Apple Brew

by West Thornhill

Overview

Xeno discovers something surprising about Jude, one of his lovers.

Gethin has sent his most trusted and valued assassin on a mission to bring back his son. While Eirwyn is searching for a way to get Xeno alone, she finds an ally in Xeno’s ex Andy. She also discovers one of the Guardians is the Oracle. If she can find a way to get both Xeno and Jude, she will have an untouchable position in Gethin’s court.

Jude has been having sleep-stealing visions. He also discovers that he’d predicted Xeno’s birth. All Jude wants to do is protect his lovers. He thinks the best way is to give himself back to Gethin, even knowing his life will be much worse than the last time he was in the Annwn court.

Xeno is still reeling from finding out about his Fae heritage. During an angry outburst, he feels the power of his Cimmerian heritage. He’s also worried about Jude. More questions and secrets arise as Xeno tries to figure out what it all means to be Fae.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784302689
Publisher:	Totally Entwined Group Ltd
Publication date:	11/07/2014
Series:	Holt McDougal United States Government: Principles in Practi , #3
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	51
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Personally, I don’t think I’m as much fun as the cast who lives in my head. But I try. I think it’s the fact that not everyone gets my humor or why I get excited to kill off a character.

Otherwise, I’m a mom. Spawn is reigning holy terror as the teen years roll along. I do have my fun embarrassing him like the day I figured out the real reason he wants to move to Japan. (He thinks the girls are cute. Hee hee.) And yes, you can insert the outraged “Mom!” if you would like because I mentioned this.

I am also one of the co-creators of an online LGBTQ friendly, YA sci-fi/fantasy series called The Ravens Crossing. TRC is a labor of love that we have been crafting for two years and over 1.5 million words.

I guess to sum all of this up I am a One Direction listening LGBT cheerleader, activist, Classics geek, Otaku, mom, and author. I never said I thought I was boring.

You can find me on Twitter (@WestThornhill), sometimes Facebook, my website/blog, or you can email me.

Read an Excerpt

Copyright © West Thornhill 2014. All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Totally Bound Publishing.

Jude leaned over and brushed Xeno’s bangs away from his eyes. He hated seeing his young lover upset. The scent of coffee hovered in the air. Jude walked back into the sitting room just off the bedroom and waited for the single-cup coffeemaker to finish.

Tilting his head from side to side, he sighed at the cracking sound. Some of the tension left his shoulders. Lately he hadn’t slept for more than a few minutes, and it wasn’t because of the puppy pile covering Xeno and Rex. From the moment Xeno had moved in, they’d slept that way.

No, it was the dreams. Dreams Jude hadn’t been plagued with in well over a century. Why now? And what did they have to do with Xeno?

Rex’s warm, strong hands gripped Jude’s shoulders. “You didn’t sleep.” Concern filled Rex’s deep voice.

“I’m good. Worried about Xeno.” Jude hoped Rex would believe him.

But he should have known better. Rex spun him around, gripping his chin and tilting his head up. Rex’s gaze bore into Jude’s. “You’re dreaming again.”

Jude sighed. “Yeah. I’ve been having them since the night of the masque, but now they’re worse. They’re more frequent and real. It’s as though having Xeno here and what happened to him in Arizona has somehow amped them up.”

Rex pulled Jude against his chest tightly. Only Rex knew how badly the dreams affected Jude. Jude hadn’t had to tell him. Rex just knew. It was one of the myriad of things his sire knew. No matter how long they had all been together, no one—not even Ace—knew everything about their leader.

The soft shuffling of feet and the early morning moans of stretching to wakefulness broke the comforting moment.

Cupping Jude’s face, Rex kissed him—a deep, heartfelt kiss. He rested his forehead against Jude’s. “Xeno will probably sleep for a few more hours. I want you to try to get some rest with him. We all have work to do before we deal with his family.”

Jude nodded. “Okay.” He liked the idea of being the only one curled around Xeno. Sometimes being one-on-one with a lover made all the bad disappear.

Rex pointed to the coffee cup sitting there. Jude wondered how hot it still was, but he shrugged. It wasn’t like he needed it.

The others wandered into the room. It was funny to see them all wearing sleep pants, except Niko in his ridiculously short shorts. Jude shook his head. They really should move to Fiji or somewhere else warm year round. Then Niko could be naked all day, every day.

A wide yawn split Jude’s face, reminding him that he needed sleep or at least try to. He turned to head back into the bedroom and bumped into Cyd.

Jude wrapped an arm around Cyd’s waist. “I’m okay. If it gets too bad, I’ll tell you. I promise.”

Cyd already knew he didn’t sleep well or often. Jude was glad Cyd had never asked why. It was bad enough that Jude was cursed with the dreams. He didn’t want anyone else to worry until their meaning became clear.

Pulling away, Jude continued into the other room. Xeno lay curled in a ball in the middle of the enormous bed. He’d probably gotten cold once the guys had left. Jude stripped his clothes off and climbed in beside Xeno, gathering his young lover in his arms. A deep sigh left Jude as Xeno settled against him. He was asleep in seconds.