The next morning Gedeon, as usual, was still sprawled across the mattress of his bed when Gavrael made his way to the bathroom. Gavrael washed quickly and thoroughly before drying off and dressing in his normal dark military style pants and T-shirt. He put on his boots and then whispered the word to secure his weapons at his hips before leaving the bathroom.
Since Gedeon was still sleeping, Gavrael took a moment to admire his mate’s face and frame before heading to the kitchen for breakfast. He grabbed a plate and filled it with heaping helpings of bacon, sausage, eggs, and hash browns. After setting it down on the table, he poured a cup of coffee and offered a good morning nod to the other members of his family who were also enjoying their morning meal.
Shortly after he had taken his first bite, Gavrael felt a prickly sensation at the base of his neck. It was something he felt every time his mate walked into the same room, so he lifted his eyes to watch Gedeon enter. When he caught sight of the other sentinel, his fork stopped its forward progress to his face, and Gavrael blinked in disbelief.
Gone was the dark gray uniform and in its place was a pair of light blue jeans complete with a few strategically placed tears. With them Gedeon wore a soft white button-down shirt untucked with the sleeves rolled to just below his elbows. Instead of laced up boots, Gedeon’s feet were bare.
Their eyes met, and Gedeon offered him a hard glare before breaking eye contact to put together his own plate. Slowly Gavrael resumed eating while his brain spun in useless circles. It was virtually impossible for him to string together any coherent thought. Gavrael could not begin to figure out why Gedeon would be dressed in such a way, and his daggers must still be in the drawer he had tossed them in the night before because they were definitely not in their normal place at his sides.
It seemed reasonable enough that Gedeon would want to try some of the clothes the other D’Vaires wore, though Gavrael was thoroughly confused that he would put together such an ensemble before their morning training session. It made more sense for Gedeon to try something new in the evening after their workouts were done for the day. Perhaps his mate couldn’t imagine wearing such garments any longer than it took him to finish his breakfast.
But it soon became apparent to Gavrael; this was not Gedeon’s intention at all. By the time he came back into the house to have lunch, it was clear Gedeon was not training that morning. Gavrael’s thoughts were muddled, but one thing was crystal clear. If his mate was not exercising his skills because of the upset Gavrael had caused him the night before then it was his duty to apologize.
Gedeon should not be missing out on an activity that not only brought sentinels joy and fun but helped keep them mentally and physically prepared to do their soul-bound duties. This thought foremost in Gavrael’s mind, he walked directly to where his mate sat eating his lunch and asked, “Gedeon, may I speak with you?”
Gedeon looked up and met his eyes. It was impossible to figure out what the other sentinel was thinking, but he did reply in the affirmative with a seemingly casual, “Sure.”
“After lunch?”
“Now will do,” Gedeon announced while sliding his chair back to stand. He knocked into Gavrael’s shoulder as he walked past him. He had no choice but to follow as he left the kitchen and then came to a stop into the main hallway. “Well?”
“I am sorry,” Gavrael offered sincerely and watched as a slow smile spread across the very handsome face in front of him. Gedeon’s green eyes sparkled with happiness.
“Told you I was ready,” came the amused response and Gavrael groaned internally.
“No, I am sorry to upset you. Nothing has changed,” Gavrael replied and was unsurprised to see the smile disappear from his mate’s face. Gedeon’s lips were now firmed into a white line, and a muscle jumped in his jaw.
“You are impossible,” Gedeon accused with steely green eyes.
“I do not mean to be impossible.”
“Whatever. I don’t have time for this. Apparently, I still have adjusting to do,” the words were dripping with disdain, and before Gavrael could offer any type of response, his mate had brushed past him. Gavrael was clueless as to how to explain that he wasn’t trying to upset him purposely. He was certainly not trying to be impossible.
Perhaps a bit of space would benefit them both. Gedeon could use the time to calm down, and he would focus on how to untangle his tongue and fix his stupid brain. Fear bloomed and it was very possible Gavrael would never figure out how to do either. Trying not to be any further disgusted with himself and his attempts to relate to his mate, Gavrael headed back to the kitchen to eat his lunch. He was going to need all the strength he had to make it through the next month if today was any indication of how the time would pass.
* * *
Gedeon had been shocked when Gavrael asked to speak to him. When that apology had left his mate’s lips, it had truly stunned him. He should have known better, he thought bitterly. The only conclusion he could reach was that it would take more than one morning in a new outfit to convince the stubborn-ass sentinel Gedeon was ready to be mated to him. That idea sucked because he hated this naked feeling he had without his daggers.
It had not escaped Gedeon’s attention that his weapons were suspiciously shinier last night when he finally got home and returned to his room. Gedeon appreciated that his mate had taken the time to do this for him, and he wanted to slap himself for not thanking Gavrael before leaving him in the hallway, but in his defense, he was pissed at him.
Angry or not, he’d missed training with him. Not knowing how long this standoff was going to last, Gedeon realized he was going to have to find time for his workouts on his own. Sighing, he decided heading down to the basement would give him the privacy he desired. Gavrael needed to come to his senses without delay because Gedeon wanted to be back outside as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the rest of his time was going to be taken up with designing their room. Gedeon had walked through the house with Noirin that morning while Gavrael was outdoors, and he’d picked a space on the second floor for them. The room was at the back of the house, and it had a large balcony that overlooked the backyard and Dravyn’s stunning gardens. After selecting it, Larissa had blown his mind with all the options he had for decorating.
Choosing the right colors was an important decision; he wanted to pick something that would please them both. As daunting of a task as that seemed to be, Gedeon was not going to allow it to drag on. He was giving himself exactly twenty-four hours to make up his mind. After breakfast tomorrow, he would have everything decided, and then they could get started choosing fabrics, paint, and furniture.
Surprising as it was, Gedeon was looking forward to the entire process, though he was pretty sure that that had something to do with it being for Gavrael. As infuriating as the man was, Gedeon was happy to be able to create a place for them. Which reminded him that he needed to make sure they got larger than the double beds they were now sleeping in. He planned on spending his nights as close to his mate as he could get, and they were going to need plenty of room for all those other activities they would be doing besides sleeping.
* * *
The next day as Gavrael sat to eat, he wasn’t sure which version of Gedeon he would see. While he truly appreciated the way those pants from yesterday had hugged his mate’s strong legs and firm butt, Gavrael hoped to see him back in sentinel gray. Or at least wearing his daggers and willing to spend some time training outside with Gavrael.
No such luck, Gavrael thought as Gedeon entered the kitchen in a pair of snug black jeans and a T-shirt almost the exact same pale mint color of his eyes. Gavrael’s stupid dick emphatically enjoyed the view and began filling with blood. The damn thing really did have a mind of its own, Gavrael thought in irritation. Even this morning, despite the fact they were not speaking. Gavrael had woken up with underwear just as sticky and uncomfortable as every other day since Gedeon had arrived. Obviously, it was going to be a very long four weeks until they could do something about the
ir hormones.
As the day went on, it was obvious Gedeon was not interested in training or spending any time at all with him. Gavrael was clueless as to how to deal with it. When they spoke the day before, he had been unable to get his mate to listen to reason. It was never his intention to create unnecessary space between them and he did not want to work out without his mate. While Gavrael wasn’t much for talking, Gedeon usually stuck close to him at mealtimes and carried on all manner of conversation with their family. For the last two days, he didn’t even choose to sit at the same table. This new arrangement was incredibly disappointing.
Since he had no desire to sit in his room alone reading, Gavrael headed to the living room after finishing his evening meal. With some luck, perhaps his mate would be there, and he could at least see and hear him. As Gavrael entered the living space, he saw Gedeon sprawled across one of the sofas with his head thrown back in laughter. It pleased Gavrael to see him enjoying himself.
Gavrael always chose to sit at the edge of the room, so he did not get in anyone’s way while they conversed, but today he wanted to be closer to Gedeon, so he chose a chair near him.
“So, have you made your choice yet? You were looking at so many different colors and patterns. I hope you didn’t get overwhelmed; I know it can be difficult for someone who has never done something like this before,” Larissa said.
“I’ve made my choice. I don’t have a particular pattern or fabric picked out yet, but I have two colors in mind I think look good together. I was thinking bright green and teal. What do you think?” Gedeon replied, and Gavrael hoped they were going to discuss exactly what he needed to pick out colors and patterns for.
“Oh, I think that’d be awesome. Very bright. Were you thinking a green like your dagger poison? I love that shade of chartreuse. That would look amazing with a bright teal blue. I’m super-excited. We can go wild with those colors.” Larissa clapped her hands together in delight as she practically vibrated in her seat. Whatever it was they were talking about, Gavrael was grateful Gedeon still recalled he had daggers. Two days without sentinel workouts was a trial Gavrael never wanted to endure. He could not think of anything better than honing his skills, and training with his mate was almost too much joy to have in a day.
“Exactly; I was inspired by my daggers. I thought it’d be cool. I’m glad you think so too. I was hesitant at first, but I’m looking forward to the whole process now,” Gedeon replied with a wide smile. Gavrael loved that particular expression on his face. It lit up his light green eyes as the corners crinkled, and his whole face seemed to glow with delight.
“Cool, I’m looking forward to it too. I enjoy decorating bedrooms almost as much as I love making pajamas,” Larissa exclaimed, and Gavrael felt a coldness sneak through him at her words. He could not imagine why Gedeon needed to be involved in decorating a bedroom. After all, Gedeon already had one, he thought with more than a little fear. Forget all that he had learned about how mates were supposed to be—it was terror that was becoming his closest companion.
“I like the room I chose. I’m so glad Noirin took me upstairs to see the rooms with the balconies. It’ll be pretty cool to sit out there and look over Dravyn’s garden,” Gedeon said, and Gavrael felt his heart plummet to his feet. Gedeon had picked out a new room and was now going to decorate it. It seemed he wanted to get farther away from Gavrael than he would have ever believed had he not heard it with his own ears. This was a completely unexpected development, and he had no idea how to react.
If he demanded the other sentinel stay with him, then Gedeon would no doubt demand they discuss their matebond. That was not possible at this point. Gavrael had given his fear a deadline and Gedeon deserved space to figure out his own mind and heart. Neither one of them was ready. Of course, Gavrael hated the room they currently occupied, and it would be nice to have a bright, colorful space. Perhaps he could be persuaded to share it, and maybe with this new project to focus on, Gedeon would be distracted enough during the next four weeks to forget why he was angry.
Gavrael allowed the rest of the conversation to flow around him as he thought about the situation. While Gavrael was not at all pleased with the idea of Gedeon leaving their room, he could see the potential, but only if it were for the two of them. What he needed was to convince Gedeon the room would be ideal for a pair of sentinels. He supposed the first step in that plan would be to get Gedeon back outside and training with him.
There was only one option in Gavrael’s mind. If Gedeon didn’t work out with him tomorrow, he was going to have to speak to his mate and somehow unwrap his tongue long enough to convince him to spend at least a few hours each day outside with him. At this point, he wasn’t ready to address anything regarding this room project of Gedeon’s, but he could not allow his mate to put too much distance between them. As it had been pointed out to Gavrael before, Fate might clue you into who your perfect match was, but it was up to the couple to make it work. Not every pair was able to navigate the journey, and the fallen knights had separation paperwork ready and available to those who could not figure out how to live together. It was not an option Gavrael ever wanted to put himself or his mate through. He would disappear from Gedeon’s life before he would shame him publicly by announcing to the world they were unfit.
Heart heavy, Gavrael decided he needed some quiet time to prepare himself for a conversation he truly hoped not to have. It seemed like a long shot, but he hoped tomorrow would find him dodging the poisoned daggers of his mate. Otherwise, he was doomed to try to put into words what was inside his head, and Gavrael was proving to be terrible at that type of task.
Chapter 8
“Edion, I am doing my best to be kind to you, but you are not doing anything at all to assist me,” Latarian complained as she placed her hands on her lavender-clad hips and stared down at the bedraggled elf sitting on the worn mattress of his sleeping quarters. Idris was planted at his side, frowning up at her.
“He is trying to help us. He’s doing the best he can,” Idris said and patted him on the back. Edion seemed to shrink at the touch, but Latarian was unsure if it was because he feared punishment or if it was because elves did not like to be touched outside of close family members. Latarian decided not to bother to remind Idris of his manners when it came to their guest.
“He is refusing to give us any information. I fail to see how that is helping, you foolish boy,” Latarian said.
“While my people have not been kind to me, how can it be honorable to give you the information you seek?” Edion asked quietly as he wrung his hands in his still mud-covered lap.
They had been back at Idris’s family home for nearly two weeks, and Latarian had refused to allow him to do anything more than give the elf only paltry portions of food. Edion spent all day locked in a tiny room with an even smaller bathroom attached. She’d picked the ugly room on purpose—being blind he couldn’t see its unpleasantness, and he hardly deserved nice surroundings anyway. Once, it had probably been well-appointed, but years of neglect had left the wallpaper peeling and the wooden floors scuffed and pitted. The only break she allowed in the monotony of Edion’s day was when Idris brought him meals. Latarian would make the journey with him to ensure Idris followed her instructions to the letter so she could interrogate Edion.
“No, they have not been kind to you. Look at you, blinded and filthy. And you bore bruises when we first met. There is no honor in holding on to the secrets of such creatures that would see you suffer so. Idris and I have provided you with shelter. A chamber to call your own that is not filled with thick smoke from the primitive huts those silly Cwylld call homes. Each day do we not provide you meals? Surely you owe us for our kind care,” Latarian argued. She simply could not fathom why Edion was unable to see that his life was greatly enhanced since he had come to live with them.
“I do appreciate your kindness. Please don’t think I do not, and I will admit I am relieved to no longer be among my people. But my honor is my own, and whether they hav
e done wrong to me or not, I would prefer not to betray them,” Edion replied as he stared down at the floor with his sightless eyes.
“Latarian, maybe if we washed Edion’s clothes or cleaned him up he might feel more like helping us out,” Idris suggested as he gave her a hopeful smile. The annoying boy was always trying to bargain for more for Edion, but Latarian was unmoved.
“He will get nothing more from us until he chooses to do what is right. Until he chooses to help those that, out of the kindness of their hearts, have taken him under their wing.”
“But the chieftains gave us Edion for another stone,” Idris said sounding confused.
“Idris, be silent,” Latarian ordered and dug her nails into the palms of her hands. She itched to slap the boy, but she needed his power, and she sensed now that he had the elf to fuss over she might not be able to count on his loneliness keeping her here at his side. The pair would no doubt love to live in this ramshackle house with no thought to the future, but fortunately, they had her to see to it that their lives were rich with everything her heart desired. “Did you hear that, elf? Your chieftains gave you to us for the very stones you wish to protect. They called you a problem they needed taken off their hands.”
“I know I do not add much to our tribe, but surely I was more than a problem to them,” Edion said.
“Idris, did they not describe him in just that way?” Latarian asked as she raised her chin in the air.
“Well yeah, they did actually,” Idris said and gave Edion another pat on the back to offer what comfort he could.
“What of your family Edion? They abandoned you just as the chieftains discarded you. They may have told you they loved you, but such feelings could not be true as here you sit with us,” Latarian added.
Sentinel's Dagger (D'Vaire, Book 2) Page 9
