Twenty-year-old Tarquin is smart, tactless, and braver than he knows. He's also been Mage of the Realm of Kelor for two years, taking the title from his mother after she died protecting Kelor from a terrible threat. Mages, unlike all other magicians, give their blood in exchange for far more powerful magic. Unfortunately for the Mage of the Realm, there's always the chance one day Kelor will need magic of such potency that a mage will have to give not just their blood, but their life. Tarquin's mother already made this sacrifice, and Tarquin knows it's likely also his fate. While on a quest to heal his brother, who is dying because of Tarquin's reckless mistake, Tarquin is attacked by a horrific, flesh-eating monster. He's saved by an enigmatic and mute young soldier, called "Five", who is cursed with a terrifying appearance that conceals the heart of a knight. There's an almost instant attraction between the two men, but no time to explore it. The monster's attack is the harbinger of a new invasion. With Kelor helpless, the realm's only hope lies with Tarquin. Just as he feared, his sole choice is to sacrifice himself the way his mother did, in exchange for magic strong enough to destroy the coming evil. He's prepared to give up his life to save the realm, but before the battle is over, he'll be faced not just with his own death, but the death of everyone he cares about. Including the cursed soldier he's come to love.

Blood for Magic

Five growled and moved his hand faster and Tarquin’s breath hitched. He lifted his head, mouth colliding recklessly with Five’s as they kissed again. Five’s sharp teeth caught on Tarquin’s lip, and the pinprick of pain as his lip tore was inconsequential—mages were old friends to pain—but the warm trickle of blood that followed it, hot and thrumming with power, sent Tarquin over the edge. He trembled head to toe with the force of his completion, his cry lost in Five’s mouth.


Five’s hips bucked, and then he came as well, his head falling back on a near-silent blast of air that should have been a cry. His come was a bit cooler even than the rest of him, and Tarquin shivered to feel it over his groin. For some reason that was really funny.


Tarquin laughed, and then kissed Five again. “Thank you.” He cupped Five’s face in his hands, sure his grin looked exactly as besotted as he felt and not giving a damn. “That was my first time.”


Chapter 64