“My life has been so boring compared to yours.”
“Well, I’ve had a couple of centuries more to get into trouble.”
“Was it hard for you to kill Carvallius? I’m not sure I could take someone’s life even if they did attack me.”
“Carvallius is responsible for the downfall of everything I knew and nearly everyone I loved. When I found out he was resurrected, I wanted to kill him a second time. I harbor no guilt for sending him to the other side of the veil. He stole the lives of my people because he’s a selfish fuck who wanted people to grovel at his feet. My parents are dead, and my brother was lost to me for six centuries. And Dra’Kaedan has nearly died twice due to Carvallius and Latarian. My only regret is that I killed him too swiftly for him to truly suffer.”
With each sentence, the bite in Dre’Kariston’s tone had grown, and it caused a shiver to race over Somerly’s skin. He was a young dragon with no real responsibilities, and he was sitting in a hot gazebo with a man who’d braved war. Dre’Kariston had waged a battle with a malicious man who’d injured him to the point that it took him years to recover. Dre’Kariston had lost so much; Somerly’s heart ached for him and his twin. “Is your brother okay now?”
“I don’t know if I’d ever consider Dra’Kaedan okay. I mean, even before he was kidnapped he was partially insane,” Dre’Kariston responded with a teasing grin. “This memorial garden began with his first brush with death. Since then, we’ve added statues of my parents as well as Scheredin’s family. There are two elven sculptures as well as a bench to remember the Cwylld and Acwellan elves. Dravyn added flowers for the Valzadari who have passed as well as pavers and plants to memorialize Mac’s grandparents who passed recently. That was Idris’s idea since there’s also a brick in the walkway for his own grandfather who died several years ago.”
“That’s nice. I kind of wish I had something like that for my mom and brother even though I never met them, but my dad won’t even talk about them, let alone build them a garden.”
“I think the important thing is that if you want a place to feel closer to them, you do something that works for you. You can do something as simple as planting a tree and sitting next to it when you want to think of them on the other side of the veil.”
“That’s a good idea. I might do that.”
“Always happy to be of service.”
“Does that mean you’ll kiss me again?”
“Sure, we just have to go into the house, so we’re surrounded by my nutty family. Otherwise I might strip you naked and have my wicked way with you.”
“I don’t know why you think I’d object to having sex.”
“Let’s at least know each other for a couple of days before we start comparing dicks.”
“We don’t have to fuck to do that.”
Dre’Kariston sprang up from his seat and tugged Somerly’s hand until he did the same. He dropped one soft kiss on his lips, then started dragging him back toward the house. “Time to go.”
Somerly grinned as he followed Dre’Kariston. He’d learned a great deal about the man Fate paired him with. He couldn’t say he was fully comfortable about being around magickind, but he was feeling more compassion for warlocks, especially the ones Dre’Kariston loved. Their conversation was very enlightening, but Somerly didn’t know yet how to make sense of it all. He had a voice in his head wondering how in the world it was bad for dragons to be in the Council when it was led by the Emperor, but he pushed it aside because it was disloyal to his father. Somerly decided that when he got home, he was going to track down Lex and have a long conversation with him. Perhaps his best friend could help him deal with all the confusion growing in his mind.
Chapter 12
“You sent me a creepy text,” Lex informed Somerly once they were alone in his room.
“What was wrong with it?” Somerly asked as he tried to get comfortable on one of the wingback chairs his father decided should be in his space. He swore whoever designed it had managed to find the crappiest padding ever; it was like sitting on a flat stone.
“Allow me to read it to you. ‘Lex, need u come to my room.’ I hope you know I’m not having sex with you.”
“Dude, that’s gross. I mean you aren’t bad-looking—”
Lex rolled his eyes. “Thanks so much for the glowing compliment.”
“But, we’re practically brothers.”
“That’s true. So, what’s up?”
“It’s this whole Dre’Kariston situation.”
“Nice way to talk about your mate.”
Somerly squirmed a little on the uncomfortable chair. “You know it’s complicated.”
“You’re making it complicated. He’s your mate. Fate gave you someone who is the other half of your soul. You’re supposed to devote your heart and life to him. Easy.”
“Except that we don’t even know if all that stuff is true. I mean…I want to trust Fate, but is she even real?”
“Did you or did you not recognize Dre’Kariston as your mate instantly?”
Thinking back to that moment, Somerly relived those minutes of absolute joy and the pleasure that had hummed through his veins. “Yeah.”
“Then Fate’s real, so knock off that shit your father’s always spewing.”
“He’s your king. You shouldn’t talk such shit about him.”
“Somerly, do you want my help or not?”
Immediately contrite for the rebuke, Somerly realized it was stupid to alienate Lex if he wanted his advice. “I’m sorry. I do want your help. You’re the only one who can help me.”
“That’s not true. You have a mate now to turn to for advice and stuff. You need to build a strong bond with him.”
“Fate should’ve given you your mate instead of me.”
“Like I said, your warlock’s sexy as hell. I’ll take him if you don’t want him.”
“He’s mine.”
Lex smiled brightly. “About time you realized that.”
“I had a long talk with him the other day and learned a bunch of stuff that’s confusing me.”
“Like what?”
“Did you know the Council’s run by Emperor Draconis?”
Cocking his head to the side, Lex studied Somerly for several minutes, which made him extremely uncomfortable. He didn’t have any clue what his friend was thinking, and he had a feeling it wasn’t anything good. “Yeah, I did. How many times have I told you that Fate gave us an Emperor for a reason? Tell me what life is like for Dre’Kariston in the Council.”
“King Aleksander has this enormous house where they all live. It’s a mix of all different kinds of sorcerers and even a Kellas cat shifter. There are over a hundred types of people in the Council. I didn’t even know there were that many races out there.”
“I wish the Council website wasn’t blocked for all of us. We would know so much more.”
“Dad doesn’t think it’s a good idea for us to learn about them.”
“Right, because he thinks they’re all but criminal. Do they seem that way when you go there?”
“No, the D’Vaires are nice. I mean I’m still not going anywhere near King Aleksander, but the last two weeks I’ve spent all the time I can at night when Dad thinks I’m sleeping here. It’s this great big family, and Dre’Kariston told me the Emperor visits D’Vaire. He considers them all friends.”
“Man, I’d love to meet the Emperor.”
“I don’t know. Why doesn’t he help the dragons here?”
“How could he help, Somerly? The wizards have all the power. Why didn’t your father take his dragons to the Council with most of the other courts?”
“You know why. He didn’t think it was best for us.”
“Or was it best for him to not have to answer to the Emperor? I have a question for you, Somerly. What’s it like being a gay guy in that house in Arizona?”
“No one cares that I’m gay at Court D’Vaire.”
“And yet your dad forbids anyone to have same-sex relationshi
ps. That’s something he couldn’t do within the Council, I’m guessing.”
“My dad isn’t a bad guy.”
“I’m not going to have that argument with you. I don’t think he’s the best king in the world. That’s no secret. He’s forbidden me to go any more than ten miles outside of his land and he has me followed. Who does that?”
“He knows you want to join the Council, and he doesn’t think it’s in your best interests.”
“So, being a prisoner here without any path to enrich my life is better?”
“Come on Lex, I don’t want to lose my best friend.”
“You’re the only reason I haven’t found a way to sneak out. Otherwise I’d be on Emperor Draconis’s doorstep asking for refuge.”
“I don’t know what the hell to do about all this. I like Dre’Kariston. I like him a lot, but my life’s all set here. I’m not sure I could live with myself if I disappointed my dad and the entire court by not going through with my wedding, but I can see myself at Dre’Kariston’s side being happy with him. What do I do?”
“You already know what I’d do, but ultimately it must be your decision. My advice would be to follow your heart.”
“I’m trying, but how do you choose between the parent who has loved and cared for you your whole life and the person you can see yourself falling in love with?”
Lex closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. “I don’t know, Somerly.”
“I must’ve done something awful for Fate to have thrown me into this horrible puzzle.”
“No way. You’re a good person. You’ve got this amazing capacity to be loyal to those you love, and you are kind to those around you. Life’s always complicated and there are always choices to be made—some are just easier than others.”
“I guess I’ll keep getting to know Dre’Kariston and see where that leads me.”
“Good. I’d hate for you to deny your mate, but what are you going to do about your wedding?”
“For now, it stays as is. I’m still not ready to devastate my dad. I don’t know if I ever will be.”
* * *
Dre’Kariston scrolled up with the wheel of the mouse and clicked on the refresh button, but there was no new email to the Coven of Warlocks’ address. There hadn’t been any two minutes before when he’d checked either. It was a slow day in their office and for Dre’Kariston, it was maddening. His life was a waiting game where he only found true happiness in those few precious hours Somerly spent at the house each day. Flipping over his wrist to look at his watch, he noted there was still plenty of time until he teleported to Somerly’s treehouse.
Leaning back in his chair, Dre’Kariston pondered joining his brother in Aleksander’s office, where they were likely gossiping about whatever topic came up. Before he could decide, he glanced up to find Derwin walking over the threshold into the room. It was rare that Derwin bothered to make his way out of the house to where the warlocks ran the sanctuary that bore his twin’s name.
“Everything all right?” Dre’Kariston ventured.
Derwin leaned against the long table that wrapped across the length of two walls. “How’s your mate?”
“Somerly’s fine as far as I know.”
“Things are going well between you two?”
Since Derwin was being polite, Dre’Kariston decided to answer his question as fully as he could. “It’s only been about two weeks since we met, but I think so. He’s nice, and I like him. I appreciate his unjaded view of the world, and he’s interested in learning about the Council and our way of life. I think it’s great he’s willing to come here every day even if it’s only for a couple of hours.”
“I’m surprised Brogan hasn’t thrown a fit because you’re traveling to Court Ethelin every day.”
“I went alone the first time, and I was surprised myself that he didn’t yell at me, but perhaps he didn’t want to embarrass me in front of Somerly. I know how concerned he is that Latarian’s out there somewhere as are the missing necro elders, so I talked to Gavrael. Each time I go back and forth one of our sentinels comes with me in stealth, so it doesn’t make Somerly uncomfortable.”
“Has he introduced you to his dad?”
“No, and I’m not going to push the subject. His father’s wary of magickind, and he’s elderly. I don’t know how ill he is, but I don’t want to give him any unnecessary stress. If I had to guess, I’d say that Somerly will ease him into the idea of me being his mate.”
“Imagine how he’ll feel when he finds out your soul is dark.”
“As is yours.”
“No, I’m not evil.”
“Derwin, you know dark magic isn’t evil.”
Derwin stood up straight and pinned Dre’Kariston with a glare. “Carvallius was.”
“That’s one person. You can’t base an entire portion of magickind on a single guy who was completely rotten and hollow inside.”
“The light would’ve kept him from becoming so fixated on himself and would have prevented him from destroying our people.”
“Light sorcerers have harmed people as well, Derwin.”
“And it turns them dark,” Derwin argued.
“That’s not true. Light magic can be twisted to destroy. It’s about the heart of the person, not the spells they know.”
“I don’t care what you think. I don’t want to be dark.”
“It beckons you as it does me. You were born of my magic. What pushes me toward that path has the same effect on you. You’re denying your own desire because of what happened when you were summoned.”
“For years I tended to you like a slave due to the dark magic, which ate away at your light. Carvallius is pulling you into the darkness. You’ll be a destructive force just as he was.”
Dre’Kariston got to his feet and took a step forward so he was face-to-face with his familiar. “You have my memories. I’ve been poised on the brink of darkness since birth.”
“You have choices. Your brother’s a true light caster. Purer than even your mother. You can follow his example and practice magic that helps, not harms,” Derwin shouted.
“I’m not Dra’Kaedan. He’s drawn to heal. His studies focus on that—it purifies his magic each time he casts a spell. I envy him for following his soul and practicing what he’s meant to. I want to do the same, but I can’t because you won’t willingly join me.”
“I will never consent to being dark.”
Dre’Kariston turned and strode to the other side of the room to create some space between himself and Derwin. He comprehended exactly what was inside his familiar, which made Derwin’s desire to deny it pure stubbornness. “I won’t wait forever for you to change your mind.”
“Don’t take the choice from me, Dre’Kariston.”
“Isn’t that what you’re doing to me? I’m six hundred and sixty-nine years old, and I’ve pushed aside my sincere desire because I don’t want to discount your feelings. Do you have any concern over mine?”
“Did you care when you summoned me with your magic ensnared in a horrible battle between Carvallius’s dark and your light? Was your mind ever focused on what it would do to me? Were you ever sorry you forced me to tend to you?”
“Damn, it Derwin. Over six centuries have passed. How haven’t you moved past it? Of course I was sorry I had to summon you, but if I hadn’t I would’ve died. You know that.”
“How haven’t I moved past it?” Derwin sneered. “I’ll tell you. What did we find when you were well enough to rise from your bed? Devastation. My title was useless, and then we spent hundreds of years hiding ourselves amongst humans. All the time your brother was cozied up in a cottage never caring his people were all dead. Now, we live here because he decided it was best for him. There was no talk of what it would mean for the other warlocks and familiars. Dra’Kaedan cares only for himself, and you dance to your brother’s tune. Doesn’t he taunt you about going dark? Is it truly your wish or is it something your twin wants? It would make him a light caster with no known m
atch. Your power is nearly his—he doesn’t have that distinction now.”
Derwin’s words caused white-hot rage to boil to the surface, but Dre’Kariston wouldn’t allow his anger to fuel his words. His familiar refused to see reason, and he could argue until the end of time over the past. “I’m not going to rehash everything that’s happened in our lives. I’ve always tried to take your feelings into consideration. I’m sorry if I haven’t lived up to your expectations. I’m not my brother’s puppet, and I love my life here. I apologize if it’s not up to your lofty standards, but your title wasn’t meant to be used to have people begging at your feet. Perhaps you’re the one touched by Carvallius’s evil, for it was his wish to gain power to be used for his own selfish reasons.”
Derwin’s jaw clenched. “We’re both tainted by Carvallius’s darkness. You refuse to admit that it corrupted your soul, but it did. You may pretend all you wish that you aren’t altered because of it, but I won’t do the same.”
“He murdered our people. It may not have been his hands, but it was his efforts that resulted in that war. It’d be foolish to believe my mind wasn’t changed by his actions. I was stripped of my innocence and lost nearly everyone I loved. It’s impossible to live through something of that magnitude and not be different afterward.”
“And the choice you make now between light and dark may have effects which will reverberate through the lives of everyone you know. It’ll warp you and it may very well be you who becomes the next harbinger of pain.”
“You’re being ridiculous. I’m not going to start a war and kill innocents.”
“You have no idea what the darkness contains.”
“Derwin, look around you. You live with a dark wizard and necros. Last time I checked, none of them were planning hostile takeovers.”
“You’re stronger than all of them, and warlocks have no boundaries in magic.”
“Delaney’s nearly as strong as me and he’s young. His power will only grow. You’re being completely unreasonable, and I’m done with this discussion.”
“So am I,” Derwin retorted, then stomped out of the office. Dre’Kariston shoved a hand through his thick curls as he wondered why his familiar was so stuck on the past and why he refused to be logical about dark magic. Shaking his head to clear it, Dre’Kariston set aside the argument and after taking a deep breath, he decided to find his twin. Dra’Kaedan was always available to put him in a better mood after Derwin annoyed the shit out of him. He didn’t want to go pick up Somerly with simmering rage beneath his skin.
The Summoner's Path (D'Vaire, Book 10) Page 9