Chapter 32
Withholding anything from Drexley was not something Ducarius relished, but he refused to interfere in the other sentinel’s memories.
Nearly every morning, Drexley woke with dread, guilt, and confusion.
The past was quickly catching up with him, though Drexley was not yet convinced they were memories.
They remained fragmented, and Drexley struggled to make sense of them. Ducarius listened to him patiently without judgement, and Drexley penned each one to paper. Eventually they would connect as Ducarius’s recollections had after the spell sapping the compound was removed.
Ducarius would be at Drexley’s side to hold him close and offer whatever he needed throughout the entire process. Although Ducarius did not know exactly what Drexley had experienced, he had theories, and Adney played the villain in each. But Ducarius was keeping that to himself.
At least Drexley had good things to focus on as he dealt with his grief.
Their new bedroom was complete, and Drexley had glowed with satisfaction as they viewed the beautiful changes.
Ducarius doubted anyone else had anything as wonderful as what they’d chosen together, and since they were headed to D’Vaire for the weekend, he intended to work with Drexley again to redesign their permanent guest room at Aleksander and Rafe’s mansion.
For now, they would sleep in a gray monstrosity. That didn’t bother Ducarius. As long as he was with Drexley, he didn’t care what color the sheets were or what shade of paint covered the walls.
“Are you ready to leave?” Drexley asked, emerging from the bathroom in khaki pants and a green-and-white striped shirt.
“Yes,” Ducarius replied, grabbing their suitcase and his mate’s hand to lead them downstairs.
“About time,” Dra’Kaedan called out as he spotted them. “I was about to come up there and sneak in to watch whatever was keeping you two from joining us.”
“Seriously?” Brogan muttered. “If I said that, I’d probably get set on fire.”
“You are a dragon. Like your mate, you can wield fire,” Alaric stated. “If he threatens you, do the same to him.”
“Why haven’t you figured out yet that they like to find reasons to fight?” Baxter asked. “It’s foreplay for them.”
“Please teleport us to D’Vaire before they start spelling,” Vellerynd begged.
“Or Bax begins to brag about his dick and I have to kill him,” Ducarius drawled.
“I’m going to teleport everyone to D’Vaire,” Dra’Kaedan said. “Drexley, you’ll be bombarded with names and titles. Don't worry if you can’t remember it all; there’s no test, and we’ll help you out.”
“Thank you, I appreciate your kindness,” Drexley replied with a grateful smile. “I am eager to meet everyone.”
Dra’Kaedan flashed a smile at Drexley. “They’re all eager to meet you too. Okay, everybody. Close your eyes and remember to keep your thoughts focused on your clothes so they make the journey too.”
“He is joking,” Ducarius told Drexley through their mindlink. As the ground disappeared beneath Ducarius’s feet, Drexley’s laughter filtered through his head.
“I can sense untruths just as you can.”
“If anyone could ever mislead a sentinel’s senses, it would be the mischievous Grand Warlock.”
They arrived outside the front door at D’Vaire, and Drexley’s lips landed on Ducarius’s as he opened his eyes. Someone yanked hard on the suitcase in Ducarius’s hand, and he turned to glare at Cassius.
“What are you doing?”
“Chand, do something,” Cassius pleaded.
“Give your suitcase to Cass,” Chander ordered. “We have a surprise for you and Drexley.”
“Everybody, follow me to the backyard,” Dra’Kaedan instructed as Brogan whipped open the front door of the mansion.
“Do you know anything about this surprise?” Ducarius asked Drexley privately.
“No, do you?”
“No, and I dislike surprises.”
Drexley turned to smile at Ducarius as they followed Dra’Kaedan through the house. “It is surely something nice and nothing to make you worry.”
They walked to the back door, and Brogan opened it. Outside was the entire extended D’Vaire clan, which included some of the most prestigious last names in the Council. Although everyone was dressed casually, the backyard was decorated in a mixture of brown and green beads and fabric swags.
“Surprise,” Dra’Kaedan yelled. “It’s a matebond ceremony.”
“We wanted a chance to celebrate with you and Drexley,” Alaric explained.
“But we knew you wouldn’t want a big fuss, so we decided—after many arguments—that a short casual ceremony was the best way to do this,” Chander added, glaring at the other Darays.
Aleksander and Rafe walked over with a floral wreath in each of their hands. The blooms were a mixture of what Ducarius believed were wildflowers with plenty of greenery that would perfectly coordinate with their new bedroom suite.
“Killian and Dravyn put these together for you, and we have a glass case you can use to display them,” Rafe explained. “You can put them on yourselves, or we’re happy to help you out.”
Killian the Dwyer was the ruler of the Circle of Druids and, along with his dragon-shifting mate, Drindyr Duke Dravyn D’Vairedraconis, was renowned for his ability to create unique flora using both magic and ingenuity.
“We welcome your assistance,” Drexley answered, bending slightly to allow the five-foot-ten Rafe to place a wreath on his short locks.
Ducarius thanked Aleksander after the original High King rested the other circle on his messy tresses.
Alaric and Chander swapped places with Drexley and Ducarius.
“We hope you don’t mind that we asked Madeline to design rings for you,” Chander said. Larissa’s other half, Madeline D’Vairedraconis, was a renowned artist who worked primarily with metal and had designed the crowns and rings for nearly everyone in their extended family.
“We are honored, thank you,” Ducarius replied.
“Since you have already sealed your bond, perhaps you would like to repeat your vow to each other as you place them,” Alaric suggested.
Drexley’s gaze grew misty. “A lovely idea. I have also admired the mating marks worn by all of you. Is it possible to get those ourselves?”
“Absolutely,” Ducarius promised.
Plucking the ring from Alaric’s grasp, Ducarius faced Drexley and smiled into his beautiful brown eyes.
“Chosen by Fate, and accepted by my heart as true, I accept you as my mate,” Ducarius said.
As he slid the band onto Drexley’s finger, he admired the intricate floral design done in the same colors that they had selected for their bedroom.
Like every ring in the family, the interior was the trademark blue-black of D’Vaire.
Chander handed a matching band to Ducarius, and he repeated the words they had used in a now-lost realm to cement a bond of two halves becoming whole.
“Chosen by Fate, and accepted by my heart as true, I accept you as my mate,” Drexley said, his voice wobbly.
The gorgeous memory of their souls twisting together filled Ducarius’s mind, and the moment the chilly metal was securely in place, he glanced at Alaric.
The Lich Sentinel grabbed a dagger from his waist and stepped forward.
To avoid anyone learning that the sentinels carried a secret about their daggers and that the black poison alone could cut them, Alaric made hasty work of switching to the right toxin and swiftly cut the palms of Drexley and Ducarius.
A heartbeat later, his dagger returned to normal, and Ducarius smiled at his other half as they placed their palms together.
“Skeleton Lord to Skeleton Lord-mate. Sentinel to sentinel. Our blood has spilled, and our spirits have bonded. We ask Fate to grant us a mark from left shoulder to elbow so the world may bear witness we belong only to each other,” Ducarius stated.
A fiery burn raced along his upper arm, and Ducarius was already greedy for a chance to see the new artwork.
Every sentinel had the same image. Drexley’s name was now emblazoned on his skin in block letters below a skull and dagger.
Around them, the group burst into applause.
But Ducarius remained focused on Drexley. He turned to seal their mouths together and dipped his tongue in to taste his man.
“I love you,” Ducarius said privately.
“I love you too.”
“The Skeleton Seven have a ring of rank for Drexley too,” Dra’Kaedan remarked. “But the most important thing we have left to do is cut the cake.”
“Dinner first,” Alaric insisted. “Make sure you eat your veggies before you fill up on cake.”
“Why? Chand isn’t going to eat any,” Dra’Kaedan retorted.
“He is also not going to eat his weight in cake,” Alaric argued.
“Chand, seriously, what’s wrong with your mate?” Dra’Kaedan asked. “I’m a grown sorcerer; who cares how much cake I eat?”
“Excuse my confusion; you do not appear fully grown,” Alaric teased.
“New D’Vaire rule: Lich Sentinels are hereby banned from the premises,” Dra’Kaedan shouted.
“Our High Kings own this land. They make the rules,” Dra’Kaedan’s mother, Lichpriestess Saura D’Vaire, interjected with a stern glare for her eldest son. “Now, behave. Today isn’t about you. We’re out here to celebrate Drexley and Duc.”
“Mom, no celebration is complete without cake.”
Ducarius kissed the corner of Drexley’s mouth and pulled away enough to enjoy the amusement dancing in his other half’s eyes.
With a wink for Drexley, he turned to where Alaric, Chander, and the High Kings were gathered.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for giving us this night to celebrate our bond with the most important people in our lives. I fear we have many people to introduce Drexley to before he can relax and enjoy himself. Perhaps it would be best for everyone if we allowed the Grand Warlock to have some cake, or he may wind up getting sent to his room for bed early.”
“I’d roll my eyes, but you’re letting me have cake,” Dra’Kaedan replied. “Now, get to work introducing your mate around.”