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My African Prince
Prince to a pride of black lion shifters, Zee secretly desires to submit to the big, gorgeous, pale-skinned man with the mysterious scent. He hungers to be taken, filled… and loved.
His pride will probably kill him if they ever discovered his most secret cravings— no sign of weakness is ever tolerated. Yet, with Luka, the risk may be completely worth even one moment in his arms.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Dear Author,
I am supposed to be content as a lion. A prince and heir of our pride. We are a fierce, strong, and unique pride of black lions. Humans think it is because of melanism but what they don’t know is that we are shifters. All of us.
But Author, that is not my dilemma, HE is my dilemma. That gorgeous, delicious, man over there. I have never seen someone with his skin tone before. And while he doesn’t smell like a lion, he also doesn’t smell completely… right as a human either. And even more than that he makes me want to give in to my secret, darkest desire, to submit, to be mounted by someone else, to be filled.
I am a prince! The heir of my pride! I am supposed to submit to no man or woman! And yet, with this man? All I want to do is beg him to take me and even more than that… to love me. Even though it may get me killed by my pride.
Photo Description:
A handsome African tribesman stares straight at the camera with light-coloured eyes, fierce, smouldering, and intense. Long, thin, braids hang down his back, and his ears and neck are adorned with tribal jewellery. Lush lips form a slight pout and dark stubble shadows his jaw. The second man is tall, broad-shouldered and muscled— he sure looks capable of fulfilling the dark needs in the first man’s eyes.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
His pride will probably kill him if they ever discovered his most secret cravings— no sign of weakness is ever tolerated. Yet, with Luka, the risk may be completely worth even one moment in his arms.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
Dear Author,
I am supposed to be content as a lion. A prince and heir of our pride. We are a fierce, strong, and unique pride of black lions. Humans think it is because of melanism but what they don’t know is that we are shifters. All of us.
But Author, that is not my dilemma, HE is my dilemma. That gorgeous, delicious, man over there. I have never seen someone with his skin tone before. And while he doesn’t smell like a lion, he also doesn’t smell completely… right as a human either. And even more than that he makes me want to give in to my secret, darkest desire, to submit, to be mounted by someone else, to be filled.
I am a prince! The heir of my pride! I am supposed to submit to no man or woman! And yet, with this man? All I want to do is beg him to take me and even more than that… to love me. Even though it may get me killed by my pride.
Photo Description:
A handsome African tribesman stares straight at the camera with light-coloured eyes, fierce, smouldering, and intense. Long, thin, braids hang down his back, and his ears and neck are adorned with tribal jewellery. Lush lips form a slight pout and dark stubble shadows his jaw. The second man is tall, broad-shouldered and muscled— he sure looks capable of fulfilling the dark needs in the first man’s eyes.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
69 pages, ebook
First published July 25, 2014
3 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Vona Logan
8 books25 followersMy life growing up was pretty dull until I sneaked off with one of my mom's romance books and a whole new world opened up.
Always a romantic at heart, the desire to write my own happily-ever-afters never waned. In early 2012 I took the bull by the horns and wrote my first short story. The publishers liked it and the rest as they say is history.
Some of my hobbies include racquet sports, reading and lusting after drool-worthy cars and motorbikes. Late at night I dream up gorgeous men and exciting plots to bring them to life.
Always a romantic at heart, the desire to write my own happily-ever-afters never waned. In early 2012 I took the bull by the horns and wrote my first short story. The publishers liked it and the rest as they say is history.
Some of my hobbies include racquet sports, reading and lusting after drool-worthy cars and motorbikes. Late at night I dream up gorgeous men and exciting plots to bring them to life.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 27, 2014
4.5 stars--Zithembe Kekana, also known as Zee, is an African prince and black lion shifter. He's the future ruler of his pride. He's protected by his best friend and second in command, Ben, and has a lot of his shoulders trying to play the future leader role. He puts the pride first above all things, runs a wildlife park with little complaint. But there's just one thing. Zee is gay. He know his lion shifter pride would never accept a gay king. So other than his best friend knowing, he hides who he is.
The new groundskeeper, Luka Petrov, is 6'5", blonde and super hot. And a shifter in his own right (it's kinda of a mystery that gets solved within the story- his animal is pretty hot). Luka is taller than Zee, different than Zee...and Zee's mate.
The story delves into a tried and true plot theme - you're my mate, I need to deny it, but damn do I need to jump your bones, no matter our differences or that I'm in the closet. This story delivered enough of the main characters feelings that I could ignore the short time frame that passed. I usually do when mates/bonded pairs are involved.
This prompt was excellent. And it was given to the right author to breathe life into it. I am so excited from the moment I read the legend/fairy tale prologue.
It was a joy reading this story. What I also found refreshing was that this was not cliche IR that played into stereotypes. And the hot alpha sex? *nods head slowly and licks lips* Smutty goodness...biting, mating, hot smexing...oh yes. Hint:
There's some minor angst that was expected. Does love prevail or that yucky closet and its unfair strictures? Guess you'll just have to read to find out.
I hope the author does consider carrying on with sequel with Ben as the lead, the other gay lion deserves to have a HEA just as happy as Zee and Luka. That little teaser at the end has got me anxious. ;)
Major thanks to the author (I'll be checking out other works from her), the prompter and the team behind this story! This is definitely one of my favorites from this event.
July 25, 2014
4.5 stars rounded up
Paranormal short story (big cat shifters)
Zee is the crown prince of his people, who are rare black lion shifters, living and working in an African holiday resort they own. He is closeted and with his position doesn't ever think he will be able to come out as he must rule the pride and carry on the line. He doesn't figure on Luka entering his life, a powerful siberian tiger shifter and his true mate. This is a really well written story with a strong setting. Sure it's fated mates so insta-love happens, but these are two powerful alpha males so it's not too tropey. Add in a disapproving pride, fights to the death and some lovely comic moments. Well worth the rad.
Paranormal short story (big cat shifters)
Zee is the crown prince of his people, who are rare black lion shifters, living and working in an African holiday resort they own. He is closeted and with his position doesn't ever think he will be able to come out as he must rule the pride and carry on the line. He doesn't figure on Luka entering his life, a powerful siberian tiger shifter and his true mate. This is a really well written story with a strong setting. Sure it's fated mates so insta-love happens, but these are two powerful alpha males so it's not too tropey. Add in a disapproving pride, fights to the death and some lovely comic moments. Well worth the rad.
November 1, 2014
This was a fantastic story. We have shifters, but not your typical wolf-shifter. This story we have cat-shifters. We have some family drama. We have our destined mates, but we still see the struggle of acceptance between them, especially from Zee's point of view. The story flows very smoothly and it is it gripping. You don't want to stop once you start, at least it was for me.
During the prologue you see a young man who tries to save a lion who is fatally injured instead of running away or killing it. He cries for this lion. Then we jump ahead to Zee's time.
Zee is a lion shifter, a black lion. He is in charge of his pride, passed down from his parents. Even though, his parents are still alive, they wanted to go explore the world. Zee is a very good leader. He wants what is best for his pride. No one knows he is gay. He especially, doesn't want his rival, his uncle to find out. He uncle wants the pride for himself and isn't a good person. The only person who knows that his is, is his best friend and fellow pride member, Ben. Since, they rock the same boat. Ben is his second in command.
Well, all is well until Ben hires a very attractive man to be a groundskeeper. Though, there is something about him... that isn't entirely human. The first time Zee sees Luka, he is thrown through a loop. He has never had this type of reaction to someone, especially right up front and so strongly. They are destined mates.
But not all is easy for these two. First, we have that Zee, who puts his pride before him, so he tries his hardest to deny it. Though, that is a losing battle. Then we have Zee's uncle and the fact that he wants Zee out of the picture. Finally, we have that Luka isn't just anybody. He is male, and a different type of shifter.
I really enjoyed watching these two grow as the story progressed. They are both strong characters that have good morals. They care for one another but also aren't full of themselves, though they certainly could get away with it.
The ending was very good. The beginning of the story makes more sense. Then we have Ben... who has a vision... of most likely his mate. I really hope to see a sequel where Ben is the front man, finding his mate and Luka/Zee as the secondary characters.
During the prologue you see a young man who tries to save a lion who is fatally injured instead of running away or killing it. He cries for this lion. Then we jump ahead to Zee's time.
Zee is a lion shifter, a black lion. He is in charge of his pride, passed down from his parents. Even though, his parents are still alive, they wanted to go explore the world. Zee is a very good leader. He wants what is best for his pride. No one knows he is gay. He especially, doesn't want his rival, his uncle to find out. He uncle wants the pride for himself and isn't a good person. The only person who knows that his is, is his best friend and fellow pride member, Ben. Since, they rock the same boat. Ben is his second in command.
Well, all is well until Ben hires a very attractive man to be a groundskeeper. Though, there is something about him... that isn't entirely human. The first time Zee sees Luka, he is thrown through a loop. He has never had this type of reaction to someone, especially right up front and so strongly. They are destined mates.
But not all is easy for these two. First, we have that Zee, who puts his pride before him, so he tries his hardest to deny it. Though, that is a losing battle. Then we have Zee's uncle and the fact that he wants Zee out of the picture. Finally, we have that Luka isn't just anybody. He is male, and a different type of shifter.
I really enjoyed watching these two grow as the story progressed. They are both strong characters that have good morals. They care for one another but also aren't full of themselves, though they certainly could get away with it.
The ending was very good. The beginning of the story makes more sense. Then we have Ben... who has a vision... of most likely his mate. I really hope to see a sequel where Ben is the front man, finding his mate and Luka/Zee as the secondary characters.
August 11, 2014
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
1.5 starsI was about ready to stop reading at 10%, but I powered through. Skimming most, skipping some, and cringing frequently. Every shitty shifter trope imaginable, including insta-ejaculation:
"He opened the window, his cock pulsed as he abruptly came in his underwear. The other man's pheromones hung in the air outside." That is not sexy.
Although of course the sex was hot, that's all there is to their relationship. They know literally nothing about each other. And good sex isn't enough to hold up the rest of the story. And while I liked the mythology behind how his tribe became shifters, that little twist at the end was ridiculous and unnecessary. Also, why bother saying Luka's parents are coming if they aren't present in the final showdown. And while I appreciate that you want to set Ben up for the next book, a random aborted masturbation scene is maybe not the best note to end a story on .
September 21, 2014
This was a good sgtory for such a hot summer's day as this. I thought the prologue was beautiful and moving. Hope to read more about Ben soon.
August 31, 2015
Well, a little cliffhanger. I really wanna know how ben's story goes. Maybe a sequel..? ;)
Thank you, dear author^^
September 30, 2014
I really liked this story and enjoyed the different take on shifters. It was lovely and smexy with a great prologue. Not too sure about the ending. I'm expecting a second book.
probably-not
September 20, 2016*looks pointedly at the summary* yikes
[there is an off-chance that this is NOT, in fact, rather African colonial fantasy-y, but the chance is so off that honestly I'm not going to chance it 8) ]
[there is an off-chance that this is NOT, in fact, rather African colonial fantasy-y, but the chance is so off that honestly I'm not going to chance it 8) ]
October 5, 2014
Set in the wilds of Africa, this is a story about a lion shifter and his mate, another big cat. Zee may be a price, and he may be expected to continue the royal line by producing offspring, but he is gay. And when he unexpectedly finds hi also very male mate, he is ecstatic and devastated at the same time. Unsurprisingly the "traditionalists" in the tribe have a problem with the prospect of a gay king, and organize a confrontation in which Zee has to fight to the death.
If you like shifter stories with all the standard elements, if you enjoy exotic settings, and if you're looking for a read with lots of hot man-on-man action, the you will probably like this short novella.
If you like shifter stories with all the standard elements, if you enjoy exotic settings, and if you're looking for a read with lots of hot man-on-man action, the you will probably like this short novella.
May 7, 2016
Quick, nice story taking place in Africa with powerful lions. And do take note of the hot, steamy sex!
November 2, 2022
Definitely different from any other shifter romance I've read, which made for a nice change. I wonder if she's ever written Ben's story...time for a little investigation.
October 27, 2014
I'm... not entirely sure what to rate this, because my enjoyment of it was all over the place. I ended up rating it by my feelings at the end of the story, and by then I wasn't too into it anymore.
So, the first half or so of the book was good. The sex was hot, the characters I liked, the idea behind how they came to be what they are was weird, but interesting, and it was a nice bit of fluff on the rest. The relationship didn't seem to have much going besides sex, but I could overlook that. I could even overlook the random usage of another language (I don't mind a few words or a phrase now and again; I understand, you want to be realistic about it, but honestly when: a. the rest of the book they speak English and b. you're going to provide a translation of what they say anyway, then you really don't need to put entire pieces of dialog in the original language your character is from, you can just say "he said in (whatever language of your choosing)" - this is a personal pet peeve though.)
Anyway, I should have stopped reading when they became mates.
After that, I felt the story just got worse and worse. It could have been good, but it wasn't. And then, it almost completely lost me on "walla". No. Just no. That's not how you spell it, and if you spelled that wrong, I have no trust that you spelled any of the other foreign words right. Don't get me wrong, anyone can have typos. But "walla" is not a typo.
And then the little bit at the end So not cool.
So, ready for a 4 stars at the start, dwindled to a 3, and left it at 2 to be kind, because I enjoyed the first half, but disliked the last half.
So, the first half or so of the book was good. The sex was hot, the characters I liked, the idea behind how they came to be what they are was weird, but interesting, and it was a nice bit of fluff on the rest. The relationship didn't seem to have much going besides sex, but I could overlook that. I could even overlook the random usage of another language (I don't mind a few words or a phrase now and again; I understand, you want to be realistic about it, but honestly when: a. the rest of the book they speak English and b. you're going to provide a translation of what they say anyway, then you really don't need to put entire pieces of dialog in the original language your character is from, you can just say "he said in (whatever language of your choosing)" - this is a personal pet peeve though.)
Anyway, I should have stopped reading when they became mates.
After that, I felt the story just got worse and worse. It could have been good, but it wasn't. And then, it almost completely lost me on "walla". No. Just no. That's not how you spell it, and if you spelled that wrong, I have no trust that you spelled any of the other foreign words right. Don't get me wrong, anyone can have typos. But "walla" is not a typo.
And then the little bit at the end So not cool.
So, ready for a 4 stars at the start, dwindled to a 3, and left it at 2 to be kind, because I enjoyed the first half, but disliked the last half.
July 19, 2017
Hmm, this book was a bit awkward for me. I felt I should have liked it; the elements were there, all my boxes were ticked, but it just didn’t play out the way I expected. I hoped for something rather tribal, maybe primitive, but our MCs are a bit more modern. Our prince runs a zoo of sorts? And he’s a shifter of course, and connects instantly through a window with his sexy mate to be. The two don’t say a word to one another but their first meeting is cataclysmic and scorching. Their second meeting…not so much. It’s mundane and anticlimactic, and our prince runs away (!) from Luka. Luka then turns to the prince’s best friend and says ‘he’s going to have to make a choice and tell the pride he’s gay’ and starts borrowing trouble without any conversation with the prince himself! There is the stereotypical evil uncle who wants to supplant the prince, and the ending…I’m not sure…was that a Lion King thing? Anyhew, I wanted to like this but contrived circumstances and a whole lot of assumptions without real communication spoiled this for me. A shame, but I appreciate the author’s participation in the LL and the free read! And I will cautiously watch for the next installment of the series and see if some of my issues get fleshed out.
July 20, 2018
Whilst not a big shifter fan, I did enjoy this one.
Yes, it stuck to fairly standard shifter 'lore' but I enjoyed the tension between Zee and Luka, Ben's friendship and the humour!
I also liked how the animal and shifter kingdoms came together at the end.
Reread 20.7.18 : Ah, good old shifters where anything goes - pheromones sending everyone mad with lust! Shifters do give authors free rein with imagination. On reread a few bits that make you go hmmm but loyalty and friendship do come across.
Yes, it stuck to fairly standard shifter 'lore' but I enjoyed the tension between Zee and Luka, Ben's friendship and the humour!
I also liked how the animal and shifter kingdoms came together at the end.
Reread 20.7.18 : Ah, good old shifters where anything goes - pheromones sending everyone mad with lust! Shifters do give authors free rein with imagination. On reread a few bits that make you go hmmm but loyalty and friendship do come across.
May 1, 2017
3.5 stars
This wasn't very well written to begin with, but once the author got into her groove, it improved a lot. I liked the different take on shifters, and I loved the African storytelling feel to it.
The Africa stuff felt right to me, too. I've only spent a month there but from my limited experience, the book was authentic. It did get a little cheesy at the end. I do have to say that I am so over the tiny mom makes big son trope.
This wasn't very well written to begin with, but once the author got into her groove, it improved a lot. I liked the different take on shifters, and I loved the African storytelling feel to it.
The Africa stuff felt right to me, too. I've only spent a month there but from my limited experience, the book was authentic. It did get a little cheesy at the end. I do have to say that I am so over the tiny mom makes big son trope.
April 2, 2016
I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
event-stories-unread
September 22, 2014[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
August 12, 2015
Loved it. Will lookout for the sequel.
August 21, 2014
Review to come
September 8, 2014
*2.5 stars
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March 10, 2015
1.5 stars...
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October 7, 2015skipping that one
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews