Several days had passed since Mac was offered the job at Draconis Court of D’Vaire. Mac’s voice held no hesitation when he’d assured King Aleksander he couldn’t wait to serve him, and he had gone straight to King Alfred and resigned. His now former ruler told him he didn’t have to wait around to leave. Mac wished he was surprised to find out he wasn’t wanted, but he’d known for twenty years where he stood within King Alfred’s domain.
His mother wasn’t home at the time, but she’d texted him to wish him luck on his new venture, so he didn’t bother telling her about Idris. He pretended that it didn’t hurt to know his mother couldn’t care less where he was. Instead, he’d focused on finding a suitable person to care for his grandparents. They’d interviewed several candidates, and one young woman had stood out amongst the pack. Mac was delighted to find out Edith could start immediately. It had left him with no reason to linger at Court Stenet, so he’d packed his bags and begun his plans to move across the country.
He’d heard from Madeline D’Vairedraconis, who was asked by King Aleksander to make the ring of rank and coronet that were given to every duke. It touched him that his new employer requested she put together designs with not only the black of his dragon but the color indigo which represented Idris. Madeline’s mate, Larissa, had also wanted to know when he was due to shed his scales again. Idris had already inquired about having things sewn for him in Mac’s dragonskin.
As for the wizard himself, Mac hadn’t heard much from Idris at all. They’d agreed in the beginning that it was best if he’d be the one to call Mac until after their meeting since his family didn’t know they were mates. Idris failed to contact him other than a smattering of texts with no real insight into his personality. It confused Mac—Idris had seemed genuinely excited to meet him. There was no way to know if his enthusiasm had waned, so Mac planned to question him as soon as he arrived at his new home. The Grand Warlock offered to teleport him to D’Vaire, an invitation Mac accepted since it would allow him to bring his truck as well as the rest of his belongings with nothing more than a single spell.
Mac stuck the last box into the bed of his vehicle and waited for the sorcerer to arrive. Earlier that morning, Mac made his tearful good-byes to his grandparents. As difficult as he’d imagined it would be, the reality was much worse. He’d held on to them, breathed in their scents, and wondered just how much longer he’d have the opportunity to do so. His grandfather assured him he made the correct decision in going to D’Vaire, and Mac hoped to hell he was right.
There was a shimmer of light a few feet away from him; then the Grand Warlock and his mate came into view. They were both dressed casually in jeans, and the sorcerer was wearing a T-shirt with a flaming piece of cake around the word “Dra’Cakedan.”
Duke Brogan offered him a smile. “Congratulations on your new job and, more importantly, on meeting Idris.”
“Thanks, Your Grace. Grand Warlock, I appreciate you taking the time to teleport me to D’Vaire. Nice shirt.”
Dra’Kaedan gave him a cheeky grin. “Thank you. Brogan gave it to me. We’re family now—you can call me Dra’Kaedan. No one at D’Vaire uses their title unless we’re in public. You ready to go?”
“I am.”
Dra’Kaedan placed a hand on Mac’s truck and closed his eyes. Mac followed suit, and the magic soon pervaded his body. When he lifted his lashes, he found himself standing in the driveway of D’Vaire.
“Are you ready to step into chaos?” Dra’Kaedan asked.
“I think so.”
“Noirin has a guest room set up for you—we assume you and Idris aren’t ready to cohabitate,” Brogan said as he hefted a box out of Mac’s vehicle.
“No, we just met.”
“Great, let’s get inside. We’ll get your stuff into your new space. Then Idris can introduce you around while he shows you the house,” Brogan replied.
“Sounds good to me.”
Mac followed the pair into the D’Vaire home and down a hall. There was a series of doors with stylized metal plaques that had names emblazoned on them. He recognized only a few of them and looked forward to putting faces to the others. Brogan stopped in front of a door that had black and indigo plate with the word “Mac” on it.
“Don’t worry, we can move that to the room you’ll share with Idris when the time comes,” Dra’Kaedan said as he swung it open. When Mac got inside, he found himself in a large room in which he could probably fit more than half his old home. The furniture was all wood in a warm honey tone. The curtains and other cloth furnishings were done in shades of white and cream. Laying across the bed was a wide sash of Aleksander’s dragonskin with the name D’Vaire embroidered on it in silver. He’d be happy to don it whenever an event called for him to wear a suit.
“This room’s great,” Mac enthused as he put his burden down on the narrow planks which made up the floor. Mac was about to suggest they grab the rest of his things, so he could find Idris, when Dravyn and Aleksander strode through the door with his remaining boxes.
Aleksander greeted him with a smile. “Welcome to D’Vaire, and congratulations on meeting Idris.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“It’s Aleksander.”
“I told him to drop the titles,” Dra’Kaedan informed the D’Vaire king.
“He’s my leader. I can’t do that unless he gives me leave to do so.”
“Dra’Kaedan’s impossible to argue with,” Brogan said. “Let’s go to the living room. We’ve got the whole gang waiting there for you.”
“I’m excited to meet everyone.”
Once again, Mac was on Brogan’s heels as they left his new bedroom and trailed down the hallway they’d crossed minutes before. They passed the Duke’s Den and Aleksander’s office, then arrived in a huge area which included a stunning kitchen and dining area on the right. On the left of the great room was a two-story living space anchored by a stone fireplace. There was a plethora of seating options, and many of those sofas and chairs were being used by the people Mac was now charged with protecting. His eyes sought out Idris and found him sitting on a couch with Delaney and Duff.
Before Mac could say a word, Roger flew toward him. The little dragon landed on his shoulder and nuzzled Mac’s neck with his head. Roger’s small feet moved around as his new friend made himself comfortable, and Mac reached up to pat the little guy. Mac chuckled as he surveyed the other folks who made up D’Vaire. He quickly did a head count and came up with twenty-six people and two dragon familiars. There were dragons, sentinels, warlocks and their familiars, wizards, the Kellas cat shifter, a necromancer as well as a necro hybrid, and elves from three different tribes, including one intriguing man with blue skin.
Mac was expecting a larger crowd but was happy his estimate was off. He hoped they were as close-knit a family as he was led to believe.
“Idris, would you like to introduce your mate to everyone?” Aleksander asked.
“I’d love to,” Idris replied and came over to stand next to Mac. He went through the list of names along with their titles, and Mac used his sharp memory to record them all. Idris also explained the addition of the two new Coven Lords who’d taken up residence the day before Mac’s arrival. He wouldn’t be the only one adjusting to a new life.
“Thanks, Idris,” he said when his mate was done. The crowd of D’Vaires dispersed, so he turned to Idris and asked, “Is it normal for Roger to lie down on someone’s shoulder like this?”
“I’ve never seen him do it when someone is standing up. Only when we’re watching television or lounging around, will he do that. He must really like you. He’s been grumpy since your interview,” Idris confessed. “Was your family okay with you coming to D’Vaire?”
“My grandparents were thrilled to find out I was hired and that I met you.”
“I bet you already miss them.”
“I do, but I believe my future’s here,” Mac replied. “Would you mind answering a question for me?”
“I’d be happy to.”
“You told me you were going to call, but my phone never rang. Why didn’t you call me?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to take up your time. I knew you’d be busy packing and visiting with your family.”
“But I asked you to call.”
“I know, and I really did want to talk to you. But I tend to talk too much, and I’ve been told how annoying I can be. I didn’t want you to be irritated with me right after we met.”
“Your family tells you that you’re annoying?”
His indigo eyes grew wide with astonishment. “No one here at D’Vaire has ever told me I’m annoying, but they’re super nice.”
“I’ll be honest. I find it hard to believe you’re that annoying. If I promise to tell you if you get on my nerves, will you in turn agree to not hold back when it comes to our relationship? I believe the only way we can work is with honest communication.”
“I can do that, and I’ll tell you if I think you’re annoying too.”
“Good. I don’t want to get on your nerves either.”
Idris pointed to Mac’s arm. “I like your tattoo. Does it go all the way up to your shoulder?”
Mac had a sleeve dominated by a brightly colored dragon tattooed in traditional Japanese style on his skin that ran up his arm to his collarbone. “Thank you, it does.”
“Did it hurt?”
“Certain areas were more painful than others, but I was happy with the end result. Do you have any tattoos?”
“No, but I think I might like to have one someday. All I have is my wizard rings on my arms, which will turn indigo when I reach the rank of High Arcanist.”
“Is that something you’re working on?”
“Yes. Delaney and I are both going to be High Arcanists. We’re working on our final projects before we can ascend.”
“It’s nice to be able to have someone going through it with you, I imagine.”
“It is. Delaney could’ve already finished. I didn’t start going to school until I was sixteen, and Delaney had already graduated. We’re the same age. He insisted on waiting for me,” Idris explained.
“When do wizards normally start school?”
“Delaney was four. I think that’s standard. No one graduates with the title of Master at sixteen though—only Delaney has.”
“How old were you when you graduated?”
“I was able to catch up pretty quickly because I had a lot of people helping me, including Delaney and the warlocks. I finished with Master at eighteen.”
“You finished school in two years?”
Idris ducked his head self-consciously. “Everyone says I’m really smart.”
“Damn right you are,” Brogan declared as he walked up to them. “Sorry to interrupt, but we wanted to talk to you in the Duke’s Den to get you caught up on current events at D’Vaire.”
“My favorite room in the house, though you glared at me pretty ferociously last time we were in there together.”
“Everyone expects me to apologize for being overprotective, but it’s my nature. You were talking to Idris, and I had no clue you were mates.”
“I don’t want you to apologize. I’m glad to know Idris and everyone else here has you to look out for them, although I do wonder what changed your mind about hiring me since Idris didn’t reveal our connection before then.”
“Me too. I swear I didn’t tell him until after the vote,” Idris said.
Mac winked at him. “I believe you.”
“You can thank Renny for changing my mind,” Brogan said. “He asked you what the best thing about D’Vaire was, and you told him it was the people. I could tell from the look on your face that you meant it. When the other candidates were asked about D’Vaire, their answers were couched in regard to serving a powerful court with an esteemed king and Council leaders. None of that shit matters to anyone here. What matters are the individuals who make up our family.”
“I got that impression from my interview, and that made me excited about getting the job.”
“You weren’t excited before that?” Brogan asked.
“Not really. I interviewed because my grandfather wanted me to, and his opinion, as well as my grandmother’s, is what matters to me. I asked Idris to keep our connection a secret because the last thing I wanted was to be a duke to another king who didn’t like me. I would’ve given up my title when I came here to be with Idris if I hadn’t been hired based on my own merit.”
Brogan smiled. “I think Fate did a good job picking you for Idris.”
“Thank you. It means everything to know I have the support of Idris’s family.”
“Last time I checked, your name was Duke Macardle D’Vairedraconis.”
“I’ll make you a deal, Brogan. I’ll stop forgetting I’m now a D’Vaire if you forget to ever call me Macardle again.”
“No dice, I know it annoys you.”
Mac turned to Idris. “How does Dra’Kaedan stand him?”
“I’m good in bed,” Brogan retorted.
Hearing a loud cough from his left, Mac turned his head to find Dra’Kaedan standing next to his familiar, with one blond brow raised. “Hey, Idris, you’d better get Mac out of here. Brogan appears to be going back to his single days and is trying to pick up your mate,” the Grand Warlock called out.
Mac laughed. “I don’t think I’m his type.”
Dra’Kaedan took the few steps which separated them, as did Renny. “Neither was I when we first met, but that didn’t keep him from trying to get into my pants.”
Mac returned his gaze to Idris. “I think everyone here might be crazy.”
“I’m surprised it took you so long to figure it out,” Idris responded.
“We should probably wear disclaimers,” Dra’Kaedan suggested.
“Nah, just warning labels,” Renny said.
“Ye who treads here do so with a brave heart,” Brogan intoned.
“What are we, pirates now?” Dra’Kaedan asked.
“Does that mean I can call you a butt pirate?” Renny inquired.
Dra’Kaedan’s face was clearly unamused. “I know you lack sexuality before you meet your mate, but you do realize you’re almost guaranteed to be gay, right? Familiars are generally the same as their sorcerers.”
“I didn’t say being a butt pirate was a bad thing. I have your memories from before I was summoned. I know how much you like playing with Brogan’s mast,” Renny retorted with an unrepentant grin.
Brogan bent over in hysterics as Dra’Kaedan glared.
“Never a dull moment around here, is there?” Mac asked Idris.
“Nope, not very often.”
“Good to hear,” Mac replied, and he meant it. He liked the frankness he’d witnessed, and he was glad he was going to be apprised of the dangers Aleksander alluded to in his interview. When Brogan finally recovered from his laughing fit, he gestured to Mac, who followed him back to the room where his life had irrevocably changed in the best way possible. After his meeting, he was going to hunt Idris down so he could continue to learn more about him. He was feeling greedy, and there wasn’t a stone he wanted left unturned when it came to his mate.