freeman, and PJ Ochlan—the awesome voices behind my audiobooks!

—S.E. Smith

The Worlds of S.E. Smith: Volume 1

Montana Publishing

Copyright © 2024 by S. E. Smith

First E-Book Published May 2024

Cover Designs by Montana Publishing

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission from the author. No parts of the author’s work may be used for AI training without express written permission from the author.

All characters, places, and events in this book are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to actual persons living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations are strictly coincidental.

Short Summary: Embark on a journey across seven captivating series.

ISBN: 9781963823097 (eBook)

ISBN: 9781963823103 (paperback)

Paranormal Romance – Fiction | Paranormal – Fiction | Science Fiction Romance – Fiction | Science Fiction – Fiction | Fantasy – Fiction | Romance – Fiction

Published by Montana Publishing, LLC

& SE Smith of Florida Inc. www.sesmithfl.com

CONTENTS

Skeeter’s Halloween Treat

A Day-in-the Life Short from the Zion Series

Date Night

A Day-in-the Life Short from the Alliance Series

Second Chance at Love

A Day-in-the-Life Short from the Cosmos’ Gateway Series

Ashure’s New Year’s Wish

A Day-in-the-Life Short from the Seven Kingdoms Series

Rena and the Gamer

A Cosmos’ Gateway/Girls from the Street Short Novella

Connections

A Day-in-the-Life-Short from the Dust Series

Krazy Kettles and Genies

A Day-in-the Life Short from the Magic, New Mexico Series

Roo and the Golden Coin

A Day-in-the Life Short from The Seven Kingdoms Series

Additional Books

About the Author

“Hey, Skeeter, Gracie, wait up!” Hopps called out.

Skeeter stopped and turned when she heard their names being called above the buzz of the market. A dark green and yellow head briefly popped into sight above the crowd of pedestrians. Seconds later, the head reappeared.

She laughed and waved as the amphibious alien creature jumped again. The frog-like creature bounced from one unwary shoulder or head to another until he landed in front of Skeeter and Gracie with a flourish of long arms and a deep bow.

“Good afternoon, Ladies.”

“Hey, Hopps,” Skeeter greeted with a laugh and a huge hug.

“Hi, Hopps,” Gracie said.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to catch up with you two. You’re moving pretty fast. Where are you going?” Hopps asked in a slightly breathless tone.

“We are on a mission. We… Ugh, sorry,” Skeeter muttered when she accidentally stepped into the path of a large, scaly Bulltian. She jumped to the side to keep from being run over.

“Get out the way,” the man growled.

“What a jerk,” Gracie muttered.

Skeeter snorted and clutched her satchel close to her body to keep from knocking into anyone else.

“Bulltian miners are always rude. I think it is because they are always hungry. I probably would be the same way if I had to work shoveling ore all day,” Skeeter said.

“Tabby’s like that. If you don’t feed her, she gets meaner than a Wuzzletooth horn toad,” Hopps joked, falling into step with them when they turned.

“Speaking of Tabby—” Skeeter began.

“Hey, Gracie. Hi, Skeeter.”

Skeeter shook her head. Where there was one tadpole, there would be others. The Horntip siblings never went anywhere without each other. Guilt and remorse swept through Skeeter. Hopps, Puddles, Tabby, and Sticks were her former First Mate’s kids. Froget had died attempting to protect her when a group of ruthless mercenaries boarded her freighter. The men were searching for Gracie’s daughter, Violet. Skeeter had unwittingly rescued the little girl from her mercenary kidnappers and had come close to dying during the attack. She would have if not for Krac and the crew of a Zion warship.

Skeeter pushed the depressing thoughts away. She and Krac had not only adopted Froget’s four tadpoles, but Violet and Adam as well… unofficially. Who cared that Froget’s kids were grown and that Violet and Adam had parents? Skeeter liked to think that she and Krac were part-time fam-parents. They were more than friends. They were family. Violet and Adam loved Skeeter’s dad as well.

“Did Skeeter say where they were going?” Puddles asked.

“Not yet,” Hopps replied.

Skeeter rolled her eyes. “We’re on a mission… a secret mission,” she responded.

Gracie laughed and nodded. “A super-secret mission.”

“Oh… I adore super-secret missions,” Tabby responded, popping up beside the two women.

Gracie laughed again. “It looks like the guys called the cavalry on us,” she teased.

“They might have asked us to keep an eye on you two while they were off-planet,” Tabby admitted.

Skeeter stepped out of the steady flow of pedestrians and into a narrow alley. She twisted to face their three new companions. She glanced around over their shoulders.

“Where’s Sticks?” she finally asked.

Hopps laughed and pointed upward. Skeeter and Gracie tilted their heads back. Skeeter’s grin turned to a troubled look when she heard Gracie’s astonished gasp. Sticks wasn’t the only one clinging to the wall ten feet above their heads—so was the Bulltian who had been rude to her.

The massive creature was struggling to break free of the sticky goo that glued his body to the stone wall. The Bulltian’s loud curses suddenly stopped when Sticks raised his hand and released another stream of the sticky goo from a device strapped to his wrist. The glob of goo struck the Bulltian in the mouth, sealing it shut.

Sympathy coursed through Skeeter. The only way the guy was going to get down was if he took off his clothes. She had no desire to see an angry, naked Bulltian running loose through the market.

Once in my lifetime was more than enough, she thought.

A shudder ran through her at the memory of the poor Bulltian stripping after she accidentally spilled her Flaming Reptilian drink in his lap. How was she supposed to know that the drink was highly flammable?

Or that the miner had been working on an oily machine that had splattered grease spots all over his uniform which ignited on contact with my flaming drink?

She shook her head and pushed the horrid memory back into the box in her mind.

“So, which one bribed you to follow us this time?” she called out.

“Krac—”

“Your dad⁠—”

“Kordon—”

The chorus of responses made Skeeter and Gracie laugh. The universe might be a little crazy at the moment—or at least it was in the guys’ minds—but it hadn’t stopped Kordon, Gracie, and their two kids from coming for a visit.

Skeeter adored seeing the kids. Violet loved to dress up in the costumes Skeeter liked to make, and Adam loved to paint—everything! Kordon had sent her mountains of videos of everything Adam painted after she sent the young boy a huge paint kit for his birthday.

Krac had snickered at the increasing number of messages, especially after Adam planted a big, blue handprint on the back of Kordon’s dress uniform right before a big vote before the council assembly.

“So… what are you doing?” Sticks asked, landing beside his siblings.

Sticks looked the least like their father. Skeeter hadn’t known Froget had any kids until these four showed up a few months ago, but one look at Hopps and Puddles, and she knew. Sticks was taller than his siblings and leaner. He also had more yellow coloring than his siblings, whereas Hopps and Puddles had more of the darker green.

They all wore the same off-white shirts, dark brown trousers, boots, and leather belts with a laser pistol attached at their hips. Tabby looked almost identical, except for the well-worn, brown-rim hat that she liked to wear. Tabby also carried a pistol on one hip, but she sported a coiled leather whip on the other.

“So, what’s with the big secret?” Tabby asked.

“Does this have anything to do with—? Ow, what did you do that for?” Puddles complained, hopping on one foot after Sticks kicked him.

Skeeter scowled at Sticks. “How long have you guys been following us?”

“Since we left the compound this morning,” Gracie replied with a laugh.

“Aw, Gracie. I thought we were getting better,” Puddles groaned.

“You are,” Gracie soothed.

“What gave us away?” Tabby asked.

Gracie shot an apologetic smile at Puddles. “Puddles’ cologne.”

Hopps and Tabby both playfully punched their brother in both of his arms.

“We told you that it stunk!” Tabby said.

“Gracie says it smells like sardines,” Puddles defended.

“That wasn’t a compliment, you dimwit!” Hopps retorted.

“Are you guys looking for something for Violet and Adam? You know, Skeeter, if you and Krac ever want to have some kids, we could round up a few for you. There are always some strays around on the spaceports,” Hopps offered.

“Really? I mean… no. At least… maybe, but no kidnapping! I mean, if you did find a few that wanted a mom and dad, I’m sure Krac wouldn’t mind. He loves Violet and Adam, doesn’t he, Gracie? I know Dad would be thrilled. Everybody loves Daddy,” Skeeter said, biting her lip as she thought about what it would be like to add to her little family.

“I don’t think these four finding you children is a good idea, Skeeter. There’s no telling what you might get,” Gracie cautioned with a shake of her head at the group of siblings.

“So, are you two ever going to tell us what this secret mission is about, or are we just going to have to keep asking you?” Tabby asked.

“We’re on a mission to introduce a holiday to the guys. ’It's called Halloween. It is very popular back on Earth,” she said.

Sticks frowned. “Halloween? Isn’t that the weird Earth holiday where everyone dresses up like someone else and asks for food?”

Gracie laughed. “Something like that. Halloween celebrates a day called All Hallowtide. People dress up in costumes and go from house to house calling out ‘trick-or-treat’. People usually give out candy. It was a lot of fun when I was a kid before—” She shook her head. “I want to celebrate it with Adam and Violet. They both love dressing up, and Skeeter and I thought it would be fun.”

“Can I dress up as a Triterian?” Hopps asked.

“Yep. You can be anything you want,” Skeeter replied.

“I want to be a Chibear,” Puddles said.

“Why would you want to be a Chibear?” Hopps asked.

“He’s got the hots for this cute little shopkeeper down in the central market,” Tabby said.

“I do not!” Puddles growled, flushing a dark, dark green.

“Oh… he has it bad,” Hopps laughed.

“Gracie, look! That material would make a beautiful princess gown for Violet,” Skeeter exclaimed, peering through the window of a shop.

“It would! Come on,” Gracie said.

Skeeter didn’t need to be told twice. She was going to make all the costumes. A deep sigh of longing filled her as she fingered the material. If only she and Krac had some kids to do fun things with like Gracie and Kordon.

Maybe the tadpoles could find one or two kids who wouldn’t mind being adopted, she wistfully thought as she picked up an old broom.

* * *

Pyrus Spaceport

“Bulldog, you are supposed to catch them, not let them escape,” Krac growled.

“That creature you call a child bit me! Besides, I don’t see you doing any better. They are slippery little buggers,” Bulldog snapped back.

“You’ve got six arms, use them!” Krac retorted.

“Watch out. I think that one is a kicker, too,” Kordon warned with a grin.

Bulldog shot Kordon a glare before he grunted as the spaceport waif slipped free of his grasp and scurried behind a dilapidated trans-cart. Kordon raised his hands and shrugged. The Confederation Commander had taken up a position near a lamppost and was watching with visible amusement as Krac and Bulldog tried to find a few suitable kids willing to be adopted. The idea had been forming in his mind for a while before he finally acted on it, but it was not going well.

He reached out and snagged two kids by their collars, lifted them up, and inspected them. It was hard to tell which would be good. They all looked the same to him—except for the kid with the beard and deep voice. He released the struggling bodies and sighed.

“Okay, I’ll admit that this isn’t such a good idea after all,” he called out.

Kordon snorted with laughter. “You are just now realizing that?”

Krac and Bulldog walked over to Kordon. Bulldog muttered a stream of colorful curses as he rubbed his lower leg with one of his hands. Kordon righted a couple of discarded crates and motioned for him and Bulldog to have a seat. Krac sat down with a disheartened grunt.

“Skeeter really wants kids,” he said, staring across at the building where the kids had disappeared.

“You have the tadpoles. I would have thought they were enough trouble without looking for more,” Kordon said.

Krac scowled at the Zion warrior. “Don’t get me started on those four. They have been a pain in my backside ever since they showed up six months ago. No, Skeeter wants ones like Violet and Adam. Since I don’t think you or Gracie would give them up, I want to find her more.”

Bulldog released a loud sigh. “You know, I thought being a granddad would be easier than this. I didn’t have any trouble with Skeeter. One look at me and I couldn’t peel her off,” he said, studying a bite mark on one of his stumpy, red fingers. “I hope this doesn’t get infected.”

Krac shook his head. “I didn’t think trying to become a dad would be this hard. I thought for sure I could get two or three of the creatures here to want a good home,” he muttered.

“Hey, misters, are you two talkings about Captain Skeeter? The Captain of the Lulu Belle?” a young voice called out.

Krac tilted his head in surprise and nodded. “Yes, we are talking about Captain Skeeter of the Lulu Belle,” he replied.

Peering out from half a dozen or more cracks, crevices, and piles of trash were dozens of eyes. One-by-one, children began cautiously emerging from the shadows. Krac counted fifteen of them. Some were small, while others were tall and scrawny. All were a mixture of species from the known galaxy.

“Captain Skeeter is really nice. She brings us stuff whenever she comes here,” a young boy said.

“She made me this dress. She said I was really a princess and that one day I would rule my own world,” a tiny Chibear said.

Bulldog chuckled and proudly patted his chest. “That’s my daughter.”

The ooh’s and aah’s washed over Krac like a warm wave as the children grew bolder. He realized that there were actually sixteen… if he counted the kid sporting a beard.

“She ran into Cledus De’brooks’ new starship and left a big dent on the side,” another child said.

“De’brooks is mean. He deserved it,” the bearded child retorted.

“Is you the Krac-head that Skeeter loves?” a little girl asked.

Krac blinked when the Chibear in the princess dress stepped up in front of him.

“Yes.”

“Is big red Bulldog? Skeeter said her daddy was big and red,” another said.

“She said he was cute and cuddly, too. I don’t thinks he’s all that cute,” a tall girl said with a skeptical expression.

“I am very cute and cuddly,” Bulldog insisted.

Several of the older kids grasped the hands of younger ones. Kordon’s scoff of derisive laughter made him grin. Bulldog was one of the wealthiest—and deadliest men—in the galaxy. Cute and cuddly were the last descriptive words he would use to describe the massive Triterian.

“Why are you trying to catch us?”

Krac studied the sea of serious expressions. A quick scan calculated their gender, ages, and species—except for the bearded kid. That one was still a mystery to him.

“Skeeter wants children. I cannot have them. I wished to give her as many as I can. She would make a very good mother,” he said.

“And I would make a very good grandfather,” Bulldog added.

“Are you rich?” a young boy asked.

Kordon released a smothered chuckle. Bulldog grinned at the question. The bearded boy answered before either he or Bulldog could.

“Rich? Do you know who this is? This is Bulldog Ti’Death! He’s the richest, meanest, son-of-a-Triterian in the galaxy!” the bearded boy exclaimed.

“I’m in. Skeeter as a mom, a rich grandfather, and… whatever you are— yeah, I’m in,” a tall, lanky Bulltian said. “It beats working in the mines!”

“I want Skeeter as a mommy,” the Princess Chibear said.

Krac rose as more kids volunteered to go with him. He looked over his shoulder with a panicked expression at Kordon and Bulldog. Bulldog had a grin that showed off every one of his sharp pointed teeth. Kordon just shook his head and shrugged.

“Welcome to fatherhood,” Kordon chuckled.

“I… All of them? I was thinking like maybe one or two?” Krac said, scanning the anxious and excited faces staring up at him.

“Why should we pick just two when we can have a whole starship full of them?” Bulldog retorted with a wave of his hand. “It is a good thing I brought my big one.”