Page 11 of D'Vaire or Nothing
Albrecht narrowed his eyes and stroked the hilt of one of the glowing daggers that floated near his sides. A sentinel’s weapons were essentially an extension of their limbs, and unless Albrecht was naked or asleep, they were nearby.
“All those years I faithfully worked. Now, in less than ten days, it will be over. Do you know I cannot count how many hours I have wasted on the damn thing?”
Although Arvandus would never admit aloud, he dearly wanted to laugh at how pissed off Albrecht was. He was mad that the developers of a beloved farming app were ending the game. Albrecht has been playing it since before he and Arvandus had rediscovered each other. Like his brethren, Albrecht held grudges and didn’t like to be crossed. The developers didn’t know it, but Albrecht had taken the dissolution of his farm personally.
“We’ll find you a new game, Apple. Maybe it’ll be better than the old one.”
Albrecht’s top lip lifted in a snarl. “And they too will one day wake up to decide they no longer want to allow me to play their game.”
“They say that all good things must come to an end.”
“Who are these people, and why would they say something so stupid?” Albrecht demanded. “Matebonds are good things. They should not end. I hated the moment mine did. If it should happen again, I will not be as merciful as I was the first time around. I should have killed Domitia and Faustus the second they lifted the blade from your neck.”
“Calm down, Skeleton Lord,” Arvandus teased, trying desperately not to recall the tragic pain in Albrecht’s eyes as thelast bits of consciousness left Arvandus’s body the day his life as a sentinel had ended. “We protect and defend the Council; we can’t run around committing crimes ourselves.”
“Damn it. You are right. I forgot for a moment. As a sentinel, I cannot break the law. If someone kills you, I will not be able to avenge your life myself. Maybe I should speak to Alaric. If he has not already thought of this himself, he should understand that if anyone murders Chand, he is stuck arresting them and allowing someone else to decide their fate.”
Needing a moment to steady himself and brush off ancient memories, Arvandus took a bite of his cooling pasta and focused on the absurdity of Albrecht’s suggestion.
“I’m not sure I like the way you’re insinuating that Chand and I will wind up getting ourselves killed,” Arvandus teased.
“You are nearly impossible to murder. That I can appreciate. But Chand…he is a sorcerer. I know he has worked hard to build a magical shield around himself, but he can still ingest poison. Then what? The Sentinel Brotherhood is supposed to watch a new Arch Lich be selected and offer Alaric our condolences? Why can’t everyone be a sentinel? I would not have to worry about such scenarios if we were all the same.”
“Easy, the world can’t handle that many badass assassins. Also, what’s the point of being elite warriors if you don’t need those skills? What would drive you to pick up your daggers every morning?”
Albrecht scowled. “Honor. Nothing can rob me of that.”
“I can’t argue with that, Apple.”
“Are you sure no laws are being broken by these farm game developers?” Albrecht asked.
“You know just as much about the laws of the Council as I do, so you don’t need me to answer that question. They can end their game whenever they want.”
“My farm is so nice. I finished redesigning the layout of my buildings and crops this week.”
“Maybe we should get you an actual farm. That way, you don’t have to worry about anyone coming along and taking it away from you.”
Albrecht shook his head. “It is far different to manage a real farm than to play a game on my tablet. I would not know the first thing about tending to real animals or plants. This morning, I baked pies in my game. The closest I have come to baking anything in real life is gathering ingredients at the store.”
“Branch out. Learn some new hobbies.”
“I will think about it.”
“You’ll have extra free time without your game.”
“Not that much,” Albrecht answered honestly. “I have my job, training, and dancing with you. Plus, we have meals with our family. I would not want to miss those. All I have gained is scattered minutes throughout the day, checking my app.”
“Not to mention your favorite hobby once you get me alone.”
The grin Albrecht gave Arvandus made his dick twitch with delight. “I enjoy being naked with you, especially when you are deep inside me.”
Albrecht’s bluntness was one of the many things Arvandus adored about him, and while he’d planned on dragging his pragmatic sentinel mate to the casino after they ate, it would be infinitely more fun to suggest they return to their hotel room first. Arvandus constantly craved the sleekly muscled and wonderfully freckled body beneath Albrecht’s dress shirt, jacket, and slacks.
“What do you think about me sliding my fingers in your hole and stretching you out for my dick as soon as we’re done eating?” Arvandus asked.
“If that was your idea all along, then why did you not suggest I eat faster?”
“Because it wasn’t my plan. We haven’t checked out any of the resort yet besides this restaurant.”
