Dra’Kaedan was rather delighted with life in general and was enjoying the bullshit flowing around him in Aleksander’s office. The dragons who watched over their family gathered with their king regularly, and he marveled at how easily their newest duke fit in with their family. Mac was a great guy, and Dra’Kaedan couldn’t imagine a better mate for Idris. The couple were completely in love, and it warmed his heart to see the pair together. It amused him how Roger used Mac as a perch, and he loved that the shifter hadn’t complained once about the familiar’s affection for him. At Mac’s side, Dre’Kariston offered Roger a pat as Gavrael appeared in the doorway.
“What’s up?” Brogan asked.
“I have received a text message from Bridger,” Gavrael stated. “He was out near the perimeter of our bubble when he sensed some sort of presence.”
“I noticed he left the grounds when he crossed through the barrier,” Dre’Kariston remarked. “I’m guessing because you’re here, he found something.”
Dra’Kaedan had registered Bridger leaving D’Vaire land, but he was used to the sentinels in their family policing around to ensure they were safe. The two newest sentinels, Bridger and Hadley, were determined to not only impress Gavrael and Gedeon with their dedication but all the D’Vaires. It was a bone of contention for Dra’Kaedan because he didn’t want anyone in their house to think they needed to prove shit. “What did he find, Gavrael?”
“There is a skeleton out there. He wants to speak to you and your brother,” the Skeleton Lord confided.
Brogan got up so fast that Dra’Kaedan fell over on the couch. He’d been resting against his mate and didn’t appreciate being tossed onto the cushions. “What do you mean, there’s a fucking skeleton out there?” Brogan demanded.
“I wish I knew. Bridger cannot place what he is. He does not recognize his race, but he is a gray skeleton who has been resurrected,” Gavrael replied.
“Let’s go see what he wants,” Dra’Kaedan said as he got to his feet.
Brogan’s finger shot out and barely missed poking Dra’Kaedan in the chest. “You are not going to go meet with some random skeleton.”
“Of course, we are,” Dre’Kariston stated. “I’m sure Bridger has the dude in magic-nullifying cuffs. He’s a skilled sentinel.”
“Aleksander, tell them they can’t come with us,” Brogan pleaded.
“Everyone, calm down. We’re going to go and speak with the skeleton. Mac, call the fallen knights. You and Dravyn make sure none of the family follows us. Gavrael, tell Bridger to bring him to the edge of the bubble. The twins, Brogan, and I will speak to him from within the dome so everyone’s safe,” Aleksander ordered.
Gavrael nodded, then gave his attention to his phone.
“You’d need me to teleport you there anyway,” Dra’Kaedan told his mate, who was glaring at him. “We’ll all be safe. There’s no way this skeleton—whoever or whatever he is—can penetrate it.”
“Bridger is bringing him close and will send over a photo to teleport to in a minute or two,” Gavrael stated.
“Dravyn, explain to everyone what’s going on, and assure them we’re all going to be safe.” Aleksander turned to Dra’Kaedan. “Under no circumstances does anyone cross the barrier. Mac, have the fallen knights meet us at the edge of the bubble. They’ll decide where this skeleton goes next.”
“Bridger has sent a photo. I will forward it to you, Mac,” Gavrael said.
“Thanks. We’ll hold down the fort,” Mac replied.
Dre’Kariston glanced at Gavrael’s phone. “Let’s go.”
“Gavrael, I want all the sentinels around this skeleton,” Aleksander demanded. “Dre’Kariston, we’re ready to go. Cast the spell.”
“Hadley and Geddy are already with Bridger. I will meet you there,” Gavrael stated; then Dre’Kariston’s spell teleported him as well as Aleksander, Brogan, and Dra’Kaedan to the edge of the magical bubble that protected them. Gavrael shimmered into view next to his mate, Gedeon, and in the middle of the now four sentinels was a cloaked skeleton. Bridger and Hadley had his arms gripped securely. The only visible part of the skeleton was the tips of his gray, bony fingers.
“I’m King Aleksander D’Vairedraconis. What the hell are you doing so close to my land?”
“Dre’Kariston, it’s been a long time, but I’m sure you remember the sound of my voice. I know I’ll never forget yours. It was the last one I heard on this side of the veil.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Dre’Kariston demanded with a ferocious glare and a stamp of his foot. “What the hell happened to you, Carvallius?”
“What do you think happened to me? I trusted some idiot necromancers. Now I need your help,” Carvallius of Mallent snapped. Dra’Kaedan couldn’t believe the balls of him, showing up here and asking for them. He’d devastated their entire race and was ruthlessly evil.
Dre’Kariston’s dark brows drew together. “You want my help? Are you out of your fucking mind? Why the fuck would you think I would ever help you?”
“I’m stuck as a skeleton. Those necromancers. They professed to be elders and claimed they knew about magic. That Sigimund resurrected me against my will, and now I have no power. I need power. With him dead, I only had Herminia, Wigmar, and Drusa to help me. They gave me an endless lifespan, but their spell also backfired, leaving me like this. This existence is intolerable. I need you to make me corporeal to restore me. I can’t abide this unrelenting hunger any longer.”
“You’re fucking crazy if you think we give a shit,” Dra’Kaedan spat out. “Where are the elders? Where’s that bitch of a granddaughter of yours?”
“There’s no need for name calling, and I don’t know where Latarian is. The necros wouldn’t tell me,” Carvallius returned.
“He’s not being entirely truthful,” Bridger stated.
“Bridger, come on. We were friends once. You were such a help to Hubert, a very obedient sentinel to your necromancer. Surely you have some pity in your heart for an old man turned into a skeleton against his will,” Carvallius said. His voice was oily, and Dra’Kaedan’s lip curled.
“He had no choice but to help Hubert. Bridger couldn’t disobey an order any more than the rest of his brethren could before they were freed, and I can assure you he doesn’t give two shits what happens to your crazy ass,” Dra’Kaedan retorted.
“Tell us where to find the former elders and Latarian,” Aleksander demanded.
“I told you, I don’t know where they are,” Carvallius replied.
Next to Dra’Kaedan, the two Reverent Knights as well as the Venerable Knights appeared. “Who’s our friend?” Drystan asked.
“It’s fucking Carvallius of Mallent,” Dre’Kariston answered, his eyes blazing with fury.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Carvallius,” Drystan commented. “I wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you, but I’d really rather be murdered again than be anywhere near someone so vile they could destroy their own people.”
The two Venerable Knights crossed the barrier, and they switched places with the Coven Lords, grabbing the arms of the skeletal Carvallius. “It’s going to be a real pleasure to prosecute you for not only a litany of war crimes but the abduction of the Grand Warlock and the attempted murder of the Grand Summoner.”
“He’s the one who killed me,” Carvallius shouted. He tried to pull away from the fallen knights, but they were way too strong for him to gain any ground.
Dre’Kariston gave him a baleful stare. “If you think I’m sorry for killing you, you’re even more batshit crazy than I thought. I only wish I’d made you suffer longer before I knocked your ass across the veil.”
“I’m a warlock. I’m one of your people. You must help me,” Carvallius pleaded.
“No, I’m afraid you’re not one of our people,” Dra’Kaedan retorted. “Our people—my parents—were all burned in pyres because of your greed and lust for power. That’s the legacy of Carvallius of Mallent. An evil fuck who destroyed the warlocks and you know what? I would sooner burn myself than lift one fucking finger to help you. I’m going to spend my time instead figuring out how to kill a skeleton and make sure no one ever resurrects your ass again.”
“You’re grown men now. You must know your parents made mistakes. I could’ve made the warlocks better,” Carvallius complained.
“He’s not really fucking standing here talking shit about our parents, is he?” Dre’Kariston demanded. Dra’Kaedan grew a bit concerned that his brother would cross through their barrier to unleash some of the rage they both felt. His eyes were wild with fury and grief.
“If he wasn’t a skeleton, I’d say he has balls,” Conley remarked. “I can’t figure out if he’s really stupid enough to show up here thinking you two were going to help him or if there isn’t something more nefarious in his mind.”
“I think we can count on the fact that he’s got shit up his sleeve,” Brogan barked out. “I want to know where the fuck the others are.”
“I don’t have to answer to any of you,” Carvallius retorted.
“No, you don’t but I can assure you, no matter where they are or what they have planned, we’re going to stop them. You can’t save yourself. You will pay for your crimes. We might not have the ability to execute a skeleton, but I know a pretty amazing group of sorcerers who are going to figure it out,” Drystan warned. “You might be able to make it easier on the granddaughter you love if you tell us where to find her.”
“I told you, I don’t know where she is,” Carvallius responded.
“It’s at least a partial lie,” Bridger stated.
“Where are the former necromancer elders?” Conley demanded.
“All I can tell you is that they are with Latarian, wherever she is,” Carvallius answered.
“Aleksander, do you mind if I ask Chieftain Cadlyr of the Cwylld to join us?” Dre’Kariston asked. “I have an idea, and I believe he might be able to help us with Carvallius here.”
“You won’t help me, but you’ll call upon a Cwylld for assistance,” Carvallius shot out. “Who’s the traitor to the Coven of Warlocks now?”
“Apparently you haven’t been brought up to speed on our family,” Aleksander drawled out. “Chieftain Cadlyr is a valued and loved member of Court D’Vaire. Dre’Kariston, if you believe he can help, he’s welcome to join us.”
Dra’Kaedan had a pretty good idea of how Cadlyr could help, but he let his brother run the show. Dre’Kariston tapped his fingers on the screen of his phone, then disappeared. When he returned, he had Cadlyr with him.
“Carvallius of Mallent, it’s been awhile. I’m sure you remember me. You once carved a spell onto my back,” Cadlyr said. His lavender gaze was murderous.
“It was a favor to your parents. If you have a complaint, you should take it to their doorstep,” Carvallius argued.
Cadlyr’s grin was feral. “Oh, I did. Not only did they have you put a dark spell on me, taking away my choices, you robbed my brother of his matebond for a thousand years and took his sight. For arranging both of those things, my parents paid with their lives. I buried a spear right in my dear father’s heart.”
“You allow two murderers under your roof, and I’m the one called evil,” Carvallius sneered.
Pulling his hand out of his pocket, Cadlyr lifted his arm and revealed a milky white stone trimmed in pale blues and purples lying in his palm. “Do you recognize this stone, Carvallius?”
“You’re draining the magic of the warlocks standing next to you,” Carvallius responded. “I’m a skeleton with no power. You can’t hurt me with the Cwylld stones any longer.”
“Not true, Carvallius. The Cwylld carried a secret not even you were privy to. Two men were captured by me in separate wars. They were kept quiet and comatose in a cave with one of these stones resting on their chests. I’m going to offer this one to our good Reverent Knights, so they can lay it right on your bones until a spell can be found to end your life for good. I’d suggest you enjoy what hours you have left of consciousness. They’ll be your last,” Cadlyr retorted.
“You’re awesome, Cadlyr.” Dra’Kaedan lifted a hand and used his magic to create a small copper box, which Cadlyr placed the stone into. It would allow the fallen knights to carry the rock without nullifying their senses.
“Thanks. This’ll come in handy,” Drystan stated after taking it from Dra’Kaedan. “But before we use it, I think we’ll find a nice, quiet interrogation room and see if we can’t get some more answers from this asshole. I’ll let you know if we learn anything.”
“Thank you,” Aleksander replied.
“Traitors,” Carvallius spat out.
Dre’Kariston’s laugh was wicked. “He really hurt my feelings.”
“Come on, asshole. I’m going to let you ride with Reverent Knight Conley. He drives like a crazy person. It’ll make you wish you were already back on the other side of the veil,” Venerable Knight Arvandus taunted as they walked him toward the road.
Dra’Kaedan leaned a little against Brogan as the group of men strode away. He was sure they’d get nothing more from Carvallius. “At least we’ve got one of them.”
“And he was likely the brains of their little operation,” Dre’Kariston added.
“It won’t be safe until they’re all caught,” Brogan insisted.
Aleksander’s face was grim. “And dead. How long will it take you to figure out how to end his life?”
“No one’s ever killed a skeleton. Cut something off and it grows right back. But we’ve figured out some amazing things together—it just might take time,” Dre’Kariston responded. His brother’s eyes were full of determination, and Dra’Kaedan was sure at some point they would accomplish their task.
“We’ve got an eternity to figure it out. That Cwylld stone will make him comatose for as long as it takes,” Dra’Kaedan said. The danger was far from over, but he would sleep a little easier tonight, knowing they’d found Carvallius. Giving a side glance to his sexy mate, he amended his thoughts. He would use that extra time to jump his always willing dragon. It was the perfect way to deal with the multitude of emotions churning in his belly. The evil depths of Carvallius’s deeds were a stain that would never go away, and Dra’Kaedan would make sure the man paid—for murdering his parents as well as everyone else—with warlock blood.