Chapter 31
Thanks to a quick teleport courtesy of Evergreen’s magic, Drexley arrived at his second Dérive station of the day.
This one was in a shopping complex, and Drexley had a new identification card in his pocket that served as a method of payment in the Council.
Although it was odd for Drexley to accept money from Alaric, he assured himself he was a sentinel and he would find a way of getting funds once he was adjusted to the changes in his life.
At that point, Drexley could return the money to Alaric.
Or so he hoped. In any event, Drexley was pleased that he did not have to spend Ducarius’s money.
The Skeleton Lord had earned every penny and deserved to spend it on himself.
Plus, yesterday Ducarius had paid for many items to redecorate their bedroom.
“This way,” Evergreen directed as he raced ahead into a shop. With a sigh, one of the two D’Vaire sentinels, Bridger, rushed after him.
“Imagine running in anywhere when you have sentinels with you,” Coven Lord Hadley D’Vaire remarked. “Evergreen should’ve let Bridger go into the store first.”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Victor replied. “It’s been my experience that sentinels worry a little too much.”
Drexley followed Victor into the space and wondered if he was bold enough to wear a shirt in the same vibrant pink as the one the Russian Blue cat shifter had donned that day.
It was beautiful, and Drexley loved it. But he had learned from searching through pictures the previous day that he leaned toward what Larissa had called earth tones.
Ducarius had enlisted her help for designing their space, and she had shown Drexley the pictures.
Their bedroom would be in soothing greens and browns.
It would be cottage inspired with plenty of wooden furniture, soft florals, a vintage-inspired area rug, and a checkered fabric as curtains and other accents.
Drexley could not wait for the finished result and loved that it was something he and Ducarius had designed together.
“Okay, Drexley, I think we’ll start with casual clothes since you’ve worn those already and may have some idea what you like,” Evergreen said. “Take a little spin around this area and let’s see what you’re drawn to. Bridger, can you let the sales associate know we’ll need a fitting room?”
With a nod, Bridger took off to do Evergreen’s bidding.
The druid-necromancer hybrid grinned at Drexley.
“Turns out people get really impressed by titles, so we’ll wow the staff here with a Coven Lord.
Now, let’s get to work, Drexley. I never get to play dress up with a sentinel.
Usually, I get asked for an opinion about a shirt or something for an event, then I have to listen to them bitch that they’d rather be in their uniform. ”
Victor shrugged. “Even Alaric has casual clothes.”
“Have you had to take any of his shirts to have the buttons sewn on again?” Evergreen snickered.
“It’s been a little while, but it happens occasionally,” Victor replied with a laugh. “Drexley, if you’re overwhelmed, start by thinking of one color. Narrow it down as much as possible.”
Drexley recalled that Adney’s favorite hue was green. So was Drexley’s, but he had been forbidden to wear it since it was associated with sentinels. Now that Adney was not there to stop him, Drexley wanted to be himself. And he loved green. That was why he had selected it for the new bedroom décor.
“Green,” Drexley said. He did not think of it as defying Adney. After all, it had been the necromancer’s favorite color too. So, in a way he was honoring them both.
“Of course. A sentinel that likes green. Big surprise,” Evergreen teased. “Like bright poison glow green or something different?”
“I do not know how to describe it, but Larissa mentioned I favored earth tones yesterday when we had a video call with her,” Drexley confided.
Evergreen narrowed his gray-green eyes. “Hmm, yes, I see it. Maybe a forest green plaid shirt with a pair of chinos. Let’s start there.”
“He’ll need coordinating shoes and a belt,” Victor said. “I love belts. It just finishes an outfit for me.”
Drexley’s gaze widened as Evergreen plucked a handful of hangers from a rack.
“Let’s grab plenty for you to try on,” Evergreen remarked. “Different fits. A couple of sizes. We want you to feel comfortable with everything we buy; otherwise, what’s the point?”
“That sounds like a suitable plan,” Drexley commented.
He appreciated the aid and relished the idea of finding things that suited him.
His robes had been given to him by Adney, and Drexley was never consulted about any aspect of his clothing or bedroom.
A wave of guilt swept through him. Adney had done his best to guide him, and Drexley did not dislike the necromancer for his desire to take control, but he preferred having a say.
“How is it going?” Ducarius’s voice in his head made Drexley smile. It was so like his mate to take time out of his meeting to check in. But Drexley did not want him to worry or have his attention torn from his duty.
“Very well, we are picking out things in green already. Now, leave me alone and focus on your meeting.”
“Okay, love. I will talk to you later.”
“I love you too, Ducarius.”
“Someone has a secret little smile on their face,” Evergreen said slyly as he shoved an alarming number of shirts at Bridger and told him to put them in their fitting room as soon as the sentinel returned to their little group. “Drexley, are you thinking about your handsome Duc?”
“He asked how I was doing, but I told him to stop bothering me. He is in a meeting,” Drexley revealed.
“Oh yeah, sentinels and your telepathy. Must be nice and so much quicker than a text,” Evergreen mused.
“It’s a good thing I’m not a sentinel, though, because I’d use my powers for evil.
Mate goes in to take a piss, and I’d scream real loud in his head to scare the shit out of him.
I’d be hauled in to sign a separation agreement within a week. ”
“You’re a menace,” Hadley told Evergreen.
“And a liar,” Victor added. “He’s all sassy, but I know you’re going to be a complete sweetheart to your other half. You can’t fool me, Evergreen.”
“Best friends are annoying,” Evergreen retorted. “You’re one to talk. Both of your mates are treated like kings. Thankfully, they treat you the same damn way.”
“Speaking of my men, I need to grab something special for Keegan,” Victor said.
“He was trying to work out whether he could sneak out to join us or had to attend the meeting. In the end, he decided it’d be foolish for him to miss the meeting.
No one else in the office has his expertise with the mapping software and the patience to explain it to sentinels. ”
“Victor,” Evergreen chastised with a slap to the cat shifter’s arm. “Why didn’t you tell me? We could’ve worked it out so he could’ve done both. I’m sure Drexley would have understood. Look at him. One look at those pretty brown eyes and you know he’s nice.”
“I am sorry your mate was left out,” Drexley remarked.
“Don’t worry, it’s better this way. If we would’ve done this later, Duc would’ve been pissed that I stole his mate, and Phillip would’ve been at home alone too or bored watching us try on clothes,” Victor reasoned.
“Next time we’ll choose something that works better, but Drexley, you barely have any options and every one of us wants to do whatever we can to help you adjust. We’re here for you. ”
“Thank you, Victor,” Drexley responded. “I appreciate how wonderful everyone has been to me, and I am eager to belong.”
“You do belong,” Evergreen corrected. “Don’t get it twisted, girl. You are one of us. We’re thrilled to have you. You’re a Daray and a part of the Sentinel Brotherhood. Coolest family and best bunch of guys you’ll ever meet.”
“The D’Vaires are at least tied for the coolest family,” Hadley interjected.
“Darays. D’Vaires. We’re the same family,” Victor huffed.
“Oh, hold the phone,” Evergreen crowed. “Look what I spy over there! It’s a dark forest green suit. I know we said we were doing casual stuff right now, but I think trying that on is an absolute must, Drexley.”
Drexley nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I wish to wear suits on the days Ducarius invites me to accompany him to his office. I stand out in my jeans.”
“A pair of dragonskin shoes in either Lex’s scales or Dravyn’s would probably work for Drexley,” Hadley remarked.
“Hadley, you’re a genius,” Evergreen exclaimed. “Drexley, Lex is a brown dragon and Dravyn is dark green. Thoughts?”
“Those are my favorite colors. We are designing our room in those shades,” Drexley responded. He was not sure what dragonskin shoes looked like, but he was not worried. Evergreen, Larissa, and everyone else he had met thus far had been helpful and routinely asked for his opinion on things.
“I’ll call Larissa and have her send over some pictures of shoe options from the company she uses when she shops for D’Vaires,” Hadley offered as he plucked out his phone from his pocket.
“Okay, Drexley, let’s get you in that fitting room and have you strip down to try some stuff on,” Evergreen ordered.
Drexley grinned at the exuberant hybrid. “No menacing surprises as I am changing in an attempt to see me unclothed.”
“For Fate’s sake, you’ve known me for five minutes and can already read my mind,” Evergreen replied. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Sentinels are no fun.”
“Firmly disagree,” Victor interjected.
“Ignore him; he’s mated to a sentinel,” Evergreen remarked with an absent wave of his hand.
“Evergreen, Drexley is a sentinel and he is mated to one. He shares Victor’s opinion.”
“Bridger, stop ruining my afternoon with facts,” Evergreen retorted with an aggrieved sniff.