In that respect, they were inherently well suited, Chander decided. The greater tragedy would be if he were to meet a mate who wanted a real commitment. It was ironic the thing they had most in common was the same thing which should have torn them apart. Chander knew he was not a good person. He made bad decisions. No, he thought, he made epically horrible decisions and they led to lives being ripped apart. The only two things at which he excelled were practicing his magic and taking care of necromancers. They were also the only areas he found any sense of accomplishment.
Once, when he was young, he had thought the world was his for the taking. He was the first Fate-born leader of the necromancers. In his late teens and early twenties, he’d slept with any man who caught his eye. He’d drank and stayed up all night. The elder council had encouraged his raucous behavior. Chander had been bold and had thrown caution to the wind. His power had grown and with it his confidence.
At seventeen, he’d made that fucking decision to separate the Reverent Knights. He hadn’t even cared about those men and their kin when he’d resurrected them. The Council’d had a problem and he’d fixed it in the most expedient way possible. The creation of the Order of the Fallen Knights had infuriated the elder council. They had used that and the reputation they’d help foster to bind his ability to rule his own people. The elders had portrayed him as an irresponsible young man with no concept of how to lead.
So here he sat in his office with a pair of still-arguing nitwits he called family. They were also his only friends, now that Drystan hated him. The D’Vaires—he’d had to cut them off since Drystan’s son lived there, and he missed them as well as the good Reverent Knight. His title was a joke and he’d been counseled two centuries before by Emperor Chrysander that Fate-chosen leaders didn’t abandon their duties. He was stuck in this life he hardly wanted and had to soothe himself with books and possibilities of spells that might never work.
Because if he did not, he had nothing at all to live for other than the two men who shared his apartment. The two sentinels he’d unknowingly sentenced to centuries apart. How they didn’t hate him was a mystery he might never solve. He didn’t question it because he didn’t want them to ever change their minds about it. Chander knew they had a great deal of affection for him. They spoke of loving him, and he had that same deep connection. It was something he would always be grateful for. He found comfort in their constant presence and was glad he’d at least been smart enough to keep them close all these centuries. The truth was, they didn’t need him half as much as he needed them.
Chapter 9
Baxter pulled open the door of Redmilla’s and allowed Benton to go in ahead of him. It was a place they’d visited many times before when Chander had enjoyed his close relationship with Drystan. The bar was the favorite spot for many fallen knights.
“Hey guys,” Redmilla, the owner called out. “Long time no see. You want the usual?”
“Yep,” Benton replied as he sat on a barstool.
Baxter took the one next to him and accepted a tall pilsner glass from Redmilla. “Thanks,” he said after handing over his identification card that was also his house key and method of payment everywhere he went.
“How’s your mate?” Benton asked her.
“Ramona is awesome,” Redmilla replied. “She’s working tonight. Wait, what the hell are you two doing here together, and where’s my favorite necromancer?”
“Chand’s at home,” Baxter explained. “And we’re here together because we are mates.”
Redmilla let out a scream. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks,” Benton said as Baxter kissed his cheek.
“I’m so excited for you guys,” she exclaimed before rushing off to fill someone’s glass.
“Dinner was awesome,” Baxter told Benton after taking a sip of his beer.
“We’ve had burgers there before so that’s not exactly a news flash,” Benton responded.
“Want to know what is?”
“If you say anything about sex, I’m going to switch to the black poison and stab you with my dagger,” Benton snapped out.
“I want to fuck you so bad,” Baxter whispered in his ear.
Benton shivered. “We will, I promise.”
“Soon?”
“I feel guilty.”
“About having sex with me?” Baxter asked with a scowl. “I’m your mate.”
“I know, I’m not talking about us. I feel guilty we’re all kissy face and Alaric is ignoring Chand.”
“They’re going to work things out. Fate doesn’t make mistakes,” Baxter said. “I mean, they could move faster, but not everyone clicks right off the bat.”
“I know, but they don’t even talk,” Benton responded and his pale blue eyes were troubled. “Chand’s a mess. The last thing he needs is to be rejected. It will give him one more reason to kick his own ass.”
“I know it.” Baxter smoothed his hand down Benton’s back. “Alaric is seriously pissing me off, which makes me feel guilty because he’s our leader.”
“Hey, Bax,” a voice called out. “Hey, Ben.”
Baxter turned to see the Reverent Knights walking toward the bar. “Hey, Drystan. RK Conley.”
“You can call me Conley,” Reverent Knight Conley Gylde-Kempe invited.
“If you insist,” Baxter replied with a grin.
“So, what’s up?” Drystan asked as he gestured at Redmilla to bring him and Conley a beer. “Why is Chand summoning you both these days?”
“We’re mates,” Benton announced.
Conley’s yellow-orange eyes widened. “Well, fuck me, congratulations.”
“Oh, I will,” Drystan said to Conley before turning back to Baxter and Benton. “That’s awesome, guys. Congratulations. I’m really happy for you both.”
“Thanks,” Baxter responded and they all clinked glasses.
“How goes the Lich Sentinel’s progress with the bylaws?” Drystan asked.
“I think it’s going well,” Baxter replied. “He’s had a couple of questions so far, but Chand was able to handle them. I’m not sure how far he’s progressed. Hopefully he’s getting close to completing it.”
“Yeah, it’s going to take time for the Council to review it,” Drystan said. “He’s going to want to get that petition in as soon as he can. I think it’s going to be an uphill battle, but ultimately I see you guys prevailing.”
Benton frowned a little. “I hope so. We need to get our guys out of that fucking compound.”
“Sounds like a complete shithole,” Conley retorted.
“That’s what we put on the travel brochures,” Baxter responded with a grin.
“You’d get more tourists if you lied,” Conley insisted.
“How’s your son and his mate?” Benton asked.
“Trystan and Blodwen are fantastic,” Drystan replied. “Blodwen finally started calling me Dad, and they both call Conley Dad-mate. Our parents are ecstatic.”
“I heard you guys haven’t been to D’Vaire in a while,” Conley said. “Gavrael and Gedeon were complaining they haven’t had the chance to give either of you a beatdown in months.”
“They wish,” Baxter stated. “Chand has been really busy, so we haven’t had any weekends free to get down there.”
“I’m gonna call bullshit on that one,” Conley countered as his mate’s jaw locked. “It’s because of Drystan.”
Baxter didn’t know how the hell to reply to his statement, so he left it alone.
“Anyway, it’s awesome that you’re mates,” Conley said after a few awkward moments of silence. “It’s none of our business, but I haven’t seen the Lich Sentinel around. Aren’t they working together on the petition as they get to know one another?”
“Well, Alaric has a great deal of responsibility and can’t leave the compound all the time,” Benton explained. “So, he’s working alone and they are actually together now, so that’s why we’re out.”
“I figured they had to be together,” Conley responded. “
I can’t see you guys leaving Chander on his own.”
“Nah, we’d never do that,” Baxter agreed. “But he crawled up our asses today about going out on a date. So, we did.”
“Shit, why didn’t you say you were on a date?” Conley asked as he grabbed his glass. “We’re totally crashing your party here.”
“No worries, nothing exciting is going on,” Baxter replied as Benton narrowed his eyes at him. “Ben is taking sexual frustration to a whole new level of madness, so if you weren’t here we’d be arguing.”
“That’s probably more information than we needed,” Drystan stated. “Or wanted.”
Baxter winked at his man. “Since you are here, maybe you could tell Ben sex is a normal part of a relationship.”
“I feel sorry for you,” Drystan offered Benton.
Baxter laughed. “He’s the luckiest guy ever resurrected. He has me.”
“You’re completely full of shit,” Conley said. “I’m the luckiest guy to ever be resurrected. Have you seen Drystan?”
“I think you just called me ugly in a roundabout way,” Benton complained to the Reverent Knight.
Conley smirked. “Hey, if the shoe fits.”
“Drystan, your mate is a menace,” Baxter announced.
“I know,” Drystan responded. “I live with him.”
With a smirk, Baxter finished what was left of his drink before turning to Benton. “All right, we don’t have to take shit from these fools. You ready to head home?”
Benton stood and took Baxter’s hand. “See you guys,” he said to Drystan and Conley who had also gotten up and were waving to a couple of fallen knights at a table in the back of the bar.
“Take care,” Conley responded before he took off with Drystan.
“Let’s go see how Chand and Alaric are doing,” Baxter suggested.
“Yeah, we can always go out for ice cream or something if they still want privacy,” Benton replied as they left Redmilla’s.
“Or go into your room and fool around.”
“You have a one-track mind,” Benton pointed out. Baxter couldn’t help it. He was desperate to get Benton out of his gray uniform. Maybe if Alaric and Chander finally got their act together, he’d get to touch him. If not, then he was going to have to find a way to divest Benton of his guilt over their relationship versus the leaders they both respected and had a great deal of affection for. Baxter didn’t mind waiting, but his patience was not going to last forever. He and Benton were well-suited. Fate had been kind to them, and no one was more surprised than Baxter that the sentinel he’d complained about for the last six or so centuries was his perfect complement. Except for maybe Benton.
* * *
Chander rubbed his wet palms over his jeans as he sat awkwardly on his worn couch. He had no idea what the hell he was doing with the hooded leader of the sentinels.
“Uh, you want some pizza?” Chander asked as he opened the box. The smell was tantalizing. He grabbed a slice and put it on a plate. He held it out for the Lich Sentinel.
“No, I do not want your food.”
With a shrug, Chander put the dish on his lap and decided he was going to eat even if it was rude.
“This is the place you live with your sentinels?”
“Yes,” Chander replied after swallowing a piece of cheese covered bliss.
“It’s dirty,” the Lich Sentinel said. “Sentinels deserve better lodgings.”
Okay, Chander thought, this guy is annoying. “I’m sorry you don’t like my place. I’m busy and don’t have time to keep it sparkling clean.”
“What is this strange large box covered in skulls?”
Chander wasn’t going to discuss Conley’s box or why he was compelled to keep it around as a constant reminder of the worst decision of his life. “It’s just something I want in the living room.”
“Your sentinels have better accommodations at the compound.”
“Not according to them,” Chander fired back.
“If they have complaints, they should come to me with them.”
“Yeah well, they live here now. And the rest of your men could leave if you’d finish putting together your bylaws.”
“I have nearly completed them.”
“And the petition?”
“I have begun filling it out,” Alaric said. “It is lengthy and I have many duties.”
“Who doesn’t?” Chander asked as he reached into the box for another slice.
“This pizza, do the sentinels like it?”
“They used to but they say I order it so much they have grown to hate it.”
“This is not something we serve at the compound.”
“Well, you should,” Chander responded. “It’s delicious and it would be better for your men to have as much variety as possible.”
“If it would be better for them then I will add it,” the Lich Sentinel replied. “Do you have a recipe?”
“Do I look like I cook?”
“I don’t understand the question.”
“I’ll print one out,” Chander said with an eye-roll as he grabbed his phone and did a search for pizza recipes.
“Do you have any other ideas to better sentinels?”
“If we’re going to sit here and talk,” Chander began as he hit print and hopped up to retrieve the recipe from the printer in his office, “the least you could do is take off the hood. I don’t even know if you have a face.”
Chander didn’t receive a reply from Alaric. He grabbed the paper off the machine and went back toward the living room. When he got there, he stopped short. He’d heard the Lich Sentinel had green eyes. No one had ever mentioned the fact that they glowed. Bright chartreuse orbs stared at him with an intensity he’d never encountered before. They matched the rich color of the poison that flowed around his weapon. Strangely, the tips of the weapons at his hips were black. It matched his hair, which was slicked back away from his face.
His mouth was wide and, Chander admitted to himself, sexy in a way that forced him to lick his own dry lips. Alaric’s jaw was square and set. Nothing about Alaric was soft or unyielding. This man screamed control and his stare was so penetrating, it left Chander feeling unsettled. It was a good thing he wasn’t looking for a loving relationship with a kind man, because he doubted Alaric could ever fit that bill.
“Why is your weapon coated with a poison that glows two different colors?” Chander asked when he recovered from the shock of seeing Alaric’s stern countenance. He held out the recipe and Alaric pocketed it. He’d removed his cloak and Chander saw his biceps flex as he moved.
“I’m the leader of the sentinels. You should not expect me to be the same as the others.”
Which wasn’t an answer to Chander’s question. “I hope your sentinels enjoy their pizza.”
“If you say it will better their lives than I have no doubt that they will. That’s my purpose. To see to their needs.”
“I get it,” Chander replied as he sat back down on the faded sofa. “I lead the necromancers.”
“They have done nothing to enrich our lives.”
“They gave you life.”
“Simply existing is not enough for the sentinels,” Alaric insisted. Chander knew he was right, but his attitude was grating on his nerves.
It was time to change the subject. “Weird that Fate put us together, right?”
“Fate must have felt you could be of some assistance to helping sentinels.”
“Or we were a good match.”
“To help my men, I read your Council book,” Alaric said. “I will help them understand the importance of their mate if we should join your Council.”
“I get that you’re dedicated to the sentinels, but we do need to have a talk about our matebond. I know you need to be at the compound, and I can’t go there so we’re going to have to come up with a plan going forward. Do you want to just be mates in name only? Not every match is a love one.”
“I don’t understand the word love.”
�
��You love being the leader of the sentinels, right?” Chander asked. “You are pretty fixated on them.”
“I was chosen by Fate to lead them.”
“I get it, I was chosen by Fate too,” Chander responded. “I mean I love taking care of my people, but it would have been nice to have some time to myself. Most leaders aren’t chosen right from the get-go like we are. I did that to the Reverent Knights though, so I really shouldn’t complain.”
Alaric stood and pulled his cloak on. “I must return to the compound.”
“You don’t want to finish our discussion about what we’re going to do about our matebond?” Chander asked, more than a tad annoyed Alaric was being so uncooperative. It was a simple discussion as far as he was concerned.
“I will do what is best for the sentinels.”
“What the hell does our matebond have to do with the sentinels?”
“If it doesn’t better my people, I can have no part of it.”
Chander blinked in disbelief. He’d never been rejected so forcefully, professionally or personally, before. “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
“Good to speak with you, Arch Lich,” Alaric said. “I will send word when I have finished my petition.”
And then he was gone. It was a good thing Chander had never expected a tender, caring relationship, because it didn’t look like he was going to get anything at all. Shrugging as he pretended it didn’t hurt, he got up and put the rest of the pizza away. Then he went to his office. There were books waiting for him. Unlike people, they weren’t going to disappoint him or punch him in the gut. His heart thundered in his chest but he ignored it just like he disregarded the misery his mate had so callously left him with. From now on Lich Sentinel Alaric could rot—Chander would go back to his priorities and they could exchange blood if they ever happened to be in the same room again.
Chapter 10
Benton bumped his body into his mate’s back as Baxter slid his card into the lock of their front door.
Rise of the Lich Sentinel Page 7