Blood Gifts

  BLOOD GIFTS

  Becca Andre

  Blood Gifts

  Copyright © 2016 by Becca Andre. All rights reserved.

  First Smashwords Edition: March 2016

  Editor: Shelley Holloway

  Cover and Formatting: Streetlight Graphics

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Author’s Note

  Blood Gifts was written at the request of fans who asked to see more of the story that preceded the Final Formula Series. The novella can be read as a stand alone with no prior knowledge of the series, but readers who haven’t read up through The Alchemist’s Flame will spoil some of the surprises in the series.

  The short story, Lords of the Dead, was originally posted on beccaandre.com, and designed to be accessible to readers new to the series, as well as those who have read every book. This story takes place five years before Blood Gifts, so if you didn’t get to read it online, you might want to read it first.

  Enjoy!

  Chapter 1

  Ian leaned against the wall, his attention focused on the well-dressed crowd as he brought his glass to his lips and took a sip. Expecting a rich flavor from the fragrant white wine, he was surprised by the thin liquid that hit his tongue. He wrinkled his nose and glanced into his glass. The wine had been watered down. No surprise. This was a public affair and not a function within the Community. How ironic that he could expect better treatment at a gathering of necromancers, than at a party hosted by Baltimore’s elite.

  He smiled at the irony and took another sip.

  A familiar figure left the crowd and moved toward him. Ian’s smile grew as he watched his brother make his way across the room. He moved with an easy confidence that belied his—their seventeen years. More than one lady stumbled when she tried to turn quickly enough to get a good look, and an equal number of men watched from the corner of an eye.

  Normally, Lex would have acknowledged the stares by flattering the ladies and challenging the men, but some game must be afoot for Lex not to notice the attention, and Ian had no doubt he was about to be drawn into it.

  “What’s with the smile?” Lex asked when he reached him. “It can’t be the wine.”

  Ian laughed and lowered his glass. “I was just thinking that one can expect better hospitality at a gathering of necromancers than Baltimore’s finest.”

  Lex raised a brow. “This surprises you?”

  “Surprises, no. I was amused by the irony.”

  “You find the oddest things amusing, brother.”

  Ian set aside his glass. “And what has caught your attention?”

  “Willis is here.”

  “Ah.” Ian didn’t need more of an explanation than that. Bradford Willis was Lex’s current nemesis. Apparently, the son of statesman Robert Willis had slandered Lex at some art exhibit Ian had missed. Lex had been scheming ever since.

  “He’s showing off his new fiancée,” Lex said.

  Ian smiled, seeing where this was going. “Have we been introduced to her?”

  “I have. You haven’t. Though I did promise to bring you around.”

  “Is she attractive?”

  “Tolerable. You can always close your eyes.”

  Ian pushed off the wall and straightened his coat. Lex reached up and gave his brother’s tie a tweak.

  “Will I do?”

  The corner of Lex’s mouth hitched upward, dimpling his cheek. Ian knew he might as well be looking in a mirror. He and Lex were identical twins, right down to the dimples.

  “The things I do for you, Lex.”

  “The things you do for you. And you’re welcome.”

  “I haven’t seen her yet.” Ian fell in beside him as they started across the room. Once again, the crowd watched them. Some whispered behind their hands, while others openly stared. It was such a common occurrence that it barely registered anymore.

  Reaching the edge of the dance floor, Lex stopped and began a survey of the area. “I should mention that there is a charming little shed in the back garden.”

  Ian grunted. “You are upset.”

  “Hardly upset, just—”

  “Nelson,” a male voice said from behind them.

  Ian was still watching Lex’s face as he turned and noted the narrowing of his blue eyes. Ian turned as well—after all, the man had addressed them both—to face a burly fellow with an unruly mass of curly brown hair and a splattering of freckles across his cheeks and nose. His coat fit him well, and his waistcoat appeared to be silk. The soft sheen of his watch chain suggested real gold. The man had money—or rather, his family did. Ian estimated him to be in his mid to late twenties.

  “Isn’t that cute,” the man said. “A matching set.”

  The two men standing with him offered nervous laughs, though neither met Ian’s eye when he glanced at them.

  “I don’t believe I’ve met your friend,” Ian said to his brother.

  “He’s more of a passing acquaintance,” Lex said. “This is Bradford Willis. Mr. Willis, my brother, Ian Nelson.”

  Ian bowed, noting that Bradford did little more than nod.

  “The undertaker’s twins,” Bradford said.

  Ian was beginning to understand why Lex disliked the man.

  “Mr. Willis?” A trio of women joined them. The one who had spoken—a moderately attractive woman in blue—laid a hand on Bradford’s arm before turning her smile on them. “You must introduce me to your friends.”

  Ian glanced at Lex, and his brother gave him a small nod. This was Bradford’s fiancée and Ian’s target. He looked her over while Bradford offered a begrudging introduction. Lex was right. She wasn’t a bad-looking girl. Though the snugness of the dress and the dimples in her ample bosom suggested that she would run to fat—most likely within a year of marriage. But perhaps Bradford liked that type.

  When Ian’s turn to be introduced came, he stepped forward and took her hand. He deliberately trailed a finger along her palm as his fingers slid down to grip her own.

  “Miss Appleton.” He bowed over her hand. “Charmed.” He straightened, allowing his gaze to sweep up her body before returning to her face.

  Color flushed her cheeks, and when she spoke, she sounded breathless. “Mr. Nelson.”

  Ian smiled. Sometimes, it was too easy.

  The opening strain of a new song was calling the next group of dancers to the floor. Ian glanced in that direction, his hand still holding hers. Yes, too easy.

  “Would you do me the honor, Miss Appleton?” He dipped his head toward the dance floor.

  “Go on, Millie,” one of her friends encouraged her. “We’ll keep his brother entertained.”

  Lex laughed and turned to the girl. “Are you asking me to dance, Miss Bolson?”

  She blushed, but took his hand when he offered it.

  “Millicent?” Bradford was frowning at his fiancée.

  “You can have the next dance,” she told him with a sly smile as she let Ian lead her out onto the dance floor. “He can be a little overprotective,” she confided once they were alone.

  “I can see why.” Ian smiled then pulled her clo
se as the waltz began.

  She returned the smile, her eyes shining at the praise. Perhaps Bradford didn’t compliment her enough.

  Ian moved easily into the dance, keeping up a front of small talk while subtly brushing his body against hers on the turns, or discreetly running his fingers along her back. By the time the song ended, her color was high and she stared up at him with wide eyes. Perhaps Bradford wasn’t much of a dancer, either.

  “You seem a little flushed, Miss Appleton. Would a walk in the garden be helpful?”

  She looked up. “With you? Probably not.”

  He chuckled at her honesty and offered an arm. She took it. It amused him that she was on to him, yet still willing to come along. Apparently, Bradford hadn’t captured her heart—not that Ian believed such a thing possible. He had only to smile at any woman in the room to prove his theory.

  He led Bradford’s fiancée along the garden path and with very little trouble, coaxed her over to the quaint shed Lex had mentioned. To Ian’s surprise, Lex was waiting for them. This wasn’t part of the plan.

  Millie gasped when she saw him. “Mr. Nelson. What are you doing here?”

  “Envying my brother.”

  She dipped her head, her flushed features visible even in the low light.

  Lex leaned over and opened the door to the shed, then gestured for them to enter.

  Ian led her forward, and once again, she came willingly. He felt a quiver in the hand that gripped his sleeve and wondered what emotion she was feeling. Excitement? Lex’s sudden presence had made this encounter more interesting for him, though it was more along the lines of wondering what his brother was up to.

  Lex followed them into the shed and closed the door behind them. The earthy smell of the dirt floor permeated the space, and Ian noted that it would be a poor location for a real tryst. A gap had been left between the top of the wall and the roof for ventilation, and currently served to let in enough light to see by. Enough that Ian saw Lex’s nod.

  He was tempted to roll his eyes, but couldn’t with Millie facing him. He smiled at her instead, then leaned down and took her mouth with his own. Her kiss was hesitant at first, but she quickly warmed to him, opening her mouth to his questing tongue. She had done this before. Fortunately, Miss Appleton’s oral hygiene was good. There was nothing worse than getting caught up in one of Lex’s schemes, only to discover that the target had chronic halitosis.

  Suddenly, Millie pulled back with a gasp. Ian lifted his head and discovered that Lex had stepped up behind her, his mouth currently trailing along one bare shoulder.

  “What are you doing, sir?” she whispered.

  “My brother and I do everything together,” Lex told her.

  Ian couldn’t frown at him because Millie was once again watching his face.

  “Truly?” she whispered, her eyes a little wide.

  Lex straightened and gave Ian a grin. “Truly.”

  This time, Ian did frown.

  “Go on,” Lex encouraged. “Make her happy.”

  Millie giggled and rolled up on her toes to kiss Ian again. He obliged her, wrapping his hands around her ample waist. She groaned against his mouth, and Ian wondered if it was in response to his kiss or had Lex gone back to nuzzling her shoulder. Ian was about to open his eyes and check when the fabric beneath his hands loosened. Lex was unlacing her dress.

  “Oh.” Millie gasped and reached up to hold the fabric to her chest.

  “Yes?” A smile colored Lex’s voice.

  “I, I just expected a few stolen kisses,” she stammered. “Not—”

  Lex took her chin and gently turned her toward him. “Only what you’re comfortable with.” He kissed her this time. Midway through the kiss, he opened his eyes, meeting Ian’s own. He gestured at the laces along the back of her corset.

  Why? Ian mouthed the word.

  Lex gestured at her back again. When Ian didn’t immediately comply, Lex ended the kiss. “My brother hesitates. He thinks you’re not interested in us.”

  Millie didn’t answer in words. Instead, she reached up and pushed the dress off her shoulders. It slid down her body to pool at her feet.

  Lex gave Ian a grin and a shrug.

  Millie presented her back to Lex, and he began to tug at the laces of her underclothes. In moments, she was dressed in only her dancing slippers. Perhaps the whole hesitation thing had been a tease on her part. She certainly wasn’t shy now. She pressed her bare body to Ian’s fully clothed one and kissed him once more. Her kiss much more intense and forceful.

  A familiar taste suffused her mouth, and it took Ian only a moment to recognize it. Blood. And not just blood. It was subtle, diluted, but he sensed the essence of necromancy. Powerful necromancy. Lex’s blood gift.

  Ian caught her by the shoulders and pushed her back. She stared up at him, her brown eyes several shades lighter than they had been.

  Lex chuckled, and Ian looked up into his brother’s white eyes.

  Suddenly, the door banged open and light flooded the shed. Millie screamed.

  “You!” Bradford shouted from the door. “Both of you.”

  “Time to go,” Lex said.

  Ian felt him reach out, and a portal into the land of the dead opened in the darkness behind Bradford. Of course, Bradford sensed nothing. Had he been looking right at it, he wouldn’t even see it. Only those sensitive to death could.

  Millie let out another cry and ran to Bradford. Ian didn’t know if the move had been her doing or Lex’s, but it had the desired effect.

  Distracted by a naked woman bouncing his way, Bradford didn’t even attempt to stop them.

  Laughing, Lex ran past and jumped through the portal, Ian right behind him. The portal closed and they stood on the dark, featureless plain that stretched in every direction. The sky overhead was the inky black of a moonless and starless sky. Only a dim red glow gave this dead world a hint of light.

  Lex doubled over with laughter.

  Ian crossed his arms and waited. And waited. He was seriously considering giving Lex a hard kick in the ass before he finally got control of himself.

  “Did you see his face?” Lex straightened and wiped his eyes.

  “What did you just do?”

  “Don’t start. The jerk deserved it. If you had heard the way he spoke of our Family, you would congratulate me.”

  “And that justified it?”

  “All we did was kiss her and get her naked. It isn’t like we forced her.”

  “You possessed her.”

  “So?”

  “Did you forget the part where I keep quiet about your blood gift and you promise not to use it?”

  “It was no big deal. You’re just mad because I was controlling her when she kissed you.” The corner of his mouth curled up.

  “We’ve discussed that, too.” Ian frowned. Lex had once possessed one of Lady Scarlet’s girls—while Ian was with her. Lex had found it hilarious until Ian punched him.

  “You’re such a prude.” Lex rolled his eyes.

  “And you’re not right.”

  Lex grinned, clearly too excited about his success to be reprimanded.

  Ian sighed. There really was something not quite right about his brother. But Ian loved him, so it had fallen to him to keep Lex’s little idiosyncrasies secret. Most of the time, that wasn’t a problem.

  “Come on.” Ian pulled open a portal into the old cemetery near their home and led Lex back into the mortal world. The moon had risen, bathing the graveyard in silver light.

  Ian released his cramped soul, sighing as it flew free, animating several corpses deep in the ground beneath them where their moans and shufflings wouldn’t be heard. He felt Lex do the same. Necromancers had to periodically relieve the pent-up pressure on their powerful souls, or grow debilitated by the pain. The more powerful, the more frequently the necr
omancer had to vent. Ian and Lex visited the graveyard nightly—unless they had spent the day working at their father’s undertaker business.

  Lex sighed and released the dead as Ian did the same. Wordlessly, they walked to the nearest mausoleum where they kept an empty burial vault stocked with some kind of alcoholic beverage. Tonight, Lex pulled out a bottle of brandy most likely stolen from someone’s study. With the ability to come and go at any point on the mortal plane, it was easy to keep their liquor cabinet stocked.

  Unscrewing the lid, Lex took a long swallow then passed Ian the bottle.

  “Speaking of your prudish tendencies,” Lex said while Ian took a long pull of brandy, “how about we visit Lady Scarlet’s tonight? Seeing Willis’s fiancée in all her glory has left me longing to release more than my soul.”

  “Not tonight. You know I have to get up early.”

  Lex crossed his arms. “This might be our last chance—your last chance to enjoy yourself for a while.”

  “Lex.” He didn’t want to be reminded of that now.

  “What? We’ve discussed this. Our Family needs this connection.”

  “I know that.”

  “We were very fortunate that Lord Dunstan decided to take you as his apprentice.”

  “Now you sound like Father.”

  Lex ignored that. “And even more fortunate that old man Dunstan’s niece and only heir is unmarried.”

  “I’m sure it will be enough that I am his apprentice. That alone will elevate my status, our status in the Community.”

  “Not the way it would if you were Lord Dunstan’s nephew.”

  Ian knew Lex was right. The Dunstans were the most powerful Family in the Baltimore area. They led the necromancer Community and had since this country was settled. Being selected as the elderly Lord Dunstan’s apprentice had been a huge boon, but Ian wasn’t as enthused about seducing the old man’s spinster niece.

  “We must all make sacrifices,” Lex said.

  Ian had no argument for that. He knew how much it bothered Lex to live in his shadow, never admitting that he, too, possessed a blood gift. But unlike Ian, Lex’s blood gift would not benefit the Nelson Family. It would see them driven from polite company.