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

by Jessamyn Kingley

  Gavrael reasoned: after all those decades locked up in a cell, they should now enjoy the luxuries available to them. Gedeon was more than happy to go along with his mate, but as far as he was concerned, it was all icing on a gorgeous sentinel cake. Because what Gavrael did to him after that massage and scrub down in their big bathtub was far beyond any luxury he had ever dreamed about in that prison Gedeon had once called home.

  The blacking out after lovemaking once they were mated had annoyed the hell out of Gavrael. Those few minutes, which were soon reduced to seconds, when they were dead to the world, were inexcusable as far as he was concerned. Gedeon was willing to suffer through it, but it pissed Gavrael off, so they were both glad when they stopped losing consciousness after enjoying one another.

  Like the dedicated sentinel he was, Gavrael was determined to “conquer” sex in the same way he perfected dagger expertise. While Gedeon was his all-too-willing accomplice in this feat, after being with a man who refused to allow you to rest until you had come at least twice, dealing with his anger afterward was a bit too much. Gedeon grinned at his thoughts—like he would give up having sex with his man just to bypass the pissed off part. Never was about when that was going to happen, he mused.

  Under the table, Gedeon felt his mate’s hand come to rest on his thigh. “Are you finished with your meal?” Gavrael asked.

  “Yes.”

  Saying not another word, Gavrael picked up the remains of both of their breakfasts and headed to the other side of the kitchen to add them to the dishwasher. That was another way Gavrael took care of him, Gedeon realized. He did thoughtful things like that for him all day long and, looking at Gavrael’s muscular ass, he realized today he was getting double for his money.

  “Damn, but your ass looks delicious. I’m going to grab on to it later while you fuck me and hold on so tight you will be the first sentinel with bruises.”

  “Geddy, if you refuse to behave, I will be forced to change clothes.” His mate’s words were stern, but Gedeon could feel Gavrael’s pleasure at his words.

  “You do that and I’ll take your daggers away and not return them to you for a week.” The threat behind the words must not have translated through their link because all he felt from Gavrael was amusement. The man didn’t bother to reply.

  Before he could start singing or doing something equally obnoxious in Gavrael’s head, Blodwen came over and sat next to him where he still lounged at the table.

  “Hey, Gavrael said you guys are taking the day off?” Her tone was equally surprised and confused.

  “Yeah, I knew I was probably only going to convince him to wear those jeans once, so I needed a way to keep him in them all day. We train and he goes back to our normal stuff.”

  “Makes sense. Well, since you are ‘off’ today, we were thinking of going shopping. You want to come?” Using her fingers, she emphasized the word off with air quotes.

  “Sure, if I can talk my mate into it.”

  “I think you could talk him into anything. It’s so sweet how he takes care of your dishes and his eyes follow you wherever you go,” she said with a knowing smile. Gedeon hadn’t realized his mate watched him so closely, but it made him feel very warm inside.

  A few minutes later, that warmth was a distant memory. “You promised to keep the jeans on all day,” Gedeon reminded him. Gavrael had pulled him into the rarely used Duke’s Den across the hall from Aleksander’s office. While they could have this conversation without saying a word for anyone to hear, it felt so much better to yell out loud when you were pissed off.

  “I did, but I imagined we would be here all day.”

  “You said you were okay with going shopping. You seemed okay with it,” Gedeon accused. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t know if Gavrael was reluctant to do something.

  “I am fine with shopping. I told you, we will change and go,” Gavrael’s tone, much like his mood, was growing irritated. Gedeon was thrilled; he did not want to be the only one annoyed.

  “There is no need for us to change. You look fine. You’re dressed just like everyone else here at the house,” he assured Gavrael. Maybe his mate was afraid others would look at him strangely, but there was no reason why sentinels had to only wear one thing.

  “I know, but I would feel odd wearing these clothes with my daggers.”

  “Gav, you don’t need your daggers. I know it feels really, really foreign without them. I confess it was not a feeling I ever got used to, which is why I reverted back to our normal clothes. I thought it was too weird to wear jeans and daggers too. Well, actually, I didn’t just feel strange, I didn’t like it at all. I never got totally used to it,” Gedeon confessed.

  “Then let’s go change,” Gavrael decided, and Gedeon could feel his relief. But, that was not what they agreed to, and it was only for one day. If Gedeon could go without his daggers for weeks, then surely Gavrael could do it for one day. Which is exactly what he told him, which did not please the other sentinel in any way, shape, or form.

  “Geddy, please.”

  “Wow, you begging is pretty sexy, but a few hours in public won’t kill you.”

  “It certainly will if someone beheads me when I do not have my daggers and am unable to defend myself,” his now thoroughly pissed off mate accused.

  “That’s not funny,” Gedeon said, his words clipped.

  “It was not meant to be. It is our sworn duty to protect not only Blodwen and Trystan, but now the whole Court D’Vaire.”

  “Are you saying I was shirking my duty all those weeks when I wore jeans out in public?” Gedeon asked, ready to go upstairs and grab one of their weapons to carve into the man across from him. But just as the thought occurred to him, Gedeon was bombarded by Gavrael’s feelings. The other sentinel was first embarrassed and then quickly filled with shame and loathing.

  “Geddy, I did not mean to suggest—”

  “It’s all right. I know you didn’t,” Gedeon interrupted softly, but the emotions Gavrael was feeling just got darker. He knew they were self-directed; it was a regular occurrence for Gavrael to beat himself up when he didn’t articulate well.

  Pulling Gavrael—who quickly returned the embrace—into his arms, Gedeon once again returned to their very private way of speaking. “Gav, I know. We were both upset and not thinking before we spoke. I shouldn’t have asked that; I know you don’t think poorly of me.”

  “I apologize. You are an excellent sentinel.” From Gavrael, there was no higher praise.

  “Thanks, so are you,” Gedeon said before pulling back to kiss his lover.

  “I will go on this shopping trip without changing.”

  “No, it’s important to you to always be ready for anything. We’ll go change.” It was not worth making his mate feel bad just to see him stay in the jeans. Besides, eternity was a very long time. Despite what Gedeon said to Blodwen earlier, he could probably talk Gavrael into wearing them again someday. A body could hope anyway, Gedeon thought with amusement.

  “I made a promise to you. I should not have tried to break that promise. A sentinel keeps his word. More importantly, a mate keeps his word.”

  “I’m getting to be pretty crazy about you,” Gedeon told him with another kiss. This time, the only thing Gavrael was emanating were happy emotions. Warmth with a touch of bashfulness and lust started to creep in as Gedeon took advantage of the moment and deepened their kiss.

  Regret was the next thing Gedeon felt from him as Gavrael pulled his mouth away, “If we continue to kiss this way, we will have had this fight for nothing as we will not be going shopping.”

  “Are you flirting with me, Gav?” Gedeon teased.

  Gavrael gave him such a look of bewilderment that Gedeon laughed. “Geddy, I do not believe I even know how.”

  “And yet you manage to do it all the time.”

  “I simply respond to you. Your words. Your touches. They leave me feeling—”

  Gedeon waited and tried to figure out from Gavrael’s emotions what he was eludin
g to but when he got nothing he was forced to ask, “Feeling what?”

  “The same as I feel after our bath at night. I believe the word is sexy.”

  “Considering that after our bath you are busy touching, licking, sucking, and then fucking me, I think the word you’re looking for is horny.”

  “I am glad it is only you who has ever made me feel such things.”

  “I can’t imagine anyone else ever coming close to making me feel what you make me feel.”

  “Does what we do—”

  Gavrael refusing to finish his thoughts, and not giving Gedeon any inclination through their bond what he was feeling, was maddening. “Does what we do what?”

  “At night when we are together—”

  “If you are talking about when we are naked together, that doesn’t only happen at night,” Gedeon interrupted his mate, whose annoyance was instant when confronted with the reality: they did not only have sex at night. Somehow, even with Gavrael’s strict adherence to their daily “schedule,” Gedeon had managed to draw him upstairs a couple of times since they’d acknowledged each other in public as more than friends.

  “Fine. When we are together, not always at night, does it feel as it does when you touch yourself?”

  “Does it feel good? Yes, it does. Does it feel as good as when you touch me? No.”

  “That is good to know.”

  “You could find out for yourself. You could touch yourself.” When Gavrael didn’t immediately reply, Gedeon added, “I could watch. It would be very sexy. It would make me very horny.”

  This seemed to help his mate reach a conclusion because the next thing Gedeon felt was determination and resolve. “Indeed. A good sentinel leaves no question unanswered, and a good mate keeps his lover happy. We will both touch ourselves together.”

  The thought of mutual masturbation threatened to send Gedeon into an avalanche of lust. He leaned forward and kissed his mate forcefully before speaking. “Fuck shopping, let’s go do it now.”

  Gavrael drew away. “We have agreed to attend a shopping trip. We will go.”

  “Too bad; I’m horny now.”

  “You are, but you also wish to go out.”

  “This whole mind-reading thing can be annoying.”

  “If I believed you to be serious in that statement I would be offended. It is a gift,” Gavrael said, and Gedeon agreed wholeheartedly.

  “It is. I didn’t think anything could be as good as having you as my mate, but to have you and be able to feel you in such a way, it is beyond anything I could have ever imagined.”

  Gavrael stared at him deeply, and his emotions rocketed so fast from one to another that Gedeon could not pin a single one down before he spoke. “I am glad to hear it. Once, I thought you were filled with loathing about Fate’s choice of pairing.”

  “You annoyed the shit out of me, but I’ve always been grateful to have you.”

  “And I, you.”

  “Good, you can buy me something while we are out,” Gedeon taunted as he headed toward the door to leave the room.

  Gavrael’s laughter rang out, and it pleased Gedeon that each day he heard the sound more frequently. “We could use a massaging sponge for our bath or some flavored lubricants.”

  Stopping dead in his tracks to turn and look back at his mate, Gedeon asked in astonishment, “What the hell kind of store do you think we’re going to?”

  Chapter 19

  “Idris, make haste.” Latarian felt the wizard’s power tear down her spine in lightning-charged heat, and she cast yet another teleportation circle. It was one of many she had cast in the last few minutes. The hermits of D’Vaire had finally decided to leave their palace, Latarian thought with anger as she did her best to locate them. Not for the first time today, she wished either she or Idris had the ability to drive one of those beasts that tore down the road with such speed. Surely if they had a car, she would not be forced to feel what was fast becoming the torture of Idris’s strong magic through her veins.

  “I think they’re going shopping,” Idris said in a stage whisper at her side when they at last caught up with the group at a small shopping complex that was thankfully not far from the D’Vaires’ home. If Latarian had to follow them any farther she might be willing to use a blade upon her own poor, abused self. For weeks now, they had camped and waited for an opportunity like the one that had presented itself this day. This was, Latarian knew, her only chance to see her plan reach fruition. She could not stomach one more night of sleeping on the ground or eating whatever food Idris scrounged up from places Latarian did not want to guess about.

  “Stupid boy, I can see that with my own eyes. Quickly, we must find which store they have wandered into, but remember, we must not get too close just yet. I have cast spells and they still linger in the air. It would not do for Dra’Kaedan to sense my presence,” Latarian ordered and took a steel grip around Idris’s upper arm. She was not willing to trust the wizard to do what she commanded; nothing could go wrong this day.

  “Okay,” Idris said in the same loud whisper.

  “Do shut up. I believe they are in the building with the many tomes.”

  “You mean the bookstore?” Idris asked, stupidly in Latarian’s opinion. Clearly, she had just informed him where the D’Vaires were; he need not repeat the information.

  “Go inside and walk straight to the back of the store. Do not stop and begin babbling whatever nonsense rattles through your idiot brain,” Latarian said, and to ensure he complied, kept her death grip on his arm. The boy did not argue and followed her words to the letter. Within a minute or two, they found themselves in the back of the establishment, well away from the group of D’Vaires who were seemingly spread over much of the store. Now that they were inside, Latarian let go of Idris’s arm. She had not suddenly gained the belief he would do the right thing, but the bones of her fingers had begun to ache. Idris immediately began rubbing his arm, and Latarian distinctly heard him mutter the word ouch a time or two. She reached over and grabbed his hand to stop the action and yanked it down to his side.

  “Idris, we must seek out Dre’Kariston or one of the familiars so you may stab them. We will not have much time if we manage to find one alone. Remember what we have discussed. You mustn’t hesitate. Your very life depends on it. Do you understand?” Latarian asked and bore her gaze into his. His blue eyes were wide with fear, but he nodded. “Very well; let us not get too close to Dra’Kaedan.”

  Moving slowly away from the tall bookshelves behind her, Latarian slowly began walking down the aisle where she could see nearly to the front of the store. This would do very well for her purposes, but she soon realized there were too many people inside the building. That was a detail she had apparently overlooked. Thank goodness, she knew how to cast a very easy spell to change her luck. However, it was impossible for her to use it on her own or with Idris’s magic. Dra’Kaedan was too close and would instantly be alerted to her presence. It was simple enough that Idris should be able to handle it.

  “Idris, you must repeat my words,” Latarian said as she came to a stop. Not at all surprising to her, Idris immediately stepped on her heels and practically toppled them both over.

  “Sorry,” he said as he grabbed Latarian and held her upright. “What do you want me to say?”

  “Gather a bit of your power into a ball and push it forth toward these many people milling about but careful to not include any of our prey. Then use these words: You will not find here what you seek. With haste, you will leave this place without speech.”

  Idris did not hesitate to do as she asked, and Latarian closed her eyes briefly in gratitude that the fates had not allowed the stupid boy to screw it up.

  “That was so cool; they’re all leaving. Latarian, you have to teach me more stuff, so I can use my magic,” Idris said and bounced a little on his feet.

  “Be silent; we must return to the task at hand.”

  “Right, I don’t see those scary men with the knives, but I do see som
e big dragons.” At the boy’s words, Latarian turned around to face him and narrowed her eyes. Once again, she took his arm in an iron grip.

  “Idris, I will not ask you again to remain silent. I will take that blade to you myself if you do not cease speaking. Nod your empty head if you understand,” she ordered, and Latarian was thankful the idiot complied without making a sound. Releasing his arm, she resumed her walking. She noted Dra’Kaedan’s presence near the front of the store but hurried past his aisle as quickly as her feet would carry her. Latarian was unsurprised to see Dra’Kaedan with the tall servant woman who served as a cook for King D’Vaire. As she would have guessed, Brogan was there as well, fawning all over the warlock. However, she did not see Dra’Kaedan’s twin or either of the familiars close by the trio.

  Two aisles later, Latarian found what she was searching for and halted in her tracks. This time, Idris managed to come to a stop at her side without stepping on her. She could not help the grin that spread across her face. Right in the center of the aisle stood the blond man that was no doubt a product of Dra’Kaedan’s very own magic. Surely it was her grandfather’s cherished spirit helping her on this day because she could think of no sweeter revenge than kidnapping Dra’Kaedan’s familiar. Seizing the moment, Latarian gave Idris a push forward.

  The boy wizard tripped over his own foot and nearly landed on his face. Latarian rolled her eyes and noted they now had the attention of the blond familiar. “Hey, you all right?” the man asked as he reached out to help Idris.

  “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’m fine,” Idris stammered out as he regained his balance.

  “Now Idris. Do it now,” Latarian ordered, and Idris swung into action. He pulled the knife from his pocket and rushed toward the blond.

  “What the fuck? Dude, is that a knife?”

  “Uh, yeah,” Idris answered stupidly before he closed his eyes and thrust the blade into the wide-eyed familiar.

  “Idris, quickly. We must put some distance between us and the others before we cast any spells,” Latarian ordered as she took a steel grip on the arm of the warlock familiar. Yanking the knife out and shoving the bloody object into his pocket, Idris followed suit and grabbed the blond’s other arm.