Family Bonds

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Sean finished the last of the coffee between yawns and glanced at the empty pot, considering making more. It was six in the morning and still dark, and he was exhausted. Normally winter break was when he caught up on rest, but this one he’d spent running around and it was really starting to take its toll on him. He blinked hard, weighing more caffeine against how well he’d be able to drive in ten minutes.

Any more coffee and your bladder will explode mid-ceremony.

Sean sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and glanced at the corn snake winding their way up the chair and onto his kitchen table. It had been only a few weeks since he’d realized Chip could communicate with him, and already it felt like the snake had been around for years.

“You have a point,” he said.

Chip flicked their tongue at him.

Not to mention your nerves. Your heart is like a cornered shrew’s. I may find that appealing, but the witches won’t want you dropping anything.

Chip was right, but Sean didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of him saying it aloud. He took his coffee mug to the sink, going over everything again in his mind as he rinsed it. Today was his initiation into the Guild of Green Growers, the local witches’ organization he’d agreed to join, to prevent having his mind wiped again. Adonia had told him, somewhat curtly, that it shouldn’t be difficult for adults, and yet Sean was nervous. He patted his pocket, made sure he had his glasses.

Don’t forget me, either.

“I’m not losing my memory yet.” Sean didn’t care that he snapped back at Chip; the snake should know he was touchy about his age, particularly since he’d turned forty a few days ago and had been so distressed about it he hadn’t even told Dane. It was an embarrassment, worse than turning thirty, not something he wanted to mention to a man still in his twenties. Setting that guilt aside for later, Sean moved to the kitchen table to gather up the things he’d laid out the night before.

The lock turned and the front door opened. Sean blinked and looked up sharply as Dane let himself in, either up very early or very late, considering he was generally asleep at this hour. Dane had finally surrendered to the winter and wore a coat, but he’d refused the gloves, each bare hand holding a to-go cup of coffee. Nor did he wear a hat, his dark hair mussed like he hadn’t showered in a while, the stubble on his face also pointing to lack of recent grooming. He’d gone paler since the winter had dragged on, but his scowl stayed the same.

“The f**k you doing letting the snake out like that?”

Sean winced as Dane kicked the door closed. Of course, the first thing he’d notice was Chip—he’d spent about a decade as a Decrypter, hunting down monsters and the like, and was good at taking in the threats in an area at a glance. But Chip wasn’t a threat, even if Dane didn’t much like them. The snake flicked their tongue at Dane derisively.

What are you doing letting him in your place?

Sean sighed, not wanting to deal with this, not having the time to deal with this. He turned back to the table, picked up his notes, a wood and amber carving he’d been given, his pale milky crystal. The last he didn’t go anywhere without, as natural as taking ID with him when he left home.

“Since Chip helped us rehome the hodag, I figured it was fine. They’re not going anywhere.”

“You let them out because they didn’t run away?”

Dane scraped his boots once at the door but didn’t take them off, leaving Sean to glare at his feet as he tracked muddy water across the wooden floor to the kitchen and dining area.

“Look, I know you think you got them trained, but they’re a snake—”

“Dane,” said Sean, wincing at the swear-like hissing he heard in his head.

Chip was pissed. Sean didn’t blame them, considering how much the snake had done for him and Dane in putting a very dangerous beast back into hibernation a few weeks ago.

“If Chip was going to do something,” said Sean, “they would have set the hodag on us, so you can relax.”

“Yeah, well, familiars give me the creeps.”

“Dane’s like this to everyone,” said Sean, extending his hand to Chip.

The snake slid forward, across Sean’s palm and up his arm.

I noticed. But I’ve met nastier bipeds.

“If I’m not apologizing for me, you shouldn’t,” said Dane. “Here. Brought you a coffee.”

“I already had coffee.”

“Then have something that’s not shit.”

“What are you even doing awake?” asked Sean, grabbing the cup and ignoring the jab. He’d be shocked if Dane was actually nice this time of morning. He took a sip against Chip’s good advice, and tried not to be annoyed Dane’s coffee really was good. “Aren’t you usually passed out between four and eight?”

“Yeah, but your witch thing’s going on so I thought I’d make an appearance. Drive you there, make sure you get a decent coffee. You know.”

Sean eyed Dane, who took a drink from his own coffee and stuck his empty hand in a pocket. In the few weeks since they’d agreed to be official, Dane had put in real effort to be boyfriend material. He’d taken time off from work at his coffee shop, Crypt Coffee, to have dinner with Sean, or watch a movie, once even to go to a local brewery for a tasting. And now not only had he remembered Sean had something going on today, but he’d showed up with coffee and was offering to drive.

“I can’t believe you’re…” began Sean, then shook his head.

Chip slid across his shoulders, looped around Sean so they wouldn’t fall.

“It’s true I’m allowed to bring support, but I think it’s assumed it would be someone already in a Guild. And I don’t think Adonia would welcome you at her home.”

“I can wait in the car.”

“You shot her son, Dane.”

“Yeah, well, he was trying to kill us.”

“That probably doesn’t matter to her.” Sean glanced at the time on his phone and then moved past Dane to get his boots on.

Dane turned in place, watching him.

“You’re turning me down. I’d take you back to Crypt Coffee afterward, I got these brownie fruit parfait things made up as the special today.”

Sean’s stomach rumbled. Damn, that sounded good. He had a weakness for sweets and Dane knew it.

Are you really going to let him bribe you?

“Also gives you the chance to last-minute look over all that s**t in your moleskine there,” said Dane.

Sean sighed, feeling defeated.

Here, I’ll help. I’m not riding in a car with him again.

“Are you serious?” asked Sean.

“Don’t know why you’d be pissed about extra cram time.”

“Not you.” Sean finished up lacing his boots and had another drink of the coffee. “Chip refuses to take your car.”

“Then leave them behind. What’re you doing this weekend?”

“I’m a little too distracted to plan anything, and Adonia wants to meet my familiar. Chip has to come.”

“Figures.” Dane took a large drink of his coffee, then popped the lid off and wandered into the kitchen to add whiskey to it. “The witches want you and the snake next week, too?”

“I don’t know, Dane. We’ll discuss things after initiation, if it goes well.”

“Yeah, don’t f**k that up. I hear it’s embarrassing for kids if they have to go through it twice.” Dane took a sip from the coffee, decided it was the right amount of alcohol, and replaced the bottle. “Again, you want an extra ten minutes to glance over everything…”

“My memory’s fine, thanks,” said Sean, words sharp. He turned away from Dane, from the guilt of not mentioning things to him. It wasn’t just the birthday. Ned, the ghost who helped them out from time to time, had made a discovery Sean hadn’t brought up yet. And now that Dane was actually trying…

He’d think about this later. Maybe it was good Dane was trying to clear some time together over the weekend. Sean’s initiation would be over, spring semester not yet begun, and he’d get a chance to come clean about the things he’d been promising himself he’d tell Dane at some point. He sighed.

“Yes, I should have some time this weekend or next week. I know I’ve been studying a lot. Trying to fit fourteen years of witch lessons into a few weeks hasn’t exactly been easy.”

I’d say you’ll be fine, but if you don’t get going, we’ll be late.

“Good. Wouldn’t want to lose you to some witches.”

Sean rolled his eyes as Dane snapped the lid back on his coffee and left the kitchen. He really seemed to dislike witches, so much so that Sean was almost surprised Dane still felt like seeing him after he’d been accepted into the Green Growers Guild. That this meant Dane probably cared for him a lot unsettled Sean. Dane was only twenty-seven, a man able to make his own decisions, definitely, but still a lot younger than Sean, who’d felt better about everything before it had gotten serious. Before he’d hit year forty.

He’d figure out what to think about all this later. Chip was right; they had to leave. He frowned at Dane, who’d stopped by the door to the basement and gestured at it with his cup.

“Thought I saw a spare bedroom down there before. Does it have a bed?”

If we’re late you’d better not blame me.

“Yes. Queen,” said Sean, thinking it would be easier to get Dane out of his house if he answered his questions. “No, you can’t have it because it’s for guests, and you have your own place.”

“Not to mention your bed—”

“Dane. I have to go. I’ll text you when I’m through and we’ll meet up then.”

“Sure,” said Dane, unmoving.

“You going to get out of my house now?”

“Sure,” said Dane, and shrugged. “Figured I could let myself out if I let myself in, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll go.”

Sean hoped Dane wasn’t going to be an asshole about this, but Dane seemed unbothered enough as he crossed to the door. His eyes flicked to Chip for a moment, then he seemed to get over whatever aversion he had and leaned in. Sean accepted the kiss, relaxing some as Dane’s lips met his, tension leaving him as Dane took his free hand and gave it a brief squeeze.

“Good luck, then,” he said, and left. Sean swallowed, shrugged on his coat, and locked the door behind him.