“I’m not going to let this go.”
Chander chuckled. “We’ve been friends for how long? I know that.”
“My ass is getting numb from sitting in this fucking chair.”
Looking over at Alaric who was dripping with sweat but still doggedly fighting with Conley, Chander asked, “They’ll drop from exhaustion at some point, right?”
“We can hope.”
Chapter 29
On Sunday morning, Alaric discovered that the best way to wake up was with your dick in the mouth of a necromancer who literally and figuratively sucked like a demon. He had no idea how he’d managed to sleep his way through any of it, but when he shot down Chander’s throat with a shout only minutes after leaving consciousness, he assumed he’d been comatose for a while after his mate had begun. That was confirmed when Chander rose from under the sheets and kissed him with come-wetted lips.
“I was scared you were never going to wake up,” Chander said as he settled alongside him on his elbow.
Alaric turned his body to face him and mimicked his mate’s pose. “I guess from that damp spot on the sheets, you came as well.”
“Like an hour ago.”
“Only a slight exaggeration, I’m sure.”
“I should have stopped once I was done. That would have been sweet revenge for last night.”
Alaric’s brow furrowed. “Last night?”
“Yeah, I was invited to sleep over. I didn’t realize you meant that literally.”
With a chuckle, Alaric reached out and cupped Chander’s jaw. With his thumb, he rubbed over his cheekbone. “Blame Conley. He insisted on fighting for hours.”
“I didn’t see you calling things to a close.”
“It’s the first time I’ve met someone I can’t beat.”
“Conley as well,” Chander said. “I told Drystan to give me his gun but apparently, he objects to shooting a tranq into either one of you.”
“I’ll have to remember to thank the good Reverent Knight for that.”
“You enjoyed yourself, didn’t you?”
“Immensely. I told Conley he needs a set of daggers. He’s going to have Madeline design something that would suit a fallen knight.” Alaric leaned over and kissed Chander’s forehead. He dragged his hand down and slung his arm over Chander’s middle. “I’d like to train him and have him work with Albie as well. Their combined speed will be a sight to behold.”
“Drystan’s never going to forgive me if you steal Conley.”
Alaric laughed. “He can rest easy. I have a man of my own to see to.”
“Yes, you do.”
“One who managed not to disappear this morning.”
“I really was only trying to be discreet yesterday.”
“I was worried when you were gone,” Alaric revealed. “I wasn’t sure what to think. I was relieved you were still in the apartment.”
“Funny how I was trying to be circumspect about the fact that we decided to sleep together, and I still managed to alert everyone in our lives.”
“Does that bother you?”
“I couldn’t give less than a shit. I know we said we would move slowly but this feels right, and I really only care what you think. If you’re good with our current state of affairs, then so am I.”
“Are you sure you’re completely content?”
Chander frowned. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.”
“I was just curious—when we made love the other night, your fangs dropped. I know our matebond isn’t complete. Is your demon going to be able to handle that?” Alaric asked.
“I was surprised when that happened. He wanted to bite the hell out of you. It’s something we’ll have to deal with.”
“How did you manage not to poke me with them this morning?”
“Not sure, my gums never started that tingling which tells me, ‘here come the fangs.’ I guess my demon likes your dick as much as I do and knew enough not to fuck things up by popping out at the wrong moment.”
“My dick would like to heartfully thank your demon for showing that kind of wisdom. I’m not concerned with being bitten by him, but I don’t think I’d like to start with that part of my anatomy.”
“Shows what you know,” Chander said with a grin. “Word has it vampires do that all the time.”
“Good for them.”
“I don’t want you to feel rushed into completing our matebond just because my demon is impatient.”
“Chand, we’re already mated. This is simply the fanged exclamation point to prove it.”
“I know, but I don’t want anyone but you and me to decide what the next step is for us.”
“Fair enough,” Alaric responded. “Are you feeling good about where we are now?”
“It feels like it has been a lot longer than a week.”
“For me too.”
“I told Drystan yesterday you’re too good of a person for forgiving me this way.”
“I disagree but I’m curious about his reaction.”
Chander kissed his chin. “He basically told me not to worry about shit and not to let my fears get in the way.”
“Good advice.”
“Yes, and as I explained to him, I did already figure that out on my own. I won’t allow anyone to mess us up. Especially not me.”
“This time around, I’ll be right in your face if you even think of doing it. I expect the same treatment from you should I be the one to become anxious.”
Their lips met in a soft caress. “Then Drystan bitched at me for not fighting the Order of Necromancia to get my job back.”
“Did he?”
“Are you ashamed I resigned?”
Alaric ran his tongue over his teeth. “Chand, I’m not ashamed you resigned, but I don’t think you fully understand how I feel about the Order of Necromancia in general.”
“No, I get it. I was in the assembly hall that morning you were added to the Council. You made it pretty clear what you thought of necromancers. I understand—you’re entitled to all those feelings. They had no business creating sentinels, locking them up, and then discrediting them at every turn.”
“Perhaps my perception of them could have been changed when you freed my people,” Alaric said with a peck to the corner of his man’s mouth. “But they’d already petitioned to have my mate removed from his Fate-chosen mantle. It seems at this point, I’m destined to have my blood boil whenever it comes to all but a handful of people with necromantic blood.”
“I’m happy not being the Arch Lich. I’ll admit there’s guilt there too but as everyone keeps reminding me, I’m prone to that,” Chander replied. “My number one priority right now is making things work with you. For that to happen, I need to focus on believing in myself and trusting us. I am also enjoying my work helping the sentinels with your massive complex. I like where I’m at right now.”
“But you’re scared for necromancers.”
“Sigimund is going to fuck shit up. He’s never going to work out long-term. He was on his way out when they found me. Sooner or later, there’s going to be an upheaval. But for now, this is apparently what the necromancers want. I won’t get involved in that.”
“And when he’s deposed?”
Chander shifted on the mattress. “I’ll worry about it then.”
“I’m here for you always. I will stand by whatever decision you make.”
“I told Drystan when we’re ready, I’ll have the title of Lich Sentinel-mate and that isn’t something trivial to me. I’ll serve the Sentinel Brotherhood however you feel is best.”
Alaric smiled. “I’m thinking right now you should be most concerned with serving the Lich Sentinel.”
“Oh, really?”
Bringing their mouths together, Alaric licked his way into Chander’s welcoming heat. “Yeah.”
Chander pulled away and threw the sheets down. “Too bad,” he said as he sat up and then left the bed altogether.
Alaric rolled to his back as his man hea
ded for the bathroom. “What the hell, Chand?”
“You haven’t been to the compound all weekend, so you’re going to go today,” he replied as he leaned against the open door.
“Not exactly what I was planning.”
“You should know me well enough to know, I can’t live with the guilt of you ignoring over eight thousand men just so we can fool around in bed all day.”
“The Skeleton Seven will be there.”
“So will you. We can play tomorrow night after our meeting. I’ll pack a bag.”
Alaric let out a gusty sigh. “Fine.”
“And Alaric?”
“Yeah?”
“Change the damn sheets before then,” Chander said before disappearing into the restroom and turning on the shower.
Alaric rolled his eyes and then rose to do as the little tyrant told him. He would do as the man asked and look after the men who relied upon him to see to their happiness. Chander would likely be at his hotel, poring over every little detail of their building complex for the thousandth time. He appreciated the dedication Chander had shown since being asked to facilitate this project. The demonic necromancer was attacking it with all the zest he usually gave his spellbooks. He’d also spent the last week eating normal meals and getting at least some sleep. Whether that was affecting his more optimistic outlook on his own life and their relationship he didn’t know, but he was glad to see the man he loved taking care of himself.
The previous day when he’d woken up after an amazing night of sex, he had been momentarily afraid and then disappointed. He’d thought they were back to the days where Chander couldn’t deal with each move they made to get closer. Alaric had expected to track him down after the weekend to find a set of frightened pewter eyes. Instead, he’d been sitting there eating a healthy breakfast and the only expression on his face was one of caution. Once he’d realized Alaric didn’t care that the Skeleton Seven and the others knew about the more intimate turn they’d taken, that wariness had disappeared.
Alaric had known then that Chander had meant every word he’d said. This was not only a second chance but a fresh start. The mate he’d spent a few weeks with and had fallen in love with was less timid when it came to his feelings. Their relationship was his priority, and it gratified Alaric to know it was true. He’d done the right thing in forgiving him, and they both deserved what they were building together. He could see potential stretching out in front of them and he knew one day, Chander would not only sink his teeth into Alaric’s throat but he’d be Lich Sentinel-mate.
Their matebond was forever, but he knew Chander ruling at his side was only temporary. Fate had chosen Chander to be the Arch Lich and someday he would be returned to that role whether he wanted to believe it or not. Alaric could only hope that when that day came, he was able to put his distaste for the Order of Necromancia behind him. It wouldn’t do to look upon the race Chander oversaw as one to be avoided at all costs. Not that he would ever complain to anyone should he still feel apathy toward Chander’s people.
That was something he’d learned from Chander. The man had thought Alaric had cheated on him, but he’d never said a harmful word about sentinels and made no move to block their entrance into the Council. Chander might not always be willing to believe it, but he was good at what he’d been born for. The Council of Sorcery and Shifters would certainly agree, even if there were certain members who would be willing to unseat him. In every tree lay a few bad apples, and their government was no different.
He hadn’t lied to his mate; he didn’t believe Chander should be ashamed of his decision to resign. In fact, he thought it was the right thing to do. As Chander discovered in his private life, sometimes you had to hit rock bottom to understand what you’d lost. The Order of Necromancia had chosen to learn that lesson the hard way when they’d backed Sigimund’s desire to unseat Chander. Now they would have to live with the consequences.
It was that part that fed Alaric’s anger over the necromancers in general. When all of this was over, it was going to be his man who had to clean up the whole fucking mess. Alaric would be sure he had the full support of the Lich Sentinel, the Skeleton Seven, and every living sentinel when that day came. And they’d better hope to hell they never put Chander through that again because he wouldn’t be willing to sit on the sidelines and not tear into some assholes a second time around.
Chapter 30
Chander sipped his soda as Benton slid his card into the door so they could enter their hotel room. They’d broken ground a few days before on the sentinel complex and had spent the morning there while the construction crews toiled away. The trio had returned to their temporary home so they could enjoy their lunch in relative peace and quiet. When Chander’s phone rang before his butt even hit the sofa cushion, his pipe dream went up in smoke.
“If something happened, they’re just going to have to wait for us to finish up our subs,” Baxter declared as he unwrapped his sandwich.
Fishing his phone out, Chander checked the readout. “Relax, it’s Alaric.”
“Good,” the sentinel replied with his mouth full which caused Benton to slap the back of his head.
“Hey, handsome,” Chander said after hitting accept.
“Hey, how’s construction?”
Alaric’s voice was strained, so Chander knew this was more than a call to flirt, which they did with regularity, before he headed to the compound in the afternoons. “Moving along, what’s wrong?”
“I’ve got to rearrange my schedule a bit. I’m heading to a press conference with the Reverent Knights.”
“A press conference?” Both sentinels in the room turned to look at him after they heard his question.
“Yeah, I don’t have a lot of time to explain. It’ll be on television, but I will fill in any gaps for you later.”
“Okay, what can I do to help?”
“I was thinking it would be easier to meet with the Skeleton Seven tonight instead of this afternoon. Do you have a heavy agenda for them?”
“Babe, if you need to postpone it, I can stay home and see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, not happening. I want to see you.”
“Okay, there’s nothing pressing on my agenda. You guys can meet. I’ll hang out someplace until you’re free.”
“Chand, you can join our meeting. There’s nothing secret about anything we’ll discuss.”
“I do like a good sentinel-sized footrest anyway.”
“Always happy to oblige,” Alaric replied. “I gotta go.”
“See you,” Chander said before ending the call.
“Where’s the remote?” he asked his sentinels.
Benton fished around and then handed it over. “What’s up?”
“I have no clue. Alaric is heading to a press conference with Drystan and Conley,” he replied before turning on the television and switching it to the Council news channel. There was a reporter on the screen apparently waiting for the RKs and the Lich Sentinel to make their appearance. He was droning on about how they were in the dark about what was going to be discussed.
“He’s sleeping with the Lich Sentinel, and we don’t know any more than this guy,” Baxter complained.
“Behave,” Benton ordered.
Chander bit into his sandwich as he watched the Reverent Knights walk onto the screen and his own gorgeous man follow them over to the podium. None of them were smiling, and Chander knew each of them well enough to know they were pissed. When Drystan’s voice rumbled out, it was thick with fury.
“Thank you all for being here today. We apologize for the short notice, but we were compelled to make a statement immediately following Council session. This morning a petition was on the agenda filed by the Order of Necromancia and supported by the shifter community of Panthera as well as the Circle of Druids. It asked for the Council leaders to support their contention that the resurrected races of the Order of the Fallen Knights and the Sentinel Brotherhood be moved to fall under the jurisdiction of the Order of Necroman
cia.”
Chander heard his sentinels gasp and when Drystan’s enraged eyes met the camera, he almost did the same. The Reverent Knight wasn’t finished with his statement and once again spoke in a tight, controlled voice. “The basis for their argument was that neither race was capable of handling their own decisions. That because we were summoned from the dead by necromancers, we should be dependent upon their expert opinion on what is best for our people. Reverent Knight Conley and I are neither feeble nor simple-minded. Since the inception of the Order of the Fallen Knights, I have done my best to oversee a race of men and women dedicated to upholding the laws created by the Council of Sorcery and Shifters.
“I do not appreciate anyone suggesting that any fallen knight is unqualified to know their own mind or that we should be reliant on anyone—let alone a race who forced out their own Fate-born leader. We will not stand for this kind of behavior. Petitions like this should not be tolerated, and we are shocked that both Emperor Chrysander and the Council were willing to entertain such nonsense. This is not the kind of treatment we’ve come to expect, and my mate and I are no longer confident we see a future with this government. I’ll now step aside so the Lich Sentinel can make a statement.”
Drystan and Alaric deftly switched spots at the podium. Alaric’s green eyes were lit with slightly less anger than that of the Reverent Knights. He was likely the least of the three surprised by the petition. “Reverent Knight, thank you and thanks again to all of you who are here today. Two thousand years ago, my people were created to serve the necromancers. The Order of Necromancia has diligently recorded their history, but the details about the Sentinel Brotherhood seems to have disappeared. For reasons unknown, the Order of Necromancia imprisoned us. Former Arch Lich Chander Daray freed us and yet the race who asked for his removal now seeks to undermine my leadership as well as that of the Order of the Fallen Knights. I’m not a seasoned politician, and I am new to the world of the Council of Sorcery and Shifters, but even a novice like myself can see that allowing the pattern of behavior the Order of Necromancia has recently displayed to continue will tear apart this government. Like the Reverent Knights, I find my trust in this system shaken. This Council must act in its own best self-interest and address the mounting problem of the Order of Necromancia and do it quickly before they tear apart all that Emperor Chrysander, Chander Daray, and the warlocks who created it built.”
Fall of the Arch Lich (D'Vaire, Book 6) Page 20