“I wouldn’t have asked for your opinion if I didn’t want it. I want honesty.”
“Then I’m sorry I didn’t understand that. I can truthfully tell you I don’t know what I’d do in the same situation, but I think you did very well to ask for proof. All I can offer is to trust your instincts. We’re in this together, and I believe we should approach this with extreme caution.”
Idris snaked his arms around Mac’s waist. “Okay.”
“As long as we are speaking our minds,” Aleksander said. “I’d like to say I don’t trust any of this. The Consilium’s involved in the whole Latarian and Carvallius situation. Now they’re missing, and suddenly two people pop out of nowhere claiming to be your parents. Even if the DNA comes back as a match, the timing of this cannot be ignored.”
“I don’t know if I’ll want to meet with them yet or not. I’m not going to think about it until I know this is real. I promise I won’t be meeting them anywhere that isn’t safe. If they want to see me, they’ll have to come to the Council. I’ll never return to the Consilium for any reason, not even for a second. It won’t be at D’Vaire either. They don’t need to be anywhere close to my real family.”
Mac kissed his temple. “We’ll figure out the best way to approach it if or when you’re ready. I’m sure there’s someplace at Council Headquarters we can use, but I would suggest this wait until after you finish—”
“High Arcanist. I know. I have no time or energy for anything else,” Idris said with an exaggerated eye roll.
“Aleksander, do you need anything else from us before I drive Idris insane with frustration?”
Aleksander smirked at Mac’s question. “Nope, that’s it. You better run before he decides he doesn’t want your dragon ass after all.”
“I’d never decide that, but he does get on my nerves sometimes,” Idris confessed as he pulled away from Mac, so he could go work on his research paper.
“Thanks, sweetheart. I love you too.”
Idris stepped back over to his mate and kissed him. “See you later.”
“You’re supposed to say you love me back,” Mac called out after Idris resumed his journey out the door.
Idris never broke stride. “Okay, love you. Bye.” He heard Mac’s laughter and was happy he hadn’t aggravated him. Idris needed to get his work done for the day, so he could enjoy another hot night with his sexy dragon. While he was thinking about the future, Idris also wanted the next few weeks to fly by to allow him to be united with Mac in truth.
Chapter 24
Mac was sitting out on one of the deck chairs enjoying the sun and reading one of his magic books about a week after he moved in with Idris. The wizard in question was out in the yard with Delaney. They were practicing their accuracy, and thunderbolts were booming through the air. Dra’Kaedan liked to vary their targets, and he’d picked a theme of candy and cakes. As usual, the warlock was likely hungry when he set up their obstacle course.
It certainly wasn’t because Dra’Kaedan was in an overly sweet mood. He and his twin were barking orders at Idris and Delaney whenever they stopped casting. According to Idris, both warlocks were instrumental in preparing them for all the tests he’d passed since joining the Spectra Wizardry Academy. Roger didn’t appreciate the noise and kept grumbling where he rested on Mac’s shoulder.
There was no response yet from the two people claiming to be Idris’s parents, and Mac personally hoped they disappeared into whatever woodwork they crawled out of. Like Aleksander, he found the timing too convenient to ignore, and he was glad Idris had stood up for himself. It would be crazy to meet with the pair without even knowing if they were biologically related to him. Mac irritated Idris when he hadn’t immediately offered up advice, but he trusted the wizard. Though Idris was young, he was self-assured and the reality was, Mac hadn’t faced a similar situation. It was difficult to know what the right thing was, especially when he didn’t truly know how Idris felt about his past.
The warlocks stopped snapping out demands, so there was about to be a flurry of loud bangs as the wizards started the obstacle course anew. Mac was thinking how cool the dark and indigo streaks of lightning were when his phone buzzed. Fishing it out of his pocket, he saw the caller was his mother. His first instinct was to ignore it, but he decided he needed to be the mature dragon his grandparents had raised. He swiped the screen to accept the call. “Hello.”
For several seconds the line was silent, and he wondered if she’d meant to call when he heard her voice. It was faint and there was a world of emotion in the one word she spoke. “Macardle.”
She’d never called him that. He’d always been Mac to her, and his whole body went on alert. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, Macardle…it’s Grandma.”
Mac closed his eyes and wanted to throw the phone, so he wouldn’t have to listen to anything else she might say. “Is Grandma okay?”
“No baby, she’s not. I’m sorry, honey. She’s gone.”
His eyes filled with tears as his brain screamed. She had to be lying. His grandmother could not be dead. “What happened?”
“She was old, honey. It was peaceful.…She passed in her sleep. Grandpa needs you. You have to come home.”
He dashed away the wetness on his cheeks, but it was replaced seconds later. “I’m on my way.”
“Come straight to Grandpa’s, okay? Alfred would prefer you spend as little time as possible at the house.”
Mac wanted to yell that he didn’t give a fuck what Alfred wanted, but he choked down his emotions. “Bye, Mom,” he managed. He ended the call and got to his feet. The world around him became surreal, and his mind couldn’t process that his beloved grandmother was truly gone. Somehow, he found himself standing in the yard. He didn’t remember taking the few steps from the deck. Dra’Kaedan noticed him first, and his navy eyes went from hard dictator to soft with emotion.
“Idris,” Dra’Kaedan roared. A wicked bolt of indigo lightning zoomed past his target, and he whipped his head around. His brows were drawn together in irritation until he spotted Mac. Then he ran over and threw himself into Mac’s arms.
“What’s wrong?” Idris asked. Mac twisted his fists in the cotton of Idris’s shirt as he held him tight.
He wanted to tell him, but he couldn’t get the words out. His throat was thick with tears, and his chest shuttered as he tried to compose himself. Mac had no idea how long they stood there embracing before he was finally able to say, “Grandma’s gone.”
Idris lifted his head from Mac’s chest. “I’m so sorry, Mac.”
“I have to go,” he managed. “I’m sorry, I can’t take you. No one knows about you but Grandpa, and I’d need permission from Alfred.”
“Don’t worry about me. Of course, you have to go.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be back. Grandpa needs me.”
Idris’s eyes were now as wet as Mac’s. “I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere. You just worry about you and Grandpa.”
“Thank you,” Mac whispered. He glanced over to find that the other three men watching were not any more dry-eyed than he was.
“I’m sorry, Mac,” Delaney offered.
“Thank you, Del. Dra’Kaedan—”
“Of course I can teleport you,” the warlock finished, obviously figuring out what he was about to ask. “Idris, go help Mac get packed, so he can help his grandpa.”
Mac allowed Idris to help him into the house. They got to their room, and Mac stood there without a single clue what to do. It was Idris who started stuffing clothes into a suitcase. Roger flew off his shoulder and hovered in front of his chest. Mac wrapped the little dragon tight in his arms as his mate did the work of making sure he had everything he needed for his trip. He wanted to lend him a hand but was helpless to do so. In some part of his brain, he realized he was in shock.
Aleksander strode into the room without knocking and pulled Mac into a hug. “I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. If there’s anything at all we can do
for you, don’t hesitate to ask. Take as long as you need in Maryland, and let your grandfather know if he needs anything from D’Vaire, we’ll help however we can.”
“Thank you,” he whispered as Dra’Kaedan and Brogan arrived. Like Aleksander, Brogan embraced Mac. Then it was Dra’Kaedan’s turn.
“Do you need help packing?” Aleksander asked Idris.
“I think I’ve got everything. I just need to grab his crown,” Idris replied. It rested in a wooden box, and Idris set it on top of the suitcase he’d filled. Then he turned to Mac. “Come on, Roger. Mac has to go.”
For the first time since Roger decided he owned Mac, he fluttered over to Idris without any resistance. Idris squeezed the little dragon; then Roger planted himself on the wizard’s shoulder. Once he was settled, Idris grabbed Mac and embraced him tight. Mac held on and wished he didn’t have to go to Maryland alone, but he didn’t want Alfred anywhere near the man he adored, because if he said anything cruel to him, he would have no choice but to kill him. Not that the man was likely to allow Mac to bring his other half to Court Stenet anyway.
“I love you,” Idris said as he released him. He reached up and cradled Mac’s jaw as he brought their mouths together in a brief but tender kiss.
“I love you too. I’ll call you,” Mac promised.
“Whenever you have time, you can call me. I’ll be here waiting for you no matter what.”
While Mac would’ve liked to stay or try to compose himself in some way, his grandpa needed him. He turned to Dra’Kaedan. “I’m ready.”
The last thing Mac saw as they teleported away was a set of indigo eyes filled with love and grief. He understood instinctively it was going to be Idris that was going to get him through the next hours and days. Mac thanked Fate he had him in his life, then immediately railed at her for taking away his grandmother.
* * *
When Mac walked into his grandparents’ house, there were people everywhere. The tiny place was stuffed with the Stenet rulers and their dukes as well as their mates. It might have been the tipping point that proved Bretta Stenetdraconis was truly gone, but that wasn’t what cemented it for Mac. The stark reality hit him when he finally got to see his grandfather. The old dragon’s eyes were dry, but there was brown peeking through the gray scales. Mac had witnessed heartsickness before, and Lloyd was already in the final stages.
He crossed the distance that separated them, tossed his stuff to the floor, and took his grandfather into his arms. “I’m so sorry,” he offered. The words were useless, but Mac didn’t know what else to say.
“Macardle’s here now,” his grandfather called out as he patted Mac’s back. “You can all get out now. We’ve got a pyre to set, and the two of us need to get dressed.”
“Dad, we’re here to help you,” his mother pleaded.
“Macardle’s all the help I need. He’s the one who has been here for Bretta and me his whole life. He’s the only one I want here with me.”
“Dad—”
“You may be a queen, but this is still my house.”
Mac straightened his spine and kept one arm around his grandfather as he turned to the assembled guests. “You heard Grandpa. He wants to be alone. This is about him.”
His mother’s eyes were dark with pain, but she didn’t argue. The house emptied out swiftly, and Mac turned back to his grandfather.
“You believe them? Wouldn’t even let me call you myself. I’m sorry, boy. It should’ve been me that gave you the news.”
Mac’s eyes welled with unshed tears. “No apologies, please.”
“Boy, you better get that crying out. I don’t want any tears when we light Bretta’s pyre. Not in front of them. You and me, we’ll tell stories later and swim in them, but they don’t deserve to see our pain. You understand?”
“Yeah, I promise I won’t cry,” Mac said as he struggled to rein in his emotions.
“They wanted to lay my Bretta out so the whole court could come by and see her. Can you imagine? I won’t have it. She told me I was to light her pyre as soon as she went. That’s exactly what we’re gonna do. You didn’t bring Idris.”
“No, you know they don’t even know about him, and I doubt Alfred would allow it anyway.”
“You’re gonna need him, Macardle. I won’t be here to get you through this.”
Mac could hardly stand the thought that his grandmother was gone; he didn’t want to think about how many hours he might have left with Lloyd. “I’ll go straight home to him.”
“Good. We’re gonna talk, you and me, but first we gotta get dressed.”
Mac helped his grandfather into the room he’d shared with Bretta for decades. Lloyd’s gaze went to the bed for a moment. “She went in her sleep just the way she wanted,” he told Mac. “Took a little nap and never woke up.”
“Where’s your suit and sash?”
“It’s right there on the door. Now you go on and get changed. I can’t wait to see their faces when they see you in that D’Vaire crown and sash.”
Mac left his grandfather to get dressed and with as much speed as he could muster, he changed into the dark suit Idris packed for him. He secured the D’Vaire sash into place with the pin Madeline gave him just a few days before. It had a replica of both Greggory and Roger with the words Dark Indigo scrawled across the bottom. Opening the box that held his crown, he put it on for the first time, then walked into the hallway, ready to assist his grandfather out to where they were going to say good-bye to his grandmother.
“Well, look at you,” his grandfather said after swinging open the door to his room.
“Not bad, huh?”
“Bretta was so happy when you went to D’Vaire. She’d be so pleased to see you.”
Mac nodded. They walked toward the front door, and Mac caught sight of the knitting basket still sitting next to her chair. Then he straightened his spine and promised himself he would save his tears for those that deserved them.
Chapter 25
As fast as Lloyd insisted they put together a funeral, Court Stenet rallied to the occasion, but Bretta was the mother of their queen, so it didn’t really surprise Mac. The fact that it was finally over was a relief. The day turned out to be a ferociously long one, and it’d taken a supreme effort of will to keep himself together. When they’d arrived, and he was confronted with the sight of his grandmother’s body laid out, he’d had to clench his fists tight to keep his promise.
He’d nearly lost the fight when his grandfather walked up to her and slid off her mating band. Lloyd carefully leaned his body over her and gently dropped a kiss on her forehead. Mac sucked in a breath and was shocked when Lloyd demanded that Mac be the one to light her pyre. He took the torch in his hand and said good-bye to the woman who’d helped shape him. An apology fell from his lips for never bringing Idris to her and for the mating ceremony she would miss. Then he told her how much he loved her before setting her body to blaze.
Mac wrapped an arm around his frail grandfather and stood patiently while court members offered speeches about what Bretta meant to them. All the while, Lloyd kept up a steady barrage of commentary about how silly Alfred’s high crown was or the fool who was talking that Bretta hadn’t even liked. His grandfather was using humor to keep the sadness at bay, but it was a welcome relief when they all headed into the big house Alfred owned for refreshments.
Moina came up to Mac and hugged him. He refused to add to her grief and embraced her back, but they’d spoken little. His half sister hadn’t come near him or Lloyd, and he wanted to slap her for ignoring her own grandfather. Carter, his half brother, stared owlishly at Mac in his D’Vaire regalia but he’d acted like a man and shook his hand while extending words of comfort. It pleased Mac that the young guy had at least some scruples…despite his parentage.
They’d finally managed to return to the small house Bretta had called home. Mac and Lloyd hadn’t hesitated to get out of their formal wear. Comfortable in jeans and an old flannel shirt, Mac grabbed a couple of beers fro
m the fridge and headed out to the deck, where his grandfather was already waiting.
“Took you long enough,” his grandfather grumbled good-naturedly as he took a bottle from him.
Mac sat down in the chair next to him and sucked down half his beer in one swallow. “Sorry.”
“Some funeral, huh? Bretta would’ve hated it.”
“The food wasn’t bad.”
“Moina told me not to eat too many sweets. I didn’t raise her to be stupid. I’ve got hours left on this earth at best. What does it matter if I spend it eating cookies?”
The tears Mac had held at bay welled in his eyes. “What am I going to do without you and Grandma?”
“Don’t you dare be sad. Bretta didn’t want that. She’s waited so long not to be in pain anymore. You know she suffered, but she was going to be damned if she left before you were taken care of. You were her boy, and she needed to know you were in a good place. I can’t tell you how excited she was when you went to D’Vaire. She cried tears of joy when she found out about your Idris. She’s happy now, and I can’t stay here without her.”
Mac scrubbed away the wetness from his cheeks. “Idris loves you guys.”
Lloyd’s heartsick gaze met his. “Does he love you?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why the hell aren’t you mated?”
“He wants to, but we need to wait. Once he’s High Arcanist, we can plan everything.”
“You’re smarter than that, Macardle. You were taught from the day you were born that nothing’s more important than a matebond.”
“A few weeks isn’t going to make any difference. We love each other. We live together just as if we were mated.”
“Your wizard may have the potential for immortality, but there are no guarantees in life, Macardle. You need to be mated.”
“I’ll talk to Idris.”
His grandfather held out a hand. Resting in his palm were the two mating bands Lloyd and Bretta had worn. “You’ve got a fancy metalsmith there at D’Vaire. I think your grandmother would’ve liked to see our rings used again. Maybe you could work them into whatever design you choose.”
Irresistible Indigo (D'Vaire, Book 9) Page 18