Desperate to escape the miasma he had created in his own head, Gavrael returned his attention to the people gathered in the living room. Everyone was staring at him again. Obviously, they expected more questions to be forthcoming, but Gavrael was feeling too overwhelmed to think coherently, so he just blurted out one of the countless issues that baffled him.
“What is sex?” he asked and watched as eyebrows raised on the faces of several people in the room. Gavrael feared the question was inappropriate, but Aleksander’s voice ended the silence that had descended over the room.
“It would probably be easiest for you if someone explained that to you privately. Brogan, you can explain guy with guy. Trystan, guy with girl okay with you?” Aleksander asked, and Trystan gave their king a nod. Gavrael had no clue what it all meant but was glad to finally have one of his questions answered.
“You want me to explain girl with girl?” Larissa asked as Gavrael stood.
“It’s not relevant to Gavrael,” Aleksander replied.
“Still, it couldn’t hurt to have all the facts,” Larissa argued.
“It’s up to Gavrael,” Aleksander decided and turned his blue-black gaze onto the aforementioned sentinel.
“Want to learn about it?” Larissa asked, and Gavrael gave her an affirmative nod. He wanted information, and since he had not a clue what she was talking about, he decided it couldn’t hurt to learn whatever she was willing to share.
Later that night as Gavrael changed into a bright blue pair of pajama bottoms decorated with guitar-playing monkeys, he reflected on the information imparted by Brogan, Trystan, and Larissa. Pulling a white T-shirt over his head, he climbed into his gray bed and laid his overburdened brain on his drab pillow.
Brogan’s turn had been first. While Gavrael was shocked at the idea of that part of his body being used for anything other than emptying his bladder, Brogan had explained the subject thoroughly. Gavrael understood the idea of doing those things with another person, even if he didn’t understand why someone would to do those things.
He found it very difficult to ever imagine a time when he could conceivably allow another person’s body parts to enter his body in any way. It made no sense since he was not nearly as appalled by the idea of placing his parts into someone else.
Speaking with Trystan had been a bigger eye-opener for Gavrael. The only anatomy he was taught was the best places to harm someone. It was quite a revelation to find out female anatomy differed so much from male anatomy. Gavrael was quite horrified by the idea; he couldn’t imagine not having his penis and balls dangling between his legs.
Since his talk with Brogan had been first, and he learned men could be the giver or the taker, he could only wonder during Trystan’s explanation how women felt about not being offered the same choice. Perhaps the enjoyment all his educators spoke of compensated for that lack of option. Larissa’s tutelage had been as unnecessary as Aleksander had feared, but Gavrael was at least content to know what went on between all mates.
All in all, Gavrael found the whole subject of sex strange. He decided it was not something important enough to dwell upon; it didn’t matter until he met his mate. For now, he was going to put the troubling information aside and focus on working harder to fit in at Court D’Vaire. That included learning to communicate more effectively with all the nice people he shared a home with. Sighing, he turned onto his side to try and get some sleep. Gavrael’s bed might be ugly, but it was large, unbelievably soft, and comfortable.
Chapter 5
“I’m worried about Gavrael,” Blodwen announced to the few people gathered in the brand new office, recently constructed to handle their sanctuary. It was Aleksander’s suggestion they add a new building outside their large house. Two stories tall, at this point it held only the office for their sanctuary which was officially known as Dra’Kaedan’s Coven. They hoped the rest of the space in the building would serve the needs of any future inhabitants of their home that wanted or required space to work.
Currently, the office was filled with two powerful warlocks, their familiars, Dra’Kaedan’s mate, Blodwen, and her own mate, Trystan.
“What’s wrong with him?” Renny asked with some surprise in his voice.
“Nothing is wrong with him exactly; I’m just not sure he’s happy,” Blodwen explained with a shrug of her shoulders.
“You mean because all he does is spend his day training outside, and when he’s inside he sits on the edge of the room and barely talks?” Dra’Kaedan asked with a wry smile for his best friend.
“Exactly.”
“So, what do we do to help him?” Derwin asked.
“Well, in a perfect world, I guess we would be able to offer him someone with similar sensibilities to relate to,” Trystan said.
“I believe the Arch Lich is too busy to spare enough time for one of his sentinels to connect daily with Gavrael,” Dra’Kaedan said.
“It’s too bad Trystan doesn’t have a sentinel. Then we’d have two here, and Gavrael would have a perfect best friend,” Renny said in a forlorn voice.
“Technically, I may have one. I am half necromancer. I lack the power to summon one independently, but that doesn’t mean one is not tied to my soul,” Trystan replied as he pushed the frame of his glasses farther up his nose.
“Well, if power is the only issue, I could certainly help you out there,” Dra’Kaedan offered.
“I’m more than willing to try the summoning spell,” Trystan said, and once again the group decided Monday night’s meeting would be the perfect venue for possibly adding a new member to the D’Vaire family.
* * *
Gedeon sometimes imagined the glow of his deadly poisoned dagger could change his perception of the world. He would hold it in front of his eyes and pretend his room was awash in a brilliant, bright green instead of dreary gray. After a few hours, his arm would eventually tire to the point even a sentinel could not ignore, and he would be forced to lower the blade from his face and return to his ugly reality.
It might seem like a strange hobby to anyone fortunate enough to actually have something to do with their time, but Gedeon had meals and a few hours of daily training to entertain him. That left him bored out of his mind for the majority of his life. Gedeon did not understand the point of his existence, and he was quite certain he had no necromancer tied to his soul.
Gedeon was twenty-five years old; his summoning should have happened seven years prior. Since that had not occurred, he was sure he was destined to rot in this gray prison.
“Gedeon, you are well?” Alaric’s voice boomed through the cell.
“Well enough,” Gedeon replied as he came to his boot-clad feet. It did not feel right speaking to his leader while lounging on his cot.
“You are dissatisfied with something?” The bright green of Alaric’s eyes glowed with their normal zealotry as he inspected Gedeon from head to toe.
“Can you tell me if I have a necromancer? I have no wish to spend eternity in this room if I don’t and will end my life if necessary,” Gedeon replied, perfectly serious.
“Death is not something to be trifled with, Gedeon. We were all resurrected for a purpose. To answer your question, you do indeed have a necromancer. I cannot offer you any information beyond that truth for I have no further knowledge on the topic.”
“Thank you, Alaric. I am pleased to know I am meant to serve someone,” Gedeon said, relieved. Better to have a late summoning than none at all. Of course, it would ease his mind greatly to know his necromancer personally, but Gedeon would take what he could get at this point.
“You are a good sentinel, Gedeon. I have no doubt your training will prove necessary,” Alaric assured him, and Gedeon gave him a short nod of thanks—Alaric’s high regard was vastly important to him. After assuring Gedeon he would check back with him soon, Alaric left a few scant minutes later. It was a common refrain, and truthfully, Gedeon always enjoyed his time with his leader. He knew Alaric was dedicated to his well-being, and it helpe
d break up a little of the monotony of his life to speak to him. After all, he was the only one there that ever did.
Returning to his drab little bed, Gedeon resumed his concentrated stare on that bright dagger of his when his vision began to blacken at the edges. He hopped to his feet, threw a quick hand over his body to don his dark cloak, and mentally shouted with joy. It seemed his necromancer had finally remembered him.
* * *
Gavrael didn’t know what to think. That was a common enough occurrence these days, but tonight’s meeting was truly throwing him for a loop. Trystan was standing in the center of the room discussing with Dra’Kaedan the best way to proceed. The D’Vaires had decided they needed to add another sentinel to their family. They were not positive Trystan could pull off the task of summoning him, but they were going to give it their best shot.
It seemed to the D’Vaires that having another sentinel at the house would give Gavrael a person to relate to since everyone had apparently figured out he was struggling to immerse himself in their normal practices. Gavrael was flummoxed and failed to understand their reasoning. He simply could not see how having two ill-adjusted sentinels was better than having a solitary one.
Before Gavrael could give any logical thought to working it out, the thing between his legs, that before this day had always dangled there peacefully, swelled up and began nudging the front of his dark gray pants. Gavrael’s eyes widened with happiness, and joy at a level never before experienced bubbled through his entire being. Looking up from his now rock-hard penis, Gavrael realized there was a new person in the room.
Unlike Gavrael’s stilted arrival, this sentinel had already thrown off the hood to his cloak and was staring intently, not at the necromancer who summoned him, but straight at Gavrael. At that moment, Gavrael finally understood Trystan’s question about outside beauty. This man had it in excess. Midnight-black hair hung messily around his pale face, and his light mint green eyes made Gavrael’s belly churn with a newfound hunger. It was not for food; it was for the strong-jawed perfect specimen in front of him.
With a jolt, Gavrael realized Trystan’s new sentinel had to be his mate. And yes, his inner voice offered, this man and this man alone could invade his personal space whenever the hell he wanted. Being practical, Gavrael realized that would not happen anytime soon. Their visitor didn’t understand what having a mate meant. Gavrael was filled with compassion for the man; he had so much to learn and so many adjustments to make before he would be ready to begin a romantic relationship.
Gavrael was still on this expedition of discovery and adaptation himself. He made a silent vow then and there to his new mate that he would give them both sufficient time to be like the other D’Vaires before focusing on their mating journey. Not to mention, Gavrael was clueless as to how to communicate with his family—the idea of trying to relate to his mate was enough to overcome a sentinel’s ability to rid themselves of fear.
Terror and dread were already spreading over his body in an alarming fashion. His blood turned to ice, and he was glad the other assassin in the room couldn’t sense his cowardice. The humiliation of it would be devastating.
“Yay, you did it,” Renny exclaimed.
“You seriously doubted us?” Dra’Kaedan asked his familiar, his tone jovial.
“Thank you for summoning me. My name is Gedeon. How may I serve you?” the vision in dark gray asked, finally breaking eye contact with Gavrael to address Trystan.
“Hello Gedeon; I’m Trystan,” was the reply and then, just as when he had arrived, Aleksander introduced the entire Court D’Vaire. Trystan then offered the sentinel the same deal that had changed Gavrael’s life. He wondered if Gedeon would recognize it as the amazing opportunity it was or if he would decide to return to the compound. Quietly holding his breath, Gavrael waited for the other man’s reply. Gedeon didn’t keep anyone in the room waiting long.
“I am overjoyed to accept your invitation. Your home is beautiful, and I would feel honored to count myself among its residents,” Gedeon answered with a broad smile, flashing his white teeth. Gavrael’s heart made a strange little flop in his chest at that smile. He could only surmise it was due to shock—it was the first time he had seen a sentinel wear such an expression. Alaric had not smiled in his presence, and Gavrael had yet to make such a facial expression himself.
“Great, we have a room prepared for you,” Blodwen replied with a smile of her own.
“I believe I would feel most comfortable if I was able to cohabitate with one of my own race. Might I room with Gavrael?” Gedeon asked, once again making eye contact with him. Shock had Gavrael’s eyes doing that wide-opening thing again. His mate was already proving to be full of surprises, and he had arrived at Court D’Vaire just minutes ago.
“That’s completely up to him. What do you think of Gedeon’s idea, Gavrael?” Trystan asked, and it seemed the entire room was now peering at him with curiosity. As for Trystan’s question, he had no fucking idea what to think, but he was damned if he was going to do anything to disappoint Gedeon. He knew enough about mating now to know it was important to put Gedeon’s needs above all else, and he fully intended to make sure his mate got everything he desired.
“Yes,” he replied, still staring into his mate’s luminous eyes. His penis was also still hard, but he was doing his best to ignore it. Somehow the fright of having a mate and trying to communicate with him hadn’t dampened his hormones, perhaps because he knew it would be some time before the other sentinel needed to worry about attending to Gavrael’s physical desires. Gedeon gave him a small nod, and soon several D’Vaires were heading out of the living room to add another bed to Gavrael’s—now Gavrael and Gedeon’s—bedroom.
* * *
Later that evening, Gedeon was lying in his new and extremely comfortable bed with a giant grin on his face he was helpless to stop. There would be no staring at his dagger’s green glow anytime soon in his future. The lights in the room were off, but Gedeon had already memorized its contents. Unfortunately, it was decorated in the same dull dark gray of his former home, but perhaps Gavrael had yet to fully let the past go.
Or maybe he, unlike Gedeon, liked such surroundings. Gedeon supposed Gavrael could be allowed that small flaw.
Gavrael.
His name alone broadened Gedeon’s smile. Thinking of Gavrael caused other parts of his body to respond as well. Unexpected and as yet unexplained responses. His pulse sped up. His breathing deepened, and all the blood in his body seemed to circulate down to his penis. Gedeon had no clue what to make of it. He wondered if somehow leaving the compound had caused parts of his physical body to malfunction.
Whether Gavrael had experienced this upon his arrival or if this was unique to Gedeon was another question zinging around his mind. More questions began to bombard him, and he had no answers for any of them. He did not know why this malfunction seemed to only happen when Gavrael was in close proximity or at the forefront of his thoughts. It made him wonder if this was the reason all the sentinels, save for Alaric, were kept separate at the compound. Gedeon could not know if being around any other sentinel would cause this same type of reaction.
He longed to ask Gavrael if he could shed any light on the situation, but the man hadn’t exactly been on the friendly side. In fact, he’d spoken only a single word all night. Sure, he had agreed to allow Gedeon to share his room, but perhaps it was done out of obligation. Gedeon still hadn’t a single clue what had possessed him to make such a request. However, Gedeon could not ignore this deep feeling, no—need, to be close to Gavrael. It perplexed and surprised him, but he felt helpless to disregard it.
Closing his eyes briefly, Gedeon used his senses to get a read on his new roommate. Although his breathing was at regular and steady intervals, he knew Gavrael was not yet asleep. Turning to the left, he could just barely see the other sentinel’s head where it rested on his pillow. Gavrael appeared to be staring at the ceiling, but his eyes could very well be closed.
Gedeon wish
ed he could still see those stunning brown eyes. Technically brown, he thought bronze more accurately described the very solemn eyes of the man he hoped to become better acquainted with. One thing they had in abundance at the compound, besides gray, was a multitude of weapons. Hanging on a wall on his route to the training room was a bronze sword. Gedeon knew he would now always associate anything of that particular hue with Gavrael.
It puzzled Gedeon that he was so intent on putting an exact shade of color to describe a set of eyes. After all, he’d met a number of people this evening, including his own long-awaited necromancer, but it was Gavrael with his dark hair and bronze eyes that filled his thoughts. Shaking his head at the strange ideas rattling around in his overburdened brain, Gedeon rolled to his left and closed his eyes to sleep. He was still smiling when the pull of slumber tugged him into its depths.
* * *
Gavrael awoke the next morning with his dick tenting the sheets. This was ridiculous, he decided in annoyance, as it appeared the damn thing now had a mind of its own. Ignoring it, he rolled out of bed and quietly grabbed his clothes to head to the shower. His mate was still lying in bed fast asleep. Although he would have liked to take the time to perhaps watch Gedeon sleep for a minute or two, he did not want him accidentally waking up to find Gavrael looming over him with a hard cock pointing in his direction. The other sentinel had more than enough to worry about than him and his unruly body.
As he stepped into the shower, Gavrael wondered what his mate was making of what had to be similar physical issues like the ones he was experiencing. Gavrael could only hope they did not make Gedeon’s transition from life at the compound to Court D’Vaire that much more difficult. He wished he could apologize, but he didn’t think it was good at this point to address anything to do with them being mates. The day that they could discuss it was one to look forward to, but there was no telling when it would come.
Sentinel's Dagger (D'Vaire, Book 2) Page 5
