Failing No Nut November Novels & Stories

Kashton asked, his voice dropping into a register so low it sounded like grinding stones. "Nora stays in the maze," Vivienne whispered cruelly. "The Red Hand has forty mercenaries currently tracking her scent. They’ve been paid a very large sum to ensure the 'rejected bride' finally stays dead. If either of you tries to alter the terms—if a single Blood Moon warrior steps into Sector 4—the container holding your precious little bastards will be dropped straight into the harbor. It takes exactly forty-five seconds for a steel crate to sink to the bottom, Kashton. I don't think five-year-olds can hold their breath that long."

“He took her from your bed, Dante. From under our noses. We failed her.” I punched the wall. Plaster exploded. Blood ran down my knuckles. “I failed her,” I corrected, voice breaking. “I swore no one would ever touch her again. I built this fortress and he walked through it like smoke.” Nico’s fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were white. “We all failed,” he said quietly. “Every guard, every camera, every drone. He made us look like children.” Carlos slammed his palm against the marble column.

​The Choice in the Moonlight ​The balcony felt like a cage again. The high-society romance had been stripped of its gilding, revealing the cold, hard steel of the Vane machine. ​Julian looked at Nora, his eyes pleading. "Nora, we can find another way. We can—" ​"There is no other way, Julian," Nora said, her eyes fixed on the velvet box she had dropped on the floor. She picked it up and opened it. Inside wasn't a ring, but a Micro-Chip encrusted in a diamond. The ultimate Vane irony.

Before I could say another word, the line disconnected, leaving behind nothing but the hollow beeping tone. The cold grew sharper and sharper, carving straight into my bones. Gritting my teeth, I pulled the blanket tighter around myself. Suddenly, my phone lit up with a notification. I turned my head slightly and saw that Morgan had just updated his social media. In the photo, he wore nothing but a thin short-sleeved shirt with a popsicle hanging from his mouth. 'So lucky Ms. Sheffield brought me a generator, or I would have frozen tonight too.' I stared at the picture for a long time.

Leo squeezes my hand. “Anything you wan Noves”

Then you could just ask for the things you would've needed to spend a few months' salary to buy. I didn't respond, and the atmosphere grew awkward. My other aunt, Karen Hall, quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "I think Monica and Tabitha are both great. One is married well, and the other has a good job. The only one struggling is my son. He's almost 30, but his job is average, and he still doesn't have a girlfriend…" Aunt Lorelei took the bait and immediately switched her attention to setting my cousin up. I looked at Monica, who was sitting beside us. She still hadn't said a word, and her expression hadn't changed at all.

Boom, and the gate tore open. The room was freezing, with the one rusted, swaying light bulb that buzzed overhead like a gnat in her ear. Nova sat on the floor, her back to the wall, one knee drawn up to her chest. Her lip was split. Her wrists were red and raw, the zip ties long since replaced with leather straps, uglier, tighter. She could still taste copper. They hadn’t asked about Damian. Not directly. Just “the ring,” and “the old man’s ledger,” and once, chillingly, “how much does he love you?”

When they entered the grand hall, Rolex, ever watchful, nodded in agreement and said, "I don't like this, boss. Let's get out of here." Just as they turned to leave, the heavy wooden door slammed shut behind them with a resounding thud. Panic surged through Jada as she realized they were trapped inside. Rob immediately tried to call for backup, but his phone displayed "No Service." "Hello! Mr. Lennon! Are you here?!" Jada screamed. "Derry Lennon!!" Darting her eyes around, her heart pounded in her chest as she watched Rob's futile attempts to get a signal on his phone.

I could have killed Cyrillius lunars ago if it hadn’t been for them getting in my mind. “The numbers aren’t in our favor, Nova,” he says. He places one of his hands over mine, holding it firmly to his chest. “A group of Nero tried to take Dominion out solars ago, and they failed. If just you and I go in there, I don’t know if we’ll win.” I hate that he just said the words. I hate that he doubts. But that’s the reckless part of me. I always overestimate myself. Us. “But we have to do something,” I say, and I hate how desperate my voice sounds.