Title: The Called
Series: The Calling, Book Two
Author: M.D. Neu
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 04/19/2021
Length: 114300
Genre: Pararnormal, LGBTQIA+, Vampires, witches, immortality, paranormal, werewolves, royalty, psychic ability, magic, established couple
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Description
The world is changing quickly for Chris now that he’s part of the Immortal Community. With the events of his past finally behind him, he’s still having visions and true magic is gradually taking hold in the world. Chris is still new and has no real standing in the Immortal Community, but he is learning that nothing is what he thought.
Old enemies must work together and longtime friends may not be trustworthy. With Juliet, Amanda, and Kirtus by his side, they have to prevent the immortal and witch community from being exposed.
New friendships are made, and longtime alliances are called into question. How will The Called defeat these latest threats, and what does it mean for the world?
The Called
M.D. Neu © 2021
All Rights Reserved
I rolled over in bed and stretched out; there was nothing. As I shook off the edges of sleep, hints of sandalwood filled my sense. A content sigh escaped my lips. It was so nice to be here in Kirtus’s house knowing he was somewhere nearby. His flannel sheets and down comforter brought me to a whole new level of relaxation.
The door to the bedroom opened so quietly I wouldn’t have heard it if I weren’t already awake. My eyes flittered opened and there at the door was Kirtus. He was dressed in his blue checkered flannel PJ bottoms, and he carried in a tray. I sniffed, smelling the fresh fruit and the red he was bringing in.
“You’re not supposed to be awake.” He pouted.
“Sorry. I reached out, and you were gone.”
He crossed the distance from the door to the bed and sat the tray down. There were two glassed filled with red and two bowls full of sliced bananas, berries, and apples.
“Breakfast in bed.” I shifted more to the head of the bed and sat up.
“Well don’t get used to it.” He winked at me and climbed into bed next to me.
“This is nice.” I picked up the glass of red and took a sip. “Thank you.”
“I figured we both needed a nice break from the world.”
I glanced around the bedroom. Despite his home being in Morgan Hill and not nearly as grand as Juliet’s, he kept his place comfortable, and there were always hints of sandalwood which made the space feel all the more homey. The bed was a king and not overly soft, which was wonderful. Across from where we lay a chest of drawers with a TV mounted on top. On either side of the bed were nightstands with lamps framed by windows with the curtains pulled shut. A door next to the TV led to the bathroom. On the opposite side was a door leading down a hall to the rest of the house.
On the last wall were several photos taken around what I assumed must be all the different places Kirtus had traveled. A closed door leading to the walk-in closet was flanked by his photos.
“I really like this room.”
Kirtus gave me a queer look. “Thank you?”
I laughed. “I’m serious. I really like the space. It’s homey. Comfortable. Nice.”
“You mean you’d give up living in the hills in a vast estate to live in a simple country hovel like this.”
“Har-har. I’ve only lived in apartments, well, as an adult, so this is special.” I took another sip of my red and put the glass down on the tray between us. I picked out a banana from my bowl and popped it into my mouth. After I choked the piece of fruit down—thankfully eating human food was getting a lot easier to do, so it wasn’t too bad—I sighed. “How do most Immortals live? I mean Victor and Juliet clearly live in a world that would make even the one percent jealous.”
Kirtus finished chewing his scoop full of fruit. He glanced around his bedroom before answering. “I think the older you are the more you acquire…” He raised his eyebrows. “For example, I have this house, and a cabin up in Truckee. The cabin is nothing fancy, mind you, but I enjoy it. I also have investments and my financial consulting business, but that’s all. I’m by no means rich, especially for living here in the Bay Area, but I manage to travel a lot, which I enjoy, and I have special places and memberships I take advantage of.”
“What about Sahin or Gregor?”
Kirtus laughed. “Ugh, Sahin is a nightmare and lives way outside his means. I only have this information because I do his financials, and I’d appreciate you not saying anything.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
“Victor had to financially rescue Sahin a few times years ago, mind you, and he learned, but his debt ratio is still too high. I keep telling him that, but he won’t listen. His only assets are a club in downtown San Jose, which does surprisingly well, and a small place in Campbell. From what I’ve heard, his condo is nothing special.”
“So there is a possibility for there to be poor Immortals?” I asked. I wanted to find out more about Sahin and Gregor, but I didn’t want to pry too much.
“Well, in some cases poverty is possible for Immortals. Your financial security depends on who’s Called you and I guess where you live. Sadly, like many things Immortals have a unique privilege that humans don’t.” He shifted on the bed and met my gaze. “Gregor has a nice place in San Francisco and I’m pretty sure he has two other homes, but I’m not sure where. I don’t do his taxes, unfortunately.” Kirtus reached out and lifted my chin. “Why all this concern about money and being poor?”
I found my heart was beating fast and my mouth was a desert. “I… Well, you know my family didn’t have much and I didn’t have much and now here I am in a world I know next to nothing about, living like a king, but on someone else’s dime.”
Kirtus took my hand. “Listen. Juliet will never let anything happen to you. If I’m honest, you hit the Immortal jackpot. You have nothing to worry about.”
His touch and his dimple made the edges of my lips rise up, forcing me to relax. “She really is a wonderful person.”
He beamed, turned, and grasped for his phone on his nightstand. He picked up the phone, unlocked the screen, and began typing. By the time he put his phone down, my cell buzzed. My eyes narrowed and I tilted my head. “What did you do?”
“Check your phone.”
I rolled to my side and picked up my phone, unlocking the screen and seeing the message. “I have a meeting invite from you for next week?”
“I’ll come to the foundation and we’ll go over your current financials. I’ll set you up with investing accounts, and we’ll talk long term financial strategies including real- estate.”
“Seriously.”
“Yep, and I’ll give you the family rate.” He laughed.
“Gee, thanks.”
“Let’s finish breakfast, and maybe I’ll let you scrub my back in the shower.”
I didn’t need any more motivation. I finished off the glass of red in one gulp and managed even to eat over half of the fruit in my bowl, which I deemed pretty darn good. The mix of fruit still had no flavor, but I did enjoy the creamy nature of the banana and I liked the chew of the apple and berries. What made the meal all the better was the sexy naked reward joining me in the shower.
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M.D. Neu is an award-winning queer Fiction Writer with a love for writing and travel. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he’s always been fascinated with what could be. Specifically drawn to Science Fiction and Paranormal television and novels, M.D. Neu was inspired by the great Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Stephen King, Alice Walker, Alfred Hitchcock, Harvey Fierstein, Anne Rice, and Kim Stanley Robinson. An odd combination, but one that has influenced his writing.
Growing up in an accepting family as a gay man he always wondered why there were never stories reflecting who he was. Constantly surrounded by characters that only reflected heterosexual society, M.D. Neu decided he wanted to change that. So, he took to writing, wanting to tell good stories that reflected our diverse world.
When M.D. Neu isn’t writing, he works for a non-profit and travels with his biggest supporter and his harshest critic, Eric his husband of twenty plus years.
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