Page 39 of The Missing Sentinel
Aweek after his first kiss, Drexley was taking a rare walk alone around the castle. The terrain was growing increasingly treacherous, but that did not keep Ducarius from training. Drexley paused and took a moment to admire his grace as he struck against his translucent opponent. His limbs extended, muscles bunched, and Ducarius’s expression was intense as he whipped his weapons through the air.
The same single-minded intensity was in Ducarius’s eyes as when he pulled Drexley to him for a kiss. They were no longer novices at mouth-on-mouth. Drexley grinned. Each day, he raced to be close to Ducarius, and he adored their private moments in the library once Adney retired for the night. Ducarius would tug Drexley onto his lap, and their lips would meet.
Drexley would nearly float to his bedroom afterward on a cloud of joy and lust. The physical aspect of their relationship was blissfully wonderful, but it was only one component of what Drexley hoped was a strengthening matebond. Fate had offered them a gift, and Drexley was prepared to embrace it fully. Perhaps if someone other than Ducarius had arrived in Adney’s realm, Drexley would feel some reluctance.
But the other sentinel was strong, caring, and intelligent.
As for Ducarius’s revelations from a week ago, Drexley remained stunned. Never in his wildest dreams would he have guessed that the Arch Lich would be mated to the Lich Sentinel. Adney had painted a picture of necromancers in Drexley’s mind of men and women exactly like himself. Through his teachings, Drexley had grown to believe that the main reason sentinels were unwelcome outside the compound was due to their barbaric ways.
Only Drexley did not find Ducarius crude. It was honorable the way Ducarius had dedicated himself to aiding the Lich Sentinel and the Sentinel Brotherhood. Ducarius kept his weapon skills sharp because he found some peace in his training and because he was devoted to being a protector in the Council. Every sentinel was like Ducarius. They proudly wore their weapons and hid their abilities from no one.
And the Arch Lich was mated to their leader. Drexley did not fully understand who was included in the Ducarius’s family, but there were other sentinels besides him and the Lich Sentinel. Surely, the Arch Lich did not find sentinels repugnant or he would have no measure of happiness in his matebond.
Almost as if he sensed Drexley watching him, Ducarius turned toward him, and his weapons left his hands to float at his sides. The Skeleton Lord stalked to Drexley and planted a firm kiss on his lips.
“What are you doing out here?” Ducarius asked, giving Drexley a smile.
“I thought to take a walk.”
“But you are standing still.”
Drexley laughed. “Yes, I stopped to watch you train and became lost in thought.”
“What is on your mind?”
“I was thinking of our discussion a week ago. When you told me about being a Daray.”
Ducarius reached out and caressed Drexley’s cheek. “I hope that has not been bothering you these past seven days.”
“It does not upset me. I suppose I remain in disbelief that Fate paired the Lich Sentinel and the Arch Lich. It is not that I doubt your words. I believe you; I am shocked.”
“Perhaps I should have waited longer to tell you. There is plenty for you to deal with, and the news offers you nothing right now. My family is home, and we are here.”
“I am sorry you cannot be with them.”
Ducarius pulled Drexley into a hug. Grateful for any opportunity to be close to Ducarius, Drexley relaxed in his embrace and wound his arms around the other sentinel. “Do not worry about me. I miss them, but I am glad to be here with you.”
“At least you do not suffer from a poor memory and can lean upon your recollections of your joyful moments together.”
“You will fit in so well with the Darays. Chand has a vast collection of books, some of them ancient and one of a kind. Many are at our home, but he also has a room at the wizard library I once mentioned. You will have so much to read, you may have time for nothing else for many years.”
“How big is your family?”
“There are twenty-seven of us if you include the pets and goblins, which I could not possibly leave out as they are too important to our household.”
“Goblins?”
“Yes, Rogue and Pizza. A mated pair. About a foot tall, but with personalities far larger. Rascals who are constantly up to mischief. They are impossible not to love.”
Drexley did not know what a goblin was, but he saved that question for another day. “Twenty-seven in a single home?”
“It is a large condo; I have never felt crowded.”
“What is a condo?”
Ducarius smiled and brushed his thumb across Drexley’s bottom lip. “It is short for condominium. Think of it as a section of a larger structure. For example, your bedroom could be a condo in a giant building. The other bedrooms are separate condos where other people live.”
Although Drexley understood Ducarius’s example, it was odd to him that the Arch Lich and Lich Sentinel would not want a castle of their own. But Drexley had already learned that he knew nothing of the world beyond Adney’s realm.
