“Whoa, where’d you get the little dragon?” Carter asked once Mac and Idris returned to Aleksander’s office. After arriving home, Aleksander insisted they get changed into comfortable clothes before they sorted out what to do about Mac’s brother. Roger had, of course, taken his place on Mac’s shoulder as soon as he saw him.
“He belongs to Idris,” Mac revealed. “Allow me to introduce you to Arcanist Familiar Roger D’Vaire.”
“Roger, you look just like the big dragons,” Carter said. “Do you think I could pet him?”
Roger let out a little grumble and preened. “You can pet him—he’s very friendly,” Idris told Carter.
Carter reached up and ran his fingers down one wing. “You’re a handsome guy, Roger. Not like King Aleksander hot, but I’m sure you do all right with the other little dragons.”
Idris grinned. “He’s not into other little dragons. I’m pretty sure he thinks Mac’s his mate.”
“Okay, that’s a little weird but if it makes you happy, Roger, who am I to argue?”
“Carter, when was the last time you had anything to eat?” Aleksander asked.
“I had a bowl of cereal when I first got up.”
It was the middle of the afternoon, and there was a significant time difference between Arizona and Maryland, so he had to be hungry. “Idris, would you mind taking Carter to the kitchen and seeing if Noir can find him something to snack on?” Aleksander asked.
“Sure.” Idris leaned up and got a kiss from Mac, then led Carter out into the hall.
“This house is incredible. I’m really sorry about telling everybody Mac was my boyfriend. I didn’t know how else to get Venerable Knight Ruarc-Daray to let me talk to him. I thought maybe that would work,” Carter offered as they made the short walk to the kitchen.
“It’s okay. You were scared so you lied. It happens. I’ve made mistakes in my life too.” Idris smirked at him. “I’m just glad I didn’t have to kill you for trying to steal my dragon.”
“Yeah, I can see all the marks on your arms. You’re some scary powerful dude, aren’t you?”
“Yes, he is,” Noirin said when she spotted them. “Hi, I’m Noirin D’Vairedraconis.”
Carter introduced himself, and Noirin offered to make him a sandwich, which he agreed to with a great deal of enthusiasm. Idris invited him to take a seat at the counter, and they both hopped onto barstools. Noirin hadn’t even toasted the bread when the back door swung open to reveal Delaney and Duff.
“Carter, this is my best friend on the planet Arcanist Delaney D’Vaire—”
“And the hot guy standing next to him is his even better friend, Duff Cominsky,” Duff finished for him. Idris didn’t agree; no one besides Mac was a better friend to him than Delaney, and the dark wizard was better looking than Duff in his mind as well, but it wasn’t nice to point that out, so he remained silent on the matter.
Carter dutifully shook their hands. “Guys, Carter is Mac’s brother,” Idris told them.
“Wow, I didn’t know Mac’s brother was coming for a visit,” Delaney responded. “Really nice to meet you.” He turned his dark gaze over to Duff. “I didn’t realize you’d dropped D’Vaire from your name.”
“I decided I don’t really need more than one last name. No big deal.”
Idris was as surprised as Delaney that Duff had stopped using D’Vaire and wondered if he’d asked Aleksander to legally change it back to Cominsky. It made him question if it was another crack in Duff’s desire to continue the life he chose when he’d applied to their sanctuary. He elected to bypass the topic for now and focus on Carter. “We didn’t know Carter was coming. He’s having some issues, and Mac’s trying to help him out.”
“Mac said he wasn’t close to his family,” Duff stated.
Delaney gave Duff an annoyed glance. “It doesn’t matter how close they are. Mac would help anyone in need.”
Carter thanked Noirin for the food when she put a plate stacked with chips and a big sandwich in front of him; then he dug in with big bites. She grabbed a soda and handed him that as well.
“I thought you were against having anything to do with family members a person isn’t close to. You’re the one who told Idris not to talk to his parents who obviously love their son,” Duff retorted as he snagged one of Carter’s chips.
“One, that decision belongs to Idris, and he’s capable of making it without either of our opinions, and that’s not what we’re talking about right now, so change the subject,” Delaney shot back.
“Your friend Delaney has as many marks on his arms as you do. How many powerful wizards live here?” Carter asked.
“The only other wizard in the Council as powerful as Del and Idris is the Prism Wizard,” Noirin replied. “They’ll be joining him as part of the Spectra Wizardry leadership in two weeks when they become High Arcanists.”
“I used to think my brother was badass since he was a black dragon, but you guys are on a whole other level,” Carter said after swiping a napkin across his mouth.
“Oh, please. I’m not even sure half of magic is real. Shifters are the best,” Duff argued.
Duff had never made a comment like that before, to Idris’s knowledge. His eyes met Delaney’s, and they were both thinking the exact same thing. Had they made a mistake in hiring him as their office manager when he had such a low opinion about sorcery?
Carter shrugged. “I don’t know what it feels like to be a shifter yet. I can barely feel my beast because I’m so young. I’ve always thought it’d be cool to have some magic, though. I guess I’ll have to learn more about wizards now that my brother is mated to one. I just hope I’m not doing it back at Court Stenet.”
“You don’t want to go home?” Duff asked as he stole another chip. “Aren’t your parents and sister there?”
“Yeah, but it’s complicated. They want to control me, and I want to live my own life. They think I’m some kind of freak and not just because my Dad hates the fact that I’m gay,” Carter replied.
“Around here, we’re all freaks. We happen to believe it makes us unique and wonderful people,” Noirin remarked.
“Technically, I’m not really a freak. I just didn’t have any other place to go,” Duff said.
“There are all kinds of sanctuaries,” Delaney stated.
“Yeah, but I was staying with the Antonov family. The Arch Lich told them D’Vaire was the best. I wanted the best, so here I am.”
Idris was beginning to wonder if he knew Duff at all. On his application, he’d maintained that he was searching for a family atmosphere, which was why D’Vaire was perfect and the only place Duff wanted to go.
“I won’t argue that D’Vaire is the best but it’s not for everyone,” Noirin said.
“Honestly, I’d go anywhere to be away from my parents, but I’d also like the ability to get to know my brother. I couldn’t when he was at Court Stenet, and I missed out on not only being around him but my grandparents, and now they’re gone. I wasn’t able to do anything about it before because I was too young, but now I’m over eighteen and I need to be able to make my own choices.”
“I hope we can find a way for you to stay,” Idris told him. “Your grandparents were amazing people, and I’m sorry you didn’t get to be around them. I know Mac has always wished for a better relationship with you and your sister.”
“Bryony doesn’t want shit to do with him. She’s just as narrow-minded as my Dad.”
Idris’s mouth thinned in displeasure. “Then I feel sorry for her because she’s missing out. Mac’s about as wonderful a person as I can imagine, and her life would’ve only been richer for having him as a part of it.”
“Music to my ears, sweetheart,” Mac said from behind him. Without any hesitation, Idris went over and hugged his dragon shifter tight. Mac kissed his temple. “Carter, Aleksander needs us back in his office. Your parents will be here shortly.”
* * *
After Mac and Idris arrived at Aleksander’s office, Dra’Kaedan shimmered into the room along with his mate as well as King and Queen Stenet. No one was wearing a happy expression.
“Young man, you’re in all kinds of trouble,” Alfred declared once he spotted Carter.
“Your Highnesses, I’m King Aleksander D’Vairedraconis. I appreciate you coming here so we can discuss Carter’s future.”
“Your Highness, I have no desire to be rude to you, but you have nothing to say about my son’s future. We’re taking Carter, and we’re going home,” Alfred retorted.
Dra’Kaedan didn’t say a word as he and Brogan disappeared from the room. Mac was familiar with their intended location and was going to enjoy the expression on Alfred’s face when they returned.
“Please have a seat, Your Highnesses,” Aleksander invited. “The Grand Warlock and Duke Brogan will be back in a minute or so.”
“There are other ways for me to get home, Your Highness, but I don’t appreciate being abandoned here by the Grand Warlock. If I’d known he was only willing to teleport us here so we could have a futile discussion about my son, I would’ve found another way to get here,” Alfred retorted.
“I can assure you the Grand Warlock has only left to bring a few other guests here, Your Highness,” Aleksander said as he took a seat behind his desk. He’d chosen not to change into a suit or put on his crown but somehow, he still looked more the part of a king to Mac than Alfred ever had.
Mac sat down next to Carter, and Idris snuggled up against him as soon as he did the same.
“I certainly don’t see what business it is of Macardle’s and whoever this other young man is,” Alfred stated.
“Don’t fucking call me that, Alfred. You aren’t worthy of the name my grandparents gave me.”
“Mac, let’s try to be civil,” his mother said. She spared a glance at Idris. “You didn’t tell us you’d found your mate.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Before any other words could be spoken, Dra’Kaedan returned with four dragons. One D’Vaire and three Draconis.
“Thanks for coming, Your Majesty, Your Graces,” Aleksander offered.
Emperor Chrysander nodded regally, then turned to Alfred. “King and Queen Stenetdraconis, great to see you again. I believe we met at the last dragon festival.”
Alfred stuck his hand out and grinned like an idiot. “Yes, Your Majesty, we did. How kind of you to remember. I don’t believe you met my son, Carter.”
“Carter, it’s a pleasure. I’m sorry we weren’t able to meet at the festival,” Chrysander said.
“Your Majesty, the pleasure’s mine. I wasn’t allowed to go to the dragon festival. My Dad had already caught me kissing a guy and was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control my every move while I was there,” Carter confided. Mac was glad the kid was standing up for himself and being honest with Chrysander.
“Perhaps King Alfred could explain to me why he found you kissing a boy such an issue,” Chrysander suggested. He raised an eyebrow at Alfred.
“Your Majesty, my son was under eighteen at the time. I was concerned as any parent would be about him being taken advantage of.”
“That’s not true. You said Mac’s gayness had rubbed off on me. Then you told Mom that was why you wanted him thrown out of Court Stenet, but she didn’t want to hurt Grandpa and Grandma by forcing him to leave,” Carter countered.
“The Council of Sorcery and Shifters doesn’t tolerate inequality, King Alfred, and neither do I. I find it abhorrent that anyone would find something chosen by Fate to be treated with hatred or fear. Your son was born gay just as I was. I won’t have anyone in an environment that’s anything less than accepting. You were chosen to lead a court. I’d suggest you figure out a way to move past your prejudices or you may find yourself with an empty title,” Chrysander warned. “Tell me, Carter. Is his attitude for you alone, or are there other Stenet dragons being spoken to in such a manner?”
Carter lifted his chin. “Your Majesty, he doesn’t like the other gay men and women in Court Stenet, but he only says mean things behind their backs. He says he has to deal with it around him, but he’ll be damned if he’ll allow his son to behave unnaturally.”
“I’d suggest, King Alfred, that you brush up on how being gay works. As I said, we’re born this way, and it’s as natural as a man with a woman. I’m going to keep an eye on your court, and I have every intention of speaking with your dragons. If I find any of them being disrespected, there will be repercussions,” Chrysander stated.
“Your Majesty, I promise you I’m the most tolerant of men.”
“Alfred, it wouldn’t hurt for you to be more sensitive,” Mac’s mother said.
“Now, let’s figure out Carter’s situation, shall we?” Chrysander asked. “Carter, I’d like to hear your thoughts on the matter.”
“I love my mom and I love my dad and sister, even though they aren’t tolerant of me. But I want to live somewhere that allows me to make my own decisions and have control over my own life. I want to go to school. I enjoy it and I’m smart. I haven’t figured out all the other pieces yet, but I’d like the freedom to do that,” Carter replied. He turned to Aleksander. “I’d also like to get to know my brother, and I’ve heard this place is a home for freaks. I’ve always felt like one. Is there any chance I could live here?”
Aleksander glanced at Dra’Kaedan briefly; then his attention flicked back to Carter. “Normally we require our residents to apply for sanctuary, and then all of the D’Vaires vote. An invitation is only extended with a unanimous decision, but your brother’s a valued and respected member of our family, so I see no reason not to bypass our policies in this situation.”
“King Alfred. Queen Moina. Do you have any objection to signing a transfer form?” Chrysander asked.
It had to piss Alfred off that he’d essentially been left with no choice, but he gave no sign of it. “Of course not, Your Majesty.”
Moina lifted a hand to her face and wept as she walked up to Carter. She pulled him into her arms. Carter hugged her back, then stepped away. Aleksander slid the form across his desk, and Alfred signed it with a flourish.
“Your Highnesses, I can teleport you back whenever you want,” Dra’Kaedan said. Seconds later, they were gone.
Aleksander passed the form to the Emperor, who added his signature to finalize it. “Chrys, I really appreciate you coming.”
“Not a problem, Aleksander. I’m always happy to help.” Chrysander smiled at Carter. “It’s not easy to get into this place, you know? It was very brave the way you stood up for yourself. I hope you’ll keep an open mind in the future with your family. Attitudes can change, and people can grow.”
“Thanks, Your Majesty. I know it’s hard to get in here. I had to tell the fallen knights I was dating Mac just to get to talk to him. I don’t hate my family—I’ll keep in touch with them.”
“Watch yourself, Carter. Idris isn’t one to be trifled with,” Chrysander replied. Dra’Kaedan and Brogan teleported back into the room. “Dra’Kaedan, you mind giving us a lift back?”
The Emperor and his brothers returned to Las Vegas with the Grand Warlock and his mate, who shimmered home only seconds later.
Dra’Kaedan pulled off his crown. “I’m hungry,” he announced.
“What else is new, Squirt?” Aleksander asked. “Welcome to D’Vaire, Carter. I’m sure Mac and Idris can show you around.”
“Thank you very much, Your Highness. I’ll do everything I can to be an asset to your family. I appreciate the opportunity and you bypassing your normal rules for me.”
“Please, how do you think my brother got in here?” Dra’Kaedan asked. “Just knocked on the door, and Aleksander offered him keys to the place.”
“Call me Aleksander, Carter. And Squirt, I gave your brother the same treatment I gave you.”
“They’ll argue all day. Let’s go, Carter. Idris and I have some amazing people for you to meet and an awesome house to show you,” Mac said.