About Stepping Through the Mirror
Written by Mike Shade
101 pages / 38000 words
ISBN: 1-933389-54-0
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc
On the run after finding the last of his friends dead, magician Quinn is trying to get away from the Emperor’s assasins. One of those assasins, Bram, is a cut above the rest, and manages to catch up to Quinn just in time to see the man’s magic at work, stepping right through a mirror with him.
Quinn slips through Bram’s grasp, but soon comes back into reach. Even then Bram can’t bring himself to kill the magic user, and finds himself chosing to go on the run, and help Quinn when they find more magic users on the run. Can they stay alive, and find happiness together?
Review
Julia Talbot, popular Torquere Press author, writes: Quinn is on the run from the Emperor's guards, who are on a mission to wipe out magicians like him. Bram is one of those assassins sent to take Quinn out, but when they meet, there's something about the magic user that fascinates Bram, something that makes Quinn very hard to kill.
Now an outcast along with his new lover, Bram helps Quinn flee the City, setting off a chain of events that helps them find a new life, helping other magic users like Quinn try to find a safe haven.
Mike Shade is a master at creating a framework for hot lovers. Bram and Quinn are great examples of the tough guy and the magic user with issues, and the bond between them manages to be at once deeper than physical and all tingly touching good at the same time. I love the magical talent Quinn possesses, one that I find huge potential in, and how he pays physically for it makes it all the more real.
But I'll be honest. I read Mike Shade for the rollicking, varied and never boring lovin', and this one doesn't disappoint at all. Quinn and Bram set my monitor on fire, and that's no illusion! Definitely give this one a look.
Sample
He took another step toward the mirror, stopping as the footsteps got closer. ''They're coming.''
''Then we'd better get out of here.'' Those green eyes looked at him expectantly.
''We?'' Lady bright, please. What to do? What to... Okay. Okay, you know where you'll end up. You know how it feels. He'll be confused. You both travel then you run.
He pulled away, already starting the spell as he pulled a handful of dust from his pocket. The mirror darkened as his eyes hit it. ''Open.''
''That's a nice trick.'' One big hand grabbed hold of his, warm, solid, not letting go.
Quinn threw the dust, letting it capture the waves of energy in the air and focus his will, the black face of the mirror beginning to swirl, sparkle, shine. Okay. Okay. ''Jump.''
''Just like that? Okay.'' The hand around his tightened, the man's muscles tensing.
He threw himself into the mirror, praying that the man got disoriented enough to let go, loosen the tight grip. The world spun, shifted, tilted and then his feet hit asphalt.
The man with him landed with a jarring thump right behind him. Those long, muscled arms came around him, and they rolled, the big body curled around him taking the brunt of the landing. The air huffed out of him, eyes just rolling, trying to find purchase, an escape.
They came up, the man still wrapped around him, moving them to a corner. ''Where are we?'' came the growl.
''You were supposed to let go. I have to go.'' He tugged, his flat was only a few blocks away. Everybody told him, if things went wrong, go home and wait.
''I didn't want you to get hurt,'' he was told, the muscled body releasing him, but staying close. ''So where are we going?''
He shook his head, confused, the image of what used to be Kantrell's head floating up in his mind's eye, the trademark silver hair exposed where the scalp had split, the dye not seeping in that far. Lady help him. ''We? But... I don't know you. They told me to go home if something went wrong. So... you should go home and I should go home.''
The big man acted as if they should know each other, but they shouldn't. Should they?
''Look, I'm not even sure where we are. Take me home and give me a nice strong drink so I can sort myself out. I helped you back there -- time for you to help me now. Reciprocity, yeah?''
''Mister, I've had a really, really bad day...'' Something – a premonition, a sound, a something - spooked him, made his heart flutter and he nodded. ''Come on. Hurry. Move. Now. Right now.''
He shot down the alley, running as fast as he could. Something was coming. Something big.