“It’s a requirement for leaders like ourselves,” Vadimas said solemnly.
Delaney didn’t want to have a bad night despite Aloisa the Dwyer’s haughtiness. He fixed a bright smile on his face, which made Vadimas’s gaze instantly turn wary. “I have a solution.”
“Am I going to want to hear this?”
“No, but here it is: I could resign in the morning.”
“Keep it up, Del. I wasn’t chosen by Fate to lead the wizards. I can resign right now. You were the first ascended High Arcanist in the history of the Spectra Wizardry. That would automatically make you Prism Wizard,” Vadimas taunted.
Delaney leaned in toward him. “What do you say we both resign, and Idris can deal with being the Prism Wizard?”
“If you guys quit, I’ll kill you both,” Idris stated matter-of-factly. “I don’t even care if I get caught.”
“No worries, sweetheart. You won’t even need to lift a finger. I’ll shift and eat them both,” Mac told Idris as he stroked a hand down his cloaked back.
“If I had a crown and a title, I’d be out at stuff like this every night. I’d have people eating out of my hands and begging for my attention,” Duff threw in. “I’d have a huge house and like a dozen people in my bed.”
“Sounds awfully crowded,” Vadimas responded.
“You’re right, I’d need some space. They could line up around the bed and wait their turn with King Duff.”
“Well, kid…if you’re going to dream why not dream big, right?” Mac asked.
Duff grinned. “Exactly.”
Before anyone could comment further, Greggory lifted his head and made a strange sound in his throat. “What’s wrong, buddy?” Delaney asked. His familiar pushed off Mac’s shoulder and flapped his wings vigorously, then flew away.
“Del, summon Greggory, please,” Mac instructed as soon as he was out of sight.
“No, don’t,” Idris rushed out. “Roger found you. Maybe Greggory found Del’s mate.”
“Oh get real, Idris,” Duff retorted.
Delaney said nothing. He couldn’t. A feeling of bliss washed over him, and his cock jerked as the scent of roses mixed with raspberries filled his nose. He might not be able to see him, but somewhere in the crowded ballroom was his other half. Helplessly he glanced over at Idris, and his best friend read his face perfectly.
“He’s here, isn’t he?” he said just above a whisper. His bluish-purple gaze was full of wonder.
Not able to speak, Delaney nodded.
Mac’s smile was as gorgeous as the ones Idris and Vadimas wore. Duff was staring bug-eyed, but Delaney ignored him. “Well then, let’s go find him,” Mac said.
His feet refused to budge, so Delaney stood there as if he were stuck in quicksand. Vadimas held out a hand. “This is going to be wonderful. He’ll love you. Your mate’s going to be so proud to have you as his.”
For reasons he didn’t want to delve into, Delaney suddenly had tears threatening. He swallowed them down and slid his palm into Vadimas’s just as he had when he was four. “Are you sure?” he managed. “What if he doesn’t like me?”
“That’s simply not possible,” Vadimas assured him. “Come on now, he’s probably wondering why he’s being mauled by an overly affectionate dragon familiar. We need to rescue him.”
“Yeah, okay,” Delaney said as he tried not to think about all the reasons it was very possible his mate would detest everything he was and what he stood for. Fate decided to answer Idris’s request, so Delaney would walk forward into his future pretending he wasn’t scared shitless.
* * *
“Oh good, there’s your brother,” Irina said as they spotted Vampyr Lord Nikolai Volkov stepping out of the car in front of them. Like Grigori, he resembled their mother with blue eyes so pale they were nearly colorless, thick lashes, and high cheekbones. “Give him a hug, Grigori.”
Grigori chuckled as his older brother embraced him, then did the same to their parents. “Right, because it’s been what, since breakfast since I saw him last?”
“Mother’s still concerned her children will become rivals and spend all their time bickering,” Nikolai remarked.
“Call me ‘Mother’ again and you’ll find yourself in real trouble, mister.”
“I’m trembling in my boots, Mama,” Grigori’s brother responded silkily. Nikolai was suave and debonair. Everything Grigori was not and although he tried to emulate his beloved brother’s charm, it never worked.
“Let’s go inside before I decide to have your father punish you.”
“Things are getting serious. Did you lose yourself in the lab again, Grigori?” Nikolai asked him as they strolled toward the stunning hotel Emperor Chrysander Draconis picked for his event.
“I thought I still had a week until tonight’s thing.”
“Maybe you should leave chemistry behind and start building a time machine.”
“If I thought I could get one to work, I’d already have a prototype. How was your day?”
“Busy as usual. I’ve got some graphics to show you for the new blood flavor additives you came up with.”
“You really don’t need my okay on that stuff. I just want to make things more interesting for us since we all have to drink blood.”
“You created it, you get a say in how we produce it,” Nikolai insisted. His brother was not only magnetic, he had the strong will of their parents.
“All right, let’s eat some food. I’m starving,” Grigori replied as they walked through a tall set of glass doors. They followed a large throng of people headed toward the ballroom.
“Skipped lunch?”
“If it wasn’t for Tigglesworth, I’d probably be wearing jeans.”
The entrance to the event was wide open but before they could enter the gathering, a small dragon, maybe a foot tall from tail to nose, flew in their direction. Grigori automatically ducked out of the way and figured the dragon went past him, so he was stunned when he swooped down to land on his shoulder.
“What the—” Grigori managed as Nikolai reached up and patted the dragon.
“Hello there,” Nikolai offered. The dragon made a growly sound, then butted his head into Grigori’s. He was not gentle.
“Hey, calm down.” Grigori would’ve asked him what he wanted, but they crossed the threshold of the ballroom, and all the blood in Grigori’s body pooled in his dick. A rich smell that was a mix of leather, wood, and dark-roasted coffee flowed across his senses. He was taught since birth exactly why he was suddenly feeling like he could conquer the world. Somewhere in the room was his mate.
“Your face is white, what’s wrong?” Nikolai asked. His brow was creased, and the concern in his voice got their parents’ immediate attention.
“Grigori?” his father inquired.
His palms were sweaty, and the dampness covering his back was causing his shirt to stick to his skin. Mouth full of saliva as fear choked him, Grigori swallowed thickly. “My mate’s here,” he said softly.
“Oh Grigori, that’s wonderful,” his mother responded. She gave his clammy hand a squeeze. “I’m guessing our little dragon here might know who he is. Perhaps your vampire has a sorcerer friend.”
Grigori didn’t know what else to say or how to react. Something made him turn his head and when he did, he found himself staring at a gorgeous man wearing a crown, headed in his direction. He wasn’t alone, but Grigori didn’t waste any time on his companions. His future was walking toward him, and not a single complaint flooded into his brain.
Like Grigori, his hair was black—as was every stitch of clothing he had on except for a bluish-black dragonskin sash with silver lettering that was barely visible through his velvet-trimmed cloak. Whoever he was, this man was no vampire. When he got closer, Grigori became lost in a pair of eyes that were deep, dark pools. Grigori was captivated by their allure. He wanted to smile and fall to his knees to offer his undying devotion, but he just stood there stupidly sweating while wishing he wasn’t such a dork.
/> “Prism Wizard, how delightful to see you,” his mother said.
“Always a pleasure, Vampyress. I see you found our errant dragon familiar,” the leader of the wizards responded.
“It’s more like he found us. Will you introduce us to your companions?”
“Absolutely. Left to right we have Duff Cominsky; High Arcanist Idris the Indigo; his mate, Duke Macardle D’Vairedraconis; and High Arcanist Delaney the Dark. Gentlemen, this is Vampyress Irina Volkov; her mate, Vampyr Consort Alexei; and their sons, Vampyr Lord Nikolai; and the one with our Greggory is Vampyr Lord Grigori.”
No one said a word in response, and Grigori didn’t care one whit. The only name he wanted to know was his mate’s. He kept up with current events; Delaney was the world’s lone dark wizard. It suited a vampire who preferred the red rose on his lapel to be of the black magic variety.
“Take a deep breath and say hi to him,” Nikolai whispered close to his ear.
Grigori managed to lift his arm and thrust his hand out in the wizard’s general direction. “Hello.”
The implication of that act broke the ice that had formed around their group. His mother lifted a shaking hand toward her face. “Oh, my goodness…those black eyes.”
Delaney ignored the palm Grigori had outstretched, and his spine stiffened as he gave Irina his full attention. He opened his mouth to speak, then snapped it shut again. His gaze skittered back to Grigori and his expression grew shuttered.
“We’re very proud of him,” the Prism Wizard gritted out through clenched teeth.
“No, you’ve mistaken my words. I remember you. You grew up in an orphanage. I can’t remember the name. It was a lovely old Victorian house. I used to read to the children there, and I can still recall with perfect clarity a small dark-haired boy with jet-black eyes. It was you, wasn’t it, High Arcanist? You were a precious child, and you listened with rapt attention. There was such intelligence and power in that look. It’s even more discernable today,” Irina said. She glanced over at Grigori who still had his stupid hand out. “I never imagined…well, Fate gets to decide these things, doesn’t she?”
“Irina, Fate knows what she’s doing. It’ll be fine,” Alexei told her.
“I don’t understand the byplay here, would someone like to clue me in?” Duke Macardle asked with an edge to his tone.
“Mac, Del’s mate is this Vampyr Lord,” the man who was introduced as Duff retorted. His tone was even more irritated than the dragon shifter’s. “And I have to say, I don’t know what Fate was smoking myself. Del and this guy?”
“Is there something wrong with my brother, Mr. Cominsky?” Nikolai asked.
“Besides the whole sweaty forehead thing, no. He’s like all of you…magnificent or something. I mean seriously, he looks like he should be modeling underwear,” Duff answered.
“Believe it or not, Duff, I figured out they were mates. I meant, Vampyress, why is that a problem?” the duke asked.
She let out a sigh. “Vampires and magic don’t always mix well. As a High Arcanist, your Delaney has a lot of it. It could be dangerous for them both.”
“Irina, they’re mates,” Alexei repeated.
“I’m a mom, I worry. It’s what I do,” she snapped.
“Del, would you shake his hand already? He looks like an idiot standing there like that, and how that’s even possible with that face I don’t know, but there it is,” Duff remarked.
Delaney’s eyes met Grigori’s, he glanced down at his hand; then his attention returned to his face. Grigori finally gained some control over his idiot body and lowered his arm to his side.
“High Arcanist, you named your familiar Greggory?” Nikolai asked.
The smoky crown bobbed as Delaney nodded. “I was ten. It means vigilant.”
“Your mate has the same name,” High Arcanist Idris said. “You were right, Greggory’s a dragon because of D’Vaire and Mac.”
“I guess,” Delaney responded.
Grigori hadn’t missed that he had a different version of his familiar’s name—though the little dragon didn’t seem to care that he’d been reunited with his sorcerer; he was still perched on Grigori’s shoulder. “What do you mean?”
“I believe I have a dragon because I was always meant to be at D’Vaire,” Delaney explained. “And Mac’s a black one like Greggory as he’s the duke assigned to guard Idris and me.”
“Geez, Del. Get his number or something,” Duff commented with an aggrieved expression.
Grigori’s usually sharp brain finally started grinding back into action. “I’d like to have your number, High Arcanist. Perhaps we could go out on a date soon?” He was so shocked that he managed the question, Grigori almost clapped for himself.
Delaney studied him for a minute or two, then dug into his pocket to produce a phone. “Sure, Vampyr Lord. Let’s do that.”
They exchanged contact information, and Grigori stuffed his device back into his jacket but only after he added the details for the date they arranged for the following week.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know you, High Arcanist,” Grigori offered.
“Great. Nice meeting you all, and thanks for reading me that story when I was a kid, Vampyress. For me, it started a fascination with dragons which the Prism Wizard fostered, and that road led me to becoming a D’Vaire. Nothing in my life means more to me than that. Can I have my familiar back, Vampyr Lord?”
“Sure, High Arcanist. Should I grab him or something? I don’t want to hurt him.”
Grigori swiveled to the side and lowered his body slightly when Delaney reached up for Greggory. A few inches separated them in height, so he wanted to make it easier for the wizard since he was thrilled he’d taken the initiative in grabbing the dragon. Unfortunately, Greggory wasn’t having it. He growled and flapped his wings, so Delaney couldn’t get a hold of him.
“Mac, can you get him?” Delaney asked, his voice rife with frustration.
“Come on, Greggory. It’s just like when Roger met Mac. You have to spend some time apart now, but soon you can be with him whenever you want,” High Arcanist Idris coaxed as his mate seized the familiar. Duke D’Vairedraconis kept hold of Greggory as the small group turned and walked away.
“Congratulations, Grigori,” Nikolai said as he squeezed the back of Grigori’s neck with affection. “He’s gorgeous and accomplished. Be nice to him, and you just might make each other happy.”
“Your mother’s worried, but it’s going to be wonderful. You make a stunning couple with your light eyes and his so dark,” his father remarked.
“Makes me wish we’d done a better job of getting our schedules coordinated so we could’ve accepted the invitation from Chieftain Cadlyr Cwylld-D’Vaire to visit his home. Your mate’s been waiting for you,” his mother commented as she pulled him into her arms. “My boy, you’re going to be so happy at Court D’Vaire. I understand the most incredible people live there.”
He embraced her tightly and anticipated finding that out for himself. “Does this mean I get to go home now?” Grigori asked once she stepped back.
Irina narrowed her eyes. “Nice try. Let’s find some champagne, my loves. We have much to celebrate.”
Chapter 8
“You’ve been quiet for the last couple of days,” Idris said. The pair were sitting in their office alone, and Delaney was glad for the near-solitude. Several days had passed since he’d met Grigori, and he was adjusting to the knowledge slowly.
“The whole mate thing.”
“It’s freaking you out.”
“Yeah. I mean, did you see him? Duff was right, Fate must’ve been smoking something. He does look like supermodel material.”
Idris’s expression darkened. “It doesn’t matter at all what he looks like. You want his heart, not his reflection, and you’re making it sound like you aren’t handsome, which is ridiculous.”
“I know he has to fall in love with my personality or some shit, but we still need to be attracted to each other.”
“I think this is the first time since I’ve known you that you’ve completely gotten on my nerves,” Idris retorted. “You’re attractive. Even Duff comments on it, and you guys don’t get along anymore.”
“That’s because he wants to sleep with me because all his thoughts are centered around his dick and where he can stick it next.”
“We aren’t going to sit here and have a conversation about Duff when we should be discussing your feelings regarding Grigori. I mean for Fate’s sake, your familiar’s named Greggory. It’s like somewhere in your heart, you already knew who your mate was.”
Delaney smiled at his friend. “You know, until you met Mac I had no idea what a hopeless romantic you are.”
“Yes, you did because you’re secretly one too. We’re alike. Grigori wasn’t looking at you like he had any complaints.”
“I certainly didn’t have any. His face…it’s, like, perfect.”
“How cool is it that your mate has fangs? A vampire. I didn’t even think about one for you. I’m glad I didn’t put money on it.”
“What would’ve been your guess?” Delaney asked. He remembered being a child and wanting a set of fangs of his own. If he and Grigori somehow managed to seal their bond, he’d get them. They wouldn’t be as impressive as the ones vampires had, but Fate gave their mates the ability to bite them back. It was used not only to complete their bond, but it allowed his body to produce the same hormones that caused vampires to get their supposedly deserved reputation as terrific lovers.
“I couldn’t decide. Then I thought, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter anyway, as long as he makes you happy.’ ”
“I love you, Idris.”
“I love you too. Don’t be nervous about your date tonight. You’ll have an amazing time, and you get to stare into his pale blue eyes all night long,” Idris told him, then leaned closer. “And you can imagine how good it’s going to be to have sex for the first time.”
“I can’t do that.”
Becoming D'Vaire (D'Vaire, Book 11) Page 6