Page 68 of The Missing Sentinel
Chander cursed, and Ducarius swore Alaric chuckled as he swiftly rescued the wall from any more of Rogue’s scribbles. It truly was wonderful to be home again.
Chapter 29
His first meal with the Darays went smoothly, but Drexley had not expected everyone to be so quiet. Ducarius had later explained that the family wished to give him a chance to adapt to being around so many people after spending his entire life either by himself or with Adney. Drexley did not have to ask where they had come up with the idea of allowing him to adjust.
Fate had gifted Drexley with a beautiful, kind mate. He was a lucky man. Following a delicious breakfast, Ducarius revealed he was taking Drexley to a library. But Drexley had been unprepared for what awaited him.
With his jaw slack, Drexley stood in front of a massive multi-floored library with colorful stained-glass windows. Ducarius squeezed his hand affectionately.
“What do you think?” Ducarius asked.
“It is wondrous,” Drexley replied.
“Let’s get inside before someone notices Chand is here,” Baxter insisted.
Chander rolled his eyes. Unlike Adney, the Arch Lich did not have pure gray eyes. There was a hint of blue in the depths. Drexley wondered if that was because Chander was a hybrid. “Right, like someone is going to bust out a weapon and attack me or some shit.”
“More like some kid will run up and want your autograph,” Benton retorted. “Then they’ll learn that the Arch Lich is a crabby, sarcastic asshole and their respect for Council leaders will be permanently shattered.”
Drexley gasped. The last thing he had expected was for any sentinel to call the Arch Lich names—and especially not to the man’s face.
“If I’m an asshole, I learned it from you,” Chander said. “You’re older than me, and I’ve had to deal with your shit since I was a teenager.”
“You are frightening Drexley,” Ducarius stated with a stern glare for the Daemon Lords and the Arch Lich. “Get inside so Drexley can find some damn books.”
Baxter opened one of the tall entrance doors, and Benton walked in. The Arch Lich was next to enter the beautiful library.
Ducarius urged Drexley into the building. Drexley caught Ducarius elbowing Baxter in the belly as he passed him, and the Daemon Lord grunted.
“Best behavior, Bax,” Ducarius ordered.
“Hey, Ben is the one who called Chand an asshole,” Baxter argued.
“Have no fear, I will punish your mate too,” Ducarius vowed.
“I would’ve thought finding your mate would put you in a better fucking mood,” Baxter griped.
The first thing Drexley noticed in the library was the massive rows of shelves. But his attention was drawn next to a man in gray rushing toward them. Like Ducarius, Baxter, and Benton, he was dressed in unrelenting gray, and daggers glowed at his sides.
“Drexley,” the raven-haired man exclaimed. “Hey, I’m Callyx, nice to meet you.”
“This is Prism Lord Callyx Porfyra-Dewitt,” Ducarius said. “He works for the Spectra Wizardry, and his chief duty is to ensure the safety of the Prism Wizards who lead their people.”
“Yeah, Vadimas and Severin are upstairs in their private room reading. No worries, Faron is with them. He says hi too, Drexley. It’s a relief to us all that you’re safe. We weren’t sure what happened to you after you left the compound. We’ve all taken turns looking for you at one point or another.”
“And the reason he and Faron know you’re here is because everyone in our extended family are big gossips,” Baxter interjected.
“No one gossips like a sentinel,” Chander said. “They’re a brotherhood, and they take that seriously. If one of them knows something, a minute later eight thousand of them get the news.”
“Anyway, Alaric mentioned that you’re a big reader. Call me whenever you want if you need help looking for a book. I’ve worked here for years and have hardly made a dent in the knowledge in this place. And if you can’t find it, we’ll hunt it down from somewhere else.”
“Thank you for your kindness. I do not have a phone, but I am sure Ducarius can assist me in locating you should I need a book,” Drexley said, honored by Callyx’s offer.
“Have no fear, you and I will both get phones,” Ducarius commented. “I failed to ask Alaric about it before we left, but I will mention it to him when we return home.”
Benton plucked a device from his pocket, and his attention went to the screen. “I’ll text him, Duc. It’ll give him a chance to get it programmed with everyone’s numbers in it.”
“Thank you,” Ducarius replied.
