The Succubus

By Megan Derr

Castle Rehm is a forgotten corner of the kingdom, where the locals spend most of their time drinking and avoiding the snow that plagues them most of the year. It's quiet, boring, and nothing at all like the bustling city where Kohar grew up.

He has no problem with that, however, and in fact mostly enjoys his job as Mage-in-Residence for the most boring territory in the world. What he does have problems with are the resident Captain of the Guard, who drives him crazy on a daily basis, and Solla, whom Kohar desperately wishes would notice him but has always remained oblivious.

But then people start turning up dead, and all thoughts of aggravating soldiers and oblivious mercenaries must be set aside in the face of demonic attack and a traitor in their midst...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Derr
• Release date: Nov 16, 2019

Megan Derr

Megan is a long-time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.meganderr.compatreon.com/meganderrmeganderr.blogspot.comfacebook.com/[e-mail]@meganaderr

Book preview

Castle Rehm is a forgotten corner of the kingdom, where the locals spend most of their time drinking and avoiding the snow that plagues them most of the year. It's quiet, boring, and nothing at all like the bustling city where Kohar grew up.

He has no problem with that, however, and in fact mostly enjoys his job as Mage-in-Residence for the most boring territory in the world. What he does have problems with are the resident Captain of the Guard, who drives him crazy on a daily basis, and Solla, whom Kohar desperately wishes would notice him but has always remained oblivious.

But then people start turning up dead, and all thoughts of aggravating soldiers and oblivious mercenaries must be set aside in the face of demonic attack and a traitor in their midst…

The Succubus

Castle Rehm 1

By Megan Derr

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.

Edited by Samantha M. Derr

Cover designed by Aisha Akeju

This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

First Edition November 2019

Copyright © 2019 by Megan Derr

Printed in the United States of America

Kohar cursed softly in annoyance and pinched the bridge of his nose, careful to avoid touching the nose piece of his rune-scribing monocle. He set his quill aside before he accidentally wrote rat instead of robe, mouth twitching at the image that mistake brought to mind. 

Madame Karen would not be amused by the slip.

The horrendous shouting and screaming came again, and he wondered irritably what in the Nether Regions the damnable soldiers were up to now, to cause such a ruckus at this time of morning. The sun wouldn't be up for a couple of hours yet. What sort of trouble could they possibly be into already?

He got up this early because of the peace and quiet, damn it.

The ruckus abruptly subsided, broken up by the sharp, commanding tones of Nerek, Captain of the Guard. Finally. 

Picking up his quill, Kohar dipped it into a bottle of deep red, faintly shimmery ink and slowly began to write out runes again—properly this time. He would not be adding water-proofing wards to any rats.

He'd just finished one line when the ruckus started up again—this time much closer. A pounding came at his door as he set the quill down yet again. Come in! he snapped, long familiar with that particular pounding. He rolled his eyes at the phrasing. As if Nerek was interested in giving him that sort of pounding. Nerek was infinitely more likely to knock him upside the head, probably for one flippant remark or another. Kohar was interested in neither option.

The door flew open, and Kohar did not need to turn around to know he was right. Nerek's steps, the jingle-jangle of his sword belt, were as familiar as his knocking. He was likely as rough-looking as ever, in need of a shave, hair with a rampant dislike of combs, leathers scuffed and dirty from whatever was causing all the chaos. He was handsome the way a storm was beautiful—rough, wild, dangerous. They had not been fond of one another when Kohar had first arrived at the castle, but they'd learned to get along, more or less.

Whatever in the Regions is going on out there, Kohar snapped, still not bothering to turn around, you had better be putting an end to it. I can't work in all that racket, and one would think even your soldiers could dredge up a bit of consideration given the hour.

My soldiers never step so much as a toe out of line and you know it. You're a fine one to talk about consideration, Nerek retorted. Do you think racket would still be going on if there wasn't a good reason for it?

Kohar rolled his eyes. Last week there was a ruckus because the chickens got spooked, and let's not forget about the ghost incident.

I told you not to bring that up anymore.

You brought it on yourself. Kohar put away the spell he was writing out for Madame Karen, then capped the ink bottles and cleaned his quills before putting them back in their case. He sensed he would be getting very little work done from here on out. A pity. He had hoped to finish her spells this morning so that he could write a reply to his brother's bizarre letter.

I do not see how either one of you can be awake at this hour, said another voice. Even with the current problem.

The voice struck him, sending icy mortification down his spine and hot elation through the rest of him. Damn it all to the Regions, when had Solla arrived, and why had no one told him? Stupid Nerek could have said something! Kohar wasn't remotely dressed for company, still in his bed robe, hair messy, hands and probably his face smudged with ink.

He avoided pitching something heavy at Nerek's head, but only with the greatest of effort. The bastard had done it on purpose, he knew it, and Kohar would make him pay for it.

Kohar finally stood and turned around, forcing back the mortification and annoyance. He loathed that Solla was seeing him at his worst, but he would not compound it by trying to make a fuss or pretend he was something he wasn't. He pushed back a stray curl that had slipped free of the sloppy knot he'd pulled his long hair into while he worked.

Solla was still beautiful. Unlike Nerek, his cousin, who constantly looked rough and unkempt, Solla was always clean and neat. The contrast was all the more notable given that Nerek was Captain of the Guard, and Solla was an aimless mercenary.

Like most natives of Hollar Province, Solla had dark skin, dark hair, and brilliant forest green eyes he had in common with Nerek. Unlike Kohar's long, loose curls and