Irresistible Indigo (D'Vaire, Book 9)

by Jessamyn Kingley

  “Thanks.”

  After polishing off his sandwich, Mac decided he needed another and popped more bread into the toaster. Roger was still gobbling up every piece of meat Mac handed him. “Is your familiar a bottomless pit?”

  “No, that’s Dra’Kaedan.”

  “For a small dude, he really does pack it away.”

  “Yeah, if I were you, I wouldn’t feed him the way you’re doing Roger. Dra’Kaedan would probably gnaw off your fingers.”

  Mac’s brows drew together. “Why the hell would I be hand-feeding Dra’Kaedan?”

  “I don’t know. I’m tired. Stupid shit’s falling out of my mouth.”

  “You’re cute all grumbly. Very un-Idris like.”

  “Yeah, it’s my job to always be happy.”

  Pulling the toast out, Mac built a second sandwich. “Your job?”

  “Not like I get paid or anything but it’s less annoying if you stay positive in situations.”

  “I don’t really see you as the type of person that can annoy anyone easily.”

  “It’s something I have to work hard at.”

  Mac chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed. “Who told you that you were annoying?”

  Idris popped off his seat. “We don’t have to talk about this. I shouldn’t have brought it up. You’re going through something very difficult, and I didn’t mean to make it about me.”

  Mac wrapped an arm around Idris before he could start grabbing things off the counter. “Hey, calm down. I’m going to be okay. It’ll take time but I’m going to get through this, and do you know why?” He kissed Idris as the wizard shook his head. His eyes were full of confusion and sadness. “Because I have you. What we’ve built together is strong enough to pull me out of my sorrow. Life isn’t going to stop because I’m grieving, and there’s still so much about you I want to learn. You don’t have to answer my question, but I hope you will.”

  Idris gulped, then snaked his arms around Mac’s waist. He rested against Mac’s chest while Mac held him tight. “Latarian thought I was annoying but I have to tell you, I thought the same about her sometimes and at least I wasn’t mean like her, but it was my grandfather. I got on his nerves all the time. It wasn’t easy for him to have to deal with a rambunctious, irritating kid. I tried to be better, but I never made him happy.”

  Mac ran his hands over the long muscles of Idris’s back. “Thank you for sharing that with me. I know it’s not easy for you to discuss your past. I might be extremely biased, but I’d have to say if he thought that way the fault must’ve lain with him, because you’re wonderful. I love you.”

  Idris lifted his head and laid a soft kiss on Mac’s lips. “I love you too.”

  “I’d like you as my mate to think I’m brilliant, but it was pointed out to me while I was in Maryland that I made a mistake.”

  “A mistake?”

  “One between you and me. Tell me, are you still interested in having a mating ceremony?”

  Idris’s eyes were bright with emotion. “Very much.”

  “Grandpa basically called me an idiot for postponing it until after you become High Arcanist. Immortal though you may be, there are no guarantees in life. I realized he’s right. I want you. I want to be with you, and I don’t want to wait anymore. What do you think?”

  “I think I’m glad you changed your mind. I want to have it as soon as possible.”

  “Me too. I’m sorry we didn’t have it sooner, so my grandparents could see this place.” Mac’s eyes grew misty, but he was filled with both happy and sad thoughts. “I had this picture in my head, you know. I imagined us making our promises to each other with all our family there and my grandparents right in the front row. I wanted them to meet you. I had a clear image of them spending a couple of days with us and getting the chance to sit in the garden watching the dragons fly.”

  Idris pulled away and grabbed Mac’s hand. “Come outside with me.”

  Confused, Mac undid the locks on the door and Idris led him outside. They crossed the deck and wandered over to the memorial garden. There were brick pavers around a glorious, multi-tiered fountain. Idris pointed down. “This is the paver we put in when this was built.” It had the word Vioric engraved in it. “Aleksander let me honor my grandfather this way.” Idris tugged him around to the other side of the cascading water. Again, he pointed to the ground. There were two bricks interlocked. One said Bretta and the other Lloyd. “These are temporary because we didn’t have time to order real pavers, so I used magic. The real ones will be here soon, but I wanted you to have a place to come and visit your grandparents here at D’Vaire.”

  Mac pulled Idris into his arms. “Thank you, sweetheart. It’ll be just like they are here with us when we have our ceremony. Grandpa gave me their rings. They’re too small for us to use as they are, but I’d like to ask Madeline to work them into a design for us.”

  Idris’s damp eyes met his. “It’d be an honor to wear their rings.”

  Mac kissed him tenderly. He had no idea what he might have said but he never got the opportunity. Brogan’s voice boomed across the backyard. “What the hell are you two doing out here? Don’t you know these doors are alarmed? The minute you stepped out it woke me up.”

  Snickering, Mac took Idris’s hand and headed for the outraged dragon. “Some duke I am.”

  “Don’t tell him, but it’s funny when he gets mad.”

  “Right? Because you know little Dra’Kaedan is going to bust his balls.”

  They reached the deck where Brogan was frowning. “Nice pants,” Mac offered. The outraged duke had pink giraffes smiling on his pajamas.

  “At least they aren’t kittens,” Brogan retorted. He turned to Idris. “How’d you get lightning? Those are almost normal.”

  “I was smart enough to buy my own material.”

  Brogan opened the door and ushered them ahead of him. “We can do that?”

  Mac walked into the kitchen and found Noirin glowering at Dra’Kaedan. “I can’t believe you’d come in here and make this mess. It’s almost time for breakfast. I know you get hungry, but this is crazy.”

  Dra’Kaedan swung his gaze to Mac and winked, then returned his attention to the fuming dragon shifter. “You know I’m ruled by my stomach. I had no choice. When it needs food, I must obey,” he said as he grabbed lids and started cleaning up.

  “I’ll help you,” Mac stated as he walked over to do just that.

  “Me too,” Idris threw in.

  “We’re all up. What I can do to help you get started on breakfast?” Brogan asked Noirin. They managed to get Mac’s sandwich mess cleaned up, and they all volunteered to assist Noirin.

  Before giving Mac his task, she offered him a hug. “How are you doing?”

  He quickly assessed his feelings. Grief was there and so was sadness, but there was also happiness and joy. His losses were profound, but his grandparents had cared for him his whole life, and it was because of them that he was here relishing every moment with his wonderful new family. Not to mention the man who owned his heart. He would be forever indebted to Lloyd and Bretta for always knowing exactly what he needed to not only survive but flourish. “I’m doing okay,” he finally said.

  Noirin smiled warmly and released him. He turned his head as Evlithar walked in with Cadlyr at his side. The blue elf’s face was full of surprise. “I guess we’ll have a lot of help with breakfast this morning.”

  “Isn’t it great?” Noirin asked. “I’m thinking about hiring them permanently.”

  “One question, if I may,” Cadlyr responded as he took stock of all the occupants of the room. “Is there some unwritten rule that anyone helping in the kitchen this morning needs to be wearing pajamas?”

  “Be glad I put them on,” Mac retorted. “Because I sure as hell don’t sleep in them and could’ve wandered out here naked.”

  Cadlyr turned to Idris. “I can’t tell if he’s bragging or just wants everyone picturing him without his clothes.”

  Idris’s grin was p
ure mischief. “You should picture it. He looks really good naked.”

  Evlithar tapped one sandaled foot. “Excuse me, but he happens to prefer his men blue.”

  “I’ve never seen a blue guy naked,” Brogan said.

  “If you ever do, I’ll tie your dick in a knot,” Dra’Kaedan replied with mock cheer.

  “Aaand on that note, how about breakfast?” Noirin asked. Mac laughed and decided he wasn’t going to wait any longer than it took them to eat to plan his future. All he wanted was to make Idris his forever, and his grandparents would be pleased to see them united. The promise of his mating ceremony gave him the strength he needed to handle the well of grief that resided in his heart. It would take time, but he would find a way to heal.

  Chapter 29

  “Vadimas, thanks for coming over,” Idris said. He was sitting with the Prism Wizard, Duff, and Delaney in the Dark Indigo office. “I just wanted to apologize for not speaking with you first before Mac and I decided to schedule our mating ceremony. I’d like to focus on him a little bit and move back the date for finishing my research paper. Del, I’m sorry to you too. If you want to ascend first and not wait, I’ll totally understand.”

  The Prism Wizard laid a hand on Idris’s arm. “You don’t owe me an apology. Thank you for inviting me…I’m looking forward to your mating ceremony. I’m so pleased you and Mac are together, and I’m sure it’s helpful for him to focus on something happy as he deals with his grief. I’m enjoying getting to know Mac better and from what I’ve seen, you two seem well-suited.”

  “Thanks, Vadimas. I wanted to have our mating ceremony before his grandparents died, but Mac wouldn’t hear of it. He refused to get in the way of my title. I hate that he’s lost them, but I’m happy he wants to be with me.”

  Delaney narrowed his eyes. “I hope you don’t think I’m mad. There’s no way I could be. You know I love Mac to death. He’s great and more importantly, he makes my best friend happy. I won’t ascend without you. We’ve both been together on this for five years. Nothing’s going to change that now.”

  Idris blew out a relieved breath. “Thank you both. Really. You’re being great about this, and being High Arcanist is important to me, but I have to be honest. It’s not as important as Mac.”

  “That’s as it should be, Idris,” Vadimas replied.

  “I think the delay should only be a week or two. I’m still working hard on my paper and other stuff. I don’t want you to think I’m slacking off, but I’m taking time to hang out more with Mac too.”

  “What if we pushed off the whole celebration for another two weeks after you ascend since the schedule has already changed?” Duff asked. “That way I’d already be eighteen. Because I have to tell you—I’ve been looking online for someplace cool to go but if you’re under eighteen, there aren’t many options and the ones we do have are lame.”

  “I don’t care if we move it. We could skip it all together as far as I’m concerned. I scare the crap out of people. Going to a club has zero interest for me,” Delaney replied.

  “Mac thinks it’d be a good idea for us to get out more,” Duff argued.

  “I said I’d go and I will,” Delaney retorted.

  “It’ll be okay, Del. We can dance and have a couple of drinks. We don’t have to do anything more than that,” Idris told him.

  “So, we can move it?” Duff asked, his eyes full of hope.

  “Fine,” Delaney responded.

  “Delaney, I’ve always told you to embrace your darkness, and I meant it. I’d prefer if you didn’t hold back in life because not everyone is comfortable with who you are. Fate gave you power, and she decided it should be different,” Vadimas stated.

  “I know, and I appreciate it. I’m just not interested in hanging out in a club.”

  “Well, I’m excited enough for both of us,” Duff enthused. “The more I think about it, the more fun I think it’s going to be. We can dance and flirt. Be around people our age.”

  Idris wondered if Duff was growing bored being isolated at D’Vaire. “You don’t have to wait for Del and me if you want to go out to a club.”

  “Idris, didn’t you hear the part where it’s all the cool places won’t be open to me until I’m eighteen? Besides, you know Brogan won’t let me go anywhere by myself. That’s why Mac is here. To protect us,” Duff refuted.

  Delaney folded his arms over his chest. “Pretty sure Brogan wanted more security, but Mac’s here for Idris.”

  “Since you’ve got your plans all changed, let’s focus on your projects. I know we don’t have the full group here, but I wouldn’t mind a status report,” Vadimas interjected.

  “Del, you can go ahead,” Idris said.

  “Sure. Things are going good. I’m still perfecting my potion, but the side effects for the birth control potion were lowered with my latest formula. I was going to submit it as is because you said I could work on it after I finish High Arcanist, but now that I’ve got some more time, I’ll tinker with it,” Delaney explained. “As for the whole shifter resurrection business, it’s difficult. This is going to be something Chand can do, but very few other people are going to be able to accomplish it. A potion can only go so far in splitting magic—the concentration must come from the sorcerer, I’m afraid. I’ve gained a great deal of respect for Fate for managing to unite beast with man. It really is only a razor’s edge between success and failure.”

  “It’s so awesome your project is about shifters. They’re the best,” Duff enthused.

  “Your turn, Idris,” Vadimas said.

  “My potion’s done. I’ve exhausted all options and to keep it affordable, I’m not going to be able to get it higher than five to seven percent. I’m glad I could get it above the initial one to five percent, but I can’t do any more. The only other option is to create an expensive version, which will get you up to ten or even twelve percent in certain cases,” Idris replied. He couldn’t go into specifics with Duff in the room, but he was going to do his best to update Vadimas. “My research is tricky. I can get it to work, but the probability is not where it should be to be successful. The problem I continue to run into is Chand’s demonic power literally eating Dra’Kaedan’s. Their magic is polar opposite. I need to fine-tune it, so it’s layered exactly right. The reality is when we do this, it’s going to take precision. A lot of it. My paper doesn’t have anything to do with results, so it’s just about done. Any other group of living sorcerers couldn’t begin to have the potency necessary to accomplish it.”

  “It sounds like you’re both on the right track. I assume the practical magic side is ready?” Vadimas asked.

  Both wizards nodded. “Dra’Kaedan and Dre’Kariston have been busting our asses making sure we have our accuracy and precision down to a science,” Delaney remarked. “Since Idris won’t ever ask and honestly, he’s got more important shit to worry about, did you hear again from the people claiming to be his parents?”

  Vadimas turned his shrewd gaze to Idris. “Do you want me to answer our Del’s question?”

  “I haven’t even thought about it but yeah, you can. Mac’s not here so at least he doesn’t have to worry about it.”

  “They sent us their DNA to verify. Idris, they are indeed your biological parents. I was going to call you this week to tell you, but with Mac’s grandparents passing away, I didn’t feel it was appropriate or necessary.”

  “So, now what?” Idris asked.

  “Now it’s entirely up to you. They’d like to meet with you. I didn’t want to tell them about Mac’s recent losses, but I needed them to know you were unavailable for now. So, I simply told them you have a great deal of responsibility and are dealing with a family issue. I told them I’d get back to them when I could,” Vadimas revealed.

  “Idris, you should take all the time you need to decide what you want to do. It’s taken them twenty-one years to track you down as far as we know. You pick the time and place if you want to deal with them. Otherwise tell them to fuck right off,” Delaney
said.

  “I’m not even going to think about it right now. I want to know what Mac thinks, and it’s not something I feel comfortable talking to him about while he’s so sad. It needs to be about him, and they’ve never been there for me.”

  “I think you’re making a wise decision,” Vadimas told him. “They’re not going anywhere, and they’ll either understand and be patient or they’ll wash their hands of the situation. I wouldn’t allow it to bother you either way. You have your priorities straight.”

  Idris was glad everyone around him understood that even though Thierry and Zahra Vioric gave him life, he didn’t owe them anything. He was still angry at them for leaving him with his grandfather, and he couldn’t understand why they’d suddenly decided to seek him out. He just did not see how any excuse would explain away their actions. “Thanks for supporting me, you guys.”

  “I lost my parents. I’d give anything to have them back. I hope you’ll keep that in mind a little bit before you make your decision,” Duff offered.

  “They loved you,” Delaney shot out.

  “I’m sure Idris will take both sides of your arguments into consideration when he’s prepared to decide how to handle the situation. For now, his focus is on other things, so let’s not be led astray,” Vadimas stated.

  “Sorry, Idris. I’m trying to be your best friend and support you and Mac. Yelling about your folks isn’t helping matters,” Delaney responded.

  Idris squeezed his arm. “It’s okay. I know you’re mad because you love me and because your parents dumped you too.”

  “People make mistakes,” Duff argued.

  There was anger on his face, and Idris thought perhaps his grief over the loss of his parents was too raw a thing for him to see the situation clearly, but he wasn’t going to fight with him. He didn’t know what the right decision was, and it hardly mattered while Mac needed him. “Like Vadimas said, I’ll take everybody’s opinion into consideration, but now it’s about Mac.”

  “I’m going to leave you guys to chat. I need to have a few words with Dra’Kaedan and head home,” Vadimas replied. He hugged Idris and Delaney, then strode out of the room.