“I can’t believe you guys are mates. That’s so wonderful. I’m thrilled for you both.” Blodwen all but gushed at them over their evening meal.
“Thanks, Blodwen. We didn’t mean to keep it a secret. We were trying to figure out how to deal with one another before we announced it. As you may have guessed, we were struggling with it, but I think the worst of our problems are behind us now,” Gedeon had responded before Gavrael could wrap his head around a single word. It was fantastic to have a mate who was able to converse normally.
“So, I guess you guys are going to be sharing Gedeon’s room now? That’s great; it turned out so very awesome. No offense Gavrael, but we’re probably going to have to put your room back to the white it was when you got here. That gray is nice and all, but there are probably not many people that like the color the same way you do,” Larissa commented.
“The white was better.” Gavrael felt his eyes widen slightly after the words tumbled out of his mouth. He wanted to take them back; it was not his intention to hurt anyone’s feelings. No wonder he was afraid to talk, he thought derisively. The D’Vaires had worked so hard to give him a room that pleased him. It was his own inability to assist them that had led to the gray nightmare he had inhabited until the night before.
“Gavrael, I thought you liked it. I’m so sorry. I wanted you to have a room you really loved. When you couldn’t decide what color you wanted, I thought you’d like the gray since it would remind you of home and of being a sentinel. I wish you’d said something,” Larissa replied, and Gavrael would have gladly stepped into a giant hole in the ground and allowed the earth to swallow him.
“Well, the last place I ever want to be reminded of is our former home. Literally everything about it is gray. That was the first thing I loved about being here, all the color. I’m sure Gavrael appreciated all your hard work. I know it was difficult to narrow down my choices when I was designing our new room. I wanted to put every color in there, but I was afraid it would hurt my eyes to look at it,” Gedeon said with a chuckle. If Gavrael could relax enough to show his affection for his mate in front of others, he would have kissed him right on the mouth. He could not have said it better himself.
“That was my struggle too. It is beautiful here. I do thank you for doing what you thought best when I was unable to decide,” Gavrael said. He was glad he was able to string the words together in a coherent fashion.
“I wish we knew you hated it. We could’ve fixed it for you,” Blodwen replied, and Larissa nodded her head vigorously at the words.
“I apologize for my dishonesty.”
“Dude, you were just trying to be thoughtful. At least you have Gedeon’s room now,” Dra’Kaedan threw in.
“Very true, so let’s focus on the positive,” Aleksander said.
“So, are you guys thinking about your mating ceremony yet?” Blodwen asked with eagerness in her gray eyes.
“We wish to have it as soon as possible,” Gavrael announced emphatically. Immediately he felt Gedeon’s eyes on him, and he looked over to see him staring at Gavrael with a dark eyebrow raised in curiosity. Once again, Gavrael wished the world would swallow him. He had done it again. It seemed impossible for him to not go ahead and make decisions when it came to him and his mate, but he needed to remember; Gedeon deserved to have a say in the things they did. For whatever reason, Gedeon chose not to say a word. Perhaps he did not wish to discuss it in front of their family. The discussion continued as they made plans to host a mating ceremony for the two men.
“I’d like to invite Arch Lich Chander and his sentinel. Is that okay?” Blodwen asked.
“That’d be awesome. I’d love to meet both Baxter and Benton. Alaric tells so many stories of them at the compound. I know the Arch Lich will only bring one of them if he can come, but I hope it won’t be long before we get to meet them both. I hope they can make it,” Gedeon exclaimed, and Gavrael was just as excited as his mate. Meeting the men would be an honor.
Before long, both sentinels were heading away from the dining table, and Gavrael was swiftly leading them back to their room. There was an apology to be made, and Gavrael was going to see it was made without delay. He didn’t want to give Gedeon any chance to get discouraged with him. Gedeon did not give any argument as they walked through the large house. Usually, the evenings were spent in the common area of the living room where the family gathered for whatever activity pleased them. Perhaps this eve Gedeon was as desirous to receive an apology as Gavrael was to give it.
Once ensconced in their beautiful new bedroom, Gavrael led them to the bed and before he could suck in a breath to get out the apology he knew his mate was waiting for, he found himself pushed roughly to the mattress. Moments later, he had Gedeon’s body pressed atop his and his mouth full of his tongue. The feeling was incredible, and Gavrael kissed him back fiercely before his mind remembered that while this was as enjoyable as life experiences got, he had a task before him. Reluctantly he ended the kiss and used his arms to push Gedeon slightly away from him.
“What’s the matter? Wasn’t this why you led me up here?” Gedeon asked with a smirk before trying to reunite their mouths. Gavrael squeezed his hands from where he had a hold on Gedeon’s arms, and his mate quickly got the message. His dark eyebrow lifted before he asked, “Problem?”
“Yes. I wish to apologize.” Regrettably, this statement caused Gedeon to roll off of Gavrael and park his backside next to him on the mattress. Gavrael found himself sitting up as well.
“Gav, what could you possibly have to apologize for?” Gedeon curled his feet under him as he stared him down.
“My actions at dinner were inexcusable.”
Gedeon’s black brow rose again, and he cocked his head to the side before he spoke, “I can’t begin to imagine what in the world you’re talking about.”
“I informed Blodwen we wished to be mated immediately. I did not speak with you regarding that topic. It is something we should have decided together.”
“I agree with you. We should’ve talked about it. But considering we’re discussing our mating ceremony, and it’s obvious we both want it to happen fast, I think this one time we can let it slide. I can’t believe you brought me all the way up here to apologize for that,” Gedeon replied with a strangely sad smile.
“I agreed to change my manner of handling things. I do not wish to repeat my mistake of creating space between us.” It was an easy confession to make. Gavrael had made mistakes, and they’d nearly sent him back to the one place he sincerely hoped he would never live again. Not that it was the compound itself that would have been the greatest tragedy his actions would have caused. The loss of Gedeon in his life would have been catastrophic, and there had never been any guarantee his mate would have given him a second chance. Now that they shared the same goals for their future, Gavrael would do everything he could to protect their relationship.
“I don’t want space between us either. I’m glad you’re willing to listen to me and give me some input into our lives. I want to be with you, and I want us to grow together.”
“Do you think you could ever love me?” Gavrael felt his eyes widen as the words tripped from his lips. In a perfect world, he would want one thing, and that would be to love Gedeon and be loved in return. However, Gavrael had not intended to ask that out loud. It was ridiculous that he spent so much time trying to find the right words while the wrong ones would fall right out of his face with no provocation.
“Absolutely. In fact, I can guarantee I will love you, Gav. I already care for you, and I know as we spend more time together, that that feeling will only grow. I hope that you love me someday too.” As he finished speaking, Gedeon leaned forward and brought their lips together for a quick kiss.
“I do not know why I asked that. I care for you too; I do not wish for you to grow discouraged with my limitations.” Gavrael was very fond of Gedeon, but it was all too easy to imagine a time in the future when the other sentinel grew weary of not hearing the words he n
eeded. It was not as if Gavrael was going to try to keep silent about his thoughts and feelings—however, he knew all too well how difficult it was to say what was in his heart or in his head on the best of days.
“There wasn’t anything wrong with your question. We’re both new to this, so there are a lot of uncertainties. It’s not like that question hasn’t popped into my head too.”
“I am relieved to not be alone in these feelings.” It was a truly heartfelt sentiment. As a sentinel, Gavrael had been taught to question and question again everything in his surroundings. Being involved in a relationship such as this was a minefield for other races. Somehow, it seemed more dangerous for a sentinel who had spent ninety-four years in isolation. Gavrael had no social skills, no people skills, and no clue how to ensure their matebond was a happy one. However, his kind were also taught with the right attitude and work ethic there was nothing they could not conquer. Now that there were two sentinels working toward the same common goal, Gavrael could only hope nothing could or would stand in their way. With his mind full of optimism for the future, Gavrael found all the fear that had ruled him was now firmly ensconced in his past. Or at least held at bay until it could dissipate completely.
“Well, now that we have that all sorted out, I think there are other important things we need to work on,” Gedeon said with a broad smile.
“What is it you wish to work on?”
“Sentinels need to practice to hone their skills. While I do find it very difficult to imagine anything better than last night, we clearly owe it to our training background to improve upon our skills in bed.” The light dawned in Gavrael’s brain. His mate wished to have sex again. That he could do. That he would do and gladly.
“I agree. We must practice,” Gavrael said before tossing his mate to the surface of the mattress and attacking his mouth with gusto. If only everything in their relationship could come this easily, he thought with delight, or feel this damn good.
Chapter 15
Arizona was fast becoming a nightmare for Latarian; each day felt like an eternity. She had spent over six centuries in a cottage with only one other person for company. Over that time, she had often grown weary of Dra’Kaedan, but she had been able to disregard his annoying habits. Each and every time he’d irritated her, Latarian had reminded herself that without him, her magic would be meager at best. She had found there was a great deal she could handle as long as the end result was to her liking.
Being stuck in a small camp with Idris made her time with Dra’Kaedan seem like a joyous dream. The boy was beyond irritating, she thought in exasperation. Latarian was convinced Idris was incapable of thinking or speaking about anything besides that stupid, filthy, stinking elf they had gratefully left behind. Idris whined incessantly about Edion’s absence. Latarian sincerely hated that elves were immortal—coming home to finding the body of that particular elf would be a blessing.
Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself that when she finally captured her prey, she could leave Edion and Idris far, far behind. She would rebuild Castle Mallent and not give a single thought to either one of them as she reveled in her new power. No doubt Latarian had waited plenty long enough, but it was as if Dra’Kaedan and his brother saw no need to leave the great mansion the D’Vaires had built. The one and only time they had left the large home, the entire group had enjoyed a meal at a restaurant. Latarian’s magic was paltry, so she didn’t have to worry about Dra’Kaedan feeling her presence. Idris was not known to him, and a young wizard in a crowded restaurant full of sorcerers and shifters would not be remarkable to him or anyone in his party.
Only Dra’Kaedan’s idiot brother had never left the table without someone at his side. It had been impossible to stab him with the knife she and Idris had imbued with the Cwylld stone dust. Latarian had made an unpleasant discovery that night: Dra’Kaedan now had a familiar of his own. The small blond had been at his side, and his appearance was a close enough resemblance that Latarian had known immediately who he was.
It had taken every ounce of her self-control not to scream in rage. It was unfair that Dra’Kaedan would have all that power and a new familiar of his own. Latarian wished she could kill him, but she doubted such a plan would work. At the table on the other side of Dra’Kaedan was his big shifter mate, and knowing how Brogan had followed the warlock around, she doubted it would be possible to get them apart.
If such a thing were even a remote possibility, she would have fashioned a blade of the stone itself and used it to stab Dra’Kaedan directly in the heart. Should the opportunity ever present itself, Latarian would not hesitate to end his miserable existence. It was nothing more than he deserved after abandoning her to a life of such paltry shortcomings. Stuck with an idiot wizard who was upset about a disgusting ill-formed elf, Latarian felt her lot in life could hardly get any worse. Their food was quickly running out, and they had no funds.
Idris had little knowledge of spells, and Latarian had little time to bother educating the boy. After all, it was hardly her fault his grandfather had done such a poor job in raising him. As if he could sense that he was in her thoughts, Idris broke the silence between them as they sat around the small camp they had set up. “Do you think they will leave the house today? It’s a really big one. It looks nice too. I bet I wouldn’t want to leave it either.”
“Truly, I could care less whether or not you wish to leave a house you will never see the inside of. Be silent,” Latarian snapped, her patience thin. She wrapped her arms around her knees and glared at the boy.
“I wonder how Edion is doing. I bet he’s lonely at home by himself,” Idris said as he mirrored her actions.
“As I have told you, the elf is fine. I do not wish to speak of it anymore.”
“You remember the other night when Dra’Kaedan went out to dinner?”
“Of course, I recall such an event. Dra’Kaedan’s presence is the only reason we sit in this accursed camp.”
“Did you see those two guys in gray with the glowy knives? They were scary. Like Cadlyr with his spear. We gotta grab Dre’Kariston when those two guys aren’t around,” Idris said, and Latarian was getting well used to hearing fear in his voice. The boy was a horrible coward.
“I will not waste any thought on two strangers. They will have no impact on my plan. Besides, we will grab Dre’Kariston only when no one else is about. That includes the two strangers. Now that we know Dra’Kaedan has a familiar, if he is alone we might capture him instead. It matters not to me.” Latarian knew the two men with the glowing daggers were necromancer sentinels. The Arch Lich had been called to Court D’Vaire when Dra’Kaedan had fallen ill from Carvallius’s magic, and the necromancer leader never traveled anywhere without one of his assassins. Latarian had not paid enough attention to see if one of the sentinels dining with the D’Vaires had been the same one she knew from before. She wondered briefly if Blodwen had finally gained the guts to summon forth hers.
The thought was dismissed from her mind almost as soon as it arrived. Blodwen had seemed to be only interested in gossiping and spending from Aleksander’s deep pockets. It didn’t truly matter as Latarian was not going to be deterred by anyone, even a sentinel or two. Latarian wished she had an assassin of her own, for truly she had a long list of people she wished to remove from this mortal plane. Fearing Idris knew about the deadly reputation of sentinels, Latarian decided it was best to allow the wizard to believe she was as clueless as he regarding their identity.
“I bet it would hurt a lot if one of those dragons breathes fire on us. Dra’Kaedan’s mate is really big. So are the other dragons we saw,” Idris said, and Latarian was unable to miss the awe in his voice.
“Idris, we need have no fear of dragons. I believe you enjoy hearing me repeat the same things. We will be taking Dre’Kariston or a familiar of the twins when no one else is about. There will be no dragon fire. There will be no strangers with knives. Why do you insist on thinking such things? And why do you insist on speaking when I have ask
ed you to be silent?” she asked, her voice sharp with irritation.
“Sorry, I just get bored. If you had let me bring Edion, I would have him to talk to.”
“That is enough, Idris. I will not hear of Edion again. When we return I will cast him out with nothing but the filthy clothes on his back should you speak his name once more,” Latarian said with a distinct bite in her tone.
“You can’t do that, Latarian; you promised him you would give him a cottage and a little garden so he can grow food. That’s what you said he could have if he told you where to find the stones, and he did that; he told us where the stones were even though I don’t think he wanted to,” Idris said, apparently aghast at her words.
“I know very well what I promised. We both know it was only my kindness that led to such a promise. It is more than he deserved for what little knowledge he bestowed upon us. I doubt anyone would think less of me should I not fulfill his demands.”
“I’m not going to talk about it anymore. I want him to have those things, and if I make you mad, it’s not fair my good friend should suffer. I’m going to zip my mouth and not talk about Edion anymore.” Idris pulled an imaginary zipper across his lips. Latarian rolled her eyes at the boy’s antics. Knowing Idris and his short attention span and penchant for poor behavior, she doubted his promise would last for more than an hour’s time, but she welcomed the small respite.
“If that is what you wish, then we will move on to more important topics. I would have your promise you will not hesitate to aim true with the blade. You must not hesitate to stab Dre’Kariston or the familiar when the time is right. We will not have time for you to begin to whine or complain. You must get the dust under the skin quickly, so we can teleport back to your home,” Latarian said. She was growing more worried with each day that passed that Idris would object to using the knife when the opportunity presented itself. It was her responsibility to not only cast the sleep spell but the teleportation one as well. Despite his cowardice, Idris was clearly the best choice to handle the blade. Besides, removing it from the copper box drained magic, and the very last thing she ever wanted to feel was less powerful.
Sentinel's Dagger (D'Vaire, Book 2) Page 16
