Blood Magic

Chapter 2: Blood Debts And Dinner Dates

Birdie

Many moons ago a debt was owed to my family, somehow that later translated into me having two men shadow me my whole life. Parts of the story were lost to time but from what I gathered some ancestor of mine helped out these two shifter packs. When it was time to return the favor both failed to hold up their ends and there was some death and bloodshed. Enemies were made that day and a feud between the 3 factions lasted a long time. Blah blah blah not that important really, not until we get to me. To achieve peace the blood debt was paid in the form of a son from each pack being given over to my family.

My parents were killed because of the feud so it was decided that Asher Erickson and Asah Mercer would be bound to protect me. Things that don't go together: blood, magic and debts, they should have known better. So the shifters lost prominent sons and I lost my parents and any hope of a normal life. Technically nothing about my life was ever going to be normal but this made it worse. I was 5 when my whole world was turned upside down. Ash was 9 and Ace was 7 and we were stuck together.

Having them around when we were growing up together wasn't so bad, they were like annoying big brothers. As I had no siblings I more or less appreciated them. But as we got older and we all grew up and began to change things didn't run smoothly. Teenagers growing up in close quarters is never a recipe for smooth sailing. In our case my unwanted brothers got in the way of me ever getting close to anyone male. It wasn't a jealousy thing our relationship was strictly brother/sister, they just took over protective to new heights.

When I considered going away for college my dreams were quickly dashed since I couldn't be without them. Remember magic, blood and debts should never be mixed. We physically couldn't be very far from each other until I turned 21. Even after that the ties that bound us together put restrictions on our lives. It was inconvenient and part of the reason I couldn't date. We could sense each other because we were unlucky like that. So they knew way too much about me and I knew too damn much about them. Over the years we found a system to tune out the more intimate moments but it never lasted.

My love life wasn't the only one that suffered though. How did you explain to someone you had to live at home with a bunch of people you weren't related to because of some stupid ancestral magic feud? We tried living apart, it did not work for long. The magic was a fickle annoying thing that seemed to have a mind of its own. Magic kept us together we didn't have to like it but there was no choice in it.

No more that 48 hours could we be parted without consequence, an extra day could be added if I was with at least one of them. For that reason I found myself laying in Ace's bed at his parents' house waiting for him to get dressed. We were spending a few days with his family because his brother was getting married. Ash would join us before the wedding since his cousin was the bride. Unity between the packs, it happened from time to time. I wasn't a shifter but I lived with two of them so I knew a lot of things.

"We are going to be late," I said again for what felt like the hundredth time.

"I take pride in my appearance," he replied without turning.

Most women might find the sight of a half naked very sexy man very appealing, I didn't. Especially when he was going to make us late for dinner. If I had to choose I would prefer spending time with Ash's family. With them I felt more welcome and was less likely to hear a comment about our "situation". Everybody in both packs knew about us it wasn't a secret, it was admittedly odd but not a secret. Some people didn't know what to make of it, but that wasn't my problem.

This time around as there were out of town visitors staying in the Mercer house space was limited. For that reason I was staying in Ace's room, something I had done before. Some people found it inappropriate, I didn't care. In my time with my boys I had seen everything and while they were both impressive in their own rights, I didn't want any of it. Jealousy was not uncommon during these visits and none of it came from us. If Ace wanted to bring someone back to his room to have sex I wouldn't care as long as I got the bed to myself and earplugs.