Chapter 33 #2
It frustrated Alaric knowing that Ducarius and Drexley were mates.
For two thousand years, Alaric had had the power to free the sentinels from their cages.
But his mind was so hyper-focused on his relentless need to walk from man to man that he had questioned nothing.
Not once had it occurred to him that he could change things.
His knowledge had been so limited he had not understood matebonds, so he had kept no one apart on purpose.
And since he had been bespelled, he could not blame himself for everything.
The necromancers who kept them caged were to blame.
Like the other sentinel couples who’d lived in the same building for centuries, Ducarius and Drexley were kept separated by selfish sorcerers.
They’d prevented them from experiencing the bonds of love that flowed between them.
Things were different now, and they had their freedom.
For decades, the sentinels had thrived in the Council.
All except one. Alaric had despaired so long as they had failed to find Drexley.
They could not sense him anywhere, and Alaric had believed him to be held against his will or that something else nefarious was going on.
Now, Alaric wondered how close to the truth that assumption had been.
A spell had created the sentinels. One that coded in them a love for training.
They carried a devotion to the blades they wore constantly.
No one outside the Sentinel Brotherhood fully understood their desire to conform to what made them elite assassins.
But Drexley was different. That didn’t bother Alaric. He’d learned from the best that standing out was to be celebrated. Happiness was the most important thing, and he felt everyone should embrace what brought them joy. But no one knew better than Alaric how the sentinels worked.
Even before Chander had handed him what was left of the sentinel creation spell, Alaric was an expert on how his men thought. Drexley had fit the mold perfectly. Until he had disappeared for five centuries and returned with only fragments of memory left.
Sitting in his office, Alaric scowled and wondered if his people would ever truly rid themselves of asshole necromancers manipulating them.
His beloved Chander urged him to be patient and not to form any opinions on the situation until Drexley could fully recollect the past. Alaric wanted to follow his advice, but he couldn’t help it.
Drexley rejoiced in his matebond, but he wasn’t happy. Not completely. Alaric had thought long and hard about how he could aid the situation. He was not content to wait to offer Drexley some purpose. Like demonic imps, sentinels needed ways to expend their energy and find something to drive them.
Perhaps that is one of the many reasons Chander fits me so perfectly, Alaric mused.
With Chander at a meeting, there was no point in allowing himself to think about his mate.
It would be another hour before Alaric could hold him close or feel Chander’s fingers slip in his favored spot between Alaric’s blades and hips as he leaned up for a kiss.
Plus, Alaric needed to talk to Drexley. Thanks to the recent addition of Keegan to their staff, their mapping project of races around the world had never worked better.
Keegan had a better grasp of technology than any sentinel, and they were prospering because of it.
Drexley was a sentinel, but his skill set differed.
And that could benefit everyone.
Alaric heard voices outside his open office door and stood. After lunch, he had rushed to their headquarters to discuss his idea with Drexley only to find that he had gone home to grab a book. That was twenty minutes ago, so surely the chatter in the hall was explained by his return.
The short walk from his desk to his office door took seconds, and Alaric was disappointed to find Eduard and Brynnius chatting.
“You have offices, go gossip in there,” Alaric ordered.
“We are discussing work, not gossiping,” Brynnius argued.
“Since when is there a rule stating that we can’t talk in the hallway?” Eduard asked.
“There is no rule against it,” Brynnius said, his scaly gaze annoyed. “Alaric is just in a bad mood.”
“I am not in a bad mood.”
“Then why are you demanding we go into our offices?” Eduard asked.
Alaric rolled his eyes. “Has Drexley returned?”
“Where did Drexley go?” Brynnius asked.
“Duc is in his office. Drexley is usually in there with him,” Eduard said.
Since neither Skeleton Lord was being helpful, Alaric walked past them to Ducarius’s office. To his relief, Drexley had his face buried in a book.
“Duc, why didn’t you tell me your mate was back?” Alaric asked.
“You did not tell me to alert you,” Ducarius countered.
Unwilling to argue with Ducarius, Alaric suppressed another eyeroll. Why would I have asked where Drexley was if I didn’t want to talk to him?
“Drexley, could you please come with me? I would like to speak to you privately.”
There was panic in Drexley’s gaze, and his eyes flicked to Ducarius. Alaric gave the pair plenty of time to speak privately as his heart ached. The last thing Alaric wanted was for any sentinel to feel fear in his presence—and it was even more painful given that they were family.
Drexley rose and set his book on the coffee table as he nodded at Alaric. Without another word, Alaric turned on his heel and returned to his office. Drexley was a few steps behind him and wavered at the door.
“Should I close this?” Drexley asked.
“No, that is unnecessary. Have a seat, I wanted to discuss an offer with you.”
As Drexley strode to one of the guest chairs and sat, the light pouring from the windows made the rings on his fingers flash.
One had been given to him by the Skeleton Seven since he now shared Ducarius’s title, but it was the floral one on his other hand that pleased Alaric.
Even if Drexley didn’t yet trust Alaric or the Sentinel Brotherhood, he loved Ducarius and had happiness in at least that avenue of his life.
“An offer?” Drexley queried.
“Yes, I had an idea I wanted to present to you. For several weeks now, you have joined Duc in his office. I thought as long as you are here at the Sentinel Brotherhood that you might be interested in aiding us. While we have been accepted in the Council, we also stand out among the other populations. I also find my work most fulfilling when I can be involved directly in cases and be available to my people day and night. Plus, I have no interest in attending countless meetings as Chander does. However, those committees benefit him and the necromancers. They have built trust with other leaders and races. Together, they bring forward legislation benefiting the Council. I do that on the advisory panel but nowhere else. You are comfortable around sorcerers, have a love of education, and are well-versed on magical things, correct?”
“Yes, I find magic fascinating and have read many books. Unfortunately, my education was outdated and mostly incorrect, but the resources in the Council are swiftly correcting my knowledge.”
“Are you interested solely in sorcery?”
Drexley shook his head vigorously. “No, I am currently engrossed in Trystan’s books. Thanks to his work, a flame has been ignited in me to learn as much about every Council race as I can. Perhaps even beyond that to the races we know exist but are not counted among our government.”
“Wonderful,” Alaric replied with a grin.
“I have a multitude of invitations to committees. What I would like to suggest is that you become our liaison. With help from Chand, we will pick out which committees can be most advantageous for the Sentinel Brotherhood to join. You would attend the meetings and build relationships with other races, and your work would directly improve our people and the entire Council. You could formally share Ducarius’s office.
I know you do not want weapons, so I am not sure if you would want us to add your name on the door on a dagger like the others, but we can come up with an alternative to suit you. ”
“I would not mind a dagger on the glass,” Ducarius responded immediately.
“Although part of me is urging caution, I have been searching for purpose. But I had postponed any formal search at least partly because I feared how to begin. Your idea sounds fascinating. However, I have no experience and am new to the Council. Are you sure I have the required skills?”
“Whatever you do not know now, we will ensure you learn. Our family is full of Council leaders. They can aid us. Have no fear. I will not leave you floundering.”
“Will the other leaders on these committees find it odd to have a sentinel without a uniform representing the Sentinel Brotherhood?”
“Drexley, I have no concern for their feelings about fashion. Wear what makes you happy. From what I have seen, you purchased plenty of suits. That is what most other leaders wear, so they can keep their opinions to themselves because I certainly do not want to hear it. We could start this as a trial if you prefer. That way if you dislike it, you can quit without worrying that you are letting anyone down.”
“I like the idea of a trial and welcome the challenge. It would please me to aid the sentinels and earn the money you placed in my account.”
“None of that money needs to be earned. You will have a salary. Earn that. Thank you for agreeing; I appreciate your help. I will talk to Evergreen to add the necessary things to the office you now officially share with your mate. As soon as we have your desk set up, we can begin.”
“Thank you for this opportunity, Alaric.”
“You have my gratitude for attempting this position. I have avoided committees for decades now, to the detriment of the Sentinel Brotherhood. The one thing I ask is that if you dislike it, you alert me immediately. Together, we can hand your duties to someone else…perhaps hire someone outside our race.”
“I vow to inform you I do not want to continue should I reach that conclusion.”
Satisfied with Drexley’s promise, Alaric grinned as Drexley rushed out to discuss his new job with Ducarius.
Nothing pleased Alaric more than aiding a sentinel, and thanks to their inability to lie, the Lich Sentinel did not have to worry that Drexley would struggle in a job he hated.
Alaric’s afternoon had barely started, and he’d already accomplished much.
Bolstered by success, Alaric picked up his phone and connected with the front desk.
Evergreen was a marvel, and they would have Drexley at a desk in a day or two at most. Hopefully, it would add to Drexley’s happiness and increase his comfortability in his new family.
Alaric also longed for the close bond he once shared with Drexley to be rekindled and for the roots of their friendship to grow even stronger.