Victor # 2

By JP Sayle and Lisa Oliver

Kidnapped and abused, Azim is losing hope. Can his fated mate save him body, mind, and soul?

Azim Boaz is a hard-working vampire who takes care of his family until his freedom is taken from him. Drugged and kidnapped, Azim is sold to a sadist. His strength and spirit are whittled away by his cruel captor, but hope arrives in the form of a tentacled saviour.

Working as a consultant on a missing person case Victor Thalassa catches the scent of his mate—one of the missing paranormals he’s searching for. Despite the connection between them, Victor doesn’t want to make the silent vampire his until Azim is strong enough to make his own choices.

Azim’s kidnappers want him back. Will Victor and the rest of the Shadow Team be able to discover who is behind the kidnapping ring, and keep Azim safe?

Victor #2 is a paranormal gay romance, with a vampire with an inner strength that rivals the world’s strongest man, and a kraken who learns the true meaning of finding the heart of himself in another. This is the second book in the Tangled Tentacles Series. Each book in this series will deal with a new couple, therefore while the HEA is guaranteed, the Epilogue for each book will lead into the next title.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jayne Paton
• Release date: Apr 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9780463396223

JP Sayle

Let me introduce myself, I’m JP or Jayne. I’m a lady of a certain age (cough, cough over 50 but I embrace my inner child often). I’m an identical twin and I was born in the Isle of Man; this makes me Manx (not British or English). I’ve lived in several places over the years but I returned to the island 1998. I love the sea and now it’s only a stone’s throw from my home.I quit my nursing career recently to follow my dream to write full time. I published my first book in 2018 and since then I’ve managed to publish further twenty-plus books. I gave myself a 12 book challenge for 2020, and I’ve written 14 so far!!My island is steeped in folklore and I have used some of this in my writing, particularly the Manx Cat Guardian Series, it’s paranormal with a twist. But I’m an eclectic girl and I’ve spread my wings a little. The tropes vary from Daddy Kink, BDSM, age gap, Billionaire romance, Smalltown friendships, friends to lovers, out for you, sweet romance, they all have a little angst (or a lot). I tend to write in series (shakes head). The list is below!Manx Cat GuardiansThe AppThe Flamingo BarBillionaire PlaygroundLa Trattoria Di AmoreDark River Stone CollectiveThe PlayroomPotter Creek(The app and flamingo bar are connected, as in the boys get a book in the app and their conclusion in the flamingo bar series)Writing has unleashed a beast in my mind and now I can’t switch it off. So with that, I now have to try and keep my unruly boys in check while they vie for my attention, and currently, it’s who shouts the loudest. But, I’m okay with that now that I have the time to let the words flow!

Book preview

Thank you so much to all our lovely readers, who can’t wait to see where the tentacles go next.

Huge hugs to Holly at Publication Pixie, and Jon for catching our mistakes,

And to the wonderful JP – we are getting there, sweetie – our calls keep me laughing for the rest of the week.

Dedication – JP

To those who took a chance on our tentacle friends, thank you.

To Julie, Hannah, and Mandy your feedback is as always much appreciated.

To Lisa, a big hug and medal for putting up with me and my crazy head. The smile right now is a mile wide.

Story Outline

Kidnapped and abused, Azim is losing hope. Can his fated mate save him body, mind, and soul?

Azim Boaz is a hard-working vampire who takes care of his family until his freedom is taken from him. Drugged and kidnapped, Azim is sold to a sadist. His strength and spirit are whittled away by his cruel captor, but hope arrives in the form of a tentacled savior.

Working as a consultant on a missing person case Victor Thalassa catches the scent of his mate—one of the missing paranormals he’s searching for. Despite the connection between them, Victor doesn’t want to make the silent vampire his until Azim is strong enough to make his own choices.

Azim’s kidnappers want him back. Will Victor and the rest of the Shadow Team be able to discover who is behind the kidnapping ring, and keep Azim safe?

Victor #2 is a paranormal gay romance, with a vampire with an inner strength that rivals the world’s strongest man, and a kraken who learns the true meaning of finding the heart of himself in another.

This is the second book in the Tangled Tentacles Series. Each book in this series will deal with a new couple, therefore while the HEA is guaranteed, the Epilogue for each book will lead into the next title.

-1-

Victor

"He bites. We bond. We work things out."

Oh, I was such an idiot, Victor mumbled to himself as he plucked a sprig of mint from where it was growing in its container in the kitchen and placed it on top of the green smoothie sitting in a large crystal glass. Only the best for my mate, he added, sweeping a small tray from the kitchen counter, and placing the glass on it. A tiny rosebud in an equally tiny vase and two fine linen napkins with the Thalassa logo on them completed the presentation.

Content the tray looked as good as it was going to get, Victor made his way out of the kitchen and up the back stairway leading to the master bedroom upstairs. Six days earlier, Victor had uttered those fateful words, confident that when his sweet mate Azim bit him, starting their bond, that his blood would be enough to heal the multitude of physical wounds and even maybe a bit of the mental and emotional trauma his mate had been through.

Victor couldn’t have been more wrong, and while he knew the problem, Victor was fighting himself about the only solution his kraken half could come up with. Mating. Consent is important, he told his animal side firmly as he tapped lightly on the bedroom door.

He waited to the count of thirty – Victor always waited, but when he didn’t hear any response, he pushed open the door and stuck his head around it. Azim was lying among the mound of pillows Victor had collected for him, trying to ease any pain he might get from lying down. The vampire’s eyes were open, and his lips were tilted up ever so slightly. It was small details, but Victor lapped them up, so desperate to create some happiness in his mate’s life.

I made you a smoothie, he said softly, entering the room when Azim raised his hand and wiggled his fingers. I know you seem to be having trouble with your throat, and while this won’t do you as much good as my blood could, this should be cooling. I’ve crushed some ice in it in the hopes it will go down easier. Any mouthful you can manage will be providing you with some nutrients, don’t you think?

The nod was small, but Victor would take it as a win. Making his way across to the bed, Victor was going to sit on the big green, cloth-covered chair beside the bed, but Azim patted the space on the mattress beside him. You know I worry about jostling you, Victor said, trying to be careful as he eased his butt onto the space. I’m so much bigger than you.

That little tilt of the lips widened, and Azim raised an arm, making a weak show of flexing his bicep before his arm dropped back on his side.

Yes, yes. Victor forced a smile to grace his lips, refusing to let Azim see how much his continued weakness worried him. I’ve read all about you vampires, and I know, the moment I least expect it, you’ll have me in a head lock and on the ground, tickling the hell out of me until I tap out.

The crinkle under Azim’s eyes deepened, and he tilted his whole head to one side – the movements were so small, but Victor cherished them all. Yes, but it’s a secret, he said, answering Azim as if the question had been asked verbally. You absolutely cannot tell my brothers. Can you imagine how they’d react if they found out I was ticklish – all those tentacles? I’d be a gibbering mess in no time.

Azim laid his hand on his heart, his head brushing against Victor’s shoulder. Aww, I love that you’d protect me, Victor said softly, I’ll protect you forever too. Even against my brothers. Victor coughed to cover up the pang of loneliness he felt at being separated from his brothers. Now, enough about this mushy stuff. What can I tempt you with? I have here in this glass smushed mangos, apples, melon, and super crushed ice to help soothe your throat. Or, I can snuggle down onto the bed a bit further so you can take as much as you need of Victor au natural – what do you think? What do you fancy?

The arm lift was a struggle. Victor could see it was, but he held still, barely able to breathe as Azim concentrated, eventually laying his hand against Victor’s heart. You fancy me, Victor teased gently. I fancy you too, and when you’re feeling a bit better… he waggled his eyebrows.

Azim’s fingers flexed and curled. Is he trying to send me a message? Victor would give up his entire fortune and half of his tentacles for the chance to hear Azim’s voice. His precious mate could make sounds, but only ones of the pained variety. Let me just put this tray down on the bedside cabinet, he said, and then my neck is yours.

Keeping his movements slow, Victor did as he said he would, helping Azim get into place over his torso, which seemed to be his vampire’s favorite position for feeding. There was always a slight sting from Azim’s fangs, but that never bothered him, and if his cock always rose to the occasion, Victor was quite capable of ignoring that too.

I do wish I knew what you were thinking, my Sea Angel. Victor stroked Azim’s hair back from his face, and then he just as gently rubbed his mate’s shoulder. He could see the effort it took Azim just to take a few mouthfuls of his blood, which was worrying in itself. Victor’s research on vampires suggested they would feed from a live donor for at least twenty minutes.

Barely a minute had passed, and Azim’s fangs slid from his neck. Victor’s heart warmed at the slight flick of the tongue. No matter how tired he was, Azim always closed his fang marks, and the dreaded blood rage Danik had worried about never occurred.

Did you want some mango slushie too? Victor whispered, but Azim’s eyes were already closed, and his breathing leveled out.

At least you seem to trust me enough to sleep on me. Victor hadn’t really done anything to earn that trust, so it surprised him when Azim gave it to him from that first night. Bitterly cold from their hugely long swim in the sea, the skin around his lips blue, Azim hadn’t made a sound or tried in any way to get away when Victor carried him up the sands to the island hideaway his kraken had transported them to.

Even in his sleep, Victor remembered, Azim had wanted to touch him. Does that mean he feels safe with me? Did he just want to get warm? Victor remembered a lot of questions and the lack of answers, but never once had Azim shown from his facial movements or anything else that he didn’t want Victor around.

And it was that thought Victor clung to. Things would be so much easier if we could communicate, my precious sea angel. Victor stilled his stroking, unwilling to disturb his mate in any way. Just as he had for the previous six nights, Victor lay deathly still, fully awake. As he watched the progression of the night through the wide picture windows, he just hoped he was providing something in the form of comfort, or emotional security that, in turn, might help Azim heal.

***

Azim

There was a huge comfort listening to Victor’s heart thud in time to the beat of the sea. The open windows allowed for the soft, warm breeze to carry the sound of the ocean to him. Azim had a love of the ocean that had developed and grown through a very difficult time in his life. After his father had died in a freak accident while at work, his mother had looked for ways to console them all. Seaside trips had been used to fill the void left behind by his father’s death, and it the sea had become his first great love.

Azim, though a vampire, discovered an affinity and peace in or around water. It soothed his ragged soul and somehow had captured a part of it and never let go. In the ocean he’d always found freedom, and it offered him something he could never have described if asked. It was like coming home.

The first time he opened his eyes and looked into those of his mate – and the man was definitely his mate – Azim had understood that the part of his soul he’d given to the sea years before was because of the beautiful man carrying a kraken inside of him. The Fates had already blessed him with a truly magnificent gift. Whether Victor understood any of how he felt, was hard to gauge. The man was so much more than Azim had wished for. Every day his whole focus was on Azim, taking care of him. The time before seemed unbelievable, like a bad dream, until he moved, and his body reminded him that he’d lived a nightmare for weeks.

Azim cringed when he shifted to ease the pull on the skin on his lower back. He didn’t want to think about the before, about the fact he’d been kidnapped, sold, and treated like someone’s play toy. Yet, a part of him acknowledged that because of that, he’d been gifted his mate. He’d never been one to focus on the negative, so Azim clung to the fact that he was lucky.

His fate could have been much worse; Azim had scented another vampire’s blood in the room he’d been captive in. One he was sure hadn’t lived to tell the tale of what they’d endured. An icy shiver ran through him just thinking about it.

Victor immediately stroked over parts of his back that no longer hurt to touch. He was so attuned to Azim’s every need. He was everything Azim could have wished for in a mate. If only I could tell him.

There was nothing obvious in the room that Azim could use to write on. Unable to walk around due to how weak he was, Victor carried him from room to room through the daytime. Azim hadn’t spotted anything - no cell phone, laptop, or any other modern-day device he could use to communicate what his issue was. It was clear the lack of communication was wearing on his mate too. The cheerfulness Victor showed didn’t always reach his eyes, and Azim knew it was because he couldn’t answer his mate’s questions. Oh, he tried with non-verbal cues, but they took effort and concentration. Both of which were in short supply when Azim needed more blood. With no ability to take more than a few sips from his mate, his body wasn’t getting what it needed.

When the fucker had choked him that last time, he’d gone further than the few times he’d thought it fun to throttle Azim, and he’d damaged Azim’s throat. Pain rippled through him with every mouthful he swallowed. It was impossible to attempt to speak. The small noises that came out unwillingly when he moved awkwardly were torture when his throat thought it was being raked with shards of glass. The dilemma continued, and every day he couldn’t answer his mate, the sadness increased.

It was a circle with no end and Azim was clueless about how to fix it. The sigh was all in his head. Kraken, if you can hear me, tell Victor he needs to mate with me, please. It is the only way I’ll heal.

Azim nuzzled into Victor’s warm sea-scented skin, and he kept repeating his wish, hoping that the kraken would eventually hear him.

-2-

Victor

Day ten – Azim wasn’t getting any better and Victor was losing his mind. The need to be with Azim all the time was increasing – they were mates, so that was expected. But it’d gotten to the point where it was so important for Victor to watch Azim breathe, he resisted showering or going to the toilet. The mating pull was the Fates’ insistence they get their own way… but they hadn’t given Victor any sign of what to do with a mate who could not communicate with him. Or more importantly, consent to Victor claiming him.

The need to claim his mate burned through Victor’s soul and the spirit of his kraken was getting pushier about it. No matter how much Victor pleaded with his other half – insisting Azim be able to move without hurting, and actually be able to give his consent to being Victor’s forever before the claiming…

It's a moot point! His kraken was roaring. So unsettled by the way his animal half was behaving, Victor had slipped out of bed in the early morning, leaving Azim to dream, hating being apart from his mate, but hurrying to the beach to let his other half free. He’s already bonded with us from the first sip of blood he took.

Victor knew his kraken was right. Azim would never be able to take blood from another source again. For all intents and purposes, they were mated already. Our mate’s not healing, he sent back to his animal half, who was sulking under the waves. Our blood should be doing him some good by now. Maybe… maybe…

Fuck, Victor couldn’t even voice his fears to his other half, but of course, his kraken already knew.

He is ours! You. Must. Claim. Him.

It should be his choice. Okay, so Victor was being silly in one respect. Azim was his mate – his kraken had no doubt about that, so…

If he was in his human form, Victor would’ve buried his face in his hands. In his head, it all came down to choice. Maybe his kraken didn’t understand what that meant, but it meant a huge deal to Victor. Being the middle child had a lot to answer for.

I can’t deal with this right now. Victor tried to refocus his mind, thinking of elaborate smoothies he could make for his mate. He should’ve been on his computer, learning about what a vampire needed to heal when they’d been harmed. He had so many questions. Yet, with the way Azim had