Brogan offered Aleksander a bland stare. “Security’s important. I’m not concerned about our day at the Spectra Wizardry. All our close friends will be there to see Del and Idris ascend. That means we’ll have sentinels, fallen knights, dragons, and several others in attendance. Just stay together, and we should be fine. My issues lay with what comes after. We’ll be celebrating at Fate’s Realm, a club within the Council Headquarters complex. Mac, do you want to give them some details?”
“I know most of you are unfamiliar with how clubs work within the Council, so Brogan and I thought it’d be a good idea to give you some insight. The one we’ve selected is a traditional place set up for both magickind and shifters. We’re all adults, and so we know casual sex is a way of life in our society. Clubs wish for it to happen in a safe manner, therefore there are rooms available for that purpose. On the top floor, there are spaces leased by frequent patrons and can only be accessed by people with programmed ID cards to give them access. The ones on the bottom floor are open to everyone. Inside each one is everything you need to practice safe sex. You swipe your card for entry if it’s unoccupied. You’re given twenty minutes unless you wish to pay to extend it. Any questions?” Mac asked.
“Is that sanitary?” Noirin wanted to know.
“Yes, it is. Thanks to the Spectra Wizardry, all the private rooms are equipped with a potion that’s activated each time the door is opened. It scours every inch of the room and adds a fresh scent, which I’m told at Fate’s Realm is a mix of lavender and vanilla. This setup began decades ago to keep people from risking their personal safety to hook up. Cameras are not allowed inside, so you don’t have to worry about anything coming back to haunt you. Clubs like this are routinely inspected by officials to make sure they are complying with the laws the Council ratified decades ago,” Brogan assured them.
“Who picked the club?” Duff asked. “There’s a ton of places to go in Vegas.”
“The club was selected by Mac and myself. We contacted the Reverent Knights for a safe place for us to go that also had a vibrant crowd. This is a popular place, and there should be plenty of people for you to enjoy your evening with. There will also be extra fallen knights and sentinels in attendance at our request. I don’t care what any of you do while you’re there. I’m not going to be policing you. If you want to get your freak on, be my guest. The only thing I ask is that you stay inside the club itself. There’s no reason for you to leave with anyone,” Brogan replied.
“You just said we were all adults, but you’re also expecting us to follow rules other people would find ridiculous. Why aren’t we free to do whatever we want?”
“Duff, we’ve spoken at length with all of you about the threat of danger hanging over D’Vaire. I know you have no firsthand experience with either Carvallius or Latarian, but they’re not the kind of people to be trifled with. When they’re found and are no longer an issue, you’ll get to enjoy the freedom other dragon courts do,” Brogan responded.
“Yeah, but they don’t even know who I am. Why should I live my life in fear of them?” Duff demanded.
“No one’s asking you to live in fear of them. That’s our job as dukes. What we’re asking from you is to not put yourself into a position where you can fall into their clutches. Your identification card says D’Vaire. That’s all either one of them needs to grab you,” Mac stated.
“I don’t give a shit how powerful you believe you are, you can and will be hurt if they get near you,” Brogan added.
“They’ve nearly killed my brother twice. I won’t have you or anyone else in this room put into harm’s way,” Dre’Kariston said. “Should you disregard these rules and get yourself kidnapped or worse, I won’t stand for Aleksander or anyone else to barter with Carvallius or Latarian. They’re not only dangerous, they’re evil. Trust me when I tell you, that’s no exaggeration.”
“He’s not kidding, Duff,” Idris commented. “I knew Latarian. Once she has a plan in her head, she’ll stop at nothing to see it done, and the only person she loves is herself.”
“And maybe Carvallius,” Dra’Kaedan added.
“I don’t believe asking you not to leave the club is over the top, considering the circumstances. Carvallius and Latarian are rats. They’ll eventually burrow out from wherever they’re hiding. When they do, it’ll be with the very worst of intentions, and they have vendettas against more than one person sitting in this room. Once they’ve been taken care of, you can do what you wish, Duff,” Aleksander stated.
Duff shrugged. “I guess as long as no one is going to be following me around all night, I can live with it.”
“No one is going to be following anyone. We’ll all arrive together, and we’ll all leave at the same time. You may do whatever you wish in the hours in between,” Aleksander said. “Okay, let’s move on. Anybody have any questions regarding other issues around the house?”
“I had a question about Carter,” Dravyn commented. “What are we going to do about dragon training? There’s normally a duke in each court that handles it, but none of us are experienced trainers. I know you’re only eighteen, Carter, but you may have already begun to feel your beast stirring, or you will in the next few years. You have eight decades or so before your shift, but it’s never too early to start recognizing the changes and learning to grow comfortable with becoming your dragon.”
“Shit, I’m not sure I can make it through another round of duke interviews,” Brogan complained. “You’re right though, Carter needs dragon training.”
“I read an article about how some smaller courts are turning to finding dragon trainers willing to video chat with drakelings. It’s becoming more popular with young people since they’ve all grown up with technology, which would’ve seemed like witchcraft several hundred years ago,” Mac said.
“Why does it have to be witchcraft?” Dra’Kaedan demanded. “Why is everybody always trying to blame everything on warlocks and witches?”
“Probably because our leader’s unhinged,” Scheredin, Dra’Kaedan’s cousin, snarked.
Aleksander smirked. “Mystery solved. Carter, what do you think of Mac’s idea of finding a trainer who’d video chat rather than physically be here?”
“I think I’d actually prefer the video chat thing. I mean, it’s not like I need much instruction at this point anyway. I’d feel bad making you guys go through all the trouble of bringing another duke here solely for me,” Carter responded.
“If I wasn’t sitting next to an unhinged warlock, I’d kiss you, Carter,” Brogan said. Dra’Kaedan glared but offered no argument. “Mac, did you want to hunt down someone willing to train your brother?”
“I’ll get started in the morning.”
“Any other issues?” Aleksander asked.
Larissa raised a hand, then let it drop. “As long as we’re discussing Carter, I’d like to file an official complaint. He hasn’t gotten back to me with any ideas regarding his room.”
“I’m sorry,” Carter replied. “I don’t have my dragon yet. I’m not drawn to a color.”
She pursed her lips. “You like things, don’t you? I mean, no one’s asking you to guess what color your beast is.”
“Be wary, Carter,” Gavrael stated. “I struggled to find a color and wound up sleeping in a gray monstrosity.”
Brogan let out a bark of laughter. “I love it when Gavrael’s cracking jokes but hey, instead of gray, maybe Larissa can decorate your room in the same little kittens your brother wears on his pajamas.”
“Fuck you, Grand Warlock-mate,” Mac retorted.
“Back at you, High Arcanist-mate.”
“Uh…not sure what’s happening between Brogan and Mac, but what if I did D’Vaire colors?” Carter suggested.
“Black and blue. Two of the very best colors,” Delaney said.
“I can work with that,” Larissa replied. “I could do blue kittens with a black background.”
“Maybe we’ll skip the kittens. I’d prefer dragons.”
�
��Who else has a problem with Carter?” Aleksander asked.
“I like how this meeting has become a Carter intervention,” the drakeling at the center of it all remarked.
“It means we like you,” Idris assured him.
“Idris is correct,” Aleksander said. “I’m guessing from the silence in the room, we’re out of issues with you, though. Does anyone have a question not related to our newest D’Vaire?” When no one raised a hand or offered an inquiry, Aleksander spoke again. “Great, I have one final thing I’d like to say before we adjourn. Del and Idris, I just wanted to say again how proud we are of you both. Yes, Fate gave you power, but it’s your perseverance and dedication that has brought you to the cusp of reaching the very epitome of what it means to be a wizard. It’s incredibly humbling for me to be able to call you family. Good luck on Saturday, and we’re all here for you this week to help however we can—even if it’s just to talk away some pre-ceremony jitters. We have faith in you, and we can’t wait to see you wearing your fancy new crowns.”
Idris and Delaney both rose to embrace their leader. “We couldn’t have done this without all of you,” Delaney stated.
“Exactly. We would’ve reached High Arcanist eventually, but it wouldn’t have been possible to do it so fast if we didn’t have our family,” Idris added.
There were plenty of hugs to go around, and Idris got the bonus of a kiss from his mate. “You’re awesome,” Mac said.
“So are you,” Idris assured him, and then Aleksander called the meeting to a close. Like his king, he wanted that crown on his head, and he was going to make damn sure he got it.
Chapter 36
“Isn’t Del going to need Greggory?” Carter asked as he held the little dragon in question in his arms.
“No, Idris and Del will be defending their research papers, then will be tested on practical magic. This is for High Arcanist, so they can’t use enhancements—including their familiars—since they amplify their power,” Mac explained. The pair were sitting in a large auditorium full of people waiting for the most anticipated ceremony in the history of the Spectra Wizardry. Carter was added to the group of young men Mac was sworn to protect, and he was happy to have his brother at his side. He had an eye on Duff but wasn’t concerned with his safety. Duff chose a seat next to Victor Antonov, whose family he’d stayed with before venturing to D’Vaire. As housekeeper to the Arch Lich and Lich Sentinel, it meant he was currently surrounded by a bevy of elite assassins.
There was a murmur of sound through the room as people waited for the wizards to start. Mac decided it was the perfect time to check in on his brother. “How are you liking D’Vaire?”
Carter’s brown eyes met his. “I love it. I mean, my life at Court Stenet sucked. I love my Dad because he had me, but he’s really a dickhead. I can’t believe how it feels to be able to make my own choices. It’s overwhelming because I didn’t have that power before. Mom would pretend, I guess, to understand, but then she’d either go back and tell Dad anything I revealed to her. Or she’d agree with me on something, then contradict it when Dad was around. It used to drive me crazy and man, she should’ve told him to shut up when he’d talk shit about you or your grandparents.”
“It was difficult for him to deal with her having a son with another man.”
“Bullshit. He was jealous because you’re a stronger dragon. He was always ranting and raving about how you should be asked to go to another court, so no one got confused about who held the real power. It makes me seriously question what the hell Fate was smoking when she made him a king. Insecure ass.”
Mac chuckled. “You certainly aren’t that.”
“Insecure? Nope. And I’m not going to pretend I am to please a guy who needs to grow a set and do his duty. You know what Mom said to me that day in Aleksander’s office? She goes ‘I never expected to lose both my sons.’ I wanted to ask her what she expected by allowing Dad to act like that, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”
“Grandpa and Grandma raised me more than she did, even before she met Alfred.”
“I figured. We had a nanny who did damn near everything until Bryony turned sixteen this summer.”
“How didn’t I know that?”
“I’m pretty sure Dad was sleeping with her and Mom found out. They had a huge fucking fight, and she was gone that same night.”
Mac blinked hard as he tried to wrap his mind around his brother’s revelations. “What?”
“I saw him coming out of her room at night, even when I was little.”
“I’m at a loss for words.”
“She was lazy as shit too. Until Dad caught me kissing that guy, I used to sneak out almost every night. That started when I was like thirteen. I’m pretty confident she knew—she just didn’t care. I mean one night I was so drunk, I passed out in the hall right in front of her room.”
Mac’s brain started to grind back into gear. “What the hell were you doing drinking at thirteen?”
“I liked breaking rules when I was a kid.”
“You’re still a kid.”
Carter shrugged. “I guess. I don’t really feel like one, but it’s not like I’m still sneaking out to get shit-faced.”
“Good, because it’s my job now to protect your skinny ass.”
“I’ll have you know I’ve got a great ass. Not as nice as Del’s but still good.”
“You better be careful checking out Del’s ass. Trust me, he’s not into casual sex.”
“No worries. Duff made sure to tell me what a prude Del is on, like, my first day at D’Vaire.”
Mac’s frown was ferocious. “Del’s committed to waiting for his mate. There’s nothing wrong with that. Casual sex isn’t for everyone.”
“Yeah, you can calm down. I agree. I was just relaying what Duff said. He’s obsessed with sex.”
“Most men your age are.”
Carter shrugged again. “Yeah, I guess so. I mean, sex is awesome, but it doesn’t rule my life. I’ve had it and I plan on having it again, but I have other priorities too.”
“So, you’ve been hanging out with Duff a lot?”
“No, not really. I’ve spent more time with Del. He’s cool. Really into horror movies so we’ve watched some together. I don’t know what’s up with Duff. He’s nice when Idris is around but really quiet if Del is in the room when your mate’s off with you or whatever.”
“Del and Duff had a small disagreement which has somehow reached epic proportions.”
“I just don’t think they like each other. My guess is they both like Idris, so they get along for his sake.”
“Done anything else besides hang with Del?”
Carter nodded as he ran his fingers down one of Greggory’s dark wings. “I played video games with the sentinels. They’re crazy competitive.”
“Believe me, I know. I’ve been training with them since I arrived.”
“Could I do that? Learn how to use daggers?”
“I don’t see why not. Just let Gavrael or Gedeon know that you’d like to learn. They can get you started.”
“Cool.”
“Any ideas about what you want to study at school?” Mac asked.
“Not yet. Del and Idris are going to help me look at options after I finish this semester. I have a full course load, and they got all my stuff transferred so I can complete it all online. Then I can decide if I want to attend in person in the future.”
“There’s no rush. You can take all the time you need to figure out your future.”
“I don’t feel any pressure to figure it out. The only thing I have figured out so far is that I made the right choice in leaving Court Stenet. I love D’Vaire,” Carter said. “Can I say something to you?”
“Of course.”
“I’m really sorry about your grandparents.”
“Thanks, but you know they were your grandparents too.”
“In name only. I didn’t get to spend any time with them. I would’ve liked to.”
“The
y would’ve enjoyed it as well. I’ve got a ton of pictures. I can show them to you if you’d like.”
“That’d be really cool.”
“Fine, but no laughing at my bell-bottoms. Idris almost pissed himself when he saw me.”
Carter snickered. “Did you wear neon leotards in the eighties too?”
“If you weren’t holding Greggory, I’d knock you out of that chair.”
This time Carter laughed out loud. “I’m trembling in fear over here.”
“Yeah, you should be.”
Mac had no idea what wisecrack would come out of his brother’s mouth next, but he never got the chance to utter it. The Prism Wizard walked out onto the stage and requested silence. After he spoke, the curtain was whisked open to reveal a long table full of scholarly wizards. They asked Arcanist Delaney D’Vaire to step forward to defend his research paper. With his head held high, Delaney fielded their questions like a pro.
The dark wizard had successfully written a spell that only the demonic necromancer who led his people would be able to use. He’d also held a meeting with the Reverent Knights, and it was decided it wouldn’t be used until all the thousands of sentinels currently awaiting training completed their instruction. That meant it would be a few years before anyone got to see a fallen knight shifter. When Delaney was finished, Vadimas dismissed him, and Arcanist Idris Vioric-D’Vaire was called upon to join them.
“Nervous?” Carter asked in a whisper.
“Shut up, yes.”
Mac soon found out he had little reason to be and was glad Idris was far more composed than he was. His mate didn’t stumble or falter as he was quizzed. It was strange to hear them speak of Immortalis as if it was a relic of the past not to be accomplished again since there was little hope of a large enough Coven of Warlocks necessary to cast it. There were three warlocks known and they were all gay men, so there was little hope for growth. Idris and his group of masterful sorcerers were very close to making the potion despite that. Mac’s young mate kept their secret and continued to answer as if he’d stumbled upon an impossible spell that intrigued him enough to dedicate an entire paper to it.
Irresistible Indigo (D'Vaire, Book 9) Page 26