Becoming D'Vaire (D'Vaire, Book 11)

by Jessamyn Kingley

  “How would you know where my familiar is?”

  “Because he’s always in one place,” Delaney answered. “With your mate.”

  “Hmm.”

  Getting out of his chair, Delaney waved his hand at Idris in a “let’s go” motion. “Come on, time to say hi to Mac.”

  Idris’s bright smile blossomed. “Well, if you insist.”

  “You know, it might be nice for you two to have some alone time. Mac’s always including me in everything. I love him, but you guys need to be a couple too.”

  After striding out into the hallway, Idris shook his head. “Nice try, but all three of us have to go with Vadimas tonight to the Emperor’s fundraiser.”

  “No one’s going to notice if I’m not there.”

  They walked down the length of the building the D’Vaires used for offices, and when the door opened to the outside, Delaney inhaled deeply to enjoy the scent of Dravyn’s flowers. Idris fell into step beside him as they crossed the deck toward the house. “You’re a High Arcanist now, and you have responsibilities.”

  “The only one I hate is going out in public.”

  Idris let them into the house. “People are getting used to having a dark wizard.”

  Delaney scoffed. “Yeah, right.” Greggory abandoned Delaney for the kitchen once he saw that Noirin was making cookies as they passed her on the way to Aleksander’s office.

  “Hey, at least we aren’t at school anymore.”

  “Right? The other students sucked.”

  “We have shitty attitudes for High Arcanists,” Idris observed as they arrived at their destination. He gave a cursory knock on the door, and they passed into the space. It was like stepping into mayhem—the room was full of people. Mac noticed them immediately and smiled intimately at Idris. The black dragon shifter had Idris’s familiar curled up on his shoulder, and soon the wizard was pressed against him on the couch.

  It warmed Delaney’s heart to see the pair together, and he didn’t have to ask if they were happy; it was written all over their faces. He often teased Idris about the fact that he asked Fate for Mac, and he’d shown up shortly thereafter. Idris responded by returning to Fate and begging for Delaney’s other half. While Delaney appreciated the effort and told his friend he truly believed it would work, he didn’t think anyone could look at him with that much love in their eyes.

  “Del, come sit next to me. There’s plenty of room,” former Grand Summoner Saura invited as she patted the couch cushion. It hadn’t taken Delaney long to adore the woman who’d paid with her life six centuries ago during the great war with the Cwylld elven. The elves were tricked into attacking the Coven of Warlocks by one of Saura’s own people: the cruel grandfather of Latarian.

  Along with his granddaughter, Carvallius had recently been resurrected, but he was stupid enough to arrive at the magical dome that protected D’Vaire to demand assistance from the same people he’d once betrayed. Since the warlocks and the last of the Cwylld elves called D’Vaire home, Carvallius was now resting in a prison with a magic-stealing stone on his chest, rendering him unconscious. His granddaughter was still out in the world somewhere, which was keeping the D’Vaire family on their toes since she was capable of anything.

  “Thanks, Saura.” Delaney took a seat.

  She put an arm around him and squeezed. “Of course, you’re my favorite dark wizard.”

  He chuckled. “I’m the only dark wizard.”

  “Doesn’t make you any less my favorite.”

  “Aleksander, may we speak with you?” Skeleton Lord Gavrael D’Vaire’s voice rang out over the din of several conversations happening in their king’s domain. He was accompanied by his mate, Skeleton Lord Gedeon D’Vaire. Delaney was as shocked as the rest of his family when he learned the two were chosen by Fate to be together. It was impossible to spot their connection when he’d first arrived, but now it was easy to see the love between them. The pair were always together, with Gedeon often cuddling Gavrael close.

  “You guys want to shut it so Gavrael can speak?” Worth, Aleksander’s brother, shouted.

  The room quieted, and Aleksander lifted a brow at his sibling. “Kind of rude.”

  “I got their attention, didn’t I?”

  Ignoring Worth, Aleksander turned his attention back to Gavrael. “What can I do for you? Do I need to clear the room?”

  “No, I do not believe so,” Gavrael said.

  “What’s up?”

  “We are experiencing a problem with our Coven Lords,” Gavrael stated. With the crazy Latarian running around, the D’Vaires added a new duke, who turned out to be Idris’s other half, and two sentinels. Hadley and Bridger were tasked with protecting the Coven of Warlocks as well as the entire D’Vaire family when necessary.

  The Sentinel Brotherhood had their own responsibilities, so the pair also worked directly for Gavrael and Gedeon, who were a part of a group called the Skeleton Seven that helped their leader rule. Like Delaney and Idris, it made them an essential part of the Council world.

  “Hadley and Bridger?”

  “Yeah, we all went out to a club months ago to celebrate when Del and Idris ascended to High Arcanist. Since then, Duff wants to go out all the time. He’s been going as many as four or five times a week. Hadley and Bridger have been giving up nearly all their free time to guard him. This morning Bridger fell asleep at his desk. Gav and I could volunteer to go on some nights, but we have to be up early to work every morning, so I’m thinking weekends maybe for us? I don’t know, could some of the dukes pitch in? Or could we come up with another solution? We don’t want to tell Duff he can’t party until Latarian’s found but seriously, this is crazy,” Gedeon explained.

  Aleksander’s face grew pensive. “I don’t want to deter Duff from his choice of entertainment. He’s eighteen and just getting out in the world.”

  “Everyone knows we have a beef between us, but maybe we should consider asking him to go somewhere besides D’Vaire,” Delaney suggested with a shrug. “He’s already dropped the D’Vaire name. He’s supposed to be working for us in the Dark Indigo office but honestly, he’s always late and only does the bare minimum. Idris and I just found out he dropped all his classes, so he’s not going to school anymore. Maybe we could send him to Court Draconis in Las Vegas where he goes clubbing all the time. He likes his friends there, and he’s obviously happy doing it, or he wouldn’t be out that many times in a week.”

  “Worth, call him in here. Let’s see what he thinks. I want him to decide his own future. If he wants to stay, we’ll figure out a solution,” Aleksander instructed. Worth picked up the phone and within minutes, Duff waltzed through the doorstep. He took one look at Delaney and curled his lip. Duff had accused Delaney of sleeping with Idris—something they hadn’t done, not that it was any of the shifter’s business. His accusation wouldn’t have been an issue, but the next time they were alone together, Duff brought it up again.

  When Delaney demanded he change the subject, Duff suggested they have sex. He’d teased about it before, but there was no joking around. Duff had gone so far as to try and kiss Delaney. Firmly committed to being his mate’s first, should he ever show up, and not at all attracted to Duff, Delaney rebuffed him. Duff’s response was to tear into him with hateful words and to speculate on all the reasons why his parents dumped him.

  They were the same things that had been thrown in his face his whole life. Since they were friends before that, Duff had known exactly how to cut into Delaney. He’d even started calling him Scary when no one could overhear him. Delaney didn’t see any reason why he should deal with someone that cruel, so he made no overtures to fix their rift. He tried to be nice to him for the sake of family, but Duff did not make it easy. The shifter went out of his way to be nasty whenever he could get away with it.

  “You wanted to talk to me, Aleksander?” Duff inquired after giving his attention to the D’Vaire king.

  “I understand you’ve become very enamored of the clubs in Las Vegas. I’m c
oncerned that you’re finding the rather isolated life we have here at D’Vaire too restricting.”

  “Does Del have to be in here when we talk?”

  “I can clear the room if you’d like, and we can discuss it privately.”

  Duff shifted his weight onto one leg as he cocked a hip out. “Everyone else can stay, I just don’t want Del hearing my personal business.”

  “Neither one of you needs to tell me what conflict has risen between you, but I’m not going to stand for ongoing feuds under this roof. We are first and foremost a family. That means letting go of grudges and finding resolutions for arguments or disagreements,” Aleksander replied.

  “If you allow words to go unspoken, sometimes you live to regret it,” Dre’Kariston added. He and his former familiar Derwin hadn’t gotten along. Now Derwin was dead and Dre’Kariston blamed himself but no one¬—likely not even Derwin himself—had known that taking two Cwylld stones would render him unconscious before killing him within a matter of days, leaving their relationship unresolved.

  “I guess Del can stay then,” Duff said. “I do like clubs. You guys are always saying we should do what makes us happy. I like my friends. I like getting laid. Guys. Girls. I like it all.”

  “Have you considered that D’Vaire might not be the right fit for you? We can speak with the Emperor and send you to Court Draconis or maybe the Reverent Knights can find another sanctuary for you. Perhaps somewhere that doesn’t require you to have a guard shadowing you all the time?” Aleksander suggested.

  “No, I don’t want to leave D’Vaire.”

  “What about your job working as the office manager of the Dark Indigo office?” Idris asked. “We have a six-month contract. When it runs out, it’s unlikely Del and I are going to extend it. Your issue with Del aside, you’re late often and don’t have a lot of initiative.”

  “I’m sorry, but what you guys do all day is boring. Magickind are like, obsessed with reading books and crap like that. I’m not a nerd.”

  “Then I see no reason not to terminate your employment now,” Delaney replied.

  “Fine, but you can’t kick me out of D’Vaire.”

  “I can’t but Aleksander can.”

  “Gentlemen, let’s stay focused, okay? If you’d like to stay, then we need to figure out another solution for your security. Bridger and Hadley have gone above and beyond their duty,” Aleksander said.

  Duff rolled his eyes. “I don’t see why I need a sentinel with me when I go out.”

  “Do you have a problem with sentinels?” Delaney asked.

  “Why are you always trying to stir shit up, Del?” Duff retorted. “No, I don’t have a problem with sentinels. I don’t need a guard to party and fuck. You’d know if anyone ever fucked you.”

  “That’s enough. Del’s choices are his own, and he doesn’t need anyone to comment upon them. You need a guard as long as you live under my roof. Understood?” Aleksander stated.

  “I’m just saying these guys shouldn’t have to be following me around. They deserve to have their own time to do what they want.”

  “I have a suggestion. Perhaps we could approach Alaric. We have over eight thousand sentinels. I am sure many would be willing to volunteer to go to a club. The Sentinel Brotherhood is always looking for new things to try,” Gavrael suggested.

  “Well, no one’s safer than with a sentinel. Give the Lich Sentinel a call. I’ll work out the details with him,” Brogan answered.

  “Great. Keep me in the loop, guys,” Aleksander said.

  “Problem hopefully solved,” Mac remarked as he stood and pulled Idris to his feet. “Now, it’s time for Del, Idris and me to turn into Cinderella for the night.”

  “Wait, you guys are going out?” Duff asked.

  “The Emperor is having a fundraiser for the Order of the Fallen Knights and the Sentinel Brotherhood. The Spectra Wizardry has always donated, and I am sure Vadimas wishes to have his High Arcanists with him,” Gavrael stated. “Geddy and I need to get changed, the Lich Sentinel is requiring the entire Skeleton Seven to attend. I believe the Coven of Warlocks will be present as well.”

  “We are definitely going. We’ll do anything to help you guys,” Dre’Kariston responded.

  “Could I go?” Duff asked. “Come on, Del. We’d have fun.”

  Delaney would rather eat a toad than go anywhere near Duff, but if he had to be a grown-up, he was going to foist the problem onto his best friend. “It’s up to Idris.”

  Idris gave him a look that spoke volumes. The wizard wasn’t pleased with being put in the middle, so Delaney smiled winningly at him. He’d make it up to him somehow. “You have to stay with us all night, so Mac’s not chasing you around. Vadimas never brings security, so my mate’s going to be losing his mind.”

  “I thought I did that so quietly,” Mac teased. “I won’t be that nuts tonight, not with so many fallen knights and sentinels around, but I still expect you to do as you’re asked.”

  “I’ll obey, Mac. You know I like Idris. Cool, guys. I can’t wait to wear a tuxedo. Sucks I’m going to be the only guy in our group without a crown, though.”

  “Nerds get crowns I guess,” Delaney retorted as he got to his feet. He was going to put on the fancy cloak he loved and the smoky black crown he’d earned. They might be awesome to wear, but that didn’t mean he was happy about socializing.

  Chapter 7

  “Stop walking behind me, Delaney the Dark,” Prism Wizard Vadimas the Violet demanded as he reached over and grabbed Delaney’s arm. He did his best to drag Delaney up next to him.

  “Ow,” Delaney complained as he tried to extricate himself from Vadimas’s tight grip. He glared into a pair of annoyed purple eyes. “It’s not like anyone’s going to want to talk to me. They’re all coming near us to drool over you.”

  “It’s true, Vadimas. Since you lost that whole old-man deal you had going on, you got really hot and totally fuckable,” Duff told him.

  Delaney chuckled as Vadimas’s cheeks went pink. The Prism Wizard was still adjusting to his new appearance, and Delaney was sure not many people spoke so frankly to him. Vadimas was part of the extended D’Vaire family, making Duff comfortable speaking his mind even if it wasn’t necessarily appropriate at a formal event.

  “Stop that laughing, Del,” Vadimas ordered. “I appreciate the compliment, Duff, but people are eager to speak with the two new additions to the Spectra Wizardry leadership. They’re used to me, I’ve been ruling the wizards for two centuries.”

  “Not with that face, dude,” Duff said.

  “Let’s try not to embarrass the Prism Wizard,” Mac drawled out. Instead of lying across his shoulder, Roger was standing tall as he did at social events. Greggory was doing the same on Mac’s other shoulder. The little dragons must think it’s the duke’s responsibility to chauffeur them around all night, Delaney thought with amusement. Before they left, the familiars were fed until the two all but popped, so they wouldn’t swoop down and devour everything on the fancy food tables. They’d discovered that the small dragons didn’t really care for the offerings at most cocktail parties, which was a relief since they were messy eaters. “Vadimas is right, everyone’s been delighted to talk to both High Arcanists.”

  “I like everything about my title except for these kinds of events,” Delaney grumbled.

  “Suck it up, I had to do this for two hundred years on my own,” Vadimas retorted. Myrddin, Vadimas’s own small dragon, was also regally perched. He’d taken up a spot on his sorcerer’s cloak, and since it was made mostly from Noirin’s dragonskin—her shed scales an exact match for Vadimas’s eyes—his feet nearly blended into the garment.

  “He’s right, he didn’t even have a single person acting as security for him,” Mac added. It was a bone of contention for just about everyone that Vadimas didn’t bother hiring anyone to keep him safe.

  “The room looks really nice done in black and gray, and I think I see our warlocks talking to the Reverent Knights,” Idris observed. Dela
ney’s best friend had the biggest heart and always tried to find the best in any situation. As usual, Idris was trying to get them to all focus on the positive instead of bickering.

  “Prism Wizard,” a voice called out. Their group pivoted almost in unison at the sound of the female voice. A woman in forest-green velvet with a gold circlet around her head was three steps away.

  “Aloisa the Dwyer, how lovely to see you,” Vadimas returned once she’d arrived. “I’m sure you remember High Arcanist Delaney the Dark, High Arcanist Idris the Indigo, his mate, Duke Macardle D’Vairedraconis, and this is Duff Cominsky, a young Kellas cat shifter.”

  The leader of the Circle of Druids dutifully shook their hands as she greeted them. “It’s still such a strange concept to think of a dark wizard as a reality. I do hope we don’t find ourselves with a new kind of druid in the future.”

  “The Spectra Wizardry feels extraordinarily grateful to have Delaney the Dark in our midst. Druidic magic would be lucky to be introduced to a fresh take on things, as would any group of sorcerers,” Vadimas replied. His smile was strained, and Delaney appreciated the effort he always made to contradict everyone who found him lacking or evil in some way. He just wished the people he loved weren’t forced to do so continuously.

  “High Arcanist Idris, your familiar’s a very striking color. People must remark upon it all the time,” Aloisa said as if Vadimas hadn’t spoken at all.

  “Thank you, I think he and Delaney the Dark’s familiar make a handsome pair,” Idris replied.

  “Indeed. I’m off to speak with the Emperor. Have a great evening,” Aloisa responded, then wandered off with her long cloak sweeping the floor behind her.

  “Unpleasant woman,” Vadimas muttered.

  “I wonder where her mate is,” Idris said.

  “Probably grateful for the night alone,” Vadimas retorted; then he closed his eyes for a moment. “I apologize, I should keep those kinds of thoughts to myself. Del, don’t let those kinds of comments bother you. It’s the world—”

  “That’s the problem, not me,” Delaney finished. “I know. You’ve been saying that since I was four. At least you can understand why I don’t always rush out the door to go to these things.”