by T J Nichols
His heart stopped then raced to catch up on the missing beats. He wouldn’t start hoping, but it was already too late. Hope was quickly followed with a wash of anger. How dare Jude turn up after a week without calling? Mack had spent the week worrying.
Mack pulled in behind the car and got out.
Jude sat on the front steps. His hair was immaculate, his checked shirt far too pressed, and the sleeves were neatly folded up, not scrunched like Mack’s. He’d clearly spent the week updating his wardroom with new jeans and…and boots.
Gone were the pointed toes, replaced instead with brown hiking boots that looked like they could do with getting dirty.
Jude stood, not putting too much weight on the leg that had been bitten. “I wanted to surprise you. Ta-da. Here I am.” He smiled, but it was tight, as if he expected to be turned away.
Mack blinked, not sure what to say.
“You aren’t happy to see me.” The smile left Jude’s face.
“I’ve spent all week wondering what the Coven was doing to you. Why didn’t you call?” The words came out gruffer than he’d intended.
“I couldn’t. They took my phone and all. I got your message yesterday, then decided it was better to be here than to call. The Coven only got through with me yesterday.”
“What took so long? Did they…?”
Jude opened his hand, so sparks danced between his fingertips. “I got to keep my magic and my familiar. That you didn’t want the bond broken counted in my favor. They think having a familiar might be good for me.”
Mack took a few steps closer to stand at the bottom step and look up at Jude. “You don’t know how worried I was.”
Jude came down a step. “Yes, I did. I could feel it.” He touched his chest above his heart. “I had surgery on the bite and treatment for the poison that female aufhockers have. Everyone found that discovery most fascinating. It would’ve been more interesting if it wasn’t happening to me.”
“But you’re okay now?”
“Better than okay.” He stepped down again to stand in front of Mack. “I’m home.”
Relief flooded Mack as he took Jude into his arms.
Jude leaned into him. “I missed you. I would’ve called if I could.”
Mack nodded and hugged him harder. He didn’t want to admit how much he’d missed Jude. How empty his house and life had been. He never wanted to go back to that.
“I’ll call when I have to go away for work.”
“You accepted the job?”
Jude nodded. “You’re okay with that?”
“Yes.” Mack kissed him, a light brush of lips. “As long as you come back.”
Jude’s hand snaked around the back of Mack’s neck and held him there for something much deeper and hungrier. He pressed close, leaving no doubt about how much he’d missed Mack while they’d been apart. “There is nowhere I’d rather be.”
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Afterword
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Other books by TJ Nichols
Studies in Demonology trilogy
Warlock in Training
Rogue in the Making
Blood for the Spilling
Mytho series
Lust and other Drugs
Greed and other Dangers
Familiar Mates
The Witch’s Familiar
The Vampire’s Familiar
The Rock Star’s Familiar
The Soldier’s Familiar
Holiday novellas
Elf on the Beach
The Vampire’s Dinner
Poison Marked
The Legend of Gentleman John
Silver and Solstice
A Summer of Smoke and Sin
A Wolf’s Resistance
Olivier (an Order of the Black Knights novel)
Hood and the Highwaymen
Writing as Toby J Nichols
Ice Cave
About the Author
Urban fantasy where the hero always gets his man
TJ Nichols is an avid runner and martial arts enthusiast who first started writing as child. Many years later while working as a civil designer, TJ decided to pick up a pen and start writing again. Having grown up reading thrillers and fantasy novels, it’s no surprise that mixing danger and magic comes so easily. Writing urban fantasy allows TJ to bring magic to the every day. TJ is the author of the Studies in Demonology trilogy and the Mytho urban fantasy series.
TJ has gone from designing roads to building worlds and wouldn’t have it any other way. After traveling all over the world TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
TJ also writes action/horror as Toby J Nichols.
You can connect with TJ at:
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