Showing results by narrator "Orion" in All Categories

On the evening of July 27th, 1890, Vincent van Gogh, aiming for his heart, shot himself with a revolver. He missed. Today, Vincent van Gogh is considered one of history's most brilliant artists, revered by millions the world over. However, he sold only one painting in his lifetime, spent years in insane asylums, and died penniless in a garret. Haunted by his failures, riddled with addiction, and debilitated by mental illness, van Gogh eventually took his own life.

If everyone is looking to secure a relationship with their perceived best option, then the perception of value must be at the heart of human coupling. In this groundbreaking work, psychologist Orion Taraban sets forth his economic model of relationships and exposes the often uncomfortable laws that govern the sexual marketplace. After listening to "The Value of Others," you'll never look at relationships the same way again.

I thought my fiancé was a good guy. Not the greatest in the sack, but decent marriage material. Too bad it took finding him in a compromising position—with his mother—to figure out how wrong I’d been. When they told me they’d kill me if I ran away, I believed them. I didn’t, however, believe them when they said the magical Ash tree in the woods would eat me alive. Wrong again. Lucky for me, Ash didn’t kill me. Turns out he likes my stories. And my, um, sap. So, I’m sure I can convince him to let me go once he’s been properly…satiated.

When my boyfriend suggested a romantic camping trip, I was game. Then I found out he’d dragged me into the woods to tell me about the friends-with-benefits arrangement he had with Bigfoot. And that he wanted me to…participate.

I accidentally summoned a tentacle monster in the middle of the night. He wants to show me why eight arms are better than two. I said yes, and now I have a tentacle monster in my bed who knows exactly how to make me scream.

I’m 99% sure that the boogie man is stalking me at night. Most mornings I wake up to find my bedroom covered in claw marks. He's even started stealing my underwear. The only thing keeping me safe from his malice is my enchanted locket. Nobody believes he exists—not even my coven, who think I’m crazy. When the other witches threaten to bind my magic, I set up a hidden camera. It turns out that he’s stunningly beautiful with intricate tattoos and black wings. He tries to reach me in my sleep, but my locket keeps him away.

Ten years after she graduated from the Fleet Academe at Terracentrus, Alysha Forrest was captain of the battlecruiser UAV Stardancer with more honor to her name than any other officer her age. But before that dawn there was a night, and it is in the darkness that souls are made...or broken.

Terrance “Bear” Collins is the Road Captain of the Via Daemonia Motorcycle Club. He’s always had a laidback, jovial outlook on life. He loves his club, his family, his niece and nephew, and his hometown of Mount Grove, PA. Lately he’s been feeling restless—ever since a one-night stand snuck away from him. Bear’s been having trouble getting the little blonde spitfire out of his head. An unexpected event lands Bear in the emergency room.

For years, the vampire family lived in the shadows, hidden by the night and people's disbelief; feeding on animals or throw away people who would never be missed. But as the family moves into an old theater, and uses it to cover up their crimes, the youngest of them are restless and determined to live as they like. Recklessly. Killing and feeding when and where they want. Feeding on who they want. Only the parent vampires have managed to keep them in check. But no longer.

Aerilyn wasn't expecting much from an already lousy night. What seemed to be a routine meetup with a John at a rundown motel turned into a roller-coaster of mortal danger. She is introduced to a world of organized crime, riding shot-gun with the deadliest person she has ever encountered. The tall, dark, and mysterious contract killer is a woman with a secret. Now they are both being hunted by one of the most powerful families on the East Coast. This High-Octane Sapphic Mafia Romance will take you on a ride to a destination unknown.

The pirate lioness Mazalaen has survived by pretending to be a man, a murderer and a thief... and fears she has become those things in truth. Until she meets a fearless princess in battle. Could this woman be her salvation? Originally published in Anthrolations.

I summoned a water monster who says we’re soul mates. I know… it’s a lot to swallow… To say I’m having a bad day is an understatement. First, my scumbag ex turned me into an unwitting porn star. Then, when I confiscated his recording equipment, he doxed me. That’s when perverts started showing up at my house. But they weren’t the only ones. Lir, ruler of an ancient sea kingdom, came to me as an intense, sexy wall of water with slightly murderous tendencies, and he quickly proved he’d protect me by any means necessary. And all he wanted in return was for me to be his. Forever. In Atlantis.

The Mile-High City has its troubles. Fortunately it also has a troubleshooter, Riley Connors, who is more than what she seems: law student, waitress, and flirt. Because Riley has a past and connections that enable her to protect the people around her. She's a nemesis to many.

Where Things Find Their Place is a quiet collection of contemplative stories about calm, time, attention, and the hidden wisdom of ordinary moments—now brought to life through voice. Inside the Orion Library, small stories are kept with care. These are not tales of dramatic adventures or distant worlds, but gentle reflections on everyday life: a handmade cup… a river that refuses to hurry… a lantern that was already lit… a feather carried by the wind… a fire that quietly shares its warmth.

Sometimes growth appears suddenly. A garden blooms. A path becomes clearer. And it feels as if everything changed overnight. But most changes begin long before they are visible. In this thoughtful visit to the Orion Library, Kai notices surprising growth in the garden beside the cabin. What begins as curiosity slowly becomes a reflection on how small efforts quietly accumulate until something beautiful finally appears.

Maps are useful. They show roads. They suggest directions. They promise certainty. But some journeys cannot be drawn ahead of time. In this thoughtful visit to the Orion Library, Kai studies a map that should explain where the next path leads. Yet what begins as an attempt to plan the journey slowly becomes a reflection on the quiet courage required to walk without knowing the entire route.

Light creates shadows. Where the sun shines, shapes appear beside it. And sometimes those shadows seem larger than the light itself. In this reflective visit to the Orion Library, Kai notices his shadow moving across the ground as the sun slowly crosses the sky. What begins as a simple observation becomes a gentle reflection on the emotions that follow us through life. The Shadow That Followed the Sun is part of Cuddleverse Chronicles — Calming Short Stories to Slow Down and Reflect from the Orion Library, a collection of thoughtful tales designed to be shared at the end of the day.

Some questions arrive quietly. They do not demand answers. They simply sit beside us, waiting to see what we will do with them. In this gentle visit to the Orion Library, Kai walks with Cuddle Monster and Aiko on a breezy hillside where the wind moves freely through the tall grass. At first Kai tries to understand every movement of the wind. But what begins as curiosity slowly becomes a reflection on something deeper — the quiet freedom that appears when we allow some mysteries to remain unsolved.

Sometimes we search far for the light we need. We look ahead. We look outward. We assume the answer must be somewhere else. In this thoughtful visit to the Orion Library, Kai and Cuddle Monster walk through the forest at dusk carrying a lantern to guide their path. But what begins as a simple walk slowly becomes a reflection on the quiet guidance that already exists within us. The Lantern That Was Already Lit is part of Cuddleverse Chronicles — Calming Short Stories to Slow Down and Reflect from the Orion Library, a collection of thoughtful tales designed to be shared at the end of the day.

Some things seem certain. Stones sink. Water flows. The world behaves the way it always has. But sometimes the most surprising discoveries begin when we question what we think cannot change. In this thoughtful visit to the Orion Library, Kai, Cuddle Monster, and Aiko explore the quiet possibility that even the heaviest things we carry may not be as fixed as they first appear. The Stone That Learned to Float is part of Cuddleverse Chronicles — Calming Short Stories to Slow Down and Reflect from the Orion Library, a collection of thoughtful tales designed to be shared at the end of the day.