Do You Believe In Magic...?

By Heather Mar-Gerrison

Join Laars and Saul in their concluding adventure as they navigate a new world of magical wonder.
Even though Saul grew up within the magical world, his skills were pretty much non-existent until he met his soulmate quite by chance (or maybe destiny) Laars, in the normal world.
Laars had absolutely no idea that he should have magical skills before he met Saul and found out the terrible family secret that Saul’s father has been harbouring for the last twenty-one years, and even when he knows the truth, he doesn’t really believe that he has any magical prowess whatsoever.
But then Saul is kidnapped and Laars has to dig deep and find his magical knowledge in order to save the love of his life...
With the rather dodgy help of a spell book called Britney and a unicorn with far too much to say for himself, he sets off in hot pursuit of his boyfriend.
Can he save him from his perilous place of capture? Or is he doomed to spend the rest of his days mourning the loss of the best thing that ever happened to him?
This book contains a very sassy unicorn, a bitchy spell book and two adorable MC’s... Suspend disbelief for a while and just enjoy...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather Mar-Gerrison
• Release date: Jun 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463818428

Heather Mar-Gerrison

I love to write M/M romance and as a sucker for a HEA, you're guaranteed one in my books. #happyheatherafters

Book preview

Prologue

Twenty-one years ago…

Nigel looked up from his work. What was that noise? He looked at the clock on the wall. Hell’s teeth, almost one in the morning? It was much later than he expected. Margot had retired at least a couple of hours ago with Saul. Rubbing his eyes, he tried to concentrate on what he was reading but the hair on the back of his neck was standing up with a feeling of unease. Someone was in the room. He was sure of it. Silence ensued and he chuckled at himself for his skittishness, that’s what living in a creepy old house does to you. He chided himself, but you just had to have the biggest house in the village, didn’t you? You had to show everyone how much you’d made it…

Somehow or other, the voice of his conscience had changed from his own to another voice. One that he actually took notice of and one that generally made him a better person than he really was.

He jumped as his best friend, Arthur stepped out of the shadows, Nigel. Arthur said, his voice sounding every bit as dry and mocking as it had in his mind, moments ago.

Nigel smiled in relief and in welcome, Arthur! he said, It’s good to see you, friend. How’s Lily and little Laars? It was only now that Nigel noticed Arthur was wearing an uncharacteristic frown. Nigel’s skin prickled as his unease grew into something more panicky but he kept the smile on his face in the hope that he was wrong, All good, I hope?

Arthur’s eyes narrowed, Cut the act, Nigel. I know what you did.

Nigel blinked at his friend’s surly tone. No way. He couldn’t possibly know… I beg your pardon? he hedged, fighting off the feeling of overwhelming anxiety that was about to consume him whole. I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Arthur wasn’t one for beating around the bush and he cut to the chase far more quickly than Nigel was ready for. He’d always been able to do that. Nigel really shouldn’t have been as surprised as he was. His blood ran cold in his veins at Arthur’s next words.

You’ve got my son and I’ve got yours.

Nigel’s stomach dropped to somewhere close to his knees, he was sure. How the hell had he worked it out so damned quickly? Don’t be so ridiculous, Nigel blustered, racking his brains for the best way to avoid this confrontation, "Do you really think that I wouldn’t know my own son when I saw him?"

You tell me, Arthur said, his voice low and unusually menacing, Look into Laars eyes, Nigel, Arthur held out his baby boy. "And tell me that you’re not gazing into the eyes of your own flesh and blood. Tell me that they’re not exactly the same shape and colour as yours. What did you do, Nigel? he pressed, Did you somehow magically spirit my baby boy away and replace him with yours? How could you do that, Nigel? How could you give away your own flesh and blood – and steal mine in place of him? That’s so unbelievably heartless. What on earth prompted such an act of selfishness?"

Nigel’s eyes narrowed at his friend’s accusatory tone, I didn’t do anything of the sort. He said, his eyes flashing dangerously, What are you trying to insinuate? And why would you assume such a thing of me?

Arthur shook his head, "I don’t profess to understand the antiquated laws of your world, but I do understand persecution. I’ve witness prejudice and hatred in my world, too – and I understand why you don’t want a redhaired child – but stealing mine? That’s absolutely… he cast around for something to describe his best friend’s actions, It’s despicable, Nigel."

Nigel could feel the anger coming off his friend. It was almost palpable but he wasn’t going to show his discomposure at his friend’s disappointment and anger in him, Why leave it this long to come? He asked belligerently, What do you want me to do about it, now? Time has passed and Margot has bonded with our baby.

Arthur nodded, And Lily has bonded with Laars, here. He said, smiling as soon as he looked down at the beautiful infant in his arms, "She adores him and puts his green eyes down to a family trait on her side – and she puts the red hair down to me being a strawberry-blonde and her being dark – but you and I both know that his green eyes and red hair are entirely down to you. The smile had disappeared again as soon as he looked back at Nigel, replaced with a look of concern, I’m not here to ask for my boy back in place of yours – but I do want to know what I’m dealing with. If this child is so abhorrent to you that you felt the need to swap him for our child, I need to know what the future holds for us all. What is he going to be when he’s older, Nigel? Is he going to be able to function normally in my world? Or is he going to end up in prison for having an evil streak that he can’t control?"

Nigel shook his head, He’ll either be a demi-demon, like me, or, if he’s lucky, he’ll take on Margot’s soft nature and be a demi-angel.

And if it’s the first one? Arthur pressed.

Nigel sighed, he gazed at his friend, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever, Then he will be cold and calculating, just like his father. He will look out for himself and himself alone and he will never know true love, much less cherish it.

Arthur stared at his friend in horror, "And you would saddle me with that creature? he asked, Even after everything we’ve been through together? Even though I supported you emotionally all through university and gave you a roof over your head so you didn’t have to go back to your parents’ house when you didn’t feel able to return to the magical community until you could afford to buy your own place? Even when I helped you to win Margot’s heart, since all she seemed to care about was status and money? You would do that to me?"

Nigel didn’t even pretend to defend what Arthur had just said about his wife. He knew it was all true, although she really did seem to love their baby – well, Arthur’s and Lily’s baby… He shrugged, "I am simply giving you the worst-case scenario. With luck, he won’t be anything like me but I am what I am and I cannot change that. I’m truly sorry for what I have done but I could not allow Margot to be terrified of her own child. You can escape the world we live in, being only human. You can persuade Lily that taking Laars into the normal human world is the best thing for him and for you both – and it probably is the best thing for you all, what with his colouring."

Arthur shook his head, I’m not about to separate Lily from her baby boy, he said, gazing down at the baby he’d believed was his own until the child’s eyes changed from the blue he was born with into the intense green eyes that Arthur immediately recognised as Nigel’s and figured out that he must have swapped the babies when he and Lily were in the emergency room after the birth of their baby. Not after three months of loving him and believing him to be ours. And he loves his mother. He added, looked at Nigel. "Laars will be capable of love; he already is capable of love, He said, I’m sure of that – and our nurturing will make sure he knows what love is all about."

Nigel nodded, And, with your blessing, in return, I will make sure that Saul has the best magical education he could ever have and I can promise you that Margot will love your son, too. He said, He too will grow up, knowing love.

Arthur stared at him before sighing, and then, looking down at the beautiful, flaming-redhaired baby, now peacefully sleeping in his arms, said. Thank you. He said, "But know this. I will never forgive you for what you’ve done, Nigel. He said, I thought you were my best friend. I thought our sons would grow up together, the best of friends, too – but how can they be? How can they ever be friends with each other? How can we watch them grow, knowing that you changed the course of their lives forever when they were just hours old? He shook his head sadly, You had a choice, Nigel. You could have done what Lily and I are going to do. You could have chosen to leave the magical community and to live a peaceful life outside of it. You could have brought your child up away from the prejudices that haunt redhaired children in your world. But you’re selfish and greedy and you want to keep your big house and your large salary and your position of esteem. He shook his head sadly, I never thought I would say this to you – the man I thought was the best friend I ever had – but honestly, Nigel, you make me sick. He looked Nigel up and down, the contempt he felt clear in his eyes, Consider our friendship over forever, Nigel. Lily and I will be leaving tonight. This is the last time you will ever see your biological son. Don’t come looking for us. His eyes flashed with anger, Don’t ever do that."

Nigel bowed his head and nodded. You have my word. He promised.

Four years later…

"Oh, my God! Nigel! Nigel!"

Nigel looked up from his paperwork. Good God, could he never get a moment’s peace? What is it? he snapped irritably. He was in a particularly bad mood, having had to spend ‘quality time’ with his family on a seaside holiday, even though he had a mountain of work to get through for the Pyramid, and his patience had been worn down to an all-time low.

Margot stood in front of him, a newspaper clutched in her hand, "It’s the most terrible news. She said, concern for her husband clear on her face, Arthur Zanelli’s been killed. It looks like they were in a terrible car accident on their way home..."

Nigel’s heart started to thump hard in his chest. No. Not Arthur… Please. Anyone but Arthur…

I’m so sorry, Nigel. Margot said, laying the newspaper down on his desk for him to see the article, I know how much he meant to you…

Nigel schooled his features, forcing himself not to curl his lip into a sneer. Margot was being sincere but she had absolutely no idea how he’d felt about Arthur.

Arthur was truly the only person who had ever cared about him. Arthur was the only person who Nigel had ever truly loved. Not in a romantic way – of course not. That sort of love between two men wasn’t allowed in the magical community and Arthur had certainly never shown any romantic interest in him either. But, Nigel thought, Arthur had loved him – until Nigel had completely obliterated Arthur’s trust with his betrayal.

Saul appeared at his mother’s side. Mummy. He said, looking up at her with his enormous brown-black eyes that were the image of his real mother’s. why couldn’t the boy look more like Arthur? Maybe if he did, Nigel could have loved him better. I can’t fix my bear.

She looked down at him and smiled lovingly, Oh, will you look at that? she said, Let’s fix it right now. She pulled her wand out of the holder in her jeans and fixed the bear in an instant.

He should be able to do that by himself by now. Nigel growled. The boy’s useless.

Saul’s shoulders sagged and his bottom lip wobbled. He clearly already knew that his father was always disappointed in him and Nigel felt a pang of guilt. More for the fact that it would upset Arthur than for the child’s feelings. Saul hugged his bear to his chest and looked up at his mother, Thank you. He said before scurrying out of the study