by
- Benedict and Bear
- Benedict and Bear: What's Done is Done
“They seek to strip me of everything, to emotionally reduce me to a shell of a man so they can use my magic. Clearly they won’t stop at anything to get what they want.”
Necromancer Benedict Dule is on his way to England to face a past he's avoided for ten long years - ever since his entire family were wiped out one night by a mysterious house explosion. Now the Magical Council is calling him home, demanding he summon his dead family members to ascertain the truth of what really happened that night.
“I don’t have words,” he said softly. “I can’t fathom, when those people should’ve supported you and they…” he couldn’t even say it, yet Benedict had lived with it.
Bear shifter, Dixon Cottle still has a lot to learn about magic users, although that is not surprising. He's barely been mated to Benedict a month and most of that time was spent dealing with the issues surrounding his sister's untimely death. But when Benedict is being threatened by the Magical Council in England, Dixon has no hesitation in getting on his mate's plane, and flying out with him, even if he's really not sure what's going on.
This situation stinks beyond the obvious. I can’t stop wondering why all this is happening now.
The air around them is so thick with lies it's difficult to see who is telling them. With Benedict's lawyer, Langley, and a friendly shifter called Terrence, Benedict and Dixon navigate magical attacks, nefarious council members, and spirits who just won't come when they called. Leaving the mated pair to wonder has everything Benedict believed for ten years been a lie... or is something more going on behind the scenes.
This book is NOT a standalone. It is a continuation of book one, Benedict and Bear. This story was written on the assumption that readers will be familiar with the characters and back story before they start this story. Thank you to my wonderful Patreon members who have cheered me along as this one was being written.
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Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: Ageless/Immortal
Protagonist 2 Age: Ageless/Immortal
Tropes: Fated Mates / Soul Mates
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
“Nobody is friends with anyone on the Council, not even the Council members themselves,” Benedict warned. “There are strategic alliances – occasionally when a situation arises where two or more members can see the benefit of joining forces. But you’ll see for yourself, the Magical Council has created a world of its own within the Paranormal Council compound.” He chuckled. “If you’re imagining dark dungeons, heavy dark drapes, and candles instead of electric lights, you wouldn’t be far off the mark.”
READ MORE“Is this because the people on the Council – I assume they’re all magic users like yourself – are they all older and cling to the more traditional way of doing things?” Dixon didn’t have a clue. He’d rarely had anything to do with the Paranormal Council, either in the UK, or North America, so it wasn’t like he had any frame of reference on how those places were run. He just knew if any paranormal acted in a criminal way, or that those actions could possibly out paranormals to the general population, that was when the Paranormal Council stepped in – usually in the form of sending guards that would seemingly appear out of nowhere and a person could find themselves suddenly ‘disappeared.’ At least, that’s what Gordon had mentioned a couple of times when he was in a somber mood.
“Four of the five Council members are the ones who were in their positions when I left the country.” There was a slight bump, as the wheels touched down on the runway, and then a ding as the seatbelt light went off. Benedict didn’t seem in a hurry to move.
“I’m not sure who took the late Councilor Paxton’s place – it could be anyone, but the chances of them being less than two hundred and fifty years old are small. Part of the reason magic users claim to be superior to other paranormals is because of the history involved in many of the rituals and spells they conduct. Anyone who’d been around less than at least two centuries wouldn’t even be considered for the position, and that’s without the social hierarchy that exists among magical user families.”
Sounds like they could do with some younger members on the council, to drag them into the twenty-first century, although Dixon didn’t say that. Instead he said, “Whatever it is, whoever it is, we’ll face them together. One instance where I know paranormal law trumps anything that the Magical Council might decree, has to do with Fated Mates. They can’t separate us, they can’t refuse to let me stay with you, and I’m not leaving your side for any reason.”
Benedict’s hold on his hand turned into a squeeze. “Just remember to use your nose, my lovely bear,” he warned. “There might be some who could claim I’m bitter because of what happened to my family and what the Council have tried to do to me – most of my family members think that, so there will be others who do too. Trust your gut, ignore the smiles on a person’s face, and let your bear’s instincts guide you in any interaction we might have. Hopefully there won’t be that many.”
The plane had come to a complete stop. The steward was standing expectantly by an open door. Benedict let out a long breath. “There is one more thing. I probably should’ve mentioned it, but honestly… shit, this place is a complete world away from San Francisco. Just don’t freak out if anyone calls me Lord Dule or something else equally ridiculous, all right? It’s just a family thing.”
“Lord?” Dixon chuckled, even as he was wondering why that little nugget of information hadn’t come up in Gordon’s search. Maybe it did, and Gordon didn’t think it was that important at the time, which was highly possible. Dixon focused on the moment. “You’ll be telling me it’s customary for people to bow to you next.”
Benedict shrugged. “And you, too, most likely. If it happens, just nod in return.”
“Wait.” Dixon did a double take. His mate was serious. “Since when did I become a Lord in England?”
“Since you bit me, hon.” Benedict smiled. It was a tired one, not as powerful as it usually was, but Dixon loved his mate for trying. “It beats being called Lady Dule, doesn’t it?”
COLLAPSE
