Caspian made a wrinkled-up face and huffed.
“I suppose I could tell more of a child-safe version…” Marquis coughed.
The little one blinked up, head bobbing sleepily in that little head-butting thing some tired babies did.
“It was about eighty-ish years ago. Nevermind the math, dear; the numbers tell another story.”
Eighty years ago
A prime familiar from a good family—a Welsh coven operating under the name Heulwen, had been presented to the head of the Eclipse coven, sent to America by way of ship to the new world. Damien was a prime specimen. Slight and reddish-brown haired. He came from powerful stock, both his magefather and familiar father had given him their highest praise—which wasn’t much, because all parents thought their children were amazing. Everyone else, though, agreed. Damien had been a prize of a choice for Baron.
The boy showed up in his finest, hair freshly trimmed and his clothes immaculate. Baron had stared him down, checked his teeth, and picked him apart one flaw at a time. His bottom front teeth were slightly misaligned. His freckles were too concentrated on his shoulders, build too short, feet too wide. And in the end, he rejected him. They’d delayed sending communication to his family that Baron had found his magic unfitting, but his family was insistent that he marry into the Eclipse coven. His bloodline needed more powerful mages to thrive.
So, Damien had been offered to Marquis.
“You’re thinking,Oh joy, I get my brother’s discarded leftovers.” Damien stared Marquis down as they had their first meeting. Marquis wasn’t given the option of rejecting Damien, calling the union a gift.
“I think no such thing. I worry only that our magic may not be compatible.” Marquis joined hands with Damien, keeping his expression carefully neutral. He allowed the omega a taste of his power, and it flowed like honey at first, warm and controlled. Sweet. A little sluggish at first but rushing as quickly as Marquis could give in a moment. Damien sighed in near pleasure, his body slackening, the stiffness in him all forgotten. And in a blink, he shifted, his form a catty gray fox that gave a rough bark of approval. He wound around Marquis’s ankles in a show of affection and shifted back, throwing himself against Marquis with a grin, bare as the day he was born, clothes scattered about the floor.
“Fantastic! No tutor has ever given me a taste of magic so fine. You’re strong, and we flow well. And you’re not dull. I wasdead fearful that you’d be boring. They warned me you were.” Damien beamed and Marquis cleared his throat.
“Clothes, sir. I wouldn’t wish to be improper.” Marquis’s cheeks burned. The male wasveryfetching.
Arthur Eclipse, Marquis’s father, cleared his throat, too. “That’s enough, omega. Put some clothes on. We’ll work on communications with your family.”
Communication by mail in those days could take months if done by human means, but a letter sent through fairy portals could arrive in a day or two. Sometimes the day before it was actually sent… Time worked very differently when traveling between dimensions. It also came with a side effect of creatures accidentally wandering through.
Pixies…The tiny little balls of light that chattered happily, if pissed enough, would self-immolate in an explosive force that could level neighborhoods. Luna moths had been another creature slipped through, but their addition to the ecosystem hadn’t provided any meaningful impact, though they did stop glowing and squeaking after a few generations. The ones that still existed in fairy were still glowing pink, bright, and chirped like birds wherever they flew. Likely, the noise they made attracted predators and resulted in that particular trait being eradicated.
Arthur sat at his desk and grumbled as Damien dressed, his face a portrait of wonder and beauty. Marquis’s father pulled out a sheet of parchment and scribbled words across it.
A polite knock on the door rang out, and Arthur called for them to enter.
“Father, I—” Baron opened the door, eyes tracking right toward a half-dressed Damien. He studied the familiar for far too long. “Oh.”
“Baron. Is it important?” Arthur sat his pen down as if everything could be stopped for his firstborn.
He didn’t speak right away, only stared long and hard at Damien as he slid back into his clothing. “I wanted to see where Marquis was…”
“He’s right here. We were testing to see if he was compatible with Damien. It’s good news all around. I’m guessing you have someone else you’ve been courting in secret, and we’ll meet them soon enough.” Arthur gave his oldest alookthat made him glance away in a hurry.
“Nothing that can’t be broken off. After all. The more I think about it, the more Damien does appeal to me. I should at least try his capabilities…” Baron gave a wicked smile that made Marquis’s chest clench. Of course, the moment Marquis had something, Baron wanted it.
A gleam flashed in Arthur’s eyes. “I haven’t sent the missive yet. Try away.”
Damien froze in his spot, eyes tracing from Baron to Marquis as if deciding which one he would rather have.
Baron was the firstborn of the family. He was a direct inheritor of the wand-making business, despite Marquis being quite talented himself. Baron had the family fortune behind him, legacy, and status. Marquis had a leg up, but he wasn’t as good of a deal as Baron.
Except… Baron is an ass. Baron would make his life miserable.
Damien seemed to be thinking exactly that, the worry gleaming in his amber eyes.
He offered his hand to Baron, fingers trembling. Their hands locked, and Damien flinched. The flow of magic passed, and Baron grinned. “I could make it work. It’s not bad at all.”
Damien opened his mouth, a single note of disagreement in his tone. “I—”
“I’ll take him. Welcome to the family,fiancé.” Baron leaned down and gave the male a soft kiss on his lips.
