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

by Jessamyn Kingley

  “A healer with the instincts of a sentinel. I like the way your mind works, Saura,” Alaric remarked.

  “Okay, we’ll start building a spell. It’ll take some time to make sure we’ve got everything perfect, but we have some since your resurrection has several weeks left,” Chander said.

  “We have a few weeks to get it right, so they don’t have to die again,” Dra’Kaedan remarked. “Okay, that works.”

  “My son, don’t you realize we’re talking about a new resurrection spell?” Saura asked sadly. “In order to infuse us with our new power, we have to be on the other side of the veil.”

  Both twins wore expressions of resignation and misery. “That fucking sucks,” Dre’Kariston bit out.

  Dra’Kaedan closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again. When he did his face was resolute. “We’ll do what we have to, but at least you’ve finally agreed to stay here where you belong.”

  “Let’s move on so we aren’t miserable for the rest of the day,” Saura suggested. “What about Carvallius? What are we going to do to keep him from being resurrected again?”

  “I don’t know,” Delaney responded. “I keep thinking that the Cwylld stones are the key, but I have zero clue how to get them on the other side of the veil to anchor him and Latarian there once we find her.”

  “Saura and I will cross, but how do you carry something with you?” T’Eirick questioned.

  “That’s my stumbling block. Unless we can figure out how to attach it to the soul, we’re screwed,” Delaney replied.

  “There’s certainly no way we can shadow walk with the stones. They’d drain us too fast. It’d be dangerous and potentially deadly,” Chander stated.

  “Then I guess we’ll just have to come up with a plan to glue a piece of Cwylld stone to my soul and T’Eirick’s,” Saura said.

  “Anyone have a clue how we do that?” Vadimas asked. Everyone in the room shook their heads.

  “I have faith in us, gentlemen. Should we meet again next week after we’ve had some time to think about it?” Saura asked.

  They all agreed to the date, and Grigori was going to make sure it was something he didn’t miss. Their projects were not only intriguing, but they were completely undaunted by doing things that would literally alter the course of history and magickind. Grigori was more than a little in awe of them, and it deepened his respect for Delaney. He was endlessly fascinated by the wizard Fate gave him and hoped she answered the call of the amazing men in the room when they resurrected the former rulers of the warlocks.

  Chapter 17

  Grigori followed Delaney and their dinner companions for the evening into the restaurant while he tried not to get nervous. He was desperate to make a good impression on Idris and Mac. Not only was Idris Delaney’s best friend, Mac was the duke responsible for keeping both wizards safe. If they didn’t like Grigori, it would make Delaney’s life awkward or worse. He simply could not abide that idea, which made his palms and back dampen with sweat as Grigori slid into the booth after Delaney.

  Once the hostess handed them their menus and took off, Delaney turned to Grigori and when their eyes met, the wizard’s smile faltered. He reached over and grabbed Grigori’s damp hand, lacing their fingers together. “Relax, we’re going to have a wonderful time.”

  Embarrassed that he was such a mess, Grigori nodded and concentrated on the list of food on the table in front of him. “So, what’s good here?”

  “The burgers are amazing,” Idris supplied. “Mac and I come here all the time to eat them.”

  “It’s also where you had your first date,” Delaney replied as he gave his attention to Grigori again. “Mac took Idris, Duff, and me here so we could all get to know one another. The first question he asked was how we all knew we were gay.”

  Mac grinned. “I figured it was a good way to let you know right off the bat we were going to be close friends and since we’re on the subject, it’s Grigori’s turn to spill the beans.”

  “How did I know I was gay?” he asked, and Mac nodded. “Well, it was more like I never considered that I wasn’t. My brother’s over a thousand years older than me and growing up, I wanted to be just like him. He’s gay so I figured I would be too. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hit puberty and found out I was wrong, but you know around the holidays they’re always showing all those cologne commercials? I was like, twelve, and one came on with this half-naked guy rising out of the water. I got hard right there in the living room with my parents sitting like five feet away. I wanted to die, but at least I knew I was into men.”

  “Del told us he wasn’t one hundred percent sure he was gay until he saw Aleksander,” Mac confided.

  “He has a great deal of magnetism,” Grigori agreed. “I think it hits you even harder after you speak with him, because he’s very kind.”

  “You know, he already gave Harley Griffinis a call—he’s our neighbor, and he runs a construction company that D’Vaire always uses—to build a lab for you next to the building with all the offices. He told me to ask you when you could all meet to go over plans,” Mac informed him. Before Grigori got a chance to answer, the waiter showed up, introduced herself, and took their drink orders. Grigori was surprised to find out when he did a quick rundown that his sweating had tapered off and he was relaxing.

  “I saw plenty of empty office spaces, I think we could convert one of those. We just have to add proper ventilation and things like that. I’m happy to work a meeting into my schedule whenever they have time,” Grigori replied.

  “Cool, I’ll let him know. Aleksander’s anxious for you to have everything you might need when you’re ready to move to D’Vaire,” Mac responded.

  “It’s really wonderful that you want to come live with us,” Idris enthused with a bright smile.

  “I’m looking forward to it. I love my family and they’re everything to me, but I’ve been a freak my whole life. It’s nice to hang out with other people who are just as weird as me,” Grigori told them, then scrunched his nose. “Can I say that? I don’t want to insult anyone. It’s just—”

  Delaney squeezed his hand. “No, we understand perfectly. Idris and I grew up as outcasts—D’Vaire was our first home. We get it. Mac had amazing grandparents who loved him, but the rest of his family life was strained.”

  “You’re trying to be nice. My mom was more interested in anything but raising her kids, and her mate couldn’t stand me because I was a black dragon. Like nearly everyone under our roof, I found an environment at D’Vaire I didn’t even realize existed. I didn’t understand until I got there that it was exactly what I was searching for,” Mac said.

  “Del told me your grandparents recently passed away. I’m so sorry,” Grigori offered.

  “Thanks, I appreciate it. They were very special to me, and I know they’re still with me in my heart.”

  “They were fantastic,” Idris added.

  “Unlike your grandfather, who was awful,” Delaney stated.

  “It’s taken me a long time to be able to say that about him, but he wasn’t nice. And because he left me alone, I was perfect prey for Latarian,” Idris commented with a frown.

  “Do you mind¬…I mean I know bits and pieces, I guess, about her,” Grigori said. “I know she manipulated you into helping her kidnap Renny and Gedeon, right?”

  “Yeah, she had this plan to turn one of the warlocks or their familiars into hers,” Idris explained. “It was the same thing Carvallius did to Dra’Kaedan. He thought he was Latarian’s familiar for over six centuries. They were stashed away in a cottage with no idea that all the warlocks, save a few in hiding, were dead. Carvallius wanted the twins and their parents gone because he coveted the Grand Warlock title, but he wasn’t half the sorcerer he thought he was. Dre’Kariston battled him and won. I helped Latarian with power—she didn’t have any and I did. Only I didn’t really know how to use it and I didn’t like hurting people.”

  “I wanted so bad to be able to go with everyone when they left D’
Vaire to find you guys. I had to stay home because I was sixteen, and Aleksander thought I was too young to be put in danger. It’s probably the only time in my life I’ve been pissed at him,” Delaney threw in.

  “He made the right decision, you know,” Mac said.

  “Yeah, I know but at sixteen, I had this new family and I wanted to help. I reveled in the idea of unleashing my magic and taking down the D’Vaires’ biggest enemy. I won’t be satisfied with being tucked in my bedroom when we find that bitch this time around.”

  “Me neither. I want the chance to make up for helping her in the past,” Idris remarked.

  Delaney narrowed his eyes in irritation at his best friend. “Don’t you start that. You were a kid, and no one had ever cared for you. She pretended she was your friend, and you needed someone. You had zero experience with people, and she’s a sociopath who can sense an easy mark.”

  “I don’t like the idea of not taking any responsibility for my actions,” Idris countered.

  “Guys, how many times have you circled this wagon? You’re both too stubborn to change your minds so for the sake of my sanity, let’s move on,” Mac encouraged.

  “Sorry Mac, but your mate drives me nuts,” Delaney said. “Anyway, the D’Vaires—along with Vadimas and Chand—went to Idris’s old home and after she died, he came to live with us. I think we were best friends on the first day. We’re a lot alike, and we have a ton in common. He’s basically my brother minus the DNA.”

  Idris nodded so enthusiastically, his curls bounced as their waitress reappeared and they all put in their burger orders.

  “So Grigori, did you finish your coffee additive?” Idris asked.

  “Almost. I’m still not happy with it. I want it to have a deeper, richer taste. I’ve also started working on enhancing the current vampire aphrodisiacs available,” Grigori revealed and gave Delaney a sly glance. “Care to guess who inspired that?”

  “Do aphrodisiacs even work?” his mate with the oversized brain asked.

  “I have no clue what they do for nonvampires, or people not mated to one, but for us, we get to enjoy ramping up our senses. I want them stronger though, and I know my people will enjoy something with more of a kick—so to speak,” Grigori answered.

  “Mac and I could test it to see if it works on nonvampires,” Idris suggested.

  “What do you say, Mac? Do you want to test some aphrodisiacs with Idris?” Grigori asked.

  “It’ll be a tough assignment but yes, I’ll volunteer,” the dragon shifter replied.

  “Speaking of sex, did I tell you Greggory licked Grigori’s balls this morning?” Delaney asked.

  Grigori frowned at Delaney. “How is that related to sex?”

  “Tongue to balls?”

  “Gross. I didn’t have any kind of sexual relations with your familiar,” Grigori argued. There was humor dancing in Delaney’s dark eyes, and Grigori was delighted about it, though he would prefer to forget the unfortunate incident.

  “You see, sweetheart, that’s why I wore pajamas when Roger slept alone with me and why I refuse to let him under the sheets now,” Mac said.

  Idris was too busy snickering to respond.

  “Anyway, let’s talk about your super-cool club meeting,” Grigori suggested.

  “They should have a theme song or matching jackets,” Mac teased.

  “If it helps, whenever I see the Arch Lich with the Lich Sentinel and the Skeleton Seven the “Imperial March” plays in my head,” Grigori replied without thinking, which made him immediately want to retract his words. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way like they’re evil or anything. Just awesome and intimidating.”

  Idris shifted in the booth and yanked his phone from his pocket. “I’m so making that the ringtone for all of them,” the wizard responded as he fiddled with the device.

  “That’s awesome, I’m going to do it on my phone too,” Delaney said. “But unlike some people, I’m going to wait until I get home because it’s rude to have your phone out at the dinner table.”

  Idris stuck his tongue out at Delaney but did put away his phone. “I wanted to get up and dance when T’Eirick and Saura started talking about being resurrected permanently.”

  “I know, I don’t think it’s really set in yet for anyone, or we’re all bummed because we still have to get through their crossing back over first, but I’m super excited. They’re really great and I’m glad they want to stay with us,” Delaney responded with a smile.

  Their food was laid out and Grigori reluctantly let go of Delaney’s hand so he could devour his burger. After a few bites, he asked, “Do you guys think you can really figure out how to keep Carvallius and Latarian from being resurrected again?”

  “This group hasn’t only reunited two fallen knights with their dragons but have also successfully crafted an immortality potion,” Mac confided in a low voice. “Trust me, they can do anything.”

  “Wait, immortality potion? For like shifters and sorcerers without enough power for it?” Grigori whispered back. Neither one of them needed to use a hushed tone; the restaurant was not busy and the tables around them were empty, but Grigori was awed enough that he simply followed Mac’s lead.

  “Idris found a scroll and built the spell,” Delaney informed him as if this were the sort of life-altering thing they did daily.

  “It was Del who crafted the spell to not only reunite Drystan and Conley with their dragons, but to allow fallen knights and now sentinels to be resurrected as shifters. It won’t be used for a few years yet because the Sentinel Brotherhood is still immersed in training, but it’s going to be awesome,” Idris said.

  Mac gestured in Grigori’s direction. “And this one invented synthetic or almost-synthetic blood. At least I’m past the magic primary books. I’ve got that going for me.”

  Idris leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You have tons going for you.”

  “Of course I do. I have you, sweetheart.”

  “I wish I could tell if you guys were happy,” Delaney joked.

  “Did Del tell you I asked Fate for you? Del wanted to find his mate and since when I asked, she gave me Mac, he told me I should let her know he was ready too,” Idris said.

  “Confession time—Idris, I didn’t think it would work,” Delaney replied.

  “No, I don’t believe that. I think you just wanted it so bad, you were afraid to wish for it because you didn’t want to be disappointed or sad if she didn’t answer,” Idris argued.

  “If I recall correctly, he wanted someone who wasn’t an idiot,” Mac informed them.

  “He told Fate he wanted a guy who didn’t have to be super gorgeous or a genius—obviously she’d already paired him with Grigori, so she ignored that part—but she did get the nice part right,” Idris supplied.

  “Thank you, Idris, I think you’re nice too,” Grigori responded, then turned to face Delaney. “So what’s wrong with geniuses who are handsome because there’s no way they couldn’t be with such beautiful parents?”

  “Hey, Idris asked for a nice dragon who wanted to live at D’Vaire that wasn’t too stupid. I was just following his example of low-balling Fate,” Delaney countered. “If I could talk to her right now, I wouldn’t have one single complaint.”

  “I don’t either, Delsaurus.”

  Chapter 18

  Several days after Grigori sweated bullets over having dinner with his closest friends, Delaney fully understood how his nerves could overtake him. He’d shoved quite a bit into his young life and he was not easily intimidated, but having dinner with your mate’s family certainly fell into the category of scaring anyone shitless.

  After taking a deep breath, he tugged on several strands of hair that refused to lay artfully tousled like a stylist once arranged them. Though Grigori claimed to be okay with his normal zero-maintenance look, the Volkov family was a graceful bunch of swans, and Delaney believed he should make an extra effort to look if not nice, at least decent.

  He was cursing at his reflection when
Grigori found him. As always, his tresses were laying perfectly, and his handsome face was cleanly shaved.

  “What’s up with your hair?”

  “Hey, I tried,” Delaney snapped.

  Grigori’s pale blue eyes darted from one side to the other. “Did I do something?”

  Delaney slapped the brush down onto the counter. “No, I’m the one who can’t measure up to the Volkov standard.”

  Despite the truly shitty way Delaney was acting, Grigori tugged him into his arms and held him tight. Delaney relished the contact and held him close. “There’s no Volkov standard, and even if there was, you’re gorgeous. I’ve told you before I like your hair the way you prefer it. You didn’t have to waste time putting a bunch of stuff in it because someone or more than one someone told you it was necessary.”

  “I’m sorry, I’m nervous, so I’m being an asshat.”

  Grigori pulled back, dropped a kiss on Delaney’s mouth, then smiled. “I’m the one in this relationship with the weird, nervous stuff. Stop trying to steal my eccentricities.”

  “My apologies, Vampyr Lord.”

  “Here’s some more information to blow your mind. Only outsiders call me that. In the vampire world, I’m just Lord Grigori.”

  “Huh. I guess it’s like how I’m Delaney D’Vaire but within the Spectra Wizardry, I’m Delaney the Dark.”

  “Exactly,” Grigori agreed. He brushed their lips together a second time. “Ready to go?”

  “I have more questions about vampires.”

  Grigori put some space between them, so they could teleport to his parents’ condo for their meal. “Ask my mom,” Grigori suggested, then shimmered out of view.

  “Sure, because it’s not weird enough that we both know I’m having sex with her son. Now he wants me to bombard her with questions,” Delaney muttered to himself. Letting his lashes fall to avoid any dizziness, he teleported to Grigori’s bedroom at the Volkov home.

  “You made it,” Grigori enthused.

  “I almost didn’t.”

  “I know, those tremendous eyes of yours are basically filled with terror.”