The Summoner's Path (D'Vaire, Book 10)

by Jessamyn Kingley

  Somerly weighed his options, and he couldn’t find a path where it was fair to continue to keep Dre’Kariston in the dark over his future. Either he’d be willing to move forward and continue to be his lover after he married Lucretia, or he decided to give Somerly space until they could forge a matebond without interference. Perhaps he’d be able to stay here with Dre’Kariston after his children were grown. It was only a couple of decades, and he had a few thousand years more to live.

  Whatever he wanted, it was unfair not to at least give him a choice. Just because Somerly was stuck didn’t mean Dre’Kariston needed to be, but he sincerely hoped they could stay together. The thought of going without his presence for even a span of a day or two was unthinkable. He shifted on the sofa, so he was facing Dre’Kariston more fully. He had no idea how to make Dre’Kariston understand, but he was going to try his best. “Okay, well. I’ve told you about my dad and how much he means to me.”

  “Of course, I completely understand your devotion to your only parent.”

  “I haven’t told him about us.”

  “That’s all right. You did mention he might not be okay with it. He’s not fond of magickind.”

  “No, he dislikes all magickind. He also doesn’t like the fact that I’m gay.”

  “So, he’s not going to be happy to find out your mate’s a man.”

  “Exactly. I know he won’t approve.”

  “There’s no rush to fill him in. In fact, if you think it’d be detrimental to his health, then I’d prefer you remain silent. I don’t want to be the thing that forces him into a downward spiral.”

  Somerly gathered his strength and looked directly into Dre’Kariston’s understanding navy eyes. “I need to be honest. I’ve told you some things that aren’t true.”

  “What kinds of things?”

  “My father isn’t elderly or in poor health.”

  Dre’Kariston’s brow creased. “He’s not?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, can you tell me why you’d lie about something like that?”

  “I assure you it wasn’t to garner fake sympathy or anything of the sort. It was just easier to explain away things if you believed him to be old and ill.”

  “I want to understand, Somerly. Tell me what things you need to explain away. You could’ve just told me he doesn’t approve of same-sex relationships. I would’ve been more than happy to continue the arrangement we have of you spending your nights here. It might be unusual, but it’s been working for us. Or so I thought.”

  “It has been working. Absolutely. It’s just that…well, my dad…he has my life all sorted out.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You’ve asked me things about the Consilium, and I’ve not told you much. The truth is, I don’t know a whole lot about stuff. My father had me educated by private tutors and made sure I only learned what was necessary.”

  “Education should be given freely and fully, so you can come up with your own conclusions of the world and your place in it.”

  Unwilling to get involved in a disagreement over subjects he’d learned decades ago, Somerly remained focused on his goal. Dre’Kariston was growing agitated, and Somerly’s heart was pounding dully in his chest. “It’s okay, we can go over that later if you wish. What I mean to say is, the Consilium doesn’t put an emphasis on Fate. People within our government have instead turned to marriages in the hopes of improving the standings in relation to the wizards. They control everything, and the dragons are trying to gain a foothold.”

  “Yes, we’re aware of the Consilium denying Fate and arranging marriages for political or monetary gain.”

  “I have one.”

  “You have one what?”

  “I’m to be married in a couple of months.”

  Dre’Kariston pinned him with dark eyes full of a mix of emotions, and none of them boded well for Somerly. “Married?”

  “Yes, to a woman called Princess Lucretia Variusdraconis. I don’t know her well. I did have a nice chat with her at my engagement party a couple of weeks ago.”

  “You had an engagement party? After you started seeing me?”

  “Yes, you remember there was a night I texted you later than normal?”

  Dre’Kariston left the couch to pace. “Yes, I thought your father had a rough day.”

  “No, it was quite good for him. He drank plenty and smiled more than I’ve ever seen him.”

  “No offense, but I don’t give a shit if your marriage makes him happy.”

  “It will unite our courts. Our folks are all excited at the possibility of grandchildren cementing the alliance.”

  Turning to face him, Dre’Kariston lifted a brow. “I’m sorry, did you say ‘grandchildren’?”

  “Yes, but it’s going to be okay. I discussed it with Lucretia. We’ll have children right away. Then we’ll both be free to pursue other interests. She prefers women herself and has a girlfriend who knows about our arrangement. Lucretia feels with me being gay as well it might be possible to have our lovers living under our roof. If we make people believe they have a role in the household, no one will raise an eyebrow.”

  Dre’Kariston raised a hand and his gaze dropped to the floor. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You’re marrying a lesbian named Lucretia who you’ll have children with to cement an alliance between two dragon courts. She has a girlfriend perfectly okay with the arrangement.” Lifting his eyes, it was impossible to miss the rage banked in the navy irises. “And you expect me to live under the same roof, so we can all be one happy, fucked-up family?”

  “I thought perhaps since you have some obligations here, you could split your time between D’Vaire and our home in Court Ethelin. Or it might possibly be Court Varius. I need to discuss that with my father,” Somerly muttered.

  “Would you like to know what I think?”

  Somerly bobbed his head eagerly. Dre’Kariston was furious, and it wasn’t anything less than Somerly expected. He’d dropped a lot in his lap, but he hoped he could remain positive about the situation. Dre’Kariston was so understanding, and Somerly was counting on that to create a path forward for them both. “Very much.”

  “I think you’re out of your fucking mind.”

  “Huh?”

  Dre’Kariston walked over to the sofa where Somerly was sitting and leaned over him so they were eye-to-eye. “I said, ‘You’re out of your fucking mind,’ and would you like to know why I think that?” He didn’t stop to allow Somerly to respond. “You are my mate. I’ve waited for you my entire life. Not in a million years would I be willing to be your fuck on the side while you get married to anyone, let alone make a couple of babies. That’s not how this whole matebond thing works. I don’t give a shit what your stupid Consilium believes. That’s not acceptable. Not in any way, shape, or form, and I’ll be damned if I’ll have any part of this.”

  “I understand it’s not ideal, but I can’t let my father down. He’s counting on me to help our people.”

  Dre’Kariston stared at him for several minutes, then straightened up to resume his pacing. His movements, normally graceful, were jerky and the anger rolled off him in waves. It made Somerly’s heart sink. He didn’t know how long it would take Dre’Kariston to calm down or how to make him understand he had no choice in the matter. The last thing he wanted to do was marry Lucretia. If he had his way, he’d be sleeping every night in Dre’Kariston’s bed and sharing the waking hours with him as well.

  “I have no idea how you could’ve ever thought I’d be happy going along with this,” Dre’Kariston said after several tense minutes.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disappoint you.”

  “I have no intention of being disappointed. Our blood hasn’t mixed. There’s no reason we can’t sever our matebond and find people better suited to our futures.”

  Somerly hopped to his feet. “What? I don’t want to be with someone besides you.”

  “Really? Because I’m pretty sure you just told me you’r
e getting married.”

  “I told you I have to, my father—”

  “You’re a grown man. You make your own choices and follow your own path. Same as me. Stop hiding behind excuses. My understanding is that the spell to break our bond can’t be completed while we have feelings for each other. As embarrassing as it is to admit now, I do care for you. But I assure you, it will pass. When it does, you’ll come here so Lorcan can use his demon to free me.” Chieftain Lorcan Acwellan-D’Vaire was one of the two demonic elves who lived in the house with Dre’Kariston, and there was enough love in his family that he wouldn’t hesitate to help the warlock. It made Somerly’s belly quiver, and he was desperate to find a way to get Dre’Kariston to put the idea aside. He didn’t want a future without Dre’Kariston. Somerly had no idea how to get him to realize that he’d be lost without him, but it was vital that he understood they had to stay together.

  “Dre’Kariston, please listen. I want to be with you.”

  He tried to grab Dre’Kariston to hug him or have him close in some way, but Dre’Kariston shoved his hands away. “Have a nice fucking life, Somerly.”

  Magic danced over Somerly’s skin and he instinctively closed his eyes as Dre’Kariston cast the teleportation spell. When he opened them, the treehouse was in sight and he was back on the land of his birth. Once again, he reached for Dre’Kariston, but he stepped out of reach. “Please, I need you.”

  The words were only heard by the trees surrounding him. Dre’Kariston had already shimmered back to his home in Arizona. Frantically, and with tears already sliding down his cheeks, Somerly ripped his phone from his pocket. The last thing he could stand was to be alone without him. A long life of crushing loneliness loomed ahead without the strong warlock at his side. He’d be lost without him and with trembling fingers, he swiped the screen to dial Dre’Kariston. Somerly had to find a way to get him to listen.

  Chapter 18

  Fists clenched, Dre’Kariston returned to his overly white room as the phone in his pocket rang. All this time he was planning a life with Somerly, the fucking dragon had been counting down the days until his wedding. What other lies had he told? Was there anything about him Dre’Kariston could trust? Was even his passion feigned…buried under a cold heart obsessed with his duty to his father? Horrid images of Somerly in bed with some faceless woman tortured Dre’Kariston as he stood there impotent with rage.

  The darkness which had lived inside him since birth simmered under his skin. It was a void he’d wanted to surrender to for as long as he could remember. With a heart shattered into a million pieces, Dre’Kariston could no longer find a reason to deny it. Squeezing his eyes shut as the world around him shrunk, Dre’Kariston allowed the shadows to glide over the light that beamed from his soul. The shrill sound of his cell phone faded as he focused on the darkness that had been just outside his reach for so long. It might’ve scared another warlock, but Dre’Kariston embraced it.

  Though he was filled with thunderous fury, a certain peace stole through him as he finally accepted his truth. His well of magic subtly shifted from the brightness he was born with and his limbs were lighter, no longer weighed down by fighting his destiny. He had no idea how long his transformation took, but when Dre’Kariston lifted his lashes his magic—now the same shade as the night sky beyond his window—singed to the surface. Mixed with his pain and hurt, it demanded a release from the wretched thoughts choking him. He accepted that Somerly was lost to him. Dre’Kariston wouldn’t settle for a mate who cared so little for him that he would share his life with another.

  Instead of wooden planks beneath his feet, a growing dusky smoke billowed across the room. Lies, betrayal, and the cracking of his heart ripped away his normal defenses. Somerly had known all along he couldn’t build a future with him, but it was Dre’Kariston who’d trusted him. Under no circumstances would he have ever believed Somerly would tear him apart this way. The damn device in his pocket continued to ring as the man who betrayed him tried to get him to accept his call. Dre’Kariston wouldn’t listen to whatever deceit Somerly had left to share.

  He was no longer a light caster; he had endless spells meant to destroy. Fishing the phone out of his pocket, Dre’Kariston chanted a few words. Seconds later, there was nothing but a ball of plastic and electronic bits in his hand. Without considering the consequences of his actions, Dre’Kariston let out a mighty yell and hurled it through the glass in front of him. His chest heaved as if he’d run a marathon, and Dre’Kariston didn’t know how to dull the agony inside him. But at least he no longer had to listen to the noise of Somerly trying to reach him.

  Across the room the bedroom door slammed into the wall. Turning, he spotted his brother running toward him with Brogan only a step behind him. Dra’Kaedan didn’t stop until he was close enough to tug Dre’Kariston into his arms. Dre’Kariston needed the comfort of someone who would die before betraying him, so he clutched his twin’s cotton shirt in his fists as he held on tight.

  “What’s wrong? Where’s Somerly?” Dra’Kaedan asked, his voice dripping with concern.

  “Gone. Fuck him.”

  Dra’Kaedan extracted himself from Dre’Kariston’s grasp to study his face. His brother’s eyes were full of compassion. “Get it out. Tell me.”

  “He’s getting married. I went dark.”

  “I know, and you didn’t plan it, so I knew something was wrong. What do you mean Somerly’s getting married? He’s your mate.”

  Dre’Kariston pulled away so he could pace. “His father wants to make an alliance with another court, so he’s marrying Somerly off to some woman. My mate’s apparently okay with that. Wants me to be his lover on the side while he makes babies.”

  Before Dra’Kaedan could respond, Derwin burst through the open door and immediately started yelling. “How dare you? How could you fucking turn dark? How many times have I told you I wished to stay light? You’ve always been a selfish ass, but this is not fair!”

  “You need to calm down,” Dra’Kaedan said in a quiet voice. “Dre’Kariston’s hurting, and you knew his path would always lead him to the darkness. He was meant to be a dark warlock.”

  “You mean evil, don’t you? Why mince words? Dark is evil,” Derwin snarled at Dra’Kaedan, then turned his attention once again to Dre’Kariston. “You’ve made us both evil. Our futures are full of carnage and it’s all your fault.”

  “He doesn’t need this shit right now,” Dra’Kaedan bit out. “Dark is not evil. You’re being ridiculous.”

  “Don’t bother arguing with him,” Dre’Kariston countered. “He knows better than to equate evil with dark, but he refuses to be logical about it.” He faced Derwin. “Your magic comes from me. You were born of it. Our darkness is natural, but I’m not going to fight with you over this.”

  “Of course you aren’t. All you’ve ever cared about is yourself,” Derwin told Dre’Kariston, then heaped his rage back at Dra’Kaedan. “It’s a trait you share, Grand Warlock. You were perfectly okay being in a cottage somewhere relaxing while your people died in droves. It’s because of you Dre’Kariston was alone with Carvallius and summoned me with his magic in conflict. Do you know how I’ve suffered all these centuries? I never had my rightful place as Grand Summoner Familiar and you couldn’t give a shit less.”

  Dra’Kaedan slapped his hands on his hips, and a glow emanated from his skin. It took a great deal of emotion for his brother to lose his ability to contain his magic; it was something they shared. Standing in this room, listening to his horrid familiar fight with his brother over circumstances beyond his control, Dre’Kariston wanted to smash a few more objects through what was left of his window.

  “Derwin, you’re fucking crazy if you think I enjoyed one minute in that cottage with Latarian. Do you think I don’t know how different things would’ve been if I hadn’t been kidnapped? My brother and I are the most powerful warlocks ever born. Together we might’ve changed history. I have to live with that guilt every day,” Dra’Kaedan said as his eye
s welled with unshed tears. “I take my full share of the blame over the past, but I can’t change it. Right now, we need to be focused on Dre’Kariston and what happened with Somerly.”

  Derwin swiped an arm through the air angrily. “Somerly has nothing to do with this.”

  “You’re wrong,” Brogan replied. His voice was amazingly calm, as he could be as hot-tempered as Dre’Kariston’s fiery brother. He set one giant paw on his mate’s shoulder. “Somerly’s decided to marry. Your warlock’s hurting. His pain is what freed the dark magic he’s always held at bay. We need to be there for him right now instead of arguing over things that happened centuries ago. They’ll still be there tomorrow.”

  “I couldn’t give a shit less about Somerly and his fucking plans to get married. I never liked him anyway, and I don’t know why anyone is surprised. He belongs to the Consilium—we already know you can’t trust anyone over there. We have demonic elves in the house. Get Lorcan to break the matebond and move on. Find someone better, or in this case, a person willing to deal with an evil warlock,” Derwin spat out.

  “That’s enough!” Dra’Kaedan roared. “Go to your fucking room and leave my brother alone.”

  Derwin glared, then stormed out. “Don’t ever fill my magic again. I won’t be touched by your depravity,” he shouted as he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

  “He makes me crazy,” Dra’Kaedan muttered.

  “I didn’t think of him. I just let the darkness in,” Dre’Kariston said. His anger was less of a living thing, and there were other emotions rushing to the surface. Guilt over his decision to change his magic and a hollowness from the loss of Somerly. It was becoming more real that he’d no longer have the dragon in his life. He didn’t want to deal with it, so he focused on his rage and shook off the sadness.

  “Would you please listen to me?” Dra’Kaedan asked. “I don’t want to stand here and debate your decision to shift your magic. I’ve been telling you for years that you needed to accept your true nature. It was your choice to deny it to please Derwin. You damn well know nothing pleases him. I’m glad you’re no longer rejecting the path Fate chose for you. I want you to tell me about what happened with Somerly. That’s more important right now. Okay?”