Careened: Winter Solstice in Madierus: Baal's Heart, #3.5

By Bey Deckard

A Baal's Heart short, following the events in Fated: Blood and Redemption

Plagued by terrible dreams, Jon begins to distance himself from Baltsaros and Tom. Perhaps a little holiday cheer is just the thing to help the three of them find common ground again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bey Deckard
• Release date: May 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223582199

Bey Deckard

Artist, Writer, Dog Lover Bey Deckard is the author of a number of novels including the Baal’s Heart books, Max, Beauty and His Beast, and Better the Devil You Know. Bey lives in Montréal, Canada where he spends most of his time writing, doing graphic work, painting portraits, speaking French, cooking tasty vegetarian eats, or watching more movies than is good for him. If you’re the curious type, www.beydeckard.com is where you’ll find art and free stories by Bey as well as information on his published works.

Book preview

CAREENED: WINTER SOLSTICE IN MADIERUS

A BAAL’S HEART HOLIDAY SHORT

BAAL’S HEART

BOOK 3.5

BEY DECKARD

Bey Deckard Books Bey Deckard Books

COPYRIGHT

Compass Rose

Copyright © 2015 Bey Deckard

Published by Bey Deckard

Edited by Starr Waddell – QuiethouseEditing.com

Cover design by Bey Deckard

CONTENTS

License Notes

Author’s Note

Content Warning

1. The Palace

2. The Grog Blossom

3. Triskele Manor

4. Happy Holidays

5. Caged

Want to Know More?

Careened - Narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo

Books by Bey Deckard

About the Author

LICENSE NOTES

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to your favourite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

December 22, 2015

(rev 23.5.27)

AUTHOR’S NOTE

A very happy holidays to all of you from myself and the crew of Baal’s Heart.

(Man, it was nice to get back to them.)

A HUGE thanks to my editor Starr who puts up with my crazy, last minute ideas.

You’re the best.

Note: This is not a standalone

CONTENT WARNING

trauma, references to rape

1

THE PALACE

Without its legion of servants, the palace was eerily silent, and the slap of his bare feet on the marble tiles echoed as he searched the deserted rooms. A fortnight prior, Queen Abetha had taken Eloise and nearly her entire retinue with her on the voyage to Rampitoor, an island about a week’s journey northeast, where they were to spend the holiday season with Lord and Lady Phakos, distant relations of hers.

Relations of his too, of course, but his mother had felt no need to extend the invitation. Not that he would have accepted anyway.

Tom scratched at the stubble along his jaw and peered through the archway. The room was empty, and no one was on the patio outside. He muttered a curse. Now, when it’d help to have a bloody servant to question, there was none to be found.

A quick movement caught his eye, and he looked up at the bright-green lizard clinging to the stones beside his head. It cocked its tiny head at him, and he smiled.

Well, hello there, matey. Ye wouldn’a happen to see a bonny, black-haired fella pass this way?

The lizard blinked at him; after a moment, it began to bob its head.

Oh, ye did, did ye? And where might I find my lost love? joked Tom. However, his guts had already told him where he’d find Jon. Again.

As if answering his question, the lizard skittered quickly across the white stones with their bright-blue inlays, going in the direction of Baltsaros’s tower. Tom let out a long sigh and rubbed at his face again before following.

He soon reached the captain’s old rooms and cracked the door open quietly, just as he’d done so long ago as an angry young man intent on secreting himself between his stepfather’s sheets, and found the study empty. Bereft of furnishings, the room looked strange. Abandoned. The only things they had left behind were the rug in the study and the huge four-poster bed in the bedchamber. Tom toed the faded bloodstain in the middle of the rug… his blood. Smiling at the memory, he shook his head.

That was a good bloody fight.

Tom then straightened his shoulders and steeled himself for yet another dreary fucking discussion with Jon.

He pushed the door and it swung open on silent hinges. Just as he’d feared, it was dark as pitch beyond. However, it was obvious that the bed’s