“It’s also Chand’s and Alaric might leave before they can get the deed done.” Benton picked up his pace. They were nearly running by the time they reached the throne room. Baxter let out a sigh of relief when he saw Alaric standing next to Chander at the front of the room. Next to them were the D’Vaire sentinels and their dragon king.
“Gentlemen, we’ll begin whenever you’re ready,” King Aleksander announced as the duo headed toward him.
They turned to face each other and Baxter took hold of Benton’s other hand. “We’re ready,” Baxter replied.
“Your Majesty. Your Graces. Esteemed special guests. Thank you all for being here at Draconis Court of D’Vaire. Today is an exciting day. We have not one but two very special couples who have chosen to have their mating ceremonies here. I cannot begin to describe the honor we all feel that you wish to share these magical memories with us. Baxter and Benton are only the second sentinel pair to exchange the promise of a life shared. They’ve asked the first of the sentinels known to mate to assist with the bloodbinding portion of their ceremony.
“Gentlemen, please raise your left palms. Sentinels were created two thousand years ago by the Order of Necromancia and have dedicated themselves to honing their skills with daggers to an enviable level. Resurrected as fierce assassins, they carry a fearsome reputation that is honorable and the necromancer these two men serve is proud to call them more than friends—they are family.”
Gavrael stepped forward and using a dagger poisoned by the Arch Lich, cut Baxter’s hand. At the same time, Gedeon mirrored his actions on Benton.
“Sentinel to sentinel,” Aleksander said as Baxter slapped his palm against Benton’s. Their souls intertwined and Baxter’s eyes grew misty at the glorious smile Benton gave him. Contentment and love washed over him and he knew it was Benton’s feelings as well as his. Gavrael and Gedeon had spoken of their ability to speak telepathically and sense each other’s emotions, but it was more intense than Baxter had anticipated.
“You sexy fucker,” he whispered through their new mindlink.
“Pay attention,” Benton all but hissed through his brain.
“Their souls are now tied and their lives now linked. May their hearts always stay united so they will never want another,” Aleksander stated as joy bubbled through Baxter’s veins.
Gavrael handed Baxter a set of rings Madeline D’Vairedraconis had made for them. They were charcoal gray and had a green glow behind them. He passed his to Benton.
Aleksander’s voice rang out. “Dragons claim their mates with a bite that leaves no mark. Centuries ago, a draconic tradition began of exchanging rings. Baxter and Benton will now exchange bands to allow the world to bear witness to their joining.”
“Chosen by Fate and accepted by my heart as true, I accept you as my mate,” Baxter said as he slid Benton’s band on.
“Chosen by Fate and accepted by my heart as true, I accept you as my mate,” Benton replied as he pushed Baxter’s ring down his finger.
“By the tradition of the Draconis Court of D’Vaire, you are now mates. You have honored all of us by allowing us to bear witness to your joining,” Aleksander said.
Baxter shrugged off his cloak as Benton did the same. Underneath they wore sleeveless T-shirts so everyone could see the mating marks they were about to receive. Gavrael and Gedeon slit their palms again and their blood once again mixed.
“Sentinel to sentinel. Our blood has spilled, and our spirits have bonded. We ask Fate to grant us a mark from left shoulder to elbow so the world may bear witness that we belong only to each other,” Benton said. Searing pain ripped across Baxter’s arm but he welcomed it. Looking down at the new design on his arm Baxter saw the same skull with the glowing dagger behind it the other two mated sentinels had. The difference was, his had Benton’s name written in block letters beneath it. Smirking at Benton, pride filled him as he saw his own moniker on the other sentinel’s biceps. He made a point to remember to run his tongue over the letters later.
“Stop thinking about sex,” Benton demanded.
“Not happening.” Baxter reached down to grab his cloak. Once Benton was again covered, he grabbed his arms and tugged him forward. He smiled before pushing his tongue into his mouth for a hot kiss. Baxter could hear cheers as he mauled his mate and didn’t let Benton up for air until he felt his annoyance slide into horniness. Grabbing Benton’s hand, he walked them over to stand in place of Gavrael and Gedeon who were now seated. It was time for them to take part in Chander and Alaric’s ceremony. Hopefully it wasn’t going to be as awkward as Baxter feared.
* * *
Chander shuffled over to stand in front of Aleksander and turned to the Lich Sentinel. Alaric hadn’t bothered with any fancy cloak for the occasion. He wore the same simple dark gray one all sentinels kept close at hand. As for the Arch Lich, his sentinels had asked Larissa to make him a stunning black cloak heavily embroidered with pewter skulls. He might not be thrilled about this day, but he was going to wear this beautiful thing again and again.
“We’ll begin when you’re both ready,” Aleksander said, much as he had to Baxter and Benton a short while ago.
Meeting Alaric’s glowing eyes, Chander wondered which one of them was supposed to answer the dragon king.
“We’re ready,” Alaric responded. Chander guessed Alaric answered that question and presumed the Lich Sentinel was already counting down the seconds until he could return to the compound.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are delighted to have before us leaders of two very distinguished races. One a member of our Council since it first began and another that has recently applied to join our ranks. Today they will unite and create a personal alliance as well as a stronger bond between their interlaced people.”
Chander appreciated the way Aleksander was conducting the ceremony, but he was feeling a trifle guilty for making everyone in the room believe this meant more to him and Alaric then perhaps a business arrangement.
“Gentlemen, please raise your left palms,” Aleksander said and Chander was bemused to see how much larger Alaric’s hand was than his. “Arch Lich Chander Daray has led the Order of Necromancia since the day he was born, when Fate chose him as the first ever necromancer to have the distinction of his title. His people have enjoyed over six centuries of prosperity thanks to his steadfast leadership. They are the only Council race that weaves spells and has the ability to create lives. He once elegantly carried the entire Council of Sorcery, and today we all benefit from his many accomplishments.
“The Lich Sentinel is the only man to reign over his people. Although they have been limited to life at their compound, he has made it his mission to see to the needs of each man in his care. Tirelessly, he works to ensure they continue to be the legendary assassins we all look up to with awe. Now he is pursuing induction into the Council and bringing the sentinels into a new era of experiences and triumphs.”
Baxter and Benton stepped forward with daggers. Baxter’s was one of the poisoned ones Chander created for the fallen knights, and Benton’s lacked the toxin since he would be the one to cut Chander. Both sentinels sliced open their palms.
“Necromancer to sentinel. Arch Lich to Lich Sentinel,” Aleksander said as Chander pushed his hand forward until his blood mixed with Alaric’s. For a moment, his head spun and it was as if something inside him lurched forward. His heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his ears. Fighting against the terrible sensation of being overtaken by some unknown force, Chander finally felt whatever it was relent and he blew out a breath. He had expected to feel his life force combine with Alaric’s and it had, but it didn’t feel the way he had anticipated. Either the connection he had heard about was exaggerated or their lack of emotion forever took away from the experience.
Shaking the fog from his mind, Chander began to process more of the world around him. His palm was no longer bleeding, but it was still pressed against Alaric’s. Alarm bells rang through him. Something was not right with the Lich Sentinel.
“Their souls are now tied and their lives now forever linked. May their hearts always stay united so they may never want another,” he heard Aleksander say but all Chander could do was try to figure out what about Alaric was off. He stared into those penetrating eyes and as usual, could make out nothing from his expression. His own brow creased and he lowered his lashes to block out the world around him. Chander let his magic flow through the connection of their touching skin and used all the skills at his disposal to get to the bottom of this mystery.
“Chand, are you all right?” he heard someone ask but he was too far inside himself to identify the voice. As hard as he tried, he could not make sense of Alaric. When Alaric began to pull away, he reached up with his other hand and kept them in contact.
Realizing he needed more power, he called out without looking, “Dra’Kaedan, pour me with power.”
Dre’Kariston’s magic flowed into him, and Chander knew it was a healing spell to prevent the pain of Dra’Kaedan shoving warlock force into a necromancer. Once the Grand Warlock increased his potency, Alaric’s secret was revealed.
“The Lich Sentinel has a spell cast upon him. A dark one,” Chander announced. “Combination spell. Warlock. Wizard. Necromancer.”
Then he opened his eyes and glanced up into Alaric’s inscrutable glowing gaze before turning to his sentinels. “Your leader has a spell on him which alters his mind.”
“What the fuck?” Baxter yelled out.
Dra’Kaedan grabbed his brother’s hand and slapped his palm on Alaric’s back. The Lich Sentinel didn’t react. “This is ugly. He has no choices.”
“Our fucking leader can’t have a spell on him,” Benton insisted.
“No, he cannot,” Emperor Chrysander agreed. “Council leaders cannot be compromised. It would be best for everyone including the sentinels if it is removed as soon as possible.”
“If it is best for the sentinels then I will agree to it,” Alaric said and for the first time since hearing that type of sentiment, Chander felt sorry for him. They couldn’t know the full extent of the spell without unraveling it, but he was pretty sure there was nothing Alaric could do if it wasn’t “best for the sentinels.” Whoever cast this upon Alaric was really sick.
“I trust you guys can get this done?” Chrysander asked.
“It should be easy,” Vadimas replied. “We have warlocks, necromancers, and wizards. We should be able to free the Lich Sentinel from the spell in no time at all.”
“It’s wrapped all around his brain,” Chander revealed with an apologetic glance at Alaric. “Drystan, you’ll need to tranquilize him. Dra’Kaedan and Dre’Kariston can deepen the sedation once he’s under. We’ll need to hurry before he is forced by the spell to return to the compound.”
“Someone explain to me why you can’t heal a malady in the brain, but a bunch of asshats can figure out how to wrap one in something nasty like this,” Dra’Kaedan demanded.
Vadimas shook his head slowly. “I wish I knew.”
“If you’ll follow me, Lich Sentinel,” Aleksander said. “We’ll get you set up in a guest room so they can free you.”
Aleksander led Alaric out the doors of the throne room. Chander glanced at the assorted spell-casters and wondered what the hell was waiting for all of them. He refused to let his mind wonder what difference removing it would make in his relationship with Alaric. One thing was for sure, all Chander wanted was a matebond in name only. Then he’d figure out what the hell freaky thing had happened to him when their blood had mixed. He wasn’t a shifter, so why did it feel like a beast wanted to rip out of his chest?
Chapter 17
While the D’Vaires settled Alaric in a room, Chander went to his own and changed out of his cloak and suit into a comfortable pair of old jeans and a T-shirt. He pulled on socks and sneakers before heading down the hall to where they were about to change Alaric’s life.
When he got to the door he saw the warlock twins, Vadimas, and his own sentinels standing with the Reverent Knights. Alaric was lying on a white and cream comforter in his T-shirt and pants. His boots were on the floor and his lethal daggers were stacked on the bedside table. They were all staring at him, and he was perfectly okay with being the one to run this show.
He walked up to Alaric. “Do you need anything else before Drystan tranquilizes you?”
Those glowing green eyes were fathomless. “The sentinels have need of me.”
Which meant Alaric was running short on time. Chander turned to Drystan. “Shoot him.”
Drystan walked up to the Lich Sentinel and pressed his weapon to Alaric’s side. All Chander heard was a small click and then Alaric’s lashes began sliding slowly to cover his chartreuse orbs.
“Thank you,” Chander said to Drystan as the Reverent Knight crossed the room back to Conley’s side and grabbed his hand.
“Sure,” Drystan replied and for the first time in months, their eyes met. Chander could see a swirl of emotions in Drystan’s, some welcoming and some not, but he had a task to complete. He shut down his feelings and turned to the other three sorcerers in the room.
“It’s a spell of combined magic, but I don’t think we need to pool ours,” Chander suggested, knowing to do so would cause all of them pain. “Let’s just unravel it piece by piece.”
Dra’Kaedan’s eyes went from navy blue to gold as he began casting the spell that would pull Alaric deeper into unconsciousness. “This is really sick.”
“It is,” Chander agreed as he reached into himself and gathered his power. He could see Dre’Kariston’s dark eyes flip to silver and the ten pale white lines on Vadimas’s arms that displayed his skill in wizardry begin to glow.
The magic began flowing from each sorcerer into the Lich Sentinel.
“Who the fuck does shit like this?” Dre’Kariston spat out as they began tugging on the strings woven around the brain of the leader of the sentinels.
“Right?” his brother asked. “This damn thing is designed to take that part of every Fate-chosen leader and ramp it up to ridiculous.”
“What does that mean?” Conley asked.
“Essentially, the part of your mind that drives you to take care of your people and do all you can to better their lives has been thrown into overdrive,” Chander said as he pulled on a particularly sticky part of the spell. He was focused solely on unraveling the necromancer contribution, and he was finding the person of his race had been powerful but not in Chander’s league by any stretch of the imagination.
“He can only focus on things that help the sentinels,” Vadimas responded. “At the cost of his own needs. He can feel hunger but he cannot eat. Fatigue plagues him but he cannot rest.”
“This was a dark warlock,” Dre’Kariston revealed.
“Two of them, I think,” Dra’Kaedan replied. “One more talented than the other but not close to our ability.”
“I wish I could say the same for the wizard,” Vadimas said, frustration ripe in his voice. “Whoever this man was, he had a great deal of power. I may need reinforcements.”
“I’ll call Delaney and Idris in here,” Drystan offered as he put his phone to his ear. Moments later there was a knock on the door. Baxter opened it to reveal the two D’Vaire wizards.
“Idris. Delaney. Gather your magic and thrust it toward me,” Vadimas ordered and like their sorcery leader, soon the teenagers had glowing bands on their forearms as they helped the Prism Wizard to untangle the disgrace that had been forced upon Alaric. “Very good,” Vadimas said after a few minutes. “That is much better. I have made more headway.”
“It’s not a race, Vadimas,” Chander told his good friend. “We can take all the time we need.”
“This man hasn’t slept since the day this spell was put on him,” Dre’Kariston stated in a voice that was clearly annoyed. “He’s likely grateful to finally be getting some damn rest.”
“Why would someone do this to Alaric?” Benton asked.
“My guess would be to keep him busy so he
didn’t begin to question why the hell you are all stuck in a damn compound,” Chander said. “But who knows?”
“This spell is old, but I have no idea when it was placed,” Dra’Kaedan responded.
“The last dark warlock died in 1368,” Dre’Kariston added with an irritated expression. “We know it’s been at least that long ago.”
Chander had a firm grip on the strings of the necromancer portion of this tangle, so he was making a great deal of headway. He knew better than to remove it completely until the others were ready to do the same. They had no idea how the spell would react if it wasn’t torn from Alaric in tandem. “No one even knew there was a Lich Sentinel except for his own people, and none of them were living outside the compound until after the last dark warlock died.”
“Yeah, we know he hasn’t left since we were tied to your soul,” Baxter said. “We’d remember it. Unlike the others, we leave the compound so our memories aren’t sapped.”
“Which means Alaric won’t remember anything about how he got this spell, right?” Conley asked.
“Exactly.” Vadimas’s voice was full of disgust. “Slap this on the man and then force him to a place where he will not remember what has been done to him.”
“Well, we need to figure out who did this,” Drystan said. “If any of them are still alive, I want them to face justice. This goes against everything the Council stands for. Today he became the Arch Lich-mate since his actual title can’t be used yet. We aren’t going to allow anyone to fuck with a Council leader.”
“It happened before the Council even began,” Dra’Kaedan stated, and Chander could feel he and his brother were on the last of it as he was. It was only Vadimas they were waiting for and he was making great headway since the D’Vaire wizards had arrived to offer their assistance.
“So what? The spell was on him until today,” Conley replied. “I think that makes it fall under our authority.”
“This is a wizard too powerful to be a Council one if he or she is still alive,” Vadimas explained. “We may be knocking on the door of the Consilium Veneficus to see justice done.”
Rise of the Lich Sentinel Page 12