Idris pulled on a button-down shirt with a smile as he thought about the night before. Some time after he and Mac curled up on the bed, they both fell asleep. When the sun rose, Idris woke up with Mac’s arm still holding him close. It was just as delightful as his first taste of sex, though in an entirely different way. Mac’s touch, his scent, and the pleasure on his face as he came had forever changed the way Idris thought about intimacy, and he already craved more. The sweetness of resting alongside him warmed him in a way he hadn’t thought possible. Mac was fast becoming someone he didn’t want to live without. He wished he could do nothing but relive it all, but his schedule was a busy one.
Once he was finished dressing, Idris left his bedroom and headed for the kitchen. He found Mac leaning against the counter. The dragon had retreated to his own space after waking since he didn’t have any clean clothes in Idris’s room. Mac grinned as soon as he spotted him and walked to his side. Lifting Idris’s chin, he dropped a kiss on his lips. Idris responded by wrapping his arms around Mac’s waist and hugging him close. Without needing to speak a word, they grabbed plates and loaded up their breakfast.
After they were seated with Idris’s best friends, Mac asked, “You still on for a video chat with my grandparents after we eat?”
“Absolutely.”
“It shouldn’t take long. Then we can head to Vegas for your big photo shoot.”
Idris grimaced. “I can’t believe Vadimas is going to make us have our photos taken.”
“Yeah, I mean it’s not like you and Del are poised to be High Arcanists or anything,” Duff teased. “I wouldn’t mind being fussed over and having a photographer in my face.”
Delaney rolled his black eyes. “Having a bunch of pictures taken has nothing to do with magic. Speaking of magic, we should probably get everyone together to discuss the progress of our research projects.”
“Yeah, I’ll talk to Vadimas,” Idris replied.
“I can text Chand possible dates and times if you like,” Dre’Kariston offered from the table next to theirs.
“That’d be great,” Idris told him. The rest of his meal went without incident and after hosing down Roger who, once dried off, was perched on Mac’s shoulder, Idris trailed after the dragon shifter as they headed toward his bedroom. When they arrived at his door, Mac waved Idris past him and closed them inside. Then he tugged Idris close and captured his mouth in a deep kiss. Idris’s pulse picked up as their tongues dueled. He wrapped his arms around Mac’s neck and wished they could go to bed.
“You’re a dangerous wizard,” Mac said after he ended the embrace.
“I think you’re a really sexy dragon.”
Mac walked across the room and fired up his laptop. “Be sure and tell my grandparents that.”
“If it’s okay with you, I think I’ll skip it.”
Chuckling, Mac sat on the sofa and motioned for Idris to do the same. He opened the program he needed and about a minute later, a gray-haired man with curious eyes came into view.
“Good morning, Macardle. I see you’ve got Roger there,” the man said.
“Good morning, Grandpa. Yep, I’ve got Roger. You know I stole him from Idris. You been up long?”
“You know your grandmother and I are up before the sun. Let me take this contraption into the living room so we can meet your Idris. Rather rude to have your young man sitting there without introducing him.”
“I was getting to it,” Mac argued. The image bounced as Mac’s grandparent walked. It didn’t take him long to arrive at his destination.
“Bretta, it’s Macardle and his mate,” he announced. Idris heard a female voice in the background and seconds later, he caught his first glimpse of her. Bretta’s hair was pulled back away from her still-beautiful face. She was smiling brightly, but Idris could tell with a single glance she wasn’t well. It made him instantly more determined to figure out the Immortalis spell. Mac’s time with his beloved family was limited.
“Well, hello there, Macardle. Hello, Roger,” she said. “Oh, your Idris is just beautiful. You didn’t tell us he was so handsome.”
“You trying to get me in trouble with my mate? I told you Idris was handsome,” Mac replied. “Arcanist Idris Vioric-D’Vaire, allow me to introduce you to Lloyd and Bretta Stenetdraconis.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Idris offered as he waved to the pair.
“The pleasure is ours. Is Macardle treating you well?” Lloyd asked.
Idris tried as hard as he could not to think about just how well he was treated the night before, but there was a telltale heat in his cheeks. “Mac’s a very good mate. I’ve been treating him well too.”
Mac kissed his temple. “Damn right you have.”
“We’re so glad you and Macardle met there at your home. Did he tell you I told him to apply? The boy would’ve sat here feeling sorry for himself for another century if I hadn’t given him a kick in the ass,” Lloyd said.
“Feeling sorry for myself? Really?” Mac asked. Idris loved hearing the affection in the voices of Mac and his grandparents. Their words were teasing, but it was easy to recognize how much they loved one another.
“Let your mate have a word in edgewise, Macardle,” Lloyd ordered.
“He did tell me it was your idea. I want to thank you for convincing him. I’m so glad he’s here, but I’m sorry he can’t be there with you,” Idris offered.
“We’re not sorry in the slightest, Idris. Macardle’s just where he was meant to be,” Bretta said.
“There’s no need to thank us. We’re just thrilled the boy’s someplace where he can be happy,” Lloyd added. “Macardle’s been telling us all about how hard you’ve worked as a wizard. We’re very proud Fate paired our grandson with someone so accomplished.”
“Even more importantly, Macardle’s told us about what a kind heart you have and what a sweet young man you are,” Bretta remarked.
Idris blushed again. He could barely believe Mac spent his time with his grandparents talking about him and in such a wonderful way. “I think Mac’s pretty special too.”
“They make a fine-looking couple, don’t they, Bretta?” Lloyd asked.
She winked. “Indeed. Macardle’s nearly as handsome as Idris.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Mac replied as he glanced over at Idris.
“Is that a knock at the door?” Bretta asked as she glanced away from the screen.
“Boys, that’s our Edith at the door coming back, as lunch isn’t too far off. We’re going to have to let you go, but you both call us again soon,” Lloyd said. “It was an honor to meet Macardle’s mate, Idris. You let us know if he gets out of line.”
“The honor was mine,” Idris insisted. Mac exchanged words of love with his grandparents; then they disappeared from the screen. “I liked them a lot.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I’m pretty fond of them myself.”
“It’s weird to hear them call you Macardle.”
“Well, now you’ve met them, so you can understand how hard it’d be to get them to call me something different.”
“Thanks for introducing me to them.”
“My pleasure. Now we need to get out of my bedroom before I forget we have plans for the day.”
Idris grinned. “Will you sleep in my room tonight?”
Mac leaned over and pressed their lips together in a brief kiss. “There’s no way I’d ever refuse you.”
* * *
Idris was trying not to swat away the hand of the woman who was applying what had to be the tenth coat of powder on his face. Is my face really that oily? he thought in disgust. There was another woman behind him tugging on what had to be every curl on his head. If he’d known having a few photos taken of him was going to require all this fussing, he would’ve stayed home. Mac was across the room chatting with Vadimas. Because there was no food involved, they decided not to stress themselves out by separating Mac and Roger, so the little dragon was in his usual spot on his shoulder.
From across the room, Delaney and Duff walked over to where Idris was seated. Apparently, Delaney’s skin is not as greasy as mine, Idris thought as they approached him. Delaney’s hair, which usually hung in a straight fringe over his forehead, was artfully tousled and Idris liked the style on his handsome friend.
“I like your hair,” he told Delaney.
“Me too, but I’m never going to get it like this on my own.”
“We’ll practice,” Duff promised. “Yours looks good too.”
“I’d kill to have curls like this,” the woman who finally stopping tugging on it said; then she sauntered off. The torturess with the face powder also drifted to the other side of the space.
“So, Idris,” Delaney said as he propped a hip against Idris’s chair. “I saw Mac coming out of your room this morning. I want details.”
“He’s sleeping with me tonight too, but I’m not telling you anything personal.”
“At least tell us if things are going well between you two,” Duff begged.
“I think so. I mean, I still worry about annoying him, but I’m doing my best to not allow it to get in the way of our relationship.”
Delaney pinned him with a hard look. “How many times do we need to tell you that you aren’t annoying?”
“We wouldn’t be best friends if you thought I was annoying,” Idris argued.
After straightening Delaney crossed his arms over his chest. “You can’t let Latarian’s stupid opinion affect your life.”
“I didn’t even know her that long. She’s not the only one who said that to me.”
“I’m sorry. I love you. You know that. We’ve been best friends since we were sixteen, and I know it’s going to make you mad, but your grandfather wasn’t a nice person.”
Idris understood better than anyone the truth of Delaney’s words, but he didn’t know if it was his own inability to please him that had turned him into such an unhappy man. “I wasn’t an easy kid to raise.”
Duff mirrored Delaney’s pose. “Somehow I doubt that.”
“I don’t want to argue about it,” Idris stated.
“Fine, not here, but I think you should tell Mac about your feelings,” Delaney replied.
“I’ll think about it. I wish you guys could have met Mac’s grandparents. They were super nice.”
“I’m glad you like them. Did they seem to approve of you guys?” Delaney asked.
“Yeah, they did.”
“Here comes your hot dragon and Vadimas,” Duff said.
Idris turned his head and returned Mac’s smile as the men reached their side. “You look gorgeous,” Mac offered as he kissed him. “Del, love the hair.”
“Thanks. I thought I had magic until I saw the miracle performed on my head,” Delaney replied. “Vadimas, I forgot to ask earlier when we were talking about scheduling a meeting for our research projects. Were you able to arrange one with us and the vampires?”
“I spoke with the Vampyress. I’m afraid she declined your request. She told me she’d be happy to discuss it with you at some point. She was invited to D’Vaire by Cadlyr but still hasn’t managed to get her schedule, as well as that of her sons’, clear to make the trip.”
“I don’t care about her kids. I want to talk to some scientists,” Delaney complained.
“I wish I could do more to help,” Vadimas said. “There’s another thing I actually wished to discuss with you. You both need to start thinking about what you’re going to do about support staff. I know you two are going to want to work out of D’Vaire, but you can’t do this alone. Not only will someone need to maintain your schedule, but you’ll require people to help you read through Council bills. That’s only the tip of the iceberg, and you’ll still need time to work on new spells, potions, and research. I’ll be happy to speak to Aleksander and Brogan if need be to facilitate staff going to and from. I know security’s an issue.”
“Is there any reason I couldn’t be their office manager?” Duff asked. Idris’s head whipped to the side and Duff’s face was a study of hopefulness.
“Those decisions are up to Delaney and Idris,” Vadimas replied.
“Okay, guys. I’ll finish school, but I’d like to be the one to help you both function as High Arcanists,” Duff said.
Idris glanced at Delaney, who shrugged at him with shocked wide eyes. “You’ve haven’t been with the Council long, and you have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do with your life.”
“I have figured out what I want to do. I’m the perfect candidate. I live at D’Vaire, and we’re best friends. You can trust me. I’m mature for my age, and I won’t hesitate to do the right thing—even if it means upsetting people. I’ll look out for you. I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m willing to follow Mac’s example and learn everything I can about wizards,” Duff stated, determination ringing in his voice.
“If I might interject—Duff does have many good points, and he’s already proven himself to be intelligent as well as driven. I think he could be an asset to you both,” Vadimas said.
“I’m willing to give you a try, but I think we should begin with you as office manager on a trial basis. That way if you find out you don’t like it, or our dynamic makes it awkward, both sides have an out with no hurt feelings,” Idris replied.
“Let’s start with six months and go from there. I’d want you to sign a contract reflecting that,” Delaney suggested.
“Okay,” Duff said.
“As for the rest of your staff, Aleksander expects me to do much more than hover in the background, and I’d love to be more involved. I believe a useful way for me to begin is by reading the Council bills, then reporting to you with the information you need to assist Vadimas in making decisions,” Mac remarked. “I welcome the challenge of learning more about the Council as well as the Spectra Wizardry.”
“Vadimas, I believe Idris and I now have all the help we need to get started,” Delaney stated. Idris agreed with his friend and grabbed Mac’s hand. His mate leaned down to kiss him.
“Wonderful, I’ll instruct Ravinn to begin sending everything to the Dark Indigo office as soon as you two ascend,” Vadimas replied, referring to his assistant.
“Dark Indigo is a fantastic name for our office,” Idris enthused.
“I guess that makes Mac the Dark Indigo Duke,” Delaney added.
“Now that everything is set, do you two think you could allow the poor photographer to do his job?” Vadimas asked. Idris laughed and stood. He hugged Mac, then walked to the other side of the room with a smiling Delaney at his side.