Chapter 30
By Monday morning, Ducarius was wondering if the Darays were planning on displaying their best manners forever.
Since Ducarius had arrived at the condo with Drexley, the entire place had been eerily quiet.
Everyone was agreeing with each other constantly.
It was creepy, and Ducarius yearned for jokes in poor taste or a stupid argument.
Next to his concern about how long the Darays would maintain their sanity with such constraints placed on them, Ducarius wondered what to do.
It was normal for him to work during the week, but he did not want to leave Drexley alone to entertain himself.
Even though he was irritated that he had no plan and pissed that other sentinels had to carry the burden of his workload for longer, Ducarius would allow none of his concerns to touch Drexley.
His mate walked out of the bathroom, and Drexley slapped a smile on his face.
Drexley frowned. “What is bothering you?”
“I have not planned well, that is all. Should we go downstairs and get some breakfast?”
“Yes.”
After grabbing Drexley’s hand, Ducarius opened their bedroom door and grinned. Below him were the sounds of bickering Darays. Unfortunately, they quieted immediately when they spotted Ducarius leading Drexley down the open staircase to the combined living and eating area of their home.
“Can you make them stop?” Drexley asked through their mindlink.
Ducarius pulled out Drexley’s chair, then took a seat next to him. Drexley’s request confused him; the Darays were quiet and already passing dishes around so they could fill their bellies.
“Stop what, love?”
“Conversations cease the moment I walk into a room. You mentioned they were trying to make me comfortable on Saturday by being quieter than usual. But it is now Monday. I want to know them as they are, and I hate that they are not being themselves in their own home.”
“I will fix it,” Ducarius replied, relieved at Drexley’s request. He wanted his family normal too, and it pleased him that Drexley was ready to befriend them. Each Daray wanted to include Drexley and would ensure he had what he needed.
“Chand. Drexley wants to get to know the Darays. Make them end this best behavior nonsense.”
Chander grinned. “Are you sure, Drexley? They’re really annoying.”
“Like he’s not,” Baxter muttered.
“Drexley, how do you feel about spelling words at the table?” Vellerynd asked. “Personally, I believe it is rude. If it makes you uncomfortable, I suggest it be banned forever.”
“N-i-c-e try,” Baxter retorted. “But we’re Darays, and there are no rules here.”
“That’s not true,” Cassius argued. “If it were, no one would clean up after themselves, and Victor would quit because he’d get tired of cleaning up everyone’s shit.”
“He has two mates to help him pick up shit,” Baxter said, waving his fork toward Keegan and Phillip. “Plus, he’s a Daray, we’re his family. Where would he go if he quit? No way he’d want to leave us.”
Teverild scowled. “He’s a Daray. If he ever decides that he wants to stop being the housekeeper, he’s not leaving. This is his home.”
“Teverild is correct,” Alaric said. He flicked his gaze to the two goblins sitting at their tiny table on the island. “Rogue. Pizza. The more syrup you drop, the bigger mess you will have to clean. Do not leave it for Victor.”
Pizza chattered loudly and pointed his fork at Rogue. The other small goblin bent his head and crossed his arms over his T-shirt.
“Should I even ask who gave them so much fucking syrup?” Chander asked.
The table went quiet, and Ducarius rolled his eyes, but he was far from annoyed. It was wonderful for the chaos of the Daray household to be alive and well again.
Arvandus grinned. “Drexley, are you sure you still want everyone being themselves?”
“I fear I may have a previously undiscovered deviant portion of my mind because this is the most I have enjoyed a meal since our arrival,” Drexley said, returning the Venerable Knight’s smile.
Delighted with Drexley’s embrace of normal Daray bedlam, Ducarius patted his mate’s thigh and kissed his cheek.
“Duc, are you going to work today?” Eduard asked.
Everyone turned to look at Ducarius, but he was not sure how to answer.
He was eager to resume his duties, but he did not want to leave Drexley with nothing to do with his day.
Nor was he comfortable with Drexley wandering around the Council alone.
Drexley was a sentinel. But he did not carry weapons, and their world was a dangerous place.
“You want to return,” Drexley stated. “If it is what you want, then I want you to go.”
“There’s a couch in Duc’s office,” Orpheus pointed out. “Could be a great spot to curl up with a book while Duc learns about all the updates Keegan has made to our mapping software.”
Ducarius could not believe he had not thought of that and was grateful for Orpheus’s suggestion. Although his eagerness for the day was tempered by the thought of using the mapping software. It was not easy to use, and Ducarius tried to avoid it as much as possible.
“Would you mind if I read in your office?” Drexley asked.
“I would love that.”
“I’ll be down the hall this afternoon if you need any new recommendations or books,” Chander offered.
“Not for long; you have three meetings,” Benton said.
“I won’t be around much to offer recommendations after all, but Alaric will be in there, so you’ll have access to my shelves. Grab whatever you want.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I thought to tackle the Council primer Ducarius fetched for me,” Drexley said. “That is if I finish the other tomes you gave me from your private library. I fear it may be centuries before I must search long to find something interesting.”
Chander winked. “Even longer than that if we’re both lucky.”
Since he had finished his breakfast, Ducarius scooted his chair back. “I need to change into my formal uniform. Drexley, take your time, I will return shortly.”
Drexley glanced up at him. “Do I require different attire?”
“No, you are free to wear whatever you want.”
“But we seriously need to expand your wardrobe,” Victor said. “I can help you pick out some things if you want. You’ll meet Evergreen at the office; he’s another great fashion resource. We pick out Chand’s suits.”
“Thank you, I have no notion of what is fashionable today, and I want to be prepared for anything if I can manage it. What about coin? How do I acquire some?”
Ducarius scowled. “You do not have to worry about money. I have plenty.”
“Take Drexley to the Order of the Fallen Knights and have his identification card crafted,” Alaric ordered. “Drexley is a sentinel, and I will have funds added to his card so he can purchase his own things. Every sentinel should have the freedom to spend as they wish.”
“Can I argue that I have done nothing to earn these coins?” Drexley asked Ducarius privately.
“You can, but it will do you no good,” Ducarius replied. “Every sentinel was given money from the moment they left the compound. We were given large grants when we joined the Council. Alaric ensures it is both distributed fairly and grows so we will not want for anything in the future.”
A myriad of emotions crossed Drexley’s face, and Ducarius sensed his innate resistance to Alaric’s generosity along with his desire to be kind to the Lich Sentinel. But it was pointless to argue with Alaric about financial matters, and Ducarius was happy Drexley had independence.
“Thank you,” Drexley eventually said to Alaric.
The Lich Sentinel grinned. “I appreciate that you did not protest. Some sentinels can be annoying, and I will not relent about this.”
“I want to argue so badly that all sentinels are annoying, but I like Drexley and have no wish to alienate him,” Vellerynd stated.
Ignoring the chaos that was soon to erupt, Ducarius raced upstairs to switch from his casual gray uniform to the glorious one Larissa had designed for the Sentinel Brotherhood.
Thanks to the unparalleled speed granted to sentinels, moments later he was securing the bone-white sash at his waist. His daggers soon floated at his sides again, and he left the bedroom.
Ducarius sensed Drexley’s approval of his attire before he caught his mate’s awestruck face.
“I know the other men at the table are dressed similarly, but it is far sexier on you,” Drexley told Ducarius.
“Sexier? When did you learn about that word?”
“On the television. I used my phone, as you taught me, to search it on the Internet. It suits you.”
“Not as well as you do.”
“Ducarius,” Cassius shouted.
Glaring at the interruption, Ducarius wrapped a hand around the hilt of one dagger and wished he could immediately hack away at the other Skeleton Lord.
But there were rules in the household, and he did not want to invite Chander or Victor’s ire by breaking them.
Ducarius could fight Cassius later in a sanctioned gym space at the sentinel complex.
“What do you want, and why are you yelling at me?” Ducarius demanded.
“I called your name several times, and you ignored me,” Cassius retorted.
“He was looking at Drexley,” Baxter pointed out. “They were probably using their mindlink to talk. You should know better than to interrupt mates.”
Cassius slammed his fork onto his plate. “I forgot. Duc and Drexley haven’t been home that long, and I didn’t get the sentinel mate superpowers. Sorry, I didn’t immediately think that they were talking. I wouldn’t have interrupted them if I’d heard them.”
With an epic eyeroll, Chander stood with his plate in his hand. His gaze narrowed as Alaric snatched it from his grasp and took it into the kitchen. “Is it too much to ask to have everyone on their best behavior for the next century?”
“Yes,” Albrecht answered immediately. “The awkward silences are annoying.”
“Cass, did you have a point in interrupting me?” Ducarius asked.
“Yes, I was wondering if you wanted us to have a meeting this morning?” Cassius asked. “We could call Gavrael and Gedeon and get you caught up on what you missed.”
“Let’s have that after lunch. I’d like to be there,” Alaric decided. “Grymmie, can you and the reapers attend?”
Lich Reaper Grymington D’Vaire-Daray, the ruler of the three-man race of reapers, nodded. “Yes.”
Thankful that Drexley had eaten everything on his plate, Ducarius took both of their dishes and patiently waited for his turn to slide everything into the dishwasher.
Ducarius returned to Drexley’s side and took his hand once his mate was on his feet.
With his small dog, Princess, at his heels, Brynnius walked over with his phone in his hand.
“I have a picture of the closest Dérive station you can use to teleport, Drexley,” Brynnius offered.
Grateful for Brynnius’s help, both Ducarius and Drexley thanked the Skeleton Lord.
Darays were soon popping out of the room to start their workdays, and Ducarius urged Drexley to leave before him.
A second after Drexley disappeared, Ducarius followed him, and they walked to the headquarters of the Sentinel Brotherhood.
“I am underdressed,” Drexley complained as they milled through many different people ambling to their jobs. “Everyone looks beautiful.”
“If you want to wear a suit or something similar to the others, Victor and Evergreen can help you.”
“The only thing more impressive than the clothes is the wondrous way everything is built.”
Loving the awe in Drexley’s voice, Ducarius smiled at him.
They were soon at the doors of the Sentinel Brotherhood, and Drexley’s gaze was wide as he took in the glass windows displaying a perfect view of the massive round table they used for meetings.
Ducarius led him inside, and they were confronted by a large reception desk.
And a druid-necromancer hybrid wearing an enormous grin while the sentinel formerly tied to his soul rolled his eyes at his side.
“Duc, I already knew you were a lucky bitch, and that was before I saw your mate,” Evergreen exclaimed. “Why didn’t anyone ever mention that sentinels could rock facial hair? Drexley, love the goatee.”
“I wanted to ask about it, but Duc told us we had to be on our best behavior,” Cassius complained as he slunk up the open staircase to his office.
“My former necromancer encouraged me to grow a beard, but that was impossible,” Drexley remarked. “I am glad I was able to offer this compromise.”
“Victor told me you need clothes,” Evergreen said. “And the sentinels will be in their meeting all afternoon because they’re gossiping queens. Drexley, what if you, me, and Victor sneak off to do some shopping?”
“An excellent notion if the idea pleases you,” Ducarius told Drexley. “I fear our meeting will be long given how much information I want to learn.”
“You would miss work,” Drexley commented to Evergreen. “I do not wish to put your job at risk.”
“We cannot live without Evergreen or Dudley,” Ducarius said. “Their jobs are the most secure in the building. They are to our office what Victor is to our home. Evergreen would also enjoy a shopping trip with you, so of course he should accompany you.”
“What about safety?” asked Dudley Tenebri, Evergreen’s roommate and best friend.
Evergreen gave an absent wave of his hand. “We’ll be fine. It’s shopping. Relax.”
Ducarius tugged his phone out of his pocket. “I will text the Coven Lords. If they are not busy, they could accompany you.”
“Coven Lords?” Drexley asked.
“Sentinels,” Evergreen answered. “Hadley and Bridger. They’re D’Vaires. Family. And they haven’t met you yet, so they’ll jump at the chance to join us. At least they’re fun.”
If Hadley and Bridger were not available, Ducarius would text every sentinel in their brotherhood until he found one who had a free afternoon, because there was no way his unarmed mate was going anywhere without protection.