Chapter 27
The last thing Ducarius wanted was to rush Drexley.
His mate was holding himself together, but barely.
Next to them, the pyre Drexley had lit was burning steadily.
Ducarius had silently said his own farewell to Adney, but things were not so simple for Drexley.
Their connection gave Ducarius a front-row ticket to Drexley’s immense grief.
And Ducarius yearned for a way to heal him. But that would take time.
Ducarius idly wondered how long they had been standing outside as Adney’s symbolic pyre burned. It was annoying to be so preoccupied with how many minutes had passed, but Ducarius could not help it. The D’Vaires were family, which meant they had been thrilled to see him.
News of a family member reappearing in their lives after being missing for several weeks was bound to spread like wildfire.
As Ducarius held Drexley close and rubbed his back, he wondered if the condo in Vegas was filling with Darays hurrying home to herald his return.
Along with the joy, Ducarius knew questions would be asked.
No Daray would be satisfied until Ducarius answered all their queries. While he was happy to fill them in, he wanted to speak to Alaric and Chander privately. Ducarius wanted them to know about Drexley’s memory gaps so they would be prepared for the future.
It had been Ducarius’s experience that every sentinel who’d been stripped of recollections regained them. Ducarius was not sure yet what would be revealed, but he wanted to ensure every Daray was ready to be a shoulder for Drexley to lean on.
“What is wrong?” Drexley asked.
“Idle concerns. Nothing important. Right now, I want you to focus on your feelings.”
“I am going to be fine. It may take some time, but Adney would not accept me wallowing about anything, including his own death.”
“You are strong, and you have your memories of Adney to steady you.”
Drexley lifted his head from Ducarius’s shoulder and brushed their lips together. “And a mate who loves me.”
“Indeed, you do.”
“Where do we go from here, Ducarius? Do we wait for the pyre to burn, or can we return to your family? They have waited too long to be with you already. I have said my goodbyes to Adney. I doubt my tears are done for the day, but I suppose that is to be expected.”
“Of course it is, love. Your grief cannot be swept away in an instant.”
“Should we get the stone the Grand Warlock provided and return to your home?”
“Are you sure you want to leave?”
Drexley’s jaw flexed, and he swallowed thickly.
His gaze was little more than the raw pain in his heart.
But there was determination there too. It would have to be enough to get him through the massive adjustments necessary for him to make now that they had no choice but to leave Adney’s realm behind.
“Yes. I am sure.”
Taking Drexley at his word and reassured by the resolve he sensed, Ducarius pressed their lips together in a tender kiss.
Offering Drexley a smile, he pulled away, took his hand, and led him to the gazebo named for the Grand Warlock.
The stone rested on the cushion closest to the entrance.
Ducarius grabbed it and held it out to Drexley.
“Just like the first one,” Ducarius coaxed. He tugged his hood over his head again. “When you are ready, rub your thumb across the dragon.”
“What about the fire? Is it not dangerous to leave it burning?”
“Have no fear. The house is full of D’Vaires, and I imagine most of them are staring out at us because they are nosy. Once we leave, they will ensure it is taken care of.”
Nodding, Drexley exhaled slowly and lifted his arm.
Ducarius closed his eyes as the ground dissolved beneath his feet.
Excitement coursed through him. He was delighted to soon be with his family again and knew they would adore Drexley in short order.
The second the smooth floor of his bedroom was under his boots, Ducarius whipped off his cloak and used his little magical ability to shove it into his closet.
“I am sorry this room is so ugly,” Ducarius said as Drexley’s sad gaze surveyed the gray monstrosity. “We will redesign it immediately. Do not worry that we lack the ability; there are several Darays and D’Vaires who can aid us. Do you wish to splash some water on your face?”
“That would be refreshing. This is far more modern than I had pictured. I am at a loss as to how to proceed. It is foolish, but I wish I had a change of clothing. Though I suppose I should be happy what I have on was brought from Adney’s former home and was not crafted with magic or I would have arrived naked.
Now I know firsthand how unprepared you were to find yourself in a new realm. ”
Ducarius ushered Drexley into the bathroom and quickly gave him a rundown on how the plumbing worked. With wide eyes, Drexley cleansed his tear-stained face.
“Would you like to borrow some clothing? I have some non-uniform things I have collected through the years. They should fit you well.”
Drexley opened his mouth to answer, but someone banged heavily on the door to the bedroom they now shared.
It was unnecessary to open it to figure out who was demanding entry.
Ducarius’s senses told him that every Daray was in the condo.
He would not be surprised if all twenty-seven people, pets, and goblins were standing in the hallway.
“Ignore them,” Ducarius said. “Should I get you something to wear, or would you prefer to stay in your robes? We could have more made. The D’Vaires have a talented seamstress.”
“I—”
“Duc,” Alaric shouted. Another booming knock made Ducarius grit his teeth.
“Wait a minute,” Ducarius yelled at his beloved family. Although he was eager for a reunion, Drexley’s needs came first.
Drexley’s eyes widened. “Fate-chosen. I can feel it. Just like the Grand Warlock and the High Kings. Adney was wrong; Alaric is the Lich Sentinel.”
“I mentioned that Alaric was the Lich Sentinel.”
“Ducarius, open this damn door,” Chander hollered.
“And that would be the Arch Lich. Do you want clothes?” Ducarius asked, annoyed at his family’s impatience. If they would allow Drexley to answer the damn question, he could let them into the room.
“Clothes?”
“Do you want to change into something else?” Ducarius shouted over the door banging.
“You have two seconds to open this door, or I am using magic to blow it the fuck open,” Chander threatened.
“I will get you some jeans,” Ducarius told his mate as he hauled ass out of the bathroom and shut Drexley inside it. He rushed to his dresser and opened the one drawer that did not hold uniforms. He grabbed all the jeans and T-shirts out of it, then added socks and underwear to the pile.
“Duc,” Alaric demanded. “Chand is not joking.”
“One second,” Ducarius gritted out between his teeth as he yanked open his closet to grab a pair of sneakers he had tried on once but hated. He opened the bathroom door and shoved it all into the arms of his startled mate.
“Spell incoming,” Chander threatened.
Ducarius teleported to the door and whipped it open. Before he could blink, he was in Alaric’s embrace. Chander’s arms went around him next. Ducarius took a calming breath. He was finally home.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Chander demanded.
“Drexley,” Alaric whispered almost reverently. “You found him. He is your mate.”
“Wow, Duc, way to get mated without us,” Baxter griped.
“I can explain everything, but I fear it cannot be summed up in a few sentences,” Ducarius explained as Baxter tugged on his arm and pulled him away from Chander and Alaric so he and Benton could hug him.
“And Drexley is going through a great deal right now. He will need our support. Be kind and understanding.”
“We are sentinels,” Cassius remarked. “We are always kind and understanding.”
“You are kind and understanding,” Cassius’s mate, Teverild, retorted. He waved one tattooed arm around to encompass the other sentinel Darays. “The rest of these guys aren’t. Not consistently. Well, except for Brynn. He’s the nicest one of you, let’s be honest.”
“I’m nice,” Baxter argued.
“But more annoying than understanding,” Arvandus commented.
Ducarius didn’t know what was wrong with him, but it was damn good to hear their bickering.
It was so typical of his family to tease each other.
So, he let their conversation seep into him as each of them took turns embracing him.
Only an hour or two at most had passed since he left Adney’s realm, but being in the Daray condo made his time there surreal.
If he could not feel his matebond or Drexley’s fear and sadness, he would almost be convinced the past few weeks had been a fever dream.
The bathroom door opened, and Drexley stood there in a T-shirt with the same drawing of the Skeleton Seven that lived on Ducarius’s shoulder.
He’d paired it with a pair of dark jeans, and they showed off his muscular physique to perfection.
But it was odd. Ducarius was so used to Drexley being in a sorcerer’s robe.
Ducarius was also unaccustomed to all the terror in Drexley’s lovely gaze. Holding out a hand, he offered Drexley a reassuring smile.
“Would you like me to introduce you to everyone?”
Hustling over to Ducarius’s side, Drexley clung to his arm as Ducarius painstaking went through the titles and names of every Daray crammed into the hall.
Victor clapped his hands together. “Everyone, come downstairs. Brynn, maybe you and Sam could grab some sweets for everyone? We can take a seat in the living room. Would anyone like to help me grab drinks?”
“How are you holding up?” Ducarius asked Drexley through their mindlink as Darays immediately followed Victor’s orders and funneled down the stairs to the living area.
“I am happy you are with your family again.”
Ducarius didn’t budge or follow the rest of the Darays. He wasn’t going anywhere until he was sure his other half was okay. “But how are you doing?”
“Overwhelmed.”