Scorned Gods

By Mychael Black

Music isn't all that Scorned Gods has to offer.

Iconoclast (Scorned Gods 1): Death metal group Scorned Gods needs a new singer. Firestarter's former lead singer Jason Summerfield and his lover Julian Kristados are back in the United States, and Jason is itching to get back on stage. What he gets, however, is far more than that -- and not all of it is good.

Delirium (Scorned Gods 2): Jason and Julian have acquired a new lover, Scorned Gods' bassist, Saul. But a cult of vampires is hell-bent on starting a war between mortals and vampires. Its first prime targets are psychic vampires like Jason's bandmates…

Shackled (Scorned Gods 3): With help from an Abaddon ally, Jason and his bandmates will have to act quickly to stop Harlan Yates. The escaped mortal, Daniel, is the unwilling beacon that can bring destruction upon them all.

Karma's Brutality (Scorned Gods 4): With their allies from Abaddon, Jason takes the fight directly to Yates. Jason and his bandmates from Scorned Gods are about to discover combat is not for the faint of heart. Not everyone will come out unscathed, but that's the nature of war.

Publisher's Note: Scorned Gods (Box Set) contains the previously published novellas Iconoclast, Delirium, Shackled, and Karma's Brutality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Changeling Press
• Release date: Jun 12, 2021

Mychael Black

Alter ego of Katherine Cook, Mychael focuses on gay erotic romance stories in many genres. She lives in the eastern US with her family.

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Scorned Gods

Mychael Black

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2021 Mychael Black

BIN: 009847-03194

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Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

315 N. Centre St.

Martinsburg, WV 25404

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Crystal Esau

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

Adult Sexual Content

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Table of Contents

Scorned Gods

Iconoclast (Scorned Gods 1)

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Delirium (Scorned Gods 2)

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Shackled (Scorned Gods 3)

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Epilogue

Karma’s Brutality (Scorned Gods 4)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Mychael Black

Scorned Gods

Mychael Black

Music isn’t all Scorned Gods has to offer.

Iconoclast (Scorned Gods 1): Death metal group Scorned Gods needs a new singer. Firestarter’s former lead singer Jason Summerfield and his lover Julian Kristados are back in the United States, and Jason is itching to get on stage again. What he gets, however, is far more than that -- and not all of it is good.

Delirium (Scorned Gods 2): Jason and Julian have acquired a new lover, Scorned Gods’ bassist, Saul. But a cult of vampires is hell-bent on starting a war between mortals and vampires. Its first prime targets are psychic vampires like Jason’s bandmates…

Shackled (Scorned Gods 3): With help from an Abaddon ally, Jason and his bandmates will have to act quickly to stop Harlan Yates. The escaped mortal, Daniel, is the unwilling beacon that can bring destruction upon them all.

Karma’s Brutality (Scorned Gods 4): With their allies from Abaddon, Jason takes the fight directly to Yates. Jason and his bandmates from Scorned Gods are about to discover combat is not for the faint of heart. Not everyone will come out unscathed, but that’s the nature of war.

Iconoclast (Scorned Gods 1)

Mychael Black

Five years have passed since Firestarter disbanded. The former members went their separate ways, leaving lead singer Jason Summerfield band-less. Now he and his lover, Julian Kristados, are back in the United States, and Jason is itching to get back on the stage.

Nationally known melodic death metal group, Scorned Gods, needs a new singer. When Jason answers the ad, he’s welcomed with open arms. He wants to play music. What he gets, however, is far more than that -- and not all of it is good.

Prologue

Are you sure this is what you want to do?

Jason Summerfield stared beyond his best friend’s left shoulder as they sat in Michael’s kitchen. Yeah, he said finally. I’ve been in Atlanta all my life, man. Julian has a buyer for the house, and they’re closing on it in a few weeks.

You’re not gonna stop playing, are you? Michael asked.

Jason blinked and refocused on him. Are you joking? I don’t think I could survive without being onstage!

Michael grinned. Glad to hear it. He sighed when a car pulled up outside. Guess that’s our cue, huh?

They both stood, and Jason hugged his friend tight. Leaving the town he’d grown up in wasn’t easy. Leaving his best friends -- especially Michael -- absolutely sucked. But something tugged at him, pulled him in other directions, away from this place.

Stay in touch, Michael said when they stepped back.

Jason nodded and held up his cell phone. You, too. You know you’re always welcome, no matter where we go.

Michael walked him out and waved at Julian, who sat waiting in the car. Take care, Jase.

You, too, man.

Jason climbed into the passenger’s seat of the classic Stingray and buckled up. This… kinda sucks.

A strong hand rested on his left thigh, giving it a comforting squeeze. Are you all right?

Jason smiled at his lover. Hard to believe five years had already flown by since he’d met the vampire Julian Kristados. Even more difficult to believe: he’d crossed that line shortly after to become one himself.

I’m fine. Gonna miss the guys, but they all know where we’re going and how to find us.

Julian nodded and backed the car out of Michael’s driveway. They are welcome anytime. They know this.

Chapter One

The door slammed shut, and Saul Calderon glanced at his bandmates. Well, that was a waste of time. Now what?

Twins Nicholas and Dana Reid both sighed, though Dana spoke up first. Good riddance, she said. There are other singers -- most with more talent than that jackass had. We can find someone.

Hopefully in enough time to actually learn the songs, her brother grumbled.

Saul sat on the stool beside his amp, his bass resting on his lap. Where do these fuckers come from? You’d think someone who claims to be a ‘big fan’ would actually know our songs.

Hell if I know, Dana said with a shrug. She set her sticks on her snare and redid her fire-engine red ponytail. Although she and Nicholas were twins, they weren’t identical. She looked nothing like her brother. We need… new blood.

A shiver snaked its way up Saul’s spine. None of them had fed in a few days, and although they didn’t drink blood, the urge for it occasionally hit. Dana gave him a knowing look. She’d been the one to bring them together years ago. Back then, they’d only sensed kindred spirits who needed energy to survive. The music had been a happy accident. But even among vampires, their kind were pariahs. Rumors ran rampant about the band members’ true natures, though no one knew the exact truth. Sometimes, they tossed in a random blood feeding onstage just to drive the crowd wild, but Saul preferred tantric energy to blood any day.

Yo, dude!

Fingers snapped in front of Saul’s face, and he shook his head. Nicholas gave him a quizzical look.

Sorry. Just… zoned out, I guess, Saul said. Dana’s right, though. We need someone new, someone this fucking city hasn’t heard.

Good luck with that, Nicholas said. That idiot was number… shit, I don’t even remember now.

Maybe we’ll get lucky. Saul wasn’t sure he believed that himself, but it felt good to say, at least. His cell buzzed in his pocket, and he tugged it out to glance at the text message. Huh.

Who is it? Dana asked.

Some guy named Jason Summerfield. Says he sang with Firestarter.

The pyro band? Nicholas grinned.

Saul shrugged. I suppose. I don’t know of any other Firestarter.

Didn’t they break up a few years ago? Dana began packing her things. I caught one of their shows. If it’s the same guy, he’s fucking good.

Saul read the text aloud:

My name is Jason Summerfield. I found your ad and am looking for a new band. I just moved to town a few weeks ago, but I fronted Firestarter for several years in Atlanta.

What have we got to lose? Nicholas asked as he put away his guitar.

I’ll set up a time tomorrow then, Saul said.

While Noah and Dana finished getting their things together, Saul replied to the text.

Hey there. I’ve heard of Firestarter, though I never saw you guys live. I play bass for Scorned Gods. I’d like to meet and chat, see if you’d be a good fit. When’s a good time for you?

A few minutes passed, and Saul walked Dana and Noah to the front door of his loft. Just as he shut the door, his phone buzzed again.

Anytime tonight would be great.

He texted back, How about eight?

Sounds great.

Awesome. I know a cool little coffeehouse downtown called Urban Joe’s. Need directions?

Nah. I can find it. See you then.

Saul grinned. If this guy was as good as Dana claimed, maybe things would work out after all. He grabbed his laptop off the kitchen table and sat down on the couch. A quick Google search yielded photos, mp3 clips, and vids of Firestarter. Saul stared at a promo pic of Jason Summerfield.

Holy shit, he’s hot.

* * *

You sure you don’t want to go?

Julian dried his hair, his face hidden behind the towel and a curtain of golden brown. Yes, he said with a soft chuckle. There is plenty to do here, and you need to do this alone.

Jason smiled. His ex, Chris, would have never said such a thing. But Julian wasn’t like that. The man oozed confidence in everything -- and that included knowing Jason would never cheat. Chris, on the other hand, practically snarled at the slightest glance from another man.

True, Jason said.

Julian finished and flipped his head back, his mostly-dry hair falling into place against smooth skin. You look pensive.

Just being grateful, Jason admitted. You’d think after five years, I’d be used to someone not latching onto me like a jealous leech.

Julian tossed the towel into the clothes hamper and approached the bed. Jason stretched out on his back, Julian nestled between his legs. I love you, and I trust you.

I love you, too.

When Julian leaned in for a kiss, Jason took the chance and rolled them. He straddled his lover, drowning himself in a kiss that made his toes curl. One of Julian’s hands slipped beneath the waistband of Jason’s boxers. Jason groaned the moment his lover’s fingertip tapped his hole.

Fuck, I wish I’d told him ten, Jason muttered. It was already seven.

Julian smiled against Jason’s mouth and then flipped them again. He whisked Jason’s boxers off and scooted lower. We have time for something else.

Jason grabbed his legs when Julian shoved them up. Then he moaned as Julian’s tongue lapped at his ass, plunging inside and alternating with two fingers. Julian buried both fingers deep and sucked Jason’s cock to the root.

Jason gasped and rocked, hips jerking between his lover’s mouth and hand. Julian’s other hand pumped up and down Jason’s cock, mimicking the finger-fucking. Before Jason realized it, he shot down Julian’s throat, shouting the man’s name as lightning bolted down his spine.

Julian licked him clean and eased the fingers out. Better?

Jason managed to let out a breathy chuckle. If you count a brain-frying orgasm right before a meeting as better, then hell yes. When Julian moved back up, Jason wrapped his arms around the man’s neck. What about you?

Julian nuzzled Jason’s throat for a moment before biting. Jason gasped and held Julian tighter. Every pull, every swallow, sent sparks skittering down Jason’s spine. Julian growled softly, and Jason felt his lover shudder as Julian came.

You’re gonna need another shower.

Julian laughed after licking the wounds closed. It was worth it.

* * *

Urban Joe’s bustled with its usual college-aged crowd. Saul admired a few of the young college men, but they were all just a bit too young for his taste. Macchiato in hand, Saul sat at one of the tables within sight of the door. He knew what Jason looked like, but Jason had no idea about him. He sipped his drink, savoring the slight hint of chocolate he always had the barista add. When the bell over the door jingled, he caught himself staring just a bit too much.

Jason Summerfield commanded attention -- and got it -- without even trying. The moment he entered, everyone fell silent as if stunned. Then, in the blink of an eye, all went back to normal. Saul barely managed to get his tongue back into his mouth before Jason turned his way.

Saul?

Saul nodded and stood, offering a hand. Yes. Jason, I assume. I saw some of your promo stuff online.

Nice to meet you, Jason said. He sat, and Saul followed suit. "The things online are fairly old at this point. Hell, I’ve thought about