Page 63 of The Missing Sentinel
Ducarius ushered Drexley into the bathroom and quickly gave him a rundown on how the plumbing worked. With wide eyes, Drexley cleansed his tear-stained face.
“Would you like to borrow some clothing? I have some non-uniform things I have collected through the years. They should fit you well.”
Drexley opened his mouth to answer, but someone banged heavily on the door to the bedroom they now shared. It was unnecessary to open it to figure out who was demanding entry. Ducarius’s senses told him that every Daray was in the condo. He would not be surprised if all twenty-seven people, pets, and goblins were standing in the hallway.
“Ignore them,” Ducarius said. “Should I get you something to wear, or would you prefer to stay in your robes? We could have more made. The D’Vaires have a talented seamstress.”
“I—”
“Duc,” Alaric shouted. Another booming knock made Ducarius grit his teeth.
“Wait a minute,” Ducarius yelled at his beloved family. Although he was eager for a reunion, Drexley’s needs came first.
Drexley’s eyes widened. “Fate-chosen. I can feel it. Just like the Grand Warlock and the High Kings. Adney was wrong; Alaric is the Lich Sentinel.”
“I mentioned that Alaric was the Lich Sentinel.”
“Ducarius, open this damn door,” Chander hollered.
“And that would be the Arch Lich. Do you want clothes?” Ducarius asked, annoyed at his family’s impatience. If they would allow Drexley to answer the damn question, he could let them into the room.
“Clothes?”
“Do you want to change into something else?” Ducarius shouted over the door banging.
“You have two seconds to open this door, or I am using magic to blow it the fuck open,” Chander threatened.
“I will get you some jeans,” Ducarius told his mate as he hauled ass out of the bathroom and shut Drexley inside it. He rushed to his dresser and opened the one drawer that did not hold uniforms. He grabbed all the jeans and T-shirts out of it, then added socks and underwear to the pile.
“Duc,” Alaric demanded. “Chand is not joking.”
“One second,” Ducarius gritted out between his teeth as he yanked open his closet to grab a pair of sneakers he had tried on once but hated. He opened the bathroom door and shoved it all into the arms of his startled mate.
“Spell incoming,” Chander threatened.
Ducarius teleported to the door and whipped it open. Before he could blink, he was in Alaric’s embrace. Chander’s arms went around him next. Ducarius took a calming breath. He was finally home.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Chander demanded.
“Drexley,” Alaric whispered almost reverently. “You found him. He is your mate.”
“Wow, Duc, way to get mated without us,” Baxter griped.
“I can explain everything, but I fear it cannot be summed up in a few sentences,” Ducarius explained as Baxter tugged on his arm and pulled him away from Chander and Alaric so he and Benton could hug him. “And Drexley is going through a great deal right now. He will need our support. Be kind and understanding.”
“We are sentinels,” Cassius remarked. “We are always kind and understanding.”
“Youare kind and understanding,” Cassius’s mate, Teverild, retorted. He waved one tattooed arm around toencompass the other sentinel Darays. “The rest of these guys aren’t. Not consistently. Well, except for Brynn. He’s the nicest one of you, let’s be honest.”
“I’m nice,” Baxter argued.
“But more annoying than understanding,” Arvandus commented.
Ducarius didn’t know what was wrong with him, but it was damn good to hear their bickering. It was so typical of his family to tease each other. So, he let their conversation seep into him as each of them took turns embracing him. Only an hour or two at most had passed since he left Adney’s realm, but being in the Daray condo made his time there surreal. If he could not feel his matebond or Drexley’s fear and sadness, he would almost be convinced the past few weeks had been a fever dream.
The bathroom door opened, and Drexley stood there in a T-shirt with the same drawing of the Skeleton Seven that lived on Ducarius’s shoulder. He’d paired it with a pair of dark jeans, and they showed off his muscular physique to perfection. But it was odd. Ducarius was so used to Drexley being in a sorcerer’s robe.
Ducarius was also unaccustomed to all the terror in Drexley’s lovely gaze. Holding out a hand, he offered Drexley a reassuring smile.
