Claws

By H.C. Brown

Rohan Knight thinks all his birthdays have come at once when a sexy blond twink hits on him. He has searched for a delicious man like Cael all his life.

The problem is Nox, King of the Fae, sent Cael to discover who is using magyck unlawfully in the Nomag realm. When Cael finds Rohan is a rogue Pride shifter with ancient magyck, he must use all his powers of persuasion to lure him back to the safety of Other World.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luminosity Publishing LLP
• Release date: Jan 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781910397985

H.C. Brown

H.C. Brown is a multi-published, multi-genre, bestselling, award-winning author.In 2016, she was delighted to be named Luminosity Publishing’s Bestselling Author of 2015.In 2015, she was delighted to be named Luminosity Publishing’s Bestselling Author of 2014.In 2015, Highlander in the Mist was placed 3rd in Historical and Rock ‘n’ Leather was placed 3rd GLBT in the Easychair Bookshop Competition.In 2015, Highlander in The Mist was nominated in The Romance Reviews 2015 Readers’ Awards.In 2011, she was delighted to receive nominations in three categories in the 2011 CAPA Awards: Favorite Author, Best GLBT Romance, and Best Science Fiction Romance.She was nominated for Best Historical M/M in the 2013, Goodreads Book of Year Awards.H.C writes about strong alpha male heroes and girl next door heroines in complex settings, and all her stories have happy endings.H.C. welcomes feedback from her readers.

Book preview

CLAWS

Pride Brothers 7

H.C. BROWN

Rohan Knight thinks all his birthdays have come at once when a sexy blond twink hits on him. He has searched for a delicious man like Cael all his life.

The problem is Nox, King of the Fae, sent Cael to discover who is using magyck unlawfully in the Nomag realm. When Cael finds Rohan is a rogue Pride shifter with ancient magyck, he must use all his powers of persuasion to lure him back to the safety of Other World.

CLAWS

Pride Brothers 7

H.C. BROWN

WWW.LUMINOSITYPUBLISHING.COM

LUMINOSITY PUBLISHING LLP

CLAWS

Pride Brothers 7

Copyright © June 2015 H.C. Brown

ISBN: 978-1-910397-98-5

Cover Art by Poppy Designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this literary work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

The author acknowledges the trademark status and the following trademark owners mentioned in this work of fiction:

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Dedication

For those who believe in Faeries and know that magyck is real.

Prologue

The Great Book of the Prides – Entry by King Blaise of Knight Watch.

There is great speculation that another of our brothers is living in the Nomag realm. Nox came to me with news this day that he has sent Cael the Bronzed to observe the young male believed to be the only son of my cousin Anu and his mate Talia. The male has magyck abilities far beyond most Pride. He will become a danger to our existence if we are not able to bring him home.

Cael has offered to remove him and take him to Other World to monitor his abilities before we welcome him into our realm. He is an unknown quantity, but I am confident Nox will guide him along the correct path, and we will welcome him home soon.

Chapter One

Dryad

Nox twirled the crystal goblet in his fingers admiring the way the blood-red wine made by the Pride and called Miza coated the glass. He inhaled the rich aromatic fragrance and lifted his chin to meet Blaise’s worried expression. Have no fear, I have sent Allure the Fair with Cael as brothers they are well equipped to handle a naughty Pride cub. Cael is well versed with the Nomag world and will fit in very well, have no fear.

I hold grave concerns. This male has been living alone in the Nomag world since he was a baby, he will not accept our ways or our laws. Blaise snorted. You told me how violent the Nomag race is and how they are little better than the scum that live in Druik Void. I cannot in all good conscious allow him free reign in any of our realms.

Do you honestly believe he could overpower the magyck of the Fae? Nox leaned back in his chair and sighed. We have known each other a long time, Blaise, and it is time you trusted me to deal with this problem.

The male is Pride. Blaise paced up and down the room in an annoying fashion. He is my responsibility. He flicked him a long violet gaze. You have enough trouble pleasing Hawke to deal with this.

Lady’s blood, he had never seen Blaise so distraught. He smiled. Indeed, Hawke had allowed him a full share of his mate Lydia but he must make frequent returns to Other World to renew his powers. I please myself, Blaise. Neither Hawke nor Lydia are my mates. I wish sometimes they were, but I am destined to have only Allure and a female yet to emerge. He smiled remembering his evening with his lovers. They both understand my time with them is temporary and I must return to Allure. He refilled his goblet from a glass decanter on a polished side table at his elbow and turned back to Blaise. Cael alone is more than capable of dealing with Rohan. He has had him under his watchful eye for six months or more.

Six months and you only inform me now?

Do sit down and I will explain. Nox sipped the Miza holding the delicious liquid in his mouth a few moments before swallowing. You do remember the time Rio went to the place the Nomags call London? He went to destroy the threat and came home with a mate?

Yes, and I do not have a problem with my memory, Nox. Blaise sat in the chair opposite and raised one dark eyebrow. This Nomag world is on a different continent, so how did you find him?

It would seem, you are a child still, but then I am five hundred summers old. I have the ability to feel magyck, and some Nomags process a little but have no knowledge of how to access that part of their minds, rather like some of you. He chuckled. However, I can see magyck as you see the wind blowing through the trees and know from which way it hails. The moment, I returned to Other World, I had Fae scrying in the direction from whence it came and after some time we found Rohan.

Do go on, I would like to know why, as we are such close friends, you decided to keep this information from me? Blaise poured a glass of Miza then glared at him. This is not like you, Nox, what are you hiding from me?

Hiding from you? Why nothing, dear friend. I did not wish to worry you unnecessarily. He rubbed his chin and observed Blaise thoughtfully. How much should he tell him of the cub’s powers? I know this male has powers but was not sure if he was indeed Pride. Although, Cael tells me he bears a remarkable resemblance to your brother, Zandor. He also goes by the name of Rohan Knight, a name very similar to my cousin Talia’s missing child, Roan of Knight Watch. This name could be easily mistaken from the mouth of a child of three summers. He is the correct age but how she managed to save him from the Druiks and secret him in the Nomag realm, we may never know.

We have searched for many years for Talia’s son. Anu has always insisted he would know if the Druiks had killed him and you have too. Blaise dashed a hand through his long black hair. What must I do to bring him home?

You must trust the Fae to act on your behalf and before you protest. He frowned and opened his hands wide. Here lies the problem. My cousin, Talia was one of the ancients and because of this I believe Rohan will carry an old cat.

What do you mean? Blaise observed him intently over the rim of his glass. We were all made in Arious’s image as a black panther and all our cats carry the knowledge of the ancients.

Yes, but you were created without the influence of ancient Fae magyck and since you became King, all cubs born from Pride and Fae matings are overseen by me. Talia was over ten thousand summers when she conceived her son and forbade me to interfere with him in any way. There has never been another mating between an ancient and a Pride and we have no idea how ancient magyck will affect Rohan’s cat. This is why I bid you to leave this matter in Fae hands, for now at least. Nox placed his glass carefully on the table and drew a deep breath. I have been close to Rohan and he is close to maturity and will morph soon. His cat hails from a time before Arious, indeed in a time when only the ancients roamed the realms. His cat is very different from anything I have sensed before. I believe he carries within him a Sabre Tooth Tiger.

Lady’s blood. Blaise emptied his glass.

* * * *

Nomag Realm

Are you sure that the male is Pride? Allure The Fair wrinkled his nose. "I must admit I find it difficult to believe such an important member of the Knight Watch, is living here with the Nomags?"

Cael narrowed his eyes and glared at his brother. I have watched him for over five months. Indeed, most Pride males do not have his powers. Lady’s blood, he has an aura of magyck around him, and he can retract his fangs! Have you not noticed his eyes are violet with swirls of green and silver opalescence? I have consulted with Nox, and he concurs, this male is a Pride born of a Fae mother and most likely the missing issue of Talia. He wet his lips. Is he not the most magnificent creature you have ever seen?

Allure the Fair gave him a long look of disdain.

Compared to Nox, he is ugly. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. I prefer a male to smell sweet and fresh like the forest not as if he has just had sex with five Nomags. He glared at him. "I cannot imagine why you waste your time mooning over a Pride male. What can you possibly do with him? He is stuck here in the Nomag realm, and no doubt contaminated by their ways. If you reveal yourself to him, most likely he will try to kill you."

Disgusted, he looked away. This is my choice.

As you wish. Then you no longer require my assistance. Allure The Fair cursed under his breath and vanished in a shimmer of air.

Cael drew his wings closer around him and gazed down from his rooftop perch. A summer breeze brushed his cheek, and he turned to watch two squirrels, dashing along the boughs of an ancient oak, jumping over each other in innocent play. His gaze dropped and lingered on the male sauntering along the sidewalk. Sunlight glistened on a sheet