It’s no secret I love my characters Damian Dethridge and Alexander Castor. They speak to my heart. I’m still in the process of writing Castor’s story, THE TRAVELER, and it never ceases to amaze me how he jumps right off the page. The friendship between Damian and him spans decades, and neither one takes the other too seriously, as the following passage can attest.
I hope you enjoy this little snippet of my WIP.
As always, this is unedited, so please disregard any typos you may find.
“Sound logic,” Castor acknowledged with a grin. He adored the hell out of her quick-witted skill in providing a logical counterargument. “You—”
From the shadows, Damian stepped into the soft glow from the terrace doors. “Are you two planning to stand outside all night, or do you intend to join us anytime soon?”
“Jaysus, fuck!”
It wasn’t often Castor was caught by surprise, especially by the Aether. The sheer power radiating off him usually announced his presence unless cloaked. This time, it disturbed him greatly. He’d been so taken by Josie, he failed to monitor his surroundings. A rookie move he hadn’t made since he was first in Victor Salinger’s sights, and the reason he’d been on the run all those years ago.
“My apologies, Alex. My approach was anything but quiet. As you can see, Josie wasn’t surprised.”
Rarely seen dimples created deep grooves on either side of Damian’s perfect face. The one Castor dearly wished to mess up with his meaty fist.
“What the feck are ya doin’ lurkin’ in the dark like a bloody vampire?” Castor demanded, doubly annoyed by his slip. The flash of Damian’s white teeth mocked him. “Were ya after spyin’ on us?”
Black brows shot upward even as the Aether tossed him a single stone.
“For my ring,” Josie concluded as Castor caught it. “Thank you, Damian.”
“Yes, I’m surprised you didn’t feel the rumble when the standing stones lowered into the ground.” He looked between them. “But I suppose you were too distracted… with your conversation.”
She gave Castor’s bicep a light squeeze before abandoning him to weave her arm through Damian’s. “Conversations between us are always titillating.”
Damian chuckled, and although the sound was born of amusement, Castor wanted to rip Josie away from him. Perhaps deliver a few blows to remind the guy to curtail his sex appeal around other men’s mates.
They all froze midstep, their expressions ranging from horror to shock to satisfaction.
Castor hadn’t blocked his thought.
“Ya feckin’ bastard,” he muttered. “In case I haven’t told ya before, I’m after tellin’ ya now. One day, that feckin’ smugness will see ya beat bloody.”
“But not today, my friend,” Damian countered with a grin, disengaging his arm from Josie with a pat on her hand. “I’ll go tell Viv you’ll be along in another few minutes.”
The Traveler Copyright © 2026 T.M. CROMER
The affection is completely unspoken, but it's undeniable. So, if you love
the undying friendship
the humor
the loyalty
the voice
the chemistry
… then this one is for you!
Love & Lemon Drops,
T.