Title: To Summon Nightmares
Author: J.K. Pendragon
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 08/23/2021
Length: 53200
Genre: Paranormal, LGBTQIA+, romance, demons, witches, horror, suspense, magic, mythology, psychic ability, PTSD, author, celebrity, Europe, small town, Ireland, new adult, transgender
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Description
Three years ago, Cohen Brandwein was a teenage media-darling, a popular author and internet celebrity. But ever since he came out as trans, public opinion has been less than golden, and these days he wants nothing more than to escape the big city and find somewhere quiet to work on his next book.
When he inherits an old house in the Irish countryside, Cohen sees it as a perfect opportunity to get away from it all. What he doesn’t count on is becoming embroiled in a paranormal murder mystery, and falling for the primary suspect, a handsome but mysterious self-proclaimed witch, whose reality makes Cohen’s fantasy books seem like child’s play…
To Summon Nightmares
J.K. Pendragon © 2021
All Rights Reserved
October, 2012
“You were crying in your sleep again.”
Kathleen opened her eyes, giving up on the desperate desire to fall back asleep that always accompanied the loud buzzing of the alarm. Warren was lying on his side next to her, his head resting on his arm, just looking at her. He reached a hand out to smooth a few stray blonde hairs out of her eyes.
“I’m all right,” she said. “Just bad dreams.”
“I know,” he said, his thick black eyebrows knitting in concern. He was so handsome, even with the worry lines that had formed around his dark eyes as of late. He reached out his arm, and she let him pull her into his embrace for a few moments, sighing in the momentary contentment.
“I don’t want to go today,” she said, her voice so quiet she could barely hear herself.
She felt him sigh, knew he was suppressing an old argument. “You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do. You know that.”
“I wish you could at least tell me what you’re doing.”
“I’d rather you didn’t know, honestly.” He would leave her if he knew. Surely he would. She was always surprised he didn’t leave her anyway. She pulled him closer, willing him to stay.
“I’ll make the coffee,” he said with a quick peck to the side of her head. “Rest a little longer.”
“Yeah.” But she didn’t. Once he was gone she lay between the cold sheets and tried not to think about the day, to no avail. Finally she got up and pulled on a soft white robe, exiting into the sparse, modern kitchen. “Did you check on her?” she asked Warren, nodding at the closed door down the hall.
“Sleeping,” he said. “You wanna say goodbye to her before you leave? She has another treatment today, so she’ll probably want to see you.” He held out the coffee cup and Kathleen took it gratefully.
“I’ll pop in and say goodbye before I leave,” she agreed. “What time is it?”
“The appointment? Two o’clock. You won’t be able to make it.”
“No.” She sighed. “You’d think they’d at least let me go with her.”
“I don’t like any of it.” Warren leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee and staring angrily off into the distance. “If they have the technology for the treatment, why don’t they make it available to the public?”
“If they did, it’d cost a fortune, and I’d have to work for them anyway to pay for it.”
“You could work somewhere else.”
Kathleen shook her head. The coffee tasted like ash. “Doesn’t work that way. I’m contracted and specialised.”
“You’re miserable.”
“We all make sacrifices for our children,” she said quietly. Warren knew that. He’d given up a promising law career to care for Mina so that Kathleen could work full time for the company and continue to receive “benefits.” Warren was right; they should make the treatment available to the public. But that wasn’t the Guild’s style. Kathleen was valuable, her sick daughter’s treatment collateral, and that was the way it was.
She couldn’t bring herself to wake Mina fully from her slumber when she went in to say goodbye. The treatments were painful, and she needed all her strength. She smoothed the dark hair off her daughter’s face and kissed her forehead, worrying at the pallor of her skin. She never seemed to stay healthy for long. Kathleen often wondered why the Guild didn’t possess magicians capable of healing her completely. But she knew the answer, if she thought about it. They did, of course.
Mina shifted a little and murmured Kathleen’s name—she had never picked up Mummy and Dadd. Mature from a young age, just as Kathleen had been. Although for Mina it was out of necessity, not precociousness. Kathleen continued to smooth the girl’s hair out of her face, whispering that she had to go to work now, and that Warren would be taking her for her treatment later today. “Go back to sleep now,” she whispered, watching Mina’s eyelids flutter into rest. “I love you.”
“Love you too,” whispered Mina, and then she was out again.
Kathleen sighed, willing herself to stand from where she had been crouched next to Mina’s bed. She had already changed into a sharp grey business suit and pulled her hair back into a tight bun. She longed for the days before the Guild, when she’d worn her hair free, braided with bones and crystals. Silly nostalgia that didn’t bear thinking about, but some days she couldn’t help it. She wondered what Baba Mina would think of her now.
She was glad the old lady was dead. She could hardly bear the shame as it was.
“Have you got a lunch?” Warren asked her as she slipped into her pumps at the door, and she shook her head. “You’ve really got to eat.”
“You’re nagging,” she said.
“I’m worried.”
“Yes.” She reached for her bag, slinging it over her shoulder and straightening her jacket. “You’ve made that abundantly clear.”
He stepped across the kitchen to stand in front of her, bringing his hands up to her face. “Have a good day,” he said, pressing his lips to her forehead. She wanted to laugh, but was afraid it would come out as a sob. She wished she could tell him. She wished she could confess.
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J.K. Pendragon is a Canadian author with a love of all things romantic and fantastical. They first came to the queer fiction community through m/m romance, but soon began to branch off into writing all kinds of queer fiction. As a bisexual and genderqueer person, J.K. is dedicated to producing diverse, entertaining fiction that showcases characters across the rainbow spectrum, and provides queer characters with the happy endings they are so often denied.
J.K. currently resides in British Columbia, Canada with a boyfriend, a cat, and a large collection of artisanal teas that they really need to get around to drinking. They are always happy to chat, and can be reached at jes.k.pendragon@gmail.com.
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