Dewitched: Blackhaven Manor, Book 12
M/M Paranormal Romance | Fated Mates | Angsty | Magical Mayhem | HEA
Approximately 30K Words
Approximately 30K Words
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Ever since an unfortunate incident at Blackhaven Manor, Owen Zhas has closed himself off from the rest of the world. It’s not that he has anything against Otherlings, but he never asked to be one, and honestly, he’s barely even a witch. With no magic of his own, he’s stuck stealing it from others, whether he wants to or not. Unable to control it, he finds it easier to just avoid other people altogether.
But when a certain female dragon shifter invites him to one of the hotel’s famous festivals, he can’t exactly say no.
As a Guardian, Fenix Hohlt has spent more than two decades watching over the youngest Nightstar, and when the precocious princess wants something, she usually gets it. Which is how he ends up in Colorado for the spookiest event of the year. He just never expected the journey to change the course of his future. One look at Owen, however, and he knows there is no going back.
While their first meeting went about as smooth as sandpaper, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to help Owen fight his demons. Even if that means banishing them to the deepest corners of the Underworld. He does have connections, after all.
With a hotel full of unsuspecting Otherlings, time is running out to find a solution, and he has a bad feeling things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.
But when a certain female dragon shifter invites him to one of the hotel’s famous festivals, he can’t exactly say no.
As a Guardian, Fenix Hohlt has spent more than two decades watching over the youngest Nightstar, and when the precocious princess wants something, she usually gets it. Which is how he ends up in Colorado for the spookiest event of the year. He just never expected the journey to change the course of his future. One look at Owen, however, and he knows there is no going back.
While their first meeting went about as smooth as sandpaper, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to help Owen fight his demons. Even if that means banishing them to the deepest corners of the Underworld. He does have connections, after all.
With a hotel full of unsuspecting Otherlings, time is running out to find a solution, and he has a bad feeling things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.
Excerpt
“Are we what?” Fenix urged. “I promise, nothing you have said sounds stupid.”
Owen studied him for a long time with an unreadable expression. Then, with a decisive nod, he straightened up, took a deep breath, and blurted, “Are we mates?”
“What do you think?” He realized that probably sounded evasive, but he really did want to hear Owen’s opinion.
“I think it explains why you tried to eat me.”
Fenix growled. “I wasn’t trying to eat you.”
“Why not? Am I not good enough?”
“What? That’s not what I meant.”
“So, you don’t want to eat me?”
What the fuck was even happening? “Not for dinner.”
“How about dessert?”
Fenix snapped his mouth shut and breathed deeply through his nose. “You’re fucking with me.”
The little shit gave him a big grin and shrugged. “Actually, I’m flirting with you. I’m just not very good at it.”
Surprised by the comeback, Fenix barked out a sharp laugh. “On the contrary. You’re doing quite well, talei.”
“Ah, there it is.” Owen’s grin grew a little wider. “You stopped short of saying it earlier. What does it mean?”
Damn, he hadn’t meant to say that. It had just kind of slipped out. He still didn’t know if he had the right to use it, but he damn sure wasn’t going to take it back.
“There’s no direct translation, but I guess it’s similar to treasure.” It was so much more complex than that, but he didn’t want to overwhelm the mage while they were still getting to know each other.
“It’s pretty. What should I call you?” His eyebrows drew together, and he frowned. “I don’t know any fancy endearments. I mean, I could call you sweetheart or something, but that’s about it.”
Fenix chuckled. “You can call me whatever you want.”
“Really? What if I wanted to call you pookie?”
He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I’d get used to it.” His mate’s answering laughter was the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard. “Does that mean you’re okay with being my mate?”
Owen tilted his head, looking adorably confused. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He had been around long enough to know that not all mated pairs lived happily ever after. Fate only brought them together. The rest was up to them.
“For starters, you don’t even know me.”
“And you tried to eat me.”
Oh, for the love of… “I did not try to eat you.”
“Sure seemed that way.”
“Owen,” he growled in warning.
His mate blinked up at him innocently. “Yes, pookie?”
Owen studied him for a long time with an unreadable expression. Then, with a decisive nod, he straightened up, took a deep breath, and blurted, “Are we mates?”
“What do you think?” He realized that probably sounded evasive, but he really did want to hear Owen’s opinion.
“I think it explains why you tried to eat me.”
Fenix growled. “I wasn’t trying to eat you.”
“Why not? Am I not good enough?”
“What? That’s not what I meant.”
“So, you don’t want to eat me?”
What the fuck was even happening? “Not for dinner.”
“How about dessert?”
Fenix snapped his mouth shut and breathed deeply through his nose. “You’re fucking with me.”
The little shit gave him a big grin and shrugged. “Actually, I’m flirting with you. I’m just not very good at it.”
Surprised by the comeback, Fenix barked out a sharp laugh. “On the contrary. You’re doing quite well, talei.”
“Ah, there it is.” Owen’s grin grew a little wider. “You stopped short of saying it earlier. What does it mean?”
Damn, he hadn’t meant to say that. It had just kind of slipped out. He still didn’t know if he had the right to use it, but he damn sure wasn’t going to take it back.
“There’s no direct translation, but I guess it’s similar to treasure.” It was so much more complex than that, but he didn’t want to overwhelm the mage while they were still getting to know each other.
“It’s pretty. What should I call you?” His eyebrows drew together, and he frowned. “I don’t know any fancy endearments. I mean, I could call you sweetheart or something, but that’s about it.”
Fenix chuckled. “You can call me whatever you want.”
“Really? What if I wanted to call you pookie?”
He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I’d get used to it.” His mate’s answering laughter was the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard. “Does that mean you’re okay with being my mate?”
Owen tilted his head, looking adorably confused. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He had been around long enough to know that not all mated pairs lived happily ever after. Fate only brought them together. The rest was up to them.
“For starters, you don’t even know me.”
“And you tried to eat me.”
Oh, for the love of… “I did not try to eat you.”
“Sure seemed that way.”
“Owen,” he growled in warning.
His mate blinked up at him innocently. “Yes, pookie?”