by
Growing up, Kai Bennu was taunted for skin dark as midnight and his otherworldly appearance. They called him Nightmare, but Alec Vasilios, a wealthy and powerful businessman, wants to call Kai his own. Kai’s past has left him with little trust in others and even more reluctance to surrender himself to Alec’s power. With both men harboring supernatural secrets, finding common ground won’t come without sacrifice.
- 2 To Be Read lists
Publisher: Extasy Books
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 3
Romantic Content: 3
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Tropes: Class Differences, Coming of Age, Enemies to Lovers
Word Count: 7541
Setting: Orangeburg, South Carolina
Languages Available: English
Meredith on Diverse Reader wrote:Wow. I’m not even sure what to say. This one just left me totally…speechless.
A rollercoaster of emotion, had me crying a few times in so few pages and such wonderful world building and exploration of characters. I’ve read books in the 2-300 pages length that haven’t given me the emotion that this 26 page story did.
Between Alec, the feisty, sex-fuelled vampire; Kai, the ‘Nightmare’ flame with a heart of gold; and Mama Bennu, the woman with fire, love and compassion, I didn’t know where to turn. Every character was a rainbow of emotion, depth and soul, only making this story so much the better.
Now, usually an ending at 90% would have me frustrated or annoyed. But this story was done. This story gave me everything I wanted and needed in the space it took up. It didn’t need that extra 10%. But I needed it, to collect myself and finally breathe easy again, after the end of that incredible story.
I will now happily instant-buy anything Deja Black releases in the future. No questions asked.
Christy Duke on Rainbow Book Reviews wrote:I love short stories because they are perfect when you want to read something but want the satisfaction of the conclusion fairly quickly.
They Called Him Nightmare was filled with fantasy and romance that is thrust upon you joyfully. Kai is special, gifted, different. Because of that people make fun of him call him nightmare because of his appearance. No one likes him aside from his Mama… Except Alec. Alec knows different, he IS different. And he’s also Kai’s true mate.
This may have been a short story but it was magical and beautiful and I really enjoyed it.
Is it just me who loves to read the stories of the things that go bump in the night? I grew up reading Alfred Hitchcock, Edgar Allen Poe, and Stephen King, to name a few. I've always been fascinated by all things paranormal but the darker, the grittier, the more intense, has always held my attention for longer. 'They Called Him Nightmare' was everything I wanted it to be.
Alec may seem like the town's golden boy, but what they don't know is his secret to keep. His secret of what he'd really like to do to so many of the residents. What he wishes he could do to feed his soul. Kai may be the one they're all afraid of and he may be dark as night, but Alec with his sunny disposition and golden hair is hiding a true terror. There's nothing Alec wants more than Kai, however.
Kai wants nothing to do with Alec. Kai can see so much more than the townspeople and he sees what Alec is and what he wants. Regardless of whether Kai may have had secret thoughts about Alec, the townspeople would never hear of Nightmare and Alec, and it would bring attention that neither of them needed. So Kai stayed away. Until the day Alec sets his sights on him. And Kai disappears, only for Alec to find him ten years later.
Whoa. So much better than I thought it would be. But way too short! I could have kept reading and reading. A fabulous, darkly exciting tale that absolutely made my day. This story is going to stay with me for quite a while.
