Obsidian Son

The first full novel in the Nate Temple Series, Obsidian Son takes place some time after Fairy Tale.

## Blurb

My name is Nate Temple, and I’m secretly a wizard. I ride a foul-mouthed unicorn, I drink with Achilles, and I’m pals with the Four Horsemen. I’ve even cow-tipped the Minotaur. I understand the *theory* of following the rules…I’m just not very good at the *application*.

Because rules were meant to be broken.

Especially when I find out a monster just murdered my parents. Now all I can hear is the sweet, soothing song of vengeance in my ears, playing on repeat.

But when shifter dragons come to town, I’m forced to step away from hunting down the scumbag murderer. Because I know the cure for a reptile dysfunction, and the dragons aren’t going to like it.

This fight soon opens up Pandora’s Box, and suddenly every flavor of supernatural thug is after me. The only way out of it—to save my city—is to murder my best friend.

I didn’t want, ask for, or start any of this. But I will *finish* it. It’s time I show St. Louis that magic is very, very real. And that an angry wizard is truly something to see—at least once in your life.

You know, right before he puts you and everyone you've ever met in the grave...

## Opening

*There was no room for emotion in a hate crime. I had to be cold. Heartless. This was just another victim. Nothing more. No face, no name.*

## Plot

Nate Temple is up to no good, planning and executing a prank on his friend, Asterion.  Nate needs a book for his client and cow-tipping Asterion seems like a good start to negotiations. Asterion agrees to a duel for the book.

As Nate begins to leave Asterion’s field, he discovers that the police have tracked his car’s location.  Wanting answers to the murders of Nate’s parents, Nate is arrested and questioned.  Nate uses magic to confuse them and get them off his trail.  For now.

### Pause here a moment WARNING, Possible Spoilers Ahead

In front of Plato’s Cave, Nate meets his mysterious client.  No name but the deal is worth a lot.  Nate assures his client that he is close to obtaining the book.  Nate goes to Plato’s Cave where he meets his best friends, Gunnar and Peter, for their monthly catch-up.  While there, they are visited by Raven, a sexy stranger who stirs the boys’ libidos and demands a prize.  In the midst of their encounter, damage is done to the bookstore and the boys discover that Peter has magic! Why does strangeness follow Nate?

Difficult to do, Nate makes his way to his parents' funeral where he faces off with the media, gets reprimanded by Ashley (parents’ assistant), meets a dragon hunter, and some strange man who has a key to the Temple mausoleum.  Nate realizes that normal can only be found with Indie, Plato’s Cave’s manager and his friend. He desires more, but is cautious.

Off to the FBI office to meet Gunnar so they can view a video feed of the street where Plato’s Cave is located. But while there, they encounter another strange woman with a preference for red.  Somehow, Nate lands (literally) in a judge’s office. He is not amused.

As promised to Ashley, Nate goes to his parents’ home, Chateau Falco, to hear the reading of the Will. Except for small mentions of staff and friends, everything goes to Nate.  Nate makes it clear he doesn’t want any of it but is forced to from the grave.  How does his dad still pull the strings?

Nate celebrates his new wealth by getting drunk with Indie and Mallory, apparently the Temples’ bodyguard.  Feeling generous, he buys Gunnar a brand new Aston Martin.

Dealing with a hangover, Nate discovers that another bookstore was targeted.  Gunnar, giddy with his new wheels, and Nate take off for Illinois to investigate.  On the way, they are attacked by a pick-up truck full of gargoyles, which come alive in sinister ways.  Strange strikes again!  Arriving at the bookstore, they come upon a horrible scene of the owner crucified with silver spikes. Gunnar, who is a werewolf, stays clear of the spikes, and lets Nate take lead.

As they make their way back, the guys get attacked by a silver dragon over the Eads Bridge in St. Louis.  Nate takes a risk and uses magic to battle the dragon and force a drowning.  Unfortunately, Gunnar’s new car is destroyed.  Good news, they meet a pretty awesome cop named Tory.  All in a days’ work.  Realizing Gunnar’s position with the FBI is over, Nate offers him and Tory a job as Black Ops, their own investigative team to battle the supernatural.

Nate is banged up pretty bad but Nurse Indie comes to the rescue.  Nate approves.

Investigation continues.  Gunnar gets a new car.  The recent attacks and Nate’s parents’ murders must be connected!  Nate and Gunnar make their way to Temple Industries, Nate’s new company, to watch more video feed, this time of his parents’ murders.  Meeting Greta puts Nate in her evangelical crosshairs, but Ashley and Gunnar find it hilarious.  Video feed creates more mystery as well as the discovery of magic being used.

The investigation takes the team, Tory included, to the Eclipse Expo, where they meet Alaric Slate and his assorted employees.  Nate begins to see a pattern of all events in his recent days, including his mysterious client.  Unfortunately, Nate’s powers spike and cause more chaos among his team.  And, the mysterious lady in red who he met before his visit to the judge.

Remembering his appointment with Asterion, Nate makes his way to get the book.  The duel consists of conversation and a fight where Nate surprisingly triumphs.  He gets his prized book for his client as well as a pet unicorn named Grimm.

Back to Plato’s Cave, where he meets his friend Peter, with questions of his actions with their encounter with Raven.  Nate discovers all the lies and actions which results in the loss of a friend.  All because of Peter’s jealousy to obtain power and magic, to rival what Nate and Gunnar have naturally.

Things get really crazy at Artemis’s Garter.  Nate and Gunnar go to this strip club to meet with Nate’s client, where they are magically seduced by dragons disguised as exotic dancers.  Both Nate and Gunnar are reduced to nothing by their own desires!  Gunnar is kidnapped and Nate is left without friends and the book. Good news, the client escapes the chaos.

Nate meets his client and discovers that he is a dragon.  The book is all about obtaining the power of the eclipsing sun as the Obsidian Son, the king of all dragons. Plotting, Nate and his new dragon friend, Raego, decide to face off with Alaric to save the city and dragons everywhere.

At Alaric’s, Nate discovers that Peter is Alaric’s puppet as well as being behind the kidnapping of Gunnar AND Raego.  With help from Misha, the red dragon who is under Nate’s magical control, Nate saves the day.  Raego becomes the Obsidian Son and Alaric is killed, and Peter and many more of Alaric's supporters are frozen into obsidian statues. All is well with the world.

For now.