Chapter 7 #2
“None of Adney’s books speak of the creation of the sentinels,” Drexley commented, fascinated by what he was learning.
Or perhaps it was the man staring at him so intently that was piquing his interest. Either way, Drexley knew he should be focused on the book sitting on his lap instead of talking to Ducarius or watching him summon objects from nowhere.
“It has only been since your disappearance that we learned the full story.”
The cloak Ducarius had yanked to him disappeared, and he settled into his chair again. Since Drexley had done nothing but stare intently at Ducarius from the moment he stepped into the library, he forced his gaze away, and as he took in the shelves of books a sense of disappointment filled him.
“I have taken great pride in educating myself, hoping it would prepare me for the world. It is an awful truth that Adney is dying. He will soon cross to the other side of the veil, this realm will disappear, and I must face life beyond it. We have spoken for less than an hour, and already I wonder if I have studied for nothing. These books are five hundred years out of date. The world did not stop when Adney brought me here.”
“Drexley, do not worry. Perhaps there is a reason Fate brought me to your side now. If you want someone to help you as you adjust to life somewhere besides this realm, you may count on me. You have my word as a sentinel that I will do everything I can to aid you.”
Swallowing thickly and a little undone by the sincerity in Ducarius’s voice, Drexley locked gazes with the other sentinel.
Drexley’s knowledge of matebonds was minimal, but it had been drummed into his head by books and Adney that there was no higher power than Fate.
If the goddess herself had brought Ducarius into Drexley’s life, then it would be dishonorable to dismiss her gift.
“I am overwhelmed,” Drexley murmured.
“That is understandable. You did not expect to ever have a mate, and everything in your life is about to change.”
“I do not know what I will do without Adney to guide me. For as long as I can remember, I have been at his side and learning from him.”
“You must be very close to Adney.”
“He is my necromancer. Of course we have a strong bond. You have not mentioned your necromancer. You have not been gone long, but you must be missing him or her.”
“My necromancer has been dead for nearly a millennium. I do not miss him, and I did not like him. To put it mildly, the man was evil and an asshole.”
Shocked at the vehemence in Ducarius’s voice, Drexley cleared his throat awkwardly and tried to gather his scattered wits. “I see. Well then, I suppose you need not worry about him missing you.”
“Not him, but I have a family, and I fear what lengths they have gone to since I went missing yesterday.”
“A family? Sentinels do not have families.”
“This one does,” Ducarius stated firmly. “You will like them.”
Unsure how to respond, Drexley shrugged. “I have not met them.”
“You are my mate; they will embrace you as family immediately. Have no fear about your welcome.”
Drexley remained flummoxed about matebonds, how to define his reactions to Ducarius, and what any of it meant for his future, but the other sentinel radiated nothing but confidence. For some reason, Drexley found it comforting.
“Right,” Drexley said for lack of anything better to say.
Another tiny smile graced Ducarius’s face and added to his masculine beauty. “Tell me about the book on your lap. What are you reading?”
Delighted to speak of something he could discuss without wading further into the quagmire of his thoughts and swirling emotions, Drexley grinned.
“It is about the early history of the current Arch Lich. As the first Fate-born ruler, his birth was both a surprise and celebrated. It goes into vast detail about the former Arch Liches and how they rallied together to help him build a cooperative government designed to aid him. They became instrumental as the Arch Lich grew older and focused more on enjoying pursuits suited to a young person instead of his role of ruler. Without the elders, the Order of Necromancia may have crumbled. The Arch Lich is lucky to have them.”
Raising a hand to rub his chin, Ducarius bit his lip. Then he snorted. Drexley’s mouth fell open as the stoic sentinel burst into laughter.
“What is so amusing?” Drexley asked, perplexed by Ducarius’s outburst.
“Please…” Ducarius begged through chuckles. “Please save that book. The Arch Lich would love to add it to his collection.”
“I cannot save it; Adney created it with magic. It will disappear with his realm. You also did not answer my question. Why are you laughing?”
Ducarius shook his head as he tried to contain his chuckles.
“Remind me to explain everything in the future. I do not want to overwhelm you with too much information today. You deserve to adjust to everything that has changed in five hundred years at a reasonable pace that does not completely boggle your mind.”
It was disappointing not to know what had transformed Ducarius from serious to nearly giggling, but Drexley was already dazed by the rapid changes in his life.
Ducarius was kind not to add to the growing tangle in Drexley’s mind.
In fact, the other sentinel had been nothing but pleasant since his arrival to the library.
Somehow it added to his beauty, and Drexley wasn’t sure if he was dreading or looking forward to more dreams later fueled by the man Fate had dropped into Adney’s realm. A voice from somewhere deep inside told him he already knew the answer to that and he was a fool to try lying to himself.