Chapter 16
At the end of the morning meal the next day, Drexley rushed to the library with a blanket.
Adney was already in the room and settled in his favorite chair near the window.
Despite the fire roaring in the fireplace nearby, Adney often grew cold.
So, Drexley was happy to aid him by fetching his favored cover and ensuring it was laid over him as he preferred.
“You may leave me now,” Adney said once he was satisfied with Drexley’s efforts.
Pleased Adney could relax and enjoy his chosen book, Drexley smiled and left him to join Ducarius on the other side of the massive space.
Since the previous morning, Adney had voiced no further objections to Drexley’s matebond.
Although Drexley was not optimistic enough to believe the necromancer no longer disapproved, he hoped Adney was not stressing himself about it.
It would likely take time, but Adney would understand that Drexley was not turning his back on Fate. Nor was he willing to reject Ducarius.
“Do you know that until I arrived here, I had never read a romantic tale?” Ducarius asked conversationally as Drexley sat in his now-usual spot across from the other sentinel. “Now I fear I am growing addicted to them, and that is entirely your fault.”
“I happily take responsibility. I fancy a romantic book myself and am happy to share such an interest with you.”
Ducarius glanced at Adney, then his gaze locked on Drexley’s face. “Would you take a walk with me?”
“Yes, of course.”
Drexley’s intention to lose himself in a story dissolved instantly.
Being with Ducarius was far more enticing than any tale, so he happily left the confines of the library with the other sentinel at his side.
After ensuring the tall doors leading into the vast room were tightly shut to ensure no chill invaded the space to harm Adney, Drexley smiled at Ducarius.
“Did you have a destination in mind?”
“The sun is out; would you like to walk outside?”
Drexley nodded. “That sounds nice.”
“Take my hand,” Ducarius suggested and held his palm out.
His grin growing, Drexley laced his fingers with Ducarius’s. That spark of electricity Drexley recalled from the last time they touched zinged through him. Along with the attraction was a lovely sense of comfort.
“I like holding your hand,” Drexley remarked as they walked side-by-side to the front door of the castle.
“It is wonderful. I look forward to touching more of you someday.”
“You are forward,” Drexley said, his gaze sliding to Ducarius’s handsome face to find the other sentinel smirking. “I enjoy that about you.”
“No matter what anyone thinks or says, I believe we are doing marvelously in our matebond.”
Drexley bobbed his head. “Adney objects because he worries about me. I know he is vocal about his belief that we have no common interests because I am a scholar and you are dedicated to protecting people with your weapons at your sides. But I have begun to wonder if he would have an issue no matter what mate Fate dropped into his realm. He is a man who prefers to control things. That is why he grows so cross as his magic is fading. You should have seen this place a decade ago. We had an army of skeletons, and his land was extensive. Now look at it.”
Neither man spoke as they surveyed the broken, blackened ground left surrounding the castle. In some places there was barely enough for two grown men to pass, and even in spots where the terrain was wider, it was cracked and likely weak.
“I may have to move indoors soon to train,” Ducarius commented. “Yesterday, the patch of grass I was using crumbled away. I had to get creative last night so I did not bounce off the edge of the realm. If it were not for Adney’s spell keeping us here, I might have fallen off.”
Drexley blew out a shaky breath as a horrible vision of himself tumbling out of Adney’s realm filled his mind. “How do you think that works? When…when Adney dies…and this place goes with him, what will happen next?”
“Look at me,” Ducarius ordered as he tugged on Drexley’s hand and came to a standstill.
Drexley’s chin was quivering as he tried to keep his tears at bay, and he wondered why he had allowed any aspect of his future to filter into his brain.
It was terrifying, and he hated being scared.
Strong fingers caressed his jaw and gently turned his head.
Drexley’s gaze locked with Ducarius’s. Compassion, kindness, and strength blazed in Ducarius’s brown eyes.
“I do not know what will happen,” Ducarius said. “But whatever the future brings, you will be okay. You are strong and intelligent, and you will survive. And I will be there at your side.”
“Do you know what scares me most?”
“Tell me.”
“I have a terrible memory. Even important moments slip away. I cannot recall meeting Adney or arriving here. Those were significant milestones, but I do not have a shadow of a memory of those days. The compound I lived in for a millennium and a half, I can barely summon an image of it any longer. What if I retain nothing of Adney eventually? Someday I may lose these five centuries too. Adney deserves better than to be forgotten. That is one of the reasons I fear the future so greatly. Building anew means throwing away the old. Are all sentinels plagued in this way? Was this a flaw in our spell?”
To Drexley’s surprise, Ducarius’s jaw flexed, and a sound escaped him that resembled a growl.
“Necromancers five centuries ago knew little about sentinels and less about the compound we called home, which is why there are no books explaining our people in Adney’s library.
We were put there for a reason. The necromancers did not ask for us and did not want us in their lives.
Some were scared. Others were angry. To silence their complaints, a magical prison was crafted.
We lived there for twenty years without a leader or anyone who cared where we had gone. ”
“I thought Alaric was our leader.”
“Fate chose him, but not until he was resurrected. That was twenty years after our creation. One of the men I told you about, who was abused so horribly that he became a skeleton, ended the life of his bitch necromancer. He was the first sentinel. Domitia’s assassin.
His name is Albrecht. His mate, Arvandus, was Faustus’s sentinel.
The former Arch Liches were pissed to discover that Albrecht and Arvandus were chosen by Fate.
They objected to two men being together.
In front of Albrecht, they beheaded Arvandus with his own dagger.
Their ability to order us around kept both Arvandus and Albrecht still during the tragedy. ”
Drexley was aghast at Ducarius’s tale. “The black poison. The same one that floats at the bottom of your blades.”
“An innate part of your spell that you cannot forget no matter how much time has passed. Yes, the black poison allowed Domitia and Faustus to kill Arvandus.”
“How many sentinels were murdered in such an awful fashion?”
“Just one. After Albrecht ended Domitia’s life, Le’Terrius swept in to aid the necromancers.
He hid Albrecht in the compound, and a group of sorcerers resurrected a leader for us.
They asked Fate to choose a worthy soul, and she did.
Then they wrapped Alaric’s mind in a spell that did not allow him to see to his own needs.
Instead, Alaric’s existence was ruled by his unrelenting quest to care for us.
To ensure the tale of Albrecht never left the compound, Le’Terrius changed the compound so that it slowly, insidiously tore away our memories.
It was something we could not detect, and we did not understand what was happening until it stopped.
But once we left, every memory we lost was returned to us. ”
“Poor Albrecht. To lose his mate in such a way. No resurrected being can be permanently brought to life twice. I read that in several books. I am sure of it. To have eternity without his Arvandus. My heart aches for him. Do you know him? Is he well enough, or did the heartache drive him mad? I could understand if it did.”
Ducarius smiled and reached up to caress Drexley’s cheek. “You have such kindness in you. There is one necromancer who can do the impossible. Adney’s Arch Lich resurrected Arvandus as a fallen knight. I know every sentinel, but I call Albrecht and Arvandus family. They are happy, I can assure you.”
Delighted that Ducarius was still touching him, Drexley rested his palm against the back of Ducarius’s hand. The other sentinel dragged his thumb across Drexley’s short goatee.
“The Arch Lich sounds as if he is more powerful and wonderful than Adney believes. I am thrilled to learn that Albrecht and Arvandus were reunited. Someday you must tell me how they became family to you. You must miss them.”
“I do. My family was the most important thing in my life. Now, they are tucked safely in second place. It would be remiss of me not to treasure my mate above everyone else.”
“I have had such luck in my life. That is what I am beginning to understand. Unlike many sentinels, I have had a joyful bond with my necromancer. And now Fate has brought you to my side. We have not known each other long, but already I feel at peace with you. I cannot explain it.”
“You do not have to; I understand. Before we met, I scoffed at the idea of meeting someone and immediately finding comfort in their presence. I believed when others professed anything similar in regard to their mates that they were being fanciful. Now I know they were being honest.”
Drexley was not sure what possessed him, but he leaned forward and softly brushed his lips against Ducarius’s. Jerking his head back, Drexley’s eyes widened.
“I apologize, I cannot imagine what came over me. I—”
“Shut up, Drexley,” Ducarius demanded. His hand moved from Drexley’s cheek to his nape, and he dragged him close.
Their mouths met, and Drexley’s mind emptied completely.
Every ounce of tension in his body dissolved, and he wrapped his arms around Ducarius.
Ducarius’s lips were soft but firm. A muscular arm banded at his waist tugged Drexley even tighter against Ducarius.
A moan escaped Drexley as Ducarius’s tongue demanded entry. The other sentinel kissed as if it were a battle he intended to win. His taste was somehow both sweet and tart. It was everything Drexley had imagined as he stroked himself at night. But reality was far more intense than any fantasy.
Drexley’s shaft hardened. It should have embarrassed him as he imagined Ducarius could not fail to notice.
But Drexley was too lost in the passion Ducarius was so thoroughly stirring to have any room for awkwardness.
Plus, as Drexley wriggled in Ducarius’s embrace to gain a bit of friction, he learned he was not alone.
Although Ducarius’s pants were roomy, they could disguise nothing with them pressed so intimately together. Like Drexley, the other sentinel was aroused. That realization did nothing to quell the fire building inside Drexley.
It stirred his desire instead.
To Drexley’s disgust, Ducarius ended the caress. He gently pressed a soft kiss to Drexley’s throbbing lips.
“I apologize, I did not intend to get so carried away,” Ducarius whispered.
“That was wonderful.”
“Agreed.”
“I hope you have no objection to doing that often.”
“None at all.”
Drexley grinned at Ducarius. “I do not know how we went from speaking of horrible tragedies to kissing fervently in what is left of Adney’s garden, but I am glad to know what passion feels like.”
“It is not the first time I have thought about being so close to you.”
“I guess you did not require my apology for being so bold.”
“You may take your apology and keep it forever. I do not want it.”
“But you do want me?”
“Desperately, but our friendship is of equal importance to me.”
“Your words so often soothe me,” Drexley confessed as he gave Ducarius a little squeeze.
Thankfully, his erection was abating despite his desire to spend the rest of the day in Ducarius’s arms. But Ducarius was right.
Every aspect of their relationship mattered.
“I enjoy our growing bond but hope discovering what you look like outside of your uniform is not too far off.”
“Do not despair. We will explore each other thoroughly and soon.”
“Good, I look forward to learning about this underwear you mentioned.”
“I like the way your mustache and goatee feel on my skin as we kiss.”
“Oh, I did not think about that. I hope it was not too scratchy.”
“I have zero complaints about kissing you, Drexley.”
Drexley smiled as Ducarius sealed his words with another brush of their lips. “I believe you.”
“Wonderful. Now, let go of me so my dick will settle down.”
Although Drexley was reluctant to give up being pressed against Ducarius, he chuckled and took a step back. Ducarius reached out and laced their fingers again.
“Should we continue our walk?” Ducarius asked.
“Only if you promise to give me another kiss before we go into the castle.”
“My mouth is yours whenever you want it.”
“That is nice of you, but I will require your tongue as well.”
“You are a fierce negotiator. However, I happily accept your terms.”
“Ducarius, I am so grateful Fate brought you here to me.”
The other sentinel bussed Drexley’s cheek, and he sighed happily. “I am honored Fate believes me worthy of you, Drexley.”
Overwhelmed and with his heart spilling over, Drexley could do nothing but offer a nod and a smile to Ducarius.
So many aspects of Drexley’s life were soon to fall apart or change, but he suddenly had a matebond.
One that had created a growing spark of joy inside him.
Ducarius was a gift, and Drexley silently thanked Fate for him.