Sentinel's Dagger (D'Vaire, Book 2)

by Jessamyn Kingley

  He then went to the heart of the matter. “Do you fear me?”

  “No. I did. I mean, I was terrified, but you’re just a person. A really intense person, I think. And I’m pretty much in awe of what you and Gedeon are capable of, but I’m no longer scared. I’m glad you’re part of our family. I hope you’re happy here. Are you?” The concern in her eyes was impossible to miss.

  “I am happy.”

  “I’m so glad. If there’s ever anything I could do to help you in any way or do to keep or make you happy, just ask. Okay?”

  “I cannot imagine a life better than here at D’Vaire.” It was the truth; his difficulties and fears were very real, but nothing in his past could compare with his present or future.

  Her smile once again bloomed. “Me either, Gavrael.”

  Chapter 6

  Just a month into his new life as a D’Vaire, Gedeon felt things were going pretty well. It wasn’t perfect, but it was certainly a vast improvement over life at the compound. His complaints were very few and, to be honest, the majority of his problems centered around a single person: Gavrael. He was pretty sure they were probably mates. Maybe, he thought in disgust.

  Gedeon had embarked on a quest to see if Gavrael was suffering from the whole hard-dick issue, but his data was difficult to decipher. The only thing Gedeon could conclude for certain was that sentinel pants needed to be tighter. Seriously, he reflected angrily, it would make Gedeon’s mission so much easier if they weren’t designed not to restrict movement.

  But every once in a while, Gedeon was almost positive Gavrael was tenting them out. He was able to get fairly close to him when they were training each morning and afternoon, but Gavrael moved so fucking fast it was nearly impossible to check out his crotch while simultaneously not getting his head removed from his shoulders by a poisoned dagger. However, there was a time or two it was possible, and it was at those times Gedeon was nearly willing to swear the other sentinel had been as hard as he was.

  He wished they could just talk about it. Which led him to complaint number two: Gavrael was fairly tight-lipped. Actually, that was an understatement. Gavrael could go through an entire day without uttering a single word. Gedeon didn’t know how he did it; he was pretty sure his head would explode if he tried. Even at the compound, Gedeon would resort to talking to himself just so the words in his head didn’t crush his brain.

  Gavrael didn’t seem to mind listening to him ramble on. Of course, he could very well not be the type to complain, but Gedeon figured if he was that annoyed, he’d just stab him a time or two and be done with it. After all, the sentinel was frighteningly good with his weapons, and they were designed to kill. Huffing out a sigh, Gedeon decided he didn’t mind spending his time with someone who preferred listening to talking, but it was difficult to learn more about a person who rarely conversed.

  He wanted to get to know Gavrael. Even if they were not mates, it would be fantastic to count such a gifted warrior among his closest friends. Technically they were both D’Vaires, so Gedeon supposed that made them family. One thing he had learned at Court D’Vaire was that family was tight. So it stood to reason Gedeon would need to be close to him no matter what. Someone should send Gavrael a fucking memo on that because the man was like a statue when they weren’t training, Gedeon thought in mild disgust.

  If Gavrael used facial expressions, then Gedeon had yet to see one. No talking, no visual cues—it was maddening at times, but he was not going to give up. Because despite not knowing if Gavrael’s dick was hardening, Gedeon still felt wonderful whenever he was near. That was his biggest clue they were mates. That and the very thought of the other sentinel making him want to run to the shower and jerk off.

  It was getting to the point where Gedeon was taking up to six showers a day. It was ridiculous. What he wanted was to get freaky with Gavrael, but that was not in the realm of possibilities at the moment. So today when a group of D’Vaires decided it would be super-fun to go shopping, and he saw Gavrael nod his head indicating he would be joining them, Gedeon had immediately declined. While his maybe-mate was off buying whatever the hell the group was shopping for, Gedeon was going to sit in their room and breathe deeply of the Gavrael scented air while he stroked his cock to completion. It wouldn’t bring him any closer to the real Gavrael, but it was at least a change of scenery.

  * * *

  “I believe I will stay behind,” Gavrael said to Blodwen as a small group of their family was clambering into two vehicles in front of their home.

  “You sure? It’d be fun,” Blodwen assured him with a friendly smile.

  “I will join you next time.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that,” his necromancer taunted with a wink, and Gavrael offered her a nod in acknowledgment of her threat. It wasn’t that he didn’t like going shopping with his family. He did. Gavrael wasn’t much for the actual selecting of items, but he enjoyed the excitement of the others. While outside their home, he could also offer his sentinel services and do his best to help Brogan and the other dukes keep all of Court D’Vaire safe.

  It didn’t bother him to miss out on an afternoon training session to go because he knew it would have been a solo session. Gedeon always wanted to go anywhere and everywhere. He never missed an opportunity, it seemed, to experience life, and since Gedeon had arrived, Gavrael didn’t like training by himself. So when Gavrael had been asked to go today, he had agreed immediately because he assumed Gedeon would be going as well, but then his mate had declined, and he had wanted to kick himself for answering in the affirmative.

  Since it would have looked crazy for him to turn around and immediately back out, Gavrael had bided his time and waited until the very last minute to stay home. After the cars had pulled out of sight, Gavrael went back into the house and headed straight for the backyard. Surely, he thought, that was where he would find Gedeon, but when he got out there, his mate was nowhere to be found.

  Good thing he was a sentinel and could track down the prey of his choice. Those of his race required very little data to locate a target. Like a well-trained dog, it took nothing more than a scent to find someone, and Gavrael knew no scent better than that of his mate. He entered the house and found himself heading directly for their shared bedroom. Arriving at the door, he turned the knob and witnessed something he knew would be imprinted on his brain for the remainder of his life.

  Gedeon was sitting in the middle of his bed with his head laying back against the headboard with his legs sprawled out in front of him. His pants were undone, and his hand was sliding slowly up and down his hard cock. Gavrael quickly stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. Either his mate sensed his presence or heard the door slam because he looked up.

  Gedeon’s mint green eyes widened to a point that almost appeared painful as he lifted his head, and his hand stopped moving over his dick. Something deep inside of Gavrael took over, and before he registered his body moving, he was on Gedeon’s bed and knocking his hand away. Gavrael wrapped his own hand around Gedeon’s still-rigid dick and began stroking it. It moved easily over the already slick skin, and Gavrael watched as his mate’s head thumped back against the headboard.

  A moan reached Gavrael’s ears as he did his best to pleasure the other sentinel. Although he had zero experience in anything pertaining to sex, he knew it was his duty to always take care of his mate. Gedeon needed to come, so Gavrael needed to make him come. It was that simple. And it appeared to be working. Gedeon’s head was thrashing slightly from side to side, and his hips were now thrusting up and down in rhythm with Gavrael’s hand. Gavrael tightened his grip and felt Gedeon’s cock get impossibly harder just before it began spurting thick white strips of spunk over Gavrael’s hand. Eyes closed tightly as he came, Gedeon let out a groan that became Gavrael’s name. At that moment, Gavrael had never seen a more stunning sight or heard a more pleasing sound.

  * * *

  When Gedeon could finally breathe normally again, he realized Gavrael still had his hand
wrapped around his cock. One thought screamed through his brain: What the hell had just happened? Before Gedeon’s mind could summon any sort of intelligent response, Gavrael released him and he opened his eyes to look at the man who had offered him such pleasure. Before he could draw his next breath, Gavrael popped up off the bed and practically ran into their shared bathroom.

  Gedeon heard the water run briefly, and then Gavrael reappeared. Still enjoying the lassitude their encounter had created, Gedeon watched as Gavrael rejoined him on the bed. His mate used a warm cloth to clean his up his spunk and then carefully tucked him back into his pants. It occurred to Gedeon that he should thank him, but he never got the words out.

  As soon as Gavrael finished his task he was off the bed again. He tossed the cloth into the bathroom before he dashed out of their bedroom and closed the door behind him. Gedeon blinked slowly and began to wonder if he had dreamed the entire event.

  The next morning, Gedeon was beginning to get annoyed. The day before he had not seen Gavrael again until dinnertime. During the meal, Gavrael had been his normal quiet self, and Gedeon was perfectly content with his silence. It wasn’t like they could discuss the afternoon’s events with so many people around, but afterward Gavrael seemed content to go about his routine activities.

  After eating, the D’Vaires were all chattering excitedly about their shopping trip earlier that day and had suggested they watch one of the movies they’d picked up. So the whole family was strewn about the living room with Gavrael on the edge of it as usual. Gedeon suggested he take a seat closer to him, but the other sentinel declined his invitation.

  After the evening’s festivities were over, Gedeon found himself alone with him in their bedroom preparing for sleep. Gavrael didn’t utter a peep. He went into the bathroom, came out in a bright pair of pajamas and then proceeded to climb into his bed as if it were any other day of the week. So Gedeon had followed suit, and amazingly enough, sleep had come easily.

  Now the two sentinels were heading out to the backyard to start their morning training session. Gedeon grabbed his daggers from where they hovered at his sides. Sentinels didn’t need to use anything more than magic to keep their weapons close at hand; the glowing daggers were carved with a sentinel’s name down each curvy blade that floated near their hips unless they were sleeping or brandishing them.

  Gavrael was standing a few feet from him, and like Gedeon, he already had his weapons in hand. Before Gedeon could grab his prey, Gavrael was behind him. Turning quickly, Gedeon’s blades bounced off of the other sentinel’s as Gavrael had already vanished into smoke, ready to strike again. A wicked smile crossed Gedeon’s face and then he too faded into the shadows.

  He sensed rather than saw Gavrael’s dagger slice across the air in front of his face and raised his own blade to knock it away from him. Suddenly visible again, Gavrael bent his knees slightly and sprang into the air, flipping over Gedeon’s head. Feet barely planted in the sand, Gavrael was soon deflecting Gedeon’s blades, which were ready to strike him from behind.

  Strike. Counterstrike. Time began to fly as the two sentinels honed their skills. So confident in each other’s ability to counter, the two men held nothing back as they warred.

  Hours passed, and the lethal green blades arced across the backyard in neon streaks as the sentinels trained. Each had taken to throwing the daggers in order to try and get through the other’s defenses. Normally the experience was quite enjoyable, but this morning felt slightly off somehow. It wasn’t something he could quite place, but there was an extra awareness he had of Gavrael. Not that he wasn’t always aware of the other sentinel, but the air around them felt more charged than before. Gedeon supposed it might be due to the events of the previous afternoon. He wanted to feel the way Gavrael made him feel yesterday…again and again and again.

  Gedeon felt his breathing quicken, and his pulse picked up at the thought. As he bent his body backward to avoid one of Gavrael’s daggers that had just whipped through the air he felt his cock begin to plump in his loose gray pants. It was a good thing they were nearly done. Gavrael’s abilities required Gedeon to be at peak performance, and it was difficult to concentrate when all your blood was pooling in your crotch.

  Gripping the hilt of his weapons, he moved closer to Gavrael. Without any real surprise, Gedeon noted that the other sentinel was already anticipating his actions and had his daggers close again. It was nearly impossible to launch a surprise attack, but Gedeon liked pushing his limits.

  Using a few whispered words, he kicked up the sand at their feet. It swirled between the two of them as Gedeon spun quickly and disappeared from view. He felt Gavrael move closer in his direction as the sand settled due to Gavrael’s own magic. Gedeon knew Gavrael was less than a foot behind him when he whirled to face him. Their weapons collided with their faces but inches apart. Their eyes met.

  Bronze clashed into green through the neon glow of their daggers. Neither man moved. Gedeon felt as if his body was frozen in place. The air around them seemed to be charged with something he couldn’t quite understand until his dick swelled to a point that was almost painful. His body craved the man in front of him, and Gedeon’s heart swelled as he realized Gavrael seemed locked in the same paralysis. Surely this meant he was feeling the same desire coursing through Gedeon’s suddenly heated body. He watched as the bronze of Gavrael’s eyes shrank as his pupils dilated.

  Gedeon realized he was breathing heavily through his mouth. It was not the morning’s activities pushing the breath from his body with such force; it was the craving to demand Gavrael make him feel the way he did yesterday. But this time to use more than just his hand. He wanted Gavrael’s hands. His mouth. His cock. He wanted every part of Gavrael all over him.

  Allowing his eyes to drop from Gavrael’s face, he noticed the other sentinel was nearly panting just as hard as he was. Their arms were still locked in place, and Gedeon decided it was time for action. He wanted Gavrael, and he wanted him now. Gedeon leaned forward with the idea of getting his lips onto Gavrael’s. Although truth be told, there was no place on Gavrael he didn’t want his lips. For a split second, he swore he could feel his lips touch the other sentinel’s mouth, but it very well may have been his imagination because Gavrael took a step back. A huge step back and his daggers were now once again floating at his hips.

  Gedeon felt his brow furrow. He had not imagined the moment that had captured them both. Just as he had not imagined Gavrael jerking him off the day before. It was time to stop wondering if they were mates or wondering what Gavrael was going to do or not going to do next. Dropping his hands to his sides he whispered the word that sent his weapons back to his sides.

  “What’s going on?” Gedeon demanded from the expressionless sentinel across from him. His pupils appeared now as they usually did, and he was no longer breathing heavily.

  “It is nearly time for lunch.”

  “I’m well aware of what time it is. That’s not what I’m asking. What’s going on between us?”

  “I do not understand.”

  Gedeon wasn’t sure if Gavrael truly didn’t understand the question or if he was trying to pretend like nothing had occurred between them, so he asked, “Do you remember yesterday?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, so what was that all about?”

  “I do not understand,” Gavrael repeated, and Gedeon wanted to poke him with his dagger just to see if it was possible to annoy the stone-faced man.

  “Do you routinely walk about the house jerking off anyone who is in need of a hand?” Gedeon asked sarcastically.

  “Only you.”

  “Oh good, you remember. Would you care to explain it?”

  “I do not.”

  “Too bad because I want answers. Are you my mate?” Gedeon demanded, and for the first time since they met, Gavrael dropped his eyes to the ground briefly before once again looking at him directly.

  “Now is not the time to discuss it,” Gavrael said, his tone offering no clue as to
the state of his mind or his feelings on the subject. It was maddening.

  “The hell it’s not. I’m tired of trying to guess if I’m the only one feeling these things.”

  “It is too soon.”

  “Too soon? I’ve known you a month. I’ve read the Council book on mating. Mates are supposed to acknowledge each other immediately. I’m pretty damn sure you are my mate whether you choose to deny it or not,” Gedeon said, and it was impossible to keep the anger out of his voice. Gavrael may have been the older and more experienced sentinel, but that did not give him permission to dictate when they would discuss things.

  “I do not deny it, but it is too soon to discuss it,” Gavrael countered in a tight voice. It was the first time Gedeon could remember ever hearing any type of inflection in the very controlled man across from him. It so surprised Gedeon, he nearly missed that Gavrael had acknowledged him as his mate. He closed his eyes for a second, so he could relish that Gavrael belonged to him before he remembered the idiot was still trying to order him around.

  “It’s too soon to discuss we are mates?”

  “Yes,” Gavrael said, and his voice had returned to the same neutral tone he normally spoke in.

  “I don’t think so. I don’t want to continue pretending like we are just two people sharing a room. We’re mates. I want you. I want to be with you. I want you to make me feel like you did yesterday, and I want to make you feel that way too.” Gedeon couldn’t help stepping closer to Gavrael as he made his impassioned speech, but with each step he took forward, the other sentinel seemed to take two back.

  “Yes, but it is too soon.”

  A growl escaped Gedeon’s mouth; his mate was seriously pissing him off. “Gavrael, it’s NOT too soon. It’s already been a month since we met. What the hell are you waiting for?”