The Other Half of Everything: Stories by Sophie Duncan From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

By Sophie Duncan

Many genres, 14 exciting stories in this anthology of shorts and novellettes by Sophie Duncan. Whether you're looking for horror, Sci-Fi or something else, you'll find what you're looking for in this collection.
In July 2012, Wittegen Press gave away a short story, or story part every day to their readers. Each story was only available for one day, but now the 14 stories by Sophie Duncan from The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games have been gathered here into 1 volume.

- Incubus Shadows (Erotic Fantasy M/M/M)
- Samling-Born (YA Contemporary Fantasy)
- The Name Is The Game (Paranormal Contemporary Fantasy)
- The Gift (Fantasy)
- Undercover (M/M Erotic Crime)
- BFF (Horror)
- The End Of The Journey (The Hidden War #1) (YA Contemporary Fantasy, M/M Romance)
- Just One Day (Horror)
- Girl In The Mirror (Paranormal Fantasy)
- A Special Catch (M/F Erotic Sci-Fi)
- Song For A Sovereign (Fantasy)
- Queen of My World (Horror)
- All In The Mind (Sci-Fi)
- A New Path (The Hidden War #2) (YA Contemporary Fantasy, M/M Romance)

These stories, plus all the other stories from the Wittegen Press Giveaway Games can be found in one volume:
- Myriad Imaginings: All The Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

If you would prefer to select stories by genre, they are also available in five separate anthologies:
- Book of Darkness: Horror Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- Beyond Our Horizon: Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- Supernature: Paranormal Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- Romantics: Erotic Romance Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
- Bright Young Things: Young Adult Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

Natasha Duncan-Drake's (the other half of Wittegen Press) stories are also available in an individual anthology:
- Half of Everything: Stories by Natasha Duncan-Drake From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wittegen Press
• Release date: Jan 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781908333414

Sophie Duncan

Half my time I am a project manager developing IT solutions. The other half, you'll find me scribbling away at many a story that just won't leave me alone. I've been writing since I was a wee thing, and publishing since I discovered the internet in 1994 or so.So what do I write? Contemporary and urban fantasy have mainly been my playground, but I have done some real world settings as well. I do like mystery and have been reading (and watching) Agatha Christie since I was a child. I've also been known to do a bit of poetry.Style: I have been told I do angst well, so if you want your heartstrings twanged, or your tummy to tie in knots until the end, then I'm your gal. I am, however, a happy ending junkie, although I do throw a hint of realism in there sometimes as well. I like a few twists and turns on the way in some of my plots, although I have written my share of PWPs as well. I have to admit a small obsession with eyes: I believe they are the seat of beauty in a person, so I play with them in creature fic and use them for expression in others - personal hang up, sorry. Also, I have never met a cliché I didn't like and I am a firm believer that cliché is fine if you do it right.Writing is a passion and there's nothing better than writing for an audience. Any writer who says they don't care about feedback must have had an ego amputation :) If you life my scribbles, I'd be very glad to hear from you.

Book preview

by

Sophie Duncan

This story is male/male/male erotic fantasy.

Authors Note

Incubus Shadows was published, 2nd July 2012.

When Tash and I started discussing The Giveaway Games, we went through all the genres we can/like to write and divvied them into five loose categories: horror, paranormal, erotica, science fiction and fantasy, young adult. We then discussed who would be writing what in each category, so as to try to head off the 'twin thing' as we call it, where we completely independently come up with the same story. Thus, my entire prompt for this story was 'erotica – incubus'. From those two words came Incubus Shadows.

I've been writing male/male erotica for years in the fan fiction arena and, so, I naturally veered that way when developing my first games' story. I also enjoy writing magic. A lot of my work recently had been contemporary fantasy, but as I was writing the first few paragraphs, the post-apocalyptic world began to form in my head. I'm not a big fan of post-apocalyptic stories in the most part, but I do find it fascinating when looking back in history when civilisations have risen and fallen and investigating what they have left behind. So, this story is not set in a world where people are struggling to survive in conditions very different from what they are used to, a-la the post-apocalyptic theme, but in a world where the wars that changed it are thousands of years in the past, a distant memory in society.

Since this was a short story, I didn't try to flesh that world out too much, I just went with writing the plot and seeing where that led me in terms of world-building. However, the science-vs-magic idea that began to form in my head did inspire me when it came to Mark and Robert, my immortal magicians. It informed their back story and their relationship. It also became my link between Arran and Robert.

I enjoyed writing this story and I have found my mind coming back to this world, thinking on, where this story would go next. I have a feeling if I turned this into a full-length novel, I would use the rumblings about conflict between the castle inhabitants and those outside to develop the plot. Arran had a lot to learn as well and so do I, developing the magical-science, it would be fun to follow him. And finally, I have this idea for a 'mother' character for the twins sitting in the back of my head. She's not fully formed, but I already know from the hints in my head when I mentioned her through the twins that she's practical, blunt and doesn't hold by inhibitions.

The more I think about this story, the more I think I'd like to develop it :).

~*~

You can still change your mind.

Arran was not surprised to hear the doubt in his mother's voice, but he turned to her and smiled, a well of self-confidence the like of which he had never felt before his accidental interview with Lord Robert, growing in his heart. He hadn't intended to stray so close to the castle, but these days, he'd often found himself wandering in the meadows below its large walls. The place terrified him, the legends warning of magic far greater than any human had ever known. However, it fascinated him as well, because those same legends spoke of ancient knowledge from before the wars.

He had not known the man he met on his walk had been Lord Robert, no-one had seen the man, or the twin, in his lifetime and he had not been dressed particularly distinctly. Arran had thought the man was possibly one of the castle servants and, being a chatty kind of person, he'd happily struck up conversation.

Arran had tried to convey to everyone he knew how the discussion about the ancient laws of science and their use in magic had made him feel like he had finally found a place that understood him. Still, those in the castle, although protectors of the area, were mysterious creatures, immortal, warped by the magic of the wars far more than any normal human. The look in his mother's eyes was the same as always when she looked at him, worried and bemused, only now magnified by a hundred.

I will be fine, he settled for bland reassurance as he picked up his pack and then walked over to embrace his parent.

Towering over the petite, grey woman, Arran could have wrapped his lanky frame around her slender body twice, but he settled for a loose hug and kissed her on the top of her head.

You do know people don't return from that place, the dry, caustic sound interrupted the moment and Arran stood back.

He smiled at James, who was leaning on the door-frame, trying to look aloof, but he could see the worry in his brother's eyes as well.

Lord Robert is a scientist, Arran tried to explain for the last time.

However, James' brow crinkled and he warned, It's not him you have to worry about, it's that twin of his.

I will not be working with Lord Mark.

Arran saw his words fall flat as James remained hostile and angry. It was James he would miss the most, but he hadn't been able to talk to his brother without a fight since the day, a week ago, when he had excitedly returned from his walk and announced at the supper table that Lord Robert had offered him a job as his assistant. It was a dream come true for the bookish boy who had never really fitted in with the other young men in the village, but he had had no idea what kind of explosive reaction his news would have on his family.

The castle had always been there, as far back as village records went, dominating the landscape with its four storeys of smooth, grey stone. The place had been built before The Sorcery Wars, protected throughout by the St John family. The legends said the family were powerful magicians and, if Arran was true to himself, he was nervous about going inside the place where few villagers had been.

Still, he could not help the way something had settled in him after that chance encounter, something that had been fascinated with the castle since he was a child. He was excited about the opportunity to follow his dream, to understand the past. No-one else seemed to care when he picked up ancient trinkets and took them apart, looking for the rune of lightning and the symbols of science, but Lord Robert did. They had talked for hours, until the sun had started to go down, and only then had the man revealed himself and offered Arran the job.

Nothing could have stopped him saying yes, and there were no more ways to explain the tight knot of anticipation in his stomach, so Arran just smiled at his brother and finished as warmly as he could, Goodbye, James.

With that, he turned his back and walked out of the family home.

~*~

The village behind him, Arran strode purposefully towards the gates that stood between him and his new life. He gazed up at the castle with its many window openings. Those eyes had always intimidated him, the way they seemed to peer down on the village, scars of brick in what had once been wide all-seeing windows. Some had been reduced to thin slits, others to nothing but patches of different-coloured stone. He could feel the power of the place, he always had, an old, battered warrior that had watched civilisations rise and fall. His skin rippled with such ancient strength. He was no master magician, not like those inside, he felt small and insignificant, but, as he walked up to the heavy portcullis between him and his future, he felt right.

He had never been this close before; as children they had dared each other to run up the road, but none of them had ever made it to within a stone's throw of the castle. Even his walks in the fields had not brought him so near. There were rumours of defences that would cut down anyone who got too close, but Arran didn't really believe them; the castle had always protected its neighbours. Still, he was glad he was invited, and he looked down at his closed palm.

Slowly, he uncurled his fingers to reveal the stone Lord Robert had given him, the delicate runes on its smooth surface glowing in the afternoon sun. Doing as he had been instructed, carefully he held up the pebble to the gates and waited.

At first, nothing, just the wind moaning in a sudden gust around the courtyard beyond Arran's reach. Yet, before he could feel a fool, his belly turned and the whine of ages cut his ears. The portcullis began to lift. Arran took a step backwards and a large gulp of air: this was it, his future. Nervously, he walked into the courtyard, his sense of tininess growing as he passed through the thick, defensive wall, and he just kept looking up.

You must be the new boy, a smooth, somewhat amused voice broke through Arran's awed reverie and, startled, he looked round for the source of the words.

What he found surpassed any legend and the way his heart threatened to beat out of his chest told him he was looking at Lord Mark. No human who had survived the magic wars had come out untouched by the power that had destroyed the past, but some had been more touched than others. The confident, eye-catching figure before Arran had Lord Robert's sharp, young, handsome features, long dark hair and strong shoulders, but this was no man the like of which Arran had ever seen before.

Lord Mark's skin held the palest of green hues, a trick of the light perhaps if not for the darker shadows glittering with silver that traced down from his hairline over the contours of his face, over a long neck and down under an unlaced white shirt that parted just enough to show off a muscled chest.

The legends said 'demon', 'sex-monster', protected from being hunted down like others of his kind by the power of his immortal brother. In the presence of the myth, however, Arran knew instantly this creature needed no protecting and his stomach knotted in a very different way to his original nerves. Arran swallowed hard and dropped his eyes.

Even without looking, Arran could still feel Lord Mark's presence, his skin bristled with it and, more, his libido took notice. In that, he guessed, the legends might be true and, more to cover his own reactions than knowing what to do, Arran bowed.

Lord Mark's reaction was unexpected, he laughed, and the deep, warm sound sent a skittering of nice feelings right down through Arran's body, settling in his cock.

Such manners, his host observed and Arran tensed as he heard footsteps coming towards him.

He didn't dare look up, his reaction would be all over his face and he had no doubt Lord Mark would see it. He did not want to offend his master's brother before even taking up his new position, so he found himself staring at Lord Mark's long, suede boots. They were very handsome boots, much like their owner – Arran tried to halt that thought before it carried on, but this close he could even smell his tempter, all man and musk, and his senses went spiralling outwards.

Arran's magic was also reacting to whatever power this devil possessed and he had always been hopeless at controlling what little sorcery he had, so, he was forced to take the bull by the horns.

Carefully, Arran took a step back and then looked up. He forgot to breathe at that point, because he looked right into Lord Mark's eyes and the tug on his soul was unmistakable. Bright blue irises flecked with decadent red drew him in and he felt his mind tumbling away, the blood descending rapidly from his brain to his trousers. Yet, before he could fall at this creature's feet, something inside him stalled, and, defensively, he took a second step back and he blinked.

My Lord, he stammered at his smiling doom.

Lord Mark, thankfully, did not move closer again, which Arran knew would have been his downfall, but he did drag those unusual eyes up and down Arran's body, which really didn't help the way Arran's trousers were becoming too tight.

I thought my brother was mad when he announced he had invited one of the yokels into our home, Lord Mark finally broke the silence and began to walk around Arran like he was on display, the sensation that attention generated would not have been altogether unpleasant had the situation been different. As it was, Arran ground his teeth and prayed for deliverance. However, I can see the potential he saw in you. Do you think you have potential, Arran?

The fact this nobleman had taken the time to learn his name did not pass Arran by. Nothing about the exotic magic within arms' reach was passing Arran by and most of it was descending to his cock.

Yes, My Lord, Arran eventually replied, loaded question or not, choosing to answer it directly. I want to learn.

Lord Mark remained silent as he completed the rest of his circuit and Arran watched when the sorcerer came back into view. He'd been warned a thousand times by the old tales that, with strong magic came dark forces, but he had never experienced them before. The legends were true, Lord Mark was an incubus, Arran could feel that fire in his belly, but, as the creature came to a halt in front of him once more, that power ebbed a little and he knew the tease was over. As Arran settled back onto his heels, Lord Mark viewed him more seriously.

Welcome to Castle St John, Arran, the nobleman eventually offered and held out a hand.

Never having had a rich man hold out his hand to him before, it took Arran a moment to respond, but then he took the palm in his. He shivered as his magic leapt unexpectedly in his belly at the contact, but it felt good and he smiled.

Thank you, My Lord, Arran replied.

Lord Mark nodded to him, then released him and, turning to the double doors that led into the castle proper, called, Cooper!

Instantly, an older man appeared in the doorway and walked down the steps. He smiled at Arran.

Cooper, this is Arran, Robert's new assistant. Arran this is Cooper, he and his family have been with us for generations, Lord Mark introduced and then with a wink that took Arran by surprise, added. Undoubtedly my brother is pottering around in his lab, having quite forgotten your arrival. Cooper, please take Arran to Robert.

Cooper just nodded and with another wide, leathery smile at Arran, began to lead off. Arran gave a respectful bow of his head to Lord Mark and then, adjusting his pack, headed after his guide.

Oh, and Arran, Lord Mark forced Arran to turn back to him. The demon smiled deeply, reawakening all the urges in Arran that had been calming down. I'll see you again soon.

Mouth dry, dick throbbing, Arran backed up the steps to the doorway.

~*~

You can leave your pack here, Cooper drew Arran's attention and he realised he was standing in the doorway just staring at Lord Mark.

With considerable effort, Arran forced himself to turn away from his centre of attention and he looked sheepishly at Cooper. He felt his cheeks grow hot and he knew he had to look like some over-sexed letch, but Cooper didn't seem to care.

My son will pick it up and take it to your room, the old man continued with another smile. Come, I'll take you to Lord Robert.

Arran dropped his small bundle of possessions and dutifully followed Cooper as the man led off down a very straight, plain wide corridor that looked like it ran the length of the castle.

Apart from the main hall at the back of the castle, this level is all storage rooms, Cooper clearly noticed the way Arran was staring at everything as they went and offered an explanation. Immediately above us are domestic areas and workshops and above that are the living quarters. Lord Robert and Lord Mark have rooms on the second floor in the west wing and all the servants are in the east. The rest of the rooms are shut up.

How many of us are there? Arran finally remembered he had a voice.

Two dozen plus families, Cooper replied.

I had no idea, came right out of Arran's mouth before he'd thought about it and Cooper gave him a sideways glance for that. We only see one or two people in the village, he gabbled quickly.

Cooper nodded then, as if he understood and, pushing through another set of doors and heading up a narrow staircase, carried on, We keep ourselves to ourselves: too many past incidents with those who don't know the way of it.

The old man left those unspoken incidents for Arran to wonder on as he followed him quickly through doors and corridors until his wonder at the size of the place had taken over from Lord Mark's influence and he had no idea which way they were going.

I am quite lost, Arran eventually admitted breathlessly.

That stone Lord Robert gave you, Cooper replied. It knows these walls, it will guide you until you learn your way.

Arran put his hand into his pocket and felt for the little white pebble. However, he had bigger things to think about when Cooper opened an innocuous-looking door, led him through and suddenly his whole world exploded with possibility. Spread out before him were benches and benches of equipment, ancient symbols everywhere in what he knew instantly was a laboratory. He'd read about these places, taboo to many since their productions had destroyed the old world, but to Arran it was paradise: clean edges, neat lines, perfect things and he drank it all in, really unable to believe his eyes.

Good afternoon, the reserved greeting came quietly from way back in the room and the tall form of Lord Robert appeared from behind a large, white box that was sitting on one of the benches.

Good afternoon, My Lord, Arran bowed reverently as his new master headed towards them.

He beamed at the nobleman who came to a halt a few feet from him, much as his brother had, but, with this man, Arran had no sense of trepidation. Where there had been wild hair and loose clothing on Lord Mark, Lord Robert's thick locks were tied neatly at the nape of his neck and his shirt was tied respectfully and covered by a knee-length and very beautiful coat. The base looked like a heavy, plain white cloth, with sensible pockets, but the simple line had been embellished with the most beautiful embroidery Arran had ever seen. Golds, reds, greens cascaded down over the coat in the fascinating shapes of the old world. Arran could read a few of the runes and he couldn't help but follow the beautiful lines with his eyes.

Thank you, Cooper, Lord Robert dismissed and he smiled blandly at Arran until the door closed. Then, however, he revealed he'd recognised Arran's fascination with, You like my coat.

Arran dropped his eyes, embarrassed at being caught staring. However, Lord Robert replied warmly, It is my tribute to my forefathers.

The man's smile had deepened when Arran risked looking back up at him and he continued, It is my lab coat.

Arran recognised the term from the old history texts he'd managed to borrow from almost every family in the village that had such relics and he nodded his understanding.

One day, maybe you will have one, Lord Robert raised all of Arran's hopes at once and he gasped.

There is so much I want to learn, exploded out of him as all the excitement that had been building in him for days came out. This place is amazing.

Then let us start at the beginning, Lord Robert decided and turned.

Eagerly, Arran followed his teacher.

I am sure you have guessed already that these large, metal boxes are machines from before the wars, Lord Robert waved at various, humming hunks of glass and painted metal.

Yes, My Lord, Arran nodded enthusiastically when he was glanced at.

I did try to generate electricity to run them, do you know what that is?

The power that was destroying the world before magic was discovered, Arran quickly replied, not able to keep the shock of that news out of his tone.

Not quite as destructive as history makes out, Lord Robert returned, but them wrinkled his nose and added, but not reliable either, so I have been adapting the machines to run on a simple form of magic. Later on, I will show you how that works, but for now, I think you should get to know the laboratory.

Arran was a little disappointed when they walked past all the interesting-looking machines and over to an empty bench, but he was too excited to really be upset.

In the boxes in the corner, Lord Robert pointed at some very old crates piled up behind them, are supplies from the old times, glass vials, stands. In this book, his teacher took a neat, leather-bound notebook out of his pocket and placed it carefully on the desk, are my notes on their purposes. Unpack the boxes, look up and learn the purposes and then put the items away in the cupboards over there.

Arran glanced at the high shelves to which Lord Robert pointed, but he was much, much more interested in the knowledge sitting in front of him. He nodded excitedly.

And be careful, much of it is irreplaceable, Lord Robert picked up on the exuberance in Arran.

Arran forced himself to settle back on his heels and nodded more solemnly.

~*~

Balancing precariously on the ladder, Arran ran his fingers over the perfection of the glass jar in his hands. He had never seen anything like it, no bubbles, no dips from where the person had blown the figure, just straight, angular perfection and, no matter how many times he had seen it that day, he just couldn't believe that such a thing existed. Reverently, he placed it on the shelf in front of him and breathed, That's the last of them, Master.

He glanced down at where Lord Robert was leaning over what he had told Arran was called a 'circuit board' and examining the tiny parts intently with a contraption over his face that would have been funny had it not been so clever in magnifying all that he was looking at and without the aid of any magic. The man did not even glance his way, just grunted an affirmative, totally absorbed in his work, and Arran had to smile.

It had been a strange afternoon of new things and discovery, but Lord Robert reminded Arran of Master Hugo, who had shown him his first scientific text when he was small and he felt incredibly at home with the calm, aloof scientist.

The researcher had come and gone from the lab all evening as Arran had slowly moved his precious items from box to shelf and there had been a few exciting moments: pops, bangs, even a minor explosion as Lord Robert worked on what he had told Arran was an 'electron microscope'. In a rambling, but incredibly enthusiastic way, he had taken up half an hour of Arran's packing time to tell him all about how he'd been trying to adapt the machine for a hundred years and that it still eluded him, but once he had it, he'd be able to see things smaller than the air that they were breathing.

Arran wasn't quite sure if he believed his mentor, which he considered was possibly a bad thing, but Lord Robert had taken it in good spirits when Arran had expressed his doubts. That is when he had told him he could call him Master. Arran had been so happy then he had practically glowed with pride.

He took a step down the ladder then, knowing he was going to have to go right up to Lord Robert to inform him of the completion of his task. However, he froze in place, because the door opened and the challenge he had almost forgotten since losing himself in the laboratory, walked in. Arran was rather glad he was above him. Lord Mark smiled at him, a worrying gesture due to the depth behind his eyes. Arran nodded respectfully back, but was incredibly grateful when the incubus then ignored him and walked over to Lord Robert.

Lord Mark leant on the desk and smiled at the top of his brother's head, which is all that he could see. Lord Robert paused for just a second and Arran knew he'd realised who was there, but then, to Arran's glee, the man kept working.

Good Evening, Brother, Lord Mark was forced into words, but did not seem too bothered by it.

I'm busy, his twin replied flatly and carried on tinkering.

Yes, but it's now no longer evening and you need to feed, Lord Mark interrupted by reaching out and casually pulling the magnifying contraption off of Lord Robert's brow.

Lord Robert straightened and glowered at Lord Mark and Arran was very glad he was observing from on high, because the sparks flying below were almost as visible as during the explosion. He wasn't sure what was making then, because he didn't think it was anger.

And I'm sure your assistant there must be hungry too, Lord Mark brought Arran right into the centre of things and as both twins looked up at him, he clamped his hands onto the ladder rail.

Lord Robert looked instantly guilty.

I am sorry, Arran, his teacher told him, I fear I grew carried away.

I'm alright, thank you, Arran defended his tutor in front of Lord Mark's truth and, coming down the ladder with a smile on his face, added, I wanted to finish this anyway, Master.

Ooh! Lord Mark half laughed, Got him calling you master already, eh, Brother.

Lord Robert glowered at his twin for that, but Arran knew the inference and felt his cheeks begin to heat up. He looked at the floor, so missed whatever passed between the brothers next, but he was sure something had, because then Lord Mark added in a much more serious voice, Forgive me, Arran, I like to tease.

Arran looked up, surprised that the apology had been drawn from the cocky mouth, and then his heart went through his dick as he was floored with the most devastating smile he had ever seen.

Alright, Arran, thank you, you may go and find some supper and then go to bed, Lord Robert stepped into his view before he embarrassed himself, for which Arran was very grateful. Be back here when the second bell sounds tomorrow.

Arran blinked, took in a deep breath and then, concentrating on the safer twin, nodded.

Good night, then, Master.

Good night, Arran, the twins said together and Arran had to steady his knees as he walked past the pair.

As he reached the door, he remembered he had no idea where he was going and stopped, fumbling for the stone in his pocket.

I just need to put this away and then I'll be with you, he heard Lord Robert whisper and then Arran gasped a second later, as Lord Mark swept past him, knocking his hand as he did so.

The creature was all sex, Arran had no doubt, and he paused at the door, making sure the retreating figure was doing just that before he risked looking down at the little white pebble again.

I'm hungry, he told it, the joy of his afternoon making him flippant, feed me.

In a second, the little stone vibrated and tipped right in his palm. It indicated towards a set of stairs, which surprised Arran, since he had remembered enough to know the kitchens were on the same level as him, but Lord Robert had given him the stone and he trusted it, so he began to climb the stairs.

~*~

Arran wandered away from the lab not really caring that the castle was now almost pitch black, since his mind remained with all the fascinating equipment he had been organising and sorting out. It was such a little job, he knew that, but he'd had a fantastic time among all the perfect, new things. So much to discover swirling around in his head, Arran began to leave his surroundings to the guidestone and sank back into his own mind.

He did at least notice when a low glow replaced the darkness, enough to show up fine tapestries and rich furniture in the hallways rather than the utilitarian items of the workshops. However, Arran didn't realise he had wandered into his master's quarters until the stone led him through a pair of double doors. He came to a halt as the world caught up with him and he laid eyes on a large bed, the centre of a lavish sleeping suite.

In a few heart beats, Arran had taken in the rich decoration, the expensive linens, the fine smell of perfume and, alarmed, he glanced down at the stone in his hand, which now lay perfectly still, and wondered how it could have gone so wrong. This was definitely not the servants' quarters. Turning on his heel, he reached for the handle of the door through which he had come. However, before his fingers closed on it, he heard footsteps outside and, to his dismay, he recognised the purposeful stride as Lord Robert. Getting caught in the wrong place would mean instant dismissal. Arran couldn't face that, so, mind only working one step at a time, desperately he looked back around the room for a place to hide.

As the door slid open, Arran dived between two heavy wall hangings, thudding into the wall behind them and landing in a heap on the floor. Convinced he'd made the noise of ten bears as he landed, Arran gasped in a breath and held it, closing his eyes and praying to all the gods not to be discovered.

The even, direct footsteps disappeared into soft sounds of leather on cloth and then the swish of cloth on cloth and, mortified, Arran peeked through the tiny gap between the wall hangings as he suspected he knew what was happening. Indeed, Lord Robert had pulled off his embroidered lab coat and slung it casually over his dressing chair. He then leant his head back and stretched his long, fine neck. Arran sat back against the wall as that thought struck him, not sure where it had come from. Embarrassed by it, he felt his cheeks warm up and, enough was enough, he could not hide himself while his betters undressed only yards away, it was time to admit his mistake and take the consequences.

However, just as he tensed his leg muscles to push himself off the floor, another voice cut across the room and made Arran sink back into his position.

I've been waiting a full ten minutes for you, Brother, Lord Mark's insidiously sensual tones made Arran shiver, even as they were directed at another.

Not sure why he did so, Arran leant forward to his viewing hole once more and the sight that met him, whether he liked it or not, made his heart pound and his nether regions take notice: Mark was standing in the doorway of the ensuite bathing room, leaning against the door frame, and what made Arran's eyes wide was the fact that he was completely naked. Arran had seen other men naked, he'd horsed around with his friends in the river, he'd shared the same room as James all his life, but the creature before him drew his attention like no other.

Mark smiled at his brother, all firm, male lines and uncompromising sexuality and it didn't matter that he was not the creature's centre of attention, Arran felt the full weight of that greeting and he knew what it meant.

His cock throbbed and Arran gasped in a breath.

Clothing had truly shackled the incubus. Naked, the real beauty of the silver-green shadings on his skin showed through as, just like the rest of his supernatural power, they ran over his body, accentuating every masculine curve and drawing in the watcher. Arran could not look away.

You should not be so impatient, you know I have to be careful with my projects. At least Arran understands that, Robert reinstated himself in Arran's world for just a moment with the matter-of-fact reply and left the small part of Arran's brain that had not descended right to his dick wondering how the man was able to string two words together in the presence of such beauty.

Mark pouted then, a playful gesture that had Arran's stomach doing flip-flops and he knew his tongue was hanging out as the object of his interest slowly straightened up.

So what do you make of your new apprentice then? Mark asked and it could have sounded casual, but with his body heating up more rapidly than he'd ever experienced before, the mere mention of himself in his seducer's deep tones made Arran's heart beat faster.

He was all eyes when the incubus strode across the room, up to his brother and, in what appeared to Arran to be an habitual gesture, pushed the man's shirt off his shoulders. Arran felt his jaw go slack when the devilish twin then moved in and, chest brushing against Robert's, descended on his brother's neck. Robert's eyelids fluttered closed for a moment, his sharp feature's softening into a smile, but he did not reach back, instead, he took a small breath.

He will make a fine magician-scientist, Robert sighed out that breath and part of Arran could not believe what he was seeing as his master's hands dropped to the ties at his waist. However, the rest of Arran locked onto the way the man's fingers swiftly undid the straps.

Mark paused in his affections then, face hidden from Arran's view down the other side of Robert's neck. However, his eyes already focused at that level, Arran could not help but soak in the desire growing in the incubus' body as he watched it swell Mark's penis until it stood up and out from his body, dark and glistening. Laces undone, Robert's fingers were resting on the top of his trousers and Mark brushed the head of his erection lightly against them. Arran bit his lip when Robert did not reach back, tension knotting in his belly as he realised he wanted to see those dexterous digits grab hold of what was being offered.

You know what I mean, Mark murmured, sound deep and hungry and matching Arran's unexpected wants.

Only time will tell, Robert replied cryptically and, for no reason his logical brain could fathom, Arran's body flushed violently with heat.

He swallowed, almost willing to reveal himself as the strong reaction took him by surprise, scaring him, but he was desperate not to lose his job, not so soon after finding his place in the world and so he stayed silent, quite unable to take his eyes off the twins.

Mark stood back at his brother's reply, much, Arran found, to his disappointment, but the way the twins looked at each other then was almost as fiery as the momentary embrace.

He has spirit, Mark finally let his opinion be known and Arran bit his lip again as the compliment did strange things to the knot in his stomach.

Robert's smile grew and he nodded, shrugging off his shirt all the way as he replied, He stood up to you.

Mark laughed, casually pushing his twin backwards towards the bed as he did so. Robert went where he was guided, reactions as controlled as if he were in the lab and with a passiveness that was quickly driving Arran crazy, which was why he started when Mark shoved Robert and the man fell onto the bed.

Ah, but I wasn't really trying, Mark said, standing over his brother with a dominance that was written in every fibre of his being.

From his angle, Arran could not see the incubus' face, but he could feel his hunger like it was his own. Arran licked his lips. Half on, half off the bed, for a moment Arran thought Robert was as caught as he was, but them, almost casually, the man offered up one boot to his brother. Arran strained to see more of the eye contact between the twins, but however he turned his head, he could not make his view any clearer, so he imagined the fire in Mark's blue-red eyes as, without looking, the incubus took hold of the boot offered and pulled it off. The second went the same way and, smile twitching at his features again, Robert shifted fully onto the bed.

Mark quickly climbed on after his brother and Arran had a good view of firm arse as Mark knelt between Robert's legs. The move was so practiced, Arran's body quivered at the deviant nature of it and he knew he was so far away from his old life in the village he could never go back. His own erection began to press at the constriction of his trousers when Mark reached down and took hold of Robert's waistband in both his hands. Robert lifted his hips and, in one long movement, the man's remaining clothing peeled off him to reveal a sensually similar, muscled body to that of his monster-brother. Even the erection that bobbed up onto his stomach had, Arran's steamed brain judged, the same dimensions as the long, thick dick he could only occasionally now see as Mark moved over his twin.

The final stripping had been done in silence, brother never taking his eyes off brother, and Arran nearly forgot to breathe when, finally, Mark descended on Robert once more. The pair moulded into an embrace that spoke of complete knowing, cocks grinding together, legs entwining, lips parting. It was the most beautiful thing Arran had ever seen. His eyes traced each shift, every stroke; his ears pricked for the minutest catch of breath and each sensuous moment swelled his own ardour. Not caring about discovery anymore, Arran leant forward, widening his view and drinking in the sight before him as, touch by touch, Mark knocked down the walls of his twin's control.

Finally, Robert broke the kiss, tipping his head back into the pillow and rutting up against his brother. Arran read the sign as clearly as Mark did and he tensed in lustful anticipation as two bodies moved as one. Robert brought his legs up over Mark's back. Mark sunk down between his brother's thighs a little way and then shifted slowly, but firmly forward again. Arran nearly sunk into the floor as the wanton groan Robert let out turned his muscles to water and he fell forward onto his hands. He ground his teeth then, because Mark came to a slow stop, taking in a long, deep breath and buried hilt-deep inside his twin if Arran's imagination was matching what he was seeing.

How much of me do you want? the question surprised Arran as brother looked down on brother.

A moment's silence held the lovers and their voyeur captive.

All of you, Robert replied.

Arran thought his heart would beat out of his chest then: Robert flexed violently up against his brother, panting and throwing his head back. At first, Arran did not know why, but then he realised the darkening of the green-hue to Mark's skin was no trick of the light and he watched in erotic fascination as the beautiful shadows moulded into scales that gave the incubus' physique a harder edge. Claws gripped Robert's shoulders now, but Arran could only imagine the changes to Mark's face, that were hidden by his long, dark hair and instinct told Arran what was happening inside Robert that had put a look of overloaded bliss on the man's face.

Mark held still, muscles rippling with the effort until his brother relaxed away from him a little. However, with the small sign, he moved, shifting away and then back into Robert. The shout from Robert echoed around the room, shuddering through Arran, and his own moan escaped his lips as he could hold in the heat no longer. Neither twin seemed to notice, too enrapt by their own desires, and Arran watched freely, completely unafraid of discovery.

Mark buried himself deep a further time and then captured his brother's reaction in a heavy, all-encompassing kiss. Robert surrendered to the embrace, making Arran ache with the need he could see and feel, but he was still not ready for what he then witnessed. Mark drew away, rising above his twin, and, with him came a stream of white energy flowing from Robert's open mouth. Arran's skin prickled with the incubus power in the room and fear curled around his lust, but, still, he could not look away. Robert moved his arms, bringing his hands to rest on the pillow either side of his head and Mark's claws slipped in between human fingers, gripping tightly, before he sank into a rocking rhythm of his hips.

The light pulsed in time with Mark's movements, Robert's eyes falling closed, his body flexing reactively somewhere between pain and pleasure and, thrust by thrust, Arran watched his master come undone. Arran panted in rhythm as well, his body pulsing with the power around him and his own magic woke up. Always the wannabe scientist, never very good at letting his instincts go, he'd never felt his power so keenly, running under his skin, speaking of the ages that had made man one with the elements, raw and unchecked. Arran had never felt so out of control and it felt wonderful.

Mark, strong, powerful, body under tight control, dominated Robert, whose movements swiftly became purely reactive and Arran drank in the sight of them. He watched intently, each flex of muscle, every glisten of perspiration and he felt for every push of magic and he liked it. Arran knew from the tightening of Mark's movements, the embrace was reaching its climax and the tension in his own limbs matched the heat in his magic. Once, twice, Mark thrust hard into Robert and it was his twin who signalled the incubus' release with another, deafening shout and the light exploded between them.

A wave of power hit Arran and, his brain wiping out with pleasure, he went sprawling bonelessly forward. He only realised it was not orgasm when he came back to himself, prostrate on the floor and his aching dick told him in no uncertain terms he had not made release. Helplessly, he groaned.

Right as usual, Brother, Mark's rich tones reached Arran and his cheeks burnt as he realised he had been caught and what a fool he had made of himself.

Slowly, embarrassed, Arran turned his head and looked up at the bed. The brothers were still lying intimately entwined, Robert as bonelessly as Arran, his gaze hooded, but it was Mark who drew Arran in. Incubus still fully revealed, the red flecks of his eyes had flooded into the blue, making a deep purple, and scales stroked down from his hairline, accentuating his cheek bones: he was truly divine. Arran's momentary embarrassment fell away, because those eyes told him everything at once. His presence was no mistake, he had seen what he was meant to see and his