House of the Unwanted: A House of Frost Novel

Chapter 8

By Dabeagle

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“Frost?” Leonard spoke, his tone full of disbelief. “As in Michael?”

Nick nodded his head. “Yes. I'm trying to track him. He's leaving a trail of burned buildings and hurt people. He attacked an orphanage, and the caretaker said he'd been raving about harvesting. It's all kind of confusing.”

“H-how is it confusing?” I couldn't keep the tremor from my voice. My last meeting with a Frost hadn't gone so well. I tried to subtly gather myself for a shield or a strike if need be.

Nick took a step back and lifted his hands. “Peace, mage. I have no intent to fight.”

I glanced at Ty and back to Nick. “I...you're dangerous. Michael tried to kill us.”

Nick lowered his hands and studied my face. “No more than you are. But like I said, I'm not here to fight – at least not you. I'm trying to track down my cousin, who may have...I'm sorry.”

Interesting that he was trying to find him. To eliminate him? I couldn't say my feelings would be hurt. Maybe if I gave him something, he'd leave – that would make us all safer. “I saw Michael. At the Homestead.”

Nick's eyes got wider. “The caretaker will be happy to know you made it out.”

I shook my head slowly. “I don't want anyone to know where I am. My...grandparents don't need the trouble.”

Nick nodded. “I understand. I won't reveal you.” He hesitated. “Would you tell me about what happened at the Homestead?”

“You haven't heard already?”

“The story is filtered by the Magisterium; even the caretaker's report was second hand, for me. Hearing from someone who was there would be better for me.”

I rubbed the side of my face. I could tell Nick was strong, and since he had his bonded, it made two on one more like ten on one, given I didn't even have a bond. But he'd done nothing to try and force or escalate things, so maybe my best course was to try to work with him. “Michael just...showed up. You could tell something wasn't right with him. He was always talking, but to himself mostly. He did say a few things to everyone, but he was yelling like...I don't know. Like a crazy person.”

“That sounds bad.” Nick looked at Ty. “It sounds like he's had a psychotic break.”

“Yeah, I'd vote for that,” I said. “Anyway, the caretaker tried to calm him down. Eventually he started yelling about being the rightful heir of House Frost and how he needed to harvest us to get his power back. But...then he just set the place on fire. I mean fire.”

Nick frowned. “He shouldn't be able to do that,” he said quietly.

“It was weird,” I told him. “He used a lighter, but then he could control the flame after – like blow it up like it was alive.”

Nick crossed his arms and grunted to himself.

“Do you...does any of this make sense to you?”

“Huh? Oh, sorry! Yes, it does to a point,” Nick said. “Last year I was given my test, but it was stacked against me. A mage named Drost was manipulating events, hoping that I would die so that Michael would inherit the house mantle, and then Drost planned to harvest him.”

“Are you fucking serious?” I said loudly.

Nick snorted. “I lived it, and it's still hard to believe. Anyway, during that I severed his connection to the aether.”

“You can do that?” I took a step back.

He nodded and held a hand up. “Please. I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm sorry for what Michael did, and I'll try to make that as right with you as I can. Though I'm puzzled as to how he can do anything at all.”

“Is it because he was so specialized?” Ty asked. “Maybe he still has a link to fire?”

Nick tilted his head to one side. “It would be something to go on. First we have to find him, though. I have to stop him before he hurts anyone else.”

I looked back and forth between them. “Isn't the Magisterium after him?”

Nick frowned. “They're useless and only care about those with power. As far as I know, I'm the only one looking for him.” He let out a sigh and crossed his arms. “My house and I stay away from their business for the most part. After the things I learned about how they treat adepts and others with a blessing that isn't as strong as another...let's just say I avoid any Magesterial entanglements.”

“I'm so sorry,” Ty said. “We just watched Star Wars, and he keeps trying to quote things.”

It was my turn to frown. “If they don't care, why do you?”

Ty took his hand. “Because he's Nick. It's what he does.”

“I need to sit. My back is starting to bother me,” Leonard said.

“I can help,” Nick said. “Do you mind if I touch your arm?”

Leonard looked at me, and I looked at Nick. “What are you trying to do?” I asked.

“I'm a life mage. If your grandfather has discomfort, I can fix it.” He held his hands out. “Again, I'm not trying to hurt anyone, and I won't force you. I'm just trying to help.”

Leonard shifted on his feet. “Well. Okay. As long is this isn't like a rectal exam.” He smiled, trying to make light when he looked a little nervous.

Nick smiled. “Nothing like that, I promise.” He put his fingers on the back of Leonard's hand, and I felt a pulse of magic. It was like a throbbing pressure in the air, and then it was gone. He reached out to Ty, and they touched hands briefly, then there was a larger pulse of magic. A fucking powerful pulse, and then it smoothed out into a steady channel. I swear I thought I could see a faint green mist between Nick and Ty, and then Nick let out a long, slow breath and the channeling stopped; he stepped back and cleared his throat.

“Your sciatic nerve was inflamed due to a vertebra being compressed and pinching the nerve cluster. I repaired the disk and calmed the nerve. If you walk a little bit, the muscles should ease as well.”

“I, uh, actually feel a lot better,” Leonard said, his voice filled with amazement. He looked at Dorothy. “It doesn't hurt.” He looked back to Nick. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Nick replied with a wide smile. “My grandmother has needed that in the past as well, along with a...disagreeable...” he looked at Ty. “What would you call Bea?”

“A pain in the ass,” Ty said with a little laugh.

I rubbed the back of my head. I felt embarrassed to ask about what I'd been feeling lately, but as a life mage, he might know. He certainly knew more than I did. “Uh. You ever hear of people feeling sort of like...Jello is in their chest? Weird feeling?”

Nick frowned. “No. Do you mind if I assess you? That's just checking your health.”

My nerves felt like they'd jump through my skin, and it was a feat of pure strength to reply. Life mages – also called death mages – could kill with a touch. Nick didn't seem like that, but then I didn't really know him. He had just helped Leonard, though. “Uh. Okay.”

Nick reached out as he had with Leonard and touched the back of my hand. I felt his talent flowing into me, but it was very calming. Nick reached back and touched Ty's hand for a moment, and I felt soothing tendrils flow through me like they were tracing my veins or nerves; at the same time I still felt nervous, because his magic was everywhere on me and in me. My toes tingled, and my shoulder felt warm and then cold, sometimes both at once, and the back of my head itched. Nick's talent was filling me, surrounding me like a warm blanket. There was a pulse of magical pressure that made me flinch, then that feeling slowly faded, and I opened my eyes, not sure when I'd closed them.

“You're in perfect health, now. A little anxious, but understandable. The fungus on your toes is gone, and your shoulder – seems like you really got hit hard – is fine, now. There were some torn ligaments and swelling, but I think you'll find it's in good shape now. The bump on the back of your head is also taken care of.”

“I.” Clearing my throat I undid the snap on the sling and slowly flexed my arm, rotating the shoulder. I looked at Nick with wide eyes. “You...just like that?”

“Its seems like it's simple,” Ty said, “but since the bonding he's been working a lot, so sometimes he just needs a little boost to do a better job fixing people and animals.”

Nick smiled. “He's trying to say it's a bit more complicated, but what you feel is as though it was easy. What I just did used to take me hours, but now it's a matter of minutes with straightforward issues. Oh, and congratulations.”

I tilted my head. “For what?”

Nick smiled. “Being newly bonded, of course.”

I froze. “I'm what?”

He looked a little confused. “You're newly bonded. I'm surprised you can be apart from your other half so soon after. I know I kept Ty in bed for weeks.”

“Fiend,” Ty said fondly.

“I don't...oh. Oh my God.” I put my hands on either side of my head.

“I don't think he knew, Nick,” Ty said quietly.

Earnestly, Nick said, “I – I'm sorry, I don't know your name – but I can help. My own bonding caught me by surprise.”

My mind felt scrambled, and my heart flipped at the idea of having to try and explain to Keats. I looked at him. “I have... a lot going on. Michael...that fire over there. It stinks of fire magic.”

Nick looked at me with interest. “Huh. I can't smell anything.”

“I'm a water mage. Fire has a smell to it for me.”

“Oh, that's interesting! I've never heard that,” Nick replied.

“I don't know if it's common,” I said, feeling like I was babbling. “But Michael, the Moodys, and bonded? Are you sure? How do I even tell him?”

“Is this why your eyes are so dark today, Sweetheart?” Dorothy said, then gasped. “You mean Keats?”

“He doesn't even know I'm a mage!” I said, my voice trailing off. I was feeling exhausted, and yet all I really wanted to do was see Keats.

“Hey,” Ty said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Does this Keats person...are they not a mage?”

I looked at Ty and nodded slowly. “Yes,” I whispered. “We only kissed yesterday. I've known him a few weeks and...and....”

“It's okay,” Ty said, and rubbed my back. “We can help. I was a normal, too.”

I looked at Nick. “Why would you help me?”

Nick crossed his arms and smiled. “Mages are dicks. Maybe it was because my own grandmother raised me,” he said, nodding toward Dorothy and Leonard. “Maybe it was because my trial was essentially that I had to live. Maybe it was because I met normals that I love – not just my bonded one – and I know I can help. Early on, mages like me have two paths – life mage or death mage. I'm a life mage, and that means something to me.”

I nodded slowly, my mind moving like syrup. “Okay. Please.” I swallowed. “I'm Tilman Be-” I stopped and looked at Dorothy and Leonard. Maybe confused, maybe frightened, but still there with me. I looked back to Nick, wishing I felt stronger with them behind me, but all it did is not make me feel lower. It was something. “My name is Tilman McKinley, and I need your help.”

“Before...before we go too far, here,” Leonard said, holding his hands out, palm down. “I...we have questions.”

Nick nodded. “Sure. Does Tilman being a mage come as a surprise?”

“What? No. We knew that.”

Nick turned his gaze to Dorothy. “Then the blessing is on your side?”

I sighed. “No. When I got to town, running from Michael and the fire at the Homestead, they...helped me. Took me in. They have lied to the government people to tell them I'm their blood.”

“Lying to the government? My kind of people,” Nick replied with a grin. “Well, at least if you compare them to the mage government.” He waved a hand. “I'm sorry for the question. When I mended your sciatic nerve, I noticed you weren't a mage, and I didn't know how much you knew.”

“Okay. Yeah, anyway, Tilman...did you ask Keats about this bonding thing?”

I looked at him, feeling fearful and miserable. “It doesn't work like that.”

“Well...how does it work, then? Is he forced into something? I can't abide that.”

“I only know what they said at the Homestead, which was mostly about the eye color,” I said quietly.

“We can fill you in,” Ty said. “Don't worry, Tilman. We're going to help.”

“Let's get in the car,” Dorothy said. “We can get information on the way.”

“Oh, thank Ganesh! I hate portals,” Nick said.

As we walked toward the car, Dorothy asked, “Ganesh? Are you a Hindu?”

“Oh, no. Ganesh is a patron deity, in this case for a safe journey,” Nick replied.

We got in the car, me squished in the back with Nick and Ty. As soon as we got moving, Nick started explaining.

“Bonding for mages is a little bit like marriage for normals, but that's oversimplifying it by a lot. Bonding has to to with a mage and their perfect match. Probably the simplest comparison is something like fate. Once the bonding happens, it compresses certain things – for instance the uncertainty of courting or of building trust over time is done. A side effect is a lot of intimacy, and the mage will need a lot of calories.”

“I'm not hearing anything about free will in any of that,” Dorothy said.

“Bonding moves you from the choice stage to the solid relationship stage,” Nick said. “It's not so much that you have no choice, it's that...as if your choice is already known and you just move forward, confident in your relationship. Thousands, maybe millions of variables go into creating the ideal conditions for a bond.” He turned toward me. “You're going to find it very difficult to be away from your bonded at first. You'll feel much more secure if you have physical contact – even hand holding will steady you. Bonding compresses so many things it can be very upsetting.”

I was fidgeting and wondering if Keats would be upset. I really didn't want him to feel trapped with me. To distract myself I looked at Ty. “You said you were a normal?”

He nodded and smiled gently. “Yeah. I fell really hard for this guy the moment I saw him, but it took a few months to get together.” He smiled a bit wider. “We were at a school dance, and I took my shot and kissed him. That was the trigger to the bonding, I guess.”

I thought back to the intense kissing Keats and I had done the day before. “Huh. We, uh, just kissed for the first time yesterday.”

“Sounded like more,” Leonard said. “That van is hollow and echoes, you know.”

“Jesus,” I said, and put a hand over my face.

“Trust me, it gets worse,” Ty said with a little laugh.

“Wait, though,” I said. “You said you were a normal. Does that mean bonding changes you?”

“It can. From what we found through research, a bonded normal usually benefits from a longer lifespan, better health and stuff. But they can also gain some magical ability, and can get an increase in intelligence or agility – stuff like that.”

I glanced between Ty and Nick. “Did that happen for you?”

Ty nodded. “I became a conduit. Essentially, I kind of echo what Nick is doing, amplifying it.”

“It's not that same as having an imbued artifact that is an amplifier,” Nick said. “When he says he echoes what I'm casting, it's more like a copy that grows stronger over time and allows me to use strength far, far beyond what I could achieve alone. So, when I was checking out the feeling you said you were having in your chest, I saw the damage in your system. I made contact with Ty to make my healing stronger and more effective, and then was able to heal your shoulder and such.”

I cleared my throat. “You're really strong.”

“I was strong before. The bond and my house mantle has really made my healing much easier.”

I was curious that his attitude about having power was to use it to help others. That hadn't been my experience at the Homestead. Many of us were in fear of being taken by a house, possibly harvested. If we weren't very strong, we'd sometimes be enslaved as stewards – neither option had sounded good. I'd already been thinking about running when Michael showed up. Everyone there had their own flavor of being fucked up; I'm sure I was no different. Even so, I wanted to live on my terms and had no intention of coming to any house's attention. Now, I was wondering.

We pulled up to the garage and climbed from the car. I felt a pull in my chest, and I knew Keats was inside. I headed right inside, calling out to him. I could hear his boots echoing in the space; he'd been near the front of the building.

“Babe,” he said warmly, barely acknowledging the people I was with. Before I even realized I was thinking it, I pulled his face down to mine and kissed him long and hard. Pulling back slowly he smiled at me. “I missed you, too.” His gaze was so focused; no one had ever looked at me like that. I felt that he wanted me, that I belonged with him. It's amazing how you could wander around, thinking things were fine and then something changes, and you realize how lost you'd been.

I'd never really felt wanted. Yes, I had a small taste with what the McKinley's had done for me, and maybe there was a faint echo of what I was feeling now from guys I'd hooked up with or even dated once. But there was a persistent voice in my head that whispered doubt. I never wanted to overstep, never make myself a problem. Some part of me was sure I'd be thrown away if I became too much trouble. That was gone. I knew his feelings like I knew my own.

“We should order pizza. They'll be more clearheaded once they've orgasmed,” Nick was saying in a clinical tone.

I turned to look at them. “What?”

Ty pushed Nick's shoulder before he could say anything, making him squawk a little. “You both will need a few minutes. Trust me, I know what you're going through right now. We'll order food and then we can talk.”

I turned back to Keats, who was looking at me with a mildly curious expression. “Who are these people?” he asked his voice pitched low.

I blinked a few times and desire for him hit me like a rogue wave. “I'll explain everything, but first...did you bring your car inside?”

“Yeah, for God's sake, stay out of that van. Come on, let's go in the office. We can keep Andrew busy, assuming he's here,” Leonard said.

I heard them start to walk away, but I was focused on Keats. “Yeah. My car's in back. I, uh, brought a blanket.”

I grinned. “What happened to not fucking in the garage?”

“I said we weren't fucking in that van,” he said with a sparkle in his eyes.

We practically ran to his car, not caring that everyone knew what we were going to do. It didn't matter – we needed each other. If kissing had started this whole bonding thing, I'd imagine covering each other in cum will seal the deal. I was willing to try more than once to find out.

We barely reached the back of his car; I distractedly noted he'd spread a blanket in the back, and there was a towel, but then we were attacking each other. Kisses became frantic and we were pulling at each other’s clothes. His boots were a stumbling block, but then he picked me up as he had at the van and sat me on the tailgate. I dug my heels into the backs of his thighs as he kissed me from above, grinding our hardness against the other.

He pushed me back and bent over, taking my length in one gulp. “Oh. Oh MY God,” I groaned, letting my head fall back. He slipped a finger down between my balls and pushed around my hole. I spread my legs and then pistoned up, calling out I was coming. Fine sweat had broken out over my skin, and my body acted as if the orgasm had never happened; I was still hard, still full of desire, and I bet it hadn't been thirty seconds from first gulp to me losing it.

He pulled a tube from the towel, and I sat up to kiss him and work my way down his neck to his nipples. As I did, he slicked his finger and reached under me, probing and preparing me. I had a passing idea to tell him I'd never done this, to maybe go slow, but I wasn't capable. I didn't want slow. He pulled on my hips, and my ass was hanging in the air, his hand pressing back on my thigh as he guided his cock to my hole.

He had more clarity than I did, hazy with lust as I was. “This okay, Babe?”

“Do it, Keats.”

He pressed forward. In the back of my mind I'd been afraid this would hurt, but instead my body reacted like this was something it had done a hundred times with him. I opened for him and felt his hips pressed tightly against my ass.

“Oh. Oh, this is...Til. I – oh, fuck. I'm coming. Shit. I can't stop.”

“Don't stop,” I panted. “Fill me up.”

He thrust a few times, slamming into me with barbaric force. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Didn't want to come so fast,” he said, his voice low and words tumbling one over the other.

He slipped from me, and I sat up and pulled him down into a kiss. “Come on,” I said. “Keep going.”

I backed up, and he gave chase, his hard cock still dribbling out his orgasm. I pulled my legs back and rolled up a bit on my back and he settled between my legs, sliding home like he'd never withdrawn. He kissed me and pressed in deep, shifting his hips and moving slowly back and forth, side to side, stirring my guts as we tried to tie our tongues together in a knot.

He lifted his head, and his hair hung down to frame his face, loose strands drifting across his features. I reached up and grabbed the back of his head and growled, “Fuck me, Keats.”

His eyes flashed, and his jaw tightened, and his hips snapped forward. Deep inside me pleasure bloomed, a bright white flower with infinite petals opening one after the other. I stared into his eyes, fixated, and urged him on. He started slamming into me, and each thrust made the bloom larger, the feeling of waves radiating, spreading from me to him and surrounding us in the ecstasy of one perfect, physical moment.

“KEATS!”

The white light became visible, strobing from his pores. Instead of one blossom there were suddenly a dozen, a hundred. I tried to spread my legs wider, and then my thighs involuntarily clamped to his sides, both slick with sweat, and my dick sprayed with such pressure. I came on my stomach, on his chest and stomach – more than one single set of balls should be able to, especially since it was the second time in just a few minutes.

All over my body I felt blossoms of love, lust, physical pleasure and emotional fulfillment filling me to bursting, covering my skin. Each thrust rippled those blossoms like a spring breeze over a field of perfect blooms.

“Til,” he gasped. “Oh, my God, Til! You feel so.” He gasped. “Til!”

“Give it all to me, Keats,” I said, my tone filled with awe. He stiffened, made several whimpering grunts as he ground into me, the head of his dick rubbing back and forth inside me, sending reverberations throughout my body. He gasped and shuddered.

Panting, soaked in sweat, he lowered his head to my chest, and I stroked his hair, feeling the completeness of his body on mine – in mine. He lifted his head and moved up to kiss me, pressing his dick deeper, sliding around what was no doubt my completely coated insides. He started to move, and I held him close.

“Don't pull out yet, Keats.” I whispered.

He shuddered and his hips convulsed, shoving into me again. I could feel his erection starting to soften, and I knew the moment was close to ending, so I whispered into this ear how happy I was. We lay for a moment, euphoric, and then his dick slipped from inside me, and he moved to lie on his side. I curled into him, pressing my cheek to his chest and he stroked my back. I felt his spend leaking from me and assumed he'd had an orgasm as large as mine.

“Til,” he said, his breathing more steady. “I have never, never had sex like that.”

“Me either,” I said quietly. “That was my first time.”

His hand stopped moving. “What? I mean, you seemed like you knew what you were doing.”

I nuzzled him. “My body knew what to do for you. For me.” I kissed his chest. “That was amazing.”

He let out a small laugh and pulled me closer. “I couldn't stop thinking about you. I mean, I'd been thinking about you, but after we kissed yesterday....”

I looked up at him and felt waves of affection soothing me, warming me.

“Your eyes have definitely changed,” he whispered. “They are perfect.”

“They're yours,” I said softly, the first feelings of dread creeping in.

“Mine, huh? What about your lips?”

“Yours,” I said. “And yes, everything else that is me. I'm yours.”

He let out a breath. “That's... a lot. I-I'm relieved. You feel like I do. I was thinking...this is happening faster than I can figure out.”

I caressed his cheek and looked up at his eyes, so full; I could see a universe in them. “I have a lot to tell you. The people that were with me, they're going to help.”

“I was going to ask who they are,” he said, his voice growing concerned. “What do you mean by explain?”

“Don't worry.” I swallowed. “I think this is the best thing that ever did – ever could – happen to me. It's just going to sound weird and take some getting used to. But I promise...I promise that I...will always....” I wiped a tear from my eye, and he pulled me in close, kissing my hair.

“Shh. Shh. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out.”

I nodded. “We will.” I leaned back, and he smiled at me.

“I just can't get over your eyes.”

I decided I should do something small to ease him into the world he was about to enter. Had entered, though he didn't know it yet. Purely so he knew I was doing it, I pointed toward my explosion on his chest and abs. There is a lot of water in cum, so it didn't take more than a thought to make it swirl up and off his skin. I added the mess I'd made on my own chest and stomach, and from behind me a steady stream joined the swirling ring of our exertions.

“What...is happening?” He didn't sound scared, just curious.

“I'm a mage, Keats. I can work magic.”

He looked at me with mild confusion. “Magic?”

I nodded. “Mages...when our perfect match is found, we bond. I can't explain it very well, but...you and I are bonded.”

He looked at my face and then shifted his gaze to the ring I kept in motion between us. With a flick of my wrist the ring flew through the air and onto the floor.

He looked at me. “Was that our cum?”

I pressed my lips together nervously. “I'm a water mage. There's a lot of water in cum.”

“I'm so confused,” he said softly.

I nodded. “I know. I just found out this morning.” I took his hand. “When a mage bonds, their eye color changes. My eyes are mirrors of yours, now.”

“This...I'm not sure I get this. I mean...that's a...hard to believe explanation.” He looked back to me. “But ever since I saw you, I've felt...pulled. Like a magnet. I was confused, but...and the sex. I didn't even know it was possible to have sex that good.”

I smiled. “Me either, but I'll tell you what, Keats – I believe in it now.”

He frowned lightly. “I...did you see, like, lights? I thought maybe I was getting dehydrated or something.”

I shook my head. “I saw them, too.”

We stayed for just a precious moment, staring into each other's eyes. Feelings of confusion, love, lust, belonging – they all fell together into a tangle that was impossible to unravel. I moved forward and tentatively lay my cheek against his chest, and he rolled to his back and pulled me after him. It's hard to really tell someone how I felt in that moment. It was like the noise of the world suddenly went quiet, almost as if observing a rare moment.

“Tilman? The pizza is here.”

“Okay,” I hollered. “Coming.”

“I know. We heard.”

“Oh my God,” I said and pushed my forehead against his chest.

“Who is that guy?”

I shook my head. “Come on. I'll introduce you.”

We climbed out from the back of the wagon and paused long enough to make another forceful kiss. As we dressed, we each shamelessly looked at the other's body. When we finally were fully dressed, we made our way back to the front of the shop and to the office, though my legs felt like rubber.

Andrew stood with his hands on his hips. “Really? In the garage? Son, you couldn't spring for a mattress? Maybe buy him dinner first?”

“Oh my God, Dad, stop,” Keats said with a groan.

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