A Streak of Lightning – New Aubrey & Lindsey Story on Patreon!

A brand new short story featuring Aubrey & Lindsey of Mr Warren’s Profession is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Aubrey discovers an alarming development in his wash-stand mirror.

Aubrey had not read the novel by Lord Graves’s playwright acquaintance. He had however heard its details discussed at length over the course of several dinners. He knew that it involved a beautiful youth who had a devilish portrait painted to age in his place, and for every sin the dissipated lad committed, the portrait grew more hideously withered. Aubrey had no such portrait. His own sins could only bear out upon his flesh, and he supposed, with more resignation than bitterness, that given the life he’d led it was more surprising he hadn’t found anything more than a single grey hair ‘til now.

Joining me on Patre♡n will give you access to “drawer fic” – aka the 500k+ words worth of manuscripts that have been shelved until I figure out how to fix or finish them. You’ll also be invited to join an exclusive Discord server just for patrons!

A new chapter or story will go up every week. Missing (unwritten) scenes will be indicated by brackets describing what would probably happen if the scene were written. Example: [in this scene Aubrey and Lindsey ride a carousel]

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

Completed works…
♡ the Aubrey & Lindsey solar fantasy project (mm)
♡ A Willing Canvas – John Halloway x Lord Cyril Graves (mm)
♡ The Train Job – Rowena Althorp x Rebekah (ff)
♡ Hold Fast 2 – Hold Faster (mm)
♡ Vampires Vampires Vampires (mmm)
♡ The Sebastian Nothwell Contemporary Expanded Universe (mmm+)
♡ Theo. (transmasc historical mm romance)

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Ch. 6 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The sixth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Ephraim lavishes Hullvardr in every comfort imaginable.

If Ephraim were not already a lawyer, Hullvardr thought he’d make an excellent nurse.

Per the Holly King’s instruction (at first) and in accordance with his own inclinations (after he’d met Ephraim himself), Hullvardr always arose before Ephraim to perform his valeting duties. As such, Ephraim hadn’t enjoyed the opportunity to show his affection through acts of service.

Until now.

A new chapter will go up every week. Missing (unwritten) scenes will be indicated by brackets describing what would probably happen if the scene were written. Example: [in this scene Aubrey and Lindsey ride a carousel]

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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Ch. 5 – Booksellers and Bone Setters – a new Oak King Holly King story on Patreon

The fifth chapter of Booksellers and Bone Setters – a brand new Oak King Holly King tale – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein Ephraim and Dr. Hitchingham dine.

“No, there is one particular trait both men share that I believe may prove the root of your difficulties. They are bachelors.”

Ephraim studied his friend. “And?”

“A bachelor,” Dr. Hitchingham said, warming to his argument, “is an unfettered creature, and likely to fly off where’er the wind takes him. You have twice now hired bachelor clerks, and both clerks have abandoned the nest. If you want my advice, when you replace Mr. Hull, you would do well to seek out a married clerk. A thoroughly-settled man. Ideally one with a family already established. This will anchor him to London, to Staple Inn, and, ultimately, to your office.”

“John,” said Ephraim. “I am a bachelor.”

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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Ch. 27 – A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – m x nb romantasy on Patreon

Chapter Twenty-Seven of A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – a historical m x nb romantasy featuring dark academia, hurt/comfort, and dragon royalty – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein a grand gala is anticipated.

“Will you attend the ball with me?”

If tasked to conjure the seven most unlikely words to emerge in sequence from his prince’s lips, Rat thought he could do no better. And yet Emlyn had said them nonetheless. The cogs in Rat’s brain whirred wildly to make sense of them until, several seconds too late for a reasonable reply, the answer struck him. His shoulders released a tension he hadn’t realised they’d acquired. In a tolerably casual tone, he replied, “Join your friends, y’mean?”

A bashful smile flitted across Emlyn’s lips, accompanied by a softly-fluttering laugh. “No, I meant… may I escort you to the ball? As your partner.”

The most cursory medical education would tell its poorest student that the human heart did not wander throughout the ribcage or beyond. It certainly did not fly. Yet Rat, with a full semester of medical college under his belt, nonetheless felt his own heart take wing and flutter all the way up to his throat. Joy and panic alike kept it aloft.

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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Ch. 26 – A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – m x nb romantasy on Patreon

Chapter Twenty-Six of A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – a historical m x nb romantasy featuring dark academia, hurt/comfort, and dragon royalty – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein a tentative acquaintanceship is attempted.

Emlyn didn’t oft feel intimidated.

Part of it was xir natural disposition. Xe was always eager to make fresh acquaintances. As Alistair had so aptly put it once upon a time, “Every stranger is just a friend Aemilianus hasn’t met yet.”

As optimistic as xe felt in this regard, xe remained well aware of the other factor ever looming in the equation; xir rank. Few would dare to cross a mortal prince. Fewer still would dare to cross a dragon. A draconic prince in xir own realm was rarely challenged—for better or for worse. Which left very little room for intimidation.

Griswold, however…

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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Ch. 25 – A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – m x nb romantasy on Patreon

Chapter Twenty-Five of A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – a historical m x nb romantasy featuring dark academia, hurt/comfort, and dragon royalty – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein secrets begin to fester.

“I’ve told Alistair,” Emlyn announced.

Having remained at the library with Griswold until the librarians all but chased them both out at midnight, Rat was surprised to find Emlyn awaiting him in their dormitory. It felt even more shocking to his system to hear xir speak so frankly of what still felt illicit to him.

“And Quince,” xe added.

Rat realised he’d remained silent for entirely too long. He forced himself to speak. “All well?”

Emlyn beamed. “Of course.”

Rat wished he could believe xir. Or rather, that he could believe Mordaunt. For while doubtless Emlyn believed xe spoke true, Rat doubted Mordaunt had been entirely honest when giving their newfound bliss his blessing. Then again, Rat supposed, perhaps he had misjudged Mordaunt, and he was as capable of making himself happy on xir behalf as Rat. As for what Quince made of it all, Rat could hardly guess either way. Though if he were granting Mordaunt the benefit of doubt, he thought it would be boorish not to offer Quince the same grace, even if only in his own mind.

Belatedly, Rat remembered to mirror Emlyn’s smile.

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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Ch. 24 – A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – m x nb romantasy on Patreon

Chapter Twenty-Four of A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – a historical m x nb romantasy featuring dark academia, hurt/comfort, and dragon royalty – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein a complex navigation is attempted.

Moreso than confessing everything, moreso than kissing, and even moreso than consummation, was the sheer relief Emlyn felt to sleep with Rat in xir arms again.

It wasn’t that xe hadn’t realised xe missed it. It was that xe hadn’t permitted xirself to grieve the loss. Now to have it returned filled xir heart to bursting and xe drifted off to a slumber as deep as it was serene, as if xe were Endymion—or perhaps Selene, with Rat as Endymion tumbled limp and languid in xir grasp, more at peace than xe had known him since their return to the realm. No drowning night-mare could reach xir.

This tranquility was broken with a single whispered word.

“Sorry.”

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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Ch. 22 – A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – m x nb romantasy on Patreon

First, some out-of-context spoilers.

And now, the excerpt – wherein the slow-burn simmer becomes an inferno.

The word hung in the silence between them.

Emlyn’s dark eyes had flown wide with shock.

Rat knew what would follow. Disgust. Anger. Betrayal. He braced to see the worst of it in Emlyn’s gaze. If Emlyn would even deign to continue to look upon him.

But instead Emlyn smiled.

Soft and handsome and radiant as ever. Rat’s heart thrilled to see it despite the wretched circumstances.

“Me?” Emlyn said with soft wonder, as though xe couldn’t believe it—ludicrous, for who wouldn’t want a prince, and moreover one so strong and beautiful and kind. “What for?”

Perhaps Emlyn had misunderstood him. Rat supposed he’d better make his meaning plain. “I want to kiss you.”

Unmistakable joy flashed through Emlyn’s dark gaze. Xe quickly tempered it. “You don’t have to—”

“I want to.” Rat felt as startled by his own honesty as Emlyn evidently felt to hear it, judging by xir astonished blink. He pressed on nonetheless. “And more. Worse.”

Emlyn’s brow furrowed. “Worse?”

“I want to do things to you.” Rat swallowed hard and forced out the confession his prince deserved. “Terrible things.”

Rather than horror, a hopeful and unaccountable smile lit up Emlyn’s already-brilliant features. “Such as?”

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♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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Ch. 21 – A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – m x nb romantasy on Patreon

Chapter Twenty-One of A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – a historical m x nb romantasy featuring dark academia, hurt/comfort, and dragon royalty – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein a confession is made.

Before he could think of anything intelligent, wise, or prudent to say to his long-neglected prince, however, Emlyn spoke.

“Please—may I have a word?”

Rat bit down his instinctive reply; that Emlyn could have anything xe damned well wanted from him, and half of it without ever needing to ask. But he couldn’t shake the disquietude he felt at that one particular word, please. Princes didn’t beg.

Belatedly, he replied, “Of course.”

Brisk. Efficient. Plain-spoken. Toneless.

None of which seemed to ease the unaccountable grief in his prince’s gaze.

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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Ch. 16 – A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – m x nb romantasy on Patreon

Chapter Sixteen of A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow – a historical m x nb romantasy featuring dark academia, hurt/comfort, and dragon royalty – is now on Patre♡n! Wherein a lock is proffered.

In the penny bloods a lass giving a lad a lock of her hair meant she wished to marry him when they were reunited. But Emlyn wasn’t a lass. More than a lad, certainly, but if xe were a lass specifically Rat rather thought xe would’ve told him. Or at least mentioned it in the letter if it were a recent development.

Yet Emlyn had said nothing. Not even a word about the hair itself. From the ink on the page one might never know the lock existed.

Rat had no idea what a lock of hair meant between lads and more-than-lads. He knew the sight of that precious dark curl made his heart leap into his throat and flutter in its cage and plunge into his guts all at the same time. The faint and familiar scent of it gave him the sort of head-ache that foretold burning eyes. And if any of the boys Rat had known in London caught his tears falling over such a thing, they’d give him far worse to cry about.

He wasn’t in London anymore, though. Gods willing he’d never find himself there again.

And here, gentlemen danced with gentlemen.

Rat reined in his wild flying hopes. The thing with feathers, as Pandora and her box would have it. It fought him all the way down.

Gents might dance with gents here. More-than-lads might befriend lads.

But princes didn’t dally with paupers in this realm or any other.

Currently posting…
♡ A Mirror for the Prince’s Shadow (historical m x nb romantasy)

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