Friday arrived and Fenner couldn’t stop fiddling with his fingers out of anxiety. Fuckin hell didn’t realise I’d spend my 18th full of nerves, he thought to himself as he waited anxiously for the last remaining Nahreon members to file into their back garden. They were actually all surrounding him in a circle and he was now certain this was a cult.

He couldn’t tell if he should be scared or laugh at how creepy this looked, when his mother came up to him. “Darling you look terrified, what’s wrong?” Fenner glared at her, despite knowing this wasn’t exactly her fault. “This is literally a CULT!” He whisper shouted at her. She chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. “It isn’t sweetie; and anyway the Nahreon have been around since before cults existed, we’re an ancient people.”

Fenner rolled his eyes, running a hand through his hair. “Can we please get this over before I decide I’d be safer to run and not look back,” Margaret slapped his arm gently, scowling at him as she tried to keep the corners of her mouth from twitching upwards. “You’re such a silly boy.” Margaret turned to the circle surrounding them, announcing that it was time to begin the ceremony.

She walked to the people closest to her, and held their hands, as everyone followed suit and held hands with the people either side of them, all closing their eyes at the same time. The actual fuck, how did they do that in sync?! Fenner fought the urge to run, his fight or flight reacting to his nerves. After a beat, Fenner’s thoughts and anxieties were chased away.

He felt light.

Warm.

Safe.

He realised his eyes were closed, but he didn’t remember closing them. He could feel his blood flowing through his veins, but it felt comforting; as were the many heartbeats he could hear coming from the people around him, all in sync as one. Oh, Fenner thought. This is what mum meant when she talked about us all having the same blood.

He felt like he could feel the other Nahreon member’s prayers for safety and happiness coursing through him; a feeling he could barely comprehend in the moment, let alone explain, even though he did try to to Albion after.

Eventually his eyes snapped open, and each member individually held his hands, speaking to him kindly and wishing for his prosperity. After a few hours, everyone had left but Fenner remained standing in the circle. “Surprised it isn’t some creepy cult thing?” Margaret asked. Fenner blinked a couple of times at her. “Yeah.”

He leaned his head on her shoulder, “why did it feel like that? It was really…comforting.” His mother patted his head lovingly. “We’re all a family, my sweet. Even more than just a blood bond, it’s…like a promise.” She stroked his head calmly. “A promise to always protect, accept and love each other.”

Margaret smiled down at him. “You’re officially one of us now; you’ll have to come to these events in the future. They all tend to be similar to this one, and happen fairly rarely. I won’t make you come to the boring ones,” she said with a giggle. Fenner nodded, then felt his pocket vibrate. Albion had texted him to let him know he was here.

A small grin spread across his face as he let his boyfriend in, giving him a quick peck on the lips before his mother arrived to greet the other boy. “So 18 now, huh? An old man,” Albion said as he dug his elbow into Fenner’s side. The latter merely rolled his eyes, a slight grin tugging at his lips.

After they all had dinner, Fenner hugged his parents goodbye before flopping onto his bed, groaning in exhaustion. “Was it as cult-y as you thought it was gonna be?” Albion asked, rubbing circles into his boyfriend’s back soothingly. “Nah. It was…really nice.” Albion grinned. “See? I said it’d be nice,” though in reality, he had totally thought his boyfriend was going to be part of a cult after tonight.

“Can’t even explain it, it was like…my blood was all flow-y and like warm.” Albion giggled brightly. “Babe I’m pretty sure that’s how human bodies work.” Fenner rolled on to his side, just so he could roll his eyes. “Obviously I don’t mean like that, I mean like…” he made vague hand gestures, eliciting more giggles from Albion before eventually giving up.

“It felt really special and nice, ok?!” Albion nodded vigorously, as he tried to contain his giggles. “I’m really glad though; and it’s nice that you’re able to connect more with the Nahreon as well.” Fenner nodded, shifting to lay on his back to stare at the ceiling. “It’s kind of weird though, like I vaguely knew of their existence, like my mum mentioned it in passing, but it’s so different to actually meet them and now…be a part of that too.”

Albion smiled, lying down next to him, taking Fenner’s hand in his. “But you’re happy to be a part of them now?”

“Yeah. It’s like another family. I just wish they didn’t have to all forget me eventually.”

“You’re breaking the curse though?” Fenner sighed. “Yeah but I have no clue how long it’ll take or even if that’s what this is.” Albion gave his hand a small squeeze. “Let’s hope it is.” Fenner nodded, feeling anxious again at the thought of being stuck with the curse forever, as his ancestors had been. Albion looked at him, thinking of some way to cheer his boyfriend up.

“Ah!” Albion said, springing up. “Your birthday present!” Fenner sat up onto his elbows as Albion dug through his bag, pulling out a small box. He blushed slightly before passing it over. Fenner cocked a brow in curiosity, before opening it. Inside were two matching woven leather bracelets. “Um I wasn’t sure what to get you, so in the end I made us um…matching bracelets.”

Albion covered his face with his hands in embarrassment, slowly parting his fingers to peer at his boyfriend’s reaction. Before Albion had time to properly gauge his reaction, Fenner had pulled him into his lap, hugging him tightly as he rested his head on Albion’s shoulder. “I love them, thank you so much. Can’t believe I have such a talented boyfriend,” Fenner smirked as he kissed his neck gently.

“I’m glad you like it,” Albion said, blush increasing.