Page 133 of Heart of the High King
“Oh, I think this will be so great,” Evlithar exclaimed. “I want to help, and I’d also like to take this idea to Elven D’Vaire, and we could put one together for them, too. Our structures are similar.”
“Wow, guys, that’s great. I’d love to work on this with you,” Rafe replied, excited that his idea had been readily accepted.
“If I might suggest just one caveat,” Saura stated with a finger raised. “Perhaps for now, Rafe, you allow the others to travel back and forth from here to Elven D’Vaire. While your visible swelling is down, your tissues are likely still saturated with magic, and we don’t want to damage you.”
“I certainly don’t want to undo anything you guys did. I have no problem staying here,” Rafe assured her. The reality was, he was in no hurry to leave D’Vaire for any reason. Not only was their safety there, but it was where Aleksander was, and Rafe preferred to be at his side whenever possible. Rafe was making up for lost time and enjoying every damn minute with his best friend and lover. “Do you guys want to meet with me sometime tomorrow, and we can start throwing around ideas of what should be included as well as divvying up duties?”
“Absolutely, is morning okay with everyone?” Evlithar asked.
Since Rafe already knew Kalthekor and his mate’s son, Pyxlevir, and his best friend, Gramlithyn, were at D’Vaire in the afternoons being minded and entertained by Evlithar, he was happy to accommodate the friendly elf’s schedule. They went with ten o’clock, and Rafe carefully logged it into the calendar on his phone.
When he was finished, Aleksander again clasped his hand. “I can’t wait to see your guidebook.”
“I want input from everyone so once we have a draft, I’ll make it available, then we can refine, add, or subtract,” Rafe assured his mate while hoping he hadn’t overstepped his duties. Never a king before, the last thing he wanted to do was step on the toes of Aleksander, who’d been running D’Vaire since he was barely more than a drakeling.
“I’m glad you came up with the idea,” Aleksander responded quietly. “Next item on the agenda. Since Rafe’s arrival, we haven’t had a family get-together and we’re overdue. Are there any objections to having one this weekend?”
“Is it not ultimately up to Rafe?” Worth asked. “Not only is he High King, but the one who has been through the wringer. Not that we get wild or anything, but it’s quite hectic around here, and I can attest to the fact that there’s often a great deal of sleep missed.”
Rafe was supremely uncomfortable that again he was inadvertently interfering with the normal activities of D’Vaire. While he’d met many of them, they already shared a kinship to the people surrounding him, and he couldn’t imagine that the extended family would care if he was around. It was them they were anxious to enjoy time with, and he wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. “I think the doors to D’Vaire should be opened to anyone.”
Brogan clutched his chest dramatically. “Anyone?Your Highness, you’re going to be the death of me.”
Dra’Kaedan rolled his eyes and playfully smacked his mate. “He didn’t mean it like he wanted to pop the bubble and invite the entire Council.”
“No, I didn’t mean that,” Rafe rushed out. “Just invite who you guys want, is all.”
“Are you intending to invite your family? I’m sure Sullivan and your father are anxious to see you and would welcome the opportunity to get to know your mate,” Kendrick stated.
“No one from Court Kestle is welcome under our roof,” Aleksander remarked with a distinct bite in his tone.
Kendrick raised his hands in front of him in surrender. “No worries, I didn’t know there was a rift.”
Aleksander’s eyes were filled with rage, so to calm the man he loved, Rafe offered him a small smile and stroked his hand with his thumb. In response, Aleksander pursed his lips in an air kiss, filling him with warmth. Tempted to scoot closer to him, Rafe reminded himself that they were in a meeting, and it was no place for a cuddle session.
“I would just caution you to tread carefully in speaking with them,” Aleksander said. “I will not interfere in the relationship with your family but, as your king, would ask that you not respond to any inquiries about Rafe or myself, should they ask. I do not ever intend to have anything to do with them again, nor will my mate.”
“Hey, I still hardly know them,” Kendrick responded. “And don’t worry, I won’t tell them shit from now on.”
To Rafe’s ears that sounded as if Kendrick had already told them plenty, and he couldn’t understand it. Kendrick hadn’t known them before, and he had no reason to trust them, yet it appeared that he had. But then, Rafe himself knew how manipulative and conniving the pair was, and Sullivan was probably trying anything he could to have someone on the inside feeding him information. His brother even had the audacity to strike up a friendship and visit Aleksander after he’d abducted Rafe and routinely beat the shit out of him.
“Any other concerns or issues we need to discuss tonight?” Aleksander asked. They listened to a few problems normal to a household of several dozen people, and Aleksander efficiently solved them with smiles around the room. Rafe sat there, admiring not just his poise, but his calm intellect. Not that he was biased or anything, but he couldn’t imagine a better leader and wondered briefly how the hell he’d ever match up to his other half. Deciding to shrug off his anxiety, Rafe reminded himself that it was unnecessary to panic. Aleksander wore the mantle of his title well, and Rafe’s job was to support him to the best of his ability.
When it was over, Aleksander kissed him hard. “Ready to go back to our room for the night?”
“Yep. Definitely.”
