Sylum Advent 2021: December 25th (Snippet #1)

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Title: Count Aguilar Denerha i Domanova

Author: Bj Jones

Author’s Note: This is part of the sequel to Assassins Creed

Despite the heavy training, including runs up and down the Citadel, rides out to the outpost and back, with added surprise attacks, climbing the variety of buildings and jumping off them, it didn’t take long to notice that during down times, Aguilar was distracted. Recently he had started taking his laptop, and scurrying off to the library to do some work.

Callum put up with it for about a week, then decided to hunt down his wayward Mate and demanded to know what was so important that he hid himself away. If he had work, he could do it in their room. It wasn’t like Callum didn’t know about his textile business.

Nerha Silks was famous throughout the fashion world, a reputation that Aguilar worked hard to obtain. So he understood the need to keep in contact, but he also knew Aguilar’s business manager, and she was highly capable of running the business without him constantly checking in.

His own farm manager had no problem handling the daily business, dealing with the planting or harvest, and the occasional runaway sheep. There had been moments, when his workers took care of the farm for years with only a random letter from Callum. At least in today’s society communication was quicker and easier.

When he walked into the library, Dastan pointed towards the back corner, where Aguilar was hiding. The Head of the Order rolled his eyes then grabbed his own work and left the area, not wanting to get between brothers let alone Mates.

“I do understand the importance of the situation, but I am away on personal business and cannot come to oversee the renovations. I have sent detailed replies on each of the pertinent questions, that should be enough.”

‘Don…’

Callum blinked a few times at hearing the term, it was something he hadn’t heard in a while.

Their father wasn’t high in Spanish society, and last he checked his brother hadn’t married up. Though Maximo still had a habit of calling him Don Aguilar, the Assassin was practically raised by Aguilar.

‘There are concerns about changes being made, and the neighboring families are complaining about the congestion.’ The voice was annoying and haughty, how Aguilar hadn’t killed him yet, was beyond Callum.

“They don’t get to bitch about how the ruins are an eyesore, then bitch at me when I actually do something about it. I don’t have a magic wand that I can wave with a flair and out pops a renovated castle.” The tone alone met Aguilar was about to shank someone, and Callum had a feeling he would go to wherever this guy was, kill him and be back by breakfast. “Just tell them it will enhance the market value of their real estate and that will shut them up.”

There was a small chuckle. ‘By the way the sheep are happy with their new home, and we have a local sheerier coming in to make sure their winter coats are shone. There’s a local weaving society that will appreciate the fresh wool.’

“Make sure the proper donations go out this month, and some of that wool needs to go to the nunnery, they are making beanies for the local hospitals for preemies.”

‘Well that’s delightful.’ Another small laugh, so maybe the guy he was talking to wasn’t a complete asshole. ‘I’ll send half to the nunnery and the other to the local weavers. They sell blankets at the local craft fair, mostly to tourists.’

“I won’t be checking in for a few weeks, so unless one of the buildings has collapsed and even that you can take care of, I’m out of touch.”

‘Yes, Don.’

Aguilar gave his caller a pointed look, then clicked off the video conference call, before closing his laptop to look directly at his brother. “Out with it.”

“What the fuck was that?!” Callum waved his arms at the laptop, then at his brother. “That isn’t Helena, did you find another Business Manager?”

“No, Helena is perfectly fine. She’s in Milan dealing with the heads of Fashion Houses, who are trying to wrangle extra material for their new winter line. I think she’s angling for a private fitting, and some new shoes for the extra silks.”

“That’s because she is awesome, and scares the living shit out of everyone.” Callum loved the woman dearly.

Aguilar had recruited – stolen – her from the Culture of Ministries, where she dealt with requests for events and filming at historical locations. She spoke a dozen languages, her organization skills were untold, and she could out stubborn a bull. Considering there was a story of her pointedly telling a bull to get out of the road so she could get her son to his football practice, and the animal did, showed how she was perfect to handle an International Textile company that dealt with Fashion Houses and Divas.

“Then who the hell was the haughty asshole on the call?” he demanded.

“Sebastian Emmanuel, he’s one of my managers.” Aguilar hesitated slightly.

“What does he manage?”

“My estates.” He leaned forward, head resting in his hands. He knew he should’ve told Callum years ago, but one thing led to another, and the next thing he knew ten years had passed.

“You’re what?”

“My estates.” Aguilar sat back up. “The ones I inherited, after Brigid Maturin died, the ones she inherited from her father, Stephen.”

“I knew you were close, but not that close.” Callum sat across from his brother. “And what exactly did you inherit…” He paused, head tilting slightly as he thought the situation through. “Stephen died nearly ten years ago!”

“I inherited his lands, money. Well anything outside what he left for Sanctuary, and his title.”

Callum’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m officially now Count Aguilar Denerha i Domanova, cousin to Stephen on his mother’s side.”

He was perfectly calm, which was bad for Aguilar.

“What the actual fuck!!” Callum stared at his brother in shock. “How could you not tell me this sooner? This is … I’m not even sure what this is!”

“I didn’t mention it at first, because I was a bit overwhelmed with the very idea. Add in the fact that I was helping Benedict and Yasbel, Hunt down the bastard who killed Brigid. That whole situation was a nightmare, which come to find out was all tied into Kenway showing up at Sylum, as Nico’s brother, yet Aubrey … yet the famed Pirate Captain turned Assassin.”

“Still not quite sure how all that works,” he shrugged. “Okay and then the rest of the nine years?”

“It took two years just to get through legal bullshit, and assess the estate. Stephen had been forced to renovate in the 1990’s, did a shit job of it. The whole place needed work, let alone the surrounding lands, that included a variety of local businesses.” Aguilar opened up his laptop, clicked a few things, then turned it around. “That is the figure of just the main account for the land with the castle that he had inherited back in the 1800’s. It’s grown astronomical since. Stephen, love him dearly, didn’t really deal with the cultural significance of his title, or the ramifications of it. All he truly cared about was making sure Brigid was taken care of, which I helped with. I, though, ended up with a nightmare of epic proportions, and when that bastard shows back up to claim his Mate again – I’m kicking his fucking arse.”

“That’s a lot of zeros.” Callum leaned forward to look at the accounts. He ended up grabbing the laptop, and started digging around, eyes just getting wider with each click. “Fuck, I’m selling the farm and becoming your love slave.”

Aguilar just gave him a look. “The moment they see you, they’re going to think you’re my brother.”

“Well no shit.” He put the laptop back on the table. “Still doesn’t explain why you didn’t tell me.” Callum was pissed and hurt that his brother kept something this big from him.

“We were in our ‘I really need to be away from you’ stage.” Aguilar argued back. “It’s not an excuse, not really, but honestly Callum, by the time I figured all of this out, unravelled the many accounts, lands, and the title – which alone was a year of dealing with more fucking lawyers, the Cultural Ministries of Spain, and other families that came out of the woodwork to make sure I was worthy to hold the title of Count. I took Hunts for Dastan just so I could shank someone.”

Callum chuckled at his brother’s flailing.

“And then, well … we were apart, and the years went by. Then this happened, and I didn’t know how to tell you what had been going on, especially considering the circumstances of your own mental health.” He held up his hand stopping his Mate from answering. “You still have moments when you see ‘me’ I can tell by the way you stop and stare at a shadow. I’m a fucking Count, the 9th richest man in Spain, and dealing with Spanish Cultural traditions and preconceptions that you’ve never took time to learn. This is not the time to toss you into this world.”

“It’s not like you really shared Spain with me anyway!” He snapped at him.

“As much as you shared Ireland.” Aguilar yelled then sighed, slumping into his chair.

There were reasons they had moments apart, as twins they were at times too alike and knew how to annoy the shit out of each quickly.

Callum took a calm deep breath, then launched himself out of his chair into Aguilar’s lap kissing him hard and deep. His hands tugged at the longer locks, holding him still as he devoured his mouth in passion, pent up frustration, and the depthness of his love.

Aguilar held onto his brother’s hips, opening his mouth to the assault, taking in everything about his brother, his smell, taste, touch. Hands pulled up his t-shirt, fingers sliding over his chest pinching both nipples to rip a moan from his throat.

Callum sat back for a moment, they were both panting from the desperate passion that was running through them. Aguilar reached out and yanked on the black sleep pants with white sheep on it, he noticed a sheep pattern in his brother’s sleepwear, and took a hold of the hard cock. He knew exactly what he liked, and watched in delight as his brother leaned back, eyes closed, lost in the sensations.

Callum gripped his brother’s shoulders as he thrust into the calloused hand that knew the exact spots to touch to make him tremble with want. It didn’t take too long before he was coming with a muted moan.

After all, they were still in the library.

With an infectious grin he slid off his brother’s lap, opened his jeans and wrapped his lips around the thick cock, and swallowed him to the hilt. He enjoyed feeling Aguilar’s hands in his hair, holding him tight as he fucked into his mouth. He grinned when he heard his brother’s groan, then lapped up his essence. He sat back, wiped his mouth and grinned up at him. “So do I get benefits for fucking a Count?”

Aguilar laughed, smiling widely at his Mate. “My dear brother, when we leave here, before we go find Peter, you’ll have to be introduced as my brother and will learn about a section of Spanish Society rarely spoken about.”

“It can’t be that bad. I do move around London, and the Royals…”

Aguilar shifted slightly, then leaned forward kissing his brother lightly. “Oh you have no idea.”