“So maybe we should decide on a basic color scheme that will flow from all the public spaces,” Victor suggested.
“Yes, I think that’s best. I think continuity is what we are after.”
“Sentinel gray, black, white, chartreuse, and silver,” Evergreen said.
“You need pewter too,” Victor added. “Alaric would insist on it—that’s the color of Chand’s eyes.”
“They are gray,” Chander replied. “And I’m not a sentinel.”
“Lich Sentinel-mate,” Benton pointed out. “Pewter will work with those colors.”
Rolling his orbs of disputed color because he knew he could argue until the cows came home and still not win, Chander moved on. “Fine. Alaric wants wood tones as well. He prefers it to carpet. We will use tile in some high-traffic areas like the entrance to the building and in the cafeteria.”
“Because this is how my mind works I must ask, who is going to be responsible for cleaning all this stuff? I know the sentinels will be respectful of their space, but dust happens to everyone,” Victor observed.
Chander nodded. “I’m going to get the Skeleton Seven started tonight on staff. We need either full-time housekeeping staff or a service. We need to figure out what we’ll do about the cafeteria as well. Either hire a company to staff it or acquire an adequate number of people ourselves. They need to have all that ready for day one which is closer than you might think. Thanks to the warlocks for using magic to speed up the construction, we’re talking about a couple of months at most.”
“This is so exciting,” Evergreen enthused.
“Let’s go ahead and start going through what I’ve got here.” Chander pointed to the pile of things he’d been given by Larissa as a jumping off point for their complex. “Set aside anything that’s interesting to you, and then we’ll start negotiations over what to show the Skeleton Seven. We need two basic schemes we can elaborate on as we pick out specific items later.”
“You aren’t going to ask the Skeleton Seven to pick out each thing?” Baxter asked.
“I wasn’t planning on it, no. There’s a lot of things to purchase and if we need all seven of them to choose every chair or vase, then this process is going to take a great deal more time than we have. If I thought they were interested in the interior design then I might find a more creative way to get them on board, but the reality is they want it done and they don’t care about the particulars,” Chander explained.
“Larissa told me they weren’t all that enthused about designing this place,” Benton replied. “She managed to get them individually to decide on the colors they wanted for their bedrooms upstairs, but the public spaces were ultimately picked out mostly by her after the color scheme was okayed.”
“The Skeleton Seven know how to be sentinels so they are perfect compliments to Alaric when it comes to leadership. They aren’t afraid to come forth with ideas or to fight for a change they want to see made, but when it comes to something they’re inexperienced at, they balk at the idea of contradicting each other. It makes them a good team because they are willing to listen to one another and learn, but it’s a challenge when it is a project like this,” Chander said.
“This place is different too because I think they knew Alaric didn’t want to be involved. He barely stepped foot here before the two of you got back together,” Baxter responded. “Larissa told us it was like pulling teeth to get him to show any interest.”
“I’m glad you two picked this place out for him and the Skeleton Seven though. It’s the perfect size with plenty of room to grow. It was good of you both to fund and facilitate it,” Chander remarked. “Though I’m sure it was because you thought you’d be living here someday.”
Baxter grinned. “I’ll admit sometimes it hurts to be right as often as I am.”
“In this case, I’m glad you were right. More because I have Alaric than the nice decor.”
“Considering how crappy our old place was, we already know it wasn’t because of the decor,” Benton muttered. They all shared a quick laugh and then got back to work. The sentinels were counting on them.
Chapter 36
On Thursday afternoon Alaric was sitting in his conference room waiting for the Skeleton Seven to join him and thinking about his small but fierce mate. The last few nights he’d been quite a picture. Growing more at ease each day with the group of sentinels who assisted Alaric, Chander now barked orders and fielded questions like a pro. It didn’t surprise Alaric much; Chander had been born to be a leader and it was an extension of his personality that never really disappeared. Despite his penchant for berating himself or giving in to anxiety, he was remarkably self-possessed.
What the man lacked was an awareness of his own nature. Alaric doubted Chander understood how instinctive it was for him to take control of a situation and solve whatever needed to be fixed. Chander never gave himself credit when things went as well or better than anyone expected. He also didn’t see how caring he could be, and he still wondered how Alaric could see beauty in a face he described as plain or worse. It made loving him a rewarding but at times frustrating experience. He understood his reluctance to carry his new title. Chander wasn’t ashamed to be the mate of a sentinel or the race in general.
In fact, he’d done a great deal to get them where they were now—not that he’d accept any praise for it. But his experience as the Arch Lich had soured him for politics and dealing with dissension in any form. Although Alaric sympathized and was content to lead his men in front of the Council alone, he’d be lying if he said that part of him didn’t yearn for the day where he’d have more of Chander in it. But no one, not even Chander, could see into the future to know when or if he’d ever grab the true mantle of his title.
“Are we late?” Cassius asked as he and the other skeletons filed in.
“Not at all. You’ve beaten Gavrael and Gedeon.”
“Barely,” Gavrael announced as they walked in behind the last of the skeletons.
“Wonderful, let’s get started. Chand has given us a great deal to do.”
“He’s scary,” Cassius stated. “We need to do our assigned tasks for I fear the repercussions should we fail.”
Alaric smiled. “Bossy little fucker, isn’t he?”
“I’m not sure if we can agree or disagree on that one,” Eduard responded.
“If you’re not happy with the way Chand is handling the complex project, we can discuss our issues with him and figure out the best way to approach things.”
“I think we’re all happy he’s made such an effort to ease the decor problems,” Cassius replied.
“I hear a but there.”
“But he’s asked us to make personnel decisions, and we don’t know how to do that. We’ve never worked within the Council or had employees before,” Albrecht pointed out.
“Let’s decide how to best approach this problem,” Alaric said. “We should probably start with researching employment practices.”
“Chand has expertise in this area, can we not ask him to offer his opinion on what is the best approach?” Cassius suggested. “Either hiring services for housekeeping and the cafeteria or hiring individuals?”
“I believe Chand is afraid to make you all feel as if he’s taking over.”
“None of us is anything but grateful to have his help,” Albrecht assured him.
“He’s the Lich Sentinel-mate, how can he be taking over? He’s already our leader,” Eduard added.
“I believe Chand’s argument to that would be he’s a demonic necromancer and not a sentinel so he’s a leader in name only.”
“Look, it’s the Order of Necromancia who fucked up by dethroning him, and that’s turning out to be our good fortune. We have two leaders. One who is an expert on sentinels and another that is an expert of the Council. We need you both,” Cassius stated.
“Can we not simply explain that to Chand?” Brynnius asked.
“You can. Here’s the deal. He respects all of you, and he doesn’t want to mak
e you feel like your opinions aren’t important. Tell him where to draw the line and he will.”
“It’s not that we want to lay the burden of all the decisions about the complex in his lap. We just don’t want to make mistakes which will hurt the sentinels. He can help us make better, more informed decisions which will benefit everyone involved,” Gedeon clarified.
“I would use those exact words to explain it to him. He’s used to leading, not following, and that’s how he sees his role. You make the decisions and he sees that they’re carried out. I believe he’s wary of stepping on your toes.”
“A Fate-born leader afraid to upset us because some asshole necromancers decided he was not fit to rule them,” Ducarius griped.
“When we all move to the Council permanently, we’re going to have to get out of the habit of referring to them as asshole necromancers,” Alaric observed.
“I don’t see why we should. They are assholes,” Eduard replied.
“They’ve called us worse,” Albrecht added.
“Because they haven’t treated us with honor doesn’t mean we lack it.”
Grumbles erupted around the table. “Fine,” Cassius said. “If we don’t call them assholes for what they’ve done to us, can’t we call them that because of what they’ve done to Chand?”
“A question for Chand.”
“He’ll say no. He doesn’t even want to be Arch Lich,” Eduard replied.
“Who can blame him? Don’t you think Alaric would wish to leave if we went in front of the entire Council and said we didn’t want him? He would resign just as Chand did,” Albrecht argued.
“We’re not stupid enough to humiliate our leader that way,” Cassius retorted.
“They disgraced their entire race by doing that. That makes them assholes. I might not say it to their faces, but I’m going to think it,” Eduard insisted.
“I didn’t say we weren’t going to think it,” Alaric replied. “I just don’t want anyone saying it in earshot of said asshole necromancers.”
“It’s not like we’d say it to their faces,” Gedeon told him.
“No, the only necromancers we will speak with are Chand, Evergreen, and the D’Vaire necros,” Eduard threw in.
“There are only two D’Vaire necros,” Gedeon pointed out.
“I see many wanting sanctuary as this asshole necromancer who rules them continues on. You may add more necros to your house,” Eduard answered.
“The rest of them can rot,” Cassius added.
Alaric didn’t know whether to be pleased by their defense of Chander or smack his head into the table because they were never going to talk to necromancers again. Of course, if it was just their issue with Chander, he might do more to convince them to change their minds. But the truth was, his people had been imprisoned by necromancers for reasons still unknown. Not only that, but five of the men in the room were skeletons because their individual necros had made them commit acts which had stripped them of their humanity. None of the skeletons remembered yet what all had gotten them to this point, but that wouldn’t be the case forever.
Alaric’s memory was returning, quicker now that he’d been bitten by a demon, and he could recall more and more each day. He wasn’t sure if it was the demonic binding or the fact that he finally had a complete matebond, but he welcomed a time when he knew everything there was to know about his origins. And how he’d managed to get a spell which altered his thinking wrapped around his brain by a group of sorcerers of varying races.
“Okay, let’s set aside the necromancers and the shitty way they treated us and Chand for now. The plan is to ask Chand to elaborate on how to handle the employment issues at the complex, right? And then we take his assistance and do plenty of research, so we become more knowledgeable on the subject. Sound good?”
Seven heads, five of which were hidden under cloaks, nodded in agreement.
“Hopefully we will not anger him,” Eduard said.
“I can tell you one thing you could do which would please him. Chand’s very happy when you all spend time at the condo. For the five of you with bedrooms there, I know he’s looking forward to you sleeping under our roof. The complex is only a couple of months from completion. At that time, all the sentinels will be there, and I know it will make Chand crazy if you guys are so unhappy at home that you wish to continue to live here,” Alaric explained.
“We aren’t reluctant to move to the condo,” Cassius insisted.
“You aren’t?”
“When we decided to join the Council, you didn’t really want to do it,” Cassius replied. “You only did it because there are still unmated sentinels. The only reason we have the condo for all of us is because of the Daemon Lords. You planned to build the complex, but you weren’t thrilled about it, but you knew it was the right thing for our men.”
“I realize that and you’re right. The last thing I wanted was to be somewhere I could run into Chand. I preferred to be at the compound, but that’s no longer the case. I come here when I can, but my home is with Chand. I thought you guys were avoiding being away from the compound because you didn’t like the way people stared wherever you went.”
“Apparently seeing a group of skeletons can be unnerving for people, but we decided that’s their problem,” Eduard said. “This is who we are. What the asshole necromancers made us. Too bad if it makes people uncomfortable.”
“If you’re at peace with the stares then what about the condo isn’t inviting enough to make you want to stay there?”
“First, we didn’t want to be there because it made you miserable. Now, we don’t want to be there because you are newly mated and can use the time to yourselves until the complex is complete. When the rest of the sentinels join us away from the compound, we will be more than happy to live there,” Cassius replied.
“We don’t live alone. The Daemon Lords are there, and so is Victor. It’s fine if you want to move in. It’s your home too.”
“You and Chand have been through a great deal. It’s easier to have privacy when living among three other people as opposed to an additional five. We’ll be there when the sentinels move to the complex,” Eduard stated.
“You know if I tell this all to Chand, he’ll grow angry. He would be upset you all were purposely staying away from your home because of us.”
“We have made the decision not to move, but we don’t wish to anger the Lich Sentinel-mate,” Albrecht responded.
“Good, then let’s negotiate. What if you all spent a few nights there in the meantime? Every other weekend or something like that.”
“We stay at D’Vaire every night,” Gavrael pointed out to the skeletons.
“We do enjoy video games,” Eduard said.
“I like the computer and my tablet,” Albrecht added. The skeleton became almost as engrossed with the device as Chander could get with a book when there was any free time to be squeezed in around the small number of hours he was at the condo each week.
“The more we learn of these things, the more we can assist the sentinels when they arrive,” Ducarius asserted. “It should not be the burden of Gavrael and Gedeon to field all the questions surrounding technology as well as general Council life.”
“Victor also agreed to teach me the basics of cooking for when we can eat,” Brynnius threw in.
“I believe you may tell Chand to expect us to stay at the condo next weekend,” Cassius stated.
“Good, he’ll be thrilled to hear it,” Alaric said. “Now let’s finish our agenda, so I can get home for dinner or Chand will punish me.”
Chapter 37
Chander pulled on a sport coat over his grayish blue shirt. He had a date with a hot sentinel who was currently in their bathroom getting ready. It was cute the way he was changing uniforms, Chander thought with a grin. The man was going all out for their first night on the town, and he was touched Alaric was working so hard to make it special. Since it couldn’t possibly take Alaric long to change from his pants and T-shirt to an identical
ensemble, Chander wasn’t surprised when he emerged only minutes later.
However, when the door opened, Chander was greeted by a sight he hoped was burned into his brain for eternity. Instead of military style pants and simple cotton, Alaric was wearing jeans paired with a crisp, chartreuse button-down. Over it he wore a charcoal blazer. Just under the sides of it he could see the glow of his daggers. Chander supposed you could take the sentinel out of his uniform but apparently, you couldn’t convince him to leave his weapons home. Then again, the last sentinel to do that had managed to get himself kidnapped, so Chander wouldn’t argue.
Alaric’s hair was combed but still casually laid over the sides of his face. Chander’s dick reacted to the sight by plumping in his denim. He’d never been so viscerally attracted to anyone before in his entire life. The truth was, he wanted to shove him to ground and sink in his fangs.
“You okay?” the gorgeous specimen staring at him asked.
Chander closed his gaping mouth. “I’m not sure.”
“How’s that possible?”
“Damned if I know,” Chander replied. “You look good enough to eat, babe.”
Alaric’s smile appeared. “You look pretty handsome yourself.”
Using his hand to shove down his cock that was now tenting behind his zipper, Chander said, “We need to go.”
“That hungry?”
Chander walked up and grabbed Alaric’s lapels so he could drag him down for a kiss. “If we don’t leave now, I’m going to tear off these clothes and literally spend the rest of the night sitting on your dick.”
“I guess you like the outfit.”
“Shit, Alaric. Now I know why sentinels have to wear uniforms.”
“Come on, crazy man, let’s get food.”
Chander took his hand. “You can lead me anywhere you want, handsome.”
“You’re pretty hilarious like this,” Alaric told him as they left their bedroom behind.
Fall of the Arch Lich (D'Vaire, Book 6) Page 25