Summons

By Lisa Oliver

Summons

The first in a new series of standalone stories where our lovely men find their mates in the strangest of circumstances. It has to be Fate, right?

Quirk of Fate #1

Edward Rosen, level ten mage, hadn't reached the end of his tether – he was hanging from it. After a hundred and twenty-four years of living under his parents' rules, Edward decided the only way things could change, was if he got married. The only problem was that the wedding was meant to take place in a matter of hours and Edward hadn't met his groom yet.

Mammon, Prince of Hell, was doing what most demons did when they were bored – he was playing poker. When an unbeatable hand is foiled by a summons, he's not impressed. But rules are rules and Mammon followed the summons, determined to get back to his game as quickly as possible.

Marrying was just the first hurdle. Coping with the demands of Edward's family, a curse, a prophecy, and four hellhounds took a lot of work. Clara's having a ball, but what's with all the toothpicks and where did the dragon come from?

Summons is a 50,000 word story that's a classic example of what happens when the author's muse runs amuck. But like all of Lisa's stories, it contains fated mates, a spot of humor, and intimate situations between two men that are only suitable for readers eighteen years and older. HEA is guaranteed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Oliver
• Release date: Jun 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005366155

Lisa Oliver

Hi My name is Lisa Oliver and welcome to my Author page. After spending years writing non-fiction books, the lure of fiction and the men in my head finally had me sitting down and writing The Reluctant Wolf, an M/M paranormal erotic romance in November 2013.  Since that time I have written over one hundred titles including the Cloverleah Pack series, the Bound and Bonded series, Alpha and Omega series, Stockton Wolves series, The Hellhound Collar series, The Gods Made Me Do It series and many more. All of my books are M/M (or M/M/M) come with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cheating. I strongly believe in the power of love - and most of my books are based on the true mate trope. (The exception is my Arranged Marriage series). However, for me, insta-lust does not equal insta-love and all of my books tell of the journey my main characters need to go through to reach that state of being in love with someone special. Some of my books can be read as standalone, but in cases like the Cloverleah series you get a good idea of the back stories of secondary characters by reading the books in order. I love to hear from all of my readers so please feel free to catch up with me on Facebook, Twitter or through my blog.

Book preview

Summons

Quirk of Fate #1

By Lisa Oliver

Summons (Quirk of Fate #1)

Copyright © Lisa Oliver, 2021

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Cover Design by Lisa Oliver

Cover pictures purchased from Shutterstock.

First Edition June 2021

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, Lisa Oliver. [e-mail]

No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Lisa Oliver. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.

Summons is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All trademarks are owned by the relevant companies and are used for reference purposes in this book only.

Smashwords Edition

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Epilogue

About the Author

Other Books By Lisa/Lee Oliver

Dedication

It’s Pride month and I am so thrilled this is something that can be celebrated… from one who remembers a time when it couldn’t be.

HAPPY PRIDE – LOVE WINS

And to all the amazing people in my group, you keep me smiling every day… you remind me that love is something so easily shared.

Special shoutout to Jon for the wonderful editing job, and to Phil for helping me with website problems I didn’t know I had.

Chapter One

Mother. Edward Rosen drew out the word into two distinct syllables. This farce as you call it, is of your making. He rolled his eyes at his best friend Clara who was stirring a pot suspended over six lit white candles, all laid out on a large wooden table. You all ganged up on me, demanding I get married. You’ve been hassling me about it for decades. Well, now I’m doing it. You should be happy for me.

You can’t blame us for being so persistent. Amy Rosen’s tone alternated between barrack’s sergeant and royalty depending on what she thought would work for her in any given situation. Today she was more sergeant. You have no idea how it feels, knowing my son wasn’t considered a fit partner by any woman of worth. It’s been a continual disgrace, having to explain to all our friends…

So you’ve told me a million times. Edward interrupted quickly. "I got the memo. I’m lazy. I’m a blight on the family name. I should be married with a dozen robotic children like poor John. Or have a frightfully important job in the Ministry like Tobias, which must pay frightfully well given he’s supporting two mistresses and a half a dozen kids, none of whom are blessed with his name nor his women given the respect that comes from being married. However, his mistresses are society women, so you’ve turned a blind eye to his digressions."

Tobias is a highly respected official and that is important among our kind, you know that. It’s not like you do anything at all to enhance your image or social standing. His mother was being particularly sharp. Must’ve had two coffees with her slice of devil cake for lunch. If you had a position we could actually tell people about…

I have a perfectly good position, Mother. I own my own business, which is more than many of my peers do. I make enough money…

Money isn’t everything. Having an honorable position, prestige among our peers, respect, being able to hold our head up…

I‘m proud of my personal protection business. The men and women I employ care deeply for the magical community and others. I was commended by the mayor just last month for helping bring two rogue shifters to justice after poor Belton was stalked for months and the police could do nothing about it.

Rogues. Mother’s tone reflected her distaste. Members of the Rosen family do not dirty their hands with the scuffling underbelly of society.

Edward was close to doing something unheard of in the Rosen family – hanging up on his mother. Slandering him was one thing, Edward was used to it, but scoffing at his business and the people who worked for him was something else again. Did you call me for anything specific? He asked knowing his mother would pick up the bite in his tone. Only I have a hundred last minute details for this wedding to work through. You remember, the wedding you wrote the guest list for.

I had a particularly important reason for calling. I was shocked when I realized the family haven’t met your prospective spouse.

That’s because you still don’t believe anyone would marry me at all, and you’re always too busy to be bothered with the daily life of your disappointing youngest son, Edward thought bitterly, but of course, his mother hadn’t finished.

I mean, as the matriarch of our family line, I expected to hear from the person you’d agreed to marry personally. It’s not every day that anyone can claim the honor of marrying into our family and etiquette demands that your spouse should’ve contacted me. But I’ve heard nothing from anyone important and can only conclude you’re being conned into this charade of a wedding by a person of no consequence. I must insist the pair of you come to dinner tonight so we can assess if they are suitable and that they understand their commitment and role in this family before the ceremony takes place tomorrow.

Clara, who’d been listening, widened her eyes and shook her head. Edward grinned even though his mother couldn’t see him. "I hardly think that’s necessary, Mother. Don’t you remember our agreement, when you told me my inheritance from Uncle Argon couldn’t be paid out to me unless I was married? You said, and I am quoting you now, ‘it doesn’t matter who you marry so long as it’s someone with magic.’ I am marrying someone with magic. That’s all you need to know. You can meet my spouse after the vows have been said."

What possible reason would you have for hiding them from us? Are they disfigured? Poor? Have you latched onto a gold digger? Oh, my goodness, tell me it’s not one of those disgraceful McHenrys.

Edward caught Clara’s glare and mouthed his apology. She was one of the McHenrys and while the Rosen family as a rule didn’t have anything to do with the loud and fun-loving family, he and Clara had been friends since first grade. It’s not one of the McHenrys, Mother, although Clara will stand up for me at the wedding, which is fitting as she has always been my best friend. And as for your concern about my intended’s financial position, because in your eyes, why else would anyone marry me except for my money and the family name, I have taken steps to ensure my intended will be looked after should our nuptials not work out, but my assets will remain my own. Now I really have to go… He rapped the air in front of him and the sound of a knock on the door could be heard. There’s someone at the door.

Is it her? His mother said eagerly. Put her on the phone for me. If you won’t come to dinner, at least let me talk to them.

It’s just a delivery guy. My intended is away until tomorrow morning, but don’t fear, I won’t embarrass you or the family by being left standing at the altar. Until tomorrow, Mother. Edward disconnected the call and shook his head. I’m one hundred and twenty-four years old, and my mother still insists on trying to dominate every area of my life.

I don’t know why you caved on the whole idea of marriage anyway. It’s not like you need your uncle’s money. Clara sprinkled something that had a minty smell over the top of the pot.

You’re right as usual. But you know why. I’m making a stand.

About what exactly? Clara scrunched her tiny nose and pulled the pot away from the candles. She was a tall, well-built girl with a mane of blond hair and a face like a pixie. You’ve let your family micromanage your life since we met. The Rosens are known for never allowing their offspring to have lives of their own.

And that is exactly the ‘what exactly’. Edward leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. Remember how I wanted to go to the Oxford Academy.

Your parents sent you to Cavin Shire University because that’s where the Rosens have always gone.

In my gap year, I wanted to spend a year traveling around our relatives in Europe.

And instead, your parents insisted you spend an entire summer cataloguing Uncle Argon’s library and then sent you back to school to retake two of your papers so you could exceed the ninety-two percent you got on those. Nothing but a hundred percent academic achievement rate is enough for a Rosen.

I wanted a dog, Edward was warming to his theme.

Your brother John said he was allergic.

Oh, and remember the motorbike incident?

When they sent you to your family summer home for the weekend, while they sold your bike and replaced it with a respectable car. Clara sniffed and rubbed her nose with her arm, still stirring her pot. They’re not going to let you go through with the ceremony tomorrow, not once they see your intended.

They’ve got no choice. Edward’s eyes gleamed as he pulled a folded piece of paper from his jeans pocket, smoothing it on the table. They’re promise bound.

You did it? Clara squealed. I can’t believe you got them to sign one of them. But hang on, her eyes narrowed. Did just your mom and dad sign it, or the whole family?

The whole family. Edward did a happy dance in his chair. I learned my lesson from the Paul incident.

Ah yes, your brother Tobias’ efforts at trying to convince you that you were bisexual rather than gay, and could marry a woman, after your parents were promise bound not to interfere in any of your relationships.

Yeah, well the joke was on good old Toby. The wonderful Susan’s charms might not have worked on me, but my lover of six months, Paul, swept her off her feet, declared she was his mate and demanded she quit work immediately. Toby lost his best secretary that day. Edward sighed. But no, this time I have it covered – every contingency accounted for. My entire family vowed, that provided I got married between ten a.m. and eleven a.m. on Saturday, October the twenty-eighth, I could marry absolutely anyone I wanted, with the only stipulation being that person had magic. My family vowed they would not challenge my decision. They would accept anyone I married, into the family, and be on their best behavior, causing no troubles between me and my new spouse, for a minimum of three months. Promise bound. Simple but effective.

Hmm. Clara put the pot down on a large coaster, still stirring with one hand while she reached for a crystal with the other. They could make you late for the wedding to void the promise.

I plan on getting to Rosen Hall not long after midnight. My phone will be conveniently forgotten at home and if anyone comes here, I won’t be here. I only need you to witness our vows for them to be legal, which we will be speaking to each other at exactly ten oh one. By five past ten me and my intended will be married and there is nothing my parents can do about it then.

There was no mention in that promise document of your inheritance. Clara dropped the crystal into her pot and Edward watched the steam rise and the contents bubble.

I don’t need the money. It’s not about the inheritance. This is me making a point. No, it’s more than that. I am taking a stand. Edward wanted to thump the table for emphasis, but Clara’s spell was at a critical juncture. After tomorrow my family won’t want anything to do with me for the rest of my natural life.

Which might be measured in mere hours if the slightest thing goes wrong with your little plan. In fact, it might have been easier to plan a fake death. Counting down from ten, Clara hit one and scooped the crystal out of the potion. What was once a gleaming clear crystal was now obsidian black, hanging from a long black twisted cord. Here you go, mind the end, it will still be hot.

Absolutely perfect. Edward held the crystal up by its cord, watching it twirl, catching the light from the candles. What better gift to give a demon intended than the means for him to go anywhere in the world provided it’s with me.

I still think it’s a huge risk. Clara waved her hand and her cooking instruments all disappeared. Have you decided who you’re going to summon for this charade of yours?

I’ve got a short list of four. Edward shrugged as he tested the temperature of the crystal before tucking it into his jean’s pocket. I’ll go over my notes one more time before I conduct the summons and make the final decision then.

I still think it would’ve been easier for you to learn to tell your family no.

Saying ‘no’ only works if the person you are saying it to listens to it. Edward smiled at his best friend. I know you’re worried for me and I do appreciate it, but I’ve told you before I have very valid reasons for doing things this way. I know if I don’t do this, I could spend another hundred years or a damn sight longer, being told how much of an embarrassment I am to the family name. Every plan I’ve had my whole life, they’ve skewed or stuffed up in some way. The only reason I have my business is because I got endorsement from that guy from the Ministry who fancied me, remember, before I told my parents. Now they are demanding I marry a female of suitable breeding to create more Rosens with. I’m not going to do it. The world doesn’t need more Rosens. After tomorrow, my family will never ask me to do anything for them again. I imagine I will be completely shunned and that’s exactly what I am aiming for.

Well, if anyone can pull this off it’ll be you. I just hope the goddess is on your side. I’ll be at the hall bright and early tomorrow – hopefully before the family get there. I can witness your vows and it’ll be done. Clara grabbed her bag and tossed it over her shoulder. Please be careful, my dear friend, she leaned in for a hug. If this contract idea of yours goes wrong, you could find yourself dancing to a demon tune in the Underworld somewhere.

I’d dance to a demon tune with a smile on my face if I was able to get a dog when I wanted one. Hugging