“Are you still thinking about Roger?” Mac asked as Idris got settled into his chair across from him. “I think he handled the separation much better this time.”
“Yeah, he didn’t cringe when I came near him, but he still wouldn’t let anyone but Aleksander grab him,” Idris complained. It was embarrassing for Idris to have a familiar summoned from his own magic, and whose purpose was to amplify it, cower at the sight of him. “I wasn’t thinking about Roger, though. I’m just a little nervous about our first date.”
“I make you nervous?”
“Not normally, no. I enjoy being around you. It feels like I’ve known you forever, but I want our first date to go really well.”
“It’s you and me. It’ll definitely go well. Now, what should we talk about? Let’s start with Roger. How did you pick a dragon as your familiar, and is there any significance to his name?”
“I knew I wanted a dragon as soon as I met Greggory. After Latarian died, I went to D’Vaire for a few days before I went to school. Delaney was already living there and had his familiar,” Idris explained. “I decided I wanted to name my dragon after Cadlyr. He was at the Cwylld village when I helped Latarian steal all their rocks. Cadlyr was super scary and always carried around a spear. When he came to D’Vaire, I found out he was an amazing person and though I stole from his people, he was never mean to me. Not even once. So, I found the name Roger, which means famous spear.”
“That’s pretty cool. How does the Cwylld Chieftain feel about having Roger named for him?”
“He says he is honored and I believe him. He’s not the type of person who lies. My turn to ask you a question. How do you like living at D’Vaire?”
The waiter arrived to get their beverage orders, delaying Mac’s reply, but he picked up the thread of their conversation the minute they were alone again. “I love it. The people are incredible. Aleksander’s house is beyond spectacular. I’m thrilled to be working for a king who is more powerful than me, so there’s no possibility of envy or worse. The only shocking thing is how hard it is working with the sentinels. Learning how to use my daggers properly is a lot more difficult than I imagined, but I’m glad I signed up for it.”
“Were you disappointed that Aleksander decided you’d be guarding Del, Duff, and me?”
“Don’t forget, I’m also responsible for keeping Roger and Greggory safe. Why would I be disappointed? I’m already fond of all five of you, though you’re without a doubt my favorite.”
A warm glow emanated from the depths of Idris’s heart. Every time he was around Mac, the dragon shifter spoke about how much he liked him. It meant a great deal to Idris, as he was already enamored of everything about Mac. “I like you too. I was just wondering if you thought you’d have more important duties.”
“What could be more important than guarding you? Even if we weren’t mates, you and Del are going to be part of Council leadership. Being asked to see to your safety is a job any duke would sign up for, and I was lucky enough to be chosen. How many dukes do you know, besides the ones who serve the Emperor, that have such significant duties?”
“Brogan, for one. He takes care of the Grand Warlock and the Grand Summoner. I guess it’s just weird to think of myself as part of the Council leadership. I still feel like the kid who was wandering around my grandfather’s crumbling house wondering what the hell to do with my life,” Idris confessed. It was something he rarely spoke of to others, but he hadn’t been happy until after Latarian bumped into him. For all the evil she had done, she’d set forth in motion the events which led Idris to everything he had now. He never forgot that, although he had no sympathy for her or her misdeeds.
“As far as Brogan goes, the D’Vaire dukes are the best, and that’s why we have such important duties. Do you want to be High Arcanist?”
“Absolutely. It’s just weird to think about people looking up to me or to consider myself someone really important.”
“Every person is important, and I think you’ll make a remarkable difference in the Council world because I know you want to help people.”
“I do. I have a great deal to give back to the people who love me.”
Mac’s dark eyes grew serious. “I’m sure they expect nothing more than the love you already give back to them.”
The conversation was making Idris uncomfortable. He didn’t feel like he necessarily owed anyone anything; he just wanted to do all he could to let his family and friends know he appreciated the gifts he’d received, and he told Mac so.
“You’re an incredible person. I hope you know that.”
“That’s what I think about you.”
“So, you asked Fate to bring you a mate who wasn’t too stupid. What else did you ask her for?”
“Everything you are. I wanted a tall dragon shifter who wanted to live at D’Vaire. Did you ask Fate for anything about your mate?”
“I spent time begging Fate to please bring me my mate, but I didn’t go into details beyond him being a guy. I had this latent fear that I’d get a woman and have an entire identity crisis because I wasn’t the person I thought I was.”
“So, if you had gotten a woman, you still would’ve been with her?”
“I damn well would’ve done my best to try and make it work. I’m not going to defy Fate, but it was a silly fear because she doesn’t make mistakes. I was paired with an incredible wizard with gorgeous indigo eyes and a dragon familiar who thinks I’m his nest.”
Idris laughed. “It makes me wonder if all wizard familiars do that with their sorcerer’s mates. There are so few of us in the Council powerful enough to summon one, I don’t really have any other examples. I guess we’ll find out when Del’s dragon shifter shows up.”
“How do you know Del will have a dragon shifter for a mate?”
“He summoned Greggory before he ever got to D’Vaire. He told me he’s been drawn to dragons from the time he was four years old. I think that means Fate has already chosen one for him,” Idris said.
“Makes sense.”
Their server reappeared, and they both ordered the same burgers they ate a few nights ago. “How are your grandparents doing?”
“Good, they like the woman who is taking care of them. Grandpa wants to know if you’ll do a video chat, so they can meet you.”
“I’d be honored to meet them. Yes, I could do a video chat with you whenever you want.”
“Thanks. I’d like to show you off. You spoke about being raised by your grandfather. Where was your grandmother?”
“My grandfather never met his mate. He had my father with a woman he had a long relationship with, but she passed away, so he was alone by the time I came along.”
“And your father, did he pass away too?”
“I honestly have no idea. My grandfather hated him as well as my mother. He’d get angry whenever I asked about my parents. His face would turn very red and he’d start yelling. I don’t know if they’re dead or if they were just dead to him. He wouldn’t even tell me their names, so I have no way of searching for them if the Consilium would assist me, which they won’t.”
“The Consilium’s really awful.”
“They think I still belong to them and that the Council essentially kidnapped me from my home, which doesn’t even exist anymore because Chand destroyed it.”
“He destroyed it?”
“Yes. It was falling apart anyway, and I didn’t have many happy memories there, so I was okay with it. He needed to get rid of the big pile of Cwylld stones. Dra’Kaedan gave some to Cadlyr, but the rest were annihilated so they couldn’t be used to hurt people again,” Idris explained.
“I’m so impressed by Dra’Kaedan and his brother. Their people were killed by the Cwylld because of those stones. Not only are the remaining Cwylld living at D’Vaire but Dra’Kaedan gave Cadlyr some of the magic stealing rocks.”
“They’ve really helped me so much with school and stuff too. Not to mention the sanctuary that bears Dra’Kaedan’s name. It was originally his and Blodwen’s idea. When everyone thought Dra’Kaedan was dead, it was Brogan and Dre’Kariston who spearheaded getting the sanctuary in place.” Blodwen was the only full-blood necromancer at their home, and her mate was the child of the Reverent Knights. She’d also brought her sentinel, Gavrael, from the compound where his people were once imprisoned. Idris thought she was incredible, but he felt that way about everyone in his family.
“Every time I learn something new about our family, the more humbled I am that Brogan chose me. I was the only duke who made the cut when he put the ad out there.”
Their food arrived, and Idris bit into his juicy burger. It was just as delicious as it was the first time around. After swallowing, he said, “You talk all the time about your grandparents, but you rarely mention your mom and dad.”
“I don’t know who my dad is. My mom won’t tell me, and he wasn’t in my life. As far as my mom goes, we used to have a decent relationship. Then Alfred showed up, and he took an immediate dislike to me. I don’t know what bothers him more—that my mom already had a kid, that I’m a black dragon who was already a duke, or that I’m gay. When he essentially banned me from most of my duties, I expected her to stand up for me, but she didn’t. When my half siblings were born, Alfred told me I wasn’t allowed to come to the house anymore without permission and shit like that. My mom went along with it, and it created a real rift in our family. My grandparents took my side, which made me uneasy since she’s their only kid. Grandpa was unmoved when I pleaded my mom’s case—he said he didn’t raise her to abandon her son. Things are no longer heated; we’ve all gotten used to our brand of dysfunction. My mom has isolated herself from all three of us, which I have to tell you really pisses me off. Grandpa and Grandma are old, and we don’t know how much time they have left. I fear she’s going to regret not spending time with them while she can, and despite her choices, they love their only child. It hurts their feelings when she ignores them, and they deserve better.”
Idris was saddened by Mac’s situation with his mother. He couldn’t understand why she didn’t want a relationship with her own son as well as her parents. “I’m sorry. Was your mom upset when she learned you were coming to D’Vaire?”
Mac shrugged. “I have no idea. I resigned and met with Alfred. I didn’t get the chance to speak to my mom in person. She sent me a text wishing me luck.”
“That’s awful. I hope you don’t mind me saying so.”
“I happen to agree with you.”
“I guess you don’t know your half siblings well.”
“Nope, Carter’s around eighteen, and Bryony’s a few years younger. I think the last time I saw them was about six months ago when Alfred hosted a birthday party for my mother, which for some reason, I was invited to. I think I said hello to Carter, but Bryony wouldn’t come near me.”
“Wow.”
“I don’t blame them. They’ve probably been told their whole lives how awful I am by Alfred. With no chance to be around me, they’ve had no way of making up their minds on their own.”
“Your mom shouldn’t let him say mean stuff about you.”
“I agree, but she wants to please her mate.”
“I hope you don’t let me force you into making poor decisions just because we’re mates.”
“Same goes. I want you to be happy in every aspect. If you’re not, then we need to find a way to compromise, so we both wind up getting a good deal. I don’t want anything about our relationship to be lopsided.”
Idris found it impossible not to tease Mac. “Then maybe you should work on sharing Roger.”
Mac’s smile was gorgeous. “Hey, your familiar doesn’t even let me sleep in my own bed alone. I’ve had to wear those goofy-ass pajamas Larissa makes. I’ve slept naked for close to two centuries. It feels like I’m being strangled by my clothes every night, but I can’t curl up with Roger when I’m in the buff.”
The thought of Mac naked was causing all of Idris’s blood to flow into his dick. “I always wear pajamas.”
“Consider that something we’re going to need to compromise on in the future.”
Idris was blushing, but he couldn’t help it. Words failed him, so he just nodded. He hoped before the night was through, he would get his first kiss. One thing was for sure—he was going to have a hell of a time trying to sleep with images of Mac wearing nothing but his tattoo dancing through his head.