Page 41 of The Missing Sentinel
“As I once suggested to Drexley, I think you should both consider returning to the Council. Someone could aid you to lift the magic here so Drexley and I would be able to follow. There you could enjoy what time you have left without worrying that you will fall through the floor or plummet to your death as parts of your castle dissolve into nothing.”
“Ducarius, Adney has made his wishes known, and he does not want to leave his realm,” Drexley reminded Ducariusgently. While Ducarius was solely concerned with safety, it was ultimately up to Adney to decide where he wanted to spend the last days or weeks of his life.
“There is nothing left for me within your Council,” Adney said. “They believe I am dead, and all my worldly belongings are the property of my former housekeeper. I do not need a stranger’s charity, nor do I want to die surrounded by strangers. If it is my destiny to die in this castle as it plummets to earth, then that is how I will go.”
“Fine, but nothing about your plan is safe,” Ducarius groused as his jaw flexed in frustration.
Drexley reached out and caressed the bare skin of Ducarius’s arm below his shirt sleeve. “I know you are most concerned with the danger, but we must honor Adney’s wishes.”
“You will be hurt too, Drexley.”
“Nothing that happens in this realm can kill me.”
“Having your bones shattered will not be comfortable either,” Ducarius bit out.
“Is it Drexley you are concerned about or your own comfort?” Adney asked.
“I do not relish the thought of the pain I will endure, but nothing is as important to me as the comfort of my mate,” Ducarius stated firmly.
The thought of what Ducarius would suffer was not acceptable to Drexley, but he had already made a promise to Adney that his wishes would be honored. There was no way Drexley could turn back on his word. Was that part of his creation spell? Like his inability to tell a lie?
“Take your talk of mates and related nonsense out of the library,” Adney ordered. “I wish to be alone to read my tome. Drexley, you can find something to do within the castle while Ducarius returns to his training. I do not want you exposed to his barbaric practices.”
Ducarius rolled his eyes, and Drexley bit his lip not to laugh at his consternation. Although Drexley would have liked to argue that he was free to go wherever he wanted, he had a task to complete.
“I need to ensure a bedroom is properly prepared for you and fetch what is left of your belongings from the top floor of the castle,” Drexley said.
“Go on then and get it done,” Adney ordered.
Ducarius grabbed Drexley’s hand. “I will aid you.”
With a smile, Drexley laced their fingers together. “I am happy for your help.”
As they walked out of the library, Drexley pretended not to hear Adney muttering about how ridiculous they were acting and how foolish it was to pretend to be mates. Drexley decided that even if Fate herself showed up and announced that matebonds were a lie, he would step around her and ignore her ramblings. He wanted to be with Ducarius, and nothing was going to impede his growing relationship with the Skeleton Lord.
Chapter 19
For some inexplicable reason, Ducarius was once again sitting on an old chair in a barely lit library with a sexy man on his lap. Ducarius licked his way into Drexley’s mouth and could not resist the urge to give a tiny thrust of his hips. There was no question in Ducarius’s mind about why he was making out with Drexley. What he couldn’t understand was why they had chosen to spend so many days in a row learning how to expertly entice each other with kisses in such an uncomfortable way. A bed would be a far better option. It was also a dangerous one, which was why Ducarius had not suggested it.
Drexley moaned and tugged on Ducarius’s hair. Ducarius tightened his grip on the stupidly thick robes the other sentinel wore and yearned for the chance to familiarize himself with the feel of Drexley’s skin. Someday he would learn everything that pleased Drexley, but he had to be patient.
Their relationship remained novel, and he did not want to rush Drexley. Thankfully, Drexley enjoyed their kisses, so Ducarius eagerly stroked his tongue against the other sentinel’s. Ducarius was impervious to temperature extremes like the rest of their people, but he swore he was burning from the inside out thanks to the delicious way Drexley fueled his passion.
The indefinable scent that Ducarius had first smelled the day they met had grown into his favorite, and it was deeper and richer the closer Drexley was to him. Since the other sentinel was pressed tight to his chest and their lips were locked, Drexley’s intoxicating fragrance was overwhelming Ducarius in the best way.
Ducarius dug his fingers into the long muscles of Drexley’s back as he reclined as much as he could in the old chair. There was a thin cushion between his uniform pants and the wooden seat, but it was barely better than sitting on a rock. Ducarius barely noticed any longer. His dick was hard, and the rigid metal of his zipper was likely imprinted into the tender skin thanks to the way he and Drexley were squashed together.
Yet Ducarius mentioned none of his complaints to Drexley. They were scant concerns when compared to his mate’s comfort. What Ducarius preferred to focus on was the way Drexley’s facial hair gently prickled him as they kissed. Or Drexley’s little moans. The delicious strokes of his tongue. Ducarius wondered if he should make a list of everything he enjoyed about being with Drexley.
It would be a long one if he took up the task. The only thing he could think to change about Drexley was the bone-deep stubbornness keeping the two of them and Adney in the crumbling realm. More of the top floor of the castle had crumbled away, but Drexley and Adney were determined to stay.
“What ails you?” Drexley broke their kiss to ask.
“You are growing to know me too well.”
“Sometimes it seems as if I have known you forever. At other moments I wonder if I have learned anything about you. You stiffened. There is something on your mind other than our kisses.”
Ducarius groaned and pressed his lips to Drexley’s forehead. “I fear Bax has been an awful influence on my life. Myfirst thought was to remind you that what was stiffest about me was my dick.”
