Chapter Text
Title: Homesick. Book 3 – Blood Ties
Summary: After receiving a cryptic warning from their new ally, practitioner Adrian Blackthorn and his naga mate, Owethu Selvagem, must work to uncover the secrets behind Adrian’s inexplicable power. As strange magical phenomena start breaking out across the countryside and all eyes on the Blackthorn family home, Adrian is forced to confront his family’s history and the terrifying fact that his own magic might be responsible for a massacre he may not be able to prevent.
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Chapter One
Study Bug
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Adrian Blackthorn had never particularly enjoyed studying. His childhood friend, Lyndall, had always insisted it could be therapeutic. Adrian and Daniel had always teased her for being a nerd whenever she said this. Unfortunately, Lyndall could also throw her books very hard, so they quickly learnt not to voice this insult aloud anymore.
To be fair to himself, it was also rather difficult to concentrate on reading when his two familiars, Duchess and Prince, were diving in, over, up and down around him. He looked up just in time to see them collide with the water jug, sending water and ice cubes everywhere.
'Guys, come on!' Adrian yelped as Duchess sent his now sopping notes scattering in every direction as she took off after one of the cubes of ice now sliding along the floor. No one would ever know just by looking at the two tiny cats, one pure white and the other a solid glossy black, that they had the ability to transform into jaguars the size of a four-seater sedan.
Familiars were incredibly rare. Most practitioners went their entire lives without manifesting one. One familiar could elevate a practitioner to celebrity status. Two was nearly unheard of.
Two was a problem.
How rare were two familiars? Well, from Adrian’s research, he had found fewer than twenty confirmed cases worldwide. What was worse, almost all of those practitioners had met terrible ends. The problem was that the amount of power needed to create two familiars was usually unstable and dangerous. Of those confirmed cases, Adrian had been deeply worried by the number of practitioners who had apparently lost their sanity not long after the conjuring of that second familiar.
It had been nearly a year since Adrian had manifested his second feline, Duchess, and two and a half years since he had lost his parents and little sister in a car crash. He now knew that the car crash had been no accident, though he had no proof. His life had been changed forever on that day. From the outside, people might easily assume he was living an easy existence. The Blackthorn family was one of the richest in the country, and the estate now belonged to Adrian. The huge manor house lay on a pristine, sprawling property bordered with trees and several rose gardens.
The library within the Blackthorn estate was highly sought after. It had been amassed over generations. Both of Adrian's parents had been respected researchers, but not only that, they had formed close friendships with a great number of supernatural species, a feat that many in the high council of practitioners were both envious and fearful of. Adrian's parents had been deeply loved by those who knew them, and even two years later, Adrian often caught himself looking into an empty room, half expecting to find them there.
Their deaths had left a lot of questions painfully unanswered. Several months ago, Adrian had accidentally discovered that the sizeable library of books in the manor was not the full collection. Not by a long shot. Instead, buried in the heart of the manor was an enormous hidden library filled not just with books but with a whole host of dangerous magical artefacts.
Most parents didn't expect to be suddenly murdered, so whilst they had written a letter for Adrian with a brief explanation of this secret collection and the family history, there were many questions left unanswered. That letter had allowed Adrian and his friend to find the catalogue of all the items, but whilst they helped, they also highlighted just how much was contained in the Blackthorn collection.
He was sure there was a section in there on familiars, but he had yet to find it. Given that there was a real risk of a random book growing teeth if disturbed, it had been painfully slow, going through to label the various shelves and displays. Some of the family catalogues were so old that they had been written in another language entirely. Of course, he now had in his possession a book that could give him the answers he was looking for.
A Complete Guide to Familiars and Their Doubles
The book sat on the table, its presence oddly intimidating and constant. The warning letter from the vampire Elliot Romani was upstairs in Adrian’s room. That letter was part of the reason why he hadn’t opened the one book that likely had what he needed. His familiars weren't the only strange thing about his life...
'I was about to ask how you were going, but I believe I can see for myself,' said a familiar voice.
Adrian sighed, turned in his chair, and smiled weakly up at his soul-bonded mate. 'Please take them. Take them anywhere. Hang them from the ceiling if you like.'
Owethu Selvagem stood at the top of the stairs, his golden serpentine eyes twinkling as he took in the chaos below. The naga was second in command of his clan, answering only to his rather terrifying grandfather. Adrian had met the blind serpent a few times, and each time there had been a very real threat of his death. Most supernatural creatures segregated themselves from humans, and naga were no different. The problem was that naga were not a naturally social species, but in such a populated world, they had no choice but to band together to hold territory.
The Selvagem Clan owned several buildings in the city, with the largest serving as a home for the majority of the clan. The huge skyscraper was easy to see from the city centre. Nagas lived a violent existence and were notoriously bad at working peacefully with other species (or each other), which was partly why Adrian's mate bond to Owethu was so unusual.
Their relationship hadn't exactly been smooth sailing. They had endured plenty of ups and downs in the short year they had known each other. Hell, it was probably a miracle they hadn't killed each other. Adrian had been young and still grieving the loss of his family. Owethu was several hundred years old and not at all impressed with the idea of being bonded to a human. They had begun their relationship determined to find a way to destroy the soul bond and go their separate ways. Naga did not fall in love. They did not feel affection in the same way humans did.
And yet...
Somehow, the two had managed to find companionship in each other. Instead of breaking the bond, they had built what no one thought was possible. A proper, mostly healthy relationship.
Adrian sighed and padded over to his mate as Owethu made it to the bottom of the stairs. He slumped against the ebony-skinned man and breathed in his familiar scent. 'Have you not yet started on the book that vampire gave you?' Owethu rumbled, his South African accent lilting his words.
'No,' Adrian admitted.
'Is there any particular reason you are dragging this out?' The naga raised a dark eyebrow.
Adrian gave the taller man a sheepish grin. 'Cowardice?'
'I may not have known you for very long, Adrian Blackthorn, but for all your flaws, cowardice isn't one of them.'
Adrian crossed his arms over his chest. 'Of all my flaws? That's charming,' he snarked.
The naga smirked. 'Thank you.'
'You're an ass,' Adrian said with no real venom. Prince stretched, his mismatched eyes locking onto the naga with interest. He trotted over with his tail high and let out a demanding mew. Owethu reached down and scooped up the tiny ball of chaos and parked the white cat on his shoulder. It had become almost routine for him to do so. Adrian thought it was damned cute but wasn't stupid enough to say so.
'So, what is the real reason why you haven't touched that book?'
Adrian let out a long sigh, glancing back at the book on the table. Somehow it had escaped the small flood of water. 'Maybe because I don't want to find out that I'm going to go nuts and lose control of my magic.' He used to find Owethu's serpent-like eyes creepy, but now he met the man's gaze eagerly.
'You don't know that will happen,' Owethu pointed out, watching as Duchess flew across the tiled floor in pursuit of her second ice cube.
Adrian winced. 'Yes... but we haven't exactly found much evidence to the contrary either.'
'In my long life, I have found that learning as much as I can about my enemy is far more productive than pretending they don't exist. Would it not be better to learn what you can?'
Adrian's shoulders slumped. 'Yeah. I guess so. Did you come down here just to check on me?' He watched curiously as Owethu's expression darkened.
'No. The bloodsucker has arrived with his belongings. He wishes to know where he can reside.'
'Right. I didn't realise how late it had gotten. Come on then. It's not like I was getting much done anyway.' Adrian reached down and scooped up Duchess, her wet paws leaving marks on his shirtsleeve.
Gauge Hails was a young vampire from the Sølvnatt Coven, the same coven Elliot was from. Elliot's coven elders had sent Gauge to live on the Blackthorn estate for the foreseeable future until they could figure out how to destroy an evil pendant that could suck the magic and life-force out of people. Yes, Adrian's life had definitely taken a turn for the strange in the last few years.
Adrian left the library, the door closing behind him and melting back into the wall of the corridor. He was the only one who could see or open that door, though once it was open, anyone could enter it. He made a point of always double-checking that he closed it when he wasn't inside. In the foyer stood the vampire, a suitcase beside him.
'You made it without any problems?' Adrian said by way of greeting, Duchess leaping down from his arms to go sniff the newcomer.
Gauge beamed at him, unbothered by Owethu's frosty expression. 'None at all! Have you finished the book yet?' he asked excitedly.
'Um, no, not yet,' Adrian admitted uncomfortably.
'Really? I thought you would have read through it at least twice by now! I know I would have.' Gauge was certainly bouncy and energetic for a vampire. Perhaps it was because he was so young. He had only been turned about twenty years ago, making him practically an infant by supernatural standards. It wasn't just his personality. The man looked about Adrian's age, with a wide smile that showed off two prominent dimples. He also had a mop of chocolate-brown hair and dressed in bright, casual, modern clothing.
His pale skin might have been overlooked, but his eyes were a dead giveaway to his true nature, no pun intended. All vampires had the same utterly creepy, milky eyes, “corpse eyes” as Daniel would call them. They were unnerving to look at.
'I've been... busy,' Adrian said lamely.
'Fair enough. So! Where do I set up?' He looked positively giddy, rubbing his hands together.
'There is a row of bedrooms on the second floor in the west wing. You're free to choose any one of them. We have housekeepers, but they are here to help and maintain the property, not clean up after you,' Adrian said in a hard voice. Amy Gresham worked at the manor nearly every day. She was like an aunt to Adrian and had kept him together after his family's passing. She had teenage sons of her own and didn't live at the manor but had her own room if she ever wished to stay the night or get changed.
'Certainly! I need very little, though I hope you will find my request for blackout curtains acceptable?' Gauge asked. Vampires, especially young ones, could not tolerate the sun well. They didn't explode into flames like in the old stories, but it did weaken them significantly. So newly turned, Gauge likely wouldn't be able to tolerate more than one or two hours of daylight even if it was overcast like this afternoon.
'That's fine. Just choose the room and Peters will set them up for you.' Henry Peters was a tall, austere man with a sharp jawline and even sharper eyes. His black hair was always cut short, military-style, matching the black suit he insisted on wearing. He'd come to the manor as Owethu's driver and manservant, but now lived at the manor full time.
Only recently had Adrian suffered the shock of learning that the man he had always assumed was human was, in fact, a werebear. Owethu had kept the secret, much to Adrian's annoyance; however, he couldn't be too angry, given that Peters had saved his life when they had been attacked.
'I know we haven't met under the best of circumstances, but I hope this will be a fantastic opportunity for collaboration between my coven and your family and clan,' Gauge said with a nod to them both. Owethu just gave a short jerk of his head, but Adrian smiled.
'That would be great. Come on, I'll show you around.'
Are you coming? Adrian asked down the mental bond he shared with the naga.
Outwardly, Owethu didn't react, but his response came through quickly. No, but I will stay. I will be staying at the manor until he leaves.
Adrian walked through the foyer, Gauge pulling his suitcase along behind him. Owethu, we don't know how long that will be. What about your clan?
As second in command, Owethu was constantly being pulled back to the clan territory to sort out various tasks and problems. He had his own apartment within the huge skyscraper and often didn't bother returning to Blackthorn Manor if his meetings ran late.
I will not leave you alone in this place with a vampire.
Adrian wasn't sure if he should be insulted or touched. You know I am a decently powerful practitioner, right? I don't need babysitting.
Adrian glanced back over his shoulder just in time to see the naga's lips twitch into an almost smile. Owethu's response was full of amusement. Perhaps. Humans are so fragile.
Instead of responding, Adrian flipped him off. The vampire raised an eyebrow. 'So you two can communicate mind to mind?'
'Um, yes,' Adrian admitted.
'That's fascinating! I had wondered if it was possible, given that you are an interspecies couple. I hope you don't mind, but my coven finds your mate to be quite interesting. Elliot tells me that we don't have any other record of a human and naga mate bond.'
'Well, that's... unsettling,' Adrian said.
'Well, as I'm sure you know, naga aren't exactly known for playing nicely with anyone, even each other!'
'I am aware,' Adrian said, noting with some amusement that Owethu was still listening in. Adrian remembered finding that book his grandfather had written. It had included some detailed illustrations of two naga mating... and ripping each other apart.
'And you two are... active?'
Adrian nearly tripped over Duchess. Across the bond, Owethu didn't seem to know whether to be amused or outraged. 'Gauge, to be very clear, I am not talking about my sex life with you.' Then, because he couldn't help himself and he knew the naga was still eavesdropping, he added, 'But you can rest assured that Owethu takes very good care of me.' He smirked at the vampire.
Gauge blinked but quickly recovered. 'That's fair. We aren't best friends yet. Still! I'm honoured that you're sharing.'
Adrian was glad that Gauge seemed relatively normal. Not that Elliot had been rude; if anything, the man had been a little too polite and put-together. A small part of him hoped that this arrangement would work out well for everyone involved. Lord knew Adrian wasn't making any friends among the human practitioners. After Gauge selected the room he wanted, Adrian spent the next hour showing the vampire the manor and the grounds whilst Peters installed the blackout curtains.
'You have a lovely home,' Gauge said as they stepped back onto the patio. The sun had set, and small golden fairy lights now lit up the neat row of hedges that marked the edge of the long gravel driveway. The scent of warm, damp green grass and roses was heavy in the air. Duchess was busying herself chasing the large moths that drifted toward the glittering lights.
'Thank you.'
'About your private collection. This is where the artefact is being kept?'
Adrian braced himself. 'Yes. I know you are here to work with us to have it dismantled, but please understand that you won't have unfiltered access to the collection. You are welcome to look through the library outside of the collection, but entry will only be possible if I am there with you.'
Gauge's head tilted, and for just a single moment, Adrian saw past the smile to the undead predator underneath. 'You don't trust me?'
'No. I don't know you,' Adrian replied flatly.
Gauge shrugged. 'Fair enough.' He held out his hand. 'I look forward to working with you.'
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END
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