Castor held Lucien against his shoulder after he'd dispelled the crystalline emerald snake. Summoning such a regal yet deadly creature was impressive, yet Lucien seemed to fear his own power. According to his mother, black magic was a manipulation of the user's will. Castor chose his giant web spinning spider, but Lucien hadn't chosen that crystal snake himself. Had he lied about envisioning the snake or had he intentionally created it to impress him?

"I'm sorry," Lucien said softly. "I was just shocked by the snake. I thought I'd create something much smaller, but I still want to learn. Please, don't give up on me yet."

"Why would I give up on you?" Castor tenderly rubbed circles along his back. "We're just starting. Nobody's first few times with black magic are easy. I'll admit, the snake took me off guard too but it was super badass. I definitely have to teach you how to fight with it."

"Not tonight."

"No, of course not. But you don't need to fear it. You're that magical snake's creator. It will never harm the hands that brought it to existence. Only those who you wish for it to hurt or kill," Castor explained.

"What if I'd accidentally hurt you with it?" Lucien asked. "I wasn't sure how to control it like you did. I mean, I literally let it fall on your bed."

"Scientifically, our magic is planted in our brains. From my family's teachings, we believe it flows through both our soul and our heart." He brought one hand down to Lucien's chest, just over his pounding heart. "I know in your heart that you would never hurt me. That's why I helped you with that snake and sort of broke a tiny rule of our magic, but it's fine."

"What rule?" Lucien questioned.

"Never touch another wizard or witch's black magic. It's very dangerous to do, but I knew you wouldn't hurt me. You can't accidentally kill someone with blood magic either. There has to be intent and desire for bloodshed behind it, so I wasn't worried at all."

"Well, I'm glad you had faith in me." Lucien pulled his knees up to his chest with a sigh.

"Why the long face? You did really great with that spell, just like I knew you would." Castor grinned. "There's something else I'd like to try if you're up for it, but if you'd rather call it quits for the night I understand."

"No, I want to try it."

"This one also goes against the rules of black magic, but it was a fun trick my mom and dad showed me when they first started teaching me," Castor said. "We need blood again, just like with the other spell, then we have to bring our hands together to cast it together."

"Okay." Lucien agreed and cut his finger again, allowing a trail of blood to drip down his skin as Castor interlocked their hands together.

Warm magic coursed through Lucien's veins and traveled up his arm as he channeled his own magic through their connected hands. Embers of frosted green and fiery red burned brighter than the candles around them as flames curled up toward the ceiling. Thick black vines with thorns sprouted from the fire and vibrant crimson petals bloomed from the stubs.

A pleasant aroma of firewood and sweet pollen drifted throughout his bedroom as their magic ignited in a beautiful yet dangerous weapon. The flames danced with the swaying petals. Sharp thorns protruded through the flames with vines that were more than willing to strike any foe that came their way.

Castor smiled as he met Lucien's bewondered gaze. "Fire and Earth magic work wondrously together. My folks always said their magic was more powerful together."

"This is considered black magic?" Lucien asked.

"Yes, technically since we're using our blood to create this. Don't let its pretty looks fool you. My flames and your thorns could do a lot of damage," Castor explained.

When they released their hands and let the magic fade away around them, it snuffed out Castor's candles as well. Darkness bathed the room with only a slither of moonlight peeking in from the closed curtains.

"It's far past the witching hours now, and I don't want you to wake up groggy." Castor whisked the book back to the shelf with magic, and pulled the blankets over them. "Goodnight, and don't let the spider rats bite."

Lucien snorted. "Gross, I won't."

It was hard to fall asleep at night when Lucien shared his bed. Moments of silence passed away and Castor listened to his steady breathing and felt every little rustle as he tried to make himself comfortable.

Heat flowed through Castor's body like drizzled honey when Lucien rolled over and snuggled up against his chest. Somehow, they ended up cuddling a lot when they slept. Castor never minded it, secretly enjoying the way Lucien was comfortable enough to do that with him. Not many friends shared a bond as close as theirs.

Castor wrapped his arms around Lucien and channeled warm magic through his icy body. Despite how their home furnished heat better than anyone else's in Briarwood, Lucien always got so cold while he slept. Even his icy feet made Castor tense up a few times in the night when they brushed against him. He was lucky his body provided him with more heat than the average wizard.

A tap on the window made Castor curiously peek over. He kept Lucien close to his chest, listening closely for the taps to come again. Surely it was just the wind hitting a branch against the glass, but paranoia tightened around his pounding heart.

Nobody was foolish enough to attempt a break in with their family's strong wards. Not unless they desired to be burned with hellfire.

The subtle taps morphed into loud pounding against the windowpane. It was enough to stir Lucien awake, who hadn't even bothered to move out of his arms as he groggily asked, "What's going on?"

"Something keeps hitting the window. Stay here."

Castor broke away from Lucien and slid the comforter off himself as he snatched his wand. Embers glistened around him with each precarious step toward the window.

"What is it?" Lucien whispered.

"I don't know yet," Castor hissed back.

He gripped the tailend of the curtain, then yanked it open to allow moonlight to spill in across his darkened bedroom. A vampire bat fluttered at the window. Castor lowered his wand with a frown, head tilted slightly as he examined the critter. Blood dripped from his right wing and smeared across the glass.

"Crystal balls, I think it's Sebastian." Castor unlocked the window then shifted it open. Cold air nipped his face and rustled the curtains. "If you truly are Sebastian Wraith, you have permission to enter my home. Our wards won't hurt you."

The vampire bat flew inside and flopped down on Castor's floor mid-transformation. Leathery skin melted to ivory. Sebastian groaned softly as he pulled himself into a sitting position and brushed aside strands of his black hair that clung to his forehead. Blood trickled from a deep laceration inflicted to his upper arm.

"What happened?" Lucien climbed off the bed and dropped down to Sebastian's side in horror. "Who did this to you?"

"I don't know." Sebastian grimaced. "He wore a mask. Caught me off guard when I was outside with some other vampires. The Sanguine Council went after the guy, and I flew here for safety after luring him away from my clinic."

"Lucien, grab our first aid kit from the bathroom," Castor said. "You remember where it is, right?"

"Yeah, I'll get it." Lucien climbed to his feet and rushed out his bedroom door.

"What were you attacked with?" Castor crouched beside him to inspect the wound closer. "Vampires typically don't usually bleed this much, do they?"

"Fanging Hunter with his sword," Sebastian cursed. "Silver blades make us bleed heavier and cut deeper. The bastard was aiming for my neck, but I blocked him with my arm. It hurt like hell to fly here. I've endured worse, but I couldn't risk flying back there and leading him to my clinic. They've got officers guarding the place now."

Lucien returned with the first aid kit, handing it over to Castor. "I'm glad you trusted us enough to come here tonight. I know how dangerous it must've been to travel through Briarwood."

"Do you have Krisone Cream in there?" Sebastian asked. "It helps to heal our skin when it's pierced with anything silver."

Castor rummaged through the kit until he found the small tube labeled Krisone and handed it to him. "Are you sure you don't need actual medical attention?"

"I am a doctor." Sebastian flashed his fangs as he carefully daubed the damp cloth against his bloody arm. "One who specializes in vampire care, so I know what I'm doing. Our wounds heal far faster than yours and aren't as detrimental to our lives. This wound won't kill me. It can't get infected either."

"It can't?" Lucien asked.

"No, the venom in our bodies prevents any sort of infection and mortal illnesses," Sebastian explained. "Even when drinking blood, we can't contract anything from it. Our only concerns are when blood has been poisoned, which vampires can usually detect after their first sip."

After Sebastian cleaned his wound, he applied some of the ointment and grabbed some bandages out of the first aid kit. He struggled to wrap them around his arm, so Lucien stepped in to help.

"Thank you." Sebastian climbed to his feet, tenderly touching his bandaged arm. "It will take some time before I can fly home. You don't mind if I stay here until morning, do you?"

"No, of course not. We can fly back to Briarwood with you in the morning," Castor said.

"Yes, I'd appreciate that." Sebastian clasped his hands in front of him. "I'm sorry for disturbing you so late in the night, but I also wanted to be sure that Hunter didn't try to come after either of you."

"Do you think that hunter killed Charlotte?" Lucien asked.

"I'm not sure." Sebastian shook his head. "But there was something wrong with him. He kept pounding on his head and whispering to himself, chanting an old prayer with each vampire he attacked. It was very unsettling."

"If he'd wielded enough death curses, it could be insanity eating away at his mind," Castor suggested. "Do you remember what he looked like?"

"Not really. He wore a dark cloak, heavy boots, and carried the Hunter's signature sword," Sebastian replied. "It was a sharp silver blade engraved with religious scripture and the handle had their hunting symbol."

"Interesting," Castor said. "Lucien, do you know any hunters working on the Supernatural Council?"

"Not offhand." Lucien perched himself at the edge of the mattress. "I should be able to find their files when I go back to the office so long as they're officially registered. I'd planned to check Charlotte's to see if there was any paperwork of her enlisting with them."

With the wave of his wand, Castor shifted the curtains closed and savored Lucien's warm body as he crawled up to him. To his surprise, Sebastian moved to the other side of Lucien and laid down on the very snug space left.

"You don't mind if I lay here with you guys, do you?" Sebastian asked.

"No, of course not." Castor instinctively drew his arms around Lucien's waist. "Don't worry, we'll make enough room for you."

Castor remembered all the fables he'd heard as a kid about not allowing vampires inside their home, for fear of them feasting on their blood until it drained them to death. If his folks found out about their little sleepover, he knew he'd never hear the end of it.